ã€ŠWhispers in the Voidã€‹


 Prologue

    As it had many times before, the powerful entity manifested in the center of the operative¡¯s consciousness.

    Mentally demanded in its usual perfunctory manner, ¡°Report...¡±

    The agent was a skilled operator who made no outward show of the intrusion. Showing only a very brief sideways glance to ensure nothing unusual had been detected by the target, then moving to a secluded area for the unscheduled update.

    ¡°...Report...¡±

    The entity repeated as the agent reached seclusion.

    Narrowed eyes were the only outward sign the operative showed at the deep irritation of the mental invasion. The spy had already learned that replying with anything but perfect obedience was not advised. The discomfort of past noncompliance was well remembered.

    The agent kept a neutral tone, biting out a response through mentally clenched teeth...

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    As previously reported. All is proceeding as planned. The target is unaware and in place. The agent¡¯s jawline tightened and then went off-topic. The target is not as stupid or foolish as you implied, certainly naive¨C

    The spy got no further before bending over in agony as unrestrained energy erupted mentally like a sudden lightning storm over open water. The stinging crackling filled every conscious corner and continued without stopping.

    Despite the unexpected use of the ongoing torture, the entity continued communication without passion as if it was merely disciplining an uncooperative child, a distasteful but expected duty.

    ¡°... I am disappointed I need to remind you that the completion of this mission is imperative. You have no idea of the threat we face and what I am willing to do to stop it... Circling back to the matter at hand ... Our target must assume control of this operation for it to have any meaning. Are you prepared for this?¡±

    Eyes rolling with pain, all the agent could muster was a head nod and doubled-up fists while trying to avoid a stumble that would alert the nearby target something was wrong.

    The mind-splitting static detonation continued for several more moments before stopping. The operative was left huddled in a ball, dragging in ragged but stifled breaths.

    ¡°... Very well. Proceed.¡± The entity commanded, and its presence departed as quickly as it had come.

 Chapter 1

    Josh crumpled the neat sheaf of divorce papers into an uninteresting piece of abstract art remarkably similar to the balled fist currently strangling the life from them. The attorney that had just served him the papers was still making her way through the twisting trails and green foliage in the distance, though Josh had no idea how the conniving woman had even found him there in the botanical gardens... in the end it didn¡¯t matter. Josh¡¯s eyes were glued to the pink Post-It Miranda had obviously and lovingly put on the cover page, likely just before siccing her Armani-wearing attack dog of a lawyer on him...

    Taking a breath, he reread the four words in her prim and proper cursive,

    Go to hell, Josh!

    Josh swallowed and let both hands drop to his sides, banging against the wooden seat of the bench he was sitting on. Part of his mind noted objectively that he had been right... The second time reading it hurt less, not much, but I may actually survive the next five minutes without exploding into flames... It''s something, at least. After all, Real men don¡¯t burst into tears¨Cwe spontaneously combust.

    ¡°... Damn straight, Joshy... but never on days ending in a ¡®Y.¡¯¡± He mumbled to himself, chuckling internally.

    After seeing the papers and Post-It for the first time, Josh had jumped up in the quiet garden cove he¡¯d been sitting in and reflexively moved to a fighting stance, looking for something to punch. His breathing had become deep, ragged gasps¨Chis heart racing. Josh felt like he was on mile five of a three-mile run.

    He opened his mouth and released a primal scream of rage. It was an unconscious thing full of fury and loss. Josh simply didn¡¯t have the words to express or even identify the roiling mass of emotion and simply released the acidic, poisonous thing onto the world in an explosive bellow.

    Startled songbirds squawked from the branches above and took to the air all around him. Several coeds turned toward his sudden outburst in the normally quiet botanical garden just outside of FSU¡¯s satellite campus. It was the campus where Joshua Elias Tanner, FSU¡¯s new forty-four-year-old part-time law professor, taught, among other things¨Ccriminal law and was where he¡¯d apparently unconsciously determined was an excellent place for having an emotional meltdown.

    His emotions were far from being fully expressed, but he simply snorted and dropped the paper ball and Post-It from his hands. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he exhaled and looked around at the lush greens of the botanical garden, then the stand of red bamboo behind him, and slowly let his frustrations go.

    He looked at his watch, Almost time to get back to work...

    The noon bells from the nearby Franciscan Mission rang out in agreement as they slowly tolled throughout the summer afternoon air over the southern tip of Jacksonville.

    But Josh still needed a few minutes to get his head on straight, which he was going to take. He was in the break between his summer schedule¡¯s generic torts and advanced personal injury classes. He straightened the Wayfarer shades that had been knocked askew during his sudden outburst and absently ran a glance over the streams of FSU students moving down the cobblestone paths around him as his brain continued to torment him.

    Why are you even surprised? Of course she left. You and Miranda were over a long time ago. Stop beating your head against this wall¨C nothing you¡¯ve done to change was ever for her anyway, was it?

    That was... shockingly true.

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    It hadn¡¯t been from stepping back from his busy practice and taking a sabbatical teaching law, nor the countless hours of couples and family counseling they¡¯d gone through... He couldn¡¯t give Miranda what she wanted. No, that ship had sailed. Everything he¡¯d done had been for the only real thing in this world that made any sense to him...

    That¡¯s right, Joshy, it¡¯s all been for Sophie... Don¡¯t you forget it!

    Now, that truth was not shocking in the least. It was true the way breathing was true.  As long as his four-year-old daughter was still willing to smile and hug his face when he blew raspberries on her neck... Everything else was going to be alright...

    He took a deep breath and closed his eyes... But I won¡¯t end up as one of those weekends and every other holiday day, dads! How can I willingly put her through the pathetic grudging single dad attempts at Thanksgiving, Christmas, or birthdays? She deserves so much more than what I had!

    No matter how Josh sliced it, that kind of life would never be good enough for Sophie. Whatever the personal and emotional price Josh had to pay would be inconsequential to keeping her happy and in a solid home.

    Josh still planned to see Sophie and her morning wake-up smile that could outshine the sun after an all-night thunderstorm.

    Several more minutes ticked by, and Josh slipped over to the right side of the bench to avoid the sun¡¯s rays as they peeked through the overhead cypress tree. Born and raised in the northern reaches of Chicago¡¯s south side. Josh was a foreigner to Florida¡¯s scorching summer heat. If he didn¡¯t avoid the punishing rays he¡¯d end up sweating through his shirt and meet his third-year students with dripping pits. Josh might be just a northern barbarian, as he¡¯d heard whispered on more than one occasion by Miranda¡¯s parents, but even he knew that pit stains were not a good way to instill confidence in his capabilities on the first day of the summer session.

    Josh loosened his tie as his thoughts switched back to Sophie. Her small hand planted on his cheek, her forehead resting on his. Her giant, wide blue eyes when they said goodbye after their past weekend together¡­

    Loudly, and with a naive lack of embarrassment, she¡¯d said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Daddy... I know you love me! It doesn¡¯t matter what Mommy says when she¡¯s mad and talking with Aunty and Gran Gran...¡±

    ¡°Damn...¡± Josh groaned, rubbing both his temples at his psychic pain from the emotional fallout Miranda was putting Sophie through. Her carelessness at letting Sophie hear these things grated him like a face plant on 100-degree asphalt.

    ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Josh said aloud, running a hand through his hair and idly straightening the collar of his shirt. ¡°That¡¯s enough of a pity party for today. Pull yourself together and get back to work.¡±

    In a heroic effort of will, Josh mentally wrenched at his emotional reigns in a way that would have made the most soulless of lawyers concerning matters of the heart proud.

    A crooked smile crept upon his lips.

    Thankfully, Sophie didn¡¯t let the muck that he and Miranda threw at each other affect how she loved and dealt with them. She was also dead on about how her daddy felt about her.

    Josh chuckled darkly. ¡°Hell, I wish we could follow her example instead of forking over three hundred and fifty bucks an hour to that shyster of a marriage counselor.¡±

    Josh dismissed the ridiculous but happy thought and stood from the bench with fresh determination in his steps as the 12:30 bell chimed behind him.

    I may not know anything about having a good marriage, but one thing I do know is that Sophie deserves better than what we are giving her, his hand balled into a determined fist, and I¡¯m going to fix that.

    His working-class ¡®northern barbarian¡¯ brain would find a way to fix this mess. He might not have any answers on how to do anything right now, but he did have one thing that had carried him through every day of his life so far: The willingness to do whatever it took to fix seemingly insurmountable problems.

    Josh would never consider himself a religious man, not by a long shot. But unintentionally¨Cthe only prayer that had ever mattered poured out of him. I swear, on everything that I have¨Ceverything that I am. I¡¯ll fix this, Sophie.

    * * * * *

    In that moment, it was impossible for Josh¡¯s mortal mind and human perceptions to recognize or feel, but, Karma, Balance, and Reality had heard this desperate man¡¯s promise. And for reasons that likely would never be revealed, they¡¯d taken notice of him, or rather not him, exactly¨Cbut his importance to a small human child named Sophie¡­

    * * * * *

 Chapter 2

    Sen¡¯s head banged against the console again, harder this time.

    How had things gone so wrong?

    He looked at Damni as she stood over his seated form. Even after all his failures, there was no doubt in her eyes. Her unwavering strength let him believe that everything wasn¡¯t hopeless.

    Perhaps she was right? After all, it wasn¡¯t as if Sen¡¯s failings had been as bad as full-on ¡®lost his place in the hierarchy¡¯ or ¡®find a new iteration of origin¡¯ levels of failure. No.

    Not yet anyway.

    Still, in terms of how much his entire situation was screwed up, it didn¡¯t feel like the distinction mattered all that much.

    It had all started when the Immortal Masters¡ªa loosely associated group of Immortals whose goal was to prevent the probable extinction of all sapient-mortal life in the multiverse¡ª had asked Damni to go to this Essence deprived, backwater of the multiverse and determine if an adharmic¨C

    ¡°That¡¯s ¡®evil,¡¯ Dear, ¡®evil.¡¯¡±

    ¡°Evil ... Yes, Damni ... evil.¡± Sen mumbled back reflexively at Damni¡¯s persistent corrections.

    They¡¯d been sent to search for an evil Immortal who was wrongfully shaping the local timelines. Altering them to foster mortal genocide in order to collect the soul energy for personal gains. Such Immortals that attempted to harvest mortal sapient life for power¨Cand thus violated the Immortal Master¡¯s decrees were agents of chaos and destruction. Often referred to simply as Chaotics.

    Damni believed in the Master¡¯s goal. So, Sen did as well. Such was the nature of their Ka bond¨C Marriage... yes ... marriage, Sen auto-corrected¨C and Damni was a worthy Ka bond¨C Wife... yes... wife.

    She was far more worthy than Sen was, the young Immortal was certain of that.

    Together, they¡¯d arrived and used their Ethos Combi to scan for other Immortal Ka signatures¡­ And they had found one!

    Good! This hasn¡¯t been a completely wasted trip!

    Damni stood from the controls of their transport and peered at Sen as if confirming he was ready to follow her translocation to the Chaotic¡¯s location ...

    Holding up a finger, Sen held her. ¡°Damni, I know that you think this soul harvester is likely an Immortal who didn¡¯t have the combat skills or acumen to advance its Ka with honor ... but are you prepared for what might happen if he ... refuses the Master¡¯s orders to stop collecting mortal spirit Essence?¡±

    Damni seemed taken aback by the question, and a perplexed expression rose on her narrow features. She held her hands open as if attempting to grasp the impossible concept, ¡°... Do you mean ... if he tries to resist ... with combat?¡±

    Sen rolled his eyes at the need to specifically say so. He responded with a slight chuckle, ¡°... Well, yes my love.¡±

    A knowing smile came over Damni, and she caressed the side of Sen¡¯s face as she spoke to him as if to a child. ¡°Sen, honey, that is ridiculous. The Principal Master himself backs everything I do... What would it buy him? A few more Ka Nexus rotations before the Master¡¯s combat forces routed him out?¡± It was Damni¡¯s turn to roll her eyes at Sen¡¯s naivete, and she held a thin hand to her lips to suppress a small laugh. ¡°... No one is that foolish, Sen ... Besides, you¡¯re here. Just being here is more than enough to convince anyone not to fight. Right?¡±

    Damni embraced Sen with her long arms that wrapped all the way around him and cradled his face up to her taller frame and her wide eyes blinked down at him. ¡°... I have my strong Ka bond to protect me, don¡¯t I?¡±

    Sen gulped, ¡°... Of course ... Of course you do. I just wanted to be sure that you had thought this through. I know um ... that you know ...  what you¡¯re doing ...¡± Sen stammered to a trailing finish at how she had turned this around on him. ¡°... Well then, if you are ready ...¡± Sen coughed. ¡°We should get going.¡±

    Damni backed up with a loving smile and translocated them to the Immortal signature located on the only life-bearing planet in this system. Blue and green with all the markings of mortal life, it circled a lone midlevel yellow sun.

    The adharmic or rather ¡®evil¡¯, that¡¯s right. The evil Immortal was wearing a physical matter avatar in the form of the sole local sapient lifeforms¨Chumans, I think? He was tall and dark complexioned, and obviously ready for Sen¡¯s arrival¨Cthe Immortal hovered over the center of the largest body of terrestrial water¨Can ocean, he recalled.

    Despite the Immortal clearly expecting their arrival, Damni moved with authority and confidence to confront him. ¡°Adharmic Immortal, you are ordered to cease all mortal Essence harvesting and return immediately to the Polar Neutral iteration for judgment by the Masters as empowered by the Principal Master. Your immediate compliance will be viewed favorably. Anything else will result in the amplification of your punishment, possibly leading to complete reversion of your Transcended state.¡±

    Her authority was so absolute that Damni wasn¡¯t even looking at the Chaos Actor as he adopted a business-like expression and straightened his back. ¡°Is that so ...¡± He spoke in a deep voice with an entertained tone. ¡°... I¡¯m just going to stop because you ask me to ... then what? Run away? Turn myself into the Master¡¯s imagined mercies? I think not!¡±

    The Chaotic advanced on Damni in a surge with raised fists. Damni, whose Immortal Ka focus was fostering the interconnectedness of spirit beings with eternity, reflexively flinched and turned away ...

    Damni may have gone into this meeting with her eyes wide shut, but Sen had kept his unblinking gaze on the other Immortal since arrival. In less than a nano he had shed his physical avatar and his Immortal Ka exploded into the mortal reality, restraining the Chaos Actor.

    ¡°You end now!¡± Sen¡¯s chilling Intent broadcast through reality. The ocean below them froze as the clouds in the atmosphere above them stilled in the sky.

    The Chaotic sneered up at Sen but didn¡¯t resolve to his Immortal Ka form. Instead, he squirmed and struggled in the bind of Sen¡¯s will, yelling. ¡°I knew that all that vaulted talk about the Master¡¯s non-escalation principles was nonsense!¡±.

    Ok, this will be easier than I thought.

    Sen didn¡¯t care if the Chaotic wanted to be captured while ranting or fighting. It made no difference. He concentrated his focus on obliterating the adharmic Immortal¡¯s physical Avatar and then to moribund his Immortal Ka from transport back to the Immortal realms¨C

    ¡°--Stop! You have to stop now!¡± Damni was screaming, and it took a micro for Sen to realize that she was yelling at him. Reflexively, Sen dropped all his active Intent, freeing the Chaos Actor for the moment.

    ¡°Transform back to your physical avatar! Now, Sen, I mean it!¡± Damni had an enraged expression on her face that Sen didn¡¯t quite understand, but the heat in her tone left Sen with no doubt that she did mean what she said.

    Confused, Sen transformed back to his top-knotted human form and faced Damni with an innocent expression. ¡°... Is something wrong honey?¡± Sen spoke in a quiet voice.

    Damni¡¯s look smoldered at him, and Sen wilted under it. Then it softened, and Damni spoke through strained patience, diffusing her anger through rapid hand and arm movements that showed how distraught she really was. Regardless of her calm tone, Sen knew he was in trouble.

    ¡°Sen, I am bound by the Penta Protocol¡¯s requirements of non-escalation!¡± Damni rolled her whole head in disbelief at Sen¡¯s behavior. ¡°You cannot just explode your Immortal Ka all over the place in the mortal realms because you don¡¯t like how the Chaos Actor is treating me! Your escalation will result in his escalation. Entire iterations have been lost because of Immortals acting just like that!¡±

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    Marine creatures began to bob to the surface of the water all around them. Large individuals and smaller ones, appearing in schools. All were dead and floating belly up.

    Damni shook her head and opened her arms to the seas below as she looked at Sen with remorse. ¡°... See, with just an aggressive thought, you have killed every creature in this ocean. Immortal combat has no place in the mortal realms Sen.¡±

    Sen looked around him and saw the evidence of his overreaction. Dead marine life was surfacing in the ocean¡¯s swells as far as he could see ...

    There was no denying it.

    Immortals were limited by the Principal Master¡¯s Penta Protocol. The Immortal Master¡¯s only immutable requirement. It was universally followed and obeyed due to the Principal Master¡¯s great power, which no sane Immortal would attempt to contravene. But, more than this, Sen had to admit that the Penta Protocol was important. It was generally considered the best course of action for overall mortal protection. In brief, the Protocol was clear that a pursuing Master could not escalate the violence potential in a mortal iteration beyond those of the Immortal they were pursuing. In this case, the Immortal Sen was confronting had limited himself to a physical avatar. Sen was also limited to combat in the form of a physical avatar.

    While Sen wished the Protocol wasn¡¯t necessary, it was undeniable that before its enactment, Immortals had caused so much damage to the involved mortal iterations that many times the complete collapse of all currently known temporal probability models had occurred. Prior to its advent and adoption, many mortal iterations had been reduced to imploded primordial singularities from the interventional ¡®help¡¯ of both free-acting Immortals and Masters. Adherence to the Protocols did prevent irreparable damage to temporal and spatial iteration dynamics.

    Sen was trapped between the rock of the Protocol and the force of his feelings for Damni. He responded like the trapped spirit beast he felt like. ¡°What do you want me to do? Stand by and watch him beat you?-- I can¡¯t do that! And you can¡¯t fight!¡± Sen glared at the chaos actor, who hadn¡¯t tried to escape but instead was looking at their argument with interest.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Sen! You have already violated the Penta Protocol. When the chaos actor informs the Master in charge of his review about what you did, they will likely pardon him, and I will be dismissed.¡± Tears welled in Damni¡¯s eyes, and she wiped them away with a long-fingered hand.

    A deep red blush of shame covered Sen¡¯s face. Damni was right, he was jeopardizing her standing with the Masters, maybe even her Karma with his interference. Sen looked up, pleading to his Ka bond. ¡°There has to be something I can do?¡±

    Damni¡¯s hurt expression grew into a considering one. After several moments, she looked wearily at Sen. ¡°... I suppose that if you formally took over the assignment, the disciplinary action would fall on you instead of me. I would get off with a reprimand for your actions ...¡±  Damni finished with a hopeful expression on her face.

    He agreed to this instantly. Sen knew how important her role with the Masters was. He also didn¡¯t care if the Masters formally dismissed him from their ranks. It had no bearing on his Seedency as Heir. All that mattered to the Marztenaks was strength and power, which he had adequately demonstrated here.

    Damni¡¯s relieved expression at his decision was all the assurance that Sen needed that his decision was the right one. Now in control, Sen turned to the Chaos Actor, who was oddly still standing by. But definitely not advancing for open combat. That¡¯s ok ... I can make the first move.

    But first things needed to come first.

    Sen cast a dark look on the hovering chaos actor. ¡°Custom dictates that I Introduce myself before making a formal provocation. I am Senyak Marztanak, second-seeded heir of the Polar Neutral Iteration and the Marztanak Hegemony. The Immortal Masters have empowered me to enforce censure upon your actions in this iteration and the surrounding cuboid to prevent the wrongful harvesting of mortal soul Essence at the multiversal level. I issue a formal challenge of duel to you. Prepare for combat.¡±

    Sen slipped into a physical combat stance. The position felt foreign and incomplete. He¡¯d trained with physical combat very briefly. But he had never actually used it. But that didn¡¯t matter. Sen let a grim smile touch his face. The adharmic¡ªEvil... Yes, evil cultivator, could clearly sense that Sen was at least one full stage more advanced in his cultivation level. This confrontation would be remarkably short regardless of who struck first.

    But, instead of fighting, Chaotic bowed his head and spoke. ¡°I accept and agree to the duel. I sense that you are not an unreasonable being. Please hear me out before we begin.¡± The Chaos Actor looked up and adopted a friendly smile with his hands spread wide in anticipation.

    Sen shifted uncomfortably at this turn of events, though he nodded for the Chaotic to continue without moving from his stance.

    ¡°Excellent!  I¡¯m not an unreasonable man either¨Cand I admit that your arrival at this time had caught me at a delicate time.  I request only that you allow me a short interval, two Ka nexus rotations, to prepare for our duel in order to ensure that it is an honorable one.¡± The tall, brooding avatar nodded in concession to Sen¡¯s superior combat abilities. ¡°As you are aware, I¡¯m not a combat specialist. I am sure you agree; there can be no glory for you in crushing a weaker opponent who is also unprepared.¡± The Immortal finished placatingly with his head bowed and hands held palm up to his sides.

    Sen looked intensely at the Chaotic. While all that was true, Sen had no doubt the Chaotic wanted the extra time to consolidate his ill-gotten gains.

    That was unacceptable.

    Sen shook his head negatively and advanced¨C

    The chaos actor held up both hands and backed away as quickly as he started talking, ¡°And in concession for the needed time to fight with honor, I will agree not to mention to my Master review panel that a certain someone attacked me with unprovoked Immortal force!¡±

    That got Sen¡¯s attention, and almost without thinking, his body stopped moving forward. This would keep any stain from Damni¡¯s records. Sen needed that to clear up his mistake. He straightened in front of the cowering Chaotic. ¡°You would swear a binding Ka oath to not mention that ... unfortunate misunderstanding?¡±

    A wide smile spread the chaos actor¡¯s dark features. ¡°Of course! The standard twenty-five percent?¡± He asked, extending his hand for the exchange of Ka to perform the oath.¡±

    ¡°Thirty!¡± Sen barked, extending his hand.

    ¡°Before Karma, Balance, and Reality, I bind thirty percent of my Immortal Ka to the agreement between us. In exchange for postponing our duel two Ka nexus rotations, I will not inform anyone that I was attacked with Immortal force by you.¡±

    ¡°Agreed.¡± Sen clasped his hand, and a small portion of his Ka was transferred to the Actor along his meridians to serve as witness to the binding oath. Sen looked on with a raised brow. If the Chaotic ever did tell anyone, Karma would remove the bound Ka, thirty percent of his cultivation permanently.

    Sen thinned his lids and tilted his head at the Immortal. ¡°Very well, two Ka Nexus rotations, Fifty solar rotations of this planet at this location. Sen leaned forward to the Immortal who still stood in the same position. ¡°... Don¡¯t make me come looking for you!¡±

    The Chaotic bowed his head again. ¡°As you say.¡± Then, translocated away.

    Sen looked up to Damni with a sheepish expression. She gazed back with an unreadable look.

    Sen did need to wrap up the mission quickly before anyone got even a hint that he might have been lax in his responsibilities as a seeded heir. While he could spare a handful of Ka Nexus rotations, each being twenty-five of the local life-bearing planet¡¯s solar rotations or ¡®years.¡¯ Any more than that, and his superiors and inferiors both would begin to question his actions. Before he knew it, his seedency seat would be vulnerable to a challenge from those under him. All eighteen of his younger siblings would be desperate for the chance.

    Despite the gnawing feeling that the Chaotic had come out ahead in the postponement of the duel, Sen couldn¡¯t deny that it would be a simple matter to ¡®take care¡¯ of such a minor character. Time wasn¡¯t going to change that, especially such a short window of time. The evil cultivator would never be Sen¡¯s match. Not now, not in two rotations. Not in two hundred or two thousand. Senyak, like all in his father¡¯s line, had focused his Immortal Ka as a combat specialist. And even among such specialists, Sen was a particularly capable warrior. He would trounce the adharmic¨C evil genocidal cur in a duel. Once defeated, Sen would beat the Chaotic until he was in a state of Ka exhaustion and then moribund him back for review by the Masters and likely loss of his Immortal Transcendence... probably permanently. Sen would then return to the Immortal Core iterations before he was missed. Whether it happened now or in two Ka Nexus Rotations¡­What could go wrong?

    Sen glared for one more moment at the chaos agent to establish that he meant business, then translocated back to Damni and put the evil Immortal out of his mind.

    The truth was that he and Damni could use the fifty solar rotations¨C

    ¡°That¡¯s years, Sen-honey, years...¡±

    ¡°Yes, Damni...years¨C¡± for much-needed time alone to get away from it all. He would also be about to focus on his physical combat techniques. Sen had to admit they were sorely lacking.

    During this time, their union could truly grow strong. Damni, who had Transcended to Immortality by rising through the levels of mortal cultivation from a physical-matter iteration like the one they were presently in. She showed Sen many things concerning physical communion with their Ka bond, Marriage... yes Damni... marriage, that were unique to existing in physical form.

    Unlike Damni, Sen had been actualized as an Immortal through the joined wills of his progenitors. He didn¡¯t have her past mortal experiences and had certainly not known that such physical joining was possible. Whether in the dense core of a singularity, inside the swirling tempest of local gas giants, even between the galaxies and free of all forces... the variations were all unquestionably worthy! As their time waiting for the duel came to an end, they made a promise to each other to take the time to come back to this backwater iteration and further explore these joining aspects.

 Chapter 3

    * * * * *

    Fifty Years Later

    Well-rested and ready to move on, Sen returned to the blue planet at the time marked for the duel. It was precisely then that Sen realized his plan had fallen to pieces. The chaos agent hadn¡¯t shown up for the duel. He had also diffused his Ka signature to untraceable levels with some mortal-level Techno-Lord device so they couldn¡¯t track him again. How could mortal-grade technology obfuscate an Ethos Combi? It was unthinkable!

    Ethos Combis were constructs that linked an Immortal¡¯s Ka with all matter, energy, context, and meaning in an iteration or surrounding iterations. Combis calculated the probabilities of events, provided locations of all items, as well as being capable of providing knowledge of all outcomes from any performed or anticipated actions. In short, the information and knowledge provided through the Combi¡¯s link via the Immortal¡¯s Ka was a large part of what made Immortals so much more powerful than mortals.

    Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of Sen¡¯s troubles. Unable to track the chaos agent, Sen physically searched for him on all the planets in the local iterations. Despite their best efforts, over the next five hundred¡­ ¡®years¡¯, that was the word¨CSen continued to be outwitted. Always one step behind, he failed to stop the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. His death led to the inevitable rise of a despot and a particularly distasteful mortal, Adolf Hitler, with a 94% probability of occurrence.  Sen also failed to stop the rise of mortal leaders who were almost equally dissatisfactory and went by the names of Stalin, Pol Pot, and Hussein.

    It was the constraints of the Protocols that were causing Sen the most problems. He could only act directly against another Immortal. He had no authority to directly impose his will on the actions and activities of mortal lives, or he would expose himself to the same retribution that his target had, with the very important exception that the Immortal sent against Sen would be able to find him. That led Sen to shift his focus on finding the technology or organization that was hiding the Chaotic¨Call with similarly disastrous results.

    After 20 Ka Nexus rotations, 500 years... Yes, Damni... 500 years, it was becoming clear that the dark and brooding chaos agent was finalizing his soul Essence collection. Ethos Combi estimates were that the evil bastard had filled approximately 92 percent of his soul-gathering array from the local multiverse iterations.

    In true iterational balance, Sen was also nearing the end of his abilities and hopes. Ultimately, Sen turned to Damni for help¡ªwho, until then, had been letting him lead their floundering mission while she quietly bid her time. It was unspoken between them that the shame would be just as great for Sen whether he failed or Damni was responsible for the chaos agent¡¯s capture... But at this point, Sen just wanted him stopped. He needed her help to do it, and he needed it right now.

    And like the best of Ka bonds, she was ready to step in and help him.

    ¡°It¡¯s about time, honey,¡± she said in a kind tone while rubbing his shoulders. ¡°You know, you¡¯re cute when you¡¯re playing detective.¡± Her smile was bright and uniquely endearing as she flattened his nose gently with an extended finger. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely terrible at it but still cute. Alright, lover mine,¡± her smile transformed into a simultaneously serious and playful smirk.  ¡°You¡¯d better clean out your ears because we¡¯ve got a lot of catching up to do.¡±

    Sen returned her caring gaze as she looked down into his eyes from her oval face. The form she chose in this physical iteration had pale blue skin with an elongated head that gently swayed on a thin, elegant, telescoping neck. The entirety of her avatar continuously waved as if gently pulled in an oscillating underwater current.

    Sen eagerly listened as Damni continued.

    ¡°I have high probability data on where the chaos agent must move to finish his plans. Currently, his Anima Array is 92 percent complete per Combi assessment. I have also trended the occurrence and total Anima absorption of the ongoing genocide events over the last seventy-five years.

    ¡°There is one positive thing of note. It seems that the effort spent hiding from us has slowed the chaos agent. As the current time stream plays out, there will be a significant downturn in Chaos and overall lives lost to genocide. In fact, the probability models predict that there will be a complete cessation of genocidal events in this iteration by the year 2035. This downturn is due to globalization of commerce, media technology, and decreases in the at-risk population of victims. His need to avoid us has denied him enough time to destabilize these native trends, so stabilization against genocide is on the upswing. The result is that he is now facing diminishing returns on his investments in this iteration and the cuboid as a whole.¡±

    Damni paused and checked a data stream she had transferred over to his tablet after he¡¯d finally caved and asked for her help. ¡°If these current trends remain unchanged, the chaos agent will be forced to retreat with an incomplete Array. This will cost him a lot of Essence when he moves to harvest it. Likely more than half of what he has gathered. Either that, or he will again have to make a move to enhance and increase the probability of genocide events.¡± She winked at Sen. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three guesses which one the models predict he¡¯s going to do, and the first two don¡¯t count! This is our chance.¡±

    Sen was very good at battlefield strategies, assessing the capabilities of enemies, and hitting things. He was very good at hitting things. However, for complex matters of multiversal physics that included probability assessments of future actions, Sen relied on his Combi and Damni. To put it simply, Sen¡¯s strengths began and ended with combat and tactics. As to his capabilities of strategic analysis and implementation? Well, Sen would never say that he¡¯d married Damni for her brains¨Cnot if he wanted to keep his insides on the inside, but he¡¯d be banished from Transcendence if that beautiful mind of hers didn¡¯t factor into his fascination with the incredible Immortal that she was.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Blinking, he shook off the strange thoughts and returned to being thoroughly flabbergasted at his wife¡¯s debrief. Trying not to let his avatar¡¯s mouth gape like a water-dwelling creature Fish... yes Damni... fish beached on the shore. He sat on the edge of his seat in anticipation of learning precisely what Damni¡¯s interpretation of the situation would be and what he needed to do about it.

    He nodded, attempting to look thoughtful and informed. ¡°Of course. That¡¯s our chance to¡­¡±

    That was as far as he got.

    The fact that Sen was out of his depth had obviously not escaped Damni. She chuckled good-naturedly and smiled as she spelled it out, ¡°All of the models point toward a lone human woman as the single most potent pivot point in the shift away from Chaos and toward stability. Assuming the chaos agent doesn¡¯t want to lose half of his Essence harvest, he will have to expunge this woman who goes on to create an organization that funds education, provides medical access, and feeding services to the victims of poverty. These very populations are the ones that historically and statistically go on to upset a given status quo of a civilization. It is the young and disenfranchised who see their ¡®only option¡¯ to a better future is to burn down the existing societal structures and start over to create a ¡®better¡¯ one. Her actions greatly reduce the number of potential victims of genocide and, thus, the total number of souls the chaos agent can harvest. She is the origin motivator who decreases and ultimately eliminates genocide in this corner of the multiverse! If the chaos agent wants to reach his goal, he needs to eliminate her.¡±

    Sen¡¯s eyes bulged out as he swallowed with a dry throat. Even he understood that the greedy bugger wasn¡¯t going to lose half of his ill-gotten gains.

    We have him at last! Or at least we know where the end game was going to take place. Sen also knew that knowing where the chaos agent would have to focus his efforts would allow their Combis to once again detect his Immortal signature.

    Sen tasked his Combi to track the chaos agent with Damni¡¯s data... it chimed immediately.

    Sen¡¯s face went grim. The Chaotic was currently on the move. He had already expunged the young woman Damni had just told Sen about in four of the twenty-seven iterations that composed the local cuboid.

    Anxiety tinged Sen¡¯s voice as he informed Damni that they were again falling behind the chaos agent. ¡°Damni, we are almost too late! The chaos agent has started eliminating her in the nearby iterations and has already expunged¨Cno, ¡®killed¡¯... yes... killed, the female origin motivator four times!¡±

    Damni¡¯s head jerked up, jolting her thin blue braids. With several rapid communications to her Combi, she confirmed Sen¡¯s data. Her eyes narrowed, and her thin jaw set stiffly, ¡°The Chaotic is moving to remedy the diminishing Anima returns by forcing her death to become the native result in the rest of the local multiverse via iterational overflow! It¡¯s going to work, too, if we don¡¯t act now and save the majority of them in this cuboid!¡±

    The principle of iterational overflow followed the concept of a simple majority. In this case, if the young female origin motivator¡¯s existence continued in a majority of the iterations that formed the local cuboid, then the native Fate of stopping genocide would continue. Even if the origin motivator were not present in the minority of iterations, in the fulfillment of time, Karma would move in all twenty-seven of the iterations of that cuboid to adopt the majority outcome. There was a saying among Immortals because of this phenomenon that ¡®Karma finds a way¡¯. Regardless, simply keeping the woman alive in the majority of iterations would be enough to thwart the chaos agent¡¯s plans. That meant Sen had to save the origin motivator¡¯s life and continue her existence in at least fourteen of the twenty-seven iterations of this cuboid.

    Not that I¡¯m even going to allow things to get that far, Sen thought to himself, closing his fists so tightly his knuckles popped. I''ve got the cowardly bastard cornered, and it¡¯s my turn now!

    As usual, Sen was running out of time. The chaos agent had already eliminated four of his targets. Sen was down to only twenty-three living young women in the local cuboid¡¯s twenty-seven iterations. It went without saying that with his imposed limitations, he could only be in one place at a time ... If Sen failed to protect this young woman ten more times, all was lost.

    They needed to move fast. Sen jumped up and flew to the pilot¡¯s chair. He began to quickly flick various toggles and switches as sweat beaded his forehead.

    ¡°Sweetie¡­¡±

    A voice cut through his emotional turmoil. Uh oh. That tone never works out in my favor.

    Where are you going?¡± Damni said, too innocently.

    ¡°Huh... I¡¯m... we¡¯re going to stop the chaos agent... Aren¡¯t we...?¡±

    ¡°Of course, not honey ...¡± Her voice lowered into the octaves that indicated Sen was in serious danger of being tragically wrong about something he was also completely unaware of. ¡°You didn¡¯t let me finish my debrief. You did want my help after all, didn¡¯t you?¡± Her voice regained that deadly too-innocent quality that simply screamed a warning, ¡®Just try and answer this question wrong. I dare you.¡¯

    Sen did a double take at Damni¡¯s response, and she continued. ¡°He¡¯s not directly interfering with the time stream, is he? No, he¡¯s not. You know the Principal Master¡¯s Penta Protocol as well as I do. We can only interfere in the mortal iterations to the degree that the chaos agent does. If he doesn¡¯t appear in a physical avatar, neither can we¡ª.¡±

    ¡°Wait, you mean he¡¯s not actually¨C¡±

    ¡°Of course not.¡± Damni scoffed. ¡°Based on the analysis of whatever technology has been hiding the Chaotic¡¯s movements up until this point¨Cif he¡¯d have taken direct action, we¡¯d have found him long before now. Which means¡­¡±

    Sen¡¯s shoulders slumped, one finger stilling against the ceiling panel that would have activated their transport. ¡°... It means he¡¯s been using cat¡¯s paws, manipulation, and proxies.¡±

    Damni patted Sen proudly on his head.  ¡°¡ªSo far, the Chaotic is only instigating Ka dominion of mortal minds. And by possessing the minds and souls, he is having the onsite mortals kill her. Unless and until he moves directly... here we have to stay, sweetums.¡± Damni finished with a raised eyebrow, her arms crossed over her chest.

    The infrequently seen but well-known recalcitrant posture of Damni destroyed Sen¡¯s short-lived hopes with more finality than a fleet of Star Negators.

    Sen dropped silently. She was right. He had no viable objection to what she had said.

    Hopeless, his head banged against the console in front of him.

    Sen and Damni would have to defeat the chaos agent from right here... by basically talking the nearby involved mortals through it.

    Sen¡¯s head banged the console again, harder this time... He was... absolutely fucked ... Yes, fucked.

    * * * * *

 Chapter 4

    The chaos agent had chosen to strike at the young female origin motivator in a closed space with no chance of escape. Six other mortals were present as potential Ka dominion possession victims for him to kill her with. As yet, all probability models indicated that the chaos agent had not, and most likely would not, directly intervene. He had chosen this path to avoid dealing with Sen in direct combat.

    The chaos agent had also correctly determined that Sen wouldn¡¯t match his actions by direct possessive Ka dominion. Sen really couldn¡¯t. Ka dominion, a very effective way to accomplish one¡¯s goals via mortal agency, caused the expungement of¨Ckilling of¨Cthe mortal by severing their soul tether. It was an adharmi¡ªevil action. Performing adharmic activities would be an irreversible choice for Senyak. It would start him down the adharmic cultivation pathways and prevent him from maintaining his status as heir. It would likely get him banished from his family and their controlled iterations.

    Sen gritted his teeth. In my introduction, I gave him this information about myself at the duel I challenged him to. He is strategically using what I foolishly considered innocuous. Sen¡¯s cheeks burned at the excellent reminder that there were more weapons than merely those held in your hands.

    It was plain the actor knew more about Sen and how to manipulate that information than the inverse. Sen could not deny the actor¡¯s ability to leverage a favorable battleground through manipulation. Senyak¡¯s earliest combat instructors¡¯ teachings haunted him from some of his earliest memories.

    ¡°If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained, you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.¡±

    So far, Senyak had succumbed in every battle...

    To change this, Sen needed knowledge. He put his Combi to work. It chimed and informed him of all the weapons in the boxed lifter. Elevator, that the young female was being attacked in. There was very little. A large pair of hand shears from the bag of an elderly lady. Several flat yet hard communication devices¨Ccellular phones¨Ccould be used to bludgeon like rocks. A few metal-shod writing implements. Two leather belts. Lastly, there was a metal and plastic four-legged stand that an elder used for support. A Walker¡­ An interesting item, but given the space limitations, it was of minimal use.

    The elevator¡¯s occupants were even less helpful.

    ¡ªThe target. The young female origin motivator stood in the right back corner, talking on her cell phone. For this battle, she was a nonissue. Karma entwined Senyak, the chaos agent and the origin motivator. The chaos agent could not just take her via possessive Ka dominion and have her jump off a roof or slit her wrists. If he did, Karma¡¯s Balance would replace her with another unidentified origin motivator to perform what she would have accomplished if not for the violation of her Karma. Such actions would put the actor back to square one.

    ¡ªTwo males. Both had no combat training. One was an elder, seventy-five solar rotations¡ª years, weighing less than fifty kilograms and walking with the four-footed... walker. He stood at the left back wall. He had one of the steel-shod pens in his vest. The second was a middle-aged and heavyset man weighing 120 kilograms. He stood in the back middle next to the origin motivator.

    ¡ªFour women of varying ages. From nineteen to sixty-eight years old and weighing between fifty-five to ninety-four kilograms. The most senior lady, at sixty-eight years, had the large hand shears in her bag, standing in the front center and weighing sixty-five kilos.

    The last finding was¡ª

    ¡ªAnomalous reading: 0.04 percent chance of occurrence per iteration.

    Sen reviewed the Combi¡¯s information. There was no knowing what the fourth line meant without more investigation. He asked Damni to follow up on it while he attempted to devise a strategy before the chaos agent moved on to another iteration.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    Not a lot to work with here, were Sen¡¯s first, second, and, unfortunately, last thoughts. Unless he came up with something he wasn¡¯t currently seeing, the chaos agent would wade through these humans, reach down the young girl¡¯s throat, and tear her heart out.

    Sen¡¯s Combi chimed. It had identified the next iteration the actor was targeting.

    Sen chose the origin motivator, who was currently speaking on her cellphone, as the mortal he would reach out and communicate mentally with. Upon later reflection, he realized that this had likely been a poor choice.

    * * * * *

    ¡°... I don¡¯t know, baby... I guess we can get together after class today... But what will you do for me to make it worth it?¡±

    ¡°Hello, hello! Young female origin motivator in the yellow dress. Your life is in danger. You must act defensively immediately!¡±

    ¡°You perv! This is a private conversation! Get off this line!¡±

    ¡°What? Line?¡ª You don¡¯t understand! Your life is in danger! You need to rally support to fight off the chaos act¡ª¡±

    ¡°¡ªYour life is in danger when my boyfriend finds out where you live! Jack?! Can you hear this guy? Kick his ass Ja¡ªGlaacck...¡±

    Two wet thunks and a sudden snap ended the conversation as the fat man next to the origin motivator gouged out her eyes and broke her neck with three quick movements.

    ¡°... Maybe physically accelerating the next target¡¯s responses will give you some more time to talk with them...¡± Damni quietly suggested.

    In the next two iterations, Sen attempted to recruit the fat man to defend the girl. Damni had been right about physically accelerating the mortals. It had changed the outcome, but not positively. Instead, it resulted in not only the origin motivator¡¯s expungement but several other elevator occupants dying as well.

    The chaos agent had not been able to dominate the fat man¡¯s psyche because of Sen¡¯s very brief and useless mental linking. Instead, the actor chose the elderly lady with the shears. Ultimately, the elder had disabled the young woman with rapid strikes to the trachea and shattered her skull against the metal back wall of the elevator. The large hand shears had been left deep in the carotid artery of the fat man as he tried and failed to hold the elderly woman back.

    Most unfortunately, now the chaos agent knew Senyak was on to him. As Sen feared, this significantly worsened things.

    Seven iterations left to stop him.

    Two more times, Sen attempted to recruit the fat man and instruct him in basic striking and self-defense. Sen¡¯s efforts achieved only negligible results. The few seconds he had for instruction before the chaos agent moved in were just not enough to make a difference.

    With so many iterations lost, a clear pattern of the chaos agent¡¯s movements became clear. He systematically went down the metaphysical lines from left to right, superior to inferior within the local cuboid¡¯s structure. Even after he had learned of Sen¡¯s interference, the actor had only laughed and mocked Senyak, continuing to slaughter all of the mortals in the elevator because he knew Senyak was watching.

    ¡°C¡¯mon Senyak, great and mighty second-seeded heir of the noble Marztanak Hegemony! Wouldn¡¯t it be truly dharmic and right¡ª not to mention honorable, to simply accept your ineptitude and failure rather than refusing to see that you have lost? All you are doing is increasing these mortals¡¯ suffering... ¡°

    Sen didn¡¯t respond.

    ¡°... No? Well then, let me show you exactly what I mean!¡±

    The chaos agent then proceeded to mutilate every elevator occupant, leaving them conscious as they bled out. The fat man Senyak had linked to begged Sen to do something... anything... before succumbing to unconsciousness and meaningless death.

    Five iterations left.

    Sen then tried to interact with the old lady, which only resulted in the fat man taking the shears away from her, killing everyone in the elevator, and then dying himself at the end of the dominion.

    ¡°Surely you see that these mortals are just resources for us to use. This is not murder, Senyak. I¡¯m just reaping wheat to make bread, for Transcendence¡¯s sake!¡±

    Four iterations left.

    Damni reached over tentatively with a hand and placed it on his forearm. ¡°Sen, you need to see something concerning the anomaly I have been looking into. If the chaos agent continues in his current pattern, in four iterations, there are eight people in the elevator, not seven. This anomalous male is a survivor of a violent attack that left him dead in 99.96 percent of all iterations at a very early age. He¡¯s also carrying a briefs case, which I believe will significantly change the probability outcomes compared to how things have occurred so far.¡±

    The next three iterations proceeded in a grimly familiar fashion, consisting mainly of mocking comments, laughter, bloodshed, slaughter¨Cmore laughter, and two comments about the insufficiency of Senyak¡¯s avatar¡¯s genitalia¡­

    One iteration left to stop him...

 Chapter 5

    Josh walked down the winding path that led out of the park with much more purpose than when he had arrived. He crossed over the manicured Saint Augustine grass and exited under the shady lady, sycamore, and cypress trees, heading to the fifty-story building that housed the FSU satellite campus. On his way, Josh joined dozens of summer students who walked and laughed with each other. Much like Josh, each of them was oblivious to the grander events occurring.

    The Sun¡¯s increasing heat beat down, and Josh moved with quick strides to save his shirt from the summer¡¯s ardor. He led a pack of students and faculty on the sidewalk¡¯s edge as he sprinted across the street with the light change. Gratefully, Josh entered the skyrise¡¯s air-conditioned lobby, where a quick check of his pits revealed a passable situation. He swept past the security desk mostly unnoticed. The overweight but friendly guard had his nose buried in one of his duty logs and only absently returned Josh¡¯s wave.

    Josh caught the elevator at the last second as its doors were closing. He slid into the last open spot near the front right-facing buttons and pushed the forty-sixth floor. Then he lowered his briefcase to keep it out of the way in the nearly full elevator.

    Glancing around, Josh smiled warmly to Sadie on his right. She was the late sixty-something-year-old satellite school¡¯s head receptionist and had always been polite to him. Nodding to him with her silently administrative Mona Lisa smile, Sadie closed her eyes for the ride up to her floor.

    As the elevator started to rise, Josh began organizing his thoughts on Palsgraf v Long Island Railroad, Chief Judge Ben Cardozo¡¯s seminal case ¡ª

    ¡ªWhite light exploded across Josh¡¯s vision. What felt like ice picks stabbing through his eyes from inside his skull stunned all his thoughts into submission. A young male voice, speaking at a nearly literal mind-blowing eruption of volume in his cranium!

    ¡°Techno-Lord piece of crap... Damni, you know how much longer this has taken than we anticipated. Without question, my inferiors will move to challenge me for failing to stop the chaos agent¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sen... honey! You¡¯re live.¡±

    ¡°Wha-what? Of course I¡¯m alive... Is there a mortal alternative I¡¯m missing?¡±

    Josh could practically feel the female voice''s eyes roll, as she enunciated as you would with someone who had no idea what was going on. ¡°You are now communicating with the mortal anomaly, Joshua Elias Tanner.¡±

    ¡°Oh... Oh! Hello, Human With The Case Of Briefs. Can you hear me? Joshua Elias Tanner, I am speaking to you!¡±

    The incredible volume again split through Josh¡¯s consciousness, leaving him dumbfounded in the agony of a cluster headache piled on top of a migraine, all wrapped up in what felt like a claw hammer smashing the back of his skull in. Josh blinked slowly and braced himself against the front elevator wall with his right hand. Absently, he felt what must have been blood slowly dripping down from his left ear.

    Then, gratefully, the female spoke again. Much more quietly and with a voice Josh would describe as kind.

    ¡°Yes, Sen, it¡¯s working. You need to back up from the transmitter and adjust your psychic output... Or you will most likely rupture his cortex, sweetie.¡±

    A momentary pixilated mental image flashed through Josh¡¯s mind. It was composed of black dots on a white field, showing a thin hand with several fingers bearing a few too many joints reaching over to pat¨Costensibly, Sen¡¯s shoulder with approval and stayed there reassuringly.

    Sen was, apparently, the male voice. His image also consisted of black pixilated dots on a white field. From what Josh could tell, Sen was a mostly bald young male with a long topknot that swung wildly with his energetic movements. Seeming to relax at the touch of the female voice¡¯s hand, Sen turned forward, smiling. The move gave Josh a momentarily pixilated full view of a face with Asian features.

    ¡°Oh... Oh! Right! Sorry!¡±

    Still speaking with a brain-crushing volume that was no less than the first time, Sen¡¯s words made pain do a slam dance inside Josh¡¯s head again. With eyes freely watering, Josh rubbed his temples with both hands, absently letting his briefcase slide to his feet. He also accidentally leaned against the elevator¡¯s buttons, causing several additional low-level floors to light up.

    Sadie¡¯s eyes narrowed and were briefly concerned as she looked at Josh¡¯s crumpling form. Seeing he wasn¡¯t immediately going to fall over, however, she looked away and started muttering about law professors with too much time on their hands.

    Another pixilated flash showed a strong hand, with the standard four fingers, one thumb, and three finger joints adjusting two knobs and a toggle.

    Sen then spoke again. Still in a loud voice, but much less than the previous mind-splitting air horn range.

    ¡°Okay, okay, okay! Listen! We only have a little time, mortal. I¡¯m going to speed up your perception and reaction speeds while I explain things. I don¡¯t want to run into the same problems I did in the previous iterations, where everyone died¡ªthe delicate hand on his shoulder visibly squeezed, causing Sen to wince briefly. Um, I mean...Where we... failed, I mean. You will feel a little lightheaded, and your heart rate will increase. Don¡¯t worry. We will be done long before your internal organs lose molecular cohesion from the strain.¡±

    Josh had an idle thought as to just how much damage could be caused to his body before his internal organs ¡®lost molecular cohesion,¡¯ but fortunately, the excruciating pain in his skull only allowed the thought briefly before it was washed away by continuing events.

    His vision suddenly swam as he felt what he could only describe as the center of his brain releasing. He also experienced two sharp, but not quite painful, feelings from his flanks above the kidneys.

    ¡°There. Now, your metabolic and sex hormones, catecholamines, and the endocrine proteins from your pituitary, thyroid, testes, adrenal glands, and pancreas are all maximized. We have also increased your cells¡¯ endocrine receptors with an organic stasis field limited to within the space of your physical body. I had to manipulate a portion of your mitochondria to produce the necessary result. The stasis will prevent the reabsorption of these biologics for the next few minutes. You should notice you are moving and thinking faster, while everyone around you will be acting much more slowly to your perception.¡± Sen¡¯s pixilated image seemed distracted, and he mumbled a final sentence out of the corner of his mouth. ¡°... The post-acceleration side effects of the various adjustments will wear off¡­ Probably.¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°What?! What side effects¨C¡± But whatever Josh was going to complain about was forgotten as he realized that Sen was certainly correct about his perception being accelerated. As Josh turned his head, he saw that everyone in the elevator¡¯s body movements were much slower and far more deliberate than just a few seconds ago. The lights indicating the elevator¡¯s floor change were now taking much longer between switching as the car climbed. Even the scowling Sadie seemed to mutter in slow motion as her lips puckered and frowned in distaste. She even seemed to recoil belatedly to what must have looked like the very disjointed and rapid movement of Josh¡¯s head as it turned to her.

    I must look like a crack tweaker in a mosh pit to her. Josh realized.

    Sen¡¯s voice continued. ¡°There is a young female origin motivator with curly dark hair wearing a yellow dress in that vertically ascending metal car¨CElevator... Yes, Damni... Elevator... I am sorry! I¡¯m just a little bit excited here! She has been targeted for expungement¡ªer¡­ death in your common parlance. In twelve seconds, an evil Chaotic will purge the soul tether¡­¡± Damni leaned down, her lips moving against Sen¡¯s ear. ¡°What? They don¡¯t know about soul tethers? I knew this was a backwater, but this is¡­ Fine¡­ yes Damni. No Damni, I do want to stop him¡­ Possession? But that has nothing¡­ no Damni, possession works just fine¡­¡± Sen turned toward Josh once more. ¡°Human. The agent of chaos will, ah... possess the mind of the old lady next to you. He will then use her body as a vessel for his physical intervention. This actor will most likely use the shears the old woman is carrying to attack you... Is that the correct terminology, Damni, old woman?¡±

    Another pixilated flash. Damni nodded affirmatively to Sen.

    ¡°Yes. The old woman to your left will use the desk shears to cut her way through you all to get to the girl and expunge¡ªkill her. This will result in the death of billions upon billions of mortals in your iteration and will be compounded within the twenty-six associated iterations of this cuboid cluster. The effects may even extend further out three to four clusters deep. You need to stop her! Your portable shield is the reason we have chosen you... Your case of briefs... Is that the right word, Damni?¡±

    A pixelated flash of Damni¡¯s confirming nod. ¡°It¡¯s called a briefs case, but it¡¯s fine dear.¡± Josh noted at least three pigtails were shaking as her head moved on a long, thin, telescoping neck. She patted him encouragingly. ¡°You¡¯re doing great honey, keep going.¡±

    ¡°Yes, your case of briefs... Which you have bafflingly dropped¡­ Damni, you¡¯re sure this is¨C¡± Damni whispered more words into Sen¡¯s ear as the man nodded. ¡°I understand that. It¡¯s just that he doesn¡¯t understand the importance of his case of briefs!¡±

    Damni straightened, a small smile growing on her face. ¡°I think you should try and explain that to him, honey.¡±

    Sen nodded, straightening his shoulders. ¡°Listen to me very carefully, Joshua Elias Tanner. The next few moments will determine whether you, along with billions of others, will live or die. Your case of briefs! Pick it up right now!¡±

    Despite the surrealism of the situation, for some reason, Josh did lean down and pick up his briefcase. Holding the thick, worn leather brought him a sense of security. He hugged it to his chest while praying that the voices and visions in his head would go away...

    Sadly, there was no such luck.

    ¡°Because of your case of briefs, our Ethos Combi predicts that you have a fourteen percent probabi... er... a much better chance than anyone in this, not to mention all previous iterations of stopping the chaos agent¡¯s first selection for his Ka dominion. You are an outlier existence and only have a manifested physical presence in less than 0.04 percent of all iterations at this point in your local timeline.

    ¡°Also, please note that the chaos agent, while not a combat specialist, is a very clever Immortal. His choice of Ka dominion will not be limited to their usual mortal physical abilities. The dominion will be significantly faster than is typical for her age and normal capabilities. She will also benefit from the chaos agent¡¯s knowledge and understanding. To stop this old woman, you must dig deep and carry it... err... I mean... send it!... Is that the right choice of terms, Damni?¡±

    There was another pixelated flash, Damni again nodding affirmatively.

    ¡°Ahem. Indeed. Now listen. Are you ready? We have less than eight of your seconds in local physical time before the chaos agent forms his Ka dominion. From there, he will likely attempt to penetrate your jugular veins and carotid arteries with the ten-inch desk shears the old woman carries. If you have any questions or comments, now is your chance. If not, and you are ready, please acknowledge that you are! ¡ª I think we have done it this time, Damni!¡±

    Josh tried to speak, but only a tiny choking sound escaped his constricted throat. Only one thought made it through his hormone-accelerated consciousness.

    I¡¯ve gone insane! It was bound to happen, I suppose. My separation finally cracked my mind and trapped me in a cheap James Cameron-John Daly rip-off delusion.

    ¡°Whoa! Whoa! No, Joshua Elias Tanner, you are not insane. You are moderately sane for your species, I assure you¨C¡±

    Damni swatted him hard on the arm.

    ¡°Ow!¡± Sen exclaimed. ¡°What? Well, he is!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s rude, dear.¡± Damni turned toward Josh. ¡°What my simple-minded husband means is that¨Cyes, while you are currently exhibiting signs of emotional distress to a degree which has been known to mentally compromise your species, our data indicates that you are coping admirably.¡± Damni gave him a bright smile and a thumbs up with a digit that had far too many knuckles. ¡°Well done, Josh!¡±

    ¡°As I was saying,¡± Sen continued. ¡°You are sane¡­ enough.¡± Damni glared warningly at the strange man. ¡°That is¨Cyou are certainly not insane.¡± Sen conceded to Damni with raised shoulders, then turned back to face Josh. ¡°...You are, however, our last chance to stop this loss of mortal life throughout your local iterational cuboid. If the origin motivator¡ªthe young woman, is expunged in one more iteration... The changes that prevent local multiversal genetic cleansing that I mentioned¡ª¡± There was a bright pixelated flash of Sen leaning over to the side and stage whispering to Damni. ¡°... I did mention those, didn¡¯t I, Damni¡­¡± She simply gave him a look. He waved it off, turning back to Josh. ¡°Never mind!

    ¡°If the origin motivator gets expunged in that metal contraption, her origin intention will never reach the critical metaphysical weight necessary for overflow to the adjacent iterations. This is true even if we succeed in all the remaining iterations. Humanity will suffer the loss of billions, maybe trillions, from genocide!

    ¡°I have failed to stop this chaos agent for the last five hundred of your solar rotations... Years... Yes, years. This is my last chance... You are my last chance!¡±

    Joshua¡¯s eyes glazed over at the ridiculous explanation. He only understood the part about not being insane. As for the rest... He could understand the words... but they had no contextual meaning.

    One thing Josh knew for sure... He wasn¡¯t going to stop anyone with his briefcase, that was for damn sure. Not even Sadie. Genocide? What did that even mean? Death of trillions? If he remembered his facts right, there were only about eight billion people on Earth!

    There was another pixelated flash to Sen¡¯s scrunched-up face with tense shoulders.

    ¡°Damni, I think I broke him. Did I break him?¡± He raised his pixilated hands palm-up in apparent disbelief. ¡°Why is it like this every time? I¡¯ve been clear and succinct. I¡¯ve incorporated all of the relevant information¨C Aren¡¯t lawyers supposed to be intelligent members of their species? I got clearer replies from the origin motivator who called me a pervert ... whatever that is?¡± Sen shot a look to the side, ¡°... Is it possible that no one in this species has adequate instincts to survive?¡±

    A moment passed and Sen rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ¡°How can I fix this¡­ ¡®lawyer?¡± Another accelerated moment went by. Sen then cleared his throat and started speaking slowly, carefully enunciating each word as you would to a particularly slow child about to jump into a tank filled with hungry sharks.

    ¡°Listen to me, Joshua Elias Tanner! Unless you stop her in four Earth seconds, the lady to your left will take her scissors out and start killing everyone in your elevator... And she will likely start with you! She is a highly skilled and deadly martial arts expert. She will slaughter you all if you don¡¯t act now! When she takes out her scissors, smash her skull with your case of briefs! Got it?¡±

 Chapter 6

    Josh didn¡¯t move.

    There was another pixelated flash with the volume completely turned off. Sen was jumping up and down, alternating between smashing his fists against his own bald skull and the console in front of him.

    The next pixilated flash showed Sen as he leaned in close to Damni and whispered, ¡°...Do you think I¡¯ve obliterated his mentation? My Combi predicts only a four percent chance of survival if he doesn¡¯t strike her down first...¡±

    Josh slid over against the sidewall and away from Sadie, looking at her in horror. She turned slowly to him at the reduced speed of everyone else in the elevator. Her eyes widened in surprise for a brief moment¡ª

    A feeling of electricity suddenly flooded the elevator car.

    Sadie straightened rigidly, and her whole body trembled as she oscillated back and forth from her heels to her toes. A few seconds passed, and then her shoulders relaxed. Her body language completely transformed as she adopted a stance that spoke of coiled strength and violence. She also moved a lot faster than all the other members of the elevator car¡ªincluding Josh.

    Sadie slightly turned her head and looked to the right and the left while reaching into her bag. With purposeful deliberation, she removed a new pair of scissors she must have just gotten from the school supply room on her lunch break. Josh couldn¡¯t help but read the tag still on them, ¡®$11.99! What a deal!¡¯

    Sadie raised the shears in her hand, expertly adjusting her fingers on the ten-inch-long blades to just below the finger loops, adopting a hammer grip. She pointed the tips of the shears at Josh with unmistakable hostility and a wicked smile that showed way too many of her age-stained teeth.

    ¡°Oh, sweetheart! You¡¯re not supposed to be here, are you? Well... you¡¯re first, then!¡± Josh could barely see the scissors as she lunged at him.

    Like most kids raised by the Catholic Archdiocese in the inner city, Josh had been offered few extracurricular opportunities. But among them was swimming at the YMCA or training at the local parish¡¯s gym. Josh had chosen the gym. As the years went by, training in boxing and grappling by volunteer coaches from the parish had become part of his routine as a younger man. But he had never faced anyone who moved as fast as Sadie was moving right now.

    The scissors came down one-two-three-four times from all directions at his face. Already holding his briefcase to his chest with both hands, it had been instinctual for him to duck under it. The thick law books inside were what ultimately stopped the tips of Sadie¡¯s shears.

    Sadie withdrew the blades even faster than she impaled them. They screeched sharply against the case¡¯s metal frame as they went in and out. The crazed granny was working Josh over with an enthusiasm and capability that he would have admired if he wasn¡¯t the one getting pounded. He found himself blinking sweat out of his eyes, and his balance became skewed from the punishing blows as he fought to keep his briefcase between him and an ignominious death by craft supplies.

    Broadening his stance to gain a better footing and offset his wavering balance, Josh became somehow extraordinarily aware of a subtle shift in the center of balance of the senior-bus-card-wielding geriatric who was assaulting him. Her next attack unfolded like a mandate from hell¨Cas inevitable as it was horrifying.

    Still actively blocking the rapidly striking scissors, Josh only had the freedom and energy to widen his eyes in abject terror as Sadie¡¯s spindly leg snapped out from under her sensible dress and caught him squarely in the proverbial stick and stones.

    Whether it had been through adrenaline or Sen and Damni¡¯s divinely administered juju, he''d been able to ignore the building aches and pains of combat up until that point. However, the old lady¡¯s supernaturally infused kick to his nethers made Josh¡¯s dangly bits ring like church bells on Easter morning.

    His reflexive thought of, God, this is gonna hurt, was all the attention Josh could spare on the pain supernova that was exploding into existence in the general region of his groin. A maniacal grin spread over Sadie¡¯s face as she never let up her blistering scissors assault from above. Keeping Josh¡¯s mind and arms engaged in holding and blocking high with the briefcase to prevent multiple cranial perforations in all the wrong places... and of necessity, leaving his midsection and below the belt completely unguarded. Twice her knobby, varicose knees impacted his solar plexus accompanied with another sphincter-puckering attempted murder of his unmentionables... He only barely avoided said catastrophe by pivoting his hips on a purely primal instinct.

    Having experienced cheap blows before, Josh expected the wobble of his legs to increase, followed soon later by expansion of the pain, weakness, and most likely vomiting. Lots of vomiting.

    In truth, the briefcase was a mixed blessing. While it protected Josh¡¯s face, the downside was that it blocked his vision, required both his arms, and left him vulnerable to what Sadie did with the rest of her seemingly independently operated appendages. In fact, he was beginning to believe that the woman was part octopus. Her left foot hooked into the crook of his right knee and then she leaned back hard, pulling said knee out from under Josh. Because of his greater size and strength, Sadie had needed to overextend her pull-back to rock him, which led to the unintended consequence of bowling over the rather heavyset woman in the left front corner of the elevator. The fat lady had her face slammed into the side wall. Due solely to physics, she rebounded and crashed back into Sadie, interrupting her planned overhead hammer blow and pushing her back at Josh.

    At the same time, Josh had lost the support of his right knee and was in the process of lowering his briefcase to a more central position. He decided to let the case¡¯s edge lead the way and push Sadie away as he fell.

    Even as a killing machine, Sadie had instinctive reactions against letting heavy objects fall on her. Among these objects included a hefty, off-balance woman tilting precariously her way and a 200-pound man with a large steel-framed leather briefcase. Unfortunately for him, she continued to focus her attention on Josh. She punched out with the sheers with terrifying force, embedding them into the briefcase and forcing Josh onto his back foot. From there, she would follow up with more hammer blows to his head now that the case was midlevel.

    However, with whatever next-level acceleration Sadie had received, her blow against Josh¡¯s case was significant. Not only did she manage to force Josh away, but she lifted him off the ground, throwing him into the steel sidewall of the elevator. His body caused a loud thunk, which rang in the car and must have reverberated up and down the elevator shaft.

    It appeared that Sadie had expected to push Josh off his feet. And, in fact, he was. But she wasn¡¯t likely expecting Sadie¡¯s right hand, via the two fingers instinctually hooked through the shear¡¯s finger-loops along with her right arm and the rest of her much smaller body, to follow Josh across the elevator when she sent him flying.

    The laws of physics pulled the much smaller woman off the floor as well. Instantly realizing the mistake, Sadie moved to reverse her grip to the previous hammer hold and bring the shears back for another series of attacks. But her attempt to adjust was far too late to make a difference.

    Slamming Josh¡¯s head into the elevator¡¯s metal sidewall rang his bell. But without question, he had heard the squeal of steel on steel when Sadie had flung him. He also felt her pull hard on the scissors, almost yanking the case out of his hands.

    A shocked look sped across Josh¡¯s accelerated features as an understanding permeated his mind... Her scissors are stuck in my case¡¯s metal frame! A smile touched the corners of his mouth as he realized the opportunity in front of him.

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    It would be a lie to say there wasn¡¯t still a tiny part of Josh¡¯s brain yelling at him to stop and think about what was going on. Along with, what in the name of all that is holy had he been doing since his sudden arrival in the Twilight Zone?¡¯

    Look at the facts, the analytical side of his brain said to him:

    ¡ªYou are suddenly hearing multiple voices in your head.

    ¡ªYou are imagining that you are moving faster than everyone else around you.

    ¡ªAnd, only seconds after the first two points, you are about to slam your briefcase down on Sadie¡¯s head in a public elevator. A woman in her late sixties that you have known for the last six months. An old lady who was an all-in-all nice person until she started trying to perforate your face like Anthony Hopkins in a dress.

    Screech... Screech... Screech!

    Without a doubt, Josh knew logically that something was wrong with what was happening.

    Several possibilities came to mind. He could have had a psychotic break. Someone could have slipped something into his coffee this morning. He could be having a very vivid nightmare... Though that last one was unlikely, given the level of pain that was beginning to sneak its way through his shock and¡­ whatever was going on with his body to allow it to continue operating despite the abuse Sadie was dishing out.

    If any of this was really happening, there was a better than middling chance he would get locked up in an insane asylum as a brief detour on his way to the electric chair. As a criminal lawyer, Josh knew that Florida was one of the southern states that still enforced the death penalty for excessive crimes.

    I could fry for this!

    But... and this was a big but... Josh smirked, his shaken consciousness finding humor in the double entendre before he told the small part of his brain to shut the hell up.

    The fact of the matter is that Sadie has definitively tried to kill me numerous times in the past few seconds. On top of this, she¡¯s hit me in the nads¡­ A lot more than I¡¯m willing to tolerate, even from an old lady!

    And then there was the fact that Josh was pissed. Not just regular pissed. He was race-car-in-the-red, mushroom-cloud-laying, motherfucking pissed! And not just at Sadie... At everything.  However, this whole alien-mind-screaming, Psycho-slashing, surreal event was an excellent place to put the blame for all the crap that had been coming down on him the last few years of his life.

    Frustration with his wife Miranda and her family was at the top of that list. The rage from being separated from Sophie when she was so small and unprotected from sick people like his mother and sister-in-law boiled to the surface of Josh¡¯s decision-making. It was fair to say Josh had some significant unresolved issues that had built up. And, unfortunately, at least for Sadie, there didn¡¯t seem to be an encounter group in the immediate vicinity for an intercession.

    No one had ever accused Josh of being a slow thinker or unable to react in a crisis. This quality had helped him as a child, and it helped him here. Josh also absently noted that the hormone acceleration blender Sen had turned his mind into was most likely a factor that was helping him quickly decide what to do concerning his whole current Sadie-Is-Trying-To-Kill-Me issue.

    His decision was made; there was only one real choice for Josh: Sadie had to go!

    Before Sadie could regain solid footing from her overextension, Josh switched his grip on the case with both hands and slammed it down on her head¡ªonce, twice, three times a lady.

    She might have been much faster than him, but despite whatever power she¡¯d received¨Che¡¯d received his own, and she wasn¡¯t stronger. He was a lean 200 pounds at six foot two compared to Sadie¡¯s five foot four and dumpy in sensible heels. Physics was still not on her side. And one thing Josh had learned as a young man, physics was a true bitch when she wanted to be.

    Sadie had also made a mistake in refusing to let go of the scissors as Josh slammed the case down on her. The thin bones in her hand and arm shattered with every hit. On the third blow, ominous snapping sounds also came from her neck, followed quickly by her body dropping into a pile of splintered bones and shallow gasps on the floor.

    Josh¡¯s harsh breaths filled the elevator as he realized Sadie was down. He lowered the briefcase with the scissors still sticking out of its top left corner. Due to how fast he and Sadie had been moving, only now did the others in the elevator start reacting to the mayhem before them. But their actions were still moving like a slow-motion scene from an old-school movie. Josh heard them speaking in long, drawn-out sounds. But at this point, he was still so amped up that he couldn¡¯t concentrate enough to give the drawn-out words any meaning.

    However, there was one voice that still came through. ¡°You did it! I can¡¯t believe it! The probability models predicted that your death¨C um¨C your likely failure¨C was a near-statistical certainty!¡± Sen¡¯s voice rang out in Josh¡¯s head. Clearly, as surprised as Josh was that the old lady hadn¡¯t savagely murdered him, ¡°Err, I mean, good job, mortal! Err... Joshua!¡±

    A brief pause ended with Sen speaking even faster and more concerned. ¡°¡ªI need you to stop Sadie from expunging¡ªdying! If she does, the chaos agent can abandon his Ka domination of her and escape to the other sapients inside that ridiculous contraption, and you will eventually be worn down and most definitely killed¨C Right now, you have an opportunity to trap this evil inside that old lady. Quick! She is going into cardiac arrest! Do you know how to reactivate her function?¡±

    As his vision dimmed, Josh shook his head no to Sen¡¯s anxious question.

    ¡°No? Oh, ahhh... okay! We will send the information to your cortex so you can implement it! This may¡­ hurt. From what we¡¯ve experienced so far, you have other talents than exceptional mental function.¡±

    Josh smirked up in irritation at the sky for a second, but he didn¡¯t have the bandwidth to deal with Sen¡¯s snide comment at the moment. Having already been mind-jacked, he was much more worried about what Sen was going to do to his brain. He¡¯s sending the knowledge of how to perform CPR? Directly into me?!?

    Josh had no freaking idea how to do it. He had seen it on TV. But that was it. Suddenly, there was a force like unbelievably strong hands squeezing his head. The heavy pressure felt as if those same fingers had crashed through his skull and were crushing his brain from all sides. Josh couldn¡¯t breathe, and his vision doubled for several seconds. But it didn¡¯t let up. The intensity doubled and then doubled again! Absently, Josh felt the steady trickle of blood running in sticky tracks from his ears and eyes. A low-pitched squeak accompanied the slow trickle of air sliding from nonfunctioning lungs over a locked jaw. Strange odors, sounds and lights that Josh wasn¡¯t able to identify burst like skyrockets in what felt like the actual fragmentation of his mind . . . And then a fresh, cold stream of cool blue normalcy flowed over the brokenness, making him whole. Josh had no explanation for what he had just experienced . . .

    . . . But he did know CPR: The airway, breathing, and circulation assessments, cardiac compressions, chest thumps, even the administration protocols of epinephrine, atropine, and lidocaine if he had had them. Josh got down on his knees and moved to resuscitate the elderly lady... Sadie... who, unlike just a few seconds ago, now seemed so very small and frail. Part of his brain still knew that no matter what, Sadie surviving this was a good idea for him. It was very unlikely he would have to ride the lighting if Sadie was still kicking, so to speak. His arguments of self-defense may or may not hold water. Josh didn¡¯t think for one moment at the speeds they were moving he could rely on any eyewitnesses that he had been defending himself against a frail sixty-plus-year-old woman ... Maybe the elevator video would help? Regardless, keeping her alive was the way to roll.

    Josh¡¯s hands moved as they expertly straightened out Sadie¡¯s airway. Her head lolled grotesquely on a crushed cervical spine as he aligned it with her upper body.

    At some point, Sadie had evacuated her bowels and bladder. A wet stain spread on the front of her thin skirt, and the elevator had already filled with pungent odors. Ignoring this, Josh made sure Sadie¡¯s tongue wasn¡¯t blocking her esophagus and put his index finger on her wrist¡¯s pulse point. He soon learned that Sadie didn¡¯t currently have a pulse. Josh then gave her fifteen chest compressions, sharp and strong. Her pulse still hadn¡¯t returned. He gave another fifteen compressions, and then he did it again. Finally, Sadie¡¯s pulse returned, even if it was weak.

    How much time had gone by? Josh was far from certain. But, when he had finished resuscitating Sadie, the elevator doors had opened, and a crowd had gathered at its front. The other occupants had also run out screaming as they likely headed for security and, hopefully, to call an ambulance.

    ¡°Well done... again, mortal... er, Joshua! There is much I want to tell you. However, the biological acceleration we have enacted in your body is about to wear off. When this happens, you will experience a severe decrease in function and likely lose all conscious mental capacity.¡±

    The lights were steadily growing dimmer. Josh¡¯s hands felt heavy, blunt, and numb.

    ¡°... But do not worry! Death is a much lower probability than when you faced the chaos agent! Twenty-three percent at a maximum by our best calculations.¡±

    The silhouettes of people surrounding Josh began to stretch out. They also seemed to move from standing on the ground to somehow standing on the sidewalls.

    Josh¡¯s fried nerves didn¡¯t even feel it when he collapsed onto his face over Sadie¡¯s body.

    Sen continued to speak words that made very little sense to Josh even after what he had just gone through. ¡°... We could continue your acceleration... but you would likely suffer multiple burst blood vessels in your cerebral cortex and cardiac muscles. This would significantly increase the probability of death, far above the seventy-fifth percentile. Permanent disability would also be guaranteed.¡± Josh managed a dissatisfied, groaning, ¡°Mwraaaaan...¡±

    Then everything went black.

 Chapter 7

    Senyak jumped from his seat and turned to Damni, screaming in exaltation. ¡°He did it! I did it! We did it! Whooooooo! I can¡¯t believe it!¡±

    Damni was all smiles as Senyak fist-pumped the air.

    ¡°Independent chaos agent, my posterior fleshy seating pads! I shoved my foot up your internal and external sphincters! Wooooooooooooooo!¡±

    ¡°Very well done, honey! I¡¯m so proud of you! But I think that wearing this human form is starting to increase your emotional responses. Why don¡¯t you dial back your emotion centers for the next few minutes? We still have some work to do.¡± She gently tried to wave Senyak back down to reality... and to what little dignity he still had remaining.

    Sen, currently standing on the ship¡¯s command chair spinning around, shaking his booty in the chaos agent¡¯s imagined face, suddenly got a serious expression and looked around to ensure that no one else was in the cockpit with them.

    Standing up, he straightened his robes and topknot ponytail, coughing into his hand. ¡°Ahem, perhaps you are right, Damni. There is still much to do.¡± He stepped down from the chair and embraced her, gazing up into her eyes as her three braids waved above his face on the sides of her oval-shaped head. ¡°I owe it all to you, my Ka bond¡ª My Wife! You lifted me up when I was at my lowest. You guided me when I was lost. I have no words, but I will show you over and over just how much you mean to me.¡±

    A dark shadow crossed Damni¡¯s countenance and was gone so fast that Sen thought he must have imagined it.

    She then smiled in her warm, kind way. ¡°I know you will... You are my heart as well! And, you know, there are a few more things about material-matter physical joining I was saving to commemorate your victory¡­¡± Her telescoping neck arced down to him, her lips nuzzling his ear and humming. ¡°I could show you now...¡±

    Senyak experienced a break of emotional control again as his physiologic responses began to deny him the ability to think. It started with an accelerated heart rate and then moved to quickened breaths. Anatomical alterations in areas below his waist soon followed.

    Sen had just convinced himself to begin responding to Damni in kind¨C

    His Ethos Combi chimed. ¡°Possessed Ka dominion¡¯s life force has reached critical status. Recommend immediate acquisition.¡±

    What? The elder Sadie¡¯s body was dying!? The chaos agent could escape!!

    Sen¡¯s mind whirled through the possibilities of Sadie¡¯s Ka dominion expunging. The elder¡¯s spirit had already moved on when her spiritual to physical connection had unexpectedly collapsed in the metal carriage. True, Joshua¡¯s assault had been punishing... but it had only been a minor contributing factor. The Ka Dominion should have empowered her to survive even that beating... Combi estimates were that Sadie¡¯s soul disintegration was primarily caused by the degree to which the Chaotic had pushed her attempting to defeat Joshua. He had enhanced her beyond what she could handle. The resulting surprise of Sadie¡¯s spiritual severance from his dominion had trapped the Chaotic as the only remaining spiritual presence to become Sadie¡¯s ¡®soul proxy¡¯.

    Ka dominions were not Karmically free. To enact one, the Dominator had to insert a binding portion of their own spiritual tether in a superseding position to the spiritual link of the body being dominated. As long as the body¡¯s original soul was proximate to the Dominion, Karmic Balance remained. The Dominator could control the body and leave at any time. When Sadie¡¯s spirit had fractured under the strain and unexpectedly moved on to the mortal soul nexus, the Chaotic had been caught trapped within Sadie, holding the Karmic bag, so to speak, when Joshua had revived her body. It was true that the Chaos actor¡¯s spiritual tether was not permanently bound to Sadie¡¯s body. Sure, he could sever the tether at any time and leave Sadie¡¯s brain-dead body to expunge... But not without cutting his own spiritual connection back to his own cultivation.

    If he kills her... he¡¯ll be as docile as a kitten from the amount of personal cultivation lost.

    Maybe the Chaotic would do it in a desperate attempt to get away... But from what Sen had learned about him, the Chaos Actor really didn¡¯t seem the type... The Actor¡¯s only chance to avoid this was if Sadie¡¯s body terminated from another cause¨C

    Vacuous feelings of regret and anger warred for the front row in Sen¡¯s mind as he saw the huge error he had made in taking the last several moments in prideful celebration over what had essentially been good fortune and not anything he had done himself. Because of Sen¡¯s failure to act, there was a chance the opportunity to keep the Chaotic contained was lost, allowing him to escape his prison.

    ...  After so many defeats, I still haven¡¯t learned, have I? Maybe my father and senior brother are right... I am unfit to serve as Heir...

    Right now, it was hard for Sen to argue against that¨C Damni moved into his field of vision with a serious but still hopeful expression on her face. Sen could hear her unspoken message... ¡®Ya honey, you screwed up... but no one really fails until they give up.¡¯

    An absolute universal truism, and Sen was done with losing. Starting now he was going to give the important things in his existence the focus they deserved even if it required... Well not really having taken primary responsibility for anything before... Sen wasn¡¯t quite sure exactly what would be required... But certainly not simply expecting everything to fall into place!

    There was no time like the present to get started proving his true worth. Sen nodded to Damni, and two sharp pops rang in the thin air of the cockpit as they translocated to Sadie¡¯s dying body.

    * * * * *

    Trapped in his forced possession of Sadie¡¯s now neurologically dead body, the genocidal harvester Hantal Brundox reviewed his limited options.

    Hantal was bound tightly by the ties he had created. Sadie¡¯s soul was gone ... That had been a surprise. I honestly thought the old codger could handle more. Hantal¡¯s Immortal focus of energy dispersion and usage had predicted a 60 percent probability that Sadie¡¯s aged cardiovascular system would function at above 40 percent capacity given all of his hormonal adjustments and metaphysical channeling he had put it through. That was more than enough functional capacity to kill everyone in that elevator five times over. The odds had been in his favor. Her collapse had not been probable. Hantal would have called it bad luck if such a thing existed¡­ But it didn¡¯t. Only the probabilities of things are more or less likely. This was universally true. Of course, Karma could amplify the occurrence of any probability, no matter how limited. But such considerations were purely academic at this point. Karma didn¡¯t factor into his actions or decisions at this point. After all, why would Karma be against me?

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    Regardless of the cause, Brundox was trapped, and he would not sever the tie on his own until he was completely out of options. Separating himself from so much of his Immortal cultivation would be far too costly, setting him back thousands of Ka Nexus rotations of cultivation. It would also leave him so weak that even that doddering imbecile Senyak could catch him ...

    ...Such is the risk and cost of forcibly binding to another Karmically touched spirit being. Hantal internally shook his head... Even something as infinitesimally insignificant as a mortal...

    However, if Sadie¡¯s physical body died from ... other causes, then his current soul proxy of Sadie''s body required for Karmic Balance would be extinguished, and he would be free to separate without sacrificing his tether. Sure, I will have to resort to Immortal actions that Senyak can duplicate even under that Penta Protocol ... But the off chance that low brow can best me in a game of chase is the least of my concerns right now.

    Hantal mentally shook his head again. While Sadie was wounded critically with no remaining conscious brain activity, the remainder of her biological functions, ironically, were completely intact. He noted that she also now lay in the back of a speeding ambulance to guarantee that her functions continued...

    Hantal needed to generate a third option. The Chaotic took a moment to reflect and assess... It had been a stinging slap in the face to ultimately be stopped in that last elevator car by a 0.04 percent anomaly. Presently, he had no way to get at the intervening mortal who had caused so much trouble for him. If Brundox could, he would be pulling out his hair from the frustration of just thinking about it¡­But Immortality was long; given the chance, I will wreak my vengeance. Anomaly or not... that mortal will pay for what he has done to me and my plans...

    Unfortunately, right now, as much as Hantal wanted, he couldn¡¯t afford the time to indulge in fantasies of retribution. He needed to focus on the more immediate issues. First, Hantal had obviously seriously underestimated Senyak or the help that he was receiving. It¡¯s quite possible his lady is more than she appears ... Be that as it may, the two of them have obviously been unified against me from the start, and it was my mistake to think that I was only pitted against that slow-thinking face-puncher...

    They had, obviously, figured out I was facing diminishing returns in my collection arrays and wouldn¡¯t leave with less than half of my planned reward...

    ... But the artless cretin couldn¡¯t have figured it out by himself...

    ... Clearly, he must have had help from the Masters...

    Logical, but a dead end... Though Hantal couldn¡¯t help but laugh inside the emptiness of his Ka Dominion¡¯s broken mind at what a farce the Masters¡¯ goal to prevent the multiversal extinction of all sapient mortals had become...

    Why in the name of Ka would such a thing need to be done!?  They are cultivation resources to use at my discretion... And I should know, shouldn¡¯t I?

    Hantal felt he should. Unlike most Immortals, Brundox had risen through the levels of mortal cultivation into his Immortal Transcendence. The Masters know nothing about mortal existence that I don¡¯t? Mortals are merely physical entities, and it is only right that we Immortals should consume them in a use-as-you-can manner, for Ka¡¯s sake! Why should they be conserved? Cloning was certainly an option any time their numbers significantly decreased, was it not? Whole iterations could be seeded with the genetic material necessary for their organic continuance if a given Immortal preferred that form of development over breeding them in static farms. In fact, there was not a single chance in his estimation that there weren¡¯t already those doing exactly that. Perhaps that might be a direction for him to pursue for his next¡ª

    ¡ªA cyclic pinging of the ambulance¡¯s monitoring equipment rang through Sadie¡¯s ears and stirred Hantal out of his rant. Sadly, Sadie¡¯s life force was not in danger... It was only time for the EMT to change the bag of intravenous fluids.

    ... Hantal figuratively rolled his eyes and refocused his thoughts on his current situation. Then he asked himself the most important question.

    Trapped as I am, why hasn¡¯t Senyak presented and collected me?

    To be sure, Hantal wasn¡¯t certain of the answer to this question at all... But he did acknowledge that the fact he had to ask it solidly confirmed his opinion of what a nonsensical boob the ¡®Second Seeded Heir¡¯ was. Senyak absolutely should have come and forced Hantal back to the Immortal Realms. Forcibly severing Hantal¡¯s tether to Sadie was one among many ways the buffoon could do just that...

    And at a very high cost to me as well...

    Brundox¡¯s next thought was even more sobering. Senyak could still show up and do so at any time... couldn¡¯t he?

    Hantal had always considered himself a very cautious being. First as a mortal, then as a light-aligned Immortal. He¡¯d become even more so as an adharmic, dark-path-walking Immortal. Brundox hadn¡¯t even turned to the dark paths of harvesting soul Essence until it became a last resort following two hundred thousand Ka Nexus cycles of stagnation at a bottleneck along the light paths of Immortal growth.  The same wary nature that had led to his bottlenecks in using the methodologies of light were leading to success in navigating the paths of the dark. On careful reflection, Hantal smugly concluded that his natural gravitation to caution had largely paid off.

    The chaos agent had applied his inherent tendencies of finding the highest reward, yet lowest personal risk cultivation methodologies when he began soul harvesting in this iteration. He purposely chose a multiversal backwater eight aspect doorways from any populated Immortal iterations. He had consciously accepted lower yields of Essence harvesting in exchange for the much lower chance of being seen and hampered by Immortals like Senyak and the Masters... And for going on nearly one hundred thousand local solar cycles, he had continued undetected. As a result, during this time, he exercised his free reign over the entire local iterational cluster.

    Most importantly, Brundox had taken precautions to set up several redundancies of escape and a few quick solutions to anticipated potential problems.

    I set up my contingencies purely in preparation for the unlikely chance that Immortals might find me. Those preparations had proven prophetic because, find me, the Masters had.

    A cold mental smile spread over Hantal¡¯s calculations. Without a doubt, he was adequately prepared for the usual snares and would certainly get out of his present situation... But he still regretted not succeeding in luring Senyak into forming a possessive Ka Dominion.  I honestly tried to leave him no choice but to follow the dark ways of adharmic cultivation... A barking snigger escaped him. What would that blabbering incompetent do if he had to abandon his growth in the light?

    Brundox¡¯s cruel, spirit smile stretched from ear to ear as he answered his own question again.

    He would fail dramatically. That goodie two shoes could never do what it took to survive in the dark!

    The genocidal harvester laughed wickedly in Sadie¡¯s empty mind as his treacherous fantasies grew so bold that they momentarily glinted evilly in her otherwise unresponsive eyes. Proof of the ageless adage... What misery doesn¡¯t desire company on their way down?

    But time was short, and as pleasant as it was to dwell on the possibilities of Senyak falling from his high perch as Marztanak heir to utter destruction, Hantal¡¯s pragmatism refocused his thoughts to something even more important.

    ¡­ What would happen if Senyak arrived to collect me? The answer was rather simple: all of my plans, all of my time and energy these long millennia would be wasted.

    The party is over... It¡¯s time to leave.

    Even though Hantal would have to harvest an immature array and glean less than half of his already collected Essence, he was sure in his decision to take the proverbial money and run... And I have just the necessary tools to do it!

    Hantal called into play one of his contingencies.

 Chapter 8

    An Essence Cord linked to his harvesting array lit up within his mind¡¯s eye. Hantal had paid a sizable fee for it before coming to this iteration, equal to a full quarter of the growth he could anticipate from the reduced amount of Essence he expected to collect. But, alas, some was better than none. And, if Brundox stayed stuck in Sadie¡¯s fading soul any longer, he would get none and lose even more. Moreover, the Array was linked to a unique physical avatar core design he had spent several Ka Nexus rotations developing himself. It allowed the usage and amplification of mortal Essence in his Immortal state without spending the usual eons to purify it to the state of Immortal Ka. This Essence-harvesting expedition was his trial run. If his concept was proven, there were many, many Immortals who walked the dark side of adharma willing to pay a hegemon¡¯s ransom for his design and metaphysical grafting to their Immortal Ka forms. There is no way I¡¯m letting Senyak or his Master handlers get their grubby spiritual mitts on that!

    He pulled on the Cord with Sadie¡¯s Essence sensitivity... Her capacity was as feeble as her affinity, to say the least, but that was the benefit of the Cord. Even her pitiful power was enough to open an item much greater than herself, which the Anima Array unquestionably was.  A key would exceed the significance of the door it could unlock... but as with any lock, the ¡®key¡¯ made all the difference. Something that a mealy-mouthed blowhard like Senyak would never understand.

    Exposing mortals to the densely concentrated Soul Essence the array contained would kill them outright. Plain and simple. Being at ground zero of such a metaphysical detonation, the energies brought forth would weaponize their undeveloped cores and create a lethal disunion of their soul tethers from their physical bodies... That minor complication, along with the inevitable and complete corporeal annihilation into sub-atomic particles from the very brief but quite potent infusion of energy into all of their atomic electron valence shells at once. The irony of the situation was that this very process was very similar to Aura absorption performed by cultivators ... About as similar as drinking from a wide-open fire hose instead of a water fountain.

    It is a pity that the mortals in this Essence-deprived armpit of the multiverse lack the cultivation control necessary to absorb and utilize the incredible advancement opportunity of infusion I¡¯m providing them. Such waste. Brundox¡¯s dark mind laughed at his twisted irony.

    Hantal knew for a fact that no human on this planet had even achieved the necessary seven foundational Karmic Attunements to complete their Spherical Core. Much less having advanced the three core stages beyond that to the formation of the Dodecahedron core necessary to exercise such control. No, the feedback from activating the Amina Array will kill Sadie and all the mortals within one thousand meters. Even more than that, the exposed mortals¡¯ physical to metaphysical gateways¨Cwhat the local mortals called the soul¨Cwould essentially cease to exist and become incapable of sending their tiny spirits to the mortal nexus for rebirth... Hantal smugly recognized that even with the incredible forces he was about to release, most of the surrounding infrastructure would remain intact. Everything would be magnanimously left in place to allow the still-existing mortal herds to flourish through its continued use. It was important to maintain the resource should he ever make it back here to gather more. A derisive mental chuckle slithered through his mind as he realized how this result was unlike what usually happened in the disputes between the so-called ¡®superheroes¡¯ the humans of this cuboid were so vacuously enthralled by. Bah! None of them have even advanced beyond their spherical cores. Even the mythological ¡®hero¡¯ in the red cape and blue tights they worshiped as a ¡®god¡¯ possessed a comparable power to a cultivator on the verge of forming his Tetrahedral core, and he was responsible for the destruction of entire cities!  Unlike that amateur, I wouldn¡¯t be leaving even a single city block choked in smoke or rubble... With that said, it was true that the complete dissolution of the surrounding mortal¡¯s souls and their physical bodies is not absolutely necessary to get out of this current predicament... But the sapient primates of this world did have a fitting phrase regarding too much toil and not enough amusement. One has to enjoy their work!

    Hantal grinned one last time at his own cleverness in Sadie¡¯s quiet mental space. He eagerly activated the Essence Cord attached metaphysically on one end to the center of the host and his shared core. On the other end, it was attached to a pocket dimension holding the Essence collection array.

    Bringing it through to such an Essence poor material iteration as this reality instantaneously warped the field lines of time and space. Transparent sigmoid waves started whipping up and down in expanding concentric circles from the center of Sadie¡¯s chest as the immature Essence Array materialized in front of her rapidly disintegrating body.

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    The luminous brilliance from the unrestrained Essence of countless souls filled the back of the ambulance. Its energy crackled with violet arcs of power. Surged out unrestrained in all directions, causing the desired incidental effects of instantaneously disassociating Sadie¡¯s body and soul. Complete expungement. No physical or metaphysical traces remained to prove that she had ever existed.

    The same was true of the EMT next to her, the ambulance driver, and 4,094 occupants of cars and buildings in a 1000-meter circle.

    Now free of the restraint of Sadie¡¯s living corpse, Hantal began the transfer of the Essence into his core as his avatar manifested.  A broad-chested, dark-haired man with a tall frame and full but closely trimmed beard. The brooding mystic returns!

    His physical form floated through the open doors of the now out-of-control ambulance and hovered over the street. Essence from the array was still being transferred to him and flowed directly into his core.

    Rolling his shoulders and stretching away the tension built up from the confinement of Sadie¡¯s dead mind, Hantal took a minute and admired the devastation he had caused. Why not? He still had several remaining seconds for the array to transfer its torrent of Essence to him.

    Driverless cars all around careened out of traffic. Some flipped over each other before crashing into others, spraying tumbling showers of shattered glass and plastic. Others catapulted over curbs and drove straight through the windows and walls of the surrounding buildings. Small but intense orange and yellow fuel fire explosions erupted into blossoms that cast wavering illumination in a 360-degree arc.

    Finally, the transfer ebbed down to a trickle. Hantal began to convert his physical avatar into the Immortal Ka necessary for travel to the nearest aspect doorway¡ª

    Before he could Intend the shift... Hantal sensed the last thing he had expected. The slightest trace of a specific mortal¡¯s Essence. It would have been easy to miss if he hadn¡¯t been intently aware of his surroundings. But now that he had perceived it, the mortal¡¯s signature was unmistakable. Reflective of Karmic balance, the mortal in question was also traveling in the back of an ambulance. In fact, his vehicle had just collided with the freshly created massive pile-up and was, even now, still sliding on its side to rest amongst the growing snarl of wrecks clogging the road.

    ¡°Senyak¡¯s anomaly!¡± Hantal hissed. If anyone should pay for my losses, it¡¯s him!

    Even so, for a moment, Hantal¡¯s cautious nature warred with his depraved motives. The soul harvester needed to leave before the Marztanak heir arrived... Yet... As much as Hantal would prefer not to consider himself a bitter bitch about failed plans, that would be a lie. He may be a genocidal, self-serving, soul-devouring god of death to the sheep of this world. But he wasn¡¯t about to start lying to himself about what he was ... Hantal had his standards after all.

    A murderous smile slowly spread over his features at the satisfaction he would have in torturing this mortal. Hantal would only give the anomaly the release of expungement when he had tired of the mortal¡¯s begging cries for the peace of death. Unfortunately, such peace would not be available to him for several dozen millennia.

    With cruelty frozen on his face, the chaos agent streaked over to the flipped ambulance and pulled the backdoors off. He flung them over the nearby skyscrapers for effect. There was a dead EMT in the compartment, and an unconscious driver belted in the front seat. Joshua Elias Tanner, the divergent anomaly who had cost him so much, was working over the dead EMT to no effect. Hantal leered as Joshua flinched at the ambulance doors ripping from their hinges.

    ¡°Sweetheart! Remember me!?¡±

    * * * * *

    Josh froze in the middle of checking the EMT¡¯s missing pulse. Until then, Josh had wondered how he¡¯d even known the medically correct method of checking for signs of life. Somehow, he just knew. It was probably part of the CPR information smashed into his brain...

    Looking up at the bearded, dark-haired man that Josh had honestly never seen before, but who also happened to be... floating... he had no trouble recognizing the smile and the dark glint in his eyes. The monster that had forced his way into Sadie. No mistake, one thousand percent!

    ¡°Ahhh... yeah, sure...¡± Josh started slowly rising to his feet in the wrecked med bay¡ª.

    ¡°¡ªYou¡¯re the reason my balls are aching!¡± Josh yelled as he stood with a quick pivot to his right, swinging the broken top half of an IV pole in his closed fist. It smashed the monster in the left side of his face with what should have been crushing force. It was a good strike. A solid hit. The monster hadn¡¯t even tried to get out of the way. A crack across the dome like that would have taken out Sadie at the beginning of their fight, and she had been an absolute animal! Even the half-inch, solid-steel improvised weapon had bent into a U around the monster¡¯s head. But, against this... thing... it did nothing but make Josh¡¯s hands and shoulders hurt from the impact.

    The floating man tsked. ¡°Foolish, foolish, foolish... I¡¯m an Immortal. You can¡¯t hurt me, Joshua.¡± The hovering man said, straining the pronoun, then cheerily adding, ¡°But I assure you that the reverse cannot be further from the truth!¡±

    The chaos agent¡¯s hands flashed into the back of the ambulance and facepalmed Josh¡¯s entire skull. He then nonchalantly slammed Josh¡¯s head into the asphalt. For the second time in so many hours, Josh again knew nothing but blackness.

    An evil cast came over Hantal¡¯s face. ¡°I think our future conversations will be very fulfilling... for one of us, at least.¡±

 Chapter 9

    ¡°No, no. No! No! No!¡± Senyak yelled to himself as he appeared at the last known location of Sadie, the Ka dominion.

    A large pile of wrecked automobiles littered the street and sidewalks, several having crashed into nearby buildings before coming to a rest.

    ¡°Combi! Locate the chaos agent¡¯s Ka signature.¡± Then, he spoke to Damni as he cast a worried glance around the destruction. ¡°I don¡¯t know how he got out of the Ka dominion. Perhaps it was this massive transport accident that caused her death?¡±

    Damni looked around at the destruction. ¡°There is a complete absence of mortal remains. No bodies, no blood, nothing alive or dead. This was no mortal accident.¡± Damni¡¯s telescoping neck extended her ovoid head a full meter above Sen¡¯s, and she spun in a slow 360-degree rotation to confirm her assessment. ¡°... and it¡¯s Automobiles, honey... automobiles...¡±

    After taking in her surroundings, she looked directly at Sen ¡°... It is more likely that this accident occurred after his release from the Ka dominion. As for how he got out? There are expensive ways he could have facilitated her death. But regardless... without a doubt, the Chaotic has activated the Essence Array. You can feel the wild Essence flooding this area.¡±

    Sen nodded. It made sense. Any release of Essence that left so much residue behind would have destroyed any mortal soul tethers in the area. Sen sighed. Was there any despicable thing this chaos agent wouldn¡¯t do?

    Sen¡¯s Combi chimed and reported something difficult to believe.

    ¡°Immortal Ka signature located seventy-five meters to your right.¡±

    Senyak and Damni turned with incredulous looks on their faces. He was right there!

    A black-haired cultivator with thick, closely trimmed facial hair, garbed in long, dark, and loose-fitting robes. His eyes flashed with intensity where he cast them, and right now, he was smashing a mortal¡¯s face into the ground next to a flipped transport. Is that Joshua Elias Tanner? Senyak didn¡¯t know why the chaos agent was still present or how he had apprehended Joshua. But he did know questions were for later. The chaos agent had finally made his first mistake, and Senyak would capitalize on it.

    Signaling Damni to stay back, Sen moved in.

    Physical combat was relatively new to Senyak...Something he had barely dabbled in. To most Immortals, who generally considered it pointless. Physical means, no matter how potent, couldn¡¯t destroy Ka. There weren¡¯t many non-physical means to destroy it either, hence the term Immortal. But here, in a material realm, physical combat held validity. Because of this, Senyak had studied it for the last five hundred years just for this event. Rolling his shoulders and loosening his neck, Senyak activated his acceleration strike.

    Channeling Ka from his Immortal core, Senyak increased his physical avatar¡¯s overall mass, almost instantaneously reaching a density equal to that of an atomic nucleus. The same density that the heart of a neutron star reached just before forming a singularity. Simultaneously, he launched himself forward by opening a focused micro-gate from the center of the local star.

    ¡°The sun... yes, Damni...¡± Senyak muttered, his eyes fixed on the chaos agent.

    At once, the force of the sun¡¯s nuclear fusion, turning 600 million tons of hydrogen to helium per second, accelerated his body to a significant fraction of the speed of light in less than two nanoseconds.

    Sen sighed to himself. This attack really lacked oomph. But confined as they were to this physical iteration, along with the limits of the Penta Protocol about collateral damage, It¡¯s the best I can do.

    Surprisingly, over the time Sen had been required to spend in this iteration, he had found that sometimes just plain hitting things was quite cathartic. Moving at 2500 meters per second, Sen was sure that hitting the Chaotic was going to feel pretty good!

    While it was technically accurate that even in physical matter iterations, battling Immortals could abandon their physical avatar for their Immortal Ka form. If the chaos agent did that this physical attack would have no effect on him. Ka was eternal and couldn¡¯t be affected by physical attacks. But if he chose that, the Actor would be at the mercy of Senyak in his Immortal form.

    If only he were that foolish! Sen found himself salivating at the thought.

    Sadly, Sen was certain the chaos agent was not interested in facing a fourth-tier combat specialist in his Immortal form.

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    In the long nanoseconds it took Sen to close in, he couldn¡¯t keep a smile from growing on his lips.

    Transcendence! This is going to feel good!

    Until it wasn¡¯t¨C

    Pivoting as fast as Sen, the Chaotic spun his avatar to face the approaching Immortal with a leveled glare and spread his arms in a Yin and Yang conformation. The motion revealed a space of infinite yellow-white brightness that snapped open like a sail in a strong wind. Countless emerald and sapphire bolts of lightning streaked across the vast spaces of the newly opened dimension. It¡¯s really quite picturesque... was the last thought that passed through Sen¡¯s mind as the emission of thermal radiation reached Sen. Instantly incinerating his K¨¡?¨¡ya, top knot, eyebrows, and pubic hair along with slagging the asphalt he was flying over into bubbling black magma.

    Sen tried to halt his forward progress, but he was already airborne and had no leverage. He passed through the portal, unable to stop his momentum, dragging air with his fingers as the black edges of the portal closed. Uncountable bolts of blue and green lightning from the primordial plasma began striking him with rapid frequency until there was a spherical corona of electric discharges arrayed around and coursing through and around Sen¡¯s physical body. His avatar¡¯s external edges were blackening into cinders and blasting off increasingly larger chunks from the nonstop barrage of electromagnetic strikes. The continual polarization and repolarization was seriously interfering with the neuronal transmission of the physical brain Sen was forced to function with when inhabiting such an Avatar. Sen spun, looking for a way out, but his thoughts were getting sluggish, and his limited physical senses perceived nothing but a searing white glare that was starting to melt his eyes.

    Translocate back to earth! Sen called on his Ka to get him the heck out of this mess ... and was translocated an unknown distance deeper into the never-ending glare of his current dimension!? Again, again, and again he commanded to translocate back to Damni, Joshua, the Chaotic ... with the same result. Each time the gap between his commands and the relocation to a different area of the yellow-white hell he was in took longer.

    The arms and legs of his avatar had been completely radiated into solid blacked lumps of their carbon base. Sen commanded his Immortal Ka to regrow them ... Slowly, they reformed and started to immediately blacken again into unmoving useless rods of burnt-out cinders¨C

    ¡°Ok ... That¡¯s enough of this.¡± The Chaotic''s voice was heard over the constant static filling Sen¡¯s world, and an arm reached out and pulled him back to land face down on the still-cooling surface of the street he had just left. A strong hand slammed down on the back of his neck, and something pierced through and lodged itself in his top cervical vertebra and began to ... dissolve and spread out?!

    ¡°... That¡¯s a pocket dimension accessed near the supermassive black hole Sagittarius-A in the center of this galaxy ... it is large enough to have trapped the echoes of force and a fair amount of hydrogen plasma from the detonation of the primordial singularity that formed this iteration ... but too small to have formed any meaningful physical constructs. So, it just kind of keeps banging away!¡± The Chaotic informed Sen with a smile in his voice. ¡°The forces are primitive but quite powerful¡­ They do a number on even Immortal physical avatars, don¡¯t they?¡±

    Sen looked up at the grinning bearded face of the Chaotic with still rolling eyes from his disorientation. ¡°You can¡¯t beat me in a fight! No matter how many games you play.¡± He pulsed Ka through his meridians and reformed his avatar out of the charred husk it had become. Slightly disoriented but physically recovered, Sen sprang up to his feet and advanced on the Chaotic in a fighting stance on steadily strengthening legs.

    ¡°Whoa, whoa! Still have some fight left I see¡ª¡± The tall Chaos Agent again quickly backed up and started circling away from Sen¡¯s advancing form with a confident grin. He raised his hands, implying he had no desire for physical conflict.

    The Chaotic raised his brows and chuckled at Sen¡¯s statement as he continued to circle away from Sen¡¯s much more cautious approach. ¡°... True Senyak ... Very true ...¡± Then he stopped circling away and stood tall in front of Sen shaking his head. ¡°... But I don¡¯t have to fight you to defeat you. Haven¡¯t you learned that yet?¡± A deep, mocking belly laugh erupted from him as he pointed an accusing index finger at Sen. ¡°... You still don¡¯t understand that do you¨C¡±

    Sen launched at the actor with a lunge punch connecting with his chin designed to separate his head from his shoulders and finished in a side stance to bring another hand strike or a roundhouse swing from his right leg¨C

    Sen¡¯s hand passed directly through the Chaotic¡¯s face, shattering the projection into evaporating motes of Ka that diminished as they drifted up in black and glistening particles to rejoin the metaverse.

    ¡°Wha ?!?¡± He wasn¡¯t a simulacrum... my Combi would have informed me!?! Combi location of the Chaos Agent?!

    Mental static¡±¨Cattempting to comp¨C¡± The Combi¡¯s signal failed. It was still present, and Sen could feel it entwining his Ka and mentation. But somehow ... It couldn¡¯t be accessed!

    The Chaos Agent reappeared before the befuddled Sen. In fact, he reappeared in dozens of ridiculing and jeering forms, all laughing and pointing at their own motivations. Sen spun around to take them all, unable to keep the look of nervous concern from his face.

    One stepped forward and waved the others to silence. ¡°... Sen, these are all Ka supported after image reflections generated with an understanding of mortal level Time Space Attunement ...¡± He held his open hands up to himself and the dozens of others all around. ¡°... We¡¯re no threat to you. A mere temporal illusion, so to speak¨C But your Combi would have informed you of the limelight if you were still able to access it ...¡± He leaned at Sen and pointed an index finger at his chest. ¡°You¡¯re not connected to it anymore, are you?¡± The knowing look of taunting superiority indicated the Actor already knew the answer.

    The tall dark Chaotic put one foot back and leaned forward with his clenched fists rolling in a wheel in front of him. ¡°Well, let¡¯s have at it, Sen! One of us is bound to be real. You¡¯ll get to me eventually. Hahahaha.¡±

 Chapter 10

    Enraged by his embarrassment and without his Combi and no way to tell which of the very real appearing Chaotics were real, and for several moments, Sen did just that. Punching, kicking, throwing, and slamming the temporal afterimages with reckless abandon. Their exploding frames dissociated motes glittering as they returned to Reality in clouds all around him.

    Several micros into his burst of impotent fury, Sen noticed that his breathing was growing harder, and his limbs began to slow. Sen shook his head and stood in a wide base with bunched fists at his sides, taking in deep breaths. There was no reason for Sen to get tired. While he needed to have a physical avatar in this material matter iteration, the body was powered by Ka, which was eternal. There is no reason for it to get fatigued... Sen¡¯s shoulders tightened in the growing frustration of his failure. What has he done to my avatar ... this time¨C

    ¡°Achem. Sorry to interrupt what looks like an internal moment for you ...¡± The Chaotic¡¯s pleasant demeanor fell away to reveal a harsh expression delivered in a bitter tone. ¡°...But we are in the middle of unfinished business.¡± The last words were bitten off tersely as he shook a stiff-as-a-board Damni easily in one hand at Sen. Completely rigid, she had an oblong, gray metal sphere stuck on the center of her thin blue forehead. Purple and green lights pulsed on the object in what appeared to be random intervals.

    The Actor raised Damni¡¯s body once more in a sea of afterimages and pointed a lance-tipped fighting knife at her core. ¡°We¡¯ve come to the end, Sen. I¡¯m going to kill her-

    Sen surged jerkily forward and split the afterimage in two with a poorly balanced sidekick.

    His avatar¡¯s words came out just as stutteringly. ¡°... It¡¯s... not... h... her.¡±

    ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t. Good call, Sen.¡± Sen was barely able to turn his avatar around and grab the Chaotic''s robes as he materialized behind him. The move was so slow and feeble that he didn¡¯t even resist Sen¡¯s grab as he continued speaking. ¡°...But this one is. Or maybe it¡¯s not ...You better stop me if you¡¯re not sure.¡±

    The Chaos agent again jangled a frozen Damni with a blinking gray-metal sphere stuck to her forehead at Sen. ¡°... What¡¯s the matter, Senyak? Can¡¯t move your avatar any longer? Well, you better shed your physical avatar and come at me with the hold card you¡¯ve been keeping ... Go full Immortal presence and ¡®End me here!¡¯¡± The Chaotic through Sen¡¯s words from so long ago at him.

    And Sen did. It was time to end this farce! Masters be damned, Sen¡¯s reputation would never recover from this embarrassment, but this Chaotic would pay for Sen¡¯s shaming.

    ... Nothing happened when Sen willed his Immortal Ka form to manifest¨C

    An impish snigger came from directly behind Sen¡¯s ear. ¡°You can¡¯t, can you? Didn¡¯t think so!¡± The Chaotic said in a friendly and cheerful manner again.

    The Actor¡¯s shoulders sagged in faux fatigue of his own, and the image of Damni disappeared. ¡°Good Sen, I tell you, even not battling you is exhausting!¡± The Chaos actor patted Sen¡¯s frozen shoulder chummily. ¡°... And it¡¯s much better this way. Really! If the Ka blocker I impregnated your avatar¡¯s physical spiritual interface didn¡¯t work ...¡± A sharp evil leer replaced the friendly expression on his face. ¡°I would have destroyed most of this solar system and detonated my Anima Array to get away ... I mean, it is true, I was feeding on these mortals¡¯ souls for a long time ... But what would your friends, the Masters, think if I killed all the life on this planet and left a giant hole in time and space?

    ¡°Instead, I¡¯m going to harvest your, thankfully, still mostly full fourth-tier physical Ka core to make up for the losses I have suffered due to your interference. So, like I said ...¡± A malicious grin spread his face wide as he brought the diamond-shaped tip of the 60-centimeter fighting knife to Sen¡¯s eye level. ¡°...This is much, much better.¡±

    The Chaotic pulled the blade out of Sen¡¯s paralyzed eye-line. ¡°But first things first!¡±

    Hantal highlighted his words with a wagging index finger pointed at Sen¡¯s face. ¡°As you are a fool and easily duped. I feel the need to explain what you have cost me by forcing me into all this trouble.¡± Hantal raised his hands, indicating the destroyed street and the mounting pile of vehicles. Then he tapped the base of Sen¡¯s neck where he had slapped him after yanking him from the primordial pocket dimension. ¡°This is a physical-matter immobilizer. It is something the Biologic Union worked on together with the Techno Lords... and quite possibly some covert agents from the Masters themselves. Its main purpose is to stop Immortals from running amok in the physical realms. Just as you have.¡± Hantal finished by tapping Sen¡¯s forehead on the pronoun with a genuine smile on his once again darkly handsome face.

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    Glancing left and right, taking in the destruction around them, Hantal shrugged. ¡°It does seem that we tend to wreak havoc when we show up unsupervised... but I digress...This immobilizer cost me more than I want to admit. Use of it will take a sizable chunk out of the diminished returns from my early harvested Essence Array.¡± The Chaotic again stared sharp edges at Sen and spoke through clenched teeth. ¡°... Significantly reduced, again due to your interference.¡±

    Hantal leaned over and tensely smiled in Sen¡¯s face. ¡°But don¡¯t worry about me! With all the Essence in your physical core to compensate me for this loss, I¡¯ll come out way ahead.¡±

    Chuckling to himself, Hantal thumbed the blade¡¯s edge. ¡°I mean seriously, Senyak, if I had known it would be this easy to harvest cultivated Essence a full tier above mine, I would have shown up to our duel five hundred solar cycles ago. Forget about the adharmic genocide Essence. Thanks for being so predictable... again!¡± Hantal¡¯s face beamed with glee and malice.

    Senyak¡¯s eyes quivered in his face as he struggled to move... to cycle his cultivated Essence... to accomplish anything! Anything but to fail as horribly as it seemed he was... And so, so foolishly...

    ¡°Struggle as much as you like. Inside a physical body, within a material realm, we are bound by all the same laws as these mortals.¡± Hantal continued whimsically, ¡°We typically have a great deal more power than they do, for sure... but you won¡¯t break through this with your cultivation channels interrupted. The wires have been cut from your batteries, boy! What is it that the local mortals say? Why run from me? You¡¯ll just die tired!

    ¡°But keep trying! It does my heart good to see you struggle so futilely.¡± Hantal widened his eyes as he cackled madly.

    Hantal stood there waiting as Sen¡¯s struggles inevitably lessened and stopped. The shame of failure hung about his still form like a foul odor.

    ¡°There you go! I knew you would see it my way!¡± Hantal spoke brightly, tilting his head, and sent a cheerful wink at Senyak. ¡°The name is Hantal Brundox, by the way. And this...¡± Hantal slowly raised the blade through the small space between their faces in a decidedly menacing manner while maintaining his friendly, upbeat tone. ¡°...This is an anti-serene core blade. It can take the dharmic core from those insufferable white-hat-wearing busybodies who run around for the Prime Motivator.¡±

    ¡°Yes! Even with their internal cultivation shielding in place.¡± Nodding, Hantal answered Sen¡¯s imagined question.

    Leaning a fraction closer to Sen, he smiled widely and hissed through unmoving lips, ¡°I¡¯m sure it will have very little trouble harvesting yours.¡± Hantal¡¯s smile was quickly replaced with his bared, clenching teeth. ¡°Do you know how much you have cost me with your silly ¡®Let¡¯s all save the mortals hobby?¡¯¡± Hantal¡¯s face hardened into a severe expression as he raked his fingers through his hair. ¡°I¡¯m going to tell you something for free, Senyak. Maybe get through that thick skull of yours. I¡¯ve been here for the last four thousand Ka nexus cycles, one hundred thousand local solar rotations of this planet. I first arrived when these mortals were still traveling in incestuous family groups, hunting beasts and gathering berries in the forests. Before even an agrarian society existed. I fostered those civilizations to boost their numbers and raised them like cattle for my purposes. I know them like a mortal parent knows their own children. They have been, and always will be, a murderous, uncaring group of powerless monsters. They have never changed, and they will never change. Not one little bit. Why do you think it is so easy to get them to kill each other with such wanton abandon hmmm? Believe me when I tell you, they aren¡¯t worth it. Nothing more than a distasteful, hopeless group of smelly, unenlightened sheep.¡± He shook his head, seeing that he was wasting his words. ¡°Anyway, if you don¡¯t get it now... you never will. For that, I should end your Ka on pure principle. And I would. But sadly, all I can do is pack you up and ship you back to your Polar Neutral iteration of origin. Minus your current tier of cultivation and your physical core, of course. I¡¯ll be taking those with me. They will fetch a reasonable price on the gray markets and help me recoup my losses so that my time spent here will not have been a total waste.

    ¡°Never fear, though. I¡¯m sure you and your family will have quite a few things to discuss when you finally make it back. Good luck, Junior! Oh... and I haven¡¯t forgotten about that mortal you involved in this. Joshua? Was that his name? He and I will have extended conversations for the next several Ka nexus rotations.¡±

    Hantal took a moment of thoughtful repose and exhaled a cleansing breath. ¡°Well, let¡¯s get to it!¡± He smiled maniacally and slowly raised the blade to Sen¡¯s physical core. The tip touched Senyak¡¯s abdomen and slowly slid into his skin and muscle...

    Burning pain and¡ªfear? ¡ªerupted in Senyak¡¯s mind.

    After penetrating a centimeter in... the chaos agent suddenly stopped. The rest of his body was also unmoving.

    A disembodied voice spoke deeply, ¡°Yes, we surely have a lot to talk with him about.¡±

    A strong hand erupted from Hantal¡¯s chest, simultaneously holding his Immortal Ka core and his physical cultivation core. Something Senyak had thought was impossible to accomplish outside of an Immortal iteration, at least he had thought so until this very moment...

    ¡°You, on the other hand, have said quite enough. I find you detestable. Good riddance.¡±

    Desperation flooded Hantal¡¯s eyes for the briefest moments as he found his Immortal center cut from his physical body in a disembodied hand and disappeared. A small squeak made its way from his unmoving lips. Then oblivion swallowed him. So ended the path of the Immortal Hantal Brundox.

    The lights on the orb stuck to Senyak¡¯s forehead stopped blinking, and it dropped to the street with a heavy clunk. Sen sensed Damni being released from some form of suspension and flashing to him through material space. Senyak held up a hand behind his back and motioned for her to stop where she was. He then stood straight and brushed off his clothes.

    Swallowing past a lump in his throat, Sen¡¯s voice cracked as he spoke with a dry mouth. ¡°Grandfather?¡±

 Chapter 11

    ¡°We needs be gone.¡±

    Senyak¡¯s grandfather waved a hand. Instantly, Senyak and Damni appeared before him on the bridge of a much larger and more well-appointed spaceship than Senyak had ever been on before. A large view screen took up the front of the room. Sen saw clusters of galaxies, stars, and nebulae displayed there with amazing clarity. However, none of the celestial bodies were familiar, and without his Combi, Senyak had no idea where they were. He wasn¡¯t even sure if they were in the same iteration or cuboid they had just spent the last twenty Ka nexus cycles in.

    Mortals and Immortals, all uniformed in the Marztanak house colors of navy blue and silver, scurried about on two, three, and four legs, some waving tentacles, some hovering. The majority of species were the Jaralon, a predominately bipedal species with light-blue tinted skin, telescoping necks, and more articulated joints in their limbs than humans. This species manned the bridge at its various stations. Reading sensors, checking logs, and reporting to one another. About what, Senyak had little idea. But the fact they were the same race as the avatar that Damni had chosen made alarm bells start ringing in Senyak¡¯s mind.

    Sen looked up at his grandfather with a hard lump still in his throat. If anything, it was larger now and accompanied by a cold sweat forming between his shoulder blades. Senyak was sure of only one thing¡ªif his grandfather was here, things were far worse for him than he had thought. Without a doubt, Senyak would be facing some form of discipline from his family for failing to deal definitively with the chaos agent. But never would he have believed that his grandfather would be directly involved in such a small matter. Senyak wasn¡¯t even the first-seeded heir. That honor fell to his elder brother, Denyak.

    All of Sen¡¯s life, his significance was negligible. After all, he was only the spare heir. Reflective of this was the number of times he had been alone in his grandfather¡¯s presence¡ªexactly zero in 120,000 Ka nexus cycles. Not that Senyak didn¡¯t know of his grandfather¡¯s history and accomplishments. It was required knowledge for all seeded heirs. The deeds and methods of Zenyak Marztanak, the Penultimate Combatant¨CBulwark of the Polar Neutral Iteration; the Axe Blade of the Hegemony, Immortal cultivator without equal. Honored. Respected and above all things... feared. A fact that Senyak was very aware of right now.

    ¡°Say what you must. Then I will speak.¡±

    ¡°Grandfather... ahhh... thank you... I am in your debt!¡± Sen dropped to one knee and lowered his head in supplication.

    Rolling gray eyes under furrowed dark brows, his grandfather lifted a finger, and Sen was raised to his feet by Zenyak¡¯s Intent. His grandfather¡¯s gaze grew more penetrating. Another thing Sen hadn¡¯t thought was possible.

    ¡°... Anything else?¡±

    Sen internally panicked.

    Say what? I¡¯m sorry. I failed.

    I¡¯m not worthy of being a seeded heir for being led around by my nose twenty Ka nexus cycles by a cultivator one tier lower than me. If it weren¡¯t for Damni, I would still be lost and stumbling while he absconded away with his ill-gotten gains?

    Family creed strictly frowned upon showing weakness, particularly in front of an opponent.

    Always show strength and control. In every situation.

    Senyak had heard his father say this on uncountable occurrences.

    But there was nothing even remotely positive to say about his performance. Nothing could even come close to exculpating him and his actions. Nothing to show his strength or help him maintain his control.

    Senyak¡¯s internal conflict raged and paralyzed his thoughts. He looked to his side, where he had always gained support from Damni¡¯s unflagging positivity. Sen needed her more than ever right now.

    Damni...

    She wasn¡¯t at his side... the place where she had been for the last one hundred Ka nexus cycles!

    Looking up, he saw her positioned two steps behind his grandfather. Her gaze was ironcast and stared straight through him. She was also wearing a crew uniform in the Marztanak blue and silver.

    ¡°Damni?¡± Sen¡¯s voice squeaked while his apprehension screamed.

    He reached out to her through their Ka bond. Not meeting his gaze, she pulled her Ka back and turned away. His mouth fell open as he goggled after her, and a feeling of complete loss surfaced through his racing thoughts¡ª

    But...but he was hers...She was his... The very definition of a Ka bond!

    ... Still, she turned from him.

    Sen¡¯s eyes narrowed. Only now did he begin to sense the depth of the waters he was swimming in. Wheels were turning inside of wheels around him. As was all too common recently, He had no idea if the ground he stood on was solid. Sen¡¯s shoulders drooped in resignation, and he waited for the Bulwark to drop his axe.

    ¡°Disappointing. This has gone on long enough.¡± Zenyak wearily huffed out. ¡°Senyak, sit.¡±

    Two chairs appeared facing each other. Zenyak comfortably leaned back in his; Senyak sat on the edge of his with dejected acceptance hanging over him like a shroud.

    ¡°Damni is my loyal agent, not your willing Ka bond. She has had you under my surveillance for the last five hundred Ka nexus cycles. Her action reports revealed your failure at every turn and the necessity of presenting my very self in order to end this fiasco... Thus, this is no longer needed.¡± Zenyak clenched his fist in a pulling motion.

    ... And Damni¡¯s tethered presence was gone from Sen¡¯s Ka core, as if her imprint had never been there at all...

    True, there were none of the typical penalties for breaking such a bond. Senyak had neither loss of Immortal Ka capacity nor cultivation tier. They would have lost both if he or Damni had broken the bond¡­ But with the simple stroke of the Axe Blade himself, it was as if the bond had never existed.

    Remorse clouded Sen¡¯s thoughts and feelings. An emptiness echoed through him in a way he had never experienced before this mission. Stunned silent, Sen sat and tried to accept the loss of his¡­ wife.  Their relationship had been real for him, but... obviously, not for her.

    Zenyak continued, ¡°There are things of import you are not privy to and exceed your capacity to properly conceptualize. These events reach beyond your father and even my ability to control completely. They affect the realms of Immortal Transcendence to the limit of all known aspect doorways.¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Zenyak paused, likely giving time for the meaning of what he had just said to sink in. Sen continued to sit in a subdued manner, not grasping the full extent of what Zenyak was telling him.

    Zenyak sighed deeply and shifted in his seat with an air of irritation. ¡°Moving to things within your grasp... every seeded Marztanak heir, including your older brother, Denyak, has fallen short of my standards. His failure exceeded even yours, and your failing was truly abysmal, though you at least have the insight and wherewithal to be appropriately ashamed of yourself, it seems. Denyak has demonstrated only a continued recalcitrance to alter his obtuse and concrete thinking. Zenyak¡¯s brows lifted in Sen¡¯s direction to see if he had followed the current train of conversation. His grandfather must have liked what he saw. ¡°... Because of the seriousness of what we are facing, I have disqualified him from his seedency. As I have for the remainder of your siblings. Your failure as heirs is largely due to your father¡¯s deficiency in raising nothing but combat specialists who have ignored the importance of walking a well-balanced path. Every problem is not a nail to which you are all hammers. Discernment, wisdom, character, innovative thinking, nobility of spirit, competent generosity, and above all¨Cresponsibility. These are the qualities that are required of a worthy leader. Some of which you possess. However, the remainder of my descendants are sorely lacking in nearly every category. It is because these traits often go hand-in-hand with humility. A trait which none of you would recognize if you were drowning in an ocean of it.¡± His arm snapped out, pointing toward Damni. If an Immortal with her qualities had been born of my blood, they would sit the throne and I would be able to move on to real threats to the Immortal Realms! The sudden sharpness in Zenyak¡¯s tone left no room for argument. Not that Sen had any disputes with what had been said. If my siblings had performed even worse than me, Grandfather should be worried.

    Yet alas, I am given hammers when what I need is a blacksmith. Furthermore, your father has focused only on Immortal concerns, ignoring the totality of the underlying realms¨C¡± Zenyak raised his hand palm up and seemed to be speaking to iteration as a whole. ¡°Senyak, our existence is shaped by more than just Immortal thought and actions! There are Mortals, Biologics, Necro and Techno Lords, Undead Commandants, Mana Users, Star Children, Primordials, gods, demigods, demon spawn, and all lines of lower realm cultivation, to name but a minuscule part of what you are all missing.¡± Zenyak finished in a short pause as he lowered his hand and changed tack.

    ¡°... Knowledge from the lower realms should always be considered and utilized when and where appropriate. Such knowledge is a force multiplier when properly implemented and applied to your Immortal Ka.¡± Zenyak leaned into Sen and spoke in a knowing tone. ¡°... As you have just learned at the hands of Brundox, the genocide harvester... When knowledge is scorned and unused, its lack is an overwhelming divisor that leads to collapse and defeat.¡± Zenyak leaned back and continued. ¡°Your defeat was a result of both a reduction in your capabilities through ignorance and the multiplication of that of your foe¡¯s through understanding. A thorough understanding of mortal-level Essence and the mortal realms is an irreplaceable foundation for successful Ka cultivation and Ascendance.¡±

    Senyak closed his eyes at the remembered shame of his complete failure and defeat by the chaos agent.

    Zenyak again paused, seeing that his words were being received by Sen this time.

    ¡°You have most aptly proven my point with your extraordinary failings... Defeat is the seed of victory. Savor it. Plant it deeply into your soul and cherish it. Nourish it, and when that seed sprouts into the fullness of the light, so too will you. This perspective will be invaluable to you now and in the future.¡±

    With his pride still stinging, Sen obediently nodded that he would. Zenyak¡¯s face pursed in an understanding expression that told Senyak his grandfather believed he would remember it for a long time.

    Zenyak¡¯s tone took on a casual nature as he continued. ¡°Brundox truly was a distasteful creature. I¡¯m almost sorry I utilized him. Yet, he defeated you while being a step lower than your cultivation with nothing more than his knowledge of what was available in the mortal realms. That and his willingness to use that knowledge. However, it was his lack of discernment and wisdom that ultimately led to your arrival to stop him, and later, to a quick end at my hands. By all accounts, he was lesser. An Immortal inferior to you, save for his knowledge of mortal concerns. But even at a lower tier of cultivation and without the benefit of your upbringing and family advantages, he easily overwhelmed you¨C

    Zenyak tilted his head as he interrupted himself. ¡°For example¨Cdidn¡¯t Damni¡¯s report say that Brundox stopped you from halting the rise of a mortal-genocidal dictator... one Adolf Hitler... with, of all things, something as low-tech as a nuclear fission device¡¯s EMP, thereby disabling your transport¡¯s engines and leaving you, and I quote, ¡®a dead duncro, bobbing in the sea.¡¯¡±

    Sen blushed in shame at his Ka¡ªformer Ka¡ªbond¡¯s unkind but accurate description ¨C then his mouth fell open, and he did a double take finally realizing what his grandfather had just said. ¡°--This was all a setup? The entire thing! You controlled the chaos agent?¡±

    Zenyak cocked a grizzled brow, ¡°Don¡¯t look so shocked, child. He was never under Ka dominion. Ka dominion is inefficient. You must micromanage each and every step of the way. It was not only inefficient, but it was completely unnecessary to accomplish my goals.¡± Zenyak lifted his brows and again leaned toward Sen. ¡°That is another lesson you must learn; there are many forms of control, and it is vital that you master them all if you want to lead. --So yes, of course, he was under my control. Though he didn¡¯t know it. I have controlled all the events surrounding you and Damni since you formed your Ka bond... such as it was.¡± Zenyak had the good graces to move on quickly from the fact that he had dropped his descendant into a fictional Ka bond.

    ¡°Know this. All of the Marztanak failures, up to and including your father¡¯s, are... largely... my fault.

    Zenyak¡¯s voice again softened from its usual command volume, ¡°I failed to instill in your father how important it is to teach you all the lessons and experiential understanding derived in overcoming each incremental step of mortal cultivation which serves as the precursor burdens of proof that one is worthy and justified in wielding Immortal Ka. We¨Call Immortals have done ourselves a great disservice. There is a heaven above the heavens, Senyak. Never forget that truth. We have set ourselves up as divine, and we ¡®play god¡¯ with regard to mortal existences.¡± Zenyak¡¯s brows rose in honest discourse.¡± What more definitive proof do you need of this than the fact that we created yet more gods in our own image?¡± He shook his head as if in disbelief of the practice. ¡°... The truth is that the merging of two independent Immortal Ka signatures to directly create an Immortal existence with no understanding of the mortal realms below us is a cheat to all living in the mortal realms and a tremendous unkindness to the Immortal life created. What is Ka¨Cat its base?¡± Zenyak didn¡¯t wait as he answered his own question. ¡°It is the essence of the divine. To find the heaven above the heavens, look no further than the divine Ka which starts its existence as mortal Essence and is purified through the cultivations of all mortals below until it reaches the level of purity and union with the iteration until it is transformed into what we call Immortal Ka. The fact that we Immortals so often choose to shortcut this perfect example with our own progeny is the height of arrogance. You transgress against the divine at your peril.  His piercing look stabbed Sen through the heart with the circumstances of his own birth. Zenyak¡¯s eyes grew distant, and Sen looked away as well.

    ¡°... Regardless, transgress we did, young one. We convinced ourselves that our way was better than the natural order and we bypassed the mortal underpinnings of struggle that make a person worthy of their Immortal capabilities and subsequent responsibilities. In doing so, we eroded the foundation that both validates and justifies the presence of power in the individual. Our reward for this is justly deserved. For we created only small gods who are easily toppled¨C children with inconceivable capabilities but no conception of the intrinsic weight and responsibility that comes with such power or in truth, the know-how to use it properly. Zenyak turned back, his eyes locking firmly onto Senyak¡¯s own. Small gods are unworthy gods, Senyak Marztanak. It is a problem that I intend to correct in my successor.

 Chapter 12

    Sen swallowed heavily but forced out his question regardless, his desire to know¨Cto understand overcoming his deeply held timidity around his grandfather. ¡°... But¨C¡± He coughed, clearing his suddenly dry throat. ¡°But what about the Chaotic?¡±

    Zenyak spread his fingers, palm up as if uncertain where the question was leading them. ¡°What of him?¡±

    ¡°Well. He was a mortal cultivator.¡± Senyak clarified, his throat gradually easing as he spoke. ¡°He did what you described, and he lacked most of the characteristics you are seeking to instill into your successor.¡±

    ¡°Indeed...¡± Zenyak nodded as he confirmed the obvious, then his eyes narrowed in an obvious attempt to guide Sen to the right answer even though the wrong question. ¡°Brundox¡¯s error lay not in the mountain which he climbed, but the path he chose to scale it. Choices¨Chis, our choices. Your choices and the intentions behind them¨C matter.¡± Zenyak¡¯s tone held the weight of a mountain as he held his hands out to indicate the iterations all around them, and his cadence quickened with the import of his lecture. ¡°How can they not? It is by the intentions of our choices that Balance judges our actions. Forms our deserved Reality from the Karma we have earned. Thus, our choices are the deepest, most foundational representations of our character, the essence of who we are.¡±

    Zenyak dropped his hands and paused and studied Sen as if looking for outward evidence that his message had gotten through this time. Sen widened his eyes at the deep scrutiny but met his grandfather¡¯s gaze. A small smile crept up on Zenyak¡¯s granite features, followed by a self-reflective expression as he continued. ¡°... I am no less susceptible to Karma and Balance than others in this regard. I hoped that what I am...¡± Zenyak indicated himself, and Sen knew he meant the complete and powerful Immortal he was ¡°... your father would also become. But my choices in no way moved me to accomplish this because I didn¡¯t shape him with the experiences I have had. My error was of having an intent without choosing the necessary action to bring it about. I fell victim to the simple delusion of a proud father¨C A delusion that the mortal concept of entropy should have reminded me that such a thing would never happen without a conscious, concerted effort on my part.¡± Zenyak shifted his eyes to Sen in a manner almost approaching camaraderie. ¡°... if I had even considered it in the first place.¡± Zenyak exhaled deeply. ¡°...I was wrong to let him focus purely on the Immortal realms. He did so because it was less tedious. As if such a rationale has ever led to meaningful growth. My shortcomings were in wanting my child to be happy to the point that I spoiled him.¡±

    Zenyak pointed at Sen with an index finger resting on his chair¡¯s arm. ¡°Know that what has happened to our family is not uncommon. We are always less when we focus on the Immortal and forget the foundations from where we come and become much more vulnerable to the actions of those who unite both mortal and Immortal knowledge when acting.¡± Zenyak sighed through parted lips. ¡°... The only reason I dominated the Hegemony when I transcended was that I took it away from privileged Immortals who had similarly forgotten the trials and tribulations of their ancestors. Forgetting the very face of their fathers...¡± Senyak¡¯s grandfather trailed off.

    Sen remained silently stunned at his grandfather¡¯s candor. Did he admit an error ... to me?

    As if reading his thoughts, Zenyak winked at Sen, then straightened his back and sat like the ruler he was. ¡°Senyak, you will never reach your goals by doing what comes easily without enduring the necessary hardships. That is mere hope without the proper choice of action. You must strive, fight, struggle, and bleed to achieve anything worth having. Your father and you would have been much better served if I had learned that lesson earlier,¡± Zenyak trailed off and, for a moment, looked again like an aged grandfather, not the most powerful Immortal in existence.

    Sen looked up in the gap. His Grand Patriarch¡¯s admittance momentarily helped him forget his dejected feelings. Sen was further surprised to note a likely rare forlorn expression crossing Zenyak¡¯s features. It was as if his grandfather was reaching back to memories beyond him, hoping for a chance at change, though he knew it was beyond even his vast powers to do so.

    Sen mustered the courage to interject the question that had started to spin in his mind. ¡°Grandfather, I understand I failed. To be honest, I have known this for a long time... But what is to become of me?¡±

    Zenyak looked up from his troubled revelry and focused a piercing gaze on Sen. Then he sat straight like the ruler of all Reality that he was. ¡°You are all I have left, Senyak. I am going to have to use you to face what is coming... Not as a tool, or at least not only as a tool but a tool maker. I need you to be my blacksmith, young one...¡± A hard and calculating look flashed in Zenyak¡¯s eyes. Clearly, he was disappointed with his current assessment of Sen¡¯s worth. ¡°... But not as you are. You will need a complete¨Cwhat was the mortal term?¡± Zenyak idly rubbed his bearded chin, ¡°... a Makeover? Yes, that¡¯s it. You need a makeover!¡±

    Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Zenyak¡¯s usual fierce energy returned to him. ¡°You must start over with zero tiers of cultivation and begin again. If you can restore yourself with the appropriate foundational support, you will inherit the entire Marztanak Hegemony as its sole heir. Then, with the proper foundation, my greatest hope is that you will have the strength to rebuild what has fallen. If not... you will perish.¡±

    Zenyak trailed off with an unwavering gaze that left no doubt in Sen¡¯s mind that his grandfather was not exaggerating.

    At Senyak¡¯s considering silence, his grandfather offered a last option. ¡°... Your only other choice is to be cast adrift from the Hegemony... Banished from our family, our iterations of origin and all support. That path too¨C with its hardships¨C may yet guide you to the necessary experiences and understandings to be more ... than you currently are.¡± The pruned look of Zenyak¡¯s dissatisfaction left no doubt in Sen¡¯s mind what he thought of his current abilities.

    Senyak gulped in a dry throat at that. But his wide-open eyes remained fixed on his grandfather as he spoke again. ¡°I won¡¯t lie to you; this has already been the fate of your seeded siblings. Most of their failures were so great I simply banished them from family resources. The very few that did qualify for my generous offer of¡­ patriarchal rehabilitation have refused it...¡± Zenyak puffed out a breath and waved his hand¡¯s palm down once in front of his chest as he tisked. ¡°Instead, they each shall endure the second option I mentioned, rehabilitation via natural consequences...¡±

    Then the grand patriarch of the Marztanak Hegemony stood and smoothed his robes, indicating the meeting was over. ¡°... Senyak, the choice is yours.¡± Thick gray brows lifted to Sen, indicating very clearly to Sen that he needed to choose now. ¡°... If you prefer to continue an unsupported Immortal life, I will let you keep your Ka. You are already at the fourth tier...¡± Zenyak raised his shoulders quizzically, ¡°... Who knows? Perhaps you could continue on your own through the last three tiers or even beyond...¡± Silence fell over the front of the bridge.

    The crew milling around during their conversation had the common sense to keep back and quiet, obviously knowing that what was being discussed was far beyond them.

    Zenyak straightened, his tone becoming formal and dictatorial. ¡°... Senyak, only remaining seeded heir of the Marztanak Hegemony, what choose you? Do you wish to continue in the seedency? To try again? To grow with the proper foundation? Or will you be cast out from the family to find your own way?¡±

    Time was up.

    Of all the things he had expected, nothing had prepared him for this. He had even asked his Combi to calculate the multitude of probabilities in regard to his choice. But it had quickly become apparent that Zenyak had cut him off from his Combi during their conversation.

    Sen¡¯s mind whirled... Senyak was well past the midpoint of his fourth tier. It had taken him one hundred and twenty thousand Ka nexus cycles, and it would take much more to get to his current standing with the ¡®proper foundation¡¯ his grandfather was talking about. Even with the tremendous support structure the Marztanak family provided their scions, the task was daunting, to say the least. He didn¡¯t even know what would be needed to start building such a foundation. Perhaps his Combi could help him when he could access it again. Sen¡¯s alternative of going on alone? That was terrifying as well, but not impossible. His Immortal foundation was solid, and he had already benefited from his family resources thus far. Sen might be able to make his way if he could gain support from an independent combat specialist society or clan...

    But, going off on my own¡­

    ... It just wasn¡¯t him.

    If Senyak was anything, he was loyal to his family. He was grateful for the support that he had received from them. Searching deep, Sen realized he was willing to sacrifice his four tiers of cultivation for his makeover if necessary to help him regain his place among them.

    His choice made, Sen bowed at the waist to his grandfather and spoke without rising. ¡°I will continue my seedency. I choose the ¡®makeover¡¯. I will not let you down. I will cultivate my Ka growth with the proper foundation to face what is coming.¡±

    His mindset had never been more determined.

    ¡°Excellent choice, child. So, it is decided. So, it shall be.¡±

    Sen stood tall and straightened his clothing. ¡°I¡¯ll return to the Polar Neutral Ka nexus immediately for retraining...¡± Sen¡¯s voice trailed off as he saw his grandfather¡¯s head shaking in the negative with a mischievous smile spreading across his face.

    ¡°No, child, that is unnecessary. To be sure, you are starting over, but not as an Immortal. You are returning to a prime-material iteration to begin cultivating as a mortal. From there, you must rise to the Immortal realms and beyond. Just as I did.  The quality that has most been lacking in my descendants is humility, and thus you will be humbled. Learn your lessons well, child. Blessings to your cultivations, young one!¡±

    Say what?!?

    Only then did Senyak see the schadenfreude in his grandfather¡¯s twinkling eyes. The next instant, the entire world disappeared without giving Sen a pause to rally his thoughts or even call his grandfather the deceitful and conniving old bastard he was.

    The next thing Sen heard was a groggy but recognizable voice. ¡°Wha... What the hell is going on... Who was that old guy?¡±

    ¡°Joshua?¡±

 Chapter 13

    They had appeared in a dark alley next to a dumpster reeking of rot, death, and worse. It was lightly raining, and thunder rumbled softly in the night¡¯s distance. Several large dark plastic rubbish bags lined the wet wall beside the dumpster. Josh¡¯s slightly stirring body lay face up on them. Twenty-five meters down, the alley intersected a busy street. The light of passing headlights reflected up from the wet asphalt as the cars drove by. Several overhead lamps were out, creating a flickering shadowscape as the wind caused loose utility lines to sway overhead.

    Joshua Elias Tanner had indeed been returned to the current mortal iteration Sen was in. Wherever they were now, it was unlikely where they had started, given his grandfather¡¯s desire for Sen to be made over.

    Upon first arriving, Sen had turned to Joshua and made clear eye contact. An initial look of horror had come over the exhausted mortal¡¯s face before he had proceeded to pass out again. His loud snoring was the only sound to Sen¡¯s ears save the wind and dripping rain.

    There was no telling why his grandfather had gone through the trouble of sending Josh along. However, Joshua was no immediate threat, so Sen disregarded him and let the human continue to sleep on the plastic waste bags he had collapsed back onto.

    ¡°Combi, identify current space-time coordinates.¡±

    No response¡­

    Sen mentally scanned his union to the Combi¨C

    ¨CAnd discovered that there was no sense of his Ethos Combi being bonded to his Ka core at all.

    There was also no sense of the overwhelming dominance of his Ka core, the center of his Immortality that had presided in the center of his being from his initial dawning at the will of his progenitors fifteen thousand Ka nexus cycles ago.

    Senyak¡¯s Immortal axis, the immutable aspect that joined him with everything spiritual, physical, metaphysical, current, past, future, material, and immaterial¨Cwas gone.

    Now there was nothing...

    Still, Sen attempted to open his Ka core and restore his Immortal Essence. I just need to rejoin with my transcendent form¨C

    No effect...

    His fists were like stones, jaw clenched, eyes closed, and his desperation increasing with every failed attempt. He repeated the process, again, again, again and again. After only a few tries, 1,049 times over the previous fifteen minutes. Just to be sure... but who was counting... Something inside of Sen put a stop to the futile efforts...

    Then, just to be sure... as if Sen¡¯s Immortal transcendent form was a cagey animal he could sneak up to and suddenly pounce upon, he did it again another 150 or 200 times...

    Nothing...

    The rain had stopped, and the stars wheeled overhead through the breaking clouds as Sen realized he couldn¡¯t even really remember exactly what it felt like to have his Ka core. Being separated from it seemed to remove its very memory. Focusing his concentration, Sen could barely appreciate its fading loss... something gone and just beyond his fingertips.

    ... Then even this impression faded. In minutes, it was totally gone.

    I¡¯m¡­ mortal.

    Unable to think of anything else to do, Sen called out to his grandfather. Each time, he addressed his failings and promised to make the necessary changes. Each time, it ended with him begging to be restored to his Immortality. Each time, his pleas went unanswered. He had even once called out to Damni, who he was sure could hear him if she so chose.

    There was no response then, either.

    Finally... Sen gave up. He crouched over his feet in the alley¡¯s shadows and decided to take stock of what he did have and what could be sensed of his newly acquired mortal vessel.

    Concerning his physical being, subjectively, he couldn¡¯t identify anything that seemed different from his transcendent form. He was still strong and capable of combat. His thinking processes also seemed to be intact. His knowledge base didn¡¯t seem to be altered either. Sen could still remember his family, the Marztanak Immortal realms and iterations, the stages of Immortal cultivation, etc.

    On the spiritual level, however, there was one difference Sen appreciated after sitting quietly for a few seconds and searching his body. There was a minuscule, centrally located, mortal-spiritual source. A 1.5-centimeter spherical structure, gently glowing in his strange mortal... Aural ¡­sight?... Is that the word, Damni?

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    No response...

    A bitter smile carved into his face as he caught himself slipping back into his old habit. That is going to have to end.

    Yes, ¡®Aural sight¡¯ was right. Sen¡¯s mortal Essence core, for lack of better words, was just below his navel where his Immortal core had been. He did note that his aural sight was dim and cloudy. Dulled compared to the ultimate clarity he had unknowingly luxuriated in as an Immortal.

    This core... Sen¡¯s core... seemed to be filled with stagnant, unmoving mortal Essence. He prodded it with a thought and watched the Essence swirl around itself. Sen could make the Essence travel in a desired direction if he concentrated long and hard enough. It followed clearly laid out meridians leading from his core to all points in his body. His torso, head, extremities, brain, and genitals. There were also meridians between all of his... organs ¨C Which were very new things for him as well.

    Following the internal flow of Essence, Sen noted that it completed a full circulation through his body, and then the Essence flowed back to his core in a loop. There was a minimal exchange of energy and (waste products?) all along the meridians.

    Three of his organs expelled the waste. His lungs, via the exchange of airborne elements, a coiled tubular organ that occupied most of his abdomen, and two-lobed, semi-circular organs located near his back on either side of his torso. These two connected to tubes that ended in a pouch-like vessel in his lower pelvis. The looping abdominal organ seemed to have a continuous run from his oral orifice to his¡ª Transcendence! Mortal life was going to be... untidy.

    Sen continued to circulate his Essence along his spiritual circuits. In response, his organs accelerated their function. The physical tube in his abdomen squeezed in a rippling, rhythmic syncopated pattern. The pouch at the end of the chain began filling with liquid. The core at his center also grew infinitesimally brighter when the Essence returned¡­ As if it collected and consolidated more Essence through this process.

    When Sen finally disengaged himself from the internal observation of his core, he was covered in sweat and gasping. He took in several deep breaths that seemed to help. After a few moments, he looked up and noted the sky had taken on the early signs of first light. Shades of dark blue gave rise to the vague crimson lace of astronomical twilight. Senyak was unsure exactly how much time he had been watching the cycling of his Essence. But it most likely had been hours longer than it had seemed, given the signs of morning and his¡­ physical fatigue? Was that what this feeling was?

    The rain was long gone, and the street and walls were in the last stages of drying. But Sen was feeling... cold? He wrapped his damp robes more tightly around himself with minimal improvement. There was also a pain in his lower pelvis centering on the pouch organ he had identified earlier. It was gnawing at him and got worse when he pushed down on it. On a whim, Sen raised his robes and encouraged the pouch-like bladder to release. Amazingly, a full stream of yellow impurity flowed out, significantly relieving him and creating a small puddle that only partially drained away through the broken asphalt.

    Belatedly realizing the slant of the alley was not in his favor, Senyak hastily used one of his hands to aim his genitals another way before the stream finally trickled to a stop. Sen again pushed on his¡­ bladder, he decided, and the pain was gone.

    Hmmm, maybe it wouldn¡¯t be so hard to figure out mortal life after all¡ª

    ¡°What are you doing, dude?¡±

    Sen spun, surprised at the words, still holding the fleshy tube from which his yellow waste had flowed. His other hand was still pushing down on his abdomen and his bladder. He stood in front of a now fully awake Joshua, shamelessly flaunting his full sun, less than thirty centimeters from Josh¡¯s horror-stricken face.

    Josh¡¯s eyes widened in shock, and he scooted away from Sen on his butt with his hands held awkwardly, palm up in apparent surrender. With no way to back up, he scrambled to stand on top of the wet bags he had been lying on.

    ¡°Damn, dude! Put your dick away! What¡¯s wrong with you?!¡± Josh¡¯s face puckered in distaste as he tried to move laterally along the wall and away from Sen¡¯s position.

    Confused and momentarily uncertain of the social norms concerning genital exposure among mortals, Sen quickly pulled up his undergarments and let the top half of his robes settle back down. Had he somehow profaned a societal taboo? But how? After all, Damni didn¡¯t seem to have any objections about it. In fact, she had seemed rather pleased to see¨C

    He cut off the line of thinking, pain from the raw emotions the memories caused. Betrayal? Abandonment? Loneliness? Sen wasn¡¯t even sure what he was feeling, let alone what their mortal descriptors were.

    Joshua must have reached what he considered a minimal safe distance. He stepped off the rubbish bags and tilted his head slightly, continuing to spread his hands between him and Sen to show he was no threat.

    Then he interjected in the not-unkind manner one would take with a child or a mentally incompetent adult. ¡°Listen, friend, there¡¯s a time and place for everything... even rocking out with your cock out. But... are you¡­ special?¡±

    ¡°Special? What? Yes!¡± A sudden memory of similar gestures from the mortal historical records he and Damni had entertained themselves with surfaced. He glared. ¡°Err, no! I am not mentally challenged if that is your implication, human!¡± Sen over-forcefully responded, shaking his head quickly in negation, causing his topknot to turn with his head.

    A surge of recognition splashed over Joshua¡¯s face at the familiar movement. His eyes narrowed, and his features hardened.

    ¡°Wait¡­ It¡¯s you!¡± Josh hissed.

    All thoughts of kindness seemed to be gone from his face as he lunged through the air for Sen¡¯s throat. Caught off guard by his internal stress over social norms and the rapid, visceral nature of the attack, Sen couldn¡¯t dodge or deflect Josh. They slammed down on the wet stones. Josh on top with both hands wrapped around Sen¡¯s throat, movie-strangling him, the fierce gleam of madness shining brightly in his eyes¨C

    ¡°Cease this activity now. I¡¯m ready to explain things to you both.¡±

 Chapter 14

    A dim blue light enveloped both Josh and Sen. The short monk, who, up till then, Josh had been internally calling ¡®the bald and freaky voice in my head¡¯. The surrounding light lifted the two and placed them face to face with... well, Josh wasn¡¯t quite sure what they were looking at. He was a tall, powerfully built, middle-aged man, shaped out of continually involuting glowing blue lines. He was wearing what looked to Josh¡¯s sci-fi-tainted mind, like robes most comfortably worn by guys who fought with lightsabers and used the Force. The closer Josh looked, the deeper the lines seemed to transect into infinite repeating detail. In seconds, Josh had to stop staring and turn away as his eyes started to burn from the continued exposure to the glowing fractals.

    Regardless, Josh was sure he had never seen any person that the... projection... apparition... was supposed to be a representation of. A quick glance over to Sen told Josh that Sen all too well knew exactly who it was. If Sen¡¯s downcast eyes and look of shame meant anything.

    Senyak spoke first, or attempted to, his mouth working with no sound coming out despite what Josh could see were strenuous attempts at making his voice work.

    Josh, whose most recent memories included¡ª

    ¡ªHaving his mind and hormones invaded by a socially inept space alien who looked like a Shaolin monk.

    ¡ªAn elevator death match with a sixty-eight-year-old receptionist who had almost kicked his ass but had instead, quite literally, busted his balls.

    ¡ªLast but not least, having his face slammed¨Crepeatedly, mind you¨Cinto the street by a man after he had whacked that same man in the head with a half-inch steel bar so hard that it had bent around his face.

    Enough is enough! This glowstick-cosplaying ghost guy is the last straw!

    Josh started running for his life, screaming down the alley¨C

    Or, at least, he would have... If he could have moved his legs or made sounds with his mouth. Instead, all Josh did was float there ineffectually. The only seeming control he had was the ability to move his head and eyes and control his breathing. Well, control was a rather strong word in the face of his rapid, panicked gasps and narrowing vision.

    The figure spoke. ¡°I am a Consciousness Clone of the perfect Immortal Zenyak Marztanak, Grand Patriarch of the Marztanak Hegemony, and grandfather to the sole remaining Heir of the Marztanak Hegemony, Senyak Marztanak.¡± The Clone gestured meaningfully toward Senyak. ¡°As well as, and perhaps more immediately pertinent, Zenyak is also the benefactor and potential patron to you, Joshua Elias Tanner.¡± He looked Josh in the eye with a gaze that could pierce tank armor. ¡°At this junction, I am also the potential bane of you both.

    ¡°I accurately represent the Grand Patriarch¡¯s mentation, persona, goals, and proclivities. I also have access to his knowledge and an infinitesimal portion of his power.¡± The Clone let his credentials hang in their thoughts for a moment and then proceeded with just as much vigor. ¡°I am here to determine if you two will pursue cultivation through the mortal spheres... or not.¡±

    Though Josh had thought it impossible, the Clone¡¯s glare became even more steely. ¡°At present, as you are rather apparently aware, neither of you has control of your body below your neck. Similarly, I have also silenced your vocalization capabilities.

    ¡°I assure you that Zenyak Marztanak suffers no fools. As I am an exact representation of him, down to the small mole on his left rear cheek ... nor do I. Somehow, the Clone managed to stare both of them in the eyes at the same time.

    ¡°The probability is one hundred percent that you both lack the foundational knowledge and wisdom to understand just how close to the end of your paths you are. Because of this, I have mercifully limited your capabilities to act foolishly until Karma is balanced...¡±

    The words trailed off into silence. Joshua slowly ceased his head shaking, useless eye-rolling, and mental struggles. Senyak had already recognized the futility of similar actions several moments before.

    Clone¡ªHegemony... what the hell is that¡ª and Senyak¡¯s grandfather?

    Josh wasn¡¯t sure of anything, except strangely, the wavelength of some of the light the Clone was shining was near the 400 to 405-nanometer length. His eyes hurt to look directly at it for more than one to two seconds. Josh briefly wondered how he was definite about such an obscure point, not having any science background beyond the odd show caught on the Discovery channel as a kid. However, somehow, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Josh was certain of its accuracy. He resolved to chalk it up to multiple head traumas in the last several hours. At any rate, he continued to gaze steadily at the ultraviolet-neutral-zone near the Clone¡¯s feet.

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    Seeing their acceptance, the Clone continued. ¡°Good, our time is brief. If you survive, and when I am confident it will be goal-productive, I will allow you the opportunity to ask meaningful questions.

    The Clone shifted his attention to Josh, ¡°I will start with you, Joshua Elias Tanner. You are the one who needs to accept a much more significant change regarding your conceptualization of your current reality¨C What we Immortals call an iteration¨C than most mortals can comfortably grasp. Your iteration is only one among the infinite others that can be traversed by the spiritually awoken¨C¡±

    The Clone bit back its own words and stared directly into Josh¡¯s eyes with deadly sincere contempt. ¡°-- Yes, Joshua Elias Tanner, I am aware that you do not attend ¡®church¡¯ regularly¨C A meaningless concern to our current discussion¨C

    He can read my thoughts!?!

    Yes, obviously, ¡®I can read your thoughts¡¯... though that is hardly a significant feat when your mind is shouting loud enough for anyone to hear. Please attempt to control your consciousness so you do not interrupt me again.¡± The Clone¡¯s steady glare could have refrozen the last fifty years of globally warmed and melted glaciers.

    After a pregnant pause, the Clone continued. ¡°... Presently, your spiritual potential is dormant. You must follow my commands and activate it. At the center of your spirituality, just below your physical navel, your physical being meets your spiritual reality. This union is your core, and it is full of spiritual Essence. You will now attempt to sense your core with your mind. When you do, you will experience a gently glowing golden aura around it.¡±

    The insano-train Josh was riding on had just gone completely off its rails. Josh¡¯s eyes boggled at the seeming absurdity he had just heard from the Clone¡¯s mouth. While his confusion was genuine, if Josh was honest, there was a fair amount of self-chosen obstinacy. He was at his limit with the bizarro events that had occurred to him since entering the school¡¯s elevator. Up to and including being hog-tied and silenced by a member of the Blue Man group standing before him.

    Again, knowing every thought in Josh¡¯s head, the Clone leaned his glowing blue face, with its impossible myriad of renewing, shimmering outlines, to within two inches of Josh¡¯s eyes. ¡°I said... now, Joshua Elias Tanner.¡±

    Josh blinked and looked away in pain as the personal space in and around his retinas was fried with emitted UV rads.

    The Clone then continued reading Josh¡¯s mind like a roadside billboard, ¡°This is no game, Joshua.¡± A sudden sensation of violation occurred, as though someone was sieving his mind through a pasta strainer to witness his entire life in an instant. ¡°You are not ¡®tripping balls¡¯ on some hallucinogenic substance. This is very much real...¡± The Clone grinned a wolfish smile, ¡°... Yes, I absolutely assure you that your life is in very real danger.¡±

    The blue face¡¯s smile dropped, and the Clone continued matter-of-factly. ¡°Your physical body and metaphysical existence have been¡­ anti-resonated by the Anima Essence of countless mortal lives and had undergone the irreversible series of interactions across physical and spiritual levels of your existence. Yes. This is a situation you are not in any way equipped to survive. I am currently keeping that fate postponed.¡± The Clone moved nose to nose with Josh and spoke in an unmistakably slow and deadly tone. ¡°...If you persist in disregarding my instructions, I will allow your elimination via the complete expungement I currently hold at bay. I will allow this to happen for no other reason than your own recalcitrance and focus my remaining efforts on Senyak.¡±

    Expungement?!?

    ¡°Death Joshua Elias Tanner. You were exposed to concentrated soul Essence because of Senyak¡¯s failed containment of Hantal Brundox. This exposure would have eliminated your physical and spiritual being without Zenyak¡¯s direct intervention.

    ¡°You were granted this mercy to balance the Karmic debt Senyak owes you for stopping the genocidal harvester Brundox. Sparing your life was the best way of achieving the desired Karmic balance. A balance which I openly admit significantly improves Senyak¡¯s chances of success in his tasks by all predicted probability outcomes.¡± The Clone turned his head away, and Joshua saw his cobalt-hued fractalized eyes roll. ¡°...Yes, Joshua... You are useful. Karmic balance is in everyone¡¯s best interest.¡± The evolving lines of the Clone¡¯s face hardened into blue steel, ¡°But, as with all things... there are limits to how far and for how long I am willing to extend my assistance in the face of your doubts and obstinance.¡±

    Still, Josh¡¯s mind had a few remaining questions the Clone considered valid enough to respond to in real time. ¡°Yes, Brundox is the entity you identify as the cockless wonder who ruptured your sack, killed Sadie, and curb-stomped your ass.¡±

    ¡°Yes, being expunged will prevent you from ever seeing or assisting your progeny, Sophie, to reach maturity.¡±

    Joshua¡¯s face clouded at that, and his throat swallowed several times silently.

    ¡°Lastly, Joshua, it is Karmically appropriate to inform you that probability predictions also show a significant increase in the success of Zenyak¡¯s desired outcomes and objectives when you not only survive but advance together with Senyak toward Transcendence. Yes, Joshua, Zenyak is concerned with a great many things, including the continued existence of all reality as your tiny mind conceives it. I assure you, its survival is by no means guaranteed.¡±

    The Clone finished with Joshua¡¯s internal questions and bluntly moved back to his own agenda. ¡°You are now fully informed. I am allowing you five Earth seconds to elect compliance or expungement. Choose now, Joshua Elias Tanner.¡±

 Chapter 15

    The Clone moved out of Josh¡¯s personal space and, as far as Josh could tell, had started a silent countdown.

    RoboCop nightmares aside, even though the Clone could accurately be described as a beefed-up stickman from Josh¡¯s childhood Lite-Brite set, his mettle was undeniable. Josh had absolutely no doubt the Clone meant what it said. Josh would be taken out, and right now, if he didn¡¯t do what the Clone wanted. No questions, ifs, ands, or buts about it, and there was a niggling, diffuse itch somewhere between his sternum and his groin that was beginning to bother him. The response wasn¡¯t sensory, not precisely, despite his attempts to describe it with that kind of terminology. The feeling was nebulous and¡­ other, and yet absolutely undeniable.

    And distracting as all hell.

    Glancing to his side, Josh saw that Senyak¡¯s head was violently shaking up and down in a blatant attempt to get Josh to agree...

    Josh shrugged.

    ...What do I have to lose dancing to this crazy man¡¯s mad music for the next few minutes?

    Eyes blinking, Josh nodded and started trying to visualize the area under his belly button.

    Josh thought about what was there...

    Then... as if brushing a numb hand against the side of an alarm clock before being fully awake, Josh felt... something...

    He reached for it again with his mind, and it slowly came into... focus? After a few seconds, Josh saw and felt a small marble-sized lump of...energy...will...power...his mind nearly warped in an effort to define the sense of being that the¡­ core embodied. It mostly felt like life to him!

    Josh¡¯s eyes lit up, and he looked back up at the Clone¡¯s churning outlines of every hue of blue in front of him. Shock registered blatantly on his expression.

    A slightly less menacing eye roll, ¡°Yes. Of course, it really exists. I placed your core there myself...¡± The Clone waved a hand, casually dismissing the rest of Joshua¡¯s unanswered questions. ¡°Let us proceed. Your core links with your physical body through a series of channels called meridians. These vessels allow you to circulate, or cycle, Essence to your physical body as a systemic ecology of symbiotic motility and animus.¡± Ghost man spread his arms, turning as if to take in all of creation as he closed his eyes in what seemed to be poetic bliss. The Clone¡¯s head suddenly snapped around toward Josh, his eyes widening in apoplectic affront. ¡°ABSOLUTELY NOT. It is most certainly not ¡®a mystical hoodoo generator¡¯. It is the very basis of divinity. It is life, breath, and existence itself. In cycling Essence¨Cyou yourself join a greater cycle of actuality that, by its very nature, transcends your previous pitiful and plodding existence.¡±

    While it was obvious that the Clone needed to emergently correct Joshua¡¯s lackadaisical thinking. His tone was more that of a harried instructor than an axe-wielding executioner.

    That¡¯s a slight improvement¡­ Josh let himself think.

    The Clone continued without comment on Josh¡¯s personal assessment. ¡°Focus. See the meridian channels that thread their way through your being. You can cycle the Essence in your core through these channels by inducing a directional vector with your Intent. Do so now.¡±

    Not needing further convincing, Josh tried. He first poked his core and saw its swirling Essence whirl around, racing like gold-colored food coloring inside a clear water balloon.

    Josh tried to push harder, and soon, he felt pressure building up behind his eyes¨C

    Zenyak¡¯s Clone interrupted Josh¡¯s ineffectual efforts. ¡°Proceed gently, mortal. You will rupture your cerebral vasculature and fracture your core with such little care. As I said, it is your Intent that moves Essence. You must will its movement, not crush it with increased intracranial pressure¨C Also, breathe. Essence is life, and the essence of life is breath. Until you complete your first tier of cultivation, you will require the use of oxygen contained in this planet¡¯s atmosphere to fuel your metabolism and maintain your feeble consciousness.¡±

    Huh... breathe? Good advice.

    Josh took several slow, steady breaths and reached out mentally to his core again. He thought of moving his Essence out from the core along his meridians. He saw it follow a loop up to his head and back again. When it was done, Josh noted that the pain in his head had decreased. But he did feel slightly winded from the effort.

    ¡°Good. Yes, the micro-cerebral ruptures from your first clumsy attempt have been healed via the joining of the spiritual and physical. Exempli gratia, cycling your Essence resulted in restoring your body¡¯s intended form and function, thus improving your physicality¨C¡±

    The Clone held up a hand to stop Josh¡¯s unheard questions, instead proceeding with its intended lecture. ¡°... The cycling of absorbed Essence allows your spiritual and physical natures to grow closer to a unified whole. Closer to the Divine as some describe it. A more unified spiritual and physical body facilitates transferring, storing, and using larger amounts of Essence. In turn, your strength and power as your cultivation increases. Essence is life¨Cto be sure, but it is also power.¡±

    Seeing that he had Josh¡¯s undivided attention again, the Clone provided him with a few more pieces of information. ¡°Cultivation is essentially an upward spiral of growth toward perfection and enlightenment. Simply stated, cycling of absorbed Essence from other spiritual beings will make you better, stronger, faster¨C¡± Blue arcs of light radiated from the Clone¡¯s eyes as his unblinking sight line bore down on Josh. ¡°... Yes, Joshua... ¡®Like Steve Austin, The Six Million Dollar Man but without the bionic implants¡¯... Now, I¡¯m going to pretend that you are more than a prepubescent, television-addled child, and continue with the information you need to advance your understanding and entire state of being...¡±

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    Clearly, the Clone would not be ¡®dumbing down¡¯ any more of its explanations for Josh... But that was okay... he thought he was finally starting to get it.

    Without a breather, the azure juggernaut continued. ¡°... Cycling Essence improves the connection between your body and soul. It also serves the purpose of purifying or distilling foreign elements from the Essence. Once cleansed, the Essence will be added to your core... growing your cultivation, making you more powerful, strengthening your physical movements and actions while healing associated damaged tissues and injuries.¡±

    The Clone spared a glance for Senyak as it spoke its next sentence. ¡°Mastering these two effects of cycling and accruing in cultivation will sustain you as you hunt down other Essence-containing spiritual beings. For now, and at further points in your growth, you will need to absorb the Essence of other spiritual beings to increase your cultivation.¡± Sen brightened, clearly learning something new from the Clone¡¯s discourse as he continued.

    ¡°Senyak, I know that you already understand the basic principles of cycling mortal Essence. However, you have never before been a mortal. We must move on to a practical demonstration.¡± A wavering blue hand included Josh, ¡°... for the both of you.¡±

    The Clone formed a fist from the previously waving hand, and Josh felt a sharp pain in his left upper leg. Blood started to pool under his feet, still dangling six inches off the ground.

    A sharp smile cut the Clone¡¯s face as he again continued in a matter-of-fact tone. ¡°I have severed both of your left femoral arteries. Being mortal humans with no significant cultivation level, you will most certainly die without medical intervention. I need you both to cycle your Essence to the affected area to understand the benefit of Essence¡¯s healing effects. Do so now. Or die.¡±

    What the absolute fuck! What kind of Steven King banging Charles Manson and hatching Cthulhu babies type of family did Senyak come from?

    Josh sent a panicked look at Senyak and confirmed that he also had arterial blood pooling under him in a bright red puddle... But Senyak¡¯s bleeding had started slackening off, while Josh¡¯s continued like a garden hose on a pulsatile-medium-open setting.

    Surprisingly to Josh, the first thought that came to his mind was that he didn¡¯t want to admit that Senyak might be better at this spiritual... mental... psychic... whatever-the-heck action this is.

    Josh got to work, felt his core, and then willed it to move its Essence to his left leg.

    At first, being scared out of his mind, he had poor control. His reflex response was no different from that of a squirrel stuffed in a sack. His first push sent his Essence cycling in all possible directions at once. Only a minimal part, perhaps 5 percent, reached his wounded femoral artery.

    Even with this small amount, Josh noted a slight decrease in the bleeding and pain. However, it was not enough to prevent his ultimate loss of consciousness from bleeding out. His mind quickly filled in some intrusive particulars on that front:

    With an estimated standard blood pressure of 120/80, Josh would lose approximately one liter of blood every fifty to fifty-five seconds. Josh would lose consciousness from this amount of blood loss in about two and a half minutes. Then, his blood pressure would drop to approximately 40/0. (Pssst. It¡¯s the zero part that¡¯s rather significant.) At that point, mister rapidly becoming dizzy from the loss of too much red stuff would undergo ischemic and hypovolemic shock, leading to cardiac arrest and cascading organ failure from ischemia. First to his brain and heart in about four minutes. Then, to his core organs. His death would arrive minutes after that due to traumatic¨C

    Josh blinked.

    Where did that come from? He looked around, taking in the spreading pool of shocking crimson below him. Right. The blood loss! Important lesson here. Never underestimate the mental effects of too much blood loss!

    Josh couldn¡¯t help but step out from his thinking. His only medical training had been self-taught by putting Band-Aids on Sophie¡¯s skinned knees... but without question, he knew everything that his brain had just told him was absolutely accurate...

    You do not have any time to figure that out now! Josh¡¯s practicality took over.

    Which was true. If he believed what his brain told him, Josh only had about ninety seconds left before losing consciousness. As his biological model predicted¡ª biological model? ... Where did that come from? Is that¡­ a technical term? I chose to become a lawyer approximately thirty seconds after that residency graduate attempted to explain histology to me, and I only gave her the thirty seconds because I spent twenty-nine of them trying to figure out how to get her number. Now I can¡¯t even talk to myself without getting all sciency...

    Later!

    Right now, Josh had to get the Essence moving in the right direction by asserting his will with the correct intention, for the love of little green apples! ¡­Damn. I knew I should have planted those apple trees in the backyard. Miranda and Sophie would just love some little green¨C

    Cutting off the Essence from cycling above his waist, Josh first got it to flow only in his lower extremities. Doing this made a significant improvement. Approximately 45 percent of the available Essence had reached his left leg. It appeared to be enough to avoid loss of consciousness, as the Essence¡¯s restorative qualities became noticeable. The six-inch wound began closing along with slaking of the blood flow.

    But man... you can do better!

    Josh¡¯s vision swam and began to narrow as decreasing blood flow began to impact the balance and proprioception and consciousness centers of his inner ear and brain. His equilibrium was definitely affected, and his head began to lol on his otherwise paralyzed body. A random thought from his meandering attention thanked the Clone for keeping him upright with his flaming blue voodoo juju. But somehow, his will did indeed limit the Essence flowing to his right leg and groin in a left-leg-only loop. Then, he began to narrow the focus of Essence tightly into only the upper portion before it returned along its loop to his core.

    After completing the first cycle, Josh¡¯s bleeding stopped, along with a complete reduction in pain and a regaining of his senses as the healing power of the Essence began to restore his blood volume. Josh''s brain snapped back to much clearer thinking like a rubber band, and he quickly took back his gratitude to the Clone. A satisfied smirk was all the response the Clone gave as Josh kept his Essence spinning through the leg loop for a second and a third time. His leg was completely healed after two full rotations. But, after the fourth, he had learned how to pick up speed. He thought of the Essence cycling like slot cars on a track. How fast can I make this go¨C

    ¡°Good. Stop now. You have completely recovered and avoided dying from your own incompetence.¡±

    Josh stopped and realized his breathing was coming in ragged gasps as sweat slicked his entire body. Using his Intent to move his Essence no joke. Then again, maybe constantly being close to death time after time in the last twelve hours also had something to do with it. But what did Josh know¡­ Looking over at showed him in similar condition as beads of sweat runneled down his mostly bald head and neck leaving wet stains on his upper robes.

    ¡°I am now satisfied that the probability models of you meeting the minimum requirements to cultivate are accurate. As such, I will inform you of your path and my expectations for you both.¡±

 Chapter 16

    Zenyak¡¯s consciousness clone continued without pause, turning this time to Sen.

    ¡°Senyak, your task is to rise through the five mortal levels of cultivation¡ªfoundational, physical, mental, spiritual, and cosmic, to once again reach Immortal Transcendence... And your cultivational growth is expected to surpass all independent mortal cultivators in this and all iterations you inhabit.¡± The look of incredulous doubt that formed from the constantly rolling fractal lines of its face told volumes of what the Clone thought about Sen¡¯s chances of accomplishing this.

    The Clone glanced up and spoke to the heavens, raising his hands in an uncharacteristic display of hopelessness as if pleading for a reprieve from what he was about to say and do. ¡°Regardless of my individual estimations about your likelihood of success¨C¡±

    Blue-white lightning flashed through the sky, immediately followed by ear splitting thunder that made the gravel on the floor of the alley rattle. The Clone turned back to both of them with a distasteful look of forced acceptance of a futile task. ¡°...  My instructions are to give you both several boons to foster your advancement through the mortal levels of cultivation.¡±

    ¡°Your boons are thus¡ª¡± The Clone waved his hand in a small gesture, and golden writing appeared in the air between him and them. Almost as if a legal and binding contract was being formed.

    OPTIMAL CULTIVATOR¡¯S PHYSIOLOGY

    ¡°All cultivators are not created equally in the mortal realms. Many physiologic and spiritual variants exist. However, to get both of you here at this present time, Zenyak was obligated to completely recreate your physical and spiritual beings from the subatomic and supra-spiritual levels ¨C As Zenyak does nothing in less than absolute perfection ¨C you are both gifted with the optimal starting position.¡±

    The Clone gave them both a side glance and grudgingly spoke from the corner of his mouth, ¡°... Probability estimates are that you will be able to cultivate and grow at exponential rates with these improvements if you are adequately motivated. It is also certain that without these perfect physical vessels and spiritual energy, neither of you would have been able to comply with my requirements thus far...¡±

    ¡°Your second boon...¡± Another small wave of his hand and more golden writing in the air¡ª

    Myself: THIS CONSCIOUSNESS CLONE Of ZENYAK MARZTANAK

    ¡°... And my knowledge concerning the foundational necessities of cultivation.¡±  The Clone raised both his brows in a way that invited either of them to challenge his next statement. ¡°... My guidance will be to prevent you both from stumbling in the dark longer than what is necessary to benefit your growth. I will provide my insights when I determine you have a need. We predict that this boon will also increase your rate of cultivator growth by at least an order of magnitude.¡±

    The Clone took them both in with an increased air of seriousness that Josh had already learned not to ignore from him. ¡°... My continued presence comes with a warning. Understand that you are now in an iteration twelve aspect doorways from any inhabited Immortal location.  We have done this for a specific reason. Any¨C¡± The Consciousness Clone nodded to both of them curtly, ¡°... Absolutely any significant Immortal interference of beings from the Transcended realms, beyond communication with this Clone, is prohibited. Any voluntary communication on your part will immediately place you both under consideration for expungement.¡±

    Senyak raised his hand and received only a curt look from the Clone. ¡°All contact with Immortals is prohibited ... Even from my family and my Ka bond¨C former Ka Bond?¡±

    The Clone leveled an unhealthy look at Sen. ¡°Yes, particularly from them. However, should any Immortals you have outstanding confrontation issues with decide to take this opportunity to even any imagined scores against you... Their interference will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.¡± The Clones'' eyes thinned, and he glanced at Sen from the side of his eyes. ¡°... At some point such Immortal involvement may be considered a viable source of motivation. Particularly as you near transcendence yourself. For now, all involvement is prohibited.¡±

    Josh rolled his eyes and spoke before thinking. ¡°Thanks for the pep talk, Newt Rockne. If that¡¯s your idea of positive motivation, I¡¯d hate to see what you consider negative motivation.¡±

    The Clone shifted his glance to Josh. ¡°... Of all the things you have said today, Joshua Elias Tanner, that is by far the most correct.¡± The Clone again waved his hand. More golden letters appeared.

    KARMICALLY LINKED CULTIVATION PARTNER

    The Clone glanced at Sen and then turned to Josh. ¡°Through his ignorant actions, Senyak has Karmically bound you both together on the Path of One. You will both have significant benefits in cultivation advancement while in any material-matter iterations because of this...¡± The lupine smile of a hungry wolf lifted the Clone¡¯s cheeks as he stared at Josh. ¡°But more on this later...¡±

    One final wave and the now-expected accompanying golden lettering appeared.

    A CULTIVATION PROBABILITY INTERFACE

    The Clone stepped back to include both of them and was once again all business. ¡°... I am going to brand this interface onto both of your cores. It is impossible to overstate its value. The interface will provide immediate feedback on your current physical and spiritual status. As your cultivation increases, it will also improve to provide you with richer and more in-depth environmental information concerning the spiritual beings you are dealing with, as well as time-space locations and directed goal organization.¡±

    ¡°This last boon will require another practical application.¡± A nod from the Clone released the restraints, and Josh and Sen dropped the six inches to their feet, making them both stumble in their sudden freedom.

    The Clone raised his hands with its right palm facing out at Senyak¡¯s core, the left facing Josh¡¯s. Remembering their last ¡®practical application,¡¯ was a lovingly given severed femoral artery, both Josh and Sen flinched reflexively and raised their arms in a simultaneous guarded stance... Sadly, it did neither of them any good¨C

    Instantly, Josh¡¯s mind filled with unfiltered-solar-radiation level agony. The searing pain began at his core and spread out along his meridians, pulsing in greater amplitude and frequency as the seconds ticked by. Nothing Sen had exposed Josh to had come even close to this skull-pounding, soul-burning torture. Every inch of him, including his hair follicles, hurt.

    Josh grabbed his head and kept it still to try and lessen his misery, to no effect. The cranial overload steadily increased until his teeth felt loose in their sockets. Josh didn¡¯t know how he knew it, but he was certain, and without a doubt, that Senyak was going through the same exact horror he was feeling. At some point, Josh lost consciousness and fell into the never-ending expanse of white noise swirling around him.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    He was face down in the alley over his bent knees when he woke. His shirt and pants were wet and grimy from the ground, and his forehead had small pieces of asphalt gravel stuck to it. His ears still ringing, Josh absently scraped away the embedded rocks free from his skin. Josh¡¯s core still smoked from the searing brand the Clone had placed there. But the pain receded with every second.

    Rising to his feet, Josh noted that Senyak was also stirring. Several choice words and even a few questions for Zenyak¡¯s Clone came sluggishly to Josh¡¯s brain as it came back online... But the human had already accepted being outclassed in any confrontation with the glowing blue being. It was clear that the Clone gave absolutely zero fucks. Perhaps more importantly, Josh had started to believe what he was hearing. They were both at the Clone¡¯s mercy for their continued existence. If Josh wanted to see Sophie again, he needed to play along... So, instead of reacting with his instincts to rage about everything that had and was currently happening, Josh stood there sullenly... waiting...

    Apparently, being... whatever Senyak was... hadn¡¯t made the experience of core branding any easier for him. The shorter man, dressed like a monk, had risen in a stagger to his feet. He was mirroring Josh¡¯s stance of tortured acceptance. Even wearing the same intense glare that Josh hoped he was giving the Clone, though he was relatively sure that his own merely manifested as an ugly grimace.

    ¡°Excellent! You both survived!¡±

    A momentary flicker of what may have been genuine surprise and something else unreadable passed over the Clone¡¯s ever-shifting fractalized face. An actual chill ran down Josh¡¯s spine at the Clone¡¯s sincerity in conveying the distinct possibility of them not surviving. Then, it was back to the Clone¡¯s agenda. The third-degree soul burns they had both just endured apparently required no further mention.

    ¡°Activate your Cultivation Probability Interface¡¯s biologic assessment by intending it to assess¨C¡±

    Josh raised his hand. The Clone¡¯s eyes jumped to him, drilling two metaphoric holes through his face. Foolishly or bravely, he decided to ask his question anyway. ¡°Will everything having to do with our cultivation be based on our Intent? And probability¡­ How is the condition of my body a ¡®probability.¡¯¡±

    The Clone¡¯s eyes blazed with obvious frustration at having to answer such basic questions. He nonetheless proceeded.

    ¡°The probability interface not only assesses the condition of your body but its current status in relation to intensely elusive metaphysical properties.¡± The Clone waved his hand and began listing several. ¡°... Essence location and quantity, cultivation status, requirements for Karmic advancement. Skills and abilities Karmic Attunements will provide, etc¡­ Much like you humans very well describe with Heisenberg¡¯s Principle are that you are unable to detect the physical location of quantum particles without using means that alter their location and trajectories¡­ One can never fully understand what is happening in the spiritual realm with certainty. Any interface that reads spiritual effects and reports on them in the physical reality is really just interpreting probabilities.¡± The Clone finished with raised brows, querying if Josh had understood. He immediately nodded his head yes.

    ¡°...Good, now concerning your first question¨C¡± The Clone began, but seeing Senyak nodding his head concerning cultivatory Intent, he raised a blue fractalized hand in an ¡®after you fashion¡¯ and said simply, ¡°Yes Senyak, save my proverbial breath and answer this question for Joshua, will you?¡±

    Looking nervous at the Clone¡¯s surprising response, Sen responded in a slightly timid voice, ¡°In Immortal Cultivation, one¡¯s Intent, or their supremely focused will, is the primary lever of action. It takes millennia of your Earth¡¯s solar rotation¨C years to achieve the necessary concentration even for us ... which is why I was so surprised you survived our test of healing ...¡± Sen looked surprised as well. His voice was flecked with mild undertones of awe at Josh¡¯s continued existence. The Clone shifted forward on the verge of interrupting, and Sen sped up to finish his last thoughts on the matter. ¡°What we are being requested to do¨C

    ¡°Demanded ... He is demanding it of us.¡± Josh mildly corrected Sen, seemingly more out of the habit of a teacher of word smiths than of any malice toward Sen.

    At this correction, Sen glanced at the Clone. The Clone nodded. ¡°Joshua is correct. Abstaining is absolutely not an option for either of you.¡±

    Sen sighed, still seeming uncomfortable with the uncompromising terms Josh and the Clone were willing to bandy with and found an acceptable middle ground. ¡°What the Consciousness Clone greatly desires us to do is to focus our Intent in a method similar to how we circulated our Ka through our meridians, but instead¨Cto turn that same Intent toward the Brand that now exists on our mortal core. Sen cast a quick glance at the Clone, who seemed only bemused by Sen¡¯s next statement. ¡°... After what we just went through, I¡¯m sure you can feel it as well as I can¨C both spiritually and physically.¡±

    Josh absently rubbed at his aching navel as he responded in a breezy tone to no one in particular. ¡°Oh ...You could have just said so ...¡± He was obviously not foolish enough to direct any confrontational words at the Clone.

    Sen and the Clone gave each other a meaningful look.

    The Clone proceeded to discuss the core-branded interface as if it were a new app for their cell phones. ¡°... Your Essence fuels the interface. As I have already said, it will assess your current physiologic and spiritual condition. The functionality of the probability interface increases with your cultivation. Pragmatically, the interface can take any visual or auditory form to inform you of its data. However, given your current mental acuity levels, I have set its notification level to simple.¡±

    Ignoring the Clone¡¯s snide comment, Josh intended as the Clone had instructed and immediately noted the presence of a green and blue bar over to the right of his visual field. There was also a small circle at the top center of his vision. The circle¡¯s bottom was 10 percent opaquely filled in.

    The Clone spoke over his inspection of the interface¡¯s data and pointed with his hands, indicating what Josh was seeing. ¡°The green column on the right reflects the overall status of your physical well-being. Should you take an injury, it will decrease. Yellow indicates a moderate condition. Red is for when you are facing critical damage. An empty black status bar is irrelevant, because if you ever see it, it means you are dead, and I have been saved from the trouble of expunging you myself...

    The Clone raised an index finger to the top center of Josh¡¯s sight line. ¡°Spiritual strength is reflected by the small figure at the top center of your visual field, along with a visual representation of the current level of dedicated Essence in your core. When the core image is full and golden, you will be ready to advance to the next level of your cultivation. You can see from the spherical shape that you both are very early in the Foundational Tier.

    Continuing like an airline steward during preflight instructions, the Clone spoke again. ¡°The blue bar to the right of the green bar reflects how much free Essence you have available to use. Free Essence is what you both used to heal your femoral artery wounds. This Essence has yet to be dedicated to advancing your core and can be channeled at your discretion to enhance your actions or heal the wounds you are likely to get¨C¡±

    The Clone paused and glanced meaningfully and or menacingly at Josh. With everything that had already happened, it was getting hard to tell which, with this edgy, ¡®always one step from expunging you,¡¯ guy. ¡°... Yes, Joshua, it is like ¡®gas in your tank.¡¯ Once used, it is gone. Released back to the iteration. You can obtain more by absorbing Aura, which you have been attuned to, or taken directly from other spiritual beings¡¯ cores¨C¡±

    ¡°The interface is a... a video game?¡± Josh couldn¡¯t help but blurt out at the pure inanity of what he was seeing.

    The temperature in the alley dropped several degrees at Josh¡¯s impertinent interruption. ¡°That is not an entirely incorrect assessment, Joshua Elias Tanner. As already stated, I have set the visual cues to ones you would be familiar with to limit the variables that might otherwise confuse your simple mind.¡± Narrowing his gaze and looking straight at Josh, he added, ¡°No further interruptions, or I will restrain you again. Now, for another practical application.¡±

    Josh could see Sen was as frozen in terror as he was facing down the now dreaded phrase. Josh could hear the Clone¡¯s smile at their discomfort in his voice.

    ¡°Fear not... at least this time. I merely require a status check of the functionality of the interface. Physically striking each other one time should suffice.¡± He chuckled smugly. ¡°No use of weapons and avoid fatal damage... if possible.¡±

    Josh took a double take at the Clone. ¡°I get to hit Senyak? For free?¡±

    The incredulity bubbled up through his expression to place a maniacal smile on his face. All the while, strength from the possibility of payback flowed through his limbs.

    A vulpine smile once again crossed the Clone''s face. ¡°Why yes...¡± The Clone raised a hand to Sen while keeping his eyes on Josh. ¡°... Senyak was an Immortal combat specialist and has retained that knowledge. What should he have to fear from you, Joshua Elias Tanner? But beware. He can strike you one time as well... should he be able.¡± The Clone raised his hands to both of them. ¡°Strike each other now.¡±

 Chapter 17

    Josh needed no further encouragement, but Senyak acted first.

    Josh saw that Sen was cycling Essence from his core into his hands. His opposite index fingers and thumbs were touching each other end to end in a triangle at his core level, and a steady golden glow had begun spreading out from his hands. The intention was to cover him in some form of Essence shield. But its spread moved slowly. Much too slowly!

    Josh had cycled Essence through his right arm and fist and stepped forward with his left foot. He twisted at the hip and threw an overhand right square into Senyak¡¯s left cheek and jaw. Like Josh¡¯s instructors had taught him as a boy on Chicago¡¯s South Side, he simply intended to punch a hole through Senyak¡¯s face. A face that Josh noted with pleasure was far from the spreading Essence shield.

    Thusly smashed, Sen was lifted from the ground and hurtled into the brick wall behind him as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. The short monk slid into a pile of askew limbs like a broken folding chair.  Punch-drunk, Sen unintelligibly mumbled while struggling ineffectually to get up.

    Josh flexed his fingers. They didn¡¯t even tingle. Punching like that, even in his twenties when he used to box, would have bruised or broken the distal ends of his carpals and possibly his proximal metacarpals. Especially if he had let loose like that without gloves. Now in his forties, with Essence, he was ready to throw down bare-fisted¨C

    Carpals and metacarpals¡­ I used to think those were some kind of fish . . . More sciency crap... What is going on with you, Josh¨C

    ¡°Senyak, cycle Essence to your wounds so that we can proceed.¡±

    The Clone¡¯s command interrupted Josh¡¯s quizzical thoughts. Though Josh caught the Clone¡¯s gaze lingering on him. Still, focusing on what Ole¡¯ Blue said was better than him mentally channeling every basic science book he had ever held in his hands.

    ¡°Joshua Elias Tanner, you used approximately two percent of your available free Essence with your strike and suffered no damage by striking with the appendage you were cycling Essence through. Correct?¡± The Clone raised his brows. ¡°... Confirm that your Essence indicator reflects the two percent expenditure.¡±

    Josh looked at the blue bar. ¡°Yes... it¡¯s lower by a small amount, less than five percent.¡±

    ¡°Good. Your offense and defense were both improved with appropriate economy. This result is exemplary at this stage.¡±

    Sen cycled his Essence, and his movements immediately began to reflect those of a creature with a nervous system more developed than a colony of coral polyps. He slowly rose, and Josh could see his facial bones reforming as his left cheek and jaw snapped and crackled. New teeth coming from above pushed out the shattered ones. Sen bent over and spat out several broken pieces, roots and all!

    Rising again, he cast a wary glance at Josh. But he made no move to continue their ¡°practical application.¡±

    The clone turned to Sen, shaking his head disapprovingly.  ¡°Senyak. Just as Joshua Elias Tanner needs to learn that his universe is a negligible part of the greater multiverse, you need to realize that you are no longer an Immortal with unlimited power... Your attempted spirit shield¡¯s mortal equivalent is at least one step of advancement beyond where you currently are in the Spherical Tier. You must quickly grasp the imperfection of your mortality. Furthermore, an Essence shield to your face and left shoulder would have been sufficient to counter Joshua¡¯s blow. Be aware that in the mortal realm, ¡®quick and dirty¡¯ will usually beat ¡®perfect and complete.¡¯

    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Sen turned his eye line to the ground in obvious shame at his performance. Point made, the Clone moved on. ¡°By my assessment, you lost fifteen percent of your physical wellness bar, which has since been restored, along with twelve percent of your Essence. Six percent in your misguided attempt to form an Essence shield beyond your cultivation and six percent for the follow-up healing. Please confirm that your Cultivation Probability Interface has reflected these changes.¡±

    Sen looked the Clone in the eyes with his hands behind his back. ¡°Yes. It is as you say.¡±

    ¡°Good. We will now proceed to the gathering of Essence to advance your cultivations. However, you have exceeded the most likely anticipated probabilistic expectations and shortened the instruction period by approximately 3 minutes and 47 seconds of mortal Earth time. I will allow you to ask any pertinent questions you have before we move on.¡± The Clone raised both eyebrows, giving the appearance that he welcomed all questions.

    Josh stepped closer to the Clone, and even though his eyes burned while doing it, he stared into its constantly involuting, multi-azure-hued face. ¡°I need to get to my daughter. I need to see her. When can I do that?¡±

    The Clone¡¯s glowing countenance darkened. His lips pursed before he responded. ¡°... Joshua Elias Tanner, you are four aspect doorways away from your iteration of origin. Specifically, you are four dimensions away from her. As such, your daughter Sophie is very much out of your reach. Yo¡ª¡±

    ¡°--What! How can you... Why would you take her from me like this?! Is this your idea of balancing the cosmic scales?! What have I done to you to deserve this!?!¡± Joshua¡¯s fist clenched, and his thoughts quickly shifted toward violence. Though he specifically didn¡¯t move toward the Clone, Josh did take an unconscious step toward Sen as his Essence continued cycling through his fists as if he was going to beat an aspect doorway out of his hide.

    The Clone¡¯s complete attention was turned to Josh, though his tone was of a man discussing old news and unnecessary topics. ¡°Joshua Elias Tanner, understand that neither Zenyak Marztanak nor I have done anything to you other than save you from the complete dissociation of your soul tether from your physical body. As I have already told you, this will result in your total expungement without hopes of rebirth. Would you prefer we allow that probable eventuality to minimize your mental anguish? Do you feel that Karmic balance would be better served through your death than your renewed chance at life?¡±

    Emotions warred for control in Josh. Anger, stunned surprise, denial, before finally settling on abject hopelessness. His mouth worked without any sound as he dropped to his knees. Tears silently streamed down his cheeks. Josh¡¯s Essence continued to cycle through his fists faster and faster, and he held them out over a head that had dropped below his shoulders in despair. There he stayed, back heaving with his sobs.

    Several quiet moments went by with Josh¡¯s head hung.

    Only the Clone was aware of the cacophony of agony filling Josh¡¯s mind. His spirit screamed, cried, and begged to the gods and angels, demons and devils¨C To anyone who would listen for what he had just heard not to be true...

    ... But just as it had been on Earth when his family had been taken from him, the heaven¡¯s only response was resounding silence and mind-blanking, all-consuming feelings of loneliness that were steadily pushing Josh to accept the Clone¡¯s other option¨C

    Then, unexpectedly, even by the Clone if the sudden turn of his head turn was any indication, a hand rested on Josh¡¯s shoulder, and Sen spoke quietly.

    ¡°... I can¡¯t understand the loss you feel... I have no progeny nor an overwhelming desire to protect anyone¨CBut I know that even mortal cultivators can travel between the iterations once they have ascended through the ranks far enough. They can even bend the laws of time and space with significant enough advancement. It is not at all impossible for us to find a way back to your daughter as we rise.¡± An air of hope had entered the somber tone of voice Sen had started speaking with.

    ¡°I recognize my part and my failings that ended in this separation. As such... I, Senyak Marztanak, sole seeded heir of the Marztanak Hegemony, swear to you, my Karmic brother. I will not rest until we have grown strong enough to find a way back to your Sophie.¡±

    Unbidden from either Senyak or Josh, Essence traveled from Senyak¡¯s channels into Josh¡¯s shoulder meridians and froze, in place burning in immediacy. Josh became aware of a Calling on his being that was as certain as black neckties at John Gotti¡¯s funeral. It reached from far, far beyond the sky he could see above him and drilled directly into his mind, his heart and his core. If Josh accepted Senyak¡¯s help, there was no doubt he would be united with Sophie again... But what would be required for this was more than he could currently, maybe ever, comprehend. Without doubt, the Calling¡¯s insistence carried the weight of all ages, and right now, as close as Josh could come to meeting it was to mumble, ¡°... Everything... I¡¯m being asked to give my everything to get back to my daughter?¡±

    Josh squinted as he looked past Sen¡¯s shoulder into the sky and spoke directly to whoever or whatever had made this demand. Gods, devils, or Indian chiefs¡­ it didn¡¯t matter. A fierceness had replaced the hopeless tears that still slid down his cheeks as he responded with an emotionally raw voice in the only way that made sense. ¡°... That¡¯s not even a question, is it!?!¡±

    Apparently satisfied with Josh¡¯s current willingness... Sen¡¯s Essence continued along its original path. Cycling through his brain, heart, and core. There it combined with an equal amount of Josh¡¯s Essence and flowed back to Senyak¡¯s hand. Then it left both of their bodies and lit the alley around them with a warm golden light before slowly being absorbed back into the universe.

    Josh¡¯s probability interface chimed¡ª

    Karmic link advanced. Full Karmic Soul Bond formed.

 Chapter 18

    Josh stood and used the shirt sleeves on his biceps to wipe the tears from his face. Still downcast, he lifted his eyes and looked at Senyak with the faintest flicker of hope.

    Mouth set in a straight line, Sen nodded back in universal, silent man-speak. ~We¡¯ll fix it.~ and, ~Tears? What tears... I didn¡¯t see any tears.~

    The Clone interjected in a bored but accepting manner, ¡°If we can proceed... We will now move on to the task of gathering Essence from other spiritual beings.¡±

    The clone indicated a rubbish-filled and rusted-out dumpster against the alley wall. ¡°Underneath this dumpster is a series of underground tunnels and caverns housing cannibalistic humanoid dwellers.¡±

    He looked them both in the eyes and spoke in his even manner. ¡°You will expunge them and absorb their Essence.¡± As if the deed was already done, the Clone turned his head and continued his instructions. ¡°Furthermore, at the bottom of these caverns lies an abandoned and forgotten earth temple formerly occupied by early Gaia worshippers¨C¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Josh interrupted, shocked. ¡°Gaia? As in¨CMother Earth? She has worshipers here? I thought we weren¡¯t in my iteration anymore. Why would a myth from my world have a temple here?¡±

    The Clone looked at Josh like an eagle eying a field mouse. ¡°Your insistence on maintaining a uni-iterational view of existence will no longer serve. Gaia is a being whose influence and legacy extend across all mortal iterations. Yours is not unique in this. This temple houses several items of power specifically attuned to Earth Essence. You will make your way to the temple and acquire two of these items.¡±

    A considering look appeared on the Clone¡¯s face. Then he provided them with more information. ¡°... Being attuned to Earth Essence will provide you with advantages concerning Earth Aura, including allowing you to absorb it for conversion to usable Essence to advance your cultivation.¡± He then leaned in as if in confidence, ¡°But most importantly for your short-term survival, Earth Attunement will significantly increase your physical resilience. You will even be able to form shields to absorb powerful attacks.¡±

    Obviously finished providing useful information, the Clone leaned back out again and lifted an open palm to indicate the sky. ¡°... It is past daybreak. These creatures are nocturnal. The optimal time to expunge them and harvest their Essence.

    Senyak lifted his brows inquisitively and looked at Josh.

    Still quiet but focused, Josh snapped his head up and down once, indicating he was ready for anything¡ªanything that would bring me even one step closer to Sophie. So, yeah, I¡¯m fully on board.

    The dumpster was foul-smelling and heavy, with large bricks wedging its rusted wheels that hadn¡¯t rolled since the Nixon administration. They pulled the bricks out, and Josh tried to push it...

    Fail.

    The Clone gave Josh a sharp look.

    Oh yeah... I nearly forgot! We¡¯re climbing the Path of One to Transcendence!

    Josh pushed aside the inner adult screaming at the ironic ridiculousness of his thoughts and cycled Essence into his legs and arms.

    Then he pushed again...

    The dumpster moved all right, a little too well!

    With a loud screech, the metal wheels rushed across the ground, gouging out a two-inch trail through the asphalt and dirt. Sliding the dumpster exposed a dug-out from below, a three-foot hole if the obviously pushed-out bricks were any indication.

    The dumpster¡¯s rear back wheel fell below the hole¡¯s edge and got caught. Unable to take the pressure from Josh¡¯s push, the rusted-out body cracked with a resounding bong. Putrid water spilled out, followed by bloated, gas-filled rubbish bags that burst on hitting the ground. And... big surprise here... among the refuse now spread over the alley were several human bones in varying stages of decay.

    The smell in the alley amplified. Significantly.

    Josh looked around sheepishly. ¡°Well... loud enough to wake the dead, huh?¡±

    ¡°Or at least, certainly the cannibals... Proceed and use whatever weapons of opportunity you find. I will join you when necessity requires.

    All they could see looking in was a tunnel headed down, down, down, and down at a sharply steep angle and into a thick and unbroken darkness.

    Perhaps sensing their imminent demise, the Clone spoke one last time. ¡°... This is for free, gentlemen. The hole is dark, and you have no light. Cycle Essence to your eyes and ears. You are cultivators, after all...¡±

    Josh cycled Essence to his eyes and could see Sen doing the same. What was previously a very dark and foreboding hole was now a very well-lit and foreboding hole. Josh also cycled Essence to his ears and was surprised at what he could hear from below... heartbeats? Perhaps twelve separate organisms were creating a cacophony of tympani. Some of the beats were closer, some louder, but all were in regular rate and rhythm. Focusing on the nearest, Josh counted forty to fifty beats per minute. If they were human or at least followed human physiology, it meant the creatures were still asleep.

    Josh caught Senyak¡¯s eye and pointed to his ears. Senyak nodded, indicating he had already activated his ears and heard the same things. Reflecting, Josh thought that was a lot of information to get out of one nod. But Josh already had an inkling as to the answer to their supernaturally clear understanding of each other¡ªthe Karmic Bond.

    From now on, they would have a much deeper understanding of each other and would always have an inkling of each other¡¯s current actions, locations, and motivations. Such was Karma. Josh knew it in his mind... and his core, he supposed. Again, a bizarre train of thought for a Chicago-born criminal lawyer... But right now, Josh was willing to accept it as true. He had never identified himself as an Eastern philosophy guy, and all he knew about Karma was that a person lost it when they stole from blind beggars on the street. The truth of his thoughts about Sen just made a lot of sense to him. So, I¡¯m going with it. Besides, compared to what has happened so far... this is one of the easiest things to accept!

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    But...

    How the heck did he know what a normal sleeping heart rate was? Josh would need some answers eventually about how he¡¯d suddenly gone from being a mild-mannered lawyer to Bill Nye, the Science Guy. But... right now, as they descended into the depths of Mordor, it just wasn¡¯t the time. Josh, again, setting the issue aside, followed Senyak into the low-overhead hole.

    The tunnel had started approximately three-quarters of a meter wide and a little less than one meter from top to bottom. Senyak pulled a few loose bricks from the sides and top of the hole to increase its opening. But he still needed to crouch and drop down to his knees for some of the lower portions as he moved along the first twenty-five yards. His shoulders and bald head scraped the tunnel¡¯s top and sides, dislodging dirt and loose stones to rain down on them as they moved along. Before the light from the entrance was completely gone behind the drop and twists of the descent, they were both covered in dirt, mud... and other things they didn¡¯t want to think about.

    After fifty paces, the tunnel opened to a point where they could walk while keeping their heads down. Both audibly sighing with relief at the extra space, they continued.

    The tunnel snaked to the right and left, around unseen obstacles. Several thick tree roots meandered through the dirt sidewalls. Sen cycled his Essence and quietly snapped off a one-meter-long segment for each of them. He handed one to Josh without instruction. None was needed. The thick stick was either to bludgeon the foul creatures they were heading toward... or for anything else they might run across. Josh took his without question and continued to plod on behind.

    * * * * *

    The Clone observed from the alley as Senyak and Joshua moved down the tunnel. Both cycled their Essence continuously to their eyes and ears to enhance their senses. He also noted when they wisely harvested tree roots from the exposed walls as improvised weapons.

    They just might survive today... Time will tell.

    A portal opened before him. Intensely blue, waving fibers of order shifted peacefully past the event horizon in the opening rift. An instant later, Zenyak pulled himself through space and time to a specific material world and into a space that just so happened to be occupied by his Clone.

    ¡°Report.¡±

    The Clone dipped his head and allowed Zenyak to place his hand on it as if giving a papal blessing¨C

    ¡°--The Karmic link has already been upgraded to a full Karmic Bond? That was not probable... not at this juncture.¡± Lifting an eyebrow, Zenyak reflected. ¡°I do good work, though, don¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Well . . . I certainly do.¡± The Clone iterated irritably under a halo of blazing blue fractals.

    Indifferent to his Clone¡¯s comment. Zenyak voiced a litany of orders. ¡°Stay with them. Continue your support for now. So far, their progress is in the top three percent of predicted probability outcomes. Let¡¯s not break up the team while we are winning, hmmm--And how is Tanner¡¯s mentation?¡± Zenyak interrupted himself. ¡°Any anomalies in cognition or memories that you have detected that are not present in your direct observations?

    The Clone¡¯s constantly shifting hues of fractalized lines formed a deadpan expression. ¡°No. His faculties are exactly as they were before you ordered the data overfeeding. ¡°

    ¡°Excellent. Our healing interventions following his cerebral rupture and collapse were timely¨C¡± Zenyak again interrupted himself and returned the Clones'' direct stare. ¡°. . . As you wear a familiar face, I can tell you are concerned. Out with it.¡± Zenyak motioned with a bladed hand definitively.

    ¡°I have no concerns regarding your rolling the dice and possibly terminating a human in this or any other mortal iteration¨C I am, however, gravely concerned with claiming that Senyak bears the entire Karmic burden for Joshua Elias Tanner¡¯s present circumstances, and we are merely stepping in as a cosmic Santa Clause to balance your grandson¡¯s scales.¡± The Clone loosely pointed his index finger at Zenyak and spoke under his voice. ¡°. . . If you don¡¯t accept your role in creating this situation now, down the road, its teeth will flash at us in the night, and your debt will be all the greater for your omissions.¡±

    Zenyak wore a mask of introspection. ¡°Noted . . .¡±

    Another quiet tear in space-time, and the Original was gone.

    ¡°... I can be a right self-absorbed prick, can¡¯t I...¡± the Clone said in the empty alley, rolling his glimmering eyes at the actions of his original.

    * * * * *

    Thirty minutes later, Sen and Josh came to a waist-high dug-out portion of the side wall. Discarded bone with evident gnaw marks, moldering shreds of clothing, shoes, and other broken pieces of outerwear filled the space. Dirt and other filth caked all of it. Armies of ants and roaches crawled among the disgusting pile, chewing away at any remaining edible fibers and nesting in multiple places.

    The smell was overpowering, and neither he nor Josh got very close. Josh even retched a few times quietly as they passed.

    We have to expunge creatures this heinous, Sen thought disgustedly.

    Sen could see as if standing in daylight with Essence continually cycling to his eyes. However, it was the heartbeats he focused on. Every step brought him closer to the first cluster of three. They were going to have to eliminate these creatures. Given what they knew about them, there were no dharmic issues with that. But just being mortal now made physical death a little more real, a little more... squishy.

    Sen shook his head to get his thoughts back to the task at hand... There didn¡¯t seem to be a significant Essence drain to continually enhance their eyes and ears. There was an initial cost of approximately 2 percent for each. Joshua had said it had taken the same amount to fuel the upper body strike that had taken Sen down.

    Sen rubbed his jaw absently, still remembering the pain of Joshua¡¯s strike. A decent hit, to be sure¡ªbut, without doubt, there would be payback. Honor demands it! But I need to focus on the here and now if we are going to survive... After the initial 2 percent expenditure, it didn¡¯t cost anything. Perhaps because the organs didn¡¯t have significant mass? Or, if conditions worsened, it might cost more? Is it that the Essence use is not ongoing, or perhaps there is a level of passive regeneration of Essence happening? Perhaps this body''s organs are more relevant than I assumed and are contributing some benefit. Senyak was uncertain about what factors were at play with the two enhancements. But for now, he was glad for both of them.

    After approximately thirty more minutes of continually moving down the tunnel, he and Josh came to a one-by-one-meter hole drilled directly through a massive block of stone that the tunnel they had followed ended at. Senyak crouched on his haunches and moved cautiously through the four-meter-long borehole. At the edge, he crouched, looking out on the cavernous space the hole exited into. Most likely, it was a courtyard to the old temple the Clone had told them about. Dark, rectangular pavers made up the cracked and dusty floor. In the distant center of the giant space beyond the hole, Sen could see the outline of a looming structure, dark and ancient, seemingly carved from the living stone of the cavern. A tower in its center rose thirty meters into the gloom above. To Sen¡¯s sides, large blocks that made up the wall he had just crawled through. The stones marched off to the left and right out of sight. Where the cavern ended, either ahead, above, or to his sides, even with his enhanced vision, Senyak could not make out.

    Looking down, he calculated a three-meter drop to the floor. The nearest heartbeats he had been tracking from the surface were a short distance into the cavern on the right.

    Senyak made eye contact with Josh and pointed down, and clear meaning came through their Bond.

    ~I go first. You follow.~

    Then Sen cycled Essence to his hands and legs, then quietly dropped down the smooth face of stone on the other side, cradling his cudgel under his chin. Nothing stirred on his reaching the paving stones at the bottom.

    Sen looked around. Seeing no immediate threats, he signaled Josh, who came down the same way.

    They turned to the right, heading wordlessly toward the first cluster of heartbeats. Approximately 25 meters ahead, the partially collapsed and squarish frame of an outbuilding sat against the side of the wall they had just come through. Curled together in sleep, three smallish, bipedal-humanoid figures lay among the shredded tatters of soiled clothing they had formed into a nest.

    Sen and Josh stopped a rock¡¯s throw from the sleeping forms, and Sen whispered in Josh¡¯s ear. ¡°Let¡¯s get as close as we can. Try to crush the skulls of the two sleeping on the outside. I¡¯ll take the right, you the left. Then, we move on the one in the middle. Given the lack of fire or other sources of light, these creatures have poor sight and good olfactory senses. If we can get to them fast enough, there may not be any kind of alarm. If there is an alarm, move quicker!¡±

    Josh nodded and whispered back his agreement. ¡°Get in quiet and brain the bastards. Got it!¡±

    Sen nodded at his acceptance. I guess my plan is as good as any he has.

    They cycled Essence to their arms and torsos. Raising their clubs, they slowly advanced on the sleeping forms from either side.

    As Sen and Josh got within two steps, the sleeping forms¡¯ heartbeats sped up to 150 bpm. The three dwellers surged up as one, pointed a thin arm each straight at Sen and Josh. Then they started screeching.

    Josh would have told Sen that the little jumping mongrels were like extras from Invasion of the Body Snatchers, had he the time. Sadly, both of their time was up as the creatures¡¯ undulating cries echoed throughout the cavern. An instant later, the three beasts standing and pointing were flying through the air as two launched themselves at Josh and one at Sen.

    Their enhanced ears heard the remaining heartbeats throughout the cavern accelerate to around 150 bpm as answering cries came from all directions.

    Then came the sounds of padded feet rapidly approaching.

 Chapter 19

    The creature flying at Sen was small compared to humans. Likely only a little over a meter tall and weighing roughly forty-five kilograms. It was covered in short gray hair with straight, pointed ears and no apparent eyes, just a slightly hollow area covered in thin skin where most humanoids had them. However, its mouth was clearly fully functional and filled with long, pointed teeth. Teeth that Sen could see quite well because they were the part leading the creature¡¯s missile-like attack toward his face and neck.

    Unfortunately for the surging creature, Sen was more than prepared for the sudden assault. His Essence had already been cycling during the failed ambush. Seeing the beast coming for him, he only had to step forward with his left foot and meet it halfway. Swinging his club in a level strike from left to right, he hit the beast with enough force to obliterate its head into a spray of blood and chunks. The cannibal¡¯s body pinwheeled into a crumbling wall of the nearby outbuilding, giving a solid splat that reverberated through the cavern.

    Sen turned toward Joshua. The man had dropped his club and caught the creatures flying at him with a hand around each of their necks¡ªimpressive grappling skills.

    Josh was banging their heads together. His Essence-enhanced strength created a heavy, hollow sound like the thunk of two large, thick-shelled nuts slamming together before both skulls crunched. Immediately, the small humanoid bodies stopped struggling, their longish limbs limply dangling in Josh¡¯s grasp.

    The immediate threat dealt with, Sen and Josh looked nervously around at the sharp, undulant cries that continued to come from all directions. The nearest was approximately fifty meters away, approximately from the direction of the hole in the wall they had come through.

    We will have to get through them if we are going to retreat.

    To keep his options open, Sen moved in that direction. Josh followed after dropping the two, now dead, bodies and picking up his club.

    Sen reasoned that waiting here for the approaching humanoids to come was a good way to get overwhelmed as other groups joined the attack.

    Better to try and face off against the group between them and the way out, expunge them, then retreat if necessary.

    If not, they could hide and get ready for the next group. Apparently, Joshua agreed, as he was following without comment.

    The small monsters¡¯ shadowed forms were visible several seconds before they were in combat range. As they closed the distance, two more beasts loped over from the direction of the temple and joined the three they had already spotted.

    The monsters immediately went into action. The fangs-forward launch attack seemed to be the monsters¡¯ basic instinctual combat maneuver. Having already seen it once, Sen and Josh were better prepared. Raising their clubs and knocking the first two cannibals from the air. The monsters¡¯ small humanoid bodies spun end over end into the darkness surrounding them.

    With the first two of their number cut down, the other three halted at approximately five meters out. Then started vocalizing in a raised pitch with increased frequency. Returning cries matching the increased rhythm quickly answered from behind Sen and Josh.

    ¡°The little cretins are calling in reinforcements!¡± Josh hissed.

    Sen kept his eyes on the three in front of them. The current stalemate was a losing proposition for him and Josh. They were going to be surrounded by fanged-hurtling death.

    Nodding, Sen conveyed, ~I¡¯ll take the lead.~

    On the move, Sen increased the flow of Essence to his arms and surged into action.

    Stepping forward, he hurled his club end over end. It blurred through the air like a buzzsaw and pierced directly through his target¡¯s chest to slam the still-struggling creature to the ground. Its hands failed as it weakly struggled to pull the root out.

    Josh joined by launching himself into a flying tackle aimed at the humanoid immediately to the right. With superhuman reflexes, the cannibal turned and tried to run away. But Josh¡¯s enhanced movements were even better. He caught its foot and held it down, pulling the thrashing monster to him one hand at a time like climbing a rope.

    Not sitting still, the cannibal¡¯s claws and fangs tore at Josh and opened deep, bleeding wounds on his hands and forearms. Its fangs took mouthfuls of flesh even as Josh bashed its head against the dark tiles. The cracking sound of Josh¡¯s second slam immediately preceded the creature, going limp, as its skull smashed flat as a dinner plate.

    With the death of its remaining companions, the last of the humanoid cannibals had fled back into the gloom. Its footsteps faded farther away in the direction of the temple. Its cry sounded different¡ª more like barking with clear breaks. Run away! Run away! Run away!

    Half-laughing, half-wincing from the pain of his healing arms, Josh continued his full-body cultivation. Josh was amazed to notice how fast he was healing as he raised his hands from the monster below him. The gushing blood had slowed to a small trickle that dripped down his hands and fingers. Pink, unmarked flesh had already begun to fill in his cuts and bites.

    Sen touched Josh¡¯s shoulder. The group behind them had stopped advancing and changed their call to match the one that had just fled. Pulling his club from the chest of the impaled cannibal, Sen looked around for any approaching enemies.

    Josh started grabbing the bodies. With three over his shoulder, he said, ¡°Grab that one and follow me. I have a plan.¡±

    Sen waved his hand, indicating, Why run when we can kill these things easily?

    Then, a distracted look appeared in his eyes, and Josh suspected he was just now noticing what Josh had already seen. A blinking warning light had appeared in his right visual field, indicating that the blue Essence bar was down to less than 10 percent. Moreover, they were both out of breath, and Sen probably felt as lightheaded as Josh.

    Sen let his hand fall, grabbed the body, and followed Josh back to the hole from which they had entered the cavern.

    Josh told Sen his thoughts. ¡°These creatures are very much like bats.¡± To Sen¡¯s blank look, Josh continued, ¡°Bats are avian mammals from where I come from. They are very territorial creatures. They will regroup and likely come to get us if we stay here. I can count at least five left, including the one that got away. I can also feel that your Essence is bottoming out like mine is. I¡¯m not sure why our Essence has dropped so fast, but we don¡¯t have time to figure it out right now, and I doubt we can fight them off without our Essence enhancing us. They are way faster than I am without it.¡± He raked his free hand through his hair. ¡°But... if we head back up through that hole... I¡¯m betting they don¡¯t consider that as their home territory. It is probably just a place of transit in and out. At least, it appears so based on where they dumped the bodies we found. They won¡¯t likely follow us up there...¡± Josh raised his brows and nodded up toward the hole in the wall. ¡°... Worth a try anyway. Worse comes to worst, we can get them one at a time as they come out of the hole.¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Sen wore a look of approval. ¡°Good strategy and plan. Know your enemy. Know yourself.¡± Then, looking at the bodies they were carrying, Sen added, ¡°These bodies are for us to restore our Essence?¡±

    ¡°Got it in one. Now, let¡¯s get up through that hole. Cycle what¡¯s left of your Essence and help me throw the bodies up first. Then we can jump up, assuming we have enough Essence left.¡±

    They had enough Essence to get the four bodies through the hole. The last one they had to throw a second time as it was tossed too wide and splatted messily against the wall to the side. Jumping up was a bit beyond them, though. They were both well below 5 percent Essence reserves and were lightheaded and woozy. Josh could feel the start of a migraine coming on.

    Ultimately, Sen stood on Josh¡¯s shoulders and pulled himself through the hole. He then took off his top garment and tied the top and the bottom together. Then he braced himself against the lip of the hole¡¯s exit and tossed the makeshift rope down. Josh had struggled back up the three meters from the plaza¡¯s floor to the opening.

    Using unaugmented strength, they dragged the bodies one at a time through the uphill tunnel. Then they stopped, exhausted, about twenty-five meters back the way they had come. Stooped over, catching their breath in silence, they heard no cries from the cannibals... but their hearing was only the mundane variety. For reasons they couldn¡¯t explain, their enhanced hearing had failed, and they could no longer hear the cannibals¡¯ heartbeats. Neither of them had enough Essence to restart the hearing enhancement either.

    They both collapsed on the ground, gasping after the last body was pulled up. Josh had some theories about why their enhanced hearing had quit on them. But he was very grateful that their enhanced sight had continued. Why it did, Josh had no idea. He was out of Essence... very out. Less than 2 percent if he was gauging it right based on the thin blue line at the bottom of his interface. If meridians acted like a battery, then his sight should be fading in and out, at the very least. But it was still rock solid... But these were questions for later... or for the Clone if they ever saw him again.

    Five minutes later, after they had caught their breath, Josh and Sen stood and looked over the bodies.

    ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get the Essence from these things and get back to it,¡± Josh said, gesturing for Sen to take the lead.

    ¡°Yes, let¡¯s do that.¡± Sen looked at Josh, also motioning for Josh to take the lead.

    Josh canted his head at Sen. His eyes narrowed, and his tone sharpened. ¡°... Are you telling me you don¡¯t know how to gather Essence from these bodies?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s obvious you don¡¯t either! This is mortal Essence. You are a mortal. You should know more about it than me!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well... At least I¡¯m not invading people¡¯s brains to fight it out with Immortal Dominator... dudes... am I?¡±

    ¡°That was merely a means of communication,¡± Sen replied defensively. ¡°Never once did I engage in an act of Ka-dominion. In fact, you saw the results of such an act firsthand with that old woman. How do you think you would have fared if I hadn¡¯t ¡®invaded your brain¡¯ at that moment? Because even with my involvement, certain¨Csignificant portions of your anatomy suffered extreme damage, did they not?

    Josh¡¯s eyes widened in outrage at Sen¡¯s mentioning of the unmentionable hits he had taken . . . They eyed each other for a long second, jaws working, fists clenching.

    Sen finally blew out a breath and looked down. ¡°It¡¯s my first time. Okay... I suspect it is a lot like moving our core Essence. We just have to identify it and move it into our core... or something similar...¡± He trailed off.

    ¡°Something like that, huh?¡± But Josh looked down as well without any heat in his words. ¡°Okay... I¡¯ll go first...¡±

    Josh reached out with his hand and placed it just below the creature¡¯s umbilicus. He tried to sense its Essence like he did his own. There was... something... a small, dark, muddy ball of turgid energy sitting near the thing¡¯s navel. Josh prodded it with his mind¨Cbut not his whole mind. He had targeted it with what felt like the center of his mind. The place his mind was touching the Essence was... the pineal gland... Josh¡¯s recently onset wealth of scientific knowledge told him.

    At his prodding, the Essence moved... but it was weird. It was like trying to pull a three-foot water balloon by grabbing the center and dragging. It was unattached. Like the dead weight of an unconscious body, twice as heavy as an awake person and always trying to flop away.

    Josh focused his mind and concentrated from where he was sure his spirit and physical body met. He then Intended for the cannibal¡¯s Essence to join his own...

    Sweat broke out on his brow...

    Josh re-doubled his effort...

    He saw the Essence line up like iron filings in the strange, tiny, dark core. Then, like a line of ants moving in a single file, it slowly left the core and crossed over into the Essence channels of his hand. Once in his meridians, it started to move faster. Not as quickly as his own Essence did, but three times faster than when it had been flowing through the dead monster¡¯s body.  Further, it moved with much less concentration than it had required to instigate his Intent. The Essence moved into his core and sank to the bottom of it just like a fifty-pound barbell dropped into a swimming pool.

    Josh drew a sharp breath as his upper legs wobbled under his crouched knees. He slipped back to his haunches and then fell flat on his backside. His eyes glazed over, unfocused, and he marveled at the strange feelings running through him...

    ... It wasn¡¯t exactly like being stronger because he couldn¡¯t use the Essence yet. It was more like being malnourished and having his stomach suddenly filled all at once. Similar to digesting a meal . . . There had to be some . . . processing involved. Right? There was also an intense sensation of iron or dirt¡ªEarth¡ªin his... spirit?

    ¡°Good, Joshua Elias Tanner!¡± Vibrantly shifting hues of blue exploded across Josh¡¯s eyes as the Clone¡¯s voice gave the man a start.

    ¡°Now that you have begun to absorb Essence from other spiritual beings, we can proceed with your growth. You will absorb a second cannibal¡¯s Essence to stretch your core adequately. Then, you will begin your purification cycling. This way, you will increase your core¡¯s capacity and the strength of your meridians. You will be able to carry and use greater amounts of Essence faster. Do so now.¡±

    Head laying on the ground, Josh¡¯s lackadaisically shifting eyes saw that the way to chipper Clone expected his immediate compliance.

    I was wondering when you would show up...

    But Josh decided the price of saying this thought out loud would be too high. Thankfully, the Clone didn¡¯t call Josh out on it, as he kept it to himself.

    Silently eyeing the Clone, Josh pushed himself back up to his knees. Like a man with impaired coordination after drinking, he reached out to repeat the process he had just undertaken...

    And then something that hadn¡¯t happened before occurred. The Clone reversed itself... partially...

    ¡°--Ahhh... but first... please share with Senyak the details of your first experience and what he can expect when absorbing the mortal Essence. With your Karmic Bond, it should provide a meaningful and smooth transition of information for him... Please do this... first.¡± The Clone finished, eyes blazing at Josh. Wearing a smile that sane people could only describe as pure malice. Flashes of Cesar Romero meets Heath Ledger meets Joaquin Phoenix haunted Josh¡¯s mind.

    Based purely on that smile, I¡¯m guessing this is¡­ going to hurt¡­ I¡¯m screwed, aren¡¯t I?

    The Clone¡¯s smile only widened.

    So, Josh did it. He explained what he experienced with the pineal gland in the center of his mind. Sen¡¯s need to truly focus from there. Josh also went over the floppy, unhelpful nature of the Essence outside of his body. And how it was not usable in his core after being absorbed.

    As usual, the Clone had been correct. Senyak was getting meaningful information about the process. It seemed Sen was actually feeling what Josh described. Somehow, Sen was getting the firsthand knowledge necessary to absorb Essence from outside of his body through their communication and joint efforts in understanding.

    Then Josh knelt back to the second cannibal¡¯s body. The Clone nodded minutely as if Josh¡¯s compliance with its commands were the only possible result in this or any other iteration. Josh reached his hand out to the core and Intended...

    This time, he was able to get the Essence lined up and move it through on its way to his meridians in about half the time. But that was the good news. It was another story when it crossed over to his home turf meridians.

    Josh¡¯s first feelings were¡ªFull... Full... Full! Full! I am sorry! There is no room in the inn, Baby Jesus!

    He tried to reverse the flow with his mind and, instinctually, his hands. Any possible thing he could do in that millisecond of its first entering.

    But it was hopeless. Josh¡¯s spirit welcomed the Essence with open arms regardless of how excruciating it would be for him at some detached physical level... So, the Essence flowed into his meridians. His eyes bulged like he had just swallowed a flaming bowling ball, and he suddenly knew what The Little Prince¡¯s boa constrictor felt after it had swallowed its elephant.

    Then, the Essence moved into and expanded his core. Instantly, Josh felt a stretching, tearing, and burning pain that went from his navel to the center of his brain. A trail of gasolinas, lit by a Mexican match on a Tijuana Street during Grito de Dolores. The tiny green sphere in the center of his interface¡¯s display started blinking. A dotted-red outline appeared outside the spherical dimensions and began flashing. A detached part of Josh¡¯s pain-soaked brain noted that the blinking indicated the new-expanded dimensions of his core. After a few seconds, it steadied to solid green. A wide smile spread across his face as Josh looked up to the Clone and then Senyak, who smiled back and nodded in a terrified but encouraging manner. Then Josh¡¯s eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell face-first forward onto the dead cannibal¡¯s mangled chest.

    So ended the first day Joshua Elias Tanner spent as a cultivator.

 Chapter 20

    Contrary to what Josh had been afraid of when he passed out, his head was still attached to his shoulders upon waking.

    He checked his interface and noted that his core was now approximately 25 percent full. There was no numeral next to the icon. He was just eyeballing it.

    I would greatly appreciate numbers... Sadly, no number appeared after his directed thought. However, his green health bar was full again, and his blue free-Essence bar was sitting at 25 percent. Much higher than when he first absorbed the cannibal Essence into his core.

    Josh prodded his core. There was still a pronounced difference between his pure Essence and the foreign Essence he had absorbed from the cannibals. But it was more like peanuts in chunky peanut butter than the rocks and water it had been before he passed out.

    Sitting up, Josh noticed his body laid out in a straight line. Senyak¡¯s crumpled top garment served as a pillow under his head. Looking over to Sen¡¯s sprawled form, Josh felt a twinge of unspoken gratitude. The kindness of moving Josh to a more comfortable position after he passed out spoke volumes for an unquantifiable reason. Senyak was lying on the ground, slightly more spread out than Josh, right next to one of the dead creatures from yesterday. Clearly, after witnessing the aftereffects of Josh¡¯s psychedelic experience, Senyak had been smart enough to lay down before he absorbed the second core. But there had been no one to help him afterward.

    ¡°All right. That is enough rest. Rise to your feet and be about your cultivation.¡±

    Josh looked to the left, down the roughly carved tunnel toward the opening to the plaza they had barely escaped from the day before. The Clone was standing there. Did he stand guard over us? Given what he had done to them in the past, Josh found the thought highly unlikely... Still, he couldn¡¯t argue with the Clone¡¯s chosen position and his steady glow of multiple vibrant blue shades from the myriad inversions, emergence, and resolutions of unending fractal lines.

    Absently wiping the sleep from his eyes, Josh¡¯s thoughts returned to the growing mountain of questions in his mind... How did the sight enhancement continue after I was so low on Essence, I could barely stay conscious... and then when I was unconscious¨C And what the hell do you know about fractals¨C

    Josh¡¯s brain volunteered an answer without any pause whatsoever.

    Fractals are geometric figure curves, each part having the same statistical characteristic as the whole. Useful in modeling structures in which similar patterns recur. Like snowflakes, crystal growth, and galaxy formation.

    As the explanation ended, Josh¡¯s normal brain volunteered an opinion...  Something is seriously wrong with me... Where are all these stray thoughts of scientific certainty coming from!?

    Josh had no idea. But he saw the Clone staring directly at him.

    ¡°You both have questions. I will answer one each to increase your productivity. Yours first, Joshua Elias Tanner, then Senyak. Though you both share many of the same questions.

    Without more preamble, the Clone made eye contact and started. ¡°Yes, Joshua, your free Essence has increased. Even unconscious, your cultivator¡¯s core will work to convert foreign Essence already absorbed into Essence for its use. This process¡¯s speed will vastly improve with conscious effort.¡± The Clone nodded matter-of-factly, perceiving Josh¡¯s latest on-topic query in real-time, ¡°Yes, we will do that as soon as we finish twenty questions.¡±

    A slightly frightening and playful expression lifted the corners of the Clone¡¯s mouth as his focus on Josh doubled. ¡°Yes... there is something different about your ability to apply scientific principles to your everyday activity. No, it has nothing directly to do with cultivation. I will let Senyak go into more detail with you about this...¡± The Clone raised a brow to Sen, who was wearing a decidedly blanched expression. ¡°... as he is the reason for its development. Far from needing to be concerned or worried or place blame about the phenomenon, note that this increased application of scientific knowledge saved your life yesterday... Did it not?

    You are next, Senyak...¡±

    Josh had jumped up to confront Senyak at the Clone¡¯s confirmation that the shorter man was at least partly responsible for what was going on with Josh¡¯s mind¨C

    The Clone slowly turned his gaze back toward Josh, his mouth in a firm line.

    Josh suddenly realized that, in this case, discretion might be the better part of valor. Instead, he stood there with his mouth hanging open, waiting for a chance to speak, showing all the tension of a runner on the starting blocks waiting for the pistol to go off... But a quiet and non-interrupting runner.

    Strangely, Sen looked a lot like a caged rat about to be fed to a hungry python. But on closer inspection, Josh decided that his expression was closer to guilt than fear¡­

    The Clone then continued to answer their unasked questions with Josh¡¯s future mutiny quelled. ¡°When you dedicate Essence to a process that incurs no further cost, Essence, which is eternal, continues to serve that purpose. Exempli gratia, your visual enhancement continued despite no additional Essence being dedicated to it¨C¡±

    The Clone interrupted himself and raised an index finger back to Joshua, indicating he was addressing a question both Senyak and he shared. ¡°-- Also, please note that I recognize that your enhanced hearing ended seemingly prematurely. That is due to the autonomic response of your body having to spend the Essence needed to sustain the effect to instead repair the damage done to your ears by the cannibalistic humanoid¡¯s sonic emissions. Exempli gratia, more was demanded of the Essence, and it was directed to meet a healing purpose and then released back to the iteration. No further Essence was dedicated. Thus, your audio enhancements ended.¡±

    Done answering questions and ready to give orders, the Clone stepped back and adopted his usual air of command. ¡°Rededicate Essence to restart your enhanced hearing. Do so now.¡±

    They both did.

    Then the Clone nodded once to Josh¨C

    ¡ªJosh flew the last two steps to Senyak, who was standing in the small corner of the tunnel.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°--Dude, what¡¯s going with all of this random knowledge¨CJust by looking at the rocks in this hallway, I can tell you with absolute certainty that we are in the continental crust, far away from an oceanic subduction zone. The rocks here comprise Earth¡¯s three primary crust components¡ªsedimentary, igneous, and deposits of metamorphic silicate...¡± Josh pointed two fingers to the far wall, ¡°... There was a flood around here over twenty thousand years ago based on the thickness of the layers on that wall. Erosion created layers of lightly compacted dirt on top of the harder, volcanic rock, and when floodwaters swept through this region, it took with it the loose material, exposing the basalt underneath.¡±

    Josh squeezed his head between his fists. ¡°... I never even played in the sandbox when I was a kid! What is going on with my brain?¡±

    Senyak spared the Clone a glance that spoke of wounded betrayal. He couldn¡¯t look Josh in the eyes as he started to wheedle, ¡°Err... well... ahh... you remember when I needed you to restore the physical functions of the Elder Sadie . . . the Ka dominion the independent chaos agent had invaded... and Damni sent you the information about cardiac resuscitation so you could do it? Well... as it turns out, she didn¡¯t think there was enough time to pare down the transfer to just the packets of information necessary for resuscitation...¡±

    ¡°So, you sent me more? How much more? I can tell you are hesitating through your inverted body language and the gaps in your speech. I also know it through our Karmic Bond! Spit it out, man!¡±

    Sen¡¯s Asian features turned a very bright shade of red. ¡°Well... Damni might have sent all of the knowledge packets concerning medicine up to the current place in your time stream, including all of the related physical sciences that could impact them...¡± Sen finished in a quiet voice.

    ¡°You put the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in my brain?¡±

    ¡°Ahh... well... um... vastly more than that... All known scientific data at that point in the time stream of your home iteration. So, yeah... vastly more...¡± Sen looked away and spoke under his breath. ¡°¡­ You were lucky that your cortex maintained cohesion...¡± Sen looked back with a chagrined depression. ¡°... I¡¯m... uh... sorry...¡± Sen quietly finished, his eyebrows raised, and his teeth clenched in a pained smile.

    Face as red as Senyak¡¯s, Josh slid from seriously concerned all the way to ready to tear Senyak a new orifice or three.

    Raising a clenched fist, he pushed his index finger at Senyak¡¯s face.

    ¡°You almost blew up my brain, and you didn¡¯t think you needed to tell me about it!?!¡±

    Wide-eyed, Senyak began jabbering. ¡°Youcameoutofitfine! Andsomuchhasbeengoingonsince¨C¡±

    ¡°Hmhmm-hmmm.¡± Chuckling, the Clone finally interceded, mirth evident on his face. ¡°As entertaining as this truly is, gentlemen, we must get back to our schedule today. Do understand, Joshua Elias Tanner. This egregious act...¡± He waved a hand behind him to indicate Sen, ¡°Obviously lacking in judgment on Senyak¡¯s part, is a factor that probability models hold as giving you and Senyak one of your most considerable advantages in advancing your cultivation and successfully transcending to the Immortal realm.¡±

    Josh, opening his hand, looked at the Clone nonplussed. ¡°How can being the world¡¯s greatest high-school science teacher help us reach the Immortal realm?¡±

    The Clone looked at Josh and Sen consideringly for a moment, then adopted a resigned expression. ¡°Very well. Now is the time for this discussion. Your knowledge of physical science has been significantly enhanced regarding material-matter iterations. To understand how significant, you need to consider what Essence really is. Regardless of the basal origin of any iteration, exempli gratia, negative energy, antimatter, Polar Neutral, tidak ada, etcetera, Essence is the true center... A thing¡¯s nature... Its most important quality. Presently, this knowledge has proven to be too much for your current mental capacity¨C¡± Josh blanched and moved aggressively toward Sen¨Cand was restrained by the Clone. ¡°There does not appear to be any impairment of your faculties. Far from it, in fact. Your brain is just learning to accommodate the mass of new information and occasionally allowing... pertinent information to break from your unconscious mind to your conscious thoughts.  As your Cultivation increases, so too will your capability of dealing with this. Until then... expect unbidden information not instigated by your conscious control. But this... side effect is nothing but a distraction to this event''s true import. Your ability to understand the nature of the world around you is a tremendously potent force multiplier.¡±

    ¡°In a physical-matter iteration,¡± The Clone spread his hands to indicate the terrain around them, ¡°such as this and the one you come from, what is the true center... the fundamental aspect of Essence?¡±

    Narrowing his eyes, Josh had a good guess. He didn¡¯t, however, say it out loud.

    ¡°Yes, Joshua Elias Tanner... The laws of physics, or Natural Laws such as you know them. Electromagnetism, thermodynamics, entropy, gravity, friction, fluid dynamics, quantum mechanics, relativity, buoyancy, energy, mass, light, motion, uncertainty¨Cwe could go on for some time trying to list the various significant elements that mortal Essence is tied to.¡± A wry smile touched the Clone¡¯s face.  ¡°... After all, at this point in the time stream, your mortal scientists are barely more than hairless apes trying to make themselves fly by recklessly swinging a thigh bone over their heads...

    ¡°However, probability predictions confirm that even this limited knowledge will be of significant benefit.¡± The Clone¡¯s gaze grew serious and bore directly into Josh¡¯s eyes. ¡°It will help you make the necessary connections to understanding cultivation and Essence use. This will significantly speed up your spiritual growth by limiting the trial and error that most cultivators must go through. You will be able to succeed in complex cultivation functions with minimal difficulty. Often, you will find executing various aspects of mortal cultivation for the first time will come as if you have performed them thousands of times.¡± At some point, the Clone¡¯s serious face had gained an element of almost dangerous glee. ¡°As the humans of your iteration say, Joshua, you are a natural!¡±

    The Clone¡¯s exuberance continued. ¡°What I am telling you is no small thing, Joshua Elias Tanner¨Cunderstand this...¡± The Clone looked Josh square in his eyes, his constant involuting blaze burning through any attempt to resist total focus on his words. ¡°While I am guiding and keeping you accountable for your progress, my guidance cannot directly advance your cultivation.¡± He shook his head to amplify his point and then raised a blue-lined finger to Josh. ¡°Only the spiritual connections you make with your personal understanding of this iteration and its physically attuned Essence will trigger your spiritual and physical unification and perfection. After all, it is your individual relationship with an iteration¡¯s Karma, Ballance, and the many faces of its Reality that ultimately leads you to the perfect union of the physical and spiritual.

    The Clone tipped his loosely fisted index finger at Josh. ¡°Understand... for all mortals, the multiverse-wide, spiritual growth or Cultivation is known as The Path of One. Because it is a singular journey walked alone... An individual can never fully explain to other cultivators their unique understanding of the iterational truths that bring them closer to perfection. All spiritual epiphanies are based entirely on feelings and intuitions as opposed to facts and probabilities...¡± The Clone paused as his dangerous glee turned into a downright feral grin. ¡°...But you and Senyak have found a very uncommon loophole in the Path of One. Your Karmic Bond allows you to share feelings and intuitions with perfect clarity... A very rare thing! When you make rapid leaps in cultivation, as we fully expect you to... so will Senyak!¡±

    A calculating look came over the clone. He must have decided in their favor as he continued speaking. ¡°This is a reality that you have both already shown me.¡± Turning his head, he gave Josh a sidelong glance.  Enhancing your core in less than twenty-four hours is adequate progress toward our goals. Very adequate progress.¡±

    More than anything, the youthful joy that overcame the usual rock-hard and calloused Clone¡¯s demeanor drove the significance of what he was saying home to Josh. Half a moment later, he returned to his reserved and sour self. But Josh had seen just how meaningful what he said was.

    Josh and Sen looked at each other, unsure if they completely understood what the Clone had just told them. But without question, they both knew they needed to grow in strength and cultivation to get where they needed to be. Based on what the Clone had said, they were getting on this ride together. They gave a side nod to each other and then faced the Clone in his multihued azure luminescence for the first time as a team with joint goals.

    The Clone nodded to them, recognizing that his words had the desired outcome. ¡°Very well. Now, you must solidify your gains and purify the Essence you have absorbed by cycling it through the meridians of your lungs, kidneys, and bowels... Yes, Senyak, you have identified them correctly.

    ¡°You will know that the Essence is purified once it feels no different from your own. I will teach you a general cycling pattern for purifying Essence that will suffice for some time. You will learn others as you advance and need them. For now, follow my instructions¡­¡±

    They did. Similarly to their first hours in the alley, the cells of Josh¡¯s body didn''t grow¨Cnot precisely, but became fundamentally strengthened and empowered. Josh also noticed his meridians gaining in dimension, and... ease of passage? The more he cycled the Essence, the faster it seemed to circulate with the same effort. It was getting, at least slightly, easier.

    ¡°You have both purified your Essence. Note that your free energy bars are full. Also, note that your Essence is racing through your meridians and core. Now, intend the deposit of all Essence not needed to fill your Free Energy bar in your core. Yes, Joshua Elias Tanner, it will be something you can feel. Do not be overly concerned with the need to objectify the endpoint. It will occur instinctively. Do so now.¡±

    They both moved the Essence to their cores and experienced a slight sensation of fullness. Nothing compared to how they had felt the night before. Then, the core indicator of their interface registered an opaque level of 24 percent. There was an actual number this time. Not bad for absorbing two scruffy bats. Is this thing listening to what I ask for . . .? There was no response to Josh¡¯s direct question.  Time will tell.

 Chapter 21

    Moving on¡­

    The Clone had been correct again. It was instinctual to stop adding dedicated Essence to his core before they started to deplete their free Essence.

    Sen and Josh finished at approximately the same time and looked up at the Clone from their seated position.

    ¡°Good. Now you must expunge the remaining creatures below and obtain the Earth Attunement items from the temple.¡±

    The Clone looked up with a sharp expression, ¡°First, however, several points in evaluation to improve your rather pathetic performance yesterday... Aside from constant observational enhancements, continually cycling your Essence is wasteful. You would have had sufficient stores to eradicate the creatures below yesterday if you had used your Essence only when needed¨Cnot endlessly flooding your channels for every twitch of your hand and blink of your eyes¡­ You must improve your actions in this regard.¡± He took the time to glare at each of them concerning this until they turned away in embarrassment. Only then did he move on, ¡°Secondly, be prepared for significantly improved performance compared to yesterday. You have increased your Essence capabilities related to the speed of access and volume of use by at least twenty percent. You have also increased the free Essence available in your meridians by approximately fifty percent. This is a vast improvement. The terrestrial creatures below were no match for you yesterday. They are less so today.¡±

    ¡°That may be true individually, but before my hearing empowerment was cut off, I could make out quite a few creatures still down there.¡± Josh said, concerned. ¡°We¡¯re likely going to be even more outnumbered than we were before.¡±

    ¡°Likely.¡± the Clone nodded in agreement. ¡°However, you will find the saying ¡®quantity has a quality of its own¡¯ is even more applicable to your Essence than the numerical superiority of terrestrial enemies in a battle space. Trust in your growth.

    The Clone paused and adopted a look that made Josh feel like he was channeling Clint Eastwood¡¯s nameless death dealer before he proceeded. ¡°Essence users are dangerous when they utilize their powers appropriately. Act accordingly. Eliminate these foul beasts with expedience. Aside from Essence, time is the most valuable resource in the iterations. Do not waste mine.¡±

    Dismissed, Josh and Sen picked up their clubs, walked down the tunnel to the hole, and dropped down to the plaza floor. They could hear the five remaining heartbeats clumped together a bit more than a football field from where they stood. Once again, the rhythm was in the 40-45 bpm range, indicating sleep.

    Josh leaned over to Sen and spoke in a low voice. ¡°Okay, sneaking up on them won¡¯t work. They can feel our electromagnetic fields or our Essence or are very sensitive to micro-movements of air. If they are like the bats I¡¯m used to in my world, they could even be using a form of echolocation to pinpoint our location and approach. The possibilities are limitless...¡± Josh shook his head to focus. ¡°... The point is we need to move in fast, brain these bastards, and move on to the temple. As much as I hate to admit it... the Clone is right... We¡¯re stronger... My Essence pool feels supersized today!¡±

    Sen nodded. ¡°I agree. Strike first. Strike hard. Show no mercy.¡±

    Sen halted them with a raised fist at a short distance from the sleeping forms. They could see the little monsters holed up in another collapsed outbuilding a stone¡¯s throw from the looming temple and its rising tower. All five curled up like dogs on the ground, and their thin rib cages rose and fell with shallow breaths.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Sen held out his hand with three fingers extended. They both cycled Essence to their legs, upper body, and torso... basically, the whole body. Sen then lowered his fingers one at a time... three... two... one¨C

    They exploded into motion.

    Anyone with human eyes would have seen two streaks as after images blazing across the intervening space from where they started and ended. Sen charged in with his stick held in the active position over his right shoulder like a Japanese katana and brought it down in two quick and precise strokes, each eliciting deep crunches that left nothing to the imagination.

    Josh ran in with his own stick overhead in both hands like a berserking highlander pulling a giant maul from the heavens for the purpose of ultimate destruction. A massive splat sent a ring of hot black gore in all directions at once that covered him and Sen. Neither of them cared about their new paint job as they realized that even before the other monsters had reacted to their presence, they had each eliminated one on the opposite edges of the group and were already moving on to their next targets!

    But the pygmy bats were nothing if not quick, and even with Josh and Sen operating at full enhancement, the remaining three started to rise. Sen executed an accelerated front snap-kick to the jaw of the one in the middle right. It went spinning off into the darkness with its now shattered neck as the focal point of a new and horrific rotation. Fragments of the beast¡¯s needle teeth flew from its destroyed mouth as it spun end over end and away.

    Josh again swung his club from right to left, in the power stroke of a lumberjack looking to fell a tree in one hit. His attack obliterated the cranium of the next in line, leaving a loose bag full of cracked and fractured shells that sagged over the falling pigmy¡¯s left shoulder. The business end of Josh¡¯s root finished its arc embedded halfway through the turning face of the center cannibal with a dull wet thunk that again sprayed him and Sen with its now dead fluids.

    All five creatures were down!

    They hadn¡¯t even had a chance to screech! Looking to the right and left, seeing all the creatures accounted for, they stopped cycling their Essence. Josh had only spent about 7 percent of his current free Essence.

    The Clone had been right again. Josh wasn¡¯t particularly happy about that, but he couldn¡¯t deny that properly applied Essence use had left the standard-terrestrial creatures no chance at all. And Josh couldn¡¯t argue with the logic. If you wanted a cup of water a few times a day . . . you didn¡¯t leave all the faucets in your house running at full blast every second. Go figure.

    Josh had felt like a wrecking machine... and now he felt drawn to reach out and absorb the Essence of the downed cannibals. Reading Sen¡¯s body language, he felt the same way. After the improvements they had gotten from just two each, neither of them was inclined to waste the opportunity. Through silent agreement and a short dance of ¡®you or me first?¡¯ Sen stood guard and let Josh go first. He absorbed the turgid earth-flavored Essence in less than thirty seconds. While the first one hadn¡¯t significantly filled his core, Josh didn¡¯t move to purify it. He knew it had taken hours to cycle the first two beasts¡¯ Essence, even if it hadn¡¯t felt that way. On top of that, this was not a safe place, and the funds were in the bank, so to speak. He let the foreign Essence sink to the bottom of his core with a spiritual thunk.

    Then Josh had to deal with the real question. Could he get the second one now? He wasn¡¯t sure. Holding up two fingers in a V to Senyak, he raised his eyebrows for Sen¡¯s opinion.

    Sen shrugged, unsure if Josh could handle two right now, given what happened last night...

    Josh puffed his cheeks and blew out a breath. This isn¡¯t going to be the last time I will have to push the limits to get back home... He needed to get back to Sophie. To do that, they needed to advance. He and Sen couldn¡¯t afford to leave anything on the table. Not if they wanted to achieve their aims.

    Reaching out to the second downed creature, its neck bent at a ninety-degree angle, Josh went for it. The Essence aligned itself as though he were a lodestone and funneled into his meridians through his hands. When the Essence hit his channels, Josh quickly felt like the two pounds of sausage in a one-pound casing, as his grandfather used to say about girls in tight shorts. As before, the non-purified Essence made its way to his core and kerplunked down to the base of his committed Essence. The terrible feeling of being overstuffed dissipated somewhat after the foreign substance had migrated to his core.

    Josh took a minute and shared his experience with Sen, who quickly followed suit. Josh smiled slyly when the Essence entered the cultivator¡¯s meridians, and Sen¡¯s eyes bulged out of his skull. Sen smirked back at him. I¡¯m going to have to teach him the deep and powerful significance of giving another man the finger in moments like this.

    Finishing their work, each of them gave a meaningful look to the other before turning their heads toward the only other landmark inside the cavernous space.

    Stark and brooding, the Temple¡¯s walls lay a short distance ahead in the darkness. They stood up and turned to face it. A ten-meter-high wall encircled the structure with squared corners holding a watchtower at each. As far as Sen and Josh could tell, the central building and its looming tower filled most of the courtyard within the walls.

    ¡°Let¡¯s find a door?¡± Sen suggested.

    Josh nodded in agreement. They walked around the temple wall counterclockwise, away from the opening they¡¯d crawled through to get into the plaza. When they got within shouting distance, the towers didn¡¯t appear occupied. No brands hung in any of the empty wall sconces. They also didn¡¯t hear any heartbeats or other noise... But. upon rounding the second corner, a few things changed.

    As a matter of fact, everything changed.

 Chapter 22

    Josh and Sen stood and blinked their eyes at what was materializing in front of them. The walled structure they had been walking around seemed to waver from existence like heat waves on the horizon over sunbaked sand. In its place stood a classic Greek temple in the Corinthian style. Gigantic, shining white-marble columns reached gracefully to a rectangular roof with a low triangular peak at either end.

    To Josh, who had only ever seen pictures, the temple looked like a restored version of the Parthenon in Athens. Polished white marble underfoot with bronze braziers at even intervals along the supporting colonnades. Each blazing with what was likely olive oil set aflame. A series of broad, low-rising marble stairs surrounded the building and led to its singular open level.

    In the center of the temple was a woman wearing a white toga, which at present was stripped down around her waist. Iron manacles chained her forearms to stone posts rising about seven feet above the floor. She sagged between the chains as she was being scourged about the back and shoulders by a dark figure in classic Grecian armor. Already bearing multiple marks on her back, upper shoulders, and neck, she no longer reacted to the strokes and lolled unconsciously in her restraints.

    Once the strange, rippling mirage-like effect settled into focus and the scene in front of them solidified, the dark enforcer swinging the scourge snapped his helm directly toward them. Red eyes swirled within the space where a living human would have a face. Black smoke poured from the dark armor in the shape of arms and legs, which gave the creature a roughly humanoid form. The same smoke somehow held up its helmet, black-iron cuirass, and what appeared to be greaves and bracers¨C

    Josh¡¯s inspection was cut short by an enraged basal growl, ¡°How dare you interrupt the Judgement of Zeus! Prepare to die!¡±

    With nothing more than that, the figure started marching with an even tread at them. Its scourge, with three thick leather straps and glinting embedded sharp metal bits, whirled around its head in a strike as a long spear with a leaf-shaped head appeared in his other hand.

    Ya... so... this is happening! Incredulity surged through Josh¡¯s mind as he instinctively moved to his left, and Sen shifted to the right in a wide-based, defensive stance.

    Coming from both sides is what smart guys would do in a situation like this, right? Divide and conquer or something like that? Josh asked himself, looking between him and Senyak. ~Wait. Should we be dividing right now?~ Josh¡¯s mental voice seemed to echo strangely in a muffled fashion.

    Sen nodded in the affirmative as if he had heard him, and Josh became aware of Senyak¡¯s thoughts. ~Splitting up attacking forces requires most opponents to divide their attack focus and defensive attention. Lessening overall combat effectiveness.~

    Josh nodded back, and again, a quiet internal echo accompanied his thoughts as they were apparently sent to Sen again.

    ~Good then. Let¡¯s divide this bastard up! ~

    Sadly, their master strategy had less impact on their opponent than Sen¡¯s hypothetical one. In response to their separation, the armored foe kept each of them in his peripheral vision and simultaneously tracked their divided positions with a trained weapon on each of them. The lash for Josh and the spear for Sen.

    Bracing himself, Josh remembered what the Clone had advised them about only cycling the necessary amount of Essence. But he still figured that fighting ancient Greek spiritual enforcers probably qualified as a full-body-cycling event.

    No half-measures on the boss battles, Josh.

    Sen seemed to agree and also cycled Essence to his whole body.

    Josh¡¯s strength and speed increased as he settled in to see who the specter would go after first, Sen or him.

    The answer turned out to be a baffling and emphatic yes, as he was right both times.

    The whip lashed out at Josh¡¯s feet, and the spearhead shot out at where Sen¡¯s face had been an instant before he dropped to his knees and pivoted away by spinning on his haunches to the armored enforcer¡¯s back right. As ridiculous as the thought was, Josh had to admit Sen¡¯s move was a very cool way to avoid getting a spear through the head.

    With much less flair, Josh jumped over the three lashes of the scourge. Their counterstrikes landed almost simultaneously. Sen¡¯s diagonal slash snapped to the back of their attacker¡¯s head. An obvious jab to determine their enemy¡¯s capabilities. A quick tilt of the torturer¡¯s head avoided Josh¡¯s two-handed overhead strike. It landed soundly on his right shoulder and rang out with the sound of a well-struck fifty-five-gallon drum. Golden light erupted from both impacts, forming what looked to Josh like large round shields in both places. The attacking spirit continued, unfazed by either strike.

    Stolen story; please report.

    ¡°The shield is an innate ability of this creature! We can overcome it by striking a strong enough blow to break through. Keep hitting it!¡± Sen shouted to Josh as he rolled out of the way of a follow-up spear strike to his chest.

    ¡°Not like I was going to do anything else, Captain Obvious!¡± Josh yelled back. Though, Josh had to admit it was good to know this wasn¡¯t some sort of impervious-to-physical-harm ghost thing or something.

    Josh dodged an overhead strike of the scourge, only to have it wrap around his hip and dig into his upper and mid-thigh through what remained of his pants. The specter¡¯s strength was incredible as it pulled the whip back, flipping Josh off the ground in a 1080-degree spin, simultaneously flaying the skin from his leg. Slightly dizzy, Josh was still holding his club when he landed on his face with his slacks shredded and large chunks of his thigh missing.

    ¡°Ahhhhkk!¡± Josh bellowed, diverting all his free Essence to his wounds for three full cycles.

    With alacrity, the wounds healed to a point where the bleeding had stopped, and raw red skin rapidly overlaid regrown and intact muscles. Checking his interface, Josh had 65 percent of his free Essence and about 75 percent of his health. He considered healing one more rotation, but looking up through the sheet of stinging sweat in his eyes, and it was clear that Sen needed help... and he needed it fast!

    Josh could see two golden afterimages of light rapidly fading from where two quick blows of Sen had cleanly landed and produced resounding bongs against the specter¡¯s shield ability each time... but the golden barrier continued in full strength. He had also managed to dodge and duck under the enforcer¡¯s counterattacks. Unfortunately for Sen, with Josh out of the fight, the dark spirit was free to focus its full attention on him. It didn¡¯t take the attacker long to entangle Sen¡¯s feet with the scourge and yank him down, slowly dragging Sen along the ground as he backed up. Struggling frantically, Sen tried to sit up and reach the lashes entangling him. But being dragged had kept him from using his arms and even prevented the option of kicking with his other leg to any effect. Josh also knew firsthand that even if Sen had gotten a good hit in, given the creature¡¯s greater strength, it would only be delaying the inevitable¨C

    A sudden jerk from the dark spirit¡¯s whip stopped Sen¡¯s struggles as his head slammed hard off the marble. The specter then held Sen down with a thick leather sandaled foot while lining up its massive thirteen-foot spear for a thrust to Sen¡¯s chest.

    Josh was out of time... but he had an idea. Instead of fully enhancing his whole body, he would target the specific parts of his body with the full Essence amount that he had been spreading evenly across himself. He started with his legs for the increased speed to close the gap, and Josh was behind the creature in a fraction of a second.  He had moved so fast that his wide-opened eyes had dried from the mere wind resistance of his passage. Josh diverted his cycling to his upper body and swung his club horizontally through the specter¡¯s back by visualizing that the actual target of his strike was beyond the creature itself as he had been taught as a boy to punch through people¡¯s faces in the ring. The enforcer¡¯s shield ability flashed brightly but immediately shattered at the force of Josh¡¯s momentum and fully enhanced swing. Once through its shield, the club continued through the dark spirit¡¯s body, crushing the iron cuirass to send it flying into the plaza.

    As if dispelled through this disruption, the specter dissolved in wisps of rising-black smoke, weapons and all.

    Unfortunately, Josh hadn¡¯t accounted for the momentum of his increased speed into his quickly formed plan. So, following the hit, he was still being carried forward with serious inertia. Josh¡¯s body flipped end over end before smashing into the ground and rolling several times in an unplanned and excruciating manner. He did learn that the rough, white marble floor was an extremely effective tool for grating off his shirt, pants, and underlying skin. The full-body skid he executed over it left a widening red streak five yards long before he finally came to rest where he lay, face down and panting.

    After a few seconds, his frazzled brain started to triage where he needed to heal first. Based on the signals various pieces of his anatomy were sending him encoded in unique dialects of agony¨Che was spoiled for choice. His right shoulder was either broken or dislocated. A whole lot of skin was missing from his face, chest, abdomen, upper and lower legs. Not to mention, he had a seriously bruised and or fractured skull, ribs, and knees. He cycled Essence to his shoulder and the areas with missing skin first. Remembering the benefit of focused cycling, he checked the probability interface. His health was at 57 percent and rising. Free Essence was down to 35 percent and dropping. Hopefully, enough to heal him to a point where he could start cycling the Essence he had absorbed from the cannibals earlier.

    Sen rose and walked over to Josh, holding a hand out to help him up.

    ¡°Thank you for saving me, Joshua.¡± Sen abashedly mumbled while looking down at his feet.

    A pained and slightly sarcastic smile stretched the still-healing skin on Josh¡¯s face. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it... seems like a habit I¡¯m having a hard time breaking!¡±

    Sen turned a darker pink as Josh took Sen¡¯s offered hand and rose to his feet.

    Then Josh grasped his partner¡¯s forearm and looked him straight in the eyes while coming clean.

    ¡°Seriously, Sen¡­ You were in that position because of me. I¡¯m sorry I got taken out of the equation so fast. It would have been different if I had been helping the whole time.¡±

    Josh then informed Sen of the benefits of focusing his full-body enhancement on targeted regions and muscles in the last fight. Sen agreed that the results had spoken for themselves, and it was clearly an area of opportunity that they ought to practice with and explore. In this case, it had undoubtedly been the right course. He also admitted that he should have thought of it himself.

    After a minute, based on the reduced screaming in his head, Josh thought his healing was more than halfway finished. Pushing himself up on his elbows, he looked toward the temple. ¡°Sen, I¡¯m most of the way recovered¡­ Why don¡¯t you take a look and see if you can help the lady Zeus¡¯ enforcer was whipping? I¡¯ll catch up¨C¡±

    Looking over toward the temple himself, Sen interrupted Josh with a small motion of denial and shook his head as he spoke through their Bond. ~I understand your desire to render aid, but whatever may be waiting for us in the temple, we will face together.~

    Josh¡¯s eyes opened wide in realization. Reading between the lines, Sen was right. Josh was trying to pull over to change a stranger¡¯s flat tire in the wrong part of town¡­ The threat is real here.

    Josh nodded. ~... You¡¯re right, separating isn¡¯t smart. I¡¯m going to have to learn a new set of reflexes for this world.~

    Sen nodded back with raised brows. But said nothing else.

    His way of saying Captain Obvious, I guess¡­

    Even to this thought, which Josh was pretty sure Sen could hear, the short monk said nothing.

    Sen does seem to have an underlying layer of politeness to him, Josh reflected... But, checking again, the forty-four-year-old lawyer was pretty sure he saw a small smile rise on his lips.

    Smirk ~No one likes a smartass~ Josh sent through the Bond.

    Sen¡¯s smile only grew bigger.

 Chapter 23

    They finished talking through the events of the melee and admitted that it was still the early days in their understanding of mortal cultivation. They needed to keep an open mind about what to do and when to do it.

    After two more minutes, Josh reached a point of healing where his shoulder had popped back into place. Pink and angry skin had also regrown in the many places where he had been missing it. He walked with Sen over to the temple to check on the woman hanging from the stone posts. When they got there, she was still shackled but fully healed. She was also naked from the waist up... and smiling at them.

    Eye contact¨Chardmode level engaged. Josh thought, swallowing heavily.

    ¡°Stars, it¡¯s been so long since I had a chance to heal! Thank you both for that¨C Can I get one of you to unlatch these ties for me?¡± she said, rattling the large iron bindings and chains on her wrists. ¡°It¡¯s been five thousand years since my grandson gave me a chance to sit!¡±

    Josh looked over at Sen, who shrugged, seemingly just as confused as himself. ¡°Um¡­ don¡¯t get me wrong or anything,¡± Josh began. ¡°You seem very nice¨C¡± Ignore her boobs. Ignore her boobs. ¡°... But¡­ who are you?¡±

    ¡°Oh... I¡¯m Gaia! Welcome to my temple!¡±

    Josh and Sen had silently agreed that releasing her was the right thing to do. They could have acted paranoid and kept her there for a round of questioning. They probably would have if they were uptight asses. But they were both tired, and while Josh may never be confused for a gentleman¨Che had been raised well. Women should never be beaten or abused.  And even more than that, there was a level of sincerity in everything about Gaia. It made them not want to live in a world where they couldn¡¯t trust the beautiful woman, they had just saved from being chained to two posts and whipped by an evil specter for¨Cpresumably, if her remark about not being able to sit down was any indication¨Cfive thousand years. It wasn¡¯t a logical conclusion, but guys were generally dumb that way. Enough said.

    They quickly released Gaia. Freeing her was as simple as lifting the large, looped chain from a hook above her head, then sliding out the restraining bolts on her wrist cuffs. Mostly to make them more at ease, Josh suspected, she now adjusted her pristine white toga to cover her previously exposed¡­ bits. It was obvious she didn¡¯t seem uncomfortable with her body, both in and out of clothing. She then gave each a genuine hug of gratitude.

    With a wave of Gaia¡¯s hand, three low-to-the-ground sitting cushions appeared. She guided them to sit down and explained how she had ended up in the position they had found her in.

    ¡°It all started with my youngest son Cronus¡¯s bad habit of eating his children.¡±

    Sen¡¯s eyes screwed up.

    Josh simply nodded thoughtfully. It had been a long time since reading his Greek mythology, but some things had a way of sticking despite the passage of time. The father of the gods eating his kids was one of them, though any whys or hows of the myth had been lost to the intervening years. Admittedly, Josh was sure it was the painting by Francisco Goya that kept the particular tidbit of ¡®child eating¡¯ as accessible knowledge in his brain. It had been pure nightmare fuel when shown it as a kid, and Josh could never totally forget it.

    ¡°. . . That¡¯s true? He ate his own kids?!¡± Josh''s tone of surprise was unexpected, even by him, as he said it.

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    Gaia nodded enthusiastically, confirming what she had said, and continued. ¡°I know, right?! I tried to talk to him about it... But would he listen? Of course not. It finally got him in the end. Zeus, my only surviving grandson at the time, made Cronus throw up his brothers and sisters. They then proceeded to wipe out Cronus and all of his siblings... How was I supposed to take that? I was okay with rescuing the trapped ones. But I draw the line at killing the ones I still have... they are all my children, after all. My first set of kids, anyway. The ones I had with my son-husband Uranus. He is my heaven! It¡¯s such a shame I had to have him castrated...

    ¡°Anyway... to show Zeus how unhappy I was with him, I had my last batch of kids, the Gigantes¨C

    Boy, were they cute! ¡ª To try and teach Zeus a lesson. How could that go wrong!? Well, it sure did, I tell you! The rest is history. So, for siccing the Gigantes on him, Zeus has punished me for the last five thousand years with a never-ending lashing. Mr. Overkill, I used to call him when he was a baby...¡±

    Josh looked at her, his mouth slightly agape. ¡°You are a god?¡±

    ¡°Oh, silly! Of course not! I¡¯m a Star Child. We come from deep in the galactic center and find planets where we can get the ball rolling for sentient life¡­¡± Gaia opened her thin hands to indicate the universe with a look of devout sincerity. ¡°For everyone¡­ We gave birth to the gods, the Titans before them... ultimately, everyone else here.¡± Gaia said brightly, her small hands spread, indicating the world. ¡°We were the first ones on this planet. My cousins Ra, Osiris, Odin, and myself, that is. Some distant relatives we didn¡¯t know very well went to what you humans call India and got things going there.¡±

    She took a small sip of water and smiled warmly at them again. ¡°Now, I can tell that you, and you...¡± She smiled at Josh and Sen, respectively. ¡°Aren¡¯t actually two of mine. Josh...¡± Gaia thinned her eyes for a second, focusing on him. ¡°You are from one of my iterational sisters. I owe her a debt for bringing you into existence. And you...¡± Looking at Sen, she made the same expression. ¡°You are from very far out of town. Unless I miss my guess? And not that I am in any way ungrateful to you for saving me from that¡ª¡± Gaia pointed at the seven-foot posts behind them. ¡°¡­But why are you here, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±

    Josh and Sen explained that they were cultivators looking for items of power in the cavern. And that they were still hoping to get two of them.

    ¡°Ahhh...¡± She touched her index finger to her lips and then continued speaking. ¡°You are looking for the Earth Attunement crystals. I understand.¡± Gaia shifted to the left, and her brows drifted up as if trying to recall something from long ago. ¡°... If I remember correctly... You should be able to find a few in the catacombs below this temple. I can guide you to the door. But every cultivator is obligated to get their own. Or as I understand it...  the Attunement won¡¯t work as well or not at all if the cultivator doesn¡¯t acquire them... appropriately.¡± Gaia¡¯s nose scrunched up, and she waved dismissively, ¡°After all, cultivation and Karma are so closely tied... What can you do?¡± The small woman finished with raised shoulders and brows.

    She put her hands together in her lap and continued, ¡°...There is also a guardian you will have to defeat. A chimera¨C She is another grandchild of mine and is¡­ a bit of a handful. She¡¯s never listened when I¡¯ve told her to do something.¡± Gaia sighed. ¡°... A child of Typhon and all¨CBut watch out for the fire!¡± Gaia laughed in sincere humor.

    Truly grateful for her goodwill but feeling both out of sorts by the goddess¡¯s strangely enthusiastic and light-hearted demeanor coupled with the exhaustion of strenuous battle and decreased Essence, Josh and Sen could only manage a few suppressed chuckles at the thought of being incinerated by an ancient-Greek-mythological creature.

    Taking on the expression of a concerned mother, Gaia spoke again. ¡°For now, I suggest you eat and rest up. I can tell that you are still wounded, and your Essence is low. Furthermore, you both need to cultivate to restore your Intent.¡± She stood, ¡°Please consider this temple a refuge of safety until the morning.¡±

    Two divans appeared in the nearby empty space. Between them, a low-profile table laden with fruits, nuts, moist goat cheese, unleavened bread, several bowls of washed olives, and one large decanter of olive oil made Josh¡¯s mouth water. There were even two jugs. One of wine. The other with cool water. Each pitcher came accompanied by small earthen cups.

    Josh couldn¡¯t remember the last time he had eaten. He had skipped lunch the day this had all started, and he couldn¡¯t even remember if he had breakfast that morning. But before Josh could even thank Gaia¡ª Sen¡¯s eyes bulged out, and he lunged at the table.

    If Josh had given it any thought, he might have realized that Sen had never eaten physical food in his entire three million years of existence. He also would have realized that the brand-spanking new mortal had the same edgy, hollow feelings chewing at his abdomen that Josh had been feeling for the last several hours. While Josh knew these feelings of hunger and had no fear of them, this was certainly not true for Sen. Upon seeing the food, the novice mortal couldn¡¯t help but be drawn by his instincts and surged to the table. He started shoveling food into his mouth, apparently not even looking at what he was cramming in while barely chewing. When he tried to swallow with an open, full mouth, he gagged and choked, spewing a fountain of food all around himself.

    Gaia raised her brows and stifled a nervous laugh with a polite hand.

    Knowing Sen had lost all reasonable perspective, Josh held up his hand to get his Karmic brother¡¯s attention. Grabbing one olive and a cracker, he showed Sen how to eat without dying. Then, washed it down with a sip of water. After that, things went much smoother for everyone, including Sen¡¯s GI tract.

 Chapter 24

    Sen and Josh finished everything on the table. Including the little pinch-dish of sea salt Gaia had put out for them. Sen kept licking his finger, dipping it in the bowl, and then putting it in his mouth when he thought Josh wasn¡¯t looking.

    Lifting the last of the nuts to his mouth while watching Sen out of the corner of his eye, Josh mumbled as he chewed, ¡°For a guy who was an Immortal until two days ago... you¡¯re like a kid, you know that?¡±

    Cheeks turning red at being discovered, Sen couldn¡¯t help but admit, ¡°That¡¯s... that¡¯s not far from the mark, in truth, Joshua. In many ways, the things that we are encountering are much newer to me than you. Eating! Wow! Who would have thought so much delight came from something that outwardly seemed so banal?¡± He patted his full belly in contentment.

    Smiling, not in an altogether kind way, Josh replied, ¡°Heh, true... but the surprises aren¡¯t over quite yet. You¡¯ll see the banal side tomorrow.¡± Josh winked. ¡°Look forward to it.¡±

    Sen narrowed his eyes, wheels turning, obviously using his Essence to track his digestive system. His eyes widened with a brief look of abject horror. Josh could tell through their Karmic Bond that Sen had understood Josh¡¯s comment and stalked his alimentary tract to its prosaic end.

    ¡°I had forgotten about that...¡± Sen said almost to himself with eyes narrowed.

    Josh chuckled. ¡°Yeah, I can see you got it now... Listen, I¡¯m going to start cycling the Essence we picked up this morning. Give me two hours, then rouse me so that you can cycle. We can stair-step until we both finish. I trust Gaia¡­ She¡¯s a bit¡­ extra. And casual on some serious topics, not the least of which is her own imprisonment and torture. Still, I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to stab us in the back or anything.¡± Josh looked over his shoulder in the direction the Star Child had walked off to after leaving them with their meal. ¡°¡­ But if that specter comes back or has friends that come to check on him, it would be best to have a lookout, right?¡±

    ¡°Agreed, Joshua.¡±

    Josh settled in to cycle the remainder of the cannibal Essence he had collected the morning before. When Sen gently shook his shoulder, he had reached what he thought was about 95 percent conversion, the approximation being necessary as there were no numbers for this yet. Supposedly the interface was going to advance with them.

    Josh blinked and nodded that he was back from cultivation land. It had seemed like only fifteen minutes for him. But he could tell from the candles on the table that much more time had passed. He also felt restored and fresh-minded. Like he had received a restful night¡¯s sleep. He shared his experience, including a few small things he¡¯d realized during the cultivation process that made things a bit smoother and quicker, though it was nothing groundbreaking and then let Sen repeat the process.

    Josh checked his interface as Sen was cycling. His health had fully restored during the cycling session. He checked his shoulder and leg through his shredded clothing and noted intact skin and a full active range of motion for abduction, adduction, forward flexion, and extension... Stop the science jargon in your own head, Josh... your shoulder is fine!

    Josh darkly chuckled. If Sen could put things inside his head, why did he turn me into a Farmer¡¯s Almanac instead of John Wick? If it came up, he would have to ask. But Josh was suspicious that there was no minimum safe amount of information to shove in someone¡¯s brain. Sen had likely taken the chance of decohesion of Josh¡¯s cortex even if they had only given him the CPR info.

    Josh noted even on autopilot, his core converted 1 percent of the remaining unpurified Essence every fifteen minutes. He couldn¡¯t identify any foreign Essence remaining in his meridians after about 1.5 hours. He also had instinctively converted the excess free Essence into his core. The numeric indicator read 49 percent, and his free Essence bar seemed full. Like breathing and digesting his food, some aspects of cultivation were now a part of him and would, seemingly, function on their own.

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    Two hours later, and after some serious self-reflection time, Josh had some questions he was ready to ask when he roused Sen. They did their typical quick debrief to confirm consistent Essence processing experiences, and then Josh asked one of the questions he thought would help him kind of figure out his place in things and where they were going.

    Sen was all ears, ready and open.

    ¡°I know that all this mortal-level stuff¨C¡± Josh opened his hands and pointed at the both of them, ¡°¡­Our cultivation¡­ is just as new to you as it is to me. But check my thinking. We¨C¡± Josh again pointed at Sen and himself with his waving hand. ¡°--We function with a mortal Essence core that apparently runs on unpurified Essence which we have to purify ourselves in order for our bodies to properly use?¡±

    Josh looked at Sen with widened eyes to confirm that that was a question, and Sen nodded in the affirmative, knowing Josh wanted to continue. And Josh did, ¡°... Instead of mortal Essence, what you used to use for your Immortal core and cultivation was¨C Immortal Ka.¡± Josh amplified his voice like a prize fight announcer to parody how much greater and mysterious Ka seemed to him than the Essence they were using.¡± Sen smiled faintly at the small joke and nodded again. With the basics out of the way, Josh moved on. ¡°¡­Which I guess is ultra-purified and perfected Essence of some sort?¡± Josh raised his brows and left the question hanging for Sen to clarify.

    Suddenly humbled by being reminded that he was no longer Immortal, Sen nodded his head in agreement. ¡°...That is a good way to think about it¡­ The process takes ¡­well millions and millions of your Earth years to raise mortal Essence to Immortal Ka¡­ but no matter is level of purification, both are the iteration energy and forces of unification that hold everything with meaning together¨C¡±

    Seeing that he was on the right track, Josh¡¯s face animated, and he interjected his old legal courtroom habits of asking leading questions to get where he thought he should. ¡°¡ª But Immortal Ka and mortal level Essence are like crude oil vs. refined jet fuel. While they both come from the same place¡­ they are not interchangeable without a lot of effort and time. Correct?¡±

    Not exactly sure where Joshua was going, but still in agreement with the overall issues, Sen blankly nodded affirmative. ¡°Correct Joshua¨C¡±

    ¡°--Ok¡­ So why was Hantal so interested in mortal Essence when it wouldn¡¯t do anything for him in the short run? It doesn¡¯t make any sense to me that he would be trying to get something that wouldn¡¯t really help him in the here and now?¡±

    Sen nodded in a kind and knowing manner as he loosely pointed with his fingers to the iteration around them. ¡°Understand that whether we are talking about mortal Essence or Immortal Ka, we are still talking about the immense power of multiversal iterations¨C To use an example from weapons of your era¨C A stick of dynamite is a small detonation compared to the explosive forces of atomic fission and fusion in atomic and hydrogen bombs¡­ but it can kill you just the same. In fact, nuclear weapons are rated in how many tons of dynamite they mimic, in the kilo and megaton denominations.¡±

    Sen, obviously more comfortable using weapons as an analogy, continued. ¡°Why exactly Hantal was down in the mortal realms farming mortal Essence that he would have to purify instead of working on his Immortal cultivation directly, is a question only he could have answered¨C¡± Sen looked to the side as he was going to spit and get a bad taste out of his mouth. ¡°--Though I doubt the reprobate would ever say anything truthful for any reason.¡± Sen straightened and got back on track and pointed a loosely fisted index straight up. ¡°... Regardless¡­ He was collecting power.¡±

    Sen¡¯s expression grew distant as if he was remembering something. Given the gap, Josh moved to ask another question. But Sen held up his hand and spoke what he had remembered. ¡°When my grandfather ended Brundox¡¯s adharmic path by separating him from his cores. There was an Immortal core¨C which I thought could only be manifested and destroyed in an Immortal iteration¨C and the physical cultivation core that all Immortal physical avatars obviously need to use in any physical matter iteration.¡± Sen looked to Josh, clearly attempting to determine if he was still following the conversation.

    Reading the audience and not wanting Sen to stop his train of thought, Josh prodded with positive reinforcement. ¡°Ahh¡­ ya¡­ obviously.¡±

    Sensing through their Bond Josh¡¯s mild confusion about the differing cores and his overwhelming eagerness to hear Sen¡¯s thoughts, Sen waved his hand in a dismissive manner. ¡°...The Immortal metaphysics of physical matter avatars aren¡¯t terribly important to us at this stage in our mortal cultivations¡­¡± Sen rolled his eyes at his own mortal condition. ¡°What is important is that the briefest glimpse that I got of the cores my grandfather yanked out of him¡­ I saw some kind of spiritual connection between the two cores that I know I don¡¯t have¡ª err didn¡¯t have between mine¨C when I had them.¡± Sen looked sheepish again at the reminder of his current mortality.

    Josh again opened his mouth to interrupt, and again, Sen cut him off. ¡°Did Brundox have some way to directly use mortal Essence as fuel for his Immortal core?  I don¡¯t know¡­It wouldn¡¯t surprise me if his greed for power was so great as to allow himself to believe that such a shortcut to growth would be beneficial.¡± Sen screwed up his face at the lunacy of the very idea. ¡°Even I know that such a choice will ultimately cost more than would be gained.¡±

    Josh was nodding his head as he thought he understood. ¡°... Like a man dying of thirst making the decision to drink seawater. Your thirst would be abated ¡­ but the greater salt concentration will dehydrate you even further¡­ and will ultimately kill you.¡±

    Sen pursed his lips, mulling over Josh¡¯s statement. ¡°...I suspect that is a very apt analogy of the situation. But regardless¡­ Hantal Brundox, the genocidal harvester, is gone. Believe me, Joshua. My grandfather doesn¡¯t do things in half measures. We will never see his like again.¡± Sen turned away as if what he had just said was more absolute than the four gospels wrapped in the US Constitution.

    Josh couldn¡¯t argue. Just thinking of his own interactions with the Clone, which was supposedly an identical duplicate of everything that made Zenyak Marztanak, Zenyak, Josh could only nod his head in agreement. The guy didn¡¯t mess around!

    With some questions answered, but perhaps even more questions now needing ponderance before he would open discussion again, they were ready to head down for the Attunement crystal.

 Chapter 25

    As if on cue, Gaia rounded a colonnade, holding some white linens.

    Smiling and waving to them, she said, ¡°As much as I love the rough and tumble, fresh-from-the-field look you guys are putting out, these are for you.¡± She placed the white linens on the edge of the richly covered divans they had slept on.

    ¡°Go ahead and change. You can leave those...¡± She pointed to the rags hanging from their bodies in tattered, blood-soaked, and muddy strips. ¡°Over there... for burning.¡±

    Looking down at their clothes and realizing that the articles of clothing they wore had seen much better days, they nodded their thanks and reached for the fresh set.

    Sen rushed to take off his rags, but seeing Josh just standing there looking at Gaia, he stopped pulling off his upper garment halfway over his head, leaving it at the midway point.

    Josh looked pointedly at Gaia and raised his eyebrows...

    Gaia looked back with a prurient smile on her face. ¡°After all, you already saw mine!¡± She winked lewdly at them.

    ¡°For the love...¡± Josh mumbled, turning around, and pulling what was left of his clothes off.

    Soft undergarments went on first. Next were the pants¡ªa sturdier linen for the britches type of lower garment. It pleated between the legs and ended just above the knees for full movement. Next was an off-white upper garment that reminded Josh of a tank top. Last was a rectangular cloak that Gaia showed them how to wear and fasten over their right shoulders with a solid bronze brooch.

    ¡°I remember putting my first kids in their chlamys...¡± A sad smile touched her eyes for the briefest of moments. Then, she straightened their outfits out with a few quick, well-practiced movements, like any good mother would do for her children on their first day of school.

    ¡°Now, boys, the Earth Crystals are down there.¡± She pointed to a closed door between two nearby columns.

    A door that Josh would have sworn wasn¡¯t there even thirty seconds ago. Braziers on either side lit up, strengthening his suspicions.

    ¡°No one has been down there in a very long time. Keep your eyes open. In the old places of the Earth, lost Essence from the fallen can corrupt and attract unfriendly things. I also told you about the chimera guardian outside the chamber with the Earth Crystals, didn¡¯t I? Be ready! I don¡¯t want this to be the last time we meet.¡± She smiled a warm, caring smile that lit up her whole face.

    At that moment, Josh believed, without a doubt, that she was the mother of the whole world.

    ¡°And one more thing...¡± Gaia made no effort to hide the fact that she was eyeing the root clubs Sen and Josh were carrying.

    Partial cracks and large divots in the gnarled wood from forceful strikes were present and telling on both... They wouldn¡¯t last much longer for either of them.

    ¡°Before you get to the Crystal Chamber, there is a sort of... storage room. Uranus and I...  we moved a lot of old things down there when all the kids and grandkids had moved out of the house and were living on Olympus most of the time. If I remember, there might be some old training weapons from when my first kids, the Titans, were just learning to use their training xiphos and dorys. They are yours if you want them. Just tell the custodian I said so... He¡¯ll know what to do.¡±

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    ¡°But... weren¡¯t Titans gigantic?¡± Josh blurted out before he could help himself.

    Gaia smiled her motherly smile for Josh again and waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Oh, silly! Not all the time... only when they wanted to be.¡± She patted him on the cheek. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you¡¯re older.¡±

    The door closed behind Josh and Sen. Gaia waved her hand from right to left as if opening a sliding window, returning her temple to its normal state. Attendants waited in the eaves of the colonnades. Flute and harp music sifted through the smoke of burnt offerings. The chanting of supplicants murmured from the far reaches of every side. Her many guards stood at attention around the perimeter.

    She raised an eyebrow and glared to the right of the door the two young cultivators had just walked through. A second later, the Clone appeared, causing the classic white marble setting to glitter with his pulsating ultraviolet.

    ¡°I never said to give them weapons, Gaia.¡±

    She glared at the Clone¡¯s accusation. ¡°No! You said they were warriors on a hero¡¯s journey to collect their first Attunement! These were children armed with sticks! It was all we could do not to kill them by accident!¡± Her voice rose at the end, and she continued her accusatory glare at the Clone. ¡°Machitis! Attend me!¡± Gaia called her majordomo.

    The specter who had stood over Gaia several hours before with his scourge appeared instantly.

    Without hesitation, he dropped to a knee, fist over his heart. ¡°Mother.¡± His red eyes were downcast.

    ¡°Assess the strength of the two men you fought.¡±

    ¡°Disorganized. Ineffective. Pathetic. While the last blow had some modest strength. They were prey, not fighters.¡±

    Raising a scornful glance at the Clone, Gaia more accused than asked, ¡°How long have they been cultivating, six months? A year?¡±

    ¡°Thirty-two hours...¡±

    Gaia¡¯s eyes widened in shock as she gasped in surprise at the Clone¡¯s impossible statement. Even Machitis¡¯ swirling red eyes turned toward him as if seeking confirmation of what was said. The Clone looked away briefly and sat on the edge of a divan.

    Appearing weary from his choices, the Clone raised a hand to Gaia to hold off her coming tirade. ¡°I know... believe me, I know... However, we have no choice at this point. Things are even more dire than you know. There is no time for these two to slowly and gently acclimate to cultivating in the usual or even an accelerated time scale. Zenyak needs Senyak suitable to take command as soon as possible! Thus, I have created this fiction to attain their first Attunement. They still need to make their own connections and advancements, with us spoon-feeding them from the shadows as much as possible¨C without violating the Karmic requirements of self-achievement for cultivatory advancement. To fail them... is not an option... and believe me, Gaia, the remainder of our plans for them to obtain their Attunements in the Spherical Tier are significantly more dangerous.¡±

    A sour expression fell over Gaia¡¯s face, but The Clone noted that she had settled back into her throne, at least partially mollified by his explanation of Zenyak¡¯s blatant omissions about the naivety of Josh and Sen to cultivation. Seeing that she had somehow begun to care for his two charges and that he hadn¡¯t completely worn out his welcome, the Clone shore his UV features into a charming smile. Keeping his kernel of Immortal Ka tightly wrapped around the pair of cores Zenyak had torn from the genocidal harvester to keep her from being dismayed by their adharmic nature, the Clone made his ask of the Mother of Star Children.

    ¡°Gaia, I need another small favor¡­ ¡°

    * * * * *

    The door closed behind them with a finality that Josh hadn¡¯t anticipated. Looking around with darting eyes, there was no sign of abandonment, no thick layer of dust or piles of long bleached bones in the corner. Still, the air in the winding stairway was stale and stifling. It gave the impression that the passage had been empty for an exceedingly long time.

    By unspoken agreement, Senyak walked down first. He held his root cudgel tightly in his right hand. Josh did the same. Burning braziers lit the winding hall as they proceeded down. Thick, black smoke rose to a ceiling that was unseen above them.

    Their enhanced hearing gave them the first warning they were not alone. The sounds of heavy clacking from far below echoed on the thick marble walls. It grew louder as they continued down. It was hard to tell what exactly was causing the sounds, but they heard no heartbeats.

    Josh¡¯s thinking shifted to an undead creature or some kind of automaton. Who am I kidding? I¡¯m a total newb in this place. It can be anything. For God¡¯s sake, we just met Mother Earth.

    But Gaia¡¯s final and cryptic warning about corrupted things coming from, or being attracted to, lost energy made Josh think about shambling undead things. So, as unpleasant as those were, that was where his thoughts remained.

    The clacking continued to get closer as he and Sen descended. There was no indication of their detection. No sound of claws, undead or otherwise, rushing up the stairs at them. Finally, after what Josh thought was thirty minutes of steady walking down, they reached the bottom of the stairs. A wide hallway opened up before them with two open doorways on either side. A fifth and final doorway held a barred, wooden door at the end of the hall opposite them, about thirty yards away.

    The clacking was coming from the first room on the left. But that wasn¡¯t what concerned Josh at the moment. Approximately twenty yards from the winding stairway¡¯s last step, five zombies with black skin, all emitting the blue-green glow of foxfire, quietly stood at the center of the landing. The zombies were dressed in rotting leather armor with rusted iron weapons in their hands as they moved forward toward Josh and Sen.

 Chapter 26

    The three undead warriors standing in the front rank moved immediately to intercept them. Moved being the right word, they walked as if alive. No shambling gait, no flesh dropping off. Upon reflection, ¡®zombie¡¯ might be the wrong way to describe them. Their black or very dark blue skin sat like a tight-fitting desiccated husk over intact but shrunken muscles below. They seemed to function under a collective intelligence, given their coordination and ability to brandish very dangerous-looking short swords. Two in the back held bows with quivers full of arrows, which they were already knocking.

    ¡°Move back! Now! Up the stairs!¡± Sen yelled.

    Cycling their Essence to their legs, they turned and ran back up the stairs and took two complete 180-degree turns, which was twenty steps in their count. Sen put his hand out, signaling Josh to stop. Two arrows hit the curving wall several steps down and behind them. The wooden missiles shattered against the marble and launched a shower of splinters all around them.

    ¡°We¡¯ll meet the first draugr here; defeat it, and then move back up ten more stairs, another 180-degree turn. We are as good as dead if we don¡¯t stay ahead of those archers!¡±

    ¡°Draugr?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they are the risen dead. Formed by spirits drawn to the bodies of those killed unjustly. If they touch us, they can leach our Essence. Don¡¯t let them do that. We will need to destroy their heads. They feel no pain and are stopped only through crushed skulls, decapitation, or destruction with fire.¡±

    Josh¡¯s enhanced ears heard the draugr¡¯s even steps about to round the corner into their sight. He raised his club overhead to bring it down on the first one that showed him the blacks of its eyes. Sen had said that typical draugr tactics were to overwhelm their opponents with simultaneous attacks. The bend in the stairway made that difficult until they reached the same step he was on. Josh, poised on the circular stairway¡¯s narrower inside hub, Sen took a wide and more vulnerable stance on the broader outside.

    A black and desiccated foot rounded the bend of the spiral stairs, immediately followed by the tip of a sword. Josh and Sen both swung their clubs down from overhead. They were fully cycling Essence to their arms and upper body. Both clubs struck true. Sen hit first, with Josh piling on a close second later. A burst of moldy green air with bits of moist and stinking leather-like scraps covered them as the draugr¡¯s head exploded into foul-smelling nihility. Its body hit the floor in a twisted tangle of legs, arms, and moldering torso. The next draugr coming behind extended its arm and slashed at Sen with a rusted sword. Sen pulled back, narrowly avoiding the blade as it whistled through the air and clanged off the marble wall. Marble sparks filled the air around them, scoring bloody tracks on their faces and exposed skin.

    Josh stepped forward with Essence cycling to his legs and sent a kick to push the defeated draugr¡¯s freshly re-killed body down the stairs and into the coming attacker. Both undead and re-dead tumbled back down. An arrow shot from below skidded off of the surface of the rounded stairway¡¯s wall. It missed Sen¡¯s bent-over head by a fraction of an inch. Josh was pretty sure the archers would have had to advance up past the first turn to land a shot like that.

    Grabbing Sen by the collar, Josh pulled him up as they ran to put a few more bends in the stairs between them and the pursuit. After two more full 180-degree turns, they stopped, waiting against the hub of the stairway to repeat what they had done. Silence filled the space as they waited, taking deep breaths. They waited and listened... and listened and waited... and... the draugrs... obviously...  weren¡¯t coming.

    Still listening, Josh heard dry feet rasping on the rough steps, heading back down. He looked at Sen and pointed down the stairs. The question was evident on his face and through their Karmic Bond. Why aren¡¯t they coming?

    ¡°They are risen undead... It doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re stupid. They are waiting for us.¡±

    ¡°Where I come from, stupid is exactly what risen undead are supposed to be! Zombies that are smart enough to play a waiting game with us¡­ are terrifying.¡± Josh stated, simultaneously checking his interface. Ninety-one percent free Essence remaining; 100 percent health.

    ¡°Not zombies... remnants. They are the spiritually risen undead. They are not the reanimated meat puppets of the Necrolon. Draugrs rise most commonly when a spirit that hasn¡¯t migrated to the mortal soul nexus lingers in the place of its death near an empty vessel. Due to this, they have a rudimentary intelligence. Which is obviously enough to thwart our plans...¡± Sen trailed off.

    ¡°Well, run, Forest, run isn¡¯t exactly an amazing strategy to begin with,¡± Josh said almost to himself. ¡°But when you say intelligence, do you mean sitting around chatting about the current selection on the book-of-the-month club over a cup of Darjeeling or something similar to insect cognition level intelligence? Such as moving from the light to the dark, avoiding large overhead predators, and following attractive smells to food kind of intelligence?¡±

    Sen¡¯s mouth made a straight line as he thought about Josh¡¯s question. ¡°Most likely the second one... Why?¡±

    ¡°I think I may understand why they retreated. They aren¡¯t waiting for us. They are following their draugr-cognition and returning to their home range. It¡¯s a sort of crude territorial instinct that¡­ simulations on my world used as a fighting mechanic.¡±

    ¡°What...¡± Sen looked blank-faced at Josh.

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    Josh then spent the next fifteen minutes explaining to Sen the concepts of aggro, threat generation, pulling mobs, home range computer models, and the general play nature of video games.

    ¡°So, I¡¯m not saying we are in a video game. Or anything like that. I¡¯m a million percent certain that we are not.¡± Josh held both of his hands before him in surrender. ¡°What I am saying is that I recognize this behavior model. Based on what I have seen so far, we should be able to predict the aggressive actions of these draugr in this particular set of circumstances.¡±

    ¡°So... Joshua, if I understand you correctly, to properly enact the ritual of the aggro, we have to get close enough for them to see us. Thereby generating the aggro. Then we need to run. But we must stay close enough for the aggro to continue. Or, as you say, to ¡®kite the mobs¡¯. If we go too far, we will defile the ritual, and the draugr will return to their reset point. The center of the landing at the bottom of the stairs. Then, we would have to perform the ritual all over again. Do I have it right, brother?¡±

    Josh had been through this with Sen about ten times. He had initially encouraged him to conceptualize drawing aggro as a ritual because it helped Sen grasp the concepts.

    Josh grinned to hold back his laughter. ¡°Yes, you have it very well. This is a well-established ritual among my people, particularly amongst the gaming sect.¡± Josh clarified, with a studiously straight face. ¡°Long have we known of its power and capabilities¨Cat least from the early nineties.¡±

    ¡°Well established?¡± Sen raised quizzical eyebrows, ¡°I never ran across it during my study of combat history on your planet. How often is it practiced?¡±,

    ¡°Some practitioners perform it dozens of times daily.¡± Josh said with a straight face. He wasn¡¯t lying after all.

    Sen took on a considering expression. ¡°I¡¯m surprised I missed it, my studies must not have been as thorough as I had thought ¨C Thank you for sharing such important wisdom. Your people are wiser and more knowledgeable about draugr and cultivation than I had given them credit for.¡± Pursing his lips, Sen could sense the sincerity through their Bond. There could be no deception between them. ¡°All right. It is worth a try.¡±

    Josh looked up at Sen from the position he had propped himself against the wall. ¡°How is it that you know so much about these... draugr, but nothing about so many other things, like eating, for instance?¡± The question had been nagging Josh.

    ¡°I¡¯m a combat specialist who studied mortal physical combat for over five hundred years. Studying battle tactics against draugr was a part of that. They are one of the most common mortal undead forces encountered in the multiverse. There are even Immortal counterparts.¡± Sen nodded, affirming his statement.

    ¡°Liches?¡± Josh took a stab in the dark.

    Sen raised an eyebrow in surprise. ¡°Just so. I¡¯m surprised you would know of such creatures.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to wonder a bit about that myself,¡± Josh admitted.

    ¡°Perhaps the history of your people is deeper than we know.¡± Sen spoke thoughtfully.

    That makes sense. Josh nodded as well, pursing his lips in agreement.  The first hint had been Gaia¡¯s gossip-sharing about her children and family, the literal Greek mythological gods. Basically, confirming that humanities legends about them were terrifyingly accurate¨C if you can call being smashed in the face with the information a hint¨Cthat something was fundamentally strange about humanity''s ancient myths. Maybe they aren¡¯t just stories... Damn, she even casually mentioned Odin, Ra, and Osiris from the Norse and Egyptian pantheons¡­

    Letting his thoughts slow cook on this issue, Josh set them off to the side for future consideration. Right now, there is still a job to do.

    After creeping down the stairs to where they had defeated the first draugr, they took stock of the situation. The expunged draugr¡¯s sword was where the body had initially fallen before Josh had kicked it down the stairs. Josh grabbed the weapon and handed it to Sen without a second thought. There was no doubt that between them, Sen was the more battle-capable and could put it to better use.

    Sen inspected the weapon. A thick, double-edged short sword with a blade of seventy-five centimeters, made of a blunt-edged but serviceable iron. Its rusted and pitted surface was far from the well-cared-for weapons he used as an Immortal. But, compared to a stick he had dug out of a dirt wall... it was a significant upgrade.

    Sen¡¯s interface flashed.

    Weapon Equipped: Short sword. Quality - poor. Damage has increased from negligible to poor. Cleave and dismemberment options are available for physical combat. Do you wish to continue with this as your new weapon?

    A small box even popped up on his interface when he thought about it.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon: Short Sword

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Poor

    Increasing the quality of the weapon will increase damage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Bladed Weapons Skill Level: Advanced

    </td>

    <td>

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Damage:

    Average mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    97% probability of 865% increased damage compared to unarmed damage. Increasing skill level will increase damage capabilities.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Sen, used to over three million years of interaction with his Ethos Combi, responded immediately.

    Yes! Transcendence, I have missed you.

    The interface responded with more information.

    Optimal strike opportunities during battle will be highlighted in your visual perception.

    Sen filled in Josh about the interface¡¯s expanded capabilities. Josh looked at his root club.

    Frowning, he muttered to himself. ¡°I don¡¯t have a little box. Maybe I¡¯d like one too, huh... but no little box for me.¡± He squinted at Sen. ¡°The next one is mine.¡±

    ¡°Of course, brother!¡± Sen laughed. ¡°Of course.¡±

    They also inspected the gear. Dirty and rusted. Pre-owned by a vile, rank-smelling undead. But much better than what they had been dealing with... which was nothing! Looking over draugr¡¯s gear, the bracers and greaves were salvageable and split between them. Sen took the greaves, Josh, the bracers.

    Josh eyed the thick, dark, and pitted metal on his wrists. The leather straps were moldering but still supple enough to open and attach over his forearms. His face puckered at the feel of the disgusting leather against his skin. ¡°You are so getting boiled the very first chance I get...¡±

    Despite Josh¡¯s greatest hope, no boxes popped when he donned the armor. The Clone had said that its function would increase with their cultivation. Perhaps weapons were all that it could support at this point? Time would tell.

    Josh pointed to the draugr¡¯s deformed and now looted body. He moved his hand in its direction, indicating to Sen through their Bond that he was going to collect its Essence.

    Sen grabbed Josh¡¯s hand and pulled it away from the corpse. Josh looked back at him, surprised. Sen shook his head, face set in stone.

    Undead are not spiritual beings that cultivate Essence. They consume it, much like your version of¡­ vampires. Damni had me watch several historical records called... movies... I think... Draugrs with skin that shined in the sunlight... Anyway... they do not carry or cultivate Essence as we do. They consume it to perpetuate motion after the spark of their soul is lost. If you gathered enough of their energy, you would likely start to become one of them. I may not have been on the path of an Atalmon or a Vitalist... but these facts are well known.¡±

    Josh scurried away from the corpse as if suddenly afraid it would grab his hand and feed him its undeath.

    Without taking his eyes off it, he spoke. ¡°Thanks for the tip... Don¡¯t take Essence from undead things... got it. Does that mean there is no use for their cores?¡± Josh wrinkled his nose at the body. ¡°... Seems like a waste.¡±

    Sen squinted in deep consideration at Josh¡¯s unexpected question, but his answer held the weight of sincerity. ¡°... Becoming a spiritually raised undead is a dark path many mortal cultivators have dedicated their entire existences to¡­ But these are not subjects I have delved into beyond their the¡­ undeads¡¯ relevance as combatants or a military force. I do not recommend involvement with the forces that shape them at this stage in our cultivations.¡±

    Josh tipped his head in a nod of acquiescence at Sen¡¯s seriousness. ~Understood and agreed.~

    With Josh¡¯s conversion into the undead avoided. It was time to get to work.

    Sen patted his shoulder, and a dangerous gleam came into his eye. ¡°Let us begin the aggro!¡±

    Josh chuckled at Sen. ¡°For sure, brother, let¡¯s begin ¡®the aggro¡¯.¡±

 Chapter 27

    They returned to the landing after dragging the defeated draugr¡¯s body up ten 180-degree rotations and placing it on the outer side of the steps. As Josh had explained, they would likely have to run up and down a few times if their plan worked. But Sen pointed out that the body might get in the way. He didn¡¯t want them to trip over it and ¡°profane the ritual.¡±

    Once at the bottom, they saw, as before, that the melee draugr stood in front of the archers. And, again, the undead moved to intercept them. The draugr had learned from past events. Instead of walking, they started running very, very fast. The immense strength of their undead bodies gave them incredible acceleration, which they seemed eager to use.

    Fortunately for Josh and Sen, upon showing their faces, they had already started running to the planned ambush point where they had killed the first draugr in the last battle. Or, as Sen had learned to call it, they pulled the melee warriors. The ambush point was two complete rotations up the stairs. Sen was their rear guard, but even with fully enhanced legs, he sensed he was becoming overtaken approximately two-thirds of the way up!

    But... things were a little different for Sen this time as well.

    After ten stairs, he turned, placing his feet in a wide stance to intercept the first draugr. Sen ducked under one arrow that had been fired from below and skidded along the smooth and rounded marble sidewall of the stairway to become a threat. They were also showered by the shattered shards of a second arrow that had hit farther down and not stayed intact. While partially crouched, he raised his short sword and straightened up, waiting for his target to round the corner.

    Fully vertical, Sen adopted the high-held Roof Stance to attempt a decapitation. However, his interface had another recommendation. A flashing yellow up-swinging line indicated for him to draw his blade from right to left out of the Fool¡¯s Stance, starting in a low position and building momentum.

    Fool Stance projection estimates a forty-seven percent increased likelihood to disable pursuing draugr over Roof Stance.

    It added no additional explanation.

    Sen blinked at being vetoed. But after eons of trusting his Combi, he quickly adopted the recommended stance and swung his shoulders and hips to affect the strike. The first attacker rounded the corner, sword drawn, chest and head leaning forward. Sen¡¯s Essence-enhanced strike sliced it through the left shoulder and chin, finishing by cleaving its head free on a diagonal. The top portion of its skull followed the course of Sen¡¯s sword, smearing the sidewall with black blood and the putrescent foulness from the draugr¡¯s split skull. The now dead-dead draugr¡¯s body continued with its momentum and crashed into the wall behind Sen before it fell to the floor.

    Redirecting his enhancement to his legs, Sen cleared the still-falling body in a single leap and continued to the planned ambush point. He already sensed through their Bond that Joshua was waiting as planned. Running up the steps, Sen smiled as the next pursuing draugr momentarily slowed down to get over the fallen body but followed Josh¡¯s draugr-cognition theory of aggro by continuing up.

    * * * * *

    With his enhanced hearing, Josh heard Sen confront the draugr and hightail it out of there. He could also tell the archers had continued to advance their position as their arrows kept skidding along the rounded walls behind Sen. Things only picked up speed from there.

    In less than a blink, Sen flew past Josh and nodded. ~Incoming! Your turn.~

    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    The sounds of dry, undead feet scrabbling up the stairs as the first draugr cleared the last bend in the stairway came to Josh¡¯s enhanced ears. As the tip of its sword came into sight, Josh brought his club down in an honest attempt to smash its helm straight through its navel. Josh¡¯s enhanced strength ended the draugr¡¯s final existence. However, despite dispatching the draugr, physics wasn¡¯t on vacation. Its body continued moving forward under the power of its rapid momentum. Josh was bowled over as it slammed into him and knocked them both to the ground where they slid to a stop, the broken body of the undead resting atop Josh¡¯s prone form. Putrid fluids from the creature¡¯s shattered head dribbled fetidly into his face, hair, and eyes.

    The stairway went silent. Footfalls from the remaining two draugr archers were the only sounds Josh¡¯s enhanced ears could hear as he struggled to push the rotted husk off of himself. Sen had flashed back down the turns in the stairway and offered him a hand.

    Despite the stinking undead sap that had soaked into him, Josh couldn¡¯t keep the smile out of his voice as he rose to his feet. ¡°I love it when a plan comes together!¡±

    * * * * *

    A subdued pop and suddenly cascades of alternating hues of azure light filled the dark of the quiet cavern. Refracted light from the end of the visible spectrum and beyond danced over the polished surfaces of uncountable crystals studding the rock surfaces of the large space whose roof arched overhead several hundred meters. While almost everything was blue-tinted due to the source of the light being that wavelength, several dozen crystals in the cave defied the illuminating light and gave off their own golden-orange glow.

    Three pairs of red eyes on three very different heads snapped open as the sleeping legend snapped to attention. A double pair of lion¡¯s claws instinctively flexed from their sheaths and the pike-tipped horns of a goat bristled as the glowing ember of a fiery death formed in the back of the tail-mounted dragon head¡¯s throat¨C

    But that was as far as even the chimera¡¯s unfailing aggression moved it. Then the single body and all three of its heads froze in place like a child caught sneaking into the pantry for a before-dinner snack. ¡°Immortal¡­¡± all three heads mumbled submissively in ancient Greek as they nodded once and then lay back down. The Lion¡¯s head closed its eyes and seemed to go back to sleep. The dragon¡¯s head-tail coiled around its folded feet protectively. Clearly the leader, the central-back mounted goat head stood tall on its neck with eyes wide open at what the intruder was going to do.

    Obviously, the chimera¡¯s Aural sight had seen through the Clone¡¯s fractalized EM shielding to the kernel of Zenyak¡¯s Ka. A power source that would seem immeasurable to it. The power differential required that the chimera back down and serve his superiority. Still, the Clone nodded back in respect once as well. Cavern of Gaia¡¯s Earth Crystals or not¡­ He had just translocated unannounced directly into her bedroom.

    ¡°Is that your preferred side of the cavern to sleep and eat in?¡± The goat head nodded once in confirmation, its rectangular pupils never leaving the Clone¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Apologies for this¡­ But I do have Gaia¡¯s permission, and I can''t have you eating the surprise.¡±

    The Clone waved a hand, creating a transparent barrier of blue-white energy sealed off the back three-quarters of the cavern, leaving the remaining 25 percent adjacent to the barred door open for his purposes.

    The goat bleated in annoyance at the partitioning. The Clone rolled its eyes at its mental transmission. ¡°... Well, I did apologize before I did it¡­¡± The Clone pointed, indicating the chimera¡¯s section of the cavern. ¡°... And what are you really complaining about? You have the largest portion, don¡¯t you?¡±

    The goat head bleated again, but certainly less strenuously. Likely realized there was nothing it could do to stop the Clone and had only voiced its rights for possible reassertion at a later time. The Clone nodded with a tight smile to the chimera and then got back to his business, pulling the genocidal harvester¡¯s cores from the dark hole that appeared before him and leading to the small dimensional pocket they were stored in.

    He replaced the Immortal core. The reincarnation wouldn¡¯t be needed for Zenyak¡¯s and the Clone¡¯s purposes. But he held up his physical iteration mortal core to eye level and studied it for a moment. It had been modified in a not-uninteresting way. Clearly designed to allow transference of mortal Essence directly to his Immortal core for immediate use without the usual necessary requirements of purifying the mortal Essence for an Immortal Ka core. The modifications would allow access for immediate use of mortal Essence and presumably large amounts of power¨C assuming the user had access to vast oceans of mortal Essence¨C which, of course, the soul harvester did. But it would ultimately result in the corruption of an Immortals core and loss of their Transcended state from pollution damage from mortal impurities that cultivation required hundreds of thousands of Ka Nexus rotations to remove. A quick and dirty tool for power-hungry idiots with no forethought of the consequences of their choices¡­ The Clone dismissed the modifications from his thoughts.

    It was also linked to the mostly filled Essence collection array in a disturbingly permanent way. The Clone could dissect it off¡­ but that would alter the spirit still trapped inside the core and foil his entire purpose here. That will not do¡­ Brundox¡¯s memories and motivations must remain intact to meet my needs¡­

    A lock using mortal Essence would prevent access to the energy reserves in the array and still preserve the spirit within it. Without contaminating it with Immortal Ka ¡­Which could complicate things. The Clone quickly applied it.

    Only one thing remained¡ªa suitable vessel ¡­ The minuscule skittering of insectile legs over the polished stones of the cavern brought a wolfish smile to his free-flowing fractalized features¡­

 Chapter 28

    Josh held the looted short sword in his hand. Rusted, dull, and pitted with a mostly molded and rotten leather handle. He couldn¡¯t keep his smile from stretching ear to ear as he inspected his first interface box.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon: Short Sword

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Poor

    Increasing the quality of weapon will increase damage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Bladed Weapons

    Skill Level: None

    </td>

    <td>

    -

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Damage:

    Poor mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    92% probability of 236% increased damage compared to unarmed damage. Increasing skill level will increase damage capabilities.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    They also looted the salvageable armor from the two downed draugrs. Now, they each sported bracers and greaves, a studded leather cuirass, and a studded pauldron covering the left shoulder. The pair then endured ten minutes of small-volume breathing caused by wearing the extremely fragrant gear. It smelled of rotten mayonnaise and sunbaked roadkill. But, as with all things... after a relatively short period passed, Josh had to admit he was getting used to the smell. After donning the chest gear and pauldron to complete the set, Josh was overjoyed when a second box from the interface popped up.

    Armor equipped. Draugr studded leather, quality poor. Protection increased from negligible to poor. Partial blocking options available. Do you wish to continue with this as your new armor?

    After mentally picking yes, they received a second text box.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    External Armor Equipped:

    Draugr Studded Leather

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Poor

    Increasing the quality of armor will increase protection and probability of damage reduction.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Armor Skill Level: None

    </td>

    <td>

    Increasing skill level will increase probability of interface guidance for optimal usage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Protection:

    Poor mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    54% probability of 15% damage reduction from physical attacks from mundane weapons.

    Increasing skill level will increase probability of damage reduction capabilities.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Sen, having skill in wearing armor, received the same text box with slightly enhanced probabilities of protection.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    External Armor Equipped:

    Draugr Studded Leather

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Poor

    Increasing the quality of armor will increase protection and probability of damage reduction.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Armor Skill Level: Advanced

    </td>

    <td>

    Increasing skill level will increase probability of interface guidance for optimal usage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Protection:

    Below average mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    99% probability of 25% damage reduction from physical attacks from mundane weapons.

    Increasing skill level will increase probability of damage reduction capabilities.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Josh couldn¡¯t help but feel pretty badass despite the smell of years-old, slow-cooked, dead ass lingering in his nose. For the first time since this had all started, he wasn¡¯t wishing he could be anywhere but here... just most places instead of here. For instance, Josh would much rather be here than at Miranda¡¯s mom¡¯s house for lunch... he considered it a start, at least.

    Following the melee encounters, wrapping up the archers was anticlimactic. Having grasped Josh¡¯s ritual of the aggro, Sen lured them into the blind stairway with another classic line-of-sight pull. He then sprang back down the stairs as the archers were reloading. Two decapitations later, they had free reign of the landing and the five doors surrounding it.

    Quickly checking their interfaces showed their free Essence levels¡ªSen at 54 percent and Josh at 64 percent. Their health bars were 100 percent after a few cycles to heal several minor scratches and one streak on Sen¡¯s back from an unlucky arrow ricochet.

    Josh was a bit taken aback when he looked through the open doors. There was just a white shimmering barrier instead of rooms. The mercurial apertures constantly rippled like the surface of a still pond after tossing a rock into it.

    ¡°Portals.¡± Sen had said and then looked around as if having a doorway filled with roiling quicksilver was the most normal thing in the world.

    ¡°Portals?¡± Josh repeated. ¡°What do you mean, portals? Portals are small doorways through walls in buildings and boats! These weird glowing barriers could do anything! They could electrify us as we pass through... or...or give entry to thousands of grasping appendages from a groping tentacle monster or... a million other things!¡±

    Sen must have sensed through their Bond that the dimensional aspect of the passageways was freaking Josh out. He took the time to explain, ¡°Relax, Joshua... these are just like portals that lead through walls in buildings and boats. But instead of leading into an adjacent room, they lead to other nearby pocket dimensions attached to this iteration.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Josh practically shouted, throwing up his hands in exasperation. ¡°Exactly the same.¡±

    Then Sen narrowed his eyes and added slyly, ¡°... If you were going to lose it, I would have thought it would be against the undead remnants, the dark specter, or the furry-cannibalistic humanoids... not dimension portals...¡±

    ¡°Are you really trying to shame me like a thirteen-year-old at the skatepark?¡± Josh pointed his finger accusingly at Sen.

    ¡°If this skatepark is a place where people gather to compete and test their courage as well as to strengthen the fearful, then yes. I suppose I am.¡± Sen¡¯s smile reached feral proportions. ¡°Whatever works, brother... whatever works!¡± Then he left Josh to accept that he wasn¡¯t in Kansas anymore as he stepped closer to inspect a portal more closely.

    Seeing Sen had moved on, Josh lowered his raised index finger and chased after him. But whatever Josh would have come back with remained unspoken after he noticed the titles etched in boldface script above the mullion on three of the doorways.

    The first one on the right side, where the clacking sound came from, read: TARTARUS.

    The next on the right side read: ELYSIUM.

    And the first on the left side: OLYMPUS.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    The last ¡®portaled¡¯ door, farthest on the left, had no title.

    The doorway at the end of the landing was still closed by a thick wooden door banded in iron and barred by a sturdy beam bolting it from this side. There was no other locking mechanism.

    Josh looked to Sen. ¡°These portals go to mystical places? Even the home of the Greek gods?¡±

    With the patience of a mother toilet-training a toddler, Sen spoke through a small smile, ¡°Yes, brother... it would appear so.¡±

    ¡°Well... okay then...¡± Finally accepting the dimensional aspect of the portals, Josh mentally moved on and re-engaged his brain. ¡°I bet that the storage room Gaia mentioned is the one without an ancient mythical title.¡± Josh said, wagging a finger at the blank portal.

    Sen nodded. ¡°Agreed.¡±

    After discussing the titles, it turned out that even Sen had heard of all three places. It seemed that the ancient Greek mythical locations had almost complete multiversal penetrance. However, the robust warrior traditions all three locations and mythology were associated with were the source of Sen¡¯s interest.

    The tapping they had heard from the door marked Tartarus chose that moment to restart with enthusiasm. For an unaccountable reason, Josh felt compelled to go through that portal. Something was calling him from the other side. Thinking about it, Josh wanted to go through and see what was over there. All he had to do was to walk through the shimmering portal... to right an injustice that ... only he could set it right on the other side¡ª

    Josh immediately stepped back and cleared his mind with a quick head shake. Refocused, he stretched out his arm and pulled Sen back from his own unconscious inching toward the door. Sen jolted and looked up, startled. Then he also backed up, shaking his head, and nodded once in appreciation.

    Josh nodded back. ~I got you.~

    Sen again inclined his head. ~Gratitude.~

    Josh narrowed his eyes at the portal. It disturbed him to realize they had both been slowly edging toward the open portal... Some very shady mind games were afoot at the Circle K... bad things were sure to follow if they went through there. However, if their path took them through the Tartarus portal... they would go. If Josh¡¯s feelings were accurate, and they could right a great injustice, they¡¯d likely even want to go... but right now... Nah... Josh didn¡¯t want to risk any more confrontations before they checked on the possibility of better weapons and maybe even obtaining our Earth Attunement.

    Without better weapons, he and Sen were eventually going to be overwhelmed. Without an Attunement to keep their Essence filled, they would always need to be killing spirit beings for their Essence. An option to keep their Essence tanks full without having to stalk prey unworthy of continued existence would be invaluable. So, these two things needed to come first before any extracurriculars. Particularly so in the case of an interdimensional portal with the ancient Greek word for ¡®Underworld¡¯ engraved in six-inch letters on it.

    Josh realized more and more with every step he took that getting stronger and advancing his cultivation was going to have to be his way of life. That meant putting that goal first above what he merely wanted. In short, he needed to take care of business. It needed to be that simple from now on. Why would I even want to go to Hell anyway? Whether it¡¯s the ancient Greek variety or otherwise.

    Nodding to Sen, they stepped up to the unmarked door. Sen walked through first, and Josh followed. There was no doubt that Josh was less skilled with the sword and armor. Sen, with an advanced rating with his weapon and much higher protection scores with the armor, meant he was acting as their tank for now.

    Phasing through the portal was a non-event. It didn¡¯t feel any different than walking through any standard doorway. However, being on the other side gave Josh the feeling that he was somewhere more than one door jamb away.

    Tall, wooden shelves marched off into the distance¡ªway, way, way beyond what they could see, even with their enhanced sight. The marble floor was gone, instead replaced with dark, polished stone. The exotic, rich blues and greens of mother of pearl flashed to their eyes when the light from the braziers reflected off the floor at the right angles.

    Directly in front of them, seated behind a small counter blocking the narrow entryway to the wide-open spaces of the room before them, was a man in the same bleached white chlamys they were wearing... Only the man was wearing the absolute hell out of his, if Josh was honest. His body was extremely well-muscled in classic heroic proportions. A suit of armor, similar to the one worn by the enforcer they had fought, could be seen poking above the low top of the counter, and the long shaft of a dory leaned diagonally against the dark cuirass.

    The man behind the counter set the cooked leg of the humongous bird he was eating down and pulled what looked like a flat carpenter¡¯s pencil from behind his ear and a clipboard from the countertop as he finished chewing.

    Flipping through several top sheets, he raised his eyes to them and said unassumingly, ¡°I¡¯m Achilles... you guys looking for the storeroom?¡±

    Josh¡¯s mouth hung open, and he said the first thing his knee-jerk reaction brain forced out of his throat. ¡°You... you are... the Achilles... from Troy... that Achilles?¡±

    Achilles stood up so fast that his stool shot out from under him and flew off into the distance... then, out of sight.

    Pointing his finger at Josh, waves of force radiated from its tip. ¡°Listen, mister...¡± A pained look of old memories came over his face. ¡°Troy was a low point and a long time ago for me... okay? Gaia pulled me out of there and gave me this gig protecting her storeroom...¡± He looked around at the vast spaces around him. ¡°... For which I am very grateful... so...¡± He pursed his lips and made a fist with his right hand that space seemed to shrink and solidify around. ¡°... What can I do you two for?¡±

    Realizing that he was on the verge of pissing off an immensely potent demi-human from the age of heroes that could likely turn them both into grease spots without breaking a sweat, Josh reapplied the capacity for intelligent thought to his mouth¡ªor at least he tried. ¡°Ahh... sorry about that... really... really sorry! I¡¯m fanboying a bit over here. Gaia sent us to get some things that her ¡®kids¡¯ used... when they were kids. Swords and things... said to tell ¡®the custodian¡¯ that Gaia said so... I¡¯m guessing that¡¯s you... um... Achilles...¡± Josh trailed off, squinting his eyes and ever-so-slightly turning away in preparation for the pain that was sure to come.

    But Achilles, apparently placated by the apology¡ªand the fact that they had real business there¡ªpursed his lips and nodded. Then, he snapped his fingers and sat back down on his rematerialized stool. ¡°... Why didn¡¯t you say so in the first place? One sec... Let me scan your tags.¡± He held his hand up to the bronze brooches, clasping their capes, and flipped through his clipboard again. ¡°Okay... that¡¯s a box that has been down here for a while. It¡¯s in the back... I¡¯m uploading its location into your interfaces. Take a look at your interface map. But... are you sure about this?¡± Achilles scratched the top of his head and looked them up and down with no judgment in his eyes but what felt to Josh¡¯s spirit like a piercing assessment. ¡°I¡¯m just sayin¡¯ that for two guys with your... limitations... it might be tough.¡±

    ¡°Tough?¡± Josh and Sen both said in unison.

    ¡°Hey... listen, it¡¯s not my place to tell you guys your business... but take a look over my shoulder... there is a Kraken loose five aisles down.¡± He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb to a mass of giant tentacles waving over an impossibly high self, grabbing things randomly and alternating between crushing them and flinging them over the horizon. ¡°A flock of Badger-Phoenix got loose this morning, and the animal guys haven¡¯t gotten them under control yet.¡± Another thumb over his shoulder, and they saw faint lines of smoke rising even further in the distance than the tentacles. ¡°And we¡¯ve been having a rash of draugr popping up all over the place the last few days. On top of that... everything in this place can, and many sincerely want, to kill you... dead. Though I admit that for most of them, it¡¯s not personal or anything. They just want to eat you.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± Josh drew the word out, thinking of how to reply. ¡°¡­ Comforting.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Achilles beamed. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t want you holding a grudge or nothin¡¯ and coming back as the restless undead or some such. Best if you two go back the way you came.¡±

    Josh and Sen blanched at the picture Achilles had just painted for them. But there was no question they needed the weapons if they were going to face the chimera.

    Sen spoke first. ¡°We need what is in that box... without it, we will likely fail against the chimera... and I will break an Oath to get my friend back to his daughter. Sen put his fists together and bowed his head to the great warrior. ¡°... We have to try. Is there truly no way?¡±

    Achilles scowled and seemed on the verge of sending them packing when he puffed his cheeks and blew a breath out, tossing his clipboard down on the countertop. ¡°Cry me a pota¡¯mi, why don¡¯t you? His kid?¡±

    He pointed at Josh.

    When they both nodded, he shook his head once.

    ¡°Damn. I¡¯m a sucker for kids,¡± he muttered, just barely audibly. Sighing, he said, ¡°Let me see what I can do...¡±

    A map of a vast area appeared, seemingly taken from a satellite in low orbit. It zoomed in, zoomed in, and zoomed in again until Josh and Sen could see city-block-sized areas of shelves. ¡°Your box is here... I can get you¡­ here.¡± Two points of golden light appeared approximately two blocks apart. ¡°I¡¯m going to color-code the area based on Essence density.¡± Achilles looked at them with sincerity. ¡°You can substitute the term ¡®Essence density¡¯ for ¡®danger¡¯, because to you guys¨Cit¡¯s the same thing... Anything in red is a no-go zone... guaranteed ticket to a one-on-one with Thanatos... You get me?¡±

    They both nodded.

    ¡°Anything in yellow... I would do my best to avoid it. Well, not me, exactly, but if I were you, you know?¡± He raised an eyebrow, and they both nodded. ¡°You want to stay in the green areas... believe me on this. I can leave the temp portal up for twenty minutes... you guys gotta be quick, right?¡±

    ¡°The quick or the dead¡­¡± Josh whispered, swallowing back some saliva.

    ¡°The quick or the dead.¡± Achilles repeated, nodding. ¡°I like that. I think I¡¯ll use that. In your guy¡¯s case, it couldn¡¯t be any more true. If you don¡¯t make it back to the portal before it closes, I wouldn¡¯t bet on your odds with someone else¡¯s money, got me?¡±

    Sen and Josh swallowed a hard lump in their throats and nodded again.

    ¡°Here... I¡¯m sending it over to your interfaces. Good luck.¡± He waved his hand, and their interfaces chimed.

    Color-coded Threat Assessment Map Received. Display?

    They both selected yes. And true to his word, Achilles¡¯s map showed a very narrow and winding path of green through an ocean of red with what looked like small islands of yellow across the two blocks of shelves. They would have to pick their way through the middle of the stacks in one place¨C

    Achilles¡¯ urgent tone brought them back to the present. ¡°Guys! The clock is ticking on this maintenance portal... get a move on!¡±

    A miniature portal appeared to their left, and they both jumped through after fiercely thanking Achilles, who smiled warmly at them. ¡°I¡¯d do the same for my kids. Go, be a good dad!¡±

    And then they were in the stacks of shelves. The wild cry of animals came from the distance, and a humid pressure like it was about to rain settled over them. Before looking around, they noticed that the interface had shrunken Achilles¡¯s map to one-eighth of their visual field and decreased its opacity, making it transparent. There was also conveniently located a timer counting back from twenty minutes, now at 19:45, and dropping.

 Chapter 29

    Finally, looking around, they were standing in a narrow green area, and their trail led off to the left and around the corner of a large shelf. They followed it, tensing up at every sound and expecting the ground to swallow them... Nothing jumped out, and soon they were moving quickly along the path Achilles had marked.

    Myriad items sat on the shelves. From the normal to the seemingly impossible. Rows of simple glazed terra-cotta pottery that Josh had seen Miranda use in their backyard in Florida. Other shelves bore shining pottery of every color, highly detailed with intricate inlaid mosaics that shifted as he and Sen passed. The scenes changed from green pastoral vistas to raging seas with sailors struggling to overcome a tempest in their single-masted, oar-driven vessels. Some others had mundane but elegantly painted scenes that reminded Josh of ones he had seen on display in museums.

    There were tools of all types, made from every conceivable metal and a few inconceivable ones, and for all purposes. There were topless boxes filled with heavy bronze needles for sewing, a stone bench littered with worn iron adz, and off to one side, a solid gold mining pick stood on a stand, giving off a ringing crystal sound that seemed to be warning them away. The pitch and timbre rose as they neared it, lessened as they backed away.

    There were entire sections of sculptures. From tiny soapstone figurines to what might have been a bronze foot from the Colossus of Rhodes.

    At one point, they had to go under a gap that appeared between the shelves. The space gave the impression that a massive beast had crawled out of its resting place at ground level and taken to the sky. Coincidentally, they were also at the closest point they would come to a red area. It became quickly apparent that it would be no secret what the beast was. Sitting on a shelf, reserved only for it alone, thirty yards off the ground, upon a pedestal, was a vague face carved from simple volcanic stone. It radiated menace in a visible black hue from its crudely carved eye sockets. Even in a zone considered green by Achilles, and at a distance, it made their ears and eyes bleed. Cycling Essence to repair the damage, they fled at double time. Once they were 100 yards away, their sense of doom faded as they hurried past a pantheon of greater-than-life-sized gods and heroes carved to fine detail in the purest white Carrara marble. The statues¡¯ faces and eyes seemed to follow and track Josh and Sen as they sped past.

    Ducking under the rowing oars of a Viking longboat whose ghostly occupants heroically rowed their tattered vessel through raging and invisible seas, they came to the blinking dot Achilles had placed on their map. Still, it was an astronomically vast space, and they weren¡¯t even sure what the box looked like. Hopefully, it was on the bottom level... or they would have to climb, and the clock was ticking down. 14:58 as Josh checked his interface.

    They spread out and hectically looked at everything in their eyesight...

    Sen spotted it first. A high-quality closed wooden box the size of a footlocker sat alone on a bottom shelf to their right, below a rack of paintings from what must have been Renaissance masters and a hutch containing tableware. The plates looked like they had been shattered and glued back together with iridescent gold.

    Wasn¡¯t that a Japanese thing? Kintsugi, his strange inner Encyclopedia confirmed. He shoved the full history of the practice back down inside of himself. They were on the clock.

    Even in full light, the tableware glowed along its repaired cracks. The set''s forks and knives rose from the trays they lay in and assumed defensive positions as Josh and Sen walked up.

    Backing away from the sapient utensils, the men squatted down and focused on the box instead.

    A single line was written on its top in English, plain as day.

    CHILDREN¡¯S THINGS

    Josh asked about the words being in English. Sen said it was written in Polar Neutral cuneiform for him, settling the question of whether their interface was translating for them. Or maybe there¡¯s something with the writing itself. Josh wouldn¡¯t put anything past the literal Mother Earth.

    Sen lifted the lid on the large rectangular box. Inside was what one would expect in any parents¡¯ attic whose children had grown and moved on. Old clothing, some thick for warmth, some thinner for summer use. There were pastel-chalk pictures of the sky and the earth and twelve children running through fields of waving grain. There were several wooden toys, models of boats, and carved animals. In a separate, smaller box, were twelve throwing spearheads, each nested in felted indentations. They were much narrower than the head of the dory Achilles and Gaia¡¯s torturer had used. Their bright bronze tips with serrated bottom teeth gleamed from the overhead sunlight. Josh and Sen felt a strong sense of destruction and unmatched sharpness from the weapons.

    Urged beyond temptation by the strength of the weapons, Josh picked one up...

    ¡°Yaoooowwww!¡± He immediately regretted it.

    The lance tip had siphoned all of Josh¡¯s free Essence in his meridians into himself and also pulled a feral roar of pain from him. In the fraction of a second it took him to let go of the weapon, he had also lost 2 percent of his already dedicated core Essence. The central figure now read 47 percent, down from 49 percent.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    One side benefit of this debacle was the confirmation of his thoughts about the possibility of withdrawing Essence from his core in an emergency. The draining also raised his free Essence from 54 percent to 89 percent through its forced transfer. But the loss of the dedicated Essence still stung. On top of that, his hand had suffered third-degree burns, and he started circulating his free Essence to the charred and throbbing appendage.

    Sen, who had also been reaching for another spear tip, saw what happened to Josh and pulled his hand back like it was on fire.

    It almost had been, Josh thought darkly as he laughed through the pain.

    A fearful look of realization came over Sen. ¡°These are enhanced weapons of power for warriors who have advanced their physical and spiritual unity much farther than we have. Perhaps the Titans¡¯ second weapons as teenagers? Regardless, these weapons require a constant stream of Essence to function and are beyond our ability to use now... and perhaps for quite a while.¡±

    Josh agreed as he related to Sen what he had discovered about being able to withdraw from his consolidated core. Sen nodded in appreciation, confirming what he had been expecting such a thing as well.

    They quickly checked the timer. They still had 13:21 to return to the portal, so they kept looking through the box.

    Carefully wrapped in individual linen squares at the bottom, they found the weapons they sought. Twelve swords and twelve spearheads. Largely blunted and dulled with age, their color faded from bright bronze to a blotchy dross. These were nothing compared to the throwing spears. But, compared to the draugr weapons, they were a definite improvement. Neither the swords nor the spearheads radiated any sense of damage, death, or unearthly sharpness.

    Sen picked up one of the swords and executed a mixture of quick foot forms and blade maneuvers. ¡°These are perfectly balanced. Furthermore, the upgrade on my interface...¡± Sen smirked in satisfaction. ¡°Is telling.¡±

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork. Increasing the quality of weapon will increase damage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Bladed Weapons Skill Level: Advanced

    </td>

    <td>

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Damage:

    Superior mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    100% probability of 1500% increased damage vs. hand-to-hand damage. Increasing skill level will increase damage capabilities.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Josh related his upgrade, too.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork. Increasing the quality of weapon will increase damage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Bladed Weapon Skill Level: None

    </td>

    <td>

    -

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Damage:

    Low mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    100% probability of 480% percent increased damage vs. hand-to-hand damage.

    Increasing skill level will increase damage capabilities.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    There was also a bag with a single shoulder strap made of faded- black leather, but still serviceable. Not wanting to leave a possibly needed weapon behind, Josh also put two spearheads inside the bag. He then placed it over his head and under his left shoulder. There were no shafts to affix them or tools to do it with. But it just seemed stupid to leave them behind as Gaia had said they were welcome to them.

    Finishing with the chest, Josh picked up his sword with a slight sense of awe. A Titan had used this¨C

    A tiny and hollow voice came from the bronze clasp holding their cloaks in place. ¡°J & S. Repeat J & S. This is Achilles¨C¡± The sound of huge crashes, shattering, and men yelling interrupted the voice before it came back louder and more urgent. ¡°Repeat, this is Achilles. You need to run! Get back through the service portal now¨C¡± More crashing sounds came through the clasp and a reverberating roar that even George Lucas couldn¡¯t have replicated in Sound and Light Studios made Josh and Sen wince as the same crashes that were coming through the clasp could be heard in the not-too-distant distance. In a second, the air around them pulsed as if a massive wind had picked up, and suddenly, three isles over to the right from them, a collective gasp followed by shouts of terror and fear moved like fans doing the wave in a world series game from thousands of voices along all the shelves. Instantly, the air and ground were filled with the treasures that had lined the shelves as they ran, flew, waddled, spun, and rolled to get away from what was coming.

    Achilles yelled through the clasp again. The Kraken has taken a turn for your area¨C¡± More screeching that Josh thought could have been duplicated by dropping the John F Kennedy Aircraft Carrier from a thousand feet onto Times Square. At the same time, a grey-green clawed tentacle roughly the width of the Channel Tunnel that connects Kent, England, and Calais, France, whipped out to block the sun and slammed down where Josh and Sen were standing as well as an area roughly the same size as some smaller city bus routes.

    Josh, who had been staring incredulously at Sen, didn¡¯t even have the time to adopt the useless duck and cover technique he had been taught as a kid during tornado drills when the thick sound of electrostatic filled the space. Towering, partially transparent, orange force shields popped into place above them.

    Instinctively, Josh and Sen enhanced their legs and joined the teaming herds of relics and artifacts running for their lives down the isles back to the portal. In a quick glance, Josh saw marble statues of gods, table settings under silverware escorts, and even framed masterpieces that were somehow rolling on their corners or spinning through the air. The Viking Long boat¡¯s rowers had also heaved-to and were making good time to get away.

    Cascades of orange and yellow sparks showered from above, casting everything in a strange illumination. The energy runoff from above let all who ran for safety under the shields know that their current protection was an extremely temporary situation. The bulging weight of the tentacle, larger than a Saturn V rocket, was going to be up close and personal very soon.

    A mixed herd of Savanna animals joined the sprint at the corner, and Josh and Sen were keeping up with a mother giraffe and her galloping calf as Achilles'' voice came through again. ¡°That shield won¡¯t last, but I¡¯m coming to draw it away from you two.¡± Then, much quieter as if he was talking to someone with his mouth away from the transceiver, ¡°...  But who am I kidding¡­ they¡¯re gone already.¡±

    Jos grew even more determined at Achilles having written them off and from somewhere found a fifth gear as he focused on getting every last bit of Essence to his legs. Sen, using his native agility, was keeping up by dodging around, ducking under, and leaping over everything in his path.

    They rounded the last bend and saw the twinkling service portal as a supersonic roar split the air, and the heavy sound of thick-lake ice cracking came from above.

    What happened next, Josh and Sen were never certain. Josh passed through the tunnel first in a flying Pete Rose dive for home plate and crashed into the marble wall in the small waiting area where they had first seen Achilles. Sen was through a second later and slapped his leading foot down with a sharp thwack to halt his stop himself before he crashed into Josh.

    They both looked out at the massive storage space they had just escaped death from. But what they could see of it from here spoke nothing about what they had just gone through. A gentle breeze lightly stirred the leaves of a garden section to the right, and flocks of birds coasted gently through the air in the center of the vista view. Only the sounds of summer insects chirping greeted their ears, still ringing from the roar of a monster that could beat Godzilla in a screeching contest.

    Saucer-eyed and shell-shocked, Josh looked at his internal timer. There was 8:45 left on their countdown. ¡°... Well¡­ we made it with time to spare.¡± He said breathlessly, the only thought that came to his mind.

    Sen numbly agreed and pointed to a small sign on the countertop in Achilles¡¯ empty post reading:

    Back in 15... Dealing with Kraken. Please wait here.

    Silently wishing him luck... they exited through the portal they had first entered and returned to the landing where they had faced the draugrs.

 Chapter 30

    What followed were several moments of deep breathing and patting themselves to make sure they still had all of their limbs in place.

    Eventually, Josh raised his brows. ~I¡¯m ok. You?~

    Examining the Titan shorts word, Sen closed his eyes and nodded silently once. ~I am, brother.~

    Josh exhaled with puffed cheeks and also turned his attention to what they had just risked getting turned into jelly by an irate mythical sea best for. And he had to say¡­ it had been worth it.

    Josh ham-fisted the pommel of the short sword and held it up to his eyes.

    ¡°Not bad at all!¡± Josh half shouted as brandished the sword with increasing exuberance. He even began to take some practice swings with the weapon. Sen backed out of his way to avoid having his limbs severed by the apparent ineptitude. Then, screwing his courage to the sticking point, the short monk stepped forward and bowed as he waved with both hands for Josh to stop.

    He spoke words that had less in common with any concept of ¡®encouraging¡¯ and much more in common with bitter-to-swallow-pills. ¡°Brother, we are in a rush now, and there is no time. But as soon as we get out of here, I will teach you the basics. Just promise me you will never swing a sword in front of anyone but me until I do. I would spare you that shame.¡±

    Josh cast a sullen glare at Sen, his pride stinging more than his recent third-degree burn.

    ¡°Shame?!?¡± The single word communicated his shock, wounded sense of self-worth, and Sen¡¯s apparent betrayal.

    Then, like a thirteen-year-old at a skate park needing redemption after failing a drop, Josh insisted that Sen show him ¡°The basics any child would learn. Right here and now!¡±

    As faulted as his emotional response to Sen¡¯s chastisement was, there was a very good reason for an impromptu sword lesson: They were likely to face a chimera as soon as they opened the barred door into the next room. Any knowledge Sen could impart to him would be better than Josh fighting like a seizing epileptic holding a lightsaber during a fit.

    Sen had agreed to the demand.

    When they stepped out through the door, the foyer was the same as when they had left, save the fallen draugr archers were now gone. It was possible that the bodies had faded as a property of undeath, or Gaia¡¯s basement had some supernatural cleaning function... or, perhaps, they had gotten up and walked away. After all, they¡¯d done it at least once before. Regardless, Josh had no clue. Sen showed no concern, so Josh didn¡¯t worry about it.

    The Tartarus door no longer clacked and banged, but there was still a low-level calling, which Josh seemed to then Sen. But given his his newfound need to end his sword-shaming, Josh managed to tune it out.

    He turned to Sen and started their lesson with narrowed eyes and a sullen expression. He stood with his feet apart, white-knuckling his sword in a closed fist. ¡°Okay, Zatoichi... start teaching!¡±

    Sen looked confused for a second at Josh¡¯s words. ¡°How do you know of Zatoichi, the Blind Swordsman? The multiversal weapons master of all arms, renown even in Immortal circles...¡±

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    Shaking his head and refocusing, Sen saved any further questions regarding that particular quandary for later and stepped into the role of a teacher. Josh remained silent and stared intensely at him.

    Sen kneeled, opening his hands in a welcoming gesture, and said, ¡°Put your sword down and kneel with me.¡±

    Josh hesitated, waving the sword trapped in his death grip back and forth as he shuffled to a place in front of Sen.

    Sen raised his eyes to pierce Josh¡¯s without moving his head and spoke clearly and loudly again. ¡°Kneel... Using a sword is a sacred art! Not one taken lightly! If you insist on being my student, you will show me the respect I¡¯ve shown my Immortal instructors for millions of years.¡±

    It was Josh¡¯s turn to feel Sen¡¯s intensity through their Karmic Bond. The sanctity of combat training was something Sen believed in, to his core. Josh would, of course, respect that. Setting the sword down, he kneeled in front of Sen. His head and eyes were downcast out of respect, and he was a bit ashamed of having driven Sen to raise his voice to get the respect he deserved.

    ¡°... Understand. I have approximately ten years of study with the weapon you call the sword. I have also trained the same amount of time in most of your hand-to-hand martial styles, small blades, polearms, firearms, energy weapons, and neural infusers. Some of these are after your time in the local cuboidal¡¯s time stream... But I can teach you the basics.¡±

    Josh silently nodded in appreciation.

    Sen opened his hands and smiled good-naturedly to Josh, ¡°... To master the sword, you must master yourself. The sword is an extension of your body. Just as you would your arms, legs, hands, or other parts. I have seen you use your fists, swing your club, and even use your... case of briefs well when it counted.¡± He looked Josh straight in his eyes and cocked his head to make his point. ¡°Would you wave your arm, leg, or case of briefs as you have that sword?¡±

    ¡°No, I wouldn¡¯t...¡± Josh said, feeling more embarrassed than he had expected.

    ¡°Good! This is the right way to start!¡±

    Over the next hour, Sen instructed Josh to hold his sword as an extension of his body. To keep his sword in a rigid line from his hand to its tip. He said that ¡®wrist work¡¯ was an advanced technique that took mortal lifetimes to master and instead had him focus on smooth, sweeping blows that used his body¡¯s leverage and economy of movement. Josh learned what the basic stances were and how to use them. Plow. The middle stance for a general approach to all fights. The Ox. Outside high horizontal pointing for shorter targets. Fool. Low stance for taller targets and low blocking from compact targets. Roof. High stance for blocking high attacks from all opponents and those who simply preferred holding their sword high. Josh also learned how to position his feet during each of these stances. Until they had more time, Josh was to keep his feet shoulder-width apart and swing his sword in mid-range or with an upswing to handle all targets as tall or taller than him.

    After their session, sweat had soaked through Josh¡¯s linens to collect in small puddles under him on the marble floor, despite occasionally filtering some Essence through his body periodically throughout the training session. But now, instead of shame when he looked at his sword, he felt a growing sense of challenge to master it. That, and gratitude towards his Karmic brother for turning his proverbial sword onto Josh¡¯s own arrogance and wounded pride. He bowed deeply from his kneeling position at the end of the lesson.

    Bowing his head in return, Sen replied, ¡°Well done, Paddle Juan.¡±

    ¡°Paddle Juan?¡± Josh cocked his head to the side like a confused pigeon trying to make the connection.

    A worried look came over Sen¡¯s face and through the Bond. ¡°Do I misremember the historical records I watched with Damni? If I did, I¡¯m sorry... I still remember some of the words. They seemed holy writ, as though from some religious text: ¡®It was from a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.¡¯ It involved young students under powerful mortals learning to use plasma blades along with telekinetic and other mental powers. They dressed just like my father and grandfather... so I watched all eighty-six records from the time stream of your iteration?¡±

    Through their Bond, Josh knew Sen had meant what he said as a term of respect for his progress in so short a time.

    Josh replied with a crooked smile. ¡°No, Sen. You remembered it well. Though a student is called a padawan,¡± he chuckled. ¡°Paddle Juan is what we called the old groundskeeper at the Catholic church back when I was a kid¡­ The saying went that you never wanted to get caught doing something wrong by old man Paddle Juan...¡± Josh rose as a student and again, bowing at the waist. Once on his feet, he grasped forearms with his brother. ¡°I am very grateful for what you have taught me... but I¡¯ll need more. A lot more.¡±

    ¡°And I will teach you. You will grow in your knowledge and skill... and we will get you back to your Sophie. I know it weighs heavily on you. But we will.¡± Sen spoke aloud, leveling as resolute a look at Josh as he had seen on his Karmic brother¡¯s face.

    Josh¡¯s interface pinged. Checking it revealed a happy surprise¡ª

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork. Increasing quality of weapon will increase damage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Bladed Weapons Skill Level:

    None ¡ú Junior Basic (2%)

    </td>

    <td>

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Damage:

    Below average

    </td>

    <td>

    100% probability of 685% increased damage vs. hand-to-hand damage. Increasing skill level will increase damage capabilities.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    The upgrade was significant. Furthermore, Josh¡¯s life no longer held room for wounded pride¡ªcertainly not over snippy skill-level titles coming at him from out of the ether.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take it!¡± he said with a full smile.

    * * * * *

 Chapter 31

    Standing together on the landing, they looked at the barred door. They knew that behind it was their Earth Attunement that they needed, as well as the guardian that protected it.

    The plan was for Josh to lift the bar and open the door. Sen would move in first and confront what was in there. If there was a chance to talk, spy, creep around, or reach a diplomatic solution over Limoncello¡ª Great! If not, then Sen would be ready to ¡°tank¡± whatever was facing them on the other side. Josh¡¯s job was to strike at every opportunity until it was dead.

    Reaching out with both hands, Josh moved to lift the crossbar¨C

    The clacking from behind the Tartarus portal suddenly erupted fiercely. On top of that, its draw calling Josh to walk through the portal doubled. Josh knew then that something wrong on the magnitude of world-ending Armageddon would happen unless he went through the Tartarus portal. They didn¡¯t need just to go there first... they needed to go there right now.

    Sen, who had been less sensitive to its calling, also seemed significantly more affected now. Josh had his hands on the crossbar as Sen looked up at him worriedly. ¡°Brother... should we at least check?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Sen. Tartarus is described as a place like... hell...¡± Sen looked confused, clearly not aware of the concept. Josh also got the same feeling of uncertain confusion through their Karmic Bond.

    It¡¯s weird to have no concept of hell. Just imagine it... ¡°It¡¯s an awful place where only terrible people go. The Titans¨C Gaia¡¯s first children, were held there for a long time. Gaia¡¯s grandson, Zeus, eventually let them out... I don¡¯t know who could be calling from there.¡±

    As Josh stared at the portal. For a reason that he couldn¡¯t explain, one of his favorite lines from Tolkien crossed his mind. ¡°A chance for Faramir, Captain of Gondor, to show his quality.¡±

    Josh remembered reading Tolkien¡¯s trilogy when he was thirteen years old. It was one of the few things his father had encouraged him to do. To be honest, reading the Lord of the Rings was one of the few good things he associated with his father... Consciously putting his daddy issues aside, Josh refocused on the thought of Faramir...

    Faramir had been in a position to further his own cause. To make things significantly better for himself. But he would be screwing everyone else in the process, and Faramir knew it. There he sat with his choice. With absolutely everything up to him... and he made the right one... and it had made a difference.

    In his heart, Josh didn¡¯t compare himself to an epic hero in a tragic tale of good versus ultimate evil... Yet, Josh was here, hanging out in the downstairs landing of the Mother of the Earth after raiding her basement for the Titans¡¯ ¡®baby¡¯s first weapons¡¯... Maybe it wasn¡¯t that much of a stretch after all...

    He and Sen needed the Earth Crystals behind door number one. It was step numero uno for him to get back to Sophie and for Sen to return to Transcendence. It will further my own cause. Yet Josh could not shake the certainty that everything right to do was behind door number two: TARTARUS. A chance to show my own quality¡­

    What the hell... literally. I probably should have been killed by Brundox... or against the cannibals... or by the draugr... What do I have to lose now?

    ~This is probably going to bite us on the ass, Sen.~

    ~Agreed.~

    Turning ninety degrees, they went through to Tartarus.

    The portal trip this time was decidedly different. Instead of feeling no discernible change from one step to the next... this trip was more like being strained through a colander made from razor wire.

    Sen had stepped through first. To Josh, it seemed as if Sen¡¯s body stretched out from where it crossed the portal¡¯s threshold into infinity. His leading leg accelerated at incredible speeds while the rest of him stayed behind on the landing until that part passed the portal¡¯s sill. The theoretical model of an object passing the event horizon of a singularity came immediately to mind. Spaghettification, his inner physicist, helpfully supplied the term. Then Josh felt an aching pain in his core and the center of his mind... along with, for lack of better words, a sense of dread concerning his Karmic brother.

    Without thinking, Josh jumped through behind Sen. Whatever it was would at least have to deal with Josh¡¯s short sword upside its head as it took them both down. They would stand or fall. But it would be together.

    Upon crossing the threshold, the problem immediately made itself apparent. Not only did going through the portal look like passing an event horizon. It felt like going through one and still being alive. It was as if Josh got pulled through the eye of an infinitely long needle and then knitted into a chew toy for some cosmic granny¡¯s galaxy-sized pit bull.

    Josh immediately cycled Essence to his whole body to help deal with the strain and heal his wounds. The difficulty was compounded by the fact that it took much longer to transit this portal than the storerooms. The spiritual machinery running the Tartarus portal appeared to be on its last legs.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    What felt like an hour and ten minutes later, but was only a fraction of a second, ended with Josh spit out onto a barren landscape of dark and forbidding shadows at every corner. There was no discernible light source. Just a low-level illumination from everywhere and nowhere. It felt like the spirit world in any video game he had ever played. Josh¡¯s body tumbled and then slid over shards of igneous rocks like broken glass, ultimately coming to rest after crashing into Sen¡¯s rising form.

    Sen again pulled himself up and lent a hand to Josh. A stabbing pain told Josh he had gotten a twisted ankle somewhere along the chaotic tumble. Sen looked like he was in about the same shape.

    They examined their surroundings while cycling Essence to heal their wounds and panting for breath. Several things came into sharp focus. Multiple shield volcanoes dotted the landscape in front of... to the sides... and in fact, all around them... Everywhere! And worse, said volcanoes were all simultaneously going through the final stages leading to pyroclastic eruption. Multiple dome failures were evident, with sporadic ash and magma explosions above many rims and visible clefts in the volcanos¡¯ sidewalls. The air was already thick with dust and ash. It was getting harder to breathe by the second, and Josh¡¯s super-science-know-how was screaming in both ears and the center of his brain in no uncertain terms that it had been a nice trip... but it was time to go!

    A deep voice spoke from behind them. ¡°This pocket is ending...¡±

    Josh and Sen spun together as one. Seeing first, immediately behind them, a large cage. It was one hundred meters to the side and fifty meters high. Thick, overlapping iron bars ran horizontally and vertically, creating squares along the cage¡¯s faces. A shining steel door five meters wide held court in its center. The cell was built into the corner of a cliff with perpendicular angles to the rear rock faces.

    A man of solid build and average height stood facing them from the middle of the cage. Appearing to be in his late thirties, he had short, dark hair and a well-trimmed beard. He was also wearing clothes similar to theirs. However, it was impossible not to notice that his vestments had gold trimming in all the right places. He was also sporting a gilded laurel wreath tucked behind his ears as a crown.

    Most notable, perhaps, was that despite standing amongst the end-stages of... well... everything, the man was the very image of calm and collected. His face had a superior expression, and he seemed to be entirely at leisure with his hands held casually behind his back.

    ¡°I am Cronus. It appears my children have forgotten me after releasing my brothers and sisters... It must be several millennia ago at this point... Would you be so kind as to pull that lever to the left and release me? The glyphs on this cage are preventing me from otherwise evacuating.¡± He smiled a bright, tight smile Josh had seen on judges and opposing counsel¡¯s faces a hundred times before they started lying their assess off. ¡°...And it will be¡­ a bit troublesome to drag myself out of the ruin to a stable iteration.¡±

    Cronus raised his hand and waved nonchalantly to the numerous early-stage pyroclastic eruptions. Simultaneously, a long string of icons lit up on either side of the door¡¯s frame, glistening green and gold as if to make his point. Josh had no idea what the sigils meant individually. Translating them was most likely beyond his interface¡¯s current abilities.

    Sen straightened and started to the massive lever, a large gold ball topping a bronze rod rising directly from the ground. Josh also couldn¡¯t help but notice it was just out of the arm¡¯s reach of someone trapped in the cage. Some sadistic piece of work had built this thing.

    Josh held up his hands to stop Sen. ¡°Whoa, whoa! Sen, this is Cronus! You know, one of the classic bad guys. Child eating... father maiming... we should think about the ramifications of letting him out...¡±

    A small smile touched the corners of Cronus¡¯s mouth. ¡°You know your history very well. But, please, do remember that only the victors write history.¡± He gestured around himself. ¡°As you can see, I am no historian. Furthermore, I¡¯m not as bad as all that. People are never as good or as bad as those with opposing agendas would lead you to believe... I would think that a young vampire who just finished raiding my childhood toy box would be well served to keep that in mind.¡± Cronus finished, supercharging his superior expression with a cocked right brow.

    ¡°Gaia gave us permission to take these,¡± Josh said, pointing at the swords. And we are cultivators, not vampires.¡±

    ¡°Tomato... tomahto¡­ We both know that without an Attunement, you both are really just core feeders.¡± Cronus¡¯s smile grew slightly, knowing his point was made.

    Before Josh got to unleash what would certainly have been a multiversally devastating reply to the king of the Titans, the air pressure noticeably dropped around them. As if the whole dimension was inhaling an immeasurable breath. Then, the ground shuddered in every direction as a loud and steadily increasing rumbling filled their ears.

    All three of them looked around for the cause. With wide-eyed horror, they watched several more advanced and, unfortunately, closer volcanoes starting apocalyptic pyroclastic eruptions. For the first time in a while, Josh was decidedly unhappy with knowing what he knew about the basic science of such eruptions, ¡®helpfully¡¯ provided by his inner volcanologist.

    For instance, first, there would be a rapidly expanding and superheated gas cloud, greater than 752 degrees Fahrenheit, moving toward them faster than Tomahawk missiles could fly. Causing his, Sen¡¯s, and likely Cronus¡¯ incineration before the much slower-moving tsunamis of lava got to them. But they might last long enough for the overhead-rocketing boulders to crash upon them and the surrounding area. Obliterating everything larger than a pocket watch. Josh could see that many such boulders above them were the size of aircraft carriers and were already arching through the air to detonate upon the entire location where they stood.

    Even Cronus¡¯s ice-cold demeanor shook at these new circumstances. With his smile faltering, he started speaking marginally faster. ¡°Very well. I, Cronus, King of the Titans, promise to do no harm to you, your families, clans, or city-states.¡±

    Josh¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    Cronus quickly added, ¡°And to do no injustice to those who locked me up and left me to ultimate destruction!¡±

    Sensing the Titan¡¯s desperation, Josh knew that was as good as any promise they would get if they were all going to get out alive.

    Sen must have felt Joshua¡¯s agreement through the Bond because he pulled the lever, straining with his fully Essence-enhanced strength. As it locked into place, the bronze gate ponderously slid from the left to the right along a track on Cronus¡¯s side of the bars.

    It took two full seconds. A length of time that all three of them felt was intolerably long as the sky grew darker and darker, obstructed by gas clouds and hurtling debris. The launched rocks, trailing burning pitch, and smoke, were well past the peaks of their arcs when the door opened enough for Cronus to step through sideways.

    But, once through, Cronus¡¯s return to full Titanic power was palpable. Even against the raging destruction around them, Cronus¡¯s aura emitted a gravitational pull of strength. It was almost more fearsome than the falling rocks above their heads as he seemed... more real than even the failing dimension they stood in.

    Still, Josh met Cronus¡¯s eyes while Sen pulled him back to the wavering portal exit ten paces away. ¡°See that you keep your word to us!¡± Josh yelled over the deafening sounds and continued explosions.

    In the midst of performing a series of rapid hand movements that warped space in concentric circles, Cronus stopped and shot a piercing glance at Josh through the shockwaves and ash.

    ¡°You stand before Cronus. First and last of the Titans. I swear I will honor my word by my father the sky and my mother the earth below him.¡± He continued to speak while making a quick gesture, rolling his right wrist toward them. ¡°Take this as a sign of our covenant!¡±

    Josh partially saw a flash over his right shoulder, then Cronus finished with a brisk clenching of his right fist and was gone from the world. An instant later, Sen was pushing them through the flickering portal. At the same time, the first of the volcanic detritus crashed in enormous impact detonations where Josh and Sen had stood a microsecond before.

    No one remained in Tartarus to see the cage, the landscape, and the portal they had fallen through, destroyed by the crashing of mountains and fire.

    However, wherever he was, Cronus did take the time to send one last message directly to Josh and Sen. ¡°Test me again, young vampire, and there will be an accounting between us... Joshua Elias Tanner.¡±

 Chapter 32

    For the second time in five minutes, Sen and Josh were rolling across the ground. The impacting explosions on Tartarus had caused a cloud of dirt, ash, and stinging rock shards to follow them in their transit through the portal. Hazy dust lingered in the air as they slid across the floor and impacted the wall on the far side of the landing. Shakily, they rose to their feet, checking for missing appendages and other signs of the cataclysm they had just escaped. With a dim flickering, the Tartarus portal guttered and... went out? In its place, only a solid white marble wall remained. The lettering above the door vanished as if it had never been there.

    Still catching his breath, eyes wide and stupefied beyond the ability of coherent speech, Josh nodded jerkily to the missing portal and grunted incredulously at what could have been their fate if they had been even one second slower. ~You see that?!?~

    Sen nodded. ~Way too close, brother... way too close!~

    Achilles came through the storeroom¡¯s portal, fully armored, with dory in hand, sweeping the space before him with his eyes. After a glance at the empty wall where the Tartarus portal used to be and seeing that the only remaining ruckus was Josh and Sen on the floor among a spread cone of rocks and ash, he closed his eyes and shook his head once. Turning in a blur of steel, he went back to his post... most likely deciding he didn¡¯t want anything to do with whatever they had been up to.

    ...Very wise. Josh couldn¡¯t disagree with his discretion. I don¡¯t want anything to do with what I¡¯m up to either.

    Continuing the pat down, checking his life and limbs, Josh¡¯s hand grazed the brooch on his right shoulder, holding his cloak¡ªhis chlamys¡ªin place. Cronus had... changed it. Josh then recalled the flash on his right shoulder as they ran for their lives through the portal.

    His interface chimed after his hand nudged the deep orange crystal embedded into the gold of the new clasp¡ª

    Item of Power obtained.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Item of Power:

    Gaia¡¯s Earth Crystal

    Quality: Unique

    Provides:

    Earth Attunement of your core.

    </td>

    <td>

    100% probability of increasing your health status by 5,000%.

    100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your connective tissue by 780%.

    An increased probability of being able to manipulate Earth Essence outside your meridians.

    Further increase your health status and density by increasing your level and cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    You do not currently possess this Attunement. Do you wish to absorb Gaia¡¯s Earth Crystal?

    Josh looked to Sen. ~Did you get a notice for the Earth Crystal?~

    Sen smiled back. ~Yes, I did!~

    ¡°That arrogant prick Cronus wasn¡¯t such a prick at all, was he?¡±

    Sen smiled and spoke with a chuckle. ¡°I kind of liked him!¡±

    ¡°Right now, he¡¯s one of my favorite people too! Let¡¯s absorb this thing in shifts¨C¡±

    ¡°Do not attempt to absorb an Item of Power here. Your Attunement will require many hours of cultivation, expansion, and augmentation of your core¨C

    ¡°And yes, Joshua Elias Tanner, you are damn lucky you didn¡¯t have to fight the chimera guardian to access the Earth Crystal cave. Probability predictions only granted you and Senyak a twenty-two percent chance to succeed based on your current cultivation, equipment, and skills¡­ Seventeen percent of which could be laid at Senyak¡¯s feet alone.¡±

    The Clone appeared directly in front of them. The ultraviolet fractals comprising its form and facial features twinkled and resolved infinitely to create endless cycles of growing and simultaneously diminishing lines. And as usual, he answered unspoken questions from Josh¡¯s mind. When he chose to...

    ¡°We must be away.¡± He waved a splay-fingered hand¨Cand the world shifted.

    Sen and Josh reappeared seated in firm but comfortable chairs in a compartment the size of a minibus. Two seats at the front and several fold-down jump seats lined the opposing walls. But that was where the resemblance to any Earth-bound vehicle ended. The front seats were obviously for the pilot and copilot who currently filled them, making adjustments to instruments while taking orders from the Clone. The pilots, garbed in blue and silver, had a physique that reminded Josh of the flashes he had seen of Damni. Their telescoping necks waved as if pulled by an invisible, gently surging tide. They had slim frames and worked their consoles with long, reedy limbs.

    I¡¯m in a spaceship! A deduction Josh couldn¡¯t miss given that the forward view screen showed the shuttle they were in accelerating past Jupiter and three of its larger moons. The celestial objects crossed the screen in less than five seconds.

    With how fast the chunkiest planet of the solar system left the viewer, their shuttle had to be traveling at a significant fraction of the speed of light.

    Josh couldn¡¯t keep the childish smile from his face as he looked at Sen sitting opposite him. ¡°Space, Sen! We¡¯re in space!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Joshua...¡± He stifled a yawn with the back of his hand and showed a definite lower index of excitement compared to Josh¡¯s glee-faced goggling. ¡°This is where I spend most of my time in mortal iterations... until recently, anyway.¡±

    The pilots executed a sequence of instrument commands, and the forward viewer went from the fixed light of stars piercing the black veil of space to streaks of light all around them.

    ¡°Light speed!?! Did we just jump to lightspeed!?!¡± Josh blurted out, reaching across the aisle and violently shaking Sen¡¯s knee, forcing him to open his eyes and respond.

    Speaking with closed eyes, ¡°Most likely, Joshua... It would take forever to get anywhere without it¡­¡± Sen opened a single lid and eyed Josh wearily, ¡°...You just traversed several portals that folded space-time, punching a hole from one end of Reality to the other, but light speed gets you excited? Let¡¯s talk more when we arrive¡ª¡± He yawned again. ¡°...Shall we?¡± Sen then closed his open eye and turned his back to Joshua.

    Josh was already back to intently staring out the forward view screen, too excited to notice Sen¡¯s brushoff. We could be anywhere now... Who knows how many multiples of the speed of light we¡¯re moving at?! Are we outside of the solar system!? At one multiple of the speed of light it would take light roughly five and a half hours to leave the solar system from the sun... about five hours from the location near Jupiter where they had started.

    For the first time, Josh consciously delved into his scientific mind boost. Current Earth theory was that seeing anything when traveling beyond light¡¯s speed would be almost impossible. Because... refracted light off an object couldn¡¯t reach your eyes. It would require overcoming or intercepting a stream of reflected photons... but that didn¡¯t stop Josh from looking. Maybe he could pick up some random space creature¡¯s Essence-trail outside the theories of particle and wave physics... Then again, maybe humans at my place in the time stream don¡¯t know squat about speeds greater than light speed... I should keep looking to check for myself, huh?

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    His brain told him that if they were outside the solar system, it would be next to impossible to see anything at any speed other than the periodic comet orbiting in the Ort Cloud every five to one hundred years... approximately. The nearest star to the sun was Alpha Centauri, more than 4.367 lightyears away after all... There is just not much going on outside Pluto¡¯s orbital ring...

    Josh let out a frustrated breath. Now, he wished his science brain would just shut up. Shut up and let him be excited about being in space! C¡¯mon! Let¡¯s see some giant space manta sailing along the solar winds. Maybe some lost civilization living on undiscovered asteroids hurtling through the darkest parts of the cosmos... A never-before-detected dark-matter oasis carrying unknown kinds of life!

    In short minutes, they dropped back out of light speed, and the view screen returned its usual glistening star dots. At this point, the view screen confirmed that Josh¡¯s science mind had been right. The only thing moving into view was a growing speck of light against the constant, unchanging star-studded background.

    Josh was hardly disappointed, however. The light was steadily growing larger... and larger... until it quickly shifted into the detailed outline of a spaceship of absolutely massive proportions. Josh took in what he could of the ship as they drew nearer. It had an overall sleek design. If ¡®sleek¡¯ was a word you could use to describe something the size of Africa!? The ship¡¯s five engines, arranged in a circular configuration, glowed electric blue at the stern of the ship. They were also gigantic on a scale Josh could not wrap his head around. The color made Josh think of the engines on a Star Destroyer. Just... much, much larger.

    As Josh moved his eyes towards the bow, the next section was the wide end of a V, the frame narrowing down to a waistline proximate to the center of the ship. From there, the ship contoured into another V with the wide end at the bow. On either side of the forward section, mounted opposingly on the superstructure of the V¡¯s prongs, were moderately sized bulky anterior modules about half the size of the forward V.

    The shuttle started to decelerate as they neared the ship. Josh could see the ship¡¯s name, Hegemon-4, written in neat block letters along the port wall as they pulled up onside. Once there, the shuttle got in front of the tens of thousands of other ships queuing to enter the thousands of hangers Josh could make out. His line of sight along the ship stretched out until the other entering vessels were tiny dots of light that swarmed like gnats under a porch light. All seemed to be simultaneously scurrying to get back aboard.

    The Clone had been speaking to the pilots. Now finished, he moved to stand several feet in front of Sen and himself.

    As usual, he was all business. ¡°We are boarding. The Hegemon-4 will be underway when all support staff have also returned. Once aboard, we will begin attuning your cores to the Earth Crystals. We will use our time now to review your actions in Gaia¡¯s Temple.

    ¡°Your mission was a success... Barely.¡± The Clone rolled his eyes as if it pained him to give them their due. ¡°...More due to a modicum of admittedly well-placed logical reasoning and just plain dumb luck than any prowess as cultivators or warriors.¡± He leaned in with a predatory smile to highlight his next words. ¡°...Whoever said it was better to be lucky than good was wrong. You will need to be both if you want any chance of surviving until your Ascendance.¡±

    He leaned back and reapplied his one-size fits, all gravely grim and forbidding face, ¡°Your Essence application and prowess as combatants is disorganized, ineffective, and pathetic.¡±

    He paused, and his features took on a milder expression. ¡°... However, now that you have proven worthy of the investment by retrieving your first Attunement, you have earned the right to advance both here en route to your next Attunement¨C.

    The Clone focused his gaze on Joshua and his unasked question. ¡°--And yes, Joshua Elias Tanner, this is the fourth produced Hegemon Ark Class cruiser. Zenyak has created over two thousand of these ships in the mortal iterations. They were constructed and used before his Transcendence. The vessels of the Hegemon fleet are designed to support varying levels of Cultivation capabilities and crews. The Hegemon-4 is an entirely mundane category vessel. You two are the only active cultivators aboard.¡±

    The Clone took on a whimsical air, casting his eyes to the heavens. ¡°...The multiverse is a vast place. Some trinkets, even mundane ones, sometimes come in handy given the requirements of actual physical bodies in the prime material iterations. The Hegemon cruisers are seeing more use as Zenyak spends increasing time away from the central Immortal iterations.¡± The Clone casually waved his hand at the massive ship through the forward viewport as if pointing out the nearest bathroom. ¡°... This one was detailed to us as it was the closest appropriately categorized vessel.¡±

    He turned his attention back to them. ¡°On the seats in the rear of this shuttle is proper attire. Change and discard what you are wearing. Keep the brooches, your swords... and...¡± The Clone hesitated for the briefest of seconds as he scrutinized the bag. ¡°... And that bag. You earned the swords, and the bag will be useful. Do so now.¡±

    Josh and Sen disrobed as the shuttle went through its final docking procedures. Each donned a one-piece jumper in blue and silver like the pilots. The jumpsuit zipped up from the side under their left arm and had built-in, rubber-padded soles that obviated the need for independent footwear. There was one spare onesie for each of them. Josh put them in his leather bag.

    They left the still fragrant armor on the seats as the Clone had instructed, but Josh also stuffed the linens Gaia had given him into the shoulder bag. He had thought that the linens would trail out of the bag. But they seemed not to take any space once he got them in.

    Hey... waste not, want not!

    With a small metal-on-metal clunk, the shuttle landed, and the side hatch lifted for them to board the Hegemon-4. Behind them, Josh and Sen could see the myriads of support vessels lining up to dock.

    They followed the Clone at several paces, which he seemed to prefer.

    Josh leaned over to Sen with raised hands, encompassing everything around them. ¡°This is really all for us?¡±

    ¡°Yes... my grandfather is one of the most powerful Immortals among Transcendence...¡± Sen waved his hand at the shuttle and the Hegemon-4 beyond that. ¡°...This is nothing to him. I assure you. I suspect it is more a lesson to me to understand the importance of mastering my mortal cultivation than anything else. I must earn the right to tap into even this smallest level of resources available to the leader of our hegemony.¡±

    Josh could only raise his eyebrows at that. Gestures in relationships were important and gave meaning to one¡¯s efforts. Miranda hadn¡¯t even gone through the trouble to cook dinner for him in over two years. But he had to hand it to Zenyak. The grandeur of the Hegemon-4 and the unbelievable level of effort involved in making it a living, breathing, moving reality impressed Josh with the importance of what they were doing. Though he didn¡¯t understand why Zenyak thought it was.

    If this is nothing to the man, then what truly means something to him that he would focus so much effort¨C which, according to Sen¡¯s implications, trumps the value of thousands of these ships¨C on our training and progress?

    The Clone continued to lead them through long passageways, up lifts at incredible speeds, and on moving sidewalks that left the beings walking outside of them a blur. At one point, they even boarded a small flying craft and flew over an internal rainforest that reached as far as their eyes could see.

    They passed many crew members in blue and silver as they operated consoles, security stations, and flight-necessary positions. But, like any massive government facility, and this was the most massive Josh had ever seen, the duty forces absolutely needed civilian support. They passed many humans, as well as humanoids, with animal-like characteristics.

    Sen told Josh in a low voice as the first several passed by that they were called ¡°Beast Affins.¡± Some with rhino horns. Some with fox ears. Even some with fish gills. At least one with thick elephant-like skin on an otherwise human-looking man. Most had any number of sharp and pointed teeth on the smiles thrown their way.

    There were also many more classically alien sapients and sentients going about their businesses, including tall, dark-skinned, thin-limbed beings. Turning large heads and eyes as big as baseballs toward Josh and Sen, they pushed their carts and worked their shops along the never-ending passageways.

    Short gray and green-skinned aliens who always seemed to be traveling in groups of four or more passed by, moving in swirling groups. Josh was sure he had seen beings very similar on some random Area 51 show playing somewhere in the background where he had been.

    There were short beings with large, egg-shaped heads and no apparent necks on small bodies. They chittered to each other like insects as they walked down the passageway, carrying various items back to their restaurants or bars or, from what Josh had seen on several occasions, bordellos. He even saw a group of over 100 members, consisting of multiple visually different species in full coats and tails carrying what looked like the instruments for a complete symphony orchestra. He recognized some of the musical devices. Others that required multiple members to handle, he had no idea what they were.

    Lastly, Josh noted several close-knit groups that varied in their species composition. But all with some type of uniting external accouterments. There was one definite group who wore robes similar to the Clone. They all donned a glistening silver ring around the back of their head that aligned with their temples. They also seemed to have the same metal covering over what might have been neurovascular or dermatomal pathways. Josh could see the thin metallic lace on the exposed skin of their hands and feet. For some reason, they were all barefoot. Faintly glowing lights of different colors traversed in seemingly random pulses along the length of their neuro-conduits. Red, blue, teal, and lavender were the most common hues.

    ¡°They are the Techno Lords,¡± Sen whispered to Josh as he noted Josh¡¯s interest.

    Another group sported a glowing gem or crystal in the center of their foreheads. Whatever species they were, they all seemed to be in incredible physical shape. Muscles rippling, zero body fat, heads of glossy voluminous hair, and age-resistant, wrinkle-free skin.

    ¡°The Biologics,¡± Sen whispered.

    Josh had noted with particular interest individuals surrounded by a quiet crowd of moving corpses on three separate occasions. Harnesses adorned the gray-skinned and non-respiring beasts with thick electronic collars all connected to metal implants on their necks. Despite Josh¡¯s amazement, treatment of the shambling dead was universally with complete disinterest. Total acceptance with no eyebrows raised by anyone.

    ¡°The Necro Lords, or as more commonly known, ¡®Necrolons.¡¯ They are accepted as regular members in many mortal societies... as long as they are collared.¡± Sen pointed his index finger at the metal ring around the undead¡¯s necks.

    ¡°What do the collars do? There¡¯s no way those things can act as actual restraints.¡± Josh asked.

    ¡°They are explosive collars,¡± Sen clarified.

    Josh pursed his face and nodded in understanding.

    Finally, the Clone went through a security checkpoint with several heavily armed and armored crew. Sen had already told Josh they were the Jaralon, the favored race of his grandfather to crew his starship fleets. In their communities, they lived their entire lives, from birth to death, in zero gravity. Unless they were in formal employment as here on the Hegemon-4.

    The surroundings began to increase in creature comforts and overall poshness. Richly carpeted floors with artwork adorning the walls. They went through a door on which the Clone placed his hand to activate some form of fractal-bio-scan. The door silently slid to the right, and they walked into some type of gymnasium. Two hundred yards to the side.

    The floor was padded, with several areas marked for differing activities and martial styles. Among them, Josh noted some areas that reminded him of boxing rings and mats for grappling. Several weighted bags hung from the walls for striking by fists and feet. Lastly, there were two cots. Each bore a thin folded silver sheet at its end with a small ten-inch pillow sitting on top.

    Pointing to the cots with two fingers of a loosely closed hand, ¡°We will begin.¡±

 Chapter 33

    ¡°Lie down on the cots and absorb the crystals to attain your Earth Attunement.¡±

    As usual, the Clone¡¯s approach, tone, and visage brooked no argument. But this time, they completely agreed and immediately lay down. Josh used his pillow, but Sen did not. Each reached for the brooch attached to their jumper, and their interfaces responded.

    Do you wish to absorb Gaia¡¯s Earth Crystal?

    That is not really a question, is it? Sen mentally selected yes.

    Josh must be rubbing off on me. His last thought as things began happening.

    His skin tightened and became rigid. He tried to open his eyes to see if there was a color change to his skin, but his eyelids were stiff and unyielding. His heartbeat slowed down. Breathing became impossible. His heart, lungs, and other organs became stiff as concrete in his chest and abdomen. Suddenly, he was...different.

    Sen was grand and majestic.

    Standing in a vast field of summer flowers, bushes, and trees. Other than the sun shining down, Sen towered above all before him. Rivers flowed from him, bearing salmon that jumped only to be caught by hungry bears who had been waiting. Herd animals grazed on his lower reaches. Winds howled above him, freezing the ground, along with the plants and beasts foolish enough to venture there and try to grow and live. The moon reached overhead, and bats flew from his caves to scour the night for insects and small rodents. Lions sought unwary prey on his slopes. Seasons, years, millennia, millions, and billions of rotations of the sun and moon overhead. He was unchanging, and this was as it should be.

    He was Earth.

    The scene shifted. Sen was strong and undeniable. The mighty sea rested its great weight on him and raged as it frequently did for reasons uncertain. Always trying to escape him and his bounds, Sen easily kept even that monstrous power in its place. He was undeniable, and this was as it should be.

    He was Earth.

    Another shift. Sen was unstoppable. It was dark, and the pressure and temperatures built to uncontainable levels. Sen was going to move, and nothing would prevent him. He erupted from the ground announcing himself to all with the devastation of massive ash clouds and raining boulders. First, he arrived in a fiery shower. Then, a wide molten river. Surging from below to cover everything and everyone who stood in his way. He was unstoppable, and this was as it should be.

    He was Earth.

    The scene changed again. Sen was eternal. Rising from the depths, he allowed the lesser powers to wear away at him over time. He would evolve as all life did. But he only separated from his larger self in tiny fragments. Even when he allowed it, this was all any of the other lesser forces could change him. Minuscule traces of him circled the world in streams of air and currents of the water. Only to rejoin himself by rising once again from the world¡¯s core. This time, it was even more glorious than the last. Sen was everlasting. And this was as it should be.

    He was Earth.

    Yes, I am! I¡¯m unchanging, undeniable, unstoppable, everlasting...

    <ol>

    <li> Am. Earth!</li>

    </ol>

    Sen sat up with a start, covered in sweat and panting. How long have I been gone? Assuredly, his change had taken the life cycles of several iterations.

    I am different. How could he not be, given what he had learned and experienced?

    Sen had learned of the perpetual nature and the unstoppable forces of Earth Attunement. He had never experienced anything that made such an impression on him while an Immortal. And this gave him pause. His grandfather was right. Knowledge of the mortal foundation that led to Immortality was invaluable and irreplaceable.

    Josh was there and looked over in concern at the sudden angst in his Karmically Bonded brother.

    ~You all right?~

    Sen widened his eyes in amazement. ~Better than all right! You?~

    Josh broadly smiled. His words were simple. ~I am Earth.~

    If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    That was enough confirmation for Sen that he and his brother had similar experiences absorbing the Earth Crystal. He raised his hand and looked. His soft, pink skin was unchanged from before the Attunement. Fingers moved. Muscles and tendons flexed. But the massive strength he felt, along with increased resilience, was undeniable.

    ¡°Yes, Senyak, changes have occurred. Along with significantly increased physical attributes, your core and free Essence capacities have also increased. Moreover, your Cultivation Probability Interface has matured alongside your increased spirituality.

    ¡°Inspect it now.¡±

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Body

    </td>

    <td>

    Earth Attunement:

    100% probability of increasing your health status by 5000%.

    100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your connective tissue by 780%.

    Further increase your health status and connective tissue density by increasing your level and cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td>

    Mortal level.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Spirit

    </td>

    <td>

    Spherical cultivation level 48% of stage 2/7.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    Bladed Weapons Skill Level: Advanced (84%)

    Damage:

    Superior mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 1500% increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Armor: None

    </td>

    <td>

    Standard Earth Attunement resilience.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td>

    100 ¡ú 5000/5000 Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td>

    60 ¡ú 1200/1200 Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Significant improvements! Sen¡¯s ¡®health,¡¯ as Josh called it, had increased by fifty times from what it had been. And his free Essence had increased by a factor of twenty. But remembering his vision¡ª which seemed like the only way to describe it¨C he wasn¡¯t surprised. Earth was indeed mighty and glorious. The descriptor unchanging ¨C surfaced in his thoughts and mind... absolutely!

    The molecular density of his connective tissue was... well, 780 percent greater. He guessed this was a lot as well. But, without his Ethos Combi, he had trouble qualifying this quantification.

    I suppose I can just punch something really¨C

    ¡°We¡¯re as denser than iron, brother!¡± Joshua shouted with the slightest gleam of madness in his eyes. ¡°Look at this!¡±

    And without preamble, he picked up a handheld firearm. One that Sen had trained with, a Glock 19, 9 mm. Sen didn¡¯t get the chance to see which generation Glock it was, as Josh had immediately jammed the pistol¡¯s muzzle against the cupped palm of his hand and fired three times. Filling the voluminous room with thunderous echoes. Still squinting his eyes at the smarting pain of the impacts, Josh dropped three flattened slugs and immediately exploded in excitement again.

    ¡°We¡¯re bulletproof, Sen! Bulletproof... Okay, okay! The science side of my mind is insisting I point out that armor-piercing, large caliber, and very fast-moving rounds could still penetrate through to our organs and ruin our day... But for god¡¯s sake, this is awesome! What will we be like as we continue to advance¡ª¡±

    ¡°That is precisely what we will find out.¡±

    The Clone interjected over Josh¡¯s glee. They both reflexively quieted down and turned to his rippling sea of constantly changing shades of blue.

    ¡°It is time to further your spherical cultivation capacity. As you noticed, the Earth Attunement is primarily a boon to the physical side of your spiritual-physical bond. It will increase as your cultivation increases as well. The first step is to continue your core¡¯s expansion by absorbing Essence from defeated spiritual beings.¡±

    The Clone pivoted to focus his attention on Josh. ¡°Joshua Elias Tanner, despite your significant shortcomings concerning combat capability, your rapid growth in response to Senyak¡¯s brief instruction was improbable. Your shared Karmic Bond has increased your learning quotient to a greater degree than expected while training under him.¡±

    Sen couldn¡¯t help but notice that the smile on Josh¡¯s mouth split his face in half. The Clone continued unfazed.

    ¡°Adjusting for this new growth model, probability predictions are definite that the quickest route to successful advancement is continued cultivatory growth synchronous with Senyak¡¯s ongoing sword instruction. As such, you will be continuing both. Do so now!¡±

    Josh looked at Sen with raised shoulders. ~No point in arguing about something we want to do, is there?~

    Sen stifled a chuckle. ~None at all, brother. None at all.~

    Senyak stood, and Josh was a step behind as he walked out to a marked-off area in the shape of an octagon approximately thirty feet in diameter. Sen stepped on a floor switch, and a glowing green translucent shield closed around them. A rack of training weapons with metal handles, leather grips, and translucent-green energy blades rose through the floor at the edge of the ring. Josh kept all of his light-saber jokes to himself. To Senyak, weapons training was a sacred art, and Josh now paid it the respect it was due.

    Sen kneeled, and Josh followed suit. For the next ninety minutes, Sen reviewed what they had gone over previously. Then, they covered basic lunges, thrusts, and accompanying footwork. Because Joshua absorbed everything shown, Sen also introduced the concept of leverage for the sword fighter individually and against opponents. They also covered several techniques in creating the space required for the adequate usage of leverage in various situations.

    They even got into some light sparring. Sen repeatedly demonstrated in what areas Josh misunderstood the concepts of the space needed to create fighting leverage, not only to launch his attacks but also to control his opponent¡¯s weapon. By the end of the lesson, Sen had made it painfully clear to Joshua that these skills were indispensable if he ever wanted to defeat an armed combatant.

    All the work and effort were to improve Joshua¡¯s skills so Sen could help him get back to Sophie. Senyak¡¯s gleeful and repetitive sweeping of Josh¡¯s legs out from under him with the extended reach of a bo staff to ensure Josh didn¡¯t miss any finer points had nothing to do with their first confrontation in the alley. That would be childish and counterproductive now that they understood each other. So, Josh took the beating silently and with the sharp-eyed good nature that someday his payday might come back around... after all, payback was a bitch, and even he acknowledged that Sen owed him one after Josh¡¯s abrupt introduction of his overhand right.

    The session eventually ended with Josh on the ground panting, bruised, and aching pretty much all over, despite being bulletproof. Sen helped him up, and they concluded with a bow of student to sensei.

    Josh checked his status, walking back to the front where the Clone had reappeared at the close of their session.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Body

    </td>

    <td>

    Earth Attunement:

    100% probability of increasing your health status by 5000%.

    100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your skin by 780%. Further increase your health status and connective tissue density by increasing your level and cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td>

    Mortal level.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Spirit

    </td>

    <td>

    Spherical cultivation level 47% to stage 2/7.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    Skill Level:

    Junior Basic (10%)

    Damage:

    Below Average

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork. Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 865% increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Armor: None

    </td>

    <td>

    Standard Earth Attunement resilience.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td>

    5000/5000 Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td>

    1200/1200 Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    The Clone wasn¡¯t alone.

 Chapter 34

    ¡°This is Lieutenant Commander Naron Shamla.¡± The Clone angled his hand to indicate a small humanoid with moist green skin wearing the blue and silver of the crew. He carried the rank insignia of four silver bars on his left shoulder. A large, toothless mouth gaped at them, and a forked tongue shot out to lick his bulbous green left eye. The lieutenant commander bowed slightly and blinked nervously at Sen and Josh.

    Sen whispered in Josh¡¯s ear, ¡°His species is Vergei. An amphibious people who have made homes of most wetland planets in almost all mortal iterations.¡±

    ¡°He is the officer in charge of maintenance in the forward sections of the Hegemon-4. There is a problem with invasive organisms near a maintenance area in an infrequently used section of the Hegemon-4. Expunge the beasts and expand your cultivations¨C And this is for free, gentlemen. The Hegemon-4 is an expansive ship for mortals of your limited capacity. Bring any necessary supplies with you.¡±

    The Clone turned to the Vergei, whose tongue shot out nervously twice to moisten each of his eyes before the Clone spoke.

    ¡°Lieutenant Commander, please take them to the Quartermaster of the Forward Section.¡±

    Naron Shamla bowed deeply to the Clone, and in a voice so deep that it shocked Josh, he said, ¡°By your command, Lord Clone.¡±

    The Clone disappeared without further comment, and Josh and Sen turned to the Vergei.

    Still wiping sweat from his face, Josh asked, ¡°How can we help, Lieutenant Commander?¡±

    ¡°Please, call me Naron. Neither of you are crew. Formalities are not required.¡± Naron walked them out the door and led them down a passageway they hadn¡¯t arrived through.

    Naron spoke again once they entered a lift. The vector of the elevator moved in felt like a 45-degree angle to Josh¡¯s proprioception. Despite his small size, Naron spoke with grand gestures of his hands and arms, reminding Josh of his Italian uncles after they had had several beers and were excited about the ballgame. ¡°Well, this whole mess started about two Ka nexus cycles ago when we got the Hegemon-4 out of its cradle for active duty.¡±

    Josh looked to Sen. ¡°Ka nexus cycle? I¡¯ve heard that more than once, but I don¡¯t actually know what it means.¡±

    ¡°It is an Immortal timescale that Zenyak must have the crew use. A Ka nexus cycle is approximately twenty-five earth years.¡±

    ¡°Twenty-five point two, to be exact.¡± Sen corrected.

    ¡°So, it was about fifty years ago... okay.¡± He turned back to Naron.

    The Vergei continued. ¡°You know¡±¡ªNaron lifted his left hand palm up¡ª¡°up until then, the ship had been in its stasis cradle for... well... longer than any of us has been alive. Maintenance logs indicate several billion years if that makes any sense...¡±

    Josh blinked, and Sen nodded for Naron to continue.

    ¡°Right... so... the Hegemon-4 is still staffing up to its full complement of two billion crew and two point five billion support staff. We are at almost seventy-five percent presently. A long way of telling you that there are still parts of the ship not reconnoitered and that have lain unoccupied for as long as...¡± Naron held his thin green hands palm up and shrugged.

    Sen and Josh nodded for him to continue.

    ¡°Anyway...¡± Naron circled his hand to include the whole world in his speech. ¡°As we expand the crew, we populate these unused sections. Before we open them up, we send scouting crews of four ship-stationed space marines. These are some tough hombres if you don¡¯t mind me saying. Some of the toughest we have. The section in question, Epsilon 97, has swallowed eight of these scouting crews over the last Ka nexus cycle. A further complication is that the area is near one of the Stargen Tier power conduits. You know, one of the big ones that power the main engines. Its shielding must be damaged because the electromagnetic fluctuations from there interfere with our communication and sensor data from most of this section.¡± Naron, whose hands had been flapping like he was performing a shadow puppet show, put both in his jumper pockets and shrugged his shoulders. ¡°... So, we don¡¯t know what happened to these eight teams.¡±

    The lieutenant commander pulled his hands free and clasped them together, pleading with them. ¡°I need you to go in there and eliminate the problem so we can reseal this conduit breach and reclaim Epsilon 97. But, because of the lack of sensors and communication capacity... when you go in there... we won¡¯t be able to help you.¡± Naron finished with an embarrassed toothless smile on his giant mouth, and his hands held out to his sides, indicating his helplessness.

    Sen spoke, ¡°I understand the difficulties of communication you are having is because of your exposed power conduit¡ª¡±

    ¡°Stargen Tier conduit! The big, big ones!¡± Naron waved both hands around his body to indicate as-far-as-he-could-reach big.

    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Sen¡¯s brows scrunched down, ¡°Yes, the big ones... but despite that, is there anything you can tell us about what you or the space marines might think is going on?¡±

    Naron looked ashamed and became subdued in his gesticulations.

    His tongue flicked out and licked both eyes before he spoke again. ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to show you this because I didn¡¯t think it could help you much. But if you insist... one space marine was tough enough to make it back to a checkpoint and was picked up on sensors. When the checkpoint detected him, a search and rescue team was detailed to go in and get him, as sensors showed he was still alive. He was unconscious by the time they got to him. As they were evacuating the section with the marine in the back of the rescue unit... something... something killed him. We don¡¯t know what it was. But I can assure you. The records are clear that the vehicle was sealed. Nothing got in there with him when he went in... but something sure came out.

    ¡°These are the pictures taken by the autopsy team.¡± Naron flicked his wrist three times like a Las Vegas dealer.

    Large digital images appeared before Josh, and Sen. Josh¡¯s eyes bugged out when he saw the second picture: a Beast Affin with a very lion-like appearance and a full mane of golden hair. He had large fangs and claws and was wearing what looked like a suit of modular Kevlar-plate armor¡ªonly much larger than the ceramic and Kevlar plates that most US Army soldiers wore on deployment.

    But what caught Josh¡¯s attention and was likely to give him nightmares for the foreseeable future... was the sight of the entire chest cavity of the marine ruptured from the inside out. The Kevlar plates over his chest completely chewed through, with the metallic portions bent back on themselves toward the outside. Several of his splintered ribs were jutting out, and only a fragment of the sternum and xiphoid process remained. The rest... gnawed off and eaten.

    * * * * *

    The rat squealed and scurried for its hole, seeming to move faster than its four-clawed legs should have allowed it. But there was no escape from the platted and hulking figure that had burst from the darkness stabbing with a long, thin chitinous limb that pierced the small mammal through the center of its abdomen and then raised its writhing body to the pair of enormous side-mounted mandibles. A blunt, crushing demise stopped the rodent¡¯s struggles as the creature pushed the rodent sloppily into its gullet.

    In obvious disgust at the less-than-savory eating habits of its new chamber partner, the black-scaled dragon head of the chimera geysers another torrent of ropy, angry-red liquid combustion directly at the monstrous-sized vermin. But as had occurred several times before, the burning death, which this close¨Cwas much more akin to flaming napalm than fire, cascaded harmlessly against the transparent blue-white barrier that separated them.  After a steady stream that lasted much longer than necessary to prove the chimera¡¯s agitation as well as the non-permeability of the barrier, the dragon¡¯s head stopped and joined its lion and goat heads in sleep. Turning away, the beast turned its gaze and body away from the cavern¡¯s new occupant to face the stone wall.

    Well, I¡¯m not very happy about being here either¡­ but he didn¡¯t give either one of us a choice, did he?

    The giant cockroach stood as tall as its barrel-shaped torso and 90-degree slanted head allowed it to voice its disagreement with their current situation.

    While the thoughts had come clearly in his mind, physically they were translated to a series of clicks and pops accompanied by the stiff waiving of widely separated upper limbs¨C

    The massive insect stopped its rant, and confusing thoughts filled its small mind.

    What am I doing here?! Who am I? Why does the promise of vengeance against the image in my mind of a short and tall fleshy being hold such a strong desire for me?

    A small pop echoed in the now silent chamber. A searing blue-hued ultraviolet light triggered the insectoid¡¯s instinctual flight response. It flopped down on its flat abdomen and unsuccessfully ran on stiff legs, looking for a small enough crevice to force its freakishly large body into. Suddenly, it became paralyzed before being lifted before the shifting blue being who was talking with the chimera.

    ¡°... Yes, we will be going. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thank you for sharing your space¨C Yes, I¡¯m sure that Gaia does owe you a terrific boon for this affront.¡± All three of the chimera¡¯s heads turned away and went back to sleep.

    The vermin heard the blue man¡¯s words and somehow understood their meaning but had no idea why he understood them. Then, the terrifying blue man stared at him with a callus and dispassionate gaze. Once again, the urge to flee as far away from him as his five-jointed legs could carry him nearly overwhelmed the insect¡¯s instincts.

    The blue man spoke to the vermin, ¡°Your memories have only just begun to infiltrate your current consciousness.¡±  A statement, not a question. ¡°This lack of progress is at the lower end of probability predictions for your awakening in this form.¡± The blue man¡¯s face briefly twisted in disgust as he eyed the vermin¡¯s body. Then spoke again as if answering a question in the vermin¡¯s mind. ¡°¡ª Yes, you disgust me¡­but even this is more than you deserve¡ª Yes, you will have the chance to eat both the tall one and the short one. I know that you want that as much as anything.¡±

    It was true. The vermin wanted to tear its mandibles into the faces of the tall one but even more so the short, hairless one for reasons that it didn¡¯t understand. But that didn¡¯t matter. The vermin was driven by pure instinct, just as it was with everything. The vermin was going to kill them and eat them afterward, of course.

    The glowing blue man spoke again. ¡°But to do the job I need you to, you¡¯ll need this.¡± He reached toward the wall and pulled a golden-orange multifaceted gem from it that filled the chamber with the ring of a pure crystalline note as it snapped free from its formation point. Holding it up to his eye line, the powerful being spoke as if to himself. ¡°... And it will not only help you remember why you want to devour the ¡®Tall¡¯ and ¡®Short¡¯ one, but it will also give you the strength to do so.¡±

    The blue man''s hand was enveloped in white light, and he easily crushed the crystal in his grasp. With his other hand, he pointed, palm out, at the vermin¡¯s lower thorax. A golden-orange light shot directly into its carapace¡­ and the vermin began to remember.

    * * * * *

    Hantal woke from a nightmare only to realize that he had not been dreaming. He was indeed a three-meter cockroach currently being held paralyzed before the consciousness clone of Zenyak Marztanak. The Penultimate Combatant. The most purely powerful Immortal in existence. And oh yes, my murderer.

    Differing thoughts and emotions surged for preeminence in Hantal¡¯s thoughts. But Hantal had always been a practical being and he let abject fear win out.  The Chaotic stayed motionless, letting all ten of the paired and segmented limbs hang loosely from his rounded thorax as his black lidless eyes burned in the Clone¡¯s UV shielding.

    The Clone wasted no time. ¡°Good. Your task is to slay the newly incarnated mortal, the sole Heir of the Marztanak Hegemony, Senyak Marztanak. Along with the mortal cultivator Joshua Elias Tanner.¡±

    Clicks and pops came from Hantal¡¯s pharynx. ¡°Of course. I will do so immediately.¡± There was no arguing with the most powerful warrior in existence, but perhaps there was some room for negotiation¡­ ¡°Please return me to a sapient form, and I will comply without delay¨C¡±

    ¡°No. You will remain in this form and current power level until the task is finished. Consider it a necessary challenge to achieve redemption.¡±  The Clone eyed Hantal¡¯s insectile form with renewed revulsion. ¡°...  But do not be overly worried about your appearance''¨C where you are going, you will fit right in¨C Accept this task and your current means or be consigned to immediate expungement.¡±

    Blue-white Ka surged around the Clone¡¯s open right palm, and Hantal knew there could be no more attempts at negotiation. Still, all jobs required the worker to be properly motivated if it was to be done right. What¡¯s the point of doing anything if he is just going to ¡®expunge¡¯ me afterward¨C

    The Clone overrode Hantal¡¯s rapid conjecture. ¡°Yes. This is the only allowable question. I require your best efforts and that you are properly motivated.¡± The Clone straightened his posture minutely and spoke to the only authority that could begin to reconcile the power discrepancy between the two of them ¨C He began the ritualistic words of a Karmic Oath.

    Hantal couldn¡¯t help but smile as the flowing words promised everything he needed to hear in order to do his absolute best to expunge and devour both Senyak and the troublesome anomaly Joshua Elias Tanner.

    ¡°Before Karma, Balance, and Reality, I bind all my Immortal Ka to the agreement between us. In exchange for expunging Senyak Marztanak and Joshua Elias Tanner, I will return your Immortality ...¡±

 Chapter 35

    Josh¡¯s eyes almost burst out of his head. ¡°What do you mean you don¡¯t recognize this? I recognize this!¡±

    Sen stood in the isolated passageway with Josh, where Naron had displayed the images. Josh¡¯s hands were frantically waving at the center of the three, showing the unmistakable xenomorph eruption from the space marine¡¯s chest.

    His voice became increasingly more animated as he spoke. ¡°This creature was obviously shoved down his throat by a... face-hug¨C via an organism grappling his head and forcing its way down his throat. It gestated inside of him.¡± Josh¡¯s face showed disgust as he spread his hands in front of his chest and moved them apart, demonstrating growth. ¡°And then when it was big enough... Bam! It clawed its way out of his chest. This is a really big problem, Sen! Really big. Didn¡¯t you review any of the movies, ah¡­ historical records¡­ with Damni about this particular type of space monster?¡±

    Sensing his Karmic brother¡¯s sincere distress over what Josh believed was an emergency, Sen shrugged and explained further. ¡°Well, honestly... we regularly reviewed the historical records for entertainment purposes. If there was a particular one addressing a topic that was an everyday occurrence...  what was the point of reviewing it? Internally gestating xenomorphic creatures are hardly something to get excited about. Sorry, brother... I just don¡¯t see the reason to get all worked up about just another bug hunt.¡± Sen pointed at Naron.

    The Vergei was defensively crouched on his haunches and actively looking up to the corners of the passageway for something about to drop on him. His tongue took turns swiping each of his eyes.

    ¡°Now, really, Josh, you are scaring poor Naron...¡± Sen reached out and pulled the Vergei to his feet, dusting off his shoulders and smiling at him. ¡°Come over here, Joshua, and I will show you... if I still can, that is...¡± Sen walked over to one of the wall consoles and placed his hand on the biosensor used by the crew.

    To his surprise, the scanner recognized him in his new mortal form.

    ¡°Greetings, Senyak Marztanak, sole seeded heir of the Polar Neutral Marztanak Hegemony. How can this Intelligence serve?¡± The console spoke in a cultured but cheery tone with an androgynous voice.

    Sen smiled at the greeting. ¡°Greetings, Intelligence... please display records of the last five recorded fatalities involving internally gestating parasitic xenomorphs outside of this ship. Please also include how long ago each event occurred.¡±

    ¡°Complying...¡± the ship replied.

    ¡°Gratitude, Intelligence.¡± Sen slightly bowed to the console.

    Pictures sprang up all around Josh. Intelligence narrated each in its crisp, mid-ranged voice as they did. ¡°Today: Parallel Iteration Seventeen, local cluster. Report of Parasitic invasion of an elderly Rodocon with complete internal-xenomorphic gestation. Local exterminator forces hunted and killed the organism to confirm that it was a Centropa.¡±

    The two pictures displayed a thin, four-legged creature wearing a homespun shift with a small skullcap covering its furry, dog-like head. Its chest burst from within, similar to the space marine¡¯s. The second picture showed five heavily armed members of the same species, all smiling doggy grins. They were posing in front of a dead centipede monster. It was ten meters long or longer, and its pincers were sharp as steel if the score marks on the local exterminators¡¯ armor were any indication.

    ¡°Today: Parallel Iteration Nineteen, local cluster...¡±

    Two similar graphic photos appeared next to the first set. This time, a gelatinous-like victim. The perpetrator was a leathery-skinned, flying monster with sharp, bony ridges on its twelve-meter wingspan. The victim was a Glimenot, and the monstrosity was a Chiroptour. There was even a ground vehicle in the background of the kill picture with a painted side panel image of a large, dead roach with Xs over its eyes. The logo under it read¡ª

    Jack¡¯s Extermination Service. We Kill Bugs Dead!

    Call us for all your extermination needs. 20% discount for repeat customers!

    ¡°Today: Parallel Iteration Twenty-Four, local cluster...¡±

    This time, Josh recognized the victim. A Jaralon, the species that made up the majority of the crew, its long and lanky body defiled as the others had been. It floated in orbit above a blue-green gas-giant planet that reminded Josh of Neptune. The parasitic organism was a Cebolar, a chlorophyll-using space plant that had matured into a three-meter sphere. It reminded Josh of an immense and terrifying onion. Several sharp, root-like projections in the shape of buzzsaw blades were growing from its sides.

    ¡°Yesterday: Parallel Iteration Seven¡ª¡±

    Josh, with his head hung low, raised his hand in a stopping motion to admit defeat. ¡°Okay, Intelligence, you can stop. I get it. This situation is more a rat infestation than a civilization-ending issue. Thank you for setting me straight.¡±

    ¡°You are welcome, Joshua Elias Tanner. And please allow me to welcome you aboard the Hegemon-4 formally. Be informed you have been given access parallel to the seeded Hegemony heir for the duration of your stay.¡±

    Josh nodded to the console.

    Sen quickly wiped the smile off his face when Josh spoke to him with a sheepish look.

    ¡°All right... It''s my turn to be the country bumpkin out of his depth. The idea that creatures like xenomorphs and such are deeply rooted terrors in my culture and¡­mythological history. They are the definition of things that go ¡®bump in the night¡¯, as the great philosopher Scooby Doo once said. I¡¯m sorry for overreacting.¡±

    Sen nodded through their Bond. ~No need for apologies. We¡¯re in this together.~

    Josh returned the nod. ~Thank you, brother.~

    ¡°But you are right about one thing. Whatever is killing the scouting teams is a more challenging organism than the average internally gestating, parasitic xenomorph.¡±

    Josh smiled wickedly. ¡°I¡¯d like to think that is an accurate way to describe us as well.¡±

    With the end of all life as they knew it on the Hegemon-4 averted, Naron spun on his heels and led them down two more lifts, several walkways, and a zip-line across a dark chasm they couldn¡¯t see the bottom of.

    ¡°A facility shortcut for the maintenance crews.¡± The vergei said, rolling his right wrist to indicate the tremendous distance to the ceiling and the deck of the chasm, leveraging his currently zipping body with only his left.

    Naron finally stopped at an open door and turned to them. His hands were raised at chest level in an I-surrender motion, and his eyes opened even wider than usual.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    He spoke fearfully in his deep, resounding voice and cowered away from the door. ¡°This is Symbal¡¯s place. He¡¯s the quartermaster for the forward section of the Hegemon-4. Aside from being difficult for everyone to deal with... he¡¯s specifically pissed at me right now.¡± Naron held up both hands as a barrier between him and the open door. ¡°... I got drunk and forgot to detail enough men to support his last cross-ship convoy of supplies during our outfitting last week¨C We¡¯re still working it out. But... I think you should probably go on your own from here. I¡¯ll be more of a... hindrance than anything¡ª¡±

    From the other side of the open doorway, a high-pitched and nasally-sounding male voice shouted in what sounded to Josh like very thickly accented Chinese yet was still somehow in crystal-clear English. ¡°Is that you, Naron? May the Tan Lao thorn monks nest in your rectum! Your ham-fisted goons still haven¡¯t fixed my transports. Half of my supplies are rotting at random places around the ship!¡±

    Naron¡¯s tongue spasmed as it cleaned his left eye. Then he was off like a shot down the passageway, bowing his farewell to Sen and Josh as he ran backward the first few steps.

    Sen and Josh waved a slightly surprised and tentative goodbye. They had already asked Naron all the pertinent questions they could think of. Among the information they had gotten from him was the number of missing space marines¡ªthirty-two over the last twenty-five years. The most recent group sent was a joint team of eight. They had gone into Epsilon 97, 1.5 Ka nexus gyra ago. Sen calculated this for Josh as approximately six Earth days. Naron confirmed that the double squad of eight space marines had also suspected an invasively gestating, parasitic creature.

    Furthermore, standard procedure in areas with limited ship sensors would necessitate leaving a clear trail for rescue teams to follow. Also, the space marines were to leave cached-log entries of their findings. Naron had given Josh and Sen master codes to the recording devices the marines had taken in with them.

    They had also confirmed with Intelligence the extent of the internally gestating parasite issue. Using his hand on the biosensor at another terminal, Josh had opened that conversation with Intelligence.

    ¡°No, Joshua Elias Tanner. No other episodes of internally gestating parasites have been reported or observed on the Hegemon-4 since it came out of its stasis cradle 2.01 Ka nexus cycles ago. Of course, the sensor block in Epsilon 97 would prevent detecting such gestation attacks in that location.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Intelligence.¡±

    ¡°Glad to serve, young cultivator. May your spiritual growth be without bounds!¡±

    Josh couldn¡¯t help but bow at what seemed like a traditional farewell among cultivators.

    Based on this information, it was unlikely that these parasites had migrated outside the blacked-out sensor zone within Epsilon 97. Ridley Scott would have been aghast.

    Nonetheless, Josh still felt a sense of urgency. If they were on time, they could rescue some or all of the double team of space marines. After all, the marines had only gone in six days ago. Josh had a growing feeling, not too different from the Tartarus portal, that it was necessary for them to try and save any they could. Josh confirmed that Sen was experiencing the same draw to Epsilon 97 that he was.

    ~You feel it too?~ Josh queried through their Bond.

    ~Yes, this is important.~

    Neither of them could explain why it was so imperative, but that didn¡¯t matter. It was a top priority to him and Sen on their Path of One ¡ª or Two, in their case. They would move into the zone today after they got what they needed from Symbal.

    They entered the door where the yelling had come through, and several assistants at the front counter greeted them. However, the enormity of the room that spread out behind the workers was what caught Josh¡¯s attention. It stretched as far as their enhanced eyes could see and then continued reaching off into the distance, out of sight. Row after row of shelves, not much shorter than those in Gaia¡¯s storeroom, were neatly laid out and filled with sealed containers with the Hegemon-4¡¯s name printed on all sides. It was almost a flashback to the massive storeroom where they had met Achilles. Almost... but Josh was certain Gaia¡¯s room had been bigger... and much scarier!

    The crew were dressed in the standard blue and silver onesies as they milled about behind the counter. After the initial mind-explosion of walking through a regular door and unexpectedly finding himself standing in a space with more area than the Grand Canyon, Josh¡¯s attention went to an unassuming figure sitting dead center at the counter. He was slim, human with Asian features, and had been eyeing Josh and Sen without blinking since they had walked through the door. He wore a well-made but age-faded gray sweater over his onesie and what looked like four silver bars on his shoulder, placing him at equal rank with Naron.

    Lieutenant Commander, it is.

    ¡°Yes, how may I help you both?¡± the man said politely.

    Several assistants nearest the man acted busy without really being so. Having worked in offices most of his life, Josh could tell they absolutely wanted to hear what would happen but didn¡¯t want to attract more of Symbal¡¯s attention than necessary. Josh remembered a Seinfeld episode he had seen where George Costanza demonstrated how to look busy in front of his boss without actually being so... And these guys were masters of George¡¯s techniques.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Commander¡ª¡±

    The unassuming man¡¯s eyes thinned, and a slight tilt entered his neck as he spoke over Josh in a pleasant voice. ¡°You can stop blowing smoke up my Chinese ass right there, Joshua. I¡¯m Symbal Nang. Symbal to the people who want to get along with me. I know you are here for supplies to go into Epsilon 97...¡± Symbal stood on his stool¡¯s bottom cross bars to lean over the counter and get face-to-face with both of them. ¡°This is a critical mission for us in the supply depot! One of our friends was on that last scouting mission. You are our only hope to get them back. Agreed?¡±

    Josh and Sen nodded in agreement.

    Then Josh darted his eyes to Sen ~Chinese? Like Chinese from Earth Chinese?~

    Sen made a small, knowing smile and shrugged his shoulders. ~It is a parallel iteration, Joshua. You are likely to find many similarities between here and your ¡®Earth¡¯.~

    Symbal brought them back to the present as he pulled back from leaning over the counter. ¡°¡°Well, then... We understand each other. Please, come this way.¡± Symbal jumped down from the stool and lowered his head in welcome as he flipped over a section of the counter to lead them back into the warehouse segment of the supply depot.

    Symbal was even shorter than Josh had thought, placing him around five-one or five-two at the most.

    The quartermaster walked ahead of them and began speaking and pointing. The fleet of assistants behind them began moving forward and gathering equipment in a coordinated activity that would make German watchmakers weep with envy.

    ¡°You will take the standard field-pack for our special operators. Tents, cooking equipment. Standard rations for eight weeks. Water purification. Weather gear. Submersion gear. Radiation shield array and generator, radiation gear, and detoxification units. Advanced first-aid kits. Advanced communications rig. For all the good it will do for you. Utility knives forged from neutron-impregnated steel. Timekeeping gear. Portable atmospheric units, along with a portable air purifier. Sonic, infrared, and motion-based sensor equipment effective up to five hundred meters... again... for all the good it will do you¡ª

    ¡°Do either of you have any special needs? Handicaps not obvious, food allergies, required medications? Slow mentation?¡±

    He looked directly at Joshua with that last one. Sen snorted.

    Josh did a double take, then failed his own cause by loudly complaining, ¡°Hey¨C¡±

    ¡°-- We¡¯re fine,¡± Sen interrupted and leaned into Symbal, ¡°... He always looks like that.¡±

    ¡°¡ªSen!¡± Joshua choked over Sen¡¯s snickers.

    Symbal simply nodded and moved on.

    They came to a massive section of the warehouse containing racks upon racks of weapons going on as far as their eyes could see. Of course, there were firearms¡ªhandheld, rifles, carbines, automatic, fully automatic, and long-range weapons for snipers. There were also mounted firearms of all forms. Mass-weight projectile, energy, plasma, and even one that Sen couldn¡¯t identify when Josh asked about it. Josh was sure he had also seen crates identifying grenades, landmines, and even marine-drop-deploy mines for large, water-going vessels.

    An immediately adjacent section displayed suits of compound, Kevlar-metallic body armor that Josh had seen in the picture of the space marine. The same armor that the parasite had chewed through. There were energy-shield versions of the same armor. At least Josh thought so based on pictures accompanying the crates. Josh could also see racks of what Josh could only describe as full-on, mechanized-power armor. The kind that he had only ever seen in video games.

    Symbal stopped and faced them there. Holding his arms out from his sides as if barring them from proceeding into the section.

    His face contorted in pain as he was clearly about to say something his heart was at war with, and his teeth ground on every word as he spoke with them clenched. ¡°Concerning weapons... our Lord Clone... in his infinite wisdom... has strictly forbidden me from offering you anything more than a sharpening stone and these leather scabbards for your already possessed... short swords...¡± Symbal reached down to a small desk hidden in the shadow of the shelves they were standing under and handed them the sharpening stones and scabbards. ¡°Please know that if it were up to me, I would provide you with anything up to and including the R & D prototype Mobile Stargen conduit plasma cannons to roll in with you at Epsilon 97!¡± He sighed, closing his eyes tightly for a moment. ¡°Beyond this, I offer you my daily prayers for success.¡±

    He leaned down to the desk, grabbing a photo in an 8x10-inch frame. He kissed his finger and placed it over the face of the young girl holding the hand of a much younger Symbal.

    Tears glistened in his eyes as he looked up at Josh and Sen. ¡°Bring my little girl back to me, gentlemen.¡±

    A large pile of gear awaited them near the front counter. Much more than they could put into any standard backpack. Backpacks that Symbal had insisted they carry to have the standard survival package of food, first-aid, utility, and communications gear they would each need in case they got separated. Beyond that, they looked at the tents, weather gear, purification equipment, etcetera... and weren¡¯t quite sure what to do.

    ¡°What are you waiting for, sherpas from my home world, to carry it? Put it in your aspect facet!¡± Symbal pointed to the bag dangling under Josh¡¯s left arm.

    Symbal then picked up the largest item, a quick-erecting, two-person tent. No less than four feet long. Pulling the black leather bag¡¯s top flap up, Symbal neatly dropped it into the opening, no muss, no fuss. The mouth of the bag expanded to encompass the ten-inch wide square of the tent¡¯s frame and immediately returned to its normal dimensions.

    Josh¡¯s eyes almost jumped out of his skull. He and Sen immediately started putting things in the bag. Soon, they had put the 3x4-foot pile neatly away.

    Josh had many questions to ask Symbal about the bag but held back for now. More important things to do. After the faith that Symbal had placed in them, he couldn¡¯t bear to show the man his lack of knowledge about something so simple. Symbal needed to see hope. Josh understood that better than most concerning a lost child. For now, Josh would hide his feet of clay from the quartermaster.

    On the way out, just to be sure, Josh flipped the loose flap of the black leather satchel that still weighed no more than when he first had put it on. He held his hand over the opening, and a portion of his interface silently sprang up, allowing him to summon the bag¡¯s contents by name and graphic interface. All the items were there, up to and including the two spearheads they had placed inside first. Leaving it at that for now... they quickly left the depot, heading to the entry of Epsilon 97.

 Chapter 36

    Sen and Josh moved with a purpose down the passageways through the ship. Sen felt the same burden Josh did through their Karmic Bond. They shared thoughts so rapidly they couldn¡¯t tell whose was which.

    ~Symbal¡¯s need is a mirror reflecting our goal for Sophie.~

    ~There is no question that we need to save this girl to save Sophie.~

    ~Agreed, without a doubt!~

    ~If Symbal¡¯s daughter is alive... we have to do everything possible to bring her back.~

    Head shake. ~To fail her is to fail Sophie!~

    As ridiculous as this seemed, it felt true down to the bottom of their cores. The girl had to save this girl at all costs. Karma demanded they achieve this to reach balance¡ªeither for what they had received or, more likely, for what they would ...

    Sophie¡¯s safety.

    Sen and Josh started walking faster. Transcend us if we should fail!

    ~Yes, she must be saved.~

    Epsilon 97 was perched on the Hegemon 4¡¯s upper-surface decks, just forward of the waist of the ship. It was a vast free space with an open range for fostering forest habitats and growing crops. The area was primarily used for research by investigators looking into organismal growth in space environments. Knowing all these things helped Sen understand how an invasive species found its way into Epsilon 97 and why they might have wanted to stay. Sen could also understand why making it available for the expanding crew had never been an emergency. It was primarily an area for ¡°eggheads,¡± as his father would have described them. Such researchers were usually the last aboard any duty vessel.

    Sen and Josh arrived via monorail at the midship junction. From there, they would catch a ¡°skin-to-skin¡± shuttle flight, where they left the surface of the Hegemon and landed back down on the surface of the Hegemon in order to enter the main airlock of Epsilon 97. Their last leg of the trip was the longest in distance but the shortest in time. At 20,000 km from their insertion point, it would take less than one minute of flight time. A shuttle wouldn¡¯t typically be used for such a short intra-ship hop. But Symbal¡¯s influence was anything but ordinary. Just a digital order with his name on it was enough to make the crew snap to attention and ask if there was anything else they could do to facilitate Josh and Sen¡¯s travel.

    Josh smiled and nodded to Sen. ~ The small things in life make it fun.~

    ~I¡¯m starting to learn this.~

    It had taken them three Earth hours on the monorail to get from the center mass of Hegemon-4 to its surface. Sen used the time to train individually with the short sword.

    As part of his normal routine, he spent the first minutes training to continue perfecting his basics. He started with blocking maneuvers and footwork, focusing on the head, shoulders, abdomen, chest, legs, and the basic guard. He then moved on to attacks, thrusts, lunges, and parry maneuvers. Parrying was very limited with a short sword, but such was Sen¡¯s lot in life right now, as enforced by the Clone limiting their offensive capabilities.

    After this, Sen grabbed one of the practice-longswords and focused the remainder on dual-wielding attacks and blocking. Sen was playing a losing game. He would eventually have to find a new way to apply the mundane acts of sword usage... Or find a grandmaster to further his knowledge. This was a problem for tomorrow, though. For now, he could still slowly but steadily improve what he knew. So, he did.

    As he finished his last sequence of dual weapon figure eight passes, his probability interface chimed¡ª

    Advancement.

    An increase of one skill point. Even this little bit was enough. He and Josh would figure something out. Of that, I am sure.

    Josh¡¯s instruction came after. For him, just reviewing the basics still yielded significant results, which was what they did. Sen was encouraged that Josh¡¯s retention was phenomenal. It even showed in his sparring. He lacked the skills to stop Sen from overpowering him with strength and speed. But he never fell for the same trick or feint twice. Truly remarkable for any student.

    After their session, Josh stood for several long moments looking at his sword and focusing the Essence in his right hand to swirl around the sword¡¯s pommel.

    Sen finally took note and asked Josh. ¡°Troubles?¡±

    Josh squinted as if looking for the right phrase, ¡°... I¡¯m just thinking about the first tenet of sword usage you taught me.¡± Then, with a meek, slightly Asian accent, Josh repeated, ¡°The sword is an extension of your body...¡±

    Sen rolled his eyes at Josh¡¯s weak joke.

    Josh quickly changed the subject back to what he was doing. ¡°--So, anyway... I cycle Essence through all the other extremities of my body. Why not this extremity?¡± Josh slightly raised his short sword to make his point. ¡°By applying the concepts of EM fields to how our Essence flows through our meridians, I¡¯m almost certain that I can get Essence into this sword under the same physical principles that arcing electricity does when it...well, arcs.¡± Josh started repeating complicated mathematical formulas under his breath, then looked up and waggled his eyebrows at Sen. ¡°By applying these electrical-magnetic formulas to our Essence... I should be able to treat this sword the same as my hand. And... viola¡ª¡±

    At that point, they both felt Josh¡¯s Essence break the barrier between his hand and flow into the pommel of the Titan Short Sword. It took on a golden-orange hue, like Josh¡¯s Earth-Attuned Essence. The sword immediately began releasing sensations of sharpness and durability.

    Josh¡¯s interface chimed.

    New Earth Attunement skill created:

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Weapon enhancement: Invest 200 units of Earth Attuned Essence into a weapon for 100 percent probability to increase a weapon¡¯s durability by 1000 percent and damage rating by 500 percent. Duration dependent on use. Increase your cultivation to increase this Earth-attuned skill.

    Check your status for details on current weapon enhancement.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    Bladed Weapons Skill Level: Junior Basic (10% ¡ú 20%)

    Damage:

    Superior mundane

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork. Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 915% increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Body

    </td>

    <td>

    Earth Attunement: 100% probability of increasing your health status by 5000%. 100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your skin by 780%.

    Weapon Enhancement: Invest 200 units of Earth Attuned Essence into a weapon for 100% probability to increase a weapon¡¯s durability by 1000% and its damage rating by 500%. Duration dependent on use. Further increase your health status, connective tissue density, and Earth Attuned Skills by increasing your level and cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td>

    Mortal level

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Spirit

    </td>

    <td>

    Spherical cultivation level 47% to stage 2/7.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon:

    Bladed Weapons

    Skill Level:

    Junior Basic (20%)

    Damage:

    Superior Mundane (Earth Enhanced)

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 865% (x5 while Earth enhanced) increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Armor: None

    </td>

    <td>

    Standard Earth Attunement resilience.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Josh explained his experience to Sen and then gave details of his new skill and its impact on increasing weapon durability and damage by 500 percent. Sen¡¯s eyes bugged out at that, and he immediately began working with his own Essence. For the next sixty minutes, Josh guided Sen to arc his Essence. By the end, it was Sen¡¯s turn to be drenched in sweat with his hand white-knuckling his sword¡¯s pommel as he felt the Earth-Attuned Essence leave his meridians. His short sword took on the same golden-orange hue as Josh¡¯s. They smiled at each other dumbly.

    ¡°We need to test this out!¡± They said at the same time.

    Josh supposed that it was always challenging to find something on a spaceship that was a sufficient quality material, but not essential to the operation of the vessel¨Cjust to destroy it. From watching the Discovery Channel, Josh knew that an entire special division of the military corps of engineers spent most of its time building things just so they could be blown-up.

    Fortunately, this was not a problem Josh presently faced.

    He walked over to the training dummy he had been striking moments before. Its transparent green energy shield covered a pristine, humanoid-shaped torso and head.

    Josh cycled the Earth Essence from his sword back into his meridians and smiled. ¡°My free Essence is back at 1200. No loss when I cycled the Essence back into my meridians from the sword.¡±

    Sen nodded sagely. ¡°Essence is eternal. It is never lost or diminished, it simply transitions among various states of being.¡±

    Josh scowled. ~You lying ass dog... I can tell through the Bond you were just as uncertain as I was...~

    Sen laughed nervously. ~Well... someone... somewhere taught me... I just didn¡¯t remember until you pointed it out...~

    Rolling his eyes at Sen, Josh turned back to the business at hand. He cycled his Essence to his hips and upper body and struck a standard midrange upswing. The shield crackled and hissed but held. Josh didn¡¯t feel bad at the lack of damage to the training dummy. Not after watching the Hegemon¡¯s fire teams farther down range on this monorail gym get the same results with their heavy ordinance.

    He then invested 200 Essence in his sword and restored its golden-orange hue. Repeating his swing, the glowing sword smashed through the shield like so much glass, evoking a brief static hiss from the apparatus powering it. The shattered pieces of its energy fell in broken shards and dissipated into floating motes before they hit the ground. Josh¡¯s sword continued through the neck of the dummy, sending its head to fly off to slam against the wall thirty paces down range. Its trajectory of showering sparks took it over several of the still-shooting teams¡¯ lines of fire. The smoke from the head¡¯s severed end quickly died as it wobbled face up before coming to a rest.

    The combined gym and firing range went silent, and all heads turned to stare at Josh.

    With a deep smile, Josh looked around, sheathing his sword. ¡°Oops...¡±

    Then, they cleared out of the firing range in a hurry, the gym attendants sending dirty looks in their direction. The hit had drained no further Essence. Apparently, the act of cutting with the enhanced blade was like seeing with his enhanced eyes. Not requiring any additional Essence to meet the task¡­

    That was good. But what If I tried to cut another Essence-enhanced blade instead of just this target dummy? Would that increase the cost of Essence? Josh could n¡¯t help but wonder. When there was more time, they would have to do some experimentation¡­ For now, he would keep an eye on it during fights but liked how things were so far.

    Standing in the ten-foot cubical airlock of Epsilon 97, Josh and Sen looked through the heavily scarred, transparent doors as they slid to opposing corners, opening on diagonals.

    Standing in the ten-foot square airlock of Epsilon 97, Josh and Sen looked through the heavily scarred, transparent doors as they slid open into opposing corners on diagonals.

    The temperature was a mild seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. The smell of pine and peat moss greeted their noses, and they heard the sound of bird calls in the distance. After confirming that they hadn¡¯t been immediately attacked by anything, Josh and Sen stepped through the doors onto ground covered in a thick mat of green grass. The area was currently undergoing a daylight period. Overhead, light from an unseen source shone down on them. Josh had no idea how long the day and night cycles were here or what triggered them. After several seconds, the airlock behind them began closing. Near the airlock was a small kiosk with one of the video recording devices that Naron had told them to look for in tracking the space marines. Approximately ten steps in front of them, a line of trees marched off to the right and left.

    Sen walked up to the device and entered the given codes.

    There was a split-second image of eight heavily armed and armored marines smiling in the kiosk¡¯s monitor. Their body language and weapons were at rest. The view immediately cut to a nighttime closeup of a dark-haired woman who had, by all appearances, spent the last several days roughing it. Josh noted her absent headgear. Leaves and pine needles were poking out at odd angles from her pulled-back hair as if she had just crawled through a day¡¯s worth of tall grass and forest-floor litter.

    She began whispering in a rushed voice that was filled with an intense focus.

    ¡°Mission log eleven dash echo-bravo. This is First Lieutenant Alysa Nang, second in command of joint scout team delta six¡±¡ª she glanced overhead briefly at a sudden noise¡ª ¡°I think this¡­ likely... final daily log.¡± The video and sound cut in and out in sporadic bursts before the resolution and audio came back into sharp focus. ¡°I am the sole member of the team still at liberty. The other seven members are presumed killed following capture. Pursuit is immediately behind me.

    ¡°The enemy organisms are sapient with coordination, organization, tactics, and behaviors congruent with terrestrial hive mind organisms.¡± Lieutenant Nang paused, some of her professional detachment flaking away for a moment. ¡°My gut tells me these things belong to a colony.¡± She cleared her throat and straightened her shoulders. ¡°Resuming report. Team Delta Six contacted aggressors at oh-seven-forty this morning. We were ambushed. The creatures we have encountered so far function primarily as large, physically powerful drones that attack from concealment. Thick, bony plates cover their surface, and they are resistant to all energy weapons. Only heavy, armor-piercing matter-based mass projectiles are effective against them.¡±

    The disheveled warrior smirked, looking directly into the camera. ¡°That¡¯s right, come heavy and don''t let up!¡± Blinking, she raised a shaking hand to push back a tangle of rogue hairs behind a bleeding ear. Straightening once more, she leveled her gaze directly forward, looking above the camera and resumed her report. ¡°Their primary habitat is the area of the conduit breach we were deployed to secure. They number between twenty and thirty individuals, including the ones cut down in the attached video. There has been no sighting of personnel previously deployed into this area.¡±

    A set of coordinates blinked over the screen¡¯s lower portion, indicating where the joint team had encountered the organisms. Followed by what must have been body-camera footage partially corrupted with static and transmission artifacts likely from the EM disrupting forces of the exposed conduit. Despite this, the film adequately showed several seven-foot tall, mottled white and green, vaguely humanoid forms. Sharp-bony shields covered all joints, along with blade-like protuberances lining their flat bones, heavily augmented the beasts¡¯ long limbs. A heavy triangular snout with narrow slits protected dark, black eyes. There was no apparent mouth... until it hinged open the top half of its head in a 180-degree movement that displayed rows of needle-like teeth. Josh absently thought of a moray eel.

    The soldier with the active camera was firing his weapon and yelling obscenities at the attacking monsters, blatantly attempting to taunt them towards him. His large, mass-projection weapon rendered his first and second attackers into large quivering chunks and sprays of white luminescent ichor.

    Josh noted idly that there were no acidic smoking hisses from the beasts¡¯ sprayed fluids.

    Thank heaven for small favors, he thought grimly.

    Suddenly, a clawed hand came into view from the upper right corner of the screen and smashed the warrior¡¯s head against the nearby rock that had been serving as the now-fallen warrior¡¯s firing shield only seconds before.

    ¡°This footage is from Chief Petty Officer Tonda¡¯s bodycam. Moments ago, he sacrificed himself so I could get here and warn you.

    ¡°Honor his sacrifice. My estimation of the recommended strength for securing this area is a full company¨Cat minimum! Otherwise, do not come down here. I repeat, do not proceed or you will fucking die like we did!

    She looked up again and to the side. ¡°They¡¯re here.  I¡¯m going to lead them away from the airlock... I have a plan. Please tell my father I love him¡ª¡±

    The video ended.

    The time stamp on the message was interpreted by his interface as being recorded one point five hours ago.

 Chapter 37

    Alysa Nang was not having a good day. But to be sure, she was surprised she was still having any type of day at all. After leaving the message¡ªhopefully, it will do someone some good¡ªshe had fled from the airlock and positioned herself against a rock face. Then she opened up on the bastards with her armor-piercing rounds. But... Let¡¯s face it. It¡¯s dark, and I¡¯m firing an overpowered weapon from a standing position. She would have been amazed if she¡¯d hit anything. Maybe I got one. The first few of them were pretty bunched up... But the gun was just a feint to slow them down and to pack them into as much of a tight group as possible and then draw them in for a grand finale... I will not be an incubator for one of these nightmares!

    Dropping the gun, she pulled free the divider on her mechanized liquid-mix grenade. When she saw the red and clear elements diffuse into each other. She expected that to be the last thing she would ever see. Crouching there, hoping to take two or three more of the aberrations with her...

    It was then that things went pear-shaped.

    The largest drone she had seen so far dropped from the rock above and landed directly at her twelve o¡¯clock. Alysa had reflexively turned away from it, trying to protect the grenade from its reaching arms. The giant monster had stripped the activated grenade from her hands with no effort. It had then opened its giant mouth and shoved the grenade inside. Two other drones had dropped down and piled onto the first just as the grenade had gone off. The muffled, meaty thud had instantly killed all three in a hail of sharp bone fragments spraying in all directions. She caught many pieces of the white organic shrapnel as they struck her arms and face, embedding themselves there.

    Eyes wide with shock, Alysa absently brushed the gore from her face and scraped a gnarled tooth from a shallow wound in her cheek. A thousand thoughts bobbled around inside her pressure concussed head like the balls in the hopper at her Zuma''s bingo hall.

    The rotting thing just ate my grenade¡­

    Why did it eat my grenade?

    Did it look like a tasty snack? Maybe the lights lure it like deep sea fish to glowing bait?

    It couldn¡¯t have known that the yield on that mixer was too large for even its massive strength to throw far enough, fast enough to save the rest of them?

    Could it?

    Alysa had never been one to try and figure out stupid people... or insane internally gestating parasitical beasts in this case... But she had no idea why they would sacrifice so many of their number to add only herself to their colony. She was only one host, after all. By definition, one host was only worth one organism to such parasitical hives. The numbers didn¡¯t add up for the price they had paid¡­ But whatever was going on, it was clear that these things did want her alive.

    After losing the grenade, the remaining drones had overwhelmed and captured her, showing more intelligence than she had anticipated. They stripped her of weapons, including her regulation side-arm and sapper¡¯s satchel. The monsters had even deftly yanked and discarded her utility knife from its calf sheath. Then, as expected, they carried her back to their nest in the area near the conduit exposure.

    Passing through the beasts¡¯ warren, Alysa had seen what was left of the other seven members of her team. The first captured were already dead. Emerging pupates had devoured their energy-rich internal organs to fuel the hyper-accelerated growth during their natal period and emergence. Alysa had also seen at least two juvenile drones lurking behind the swarming adults as they dragged her in. The other five team members were unconscious or not otherwise lucid, with their limbs restrained in a brown slurry of fibrous organic resin while their bodies served as gestational fodder for the hive¡¯s growth.

    Disturbingly, as Alysa passed, she could tell the fleshy, multi-nodular ¡®root system¡¯ that functioned as the invasive parasitical element for this species hadn¡¯t used the mouth as the entry orifice to their alimentary canals.

    This isn¡¯t going to be fun... She hadn¡¯t been able to keep the reflexive thought out of her mind when she realized that it gained its entry from the other end.

    Alysa thought they would plug her in next to the rest of the team while she continued her useless struggles... But the monsters hadn¡¯t stopped there. They continued to the back of the maintenance facility housing the conduit junction and then continued down several levels to the junction room. Reaching the bottom of the facility, Alysa confirmed what she had already guessed. The Stargen Conduit had been excavated in a terraced fashion and partially stripped of the lead-nickel alloy that shielded its massive power flow.   The Stargen¡¯s exposed EM waves blew her tangled hair back in a windless static surge as her captors carried her around the corner, bringing the conduit into view. Her teeth were practically wiggling in her gums, being this close to it.

    Alysa could see a large dingy white rock sitting several meters from the exposure. Occasionally, arcs of raw white silver energy leapt to its surface, leaving glowing circles of rippling illumination as the power was absorbed.

    The drones tied her hands and legs with a simple but sturdy twine and set her down in a sitting position on a smaller gray rock next to the white one she had noticed one of them had carried in. Then, in an act of conscious supplication, they bowed their heads to the ground and backed out of the lower level, only turning around and regaining their feet once they were on the steps leading up.

    It was only then that she realized that things had gone completely FUBAR.

    ¡°Yes, yes... let¡¯s see what you are made of, my dear...¡± The hissed words came from the large, off-white boulder they had sat Alysa beside. It had opened its four eyes positioned in pairs on the rounded top point of its head and started speaking in a coarse, rasping voice, thick with age. And it was speaking nothing less than flawless Intergalactic Common. The one language every member of every crew of the Hegemon fleet spoke through the entire iteration.

    The rock stood and stretched out its arms and legs, instantly becoming a four-meter-tall monstrosity. It shuffled toward Alysa in a stooped fashion. Its slow and stuttering pace gave the direct impression that it was suffering from severe arthritic pain as it hobbled slowly to Alysa¡¯s seat.

    Alysa¡¯s wide eyes took in the new creature. There were prominent female organs. Six thin and depleted breasts lay flat and swayed slightly with its rocking gait against the thick armored plates that otherwise covered its chest. There was also a pair of large, sagging labial lips that dragged on the dirt-strewn floor. Weapon-wise, heavy black claws opened and closed on all four of its upper arms, with even thicker ones on its two grasping feet.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Compared to the drones Alysa had seen, this creature had a larger head with more defined humanoid features. Finally arriving, the monstrosity stopped in front of Alysa as the top of its hinged head snapped open and tasted the air. Then, it hunched over Alysa, filling the immediate space around her with the turgid smell of death from its wheezing breath and clearly failing body.

    The space marine could see the alien creature¡¯s four slitted pupils waver without conscious control or focus, all of them clearly blind beneath opaque lenses calcified with age.

    Finishing its apparent inspection of Alysa, the nightmare straightened and spoke in its previous feeble hiss. ¡°Oh good! Oh, very, very good! I¡¯ve waited so long for a viable candidate... I had only hoped for an appropriate female of the proper age...¡±

    Alysa¡¯s face blanched in shock and disgust as a gigantic, clawed hand patted her head gently. ¡°But you are so much more than I had even hoped! An excellent specimen!¡±

    Momentarily speechless, Alysa¡¯s slack-jawed befuddlement left her gaping like a fish out of water. Then, her mind switched back on, and the space marine chose to resist in the only way she still could.

    ¡°Whatever you want from me, I won¡¯t give it to¡ª¡±

    Alysa strained and stammered as she coughed up crimson-tinged sputum, followed by a congealed glob of blood that dribbled down her chin. She caught her breath and tried again. ¡°I won¡¯t... I won¡¯t give it to you!¡± Blood now dripped down her lips to the front of her armored chest as her bleeding increased its pace.

    Slowly chuckling in her thick and rasping way, the matriarch responded to Alysa¡¯s feeble refusals with a mild tone and spread hands. It spoke as if explaining to a loved child. ¡°Not that I would give you a choice, young one... but you are already dying. Exposure to the Stargen Conduit I¡¯ve fed off all these years has already caused your cell membranes to break down. You¡¯ll be dead in minutes if we don¡¯t join¨C¡± It opened its four massive arms as if to embrace her. ¡°But do not be afraid! You are going to be my newest vessel. Once I¡¯ve wrapped my mind around yours and seeded you with enough genetic elements, we will leave here and find a new home. Just like when I came here out of necessity within the body of a maintenance crew member so many millions of years ago.¡±

    Four drones came down the stairs carrying a root system similar to what Alysa had seen invading her team¡¯s bodies above. But this one had two large, blunted prongs connected with fleshy, mucous-covered umbilicals. Obviously augmented for some extra purpose, Alysa didn¡¯t like the look and implications of it¡ªnot at all.

    The white horror standing next to her leaned back onto the first prong and gave an initial sharp grasp of pain, then a deep sigh of relief. Mounting fear and horror filled Alysa¡¯s face as she looked at the disgusting display. Instinctively, her mouth tried to tell the psychotic monster to ¡®screw right off,¡¯ but a large blood clot came out instead and plopped onto her lap. Her thoughts slowed and began to jumble as sensations of weakness and vertigo overcame the adrenalin which had up till then taken hold of her.

    The matriarch gently placed its giant, black-clawed hand on her shoulder in an almost comforting way. Once again, it hissed to her with placating words like a mother putting a fussy baby to sleep.  ¡°... Hush, child. You don¡¯t understand the benefit of being my vessel. You will always be with me... like they all are... We will live to the end of this iteration and move on to find a new one... and a new one after that. Once united, we will be together forever...I will show you what it means to have true power... to Transcendence...¡±

    A barrier membrane must have ruptured when the monster matron sat on the parasite prong. A stream of vile black ichor was freely flowing out from the insertion site. The rancid stench of decay again filled the air with much more force from the new source of putrid fluids spilling from her body.

    For a creature planning to live for billions of years, her time among the living must have been relatively short. She is definitely rotting on the inside.

    The space marine couldn¡¯t spare any more thoughts for the monster. The lead drone grabbed the other end of the probe and brought it forward. It was now Alysa¡¯s turn. As the prong neared Alysa, it started wiggling in her direction, instinctually preparing to start some sort of self-inserting function.

    At the sight of the heat-seeking prong, Alysa lost all sense of calm and collection. Hysterically thrashing against her bonds with uncontrolled frenzy powered by overriding instincts of her own. But her uncoordinated and thoughtless struggles were futile against the bonds the drones had tied her with. She could feel her already drained strength ebbing even deeper with every passing micro. Dying from intense radiation poisoning, her motions grew increasingly feeble, and she slipped from the restrained-seated position to a prone one lying on her back that was even harder to fight from. As if this was what the prong had been waiting for, its blunted tip jumped forward and started to worm between her clenched legs¨C

    Then, two men jumped from the landing above and started cutting through the first rank of drones huddled in the back of the room as they were watching over their matriarch¡¯s transference. The men were dressed in crew onesies and brandished ¡°... glowing swords?¡± Alysa couldn¡¯t help but mumble aloud at the improbability of what she thought she was seeing. I must be dizzier than I thought...

    The one with the bald-top knotted head moved through the monsters like a Tan Lao sword master, leaving limbs and decapitated bodies behind him as he wove through their attacks like a dancer in the rain who could move between the drops.

    Exactly like a Tan Lao sword master, she thought.

    She¡¯d never forget the sight of their sparring, despite only having seen the monks when she was eight or nine years old. It had been beautiful then, and it was even more so now. Her eyes prickled with emotion as the man moved through the creatures, never seeming to touch them, yet limbs and heads still fell from their lifeless bodies as he passed.

    The other, taller man was swinging his sword like a child¡¯s field baton... though to good effect if her fading sight was seeing right. He was much less precise in his movements than his partner but made up for it with an intensity of focused will and fury Alysa could feel from across the room.  His slower strikes chopped the drone¡¯s bodies in half with powerful diagonal upswings as he moved with a steady tread through the drones, dismissing the dead ones and stepping back to stab the heads of those still alive.

    After the last of her drones were down, the matron jumped off the probes impaling her and ran on powerful legs that clawed up the ground to fight off the two men. But she was either too far gone on her path to oblivion or no match for them. Probably both.

    Waving off this partner to come to Alysa, the top-knotted one moved in to confront her one-on-one. His glowing blade formed arcs of afterimages in her site as he struck at her six times in the same micro. Golden-orange sparks splashed from places where the Matron had been able to get the armored plates of her forearms aligned with his whirling blade. Twice, she hadn¡¯t been able, and her lower left arm and upper right now lay on the ground, ejecting weakening streams of black blood as they spasmed.

    Obviously, on the losing end of the exchange, the matron backed out of his lightning reach by kicking up a cloud of dirt and stones in front of her with a whiplash move of her powerful right leg that made the sword master shield his eyes and turn away as she quickly backed up to within reach of the exposed flow of the Star Gen conduit.

    Turning back through squinted lids, he nonetheless walked at her with a steady tread that would allow him to react to any further delaying tactics.

    Things happened very quickly from that point.

    The taller man had started to sidestep toward Alysa while maintaining his combat awareness, always facing the matriarch with his sword between him and her. Alysa cast slow-moving eyes toward his approach, trying to be ready for anything¨Cbut nothing could have prepared her for what came next.

    Reaching back with her remaining right arm and forward with her left the Matriarch hissed angrily at the shorter one, ¡°...Very well if you doom me to the end of my path¡­ Do not think that there are no consequences to such interference.¡±

    ¡°No¡­ NO!!!¡± The tall warrior screamed as the Matron¡¯s clawed backhand snapped out to grasp the naked flowing energy of the Star Gen conduit.

    Alysa tried to fall to the side but was moving too slowly as a sizzling white column of death exploded from the monster¡¯s upraised left hand and shrieked through the air to incinerate her.

    Ready for the death that had been hovering over her all morning, Alysa was shocked to see that somehow the approaching man had covered the ten yards between them and took the blast meant for her full in the chest. His body tensed, and he seemed to be rigidly locked in place with his hands held out to the sides in a likely attempt to better cover her. Screams of rage and pain exploded from between his clenched teeth as somehow the same power source that moved the enormity of the Hegemon-4 at greater than light speed hadn¡¯t incinerated a hole directly through him and killed her anyway.

    The shorter one had immediately closed the gap between himself and Matriarch with his sword raised over his head in a cleaving strike that severed the Matron¡¯s left forearm at the elbow¡­ but unfortunately didn¡¯t stop her. If anything, the Star Gen¡¯s divergent arc now seemed to surge in a more tightly focused electric-blue colored beam using the chopped end of her exposed humorous as a macabre focusing lens. With a roar of pain, the towering monster waved her plasma-emitting stump in a trail of blasted dirt, exploding rocks and clouds of ozone that quickly angled directly toward the swordsman. The top-knotted warrior was already spinning out of the way in a 360-degree rotation of his shoulders, torso and legs finishing the motion with a series of cartwheeling backflips while being continually chased by a sparking stream of death continuously spewing from the rapidly flailing severed limb.

    Somewhere on his way back across the chamber¡¯s excavated floor the beast had returned the insult to her limb. Alysa could see the amazing agility of the swordsman becoming suddenly impaired as his left arm was lopped off below the elbow. It went spinning off on its own trajectory in a puff of red steam and burnt flesh while the rest of him tucked into a wobbling summersault behind the heavily built plazcrete stairway leading to the upper levels.

    Jeering in rage at her victory, the monster continued to focus the ravening energy on the warrior''s temporary shelter.  Increasingly larger chunks of its squarish construction were being blasted off to reveal the plasteel support framing which had already started melting in black runnels.

    It would only be a matter of seconds before the obstruction was completely destroyed, along with the man recovering behind it.

 Chapter 38

    Sen bit his tongue to focus through the pain.

    I should have taken the monster¡¯s head. He berated himself. But the arm had been closer and a guaranteed target. He had also honestly thought that severing it would give him a clean attack on a distraught opponent. He wouldn''t underestimate the monster again.

    The diverged conduit was still focused on his hiding spot, and he did a rapid situation assessment. The amputation had been completely cauterized, so blood loss was at a minimum. He had also been holding his sword in his right hand at the time. But those two truths were the only good things he could say about his current combat capability. Unlike his fractured facial bones in the alley or Joshua¡¯s wounds in Gaia¡¯s temple. His arm wasn¡¯t healing at a noticeable pace even when he focused his Essence on his left arm. With all his Essence concentrated at the severance point, there was some small regrowth of the charred stump but not enough to get his arm back to finish this fight. Sen knew that in the deep space of a physical matter iteration, there could be dozens of reasons why his body wasn¡¯t healing like usual. But he didn¡¯t have to look any further than the massive levels of irradiation coming from the exposed Star Gen conduit that the hive queen was somehow immune to.

    Sen checked his status and confirmed that his Essence was trickling down in steady digits as it healed the continual damage to his body from the conduit. He also noted that his health was only rising at a rate of less than half of the Essence cost.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td>

    5000/3865¡ú 3867¡ú 3869 Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td>

    1200/968 ¡ú 663¡ú 658

    Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Joshua had taken a direct blow to the chest to save Lt. Nang. A very brave move. Via their Bond, Sen could tell that he was alive but not presently coherent. He was likely suffering from the same slow healing as Sen.

    There was no way Joshua would be able to defend himself or the space marine if the queen decided to direct another attack at them. He had to get back into the fight to keep her attention on him. It wasn¡¯t going to be easy¡­ With only one, his tumbling skills were drastically reduced. And the Star Gen conduit was no laughing matter! Aside from his missing arm there had been numerous near misses, leaving burned holes through his clothing and scorching his skin transparent and rendering the underlying muscles desiccated almost to the point of uselessness. Any direct hit would defeat his combat capability and end the fight now. Then, all of them would die.

    But that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I must keep the pressure up on her or all will be lost!

    Sen¡¯s face was a mask of total commitment as he launched himself in a fully enhanced one-armed handspring from behind his deteriorating shelter and redirected himself back toward the still-raging matriarch. Once in the air he spread his Essence to enhance his whole body in order to keep the healing of the radiation damage at maximum. The conduits beam immediately left its focus on the stairway and tracked his looping form ¨C

    ¨CA strong and stately voice yelled from across the room. ¡°Specimen 626! Stop this wrongful behavior immediately! I designed you to save the lives of spirit beings from harmful exposure to the Star Gen conduits. Not to use them as weapons to kill with!¡±

    Sen, already rotating in that direction, saw that the voice had come from Lt Nang. From the radiation poisoning, blood was running in steady tracks from her ears, eyes, and mouth. Nonetheless, even bound, she was standing straight as though at attention.

    There was also something slightly off about her demeanor. Physically the young girl was in her early twenties. But her current body language held the countenance and composure of an older and more experienced woman as she barked her command. Without a doubt, the mature woman before him fully expected the hulking beast to obey her given command.

    The beam chasing after Sen¡¯s erratic gymnastics immediately dropped its pursuit and cut off as his attacker issued a startled hiss. ¡°Mother? But how¡­ You¡¯ve been dead for millions of standard rotations¡­ I killed you myself¡­¡±  The matriarch''s voice trailed off for a brief moment of uncertainty.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    The beam surged back on as the queen¡¯s voice changed from to angry vehemence ¡°...Your trick won¡¯t work on me¨C¡±

    But it was already far too late.

    Sen landed his enhanced jump directly behind the four-meter monster. With teeth clenched and bared his enhanced shorts word swept in a downward diagonal directly through her thick neck exiting just above her shoulder¡¯s exo-plating. Still screaming the last word, her neatly separated head spun off massive twisting shoulders.

    Dark blood sprayed in all directions, polluting the air with a rancid odor as her spasming extremities and twisting body collapsed to the ground. Despite his greatest efforts, Sen was not successful in avoiding the grisly shower as he landed in a fighting crouch, next to her crumpled gray form.

    Sparing one glance through narrowed eyes to assure himself the queen would not be rising again, Sen flashed over on enhanced legs as Alysa Nang¡¯s body slumped forward on top of Josh¡¯s stirring frame.

    Sen sifted Alysa¡¯s body and gently laid her on her back.  Josh rose drunkenly, sheathing his sword in an uncoordinated spiraling twist that revealed a still-smoking hole the size of a dinner plate burned through the top of his crew¡¯s uniform, skin, and muscles. Blackened, heat-shrunken ribs sat over the still flexing muscles of a charred heart amidst crisped lung tissue on either side.

    But as bad as Josh was, Alysa was worse. The skin and muscles on her hands and arms had started to slough off her bones, marring her features into an unrecognizable mass. She was unconscious, and her body¡¯s cellular breakdown was almost accelerating before his eyes.

    Finished putting his weapon away, Josh¡¯s numb lips and tongue spoke slurred words.

    ¡°Allyysaa Naangg . . .I¡¯m Josshh. Thiss is Senyak... Your fatherr sennt us... are yoou alrigh¨C¡±

    Finally staggering around to face them, the sight of Alysa shocked Josh into full consciousness. ¡°... Gods, Sen! She¡¯s ¡­ her tissues are falling apart!¡± Josh did a rapid checking of her neck¡¯s pulse and lifted her sagging eyelids to show the dilated pupils of eyes looking in different directions¨C

    ¡°We need to get her out of here. The electromagnetic field from the conduit is quickly killing her. We¡¯d be no better if not for our cycling Essence ¡­¡± Sen waved the stump of his arm at Josh¡¯s denuded chest. Even our healing is greatly delayed.¡±

    But Josh¡¯s brain had already re-engaged, and with the conviction of eternity, he scooped up Alysa and blurred up the stairs on fully enhanced legs.

    No words were spoken, but Sen could feel the determination of Josh¡¯s soul through their Bond as his thoughts roared. ~This girl cannot die! If she does, I will lose Sophie!~

    Sen flashed after him but didn¡¯t respond. Josh was absolutely correct. Whatever its unfathomable reasons were, Karma, Reality, and Balance had joined the fates of Sophie Tanner and Alysa Nang. Just thinking about it sent confirmatory reverberations through his spirit.

    Sen nodded toward Josh¡¯s speeding form. ~I¡¯m with your brother.~

    * * * * *

    With Alysa¡¯s dying body in his arms, Josh directed all his Essence to his sprint and spared nothing for healing his burnt-out chest.

    A constant litany ran through his mind.

    This woman is linked to Sophie. They have reflective destinies.

    If one is lost, so will both be.

    Hopelessness tried to pull him into despair. Josh violently shook his head! He had never given up. Not when he had lost his family as a child. Not growing up as an orphan in the inner city. Not when his marriage had detonated in an explosion of betrayal and hatred. He surely was never going to give up on Sophie!

    This girl can¡¯t die!

    Josh looked down at her small body in his arms as his legs carried him over the grounds around the Star Gen conduit¡¯s maintenance facility. Alysa had only worsened over the last few seconds. Her face was purple and now had an expanded look like the pages of a pulp fiction novel that had been left out in the rain. Edema from lost fluids as her blood vessels and lymph channels break down. Organ failure is likely already ongoing in an increasing cascade from the periphery and will finalize with the heart and then brain. His science mind unhelpfully contributed.

    He also saw the ruin of his chest. The importance of his condition was a distant second, but he still checked his status as there was nothing else for him to do until they got Alysa to a safe distance.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td>

    5000/1286

    Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td>

    1200/857

    Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Even with a hole blown through my chest by the mama bug from hell I still have twelve times more health than as a vanilla human. He should¡­his body was as dense as iron. Then he involuntarily shuddered at what that crazy monster¡¯s blast would have done to Alysa if it had hit her...

    Entering the forest proper, Josh looked down at her again. Even with how advanced her dehiscence was, Josh could see how very young she was. Still in her early twenties ¡­ Barely an adult! His parental instincts kicked up a notch. I can¡¯t let this young woman die!

    Sen was running beside him through the forest trail with equally concerned glances at Alysa¡¯s worsening condition. Josh nodded. ~How much farther until she¡¯s safe from the conduit?~

    Sen, who had just been distracted by something behind them turned to face Josh as he thought for a moment. ~...Twice as far as this.~

    Josh rushed ahead of Sen as he somehow managed to speed up.

    Sixty seconds and two more miles later, he stopped and laid Alysa on the ground. Tilting her head as she involuntarily coughed up free blood and clots. Her breathing was shallow at 120 breaths per minute, pulse rapid, and thready at 180 beats per minute. Clear fluids were leaking from all her pores, and her connective tissue was sagging off all her bony structures. Even her long bones and skull were softening to his touch...

    He could never get her medical attention fast enough... if it even existed. The silence of his precocious science-book brain spoke volumes to the fact that there was no known therapy on Earth that could restore her.

    ¡­ How is she even still alive?!?

 Chapter 39

    Pine needles and small branches quietly slid along the flat underside of Hantal¡¯s 1.5-meter-wide chitin carapace. Words could not describe the ambivalent feelings and thoughts running through his mind at his current state. He honestly couldn¡¯t decide what was worse. The fact that he was a two-meter insectile vermin or that he was mortal.

    Take your pick¡­ The former Chaotic viciously pricked himself with his own miserable thoughts. Still, my path of salvation out of both is guaranteed. He quieted his frustrations with the reassurance that his trials of mortality and being a giant cockroach were almost over.

    The Clone had brought him to a large, forested region inside a massive transport¡ªperhaps one of the Ark ships that even he had been aware of as a mortal.

    All the blue fractalized Clone had said at the time was. ¡°Be ready. Senyak and Joshua Elias Tanner will be through here soon.¡±

    He hadn¡¯t been wrong. Immediately after Hantal had taken cover, both of his prey arrived. And, like Hantal himself, they each had the single Spherical Attunement of Earth.

    The Chaotic had considered attacking them both right there and then as they became absorbed in the digital playback of a video for some reason. Without doubt, Hantal had the advantage here. Of the three of them, he was an experienced cultivator, having gone through Spherical to Icosahedral levels of cultivation before. Hantal knew that Senyak¡¯s capabilities here being born an Immortal would be essentially nil. On top of this, Joshua Tanner was a completely brand-new cultivator. There was no way he knew how to utilize it to any significance. Hantal could enhance his massive body to crush both of them easily¡­ But a two-on-one fight was less uneven than Hantal was willing to risk. They had to be here for some purpose. Perhaps they will get wounded making my victory that much easier?

    If they didn¡¯t, he could attack from surprise at any time, if it came to that. So, he waited and followed the pair in their rush from the airlock kiosk to a region several hundred kilometers away and presently infested by a rather hearty group of internally gestating parasitic life forms.

    Once there, Hantal had once again been proven the genius he always knew he was. During their meaningless slaughter of all the creatures they had both been critically wounded. Tanner had a gaping hole in his chest and Senyak was missing an arm. They obviously didn¡¯t know how to cycle their Essence as effectively as they could¡­ or they would have started some type of healing. Instead, they had run back the way they had come even faster than the first time carrying an injured mortal. Then, just as unexpectedly, they had stopped to do the most ridiculous of things.

    They were both sitting over the wounded mortal in some kind of attempt to communicate or save her. It wasn¡¯t completely clear. Which didn¡¯t matter. Neither of them was trying to heal their wounds.

    Hantal could only classify their actions as absolute and complete insanity. But I like it!

    This was exactly the situation he had hoped for, and he took full advantage of it as he began to silently crawl through the underbrush toward their unprotected backs.

    Perhaps Karma is once again smiling down on me for the unjust suffering forced upon me because of Senyak¡¯s familial connections?

    A blind and hate filled rage almost consumed Hantal¡¯s mind at his own mental remembrance of his death. Struck down from behind by the most powerful Immortal in Existence because I defeated his good-for-nothing grandson and then reincarnated him as mortal vermin. The injustice filled him with uncontrolled frustrations, and he screamed in his own mind.

    I have been brought back to suffer mortality¡­ Again!

    How can I be mortal again!

    The millions of standard solar rotations spent rising through mortal cultivation. Along with the hundreds of thousands of Ka Nexus rotations I committed laboring for my Immortal cultivation¡­

    All taken from me in one instant!!

    I am superior to that privileged idiot Senyak! He has been given everything advantage and still knows nothing! I defeated him because I am smarter than he will ever be! But where is my recognition for that?!  Where!?!

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    All of Hantal¡¯s coherent thinking had collapsed under the strain of his tirade. His own internal inferno of resentment, abhorrence, and self-pity so overwhelmed him that he almost forgot the great need for stealth while his segmented legs continued to slowly move his bulk through toward Senyak and Joshua Tanner.

    On the edge of committing a full charge fueled by his hate, Hantal was pulled back from the precipice by an unbidden and abstract thought that penetrated his consciousness.

    There is definitely something wrong with the mind of the creature you have been reincarnated in. It is not functioning properly at all¡­ And a large part of Hantal¡¯s awareness agreed. He did not know of any mortal insect species that had ever attained sapience ¨C Arachnids certainly, but not insects. They lacked the internal circulation and necessary gray matter.

    No, I have been put in this body and given this handicap as a personal insult. That is certain¨C

    It doesn¡¯t matter!  The largest conscious part of Hantal screamed in his own bug head before he unhinged totally.

    Hantal froze and took several quiet, steadying breaths through his nares. Bit by bit he pulled his thinking back from the yawning black cavern of the looming mental breakdown he was suffering.

    Yes¡­ It doesn¡¯t matter. I can get it all back! There is only twenty meters to go. I will tear Senyak¡¯s body in half, drain his core and then devour him. And for dessert I will do the same exact things to that human insect Tanner!  I will win, and they will lose. It is that simple!

    And it really was. Hantal had a fundamental and inviolable Karmic agreement with the Clone. He had bound himself to Karma of his own free will. On top of Hantal¡¯s restored Immortality, the UV-shielded replicant had promised Hantal unfettered freedom. All Hantal had to accomplish was what he most wanted to do in all the iterations. Kill and devour Senyak and his pet human Joshua Tanner. What could be simpler?

    Hantal restarted his forward movement with a new purpose. Only ten meters to go and neither Senyak¡¯s nor Tanner¡¯s backs had moved in response to Hantal¡¯s quasi-meltdown. Obviously still consumed with the dying mortal.

    Good!

    Did they think they could heal her? Hantal¡¯s wandering mind couldn¡¯t help but wonder. It had been a very long time since Hantal had been a mortal cultivator, but he was still certain that such cultivation feats at the level of Spherical Cultivation would be limited to geniuses that were much closer to their Tetrahedral core¡­

    But that fact was truly irrelevant. Just as irrelevant and unimportant as whatever the actual purpose was for the Clone¡¯s sick and twisted game in wanting Hantal to kill Senyak ¨C his original¡¯s own progeny? He had thought about why the Clone would want it¡­ but had failed to find a legitimate reason¡­

    But this didn¡¯t matter either, given the Clone¡¯s Karmically binding oath. Though Hantal was sure of one thing, The Marztanak Hegemony¡¯s Game of Thrones had freakish filicidal issues they needed to work through. Hantal mentally chuckled as the distance shortened.

    Very soon, Senyak will be eaten and then dead! Yes, that is definitely the proper order! Hantal¡¯s wide mandibles spread in a way that only he would ever know was a vicious grin.

    The distance shortened to two meters, and Hantal¡¯s anterior segment rose and loomed over Senyak¡¯s still and defenseless form. He enhanced his entire three-meter exoskeleton and moved to slam down and cleave Senyak into largish, smashed chunks with his splayed mandibles.

    * * * * *

    Lifting his eyes to the heavens, Josh pleaded with anyone who would hear him...

    ¡°This girl cannot die! I don¡¯t know how, but Karma is using her as some kind of stand-in for my child... Some kind of test or trial to see if I¡¯m worthy of having a shot to save my daughter... For this moment, all that matters is that Alysa is Sophie... and Sophie is her! Their fates are locked together in some way that I don¡¯t understand and can''t stop. I have no idea what will happen to Sophie if I fail Alysa... I just know that I can¡¯t lose either of them!¡±

    You know all that you need to save her. She is simply a spiritual being like you.

    The gentle voice had risen from where Alysa lay. Hearing it allowed Josh to notice for the first time the soft, wispy lines of a¡­ Ghost?¡­ An apparition ¡­ A spirit? that was overlying Alysa¡¯s deteriorating body. Its face seemed to smile at him with the confidence of the ages. For the briefest of moments, its expression solidified into a look that told Josh in no uncertain terms that everything was going to be alright.

    He couldn¡¯t identify the voice or the wavy, translucent lines of the spirit¡¯s form¡­ The small pessimistic side of him spoke to his greatest fear. Maybe it''s just my sanity finally shattering as my mind breaks down under the strain¡­

    But the words were filled with such hope that Josh¡¯s panic-filled heart grabbed onto them in a psychic stranglehold.

    As if on instinct, he held his hand over her core and infused her with his Essence... He sent half of his free Essence into her and saw the spirit form momentarily come into clear focus then fade out again as his Essence ran through like water through a sieve. Almost like there was not a core there¡­ at least not a functioning one¨C

    You are correct, the damage to her core is too great¡­ It needs to be replaced¡­ but one is coming¡­ Replace her core and you can then join me to my sister with your Essence.

    Who are you?!

    Where did you come from?!

    Why are you doing this?!

    How are you doing this?!

    Josh had a thousand questions, but he only asked the one that mattered. ¡°Will it save Sophie and Alysa?¡±

    Yes ¡­

    Came the reply, but the spirit¡¯s presence was obviously weakening.

    Josh became laser-focused on the possibility of saving Sophie and Alysa and on the fact that the spirit¡¯s weakening meant this was a limited-time offer.

    But now there were two important questions, and he had to ask them both if he was going to do it.

    The important one first.

    ¡°Where is this core?¡±

    Your Karmically Bonded brother knows ¡­

    Josh barely whispered the next question as he feared the answer, ¡°If we fail¡­will you all die¡­?¡±

    There was no verbal answer¡­but the spirit¡¯s head nodded minutely once.

    The stakes just went up. Time to double down.

    But it didn¡¯t¡­ it couldn¡¯t matter. Josh had no idea who this spirit was or why it was helping them. If it was willing to lay itself in front of the train alongside him and Senyak in order to save his daughters, Josh was going to slide over and give it all the space it needed on the tracks. He immediately moved forward with the plan.

    ¡°SENNN!!!!¡± Josh roared like an enraged animal over his shoulder. ¡°I NEED A CORE!!!!¡±

    Sen spoke through their Bond in response. ~Don¡¯t worry, brother. I was just on my way to get one... But stay here and shield them while I do it.~

    Sen¡¯s spoke immediately before he leapt from where he crouched behind Josh into a leg-spinning back flip. A kick-flip that Josh noted sent a seven-foot cockroach that had been looming over them, spinning up and away. Josh also couldn¡¯t help but notice that this was a seven-foot cockroach, which, to that very moment, he had absolutely no idea was about to eat them¡­

 Chapter 40

    Hantal was almost paralyzed in surprise as Senyak sprang up in a back flip with pinwheeling enhanced legs that cracked his unwieldy mandibles and sent a gush of clear internal fluids to spray in an arc following his ungainly bug body. He then flew away from Tanner and the unconscious female.

    Landing on his rounded exo-plated back twenty meters away from where he had been, Hantal rolled over to his legs and circled back to Senyak to strike a decisive enhanced blow from his significantly greater body mass and multiple skeletonized legs¨C

    --Hantal only caught a glimpse of Senyak doing an accelerated power slide coming out of nowhere from the right on his knees as he slid under the vermin¡¯s marine-mammal-sized body. The glint of a golden-orange-glowing Earth Enhanced blade was seen for a brief instant before it sliced through most of the legs on Hantal¡¯s right side. Their severed, multi-jointed lengths spasmed and sprang in random directions as the stumps sprayed large amounts of his clear hemolymph in randomly directed pulses.

    Immediately losing his balance, Hantal veered off course. His left legs reflexively continued to push unopposed, rolling him on his rounded back. Gouts from his leg stumps now jetted directly into his eyes and gullet.

    Now awash in the panic response of a giant insect that was unable to meet its basal instincts of flight in the face of its rapidly approaching demise, terror blanked out all conscious decisions for Hantal.

    The uncontrolled movements of his still attached legs started barreling his body in circles, turning him into a 2-meter-long steam roller, plowing over everything in an asymmetrical ovalene path.

    What sounded like a grunt from Joshua Tanner, and someone kicked the lower edge of Hantal¡¯s shell, sending him spinning head to tail on his back like the hands on an out-of-control timepiece.

    An internal cacophony of disbelief, confusion, and steadily increasing fear now had complete control as Hantal¡¯s pleas for mercy filled the air with an overlapping rapidity of clicks, pops, and chirps. Still, somehow, Senyak¡¯s calmly spoken words got through to Hantal¡¯s mind.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure who or what was following us at first¡­ And admittedly, we were busy. But with an Earth Attunement in a giant insect on a mundane Ark Carrier, now I¡¯m absolutely certain it is you¡­ I imagine you have been brought back here to expunge Joshua and me, correct?¡±

    Hantal was in no position to answer in anything but the already ongoing random and uncontrolled cascade of insectile ratcheting that very accurately reflected the hysteria that had taken over his faculties.

    Senyak apparently didn¡¯t require a response. There were several more sharp pains on Hantal¡¯s left side, and all the legs from there had been removed. Now Hantal gently rocked back and forth side to side as he looked at the far-off roof of Epsilon 97¡¯s chamber. Even the anxiety-driven movements of all his leg stumps had little to no effect in changing this¨C

    ¡°Sen, I can see that you¡¯re busy¡­ but I really need that core. Now!¡± Joshua Tanner¡¯s stress-tinged voice interjected itself to Hantal¡¯s awareness.

    Senyak responded in a serious and guiding tone. ¡°He¡¯s ready for you, Joshua. Visualize the core with your Aural sight. But understand, a being¡¯s Essence-center is the place where the physical meets the spiritual in the heart of their cultivation. Just like the spirit¡¯s presence in Alysa¡¯s body isn¡¯t enough, in and of itself, to form a spiritual/physical object. The core must be removed with both physical and spiritual simultaneous forces. I have absolutely no Idea how to do this¡­ I just know it is true. Perhaps your special relation with physical matter iterations will help you here. Anything I can do to assist, please let me know.¡±

    Alarm bells started going off in Hantal¡¯s distracted mind. They are going to take my core?! They can¡¯t take my core!! I¡¯m still mortal! That will kill me!!!

    Hantal¡¯s chirping became a mixture of spitting and hissing, but this change had no effect on the conversation around him.

    ¡°Thanks, Sen. I do see the core, and I was thinking the same things. But I think I have it figured out.¡±

    An extremely bright golden glow sprang up from out of Hantal¡¯s sight line.

    ¡°... I¡¯m going to flood my enhanced short sword with my Essence like this¨C¡±

    The light became strong enough to hurt Hantal¡¯s light-sensitive eyes as a sharp pain pierced his anterior section. This was quickly followed by what seemed to be a scalpel cutting into his soul. The tragically terrible feeling of being emptied of everything that mattered engulfed Hantal. Everything in him that had strength, or the power of life was forcefully pulled away from him all at once¨C

    ¡°...Got it! I¡¯m out!¡± Joshua Tanner¡¯s foot fell, and he ran away over the hard ground, apparently carrying with him the only important part of Hantal¡¯s being.

    Shocked into a fading silence, Hantal could only hear Senyak¡¯s words as if from a long distance. They no longer held meaning¡­ Nothing held meaning anymore as the previously hated being presented himself into the sightline of the now completely pacified, giant cockroach.

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Sen appeared calm and collected with his unsheathed weapon at ease, but still easily accessible.

    ¡°... It makes perfect sense that you have been sent to me. You are a Test of Insight¡ªa Gift of Redemption, and a Promise of Acceptance on behalf of my family.¡± Sen¡¯s brows rose as he seemed to legitimately try and explain a concept likely to be misunderstood. ¡°... You see, we Marztenaks are guardian warriors charged with protection through the perfection of combat. Because of my individual failings and unpreparedness, you had stripped me of my honor and dignity. And thus, my purpose.¡±

    A considering expression creased Senyak¡¯s features. ¡°... If I hadn¡¯t learned from the mistakes of our previous battle, you would certainly have been able to sneak up on Joshua and me. Then destroy us to gain whatever had been promised¨C¡± Senyak leaned in and spoke under his breath while nodding knowingly. ¡°... I suspect you were offered restoration to your previous status. It''s what I would have asked for¡­ Make no mistake, that promise was real. My grandfather makes no idle threats and even fewer idle promises. Nor does he need a weak heir. Had you defeated us, it would have been the final proof of my¡ªour unworthiness.¡± Sen leaned back to a straight position. ¡°... I am indebted to you for the pointers and insight gained in our previous combat. For that, I salute you. You may be just another fallen enemy on my path, but your life and death held meaning. May you rest in that truth and find peace.¡±

    Senyak bowed formally at the waist and for a moment dropped out of Hantal¡¯s sight line before coming back into view, this time with a contented smile.

    Hantal¡¯s vision was narrowing and very blurry at the edges. The non-stop spasms of its legs had all but stopped.

    Sen continued. ¡°Without redeeming myself against you I could never move forward to my true purpose of ruling the Polar Neutral Iteration. So again, I thank you for making yourself so readily available to me. Though I suspect that it was the promise of your returned Immortality which made you throw your conniving caution to the winds and attack me flat out as a novice child would¡­¡± Sen again bowed. Rose up and leaned in again as if taking Hantal into his confidence ¡°Perhaps you wonder how I knew to expect you? Never have I nor anyone close to me mistaken me for one of unique intelligence. However, I do learn¡ªparticularly from my mistakes. I admit that your new body threw me off for some time, but eventually, even I began to realize what was going on. You see¡­ giant insects have thirteen-chambered hearts, which are very easy to discern from other organisms if you possess the proper situational awareness m and are listening for all threats when you enter a new area. Your carapace is hard, which is a blessing and a curse as you leave six very easily distinguished footprints in a track pattern that is impossible to miss if you are looking for it. You followed us to the Star Gen service station and then followed us as we left¡­ I was never going to miss you ¡­ or let you sneak up on us.¡±

    Sen stood and a dangerous gleam came into Senyak¡¯s eyes that even Hantal¡¯s fading awareness recognized.

    ¡°I would not allow you to win¡ªnot ever again. You represent a promise of acceptance back into my role as Heir¡­ proof that I will never make the same mistakes that my lax arrogance led me into again.¡±

    Senyak Marztanak, sole-seeded heir of the Marztanak Hegemony, lifted his blade over the lower portion of the insect''s head. In one quick enhanced chop he decapitated the wretched creature. Still, Sen finished the ongoing discourse with his now defeated opponent. It was only proper to do so ...

    ¡°Believe me when I vow that I will never let my guard down to an adharmic¨C to an evil mother fucker like you again.¡± Sen bowed a last time to the dead bug¡¯s unmoving body.

    So ended the path of Hantal Brundox, a giant mortal cockroach.

    * * * * *

    Sen spun a full 180 degrees and bowed deeply to his waist and held it to the Clone who he knew would be watching. The Clone¡¯s visage momentarily formed in the mists above the small clearing in the trees Sen was standing in. It nodded back in approval at Sen¡¯s performance and acknowledged his redemption and acceptance back to the family. By the time Senyak had returned up from his bow It had disappeared.

    * * * * *

    Josh ran back to Alysa and the Spirit¡¯s side. They were both quiet, but he could hear Alysa¡¯s short interval breaths so they both must still be here.

    He set the glowing golden ball the size of a softball on Alysa¡¯s abdomen. I really don¡¯t want to have to cut her with my short sword, was Josh¡¯s preeminent thought as he pressed it down with both hands over her navel and willed with his entire Intent to move it into her abdomen.

    Apparently, with the help of the friendly neighborhood spirit, this time his hands were just fine.

    The core sank into Alysa''s abdomen but¡­Josh could tell that for some reason, despite its great size compared to his and Sen¡¯s cores, it was empty. Josh immediately started pumping what was left of his free Essence into it. He tracked the progress with his interface.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td>

    5000/1286

    Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td>

    1200/424 ¡ú 399 ¡ú 374¡ú

    Spherical cultivation units.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Too soon, his free Essence was gone. Leaving the core still sitting in its place but less than functionally full. Without losing a second Josh broke down the concentrated Essence he had already dedicated to his core and sent it to her as well. As his Essence flowed, he could tell through his Aural sight that the core was circulating his Essence, and he could see with his Aural sight rapidly growing meridians that branched off carrying his Essence to her disintegrating tissues. Her organs immediately started healing, and her unconscious body took a sudden deep breath as if for the first time in a long time. Seeing that his Essence rushing to her heart, brain, lungs, and limbs was having the desired effect, Josh stepped up the transfer rate. Pushing it faster. Faster! Faster!!!

    ...But the damage to her body had been extensive. When his freshly filled Essence pool had run dry again, Alysa still needed healing...

    A quiet warning went off in Josh¡¯s mind that at some point he would need to stop. Giving all his Essence away like this was placing his own spirit in jeopardy. If he completely emptied himself... the result could be worse than death¡­

    I simply don¡¯t care! Was his immediate and furious response to whatever part of him was in doubt of his commitment. Josh had already decided he wasn¡¯t in the business of listening to a warning like that today! Alysa, Sophie, and now some helpful neighbor spirit¡¯s fates were entwined. If he needed to sacrifice himself for them...Then so be it. Between him and them¡ªor at least Alysa and Sophie, there was absolutely no contest. His last layer of dedicated Essence crumbled as he cycled it into the woman¡¯s newly formed core with no interrupt¡ª

    A large hand pulled Josh¡¯s collapsed shoulder back and away from Alysa¡¯s resting body.

    ¡°Have you so quickly forgotten that you are not alone, brother?¡± Sen¡¯s words were warm and full of their own steely conviction.

    Through lidded eyes and fading consciousness, Josh watched as Sen placed his hand on Alysa¡¯s abdomen¨Cthe cultivator¡¯s own Essence beginning to flow into her and moving to complete the work that Josh had not yet finished.

    ¡°Fascinating,¡± Sen whispered, as if in awe. ¡°You¡¯ve truly outdone yourself this time, Joshua Elias Tanner.¡± The cultivator looked as if he was attempting to see through the woman, to the very center of her being as his whispered words clung to the light breeze. ¡°Absolutely incredible¡­¡±

    Tears fell from Josh¡¯s stinging eyes as he gasped out a muffled thanks to Sen for standing in the gap and picking up what he might have dropped. He watched as Senyak¡¯s gaze turned to meet his own with a small smile of understanding and a steadfast nod.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got her, brother. You¡¯ve done your part. Sleep and let me do mine.¡±

    At his brother¡¯s words, Josh realized that they would not fail. Alysa and Sophie¡ªthrough her, were safe. There was a strange lightness in his chest as he realized that he fully trusted his brother at that moment.

    The short man gently slid Josh¡¯s limp form down beside the woman.

    ¡­ Even with the life of my daughter. Josh¡¯s last thought allowed the truth of his realization to sink in as his mind blinked in and out of awareness...

    Then, he fell into the bottomless black again, and this time, he didn¡¯t fight it.

 Chapter 41

    Josh¡¯s eyes bulged slightly as he collected the Essence from the last of the twenty-eight drones, he and Sen had... expunged. He would get used to that word at some point.

    But right now, it sounds like I¡¯m washing the shower out or something.

    Josh had drained his core to 4 percent while channeling Essence to Alysa. Sen had been right. By the end, Josh had been running on Essence fumes and almost completely drained. He wasn¡¯t sure what would have happened had he totally exhausted his Essence by giving it to Alysa... But he didn¡¯t want to know. His intuition, which he happened to be trusting more and more lately, told him doing so was a way to walk the paths of the spiritually risen undead. For Sen¡¯s part, while absolutely necessary to finish what Josh had set in motion, hadn¡¯t required him to go beyond the free Essence he had been holding in his meridians.

    Right now, the circular core indicator on Josh¡¯s interface was flashing. The familiar red-blinking outline surrounding his green core icon in the top center was a sight for sore eyes and was his third expansion in the last few minutes. Two seconds later, it solidified. But instead of going green again, it changed to a golden hue. Josh took this to mean the core expansions for his current Attunement were maxed out until he found another Item of Power to undergo an additional Attunement. Admittedly, he didn¡¯t come to that conclusion alone. It was the 100 percent flashing next to the filled golden circle that was the dead giveaway. Josh could still be wrong, however. Not having anyone else to ask, he was just guessing.

    Maybe the Lord Clone will come and disabuse me of this thinking? But till then, I¡¯m going with it! Josh fully engaged in his single-thought-micro-rebellion within the safety of his own mind... Perhaps only to have an ounce of control over all the insanity that had been raining down on him over the past few days. And honestly, it wasn¡¯t very safe...the Clone had proven, more times than Josh could count, that he was completely able to read Josh¡¯s mind any time he wanted.

    Filling his core hadn¡¯t exactly been comfortable. The drones were heavy with Essence compared to the wisps of Essence Josh had absorbed from the bat cannibals before. Two drones had been enough to fill his core from 4 percent to bursting. Of course, he had filled his meridians with Earth Aura before using the drones¡¯ Essence. That had been a nonissue. He simply Intended to absorb the Aura from the space around him, and his meridians had filled in under sixty seconds with golden-orange Aura streaming into his channels from all around. As he was attuned to it, another benefit was that no purification was necessary like they had to when they absorbed Essence from spirit beings. But Josh was getting good at that as well. Taking mere minutes to purify an entire core at this point.

    The Earth Attunement had significantly expanded Josh¡¯s core and meridian capacities compared to when he had absorbed the bats. The three full expansions he had just undergone with the core Essence of the drones had further increased his capacity. He sensed his core was approximately 400 percent bigger than it had been immediately after the Attunement. The feeling was reflected by his free Essence numbers, which now sat at 3906. After a few quick and dirty calculations, it appeared that each time he expanded his core, his free Essence increased by 25 percent.

    Free Essence: 3125/3906 Spherical Cultivation Units.

    Not bad for a few overgrown bone bugs... These organisms were more closely related to the phylum Mollusca of land-based shellfish than the phylum Arthropoda for insects...

    Josh internally sighed at how easily his thoughts could be distracted down a scientific tangent. Mentally shutting the door to the mental science lab Josh got back on track with his main train of thoughts... His meridians had also expanded and now had the strength to move increased volumes of Essence, giving him the ability to pack a significantly harder punch than before.

    But Josh was most proud of his advancement with the sword. He had gone from 20 percent at the junior basic level to 17 percent at the basic level. Sen had confirmed that battle-driven skill gains always outstripped those on the training floor.

    ¡°At least it is that way in the Immortal realms. I suspect it is the same in the mortal realms as well...¡±

    It sure seemed that way.

    Josh checked his status to bask in his increasing digital awesomeness.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="155">

    Body

    </td>

    <td width="467">

    Earth Attunement: 100% probability of increasing your health status by 500%. 100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your skin by 780%.

    Weapon Enhancement: Invest 200 units of Earth Attuned Essence into a weapon for 100% probability to increase the weapon¡¯s durability by 1000% and its damage rating by 500%. Duration dependent on use. Further increase your health status, connective tissue density and Earth attuned skills by increasing your level and cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="155">

    Psyche Mortal level.

    </td>

    <td width="334">

    Spirit Spherical cultivation level 100% to stage 2/7.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="155">

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    Skill Level: Basic (17%)

    Damage:

    Superior Mundane (Earth Enhanced)

    </td>

    <td width="467">

    Quality: Mundane masterwork.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 1005% (x5 while Earth enhanced) increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Armor: None

    </td>

    <td>

    Standard Earth Attunement resilience.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    It didn¡¯t appear that the tiny step of maxing out his core at this intermediate step in his foundational stage would increase the Earth Attunement bonuses. Josh would have to check again when with a subsequent Attunement.

    There might be gains there.

    Whatever came after completing the spherical core, Josh wasn¡¯t sure. But there was something beyond that. Josh had some suspicions about what it might be, but he would need more data points to make an accurate prediction and hypothesis... It was like he was getting used to talking to himself in science mumbo-jumbo... What is the world coming to?

    Josh¡¯s mind flashed back to the battle with the gestational parasites. Even the basics of swordsmanship that Sen had taught him had made a tremendous difference in how he approached the fight with them. More importantly, he had worked on his defense and not overextended himself with his attacks.

    In truth, if Josh had to make a comparison, he was approaching fighting with the sword a bit like he approached tennis matches. If he didn¡¯t make any mistakes that took him out of the game, all he had to do was wait for his opponent to make a mistake... and give him an opening.

    He would discuss this with Sen, but then again, maybe not. It¡¯ll take me an hour to explain tennis to Sen... ya, definitely save it for later.

    Josh nodded to Sen. ~You ready to head back?~

    Sen, who was flexing the fingers of his regrown arm and hand, nodded back. ~Ready, brother.~

    Their healing capability was just another one of the unbelievable things that Josh was going to have to look into more deeply¡­ when he had a chance. Josh had asked Sen about it. All the stoic man had said was that once they were away from the debilitating effects of the Star Gen conduit, it had only taken the simple circulation of Essence to have it regrow in a matter of gyra¡­ or minutes as Josh still thought about them¡­ mind blowing! But this topic was for later¡­ Right now, there were things that needed doing¨C

    Josh nodded back and refocused on the task at hand.

    Alysa¡¯s vital signs were normal at 12 breaths a minute and a steady, athletic resting heart rhythm of 50 beats a minute. She also appeared to be resting well without any tossing or turning. Which was fine with Josh. Confirming there was no change for the worse in her condition he picked her up, and they headed for the airlock at a leisurely pace. They could cover the remaining ten or so miles back to the entry in about thirty minutes with minimal Essence expenditure.

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    Sen had scouted the area yesterday after Josh woke up from his emergency Essence transfusion. There were no signs of any living drones within several miles of the conduit junction. This made sense based on what Alysa had reported in her video. If they were clonal, they would tend to congregate en masse. The matron they had cut down was attempting some kind of unique impregnation of Alysa. They most likely would have all been there to protect her during this.

    As they slowly walked back to the airlock carrying Alysa, Josh noticed that all the other space marines were noticeably absent. Josh knew he had seen some of them moving in their restraints as they ran by to save Alysa.

    He tilted his head to Sen. ~The other marines that were being... infected with the parasites... they didn¡¯t make it?~

    Downcast shake of the head. ~I granted Lieutenant Nang¡¯s comrades the mercy of a warrior¡¯s death...~

    Josh was wide-eyed. ~There was no way to... maybe... I dunno... to surgically remove the parasites?~

    With eyes squeezed shut, Sen just shook his head again and continued on.

    Josh wasn¡¯t certain, but he thought he had seen Sen¡¯s eyes glistening before he turned away. Josh was certain about the remorse he felt coming through their Bond for the loss of Alysa¡¯s team.

    Still, Josh also sensed Sen was sure there were no other viable options for the marines. No further questions were needed. In truth, it hadn¡¯t looked like there was much chance of saving them. But the level of medical care on the Hegemon-4 wasn¡¯t something Josh was privy to through his physical science knowledge of Earth. Guess something like this is beyond even the advanced technology of a multi-billion-year-old, continent-sized spaceship.

    They arrived at the clearing of the main airlock of Epsilon 97 where they had played the recording. Josh put Alysa down and again checked her vitals. Normal and no further sign of sloughing skin. Her pupils were responsive to light, and she responded appropriately to painful stimuli. She was just resting and recovering after being mostly dead. Josh could understand that.

    Sen activated their communication device. ¡°This is Senyak Marztanak, reporting from Epsilon 97. We are ready for transport at the main airlock.¡±

    To no one¡¯s surprise, a nasal and heavily Chinese-accented voice came back over the transceiver. ¡°How many for transport, Heir Marztanak?¡±

    ¡°Three. Myself, Joshua Elias Tanner, and Lieutenant Alysa Nang. She is well but still recovering from her injuries. Presently, she remains unconscious. Please send a stretcher team.¡±

    ¡°A pacification unit is on standby circling Epsilon 97. A strike team has been deployed to facilitate your exfiltration. Modified trauma teams are standing by and ready to receive you at the forward section¡¯s main medical hanger. Nang out.¡±

    Sen looked at Josh. ¡°How will you tell him about the changes to his daughter?¡±

    ¡°One problem at a time, Sen. I¡¯m not even sure what I did do. And I have no idea how I will tell her yet. How much longer do you think she¡¯ll need to sleep¡ª¡±

    A steady but fatigued voice cut Josh off. ¡°She needs about two more weeks of beauty sleep. But what she¡¯s gotten so far will have to do... Did you... get... to the rest of my team in time? Why am I still alive? How am I still alive? What is it you need to tell me? And... what is with those swords?¡± Alysa¡¯s questions came out rapid-fire as she raised a slightly shaking hand to point at their sheathed short swords. She looked at her own continued weakness and let her arm drop. But her mind was working fine. ¡°... Answers in that order, please.¡± She then began a sincere struggle to raise herself to her elbows while keeping an unblinking glare of command on them.

    Sen bowed at his waist. ¡°Once we rescued you, your team¡¯s suffering was ended, Lieutenant. It was all we could do for them.¡±

    ¡°Thank you...¡± Alysa said quietly, her eyes momentarily downcast¡ª

    The airlock cycled, and a fifteen-man platoon of space marines, equipped in what must have been half of Symbal¡¯s supply depot, ran through and secured the area.

    Are those surface-to-air guns being wheeled to the other side of the airlock?

    Subdued communications could be heard between the ground forces and units still waiting on the landed shuttles outside the airlock as the special units efficiently occupied the area.

    The leader of the first fire team, a Beast Affin with robust tiger features, including a full snout, long fangs, and lanky but well-muscled limbs, ran up to them, leading a pair of medical corpsmen. Both were Jaralon and began unfolding a stretcher between them.

    The Beast Affin spoke first, quickly nodding in greeting. ¡°Sirs, ma¡¯am. I¡¯m Senior Chief Ishan.¡± He turned to Alysa. ¡°Ma¡¯am, my orders are to immediately extricate you from this forward area to the main medical services hangar¡ª¡±

    ¡°One minute, senior, I¡¯m having a conversation with these gentlemen¡ª¡±

    ¡°No, ma¡¯am. Apologies.¡± Ishan took a breath and leaned into Alysa. ¡°... these orders come directly from your father. He made it very clear that if I was to disobey them, even at your orders, I would be eating nothing but cold rations on a very distant asteroid for the next two Ka nexus cycles¡­¡± A warm and almost charming smile took over the tiger¡¯s all-business features as he continued speaking while gently laying Alysa down. ¡°... and I can¡¯t believe you would hate me that much... We''ve only just met. So please let these corpsmen transfer you to their stretcher so your father takes it easy on me.¡±

    Gob smacked, Alysa did just that. Her questions burned in her eyes as she tried to get Sen and Josh to follow. But the SCPO wasn¡¯t finished. ¡°Messrs. Marztanak and Tanner. Lieutenant Commander Shamla has asked for an immediate SITREP on the invasive species and the stripped Stargen Conduit. And after that, if someone could tell me what the fuck is going on, I would really appreciate it, sirs!¡±

    Josh and Sen smiled at Alysa, quietly chuckling as they shrugged and turned from her inquisitive, ocular fury.

    Josh called over his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Alysa. We¡¯ll catch up with you as soon as we¡¯re finished here. In the meantime, try to feel your core... it¡¯s just under your navel.¡±

    ¡°My¡­ core¡­?¡± The expression on Alysa¡¯s face could only be described as perplexed while she was carried away through the airlock, which immediately began to cycle closed.

    Ishan double-timed it back and Sen leaned over to the Beast Affin. ¡°... Of course, Senior Chief, let me quickly brief you and then report to the lieutenant commander.¡±

    * * * * *

    The Clone floated in space far above the Hegemon-4. The continent-sized ship was only a speck of light below him. Still, nothing escaped his awareness.

    His thoughts continued as he watched his two wards leave the designated research area, Epsilon 97.

    When Zenyak created a clone, it was never for a long-term assignment. If a task required the long-term involvement of a being at Zenyak¡¯s level of power and knowledge, he had always preferred to do it himself. Even a perfect copy of himself would not do. Furthermore, the power ceded to a clone would become a permanent transfer unless restored before too long.

    The Clone knew this... as he knew everything about Zenyak. He also knew why, after billions of years, Zenyak was breaking this personal rule of his... He and the other Immortals at his level were stretched thin containing Oblivion¡¯s threat outside of iterational existence¡ª

    The quiet sound of space tearing and a brief flash of the deep-swirling blue of intact Reality that indicated Zenyak¡¯s imminent arrival interrupted the Clone¡¯s ruminating.

    His original stepped through the Way. The Clone¡¯s Aural sight perceived minuscule signs of fatigue that only he would recognize in the cycling patterns of Zenyak¡¯s Immortal Ka.

    ¡°Report!¡± Zenyak ordered.

    The Clone bowed his head, and Zenyak rested his hand on its crown.

    Turning away from the Clone, Zenyak mumbled to himself. ¡°Using Earth aspect skills after only eighteen hours of Attunement was statistically improbable. In fact, such an occurrence should only arise in one of 8,785,456 permutations. Externalizing his Essence to heal and create another cultivator was not even a predicted outcome in our probability assessments...¡± Turning back to the Clone, Zenyak asked. ¡°Did we orchestrate this?¡±

    ¡°No. Ka and Karma are wrapping themselves around Senyak and Joshua Elias Tanner in increasing amounts for Reality¡¯s own purposes and clouding our discernment of what is possible or probable for the future. As is apparent, this ground is treacherous and fraught with peril. I merely facilitated Alysa Nang¡¯s soul birth by pointing out to Joshua what he already knew.¡±

    Zenyak¡¯s eyes narrowed at the Clone¡¯s statement, knowing it had accurately appraised the situation. This was indeed perilous ground to tread. Karma and Reality were heavily invested here for purposes Zenyak didn¡¯t fully understand.

    Turning back to the Clone, Zenyak said, ¡°Analysis.¡±

    The Clone put his hands behind his back and leveled his eye line just past his original¡¯s left shoulder. ¡°The synergistic association of Senyak and Joshua Elias Tanner is beyond all predicted expectations of mortal-level cultivation. To our knowledge, no mortals have ever advanced this rapidly. This is due primarily to their Karmic Bond and Karma¡¯s shaping of events around them, favoring their advancement and growth. Growth for Reality¡¯s own purposes... whatever they might be. Furthermore, Joshua and Senyak¡¯s motivation to fulfill the purpose of their Karmic Bond, id est: obtaining sufficient spiritual growth to reestablish contact with Sophie Tanner, is serving as a probability magnifier of unknown quantum.¡± The Clone looked into Zenyak¡¯s gray eyes with his blazing-blue fractals to make his following statement unmistakable. ¡°For better or worse, Karma has brought Sophie Tanner¡¯s life force to this iteration.¡±

    Zenyak¡¯s eyes widened marginally at that, but he remained silent as the Clone explained how Zenyak¡¯s initial review missed such an event. ¡°I have not felt it... but the results of its metaphysical wake are unmistakable...  She and Reality are laying a trail for Joshua and Senyak. Shaping their growth through improbable events to bring the Karmic Bond of Senyak and Joshua Elias Tanner to fulfillment.¡±

    Zenyak narrowed his gray eyes. ¡°Unanticipated... but perhaps useful...¡±

    A moment passed as Zenyak gazed at the arm of a nearby spiral galaxy and considered what the Clone had just told him. ¡°... Recommendations.¡±

    The Clone straightened his posture. ¡°Continued subsistence-level support with antagonistic motivation. Spend no more additional time on terrestrial organisms. They pose no challenge, and further growth will be minimal, even for Joshua¡¯s budding skill as a swordsman.

    ¡°Advancement to their next Attunement is the immediate next priority. If anything, we have been holding them back with our previous plan for the escalating difficulty of their training regimen.¡±

    Zenyak eyed the Clone closely through his narrowed lids. ¡°Agreed... with one proviso.¡±

    The Clone looked up to Zenyak, knowing what he would add. After all, the Clone was Zenyak, and the Clone had purposely left it off the list... hoping that Zenyak might have missed it in his fatigue.

    Not in this gigayear.

    They were both aware that probability models had predicted that one particular course of action could truly catapult the pair¡¯s growth... but if it backfired, it was the one path forward that could unbalance Karma, detonating all their plans like a supernova with resultant uncertain probability outcomes. There was a nonzero chance that such a result could end everything they were working for...

    But if it worked¡­ it created a pathway forward of unprecedented cultivator growth¡­

    The Clone squared his shoulders and pursed his fractalized lips... This was a dangerous path forward, fraught with peril and potential in equal measure. And still, Zenyak is going to grab it by the tail.

    The hints of a challenging expression appeared on Zenyak¡¯s visage as he turned away from the Clone and spoke. ¡°... Catalyze them with a threat exposure to the current iterational Sophie Tanner. Make sure they know about it and who is involved¡­ as well as the cost of failure. She is the motivational fuel supplying this Karmic Bond, and perhaps something more... Let¡¯s see how far Senyak and Joshua¡¯s growth via Karmic intervention can be facilitated by allowing existing threats to place her at risk. After all, we do not even need to act. The pieces are all in place and we are simply letting things play out as they will. As already planned, this will be both a trial and an immense opportunity for our duo walking the Two Paths That Are One.¡± Zenyak looked over his shoulder and responded to the Clone¡¯s unvoiced concerns, ¡°... The potential for this option is why I picked this cuboidal cluster in the first place. Was it not?¡± A brief blue flash and Zenyak was gone.

    I am a reckless prick. The Clone reflected. A reckless prick whose actions will either lead us to our salvation or speed us into Oblivion¡¯s waiting grasp¡­

 Chapter 42

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Josh asked.

    For the first time that Josh could recall, Sen seemed¡­ shyly hesitant. The short man was holding out a bag with an apologetic and vaguely sheepish expression.

    ¡°A gift¨C I believe that it is customary among humans to share them with those who are meaningful in their lives¡­¡± Sen trailed off and Josh nodded minutely to confirm. Then Sen jumped in and continued in explanation. ¡°¡ªIt never quite sat well with me that your weapon during the initial fight against Hantal was lost. As you know, your actions have helped return a small but very important part of what was taken from me¡­ So I wanted to do the same for you¨C¡± Sen stood straight at attention with the largish wrapping supported in both his hands as if it was a time of great ceremony. ¡°-- I also wanted to return something to you that you clearly valued¡­¡±

    Josh¡¯s eyebrows rose. Weapon? What weapon? All I had in the elevator was my beat-up¡­

    ¡°I¡¯ve studied your people for some time, Joshua.¡± Sen shook his head, clearly baffled. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll ever understand them, or your strange fascination with¨C¡± In a quick flourish Sen pulled the colorful paper off in one move. ¡°¡ª A Cases of Briefs.¡±

    Supported in Sen¡¯s arms was an exact replica of the briefcase Josh had used to keep Sadie¡¯s possessed-antique body from turning him into a kids-craft project. He watched as Sen snapped the fasteners free and opened the briefcase towards him.

    ¡°--Nor will I ever pretend to understand why your people would feel the need to carry so much male underwear around with them¨C But clearly, such things are what our Bond and brotherhood have been built upon.  So, I gladly accept them.¡± Sen¡¯s baffled and slightly disturbed look turned to a bright smile as he looked from inside of the case¡¯s contents back to Josh. ¡°¡­ There must have been hundreds of millions of humans carrying these things around, but I told myself I will not judge what is clearly a cultural or religiously significant part of your world¡¯s underpinnings¡­  and now part of mine.¡± Sen extended over the open case.

    ¡ªAnd it was full of briefs. Elastic banded men¡¯s boxers, to be precise.

    Josh doubled over, quietly laughing. Days of fear and anxiety seemed to melt away under the simple humanity of Sen¡¯s misunderstanding. No matter how far you go¡­or what you do¡­ people are still people! And Josh knew people. And Josh could deal with people with the best of them.

    That thought gave Josh an amazing amount of hope. Hope that he could deal with all of the insanity that had taken the place of his suburban minivan life¡­ That the chance of getting back to Sophie for the first time seemed like a real possibility¡­ No matter what came up against him¨C No¡­them. Sen was a part of Josh¡¯s life now. Somehow, this Case of Briefs confirmed that more than anything else in the universe ever could. What a pair of jamokes we are!

    Sen stood there with the cheerful expression on his face holding the brief case full of small cloths. Finally, Josh was able to straighten and wipe the tears that had found their way into his eyes. Josh reached out and took the briefcase from Sen, chuckling as he lifted his brows at the dozens of pairs of underwear inside it.

    A shadow of doubt passed over Sen¡¯s features. ¡°...Did I misunderstand your customs¨C¡±

    Josh shook his head as he held up his free hand to stop Sen. ¡°No brother, I can¡¯t think of anything that more accurately sums up what we have been through than this¡­ very thoughtful gift.¡±

    Josh closed up the briefcase and bowed at the waist to Sen. Rising, the tall man put his arm around Sen¡¯s shoulders and spoke under his breath, ¡°I don¡¯t think you know how much I needed this man.¡±

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    Case of Briefs in hand, Josh moved on and waved for Sen to follow him as he turned toward the med bay.

    ¡°Come on, we should check on the girl. I¡¯m guessing both her and her dad are going to want some answers.¡±

    Josh patted the briefcase as he walked down the hallway, a grin still splitting his face.

    Well, at least I¡¯ll have plenty of utts for whatever the future is going to throw at us...

    * * * * *

    ¡°BA?BA, I¡¯M fine. I need to get out of here and¡ª¡±

    ¡°N¨¹?¡¯e?r! You are the farthest thing from fine right now! The only thing you are going to do is rest in this place until both med bots and the attending spirit-being clears you for duty. That is an order, Lieutenant!¡±

    Josh and Sen rounded the corner in the med bay that Alysa Nang had been brought to, inadvertently stumbling upon the father-daughter confrontation mounting up to OK-Corral-Earps-vs-Clanton levels. Each was resolutely staring steely-eyed at the other.

    Like father, like daughter.

    The thought struck him like a gut punch as he watched the two, making him painfully aware of the gaping Sophie-shaped hole that existed in his chest.

    Both he and Sen reflexively shifted a step back as the tension mounted. Josh wouldn¡¯t have wanted to go up against either one of them at the moment... but his money was on Symbal in this fight, if only because he could see how much, hidden behind that flinty glare the woman cared for the old war dog.

    A full ten seconds later, Alysa relaxed back into a reclining position, mumbling under her breath. ¡°It¡¯s the same order I¡¯d have given to my own marines.¡±

    But Alysa was far from defeated as she seemed to marshal her strength to pick a fight she knew she could win.

    Josh got a worried feeling all the sudden.

    The young space marine¡¯s sharp eyes focused on Josh and Sen as a predatory look sprang from them.

    Yep. Josh winced. Here it comes¡­

    ¡°Well, gentlemen. No more senior chiefs to save you from me. I¡¯ll have my explanations about who you are and what you did to me. And I¡¯ll have them right now.¡±

    There it is, Josh sighed.

    Symbal¡¯s brows narrowed at her words. The man locked eyes with his daughter for a moment as they gave each other a grudging nod that spoke to putting aside their own differences while they dealt with a common¡­ problem, and he shifted the gravitas of his stare to them as well.

    Confronted with what felt like two tigers about to pounce, Josh¡¯s brain accelerated into defensive mode, and a million-watt smile split his face.

    ¡°Ahh... yeah... Ahem¡­ Well, what had happened was...¡±

    * * * * *

    None of the scans run by the med bots showed the presence of either her core or her meridians. But Alysa had immediately accepted what the men had said about being cultivators and needing to awaken her own cultivation to save her from the Stargen Conduit¡¯s radiation as true. But she was not aware that such a thing was even possible.

    For one thing, Alysa remembered what condition she had been in¡ªnot only her own but that of her team. They had all been lost to the parasites, and she had survived. She knew that each and every one of her team had fought for the others. They would not only want her to carry on to enjoy the continued life that they had died to save and protect others as they had done for her.

    To her original thought, Alysa knew that back in the Star Gen conduits maintenance area she had been in very bad shape.  In fact, she knew that she had been beyond saving, and yet here she was. For another, she could feel her core and the Essence set in motion by Josh. Her meridians were brimming with it as it spun through her. Only now, hours later, and all Alysa¡¯s injuries had been healed, had the Essence started to slow down.

    Symbal¡¯s acceptance, however, had been a different matter. He had shot some very calculating glances at Josh and Sen as they explained what cultivation was and how Josh and Sen had given her their Essence to keep her alive.

    In Alysa¡¯s assessment, Josh and Sen had been patient with her ¡°BA?BA¡±. Obviously, desiring his acceptance as well. They repeated themselves several times and even gave visual demonstrations. Alysa felt her father was being overly protective... which was¡­ not an unusual occurrence. However, Symbal¡¯s hesitance was understandable.

    After all, how quickly was a father supposed to accept that a strange man had infused part of his soul into his unconscious daughter when she was on the brink of death?

    Alysa figuratively stepped in¨Cher father gave her a stern glare when she threw back the covers of her recovery bed to attempt to get up¨Cand diffused the situation when she saw that things were headed toward a confrontation, one that she was surprised to realize she wasn¡¯t confident her father would win. She could never recall a time that she had ever felt such a thing. Her father had always been larger than life and with more personal power than most. And yet, somehow, she knew that the man she respected more than all others might have met his match here. Taking hold of his hand with hers, Alysa looked into her father¡¯s eyes. ¡°Ba?ba. It was the only way. I was dying¨Cperhaps had even already died, I think. Without what they¡¯ve done, I wouldn¡¯t have survived even one more minute... of that, I¡¯m sure...¡± She embraced him and put her head against his chest.

    With only the briefest of hesitation, her father held her tightly back for a long moment. He then looked deeply into her eyes. Seeing that she had spoken nothing but the truth, he had turned and bowed deeply at the waist to Sen and Josh.

    ¡°... I am forever in your debt. Whatever is in my power is yours, anytime, anywhere.¡±  He continued to bow for several long moments and then stood with tears running silently down his cheeks to his smiling lips. ¡°Thank you!¡± he harshly whispered as he turned back to Alysa.

    Briefly mentioning they would be back in a few hours to continue explaining things, Josh and Sen had slipped quietly away and let her have a few quiet minutes of reunion.

    * * * * *

 Chapter 43

    Three hours later, Josh and Sen had worked up the courage to return to Alysa¡¯s med bay. They told her what they knew of cultivation and how to recharge her free Essence. They spoke on the difference between her core Essence and free Essence and about how she could absorb Essence from other spiritual organisms as well as the warning that she should absolutely not try to absorb any undead Essence.

    ¡°It¡¯s definitely not recommended. Besides... they really smell¡ªat least the ones I¡¯ve met,¡± Josh added with half a smile.

    They evaluated her by sensing the Essence in her core. Both agreed that she was as they had been back in the alley with the Clone and explained the possibility of expanding her core and not trying to do it without medical support.

    They also explained Attunement as a cultivator¡¯s path to advancement and what they had learned about it so far.

    Alysa sat in her bed and took it all to heart while Symbal sat beside her, taking quick notes.

    ¡°--Why not collect Essence from food animals like chickens and cows?¡± Alysa¡¯s father interjected the idea into the ongoing conversation about finding space-living spirit beasts to harvest.

    Josh and Sen had both pivoted their heads in unison, back and forth between themselves and the two Nangs, each apparently waiting for the other to find a reason why it couldn¡¯t work.

    Josh even screwed his eyes up and vocalized a disjointed kind of gurgle, ¡°... Ahhh... umm... ghahh...¡±

    Sen raised a brow, ~Would that work?~

    Josh raised two, ~I got nothing... I can¡¯t think of any reason it shouldn¡¯t work...~

    ~One way to find out, I suppose¡­~

    And it had worked. Symbal had a chicken brought in and killed right there behind the curtains of the medical bay. Josh couldn¡¯t help but think it paid to be the lieutenant commander in charge of supply.

    Sen looked at the chicken¡¯s carcass, ¡°It has a wisp of Essence in a tiny core near its center of mass... Earth Essence even.¡± He smiled at Alysa and handed her the small fowl. ¡°Use your Intent to feel its Essence as you feel your own. Then, will it toward the meridians of your hand and absorbed into your core. It will feel... ungainly. But don¡¯t give up. You¡¯ll get it.¡±

    Alysa accepted the small dead bird with a serious intensity that, if Josh was honest, scared him. He and Sen both academically knew that cultivation and its actions were much easier for them compared to others because of the benefit of Josh¡¯s mastery of physical laws and their Karmic Bond to share it. But now they got to see an actual cultivator¡¯s struggles.

    Alysa chased the hint of Earth Essence around the dead bird¡¯s meridians like a toddler chasing food around a plate the first time they used cutlery.

    ~Do you think she is struggling too much? Neither of us had this much trouble.~

    Sen¡¯s smile was a knowing smirk. ~Alysa is a very competent soldier and, I am certain, an excellent student. But cultivation is a learning process for all that don¡¯t have our... particular benefits. We are seeing the difference between us and even a very motivated person... but watch out... she has all the markings of someone who doesn¡¯t give up. I am sure she will ultimately run down her prey through sheer tenacity.~

    ~I agree with that. One thousand percent.~

    The next day Josh and Sen explained to Alysa how to cycle Essence and use it for healing, enhancing senses, and improving physical performance.

    Again, what had taken the two of them mere moments to learn had become the work of several hours of guided teaching. But both felt that Karma demanded they care for this newborn cultivator they had created. There was no other road to walk.

    Alysa could now enhance her eyes and ears. She was still working on enhancing her meridians for actions. But she would have the rest of her life to dedicate to it.

    Over the days, Josh and Sen continued their sword training. Josh noticed a leveling off of his training gains but continued when Sen chuckled and told him how small his own personal gains were and had been over the centuries. Josh then felt lucky to be getting 8 percent on his basic sword level per ninety-minute lesson compared to Sen, who only got 1 percent, and sometimes only that every other day at his advanced level, and even that level of progression was one that Sen considered blisteringly fast and a result of their unique Bond.

    After the battle in Epsilon 97 and their ongoing training, Josh¡¯s skill level percentage was 43 percent of the basic category.

    <table>

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td>

    Weapon: Titan Short Sword

    Weapon Skill: Bladed Weapons

    Skill Level:

    Basic (17% ¡ú 43%)

    Damage:

    Superior

    (Earth Enhanced)

    </td>

    <td>

    Quality: Mundane masterwork.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 1005% (x5 while Earth enhanced) increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    * * * * *

    Josh dodged to the right, in a blur with fully enhancing upper and lower body and limbs. Alysa¡¯s spear slash hit the mat where he had stood less than a tenth of a second before. She was wielding one of the Titan dory¡¯s heads mounted on a practice shaft. It had been Sen¡¯s idea, and Josh had agreed that the budding cultivator needed the best mundane weapon they could provide. She would still need an Earth Attunement to enhance her weapon as they did... but for now, the dory was a good fit for her.

    ¡°Missed me by a mile!¡± Josh laughed, standing behind Alysa.

    She gritted her teeth and spun around with a diagonal slash from a partial crouch.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Josh raised his sword and blocked the faster-than-expected attack as Alysa successfully cycled her Essence for a brief full-body enhancement. ¡°Aha! Now that was much better at cycling your Essence. You¡¯re getting the hang of it!¡±

    Alysa¡¯s follow-up leg sweep was ineffective as she was nearly out of free Essence. Josh¡¯s interface projected the guidance function as a shimmering mirror image that demonstrated the recommended action to avoid her attack as well as an appropriate counterattack. He jumped over her sweeping leg and pushed her back onto her backside with a light kick to her shoulder.

    Defeated, Alysa fell flat on her back and lay panting on the ground. Cycling Essence was new to her, and there had been no chance for her to increase her baseline core yet. She also didn¡¯t benefit from a probability interface like Josh and Sen. But based on Josh¡¯s back-of-the-napkin calculations... if she had the same size core he and Sen had started with, her free Essence is likely only forty some-odd cultivational units¨C

    Alysa interrupted his thoughts.

    ¡°--You¡¯ve had some hand-to-hand training, haven¡¯t you?¡± She asked, as she pulled herself up. A fine sheen of perspiration beaded on her brow.

    Josh changed gears to the present. ¡°... Well, a little as a kid¨Csome formalized grappling and boxing as a teenager, some fights in the streets. But the sword is new. Just like I imagine it is for you. I doubt spear usage is part of the typical Marine boot camp experience.¡± He grinned. ¡°I admit that I¡¯m also cheating. My cultivation units are significantly higher than yours, and I can keep myself fully enhanced during our whole fight... which isn¡¯t, strictly speaking¨Cfair to you.¡± He smiled the Cheshire¡¯s Cat grin. ¡°But in my defense, we both started at the same point as you and had to punch above our weight class in order to survive. The experience was both¡­ unpleasant and valuable, so it seems wise to pass it on as well as we can.¡±

    Alysa didn¡¯t take his bait to complain. ¡°Nothing is fair about fighting. My old instructor used to say that the more you sweat, the less you bleed. Your enemies won¡¯t be taking it easy on you. You win, or you lose.¡± She turned to the side and wiped the sweat from her forehead. ¡°... I¡¯ll figure it out. You¡¯d better not slack off. I won''t be. I¡¯m coming for you and Senyak, and when I surpass you, you¡¯re going to be the one down here flat on your back while I get to monologue.¡± A truly wicked grin spread over her lips and reached her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not monologuing,¡± Josh muttered with a smile as he wrapped up his monologue. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not from Chicago?¡± Josh offered her his hand to get up off the floor and channeled Essence into her meridians, refilling her tank as he did so.

    She perked up immediately.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Alysa nodded to his hand. ¡°That saves me a trip to the ship¡¯s forward-section animal pens. It takes me half a waking period in travel time to go back and forth. My father is opening a satellite slaughter pen in his supply section, but it will take two days to set it up fully.¡± Alysa leaned in and spoke with a lower voice, ¡°... I don¡¯t like being empty, you know?¡±

    Josh nodded and toweled off his head, looking down as he sheathed his sword. ¡°Yeah, I know what you mean.¡±

    Alysa placed a hand on his cheek that felt somehow smaller and more delicate than he¡¯d expected from the Marine.

    ¡°Thank you soooo sooooo much, Daddy!¡± Sophie¡¯s voice and the intonation of a four-year-old girl suddenly spilled from Alysa¡¯s mouth.

    Josh¡¯s head flashed up, and he stared wide-eyed at Alysa. She blinked several times, confusion writ across her face.

    Then her eyes rolled back in her head as she fell into his arms.

    Josh had to keep his legs locked to not fall himself¡­ so many things that hadn¡¯t made any sense during his time in Epsilon 97 now made so much more and so much less sense at the same time¡­ the spirit was Sophie¡­ it had to be¡­ how had that happened? Like so many things that had been going on since he got in that Jacksonville elevator, Josh had no real idea.

    Sen had told him about the strange way Alysa had spoken when he had been knocked out by the Star Gen¡¯s discharge. How she had ¡®not been herself¡¯. Josh also remembered the gentle spirit¡¯s presence in Alysa when he had spoken with it. He now realized why it¡ªno, she¡ªhad felt so¡­ familiar.

    Sophie.

    Alysa and Sophie were never connected in some vague, Karmic manner. They were literally connected, two souls somehow sharing the same body. The spirit he had joined into Alysa¡¯s newly formed core to save her life was his daughter.

    As he held Alysa in his arms and signaled for the training room attendant to call EMS, Josh looked into Alysa Nang¡¯s face. Sophie had chosen her as a way to reconnect with Josh. Josh had no idea how or why she had done so. But without question Alysa¡¯s importance to him was beyond measure.

    The next thought sent chills down his spine, and he didn¡¯t know exactly how he could or should react to it.

    I irrevocably tied the life of my daughter to that of Alysa¡¯s forever¡­

    * * * * *

    Josh, Sen, and Symbal were standing in the medical bay over an angry Alysa¡¯s bed. Fed up with their over-protectiveness, she stood, pulled off the last vital lead from her hand, and brazenly donned her duty jacket, completely ignoring them. She then pushed through their collective mothering and into the passageway beyond with a determined stride.

    Once there, she turned around and faced them. Starting with Josh, ¡°I know what I said. Have you forgotten? I was there!¡± Next, she turned to Symbal. ¡°No, I don¡¯t fully understand it. Yes... I am¡­ was¡­ linked... to Josh¡¯s daughter, even before¡­¡± She gestured at her abdomen vaguely. ¡°This. That link is simply more¡­ real, now. More present. If she hadn¡¯t reached out to me... I¡¯m sure I wouldn¡¯t have survived... she lent me strength when I needed it... and I owe her a debt I am going to try and repay.¡±

    She finished with Sen. ¡°I would appreciate it if you could discuss with me the... Bond you and Josh share. It¡¯s not exactly what Sophie and I have... but I think it might be close.¡±

    Sen¡¯s overriding politeness caused him to nod in the affirmative, instantly drawing glares from Josh and Symbal. He held his hands up in surrender as they chased Alysa down the hall.

    At the door to the lift, she turned back to Josh. ¡°Look... she¡¯s been with me since I woke up in Epsilon 97. I can¡¯t explain it ...¡± Alysa shook her head minutely with wide eyes conveying the internal mystery she was struggling to understand herself. ¡°... Usually, it¡¯s just a feeling or fleeting vision¨C A girl running through her backyard. Picking flowers to give to her blonde mommy ... Chasing the cat that keeps sneaking in and staring at her hamster¨C¡±

    ¡°Mr. Snipps!?¡± Josh overrode Alysa, the shock evident in his voice.

    Alysa cocked her head as if reflecting on a memory. ¡°... Yes... him.¡± She smiled minutely at what the confirmation meant for both of them. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how Sophie used our connection as powerfully as she did to allow herself to speak through me. She was just suddenly much closer for an instant and couldn¡¯t seem to help herself... I can feel that she is very sorry. She didn¡¯t mean to scare you.¡±

    Josh closed his wide-open mouth and then spoke with a dry throat. ¡°Can you tell her... tell her I love her to the mo¡ª¡±

    ¡°To the moon¨Caround two times and back again?¡± Alysa grabbed Josh¡¯s hands with both of hers. ¡°She knows, Josh. I swear¡­¡± Her eyes shone brightly. ¡°She knows.¡±

    The dumb grin only a proud dad could possess split Josh¡¯s wooden face as he nodded in agreement. Silent tears began to run down his cheeks.

    Alysa next turned to Symbal whose mouth was hanging open as well. ¡°Ba?ba¡­¡± She grabbed her father in a hug. ¡°... I am also sorry for scaring you...¡± She whispered in his ear and then looked into his eyes. ¡°This is just part of my new normal... I¡¯m trying to get used to it. Please give me the time and understanding I need?¡± Pulling back from their hug, Alysa finished with a raised left eyebrow.

    Swallowing, Symbal Looked in the eyes, his nasal voice for all to hear, ¡°... Ancestors give me strength! Now you are channeling your mother¡¯s power looks at me! How many of you are in there?!¡± He gently shook her shoulders, then pulled her back in for a tighter hug. ¡°... Of course, I¡ª¡± He looked at Josh and Sen, who were nodding vigorously as well. ¡°We... will be here to support you, n¨¹?¡¯e?r¨C¡±

    ¡°It is time to depart.¡± An unmistakable voice cut through the warmth of the moment. Then Josh and Sen were gone from the passageway and back before the Clone where they started experiencing a different type of moment.

    ¡°We have arrived at the long-abandoned Sanctuary of the Mind Breaker, orbiting Baroo-7 on the atmospheric moon of Mwezi. There are Items of Power located within this outpost that will attune your Mind Aspect. Acquire them.¡±

    This is too much! At the very moment I have reconnected with Sophie the Clone pulls me away!? No! Not this time Big Blue!

    Josh raised his fisted index finger, pointing at the Clone wearing a firm frown. His open mouth was on the verge of shouting angry words¨C

    But Sen was faster. He knew that it didn¡¯t matter how angry a person was or how unreasonable Zenyak was.

    Nobody approached the Patriarch of the Marztanak Hegemony in rage. At least not if they expected to get away unscathed.

    Sen¡¯s body check sent Josh down. A quick scramble and a rear-naked choke put an end to the insurrection.

    ¡°Th-thank you, Lord Clone...¡± Sen managed to get out as he struggled, only able to subdue Josh after fully cycling his Essence to his upper body.

    Sen could tell through their Bond Josh didn¡¯t have the heart to fight with him... he just wanted to scream at the Clone. ¡°We are ready to depart.¡±

    ¡°I see...

    ¡°This is for free, gentlemen. Just because this sanctuary is abandoned doesn¡¯t mean it is desolate. You have progressed much too far not to have competition. Be ready for it.¡±

    Then they were gone again... appearing in a small courtyard of a crumbling ruin. Knee-high green and yellow weeds grew through cracks in the few flat gray stones not covered over by large blocks coming from the tumbledown stone building that had once stood here. A large, amber sun rose behind the pink and orange striated gas-giant planet covering most of the horizon.

    A feral scream exploded from Josh¡¯s throat. No different from an animal gnawing its own leg off to escape a deathtrap. Blood in his eyes, he closed them tightly for thirty seconds... then sanity reigned... again.

    Josh nodded to Sen. ~Thank you, brother...~

    Sen nodded back and narrowed his eyes. ~When the time comes... I may well need you to do the same for me.~

 Chapter 44 - Epilogue

    The paramounts, the three most powerful Immortals in all Reality stared awestruck from the fifty-fifth aspect doorway into the face of absolute nothingness... Oblivion. Each knew that despite their countless ages of absolute Authority, they were now confronted by something so much greater than themselves that there was no path to safety concerning it.

    The only thing each of the three truly knew was that if they didn¡¯t do something... anything, and in relatively short order, all probability calculations confirmed that Oblivion¡¯s continued advance was the terminal end of... well, everything...

    Oblivion was not darkness, not light, not the crushing gravity of a singularity that mortals made such great noises about.

    It¡¯s just a rotting, Ka-less gray mire that devours any underlying aggregate without discrimination and leaves behind it only absence...

    Zenyak Marztanak, the Penultimate Combatant, flared his nostrils at his powerlessness before Oblivion and considered the very little bit he did know about it.

    Everything that makes contact with it faces absolute and complete annihilation, regardless of whether it is physical, spiritual, mortal Essence, or even Immortal Ka... All substrates are impotent against Oblivion¡¯s procession.

    All Immortals who touched it had succumbed instantly. No residual remainder of their Ka was even detectable.

    Unfortunately, this fact has been proven on several occasions despite their concerted efforts for over 200,000 Ka Nexus cycles. Any Immortal who had come into contact with the entity had found their strength inadequate to withstand the obliteration that awaited any who had penetrated even a portion of their energy through it. This was true regardless of using their Immortal Ka forms or physical matter avatars.

    A further complication and perhaps even more frustrating was the fact that none of their disciplines of perception had been able to pierce Oblivion¡¯s gray surface or quantify its properties. Was it alive? Was it growing? Was it angry?

    Is it a massive dog turd from the dream of Angkasa that awaits all Immortals when we have finished our cultivation and Ascend to the great unknown beyond? If an Ascended Immortal ever came back Zenyak would be sure to ask... As it''s never happened to my knowledge, I imagine that such a thing is going to be a wait¡­

    Zenyak rubbed his physical Avatar¡¯s face with an open hand to refocus back on the present.

    The only real information we have gleaned in the past 200,000 Ka Nexus cycles is the rate at which Oblivion consumes normal iterations. Something we have barely been able to effect¡­

    His next thought Zenyak shared in frustration with the other two paramounts. ¡°We¡¯ve hardly even slowed it down. And the cost to accomplish even that is on the edge of insanity!¡±

    Neither Chiteki, the Prime Motivator nor the entity known only as the Principal Master responded to the obvious truth.

    Zenyak cast a sideways glance at them with his avatar but didn¡¯t blame them. It had taken the implosion of a wide swath of entire complete iterational cuboids back into primordial singularities to curb Oblivion¡¯s pace of advancement a meager 14 percent since it had first been encountered. The complete resetting of twenty-seven complete realities per cuboid, multiplied by hundreds of thousands of cuboids that stretched from the fifty-eighth aspect doorway to where they now stood at¨Cthe fifty-fifth.

    Still, the only solace is that so far, Oblivion has had very little impact on mortal life and Immortal existence.

    Zenyak rubbed his eyes and nodded slightly to himself as he attempted to keep things in perspective. Very few Immortals knew or even cared to know that the iterations of Reality frequented by sapient beings was generally limited to the iterational cuboids of the first thirty-five aspect doorways. Those started and branched off from the designated ¡®ground zero¡¯, his own Polar Neutral Iteration.

    The reason for the lack of emergence of mortal life and the concurrent existence of Immortals beyond the thirty-fifth aspect doorway was due to the fact that the iterations that far away were only abstract substrates. They possessed too few dimensional vectors to support mortal life in any variety. Lacking mortal life, these iterations had never given rise to Immortal existences as a place of origin. They also had very little to attract any Immortals for a short visit let alone to set up permanent residence.

    Imploding these iterations down to oblong and hyperdense singularities slightly less than two meters in diameter had created a metaphysical fire line. It has become a barrier the three Paramounts had hoped would slow Oblivion down and allow their subordinates to find a way to gather some information for a better next step. It had cost enormous reserves of energy from each of the three that they had held in reserve in order to leave the Immortal realms and push on toward Ascension¨Cthe mysterious beyond.

    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    They had each made the sacrifice, millions of Ka Nexus cycles of accumulated cultivation of their Immortal Ka. Now they were all unable to push to Ascension until it had been replaced. Each of the three had considered it a small price to pay to protect all that existed from dissolution. Luckily for them, it seemed to have worked. The three-aspect-doorway thick layer of condensed universes had been slightly harder to digest. The original spread between iterational cuboids was assessed at one per 2,500 Ka nexus rotations... And approximately one aspect doorway per 65,000 Ka nexus rotations. After their implosion tactic, this had stretched to 2,850 and 74,100, respectively.

    But as the three looked on from the on from their vantage from the fifty-fifth aspect doorway, they could see Oblivion''s gray goop even now finishing the last row of the solidified cuboids. The great sacrifice had amounted to no more than buying a small amount of time.

    We haven¡¯t even come close to stopping it.

    Not being finished stating the obvious. Zenyak raised a hand and spoke what they all had been thinking, ¡°Trench digging... that¡¯s what we have been reduced to.¡±

    The Prime Motivator, having stared into nothingness for long enough, took his verbal bait and turned to Zenyak with a jovial tone, ¡°Regretting not Ascending into the Great Unknown before this was found? I know I am!¡± His youthful face broke with a genuine chuckle.

    Zenyak turned his strong and wizened avatar¡¯s countenance to the fourteen-year-old looking avatar preferred by the Chiteki, the Primary Motivator, who had become his friend over the last hundreds of million Ka nexus rotations. The youth currently floated in a lotus position upside down and rotating so fast that all that could be seen of him was a blurring inverted tetrahedron of Ka and his faced-up palms sitting on his knees.

    ¡°Grow up, Chiteki!¡± Zenyak chided, chuckling with his friend.

    Then, after a moment, seriousness returned to Chiteki''s voice, and he continued.

    ¡°We currently have the power reserves to do it again. . . but if we don¡¯t get any better results, either slowing it more or attaining some information about any possible weakness¡­ in 200,028 Ka Nexus rotations we¡¯ll be left with our final option¨C¡± Chiteki puffed his juvenile cheeks and made the sound of an explosion as he splayed his fingers and separated them for the same visual effect.

    Simultaneous detonation of our cultivations¡­ Zenyak grimaced, and for his friends¡¯ sake, he hoped things wouldn¡¯t come to that eventuality... But all three were united and willing, if necessary, as the probability engines they had used predicted that the joint detonation of their cultivations as near as possible to Oblivion had a theoretical chance of quintessential disruption of its matrix. Even the staunchest individuals faced with such things had to consider their possible end¡­ and what steps needed to be taken if such a thing was to occur. Oblivion¡¯s presence was the very reason Zenyak had been moved to reevaluate his legacy¡­ and found all but Senyak wanting. Oblivion was also the reason why there would be no holding back in Zenyak¡¯s guiding his last Heir¡¯s reacquisition of Transcendence¡­ properly.

    ¡°That is a pretty slender reed to hang our last hopes on Chi¡­¡± Zenyak summed up his old counter argument of risking everything on an ¡®unconfirmed possibility.¡¯ But he trailed off not having any other ideas of how to stop Oblivion after the 200,000 rotations they had bought with their power.

    The Principal Master, the third member of the Paramounts, stoic as always, ignored both of their antics and proceeded to the matter at hand. Extending his Intention, he began the desiccation once again of entire cuboidal clusters of iterations.

    ¡°...Are we ready to restart the implosion protocol? You were right that it will buy more time that I hope we use more wi¡ªMOVE!¡±

    A scaled lash shot from the center of Oblivion¡¯s gray mass and swept across the ranks of Immortals arrayed before it. None were spared. Not the Masters in the service to the Principal Master. Not the Seraph who served the Prime Motivator Chiteki. Nor did any of the combat-focused followers of Zenyak, the Penultimate Combatant, do any better. All were instantly annihilated as the pseudopodia extension crashed through them, ending their existences as it headed toward the three leaders.

    Zenyak, always the fastest in combat, erected his Ka core shield and stood before the other two as they opened a Reality portal back toward safety, several dozen aspect doorways away.

    The thick, grey limb struck Zenyak¡¯s shield and partially penetrated his bulwark¡ªa barrier that had for time immemorial been unscathed to all forces. The Penultimate Combatant¡¯s knees buckled, and he roared through clenched teeth in defiance as his meridians began draining Ka like water poured into sand. The translucent silver-white of his bulwark flared into full opacity trying to match Oblivion¡¯s force¡­ but Zenyak was losing! This was no contest. He wasn¡¯t even going to be able to last the brief nano-gyra it would take his two companions to get the doorway open.

    As a last-ditch effort, Zenyak opened his Immortal Ka core and converted oceans of Immortal Essence to keep the shield between his friends and the complete end that Oblivion¡¯s tentacle promised.

    The only thought that raged through Zenyak¡¯s thinking as his spirit began to fade. I must keep this shield up! If we end here and now, there is no hope for the multiverse as a whole! All of Reality will be destroyed!

    Reality¡¯s deep blue hues sprang into swirling fullness as the aspect doorway opened behind the three Paramounts.

    As if Oblivion could tell they were escaping, the force of the lash¡¯s attack intensified. Driving Zenyak fully to his knees, his vision narrowing.

    From a distance, he heard the principal master''s alarmed voice yelling, ¡°Chiteki! Grab him! His core meridians are rupturing from the strain!¡±

    Then all was the swirling blue of the Way.

 Chapter 45 - Prologue

    ¡°Pitiful... Puny... Pathetic.¡± Nagal mumbled as he stared with unblinking eyes at the crowds of Cultivators on the cliff top overlooking the water planet Ceylon¡¯s westernmost sea. All were present to participate in the Vigil of Struggle and determine the Blessed One¡¯s next chosen being to advance on their path. The Vigil was a meeting of equals that occurred once every thousand standard solar cycles. Here, challenges could be made and accepted. Lives might be lost if accepted, but the Vigil¡¯s victor would be allowed passage through an Aspect doorway to access their next Attunement. It would be a tremendous step forward on the triumphant Path of One.

    However, the Cultivators arrayed before Nagal were not in any way his equal. He was far and away the strongest of all in attendance. Nagal¡¯s eyes saw only incapable feeblings. All here would be easily crushed by him if they followed the traditional methods of individual combat the Vigil stood for.

    And they all know it too! Still, they would deny Nagal his rightful place as the Blessed One¡¯s chosen. No! It was unthinkable. I will deliver them all to the fate they deserve. The same fate that any who might attempt to steal from a Dragon deserve¡ªa quick and painful death.

    The Vigil formally began as the first of Ceylon¡¯s twin suns reached the horizon. In the waning light, five spirit beings approached Nagal.

    Their leader was the Helical Solar Knight, Rykin. Force Essence swirled in his Core as he swaggered toward Nagal. A Solar Knight¡¯s traditional weapon¡ªhis plasma lance, swung over Rykin¡¯s shoulder with all the ceremony a laborer used to tote a length of lumber. Nagal couldn¡¯t help but note the destructive intensity of the lance¡¯s glow steadily increased as darkness started its slow, patient crawl over the cliff top. The nearing time and Rykin¡¯s confident stride broadcasting his supreme confidence in his own strength and their greater numbers were nearly enough to make Nagal laugh aloud.

    Fools!

    The three spirit beings immediately behind Rykin were leaders of the other groups assembled against Nagal. Haughty and knowing glances were cast by each as they neared. The largest was Trastor, a Beast Affin with two horns that rose from the midline of his face and forehead. His thick arms were crossed over his massive chest. The pachyderm skin of his face barely shifted as he leered at Nagal over Rykin¡¯s armored head. Orange-tinted Essence spun through his Meridians indicating his Earth Attunement and his strength and vitality would be greatly increased.

    The second being was a human, Cezzura. The diadem fixed on her forehead indicated that she followed the failed Path of the Biologics with their utter focus on physicality not on Cultivation. Not being Cultivators, she and her followers had no place here, but as they served another as hired mercenaries to stop Nagal, they had been allowed. The perfected musculature under Cezzura¡¯s skin rippled fluidly with her every move, while a feral smile widened on her angular features as she stalked up to him. It could not be denied that she, and the twenty of her soldiers present, were a force to reckon with.

    From past experience, Nagal knew that she and her team would be able to fight in perfect union and be able to achieve combat speeds rivaling even singly-Attuned Force Cultivators.

    The third advancing enemy was the Rakshasa leader, Nishachar. The Rakshasa, Adharmic children of some long-forgotten Creator god, were all born with Life Attunement. The blue skin of their six arms were all heavily marked with deep, dark-green tattoos along with a series of branding stigmata, giving the tattoos a texture that spoke of life, movement, and animation.

    The inscriptions seemed to move on their own and cast shifting shadows over lanky frames. The Rakshasa all moved with a deceptive slowness. Nishachar and his followers¡¯ speed, reflexes, and strength would be greatly increased when they used their Life Essence to accelerate their internal metabolisms, reinforce their musculature and tendons, and push their bodies beyond their natural limits. As a group, the Rakshasa¡¯s skills were likely limited to internal changes such as altering density to achieve flight, increased energy consumption for instantaneous bursts of healing, speed, or momentary leaps in strength. Such boosts in their physical capabilities were far beyond the usual Attunement increases a Cultivator got when advancing their Cultivation. With such broad possibilities, Nagal was interested to see what Nishachar and his followers would bring to the battle.

    Considering the whole group, Nagal doubted any present were proficient enough in their Attunement to project Essence outside their Core and Meridians. Beings who could do so at the first Attunement level of Spherical Cultivation were prodigies and geniuses.

    There are no geniuses here.

    Quite the opposite, in fact. The group here attempted to overcome their lack of strength with numbers.

    It was a losing game.

    The fourth and last challenger was Valai¡ªa fellow Naga and former comrade in arms, he walked well behind the Force Knight. Valai led the other Naga at the Vigil. Separated from the other four challengers by several meters, Valai seemed to attempt to show that he was not actually part of the opposition. He slid on his abdomen toward Nagal with a stern expression but a neutral body language.

    ¡°Harumph.¡± Nagal snorted at the ridiculous line Valai tried to walk.

    You are with the Dragon¡­ or you are not.

    Like all Naga, Valai and his followers were Attuned to one of the seven Spherical Essences from birth. As with virtually all Naga born on Ceylon, Valai¡¯s followers had started life with Water Attunement. They had massively increased agility along with augmented strength and defenses while in and near the water. The clifftop they stood upon was close enough for their inherent benefits to accrue.

    Valai, as Nagal had done long ago, served the King of the Depths. In his name, Valai warred against all who challenged Naga sovereignty under Ceylon¡¯s murky seas. In Nagal¡¯s time, Valai had served as Nagal¡¯s lieutenant and had never failed to quickly execute his orders. Nagal had even personally marked him for distinction in his duties on several occasions.

    Rykin stopped three meters from Nagal and rested his gauntleted hands on the pommel of his lance as he stared up the meter and a half difference into Nagal¡¯s eyes. The other leaders filed in behind Rykin as he voiced his challenge.

    ¡°Nagal! This is the Vigil of Struggle where Cultivators gain their second Attunement. You already have yours. Leave peacefully. Or...¡± Rykin looked around and received confirmatory nods from the group with him and their double-score of followers fifty meters in the distance. ¡°We have agreed to unite and eliminate you first. Then we will hold the Vigil as the Blessed One intended it be.¡±

    It was clear for all to see that the three directly behind Rykin, along with their followers, were shoulder to shoulder in agreement. They were ready to attack as one to honor the Knight¡¯s statement. Even Valai¡¯s ten Naga were all faced directly toward Nagal and ignored the others.

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    Smoke started rising from Nagal¡¯s scales as his Essence cycled for battle. The ember-glow of flames flickered in his nostrils as he tensed to attack¡ª

    Valai jumped between Nagal and Rykin with his four arms held out to stop the masses from advancing.  His previous lieutenant ignored the others and spoke only to his Naga followers.

    ¡°Brother naga! Hear me as your leader! It is wrong to attack Nagal together with these lesser beings. If necessary, we will challenge him one at a time, as is right. The great King of the Depths asks that you intercede on his former commander¡¯s behalf ! Do not suppor¡ªgullacchhh!¡±

    Nagal¡¯s massive jaws snapped out and clamped over Valai¡¯s throat from behind. Valai¡¯s eyes glazed over as he tried, and failed, to turn and face the attack. All present, including a stiffening Valai looked on, stunned at Nagal¡¯s betrayal of one speaking in his defense.

    Nagal was not surprised at their nai?vete?. All those who followed the King of the Depths were weak and of no consequence. Even the king himself was nothing to Nagal but a thing to be removed if Nagal ever returned to Ceylon.

    Moaning piteously, Valai tried to cycle Essence and heal from the vicious attack, but Nagal had seen enough.

    Time to end this foolishness.

    Nagal thrashed his head like a whipcord and felt as much as heard the tearing crunch of Valai¡¯s head and upper shoulder as it was shredded from the rest of his body.

    Blue-green blood turned into steam as it showered on Nagal and boiled on his superheated chest-scales. Blistering heat flowed off Nagal in waves as the remaining four confronting him were momentarily stunned into defensive positions at his unexpected and surprise attack. Each reflexively looked over their shoulders to see if betrayal was also coming for them.

    His distraction accomplished, Nagal surged into Rykin¡¯s tightly gathered group with a herculean sidewind. A savage grin appeared on his snout as they shattered like glass rods under him, and the clifftop was filled with the sounds of crashing armor and broken bones.

    Nagal manically screamed over their scattered bodies. ¡°You dare tell me to leave? I do not fear your challenge! I walk the steps of the Dragon and welcome all rivals!¡±

    The four that remained called their followers as they leapt into action.

    With Force Attunement, Rykin was the fastest by far. He leveled the blazing tip of his lance at Nagal¡¯s chest and cycled his Essence for increased speed. The plasma-infused tip burned with the heat of a dwarf star as it thrust faster than any of the Knight¡¯s allies could see.

    Cezzura and five of her fastest underlings moved next. The followers leapt the fifty-meter gap in a single bound and attacked as a coordinated group. Three came at Nagal high and three low. Bladed fist weapons edged with depleted uranium were the Biologic Assassins¡¯ weapon of choice. Each attacker¡¯s speed-blurred swipes covered every centimeter of Nagal¡¯s exposed scales in wide-swept and aggressive hacks.

    The Rakshasa Nishachar had armed himself with six daggers and whirled like a spinning top as he launched himself at Nagal with a speed- accelerated metabolism. Purple Essence-Inhibiting poison dripped from the blades and the Rakshasa¡¯s rotating momentum sent a high-pitched hum through the air as he flew toward Nagal.

    Trastor, the slowest, but by far the strongest, lowered his head and enhanced a horns-first charge to savagely impale Nagal.

    Nagal watched the coming attacks and promised each a quick journey to naraka through the hungry gleam in his eyes. All of their furious movements, all of their flurry of enhanced activity was nothing to him. Their greatest strikes were nothing but the slow and unsteady steps of one born misshapen... the plodding steps of an enfeebled elder.

    From early childhood, Nagal knew that his birth as a being with dual Cultivation was a once in an iterational event. The seers had spoken so on many occasions. Instead of a single Attunement, like every other naga child, Nagal possessed Earth¡ªa true anomaly¡ªand the very rare Fire Attunement. The gap in strength between single and dual Attunement was vast. Mere numbers could never hope to make up the difference between them. The outcome of this fight would be no different if his challengers had made it five hundred to one. With a body twice-amplified by Attunements, Nagal¡¯s strength, vitality, speed, and volume of Essence were an order of magnitude greater than the wastlings who dared to stand before him. He felt no pity. They should have known or at least been warned by their leaders against confronting Nagal. As they were too foolish to know or too arrogant to take the warnings... Nagal would remove them from his road.

    To Nagal¡¯s eyes, his attackers moved as if through thick mud. Slow and ponderous, their strikes were those of hatchlings against a well-armed and fully scaled warrior.

    First things first.

    Nagal¡¯s torso coiled sideways to avoid Rykin¡¯s burning lance¡¯s slow advance. True... the weapon could have damaged even Nagal¡¯s scales... if he was slow or foolish enough to let it hit him. Nagal was neither. With blurred speed, Nagal grabbed Rykin¡¯s head with both of his upper hands and squeezed, increasing the pressure on Rykin¡¯s head while the Knight¡¯s weapon passed harmlessly through empty air.

    A harsh growl came from behind rows of Nagal¡¯s pointed teeth and Rykin¡¯s eyes opened wide with fear as the strength behind the naga¡¯s bare palms began to crumple his helmet¡¯s plate-steel.

    ¡°You honestly thought you were a challenge to me?¡±

    Rykin began to scream in a steadily increasing pitch that stopped only when his helmet collapsed, and his skull burst with a meaty pop of fountained gore.

    Nagal turned his attention to Cezzura and her five assassins. They were not even leaving scratch marks with their twenty-five-centimeter blades. Futilely, they swiped at Nagal¡¯s scales as he grabbed four of their heads. One with each hand as though he were plucking anemone from a reef. Moving faster than his enemies¡¯ eyes could track, Nagal cracked them together like eggs and tossed their limp bodies away. He grabbed the last two Biologics by their necks with his upper two arms while his lower two arms swept up the Knight¡¯s dropped lance to swing it through Nishachar¡¯s ponderously whirling form. The weapon seared through the Rakshasa¡¯s left flank, up through his neck, and out above the topmost arm of his right shoulder. The two pieces of his body continued through several more rotations at differing speeds. The poisoned daggers the Rakshasa had held flew out in every direction from now dead hands.

    Finally, Trastor had made it to the fight. Nagal dropped the lance and used his tail to swat the sluggish Beast Affin¡¯s mass to the right.

    Crushed by the blow, Trastor tumbled end-over-end until his horns dug a meter-deep trench into the ground and finally stopped his involuntary passage. The Rhino Affin¡¯s torso and legs bent backward to form a crescent moon over his buried head.

    Nagal raised the two Biologics he still held up to his face. Even then, they still pointlessly struggled in his grip. ¡°You thought you could intimidate me?!¡±

    A series of snapping pops rang out as their cervical spines were pulverized in Nagal¡¯s clenched fists and he let their dead bodies fall to the ground in an unmoving tangle.

    Trastor pulled himself from the ground and stumbled forward, obviously unaware all of his allies were dead. Smirking, Nagal grabbed his two horns and whipped the Rhino Affin head sharply to the side with both right arms, snapping the man¡¯s thick body like a pennant in a stiff wind and killing him instantly. His neck and back had been fractured at every vertebra.

    The Rhino Affin¡¯s corpse dropped to rest at Nagal¡¯s feet as he turned to look on at the fallen ¡®heroes¡¯ stupefied followers. Nonplussed faces stared out at him, a clear testament of how easily Nagal had slaughtered their leaders in just a handful of moments.

    Imbecilic.

    They might have lived if they had used the time their leaders had bought them to flee. Instead, the Beast Affins, Rakshasa, remaining Biologics, and Naga were in the process of forming up defensively. Most likely to follow the useless orders their dead leaders had given them.

    Looking on at how insignificant they were, Nagal was almost of two minds. His objectives had already been accomplished. He was certain there would be no more Challengers tonight.

    But Nagal knew there could be no room for compromise as he hissed to himself. ¡°No one takes from a Dragon¡¯s hoard...¡±

    The glow of his chest scales increased to a blinding intensity as he opened his mouth. A torrent of flame shot out and enveloped the whole group and the entirety of the clifftop. Everyone and everything was charred to ash in less than a second.

    The twin-yellow suns of Ceylon rose above the horizon and illuminated the vast sea¡¯s surface in warm yellow light. The black and shifting depths lightened their hues from dark and royal blues, through aqua-marine, to finally settle on a glowing cyan. Golden flecks of the dual suns¡¯ light filtered through Ceylon¡¯s never-ending waves as they carelessly broke upon the high cliff¡¯s walls.

    Nagal, the lone challenger remaining, Cultivated his gains from the night before. Focused only on his advancement, his eyes took in all the beauty, but saw none.

    Behind him, at the cliff¡¯s precipice, energy coalesced in steady translucent waves. From this, a rising susurrus grew like broken clam shells ground slowly upon a shallow reef.

    Then, as if the universe was turning a page, space and time folded around an invisible point and stretched into a ten-by-ten-meter doorway. From outside of physical space, churning swirls of Reality¡¯s deepest blue glowed so vibrantly they outshone the Water Giant¡¯s dawn.

    Through the arch, Nagal could see tall, white spires surrounded by minarets with conical tops. Some were capped with broad rounded domes that tapered to needlepoints. Others were as narrow as spears. All were colored with faded hues of red, orange, and yellow. A gas giant with bands of pink and orange stood in stark relief as a colossal backdrop to it all.

    Nagal sidewinded toward his reward over the broken and charred bodies of the defeated. As a Conqueror, he took the measured, confident pace of the victor. No respect was due to the fallen here. The defeated¡¯s own actions had proven them unworthy of any. Nagal would be glad to forget their names.

    If more threats waited beyond the Aspect doorway, Nagal didn¡¯t care. To Cultivate was to struggle with one¡¯s existence in the balance. Any who thought differently would not advance further in their Culti-ations than these feeble few had.

    Nagal stepped through the portal of the massive stone arch at the top of the cliff and the rich blue of Order enveloped and carried him forward on his path.

 Chapter 46

    ¡°I¡¯m going to rise through human Cultivation. Transcend and continue through Immortal Cultivation. And then... Then I¡¯m going to send that blue-glowing-Lite-Brite muther home with a rupture!¡± Josh, the forty-four-year-old divorced Chicago lawyer turned multiversal gallivanter, thrashed his hands around violently as he shouted to the sky and surrounding fields.

    To obtain their Mind Attunement Item of Power, the Clone had sent Sen and Josh to the terrestrial moon Mwezi that orbited the massive pink and orange gas giant Baroo-7. The giant¡¯s wispy pastel stripes dominated the sky and cast everything with a gentle orange-pink tint.

    When they had first arrived, Senyak, the Immortal combat specialist, who¡¯s strength had been reduced to that of mere mortality as part of his grandfather¡¯s design to reshape his development, had looked around and found that...

    They were on a small, unremarkable hill¡­

    The tumbledown ruin of an ancient stone building stood around them, smack dab in the middle of exactly¡­

    Nowhere¡­

    Rolling fields of wild grains and thistles covered the countryside around them. Far off in the distance, on the rising slopes of a valley wall, they could see a large... castle?

    Even with his enhanced sight, Sen wasn¡¯t exactly sure from this distance. It was huge and white, surrounded by massive white walls with several grand, white towers.

    With no other signs of civilization, and with Josh far too distracted cursing the Clone¡¯s existence to actively participate, Sen decided to cross through the grass toward it.

    They could have run using their Cultivation, but Josh¡¯s tirade against the Clone¡¯s existence was slackening in a way reminiscent of catharsis, so he must be finding the time to reflect from their slower pace¡­ therapeutic.

    Sen had learned a bit about his Bonded brother over the past week. Josh¡¯s passion for life and compulsion as well as capability to always ¡®win¡¯ were a significant part of their growth thus far. The man was honest and would tell a person what he thought about them, good or bad...

    But to be overly passionate about the deceptions others tried to manipulate him with would keep Josh from identifying his adversary¡¯s true agenda. In fact, it was a given that tactical and strategic snares were generally laid to keep one from seeing their enemy¡¯s plot in the first place. It was a lesson Senyak had learned the hard way at the hands of the genocidal harvester, Brundox. Now, Senyak¡¯s eyes had been opened to many things he had previously ignored. Senyak now even realized that he had been taught this very point by his political tutors as a child. Sen couldn¡¯t help but hear his tudor¡¯s words echo through his mind as he walked, and he shared it outloud,

    ¡°In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity... Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then strive to win.¡±

    Josh¡¯s human¡¯s mind was quick, and he could focus his considerable mental faculties to a photon¡¯s edge when necessary. Sen nudged Josh¡¯s intellect towards the enigmatic, universal constant that was his grandfather in order to get him to see the Clone¡¯s acts for what they were. Acts of dominion and control.

    Josh scowled. ¡°You¡¯re trying to calm me down with some kind of Sun Tzu-wholistic-mumbo jumbo while that mother¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, brother. Without question, we will send that incestuous fornicator back to the Polar Neutral Iteration with a crushed scrotum... But you must have noticed that the Clone¡¯s timing was amazingly convenient... even for a being as callused as he... What could his motivation possibly be?¡±

    Josh¡¯s head snapped up demonstrating that he was already on edge at the continued existence of just about everything. His eyes thinned at Se. The built up fears for Sophie, the rage of being yanked from her on the verge of their connection all mixed together with his concerns and likely ¡­guilt? The struggle of being the major cause for Sophie now being inexplicably metaphysically joined with Alysa erupted from Josh like vomit from a carsick toddler all over Sen.

    ¡°Spare me your platitudes, Ghandi.¡±

    Josh¡¯s fury rolled over the countryside in all directions as Sen took a silent step back and exhaled slowly. But there was no condemnation in the shorter man¡¯s sympathetic expression. He could feel all of Josh¡¯s turmoil through their Bond.

    As if the shouting of the angry words served as a pressure release valve for Josh¡¯s fading sanity, he regained intelligent thought and immediately dropped his head, squeezing his eyes closed. It was obvious he held himself in greater reproach than anything Sen might say.

    After a moment, Josh spoke again through the puffed out cheeks of a forced calming breath. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, brother... You, of all people, don¡¯t deserve my angst.¡±

    Josh took another slow breath and clicked his tongue as he got onto Sen¡¯s original subject.. ¡°...Yes, his timing was inconvenient, to say the least. Much too perfect to be a coincidence...¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Sen nodded. ¡°So, to reframe your own question¡ªwhy did he do it?¡±

    Josh looked up to the sky, obviously thinking seriously for a second before answering. ¡°Well, he made it plain that he could care less about Sophie. Or me seeing her... He''s made it clear that his objectives for us are just to rise through mortal Cultivation and to transcend to the Immortal realms of Cultivation¡­¡±

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Senyak agreed calmly. ¡°So those are his goals.¡± He put on a face that was filled with an impressive short-bus-riding level of confusion. ¡°...But what exactly did the Clone do to you, again?¡±

    Josh rolled his eyes in exasperation. ¡°...As if you weren¡¯t right next to me¡­Fine! Sophie was right there Sen! My daughter! She spoke to me¡ªyou know, from Earth, in a completely separate iteration? How is that even possible?¡± Josh interrupted himself and then got right back on topic. ¡°¨CAnd then, when I¡¯m about to start figuring that out, that festering, pus-leaking, POS dad-blocked me!¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Sen breathed out as if he¡¯d achieved enlightenment. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your daughter. That was a ¡®dick move¡¯, as I¡¯ve heard you say, was it not? Still¡­¡± He trailed off thoughtfully, trying to bring Josh¡¯s thoughts back around. ¡°Why do you suppose he did?¡±

    Josh blinked.

    At Sen¡¯s words, he paused in his next tirade. ¡°Well¡­ he must have pulled us out of there¡ªlikely at the very instant I had a real chance to communicate with Sophie to¡­ force me to work harder to get back to her¡­¡±

    Sen widened his eyes in faux surprise. ¡°Fascinating. Now, knowing his goals and his intent through his actions, how do those two go together? I¡¯ll give you a hint. We know who Sophie is to you, but what is Sophie to him?¡±

    ¡°Alright, jerk,¡± Josh chuckled, punching Sen in the arm. ¡°I get it. ¡®Quit bitching and look at the big picture¡¯. That picture being, ¡®what is Sophie to him¡¯? Well, from his perspective, Sophie is¡­ a tool to accelerate our growth¡­¡± Josh¡¯s teeth clenched to the point of the grinding becoming audible as he threw his hands to the heavens in outrage.

    Sen¡¯s silence was one of confirmation.

    ¡°He¡¯s separating me from my daughter as a motivational aid! That mother-frakker. Arrghhhh... I¡¯m going to kick his sack right between his ears!¡± Josh stamped his feet impotently on the ground and pointed his index finger at the sky as he cursed the Clone for the next thirty seconds of their walk.

    Sen smiled quietly as Josh went on with his tirade. He was sorry to have started the man up again... but it was necessary that he understood the political machinations of Sen¡¯s family. It was better to grasp such things now rather than later, when it would be far too late.

    ¡°It¡¯s been three hours, Sen. I know we¡¯re getting closer because that castle looks more like a palace.¡±

    ~ But how much farther do you think it is?~

    Josh half spoke his idea and half transmitted through their Bond. It surprised him at how normal their new form of communication had become.

    Sen chuckled. ~Still farther, brother, still farther.~

    Josh rolled his eyes and laughed quietly at himself. What should I expect? I basically asked how much longer our car ride was going to be.

    However, the... ¡®palace¡¯ was significantly closer. Its massive walls and towers dominated the side of the valley they were walking in.

    It reminds me of the Maharaja¡¯s stronghold described in The Arabian Nights... Or maybe some fantastically elaborate north African Kasbah.

    Tall, white spires, surrounded by minarets with pointed conical tops, reached over 300 yards into the sky. The larger ones were capped with broad, rounded domes tapering to needlepoint peaks. All shaded in faded hues of red, orange, and yellow, and were well placed under the sun¡¯s warm amber glow, complementing the pink and orange striations of Baroo-7 above. Flocks of white and yellow birds, barely pinpricks at this distance, rode the thermal updrafts between and around the pinnacles. They moved with such freedom any onlooker would wish to be there soaring with them. Josh was no different.

    After an hour, they came across a well-packed dirt road winding in the direction of the palace. Thirty minutes later, they could make out shorter buildings that formed a small town around the palace¡¯s 100-yard-tall alabaster walls. Thin trails of smoke from cooking or other work fires rose around the outbuildings. Gray plumes of dust floated up from distant roads as vehicles moved along them.

    Cultivated fields of neatly fenced and well-organized crops started to line the roads. Josh noticed a species like corn, along with wheat, soybeans, tomatoes, and several orchards of citrus-bearing trees. The field¡¯s produce looked to be three or four weeks from harvest. The plants¡¯ fruiting bodies were well-laden, but no discernible, vegetative head was visible in the center of the¡ª

    ¡°Get a grip. The science is only going to distract you, Josh,¡± he muttered to himself.

    Josh took a sip from the canteen Sen had been drinking from and put it back in his bag¡ªor ¡®Aspect Facet¡¯ as Symbal, the anterior section¡¯s quartermaster and unofficial despot of Hegemon-4, had called it. A mouthful-designation, which teenage recesses of Josh¡¯s mind insisted on ignoring and insisted on dubbing it his ¡®Bag of Holding¡¯ despite conscious efforts to the contrary. The canteen slid back in, somehow. It also went¡­ someplace in there and came out again when Josh called it. He would have to spend time with the Facet to learn more about how it worked. While the Facet was a convenient luxury to Sen, to the Cultivator, its workings were of no interest. The man had likely seen many things like it in the past. But it was still pretty cool to Josh.

    It¡¯s not just the Bag... I need answers for a lot of things. I know how to use Essence. But what is it really? Does Essence come from matter? From energetic solar ejections as particles or waves? There¡¯s undoubtedly a spiritual element. Is life required? Consciousness? Could any intelligence on the Hegemon-4 see it or use it?

    Josh had no answers for any of these questions. Yet, learning these things was vital to maximize his capabilities in regard to Essence use, increasing his Cultivation, and in short¡ªgetting back to Sophie...

    As for that¡­ Josh had a ton of questions about Sophie.

    What is the link between Alysa and Sophie? How did I drag my daughter into this insanity? Is she in any danger? Alysa and Sophie¡¯s Karma is obviously tied together... but across so many iterations? How exactly did it happen? How strong is it? Do I need to bring them together? Keep them apart? How much of this is my fault?

    A bitter taste filled his mouth and a realization stuck to him like the tacky, trailing slime under a moving slug.

    Most of this is my fault¡­

    The questions and realizations were going to keep him awake at night until he found some form of resolution, because the Clone also knew Sophie and Alysa shared a bond in some way similar to the one Josh and Sen did. That couldn¡¯t be a good thing. Or could it? For one thing, the Clone could likely answer all of Josh¡¯s questions about whatever was going on with them. He also tended to reward Josh and Sen with some information when they successfully achieved his objectives.

    Maybe I can get leverage that after we get this ¡®mind fruit¡¯ and complete our next Attunement.

    Questions and worries aside, Josh was grateful to Sen for getting his brain reengaged to do more than rage-hating on the old blue bastard.

    Sen¡¯s mental agreement came through their connection. ~You¡¯re welcome, brother. I¡¯m wondering how Sophie and Alysa¡¯s bond formed, as well. Forgive me for saying so, but it''s a fascinating and intriguing conundrum.~

    Josh conceded Sen¡¯s statement with a nod before adding. ~I really thought saving Alysa would meet Karma¡¯s price of balance.~

    ~As did I. One thing that you may consider is that perhaps it already has and this is Karma balancing the scales. Karma eludes even the greatest beings in  the Multiverses¡¯ capability to understand it. Your world had a saying that ¡®god¡¯ works in mysterious ways. Well, I don¡¯t know about any God or gods, but Karma always has. The Clone can answer these questions just as any Immortal Fate Glancer could trace the ties of Reality and Balance between the two of them. But let me bring it up. You are too close to the problem to truly act in Sophie¡¯s best interest.~

    ~You¡¯re right, but¡­ it¡¯s hard...~

    Sen smiled reassuringly. Then, because he could keep no secrets from his Karma-Bonded brother, particularly about Sophie, who was the motivating force of their Bond...

    Sen added, ~It could be a testing of you. Of your resolve¡ªyour dedication and tenacity that was somehow instigated or fostered by Zenyak. Never speak of your doubts or concerns about it out loud... just in our Bond. I suspect that even the Clone cannot completely read our shared Karmic communications.~

    Josh nodded in affirmation and continued walking toward the town, trying to take his mind off things that were beyond his ability to change. It would only slow him down from gathering the strength needed to get back to Sophie.

    Recent emotional meltdown resolved; Josh got back to work to improve his Attunement. The Clone had said they would be able to form shields and other abilities with their Earth Attunement. Then, as usual, he was silent about how this could be done.

    No surprises there!

 Chapter 47

    Over the three days since they had saved Alysa, Josh had been trying to push his Essence outside of his body and form a shield. It was the same arcing technique he had used to enhance his weapon and heal Alysa should be able to form a shield. It was all essentially the same thing. Just pushing Essence along his Meridians and out of his body while Intending it to take form.

    For the most part, Josh felt he had the gist of getting the shield formed, but he had definite power issues. A full shield, when created, would drain his free Essence after several seconds if he fueled it from his Meridians alone. His thoughts turned back to science involved in electro-magnetic theory. Perhaps this ability wasn¡¯t analogous to a ¡®direct current¡¯ skill like the weapon-enhancement skill was where like a battery the on-time, single directional flow of a charge was enough to bring it to fruition. Perhaps the skill needed something more like an ¡®alternating current¡¯ in a similar manner to the oscillating frequency of standard electrical outlets on Earth. He began to become more and more uncomfortable as the sensation built, unable to find an outlet for the growing¡ª

    If so, Josh needed to draw power from a continuously available source instead of just the Essence already in his Meridians.

    Josh stopped in the middle of the empty road as an idea struck him. Sensing Josh¡¯s intention, Sen looked up, but kept back a step.

    Aura¡­ Earth¡­ Grounding? Josh mused. If there are parallels between elctro-magnetic principles and Essence like DC and AC electricity, then maybe this Aura is the Essence equivalent of what?¡ªStatic electricity? If that¡¯s the case, then perhaps I can balance out the buildup of energy with¡ª

    Holding his hands out and palm down to the ground, Josh started to access the most logical source of Essence to ground the built up Aura ¡®charge¡¯ that had grown unchecked as a metaphysical haze surrounding his body.

    Earth Aura flooded him from all around. However, it was the bottom of his feet that had the greatest pull as they were in direct contact with the ground. He cycled Essence at a ratio of about three to one from the Meridians on the soles of his feet versus the rest of his body combined. So, Josh limited the absorption to focusing only there. The dark orange power streamers stopped circling around him and only came through his feet. Josh found that the balancing force from the Earth Aura served as an anchor for his own, allowing him a degree of growing control over it. His thoughts began to churn about the potential of one day using his Earth Attunement itself to accomplish the same result. His Attunement already resonated from its connection to the Aura of the Earth, which spoke of future possibilities, but he pushed that thought to the back of his mind for now. Flexing his Aura, he bent and twisted it before compressing it into a thin layer of force. He then started pushing the force out from his hands and noted that he could Intend it to form a hardened and, gratefully¡ªtransparent... layer? Barrier? Membrane?

    Nah. Call a spade a spade. It¡¯s a shield.

    And a shield it was. Slowly, it formed over Josh¡¯s hands, arms, and up his torso. Continuing over his legs, shoulders, head, and feet to simultaneously reach both ends of his body. It lay closely against his skin and clothing. Tight but flexible. Josh tried to push it away from his skin...

    The power draw grew significantly, pulling free from Josh¡¯s Meridians at a steeply increasing rate. He stopped and let the shield settle over his skin again. The Aura drawn from his feet went back to refilling his Meridians.

    The entire process to form the shield took about five seconds. A relatively short time... but an eternity when one wanted to block a swing from a bone alien or even a bat cannibal¡ª

    Josh¡¯s interface chimed.

    New Earth Attunement skill created.

    Earthen Shield:

    Channel 100 Earth-Attuned Essence per second to form an external layer of protection.

    Check status for details of Earthen Shield.

    Sen chimed in, ¡°Form it from your Core, brother. It will be much quicker and stronger. Also, with a greater reserve for impacts.¡±

    Josh dropped the shield and reformed it from his Core directly. It was quicker. Taking only about two seconds to get into place. Still, a long time. But Josh was getting faster, too. With continued practice, he and Sen would be able to get it in place much quicker. Just like absorbing Aura was almost instantaneous now.

    Josh explained his thoughts on the shield to Sen. Mainly through the Bond if he had kept score. Plain talking was just too slow, particularly for metaphysical things where feelings played a large part.

    Soon, Sen had gotten his own earthen shield up as well.

    Twenty minutes later, they were both drawing in Aura through their feet, with the shield snapping into place in less than an eye blink. The popping sound of air being pushed out confirmed it was airtight. Josh had been pretty sure it was. Neither he nor Sen could breathe when it was in place. Not a significant issue right now... they could go much longer without oxygen following their Earth Attunement. But, as the Clone had said¡ªthey would still need air until they finished their Spherical Cultivation.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ~So, we will still need air for a very long time to come.~

    ~Joshua, there is no need to put more rush upon us than already exists.~ Sen replied. ~We are doing very well, even I can tell that.~

    Josh blinked. ~I know. You¡¯re right Sen... I¡¯ll keep it positive.~

    He checked his status.

    <table width="592">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="131">

    Body

    </td>

    <td width="461">

    Earth Attunement: 100% probability of increasing your health status by 500%.

    100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your skin by 780%.

    Weapon enhancement: Invest 200 units of Earth-Attuned Essence into a weapon for 100% probability to

    increase durability by 1000% and its damage rating by 500%. Duration is dependent on use.

    Earthen shield. Channel 100 Earth- Attuned Essence per second to form an isolated microenvironment to serve as an external layer of protection. Shield strength increases with increased channeling of Essence per second.

    Further increase your health status, connective tissue density, and Earth- Attuned skills by increasing your level and Cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="131">

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td width="461">

    Mortal level.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="131">

    Spirit

    </td>

    <td width="461">

    Spherical Cultivation level 100% to stage 2/7.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="131">

    Weapon:

    Titan Short Sword

    Skill Level: Basic (17%)

    Damage:

    Superior Mundane (Earth Enhanced)

    </td>

    <td width="461">

    Quality: Mundane masterwork.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 1005% (x5 while Earth enhanced) increased damage vs. standard hand-to-hand.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="131">

    Armor: None

    </td>

    <td width="461">

    Standard Earth-Attunement resilience.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Josh had lots of questions about the shield.

    How much force can it stop? How much damage can it absorb? Would it shatter, or degrade slowly? How much training until maintaining it is second nature, like blinking when dust gets in your eye? Will it apply to any weapons I am holding? How much Essence will it take to be expanded off my skin to use like a diving bell or a space suit?

    Josh looked up. ~Meh! Let¡¯s just test this thing out!~

    Sen was already swinging his sword.

    ~Hey! What the¡ªI¡¯m not even ready!~

    Sen¡¯s mental smirk came through their connection clearly. ~You should always be ready.~

    Josh dodged to one side, the blade whistling through the space he had just occupied. Sen swung again as Josh reformed the protective force, wrapping his body in a layer of energy. He noted that the barrier didn¡¯t even extend to the blade in his hand. He felt that he could make such an extension, but the cost would go up significantly to protect things not in contour with his body, and he quickly gave up on the idea.

    There¡¯s one data point. No covering the weapon for now. Too expensive.

    Sen¡¯s sword was still whipping menacingly through the air toward him. Josh held his arm out defensively in front of him, wrapped in a protective layer of Essence shielding.The non-enhanced swing bounced off Josh¡¯s arm with a sharp ping as if it had struck a marble column.

    They both smiled.

    Sen then cycled Essence and struck the flat of the blade against Josh¡¯s arm.

    A louder ping resonated out from the blow. Josh¡¯s arm felt the pressure of the strike but no significant pain, like he was wearing... well... a shield on his arm.

    Imagine that!

    <table width="380">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="222">

    5000/5000

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="222">

    4050/3960

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Josh¡¯s Free Essence had dropped less than two percent, but there had been no interruption in its protection.

    ~This is going to be a big help!~ Josh nodded.

    ~About Transcendent time, brother!~

    Mentally chuckling, Josh replied. ~When you¡¯re right you¡¯re right!~

    Josh took a step while maintaining the shield. His absorption of Aura from the ground faltered and significantly decreased to less than one-third of what it had been. Essence started to drain from his Meridians to continue the shield between steps.

    He began to test how much connection with the earth was needed to maintain the link. The farther Josh raised his foot, the less Aura he could absorb. At two feet off the ground, he was getting nothing from that foot. Checking his interface, his Free Essence dropped by about two percent per step to maintain the shield.

    ~Well, that is something to work on.~

    ~Well, are you not¡ªwhat¡¯s the term... Captain Obvious?~ Sen cajoled.

    ~Nobody likes a wise guy, Sen.~

    Josh was sure with practice he would be able to increase how much Aura he could draw through his grounded foot between steps. It was a skill like walking and rubbing his stomach. He just had to do it about five million times until he didn¡¯t have to think about it anymore. Easy.

    They walked on and attempted to increase their Aura absorption through their placed feet to minimize the loss of Essence while the other was raised. Increasing their Cultivation would ultimately increase their Meridian and Core capacities along with their Aura-absorption abilities. The practice using ambient Essence would in turn make the decrease in efficiency while moving negligible. Building foundational skills was what Sen was here for. The less said about Josh¡¯s own ¡®foundational skills¡¯, the better. They had a lot of work ahead of them. So, they¡¯d do it, and, hey, they could start improving right now... so why not?

    They walked for another hour, and Josh noticed Sen began to have trouble concentrating. In fact, he had started moving with a little jig on one leg, then the other while he held his legs together. It was a classic toddler pee-pee dance.

    ¡°Senyak. Do you need to... urinate?¡±

    ¡°Um... yes... but there are no proper facilities in the area. So... I was waiting for one. The last time I urinated outside of the proper facilities... it didn¡¯t go well...¡±

    Josh held back a chuckle, remembering their first face-to-face meeting in the alley. It seemed like a lifetime ago¡ªbut after quickly recounting the days¡ªit had been less than a week.

    ¡°Okay... that was a unique set of circumstances. And yes... it is better for mortals to always use facilities when available. But right now, we are out in the open¡ªamong the great outdoors. It¡¯s okay to go out of the way, off to the side, and pee if we need to... I kinda have to go myself.¡± Josh pointed out the fence between the growing crops and the road. ¡°I go here. You go maybe five feet away. Facing apart from each other¡­ There¡¯s sword fighting, and then there¡¯s sword fighting, and I¡¯d prefer you keep certain ¡®weapons¡¯ as far from me as possible.¡±

    Sen lined up at the fence, facing away from Josh, and they both relieved themselves.

    ¡°See. Perfectly ok¡ª¡± Josh was cut off by a voice to their left,

    ¡°What in the Ascending Hells are you guys doing to my maize?¡± The figure stood off to the side, on the top slat of the fence they were peeing through.

    Startled by the fact they hadn¡¯t heard his approach, even with their hearing enhanced, they both turned... their pants still down, holding their business¨C

    ¡°Oh, gods! Please put ¡¯em away, fellas!¡± And then, with a voice reserved for a young child or a mentally handicapped adult. ¡°Friends, are you both... special?¡±

    Josh could feel Sen¡¯s glare on him, even at this distance.

    ~Don¡¯t give me that look Sen. This has never happened to me before¨CMaybe you should think about why Karma seems to have a problem with you taking your pants down in public. Maybe some I don¡¯t know about you from your past life!?~

    Sen seemed genuinely concerned about the topic, while Josh was simply relieved to pass the buck on to something else. Pausing briefly, they both realized at the same time that they were still¡­ indisposed and quickly pulled their pants up before turning toward the person who had spoken.

 Chapter 48

    Josh and Sen looked up and saw, well, the last thing they expected. Nearby was an orange-furred orangutan wearing a straw hat and a pair of blue denim coveralls. He was standing on the fence with one leg. The other leg and both arms were being held defensively in front of him as if to shield himself from some kind of vegetable perverts.

    ¡°Sorry, friend... didn¡¯t know you were there. And, you know... when you got to go...¡± Josh smiled sheepishly and held his hands up in surrender.

    ¡°Sure, sure... Don¡¯t mind too terrible much. I¡¯ll just wash these here particular stalks extra well before I sell them to anyone...¡± The orangutan rolled his eyes and dipped his chin. Corn issue seemingly settled, he changed the subject. ¡°Anyway... what are you doing way out here? You two come for the race?¡±

    Josh and Sen introduced themselves and explained they had been sent to Mwezi for an Item of Power that would help them Attune their Cultivation.

    ¡°Aha... thought so! You¡¯re here for the competition.¡± The orangutan seemed to relax. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here, the Sundai Clan, I mean. I¡¯m Gusti Sundai. One of the clan¡¯s farmers.¡± Gusti leaned and spit over the fence, then continued. ¡°As you said in your roundabout fashion... The Blessed One¡¯s Mental Attunement fruits, the Ip¡¯pul, are about to ripen. Palace¡¯s gates are about to open, and all qualified Cultivators will get to enter the race to the orchard to collect one.¡±

    Josh looked to Sen and then back to Gusti. ¡°Are you a Cultivator? Do you know about Cultivation?¡± Josh said a little more desperately than he had intended at the hope of getting some information from a willing person.

    Gods knew, the Clone only told them what probability determined they should know. Which, in most cases, was very little.

    Gusti looked back at Josh like he might indeed be ¡®special¡¯ after all. ¡°Well... I¡¯m a Beast Affin. I was born with Earth Attunement like all my kind are. So yeah, ¡¯course I¡¯m a Cultivator. Is that a trick question?¡±

    ¡°Sorry, Gusti. No disrespect intended. Where we come from, none of the Beast Affins have any Attunements at birth. None of them even know about Cultivation. We¡¯re humans in a world with eight-billion others, and none of them know about it either. We got thrown onto the Path by forces out of our control and are trying to figure it out so that I can get back home to my daughter, Sophie.¡± Josh spoke faster at the end than when he started, for some reason needing to get the truth out.

    Gusti pulled a small, oblong silver object with a crystal inset one-third of the way from the top. The crystal was currently lit a steady, royal blue.

    Gusti looked up with sympathy to Josh and Sen. ¡°Well, okay, boys. You can stop right there. Not saying your story makes a lot of sense to me... but it¡¯s true. Every word of it, as far as I can tell.¡± He sat down on the top row of the fence and looked at them. ¡°You see, I¡¯m more than just one of the clan¡¯s farmers. I¡¯m also the head Peacekeeper. We spotted you guys about four gyras ago, back on that hill.¡± Gusti pointed to where Sen and Josh had first appeared. ¡°I came out to check your intentions. I can tell you don¡¯t have any guile in you. Being set on the Path of One without any information at all? Well, we should at least help you as much as we can.¡± Gusti looked up, clearly in thought. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what. This is my family¡¯s land. Give me a hand here with some of the chores. I¡¯ll bring you into town and show you around and explain what I can to you about basic Cultivation and the competition the Blessed One has apparently sent you to qualify for. Deal?¡± Gusti¡¯s eyebrows raised inquisitively as he looked back and forth between Sen and Josh.

    They nodded in agreement so fast they almost bonked their heads together.

    Finally, some help!

    They quickly learned that the farmer hadn¡¯t lied about having to work for it, however.

    Gusti had fencing created for another two fields, which was way more than it sounded. Despite being as dense as iron, they had to heal large blisters on their hands and some bruised bones by the time they¡¯d finished enclosing the two fields. The science side of Josh¡¯s brain raised a red flag at that, and for the first time in a while, Josh agreed. When he got the chance, he would ask what was going on with his body¡¯s durability.

    Gusti also had livestock to feed. There were regular chickens and cattle-like creatures called bovinas. They were larger than cows by about 50 percent and definitely not as even-tempered. Josh had to heal a couple horn-holes in his posterior before he was done. He also had to change into his spare crew jumper or forever walk around with free air conditioning to his nether regions.

    As the sun began to set, the pink and orange gas giant was still prominent in the sky and looked like it would glow softly on its own for several more hours. Gusti returned with a wagon drawn by Sparky, an hour after the sun had bid ciao, baby for the night.

    Sparky was¡­ unique. It was a minivan-sized, furry, maroon-colored animal that appeared to be a fusion between a tree sloth, a bear and a Dr. Seus hallucination. Gusti identified him as a kuda. From the beginning, it was evident Sparky didn¡¯t like Josh or Sen. He actively snapped at them with twelve-inch fangs as they neared the wagon. Calming him, Gusti promised the kuda that neither of them would try to share his dinner. Mollified, Sparky acquiesced to let them ride in the storage portion of the cart. Sweaty, tired, and needing a shower, neither Sen nor Josh objected.

    Gusti was the first to speak. ¡°So, it seems you both have a handle on the basics of circulating your Essence and healing wounds. You also can express your Essence to form protective constructs. I saw that as you were walking up to the farm. That¡¯s pretty darn good for the both of you, given you are so early in the development of your Spherical Core with and with only an Earth Attunement. The Clan hasn¡¯t had anyone able to express Essence in the first striation of Attunement in... well... a very long time.¡± He scratched his head with his right foot as if thinking about just how long. Seeming to give up trying to remember, he continued with their conversation. ¡°Now, I can tell that you both need to work on your control of both Aura absorption, external expression, and more efficient propagation. There are some exercises that I can recommend to you for that, if you¡¯re interested?¡±

    Sen put his palms together and bowed to Gusti from the back of the wagon. Josh nodded, indicating they would both appreciate it.

    Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Gusti raised an eyebrow at their response. ¡°All right. When we get to town, we can start there... after a shower, of course. Sorry... but both of you fellas smell like you¡¯ve been working on a farm all day.¡± He took a shallow sniff and his face pruned with distaste. ¡°... and mostly with the wrong end of the animals... What¡¯s the matter with you both... don¡¯t you bathe?¡±

    Sen looked confused and grew a sour expression as he smelled his own underarm.

    Josh moved quickly to the back of the wagon, creating more air space for Gusti, then thinned his eyes at the Orangutan Affin.

    ¡°You¡¯re messing with us, aren¡¯t you?¡± Josh said, half-laughing as he settled back into the comfortable slouch he previously occupied.

    Gusti spread a broad smile on his lips and laughed. ¡°¡¯Course I am, boys! Forgive a farmer his field humor... but I had to skin the Weda! Can¡¯t have you bowing over yourselves every time we talk. We¡¯re simple folk here in the Sundai Clan. Helping two good-natured young ones is just the basics of kindness. I suspect you will find the rest of the Clan feels the same way when you start to meet ¡¯em.

    ¡°So, anyway... what questions y¡¯all have for me?¡±

    Josh held up his healed hand and turned it over as he asked about getting hurt from simple work. ¡°Back home, because of my Earth Attunement, I wouldn¡¯t have to heal my hand if I¡¯d hit it with a hammer. In fact, I¡¯m so dense that my hand would likely have bent the head of most hammers as much as it would have hurt me. What¡¯s different here?¡±

    ¡°Welp. After catching you two at my fence, your density was never in question.¡± He smirked with a sly smile, ¡°Kidding, kidding!¡± The orangutan nodded slowly as if things made a little more sense to him.  Anyway, what you¡¯re saying goes along with what you were telling me about none of the eight-billion people on your planet knowing what Cultivation is. Nor any of the Beast Affins being born with an Attunement. You see, all spiritual creatures can Cultivate¡­ If they have access to enough Aura and Essence, that is. I suspect that your planet, galaxy, or perhaps the entire iteration is deficient in one or both for whatever reason. If so, the inhabitants would not be born with the natural Attunements and all the matter in that place would be... weakened. Lower densities. Lower molecular weights. Less electromagnetic forces keeping particles together, etcetera, etcetera. Weaker materials make for weaker beings¡ª¡± A thought appeared to come to Gusti. ¡°Mind if I see your swords?¡±

    Josh and Sen handed them over.

    ¡°Just as I thought. The workmanship is masterful. Whoever made this did the best they could with what they had. But at this point on your Path, you boys would be better served with a standard weapon made from stuff around here. I¡¯ll bring you around to Jorng¡¯a, our journeyman blacksmith. He can offer you something worth your while.¡±

    They continued on their path for a while, the inexhaustible Sparky forging on gamely, before a small town became visible¡ªquickly growing as they approached. Gusti waved to the two guards as they entered the town gates. One looked like a Wildebeest Affin with horns bracketing a long equine face. The other had a sharp beak and a tortoise¡¯s gray-green, knobby skin. A large, oval shell covered his back.

    The guards waved back to Gusti, not questioning his judgment about letting Josh and Sen pass through into the clan¡¯s town.

    Josh interjected, ¡°You were saying you have a blacksmith?¡±

    ¡°¡¯Course we do, son,¡± Gusti said, waving his right leg at a fly buzzing around his head as he held the reins of Sparky with his left hand. ¡°The Sundai Clan is just shy of twenty-two thousand members strong!¡± he said with pride.

    He began pointing out the various shops he mentioned with his right hand as he said their names.

    ¡°We have journeyman-level Talisman Drafters, Inscribers, Alchemists, Blacksmith Armorers and Weaponsmiths, and Crystal utilizers of all kinds. We also have apprentice-level Scribes that help create our knowledge books as well as a Clan-based Oracle communicator and a branch of the Santosa Core Bank that travels with us as necessary.¡± The orangutan finished with a smile then looked up at the palace, looming like a cliff over the town they had built around its walls. ¡°Speaking of traveling, we will pull up stakes as soon as the young ones finish their Attunement run.¡±

    Josh¡¯s brain spun. It was just like the MMORPGs he had played in college and that he¡¯d returned to with only a small pang of guilt after he had separated from Miranda. He and Sen could obtain reliable information about Cultivating and maybe even get some gear improvements from the Clan. It was going to take some serious investigation and likely some money. No matter where, when, or what iteration one hailed from... cash was always king! They were going to have to figure out a way to earn whatever the Clan used for currency.

    Hopefully not through more farm work. Josh could feel Sen¡¯s agreement through their Bond. They would do what they needed to build their strength.

    Josh quickly moved back to the conversation, not wanting to lose the chance to ask the question that seemed to flow naturally from what Gusti had just said. ¡°You won¡¯t be partaking in the Attunement run?¡±

    There was another slight look of surprise and a half-smile from Gusti. He then nodded to himself and shrugged with a body language that said, I should have known.

    ¡°No. I won¡¯t be trying to qualify for the race¡ª¡±

    A roar erupted from the shop Gusti had identified as belonging to the Talisman Drafter.

    ¡°I have already told you not to speak with disrespect to me! I walk the steps of the Dragon¡ª¡±

    The next voice was not raised in anger, nor in volume. But, somehow, it carried the replying woman¡¯s Intent throughout the entire town. ¡°And I told you if you raised your voice in my shop again, I would throw you out. It¡¯s time for you to leave!¡±

    Several loud slaps sounded out and a well-muscled, eleven-foot-long snake creature with four arms flew out through the open doorway of the Talisman Drafter¡¯s shop. Its body rolled to a stop in the middle of the street shrouded in a small cloud of dust. A female Orangutan Affin in a cornflower-blue prairie dress with a matching bonnet quickly followed. She stopped in front of the snake figure slowly rising to its feet.

    The shopkeeper, trying to use her tiny body to block the snake monster¡¯s path, stood with her feet spread wide and hands on her hips. She was a full seven feet under the serpent man¡¯s head as it rose to its¡­ tail?

    Undaunted, she spoke, ¡°Now. Is that clear enough? Or is our discussion continuing?¡± She cocked a very serious eyebrow at the towering creature. The four-armed snake man¡ªwhich Josh decided to call Mr. Snake flexed his external hood like a giant cobra and then started to glow. The coloration of the deep red of a banked fire began spreading to his chest scales with a rising heat that Josh could feel coming off his body in waves fifty-feet distant.

    Josh eyed Mr. Snake¡¯s Core and Meridians; its power outstripped his

    and Sen¡¯s significantly. Mr. Snake¡¯s Essence appeared to be a mixture of the gold-orange of Earth, and a reddish yellow Josh assumed was fire, given what he saw and felt.

    A surprising thought came unbidden to Josh¡¯s mind. He couldn¡¯t see Gusti¡¯s... or the Talisman Drafter¡¯s Core or Meridians... but he could see Mr. Snake¡¯s...

    Why was that?

    If it seemed polite and the chance came, Josh would ask. After all, he wasn¡¯t sure what the right way to query about a person¡¯s Cultivation was.

    Maybe there isn¡¯t a polite way at all. Everything about the subject may be a taboo topic.

    Two seconds passed, and Mr. Snake continued ramping up his Essence. Emberous lights were glowing in its large nostrils and steam was rising from his scales.

    The female Affin rolled her eyes and muttered, ¡°Why do the dumb ones always need to learn the hard way?¡±

    Moving faster than either Josh or Sen could accurately follow, what they thought they saw was the shopkeeper striking the overgrown cobra in four places with her knuckles. Twice in its abdomen, once in its larynx, and once on the top of its head. The glowing immediately stopped, and the heat began to fade. The towering snake fell, rigid as a board¡ªas if poleaxed to face-plant in the middle of the road.

    The shopkeeper dusted her hands and looked up at Gusti, who was getting down from the wagon with the casual air of a man who¡¯d seen all this before.

    ¡°Really, Cahya?¡± he said, lifting Mr. Snake¡¯s body off the road and placing it over his shoulder like lumber.

    The body was still stiff as a tree trunk, somehow.

    ¡°The poor guy¡¯s only at the second level of Attunement. Did you have to petrify him? He¡¯ll be like this for two days at least and he¡¯ll be lucky to not have any permanent injury to his Meridians¨C I don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s going to fit in the cell I have for him like this.¡± Gusti shook his head and walked toward a flat-roofed, squarish building at the end of the street. The word Peacekeepers was engraved on the wooden placard in front.

    ¡°I gave him every chance, Gusti! He was going to burn my shop down. What was I supposed to do?¡± Cahya answered in a self-righteous tone, long-fingered hands on her hips defying Gusti to contradict her.

    ¡°...If a second level can burn down your shop, then I think we can safely say that the fault isn¡¯t with the customer but with you skimping on the level of imbued Essence in your building materials...¡± Gusti muttered under his breath as he continued toward his office. He then clicked for Sparky to follow and waved to Josh and Sen. ¡°C¡¯mon boys, we can talk while I take care of this one. Where were we... Oh yeah, the Blessed One¡¯s contest. It¡¯s pretty much only for the young with only their first Attunement in the Spherical Core ranking. I completed my Spherical Core long ago. Most of the clan elders here have...¡±

    Josh and Sen looked at each other and swallowed with dry throats. Suddenly, they felt like teeny-tiny fish in a gigantic pond.

 Chapter 49

    ¡°You¡¯ve completed your Spherical Core?¡± Sen couldn¡¯t help but blurt out, a touch of awe in his voice.

    Josh felt the same but managed to keep quiet and simply stare like a wide-eyed fish.

    Gusti was, by everything Josh knew about Cultivation, a powerhouse in his own right. With only a single Earth Attunement, Josh and Sen were two mice standing next to a bull elephant. But Gusti was also... just a regular guy¡ªwilling to joke and shoot the breeze with them. Josh never wanted to forget his roots or his humanity. He couldn¡¯t help but hope that should he ever find himself shouldering similar or even greater levels of personal power, he would be able to follow Gusti¡¯s example.

    Sen tilted his head to Josh. ~You and I both, brother.~

    The Orangutan Affin smiled and nodded. ¡°Listen. You two obviously know as much about the Mortal Striation of Cultivation as you do feeding bovinas...¡± A sly smile lifted the corner of his mouth. ¡°Whatever way you got to this point you have been stumbling in the dark and I can tell you need pointers on basic understanding of what it means to be a Cultivator. Gusti¡¯s features grew contemplative and he looked at them while he considered his words. After a moment of what seemed like an internal debate an inner power seemed to over take his simple demeanor and he seemed to in some way represent the forces of the universe.

    Josh and Sen both stood up a little straighter at the subtle but definite change in Gusti¡¯s ¡­presence? ...aura? ¡­vibe? It continued as the Orangutan Affin spoke words that rang with universal truth. ¡°The most important thing I can tell you about Cultivation, and how we start our own young ones with ¡®There is always a Heaven above the heavens¡¯. This lesson bears on the infinite. Anyone walking a path of power must understand its grave warning before seeking strength. You must move through life with the humility and wisdom of that understanding.¡±

    The Orangutan''s words seemed to echo quietly off of the nearing wall of the Peacekeeper¡¯s office.

    Josh¡¯s brows drew together in concentration, Gusti was certainly telling them something important but Josh was less than certain he was getting the full meaning of exactly what.

    Gusti seemed to understand that his teaching had fallen on deaf ears. The otherworldly component of his presence fell away as he leveled his chin and narrowed his eyes at them becoming their plain spoken friend again, ¡°...What I mean is ¡®There¡¯s always gonna be a bigger fish fellas. You need never to forget that¨C and be sure you always act accordingly.¡±

    That, Josh understood.

    Realization spread across Sen¡¯s face as well. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re a farmer and not a philosopher?¡± The top-knotted Cultivator asked.

    Gusti¡¯s belly rolled with laughter. ¡°Quite, my friend. Quite. Though even as a farmer I would caution you to not underestimate the philosophy of the elder¡¯s calloused hand.¡± He lifted his free long fingered hand with mock menace in Sen¡¯s direction even as he laughed good naturedly.

    They came to the closed door of his office, and Gusti called,¡°Josh, grab that door for me?¡±

    Josh turned the handle, and it opened to a cool but warmly lit office. A simple desk sat against the wall on the right side, and two metal cells lined the far wall. Each stood partially open. Gusti pivoted the eleven-foot-long, stiff-as-a-board Mr. Snake on the palm of his hand while slipping through the door without dropping him.

    ¡°Sen, hold open the cell at the end of the wall there, if you wouldn¡¯t mind.¡± Gusti pointed at the larger of two cells along the far wall of his office. He then propped the rigid body diagonally from the bottom of the front-left corner to the back of the top-right. There was just enough space to get him in with only a little wedging of his head against the upper bars. Gusti nodded once in satisfaction at having gauged it correctly.

    He then dusted his hands and smiled as he pointed at Mr. Snake. ¡°Okay... Allow me a practical example of my previous words. Take this Naga here who possesses two Attunements, Earth and Fire. I bet he was the biggest fish in the little pond that he came from. With his current strength, he could have easily dominated his homeworld and been treated like a king. With the way he acted towards Cahya, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if he had. His Karma ties and bindings are likely of one who takes advantage of those weaker than him. Though, because he likely wasn¡¯t adversely affected by those actions at the time, he thought he could and should continue to act that way. People such as this often believe it is their right¡ªthe right of the strong. It is a paradox of power: Life of the fist is often ended by the fist.¡± The orange peacekeeper glanced over toward him and Sen knowingly, as if checking to see if they were paying attention. Josh and Sen nodded back, and he continued. ¡°For a prime example, look no further than this ¡®powerful¡¯ creature before you¡ªthis likely king of his past kingdom.¡± Gusti rolled his eyes in what was almost sympathy then continued. ¡°Another paradox of power is that if you possess strength and demonstrate that you are both willing and able to use it¡ªyou often will not have to. This is the tyranny of humble Might.¡±

    Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    Gusti turned back to Mr. Snake. ¡°Now, this mighty being comes out from his kingdom into the slightly larger world of the Sundai Clan and what is the first thing that happens to him? He gets handed a street whooping by a middle-aged shopkeeper! Let me ask you. Do you believe that the good Cahya will need to use such force again to correct our mighty example? I can see by your faces that you begin to understand. Cahya has demonstrated her power and her willingness to use it and thus¡ªshe no longer needs to. That, too¡ªis strength. It is not, however, the only lesson to be learned here.

    He gestured toward Mr. Snake. ¡°Nagal is known to me, I met on the road coming into town just like I met you. His Karma likely led him to Cahya and appears to have begun collecting on his debt of Balance. If so, then it is a Balancing only in part, mind you, through what has happened today. You see... he¡¯s now a little fish in a big pond. If he had acted with the understanding that there was always going to be a bigger fish, it is doubtful that his Karma would have put him in such a predicament. I can tell you, no one in town will assist him for the next six weeks as we await the Blessed One¡¯s race. Unless he has a place to stay and is well-stocked with supplies, he will have a pretty tough row to hoe.

    The ape locked eyes with both Sen and Josh with his weighty gaze as he gestured back toward the snake creature. ¡°If he fits the mold that I believe he does, then Cultivators such as him operate under a fundamental misunderstanding and it is this: They believe that the Path of One means that Cultivation is a road that you travel alone. Defying the heavens, they call it. They are wrong, though not fully. He will likely find his lonely Path difficult and fraught with danger while you two may discover the Karmic path of collective cooperation. Instead of the Path of One, perhaps it would have been better to call it the Path of Oneness. I believe there would have been much fewer misunderstandings, had that been the case. There are paradoxes within paradoxes on the Path. It is not about one being¡¯s struggle against the world, though there is some powerful truth there as well. Cultivation is about encompassing that world within yourself¡ªof becoming greater than your beginnings. Greatness is more than a fist, though the fist has its function. So be tyrannical in your humility.

    ¡°There is always going to be a bigger fish, a Heaven above the heavens. Live your life under this philosophy, and you will find the heart of Cultivation long before your contemporaries do... I assure you. The Cultivation world will follow this fundamental law until you follow the Blessed One into Transcendence. Tread quietly. Treat people with respect and you will likely get along a might bit better than this one.¡±

    Sen nodded. ~This truth will continue even beyond Transcendence, brother.~

    Josh smirked. ~ No surprises there.~

    ¡°One second, boys...¡± Gusti furrowed his brow, and his countenance took on a stern look as he raised his eyes to the naga¡¯s frozen face. ¡°Now, Nagal, I know you can hear me. You¡¯ve got yourself your last chance... right here.¡± Gusti pointed to the floor with his right index finger then he continued. ¡°The Blessed One obviously granted you access to this challenge, and I¡¯m not going to stand in the way. But if you step out of line in my town again¨C¡±

    Sen and Josh suddenly felt a feeling of immensity coming from Gusti¡¯s Core¡ªa terrible and frightening force of nature. It was as if a tornado had begun tearing up a neighbor¡¯s house, and you didn¡¯t know if yours was next. They both felt an almost overpowering urge to run, to be anywhere but there. Josh had only heard rumors of such a phenomenon from Senyak and others, but he was now sure that he was experiencing Gusti¡¯s Killing Intent.

    It would have been way too much for Sen and Josh to deal with if Gusti hadn¡¯t been focusing that carnage-ridden Intent on the Naga. As a side note, Josh finally got to see Gusti¡¯s Core and Cultivation. Instead of being Spherical, it was Tetrahedral. A pyramid spun on its vertical axis in his lower abdomen. It was pure white and blinding. His Essence roared through a vast network of Meridians. Josh couldn¡¯t help but see that Gusti had far more Meridians, with much greater complexity of connections than either he or Sen had. His presence reminded Josh of how humans had described their encounters with angels.

    Still blasting his Intent like a foghorn on a socked-in night, Gusti spoke to the Naga in a quiet voice that managed to fill the still room. ¡°If that happens, you¡¯ll be dealing with me... not a cautious craftswoman. Things won¡¯t go so well for you from that point on. I have made myself abundantly clear. I won¡¯t be repeating myself.¡±

    The next instant, his presence was gone, and he was just... Gusti again¡ªthe four-foot-ten orange-haired orangutan with a slow, southern drawl. Behind the visage of the lovable kook that Josh had met slept the specter of slaughter and blood-soaked retribution.

    Almost casually, Gusti spun on his heel and closed the door to the cell with his left foot as he walked by. The door clanged loudly as it locked into place. He waved Josh and Sen back through the entry to the main street and closed it behind himself.

    On the street side, Gusti thinned his eyes and cocked his head to them. ¡°Watch out for that one during the challenge. He¡¯s got a mean streak to him a mile wide and twice as deep. Don¡¯t get me wrong. I wouldn¡¯t say he is walking an Adharmic Path quite yet. But if he lives long enough, he has all the markings of someone who will end up there. He¡¯s also a bit of a handful for someone with only a single Attunement. That, however, is something I can help you fellas with, I suppose.¡± Looking up at Josh and Sen with a smile, he added, ¡°Karma must have led us here... Let me tie some of the flowery philosophy I just spouted to some practicality.¡± Gusti led them to a bench on the wooden promenade that fronted both sides of the main street.

    ¡°Karma is a force that binds all Cultivation together. As I told you, acting with respect and consideration for all you meet will keep you in good Karmic standing. You cannot lead your physical body to perfect union with your spirit if your Karmic balance is not maintained. What I am telling you applies to Dharmic as well as Adharmic Cultivators... I can tell you both are walking Dharmic paths. Believe me, if you weren¡¯t, we¡¯d have had a very different conversation.¡± Gusti smiled wide, and his upper and lower canines gleamed in the setting glow of Baroo-7.

    ¡°Now, you both have treated me fairly and with respect, even before you knew that my relative Cultivation was higher than yours. In return, my Karmic duty is to treat you fairly and provide you with the same respect. To that end, allow me to honor my word and explain a little about Cultivation that will help you to further your growth. So, let¡¯s try this.¡± Gusti pointed to Josh. ¡°First, I saw you using your Earth-shield skill when you first came upon my farm. If I had to guess, it¡¯s a new skill for you. Probably have only been doing it for less than six months or so. Am I right?¡±

    Well... that¡¯s true... if not highly accurate. However, at this point in their and Gusti¡¯s relationship, Josh didn¡¯t think going into his and Sen¡¯s situation with their boons, the Clone, Josh¡¯s particular tie to physical-matter iterations, and their Karmic Bond would be conversationally productive.

    Josh glanced to Sen. ~Keep it close to the chest for now, brother?~

    ~Agreed.~

 Chapter 50

    Josh nodded once to acknowledge Sen.

    Gusti smiled amicably. ¡°Thought so! Now, don¡¯t get me wrong. Expressing your Essence with only one Attunement is quite an accomplishment. I expect you boys will go far down the Path of One, but we can refine your methods and further enhance your growth.

    ¡°I can tell that when you channel your Essence to propagate the skill, you are instigating your entire Core¡¯s complement of Essence. This is nearly universally how beginning Cultivators tend to do such things. With that said, it is inefficient and will ultimately lead to damaging your Meridians. It doesn¡¯t need to be said that it can be very hard to repair. Instead, we can moderate your approach should you continue, especially with skills that require greater intent to instigate.

    ¡°As a practical example¡ª¡±

    Josh and Sen tensed up and looked over their shoulders as if someone had just snuck up behind them.

    Gusti did the same. Seeing nothing, he looked back to them. ¡°Everything alright, boys?¡±

    Josh chuckled. ~Guess ¡®practical examples¡¯ still make us a bit tense.~

    ~With good reason, brother.~

    Josh coughed into his hand and waved it off with a smile. ¡°Sorry, Gusti. An acquaintance of ours has used that turn of phrase, usually with unpleasant results. But he¡¯s not here. Please continue.¡±

    Gusti looked about to say something but thought better of it and continued. ¡°As I was saying. As a practical comparison of channeling your entire Core¡¯s complement of Essence versus only using the necessary amount, I¡¯ll begin with a question. Would you use a firehose to fill a teacup?¡±

    They both shook their heads.

    Gusti smiled and continued. ¡°¡¯Course not. We train our young ones to attempt to initiate their skills with just a bit less Essence than they think they need to get the ability to propagate. Afterward and slowly, over time, they decrease that amount until they feel they can lower it no further. The process is  counterintuitive, but the results speak for themselves. The skills will ultimately propagate faster when using a greater level of control and less force than with the injection of all your Essence at once. You will end up saving about twenty to twenty-five percent of the Essence you originally needed to get the skill to initiate.

    ¡°We train them with that same example, actually. Think of instigating the Essence to propagate the shield skill as turning on the tap of your kitchen sink. Just turn the knob to the smallest amount you can to get the slowest trickle of water out of the tap. Once flow is established, you slowly increase it till only the amount of Essence you need is empowering the skill. Now don¡¯t get me wrong. It often takes students several standard galactic cycles to master it. And I don¡¯t...¡± Gusti trailed off as Josh began to do just what Gusti had described.

    Instead of flooding his channels with his Essence for the skill to begin, Josh carefully controlled the flow, or instigation as Gusti called it. Josh then ramped it up to the minimum needed for his shield to begin or propagate. As his shield snapped into place, his interface chimed.

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    New passive Cultivation skill gained.

    Essence Efficiency:

    Skills will be propagated at 70 percent of their estimated Essence cost.

    Check status for full details on Essence instigation.

    Gusti chuckled. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll be! Are you a prodigy among your Clan, Josh?¡±

    ¡°Not as such. But I have been told that I catch on to things quicker than some. Guess I¡¯m just a late bloomer. I do see the benefits of what you explained to us. This approach will also increase my absorption rate of Earth Aura when I have practiced a bit longer.¡±

    ¡°Exactly so...¡± Gusti tilted his head back and gave Josh an appraising look before continuing. ¡°Now, the other thing I can think of for you two that will immediately improve your skill is to focus on limiting the coverage of your shield to only the area you think you will need. Now again, don¡¯t get me wrong. If you were facing Nagal and his fire attack. A full shield is the order of the day. But for something slightly less day-ruining, you can consider only propagating your Earth Shield in the area you will need it. With enough practice, you can apply that shield to as much or as little area as you want. This will significantly reduce the time it takes for propagation, decrease the overall expenditure of Essence, and make you much more combat effective.¡±

    Gusti then stood and showed the same earth shield they had formed. But it only appeared on his arms, legs, alternating limbs, head, jaw, eyes, and all combinations.

    ¡°And this configuration is beneficial for protection against jilted companions!¡± The shield then flashed over his groin in the shape of full boxers.

    Sen laughed. ¡°Pardon, Gusti, but have you had cause to use that?¡±

    Gusti¡¯s eyes looked up, and a wistful expression took him as he winked at Sen. ¡°Why do you think I appear so practiced in its use? Let¡¯s just say... I won¡¯t be the one introducing you to Rheba, our lead Jewel Crafter. It¡¯s been over two hundred thousand standard solar cycles and still... I need that particular armor configuration at all our Clan get-togethers.¡± He waved his hand as if to move on from the topic. ¡°My personal issues aside. If you can get the cost of your shield¡¯s propagation down. You can also use it as a deterrent.¡±

    A full shield popped up around Gusti, and thousands of two foot long needle-tipped spikes sprang out of it like an agitated pufferfish on full alert.

    Gusti smiled behind his shield. ¡°Just a few thoughts to consider as you practice with it.¡±

    Josh¡¯s mind was whirling at the possibilities, and he couldn¡¯t wait to share with Sen the process to limit the instigation of Essence. He could feel through their Bond that Sen wanted to know now, but agreed not to show their full Bond in front of Gusti yet. He was sharp enough to put two and two together. There might come a time when they would take Gusti into their confidence, but it was best to wait for that moment and not spring it on him.

    Gusti let his porcupine shield drop and looked at Josh and Sen. ¡°Now. Let¡¯s get you boys to the Blacksmith so we can let him take a look at your weapons and make some recommendations to you both.¡±

    Gusti stepped down from the wooden promenade and started walking down the street toward the distant pinging sounds of steel on steel they had been hearing for the last hour.

    He glanced at their shortswords. ¡°It¡¯s definitely time for an upgrade in that department.¡±

    ¡°Begging your pardon, Gusti, but I¡¯ve never had any complaints¡­¡± Josh muttered through a partial, sly grin.

    Gusti bellowed out his signature laugh while clapping Josh on the back hard enough to send him sprawling into the dirt. ¡°Sometimes the women in our lives are just too good for us. I¡¯m glad to hear that she spared your feelings!¡±

    Pushing himself up Josh effectively wiped the street dust from the front of his Hegemon-4 jumper. He quickly changed the subject before thoughts of his ex-wife Miranda distracted him into uselessness. ¡°Gusti, you¡¯ve been kind to us and treated us more than fair. So, we need to confess that we don¡¯t have any money. We¡¯re not even sure what you use for currency around here and we don¡¯t want to waste anybody¡¯s time...¡± He trailed off.

    A wide smile split Gusti¡¯s face, and a sharp but not unfriendly gleam came into his eyes.

    He put a hand on each of their shoulders and led them down the street toward the distant clanging. ¡°Boys, boys. If there is one thing the Sundai Clan can be, it¡¯s accommodating to travelers in need.¡± Gusti¡¯s smile widened if that was possible. ¡°I think we can come to an understanding agreeable to all involved!¡±

    Josh¡¯s smile only partially slipped as he groaned internally. ~I have a feeling there would be more farm work for us on the horizon.~

    Sen only closed his eyes and nodded in agreement.

 Chapter 51

    Gusti brought Josh and Sen into a very busy shop and stopped at a counter manned by a harried, soot-covered Beast Affin with bulging muscles and robust, equine features. He clearly looked like a man more comfortable whacking an anvil with a hammer than standing at the counter. A long line of impatient customers who all wanted weapon repairs or upgrades for the coming contest waited on him.

    When they walked in, Gusti quickly glanced around and turned his head, apparently listening to the constant ringing of steel on steel from the back. Despite the long line of waiting customers, the counter-Affin turned his head toward Gusti but was waved off as the orangutan gently rang the service bell sitting next to him.

    The hammer¡¯s ringing from the back of the shop stopped and a second later, a mobile mountain pushed through the heavy, blue curtains that separated the shop¡¯s working area from the public space. The Clan¡¯s journeyman Weaponsmith, was a Bison Affin of enormous size and very few words. Gusti informed them was named Jorng¡¯a as they entered his shop.

    Jorng¡¯a¡¯s appearance also stood out in Josh¡¯s mind. While maintaining very recognizable traits from their beast lineage, most Beast Affins he had met pulled heavily on the humanoid proportions¡ªparticularly in the upper body and head areas. The few exceptions Josh had seen were, well, the orangutans of Clan Sundai, who were almost perfect examples of terrestrial orangutans, as Josh remembered them from Earth. The Senior Chief Ishan from the Hegemon-4 also came to mind as well with his tiger Affin features.

    Jorng¡¯a was among this group as well. He walked on two very short but powerful legs with mid-placed ankles that appeared as if they were reverse-jointed knees like an actual bison. His arms were roughly the same proportions as his legs if not larger. He also maintained a full bison¡¯s face and head along with two large, dark, wide-set eyes, a massive black nose, and two shortish, slightly curved horns jutting sideways from his temples. His face and head comprised a full one-third of his build.

    A deep basso voice greeted them. ¡°Gusti.¡±

    ¡°Jorng¡¯a! Good to see ya. This here is Senyak Marztanak and Joshua Elias Tanner, two young Cultivators from outside of the Clan that have come for the contest. They are armed with the best they could get on their homeworld, but I¡¯m afraid they¡¯ll need your help to do well in the race...¡± Gusti then waved his hand to draw Jorng¡¯a in and get Josh and Sen to hand over their swords. ¡°Take a look.¡±

    Jorng¡¯a held one, then the other, while closing his eyes tightly. He then handed the swords back. ¡°Good workmanship. Superb, even. Warlike race? The alloy¡¯s been folded six¨Cmaybe seven hundred times... but¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Josh answered the question simply. After all, it was true. The swords had likely been made by Hephaestus or whichever Titan taught him his trade. And the Titans as a group were likely one of the primal forces that had brought war to the humans of his Earth.

    Gusti nodded in agreement with the bison as well as to Josh¡¯s confirmation. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. I¡¯m pretty sure the boys come from an Essence-starved homeland. They need something that will hold up to the challenges we have around here. You know what I mean.¡±

    Jorng¡¯a nodded his massive head once and brought them over to the wall on the far side of the shop.

    Looking at Josh, the bison said. ¡°Solid Cultivation base, and very¡­ modest skills with the sword.¡±

    ¡°Come on!-- You can tell that just from looking?¡± Josh reflexively burst out. Then he said with a small, embarrassed smile while flexing his right hand between himself and Jorng¡¯a, ¡°...I really am working on it.¡±

    ¡°Warriors have a particular look,¡± the bison confirmed. ¡°They carry themselves with a certain deadly purpose that can be found in the eye, the wrist, shoulder, back, and hip.¡± He turned his gaze on Sen. ¡°Much like your friend here.¡± Josh wasn¡¯t sure, but an amused twinkle might have made its way to the large Beast Affin¡¯s dark eyes.

    Sen simply nodded in agreement to the big creature.

    Jorng¡¯a waved to a small shelf section with four swords resting on it. Then he turned to Sen and spent a few moments studying him. The bristles between his horns seemed to bunch up.

    Then he said in his deep rumbling voice, ¡°decent Cultivation base as well... and you possess way too many skills to be a master of any one weapon.¡± Jorng¡¯a waved to the whole shelf of weapons surrounding the tiny cubby Josh had been shown. Sen turned pink and bowed his head to the smith.

    With his hands together in a praying position, the Cultivator added, ¡°You are correct, noble Smith. Though I will be focusing on the sword for now as well.¡± He waved a hand, indicating Josh. ¡°How else am I supposed to teach the children?¡±

    Sen studiously ignored Josh as he gave him the finger and reached out for a sword.

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    ~At least I have manners, Mr. Grabby-hands. The polite thing would be to wait for Gusti.~

    Sen pulled his hand back into a fist that he used to cover his mouth as he appeared to clear his throat. ~Sorry...~

    Josh looked under his brows to Gusti, who smoothly stepped back into the conversation.

    Gusti leaned sideways against a stool and crossed his legs, hooking his thumbs under the straps of his coveralls. ¡°Now, Jorng¡¯a... I can see that you are a mite short on help here, what with the race taking all your singly Attuned assistants out of the store to train. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve brought Sen and Josh. I¡¯ve spent a bit of time with them. Put them behind the metaphorical plow, you see and¨C

    ¡°Put us behind the literal plow, you mean,¡± Josh grumbled, rubbing at the phantom blisters on his hands.

    Gusti grinned, clearly ignoring Josh¡¯s comment. ¡°As I was saying, they put a few gyras in at my place already. They¡¯ve got a good work ethic.¡± He pitched his eyes at the boys and smiled wanly. ¡°While it¡¯s true that they clearly know nothing about farming and are likely just as ignorant in regards to blacksmithing¡ª¡± The orangutan ignored Josh¡¯s protests, his grin only getting wider at his indignation. They are teachable. So, I thought the fact that they are a bit short of money at the moment might work out in everybody¡¯s favor.¡±

    Jorng¡¯a blew steam from his nostrils. ¡°One sword each from my remake pile and I expect a full fifty-gyras of work from each before the contest.¡±

    Gusti leaned forward from the stool he was propped up against, a competitive smile on his face. ¡°Forty gyras each... and their choice of swords from this shelf.¡± He placed his hand on the side of the shelf that Jorng¡¯a had indicated earlier. ¡°I brought them here because I know you make the best weapons... and I knew you needed their help the most with both Trandi and Li¡¯l Jorn out. But if I was wrong...¡± The skin over the bridge of Gusti¡¯s nose crinkled as he squinted around the overfilled shop and the Equine Affin begging with his eyes for the extra help. ¡°I can always take them up the street to Swando¡¯s¡ª¡±

    ¡°Deal!¡± Jorng¡¯a cut him off. ¡°Pick out your swords. Work starts tomorrow, two gyras after sunrise, both of you.¡± With that, Jorng¡¯a nodded to Gusti, and the mountain moved back to his work area, where the ringing immediately started again.

    Gusti smiled and tilted his head to Josh and Sen. ¡°Well, you heard the journeyman. Pick your weapons, boys.¡±

    In the end, Sen picked both of their swords. Josh noted they were significantly longer than their previous weapons. A little more than three feet of blade and a little less than one foot of handle.

    Sen picked up the sword with both hands and held it at the ready guard. His eyes closed, immediately concentrating. Josh could see Essence cycling from his Core and channeling through his hands into the blade. After a moment, Sen looked up and smiled at Josh.

    ~Much better than in Gaia¡¯s temple, brother!~

    ~Very glad to hear...~

    Josh grabbed his blade with a small amount of trepidation. He couldn¡¯t help but remember the third-degree burns he had gotten, along with the loss of dedicated Core Essence he had suffered, from the spear in Gaia¡¯s storeroom. A lot had changed since then. For one thing, he had Earth Attunement and could channel Aura directly from the ground, which he started doing just before picking up Jorng¡¯a¡¯s sword. For a second thing, Josh had an expanded Essence pool that was roughly forty times what it had been then.

    Josh held the sword in the same position that Sen had, resisting the urge to pull it forth like Arthur had from the stone.

    His interface chimed.

    New weapon equipped: Bastard Sword of Acceleration.

    Essence Channeling Quality: Average.

    Damage increased from mundane superior to Cultivatory Poor.

    Cleave and dismemberment options available for physical combat.

    Do you wish to continue with this as your new weapon?

    Josh selected yes and swallowed hard upon reading the rest.

    <table width="591">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="141">

    Weapon:

    Bastard Sword of Acceleration

    Skill Level: Basic (42%)

    Damage: Cultivation-Poor

    Damage Type: Essence Infused

    (Poor Infusion)

    </td>

    <td width="450">

    Essence Channeling Quality: Average.

    Activate with 100 Essence to accelerate strike for 250% damage.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 10,100% hand- to-hand damage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    He had just doubled his damage by picking up this sword. He noted it was constantly draining approximately two percent of his Essence to maintain a hazy silver glow around its blade. The haze invoked thoughts in Josh¡¯s mind of zephyrs rippling across the tops of dunes. Feathered raptors diving from unimaginable heights on prey below. In short... it made him think of speed!

    Keeping the Essence flowing into the sword was one more thing they would have to practice, and they would. A smile spread across Josh¡¯s face and Sen caught his eyes.

    Sen gave him a pleading glance. ~Please, brother... do not wave your sword around.~

    ~... Sen, that¡¯s just all kinds of wrong that you don¡¯t even understand. ~

    They left the weaponsmith¡¯s shop with their heads whirling and the need to start practicing everything that Gusti had shown them... to test their weapons... to find out what the race and to qualify were all about...

    Gusti pushed them down the street, informing them he had two more introductions to make for them tonight. ¡°And you may ask why? I know I would... well, for two important reasons. One, you boys are going to need money. With the right approach, we can help the clan and put a couple of lua in your pockets to clink together. The second reason? Well, for myself. You see... I will provide room and board for you two out of the kindness of my heart, if only to improve my Karma... But these introductions... they have a cost. You each will owe me two gyras of work before sun-up three times a week at my family¡¯s farm.¡± Gusti smiled at them, daring any objection with his shaggy brows raised in a friendly challenge.

    A swift glance between them confirmed they felt the same. Swept up with everything that had happened and was going to happen, neither of them could object to Gusti¡¯s request. Especially given how much help he had been to them.

    They both nodded, letting Gusti lead the way.

    Josh was introduced to the clan¡¯s journeyman inscriber, Myrina. A mostly human-looking Beast Affin with the claws, ears, and spots of a jaguar. She smiled crookedly and said she could use him for a six-hour shift two times a week, paying the rate of two cobres an hour. Gusti had nodded to affirm the amount was fair, so Josh agreed. However, just exactly how much was a cobre worth, and what kind of work she needed him to do, Josh didn¡¯t know...

    Sen was introduced to another Orangutan Affin, Bulgonto. The Clan¡¯s journeyman Alchemist, who had, ¡°No time to talk now! Potions going, Gusti!¡±

    Despite his words, he continued speaking anyway as he swirled multiple spoons in even more boiling cauldrons and disappeared completely behind large clouds of green, red, brown, and purple.

    Sticking his head out from the fumes for a second, he looked Sen up and down, then looked to Gusti. ¡°He any good with that sword?¡±

    Gusti nodded. Bulgonto puckered his lips, but nodded then disappeared back into a large black cloud that made his voice sound as if coming from deep underground.

    ¡°I¡¯ll need you here, day after tomorrow for some... light gardening. Three cobres an hour.¡±

    Gusti puckered up a bit at that but shrugged to indicate that it was up to Sen. So, Sen agreed as well.

    Josh blanched when they passed the overgrown gardens on the way out and heard the passage of large chitin-shelled bodies moving through dead leaves. The large creatures grew quiet as the pair went by, almost as if they were lying in wait.

    His eyes shifted from left to right. ~I don¡¯t begrudge you that extra cobre an hour, Sen...~

    ~...~

 Chapter 52

    On the ride home, Gusti informed them the Clan used a commonly agreed upon monetary system among local Cultivator groups, organizations, and governments. Everyday items were paid for with small coins about the size of a nickel. The smallest denomination was the suj. They were dark in color and stamped with some kind of animal that Josh couldn¡¯t recognize. Rust along the raised edge of the stamp led Josh to assume it was made of ferrous metal.

    Gusti put things in perspective for them. ¡°Three suj for a drink at the clan pub. Nine for a meal. It takes twenty suj to change one cobre.¡± He pulled a cobre out of his pocket and tossed one to Sen. It was the same size as the suj, only made from a dark red-brown metal. With another long-faded stamp that Josh thought might be a Beast Affin swinging an axe.

    ¡°There¡¯s ten cobre to the lua.¡± Gusti showed them by pulling a few from the pouch around his waist. It glistened silver with streaks of glittering crimson in the light of Baroo-7¡¯s sliver still above the horizon.

    ¡°Then there are fifty lua to a sol.¡± Gusti didn¡¯t have any on him but informed them it was a smaller coin by more than half compared to the size of a suj.

    It was prized for its value in crafting as it held and allowed the transition of Essence from one source to another without significant loss.

    The last coin was the estrella. It was exchanged at the rate of twenty sol to the estrella. Gusti informed them that it was the same size as the sol. Of course, bartering was standard in the Clan as well. They had seen it themselves with Jorng¡¯a.

    Lastly, the Clan and Cultivation-based systems also used gems and crystals as currency with or without a charge of Essence invested. The ability to transfer Essence from beings with higher Cultivations so that crafters could utilize this in their work made for the creation of more powerful weapons, working tools, inscriptions, potions, etcetera, possible. The base metals and crystals that facilitated this transfer had their own inherent value which directly led to the monetary worth of crystals and coins.

    When Sparky returned them to the farm, Gusti set them up with a small but livable space in one of his outbuildings that looked like it had been built with farmhands in mind. A simple square room with two sets of bunk beds on opposing walls. The bedding had been rolled up and tied off, awaiting its occupants.

    Being past the spherical level of Cultivation. Gusti no longer needed to eat for sustenance himself. He only did so now for social occasions and to show respect.

    But Josh and Sen would need at least one meal daily to keep up with their work and training. Indah, his housekeeper, would bring them breakfast every morning after their chores.

    Gusti also told them he would fill them in about the contest the next day when he saw them in town. He reiterated that he was sure they had much to think about after everything they had done today and would leave them alone for now.

    ¡°The main house is empty except for the staff that help me maintain it. You can trust them. They have been with my family as far back as I can remember.¡± He also showed no awkwardness nor embarrassment to some of their more direct questions. ¡°I¡¯m a confirmed bachelor. Mostly ¡®cause I never had the good fortune to find anyone ornery enough to put up with me. My brothers have been away from the Clan for the last few decades. I suspect they will be gone until after the Clan clears off Mwezi.¡±

    Josh figured that it made sense that Gusti wouldn¡¯t be spending nights at his place this close to the contest, considering that he was essentially his Clan¡¯s equivalent of a sheriff, if he understood things properly. There were too many new faces coming and going he¡¯d need to be closer to town.

    But Josh was curious about how long they had been in town and where the Sundai Clan called home. But being too specific was a sure way to make people suspicious of you and put people on guard. Neither of which he wanted to sooth his idle curiosity, especially to Gusti who had only been fair and decent to them. So the lawyer in him throughout an open ended question.

    ¡°How long has the Clan been on Mwezi?¡±

    Gusti raised his brows and scratched his head with long fingers studded with hair tufted knuckles. ¡°Well let¡¯s see¡­It''s been about two standard galactic rotations, just long enough to get the young ones settled into a routine and make them feel comfortable for the Blessed One¡¯s Challenge.¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Oh, that long?¡±

    ¡°Well yes, the contest only occurs once every 1000 standard rotations. We used to just come a few months before the race¡­but we noticed that some of the youth were having trouble adjusting to the new location and might not have ended with the best performance. As a Clan we decided long ago that we want them to succeed and for their sakes the minor inconvenience of moving from the Galactic core is worth their future. '''' Gust looked Josh in the eyes. ¡°...It¡¯s been pretty good for them. There has been a great improvement over the last seventy-fifty races since we started bringing them here early.¡±

    Josh was blown away at the implications that this made for how old the Clan and likely Gusti were¡­but he had to start adapting to his new galactic environment as well.  Cultivators live a long time. Something to remember.

    Gusti took a minute to list out their chores for the next week, then the orange ape bid them good night and started riding back as he gently led Sparky in an about-face.

    When Gusti had gone, Josh and Sen sat cross-legged on the floor across from each other. Josh immediately related to Sen everything he¡¯d figured out about the new skill¡ªEssence Efficiency and guiding him through their Bond on how to squeeze the Meridians and only let the most minuscule amount of Essence through. After an hour, Sen¡¯s interface chimed as well, informing him he had picked up the skill. Disappointed, Sen reported that it only gave him an increased efficiency of eighty percent.

    Josh smiled slyly. ¡°Well... it looks like I can finally give you some daily training too.¡±

    Sen smiled the same way back at him. ¡°Speaking of which, it¡¯s time for your daily beati¡ªI mean training, to get us both accustomed to our new weapons.¡±

    They practiced primary sword forms and Josh started getting used to the new length and need for increased Essence circulation to wield the longer weapon. Josh wanted to use the new acceleration skill of the sword. Much wiser, Sen was adamant Josh understood the new weapon before he attempted it.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah, I get it... learn to walk before I fly.¡± Josh swung overhead with the bastard sword fully enhanced, looking to create an opening in Sen¡¯s midrange.

    Sen screwed up his eyes in confusion. ~Apologies, brother. I thought I had established a proper reference of your current skills. If you think you are ¡®walking¡¯, it¡¯s clear that I was wrong. Forgive me. I¡¯ll correct this misunderstanding now.~

    Sen blocked Josh¡¯s incoming attack and swept his leg out from under him,  while somehow simultaneously disarming him and sending Josh¡¯s sword spinning over his head into the darkness to clatter on the stony ground.

    ¡°You are still learning to crawl, brother.¡±

    Cycling Essence to heal his bruised tailbone, Josh rolled his eyes. Sen had always taken his Sensei duties seriously and there was no hope of matching him. But Josh loved him for that. They both knew there was no way Josh was going to make it back to Sophie in this iteration of swords, monsters, gods and Cultivation if Sen didn¡¯t push him to grow stronger¡­ Josh also knew that Sen was never going to go easy on him. It simply wasn¡¯t in the Cultivator¡¯s nature. In fact, Josh suspected that the man showed love through the ritual of regular and thorough beatings. Just exactly like every older brother Josh had ever heard about¡­ Which was fine in Josh¡¯s book. He didn¡¯t plan on going easy on Sen either.

    Awkwardly rising and shuffling over to pick up his weapon Josh had to walk like he had a stick shoved up his butt. It couldn¡¯t be helped while the healing from his cycling of Essence was still taking effect. Josh would use that to his benefit.

    Josh preferred operating on some kind of reward system. Positive reinforcement was always more enjoyable than the pain of the opposite... However, even he had to admit that despite his preferences, pain had always been the best teacher and Josh''s fall-back default nature was competitive. He had to admit that he had a bad habit of slipping into his Chicago-teenage-trash talking persona during sparring and athletics. Such degeneracy was what kids¡ªand men who had failed to stop being kids, did when the momentum of a fight was going against them. The right comment at the right time could slow things down and allow a guy on the ropes to get back into their rhythm. Many times growing up Josh had either delivered or been the recipient of random insults about himself or loved ones. It was the nature of the beast in the gyms where he had trained¡­ and video games, he supposed. He shuddered as he remembered the absolute depravity on display that greeted his ears in nearly every victorious post-game lobby.

    Now, Sen had never discussed the specifics of his martial training in any detail. He¡¯d simply spoken about how he had spent about 500 years training in the ¡®physical combat methods of Josh¡¯s world.¡¯ But Josh seriously doubted that his self-training had included experiencing debauched inner city juvenile irreverence.

    ~Message received loud and clear, Sen. I¡¯m a babe in the woods and you¡¯re the Big Bad Wolf. But I wouldn¡¯t be a true friend if I didn¡¯t let you know that with that ponytail and those orange robes¡ªwhich looks like my mom¡¯s summer dresses, by the way¡ªI¡¯ve been wondering if your parents had any sons¡­ or if you were all girls¨C~

    As Josh finished his hobble toward Sen, he had mostly turned with his back facing him while pretending to rub what was now fully-healed sacrum. With no warning, Josh sprung his sword in a full reverse-arcing sweep at the height of Sen¡¯s chest¡­and his blade whistled as it passed through nothing but air an instant before Sen¡¯s foot slammed down on this head along with the rest of Sen¡¯s body to drive Josh face-first into the dry ground.

    ¡°AArrwaggkk!¡± The shrill sound emitted by Josh was soon joined by the horrible crunching of his shattered nose. A torrential gout of dark blood along with a full constellation of stars quickly followed on the sanguine flow¡¯s heels..

    Pawing himself up to a sitting position Josh began cycling his Essence in a loop to his head and face to deal with the broken nose and concussion. The heavy bleeding slowed and Josh continued to dizzily dab at it with his fingers in that way that spoke to how every nose injury always felt like there was something wrong, even if nothing was.

    Sen was a shadow above him and Josh looked up with his legs splayed out in front of him.

    ¡°Full marks brother. Distraction of a superior foe is always a worthy strategy. If you can achieve it.¡± Then Sen leaned in, ¡°...And the coupled immortal progenitors that gave me and my siblings existence¡ªmy parents, as you would call them,  had twenty progeny. Though I do not believe that any others have ever traveled into a physical matter iteration. Of them, ten would identify as male and ten would identify as female, should they ever take on mortal form.¡±

    Sen¡¯s face took on a sharp smile. ¡°One thing I am sure of, however, is that if the females ever did come to a physical-matter iteration, based on that sound that just came out of your mouth¡ªyou would be a great instructor to teach them how to scream like a little girl.¡±

    The worm had turned and it was packing an uzi.

    It was going to be a long training session.

 Chapter 53

    Shortly after training, they called it a night and slept well on the quiet farm. Four hours later, they both woke at approximately the same time. It was honestly difficult to tell who was up first. The Karmic Bond made them continually aware of each other¡¯s surface thoughts, feelings, and location. While they both slept less in the wake of their first Attunement, they still slept enough to know that the Bond remained active during sleep.

    In fact, Josh remembered several vague dreams involving an intimate liaison with a tall, Jaralon female he was pretty sure was Damni. Knowing it for the symptoms and expression of a broken heart¡ªwhich the 44 year old divorce held a pro ranking in himself¡ªJosh never mentioned it and tried to keep it from his thoughts. He¡¯d gone through enough emotional fallout of his own to know bringing it up would only make things worse for Sen. Josh also couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Sen had dreamt his own dreams about playing and snuggling with Sophie some nights.

    The local orange sun and the body of the gas giant were still below the horizon, so it was dark when they got about the chore of fencing in another several acres of plowed land. Afterward, they repaired fencing on two other fields and penned and unpenned several herds of livestock. They finished without too much difficulty before heading into town. Still, Josh had to promulgate Gusti¡¯s boxer-short earth-shield configuration two different times to save his last Hegemon crew-jumper from the short-tempered bovinas horns to his rear. The work was simple and repetitive. So, it allowed Sen to continue work on his Essence Efficiency skill and Josh to focus on Earth-shield propagation in full and partial expressions.

    With their schedules planned in advance, Josh and Sen couldn¡¯t help but fall into a pattern of productivity as the next several weeks passed by. Working with Jorng¡¯a had gone as expected. Sen and Josh alternated duties in the shop and back inside the forge, hauling ore, working the bellows, and bringing water for quenching. They also learned a bit about weapons, prices, smithing, and were both able to recognize the personal signs and aspects of the various weapon users. At day¡¯s end, they were each covered in soot and with several new burns, cuts, and bruises in different stages of healing. They cycled Essence to the wounds they hadn¡¯t been fast enough to shield themselves from. Overall, they considered working in the smith as a good training opportunity.

    Jorng¡¯a treated them fairly. For what he called a solid work ethic, he even awarded each a mag-harness with Essence-powered stones on a back-mounted leather strip to hold their swords in place. By cutting the flow of Essence, the sword released from its hold, avoiding the difficulties of drawing the longer blades from either a belt or back-mounted sheath.

    Concerning their other employers, Sen spoke little about his experiences with Bulgonto. All that came through their Bond about it were a series of nightmare images of cramped spaces filled with mandibles and splashes of insect ichor. That had been more than enough to give Josh the shivers. Sen would talk about it if he wanted to. It was different for Josh. He found a great deal of personal interest in time spent at Myrina¡¯s shop.

    At their first meeting, the Jaguar Affin had plainly informed him, ¡°As an Inscriber, I enhance spirit beings with Essence-guiding sigils. Not inanimate objects. That is purely the domain of those stuffed-shirt Enchanters, who¡ªas a group, lack imagination.¡± Her feline nose pruned up in distaste at even the thought of them. ¡°We do real work here.¡± She smiled as she guided him into her place.

    Myrina¡¯s studio gave off the air of a high-end yurt that somehow had found its way to Beverly Hills. Definitely for those that slummed the posh side of the shabby chic. She had multicolored crystals hanging to augment Essence flow. Thick carpets made walking barefoot more comfortable. Myrina elaborated that comfort was absolutely necessary to get a suitable Inscription result.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    After spending several days with the casual Affin, Josh was confident that the atmosphere in her shop was due more to her personal preferences than any specific inscription requirements.

    Inscribers created Essence-guiding and Enhancing Arrays on living tissue. This usually took the form of tattoos for most sapients. However, in the Clan, a large part of Myrina¡¯s job was to brand beasts and prize animals to enhance strength, endurance, fertility, growth, etcetera. The client named the quality they wanted to improve in their beast, and Myrina would do it.

    As her grunt-level labor, it was Josh¡¯s job to sedate, if possible, and secure the beasts before their Inscription. More than once, he¡¯d ended up with hoof-print-shaped bruises over most of his chest and face. He also had to clean up after them, but no job was perfect. He reminded himself it was the sapient side of Inscription that interested him the most. Josh had seen Myrina increase everything imaginable on the Sundai clans-people. Speed, strength, endurance, vitality, intelligence, wisdom, charm, birth control, and fertility. It was similar to her work with animals in that all the client needed to do was identify what area needed improvement and she could target that aspect with her Inscriptions. One male Shrew Affin had even arrived asking for two extra inches... which was promptly accepted and done in private along with the exchange of a large, clinking sack of coins.

    When Josh started showing increased interest in what the studio offered its patrons, Myrina had been upfront and clear with him.

    Leaning against the shop¡¯s counter, she crossed her arms over her chest and smiled at him. ¡°Josh... let¡¯s talk about the eclipse-mammoth in the room.¡±

    Josh slowed down the movements of his mop from the previous blood-cleansing of an unhousebroken stallion and nodded his assent.

    Myrina returned his nod and continued. ¡°At your level of Attunement, you could not withstand any Inscription worth having.¡± Josh raised his hand and Myrina minutely shook her head in the negative to continue as if reading his mind. ¡°¨CEven a couple extra inches Josh.¡±

    Josh put his hand down. ¡°That¡­ wasn¡¯t what I was about to ask!¨C

    ¡°¨CAnd no, giving you a small starter inscription, you ¡®can handle¡¯...¡± She made quotation marks with her hand in the air and then folded them over her chest again. ¡°And then redoing it later when your power has increased is always a risky business. Some Inscriptions can¡¯t be reversed or even removed if you change the direction of your Cultivational focus.¡±

    Josh reached his hand up to interject again.

    She cocked her eyebrow and her right feline ear perked up as she continued, again addressing his unspoken question. ¡°I can only recommend that Cultivation-impacting Inscriptions be left for well after you are finished with the foundation of Spherical Cultivation and have your Tetrahedral Core.¡±

    Josh¡¯s countenance darkened and he was about to interrupt.

    Myrina put both of her hands out before her. ¡°That is the time when Cultivators combine their four Primary Attunements and prepare for their Octahedral Core. It is the true first step in narrowing your Path toward Transcendence.¡±

    Hearing about the actual steps of Cultivation in a perfunctory manner perked Josh up and he leaned forward with a wide grin on his face with his best lawyerly manner.

    Without missing a beat in the conversation, Myrina raised a warning finger with one claw extended to him, closing Josh¡¯s mouth instantly.

    ¡°Let¡¯s stay on topic, Josh, and think logically. There is no point in Inscribing increased Essence flow to your torso Meridians for better skill with melee arms if you¡¯re going to become mage-focused and need increased corporeal Essence-expression through your Mind-Core junction now is there?¡±

    Josh frowned as he considered her words. She was right. He had no idea which way he was going to go at this point, did he? Then Josh¡¯s face brightened. She was right about the Inscriptions. sure... He needed to wait until his Path was chosen. But... Myrina could give him some insight his options by explaining the steps of Cultivational so he knew what he was supposed to be doing and looking for¡ª

    Seeing that Josh had obviously accepted her logic and wouldn¡¯t be hounding her for placing an Inscription that could do more harm than good to his ultimate Path, Myrina¡¯s whisker rose in a small smile, and she nodded. ¡°Smart thinking, Josh! You have a good head on your shoulders... Now, considering that other topic, let¡¯s not forget that I am paying the cobres for your service¡ªnot the other way around. Besides...¡± Myrina¡¯s nose crinkled, and she adopted a subtle, businesslike frown. ¡°The droppings from that stallion we just branded with running speed are ripening and you need to get them out of here. My younger cousin is going to drop by soon. She has a few questions for you about your friend... Senyak?¡± She raised her eyebrows with a commanding, yet crooked smile. ¡°Is that his name?¡±

    Josh smiled sheepishly and complied. He¡¯d not been blind toward Myrina¡¯s younger cousin ¡®noticing¡¯ Sen. If there was a possible love connection for Sen to be had... Josh¡¯s questions could wait. After all, Josh and Sen had a long time before narrowing their four-primary Attunements at the Tetrahedral Cultivation level.

 Chapter 54

    Concerning the contest, Gusti was better than his word. He thoroughly explained the Blessed One¡¯s Race the day after their arrival. ¡°Approximately once every one-thousand standard solar cycles, the Ip¡¯pul orchard on the top of the palace¡¯s grounds will bloom fifty mature fruits.

    Sen nodded. ~That¡¯s about two-thousand-five-hundred Earth years, brother.~

    ~Thanks, Sen! I¡¯m still getting all these new time measurements straight in my head.~

    Gusti continued, apparently oblivious to their silent Bond-speak, ¡°One standard solar cycle before they bloom, a notice is sent out to prepare for the event. The day the fruits ripen, the gates of the palace will open, and the race begins. The race course takes the participants through multiple pocket dimensions with varying environments and is an individual contest against an avatar of the Blessed One. The avatar only travels at eighty percent of the speed the Blessed One could travel at the same Cultivation level as the contestant.

    ¡°If more than fifty contestants are present at the gates, there will be a qualifying one-hundred-kilometer race between them. The first fifty across the finish line are immediately taken to the race against the Blessed One¡¯s avatar. The rest...¡± Gusti smiled in a conspiratorial manner. ¡°Better luck next time, slow poke!¡± He¡¯d slapped his knee and guffawed at his own joke.

    Gusti¡¯s explanation did raise some questions inside Josh¡¯s logical mind. The orange ape had answered Josh¡¯s questions frankly, speaking with the slow patience he had become accustomed to using with the Cultivator who had somehow achieved an Attunement with no foundational knowledge.

    Yes, there are more than fifty contestants. The Clan has forty-seven, and over one-hundred and fifty more have arrived from other groups in the last six months.

    No, there are no rules for the qualifying race other than to start at the signal and to cross the finish line.

    Yes, the Blessed One does have constructs in place during the race which prevents most deaths, but certainly not all.

    No, there are no such constructs for the qualifier... it will be perilous.

    Yes, you and Sen better plan on a fight to cross the finish line in the qualifier.

    No, other contestants will not be in your appointed pocket dimension with you

    and the Blessed One¡¯s avatar during the race proper. It¡¯s simply you and him.

    Usually, the avatar will take the time to impart wisdom to improve your Spherical foundation if you are wise enough to listen to it.

    Yes, environmental hazards exist and there are always combat opportunities during the race with the Blessed One.

    Gusti also introduced them to the Clan¡¯s racers. The group gathered daily in an arena on the west side of the town near the palace walls. The unofficial leader of the Clan¡¯s forty-seven singularly-Attuned racers was a Komodo Dragon Affin named Tono. He offered Josh and Sen the warm, welcoming attitude the rest of the Clan had shown them, and soon they were blending in with the junior group.

    Tono, like Jorng¡¯a, was much less humanoid than the Beast Affins they had met on the Hegemon-4.

    Josh¡¯s mind wandered. Was the phenotypic expression of Beast heritage dependent on having more Essence in the environment? Was the timing of that Essence exposure important at conception, embryonic development, or overa¡ª

    Give the science a rest, brain. I have other things to focus on now. Josh silenced his overly inquisitive scientific affinity.

    After their other responsibilities were met, Josh and Sen had time for four full days¡ªafter chores for Gusti¡ªand three afternoons per week to train at the arena.

    And train they did. All the Clan¡¯s contestants were skilled combatants with their primary choice of weapon, along with a smattering of standard weapons they used to defend the clan should there be an attack. Spears and polearms were regularly used on the Clan walls along with daggers for close combat and bows and crossbows for ranged fighting.

    None were a match for Sen. When he came to the training grounds, he was quickly surrounded by those with questions and those looking to even the score from their previous losses. Per his nature, Sen was willing to share all he knew with them, though Josh could tell through the Karmic Bond that he held back whenever he would spar and always gave his opponents a chance to improve their skills instead of simply dominating them.

    Josh, on the other hand, learned a lot. He used only the sword for sparring unless the challenger preferred to go hand-to-hand. Initially, he had several easy victories over Clan members with better weapon skills than him because of his Cultivational advantage of expressing his earth shield. After three such victories, Sen forbade Josh from using the shield while sparring with anyone but him.

    To Josh¡¯s looks of incredulous disbelief and betrayal, Sen was ready with what¡ªeven to Josh, sounded like excellent reasons.

    ¡°It is necessary, brother. You need to be put into the threats inherent in combat as well as the threats and accrual of actual injuries until it means nothing more than taking a breath or drinking a sip of water. You can¡¯t have that while sparring with me nor while using your shields. All warriors must be blooded.

    ¡°On top of this. Your growth in mastering the sword requires that you be matched against new opponents with different weapons and tactics than me. I assure you. The next actual combatant you face will not be me, nor will your opponent''s attack you with my style. It would be infinitely better for you to experience the variety offered here than when facing any such real foes in the contest for the first time.¡±

    Sen then leaned in close to Josh and spoke through the Bond. ~Lastly, we will train our shields every evening at Gusti¡¯s farm as I need you to help me practice with them. Besides, if you keep showing off your fancy new shield skill you¡¯ll wind up spending half of your time teaching it to over-eager Clan members.~ He raised an eyebrow toward Josh. ~That¡¯s not something your current level of combat skills can afford.~

    Josh sighed, but acknowledged the point. ~When you¡¯re right, you¡¯re right.~

    Sen scoffed heartily and offered a light punch to Josh¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I freely admit there are some things that made no sense to me as an Immortal and even less now as a mortal¡­The female mindset falls completely in this group. But about combat and proficiencies I am not wrong. Consider me precognitive in this regard.¡± Sen finished with a rare air of superiority. Which Josh decided he couldn¡¯t tolerate.

    It was Josh¡¯s turn to laugh, and boy did he. ¡°Precog, eh? Like when I smashed your face in the alley? All part of your plan, right?¡± Josh chuckled while Sen scowled. ¡°Or that time that drone Matriarch cut your arm off? You didn¡¯t need that arm anyway. In fact, I¡¯m surprised you regrew it at all¨C¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Well,¡± Sen said loudly. ¡°Would you look at that? Time to get back to training. I suddenly feel like it would be good for you if I increased the intensity a bit, you know¡ªwith the race coming up and all.¡±

    Josh mock-saluted the Cultivator and winked before speaking solemnly. ¡°I regret that I have but one life to give for your amusement.¡±

    Following this conversation, Josh had many marvelous learning opportunities in the sparring rings¡ªor as Josh soon learned to think of it., when his suffering began.

    There was physical pain, to be sure. However, if he was honest, it was his pride and not his body that took the biggest hits. His first shieldless fight was against a Mouse Affin named Meni, who wielded two whips. She was unassuming and soft-spoken, with diminutive features and short gray hair over her body.

    Foolishly, Josh found it hard to take Meni seriously. His hesitance quickly changed when she hopped so fast, he couldn¡¯t track her. In a few brief seconds, Josh ended up flat on his back and momentarily stunned from the force of getting pummeled between the eyes with the haft of one of her whips. Coming to, Josh had one of her weapons wrapped around his arms and the other around his neck. Her small foot was on his chest. Over her shoulder, Josh could see Sen leaning over and struggling not to laugh out loud.

    ~Et tu, Brute?~

    Guffaw. ~Grow stronger, brother! Ahahaha... grow stronger... ahahaha~

    In this way, Josh lost fights. Over and over again. He was beaten by sword fighters, dagger users, club swingers, and several who used only their fists and horns. Often there were losses that would have been debilitating and crippling to non Cultivators that were shrugged off in minutes with rapid healing. Afterward, Josh was back on his feet and being crushed again.

    While his interface was providing optimal attack patterns, he was unable to process its recommendations and implement them fast enough. When he attempted to follow its instructions, because of the delay in application, his performance was worse than when he simply allowed his reflexes and subconscious decision-making to act.

    Ultimately, as with all skills¡ªpersistence led to improvement. Fighting was no different for Josh. After several weeks of taking an uncountable number of lumps, cuts, fractures, and concussions, Josh¡¯s pain started paying off.

    He recognized the patterns of his opponents¡¯ actions that led to his interface¡¯s optimal recommendations. He began to recognize patterns in the analysis that would lead to a series of other potential combinations of actions and reactions depending on the limited number of movements that could result in the wake of specific positioning. It became clear that the interface was taking his opponent''s balance¡ªwhich leg had the most weight on it¡ªcenter of gravity, limb positioning, posture, and a number of other things into account to predict the next movements that were limited in scope by those positional factors of his opponents stance and distance. As with any complex system, some options were more valuable than others, given a particular adversary¡¯s likes, dislikes and current physical condition. Recognition of the overlying matrix was Josh¡¯s first step in being able to apply the recommended combat options before it was too late. His and Sen¡¯s boon of perfected physical bodies greatly assisted in this regard. It granted Josh reaction speeds to match his accelerated thoughts as his familiarity with combat increased.

    Perhaps the most beneficial and necessary changes for anyone to advance were, as usual, the psychological ones of perspective. Josh¡¯s pride stopped stinging with every defeat after the first three days, allowing his mental outlook to alter. Mentally, he made learning from those failures the mission of his battles¡ªnot simply a negative consequence of competition, but the purpose of it. In that new mental perspective, losing was not a bad thing. Quite the opposite. His defeats were bringing him closer to his goals. Instead of focusing on thoughts like ¡®how foolish do I look with a little mouse girl kicking my butt in less than eight seconds¡¯, Josh thought about how to change the embarrassing outcomes. What went wrong? What went right? How can I improve for my next spar?

    After seven days, he occasionally scored a point. After two weeks, he had his first victory. Yes, it was against Meni, who had beaten him seven times already, but Josh¡¯s feet walked on the clouds with every step. He lost his next eleven fights but won the one after that against a sword-using Tortoise Affin. The Affin was strong but slow¡ªthe perfect opponent for Josh.

    By the third week, he was winning as often as he lost, and remembering the most probable combat patterns from fighters armed with similar weapons. Often, Josh implemented his interface¡¯s recommendations, recognizing his mistakes and trying not to make them again. He also remembered the form of his opponent¡¯s attacks and how to take advantage of them with his own style. Occasionally, Josh was also able to catch them in mistakes. Nothing made him smile so widely as when he was able to maneuver his opponent to create openings and score hits against them.

    By the fourth week, Josh was winning 90 percent of his matches. The last challenger for him that he still hadn¡¯t managed to gain the upper hand over was the sword polearm-wielding Tono. He was fast and efficient, maintaining distance superiority with what appeared to his opponents like an impenetrable bladed wall. A wall that seemed to want nothing more than to outshine Jason Voohees, Micheal Myers, and Freddy Kruger in every teenage slasher movie Josh could remember cringing through as a kid¡­ Adolescent sweat soaked nightmares aside, Tono¡¯s increased speed was granted by his Force Affinity Attunement.

    The rules for victory during the spars were simple: submission, incapacitation, or three instances of drawn blood. Everyone facing Tono, save for Sen, quickly found themselves sporting three locations somewhere on their body leaking blood in less than twenty seconds, ending the fight.

    By the fifth week, even Tono had fallen to shieldless Josh¡¯s faster and more accurate predictions, reactions, and seemingly limitless ability to improve.

    By the sixth week, Josh was most often paired with Sen, and shielded or not¡ªthere was no chance of winning. However, Josh pleasantly noted that his skills had improved to the point that Sen no longer held back as much as he did with the others.

    There was also ¡°running training¡± which occurred when the Clan¡¯s contestants had had enough sparring for the day and they were ready to wind down. Being entirely Beast Affin¡¯s, Josh had assumed that running would come naturally to most and not be a great concern. This had turned out to be true. Meni had taken him and Sen aside and pointed out that the ¡®formalized portion¡¯ of the Clan¡¯s ¡®running training¡¯ was largely directed at the group¡¯s slowest and non-natural runners. This turned out to be a group consisting of several Turtle and Tortoise Affins along with a large amorphis gray blob of a Beast Affin named Setepek that Josh thought must have been a cross between a shell less snail and a slug. Josh wasn¡¯t sure and thought it would be rude to ask.

    He had worried about them winning any type of foot or ¡®pseudopod¡¯ race just due to purely physical limitations. But Meni, the training instructor for this portion of the Clan¡¯s program had pointed out that running for an attuned Cultivator wasn¡¯t so much about physical anatomy as it was about properly channeling Essence to increase the natural locomotion mechanisms they already head. With just a few short sessions Meni had even Setepek flying around the training rings like a slot car on a race track. It shouldn¡¯t have been a surprise to Josh and he found himself nodding his head as he remembered Meni¡¯s words. After all he and Sen had instinctively known and reflexively applied the truth of her words to their own running when they had been sped through the Hegemon-4¡¯s Epsilon research forest in their desperate race to save Alysa. He remembered that they had both achieved speeds which would be impossible for humans to run. And this continued to be the case on Mwezi for the few scheduled complete Clan running sessions to make sure they could run as a group. During these times both he and Sen, due to Josh¡¯s unique gifts at understanding the application of Essence and Aura in physical matter iterations along with the Clone¡¯s boon of perfect physiology always finished with the fastest runners.

    * * * * *

    Between one of their fights, as he healed a severed hamstring and broken left arm, Josh checked his weapon status.

    <table width="592">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="174">

    Weapon:

    Bastard Sword of Acceleration

    Skill Level:

    Basic (42% ¡ú 88%)

    Damage: Cultivation-Poor

    Damage Type: Essence Infused

    (Poor Infusion)

    </td>

    <td width="418">

    Quality: Essence channeling average. Activate with 100 Essence to accelerate strike for 250% damage.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% Probability of 10,100% hand-to- hand damage.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    He had gained 46 percent in his skill level with swords during his time with the Clan. Josh pursed his lips as he thought about the increase. The numeric jump did not demonstrate how much Josh believed he had truly improved over the past five and a half weeks. Even Sen agreed that as a fighter, Josh¡¯s skills had improved by an order of magnitude.

    ¡°Yes, brother, you¡¯re at least ten times better compared to where you had been when we arrived. You¡¯ve grown as I was certain you would. I¡¯m proud to stand beside you, however, don¡¯t be overly concerned with the numbers. They are merely a loose representation of what a skill truly is... but they are the only quantification we have. So, as you say, we roll in it!¡±

    ~Roll with it! Yes, we do!~

    All the melee combat over the past weeks had spurred another question in Josh¡¯s mind. ¡°Why are we only using old-school weapons? I mean... the Clan is no stranger to advanced technology and space travel. Heck! Gusti¡¯s even shown us the space frigate that they will head back to the galactic center with after the race is finished.¡±

    ¡°I assume you mean guns? Why would we bother?¡±

    ¡°Because¡­ they¡¯re guns?¡± Josh replied, hands and arms spread wide as if the answer were obvious. ¡°You know, superior firepower from a safe distance?¡±

    Sen looked up at Josh with a perplexed expression on his face, not too different from the look Gusti gave him when he asked a remarkably uninformed question.

    Scratching his head, Sen''s answering tone seemed as perplexed as Josh was, ¡°Why would we use something so low yield and inefficient when we have access to much greater power?¡±

    ¡°What, like swords and knives?¡± Josh blurted out his knee-jerk response. ¡°Doesn¡¯t technologically advanced weaponry allow for greater focused energy and more power?¡±

    A knowing smile crossed Sen¡¯s face as he took on his role of sensei.

    He squatted and called Josh in for a closer conversation. ¡°You¡¯re talking about energy weapons¨C like on the Hegemon-4, for instance? Are they more powerful than you are with even your short sword? No, they aren¡¯t. Why weren¡¯t they more powerful?¡±

    With the tables turned on him, Josh considered Sen¡¯s question. ¡°Well, because... I was able to cycle Essence through my sword...¡±

    Keeping Josh on this train of thought, Sen followed up. ¡°What exactly do technologically advanced weapons do to weaponize the energy they harness?¡±

    Josh pursed his lips, furrowing his brows. Then it came to him, and he laughed to himself. ¡°They focus Essence! But nowhere near as well as we do ourselves.¡±

    ¡°Yes, they focus Essence¡ªand no, they don¡¯t do it nearly as well as a Cultivator, particularly not in a place with low Essence-density like the galaxy we were in with the Hegemon-4.¡±

    Point made. Josh was beginning to understand that Essence and the ability to focus it, or¡ªin a word, Cultivation, were the real keys to power in any iteration.

 Chapter 55

    On the morning of the 100-kilometer qualifier, there were a total of two-hundred and seven Cultivators that had presented for the Blessed One¡¯s race. Forty-nine were from Clan Sundai, including Josh and Sen. They had been formally inducted into the Clan the night before at a banquet to celebrate the event.

    As part of their induction, Myrina had placed the Clan¡¯s name via tattoo laterally down the underside of their left forearms. She had asked if they had wanted to use invo-ink that would only reveal itself under ID lights. They both declined, proud of having made friends who also considered them worthy. Gusti, who sat at their table, let Josh and Sen know that there were rights and requirements of their membership, but that he would fill them in after the race was finished.

    Their induction into the Clan also meant they would participate in the Clan¡¯s plan for its Cultivators during the qualifying 100-kilometer race. Gusti and Jorng¡¯a stepped up to the tables where the racers sat. Gusti clapped his hands and the feeling of having their ears popped accompanied a clearly discernible wave of pressure that expanded out in a sphere around them and then, surprisingly halted, maintaining cohesion in a bubble around the group.

    The Orangutan Affin winked at everyone. ¡°That ought to keep prying eyes and ears out. Now, kids... let¡¯s talk strategy.¡± He waved to Jorng¡¯a.

    Jorng¡¯a rumbled out in his super subwoofer voice, ¡°As nearly twenty-five percent of the competitors, you all are uniquely positioned to dominate the field. While the others will attempt to unite, they will be much less unified in purpose than the children of Sundai will be. Use this to your advantage¡ª¡± Jorng¡¯a looked about to continue with specific advice, but Gusti waved him off.

    ¡°Easy, partner. They have their own leadership and know their strengths and weaknesses best. Any plan they make will have to be executed only by them. Best to let them form one from the beginning that is part and parcel of them. If you get my meaning.¡± Gusti smiled with high cheeks in an almost apologetic manner to Jorng¡¯a.

    The big Bison Affin considered for a second and then nodded in agreement as he backed away a step and held up a thick forearm indicating they should get to planning.

    Tono stood up and led the meeting. With input from many, a simple but effective plan acceptable to everyone was laid out. At only 100 kilometers long, even the slowest runners would finish in forty minutes. Sen, Josh, Meni the Mouse Affin, and two other Rabbit Affins were the Clan¡¯s fastest runners. They could all finish it in approximately thirty-three minutes.

    However, the goal was for the Clan to finish as a group. If they could manage it, they wanted all forty-nine of their members to qualify. They didn¡¯t simply want a slice of the pie¨Cthey wanted the entire thing. For this, they would need to avoid getting bogged down in combat at the outset. It was unlikely that any group would completely sacrifice their chance at winning a speed race so they could lie in wait along the course and stop others. The consensus was to avoid contact with the closely packed groups at the outset and set a strong rear guard if the Clan were the ones out in front. If the Clan was behind as a group, then it would become the fastest runners for themselves. All accepted that.      It was also possible that other groups would use their fastest runners to break away and lie in ambush to slow down groups that were faster than their group as a whole.

    Summing up the plan, Tono instructed the runners, ¡°Avoid pride-fighting. Stay together in a unified column and be faster than everybody else. Most of us should make it.¡±

    There was, however, also Nagal to consider. He was a wildcard that Gusti warned the entire group to be wary of.

    Some had thought the troublemaking Naga had been knocked out of the race due to the transient Meridian recovery from his run-in with Cahya. However, two days ago, he had presented himself outside the town¡¯s walls, extending his arms for all to see that he was back, and likely ready for some payback against the Clan¡¯s junior members in the race.

    Regardless of his intentions, as a dual-Attuned Cultivator, Nagal would be hands down, the fastest racer on the field. Given his Earth Cultivation, he could likely finish the one-hundred kilometers in approximately twenty-two minutes. Gusti informed them that Nagal would have been much quicker if the fates had combined Force with Fire.

    To that Josh rolled his eyes. ~Thank heaven for the small miracles.~

    ~Agreed!~

    The real issue was that Nagal was an unknown commodity who walked something close to an adharmic Path. That he could finish first was without question, and if that was what Nagal did, good on him. However, he might try to deny anyone else entry and lay in ambush at the finish line.

    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

    Gusti, who had spent the most time with the ¡®ornery critter¡¯, gave his best advice. ¡°Be prepared for him to be waiting at the end. Get around him if possible. Have a plan to fight him off if not. If it¡¯s necessary to fight, a fast-moving, hard-hitting strike team of five or six to delay the Naga until the rest have gotten past would be my suggestion. The attacking group should then break combat and get themselves through the finish line.¡±

    Tono raised his eyebrows at that.

    Sen¡¯s eyes widened. ~Breaking away from Nagal is much easier said than done. The group staying behind will not do well if worse comes to worst!~

    ~You¡¯re right.~ Sen frowned. ~He¡¯s a tough nut to crack. I¡¯ve been thinking of a plan... What do you think?~

    Josh shared his ideas with Sen.

    With the Clan¡¯s runners grouped five columns across and ten deep on the starting line, Josh and Sen looked at the competition in the flesh for the first time.

    Closest in line to the Clan¡¯s runners, with twenty-two participants of their own¡ªthe Zangui Clan was the next largest group. The Zangui were like the Sundai in that they were primarily Beast Affins. They differed in that they hadn¡¯t brought the entire Clan to support their contestants. Over the weeks, some Zangui contestants had made it known they felt abandoned. especially when compared to the assistance the Sundai had offered even its youngest members.

    When Josh asked why the Sundai had relocated to assist its weakest Cultivators, given that none of the other groups present had done so, Gusti smiled sadly and said, ¡°How would you support your children?¡±

    Enough said.

    The difference was obvious enough to the Zangui that many of them had asked if they could join the Sunday before the race. Gusti made it clear that Karma would remain unbalanced if they were to join before the event, but he iterated that after it concluded, all applications would be entertained.

    It was generally believed the fastest runners from Zangui would try to qualify for the race. However, it was agreed that none would attack the Sundai as they were expected to join the Clan en bloc after the race. With the help of the Sundai, they could wait for the next palace race and be successful then. It was only 1000 cycles, after all.

    The next two groups were a different story. Both the Gandun Cultivators Union, with fifteen contestants, and the Savoy Corporation, fielding nineteen, were recognized as unfriendly to the Sundai. They were both adversaries to the extent that unsanctioned fighting had broken out between them and the Sundai in the past several centuries.

    The Gandun Union was a loose, private affiliation of Cultivators from several nearby systems who felt entitled to the Blessed One¡¯s Ip¡¯pul fruits because of their proximity and reported historical ties. These ¡®ties¡¯, however, were ones that they never got around to specifying whenever questioned directly about the exact details.

    The Savoy Corporation was a privatized collective that offered Cultivation opportunities to its members in exchange for several thousand standard solar rotations of service to meet the corporation¡¯s mercenary contracts. The Savoy Corp. was feared throughout the local galaxy for its ruthless tactics against those they were hired to deal with as well as against its own soldiers who ran afoul of the Savoy¡¯s leadership. The Savoy Corp. had more overall members than the Sundai, but significantly less in the upper tiers of Tetrahedral Cultivation than the Sundai Clan. The Clan accepted that if things went against the Savoy here, there would be future confrontations with them over it and they would have to deal with what came then.

    Tono, Sen, and Josh looked down the one-thousand-meter starting line and noted how closely the Gandun and Savoy contingents stood and conversed. It was no surprise really and just confirmed that the two troublesome groups were planning to work together against them. To what extent, remained to be seen. The Sundai would need to be ready for any of the outcomes discussed by the Clan¡¯s runners over the last several nights.

    The last large group was the Kil¡¯Jaru Imperial Cadets, with fourteen members standing at rigid attention behind their acting commander. The Kil¡¯Jaru were the local galaxy¡¯s ruling family. Their cadets were dressed in the imperial colors of black and yellow over their dense black exoskeletons. The arachnids were not known to be confrontational with anyone, certainly not over the past several months. Like Gusti, their commander was a Cultivator well beyond the Spherical Cultivation level.

    The remaining 122 contestants were all singles or in groups of twos and threes. They dotted along the starting line wherever they felt most comfortable. None were in the center, where Nagal stood alone. His towering form and angry glares dared anyone to challenge his right of center-place.

    Needless to say, there were no takers.

    By a series of suj tosses, the Kil¡¯Jaru commander had won the right to start the race. Striding from the line of cadets on his four black-armored legs, he pulled a spear off his back. All attention focused on him as he spun it around with his upper two arms generating an air-piercing whine that made the pebbles on the ground vibrate a few centimeters into the air.

    All eyes were on him.

    ¡°The race will now begin. Go¡­¡± He spoke the last word in a soft conversational tone, with what passed for a smile on his chitin mandibles.

    Standing next to the commander, Gusti rolled his eyes at his colleague¡¯s immaturity, then shouted, ¡°Goooooooooo!¡±

    After a split second of indecision, all two-hundred and seven racers cycled their Essence and took off like bats out of hell.

    Tono, Sen, Josh, Meni, and Li¡¯l Jorn¡ªthe Blacksmith Jorng¡¯a¡¯s equally-massive son, made up the front line of the Clan¡¯s column. It was a fair balance of power and speed. If necessary, they would comprise the fast-hitting strike force to take on Nagal or any other obstacles to the main body of the clan¡¯s racers. They immediately accelerated to 90 percent of Sen and Josh¡¯s max speed as they were the fastest of the clan. Save for Meni, who was insanely fast based on the genetic benefits of her Affin heritage. All the Clan members wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain that starting speed for the entire race, but strategically, they needed to push it up front to see what would play out from the other groups.

    As expected, Nagal took off in a streak of dust and bad attitude. He was over a low rise and out of sight in a minute, dredging a winding trail through the sand and gravel.

    Several minutes into the race, it became clear that the Clan was being ceded the lead by the Gandun and the Savoy. Testing out the observation, it was almost silly to watch them speed up and slow down with the pace of the clan¡¯s column. Tono looked at his strike-team as they plodded over the uneven ground. ¡°It¡¯s our worst-case scenario, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Li¡¯l Jorn nodded his enormous head. ¡°They are sitting below us like an anvil waiting for a hammer to fall.¡±

    Tono looked at Meni. ¡°Scout ahead. Look for the Naga.¡±

    Meni dipped her head once and was gone almost as fast as Nagal had taken off. In less than thirty seconds, she and her dust trail were over the horizon.

 Chapter 56

    Nagal sped over dunes and low-rising rocks as the wind whistled across his scales. Trees and vegetation in the area had been mostly cleared, but the remaining sparse scrub within fifty meters of him combusted from his radiating heat. Onlookers would see a thinly blazing trail of the remaining combustibles in the area and a glowing crimson streak as his heartscales flared like the core of a fusion reactor.

    No longer necessary to hide it, his frenzied speed and building flames demonstrated the rage he felt from his abuse at the hands of the Sundai Clan. Fury boiled in his Core and he would reap the vengeance he was owed upon the Clan¡¯s racers.

    His agreement with the vampire from the Savoy Corporation would balance the Karmic scales and show the Sundai Clan all would suffer when any incurred the wrath of the Dragon.

    Memories of the mistreatment and disrespect forced on him came unbidden to his mind as the kilometers sped away under the Naga¡¯s thrashing tail. Nagal had been frozen in the clan¡¯s cell for more than two days, unable to circulate his Essence, move, or even speak. Forced to listen to the peacekeeper prattle on about the twining paths of arrogance and Adharma.

    The shopkeeper who had paralyzed him had even come and sniggered at his helplessness. ¡°You¡¯re more likely a gecko than a Dragon.¡± She had mocked him in his helplessness.

    Eventually, the paralysis faded but Nagal¡¯s Cultivation had been stunted. The Meridians the shopkeeper had frozen had been deformed. The combination of propagation backlash and days of subsequent stagnation had resulted in damage that only time could repair.

    His Essence had moved in starts and stops when he attempted to circulate it. The turbulence caused soul-splitting pain as it surged and then was blocked by the damaged pathways. None of his skills could be used. Nagal lost all hope as he watched its sluggish flow with his aural sight.

    Furthermore, while Nagal had both his Earth and Fire Attunements¡ªin his present condition, he had less strength than a singly Attuned warrior.

    The Peacekeeper had advised him that his Cultivation would return to its former state if he left it fallow, but that the healing would take several standard galactic cycles¡ªup to ten of them.

    ¡°This is really a short time for Cultivators, Nagal. Use the time to reflect on your past actions and what direction you really want to go in.¡± The Peacekeeper¡¯s patronizing words rang in Nagal¡¯s ears like crashing cymbals.

    His mind had cried out to the powers of Reality. How could he have

    been betrayed like this? How could the Blessed One have abandoned his true chosen?

    Adding further insult, Nagal was then escorted out of town by the peacekeeper and advised not to return. Not able to meet their cruelty with strength, Nagal slithered into the darkness to feed off vile beasts and carrion he could defeat in his weakened state. He had resigned himself to a decade of base living before he could reclaim his glory. And seek his revenge.

    It was with a belly full of vermin that the Black Eyes had found him.

    Beaming her false smile of camaraderie, Nagal had been certain of the female¡¯s devious nature. However, sitting alone in the dark, eating only the wretched fur-covered pests he could capture, he had accepted her presence with fear and trembling.

    Just as with the Sundai elders, Nagal had been unable to sense the depth and strength of her Core. but the smell of death reeked from her, like it did all her ilk. Regardless of whether they had been spiritually risen or were the soulless reanimated drones that were so numerous in dark places, they all smelled the same.

    ¡°I am Xsias.¡± She spoke with an unblinking gaze through a frozen, fanged grin while holding out a natural treasure in an open, pale hand. ¡°This is the Citrin of Diamasis, a seed from a World Tree fermented in the stomach flame of an ethereal salamander as it lived its life swimming through the molten cores of terrestrial planets.¡± Nodding to it in reverence, she continued. ¡°Know that it has taken eons to ripen to its current strength.¡±

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    The heat and spiritual potency the seed gave off from the small flames that raced in ripples over its surface bore the truth of her statements.

    ¡°With this, I promise an immediate return of your strength, vengeance against the Sundai, and ultimately¡ªpowerful allies that will guarantee you the respect due a Dragon walking the Path of One.¡±

    Xsias had moved closer to him as she spoke, but his concentration was focused on the citrin and its never-ending flow of flickering flames coursing along its edges. The Black Eyes¡¯ words continued, and Nagal was reminded of honey as it smoothly oozed off a comb.

    ¡°Not only that, but simply eating this gift from the Savoy Corporation will restore your flame Meridians to better than they have ever been. Even before the hurt inflicted on you by the Beast Affin of the Sundai, may they rot in the uncharted abyss of the obsidian void.¡¯

    Regardless of his fear of her, Nagal could only agree with her senti- ment for the Sundai and found himself nodding with her. That along with hearing his greatest wishes from her lips, and craving his wholeness, Nagal found himself reaching for the seed in haste without even thinking¡ª

    But it disappeared faster than he could track.

    As if coming out of a trance, Nagal shook his head and saw Xsias standing before him. Her hands were planted firmly on hips and her mouth in a thin line. Her black eyes regarded him with dominance and anger of contempt. ¡°My dear Nagal, this is a priceless treasure. At this stage in your Cultivation, you should know that I cannot just give you this without assurances.¡± A wicked smile spread over lips that matched the dead feeling of her unwavering gaze.

    Having learned not to demand things from those who were presently more powerful, Nagal spoke plainly. ¡°What is required of me?¡±

    She placed the sharp tip of her index finger¡¯s black nail against her lips and raised her eyes to his. ¡°Not much. First, I must brand your Core with my Blood Essence. Then I¡¯ll tell you the rest.¡± Her smile widened.

    ¡°You would turn me into an undead slave!¡± Nagal shouted as he unconsciously backed away from what would be his last chance.

    Xsias¡¯s nostrils flared. ¡°Of course not, foolish child! There may come a time when I feel you have earned that privilege and I might offer it to you. But you are far from that time now. I am not a patient being, Nagal!¡± Xsias hissed.

    Xsias dropped the concealment of her Core and everything in the immediate surroundings began to drip with Essence the black color of death. Nagal staggered under the strength radiating from the exposure. He dropped to his knees as Xsias kicked his legs out from under him with a speed and strength the Naga had never before seen. With one hand, Black Eyes pulled the scales under his chin toward a bleeding wound on her other wrist. The Citrin of Diamasis floated from behind her to fill his dazed gaze again.

    ¡°Choose!¡± She briskly nodded to the fruit. ¡°Salvation, power, and vengeance, or mindless slavery for eternity?¡± She raised her wrist slowly dripping thick black sludge.

    Nagal shifted his eyes to the citrin and nodded.

    A satisfied smugness overcame her countenance as she bit into her wrist, exposing all four of her fangs and tongue as she smeared her black blood over them.

    ¡°Good! Now drink!¡± A maniacal glee overcame Xsias as she forced his muzzle to consume the unending torrent of death flooding from her.

    Nagal could barely keep himself from retching as he swallowed the thick black obscenity that poured from her veins. His natural instincts were all opposed to this antithesis of life being forced upon him. The dark energy started twisting his Core and Meridians. Nagal¡¯s screaming only started a micro-gyra later, when the process had become irreversible.

    When Nagal regained consciousness, Xsias had kept her promise and gave him the citrin. Swallowing the rock-hard seed, it had made him more powerful than before he had come to this world. His senses indicated his Meridian and Core capacity had increased by a full third beyond what they had been. He felt the same increase in his strength and vitality as well. Furthermore, his flame attack was now five times faster, requiring less than half a second to generate, and it could continue in a state of readiness for immediate release for up to sixty micro-gyras¡ªten times what it had been before.

    Now, as he stood atop a thirty-meter rise, one kilometer from the finish line, Nagal was in sight of the Sundai elders'' spectator area.

    Black Eyes assured him the Sundai didn¡¯t dare interfere with the qualification race. These words had been proven true, as well. Nagal¡¯s narrowed eyes could see sharp looks on their stony faces. All of them glared at him and feared what he would do, but none dared to come up to him.

    Good!

    The elders were fools in their continued belief in Dharma and Adharma. Black Eyes had the right of it. There was no right and no wrong, no good or bad¡ªonly power, and now Nagal had it. They would have to sit and watch as he slaughtered their children before their eyes. He would leave them to their misery and simply step into the Blessed One¡¯s race when he was finished.

    Xsias had also promised he would be granted a Portal returning him to his starting world after he succeeded. From there, he would seek her out at the Savoy Corporation¡¯s satellite headquarters on the ice world of Naz¡¯ram in the galactic core. Then, together, they would rise to glory.

    *****

    Meni returned at the qualifier¡¯s two-thirds point to confirm Nagal stood in plain sight and waited for them in front of the finish line. The Gandun and Savoy¡¯s positioning remained the same. Tono waved the entire group to huddle up and listen in as they ran over the rocky ground toward Nagal¡¯s position.

    ¡°Everyone! The threat is real. The Naga is waiting to crush us using the Gandun and Savoy as his hard spot. Do we challenge him or withdraw?¡±

    Josh nodded. ~Are you still up for this?~

    ~Yes, brother. It is the right path. Besides, I don¡¯t like... bullies. Is that the right word?

    ~Yes it is, Sen.~ He smiled. ~Yes it is.~

    Josh spoke into the group¡¯s silence. ¡°Tono. We have a plan.¡±

 Chapter 57

    Xsias was pleased.

    The fear in the Sundai elders'' spirits was delicious as they realized Nagal would remain afield. She watched as his chest blazed brighter than the arcing amber sun as he stood on a slight rise and refused to enter the Blessed One¡¯s race. Beyond that, the Naga was more than fully recovered from the laming of his Meridians. His continued presence screamed for all to hear that he would seek vengeance against the Clan by unleashing his Flame Attunement upon their progeny.

    Xsias positively reveled in the riot of emotions surrounding her. In particular, the Sundai Clan¡¯s pain and anxiety had absolutely sated her Tetrahedral Focus of Agony.

    Even better, the uneasy cease-fire between the Sundai, the Savoy Corp, and the Gandun Union to allow the Blessed One¡¯s race to go on without advanced Cultivators of the three groups starting a brawl that turned Mwezi into rubble. The leaders of the three groups were casting increasingly menacing glances at each other while they inched closer and closer to open conflict with every second.

    Xsias couldn¡¯t have thought up a better villain than Nagal if she had tried. How the Fates came up with these pathetic creatures, Xsias was sure she didn¡¯t know. However, her specialty was finding them and then ensuring they were enslaved to the Savoy Corp. to further its interests. The vampire broke from her revelry. She was here working, after all. The delectable flavor of helplessness from the Sundai near the peak of their Tetrahedral Focus was only icing on the top of her cake, but she did need to take care of business. The Gandun Union¡¯s contract with Savory Corp. to ensure the slaughter of the next generation of the clan¡¯s Cultivators was her reason for being here.

    Why such animosity from the Gandun? Not that Xsias cared, but it seemed that two of Gusti Sundai¡¯s brothers, Nenga and Komang, had stirred up quite the harrots¡¯ nest in the galactic core against the much larger Gandun. In retaliation, the Union had hired the Savoy, and specifically¡ªXsias, to deliver the void wasp¡¯s sting for them. There were no other extant contracts that Xsias was aware of, but two-hundred thousand standard rotations of experience with the Savoy convinced her this covert attack of the Gandun Union was merely an opening salvo. It was likely that in a handful of Ka nexus rotations, the Clan would be merely an unpleasant memory. The Sundai Clan¡¯s demise was something Xsias was more than happy to deliver for one crucial reason, Gusti Sundai.

    If he or any of his brothers advanced to the Octahedral level of Cultivation that they had been on the cusp of for the last two-thousand standard solar rotations, the power structure in the galaxy would be thrown into chaos. The Savoy could not allow that to happen. But this was tomorrow¡¯s work. For now... the next generation of Sundai Cultivators needed to be expunged.

    A smile threatened to split Xsias¡¯s face and she schooled her glee as several Sundai elders ran to Gusti and demanded he act to stop the coming slaughter. Xsias¡¯s pulse increased as she went from amused to positively aroused. The fervid feedback of Gusti¡¯s anguish swirled around her as the Orangutan Affin had to hold himself back from destroying Nagal. And then having to subdue three of his own people to prevent their interference with the naga¡¯s intent.

    It was clear Gusti knew the far-reaching consequences for Balance if they interfered with Karma¡¯s ongoing opera. Not only for whoever intervened, but for the entire Clan. Gusti had obviously been so seriously concerned that he hadn¡¯t even stopped Nagal weeks prior when he could have, unwilling even then to take the risks of unbalancing this Karmic locus. The woven lashes of Reality converged here in a very pronounced way. Even to Xsias, who was several degrees less sensitive than Gusti, it was evident that Nagal was a fateful Actor. An Agent of Chaos. A player in a show that needed to run to its conclusion. Trying to prevent this Intended Fate would only make the repercussions worse... for all involved. Of that, both Xsias and Gusti were in an unvoiced agreement.

    With the pacification of the three elders, the susurrus from the Sundai Clan quickly died down. Gusti neatly laid them down in a row behind him without acknowledging the looks of betrayal from those remaining. The Clan turned away from Gusti to stare again in vain at the waiting Nagal.

    Gusti used the distraction and leveled a dangerous look at Xsias. She cocked an eyebrow at him. Certainly not here and now?

    The pain on his face as he turned away from her indicated that he also agreed with her thoughts on the escalation to violence between them before the qualifier¡¯s conclusion.

    Smiling pleasantly to the back of Gusti¡¯s boiling figure, Xsias readied for the conclusion of the circus before her. The Clan elders were entirely correct. It was a foregone conclusion that singly Attuned Cultivators¡ªeven a cluster of fifty, would never be able to stop a doubly Attuned one. Especially one boosted offensively by the fire treasure Xsias had supplemented Nagal with.

    Sitting back and savoring the delicious misery of the Sundai, Xsias let it fill her Meridians to bursting. She then stood back and waited for the Sundai children to be annihilated.

    *****

    Gusti¡¯s long, simian toes were grinding the stone beneath his feet to powder as he eyeballed the Savoy vampire. His Karmic vision showed him she was firmly linked to Nagal with a sopping, bloody-black thread of dominance. She was responsible for Nagal¡¯s recovery and the entire current situation.

    Silently binding himself, Gusti vowed that no matter how this played out... when he got his hands on Xsias... the outcome would be unavoidable.

    Until then, Xsias would have to wait. For right now, Gusti needed to stand here and continue showing an adamant face for the Clan, nd, if necessary, an uncompromising hand as well. Only then could they all get through this knotted snag of Karmic threads centering around Josh, Sen, and Nagal.

    Gusti wasn¡¯t precisely sure how everyone had gotten pulled into this mess, but his Cosmic-Essence Attunement had been flaring since he first encountered Josh and Sen. It had erupted like a solar-mass ejection when they were in the same room with the Naga.

    Moreover, his Tetrahedral Focus of Shaman, literally screamed at him about the entwined nature of the three young Cultivators¡¯ Fates. If anyone tried to interfere in the qualifying race, much less the confrontation between these three, Reality¡¯s Balance would swing back immediately and irrevocably. Whoever stood in its way would be crushed.

    This level of backlash would shatter the Sundai Clan. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. How would it? It was impossible for Gusti to tell. He was no Diviner. Not yet. Only when he advanced to the Octahedral level of Cultivation and if he chose to follow the divergent Shamanic path of Time-Space-Karma-Fate Conjunction would he be able to know the how of it.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    For now? All he knew was the Balancing backswing of Karma for any that interfered in the confrontation below would be bad. Bad in a ¡®kill you now, kill you later, and kill you every day for the rest of the Iteration¡¯s existence, kind of way¡¯.

    The only thing to do was let it play out. To do that, Gusti needed to trust those two peculiar humans. The prodigies, with their extraordinary Bond. He knew the kids were good. There were no two ways about it. No five of the singly attuned Sundai youth were a match for either of them. But... against a doubly-Attuned offense-oriented Naga? Even Gusti was having trouble seeing how the Karmic ties to the iteration could allow Balance  to impose such a terminal Reality upon the two young human¡¯s. They were both Dharmic and pretty decent guys despite not knowing the difference between a bovina and their rear ends.

    What had they done, or would do that was so damning as to force a showdown between them and a beast like Nagal? ¡­And how could their fates be so entwined with the Sundai Clan from the get-go of their arrival on Mwezi that if Gusti or anyone in the Clan were to intervene it would spell their end as well?

    Gusti sucked through his front teeth and again looked uselessly up past the banded striations of Barroo-7 to the Heavens beyond. I have no clue why any of this was true.

    Gusti knew that time was not linear and this more than anything shaped what the non-karmically sensitive described as ¡®fate.¡¯ Even a newborn started its life with the Karmic ties that Ballance shaped the being¡¯s reality as the wheel of time spun on. It was the choices and actions the individual made while the wheel spun that altered ones Ballance imposed Reality, and created the tangents in our existence that gave rise to the never ending iterations of the multiverse¡­ Everything he was thinking was true and undeniable.  Still none of it made it at all clear how two singly attuned Cultivators who despite a strong fundamental understanding of the physical iteration and a solid foundational understanding of Essence application¡­were little more than a couple of yahoos¡­

    Gusti scrubbed his face with his long-fingered hand. How can they ever hope to match something like Nagal?

    It was a simple question of raw power, and not an indictment on or a lack of confidence in the two kids¡¯ wills. Without a doubt, they would show up and do their part. Gusti knew it in his mind and metaphysically as the Clan¡¯s Shaman, but just as much if not more as their friend. It didn¡¯t take a deep search of his feelings for the Orangutan-Affin to confirm that he truly trusted Josh and Sen¡ªalmost from their first meeting.

    It was true that Gusti had reflected a few times in the past weeks that trusting so quickly was generally not his nature. Too many times in his six-hundred-thousand standard cycles, appearances weren¡¯t what they had originally seemed. Even when things were what they looked like, over the millennia simple, very slight deviations in character that one could miss at a first meeting made even the closest of friends, or brothers, end up with divergent Fates. Gusti had seen and suffered these truths too many times to be taken in by a good story and a kind demeanor.

    Yet he had believed what his astral inspection had shown him about Josh and Sen¡¯s ties to fate. They were good kids. They did come from a long way off, likely originating from another iteration unless he missed his guess. And because of this distance from their present and their place of integration to the present, it was likely that they had some ties and points of connection that he was not able to fully perceive and inspect. But what Gusti could see he liked and trusted. It was in that trust that he had acted on his Shamanic perceptions to bring the two boys into the Clan.

    Gusti tilted his head to the side as he looked back on it from the present, It was almost as if he had gotten a glimpse of what his Foresight Cultivation Focus would be like on the other side of his long held back his Octahedral advancement. The insight on the two of them was so clear! It had felt like his skills had even reached the level of a Diviner, which would be unheard of¡­ But regardless, Gusti had believed what he sensed and felt about Josh and Sen. And he had done everything in his power to position the two of them between the Clan¡¯s kids and Nagal. Gusti had gone so far toward that goal he¡¯d felt the Karmic veils straining at his warnings and interventions. The course before them all was so set that even the recommendations he had made the previous night to the clan¡¯s kids had pinged Reality¡¯s ties like the straining mooring lines of an anchored ship in a squall. It was clear that these three, Josh, Sen, and Nagal, were meant for a confrontation, here and now. They would somehow sharpen each other in a way that was desired by powers far beyond the strength of any of the current players he could see.

    The slow tread of heavy steps came from behind him and Gusti glanced over his shoulder, knowing what he would find there.

    A sigh escaped him as he shot a narrowed glance at the hulking figure coming his way. ¡°You¡¯re a headache I don¡¯t need right now, Jorn.¡± Heedless of the warning, Jorng¡¯a continued his march up to Gusti. He stopped, looked at Nagal, and then back at Gusti.

    ¡°I see him. Plain as day... just like the rest of you. I haven¡¯t been suddenly struck blind.¡±

    ¡°Could¡¯ve fooled me, Gusti...¡± Jorng¡¯a took a deep breath and pressed his lips together, trying to maintain his temper, or his nerve, or both. ¡°We¡¯re not going to let that overinflated moron roast our kids because of the iterational quirk of birth-striation that gave this clueless bully of a naga double attunement. It¡¯s crystal clear you won¡¯t let us act, so what are you going to do about it?¡±

    Gusti unveiled his Core and let it radiate. It brightly shone over the Clan, the leaders of the Savoy, the Gandun, Nagal, a kilometer away¡ªand even that spiritually risen undead bloodsucker who was soon to be a dead-undead bloodsucker. All of them flinched and turned from his peak-Tetrahedral strength.

    Gusti then faced Jorng¡¯a with eyes as unmoving as Xsias¡¯s. He spoke slowly and tensely so there would be no mistake as he stared the massive Bison Affin down. ¡°I¡¯ve already done what needed doin¡¯. Watch it play out so you can call me a genius when it¡¯s over.¡± Gusti raised his eyebrows without blinking and stared up at the massive Bison Affin. ¡°Are we clear?¡±

    Setting his jaw, the muscular bovine was clearly unwilling to stand down.

    ¡°...I can see it¡¯s a waste of my breath, but you have quite the strength to gain until you reach the day you¡¯ll be able to force into question my actions, Jorn...¡±

    Pressure waves seemed to collapse around Jorng¡¯a as he reached for his Tetrahedral Cultivation Focus, Gravitational Mass. Jorng¡¯a exerted enough force to double the density of a quarter-galactic ton of neutronium as he strained against Gusti¡¯s strength for several seconds... and then... Jorng¡¯a¡¯s giant eyes rolled into the back of his skull and he staggered from the pressure. Clearly he had lost the pissing contest.

    After a few seconds, Jorng¡¯a started catching his breath. Then he nodded. Gusti wasn¡¯t going to give up on this and Jorng¡¯a was simply no match for him. All he or the rest of the Elders could do was trust him.

    With hooded eyelids, Gusti recognized the acceptance from Jorng¡¯a and through him¡ªall the rest of the Clan, save the few yahoos he already had to subdue.

    Gusti nodded to Jorng¡¯a and looked back to the small hill Nagal was standing on. Some of the Clan¡¯s kids were nearing it, about ten kilometers away.  Despite his confident facade, Gusti knew that everything he had done so far might only amount to achieving the lesser of several evils facing the Clan¡­and the ¡®lesser evil¡¯ was not always a good friend to have.

    Fates, I¡¯m betting everything!

    He needed to be right about this. Gusti hadn¡¯t been wrong about the risks. Merely mentioning Nagal to Josh and Sen six weeks ago had stretched Karma until it had groaned. Bringing it up again at the strategy meeting last night had made Reality¡¯s ties so taut they sang with the tension. Was there more I could have, should have done¡ªNo, Gusti had prepared them as much as he could. The rest was up to them.

    Everyone in attendance intensified their focus as the first runners approached Nagal¡¯s position. The first to reach the naga were two unaffiliated runners that had sprinted all out from the start.

    Gusti closed his eyes and pressed his lips into a solid line as he realized these two were either too dumb to see or too desperate to care about the danger the four armed monster represented. Either way, if there had been any doubt about Nagal¡¯s intentions, they were rapidly laid to rest.

    Quick, sidewinding flicks of Nagal¡¯s abdomen surged him forward hundreds of meters. Almost instantly closing the distance to the now back-peddling runners. It was obvious to all that their retreat was too little, too late. Nagal grabbed the closest one¡¯s head and simply smashed it to a pulp between his thickly muscled hands. The runner¡¯s four legs and two arms spasmed as the Naga grabbed one of the loose limbs and swung his now dead body flaccid around his head like a lasso. The naga then flung the dead racer to crash into the body of the second runner, a plant-form spirit being covered in green and blue leaves that had been sliding along the ground on a series of rapidly moving subterranean roots. The two bodies collided and rolled in a tangled mess of broken limbs as well as broken limbs and branches.

    Coiling his abdomen rapidly, Nagal surged over the downed bodies and crushed them into a thick black-green smear on the rocky ground under his scales. He then tilted his head and tasted the air with a steaming, forked tongue. Seemingly sensing what he was looking for, he shot across the rocky sand at supersonic speeds to mow down another unaffiliated arachnid runner who had tried to take advantage of the distraction the first two died to create. With chunks of the spider still falling to the ground, Nagal lashed his way back and settled on the low rise he had started from.

    A maniacal grin spread across the Naga¡¯s face as the first members of the Clan¡¯s column came into sight two kilometers away around a house-sized boulder.

 Chapter 58

    Standing shoulder to shoulder with their weapons drawn, Sen and Josh walked out onto a shallow hill facing the Naga. If necessary, Josh was ready to trash-talk the Naga into attacking them.

    It wasn¡¯t.

    Nagal charged them at what must have been over 200 mph, leaving a trail of heat-crystalized sand behind him. When he¡¯d first seen them, Nagal had started to slither slowly, like he was being drawn to them almost by some unseen force. Then, as if accepting some unheard command, he accelerated at speeds that made Josh and Sen glad they came with their swords drawn.

    Cycling Essence to their legs, they split up. Josh charged straight at Nagal and activated the acceleration function of his sword with two hundred free Essence. Sen stepped back.

    The Naga¡¯s chest scales gleamed like a halogen searchlight that sent waves of heat so powerful they preceded his racing body. Josh was glad there was no time for him to develop second thoughts as he closed in on the terrifying eleven-foot juggernaut.

    A twitch of Nagal¡¯s lower body showed Josh that a pull back of his upper-arms into an attack position were a feint. The Naga¡¯s primary attack was going to be a tail-slash bodycheck, intended to send Josh flying and shatter him in the process.

    A small smile of gratitude curved the left side of Josh¡¯s mouth. Despite being thrown into the Clan¡¯s combat shark-tank for the last six weeks, he would have missed Nagal¡¯s battle tells if Sen hadn¡¯t prepared him to expect this exact tactic.

    ¡°Not just the Naga, but any initial charge of a serpentine enemy tends to open up combat with a tail swipe.¡± Sen had warned.

    Thanks, brother was the only thought Josh had time for before he and Nagal collided.

    For an eternal instant, Nagal loomed over Josh as the heat from his Fire Attunement singed Josh¡¯s clothing and blistered the skin on his hands. For the briefest of instances, Josh could see the evil smile on the reptile¡¯s face deepen in satisfaction, then his view was obstructed by its winding abdomen and tail that caused an ear-splitting pop when it broke the sound barrier, displacing itself through the space Josh was occupying.

    At the last moment, Josh stopped the Essence he was cycling into his lower body and rerouted all his Essence into his upper body and arms. Without a missed beat, his Essence cycled there with the force of an atom smasher. At the same time he also released the Acceleration function of his sword. Holding nothing back to strengthen this strike.

    More than just applying speed and strength to his attack, the visualization of his goals was a practice Josh considered necessary for success, particularly in the realm of Cultivation where such Intent was more than simply a base desire and actually contributed toward a result that humanity would have considered supernatural in his previous life. But he had used visualization even before his experience with Cultivation. Starting as a kid while training in the gym, and later as an adult practicing law in the courtroom. A person needed to picture all the steps necessary to achieve their goal and the desired ultimate outcome in as vivid detail as possible. This was particularly true if they were trying to perform a task they might need to do a few times before they expected to succeed. Something like skewering a deadly eleven-foot snake monster that wanted to crush them like a grape definitely qualified.

    As Nagal¡¯s rigid abdominal wall eclipsed the Naga¡¯s leering face, Josh¡¯s visualization skills had never had so much Intent behind them. Solely focused on thrusting the business end of his bastard sword into Nagal¡¯s flank like an ice pick through a rotten tomato. Old-timey movies depicting the slow motion imagery of armor-piercing rounds that exploded red delicious apples into sauce went through Josh¡¯s mind. He was going to gut the snake bastard like a fish and leave him flopping on the ground in a pool of lizard blood as his sword continued like a cruise missile out the other side.

    Josh had one-thousand percent confidence in his success. Time slowed as the razor-sharp, thrusting tip of his bastard sword struck dead center on one of Nagal¡¯s white belly scales¡ª

    And then his sword was ripped from his Essence-enhanced hands like an open umbrella in a hurricane. The high-pitched pinging of its densely-packed ferrous molecules rang nearly simultaneously through the entire chromatic scale and out of Josh¡¯s audible perception as it disappeared into the distance. Sent pinwheeling into the sky.

    Josh had thrown everything he had at the Naga. Even using the serpent¡¯s own momentum against him. The result was little more than a scratch on the single scale he had struck. Time¡¯s flow returned to true, and Josh had less than a millisecond to appreciate his failed effort.

    Because it was Nagal¡¯s turn.

    Josh¡¯s frame was crushed by Nagal¡¯s sliding abdominal wall, and Josh¡¯s body followed a similar trajectory that his sword had an instant before. His vision was filled with the rapidly spinning images of the amber sun and the pink and orange striations of the gas giant as his body was accelerated into an end-over-end- over-end spin an unknown number of times. To his addled brain, he was still accelerating when he hit the ground a kilometer away. A tidal wave of sand and gravel was sent up from a freshly formed oblong crater that Josh¡¯s shattered body punctuated at its oblique end.

    *****

    The literal and figurative impact of that initial confrontation was so dramatic every onlooker was struck silent. Even Nagal stood still and took a moment to admire the rising of a mushroom-shaped dust cloud. Pebbles and larger rocks started to rain down from above as the Naga continued to arrogantly gawk at the show of his own power.

    And it was this arrogance that foolishly gave Senyak the opening he was waiting for.

    Sen had initially been opposed to Josh¡¯s plan. Insisting that, as the better warrior, he should be the one to first confront the Naga.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Then Josh explained his reasoning and Sen had grudgingly accepted. ¡°I¡¯m better with the shields, Sen. It¡¯s just a fact. This is going to come down to one of us playing the chew toy for this rabid dog. I¡¯m the tasty one, brother¡ª¡±

    ¡°But I¡¯m better¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes! You are better. Better with weapons, defense, melee tactics, and surprise attacks. Which is why you need to be the one to slide in, get behind him, chop him into itsy bitsy pieces and bury him alive! And you better be quick about it. Even with the efficiency skill I won¡¯t last more than twelve or fifteen seconds off the ground with my full shield activated if that¡¯s how Nagal wants it to play it out. After that, I will have to start eating into the Essence already in my Core.¡±

    ~Nothing will stop me.~

    ~I know... That¡¯s why this is the way it needs to be.~

    Through their Bond, Sen knew Josh had gotten his full earth shield raised an instant before he was sent flying. Josh had then deactivated and reactivated it just before impact. Presently, Josh was still alive, but he was much less than lucid from all his fractures, ruptures, and concussed brain lobes. Silently, Sen sent a wave of gratitude for his brother¡¯s skill and sacrifice. The exquisitely precise control Josh had affected had been essential to fooling the Naga. Such Attunement skill was, without question¡ªbeyond Sen¡¯s and most likely any other singly or even doubly Attuned Cultivator¡¯s abilities. If Nagal had seen Josh activate a shield skill, he would most likely have stayed alert and followed up after Josh impacted to smash through it... ultimately expunging him. But, by deceiving Nagal into thinking Josh was taken out like any singly Attuned Cultivator would have been, Josh¡¯s charge had served as the distraction they hoped it would be.

    Sen wasn¡¯t totally detached from the emotional effect of what had just occurred, however. Seeing his Karmic brother savagely discarded and sent cartwheeling through the air had angered him more than he thought it would. Sen was more than ready to do some damage to this shit stain as Josh had titled him when they¡¯d approached. Even so, it was not an emotionally compromised combatant that flashed behind the distracted Naga, but a warrior with the cold composure of an Immortal Combat Specialist. He would only get one chance to start this fight. To succeed, there could be no errors.

    Nagal was truly a fearsome opponent, of that, there was no question. Fire Attunement was almost universally feared as a peak offensive weapon and finding an enemy with it so early in Spherical Cultivation was daunting. Nagal¡¯s opponents would have invariably lacked the ability to protect themselves from his attacks. Because of its destructive capability and the general lack of an effective counter so early upon the Path, outcomes would likely have always been heavily slanted in his favor. This was further complicated by Nagas as a species having renowned innate superior defensive capabilities predicated on the strength and resilience of their scales to slashing and piercing weapons. Once Earth Attunement was added to that already considerable defensive capability, a Naga¡¯s scales effectively encased them in a flexible armor that rivaled any defensive plating or skills up to two Attunements higher in Spherical Cultivation. In Nagal¡¯s case, it was adding the benefits of a second Attunement on top of that. Defeating the creature through his scales was an insurmountable problem. The defense was so good that many Naga had no need to learn to express their Earthen shield until close to their Tetrahedral advancement. This was likely the case for Nagal, given his early double-Attunement. He simply had no need of such a capability. Even without the shield, there was little hope of getting through Nagal¡¯s scales. Sen had no more hope of cutting or piercing Nagal¡¯s scales than Josh had...

    But... and this was a big but...

    Going between the scales... that was another matter entirely. You just had to know where.

    Less than a tenth of a second after Josh made first contact with Nagal, Sen had moved from his position behind the low hill and gotten behind the pride-gawking Naga, still basking in the devastation of removing Josh from the field. Sen had no trouble spotting the joining of two intersecting gaps in Nagal¡¯s scales. Very subtle, but obvious enough if you knew what you were looking for. Just as linked armor had to leave tiny gaps at limb joints in order to enable its wearers adequate freedom of movement, so too did a Naga¡¯s scales where they grew together from different directions. For instance, the small area between the crest of his upper-left shoulder and arm.

    Absolutely committed to his attack, Sen activated the Acceleration skill of his sword and struck true with complete enhancement to his upper body. Acceleration made the sword feel weightless, generating a high-pitched whistling as it sliced through molecules in the air, creating a vacuum that pulled it to Nagal faster than Sen could move it on his own.

    It would be wrong to say that Nagal hadn¡¯t sensed Senyak¡¯s appearance and attack until it was entirely over, but by the time the distracted Naga became aware and pivoted with his two right arms swinging simultaneously high and low¡ªit was far too late to make a difference.

    Sen¡¯s sword had already sliced through flesh and cartilage.

    Nagal¡¯s top left arm was falling to the ground, blue-green arterial spray pumped, and Sen back-flipped and rotated between the serpent¡¯s arms to land downhill and away.

    Seeing his blood spraying in a synchronous rhythm in time with his accelerated heart rate, a look of shock overcame Nagal¡¯s reptilian features as he followed the stream of blood down toward his amputated arm still spasming on the ground and flexing its fist. A moment passed before he even had the presence of mind to start circulating Essence and stop the bleeding.

    Sen grinned maliciously. Looking up from his three-point landing, he took advantage of this second gap that the Naga was kind enough to give him.

    The combat specialist yelled up the hill, ¡°Rollover and bite the pillow hard, you ugly bastard. . . we¡¯re coming in dry!¡±

    The insult¡¯s colorful nature had come from Josh¡¯s twisted childhood. Though it had been Sen who knew that an insult after such a grievous wound would give him a significant chance of multiplying his initial intimidation advantage for the following exchanges. Before being sent to the Mortal Realms, he would not have even considered needing such an advantage. But without a doubt, things had diverted greatly from his previous experiences as an Immortal.

    The Clan¡¯s runners, including Josh and Sen, stood no chance in a flat-out confrontation against Nagal¡¯s increased strength, speed, resilience, and power. As they advanced alongside each other, however, Sen was learning and relearning the most important lessons of his early Immortal training.

    The value of intimidation had been taught to Sen by his first battle instructors. And it was as lethal a weapon as any sword:

    ¡°One should appear weak when they are strong and strong when they are weak.¡±

    Yet Sen had never listened to it, never meaningfully understood it until now. When he had the greatest of needs.

    To be truthful, Sen was not sure Josh¡¯s insinuation of forced anal sodomy would translate appropriately for the naga into galactic common. Even if it did, the naga might not be insulted... but the fury that took root on Nagal¡¯s face showed it had worked... and very well at that!

    Nagal cocked his head back and his chest scales amplified in luminescence to the point that Sen¡¯s retinas would have been scarred blind if he had stared at them. Less than half a second later, a swath of land 120 degrees and one kilometer in depth from Nagal was covered in a smothering blanket of roiling red flames. Everything they touched was incinerated. The remaining trees and vegetation ignited, rapidly burnt to ash that was instantly carried away by the push of an enlarging gas cloud. Rocks burst into shrapnel as air pockets inside them superheated and exploded. Large shards melted to liquid, while smaller pieces combusted to their constituent gasses. The sandy ground under the flames melted into a glowing orange-glass slurry.

    No singularly Attuned Cultivator could have survived Nagal¡¯s opening conflagration. Even with an earth shield, it was questionable whether it would absorb the heat necessary for the user to endure the attack. Sen agreed with this line of thinking, which was why he hadn¡¯t been standing where the flames erupted. As a singly Attuned warrior, Sen had no chance to dominate the naga with speed or strength. But... he could anticipate, with relative accuracy, especially the actions of a wounded and enraged opponent.

    Part and parcel of using intimidation as a weapon was why one intimidated combatants. Angry, arrogant, and foolish opponents were inefficient fighters. In many cases, they were more predictable than skilled and well-controlled fighters. In all cases, they were more upfront in their attacks and less likely to hold back in reserve.

    After Nagal had been wounded and insulted, Sen had predicted he would move to his ultimate weapon out of rage. In truth, he had thought it would take the Naga longer to propagate his skill. However, Sen was still able to get into motion before the naga released his flames by launching himself above Nagal¡¯s head in a forward flip. He grazed Nagal¡¯s left shoulder, landing behind him.

    The Naga finished his flame attack and spun to face Sen with his three arms raised... instantly getting his left eye pierced through. A gout of blue-black blood and clear ichor splashed across his serpentine face as Sen flipped back out of melee range again.

    Landing, Sen cocked one eye and looked quizzically up at the furious Naga. ¡°You¡¯re not very good at this, are you?¡±

 Chapter 59

    Xsias ground her teeth. The languid agony of the Sundai elders she had been adrift in was gone, replaced by the bright and glaring razor of all undesired things... hope. The elders'' feelings of elation were so acrid that Xsias had to close her Channels and move physically away from the wide-eyed and cheering Clan.

    Xsias had laughed out loud when the two Clan racers had first appeared on the hillock. One had instantly retreated while the other¡¯s ill-conceived charge into the jaws of quick and merciless destruction had been pure folly. Both ridiculous actions had only improved her mood, and Xsias had utter confidence that her victory was mere moments away.

    Then the unthinkable happened.

    Nagal had been maimed and partially blinded before the dust had even settled from his initial attack. For the last thirty seconds, the Naga had gone off into an ineffectual rage against the top-knotted warrior, who seemed to have a preternatural ability to avoid Nagal¡¯s feckless and brutish barrage. Without a doubt, the Naga was moving at more than fifty percent greater speed than the Clan runner and still the man remained unscathed. To Xsias¡¯s eyes, the confrontation was a farce. The Sundai warrior¡¯s unhurried yet fluid movements were always just out of reach from the faster but unrefined brute.

    The blurring of Nagal¡¯s arms and tail left color streaks as they swung at his opponent, but the movements were against a rival that was always one step ahead, somehow landing between, dodging under, and jumping over the Naga¡¯s attacks. The timing and execution of the Sundai warrior¡¯s movements were such that they seemed to occur before Nagal had even decided how and where to attack. The blows that couldn¡¯t be avoided were deflected by an amazingly skillful ability to externalize his Earth Attunement into its shield form. She doubted anyone under the fourth Attunement of Spherical Cultivation would be able to match the instantaneous and partial propagations he had displayed. A chest propagation to absorb a tail stash, single arm propagations to shatter Nagal¡¯s teeth as he attempted to bite his opponent¡¯s arms off. Even a complete shield coverage when Nagal had managed to grab and throw him up into the air and rapidly used his breath attack while the warrior was still falling.

    The obviously effective nature of the trap the two Clan members had executed could not be denied. Is Nagal going to fail? Should I activate a contingency?

    The internal thought surprised Xsias. She had no current plans in play that accounted for Nagal being beaten by a singly Attuned warrior. The possibility was so remote that she hadn¡¯t even considered it a possibility let alone a low probability outcome that she needed to prepare for.

    Her scowl darkened. Xsias¡¯ current ¡®contingencies¡¯ were all much less eloquent and required her direct involvement. Something she wanted to avoid given the power difference between her and several of the Sundai Elders. Particularly Gusti Sundai.

    Her gaze smoldered over Nagal¡¯s struggling form. No matter the outcome... you will pay for the incompetence that put me in this position! At her core, Xsias wasn¡¯t a gambler. She preferred overwhelming odds in her favor, with outcomes already determined long before she acted.

    Closing her eyes and letting a micro-gyra of calm reinforce her thinking. Grinding her teeth, Xsias focused her attention on the statistical probabilities at work. Shoving any vestiges of compromising emotions to the side, she became as objective as possible.

    It¡¯s still unlikely that this warrior can continue his flawless evasion indefinitely.

    Nagal had twice the warrior¡¯s physical speed and strength, allowing no margin for error.

    It¡¯s still much more likely that the Clansman will slip up sooner rather than later.

    Nagal might be bloodied, but when the stinging gnat slipped up... Nagal would be more than ready and capable of devouring him in one bite.

    With steadied nerves, Xsias relaxed after working through her logical deductions. Her plan would succeed despite this bump in the road¡ª

    Finally.

    Seeing the sudden change in the fight''s momentum, a razor-sharp smile lit up Xsias¡¯s obsidian eyes. It won¡¯t be long now!

    * * * * *

    A red light flashed rapidly and way too brightly into Josh¡¯s eyes...

    Please no... not yet... just a little more sleep...

    He struggled to turn from the bright light... but his body wouldn¡¯t respond.

    Weird...

    Either his body wasn¡¯t under his control... or his arms and legs were missing!

    Wha-what¡¯s... going on...

    The red light started to flash even more quickly and even more annoyingly. Josh opened his eyes to try and stop it... I don¡¯t have any eyes!

    Like watching a massive object far in the distance rapidly accelerate toward you... Josh¡¯s memories of the dual impacts of smashing into Nagal and then¡ª

    I¡¯m¡­ in a huge crater like some Looney Toons character, aren¡¯t I? He tried and failed to blink some sense into his thoughts before turning them outward. Sen?

    A voice from somewhere inside Josh ordered him sharply, ¡°Sen is doing his job! Heal now, so you can get out there and do yours!¡±

    Well, that¡­ sounds like a good plan¡­ I¡¯ll just¡­ He tried to do a rough check of his condition, but again¡ªhe couldn¡¯t move his limbs and trunk. Where to start?

    The flashing red light¡¯s frequency increased...

    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    What are the chances this red flashing is a happy taillight on the bird of paradise taking me to a nirvana of joyful bliss, and not a DEFCON 1 beacon indicating I¡¯m currently on the edge of complete destruction? Josh studied its harsh, intermittent glare.  If anything, the intensity of the light increased, impressing on him a sense of even greater desperation. Yeah, I figured the chance of the former was slim to none¡­ Josh drunkenly thought. But it can¡¯t really be that bad, right? I mean if I was¡ª

    A jolt of fear lanced through Josh¡¯s mind as some part of him recognized the incoherent nature of his thoughts. Another, admittedly larger part of his mind continued to ruminate in a space of misplaced optimism while the steely core of Josh¡¯s psyche turned its attention toward his current condition.

    Josh immediately started circulating Essence to his Meridians... He then realized his Meridians didn¡¯t end in organs... or limbs... almost as if his entire body had been torn apart, ruptured or¡­ exploded.

    It was with a mixed emotional bag of confirmation, horror, and a chagrined acceptance that he took in his current state through what few supernatural senses remained to him, apparently the natural ones that relied on the use of his body were currently¡­ unavailable.

    Everything was gone except a tiny ribbon of channels between his Core and the central portion of his hind, mid, and forebrain.

    Classic coup-contrecoup injury...

    The somehow still functional science lab part of Josh¡¯s mind informed him about the concept of two brain injuries resulting from one traumatic impact. The initial injury from the first hit and the second injury when the brain slammed into the other side of the skull from the momentum it gained.

    But¡­ to my whole body!

    In his case, massive injuries had occurred to Josh everywhere and all at once, as a result of Nagal¡¯s¡­ It wasn¡¯t quite a shoulder-check. The Naga had been far too tall for that. An ab or chest-slam maybe¡­¨C

    Focus Josh! The disembodied voice steered Josh back to action.

    Somehow, he had continued and was still channeling the earth shield, which was good.

    It¡¯s likely the only thing that kept what was left of me from spilling onto the sand and rocks like a chunky, blood-slushy!

    After three seconds of circulation, the red light, which was somehow communicating with what was left of his brain, stopped speeding up and slowed. After ten seconds, it stopped. Josh¡¯s nerves, including the damaged portions of his brain, had grown back enough to feel the first wave of searing, crushing, white-light-blinding pain...

    And my eyes haven¡¯t even regrown yet!

    Fighting to maintain control of the healing process, despite feeling worse as he got better, Josh had the guts to check his status.

    <table width="331">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="173">

    510/5000

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="173">

    3000/4050

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Fifteen seconds later, his organs had regrown and his bones had reformed with muscles and ligaments attached. He finally cut Essence to his shield and accelerated Healing to his ears and dominant right eye. He chose both hearing organs mainly because of his coming need for balance. Without both he¡¯d be wobbling like a drunken sailor on a dry dock. He focused on those areas for two seconds.

    Skin and my left eye are going to have to wait...

    Josh pushed his way out of the loose gravel and rocks that had fallen over him and staggered in the direction that he felt his Bond with Sen. His sword was gone... God knew where... but his Aspect Facet was still somehow present under his left shoulder.

    Josh reached inside and pulled out his titan short sword. He flipped it upside down, holding the blade in his hand and brandished the heavy pommel like a club. As he crested the rim of his impact crater, he saw Sen repeatedly bouncing like a giant-sword-swinging, anime-vampire-ninja just inside and out of Nagal¡¯s reach.

    Seeing everything was under control, Josh took two more seconds to fill his free Essence and gold-orange streamers of energy began to surround him.

    Sensing his brother¡¯s rise, Sen turned his head and smiled in the middle of a backflip away from Nagal¡¯s never-ending cascade of attacks. Distracted, he landed one-footed on a section of ground already incinerated and turned to glass. Josh didn¡¯t know if it was blood, sweat, or the blowing sand from Sen and Nagal¡¯s passage that had caused the slip, but the result was the same.

    Sen slid and careened back for a split second before he regained control. His one-footed slide sent him into the already waiting grasp and jaws of Nagal.

    Sen had already fully propagated his earth shield to protect his body from Nagal¡¯s slashing claws and fangs and looked like nothing so much as an orange chew toy in a pit bull¡¯s thrashing head. Sen would only last seconds being held off the ground like he was!

    Ackkk!

    ~Sorry, Sen! I¡¯m coming ¨C Duck!~

    ~... ~

    Josh channeled Essence to his legs and activated his shield as he charged Nagal and the struggling Sen from the Naga¡¯s right side. Pulling the pommel of the short sword back like a tennis racquet, Josh streaked across the 300 meters at full speed and swung for the fences at Nagal¡¯s head.

    Josh couldn¡¯t cut through the scales of the Naga like Sen had somehow, but just like Josh had been turned, if very briefly, into sapient goo after he hit the ground with his shield blazing, Josh bet he could clock the frakker just fine with the heavy end of his sword at maximum acceleration. Josh¡¯s goal was to do to Nagal¡¯s brain what the nagal¡¯s  ab-slam and subsequent cratering had done to him¡ªmaking it slosh around and around while smashing back and forth into the walls of his own skull a few dozen times. Josh wasn¡¯t sure if it would work but he was determined to find out!

    Sen shifted his head and neck to the side as Josh blurred in. Nagal, with blood in his one remaining eye, may have heard Josh approaching or not, but it was clear he only currently cared about biting through Sen¡¯s shield and tearing his head off now that he finally had the troublesome warrior-monk in his grasp...

    Josh closed in and activated his weapon enhancement skill. It snapped up the blade and covered the pommel in the familiar orange and gold glow of Earthen enhancement as he reached out to Sen through their Bond. ~Trust me... it¡¯s physics... and she can be a real bitch!~

    The gold-glowing, thick metal pommel and all of Josh¡¯s strength and acceleration slammed into the Naga¡¯s relatively stationary head. F=MA, and Josh had a boatload of A, baby! Upon contact, Nagal¡¯s skull was instantly battered three feet to the left, slamming into and mercilessly crushing his free-floating brain. The blow¡¯s force dragged the rest of Nagal¡¯s stunned body behind the impact, causing it to bend like an upside-down U and crash into the ground.

    A not-inconsiderable cloud of dust rose from the impact as the Naga¡¯s brain slammed into the far wall of its cranium¡­ and then the near wall¡­ and repeated the cycle again. Several times, until all of the physical momentum was absorbed...

    And no penetration of the naga¡¯s scales was required. Josh deviously pointed out to himself.

    The pommel of Josh¡¯s makeshift titan short club shattered. The pieces of the mundane weapon scattered across the battlefield behind the Naga, leaving Josh holding a more than slightly bent blade.

    Nagal, after having his brain splattered on the inside of his skull like a bug on a windshield, was momentarily less than battle-ready. Stunned with multiple concussions, his hands unconsciously dropped Sen¡¯s body.

    With his earth shield still active, Sen flipped out of reach and landed next to the out-of-breath, skinless, and generally still mangled Josh. His facial bones hadn¡¯t healed, and his one restored eye threatened to pop out of his unaligned orbit.

    Sen did a double take at Josh¡¯s appearance but held his comments to himself while Nagal rose like a drunkard, initially facing the wrong way and before quickly pivoting toward the brothers who were, once again, standing side by side and waiting for him even if they were slightly worse for wear.

    Slurring his words over broken teeth and a shredded tongue, ¡°Goohhd, you¡¯re sstthill alllive... I cann kihllll you agaihhn!¡±

    Rattled or not, the incandescence glow of his chest scales grew as he prepared to release his flame attack.

    Josh raised a finger and smiled through his gruesome visage. His one eye wavered as it lifted to look Nagal in the naga¡¯s matching singular remaining eye. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you, Nagal... at least, not until I introduce you to the rest of the Clan¡¯s runners and our... guests...¡±

    At Josh¡¯s words, Tono, Li¡¯l Jorn, Meni, and the rest of the Clan¡¯s runners rapidly filled in to stand around Josh and Sen. With them were fourteen of the Gandun Union competitors holding twelve of the Savoy Corp.¡¯s runners, all neatly restrained and mostly subdued with slowly healing wounds. The few still conscious put up a token resistance at being publicly shown off as the trophy they were, but their efforts were feeble and quickly put down by the Clan¡¯s racers.

    Several of the Clan were also wounded. But they were assisted by companions not busy with escort duty and were rapidly on the mend.

    ¡°...I¡¯m betting your boss, whoever they are, wouldn¡¯t want you to cook their runners along with us... would they?¡± Josh¡¯s expression took on a severe look, and the grip on the naked blade in his hand tightened as he stared past the Naga to the waiting area... and the person who really mattered, whoever was holding this monster¡¯s leash. ¡°But if I¡¯m wrong... cook away!¡±

    The rage building in Nagal¡¯s chest exploded over his face as he screamed in defiance and the light shining through his thorax became blinding. ¡°I walk the path of the Dragon! No one contr¡ª¡±

    The Naga didn¡¯t get anything else out before he was frozen rigid in place by Xsias¡¯s unseen clenched fist.

    Reading the crowd, Josh nodded to Sen and the rest of the Clan racers as they sped toward the entrance of the Blessed One¡¯s race. They dropped their ¡®guests¡¯ at the gate, and the forty-nine clan members flashed through.

    Through clenched teeth, the tall, pale vampiress couldn¡¯t help but make her voice heard by all as she activated a Techno Lord portal sigil. Speaking just before she disappeared in a flash of blue, ¡°Well played... I¡¯m sure we will meet again...¡±

 Chapter 60

    One second Josh and Sen were bunched up with the front group of the Clan¡¯s runners. Tono was one step ahead and to the right with an expression of sincere joy on his reptilian features while his clawed feet pounded the ground. Li¡¯l Jorn and Meni were two steps back, cheers jubilantly raised on their lips. As the group passed through the alabaster gates¡ª

    The next second, Josh and Sen were alone.

    They were standing in a large entryway to an enormous room ahead of them. Between them and the cavernous space was a sandstone podium engraved with hundreds of glyphs. The glyphs shifted, flashing pink, yellow, orange, and pale red, and were slightly reminiscent of the color striations of Baroo-7.

    The air was still, and a sense of peace filled the open chamber. Josh and Sen mirrored each other as they looked from side to side for a threat that wasn¡¯t there.

    Peace...

    Quiet...

    There were no snake monsters trying to burn them to ash. Josh sighed heavily as he blew out a breath, then collapsed against the nearest wall, exhaustion taking its toll.

    Josh drew in Earth Aura and cycled it like a whirlwind as he finished healing. Skin grew like little islands over the red and angry-looking connective tissue. The islands expanded quickly and filled in over his body while his poorly set bones reapproximated themselves into a semblance of normalcy. His jaw snapped into place with an audible pop and his eye aligned from drifting as his ocular orbit stabilized. When the light in the room brightened and details increased with the regrowth of his missing eye, he rededicated Essence to enhance his vision and hearing. Finally, Josh started to feel a little more huma¡ªerr... spirit being-ish again...

    Funny what being turned into a puddle of conscious goop will do to your sense of well-being...

    He looked up to see Sen standing guard over him.

    Nothing had changed in the room. Sen looked back at Josh and for the first time that Josh could remember, there seemed to be too much even for their Bond to communicate. Both felt overwhelmed by feelings of mutual respect and gratefulness for the sacrifices they each had made.

    Sen leaned down and offered Josh a hand. He took it and got pulled into a quick one-armed hug.

    ~Thank you for facing Nagal alone. I can¡¯t imagine how you did it...~

    ~First of all,~ Sen shook his head ~I wasn¡¯t alone, brother... and second¡ªmine was the easy task in comparison.~ This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    They clasped arms in gratitude for another instant, then Josh nodded and broke away laughing. ¡°Alright, before this gets too weird... Do we need to activate the pedestal?¡±

    Sen bobbed his head. ¡°I believe so.¡± He looked around and shrugged in a noncommittal way.

    Through their Bond, Josh could feel Sen was as uncertain as he was about what they had to do next. ¡°And... aren¡¯t we supposed to be here alone? Didn¡¯t Gusti say the Race was an individual¡¯s challenge against the Blessed One?¡±

    Sen¡¯s face screwed up. ¡°I doubt there is much in the Mortal Realms that can separate us. We are essentially the same person for most purposes, considering our Karmic Soul Bond. I think the same would hold true even in the Immortal Realms.¡±

    Now that he thought about it, Josh would have been surprised if he¡¯d appeared alone. Sen had become almost an extension of himself. In fact, they¡¯d have to set up some boundaries if they ever had any free time, if either man wanted any hope of a personal life...

    Who am I kidding? The Clone would never let that happen, the blue-bastard...

    Sen picked up Josh¡¯s surface thoughts with as little effort as if they were his own feelings.

    He nodded. ~Agreed, it is unlikely, brother.~

    Josh moved to the pedestal and examined it. A hollowed-out section for both of a person¡¯s hands was embedded on the top. Josh placed his right and Sen his left.

    The glyphs carved into its sandstone sides began to cycle through a series of symbols. Their shimmering increased rapidly, casting a cascade of multicolored hues around them. The speed increased until the glyphs were solidly lit and bright enough to hurt their enhanced eyesight.

    With squinted eyes, both could feel the air charged with power. Josh and Sen¡¯s faces were tense with expectation as they stared for any sign of what was coming toward them from the distant open foyer and empty space beyond¡ª

    ¡°Ahem...¡± A young male voice coughed from behind them. ¡°Are you guys looking for me?¡±

    They spun and saw... a bald, blue-skinned humanoid with what were likely gill slits along his throat. He was youthful with a lithe frame and wore simple homespun linen clothing. If he had been human, Josh would place his age around fourteen years old.

    The young man sat in the lotus position, floating upside down about four feet off the ground. His eyes sparkled as he smiled warmly at them and looked on with an eager expression as he waited for their answer.

    Momentarily taken aback, Josh stuttered, ¡°Ahhh... I think so... are you the Blessed One?¡±

    Josh started to lean sideways and tilted his head, losing the fight against the urge to get the youth into the proper visual frame.

    Sen was as surprised and perplexed with the boy¡¯s appearance as Josh was. He stood off to the side with an inscrutable expression on his face, but Josh could tell through their Bond it was not for the same reason.

    ~Everything all right?~

    Sen shrugged. ~Let¡¯s speak with him and I¡¯ll try to figure it out.~

    ~...All right.~

    Their Karmic communication had not gone unnoticed.

    The youth studied them with narrowed eyes and pursed lips until he happily burst out, ¡°Aha! I knew it! You two are Karmically Bonded! That explains so many things I saw during the battle. That and the fact that you are both here now when there really should only be one.¡±

    The Blessed One, presumably, righted himself and stepped out of his lotus position but continued to float in space. He appeared to be in deep thought as he tapped his lips with his index finger and stared into the distance while talking to himself.

    ¡°They can¡¯t possibly know the full significance of what this means given their neophyte Cultivation status... but they are taking advantage of it. Furthermore, they have demonstrated advanced skill and strength beyond even their Cultivation seniors...¡± The youth paced back and forth in front of them while three feet off the ground, utterly oblivious to their quizzical looks. ¡°They obviously have help... help that is far beyond even my station... Likely even beyond the mortal iterations¡¯...¡±

    He turned to face them, a smile on his lips and a sharp but not unfriendly look gleamed in his eyes.

    The boy wagged his index finger at shoulder level and took them in as if for the first time. ¡°You, my friends, are way above my pay grade...¡± He retook his lotus position and rotated in place as he asked. ¡°Tea?¡±

    Perplexed, Josh spluttered, ¡°Ahh... sure... ¡±

    Sen closed his eyes while wearing, for some reason, a knowing smile.

    ~He¡¯s onto us, brother... We can have no secrets from a clone

    as advanced as this.~

    ~Clone?~

 Chapter 61

    Black-lacquered, low-profile chairs and a matching table appeared before them. Steaming tea poured itself from a seafoam green kyusu into three yunomi of the same color.

    Josh and Sen huddled over the table, hands over their cups.

    The Blessed One sipped his tea as he spoke. ¡°He¡¯s right, of course. I am a clone of the Blessed One. My progenitor, Chiteki Tamashi, left the mortal realms for his attempted Immortal Transcendence billions of years ago... but he loved this moon. It was his birthplace. Back then, Mwezi was more than seventy percent covered with seawater. Now, the moon is almost completely terrestrial. There are only small inland seas remaining...¡± The clone trailed off with an air of nostalgia reflected in his expression before turning back to them. ¡°Before he left, Chiteki set up the White Palace...¡± He waved his hands side to side to indicate the rooms and everything around. ¡°To siphon off the torsional energy of Symgan¡¯jyaun¡¯s gravitational pull ¨C that¡¯s the gas giant you now call Baroo-7. Without this intervention, the moon would have been pulled to bits of gravel and absorbed into its atmosphere long, long ago.

    ¡°Chiteki set up the Blessed One¡¯s Race and the Temple of the Mind Breaker as an afterthought when he realized he could extend the life of the facility by thirty percent if he used the planet¡¯s siphoned energy to grow the Ip¡¯pul fruits instead of allowing it to dissipate via gravitational entropy¡ªnot to mention, significantly benefitting novice Cultivators... but I digress.¡± The clone returned his focus to them with a raised eyebrow to accompany his sly smile. ¡°I¡¯m not completely sure I understand every nuance of what is going on with you both... but I can smell Immortal intervention all over you, and I¡¯m not going to mess with it¡ª¡±

    Josh¡¯s face scrunched up, and he almost instinctively objected when the Blessed One¡¯s clone raised his hand placatingly, still sipping tea with the other.

    Finished with his sip, he said, ¡°Not to worry, Joshua... you both deserve the Ip¡¯pul fruits... and I¡¯m not saying that we can¡¯t go through this whole trans-system dog-and-pony show with its randomly generated environs and combatant spirit beings... if you really want to.¡± He stopped waving his hand to-and-fro matching the singsong voiced-words he had been speaking. He continued, obviously bored stiff at a routine he had gone through literally millions of times, ¡°but we all know how this whole competition¡¯s going to pan out in the end, don¡¯t we?¡±

    The clone then waved his free hand flatly over the table, and a rounded, deeply violet fruit encased in crisp skin appeared before each of them. A full, sweet fragrance that spoke deeply of energy and somehow¡­ consciousness?... rose to Josh and Sen.

    Josh cut himself off as the youthful clone continued.¡°What I¡¯m saying is... there¡¯s no need for you to compete. I¡¯ve watched your combat and learned many things about you in that rather interesting display.¡± The clone took another sip of his tea and then held his hands out, encompassing the rooms around them. ¡°This place is for novice Cultivators to get one last helpful push before they need to start walking the Path of One on their own. Quite frankly... the routine program doesn¡¯t have anything to offer you two.¡± He finished with his thin fingers on his chin. ¡°The Naga was an unforeseen happy accident and the only worthy opponent for you. I am sure you learned more from your confrontation with that creature than in all of the available training here, no?¡± He gestured at the fruit. ¡°So how about it? As far as I¡¯m concerned, two single-Attuned Cultivators taking down that monster supported by a not insignificantly capable blood-sucker have already earned their reward.¡±

    To their surprised looks and hands twitching with desire to grab the Ip¡¯pul, the clone opened his eyes wide and warned them with a stalling motion.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not touch them yet... perhaps we could finish our tea first, shall we?¡± Chiteki¡¯s clone ended by narrowing his eyes and peering around with an air of conspiracy.

    Looking sideways at each other, Josh and Sen smiled knowingly. Without a doubt, their Clone would appear and whisk them away as soon as they had possession of the fruits. Chitek¡¯s clone obviously seemed to suspect as much as well¡­

    Chiteki¡¯s clone joined in with their smiles and looked at Sen with a friendly but slightly penetrating stare. ¡°Senyak Marztanak. You recognized this avatar. I would know what you know of my progenitor. Did he succeed in his Transcendence so long ago?¡± A serious, if slightly disappointed expression came over his young face. ¡°He has never returned. I don¡¯t know what to make of that. I see only three possibilities. Either he failed, was destroyed as he progressed, or his concerns are so great and expansive on the other side of Immortality that the mortal existence holds nothing of interest for him.¡± Sincere longing to know filled the clone¡¯s face as he leaned forward. ¡°Can you speak on this?¡±

    Sen straightened in his chair and smiled faintly as he spoke. ¡°Great Elder, I do know of your progenitor. He is called the Prime Motivator. He is responsible for the vast expansion of the mortal and Immortal iterations. His actions led to the placement of aspect doorways and the seeding of entire iterations with spirit beings up to and including thirty-five aspect doors from the main core of Immortal iterations.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°The Prime Motivator is widely known as one of the three most potent Immortals. The Seraph, his Immortal followers, are Dharmic and innumerable. You would know them by their white-winged avatars should they appear in the mortal iterations.¡±

    The clone¡¯s eyes were gleaming at Sen¡¯s words, begging him to continue, and Sen did. ¡°Many wonder why the Prime Motivator has not yet Ascended into the Great Unknown. It is common knowledge that he has long been finished with the seven stages of Immortality. Perhaps you would understand his reasoning more than most.¡±

    Chiteki¡¯s clone took on an awe-filled gaze as he looked up to the heaven¡¯s for several seconds before he spoke in a quiet voice. ¡°He¡¯s gone so far since leaving here¡­ Thank you, Senyak Marztanak. I couldn¡¯t imagine that he would have failed in his Transcendence. I am very grateful to know that he has continued on... and along his beloved Dharmic path as well.¡± Chiteki¡¯s clone nodded in appreciation to Sen. ¡°May your spiritual growth be without bounds.¡±

    Sen bowed in his seated position to the clone¡¯s traditional blessing. Without provocation, Chiteki¡¯s clone looked up and swallowed once almost as if he was trying to assess someone or something through the roof above them and far off. Then he returned to his friendly and youthful demeanor, huffing a breath and smiling. ¡°I cannot give you any specifics about your future paths in repayment. I suspect there are forces around you that would expunge me if I tried.¡± He looked up to the ceiling nervously again.

    Waving his hand, a thick pink and orange bubble appeared around them, making their ears pop at its airtight fitting. ¡°Let me speak quickly¡ªthis shield won¡¯t last long and I have to tell you what I know my progenitor would want you to understand. You are both functioning well beyond what is expected of normal Cultivators, even those at one hundred percent probabilistic efficiency and at maximum statistical growth margins. In short, you are both improbable, which, in simple terms means that it is possible you are becoming Agents of Karma!¡± A look of amazed bewilderment flooded the clone¡¯s face as he tried to speak faster, obviously talking about things he himself found hard to believe. ¡°The ramifications are almost completely unheard of in this iteration¨Cyour actions may have impacts, not only on the iteration you are currently in... but concurrently on the surrounding iterations as well!¡±

    He stopped talking and stared straight into Josh¡¯s eyes.

    He was wearing the most severe expression they had seen on his youthful face. ¡°There is a non-zero chance that everything you do, every action you take or don¡¯t take can have rippling effects into other iterations even without reaching the fifty percent overflow that Reality normally requires for impact on the iterations of the surrounding cuboid. Remember this. Concerning your daughter, Sophie¡ª¡±

    The bubble encasing them shattered into thousands of dissolving pink and orange shards that dispersed into ascending sparks as they tumbled around Josh, Sen, and Chiteki¡¯s clone.

    Floating over them, Zenyak¡¯s Clone appeared in all his blue-blazing glory with a very stern expression on his glowing face. Holding his hand, palm up, a solid beam of ultraviolet-tinged white light as thick as a Coke can shot from it. The beam blasted Chiteki¡¯s clone from its floating position, pinning him to the far wall.

    In less than a heartbeat, the Chiteki clone¡¯s entire body had been erased like a sandcastle washed out by an incoming tide. His face¡¯s last expression haunted Josh as it reflected the terror of billions of years of existence coming to an abrupt end under the Clone¡¯s assault.

    Blue-white liquid fire screamed behind the Clone¡¯s eyes under his currently erupting lightning-tinged brows. His line of sight turned toward Josh and Sen. ¡°We needs be gone. Take your fruits.¡±

    They grabbed the violet Ip¡¯pul Fruits¨Cand before they could even turn back they were simply¡­ gone¡ªpulled from the comfortable niche they had so easily slid into with Gusti and the Sundai, and back under the Clone¡¯s tender mercies. Josh could barely suppress his shiver at the thought.

    * * * * *

    Zenyak Marztanak stepped through his portal from the deep blue wisdom of the Way and into the chamber at the center of the Mind Bender Temple. He rolled his avatar¡¯s head on its shoulders with a deep sigh. Some habits were hard to break, even into immortality. There were no physical reminders of the injuries he had sustained during Oblivion¡¯s attack¡ªand no Immortals save for the other two Paramounts would see anything but his seemingly endless energy pools if they dared attempt to assess his power. Regardless, Zenyak had been¡­ diminished. The power expenditure he had spent to prevent the destruction of the three of them from Oblivion¡¯s assault, and then the effort  to repair his shattered Core and Meridians had required more than 22 percent of his dedicated Immortal Ka. It was more than enough power to recreate an entire cuboid after its stars had completely burned into lifeless cinders.

    I¡¯m not good at losing... Zenyak sighed again... but needs must.

    The three Paramounts needed to move forward and determine their path against this foe... But only after this stop that Chiteki, the Prime Motivator, had demanded as mandatory. Zenyak¡¯s youthful-appearing friend was already here and getting a report of the recently transpired events. The teenage looking Immortal scowled at Zenyak as he rested his hand on his mortal clone¡¯s bowed head.

    After a long moment the mortal clone bowed to Chiteki and glared at Zenyak as it blinked out of the room.

    Humphhh... sore loser...  Zenyak noted that he was not the only one who struggled with defeats.

    Chiteki, a perfect reflection of his clone, cast a sideways glance at Zenyak. ¡°Were the dramatics really necessary? Your Clone shortened the lifespan of this facility by eight percent with the energy expenditures needed to repair the damage it did¨Cthat is a loss of two billion galactic cycles of continued existence for my home world.¡±

    Zenyak rolled his eyes. ¡°Home world? Grow up, Chiteki. You know what we face. You are not unaware of just how many ¡®home worlds¡¯ are at stake in this struggle. We need every advantage and every probabilistic upper hand we can scrape together. I¡¯d implode this iteration for the sake of maintaining the necessary pressure on the Bonded pair and the potential¡­ options they represent to us.¡± Zenyak¡¯s avatar leaned into Chiteki, and their genuine friendship softened his words. ¡°You would as well, my friend.¡±

    The Prime Motivator conceded the point with a nod of his young head at the truth in Zenyak¡¯s words. Without a doubt, he would.

    Chiteki moved on. ¡°Concerning our ¡®options¡¯, the Principal Master has moved beyond our relays at the fifty-third aspect doorway. He has made a disturbing finding and requests that we join him now to confer.¡±

    Zenyak¡¯s penetrating gaze asked the question that didn¡¯t need to be said. Is the time to proceed with our last option upon us?

    In response, the Prime Motivator¡¯s brows rose in uncertainty.

    Two simultaneous tears in space-time flooded the chamber with the deep blue of Reality as two of the multiverse¡¯s most preeminent Immortals went off to join the third in their continuously losing battle against Oblivion.

 Chapter 62

    Josh and Sen reappeared on the Hegemon-4, one of over two thousand ships owned by Sen¡¯s grandfather, Zenyak. Vast and powerful, the ship was the size of continental Africa, and somehow still had lines saying it was built for speed. They had returned to the same empty training room where they had used Gaia¡¯s Earth crystals to gain their Earth Attunement. Likely the same cots and same ten-inch pillows had again been laid out in the large vacant space.

    Their interfaces suddenly chimed in unison.

    Item of Power obtained.

    <table width="593">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="145">

    Item of Power: Ip¡¯pul Fruit

    Quality: Unique

    Provides Mind Attunement.

    </td>

    <td width="448">

    A 100% probability of increasing your Core and free Essence capacity by 1000%

    A 100% probability of increasing the propagation of Essence utilization rate by 1000%.

    An increased probability of being able to manipulate psychic Essence outside your Meridians.

    Further increase the Essence capacity of your Core and Meridians by increasing your Cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    You do not yet have this Attunement. Do you wish to absorb Ip¡¯pul fruit?

    The Clone¡¯s deep and certain voice interrupted before Josh could even make a mental choice.

    ¡°Absorb the fruits.¡±

    The reported upgrades the Ip¡¯pul fruit would provide seemed off the rails. Josh was curious to see these changes and what other changes the second Attunement of Spherical Cultivation brought... but there was only one priority for him right now.

    ~We¡¯re back on the Hegemon! Sophie and Alysa!~

    ~Yes, brother... we will speak with Alysa about Sophie as soon as we are finished here.~

    Josh sat at the end of his cot and looked at the Ip¡¯pul. It filled his splayed fingers and was roughly the size of a softball, its deep-violet color appealed to something deep inside of his being.

    When was the last time I ate anything?

    Then, as if compelled by forces outside his control, Josh started to devour it.

    Flavor exploded across his tongue. Tangy, tart, and so sweet it drove Josh to get more and more in his mouth. Before Josh realized it, he was eating bite after bite. Stem, core¡ªthere were even some almond-shaped seeds that he chewed through.

    As he ate, he began to feel like he saw everything around him more clearly and in much greater detail. It was as though his consciousness were expanding. He felt connected to Sen, the Clone, the cot he was lying on, the individual tiles covering the floor around him... He was part of everything¡ªconnected to the molecules that made up Reality, the atoms and subatomic particles that the molecules consisted of. Suddenly Josh was...Stolen novel; please report.

    Somewhere else. Everywhere else.

    He floated in the only space he had ever known. Darkness was all around. The sound of a steady and strong beating was his constant companion. Every so often, he would hear the sweetest thing he knew. It was regularly irregular in its cadence and timbre. Did it have a meaning? A purpose? Was there something greater and deeper attached to these sounds? How could he know? All he knew was that he could hear the beautiful sounds and they made him happy and safe.

    Months passed and he grew limbs that moved. Not to his commands, sadly, but he could feel them when they shifted, and they felt right. They felt as though they were a part of him that should move.

    Months more passed, he continued to hear, to feel... and suddenly, there was pressure, firm and regular. It was awful and forceful, as though something were trying to evict him from his home and happiness. He was squeezed over and over again. Then he was out! Cold, slick, wet... something touched him, pulled on his limbs and then the brightness came. Pain! But for the first time, he could recognize where all the beautiful-happy-safe sounds came from...

    She was even more wonderful than he could have ever imagined. He had the power of sensation. This was as it should be. He was the Mind.

    The scene changed and the heat was unbearable. Flames were everywhere. All ways blocked by walls of fire and thick black layers of lung-clogging smoke. The rafters of the wooden building cracked above as fire ate the strength needed to hold the weight of the burning roof above them. When it fell... certain death would follow. He slammed through the heat-jammed door that kept him from his little boy. The hair on his head caught fire. Skin sizzled and melted on his arm, head, and back. A rush of heat and flaming timbers rained down as he grabbed his son and barreled through the second-story window. The sobbing boy was shifted onto his chest. His body would be a cushion when they hit the ground. Would he survive... he didn¡¯t know... this was his son¡¯s only chance. That was what mattered. He had the Will to overcome pain and fear of death. This was as it should be.

    He was the Mind.

    The scene changed.

    Josh presided over the same world he had every day since his instigation. Where he had been for hundreds of thousands of years. Many years of expansion and then ultimately, many more of contraction that led to extinction. House by house, block by block, cities grew into countries, countries to the unification of the world. Births of billions upon billions. He knew their names, actions, achievements, and failures. He was aware of their communications, writings, and the trillions of terabytes of media and art. He knew the mistakes they had made as youths in school, as men at work, and as leaders that strode the world. Even the actions that led to their inevitable diminution and final complete expungement as a race. The creations they lost. The beauty they destroyed. The hopes the last few had of continued existence, and the faces of those responsible for their final and assured destruction. Josh knew it all as the planet¡¯s AI. Now these things were known only to him. But he would not forget. He had the power of Remembrance. This was as it should be.

    He was the Mind.

    Josh was a woman running down a dark alley, her pursuers just behind. She opened a door and, instead of running in, hunched quietly behind a dumpster on the other side of the alley. Her chasers charged through the doorway... unseen, she slipped away.

    He was a youth walking through sun-drenched fields composing a love poem for the beauty in his life.

    Josh was Conscious Thought.

    He was the biosynth consciousness of a fleet of starships performing trillions of calculations a day to keep the ships on course through the singularity portals between galaxies.

    He was a six-legged house pet that whined under the table for something sweet.

    This was as it should be.

    He was the Mind.

    The scene changed.

    He was an ancient elder, wheeled by caretakers to the top of the hill outside his country house for late afternoon sunlight. His joints ached even as he sat still. He hadn¡¯t spoken more than single-syllable grunts in years. Unable and unmotivated to spend the energy. But his eyes tracked the butterflies that fluttered above the plants as they sought each other out. He watched the birds soar as insects were caught or bits of straw were carried to nests. His mind joined them in flight, in painless, carefree movement and fearless activity. Hawks dove from unreachable heights and leveled out over the grass to catch a helpless rodent that couldn¡¯t scurry fast enough. This was as it should be.

    Josh was Imagination.

    I am the Mind.

    I am Sensation, Will, Memory, Thought, and Imagination. Being the Mind, all things are possible!

    Gasping into wide-eyed consciousness, Josh sat up as he first felt and then saw Sen doing the same. For a split second, he continued to feel connected to everything around him¡ªto be a part of Reality¡¯s perfect imperfection and to understand what was complete and what was missing.

    He knew.

    Then it faded, pulled from between his clenched fingers, and suddenly, he was only Josh again.

    I wonder if that was a taste of Immortal consciousness...

    A truly great question, he admitted to himself, but Josh shook his head and let his lips flap as he exhaled to wake himself fully... I have bigger fish to fry.

    The Clone stood over them at the foot of their cots. Josh looked over to Sen, who seemed to be recovering from a similar residual acid-trip flashback.

    Josh nodded. ~Let¡¯s go!~

    ~Agreed¡ª~

 Chapter 63

    ¡°Joshua Elias Tanner, in regard to your previous concerns, Lieutenant Junior Grade Nang is not aboard the Hegemon. However, I strongly suspect she and her team need your¡­ assistance sooner rather than later. Should I communicate the details, or would you prefer to operate in your usual fashion¡ªto run off uniformed and be ineffective?¡±

    Josh and Sen were both half-upright, pivoting away from the Clone. They straightened up and spun to face him. Sen bowed in respect, mumbling greetings to ¡®Lord Clone¡¯.

    Josh bowed his head. Whether it was in acceptance, or acknowledgement of the Clone¡¯s point, even Josh wasn¡¯t certain. Regardless, it seemed to satisfy their neon blue slavedriver.

    ¡°Very well. First needs first. Assess your status and the changes in response to acquiring your second Attunement. Cultivators have differing reactions to each Attunement, mainly based on the physicality and spirituality they started at. You two have a boon optimizing both. As such, you will have received the maximum benefit from the Ip¡¯pul fruit.

    ¡°Note that ignorant Cultivators widely consider Mind Attunement to be predominantly supportive. It is often viewed as an Attunement that only increases an individual¡¯s free and Core-bound Essence capacity along with their speed of propagation.

    ¡°This is the thinking of weak and unmotivated Cultivators. With the expression of Psychic Essence outside of the Meridians, many mind-specific abilities will be opened to you. This is both opportunity and tribulation as a new field of battle and growth is now accessible. The skills involved are arduous for the uninitiated to combat. Apply this information to your training.

    ¡°Check your status. Do so now.¡±

    Josh was nearly chewing through his cheek to keep from railing at the Clone to tell him about Alysa. Yet as much as Ole Neon Blue was being crotchety in leaving the news to last, Josh had to admit the Clone was right.

    As the noble adventurer, Lando Calrissian, said, ¡°You always need to check the charge on your blaster before you walk into an unfriendly room.¡±

    He decided to take the advice of the smuggler turned Rebel leader. He did his best to focus on the changes in his status.

    <table width="593">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="56">

    Body

    </td>

    <td width="537">

    Earth Attunement: 100% probability of increasing your health status from 500% ¡ú 1500%.

    100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your skin from 780% ¡ú 2020%.

    Weapon Enhancement: Invest 200 units of Earth-Attuned Essence into a weapon for 100% probability to increase the weapon¡¯s durability by 1000% and its damage rating by to 1500%. Duration is dependent on use. Earthen shield.

    Earthen Shield: Channel 100 Earth-Attuned Essence per second to form an isolated microenvironment to serve as an external layer of protection.

    Shield strength increases with increased channeling of Essence per second. Further increase your health status, connective tissue density, and Earth-Attuned skills by increasing your level and Cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table width="593">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="103">

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td width="490">

    Mind Attunement: 100% probability of increasing your Core and free Essence capacity by 1000%.

    100% probability of increasing the propagation of Essence utilization rate by 1000%.

    Increased probability of being able to manipulate Psychic Essence outside of your Meridians. Further increase your Essence capacity, propagation rate, and externalization of Attunement skills by increasing your level and Cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="103">

    Spirit:

    </td>

    <td width="490">

    Spherical Cultivation level 0% to stage 3/7.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="103">

    Weapon: None

    Skill Level:

    None

    Damage:

    None

    </td>

    <td width="490">

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="103">

    Armor: None

    </td>

    <td width="490">

    Second Spherical Earth Attunement resilience.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table width="331">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="173">

    5000 ¡ú 15000

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="173">

    4050 ¡ú 40500

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Josh¡¯s eyes were as wide as saucers. That¡¯s more than the density of Uranium... our body¡¯s molecular structure is now denser than uranium! Almost three times as dense as before! And the Mind Attunement wasn¡¯t even specifically related to his physicality!¨C But that would mean¡­my 180 lbs on my Earth would be weighing in at¡­his science mind did a quick calculation¡­3,608 lbs!

    Josh waved his arm in front of him and didn¡¯t feel any great new weight or mass that should be attached to a great new weight either. He didn¡¯t see the momentum of his arm tear through the cloth of the working clothes he had been wearing on the Sundai farm. He next stomped his foot hard on the deck and was met with the muffled thud he would receive if he had stomped the deck plates of the Eisenhower carrier back on Earth.

    Well¡­I don''t doubt that my molecular structure is denser or has the qualities of a substance as dense and as heavy as uranium back on my Earth¡­

    But for whatever reason he didn¡¯t feel like he weighed any more than before. His science mind jumped out in front and offered several possible explanations for the results of the simple experiments with his new body.

    Perhaps a quality of the Essence gives the rigidity of Uranium without requiring its mass effect? Perhaps the materials all around them, having been grown, processed, formed, etc., in an iteration which was Essence rich would handle the new weight without difficulty? Perhaps gravitons didn¡¯t respond the same way to Essence enhanced matter like it did non-enhanced matter? Probably a mixture of all three in some way¨C

    Focus Josh! We have larger matters to deal with right now. And ¡®Taskmaster Josh¡¯ was correct. These were all questions for later. Josh moved on.

    ~Sen! Josh gave the man a wide-eyed smile. ~The gaps between growth levels in Cultivation are huge! No wonder I couldn¡¯t get through Nagal¡¯s scales. He was at least as dense as uranium when I hit him!~

    ~Yes, brother... I did try to explain to you that Naga were durable, especially one with a dual Attunement that included Earth...~

    ~I know. I know.~ Josh mentally waved him away ~You did. But we¡¯ll just have to see what happens in the Thrilla-in-Manilla rematch if I ever run across that bastard again!~

    Josh continued looking over his new Status. The escalation of his free Essence was off the chain.  Perhaps this was a result of their Boon providing ¡®maximum benefit¡¯ from the fruit. Could different results be obtained for individual Cultivators based on the order in which Attunements were gained? Maybe, but this was a thought to discuss with Gusti later... if they ever got the chance. Something told Josh the Clone and ultimately, Zenyak would tightly control where, when, and in what order they would get their Attunements. But for whose greater good? Only time would tell.

    As to what mind powers Josh was going to be able to manifest... he had some ideas and was looking forward to trying them out after he got down to the bottom of whatever trouble Alysa was in... again! There was no doubt in his mind after discussing with Chiteki¡¯s clone that Alysa and Sophie, and maybe all the Alysa¡¯s and Sophies of the various Iterations were Karmically linked in some multiversal daisy-chain of support and perhaps risk...

    Josh narrowed his eyes. ~Whatever it is, we need to be there for them!~

    ~Agreed!~

    Josh smiled tightly. There was no need to focus on their Karmic Bond for Sen to know his feelings. It was impossible to imagine not having it and he knew Sen felt the same way.

    ¡°Very good. I take it there are no burning questions about the nature and function of the Mind Attunement?¡±

    The Clone didn¡¯t even pause as he continued speaking.

    ¡°Good. Moving on. You will also note that your Cultivation Spirit and Core have been advanced to the third of seven rings in the stage of Spherical Cultivation. You will need to again promote your Cores by absorbing the Essence from suitable spirit beings. No beasts on the Hegemon-4 have adequate spiritual strength to allow for this growth. The necessary resources will need to be found elsewhere.¡±

    Josh furrowed his brows and shot a glance at Sen. ~Cronos was more right with his vampire comment than I thought he was.~

    ~It seems so... ~

    ¡°Moving on to Lieutenant Junior Grade Nang and her team of space marines. While I was away from the Hegemon-4 dealing with, among other things¡ªoverly informative clones... the ship was attacked and nearly occupied¨C however briefly, while passing through an asteroid field several light-years from here in the Danguin System.

    ¡°The raiders were well-armed and utilized fast-moving ships. Lt. Nang led a counteroffensive with several of the newly produced StarGen cannons mounted on a prototype insertion vessel supported by AI-controlled cruisers. The cruisers were used as decoys and expected to be sacrificed. However, Lt. Nang¡¯s team was to board the enemy¡¯s command ship, assault their bridge and attempt to prevent pursuit of the Hegemon-4¡¯s trail through hyperspace. She was then ordered to rendezvous with an extraction team and be brought back aboard.

    ¡°She was successful in preventing the Hegemon-4 from further pursuit.¡± The Clone waved his hand to encompass the Hegemon-4 around them. ¡°However, she did not make her rendezvous with the extraction vessel. As we speak, she is believed to be captured or pursued by the combatants. Please note that nine Cultivators in the attacking ship attempted to board the Hegemon-4. It is thought there are more with the attacking force.

    ¡°You are tasked with exterminating the animals that attacked my ship and retrieving Lt. Nang and her team¨Cand, Joshua Elias Tanner, before you run out, please keep better track of this, will you? It is certainly not my role to pick up after you...¡± The Clone waved his hand, and Josh¡¯s bastard sword appeared, sporting a noticeable chip in the blade¡¯s tip where he had struck Nagal with it.

    ¡°The ship¡¯s stores and facilities do not have better, but given your recent Attunement, you will both need to secure superior weapons, and soon.¡±

    Josh nodded thanks to the Clone before they both sprinted off for the hangar where their transport and support staff would be waiting.

 Chapter 64

    Two trams, a moving sidewalk going fast enough to make Sen¡¯s ponytail float free behind them, and a massive platform used to lift spacecraft onto an elevated hangar deck later, Josh and Sen arrived at a landing and the mechanical assistant made an announcement.

    ¡°You have arrived at the B.A.H.¡±

    Josh raised his eyebrows. ~B.A.H.?~

    Sen bobbed his head. ~The Bridge Ancillary Hangar. It is used primarily to scramble fighters to defend the bridge in close combat. As they have done today.~

    Sen waved his hand and indicated to Josh several places where there were fresh scorch marks on the walls and two places where it looked like attackers had tried to cut through the three-foot thick blast doors that led to the command deck. Sen then bowed his head in respect to two dozen body-sized, black bags that were zippered and lying on a flatbed trolley just wheeled onto the deck of the lift they had come up on.

    Symbal Nang, the short fiery, chinese forward section¡¯s quartermaster and Alysa¡¯s father, was waiting for them at the edge of the lift. A squad of space marines led by Senior Chief Ishan followed in the commanding officer¡¯s wake, obviously protecting Symbal and the mysterious container set on the cart he was hovering over.

    Seeing Josh and Sen, Symbal bowed. ¡°My gratitude continues. I¡¯m glad you have returned safely to the Hegemon-4.¡±

    Sen returned Symbal¡¯s bow.

    Josh smiled as he grabbed Symbal¡¯s forearm in a warrior¡¯s grasp. ¡°It¡¯s good to be back. We¡¯re on our way to get her. How was she before? Any issues with¡­¡± Josh raised his brows and then looked around at the space marines. ¡°Any issues?¡±

    Symbal nodded to Ishan, who spread his team out quickly with a splayed paw. They moved out of earshot and stood just as vigilant as before. ¡°No troubles with Sophie, but Alysa did tell me that their ¡®link¡¯ was getting stronger and that it was easier for them to communicate with each other.¡±

    Josh accepted the news with a silent nod. ¡°How long ago did all this happen?¡± He indicated the battle damage around the B.A.H.

    ¡°Three gyras ago, give or take, but there isn¡¯t time to brief you about it now. You¡¯ll take Ishan and his team with you for support and liaison with the Hegemon-4 when you go after Alysa and her team of space marines.¡± Anticipating objection, Symbal raised both palms and stood his ground. ¡°Aside from Alysa, he¡¯s the man I trust the most on the Hegemon-4. He and his handpicked team are our top combat and reconnaissance squad. They will fill you in on what we know about the attackers. I¡¯m here to give you this to pass on to Alysa... It has cost me every favor I will ever be owed, along with a future lifetime of servitude. I was saving it for her life-day celebration next week... Wish I hadn''t. She needs it now!¡± Symbal reached over to the thick, squarish box and entered an impossibly long code on the light pad that appeared with his touch on its side.

    He then placed his hand, palm down on the top of the box for a biometrics scan. The box beeped positively and a short burst of pressurized gas escaped as the top and four sides telescoped inward. An item that caused both Josh and Sen¡¯s eyebrows to rise was revealed on a platform within.

    Cocking an eyebrow at Symbal, Josh muttered,  a begrudging awe seeped into his voice. ¡°Do you know how much trouble we had to go through to get one of those?¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Symbal took in a slightly shuddering breath. ¡°Believe me... I have some idea, but what is a doting father to do?¡± He smiled up through his eyes as his thoughts obviously drifted to his daughter Alysa.

    Josh grabbed the item and his Probability Interface chimed.

    Seismic Earth Attunement Crystal. You have already been attuned to this Essence.

    Josh wasn¡¯t sure, but he suspected the Crystal he was carrying for Alysa was worth at least as much as the entirety of the Hegemon-4 to some people. How Symbal had gotten ahold of it would be a tale Josh would love to hear when they were all safely back.

    ¡°Well... after Alysa gets this, she¡¯ll be impossible on the training floor...¡± A shadow passed over Josh¡¯s face as he continued, ¡°But there is an... issue.¡±

    ~Tell him, Sen.~

    ~Me?~ Josh widened his eyes. ~Why me?~

    Sen smirked. ~You¡¯re way nicer than I am.~

    ~Is not the job of law-yers on your world to deliver bad news?~

    Josh shook his head adamantly. ~You¡¯re thinking of doctors¡­ Okay, fine but I wasn¡¯t a divorce attorney. I specialized in criminal law which is why my bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired. This one¡¯s all you.~

    ~ Fine.~ Sen sighed. ~But being nicer than you is not difficult to achieve!~

    Sen straightened to attention and put on a friendly smile. ¡°Apologies, Symbal. Items such as these cannot simply be... given away. We have been informed by a very reliable source that they must be... for lack of a better word... earned. We¡±¡ªSen pointed back and forth to Josh and himself¡ª¡°had to travel to a pocket dimension and rescue a Titan trapped for thousands of standard solar cycles while risking imminent death from the pyroclastic collapse of the entire realm. Then we had to call his honor into question and risk his wrath before we were awarded ours. But that is just our specific example.

    ¡°You see, the truth is, a Cultivator¡¯s actions increase their understanding of their iteration and themselves as they advance. These understandings form Karmic ties between themselves and their iteration. I believe that the strength of these ties is determined by how much one¡¯s actions impact their iteration and what has been risked to accomplish this impact. The greater the impact and the risk, the greater the reward in one¡¯s favor that Balance offers at the time of Attunement.¡± Sen¡¯s face grew serious as he reflected on the words he had just spoken. Then he continued slowly as if drawing a conclusion while talking. ¡°I... don¡¯t quite have enough information to be sure whether I am precisely correct, but whether or not I am right about this exact nuance of how balance is struck, it is certain that the connections a Cultivator forms between themselves and their iteration are the true mechanism that forge one¡¯s physical and spiritual union, which will ultimately lead to Transcendence. Obviously, Reality and Karma are intimately involved in this process and Balance serves as the arbiter between the benefits gained from an Attunement and the Karmic ties the Cultivator has formed with his iteration. This interplay of influence and reward appears to hold true for all things.

    ¡°For the purposes of a Cultivator¡¯s growth, this process is short-circuited when items of power are gifted to a Cultivator who hasn¡¯t formed the necessary Karmic connections with their iteration. In such a case, Balance requires a decrease in the benefit of the Attunement from that Item of Power to match that Cultivator¡¯s achievement in gaining that item... It is possible the Item of Power might not work at all if the ties are too weak to justify any award.¡±

    Symbal¡¯s eyes were wide as saucers and he had a decidedly green tone to his countenance. He stood there for ten seconds with one hand on the cart to prevent falling. With his mouth agape, the thoughts of everything he had done, promised, harangued, threatened, and strong-armed to get the Crystal for Alysa no doubt raced through his head.

    He swallowed hard and got a few forced words out in his nasal voice. ¡°You... you mean... I will have to give this back because she didn¡¯t earn it for herself !¡±

    Josh felt it was time to jump into the conversation and held up his hand to get Symbal¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Hell no! I¡¯m a lawyer, born, raised, and trained in Chicago. We understand that systems only exist to put the right people, in the right place, at the right time, for the right things. Chicago hasn¡¯t had an honest election since Mrs. O¡¯Leary¡¯s cow burned the city to the ground one hundred and fifty years ago and we likely never will again. But that doesn¡¯t matter. As long as we get the necessary result we want and need, justice is served and all is right in the iteration.¡± Then with a smile that would have put any used-car salesman to shame, Josh put his arm around Symbal¡¯s shoulder and added, ¡°I¡¯m sure that Sen and I can come up with a workaround for this. Our girl needs it, and we¡¯ll make sure she gets it... the right way!¡±

    Symbal took a breath for the first time in sixty seconds and closed his eyes, silently praying to his ancestors for strength.

    Sen nodded. ~How are we going to do that?~

    ~I haven¡¯t a clue... but we will!~

    Sen¡¯s mental sigh was nearly audible. ~Agreed.~

    Symbal had recovered to the point of having regained the power of speech. ¡°It seems I owe you two even more than I did already. Gratitude!¡± He bowed at the waist, and then continued in a shaken but significantly improved tone of voice. ¡°You had better get a move on. I¡¯ve already prayed to my ancestors for you to bring her back safely, so I know you will.¡±

    Josh could see that the strong facade Symbal was wearing in public wasn¡¯t impervious. He believed Alysa was in real trouble.

 Chapter 65

    Josh and Sen nodded farewell as they caught Ishan¡¯s eye. They followed him and his team to a talon-shaped ship near the open hangar doors 100 yards down the deck. The name Raptor was painted on the side in stylized lettering.

    Hangar crews in blue and silver jumpers cleared away the lines and conduits that served as the ship¡¯s resource umbilicals. The B.A.H.¡¯s space boss stepped out of a tower near the center of the deck and cleared the Raptor for take off, waving them all aboard.

    Ishan pointed with an index claw at two seats along the wall behind the pilot¡¯s chair.

    Raising a thick, orange brow and looking at the pilot¡¯s back, he spoke in a low voice. ¡°Sirs, better buckle up until we get into hyperspace. Katak here can make this li¡¯l lady pull a lot of Gs... most non-Affin personnel blackout on takeoff. Especially on this trip, we¡¯ll stay in sub-lightspeed for a few ticks longer than usual to act as bait to draw out any enemy harpies that have almost assuredly latched onto the Hegemon-4¡¯s skin during the fight. Once we draw them out, the B.A.H.¡¯s fourth wing will clean them up in our wake.¡±

    Sen and Josh fumbled into their gravity harnesses. While Josh had his doubts that any maneuvers the pilot could perform would negatively impact the two of them, especially after having gained their second Attunement, it was better to be safe than sorry. The five belts met over their sternum and seamlessly joined with an electromag lock. Senior Chief Ishan and his team were already squared away and waiting. Josh noted one human-looking marine with a crystal on her head, indicating she was following the Biologic¡¯s path. One Wolf Affin had a healed-over wound running down the right side of his face from the tip of his right ear to just below his jawline. The old scar had regrown with white hair blemishing his otherwise dark-black... pelt? Josh needed to learn the appropriate way to talk about Beast Affins. Was it right to discuss their traits in the way one would an animal... or should he address it like any other humanoid... hair?

    A topic for slower times... move on, Josh.

    The last member of Ishan¡¯s team of four was a tall, cloaked figure with light-blue skin. She appeared to be a Jaralon, it was difficult to tell with the glistening silver mesh on all of her exposed skin, which seemingly served to track her neurovascular pathways. Soft lavender lights periodically highlighted the mesh conduits¡ªthe glow flashing one way and then the other, and sometimes both directions simultaneously.

    It must be polarization and depolarization of her neural-action potentials¡ªHe shook his head to clear it of the scientific deductions making their way into his surface thoughts. Focus, Josh. Stop staring at the nice lady like you¡¯re some kinda freak!

    There was no time for scientific nor biological distraction with what they were setting out to do. Josh refocused, sitting snugly in the body-hugging gravity

    chair next to Sen.

    Seeing they were secured, Ishan nodded to their pilot Katak and... They were gone!

    After Ishan¡¯s warning, Josh had expected the Raptor to navigate out of the hangar with a steadily increasing sensation of building pressure as it accelerated.

    Nope.

    They were instantly crushed back into the cushions of the G-chairs as non-elicited hissing came through their lips as air was forced out of their lungs. Josh¡¯s head grew heavy, and the onset of a migraine came on following ruptures of microcapillaries in his brain from the strain. He and Sen cycled Essence to their brains, and the pain receded with healing.

    Looking around, Josh saw that the forward view screen was split in two. The left side must have been showing the video feed of a rear- mounted camera. It displayed the continent-sized Hegemon-4 as it shrank to a speck of light. Several lesser light specks detached from the Hegemon-4 and attempted to chase the Raptor... They and the Hegemon were completely gone in less than four seconds. Remembering his first trip to the Hegemon at a portion of the speed of light, it had taken them over two minutes to reach the ship from the time they had first seen it.

    An electronic voice came from a speaker mounted somewhere in Josh and Sen¡¯s G-chairs. ¡°Th-the-the fourth-th-th wing has engaged the enemy flyers, seven fast-pursuit ships. C-cl-clean-up is going welllllll. Pr-pr-preparing to transition-io-ionnnn.¡±

    Echoes of the announcement came from different places and likely different split seconds of time as Newtonian physics floundered in its function due to their speed. The right side of the forward view screen showed waving white plasma streams streaking out from Raptor¡¯s thin wings to meet in front of the ship and form a black portal that the Raptor shot through. The pressure that Josh had grown accustomed to during the brief seconds of their launch faded and returned to normal.Stolen story; please report.

    Katak turned and flipped up the visor of his helmet. A small drop of water trickled down the front. The surprisingly deep voice of a Vergei spoke as Josh noted the tip of Katak¡¯s tongue snaking out and wiping another drop of water from his bulging left eye.

    ¡°We have transitioned. There was a brief chase by the forces latched onto the side of the Hegemon-4, but as you can see... nothing can keep up with the old girl in the sublight velocities.¡± Katak¡¯s smile was wide with pride as he put his hand lovingly on the Raptor¡¯s console. ¡°My squad mates have cleaned them up already, without a doubt.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a Vergei... that¡¯s how you can handle repeated G-force trauma. You¡¯re sitting in a hydraulic suit during acceleration. Water is essentially incompressible due to its cohesiveness, molecular alignment, fluidity, and low coefficient of thermal expansion. With only 3 percent compression at ten-thousand bars you probably hardly even notice the acceleration, do you?¡± Josh¡¯s high-school science teacher¡¯s brain took momentary control of his mouth.

    He let it have its way without complaint as nonscience Josh was equally amazed at what they had just gone through.

    Katak¡¯s tongue retracted. ¡°Nailed it in one, sir. In fact, my squad mates are all my kin. We are the only ones that the Techno Lords have created a workaround for that particular problem. Right, Estra?¡± Katak raised his head and invited the team¡¯s Techno Lord into their conversation.

    Still suffering from the burst launch, Estra straightened up in her chair and pulled off her gravity harness. ¡°Any more of these missions, and I¡¯m going to grab the research faction by their collective ball-sack and make them put Jaralons next in line.¡± She rolled her neck around her shoulders, closed her eyes, and sat back in her chair again.

    Lavender lights flashed furiously along the metal torque ending at her temples. She appeared to need time to mentally adjust, and Josh and Sen let her have it. They were denser than uranium and still had to fight off migraines.

    It was no surprise that one had to be tough to be on Ishan¡¯s team. The senior chief and the Wolf Affin shifted chairs, sitting next to Josh and Sen.

    ¡°Sirs, this is Lobo, my second in command. If you would like, we can brief you on what transpired during the attack and what we suspect we may find when we exit hyperspace?¡±

    Josh shook Lobo¡¯s paw, and Sen bowed.

    ¡°Yes, please fill us in.¡± They said at precisely the same time and cadence.

    ~Gods, Sen. Karmic Bond or not... we can¡¯t start acting like an old married couple... People are going to freak out.~

    ~I believe the expression is... L-O-L.~

    ~Well¡­~ Josh rolled his eyes, ~let¡¯s have a system or something about who is going to respond... Either one of us can talk for the other.~

    ~Like what?~ Sen asked.

    ~I don¡¯t know¡­~ Josh puffed out his cheeks. ~How about you answer military questions, and I answer political questions. It¡¯s a start, at least... If we run into trouble in other categories, we can add refinements from there.~

    ~Agreed.~

    The corner of Ishan¡¯s mouth quirked up at the Children of the Corn level of weirdness at the simultaneous answer, but he proceeded to debrief them unhindered. The attack occurred sixty micro-gyras before they arrived back from Mwezi. It had been carried out by Kaizuko raiders, who were essentially space pirates. Well, that was an oversimplification. They were a loosely affiliated, multisystem empire composed of several patriarchal clans with their primary economy being based on raiding.

    So, they were, more correctly, space pirate-vikings. Josh chuckled to himself at the inanity of the fact that until recently, his most significant concern was listening to his mother-in-law complain about his table manners. Now he was going to throw down with Long John Lothbrok.

    The Kaizuko had led the assault on the Hegemon-4 with one Caravel-class attack ship. The images Sen passed on to Joshua were of a deep-space traveling attack ship crewed by 5000 souls when at full complement. From the Caravel, they launched eighteen smaller transport ships with limited combat ability guarded by two squads of four single pilot fighters. The transports were similar in size to¡ªbut in no way as capable as the Raptor.

    The working theory was that the Kaizuko had planned to take the Hegemon-4 as loot and sell it off to the highest bidder. They had likely banked on taking the bridge in a surgical strike and then killing or enslaving its crew and staff¡ªbillions of people. It served as either a testament to the power of Cultivation or to the insanity of the raiders that they believed they could subdue billions with nine Cultivators. Either way, they had some balls... no question there. More concerning, however, was that somehow, they had known the Clone wasn¡¯t present. His absence was too coincidental for it not to be part of their plan.

    Balls aside, the Kaizuko had underestimated the Hegemon-4¡¯s defenses and organization. The attacking force was held at bay with the external weapons systems and the B.A.H.¡¯s scrambled fighters until Alysa¡¯s team could orchestrate the diversion that allowed it to get away. In Josh¡¯s opinion, the Kaizuko had also seriously underestimated the Clone. Josh suspected they would have had a very short and miserable life ahead of them if they had actually managed to take the ship. As things worked out, they were now relegated to gristle for Sen and Josh¡¯s Cultivation mill instead of being favored with the Clone¡¯s tender mercies.

    Good... after my last butt-kicking from the Naga, I could use a little

    exercise to work the kinks out.

    Ishan relayed that it had not been a tremendous surprise to him that there were Cultivators in the attacking party. Intelligence reports had confirmed the region of space they were traveling in had a much greater incidence of Cultivators.

    But, surprised or not, dealing with Cultivators was tough for a crew from a mundane sector of the iteration. Ishan didn¡¯t say it, but it was clear that the Hegemon-4 had been sailing in deeper waters since Sen and Josh had been taken on. The space marines would follow their orders and die when necessary, but it didn¡¯t change the fact that they were becoming outclassed and outgunned.

    Sen took on a severe expression. ~The Clone is unequivocally willing to sacrifice every soldier on that ship to accomplish his goals...~

    ~I¡¯m not ready to stain our souls that way.~ Josh¡¯s mood soured. ~Whether it could be construed as Dharmic or not...~

    ~Agreed!~

    With a quick glance, they decided this would probably be their last stay with the Hegemon-4. Their growth required the ship to be in a place where it couldn¡¯t defend itself, which meant that it was their responsibility to keep it safe. If they had to go on their own... they would.

    It was true they had absolutely no ability to forcefully change the Clone¡¯s actions and proclivities, but they would make sure he knew their position on the matter¡ªand therefore placing all of the Karmic weight on him and Zenyak.

    What the possibility of them leaving the Hegemon-4 behind meant for Alysa in the future, they were unsure of. They would have to blow that bridge up when they came to it. Right now, they had other things to take care of.

    Mouths set in tight lines, they nodded curtly to Ishan and Lobo, thanking them.

    The Affins¡¯ minds were clearly on the problems the ship was facing.

    It was something Josh and Sen understood all too well.

 Chapter 66

    By the time they finished Ishan and Lobo¡¯s briefing, the female Biologic member of the team had regained functionality. Lobo introduced her as Lena. The pretty and very fit girl greeted them politely but then drank two vials of pink liquid and began massaging her chakra points, clearly still needing to overcome the neural trauma of their sub-lightspeed trip.

    They wished her well and sat back in their G-chairs. Time to get to the next order of business.

    Josh blinked. ~We have about two hours of hyperspace travel to get to Alysa¡¯s backup rendezvous. Let¡¯s start getting a handle on the Mind Attunement.~

    Sen just nodded.

    Sometimes simple was enough and common body language was the best way to go. Josh needed to keep that in mind.

    So far with the Mind Attunement, Josh and Sen hadn¡¯t noticed anything but the jump in their stats. Which are incredible. But Josh had expected to see their free Essence and Cores reflect the presence of the new Mind Essence just as Nagal¡¯s Meridians had clearly shown both Earth and Fire during attacks.

    However, all Josh and Sen had was the same deep orange of their Earth Attunement available.

    ~In sixty minutes, we can share what we find.~ Josh offered. ~Deal?~

    ~Sure... but how?~

    ~Good question¡­~ He rubbed his eyes. ~There doesn¡¯t appear to be any new Essence in our Core or Meridians. At least not yet. Okay... Well, it is ¡®Mind¡¯ Attunement. I guess we should start with the brain... Let¡¯s focus on the pineal gland. It was the closest thing to the center of the mind we noticed when we first started Essence absorption from the cannibals.

    As they looked, each noticed a new bubble of Essence encircling their pineal gland at the center of their physical brains.

    It was cycling an indigo-colored Essence on its own. Josh nudged it with his mind, and instead of running along his Meridians, it expanded in a purple-tinged, transparent sphere to the area surrounding his head. He pushed it again, and it increased to encompass the Raptor¡¯s personnel compartment. A much larger area. Though it didn¡¯t seem to be his limit... Limit testing was for later. Time is a factor right now. Just quick and dirty kicking the mind-tires for now.

    Checking his Status, Josh noticed his free Essence was ticking down slowly in low double digits.

    <table width="420">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    15000/15000 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    38855/40500 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Okay... it looks like a channeling ability. An ability that can stay on for a length of time or indefinitely but costs Essence while on. It¡¯s also relatively cheap.

    Josh also noticed while they were inside his bubble... zone... sphere of influence? golden lights flashed inside the heads of those in the compartment.

    Lobo and Katak, talking to each other, had more flashes than Ishan, who was sleeping next to Josh.

    After a moment, the flashes lost their golden luster and diffused to a gray-lavender cloud around their heads...

    Mind Aura? Let¡¯s find out!

    Josh Intended to absorb it, and the lavender Aura streamed to his Meridians, refilling his free Essence and mingling in his Core in an overlapping swirl of deep orange and lavender that reminded Josh a little of a soft-serve ice cream cone from back home...

    Well... it makes sense that you would have to absorb it if you didn¡¯t have any to start.

    Josh could also see Sen had just expanded his¡­ mind sphere?¡ªto surround his head. He looked like a sixties sci-fi astronaut wearing an oversized purple fishbowl... Well, he was getting there...

    What can this do¡ª

    Sitting next to Josh, Ishan shifted in his sleep, bumping Josh¡¯s shoulder. Suddenly Josh was there... running in the sun with the Tiger Affin, stripped down to the waist and chasing Gazelle Affins across what could have been the African savanna. They were, in fact, several very shapely gazelles wearing black silk teddies and running shoes... Ishan pounced, and they rolled together on the ground in what Josh could only imagine was a perfect time for a Tiger Affin! Shreds of clothing started flying, and Josh quietly backed out of Ishan¡¯s ¡®party¡¯.

    After a second of disorientation, he was back in his seat aboard the Raptor. Ishan shifted in his chair with what Josh was confident was a happy growl. But otherwise, didn¡¯t react to Josh¡¯s presence in his dream.

    Wow!

    Mind Attunement was going to open all kinds of possibilities.

    Can I use it at a distance?

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Sitting across the shuttle from Josh, Lena was the closest within his mindscape. Even though her eyes were closed, Lena¡¯s thoughts flashed like the other conscious space marines...

    She must still be awake but resting, or perhaps meditating.

    Josh focused on the center of her brain, the physical-spiritual link¡ª

    Didn¡¯t know the heir was that cute... I heard he has a thing for Jaralons... Ashvi¡¯s been telling me that things have been a little slow since we got married... maybe she would like it if we rotated him into our zero-G time?

    There was a pixelated flash of Lena and a Jaralon... presumably her wife, Ashvi, kissing¡ªJosh once more found himself backing slowly out of a mind like a voyeur, shutting down his mind sphere and blushing, slightly embarrassed for the small intrusion. He noted there was barely any disorientation the second time.

    Is sex the only thing these space marines think about? What am I saying... of course that¡¯s all they think about when not in combat! They¡¯re marines, aren¡¯t they?

    Then he smiled wolfishly at Sen, sitting on his left. ~Play your cards right with Lena, and you might get a crash course in mortal-domestic relations!~

    ~Huh?~ Sen blinked.

    ~I¡¯ll tell you more later... For now... I¡¯ve figured some things out...~

    Josh shared with Sen what he had learned about Mind Attunement and Mind Aura absorption. The fact that the mindscape was a channel ability... having to spend several minutes explaining what that meant. Then Josh described that he could join Ishan¡¯s dream when he had physical contact, but that he only heard Lena¡¯s thoughts when he tried to do it at range.

    ~So, video with touching and audio at range?~

    ~No... It was more than that... It could have just been that Ishan was dreaming... but I don¡¯t think so... it felt like I could have interacted with him in the reality of his mind if I had wanted... Not just seeing him. I¡¯m not sure if he could see me... it¡¯s something we are going to have to experiment with. I also need to see how much Essence this ability costs.~

    Status.

    <table width="420">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    15000/15000 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    36405/40500 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    He went over the rough estimates with Sen... Josh¡¯s Essence was down about two thousand more than expected, if he had only been using the low-cost mind sphere.

    Is it one thousand per event? Did entering Ishan¡¯s mind cost more? Did the ranged reading of Lena¡¯s mind cost more? Do I even need the mind sphere to join Ishan since we were touching?

    There were a lot of questions and not enough time to deal with them all. Josh needed to work with Sen to get him up to speed.

    *****

    Sen could absorb the Mind Aura by the end of the next ninety minutes. He had also managed to use his telepathic skills on Lobo, who was sleeping across the Raptor¡¯s compartment. Sen confirmed that he could only hear the random stream of consciousness thoughts without touching the person he was reading. Even though the Wolf Affin was sleeping, Sen could not enter his dream. From the blanching of Sen¡¯s face... Josh could tell Lobo was not having as pleasant a dream as Ishan had. Poor bastard.

    Josh also realized his interface had never chimed with the formation of a new power like it had for Earth Attunement so many times... He wasn¡¯t sure what to make of that... if anything, he had expected his interface to have increased in power and functionality with the Mind Attunement. Perhaps what they were discovering was part and parcel of Mind Attunement itself and not the manifestation of a separate skill. like increased strength was for Earth Attunement. The existence of no specific power likely meant that there were actual mind powers in the form of skills that he would have to figure out. He had some suspicions, but it was going to have to wait for¡ª

    ¡°We will be exiting hyperspace at Lt. Nang¡¯s rendezvous coordinates in three micro-gyras. Who¡¯s manning the turrets?¡± Katak cut off Josh¡¯s thoughts.

    Lobo and Lena jumped up. Lobo went dorsal and Lena ventral. Ishan and Estra straightened up in the G-chairs and prepared by checking their personal equipment. Static field environmental helmets snapped into place over their EVAs. Sidearms, rifles, clips, and ammo pouches all mounted on electromag plates. Ishan donned a bandolier with multiple ominous-looking grenades of differing types. Last but not least, the senior chief snapped onto his left shoulder armor what looked like a snub-nosed gatling gun.

    Josh raised his eyebrows.

    Ishan leaned in and a feral look came over his orange and black face. ¡°I¡¯ve got an Affin friend in R and D, sir. I stopped and picked this up to even the playing field a little for this mission.¡± He patted the gatling gun affectionately. ¡°Plasma rounds and line-of-sight tracking. I can even detonate its nuclear core to overcome stubborn obstacles as necessary.¡± Then, like a kid with a new toy, Ishan did a little dance of excitement in anticipation. ¡°If things go the way they usually do, I¡¯ll finally get to field test it!¡±

    He then activated an internal power source. An intense and decidedly very deadly hum cycled up as the business end of the gun started to track Ishan¡¯s sight movements with a quiet mechanical whirring sound.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re on our side, Senior Chief!¡± Josh chuckled, only half joking with the seven-foot tiger that was now armed for war.

    Sen was now certain of what he had been seeing through his mindscape for the last several micro-gyras.

    Ever since Katak had notified the team that they were exiting hyperspace, Estra had sent several golden bursts from her mind to a source outside the ship. There had even been two return bursts back to her from outside. Sen had tried to use his telepathy on her thoughts... but had been deflected by some barrier... if that made sense when talking about psychic forces. This mental barrier had bent slightly to the weight of his attempt... but Sen hadn¡¯t pushed. If he was right about her being a turncoat who was giving away their position... it would be better for Sen to keep the fact he knew of her betrayal a secret until it was time to act.

    As his political instructors had told him concerning spies¡ª

    ¡°Spies cannot be usefully employed without a certain intuitive sagacity. Without a subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports. Be subtle! Be subtle!¡±

    Sen was confident he could overpower her and make her talk about what she was preparing for them... but would it be truthful? Would she send her forces scurrying to the wind? No, it was better to let it unfold and handle the opposing actors after they had been put into play...

    However, it was time to bring Joshua in on his suspicions.

    ~Joshua...~ Sen opened their Bond, and instantly Joshua knew everything that Sen did.

    ~Dirty, lying-in-the-weeds sack of... You were right to keep it quiet for now... Let¡¯s see what pops up and be ready. There hasn¡¯t been any communication with anyone else aboard... I think Estra is acting alone... I¡¯m going to tell Ishan... Keep an eye on her... I¡¯ve got a plan...~

    An instant later, Sen knew Josh¡¯s thoughts.

    Well, here goes nothing. Josh reached out, put a hand on Ishan¡¯s furry shoulder, and Intended.

    They faced each other in a vast, empty space with a white floor and no walls as far as Josh could see.

    Ishan was looking around for enemies and was obviously unhappy about being present without any of the personal arsenal he had just donned. The Tiger Affin crouched instinctively on his hind legs and displayed the razor sharp claws on both paws. The deadly intent on display was made even more fearsome as Josh recognized the cunning sapient intelligence glinting in his golden eyes as it directed his animalistic ferocity.

    ¡°Sir... do you mind telling me what the fuck is going on here?¡±

    ¡°Senior, sorry for the abruptness of this conversation. We are inside your mind... but we don¡¯t have much time to discuss the how and why of that right now, and I couldn¡¯t let Estra hear us... There¡¯s evidence that she;s dirty, Ishan... Sen and I have caught her communicating with someone at the reentry point we are exiting into. We think she is setting up an ambush. We¡¯ll play along, let it unfold, and try to capture some of them for a proper interrogation. We just wanted you to know and be prepared.¡±

    Ishan straightened up and stood at attention. If the news that one of his team had betrayed them set him off, being the consummate professional that he was, he didn¡¯t show it.

    He moved right on into the plan of action. ¡°What are my orders?¡±

    Josh told him the plan and what he hoped was going to happen. Finishing, Josh thought for a second. ¡°If Estra has turned traitor and is still active after all of this, do you think you could neutralize her so we can interrogate her when this is over?¡±

    The smile of an apex predator about to feed spread over Ishan¡¯s face. He growled. ¡°Yes, sir! That is well within my capabilities.¡±

    ¡°Good! After our opening response, if she¡¯s still up, take her out so we don¡¯t have a viper biting us in the behind while we¡¯re dealing with whoever is waiting for us.¡±

    Ishan snapped off a sharp salute, and Josh backed out of his mind. The visual matrix of their encounter faded into alternating layers as their consciousness disengaged.

    Weird... were Josh¡¯s first and second thoughts.

    Ishan blinked his eyes twice but didn¡¯t make any other outward signs of their encounter.

    Sen was buckling himself back into his G-harness, and Ishan quickly joined him. Lena and Lobo were already buckled into the top and bottom turrets, which just left Estra standing alone in the Raptor¡¯s center aisle, looking through her backpack when Katak took them out of hyperspace five seconds early and started the Raptor¡¯s burst into sub-light acceleration.

 Chapter 67

    After being hurled from a centrifugal acceleration-sling, housed under the B.A.H.¡¯s main launch deck, the strike-borer Impact silently vectored on an intercept to the Caravel. A small trickle of blood dribbled down Alysa Nang¡¯s left nostril from the gravities pulled in that maneuver. The young Chinese space marine grabbed her shoulder length hair and reapplied her the elastic tie to keep it in a tight ponytail. She then began cycling Essence to heal what was most likely a ruptured aneurysm in her frontal lobe, she silently envied the aquafication gear worn by the pilot Kadal and the other three Vergei on her team.

    Per the operation¡¯s protocol, Alysa had ordered Kadal to shut down Impact¡¯s grav-cells, life support, and even the engines to minimize their traceable footprint. Along these lines, they were all wearing their EVAs to deal with the near-vacuum conditions inside.

    Command¡¯s primary concern was that the Caravel¡¯s attack had been the feint of a more significant force lying in wait outside Hegemon-4¡¯s sensor range. Alysa and her team¡¯s job was to distract and, if possible¡ªdisable the Caravel and its leadership to give the Hegemon-4 an early out before the trap could close.

    She knew that command¡¯s decision was the smart move. If the attack by the Caravel wasn¡¯t a feint, then its actions were just short of insanity. It was the kind of behavior that made their opponent unpredictable. An unpredictable enemy was a dangerous enemy. The Hegemon-4 had 200 million active and reservist fighters and was crewed by two billion, with a total complement of 4.5 billion souls. There was no iteration in which one Caravel-strength cruiser, manned with a force of 5,000, with or without a smattering of low-Attuned Cultivators, could take and hold the Hegemon-4.

    Yes, the Hegemon-4 was a mundane vessel. Yes, a Cultivator could kill hundreds, even thousands of vanilla mortals... Alysa knew that fact better than most, but the Kaizuko hadn¡¯t even gotten the majority of their first-wave of attackers through the external defenses, be they mundane or Cultivator. No. The Kaizuko¡¯s first wave had been light and loose. While it had cost more lives than Alysa would have liked, the pirates had been beaten off the bridge even before the local internal defense forces arrived. It just didn¡¯t make sense.

    ¡°Ten seconds until we¡¯re green, Lieutenant.¡± Kadal¡¯s low voice came over the comms in the insanely calm way pilots could speak about combat.

    ¡°Activate EVAs. Visor-blast shields down. Move for deployment. Kadal¡¯s knocking on their door in ten!¡±

    Alysa and her team moved to the deployment slots in the back of Impact¡¯s passenger compartment. This wasn¡¯t her usual team. She didn¡¯t have one anymore. A week after Josh and Sen left, she was put on the inactive list and advised to focus on mastering her Cultivation.

    Obviously, her father had a closed-door discussion with command and it hadn¡¯t been her choice. As infuriating as it was to have her father interfere in her career, it had been another smart move and one she couldn¡¯t argue with after some reflection.

    Until she was comfortable with her new-found abilities and limitations, being in the field could lead to... inconsistent results that placed her team at risk. It wasn¡¯t a weight she wanted to carry.

    Josh and Sen told her she could only increase her Core six times by absorbing Essence from spirit beings. After that, she would be ready for Attunement. Five days ago, she had hit that milestone while clearing out a tawchar nest anchored on the inside keel skin of the Hegemon-4 that had been plaguing a friend¡¯s research station. A smirk of distaste crossed Alysa¡¯s face as she remembered the foul creatures¡¯ multiple segmented limbs supporting their bloated leather bodies and snapping, ichor-coated fangs. Still... after they had been eliminated, the Core Essence from them had been good.

    Finishing her sixth increase, Alysa felt as though her maxed-out pre-Attunement growth was a stable platform for her to return to active duty from. The next day she had put in for operational missions. Command had ¡®taken her request under advisement¡¯. This attack by the Kaizuko had finally pressured them into putting her into play.

    The four space marines stood over their deployment ports as the launch tubes pressed snugly against them on all sides, oriented for a forward launch. Their initial impetus to the target would use the ship¡¯s inertial velocity. It meant that they were¡ªfunctionally, no different from unguided missiles¡ªveritable cannon balls on a frictionless intercept course with an unsuspecting and literal pirate ship. It was undoubtedly fast and quiet, but also lacked any room for error. If the Caravel made  an unexpected course correction, the distances involved in space combat would compromise their ambush, requiring them to use their own propulsion systems.

    ¡°3... 2... 1.¡± Kadal brought all of Impact¡¯s systems online, including the four top-mounted StarGen plasma cannons linked into joint, interlocking fire. Four solid beams of blue-white plasma energy, each two meters in diameter, became a spike of destruction that very few ships could ignore. Thanks to their stealth approach the attack went directly through the open bay of the caravel¡¯s main hangar.

    Alysa could feel the currents of power even through the shielding of Impact¡¯s launch tube and her extravehicular activity armor. The wave of electrostatic charge still managed to propagate through the thin atmosphere and rolled over her like ants crawling on her skin for the five seconds the cannon¡¯s pulse lasted. The burst finished, and Kadal halted his ship¡¯s vector with reverse thrusters, propelling Alysa and her team out the end of their tubes and directly into what was hoped to be a breach in the Caravel created by the destruction that was just unleashed. Retracting her visor¡¯s blast shield, Alysa assessed the penetration...

    Stars could be seen through a gaping twenty-meter wide and 200-meter-long hole. Shattered hull plates and other random debris were being propelled out of the ship¡¯s exit wound. The Caravel¡¯s atmosphere was escaping in giant clouds and geysers aimed in all directions. No lights could be seen through any of the ports. The Caravel¡¯s power plant must have been disabled by the strike.

    Hundreds of crew were also being ejected from the Caravel¡¯s ruptured compartments. Their movements transitioned from frantic and hopeless to random twitches before asphyxiation in the vacuum stopped them altogether. The caravel¡¯s engines were also clearly offline as the derelict ship¡¯s now lifeless husk drifted forward in a counterclockwise spin.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Alysa rallied her team. ¡°Doors open! Let¡¯s go! Vangar. Take your team to the bridge. You three are to eliminate all the officers and organized resistance you can find. If any of the operational infrastructure looks like it is still functioning, make sure it doesn¡¯t stay that way. I¡¯m heading to the upper section toward the bridge and command.¡±

    Vangar and his team followed Alysa into the freshly destroyed hangar opening. The static grid separating the manned sections of the deck from the vacuum was nonfunctioning and the grav-cells were also offline.

    Alysa and her team swooped silently through the chaotically roiling field of detritus. Equipment, tools of all kinds, attack ships in pieces or whole, all moved on independent vectors. The bodies of the crew were no exception. Stiff and spinning randomly in clouds of their bodily fluids that had frozen into twinkling droplets shining like crystals under the few still functioning lights and sparking power cables.

    A few EVA-suited crew members were just getting their feet under them from the shock of the StarGen blitzkrieg. Vangar and his team of Vergei quickly handled them with single shots from their forearm-mounted pulse weapons. Quick and tight¡ªas it should be.

    Leaving those crew for the Vergei, Alysa was looking for the people still functioning without suits¡ªCultivators. She moved in when she saw a half-naked human in a charred flight suit scrambling for an EVA closet at the rear end of the hangar. As he stepped into the EVA hanging from its loading cross arm, she adjusted her vector, silently swooping in from behind. Cycling Essence to her upper body and activating the plasma knife-edge on her right forearm, she elbowed through his neck from behind.

    As perfect as she had been, he must have sensed her Essence. His head was turning toward her as she separated it from the rest of his body... dying eyes tracked her for several seconds as his head tumbled into the nearby locker.

    She and the Vergei continued to the upper levels through the hole Impact had made. As they continued, it became apparent gravity was down all over the ship. The Kaizuko must have had a centralized grav-unit powered by the ship¡¯s main power plant... cheap and foolish... Alysa stepped onto the bridge level through the wreckage. The blast doors had sealed the forward end of the bridge. There were likely still functioning officers behind them. Pointing with her three fingers, she confirmed her earlier orders for them to handle the bridge¡¯s operations. Vangar and the other two stepped to the doors and mounted their magnesium-shape cutters. They would burn through the doors on a poorly made ship like this in less than half a micro then deploy magnetic grenades with visual and auditory stuns. That, plus the dragging force of the vacuum, should give the three of them the edge... even if there were Cultivators in there. Alysa silently wished them luck and moved for the stairs leading to the level above.

    A guard in an EVA was standing on a landing halfway to the next level. Upon seeing her, he launched himself with enhanced strength and speed. Pushing off the back wall with both of his legs. Bladed death came hurtling down the fifteen feet of stairs bearing a short sword and dagger.

    Alysa thought the attacker was clever to use the zero-G atmosphere in his favor. But by the same token, he was idiotic to do it in the straight line of fire of a fully armed space marine.

    A full-auto plasma burst sent twenty white-blue rounds through him. As he was free flying through the vacuum, with no chance to turn away, his contortions weren¡¯t enough. Her attacker got hit by all of them. Strikes to his head and center body mass formed a tightly packed grouping of black-ringed holes burned through his EVA and helmet. The guard¡¯s Essence-enhanced push-off gave him enough momentum to make it to the bottom of the stairs through her burst. But he was dead upon arrival, dagger and short sword spinning weightlessly into the hole Alysa had come up through.

    Using her propulsion thrusters, she made it to the commander¡¯s gallery sitting above the bridge. Standing in the open doorway¡¯s shadow was a tall human in an EVA. The Kaizuko sigil of command was inscribed on his chest plate. He held a 1.4 meter-long sword in his left hand and a sidearm in the right. Seeing her, the tension left his shoulders, and he laughed inside his helmet. His shoulders relaxed and his weapons dropped from their tight guard into a loose-wristed hold. He even replaced his sidearm on its electromag thigh plate.

    Narrowing his eyes, he mockingly smirked at Alysa. The message of thinking her easy pickings came through loud and clear. Alysa let loose a full-auto plasma burst and two magnesium grenades.

    ¡°Laugh at that!¡± She mouthed to him through her face plate.

    Surprisingly, he did.

    Indigo-tinged Essence surged from his Core, and he was suddenly... gone.

    Alysa¡¯s rounds and grenades passed through empty space, impacting the furniture in the room through the doorway. Bright yellow overlapping blasts illuminated the threshold as her incendiary grenades exploded and started to eat through the deck plating.

    The real bad news, though, was that the Caravel¡¯s commander reappeared directly in front of her while taking an Essence-enhanced horizontal swing with his two-handed sword.

    It was an attack that would cut her in half.

    Alysa was flatfooted but she, too, was now a Cultivator. She ducked and extended her hand, firing her palm-thrust stabilizers to propel her backward off the landing and provide the necessary space to draw her Titan dory from its leg sheath and braced herself.

    As she was propelled backward, her attacker¡¯s sword cut through the lines arcing from her back-mounted O2-mix unit feeding into her helmet. Gas and small amounts of water vapor filled the area, momentarily obscuring visualization over the landing. Her EVA¡¯s comp unit stopped the external loss through the simple expedient of cutting off her main supply of breathable atmosphere... and, until she could fix it, she was limited to the air she currently had in her EVA, which was about thirty seconds for a mundane space marine... For her? She wasn¡¯t sure... Likely longer, but she wouldn¡¯t hold her breath¡ªor rather she would have to for the moment. But what was important right now was that the commander¡¯s strike had told her what she needed to know about him. She smiled slightly to herself, I¡¯ve got your number.

    Holding her spear, she extended the practice shaft Sen had attached to it out one meter to accommodate the interior space. Alysa narrowed her eyes at the Cultivator. Behind his visor, he raised his eyebrows before he mockingly cowered in faux fear of her weapon.

    Then he vanished again.

    Alysa was ready. The commander of the Caravel was obviously a braggart, and she had fought many like him in her past. All had questioned her position as a human female in a role primarily reserved for male Affins and other heartier species. The ones who complained had, to the man, been cowards at heart. Behind their bravado they were afraid she was better and stronger than they were¡ªafraid she would ultimately beat them. The irony was that she was stronger and eventually did beat them, just like she¡¯d deal with this piece of trash.

    When she¡¯d originally entered the bridge, the commander hadn¡¯t been running to lead his crew after the Impacts initial assault to repel a boarding crew. No. He¡¯d been white knuckling his weapons and standing his ground because he¡¯d been backed into a corner. He was a grandstander and a coward. Cowards attacked from behind when given a chance. The commander was going for her back with another finishing move like the horizontal cleave he had opened with.

    Dropping to her haunches, she spun, her ankles pivoting 180 degrees as she saw his blade pass over her head. Alysa then tightened the muscles of her back and abdominals as she exploded at a diagonal angle inside the man¡¯s guard, her spear tracing the movements of her body in a flat plane with her strike. As she rose, her dory¡¯s head penetrated the durable fabric of his EVA, along with several portions of the anatomy inhabiting his groin. The commander¡¯s blood gushed onto the legs of his suit. Alysa then forced her spear in the Caravel¡¯s zero gravity and flipped him over her shoulder into the room he had come out of.

    Using her EVA¡¯s thrusters, she shot up the stairs and saw a new expression reflected in the man¡¯s eyes: Bald-faced terror. His sword was sticking out of the ceiling five meters overhead and the commander himself was on all fours scrabbling backward and away from her like a crab on the beach. His EVA atmosphere and blood vented out of his ruined suit. He was circulating Essence madly to heal his wounds.

    She smiled wickedly through her visor... None of that now.

    With her boot, Alysa smashed the view-plate of his EVA and pinned him to the ship¡¯s deck through his abdomen with her dory. She then kicked him in the face until he was unconscious. Even unconscious, she could still see his body attempting to heal.

    Still alive. Maybe she could get some answers if he survives?

    Her EVA¡¯s systems interrupted her musing with warning lights and a low-frequency klaxon. She was below one-percent breathable O2.

    Time to go.

    She grabbed the commander by the fractured helmet and broke her team¡¯s comm silence. ¡°Marines! We are leaving! Head to the extraction point now. Primary objective complete.¡±

 Chapter 68

    Impressively, the showboat¡ªas Alysa had grown to think of her prisoner, survived at least ninety seconds of exposure to full vacuum while being severely wounded. Alysa might have hoped for that outcome, but she hadn¡¯t expected it. By the time she had gotten him aboard the Impact, severe frostbite had set into his head, chest, lower extremities, and groin due to the ebullism of his blood and fluids from his wounds. Without question, he absolutely had one-hundred percent frozen eyeballs. They had swollen outside of his orbital sockets and were pointing in opposite directions through the frosted glaze covering them.

    It was at that point that Alysa had restrained and gagged him, all the while suffering shocked looks from the three space marines and one astounded pilot that gestured at the corpse-sickle and said most politely, ¡°Ma¡¯am, you are completely nuts if you think this space rock is coming back to life.¡±

    Alysa didn¡¯t argue. She could see his Essence still weakly circulating in his Core.

    Within sixty micro-gyras, he was completely healed. Ironically, Alysa looked down at the bound, cowering figure with envy of his roach-like survivability¨C Alysa¡¯s train of thinking paused¡­That thought, of a ¡®giant roach¡¯ had brought up something on the edge of her memory¡­something horrifying that ended in a fight¡­ but more than that, something hidden ¡­ But, like trying to bring a dream into the light just after waking, she couldn¡¯t hold onto the full remembrance before it slipped away. Mentally empty-handed, Alysa was left with only a sense of salvation and ominous feelings¨C

    Alysa shook the memories away, looking back at the defeated commander. At first, she had been afraid he might use his Attunement to bend space to get out of his cuffs, or out of the strike-borer entirely and away.

    He never even tried.

    Thinking about it, he hadn¡¯t teleported out of his EVA, so he was likely bound to things touching him. There was probably also a maximum distance he could bend space. Covering hundreds of thousands of kilometers was likely beyond his current abilities. Alysa could feel that the commander was not very much further than her in Cultivation. Most likely his first Attunement... comparing the few glimpses she remembered of Josh and Sen, he seemed to fit at the same level as them. Assessing the Essence moving along his Meridians and in his Core, it vastly outshone hers... perhaps by a factor of five or ten. But something told her that wasn¡¯t all that much when dealing with levels of Attunement.

    Upon his first waking, Alysa had taken his gag off and attempted a minimally violent interrogation... ¡°Who are you?¡±

    ¡°I am Battle Leader Yabana of the Kaizuko. Now you know who will kill you when my men come for me!¡± He then spit a glob of congealed blood onto Alysa¡¯s left boot and continued. ¡°I assume you are the leader of the force that attacked my Caravel. You will all pay for that you bunch of fatherless backbiters! And you!¡± He pointed at Alysa with his chin. ¡°The way you slide around during combat, you must prefer the comfort of these slimy-skinned frogmen compared to the caress of a real man!¡±

    After that, Yabana became significantly less helpful. All his further comments included assumptions about her parents¡¯ marital status and critiques of her sexual preferences with various species.

    After two micro-gyras, Alysa stuffed the gag back in his mouth and kicked him in the head until the annoying noises stopped.

    Someone with more patience than Alysa would have to question him further... but she had learned that the man was not competent in any sense. And his ineptitude made Alysa confident someone else had given Yabana the information about when and where to attack the Hegemon-4. It was also most probable the same person was using Yabana for their own gains, but who and why? What was their game?

    Command¡¯s intelligence officers would need to find out. Getting answers to those questions was why she hadn¡¯t ended the foulmouthed cur right there and then.

    Four gyras later he was still unconscious. Unconscious again was a more accurate description. Lying on the passenger compartment¡¯s deck plates, defensively curled up next to Alysa¡¯s chair¡ªhis shredded crew jumper had been accessorized with a dry gag, electromag shackles on his wrists and ankles and Alysa¡¯s boot-print stamped heavily on his head. Needless to say, Alysa¡¯s next conversations with him had been equally unfulfilling.

    Alysa blew out a breath and sat back in the blacked-out cockpit. They were currently veiling the Impact near the backup rendezvous in the gravity well of a massive solid-core planet. The ship floated among the shattered pieces of one of the planet¡¯s former moons. Orbiting in the broken satellite¡¯s rocky tail as it was stretched by gravity into a jagged ring around the shere. The Impact calmly drifted while its occupants anxiously awaited for pickup.

    Honestly, they weren¡¯t waiting for exfiltration but rescue. After leaving the wreckage of the Caravel, eighteen ships had given pursuit over the last four gyras. Some had been too damaged or poorly piloted to keep up. Some were off searching other sectors and out of range. Despite Kadal¡¯s impressive piloting skills at evading them, seven remained, and there was no way the slow-firing Impact could take them all on.

    As overpowered as its attack capabilities were, the Impact only had one shot left. Alysa was hoping that whoever was coming to the backup rendezvous could do the heavy lifting and blast them out of this tight spot. Otherwise, all they were doing was leading their rescuers to their own death. It was another weight she didn¡¯t want to carry.

    Waving her hand through tiny drops of respiratory fluids from Yabana¡¯s drool, Alysa watched the seven Kaizuko ships stop their formal pattern search and spread out, surrounding the EXFIL coordinates. They then set up in a multi-vector firing line and just sat there with weapons powered up.

    Waiting...

    ¡°Damn it all...¡± Alysa muttered to herself.

    The Kaizuko knew the location of the backup¡ªinformation that was only known by her, Kadal, after she had told him, the B.A.H. Command, and the exfiltration team.

    There was a traitor on the inside.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    It was a serious complication, but it wasn¡¯t a surprise¡ªnot really. Turncoats were a reality in the galaxy no matter who one served with. If the fates allowed it, Alysa would find the traitor, squeeze a confession from them, and then put paid to their miserable existence. For now, she had to sit tight and try and help whoever was coming.

    Sensing Essence stirring, she looked down and saw Yabana¡¯s Core start feeding Essence to his Meridians¡ªAlysa¡¯s boot hit his face three times hard, sending him back into his unconscious hole.

    Kadal looked at her, and she honestly was surprised. ¡°What? He can take it. He¡¯s tough.¡±

    Kadal smirked and gave a knowing nod, confirming¡ªat least to Alysa that yes, the loser definitely deserved it.

    But a thin smile crossed Alysa¡¯s lips and spread to her eyes as she thought about their arrogant prisoner. Then a genuine chuckle came from her mouth. The other four in the cockpit stared at her, seeming to break with their reality. After all, they knew the situation and emotions were tense as a drumhead.

    Alysa came clean. ¡°I was just thinking... Yabana will likely die on this ship with us from his own rescuers¡¯ fire. I can¡¯t think of a better end for the pile of void guano.¡±

    They all shared a short laugh at that.

    Vangar then significantly lightened the mood. ¡°There really are worse ways to go out than laughing at the fact that he¡¯s a battle leader in this condition. Imagine his interview for the job. ¡®Mister Yabana. What are your qualifications for the position of battle leader?¡¯ ¡®Well, sir. I am able to insult the legitimacy of my opponents while simultaneously pissing my pants. This function I am able to perform once a day and twice on our day of rest, sir!¡¯ ¡®...Fantastic! You¡¯re hired.¡¯¡± They shared a real laugh at that as they waited for the axe to fall.

    A short time later, the passive sensors of Impact lit up as they registered a direct transmission from a ship exiting hyperspace about 1.5 million kilometers away. It was way outside the Kaizuko¡¯s established ambush perimeter, but too close to go unnoticed by them. Well, at least it was two against five now...

    Kadal signaled that the voice communication was being received on the Hegemon¡¯s battle frequency. He patched it through to her headset, and an aquatic, digital voice spoke, ¡°This is Raptor. All friendlies, please keep the lanes clear. We¡¯re coming through.¡±

    Without needing a second for communication, Alysa and Kadal set off in a flurry of arms and hands, activating Impact¡¯s console as fast as possible. They needed to restart all active systems and fire the reverse thrusters as quickly as possible, or they weren¡¯t going anywhere but a cold, weightless grave.

    Alysa shouted to her team for the first time, real fear fueling her actions and feeding her voice. The Kaizuko were one thing, but Katak on a strafing run with the Raptor was another, entirely!

    ¡°Battle stations! Seal your EVAs! This entire quarter-sector will be a kill zone of cluster-fission bombs slinging condensed osmium shrapnel when that lunatic Katak comes through on his strafing run! He¡¯ll be moving close to one-third the speed of light, and we won¡¯t even know we¡¯re dead until they stick a fork in us!¡±

    Unlike most fast-attack vessels that carried low-mass plasma cannons to enhance their speed, the Raptor went much too fast for light or particle-based energy weapons.

    Most research physicists doubted energy weapons would even work at the speeds Raptor moved. However, what she lost in the particle weapons department, Raptor more than made up with rear-deployed, atomic fission shrapnel detonators.

    Explosives released with the inertial speed of the Raptor! They would hit and detonate long after the Raptor had passed to a safe distance. ¡®Long after¡¯ in this case was relative, as the ship was moving at fractional-C. Unlike other ships, Impact had the necessary speed to escape without issue¡­ they only had to get to the ship in time.

    Still, a brilliant smile could be seen through Alysa¡¯s EVA visor as she and Kadal scrambled to safeguard the Impact. those poor Kaizuko bastards wouldn¡¯t even know what hit them! If they had to go, this was a proper way for a space marine to meet their end!

    She had time to yell to her team one last instruction and lower their individual blast visors, then the Raptor was upon them. The whole forward viewport lit up at 10,000 lumens while Impact¡¯s blast-shield doors were still closing.

    *****

    It would be a lie to say that Josh was only slightly anxious when they slipped out of hyperspace, but Katak followed their instructions precisely. His task was to identify enemy targets, plot an intercept and then ¡®step on it.¡¯ Josh couldn¡¯t have asked for a more perfect transition from hyperspace to Raptor¡¯s full, sub-light acceleration as the vergei didn¡¯t seem to miss a beat between his transitions.

    The plan was relatively simple. A return to normal space also meant a return to the normal effects of acceleration, something they¡¯d planned to use against the treacherous Techno-Lord.

    Unfortunately, Estra was no pushover, literally. In the one second between Ishan¡¯s buckling in and the ship exiting hyperspace, Estra realized that she was the only one not strapped in for the transition. Something that would typically not be needed. Immediately she had activated an internal capability, magnetizing her extremities and leaving her hanging in the center of the cabin in the shape of an X. Her quick thinking and action prevented her from being turned into a thin layer of paste on the Raptor¡¯s rear wall.

    Sadly for her, the countermeasure wasn¡¯t enough. The twenty-second acceleration phase lasted about nineteen seconds too long and immediately overpowered her skill. Slowly at first, but with the accelerating force only the Raptor could generate, Estra was pushed back and impaled on the rear bulkhead by a steel rod from an EVA hanger piercing her center body mass. A thin, pastel-pink fluid ran from Estra¡¯s chest and started collecting into a puddle against the back wall.

    After Katak deployed the nukes and reached a minimum safe distance, he decelerated the attack craft and moved for his sidearm¡ªas every competent pilot would with a known enemy aboard. Even his fast actions needed to be faster. Estra had survived the impact, and though her limbs dangled limply at the sides of her hanging body, her eyes were glowing a fierce yellow that was steadily growing in intensity as if she was in some way charging up to blast everyone in the cabin with heat vision¡ªor, as Josh figured out only after Sen had already jumped to his feet while drawing his sword... to detonate herself!

    Josh and Sen charged Estra, weapons drawn and with the speed of doubly Attuned Cultivators. Everyone in the compartment seemed to be moving in slow motion¡ªeverything but the flashing eyes of Estra which was rapidly increasing in frequency as an electronic whine from the back of her head cut through the air.

    As the harsh light in Estra¡¯s eyes went solid and the ear-splitting shriek from the back of her head plateaued, Josh was only halfway across the distance. The earth shield he had started to form was only one-third the way across the diameter of the cabin and wouldn¡¯t protect anyone. Sen was one step in front of Josh. Close enough to ineffectively pierce the already impaled Techno-Lord¡¯s heart with his bastard sword.

    Estra was going to blow the ship and send them all into the void...

    A bestial roar filled the cabin as Ishan¡¯s leaping body passed by both Josh and Sen on all fours. Moving as fast as Josh could track him, the Tiger Affin crossed the intervening space and drew a twelve-inch knife to sever the silvered torque circling Estra¡¯s temples in one motion. Estra¡¯s eyes, clearly wishing death on the Tiger Affin hadn¡¯t diminished when his next cut severed her thin neck.

    The tension was still thick in the cabin as Josh and Sen halted and looked around for other dangers before turning to Ishan and catching their breath. ¡°How are you so fast, Senior?!¡±

    Ishan cradled Estra¡¯s head like a baby and smiled down at her as he replied, ¡°Sirs, I¡¯m a Brahma Beast Affin and I¡¯m old enough to have fought with the Techno-Lords in the Biosynth Wars, back before I was wise enough to catch on to their ways, at any rate.¡± He looked Josh in the eye with a complex look. ¡°There is a thing or two I would know of you both, maybe when we¡¯re done here, we can trade some tales over a cup of Razor whisky?¡± Winking to Josh and Sen, he turned back to Estra¡¯s still functional head and spoke in the sweet high voice reserved for infants through a wide smile. ¡°Darlin¡¯, you really thought you were faster and smarter than me, didn¡¯t you? Sorry, not a chance.¡±

    Seeing everything was under control, Katak reported on the battle outside the Raptor. ¡°Seven bandits off the grid, two severely damaged and considered destroyed by Impact.¡±

    Seven digital screens appeared in the air in front of them, playing video in slow-motion footage of each bandit vessel. Given the Raptor¡¯s speed, there were significant gaps in the images displayed. However, it was unquestionable that the first five attack craft hit by Katak¡¯s strafing run had been turned into fields of random, scattered debris no bigger than confetti from a ticker-tape parade. The view of the sixth and seventh ships showed the craft lined up had been blasted with a pulse of four columns of blue-white energy that led back to another ship designated as a friendly vessel. The attack had transformed the two remaining enemy ships into scrapped metal rings with 50 percent of their mass just plain gone. Gaping holes were all that remained of the center of each ship. The resulting donuts slowly rotated on a tilting axis in the void without any apparent controlled activity.

    ¡°Receiving a message from Impact. Patching through to internal comms¡ª¡±

    ¡°Katak! You crazy bastard! My eyebrows are singed off ! I don¡¯t know if I want to kill or kiss you!¡±

    In his submerged-digitized voice, Katak replied, ¡°Glad to see you made it safe, Lieutenant! What are your orders, ma¡¯am? And if I get a say... I vote for the latter.¡±

 Chapter 69

    ¡°He did what!¡±

    Battle Commander Ritoru Dezain was not happy.

    His hands absently crushing the life out of the young messenger¡¯s throat in the executive gallery overlooking the bridge of his Brigantine was testimony to that fact.

    ¡°Ahhhsckkkk...¡± was the only sound the messenger could get out as he feebly struggled against the dual-Attuned grip of his Danshaku.

    ¡°Inform battle leader Yabana that¡ª¡±

    The loud crack echoed into the air as the boy¡¯s neck snapping filled the audience room with silence. The rest of the attendants stared straight on at their posts, pretending not to notice the result of their leader¡¯s careless violence to a fellow clansman.

    At the sound, Ritoru¡¯s wild eyes shifted away from the view port framing Yabana¡¯s ruined Caravel down to what his own idle actions had done. A moment of shock passed over the commander¡¯s face, stilling his hands. As if for the first time, he appeared to be seeing the boy he had forced to his knees by his momentarily out-of-control rage.

    Looking into the messenger¡¯s dying eyes, Ritoru sighed with futility and tilted his face to the heavens, appearing to all as if he was asking for help with his useless servants...

    Then, the commander spoke quietly, ¡°Never mind. I¡¯ll tell him myself...¡±

    The messenger¡¯s body fell bonelessly to the floor as Ritoru straightened and righted his uniform. With his hands rigidly behind his back, he signaled an attendant from the side, who ran up as Ritoru looked back to stare again at the ruin of Yabana¡¯s Caravel. Tiny specks of light¡ªthe Caravel¡¯s escape pods, could now be seen gathering to be picked up by the brigantine¡¯s transport ships.

    ¡°Inform battle leader Jian Tojaku that battle leader Yabana failed to wait for us before he launched his raid on the Hegemon-4...¡± Raising his hand to the view port to indicate that the destroyed vessel was evidence of his assertion. ¡°And was obviously overwhelmed. We will immediately pursue the force that destroyed the Caravel. Tojaku is to join us. From there, we will be raiding the Hegemon-4 to pay for this... disaster.¡±

    The servant bowed his head, slammed a fist to his chest, and raced out.

    Ritoru walked over to the railing and called down into the bridge. ¡°Helmsman Shiruba. Make contact with the ships pursuing the Caravel¡¯s attackers. We are to leave immediately and join in their pursuit.¡±

    ¡°Ah, sir? Rescue operations for the Caravel¡¯s clansmen are already underway. Estimates are forty-five micro-gyras to get all the clansmen aboard¡ª¡±

    Ritoru¡¯s head snapped down, making direct eye contact with the lead administration officer. It was clear for all present to see that the wild look of abandon Dezain had just strangled the messenger with was back and in total control.

    His voice strained as he attempted to maintain calm, biting out each of his words. ¡°Call them back immediately! We will not be making space aboard my Brigantine for their pathetic lives. They couldn¡¯t even protect their ship from one mundane assault craft!¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    The helmsman, a Cultivator but not yet Attuned, snapped his fist to his chest and spun away with a clipped, ¡°Aye, sir!¡±

    Tension filled Ritoru¡¯s shoulders as he silently sifted through his thoughts and options.

    It has been five gyras since Yabana launched his ill-fated and moronic solo attack. The Caravel is ruined. A complete loss. Its assault fighters are destroyed or scattered to the solar winds and its crew is a useless rabble without a ship to man.

    Yabana had better have been killed by those mundane fighters. If I find him alive... the imbecile will find out what it feels like to wear his still-attached scrotum like a skullcap before he dies!

    Ritoru took a calming breath.

    It¡¯s not too late yet. I can make this right...

    I still have Jian and his Caravel. Together we can both track down and overtake the much slower Hegemon-4. We¡¯ll stage a visible and obvious raid to acquire some of its low-hanging and valuable fruits. The blame will still fall squarely on the Kaizuko as planned, and I can recoup the value of my losses and then some.

    The ruined Caravel had been a capital ship... And not even mine!

    It had been on loan from that skin-crawling, Spiritually-risen dead, Kyon Shi! If Ritoru didn¡¯t return value for its loss, Kyon Shi would likely take both of their ships and put him and his remaining junior commander Jian Tojaku through several fates worse than death before turning them into his shambling slaves.

    I could go a long way to fixing this by knowing what of value was aboard the Hegemon-4 along with exactly where it is. Such information would allow his raiders to get in and out quickly.

    A smile raised the cheekbones on his thin face.

    In fact, there is a ship with a handful of soldiers currently on the run with just the information I am looking for, isn¡¯t there?

    Things might be looking up!

    A good haul from the Hegemon-4 would keep Kyon Shi happy and stand Ritoru in good graces with the Savoy when he joined their ranks and advanced his Cultivation. There was no hope for growth with the Kaizuko. Even the Kaizuko¡¯s Kotei only carried six Attunements. Ritoru was going to outpace that pathetic fossil. The incense and elixirs he had received from the Savoy had already increased his Meridian¡¯s volume and Core capacity. Of his contemporaries in the Kaizuko, he stood at the pinnacle. His future was bright¡ª

    A two and a half meter image of Kyon Shi¡¯s cowled and hooded desiccated visage appeared in the center of the brigantine¡¯s gallery, more than interrupting Ritoru¡¯s increasing optimism. The undead¡¯s clouded and calcified lenses still managed to somehow pierce through Ritoru, locking him in place and freezing his thoughts. A cold chill ran down his spine as he was locked into immobility¡ªunable to even paste the usual fake smile he reserved for his newly acquired Savoy liege.

    ¡°You have failed me concerning the Hegemon-4.¡± Kyon Shi¡¯s dry voice rasped like kindling dragged over sandstone as green-gray puffs of rotted decay huffed out of his dead throat. Skin-on-bone fingers appeared under the rotting energy drainer¡¯s face and curled into his dry palms. Gold-colored Essence began pouring out of Ritoru¡¯s Meridians and into Kyon Shi¡¯s crooked mouth.

    Blinding pain filled Ritoru¡¯s mind as his channels emptied and his Core¡¯s dedicated Essence was broken down to feed the energy drainer¡¯s irresistible pull.

    Sensing his end... Ritoru found the strength to plead as tears streamed from his clenched eyes. ¡°M-m-master! I have not failed!¡± Falling to one knee, he braced himself with one hand on the ground and tried to raise his head up. ¡°I... I have the space marines that attacked your Caravel cornered...¡±

    Essence continued to flow as another layer of Cultivation was eaten by the indifferent hunger of Kyon Shi.

    ¡°I will renew the attack against the Hegemon-4! I can still fulfill your wishes!¡±

    The last layer of Ritoru¡¯s Core degraded and fed his Meridians as the Kaizuko commander fell face down onto the deck plates. His body began to twitch uncontrollably as he spoke in no more than a halting whisper as his mind slipped into the yawning dark cavern surrounding it,

    ¡°If¡­ you¡­ will¡­ only¡­ allow¡­ me¡­ to¡­ serve...¡±

    Kyon Shi¡¯s dead face remained expressionless as his right hand made an L shape with his thumb and index finger. Dark Essence flowed back into Ritoru. After a few seconds, the battle commander¡¯s twitching stopped.

    ¡°You have until I arrive to set things right. Remember. The Savoy see all. Fail again, and you will receive no warning before I make you repay me as a spiritually risen slave.¡±

    Ritoru stuttered, rising to his knees, head bowed, eyes still squeezed shut. ¡°Wh-when can we expect you, my lord?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in transit now.¡± Kyon Shi¡¯s giant head disappeared, leaving Ritoru alone, huddling in a cold sweat in the center of the brigantine¡¯s gallery.

    The ragged breath of escaping his all too near death shook Ritoru¡¯s quivering frame. The dark Essence flowing through his Meridians was not his own. He was indeed one step closer to the spiritual dead...

    Ritoru swallowed with a dry throat. He would start with capturing, interrogating, and making examples of the space marines. They were going to pay more dearly than Yabana for this pain!

 Chapter 70

    ¡°Come and get us, Katak... I¡¯ve got four of your kin here who will be glad to return to the Hegemon. We¡¯ll also need room for one more... guest.¡±

    Roger that, ma¡¯am. Calculating an intercept course. Sit tight. We¡¯re on our way.¡±

    ¡°Received, Raptor. Nang out.¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am... before you sign off, there are two here who would like to say hello.¡±

    Josh jumped and moved to the copilot¡¯s seat next to Katak. The pilot looked up from his open visor and freshly drained flight suit, his tongue retracted from his left eye, and he nodded at Josh to sit.

    ¡°Alysa! It¡¯s good to hear your voice! It¡¯s me and Sen! How is... everyone?¡±

    ¡°Everyone is good, really good! We¡¯re glad to hear your voice too! We have a lot to talk about when we get¡ª¡±

    ¡°Raptor, this is Impact.¡± Kadal¡¯s voice urgently cut over Alysa¡¯s. ¡°We have two fleet-grade Kaizuko vessels leaving hyperspace and closing in on our position! They are launching fighters and moving into attack positions. A Brigantine and another Caravel. Twelve, make that fifteen, fighters incoming! Sending linked video now!¡±

    ¡°Hang on! We¡¯re coming!¡± Josh shouted. Shock, rage, frustration, and fear came into his voice and showed on his face as he looked at Katak.

    Josh¡¯s frantic eyes and hand movements communicated in no uncertain terms that the pilot needed to start making with the flying!

    Alysa¡¯s resigned voice spoke next. ¡°No, Josh. There¡¯s nothing you can do. Raptor will be destroyed by these forces. You will be no help to us... you must return and warn the Hegemon-4 about these new threats! Command was right¡ª¡±

    Her voice cut out as the video showed the larger of the two ships hit the slowly evading squarish body of the Impact with a broad purple beam. The whole ship shuddered as the video cut out...

    Josh looked up at Sen, a lost look in his eyes. ~... ~

    ~Don¡¯t give up, brother! That was a tractor beam. They are taking the Impact whole and their crew alive. There is still time!~

    But it was Ishan¡¯s words that kept Josh¡¯s feet under him.

    The Tiger Affin talked as he and Lobo hurriedly sealed their EVAs and secured their helmets. ¡°Ah, sirs... we¡¯re going to go get the Lt.¡±

    He waved his paw indicating himself and Lobo. Then inquisitively raised one fluffy, white brow at Josh and Sen. ¡°We assume you two are coming along?¡±

    *****

    A metallic clunk resounded through the ship as Impact was harnessed to the superstructure of the Brigantine. A second clunk sounded as an external airlock was telescoped to its open outer door.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Kadal had insisted on leaving it open, arguing, ¡°What is the sense in letting them destroy my ship? They are coming in regardless. When we beat them back, we will need her whole.¡±

    Alysa acquiesced. It was fatalistic thinking, but correct. It also allowed her to launch grenades at the first group of boarders while they were still inside their external airlock.

    It¡¯s the little things in life that can keep you smiling. Eight hollow fummps sounded.

    She and her team launched two grenades each through the open portal as the enemies¡¯ footsteps pinged on the extended tunnel¡¯s metal runner. Eight flashes of light shone on them as the incendiaries exploded, but not from inside the telescoping tube. These occurred outside the Impact, several hundred meters away and behind them. They all clearly saw the explosions through the ship¡¯s main view port.

    Someone, somehow, had teleported their grenades, neutralizing them while sending a clear message. Resistance is futile.

    Looking down at the now-conscious Yabana, Alysa could see a deep fear in his eyes that far exceeded what she had seen when she impaled him to the Caravel¡¯s deck plates. He had even pissed himself. A wide, icy patch on the crotch of his pants gave his terror away.

    Bad sign.

    She dropped to a prone position and manned her heavy mass-projectile weapon next to the rest of her team.

    Their EVAs¡¯ transceivers received a communication from an arrogant and almost chipper voice. ¡°And I thought we might do this in a civilized fashion. Are you sure you want to fight? I really am short on time. I can promise you all a quick and relatively painless death if you tell me what I need to know, assuming, of course, it turns out to be true.¡±

    Another grenade through the doorway was her only response. This one exploded twenty meters from Impact, rocking the ship and scorching the paint off the hull.

    Okay... no more of those.

    Time to change tactics. Signaling her team, she detonated the charges she had mounted on the door. Destroying the Brigantine¡¯s extended tunnel, the Impact¡¯s airlock and portal mountings. The atmosphere being pumped into the Impact through the docking extension rushed out through the new three-by-three-meter hole Alysa had just blown in the ship. It pulled lightly at the space marines anchored in place in their sealed EVAs.

    Yabana gulped at the thinning air and started to cycle Essence to fight off the effects of the void again.

    Alysa signaled to evacuate the ship. Better to die fighting in space than to be bottled up here. Turning to them, she saw Kadal¡¯s helmet being stripped off his EVA. His face silently contorted as the vacuum took him¡ªas it had already taken the other three on her team in the last five seconds.

    An unseen force rigidly held her as she was pulled out of Impact¡¯s shattered portal toward the Brigantine¡¯s hangar bay. A Kaizuko encased in an indigo-tinged, transparent membrane glided next to her as she was brought into the Brigantine¡¯s main hangar bay and dropped on the hangar¡¯s deck plates. The same unseen force then stripped away her EVA and equipment, propelling them all out of the bay¡¯s opening. The space-gliding Kaizuko landed next to her and waved his hand, elevating her to a standing position.

    Still completely frozen, she stood there, eyes forward.

    The shield encasing the obvious Cultivator blinked out and showed her attacker was tall, thin, and dressed in a black jumpsuit. A rapier with a caged handle hung at his side. The rapier¡¯s sheath was held around his waist by a leather belt, buckled in glistening silver. His narrow shoulders struggled to fill a black flight jacket with the Kaizuko symbol for leader embroidered on the chest in gold.

    ¡°You made that so very tedious and costly!¡±

    An unseen force slapped Alysa¡¯s face and sent blood flying from her mouth.

    ¡°You damaged your ship, which I was going to use as partial recompense for the destruction of my Caravel.¡±

    A second slap from the other direction rocked her eyes into her skull. Her nose and cheekbones fractured from the impact.

    ¡°And you have wasted so very much of my time!¡±

    A third slap sent her flying to the deck plates snapping her leading left arm as the force holding her let go. She immediately started to cycle Essence to her wounds as the Kaizuko continued talking.

    ¡°But, on the bright side, you have brought Yabana back to me, the useless mongrel that he is...¡±

    Yabana¡¯s gagged and shackled form hit the deck next to her as he futilely attempted to communicate and wave his bound arms and legs. ¡°What was that, Yabana? I couldn¡¯t quite hear?¡± The leader¡¯s face feigned courteous interest for a second before turning dark and danger- ous. He waved his hand toward the oblivion of vacuum. ¡°You were always a bore to talk to anyway.¡±

    Yabana started to writhe and whine piteously as he cycled Essence to his head and neck. He then began to scream as his head twisted past 180 degrees and was pulled from his shoulders with a series of subdued cracks and wet tearing sounds. His blood pumped for several seconds before slacking. The Kaizuko commander floated Yabana¡¯s head before him and stared into his still-moving eyes as drops of blood continued to patter on the deck.

    The commander¡¯s voice was low and guttural as he talked through clenched teeth. ¡°Your idiocy cost me a ship and so much more. Believe me... you are getting off very lightly!¡± The commander broke eye contact with Yabana¡¯s head, and it fell heavily to the deck plates, splashing Alysa¡¯s face in red.

    He again grabbed her with his Force Attunement, bringing her off the ground at eye level, a single nose-length from his face.

    Looking into her eyes with unmistakably restrained fury, he spoke tersely. ¡°What shall we talk about?¡±

 Chapter 71

    The four figures sped through the void at 900,000 meters a second. One percent of the Raptor¡¯s impulse power. The slowest the ship could go before jumping to hyperspace and warning the Hegemon-4 of the two fleet-level Kaizuko threats.

    Ishan had spoken frankly as he held up two massive, clawed paws. ¡°Sirs... I have known several Cultivators that could travel through the void with their own protection.¡± Leaning in, he raised a fluffy white brow again. ¡°I assume you two can do that as well?¡±

    They nodded in what likely came off as a freakish, identical manner, if the looks they got were any indication.

    With one furry cheek twitching, Ishan continued. ¡°Good. We¡¯ll be launching from the roof using inertial momentum from the Raptor to get us underway. You two can attach to Lobo and me using the electromag buddy system... unless you can propel yourselves¡ª¡±

    Josh and Sen were both shaking their heads no as Katak interrupted. ¡°Senior, the Raptor isn¡¯t fitted with inertial tubes.¡±

    Ishan waved his right paw as he finalized his EVA¡¯s adjustments and powered its systems. ¡°This ship, like all the Hegemon-4¡¯s ships, has laser etching marks on its topside hull for PAAL, parallel-acceleration-axis-launch¡ªjust keep it straight until we detach. Besides, tubes are for noobs and species without properly descended external genitalia!¡±

    Ishan and Lobo, smiling cockily, slapped paw knuckles over the heads of Josh and Sen.

    ¡°Sirs. Please strap on these electromag hand and knee pads and then mount up. We are leaving now. Katak. get up to a trajectory and velocity that will get us there in two micro-gyras. No, less. The Lt. is short on time.¡± Ishan half-turned back to Katak with a critical last thought. ¡°Also, Estra¡¯s central processor, her head, is in my shoulder-mount repeater¡¯s case.¡± He held up the case as he wrapped several layers of gray duct tape around it in all directions.

    Despite the circumstances, Josh couldn¡¯t help but take a second look at what the senior chief was using to add extra security for Estra¡¯s head. Regardless of what universe you¡¯re in, some things are as optimal as they are ever going to get.

    Ishan waved the case in front of the pilot. ¡°I disoriented her when I cut the external saddle of her right and left hemispheres. She might have, and probably does have a few tricks still. If one of the sirs or I don¡¯t come to collect this in the next twelve gyra, hand her over to Maloris with Internal Security. Aside from The Lord Clone, he is probably the only one on the Hegemon-4 who can deal with a pissed-off Techno Lord of Estra¡¯s strength.¡±

    Katak reached out, but Ishan pulled the duct-taped case away from the Vergei.

    ¡°I¡¯m serious. Don¡¯t open it!¡± He looked directly into Katak¡¯s bulbous and green eyes.

    The Vergei¡¯s tongue lashed up and licked both eyes.

    Then Katak held up his right hand and spoke solemnly in his deep voice, ¡°By the stalk of the pad our mother hung my cohort¡¯s spawn from, it will be as you say. The package stays closed. If one of you three don¡¯t return, Maloris gets it in twelve gyra.¡±

    Ishan handed the case over, and they went through the airlocks to the upper skin of the Raptor. As Ishan said, the etched markings were cut into the upper hull and perpendicular to zero acclamation thrust.

    This close to Lobo and Ishan, Josh got a feel for how much more massive the Beast Affins were compared to them. Josh and Sen¡¯s weight was an afterthought as they both moved around without difficulty, even before they got into zero-G. Ishan must have weighed close to 600 pounds. Lobo was lankier, but not by much.

    Sen and Josh used their earth shields with an augmented head covering to provide extra air for the two-minute ride behind the Affin space marines.

    Josh¡¯s from-the-hip calculations were that a two-minute trip would cost him and Sen approximately 8400 free Essence and an extra thousand for the bubble on each of their heads. A quick check of his status confirmed that the bubble had cost him and Sen 1200 free Essence.

    Shortly after, they were void-born.

    If the high speed of the Raptor¡¯s launch was an issue for either Ishan or Lobo, Josh and Sen couldn¡¯t tell from the easy way they communicated mission parameters between themselves.

    ¡°Comp unit is recommending a ten-degree galactic center yaw with a five-degree ascending vertical vector and a fifteen-second full retro burst in forty-five seconds. Confirm calculations.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed.¡± Lobo¡¯s voice answered over their headsets.

    They executed the maneuvers, and in less than a minute, the two Kaizuko vessels appeared to the enhanced eyesight of Josh and Sen. Ishan and Lobo couldn¡¯t see it, even with their increased Affin senses. But their EVAs¡¯ sensors picked up the vessels and scrambled radio chatter at about the same time.

    Josh and Sen saw a large pyrotechnic explosion occur near the larger ship¡¯s hull, then a second smaller one as they got closer.

    ¡°Initiating retro-burst.¡±

    Lobo and Ishan extended their hands, and Josh and Sen could feel themselves slowing.

    ¡°Sirs, Comp-Unit IDs the Impact is secured to the hull of the Brigantine, along with four casualties. Lieutenant Nang¡¯s vitals transceiver is still in the green, but she is aboard the main vessel in its hangar. Is that our destination?¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is, Senior Chief.¡± Sen responded for both of them.

    ¡°Very good. Lobo, we¡¯ll punch through the EMF screen on the opposite corners. We¡¯re going in hot. The fast attack craft shouldn¡¯t be able to pick us up, but I suspect that the hangar defense weapons will sight us at the end of their effective arcs if we get too close or go in too slow. You take the right corner¡ªI¡¯ll take the left to avoid overlapping fields of fire from the hangar¡¯s gun emplacements.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed, Senior.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°Sirs, we¡¯re going to go in fast on opposite sides of the hangar bay to reduce overlapping fire and to eliminate threats from mechanized guns and personnel. How do you want us to drop you?¡±

    ¡°Just get us into the bay. We will be fine after that.¡± Sen again responded.

    ¡°Roger that, sir.¡±

    With the four of them clearly on a war footing, Sen handled the discussions while they hurled through the vast emptiness. Josh busied himself with pushing the sphere of his mindscape to its maximum. Centered on him, Josh guessed the sphere of his control extended two hundred and fifty yards in all directions, but it was difficult to tell without landmarks, lights, or anything to gauge it against as they shot through the void.

    In the few moments since their tubeless launch from the Raptor, Josh had determined his expanded mindscape gave him a sense of knowledge concerning the location and mentation of other minds within it. It made sense when he considered the Mind Aura given off by spirit beings was singular to every individual. That Aura seemed to be a unique signature of the individual and one that Josh could identify them with. Like mind fingerprints¡ªno two were exactly the same.  For instance, through his mindscape, Josh knew the location of both Lobo and Ishan without having to look. If he focused on one or the other by identifying an individual quality to either, the other mind would fade in his mindscape. Leaving the selected being, for lack of better words, to ¡®outshine¡¯ the other.

    This isn¡¯t a superpower to defeat the villains of the ages, and not a skill that his interface pinged in celebration of, but he was glad for it all the same. Josh could think of several uses for the ability; The least of which was it would help them find Alysa when they arrived.

    Josh checked his free Essence through his interface.

    <table width="420">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    15000/15000 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    37247/40500 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Maintaining the shield was a constant draw in the void. There was literally nowhere to get Earth Essence from, but Josh and Sen had each drawn Mind Aura from the Affin closest to them to keep topped off. Mind Aura didn¡¯t seem to be affected by the void. It continued to be released into the universe from spirit beings¡¯ mental processes and could be absorbed if that being was in the range of their mindscape.

    Josh also learned that there didn¡¯t seem to be separate internal categories of Earth Essence or Mind Essence as far as his Meridians and Core were concerned. All his Essence was just plain old ¡®Essence¡¯ for him to use on his skills, no matter what Aura it had originated as. Once absorbed into his Meridians, it seemed usable for either his Earth skills or mindscape¡ªwhich was good news. Josh had no specific way to be sure he was 1000 percent right, but so far, the pieces fit, and it was working.

    So, like the man who jumped off the eighty-story building said at the fortieth floor, ¡°So far, so good!¡±

    True to their plan, Lobo and Sen had oriented on the right side of the two-hundred yard-wide hangar opening. Ishan and Josh aimed to its left corners. Also, per plan, they were too small to have attracted any attention from the attack ships patrolling the Brigantine¡¯s perimeter.

    There were multiple defensive turrets, however, located on the top and bottom of the hangar bay¡¯s open door that Josh could see.

    Ishan noted this and confirmed his previous orders to Lobo through their headsets. ¡°Keep it hot until we reach the threshold and blow by those gun sensors. We¡¯re too small to be picked up at range and too fast to hit when we are near enough to be detected. Just remember that it will be an extremely short interval.¡±

    ¡°Confirmed, Senior.¡±

    Ishan then spoke directly to Josh and Sen. ¡°Sirs, we will keep up a fair amount of speed until we¡¯re through the hangar bay door. Once through, we will flair and cut the current to the electromag buddy system and release you. It will be approximately fifty meters above the deck. Lobo and I will start taking down defensive structures, ships, and guards to cause what we hope is a significant distraction. That leaves extracting the Lt. to you both.¡±

    ¡°Roger that, Senior Chief.¡± Sen answered for them both.

    ~Sen? Isn¡¯t a shield or something keeping the air in on the hangar? Are we going to crash through it?~

    Knowing smile patronizing the noob. ~Yes, and yes. We will go through it near the corners where it¡¯s weakest. The penumbra of overlapping fields is a viable strategy of shield penetration. Do not worry, Joshua... as you said when you introduced me to Myrina¡¯s cousin, ¡®I got you, buddy!¡¯ I¡¯m sure you remember her, the Jaguar Affin?~

    ~Tha-that wasn¡¯t my fault!~ Josh¡¯s eyes were wide ~No one knew! She didn¡¯t even know she had an allergy to human skin and that it was a worsening with repeated exposures kind of thing... Once we explained it to her... and the swelling went down... and her hair started growing back... She even stopped trying to kill you in your sleep!~ Digging the hole deeper, Josh added, ~Remember how much practicing with Gusti¡¯s boxer-short configuration improved your earth shield partial propagation!~

    Sen¡¯s face puckered at the memory, and his narrowed eyes told Josh the last statement was the wrong point to make...

    ~Apologies for that... It was horrible¡­~ Josh bowed his head, affecting Sen¡¯s body language and demeanor in an effort to demonstrate his sincerity. ~I¡¯m sorry. I would have traded with you if I could have, brother...~ Smiling to put the past behind them. ~Okay! So... the penumbras... gaps in the shadows near where the fields fail to completely overlap... got it!~

    Sen nodded silently, sending his forgiveness but not forgetfulness through their Bond.

    Sophie held Alysa¡¯s hand tightly and squeezed her eyes shut as tears welled through the little girl¡¯s closed lids. She leaned into Alysa¡¯s taller body for momentary support as they both stood in their shared soul space. Sophie¡¯s presence actively lessened the pain of Alysa¡¯s torture by willing it into her small, projected body. The two bowed their heads in unison as they weathered a particularly vicious series of telekinetic blows to Alysa¡¯s face and fingers from the Kaizuko commander.

    There were no physical marks on their bodies here, but it was clear the little one was suffering every bit as much as Alysa. It was equally clear Sophie wasn¡¯t going to leave. Alysa thanked her ancestors for Sophie and hadn¡¯t objected to her little sister filling the gap in her pain tolerance. As lies couldn¡¯t be told here, both knew Alysa was on the edge of failing and Sophie had come to stand with her.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Alla! I know your daddy sent my daddy, and he¡¯s coming! I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll make this bad man very sorry for what he is doing!¡± Sophie¡¯s round cheeks were red with sincerity as her unwavering blue eyes looked up to reassure Alysa.

    Alysa smiled down at the little girl, closer to her now than anyone. She didn¡¯t have the heart to tell Sophie Josh couldn¡¯t come and save her. He was stuck on the Raptor heading back to the Hegemon-4. But for Sophie¡¯s sake, she believed in her hopes as well.

    Squeezing Sophie¡¯s hand, she said, ¡°I¡¯m gonna go talk to the bad man again... Don¡¯t listen to the words I say to him. We¡¯re going to have some more grown-up talk. I¡¯ll be right back, okay?¡±

    Sophie squeezed Alysa¡¯s hand in return. Then plugged her ears with little fingers.

    Focusing on the return to her body, Alysa¡¯s presence accelerated out of their soul space, and she snapped back into the physical.

    Her pain more than doubled as Sophie wasn¡¯t here to share it. Sharp stinging and the deeper ache of crushing injuries sprang upon her like lashes out of the dark. Alysa gasped a quick breath as she opened her eyes and saw the Kaizuko¡¯s face centimeters from hers, spraying spittle onto her broken cheeks as he screamed.

    ¡°Where does the Hegemon store its weapons and currency?¡±

    The tall, thin man¡¯s face flushed with anger as more invisible blows rained down from the right and left. Alysa felt a new fractured left orbital bone under the wide, thick, tearing sensation of a bucket handle laceration over her right cheek. Blood dripped down onto the undershirt she had been left in.

    Still rigidly held in place sixty centimeters off the ground, she was in a four-by-four-meter square room off the main hangar. The bare, single overhead strip light in the empty space showed the commander¡¯s outraged face now in triple due to her new fracture.

    One thing was for sure... Danshaku Dezain¡ªas he called himself, was desperate for this information. His rabid tone and frightened eyes screamed it louder than his voice.

    Good. I can use his desperation when I¡¯m ready for the end... but not yet. I still need to buy Katak another ten micro-gyras to get back to the Hegemon-4 and sound the general alarm.

    With a fifteen-micro-gyra head start, the Hegemon-4 could fully ready their internal, external, and flight-perimeter teams for immediate deployment into the battle space. No matter what this pirate was planning. If she could give them that time, Danshaku Dezain would learn that dropping out of the shadows of an asteroid field on the Hegemon-4 was a completely different experience than attacking when it was informed and battle ready. Alysa was sure the cruel bastard would find it a much more costly venture. All that was if the Lord Clone left the ship to its own fate, something she wasn¡¯t quite sure he would do. His actions, however, were never predictable.

    Unfortunately, at the rate she was being beaten, Dezain would kill her before she had earned Katak the necessary time to make it happen. Alysa needed to slow him down. It was time to try some friendly conversation. Grimacing, she leaned to the side and spit out a glob of congealed blood with the fractured remains of several of her teeth.

    Shifting her head to the side, she stared at him with her still-functioning right eye and slurred. ¡°Blah, blah, blah. why should I tell someone who whines like a bitch anything?¡± Her words lit a cold fire behind her torturer¡¯s eyes.

    Good! If he thinks he¡¯s started to break me, there¡¯s hope I can get the time they need!

    The commander was almost chipper again when he responded through a knowing and arrogant smile. ¡°For one thing, I will stop beating you mercilessly. Allowing you to spend your last micro-gyras in relative comfort during the raid. I know your tiny Core is out of Essence, and you can no longer heal. I¡¯m sure the respite will do you well.¡±

    Alysa smiled internally herself. Now it was just a matter of telling the bastard whatever lies he wanted to hear.

 Chapter 72

    Josh, mostly reassured that they weren¡¯t about to end up splattered like bugs on a windshield, looked around, and mentally prepared for the upcoming fight. He got a sense of how tremendously fast they were moving!

    When Ishan had finished talking about their landing¡ªtouch-down... docking? Josh wasn¡¯t sure what to call it. The Brigantine had looked like a ship about the size of a Star Trek shuttle. In the three seconds since then, it had gone from minibus sized to filling-his-entire field-of-vision-sized. The surface structures on the Brigantine below them started to blur so rapidly Josh couldn¡¯t even tell their shapes. Then the hangar bay opening was upon them...

    ¡°Flair! Alight!¡± Ishan commanded in rapid succession.

    Their velocity terminated with large retro-bursts firing from both Ishan and Lobo¡¯s chests and hands. The magnetic current keeping Josh and Sen in place was cut, and they dropped down to the decking with zero acceleration. The Affins remained aloft via thrusters mounted on their heels and the snub-framework wing kits that had sprung from their back armor.

    A shrill electric whirring shrieked from Ishan¡¯s shoulder-mounted gatling gun as it swept side to side, tracking his vision. In its wake, lines of emplaced defenses, guard stations, and attack ships exploded, then quickly disintegrated into ash and dark mist. The endless hail of brilliant yellow-white, ever-burning, sunfire rounds made quick work of everything in the Gatling¡¯s arc.

    Lobo gunned a two-handed rifle that emitted a solid purple beam two inches wide. He swept it in wide arcs as well, cutting most targets in half with little resistance. Even leaving deep scours in the armor plates of the attack ships and bulkheads he brushed with it.

    After his fall, Sen had barely kissed the deck in a perfect three-point stance as he touched down following several aerial flips with extended legs and arms to slow his descent from their alight. After the briefest pause, he burst into action with his sword on the right side of the hangar. Three attackers were eliminated with as many swipes of his blade, the charging Kaizukos¡¯ battle cries dying on their lips. Sen was then given a wide berth as the remaining hangar crew retreated before him.

    Sen cast a meaningful look at Josh. ~The hangar defenses are significant. I will assist Ishan and Lobo secure the area. Find and rescue Alysa. Alert me if you need me to free her.~

    He then started with the mechanical defenses of the hangar bay.

    With slightly less grace, Josh bent his knees and hit the floor¡¯s plating full force wearing his still active earthen shield. Like a bowling ball crashing through a Styrofoam cooler, he left a pair of inch-deep divots in the deck¡¯s steel. His impact sent a clanging echo more felt than heard over the increasing sounds of mechanized battle from Ishan and Lobo overhead.

    Assessing the hangar, Josh started his search for Alysa. He estimated the hangar¡¯s dimensions at 2000 yards deep by 1500 wide. He couldn¡¯t help but note that Ishan and Lobo had cut it very close. A delay of one-third of a second and the space marines would have been splattered into a thin film against the far wall where they would have burst like an overtight water balloon filled with quinoa and red Kool Aid. Only the Kaizukos¡¯ cleaning crew would have found what was left of them.

    On the other hand, because of their increased density, Josh and Sen may have torn through the ship¡¯s hull plates like two uranium boulders to tumble aimlessly through the void.

    After those unpleasant thoughts, Josh told his internal science guy to hush up while he and Sen went to work and, gratefully, the science guy did.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    Now, with a proper sense of scale around him, Josh saw that the estimation of his mindscape¡¯s size hadn¡¯t been that bad. It seemed to fill a radius of 300 yards, or about one-third of the width of the hangar to either side of him.

    Focusing on his mindscape, the hangar was thick with Aura from the numerous crew members¡¯ energetic thoughts¡ªat least 500 people in his sphere alone, had their conscious thoughts in high gear. Josh took a moment to pull Aura from the nearest handful of people he could sense to top off his depleted levels from the trip as he weeded through the minds to find Alysa. As his racing thoughts concentrated on Alysa¡¯s characteristics, many of the 500-plus minds in range began to lose their luster. He could still sense the excluded ones, they were just easier to ignore. Like old brown leaves lying next to red and golden ones that had just fallen.

    Ticking the qualities off, Alysa was a woman¡ªjust over 100 bright spots remained. She had black hair and brown eyes¡ªover fifty remained¡ª and was under five feet two inches tall¡ªseven remained. She had a spiritual bond with Sophie¡ªone last bright spot remained to his left.

    Should have led with that one!

    Alysa¡¯s mind was one hundred meters up the bay along what was likely an internal wall. Focusing on that mind, Josh heard her thoughts¡ª

    He¡¯ll kill me too quickly¡ª

    Josh moved before registering a conscious thought to do so.

    She was behind the only currently guarded door. Active thinking kicked in and Josh chided himself for not trying to use standard wisdom as well as mystic mind-powers.

    I might have saved a few beats if I had used my brain and my Cultivation skills.

    It was becoming obvious Josh would need to do both. Just like the need to take deep breaths during heavy exercise to make the best of it. Josh would need to remember not to be a moron and supplement his growing cosmic power with common sense whenever he had the chance.

    But that was for later. Right now, there were four men in standardized dark jumpers facing out from the door Sophie was behind.

    Alysa, too, he corrected himself. Gods... it was true. Sophie and Alysa were linked in his mind, but for now, he couldn¡¯t indulge his emotions and instead needed to focus on death and destruction. He would need to leave figuring out his metaphysical family for later.

    Josh got himself back on track. Each guard was armed with a drawn saber. Likely readied in response to Ishan and Lobo¡¯s carnage. They all also had indigo Essence swirling through their Core and Meridians, and... Josh didn¡¯t care!

    They were complicit in torturing Alysa, his bridge to Sophie, and they were all going down!

    He raced in front of them and cut the right two in half with an enhanced horizontal sweep using his blade¡¯s acceleration function. A sheet of blood followed his arcing blade¡¯s passage, spraying over the last two before they even knew Josh was there.

    The leftmost fighter was the fastest. He initiated a skill with surging indigo Essence, seeming to convert his whole body into the same color Aura. Glowing indigo particles in the shape of his body moved through Josh¡¯s body to stand behind him¡ªclearly some kind of teleportation, but slowly. So slowly!

    Josh almost yawned at the difference in speeds between a singly-Attuned Cultivator and his current doubly-Attuned status. How had Sen fought off Nagal for so long with such a vast gap in their abilities? Josh wasn¡¯t sure of anything in that fight except that his Karmic brother was a very dangerous man.

    The guard¡¯s slow-motion Essence flash completed as he reappeared behind Josh for a surprise back attack... Fortunately for Josh, not nearly as sneaky as anticipated. With plenty of time for assessment, Josh credited his ability to follow the Cultivator¡¯s change into Aura as an effect of his expanded mindscape.

    Right or wrong, Josh was ready for him and not in the mood for games. As soon as his opponent phased back from Essence to matter, Josh slashed the man diagonally from his left waist to above his right shoulder with a cut so fast the fighter couldn¡¯t likely see it. The Cultivator¡¯s left lung bulged through the gaping wound, and his heart was entirely bisected. The force of the blow spun his body 180 degrees before it came to rest five yards back¡ªa thick streak of blood splashed against the walls the entire distance.

    Josh had already turned back to the last guard before the third had hit the floor. This one had been holding back, waiting for an opening that would never come. Obviously, having realized this, the guard opted to silently charge in with the same sluggish movements the other guard had come at him with. Josh gave him credit for his courage.

    But that was all.

    In two quick movements, Josh amputated the guard¡¯s weapon arm at the elbow and pierced his heart, quickly slashing the blade up and out through the middle of his opponent¡¯s right trapezius. Which left no question about the possibility of him rising again. Josh pushed the attacker down with a kick as his weak struggles slackened to nothing. Turning on his heels, bloodied blade in hand, Josh finally moved to the closed door.

    Mindscape still active, a quick check showed Josh that Alysa¡¯s mind hadn¡¯t moved from the left side of the room. She was still ten feet from the door. There was another mind in the room, much nearer to the door. Given the circumstances, Josh was comfortable assuming that this mind didn¡¯t belong to a friend. Decision made, he enhanced his legs and slammed through the door with his complete earth shield and smashed the heavy metal door completely off its hinges. The thick, slightly bent rectangle was sent hurtling on a collision course with whoever was standing in the room with Alysa.

 Chapter 73

    Still needing to sell her ¡®broken spirit¡¯, Alysa mentally prepared her responses to Dezain with care. She would first plead for her loved ones and attempt to trade the information he needed for his worthless promises to spare their li¡ª

    Alysa¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by the high-pitched whirring of a weapon she had only heard being fired once before. She wasn¡¯t so far gone that she didn¡¯t remember the snub-nosed gatling-gun mounted on the shoulder of a very large Tiger Affin.

    A Tiger Affin that should be far away from here right now! Her pain-sharpened mind added.

    The weapon¡¯s intense cycling was instantly followed by the nearing sound of explosions. Alysa¡¯s battle mind correctly informed her the explosions were most likely a nearby row of attack craft she had seen stored along the adjoining wall as they went up in flames after being hit by Ishan¡¯s plasma rounds¡ª

    ¡°Alysa! We¡¯re here! Hold on!¡± Once again, her thoughts were interrupted by¡ªJosh¡¯s voice... in her head!?

    Sophie cheered from their space. ¡°I told you Daddy was coming!¡±

    The small girl¡¯s voice rang with the certainty only a four-year-old could when talking about something that, until a micro ago, seemed impossible. The glow of Sophie¡¯s spirit was contagious and Alysa found herself smiling through her fractures at the slowly changing expression of uncertainty on Dezain¡¯s face.

    The commander turned slightly toward the explosions and tapped his communicator. ¡°Helmsman! Status repo¡ª¡±

    The room¡¯s thick steel door was blown off its hinges, hurtling directly at him!

    *****

    The steel door screamed through the air at Ritoru, and his mind went into overdrive as he propagated his Space-Time Attunement¡¯s phase skill and transformed into a noncorporeal Essence-reflection of himself. He propagated the skill with no time to spare as he felt the air from the door¡¯s passage just before the thick metal hatch passed harmlessly through his nonunified existence. It slammed into the wall and the hatch¡¯s corner was embedded half a meter into the room¡¯s far wall as the reverberating gong of its impact joined the clamor of battle in the hangar bay outside.

    At that moment, Ritoru was grateful for the Cultivation treasure bestowed upon him by Kyon Shi. An elixir from the powdered rapid-twitch fibers of a two-hundred thousand cycle old pride of quasar-raptors had halved his necessary instigation volume and propagation speeds for his Space-Time Attunement skills. Without the treasure¡¯s benefits, Ritoru would have ended his walk on the Path of One, smashed under the portal¡¯s steel.

    Even with the increases in his Cultivation, the attack was so sudden Ritoru had needed to release his forced confinement of the space marine. Her body dropped to the floor in a crouch and she hobbled backward in a broken-limbed defensive stance.

    Aha! You weren¡¯t quite as broken as you had led me to believe! I¡¯ll fix that in a moment, right after I...

    Ritoru cycled Essence to his Meridians and prepared to attack whoever had crashed through the portal.

    With thinned eyes, the Danshaku looked at the hatchway where a man now stood. He held a long sword with a solidity that spoke of the weapon being a natural part of him. His mouth was closed in a tight line and his eyes, hard as flints, glared upon Ritoru through narrowed lids. A transparent golden-orange shield encased him from head to toe while the orange and violet Essence of Earth and Mind Attunements swirled through his Meridians in a maelstrom.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    A fierce countenance, to be sure, but Ritoru had beaten hard men before. He would do so again. Given the recent advancements to his skills and Meridian output, the contest was all but decided, regardless of the intruder¡¯s steely composure.

    Seeing that the figure wasn¡¯t rushing in, Ritoru limbered his neck from side to side, and a tight smile flitted upon his lips. Battling a doubly-Attuned Cultivator would be refreshing after the tedium of keeping the space marine alive for her interrogation. He¡¯d not have to worry about such restrictions with this one, however.

    The gall of interrupting him was unforgivable.

    Ritoru intended to exact a price in misery for the disrespect. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, but can you not tell I am occupied at the moment¡ª¡±

    Wordlessly, the man flashed toward him faster than should have been possible. Only the increases to Ritoru¡¯s already lightning-fast Force Attunement allowed him to enact his phase skill once again. Instead of getting decapitated by the attacker¡¯s up-swinging b;ade, the still-talking Ritoru saw his attacker¡¯s sword pass harmlessly through his nonunified atoms. Repeatedly propagating his body into Essence, however, was getting costly and Ritoru could feel the burn of his Meridians at the continued strain.

    Cursing, Ritoru made quick motions with his left and right hands. Concentrated force rained down, unrestrained on his attacker¡¯s head and shoulders in a stream thick enough that the man¡¯s earth shield turned opaque while it shielded from the attack.

    Good! A decent distraction. Ritoru¡¯s true attack, the heavy steel hatchway door, freed itself from the wall in response to his force-command even faster than it had been blasted off its hinges and pinwheeled forward to split his attacker in two from head to groin.

    Ritoru then gap-stepped behind his attacker¡¯s right flank to finish him with a surprise horizontal force-enhanced slash that should make quick work of his shield¡ªif it was still up. Channeling enough Essence to cut through the earth shield of a quad-Attuned master, the Kaizuko commander was certain the fight was over should his attacker somehow survive the thick steel door crushing him.

    At least, that was what should have happened, but¡ªsomehow, the shielded man spun, following Ritoru¡¯s Essence-form as it traveled through his Space-Time Attunement¡¯s gap-step skill. He threw out a vertical block almost casually that was as solid as a stone wall to meet Ritoru¡¯s swinging sword that jarred the battle commander from head to toe with unyielding resistance. At the same time, the man took a sidestep and deflected the flying door with nothing more than his shielded left arm. The door spun off on a diagonal vector and again was embedded in the wall¡ªthis time, however, at the front of the room.

    The attacker¡¯s left foot rose in a blur and kicked Ritoru in the chest so quickly he didn¡¯t comprehend the move until it had shattered his sternum and smashed him back into the wall. A lungful of air escaped Ritoru as several more ribs broke in the collision.

    Suddenly, the Kaizuko commander realized this was not a fight he could win.

    Shaking his head to gain clarity from the steadily building pain, Ritoru looked into his attacker¡¯s eyes and saw what had been there all along¡ªthe guarantee of his own death.

    The man returned Ritoru¡¯s gaze with the same bleak expression he had come in with and raised his sword while treading evenly across the floor.

    Ritoru¡¯s instincts took over. Flight was all he was capable of in the face of what came for him. He needed support for defense and time to cycle and heal his wounds. All his fear-rattled brain could think at the moment was, I need to get out of here before he kills me!

    Ritoru gap-stepped via his Essence-form once again, less than a micro before his attacker¡¯s sword would have cleaved his head in two. He appeared at his maximum range, two hundred meters away in the hangar bay. The squeal of his attacker¡¯s blade cutting through the metal wall his head had just been pressed against rang through the metal structure of the ship like a gong.

    Ritoru snapped his head side to side to get his bearings as he started to run to the rear hangar¡¯s guard station. It was then he realized he was screaming incoherently for his honor guard, for the duty guard, for anyone! His allies must have retreated and would be waiting for him inside the guard station.

    They must be here! They weren¡¯t at their post... If they were, I would have gotten warning before that demon burst in!

    In the few steps he had taken through the hangar, Ritoru began to realize the situation out here was just as dire as what he had left behind. A Tiger and Wolf Affin were destroying all the emplaced defensive guns, attack craft, and guard stations with practiced efficiency. All the clansmen who had responded to defend the hangar had been gunned down or hacked apart without exception. Hundreds lay dead or wounded near the hangar¡¯s entry portals that led from the internal compartments of the Brigantine. Even the Space-Time Attuned Cultivators that had come hadn¡¯t been able to stop the onslaught. With growing shock, Ritoru saw a small pile of familiar bodies. The members of his honor guard were hacked to pieces in a collection of limbs near the door to the room he had been in. Ritoru¡¯s legs stopped running on their own.

    There¡¯s nowhere to go! No one to get! No one to help!

    Staring with wide-eyed amazement at the widespread and utter destruction, Ritoru wasn¡¯t even aware of the sword until it was too late. A bald Cultivator with a long topknot appeared directly in front of him and pommeled him between his eyes. A sickening crack rang through his head as the weapon shattered his skull.

    Body flying backward through the air, Ritoru folded like a house made of cards as he collided into a bulkhead. His last thought before unconsciousness took him was of increasing sense of fear and unbelief. This one is even faster than the last!

 Chapter 74

    The dry snapping of the commander¡¯s sternum and ribs had filled Josh¡¯s ears with sweet music when he moved in for his finisher.

    And then the wussbag had run!

    He had been using some type of matter to Essence conversion skill. Josh had almost followed his instincts and automatically moved to flash out the door after the coward, but his legs suddenly stopped and his brain was frozen for the first time since coming to the Brigantine. His heart torn between pursuing the immediate threat and necessarily leaving a wounded Alysa behind.

    Or not...

    His thoughts raced back to when he had first entered the room and he stood in the portal he had just smashed the door from. Josh¡¯s first sight had been Alysa as she had been dropped to all fours by the release of some telekinetic power of the commander. On hitting the ground, she had scrambled back to a defensive position in the corner. That had been the good news...

    The bad news... had been very bad.

    She had been stripped down to her underwear and beaten ruthlessly.

    Her ulna and radius were sticking out from both wrists and she had a tibial fracture on her right leg. Her face had been crushed multiple times across her orbital bones and cheeks. Surprisingly, his first thought had been objectively devoid of emotion. She was alright.The bastard had been taking the express lane in systematically beating her to death.  After that cold calculation, the emotion came. Rage filled Josh like an empty vessel.

    After that realization, Josh had been almost overwhelmed with the urge to charge in screaming for vengeance leaving a pureed puddle of Kaizuko behind him. Slowly, he focused his mind with a calming breath and a lot of teeth grinding. He had still been a careless whisper from taking off after that disgusting savage, but his training with Sen and the Sundai had been too dearly earned to forget a warrior¡¯s absolute need of bridling his emotions during combat. Emotions were impossible to avoid for spirit beings. Especially in the defense of family and loved ones. But those feelings had to serve the warrior. Not the other way around. ¡®At least it needs to be so if you want to win, Joshua.¡¯ The memory of Sen¡¯s voice echoed in Josh¡¯s mind. By the thinnest of margins, Josh held back and moved in with control like Sen had taught him at least a thousand times.

    Besides, what would Alysa have thought of me if I had run in, screeching like a maniac?

    After that, the fight had been anticlimactic and Josh was pretty sure Meni, the Mouse Affin could have brought the loser down. Tono the Komodo with his unstoppable naginata would have been able to for certain... But now with the immediate threat dealt with, Josh was stuck between staying to help Alysa and flushing the douchebag down the nearest pay toilet. It was then that Alysa showed him the steel she was made of. She jumped up with minimal wincing, she looked at him as if he was the stupidest man in the multiverse.

    She waved him on with her least broken arm and shouted, ¡°What are you doing? Stop standing there like a scared little girl and go get him!¡±

    Shamed back to reality, Josh licked his lips, sure he was making the wrong decision but doing it anyway. He nodded once and took off, speaking in Alysa¡¯s mind as he ran. ¡°Absorb the ones at the door and heal yourself! I¡¯ll be right back!¡±This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Enhancing his legs and cursing under his breath the cool power of teleportation that he didn¡¯t have, Josh sped out the door looking for where he had felt the Kaizuko¡¯s presence in his mindscape. Strangely the fool was just standing approximately 200 yards away and staring in shock at the destruction Ishan and Lobo had wreaked in his hangar bay.

    Good for you! The perfect last sight for me to send you screaming into hell with!

    Unfortunately, but as usual, Sen was faster. One quick pommel to the face and the commander¡¯s Mind Aura showed the constant low-level glow of dreamless unconsciousness even before his body even slammed into the wall behind him.

    Josh took a last enhanced step and stood over the man¡¯s crumpled body. He slowly raised his sword parallel to the deck in both hands while keeping his shoulders squared. He must have looked every inch the executioner, he was about to become¡ª

    Sen lowered his chin and narrowed his eyes. ~He does deserve that... but Alysa would be the first person to tell you that we should get as much information from him as we can, before his time for reintegration with the mortal soul nexus comes.~

    ~I know you¡¯re right.~ Josh dry-swallowed thickly. I~It¡¯s just really hard...~

    Josh clenched his fists around the pommel of his sword until his knuckles were white. With eyes rolling under his lids, he took a cleansing breath...

    And stepped away.

    Ishan and Lobo, who at this point both qualified for ad honorem master¡¯s degrees in interior destruction, landed on either side of Josh and Sen.

    Lobo¡¯s left ear was missing, along with most of the skin on his forehead. Bone showed where the slap bandage he had applied wasn¡¯t covering it. He also had several bloody holes in his leg plates, causing him to walk with a slight limp. Ishan had lost his left paw, and the trailing ends of a tourniquet flapped as he used his stump as effectively as he had his paw. The senior chief adjusted his shoulder weapon and looked at them. With his head up, Josh could tell that his muzzle was also covered in blood but, looking closer, it was more likely the blood there was someone else¡¯s...

    The other thing readily apparent was that there was no visible or audible opposition in the hangar. For the moment, the bay was theirs.

    ¡°Sirs! There is a party of three approaching under a flag of truce. None are carrying weapons. The sigil on their uniform designates them as administrative command... the Kaizuko who actually man and operate the ship.¡± He pointed with his bloodied chin at the Kaizuko commander Sen had KOed. ¡°I suspect this lower-life form is the active command. That is, the lead Cultivator on the brigantine.¡±

    The tips of Ishan¡¯s fangs appeared as he snarled. ¡°... I can smell the LT¡¯s scent all over him!¡± His last few words were growled as much as spoken, revealing several of the sharp and enormous teeth in his maw.

    Josh only agreed with the sentiment and clenched his jaw as he reached again for his sword.

    ¡°What are your orders, sirs?¡± Lobo wisely intervened.

    His words brought Josh and Ishan back from the edge of the unsalvageable. As if rousing from a trance, Ishan leaned back and fidgeted with the loose ends of his tourniquet while he cleared his head with a shake that snapped his black and orange mane. Josh looked to Sen.

    Sen looked back at Josh and nodded. ~This is political, brother.~ Squint. ~We¡¯re on a bloody battlefield!~ Sen chuckled in their mental communication. ~If they start attacking, I¡¯ll gladly take over the discussions... until then, you¡¯re up.~

    Josh swallowed and squinted up at Ishan. ¡°I¡¯ll meet them halfway. Please shackle, blindfold, gag, and anything else you can think of to secure this living waste pile. He seems to be able to warp space to teleport, attack with invisible forces, and let physical objects pass through him. He can also move objects with his mind.¡± Josh finished, giving as much information about the Kaizuko commander as he had, then continued, ¡°After that, take up defensive positions in case this is some form of diversion.¡±

    ¡°Sir!¡± They both acknowledged.

    Josh turned away to head toward the approaching three Kaizuko. Thinking better of it, he took a step back and kicked the commander hard in the nose with a quick enhancement to his lower body. A loud crunching sound indicated that his new cranial fracture included a large portion of his skull. A syrupy gout of blood flowed out his nose and down his chin to confirm this.

    ¡°That should keep him quiet for a few micro-gyras until I get back to have a more satisfying conversation.¡±

    Appreciatively nodding, Ishan began pulling bindings and a piece of cloth from a utility bag on the crossed-bandoliers he wore.

    Noting the commander¡¯s Mind Aura was at an even lower level of steady illumination, Josh flashed away toward the administrators with one last request of Sen.

    ~Sen, Alysa was beaten to within an inch of her life. I left her to absorb Essence and start healing. Please check on her?~

    ~On my way.~

    An instant later, Sen sped toward the room Alysa had been kept in. Rolling his eyes at the entire situation, Josh continued toward the approaching three figures in dark crew jumpers. They were climbing over a pile of demolished transport containers that occluded the walkway between some heavy machinery and several destroyed attack ships.

    ¡°What could they possibly want to talk about?¡± He muttered to himself.

 Chapter 75

    Sen arrived in front of Alysa in less than three seconds, not knowing where she was precisely but knowing where Josh had been.

    Understanding that it wouldn¡¯t help, he kept his angry thoughts silent upon seeing her broken body. Still. Sen had a new admiration for his brother¡¯s restraint in not killing the Ka-less creature who had done these despicable acts. There was no benefit in such actions, and the commander was foolish to think otherwise.

    Information gained from torture and the threat termination was always questionable. His family¡¯s political advisors had taught him early in his training that if they weren¡¯t going to kill prisoners, there was only one option.

    ¡°The captured soldiers should be kindly treated and kept.¡±

    Only then could the information they gave be trusted and ultimately a place in the community could be opened for them.

    Even someone naive to interrogation could tell Alysa¡¯s beating had been the work of a desperate animal. Sen and his Bond brother would need to find out what had forced the commander¡¯s hands to such actions.

    Bruised, cut, and broken, Alysa sat in front of four defeated Cultivators. Her hands were on one who had been pierced through his heart and then had his upper left shoulder and whole head essentially torn from his body. The blood from his wounds was still wet and congealing into a slimy red mass under him.

    Sen would usually have questioned her choice of spirit being to collect Essence from, but this body was the most complete that Josh had left in his wake. Clearly, his brother had been... motivated to reach Alysa as quickly as possible.

    Senyak looked at Alysa¡¯s Core and Meridians. The Essence she had collected from the fallen guard was being quickly consumed. He reached his hand out to supplement her healing with his own Essence¡ª

    Suddenly, he was standing in a pastoral meadow. Birdsong filled the air while white and coral-colored clouds floated in an azure sky. Lush grass covered the ground under his feet, making him want to take off his slippers.

    Many animals lounged around the area, including enormous versions of house cats and hamsters. Sen also noted several normal-sized unicorns with pastel orange and yellow coats. A babbling brook ran through the center of the grove and sheltered several families of otters bobbing on their backs and eating in the staccato motion that was all their own. In the distance, on a rising hillside, Sen could see baby-blue lions lying down with soft-pink lambs.

    Just ahead of him was Alysa. She was wearing a white sundress and laughing as she twirled a small blond-headed girl in her arms.

    Sophie?

    Sen was surprised at how strongly and deeply his emotions ran for the little one. It was as if she was his own progeny. A smile he couldn¡¯t stop spread across his lips as he saw the girl¡¯s joy at play.

    On her next spin, Sophie noticed him standing there. As only a child could, she whispered loudly, clearly thinking she and Alysa were keeping a secret. ¡°Alla, it¡¯s Daddy¡¯s friend, Sen¡¯ak. Also, I knew Daddy wouldn¡¯t forget about us!¡±

    Her four-year-old soft palate caused her tongue to skip over the glide in his name.

    Sophie smiled and waved to Sen.

    Sen¡¯s own smile increased tenfold, and he waved back.

    ...Am I crying?

    He couldn¡¯t tell, and it didn¡¯t matter. Sophie was safe and happy!

    Seeing Sen herself, Alysa straightened up and set Sophie down next to her. They continued to hold hands, and Sophie¡¯s 100 centimeters next to Alysa¡¯s 165 spoke volumes about the difference between them. Yet Senyak could feel a strong and unified spiritual force that surrounded them. They were¡­ Inseparable. Their Essence also seamlessly shifted between the Meridians of the two, as if they were two parts of the same being, sharing their Karma and Fate unconsciously.

    Even Josh and I can¡¯t do that...

    Alysa saluted with her right fist to her chest. ¡°Heir Marztanak. It¡¯s a pleasure, but¡­ how are you here? In our space?¡±

    ¡°My greatest apologies for the intrusion! I believe it has to do with our new Mind Attunement. I only meant to transfer my Essence to assist with your healing...¡± Sen gulped as he looked down at Sophie and nodded his apologies to her as well.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Alla. He is only here to help. Isn¡¯t that true, Mr. Sen¡¯ak?¡± She let go of Alysa¡¯s hand and took two steps toward Sen, reaching for his. Her soft and tiny grasp could only wrap around two of his calloused fingers. Stepping back, she brought him into their circle of space and smiled up at him.

    Unconsciously, Sen dropped to his knees, nearly reaching her eye level, and smiled with her. ¡°Please call me... Uncle Senyak. As your Uncle, I swear to you, Sophie Tanner, I will always help you.¡±

    Taking Alysa¡¯s hand in her other, Sophie looked up at her and then back at Sen. ¡°My sister and daddy, too?¡±

    Sen spoke reflexively without thinking. ¡°My life before theirs. Always, and without question, little one.¡±

    Being a fighter, Sen had answered the only way he knew. A warrior¡¯s vow.

    Sophie was too young to fully understand what he was saying... but the Karmic implications were known in this place. A space where no lies could be told.

    Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    Sophie smiled broadly, her eyes becoming crescents as she hugged him tightly around his neck. ¡°Thank you, Uncle Sen¡¯ak! With someone as strong as you helping them, I know they¡¯ll be safe.¡± Trailing off, she yawned, holding her tiny fist to her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m getting tired... Alla and I have been together a long time today...¡± Another yawn from her tiny mouth. ¡°I have to go now. Could you please tell my daddy I love him?¡±

    Not trusting his voice, Sen nodded effusively as silent tears were now freely streaming from his eyes.

    Sophie turned back to Alysa, who kneeled and hugged her tightly, murmuring in her ear, ¡°Thank you for helping me today, little sister. I know that terrible man was hurting you too!¡±

    Sophie tilted her head and shook it side to side in dismissal as she narrowed her eyes. The adult gesture looked perfectly at home on her diminutive form.

    Then Senyak swore he heard his brother¡¯s voice as she spoke. ¡°Daddy says that¡¯s what family does. They¡¯re there for eachother.¡±

    ¡°Your dad¡¯s right,¡± Sen choked out. ¡°We are there for eachother.¡±

    The little girl blinked sleepily, a small smile still creasing the soft features of her face as she leaned sleepily against Alysa, her eyes drifting closed.

    A golden glow started at her Core and spread down her Meridians, quickly encapsulating her whole being. A subdued flash ended in a shower of shimmering motes that accompanied Sophie¡¯s disappearance from her and Alysa¡¯s soul space.

    Alysa¡¯s face continued to smile at Sophie as she vanished.

    After she¡¯d gone, Sen¡¯s expression grew complex. He had to tell Josh. The next thought followed logically in sequence.

    Josh is going to kill me for being here with Sophie instead of him!

    * * * * *

    Disgruntled determination carved the features of Jishin Shiruba¡¯s stony face. The senior member of the Brigantine¡¯s three helmsmen was not having a good day. As he plodded through the rubble of the central hangar, he was confronted by destroyed equipment, attack craft, and most egregiously, dead clansmen all around. In his 319 days serving in Kotei Stuado¡¯s fleet, Jishin had never seen such a waste.

    Dezain has led us to this, he has... I should have acted sooner!

    Ritoru Dezain had been a fit, if self-obsessed, battle commander at the start of his run with the Brigantine. It had been obvious Dezain was ambitious, as all young, Attuned Cultivators were. For a brief while, Jishin had even hoped that, in time and with the right amount of luck and backing, Ritoru could make a decent play for a seat on the Kotei¡¯s command counsel.

    However,  Ritoru had started to cut too many corners in his impatience for power. His decisions to accept the fealty of scrubbed-out battle leaders like Yabana and Jian Tokaru had only been the early signs of the bad things to come. Shiruba took in the devastation as he moved.

    Come they had.

    Dezain had broken alliances with upstanding leaders. He had failed to listen to the honest needs of the brigantine¡¯s clansmen to return home and keep up familial relations. Finally, Dezain had placed himself and the entire Brigantine in the debt of that undead from the Savoy Corporation for his own Cultivation advancement.

    Kyon Shi¡¯s price for the natural treasures he had given to Dezain had been the foolish suicide run at the Hegemon-4.

    That giant fortress, mundane or not, was no soft target!

    Just look what had come of it. Five thousand clansmen from Yabana¡¯s Caravel with less than a gyra left before they were lost to the void¡ªeach escape pod had only so much life support, after all. The Brigantine¡¯s central hangar bay was destroyed, and one third of the ship¡¯s complement of fast-attack craft had been disabled by these devil-dog Affins. If Jishin hadn¡¯t miscommunicated the attack time to Yabana¡¯s helmsman, it would have been worse! He wasn¡¯t proud of the deceit... but it had been the lesser of two evils. They would have all been destroyed if they had attacked together. Jishin had acted to protect as many clansmen as he could and he would accept his debt to Karma. It had been the lesser of the only two bad choices before him, and he would work to atone for it.

    Even with Jishin¡¯s meddling, things had swirled around the event horizon awfully fast.

    Yes, they had. Particularly with that risen undead Kyon Shi involved. What was that young whelp Dezain thinking! One would be more likely to expect a positive outcome after strappin¡¯ on mag-boots and jumping into the Brigantine¡¯s propulsion intake than from making a deal with the likes of him.

    From the Savoy, no less! It was a sure thing now that Dezain had failed. Kyon Shi was likely to silence them all by taking him and the entire Brigantine crew as fuel to supply his Necrolon servants with bodies for their unholy acts.

    Jishin and the other two helmsmen were in accord, from here on out, it was up to them to save what lives could be salvaged from the situation. Damn the consequences. It was time to cut out the cancer that was Danshaku Dezain.

    Maybe, just maybe, the ship and her crew might be spared from the horrible fate he has hoisted upon us all.

    Horrible fates aside, Jishin and his fellow helmsmen were loyal to the Kotei and the Kaizuko clansmen. They would continue to be till they passed on from this existence, gods willing! None of the three would ever lead a mutiny against any battle commander in good stead with the Kaizuko.

    And they hadn¡¯t.

    But... there might have been several gun malfunctions in the main hangar bay at the time of the space marines¡¯ attack. There might have also been an inexplicable delay in specific defensive platoons¡¯ arrival during the onset of the attack as well. These are all things we¡¯re going to have to work out during the next ship-wide boarding drill. To be certain!

    Jishin adjusted his empty saber belt as he climbed over a particularly sharp pile of twisted steel that had once been an air purifier. Halfway over, he lifted his tricorne and wiped the sweat from his balding head. The senior helmsman''s chest was still broad, and there was still strength in his shoulders, but his belly was hanging over his belt and he was tired of seeing young clansmen die for nothing.

    I¡¯m getting too old for all this intrigue, that be sure... but for now, my job is to be standing between the clansman and the undead fate they don¡¯t deserve.

    The Hegemon-4 Cultivators who had manhandled Dezain were as likely to do worse to the three helmsmen. But at this point, they were the only chance to save the crew from what was coming. The aging helmsmen re-hoisted the parley banner and continued on.

    They still had their duty to be about.

    * * * * *

    Halfway to the advancing party, Josh watched the sluggish pace of the three figures under their white flag¡ªwhat looked like a bed sheet tied to a broken mop-handle. Josh enhanced his legs and jumped to the top of a defensive platform sliced into quarter sections by Lobo¡¯s laz-beam weapon. There, he crouched and hid behind a shattered wall, using his enhanced sight and hearing.

    It was clear the three were cycling small amounts of Essence, but none of them were yet Attuned. His second thought was that he had never seen three guys who looked more like pirates. They should have had the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean playing in the background as they somehow managed to swagger forward while climbing over the detritus.

    All three wore tricorn hats adorned with overarching red plumes while the mismatched gold and silver of heavy rings, necklaces, and earrings flashed across their bodies in the overhead lights. Precious stones of multiple colors were woven into their long hair and beards. The two oldest had heavyset bellies jiggling slightly through their crew jumpers. The left chest of all three bore the same silver glyph, and each wore empty scabbards meant for cutlasses on their left and sidearms on their right.

    All three also had a black facial tattoo on their left cheek, representing a solar system with four planets orbiting in ellipticals around a central star. From his time with Myrina, Josh could tell these weren¡¯t Essence-enhanced inscriptions. More likely marks of inclusion for a specific group within the Kaizuko, like his and Sen¡¯s forearm Sundai tattoos.

    When the three came into range of Josh¡¯s mindscape¡¯s sphere, he listened to their words and thoughts, looking for some clues on what to say to them.

    *****

    With memories of how he and the crew had found themselves in their current predicament swirling through his head, Jishin kept a wary eye out for any fighters from the opposing side. Hopefully, the Hegemon-4 attackers would see the sheet and mop-handle for what it was, an honest sign of requested parlay...

    This particular helmsmen¡¯s hope for more than that from the Cultivators that had brought down Commander Dezain with naught but slight effort... if the camera¡¯s footage be tellin¡¯ true of how fast the powerful, doubly Attuned commander had been brought low¡ª

    ¡°Ya think the Hegemon-4 battle leader is a dip-scrubber like his eminence was?¡± Zurui, the second senior helmsman, interrupted Jishin¡¯s thoughts.

    Jishin answered in a tone that let Zurui know this rhetorical question should have gone unspoken. ¡°Well, Zurui... what else would he be? He¡¯s a Cultivator, two or more steps above his eminence, if ¡¯n he could deal with Dezain as fast as he has... And when we talk, you¡¯ll be minding your Ps and Qs with your gob battened tight! That¡¯s what you¡¯ll be doing... we need to get back to the Caravel and get our clansman back. Just be lett¡¯n me take care ¡¯o the parley, you hear me¡ª¡±

    Jishin never got a chance to finish.

    *****

    Josh admitted Sen had been right. Talking with the helmsmen under a flag of truce was technically on the political side of things, especially given what Josh heard from their thoughts. However, this was still a battlefield, and the conflict wasn¡¯t over. Josh needed to present these three Johnny Depp wannabes a commanding presence. He needed to speak from a position of strength that left no questions as to who was in charge.

    Straightening his back and putting as much force into his mental voice as he could, Josh intended to make as strong an impression as possible when he broadcast through his mindscape into their thoughts.

    ¡°That¡¯s far enough. Stand where you are!¡± Josh¡¯s eyes twitched as his interface pinged... He cleared his mental throat, deciding to hold off on checking the notification and repeated himself. ¡°Not one more step. Stand where you are!¡±

 Chapter 76

    A loud and powerful voice blasted out in all three helmsmen¡¯s minds, more profoundly than a deep-void klaxon roaring directly in front of them.

    Against their will, the three helmsmen froze. Their bodies were unable to even twitch. Jishin¡¯s brain felt like it was in a vice. His eyes were starting to water from the pressure. He could still breathe, but anything else was out of the question.

    When the command had come, the senior helmsman had been standing on two feet with both hands on the broken wing of an attack ship. Zurui and Amnaki weren¡¯t quite so fortunate. Both had been caught between steps, and their unbalanced bodies tipped over with arms and legs sticking out at unnatural angles. Without choice, all three stayed that way, paralyzed, waiting for the stroke of death to follow...

    ¡°Oh shit! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! You can move! I didn¡¯t break any of you... did I? Gods, I broke them, didn¡¯t I?¡± The voice hurriedly spoke again in their minds, this time much less sure of itself. The controlling force and pressure in their brains immediately released.

    That was only the beginning of Jishin realizing that the Fates and all the gods must be crazy!

    *****

    Sensing their thoughts and with no clue what was going on, Josh quickly read his interface notification.

    New Mind-Attunement skill created.

    Command: Invest 500 units of Essence with the Intent to control the actions of another spirit being of equal or lower Cultivation strength. Attempting to Command spirit beings of greater Cultivation strength and Attunement will have variable results. Increase your Cultivation to increase this Mind-Attuned skill.

    Check your status for details.

    Josh had also seen three trails of violet-colored Essence track out from the center of his mind toward the helmsmen¡¯s, until he had hurriedly released the unprovoked attack in embarrassment.

    The Clone had been right again. Mind Attunement wasn¡¯t merely supportive. Skills could be gleaned from it.

    Quickly checking his interface, Josh noted he was down 1500 Essence since his fight with Dezain. The new skill, it seemed, took five hundred per target.

    <table width="470">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="312">

    15000/15000 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="312">

    40500/36002 ¡ú 34502 Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    It also gave Josh some ideas for another Mind-Attuned skill he might be able to create... but that was for later. Right now, the helmsmen were calling out from below and he needed to salvage some respect for all four of them from this debacle.

    ¡°Begging your pardon, your lordship! We intend you and yours no harm!¡±

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    The leader, Jishin, was speaking from a kneeling position with one hand extended like Romeo calling to Juliet on her balcony. The other two were prostrated. Their bodies quivering and foreheads touching the ground.

    Josh cringed at seeing how far his first impression had slid from powerful statesmen deserving of respect to petty dictators taking candy from children.

    How am I going to fix this?

    Josh jumped from the platform and started trying to help them up to their feet. ¡°That was my bad! Really, I apologize! Please get up. We¡¯re all men here... sorry... so sorry!¡±

    Still terrified, the two prostrate men only put their hands over their heads, lying flatter to the ground like dogs that knew they¡¯d get beat when their master was in a particular mood.

    Josh pulled his hands back and sat at eye level with Jishin. Even him, a man six inches taller and outweighing Josh by eighty pounds, was scared. Again, Josh tried to think of a way to remedy the current situation.

    He just couldn¡¯t...

    Since returning to the Hegemon-4, his stress level had been as thick as Tammy Faye Bakker¡¯s pancake makeup and now this... Three tough-as-nails pirate captains so terrified of him Josh couldn¡¯t even get them off the floor!

    It would be funny if... oh hell! It¡¯s comical already, isn¡¯t it?

    Josh chuckled at that thought. Then he chuckled again, which turned into a growing laugh. His humor quickly devolved into a full-on belly laugh at the pure ridiculousness of the whole situation.

    Josh gasped between laughs and shook an index finger at the three cowering in front of him. ¡°Nelson Mandela, I am not!¡±

    How ludicrous was it that Sen had sent him to deal with the political aspects of invading and blowing up a city-sized ship under the command of a Viking society of space pirates!?

    Josh¡¯s laughs continued.

    After what seemed like an hour, but was only really about twenty seconds, Josh got a hold of himself. He looked at the stone-silent faces of the three men before him. Seeing that their expressions had changed from the fear of being smote by a callous despot to the pure Saw I-VI terror of being locked in a cage with an insane, homicidal lunatic, Josh curbed his manic enthusiasm. Or rather¡ªhe tried to.

    Josh pointed at their expressions and started laughing all over again until the tears began to leak from his eyes.

    Eventually, all good things must come to an end.

    Like the cartoon character who started to scream as he fell from an impossible height and ran out of breath while still falling to unknown depths and started to read War and Peace while waiting for the bottom to finally show up... the three helmsmen in front of Josh could only be petrified in fear of a man who had apologized profusely and was now sitting on his bum in front of them, laugh-crying for just¡ªso long.

    When Josh came back to himself, all three had already joined him sitting on the ground.

    ¡°I really am sorry, fellas, but it¡¯s been a really long couple of months and, gods, I needed that!¡± He bobbed his head and looked all three in the eyes.

    All three looked ready to get down to business. It was obvious having their nerves completely seared numb by an unprovoked mental assault and then being forced to endure his lunatic emotional display had cut down on their need for small talk.

    Still smiling, Josh addressed Jishin and got down to business himself. ¡°My friends and I will be leaving momentarily. How can I help you three before we do that?¡±

    With the dry swallow of a man who realized the only way out was through, Jishin dipped his head in respect and spoke. ¡°Apologies for disturbin¡¯ yer lordship¡¯s... business aboard. I¡¯m Jishin Shiruba, the most senior helmsman of this Brigantine. During conflict, the Kaizuko charter demands the administrative command, that be us three helmsmen, attempt to negotiate for the return of any captured battle leaders. Are you and yours willing to return Danshoku Dezain to us for the Kotei¡¯s ransom?¡±

    Hearing Dezain mentioned, Josh¡¯s face hardened a bit at the reminder of the detestable acts that had brought him here. He pointed over his shoulder in the direction he had come from.

    ¡°If you mean that fecalith that was beating my friend to death. No...¡± Josh raised his eyes under his brows and then spit to the side to get the bad taste from just thinking about the human waste stain out of his mouth. ¡°He¡¯ll be coming with us for the rest of his short and miserable life. I don¡¯t expect him to survive the experience.¡±

    The tension left all three of the helmsmen at the same time.

    Josh noted with approval that they really hadn¡¯t wanted their commander back, they just needed to go through the motions to meet the pro-forma requirements of their job.

    ¡°If that is the case, milord, we surrender the ship and request asylum with the Hegemon-4 from the heretic you have captured. Until such¡¯a time, Kotei Stuado can ransom us and the Brigantine back.¡±

    The unmistakable tolling of Karma¡¯s bell towers started to ring in Josh¡¯s mind as Jishin said his next sentence.

    ¡°There is also the issue of your captive Dezain¡¯s true master¡ªa particularly nasty energy drainer known as Kyon Shi. He¡¯s a risen undead affiliated with the Savoy Corporation who is en route as we speak. Lastly there is the issue of the fate of five thousand souls from the Caravel that was destroyed in the dustup with the Hegemon-4. Those who survive are our clansmen, and they will be dead in forty-one micro-gyras unless you help us save them, your lordship.¡±

    With brows unconsciously furrowed at how quickly his plans for the rest of the day had been turned upside down. Josh said the most sensible thing he could think of.

    ¡°Wha-what?¡±

    A second later, Josh¡¯s brain reengaged, and he started asking very pointed questions. Questions Jishin was all too happy to answer.

 Chapter 77

    Void travel was a perilous endeavor. Any being who took the time to consider it would have to conclude that most crafts used for such travel were terribly fragile, given the extreme conditions of interstellar space and vacuum. It was a tough environment to survive in, much less thrive. Thus, the multitude of one-size fits all generic life rafts were ultimately destined to break down and fail, rendering at least one of their life-supporting functions unperformed. Even under the best of circumstances, any one of a thousand things could go wrong with the hundreds of thousands of life-necessary systems on such craft. These malfunctions usually rendered the void-going vessels incapable of generating an environment sufficient for living spirit beings to continue their existence.

    Take, for instance, the punctured Caravel directly before Kyon Shi as it aimlessly spun in a field of its own debris.

    To be sure, the undead admitted, this malfunction was more than a simple stress failure from overuse or unexpected micro-punctures from nano meteorites.

    In fact, the damage was spectacularly impressive for a single attack from a stealth position.

    Given this, the Caravel would not represent an irrefutable argument supporting his point concerning travel through the void, but, for the sake of debate, if one were willing to go one step farther and look where the spirit beings that had been on the destroyed Caravel had fled to when it failed¡­ From that perspective, one could not deny that Kyon Shi was indeed right.

    The hodgepodge of escape pods and life craft clustered before his own retinue of ships were utterly insufficient to make safe the Caravel¡¯s crew in their time of greatest need. In fact, given the name for the tiny vessels,-- Kyon Shi could not help but notice the irony in the fact that those spirit beings were in greater and more imminent danger of being exposed to the void on these craft than in the original Caravel.

    ¡°Bah, ¡®life craft¡¯, they are anything but that!¡± Kyon Shi couldn¡¯t help but voice his contempt at the apparent misnomer, choking the complaint out through his dead and infrequently used dusty throat.

    The words spilled over cracked and lifeless lips to ring emptily in the stale air of his command bridge. Still, the sentiment was a perfect representation of the vampire¡¯s hatred for all things lacking the perfection of undeath.

    Kyon Shi had been alive once. What a sad and incapable creature he had been. Once he learned the benefits and increased power of undeath, Kyon Shi had jumped at his opportunity to become a spiritually risen undead. Thousands of years later, he had very little patience for things that weren¡¯t.

    The energy drainer chuckled internally as his calcified, opaque eyes continued to stare through his viewport at the hundreds of failing pods dotting the void. They gathered in clusters and pathetically attempted to provide solidarity and inspire hope in one another.

    All this, even though they could not offer any actual assistance to anyone, or even themselves.

    The Caravel¡¯s crew waved to and encouraged one another through the tiny view slots in their pods¡¯ hulls. Communications had also picked up the crew¡¯s pointless distress calls and continued messages of encouragement from those with functioning transmitters.

    Keep it up... Your little well-wishes will not add one moment of increased function to the overburdened oxygen scrubbers in those tiny crafts.

    Indeed, the scrubbers continued to fail, starting with the older pods first. Those crew members struggled uselessly as their breaths became labored and erratic. Pulses quickened in anxiety from fear of imminent death as their biological needs were no longer supported.

    A twisted expression that passed for joy rose on Kyon Shi¡¯s desiccated face. That is my whole point concerning the contrast of living beings¡¯ frailty against the perfection of undeath, is it not? This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Life¡¯s extreme vulnerability and its necessity for specific environmental conditions was the ultimate cause of peril to living beings when crossing the void...

    Or doing anything, for that matter! Living beings need so much support and amenities that any duties assigned to them require supportive help beyond reasonable justification.

    Concerning the void specifically, how could any craft be expected to meet the requirements of supporting these living beings¡¯ continued existence in such an inhospitable place?

    It is pure arrogance and foolishness to think that long-term survival is likely for such beings out here.

    In Kyon Shi¡¯s view, this behavior was so arrogant that it violated Balance to the point of needing resetting. In fact, resetting was the only way to achieve Karmic peace for everyone who took the time to think this issue through. Karmic peace was what everyone wanted... wasn¡¯t it?

    What is more peaceful than the still bliss of death?

    As unsustainable as it was for life to travel through the void, it was much more reasonable for undead beings to do so. Be they spiritually risen dead as Kyon Shi was, or simply reanimated corpses¡ªas most of the Caravel¡¯s Kaizuko were about to become.

    Balance can be easily achieved here. If I turn this valve.

    Using his Space-Time Attunement, Kyon Shi reached his hand through the created wormhole attenuating his matter many multiples of times and opened the atmosphere vents on dozens of the pods at once. Simultaneously, jets of vapor erupted from release valves propelling the pods into random and oblique collisions with their neighbors. Terminal fissures sprang into being as weld points on hull plates popped open. Explosive and reciprocal decompressions of all the vessels involved was the result. Immediately, shredded flesh and severed limbs spiraled out of the structural breaches until all the affected pods¡¯ atmospheres were expelled.

    Or if I were to facilitate touching some of these frayed active wires to the oxygen condensers so poorly designed into the pod¡¯s walls.

    Another small wormhole for Kyon Shi¡¯s emaciated hand.

    Flashfires erupted on dozens more of the ships, roasting the lung tissue of all aboard. With the breathable oxygen instantly consumed, the pods¡¯ occupants were left seared and gasping like fish on the sand seeking deep breaths their lungs couldn¡¯t take... of oxygen that no longer existed.

    Then again, a simple adjustment of the temperature range on the life support to include near-zero Kelvin would allow the AI system access to the engine¡¯s coolant systems... and give very similar results of Balance.

    Freezing air, near absolute zero, poured from the life-support vents on dozens more pods. Blood flow was immediately stopped in the crews¡¯ bodies, ceasing their organs¡¯ functions. The view ports into these pods were obscured in a thick layer of frost that quickly hid from view the dead, swollen, and goggled-eyed bodies inside.

    I mean... it is an imperfect iteration... sometimes screws just fall out!

    Kyon Shi opened two larger wormholes for his arms as they reached through. Dozens of attenuations of his bony fingers curled around the steel of scores of hull plates, twisting off entire sections of the few remaining functioning pods.

    More explosive decompressions ejected whole and twisting bodies. Their agony was soon stilled among the quickly solidifying puddles of urine, blood, gastric contents, and other bodily fluids. All swirled in vortexes of bursting atmosphere before dissipating into the expanse.

    Occasionally even the superstructure of many vehicles catastrophically fails... Alas... I seem to be out of pods to use in achieving Karmic balance... Pity, but it really is for the best. If I got any more enthusiastic I wouldn¡¯t leave any serviceable corpses for the necrolon¡­I don¡¯t think I can stand any more of their obsequious excuses today¡­

    A malicious smile lifted the corners of Kyon Shi¡¯s terracotta-skinned lips.

    Back to work, I guess...

    It really was time to be about his business. Dezain and his lackeys had failed. That much was evident from the supremacy bindings Kyon Shi had chained them with.

    With their failure, Kyon Shi¡¯s piracy gambit had come to a disappointing end. It was time to clean up and remove all who knew of the Savoy¡¯s involvement in the Hegemon-4 debacle.

    If the Clone was to discover what had been attempted and turn his attention against the Savoy for the attack on the Hegemon-4, the results would be more than disastrous. Both to the Savoy Corp. and to Kyon Shi personally. There was no hope he would survive neither the Clone¡¯s nor Xsias¡¯s discipline for such a failure.

    Turning to the command bridge¡¯s only other occupant, Kyon Shi¡¯s eyes thinned under bloodless, gray lids.

    His arid voice spoke imperially. ¡°You see what comes from failing my will.¡±

    It was a statement, not a question, but Jian Tojaku, huddling in the corner with unfelt tears running down his stunned face, nodded profusely in response anyway. The battle leader was shocked beyond the ability to make such distinctions.

    ¡°M-my-my crew and I are ready to serve you, your eminence!¡±

    Smirking, Kyon Shi laughed internally. The fool doesn¡¯t even realize his crew has already been added to the myriad legions of undead following my Necrolon servants.

    The five thousand were a mere drop in the bucket, but every bit would count. Soon, they would serve their purpose.

    Finding pleasure in the ironic mockery, Kyon Shi¡¯s leathery vocal cords croaked a response to stretch the deception a few more seconds.

    ¡°Oh, you will. You all will!¡±

    Relief started to blossom on Jian Tojaku¡¯s face as the energy drainer¡¯s jaw hinged far too broadly as he consumed it. Golden light streamed out from Jian¡¯s Core into the energy drainer¡¯s gaping maw.

    With the battle leader merely being a singly-Attuned Cultivator, the meal was over far too quickly. As the last spark of Essence left Jian, a look of forlorn loss crossed his face for the briefest of moments. After that, all that stood before Kyon Shi was a mindless reanimate who felt nothing. It was a vast improvement over the bumbling oaf he had been as a living spirit being, however.

    A Necrolon came from the shadows and led the former Kaizuko away to the reanimate holding pens.

    Where more just like him awaited their master¡¯s will.

 Chapter 78

    Three minutes after sitting with the helmsmen, Josh hurried back to Sen and the space marines. All three of them.

    Alysa hadn¡¯t been slacking in training her Essence absorption skills while he and Sen had been with the Sundai. Not only had she been able to absorb and purify the Essence from a downed Cultivator, but she had entirely healed herself. A long way from struggling with the tiny crumbs of Essence her father¡¯s chickens provided.

    Alysa had also gotten into a spare blue and silver Hegemon-4 crew jumper and held an extra EVA suit with a space marine¡¯s kit harvested from the Impact. All thoughtfully provided by Lobo.

    Having pulled her shoulder-length hair into her standard working, I-can-kill-you-if-I-have-to-so-don¡¯t-make-me ponytail, she took a handful of water from a canteen and quickly washed the dried blood off her face.

    Josh had a thousand things to tell her, a hundred questions, and one big ask... but, as long as she was okay, it would all have to wait. He settled for drawing her into a sideways embrace as he came up next to her. Just like hugging Sophie, it was as easy as Sunday morning.

    Coming together like father and daughter for a quick hug that was over in a second said all that was needed.

    We¡¯re family. If you need me, I¡¯m right here.

    Then it was back to Karma¡¯s rollercoaster from hell that Josh was calling a life as he noticed a very uncomfortable looking Sen.

    ~We need to talk! I must tell you something¨C~

    ~Me first, brother. Sorry!~ Josh interrupted with a stronger nod.

    ~Okay... I can wait...~

    Josh mentally squirted the information about his encounter with Jishin and the helmsmen.

    Sen made a pruned face. ~Yes. I feel it as well. Balance now requires this of us.~

    ~Good! Now for the weird part.~

    Josh looked to the three space marines while Alysa finished squaring herself away. He couldn¡¯t help but note that the miracle only female military officers could pull off had once again occurred. Less than five minutes from death¡¯s threshold and she was back in charge. Pristine, calm, and collected, hands behind her with a straight back.

    Josh spoke to all three. ¡°Guys, we are staying with the Kaizuko on this ship to rescue the destroyed Caravel¡¯s crew.¡±

    Alysa¡¯s eyes screwed up, obviously getting ready to stop a deranged madman from continuing his dangerous ways¡ª

    But Josh held up his hand and tilted his head down, pressing on. ¡°I know it sounds crazy. But we have to do this... it is... required of us¨C Sen agrees...¡±

    Josh waved his hand to Senyak, who nodded and swallowed shallowly before continuing where Josh had left off. ¡°We are being called on by Balance. Karma leads us... and we must follow¨C But you must make your own choice. This ship will return to the destroyed Caravel in less than ten micro-gyras to rescue their clansmen stranded by their commander when he pursued the Impact.

    ¡°If you are going to return to the Hegemon-4, go now.¡± Sen finished waving at the handful of flight-worthy ships that Ishan and Lobo had spared for this purpose.

    Ishan and Lobo continued to look straight ahead as Alysa was now the lead of their chain of command.

    Alysa looked up at Josh and Sen with her shoulders brunched under a pinched expression. ¡°Karma... demands you save the skugs that attacked our ship, killed dozens of defenders and crew, and would have sold us all into slavery?¡±

    Squinting his eyes, Josh picked up the answer in an I¡¯m-really-sorry- but-it¡¯s-happening-anyway tone. ¡°Yes, and no... fate, destiny, Karma, whatever you want to call it... doesn¡¯t care about wars or fighting or what we think of as good or evil. Just balance for what has been given and taken... and what will be given and taken.

    ¡°We will be there when this Brigantine rescues what is left of the Caravel¡¯s crew. The helmsmen don¡¯t really need us to actually save the crew. I told them we were all planning on leaving, and the ship was theirs. They want us to stick around to deal with another problem... their commander¡¯s undead master. An energy feeder from a mercenary group called the Savoy. We need to deal with whatever threat he poses. This is why we have to go. He is our...¡± Josh tilted his head back and forth to find the right word. ¡°Imbalances in Reality aren¡¯t our fault, but they are our... Responsibility to deal with.¡±

    Looking up, Sen considered his brother¡¯s last statement, then nodded in agreement before he jumped in, confirming there was truth in Josh¡¯s lunacy. ¡°I believe these requirements arise in exchange for the rapid growth Karma, its Balance, and Reality have granted us.¡±

    Sen looked straight into Alysa¡¯s eyes. ¡°We are still determining the degree of threat we will face. However, it will be hazardous in the extreme. Likely beyond our abilities to deal with, easily at least.¡±

    Josh and Sen then stopped talking and gave the three space marines the chance to decide their own path.

    Time was ticking, and a decision had to be made. None of that, it seemed, changed how Alysa handled decisions when her men¡¯s lives were jeopardized. Her expression hardened as if time would stand still until the proper choice was made. At the very least, she would use every second she had in order to choose correctly.

    Twenty seconds went by, and Josh¡¯s fingertips had worn an impression on the steel wreckage he was leaning against before Alysa responded. ¡°We¡¯ll stay with you. I agree. The commanders of these vessels aren¡¯t capable of what has been organized against the Hegemon-4. They are at the bottom of the barrel regarding conflict-applied intelligence and battle area tactics. The real threat to the Hegemon-4 is still out there using these Kaizuko as a cat¡¯s paw. If we are positioned to do something about it before it moves against the Hegemon-4 again, then we are in the right spot.¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Standing behind her, Ishan and Lobo continued to look straight ahead. The firm set of their jaws confirmed their agreement.

    Josh nodded. ~Karma has her now... doesn¡¯t it?~

    ~There was never a doubt, brother.~

    ~I need to tell you about the new mind skill I discovered¡ª~ Sen raised a mental hand.

    ~No. I must share with you¡ª~

    Sen raised two hands. ~This is important, Sen¡ª~

    ~I saw Sophie with Alysa! She made me promise to tell you she loves you!~

    Sen sent every detail of his finding Sophie with Alysa in their soul space through the Bond to his brother.

    Josh experienced a torrent of emotional overload.

    Surprise, fear, anger, joy, and pride each fought for space on his face as he reacted to what Sen was showing him, and for a moment, his sun rose again when he saw her smiling face in Sen¡¯s memories.

    Josh¡¯s tears streamed over smiling cheeks. ~Sisters? They can do that? She was staying with Alysa through her torture?~

    Sen spoke through their Bond, also, smile-crying. ~Yes. Yes. And yes. Sophie was a true sister in arms to Alysa. Be proud of our young warrior¡¯s strength and tenacity. I am!~

    ~This means I can see her when she¡¯s back! It must tire her out, traveling through the multiverse to this iteration...~ Josh¡¯s expression darkened. ~Sharing the pain Dezain was causing Alysa must have wiped her out as well...~ A black look. ~Death is too good for that piece of¡ª~

    Sen put both hands up. ~Yes, yes, yes, and yes, it truly is. When the time comes, we will ensure Dezain¡¯s walk on this path is over. But, you can sense that he is essential for how the immediate future will play out, can you not?~

    ~Yes, I can, and I think I have an idea as to how...~

    ~I am also confident that before his spirit moves through this iteration¡¯s soul nexus, Balance requires he faces his own physical mortality.~ Sen nodded through their Bond ~Just like he made Sophie and Alysa...~

    Josh¡¯s eyes narrowed. ~I couldn¡¯t agree with you more, brother!~

    Mushroom clouds were still rising in Josh¡¯s brain from the A-bomb Sen had set off. Sophie could travel to a soul space she and Alysa share, and I could see her there! And she loves me! Of course, she does. But gods, it feels good to hear it!

    Focus, Josh! To see her, we all need to survive the next few hours!

    A smiling smirk forced itself onto his face at the thought of hugging Sophie. After a deep breath, Josh took a minute to instruct Sen on the Mind Attunement Command skill, including a quick and dirty explanation of how he had Intended to impose his will on the three helmsmen when he¡¯d... figured it out.

    Sen¡¯s brow crinkled at Josh¡¯s choice of words, knowing the truth through their Bond. He let Josh¡¯s version of events stand. At any rate, not having any way to practice the Command skill right now, Josh hoped he wouldn¡¯t need it and also that he could pull it off if he did...

    They would enter hyperspace in five minutes and return to the disabled Caravel¡¯s hapless crew. It was a trip of eleven minutes and change, according to Jishin.

    Another significant factor was that Kyon Shi could be waiting for them when they arrived. They needed to learn what they could about him before that happened. They only knew what Jishin had reported seeing on the bridge during Dezain¡¯s last encounter with him.

    Jishin had called the undead an ¡®energy feeder¡¯. Not a vampire. Thinking about him that way was probably best. No physical contact was required for his skills to work, which made Josh reflect on his Mind Attunement. Kyon Shi might be able to take their Essence and health through some kind of long-range mind technique¡ªlike Jishin had described happening to Dezain during his last encounter with the undead.

    There was clearly more to the story than met the eye with that event. There was obviously a strong bond of debt between Kyon Shi and Dezain. Like Chase Manhattan and its 193 million cardholders, this was a bond that allowed greater liberty. Kyon Shi had more access to Dezain and his Essence than any random Cultivator. Given what Josh knew about Karma and Attunement, this scenario made more sense. But these were just theories based on very little information. It was time for Josh and Sen to learn what they could before they moved on to the main event.

    As for information, they only had access to one source.

    A wicked smile crept onto Josh¡¯s lips. They were about to see how Dezain liked being the catcher for aggressive interrogations. In fact, Josh and Sen had a significant advantage in this department and they were pulling out all the stops.

    Standing above the prone, blindfolded, gagged, and shackled body of the unconscious POS, Josh looked at Sen.

    ~Ready?~

    Nod. ~Yes.~

    A brief instant of focus upon Dezain¡¯s mind, and they were there, even while both still stood over the prone and unconscious body of Dezain.

    He was no longer gagged, blindfolded, or shackled. The lighting also differed from Josh¡¯s time in Ishan¡¯s mind on the Raptor. Instead of a brilliant, brightly lit, never-ending landscape of white space, he found a zone of twilight that surrounded them. Low light from an unknown overhead source cast uncountable shades of dark copper and gray over the vast empty expanse around them.

    Josh swallowed and looked to Sen, who was already looking eagerly at Josh and waiting for guidance.

    True. New powers were Josh¡¯s area, no question there. Plus, this was obviously more political than military.

    My time to shine.

    No sense in arguing about it. They needed to know why the Kaizuko had attacked the Hegemon-4. More specifically, why had Kyon Shi wanted the Kaizuko to attack the Hegemon-4. They also needed to get as much information as possible about Kyon Shi and his abilities. Lastly, Josh also wanted to torture this living Karmic violation.

    One step at a time.

    Licking his lips, Josh none-to-gently toed Dezain¡¯s forehead hard enough to leave a deep indentation from the treads on the bottom of his foot.

    No response.

    He kicked Dezain¡¯s temple, perhaps a bit harder than he intended...

    No response.

    Having an idea. Josh leaned forward and shouted at Dezain. ¡°Wake up!¡± Josh¡¯s full Intent behind the words was clear to be heard.

    Upon waking, the commander¡¯s body stirred and went through the motions most men go through.

    Josh took a half step forward and sharply kicked Dezain in the center of the activity. The commander¡¯s eyes went fully wide as he curled up and groaned.

    ¡°This is not a place for you to scratch your sack, pal! Why did you attack the Hegemon-4!¡±

    ¡°Wha... whe... where are we¡ª¡±

    ¡°Listen to me! You are going to die no matter what you tell me. How much pain and discourtesy you suffer depends on what we can learn from you! Why did you attack the Hegemon-4?¡±

    ¡°Kyon Shi!¡± Dezain, now fully awake, started violently turning his head from side to side, furiously searching the barren sky above for something that Josh and Sen couldn¡¯t see.

    There was nothing there...

    Turning back to Dezain, concern growing despite his best efforts to ignore the Kaizuko¡¯s actions, Josh continued, ¡°Kyon Shi. Yes, we know about him. Tell us about his strengths. His Cultivation. How many and what type of Essence Attunements does he have?¡±

    A look of terror overcame Dezain¡¯s face as a piteous whine escaped his lips. Tears leaked from his eyes, and his screams turned into the desperate bawling of a child suffering deep and inescapable pain.

    ¡°Here... hee¡¯sss here! I... I can¡¯t hold himm baacckkk!¡± Dezain¡¯s body went rigid as his spine forcefully arched.

    Tremors ran unconnected through his body, wracking him in all directions. The commander unnaturally jerked up, balanced on the crown of his head and pad of his heels. A cry from multiple different voices all at once poured from his lips for the beat of five seconds.

    Josh gave Sen a questioning look. ~Do you know what¡¯s going on?~

    ~No idea, brother¡­~ Sen shook his head vigorously. ~Be ready for anything!~

    The Kaizuko¡¯s body slammed flat to the ground. Its twitching subsided and quickly went completely limp.

    Josh and Sen stood on the balls of their feet and raised their eyes from the motionless body. They started looking from side to side as the lighting in the mind space grew steadily darker, and the already deep shadows blotted out the distance entirely.

    When it was too dark to see without their enhanced vision, Dezain¡¯s eyes snapped fully open. A predatory light of eldritch hues glowed from within and was emitted from his bloodshot orbs. The sharp sounds of snapping cervical vertebrae were heard as the Kaizuko commander¡¯s head twisted impossibly far around to take them both in. A black tongue surrounded by rotten and jagged teeth in multiple rows was seen, and a voice with rasping tones like dry reeds being snapped barked out.

    ¡°So, you are the ones who have defeated my new toy. Your bodies are forfeit as just compensation, and I claim you in bondage and servitude¡ªuntil I arrive to collect you...¡±

    A searching look took over the decidedly nonhuman and mummified features that had claimed Dezain¡¯s previously young face. His glowing green eyes looked from under brows like dried clay and the undead raised his bone-thin fingers to rest on his shriveled lower lip.

    The right idea obviously came, and a feral grin spread over the desiccated features. ¡°Why don¡¯t you both swim in lava?¡±

    Suddenly, they were gone!

    Instant, searing, mind-splitting agony.

    Molten rock, thick as drying concrete, surrounded Josh and Sen and their feebly struggling limbs. For a moment, they could see the liquified stone hot enough to glow red all around them.

    The near-infrared EM band. At least twenty-two hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

    Josh¡¯s scientific mind volunteered. Then everything went dark as the fluid in Josh¡¯s eyes boiled, melting his sclera to vaporize in the heat.

 Chapter 79

    Scorching... Broiling...

    Every square inch of Josh¡¯s body was on literal fire and melting. Innate reflexes made him twist and use his hands to try and cover his most vulnerable parts, but his movements just seemed to make everything worse. The pain was all-consuming and rendered conscious thought almost impossible. Earth shield, summoned so many times that it was now an automatic reflex, didn¡¯t respond to his calls for instigation.

    Though Essence cycled like a hurricane without direction through his Meridians in response to the anguish, it coursed without a purpose¡ªjust the spastic action of an animal trapped in a dark sack. The only thought Josh had going through his head was that death was coming fast, and he had no idea how to stop it! There was absolutely no relief, no hope for deliverance from the all-consuming inferno that his world had become.

    ¡°Arrrgghhh!¡± ¡°Rayaghhaaaaaaaahaaaaa!¡±

    ¡°Yaaaaghhhhaaaarrggggghhhhhaaaa...¡±

    ¡°Ghharrrhhhaaa...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The pain hadn¡¯t stopped. If anything, it was even worse, but the molten ore had filled his mouth and destroyed his palate and vocal cords. He simply couldn¡¯t scream anymore.

    ¡°...¡±

    ¡°...¡±

    The need for conscious thought from¡­ somewhere exerted itself over Josh¡¯s tortured mind.

    Focus, Josh...

    It hurts!

    Focus, Joshua!

    I¡¯m burning alive, you bastard!!

    Joshua Elias Tanner!! Focus your mind!!

    ¡­Josh tried.

    There had to be a way out of this¡ªsomething he could think of. The last thing he had seen was the brick-red glowing of super-heated rock all around him.. What options did he have?

    My mindscape is still active.

    After a second of conscious effort, Josh determined his mindscape registered no one in the six-hundred-plus yards of its circumference. Also, it was impossible to effectively move through the thick mass of lava. Even if he could, he had no idea which direction to go...

    If there was nothing he could do¡ªthere might be some information he could get.

    Status.

    <table width="420">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    15000/15000

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    40500/29076 ¡ú 39026 ¡ú 38076 ¡ú 38026

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    It took about four seconds for his agony-stunned brain to understand that he was losing fifty free Essence a second.

    That¡¯s a lot of free Essence...

    He needed to absorb more...

    Wait... lava is earth. I should be able to pull earth aura from it!

    The mind-blanking torment of having his body consumed by fire made everything take more time than it should. After several seconds, Josh directed his Meridians to pull earth Aura.

    And he got...

    Nothing!

    <table width="420">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    15000/15000

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="262">

    40500/36901 ¡ú 35851 ¡ú  35801 ¡ú 34751

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Nope. None! He was still losing fifty free Essence every second. That shouldn¡¯t be possible. He was surrounded by earth. He could barely move his arms because of it. Burning rock, the consistency of clay, was in his mouth and had turned his tongue, tonsils, and nasal passages to charcoal. His skull was a literal pressure cooker.

    Soon his brain would boil and he would die.

    Don¡¯t give up, Josh...

    What? What do I have to work with!

    Mr. Spock¡¯s quote on probability.

    The thought came to Josh unbidden. His first response to having

    the idea...

    My brain is already boiling. The end is already here...

    But... Josh didn¡¯t have anything else right now and if he gave up, everybody else would die. Sen... Alysa...This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Sophie is in this now too!

    She was legitimately at risk. So Josh pulled his favorite quote from Star Trek to the front of his brain.

    ¡°When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.¡±

    Slowly, almost drunkenly, he went with it...

    Okay, Spock. What can we rule out?

    He didn¡¯t have any more information at his disposal than what he could see and feel.

    Well¡­ That wasn¡¯t quite true. He had his health status¡ªbut that wasn¡¯t changing. So it was clearly wr¡ª-

    Wha-what!

    The incongruity of floating in an endless sea of lava and not losing even one health point sent his conscious mind into a frenzy of activity. Even with constant regeneration as his Essence cycled, Josh¡¯s health would have to dip down and up. Staying rock solid like it was¡ª

    Is clearly impossible.

    A second mental wind came to him.

    If my mindscape says I am alone then... where is Sen?

    Even if he was beyond the mindscape¡¯s range, their Karmic Bond would tell Josh where Sen was.

    Calling on the Bond, he found...

    Sen was right next to him. Josh could even intuitively feel Sen¡¯s Karmic presence when he tried. Despite this, Josh¡¯s mind continued to insist he was alone. No one, not even Sen, was here. Sen, the always bright spot in Josh¡¯s mindscape, was nowhere to be seen, and yet he was also right here with him. Both being correct was...

    Also, impossible.

    Between the two¡ªJosh trusted his Bond, hands down, and twice on Sunday.

    Now it was time for an improbable conclusion¡ª

    I¡¯m not surrounded by lava. I¡¯m still standing in the Brigantine¡¯s half-destroyed hangar bay!

    The lava isn¡¯t real!

    Josh mentally shouted it again, anticipating the lava would dispel instantly.

    Sadly, the lava didn¡¯t operate off of the same principles as fairies in Peter Pan...

    Now the pain was even starting to dull his muscular movements. Though dense as uranium, Josh¡¯s muscles had finally succumbed and charred to a cinder, killing his nerves in the process.

    They are dying just like I will if I don¡¯t figure this out!

    Okay, okay, okay! Spock had gotten Josh as far as he could. The rest was on Josh.

    The lava wasn¡¯t real. It was likely a mental construct from one of Kyon Shi¡¯s Attunements or undead powers¡ªat least vampires had mental powers in all the movies Josh watched. Either way, assuming the improbability that Josh was under some form of mind control or illusion... simply wishing it away wasn¡¯t going to cut it...

    I need some kind of mental protection... Some form of mind shield... Oh!

    Without wasting another thought, Josh pulled his mindscape to its tightest point. In fact, precisely the place it had been in when he had first found it on the Raptor. It formed a solid bubble tightly fighting around the link between his physical brain and spiritual Meridians¡ª

    The pain stopped. His muscles and eyes were back. He was breathing at sixty breaths a minute, and his heart was hammering at 280 bpm.

    Josh was back in the hangar bay, standing over Dezain¡¯s bound form, or rather¡ªthe body Kyon Shi had started using as his new hangout. It was still bound, gagged, and shackled, but Dezain¡¯s knee and ankle joints had ruptured. Exposed bone and articular tissue stuck out randomly when Kyon Shi forced the body to sit cross-legged in shackles that wouldn¡¯t break.

    The undead jerked its head at Josh¡¯s return to the conscious present.

    Surprise! You muther!

    He turned away from the malicious bastard.

    Sen was closer to his end than Josh had been and needed out¡ª Josh¡¯s Interface chimed.

    New Mind Attunement Skill created¡ª

    Josh pushed that out of his thoughts as well and finished his pivot toward Sen, who was still standing next to him, rocking slightly from heel to toe. His skin tone was sallow and ashen in a muddled pattern, and his face wore a senseless, slack expression.

    Not looking good at all!

    ~Sen!~ Josh grabbed the man¡¯s shoulders. ~Retract your mindscape around you!~

    ~Joshua¡­~ Sen¡¯s eyes rolled beneath their lids. ~whe... wha...~

    Sen¡¯s brain was fried. Only nonsensical information came through

    their Bond.

    There is no time for this.

    Josh crinkled his brow. ~Sorry for this, brother!~

    Josh grabbed Sen¡¯s head with both hands and wrestled control of his cranial Meridians to retract Senyak¡¯s mental sphere. Inside another Cultivator¡¯s Meridians¡ªeven Sen¡¯s, Josh¡¯s Intent crashed against significant resistance. It felt like trying to push an early-model Cadillac uphill by himself. With enough effort, it might go... but it was going to cost him in pain. Now and tomorrow.

    Josh gritted his teeth and pulled harder. His eyes bulged, teeth clenched together, and a low growl sounded in his throat. More. He still needed more Essence as he shoved the ephemeral energy through Sen¡¯s Meridians. He could feel Sen¡¯s reserves of free Essence bottoming out. Would he have to dip into Sen¡¯s Core¡¯s consolidated Essence in this state?

    Josh was about to change tack and do just that in order to give himself more time to wrestle this elephant, when finally, Sen¡¯s mindscape began to slowly reel in!

    Like the tide, almost imperceptible at first and then it picked up speed¡ªJosh pulled again to build momentum now that the metaphorical static friction of instigation had been broken. The retraction accelerated until the mindscape which acted as a shield snapped into place around Sen¡¯s pineal gland.

    His mentation restored¡ªSen¡¯s face jerked up with eyes open but rolling. He whispered three stilted syllables before falling face forward into Josh¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Gra... ti... tude...¡±

    ~Don¡¯t mention it, brother.~

    Josh caught his Karmic brother¡¯s body and laid him down gently. Josh¡¯s interface pinged... again...

    Error: New Tetrahedral Hybrid Attunement skill created: Error

    Josh pushed the notification to the side. There would be time to check it later.

    I need to deal with the devil in the room.

    Even through the gag and blindfold, Josh could see a vicious expression on Kyon Shi¡¯s face. Creepily, the energy vampire spoke verbally and directly into Josh¡¯s

    mind. In both cases, his dry voice left the feeling of insects dragging thick chitinous legs over Josh¡¯s skin.

    The lights around them flickered and dimmed appreciably as darkness pushed in from the periphery in response to the undead¡¯s growing presence.

    ¡°Impressive control of a skill you have only been attuned to for less than a day. You will both make solid stones under my feet, until you crumble from my power. As all do. I may even have uses for that human pet you are so fond of. Alysa? Isn¡¯t that her na¡ª¡±

    Activating the Acceleration ability of his weapon, Josh¡¯s bastard sword sliced through Dezain¡¯s neck so quickly the head remained in place for several seconds before toppling off to the side as his dead body finally slumped forward.

    However, if Josh had been trying to stop Kyon Shi, cutting his head off had the opposite effect. Horror filled Josh as the energy feeder¡¯s reedy laughter increased in volume, and the decapitated head continued to talk.

    ¡°Anger! Good! Breaking your soul will be our first intimacy together. When we are done, you will beg for permission to feed on Alysa¡¯s flesh¡ª¡±

    Guttural words sprang from Josh instinctually as he scrambled around Dezain¡¯s body and kicked the still-talking head with enhancement. ¡°Come for Alysa and my brother and I will take you apart!¡±

    Dezain¡¯s flying head hit a nearby bulkhead so hard it splattered into a spray of vile chunks covering the area like a Jackson Pollock painting. The darkness over the area grew without interruption. Kyon Shi¡¯s mocking laughter hit 110 decibels as he chortled like one of Ian Fleming¡¯s villains.

    ¡°Ahhahahahah... I am coming for you! There is no escape! Ahahhahhahahah!¡±

    Running out of ways to kill the bastard, Josh stood still and looked around the now fully dark hangar. His skin started to crawl as Kyon Shi¡¯s presence became palpable and matched the rising volume of his laughter. The ear-splitting sound abruptly ended. Water dripping in the distance was the only thing that could be heard with Josh¡¯s enhanced hearing¡ª

    ¡°I keep my promises. First, I¡¯ll take your pet!¡± Kyon Shi whispered behind Josh¡¯s ear.

    The energy drainer¡¯s tone was deadly serious, almost intimate. Josh whipped around, fully enhanced sword at the ready¡ªand saw nothing. The undead was gone, both mentally and physically. The lighting in the area flickered and returned to full-on, hospital bright. The mental pressure and the feel of insects crawling stopped.

    Josh spun in a circle and watched the area to make sure Kyon Shi wouldn¡¯t pull a tree-jumper and spring out from behind a pile of rubble. Josh exhaled a shaky breath he hadn¡¯t known he¡¯d been holding. Nerves calmed by the second, and breathing came in steady draws. Active thinking once again reengaged¡ª

    The security lights and alarms started going off through the destroyed hangar.

    Not helping! That¡¯s all I need, a conscientious and quick-acting evil villain!

    Sen shot up from the ground at Josh¡¯s back, sword drawn in a defensive stance. Wobbling slightly from side to side, but ready to die standing. He circled behind his brother. The security lights alternately lit them in yellow.

    ~Glad you¡¯re back among the living.~ Josh said with a shaky sigh ~Change of plans. We¡¯re in the fire again and need to get to Alysa¡ªBut it¡¯s definitely a trap.~

    Josh sent the encounter with Kyon Shi through their Bond to Sen.

    Catching his breath, Sen replied. ~Yes, brother... agreed. We should warn her. She will be doubly dangerous if she is on the lookout.~

    Josh internally kicked himself for dropping the ball and not warning her.

    Chagrined, Josh said. ~Agreed!~

    Josh tapped the earpiece Ishan gave him. ¡°Alysa! Alysa, come in!¡± No response.

    He tried with Ishan and Lobo, who were supposed to be with her. Nothing responded again.

    Josh then pulled out the hand comms unit that Jishin had given him when he agreed to help them. He may know where the space marines were¨C A busy signal blared from the small emitter on it when he pushed the connect button. A busy signal in space! Josh had no words for how space-aged technology hadn¡¯t caught on to call waiting...

    Had Kyon Shi been able to act on his plans to grab Alysa already? Communicating was out. It was time to go.

    Putting an end to their pointless circling, Josh and Sen ran for the

    bridge several miles away... where Alysa was planning on being during the hyperspace jump.

    Sen raised a hand. ~As we run... would you tell me something?~ Pursed lips.

    ~Sure. What¡¯s on your mind?~

    ~Who is Mr. Spock? Sen blinked, confused. ~And why am I feeling an overwhelming indebtedness to him?~

    Josh cocked his left eyebrow in response. ~Spock? Spock¡¯s a badass, Sen¡ªa true badass, and we owe him big time!~

 Chapter 80

    Ishan stood on the bridge following the Lt.¡¯s order to integrate their tactics and positions with Jishin¡¯s fleet of fast-attack ships. They needed to be ready to extricate the stranded crew from the Caravel and to defend the Brigantine should an undead attack force present itself during extraction.

    Pleasantly, much of what Ishan had thought he would need to explain had been unnecessary.

    ¡°Consider yourself recruited, Petty Officer Jishin.¡± Ishan intoned.

    ¡°Rest assured, Senior Chief. I promise you, it¡¯s not our first time beyond our own Sol. We will avoid your attack lanes and be ready to support when so ordered.¡± Jishin tilted his head and looked up at Ishan from below his brows. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me sayin¡¯, it¡¯ll be a breath of fresh air to follow Lieutenant Nang¡¯s operational plans. Dezain¡¯s command structure was rather... loose¡ªif y¡¯know what I mean. The crew of the Brigantine is a solid one. What we¡¯ve been lacking is capable leadership, and for too long.¡±

    Ishan kept his thoughts to himself. The Kaizuko, despite being pirates under a clan-organized hierarchy, had a good reputation for organized and effective starmanship and well-maintained fleets, if little else. While they followed a colorful code of behavior concerning conduct toward other ships and proper targets for raiding, they were familiar with the discipline required to keep a tight ship running.

    Concerning the Lt., for as brief as he expected her command of the Brigantine to be, the Kaizuko crew would disrespect her or her orders at their own peril. The Caravel¡¯s fate was evidence enough that no warning from Ishan should be necessary and if they could benefit from her leadership, more and better for all.

    Jishin leaned into Ishan¡¯s hearing and lowered his voice as a crooked smile rose on the left half of his face. ¡°She reminds me of a commander I knew when I was young m¡¯self¡ª Attention! Officer on the bridge!¡±

    Ishan internally admired the Kaizuko bridge crew¡¯s instant response to Jishin¡¯s call. They stood rigidly straight, right fists pressed to their chests as Alysa, wearing a freshly scavenged EVA, entered the bridge flanked by Lobo.

    The crew just might survive their encounter with the Lt.

    She returned their salute, and they got back to their tasks. ¡°Senior Chief, how goes integration?¡±

    ¡°Very well, ma¡¯am. They are acquaint¡ª¡±

    A communication attendant interrupted Ishan. ¡°Sir! Scores of hyper-space windows are opening within two-hundred kilo-klicks distance of our patrol perimeter. Numerous ships are now arriving in our sector. Spread range. Minus forty-five to positive fifty-eight degrees X and minus twenty to positive forty-five degrees Y from ship center. The largest is a Dreadnaught class. All are capital ships and have begun deploying smaller attack-sized craft with energy signatures that suggest very simple design and propulsion systems¡ª¡±

    ¡°Battle stations! Seal all segments of the ship! Launch all attack craft!¡± Jishin shouted, his face growing redder by the second as he listened to his bridge attendant¡¯s recitation.

    The stakes had significantly increased.

    A capital ship was any ship that could field a minimum of twenty fighter vessels and in this Essence rich portion of the galaxy would be captained by at least, a singly-Attuned Cultivator.

    A Dreadnaught, on the other hand, was another thing entirely.

    Captained by tri-Attuned Cultivators at a minimum, Dreadnaughts were planet-killers. The battleship was a mobile fortress fifty kilometers long and 18 kilometers wide. They were capable of spearheading entire invasions of mundane star systems and whose primary purpose was to anchor the center of an attacking fleet with a stable position in a forward battle area. Armor hardened with multitudes of long range hard hitting fire power. No sane force of lesser power chose to confront a Dreadnaught directly.

    Its hull was sleek and angular. In this area of the galaxy it was likely crafted from Essence-infused composite materials that offered both durability and protection for the fleet¡¯s elite leaders and hard to replace personnel. The ship possessed multiple sensor arrays, retractable energy shield generators, A quick inspection of the Brigantine¡¯s sensor readouts on long range scans of the Dreadnaught confirmed Alysa¡¯s suspicions that the builders had not skimped on the materials. The outer hull was further reinforced by high frequency EM shielding and adaptive nanomaterial plating capable of deflecting high-energy plasma and laser weaponry. The massive battleship¡¯s prominent command tower was nothing of the sort, but was a simple fortified bridge seated safely inside the heart of the massive vessel hull.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Perhaps more impressive than its defenses were its weaponry, as¡ªat the end of the day, the ship was meant to be used as a hammer to smash opposing forces. It was armed with 12 heavy plasma cannons, arranged in four rotating turrets, firing superheated plasma projectiles that could penetrate most known mundane shields and armor. Eight railgun arrays, each capable of firing hyper-velocity projectiles over vast distances, were mounted along the lengths of the ship for broadside engagements. Thirty-two missile pods were also spread across its hull, capable of launching a variety of guided missiles including high-explosive, EMP, and nuclear warheads. Each missile was equipped with advanced targeting systems that could deliver their devastating payloads unerringly. The Dreadnaught also fielded forty point-defense laser turrets designed to intercept incoming missiles as well as small craft¡ªand the Dreadnaught had these capabilities across each of the nine-hundred square kilometers of its hull.

    Anyone seeing the ship would have no problem seeing it for what it was, a blunt and crushing weapon of war.

    However, none of these capabilities gave the Dreadnaught its capacity as a planet-killer. In fact, the vessel¡¯s ability to destroy the biosphere of a planet had nothing to do with advanced weaponry at all and everything to do with physics being a terrifying bitch. The standard procedure for a Dreadnaught in wiping out a terrestrial biosphere was to locate a comet or asteroid that was approximately between two and five percent of the vessel''s size, latch onto it with gravitational grapnels and simply drag and release the natural missile.

    And now the Brigantine had one of these bastards in its backyard.

    Alysa looked to Ishan and Lobo and the hints of a cocky smile touched her lips as she crossed one arm over her body and grasped her elbow in a shoulder stretch. ¡°Looks like the party is starting. Are you two ready for some void combat?¡±

    Both Affins stood straight and slammed their fists to their chests, but it was Ishan who spoke for them. ¡°Yes Ma¡¯am! Always and ever.¡±

    She  called to Jishin as she sped past, Ishan and Lobo following close on her heels. ¡°Helmsman, you have command of the Brigantine and its defenses. We¡¯re going to be getting up close and personal on our X-Wing kits.¡±

    They ran from the room to the bridge''s Ancillary hangar, adjusting their helmets and activating the seals of the EVA¡¯s for the void. Lt. Nang had snapped her X-wing foil expansion frame into place and Ishan moved to follow her lead when a flashing red screen filled the visual head¡¯s up screen of his EM static faceplate. Two words that seemed of ancient origin based on their similarity to words he knew the meaning of in the current galactic common language¡¯s lexicon:

    ¡°ANTIM DICTARE¡±

    ¡°ANTIM DICTARE¡±

    ¡°ANTIM DICTARE¡±

    The words continued to flash in broad capital letters and then their kit¡¯s Intelligence unit spoke.

    Belay launch Lieutenant. There is something of dire consequence that we must speak of.

    Ishan looked at Alysa Nang through the static field of their face plates but her face mirrored the perplexed emotions he felt.

    ¡°...Enemy forces are converging on our position as we speak, Intelligence¡ª can¡¯t we delay¨C¡± Intelligence¡¯s voice cut off Alysa in an iron tone that left no room for debate.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. The significance of the forces you are facing has far greater ramifications that you can possibly know.¡±

    * * * * *

    Alarm klaxons had begun ringing throughout the ship as Lt Nang, Ishan, and Lobo ran for the bridge¡¯s ancillary hangar.

    ¡°Aye, aye, ma¡¯am.¡± Jishin responded to her last words and saluted all three, for what might be the last time. He and his staff held the honorary gesture until the three were off the bridge.

    They were headed where they belonged. A battle was starting in the void, and they were space marines.

    As they moved through the portal Jishin dropped his salute and got back to his fight. The helmsman pointed to the center bridge, ¡°Get the three-dimensional display of the battle space up so we can see the maw of this beast that wants to swallow us!¡±

    The void logistics attendant waved her hand, and a hologram materialized. It showed over one hundred capital vessels surrounding the Brigantine in 60 percent of a spherical deployment. The Dreadnaught sat roughly in the center of the squadron. All the ships were deploying smaller craft in neat rows. They were arranged in what looked like the harpoon line his ancient ancestors used to capture abyssal leviathans.

    ¡°Sir, an emergency transmission is coming under Battle Leader Tojaku¡¯s command code.¡±

    Jishin furrowed his brow. As worthless as Jian Tojaku was, Jishin had hoped that Tojaku and his clansmen had turned rutter and sped back to the Kotei when this mess started. Sadly, the fates didn¡¯t seem to have been so kind.

    ¡°Put it through to my station,¡± Jishin muttered darkly.

    The mummified visage of Kyon Shi appeared over a display pedestal in front of Jishin¡¯s command chair.

    The undead croaked in his dry voice, ¡°Helmsman Shiruba, I claim your ship and your crew as rightful debt owed me by your former commander Ritoru Dezain. As you can tell by the size of my fleet, you have no hope of victory. The result, whether you fight or surrender, will be the same. My victory. Your death.

    ¡°You, however, are positioned to save me significant time and expense. For the service of surrendering, I will provide you the same benefits I did to Ritoru Dezain and his lieutenants. Advancement of your Cultivation and allowance for you and a dozen of your crew to serve me as living spirit beings aboard this Brigantine for as long as you perform well.¡± The undead let a moment tick by. ¡°What say you?¡±

    Jishin rolled his eyes to the upper right and considered his words before he spoke.

    A handful of beats went by before he narrowed his eyes. ¡°You have given me the courtesy of speaking plainly. As my father, void rest his soul, taught me, I will pay you the same courtesy. The difference between Dezain and the rest of us aboard is that we remember that this here ship belongs to the Kotei. It¡¯s we as have the privilege of serving him aboard her, but perhaps I¡¯m being hasty. Let me ask the crew, and I will abide by the decision of those I would pick as my twelve under your offer.¡± Jishin waved a hand and brought a young female attendant from a nearby station over to Kyon Shi¡¯s view.

    She had the bloom of youth on her cheeks and every reason to want to live.

    ¡°Attendant Norikumi, you heard the offer. Should we take it?¡±

    Without missing a beat, she stood at rigid attention and confirmed what Jishin had already known of all the clansmen aboard. ¡°Rot his offer! And his ugly ass, sir!¡±

    A smile lit up Jishin¡¯s face, his tone was cheery as he continued, ¡°Well, there you have it! If hell is willing to take one such as yourself, we will see you there, whether we get there a¡¯fore ye or not. Rot your ugly ass!¡±

    A dark glare of hatred filled Kyon Shi¡¯s dead eyes as he replied in a still voice, ¡°Very well, helmsman. I understand that the Kaizuko organizational structure is based loosely on shared previous biological ancestors. As such, you¡¯ll be glad to hear that I¡¯m reuniting you with your clansmen from battle leaders Tojaku and Yabana as we speak.¡± The energy drainer raised a finger, and the commlink was cut.

    ¡°Sir, sensors show hundreds of the deployed attack fighters are powering up engines and moving into attack position.¡±

    Jishin acknowledged with a nod and got ready for death to rain on his Brigantine.

    Still, the feeling of pride in being a Kaizuko maintained a determined gleam in his eye. It was far better to die fighting with those he loved than to live a thousand lives after betraying them.

 Chapter 81

    ¡°...Ok Intelligence, perhaps you had better tell us what this is all about. I understand that Kyon Shi is an undead cultivator and despot with personal power that exceeds our own, but how does he rise to the level of an iteration threat?¡± Despite the respect that Alysa held for Intelligence as the principal AI administrator of the continent sized Hegemon-4, she was unable to keep all the sarcasm out of her tone.

    ¡°Yes Lieutenant, that would be due to the¡ª¡±

    ¡°And what does ¡®ANTIM DICTARE¡¯ mean, and can you make it stop flashing inside our head¡¯s up display?¡± Alysa recognized the frustration at being delayed on the verge of battle in the fact that she had given more than one order in the same sentence¡ªa practice she had been advised by commanders she respected and had promised herself she would never do.

    The red screen and flashing words disappeared from their HUD and all three on the lip of the hanger bay¡¯s opening relaxed ever-so-slightly with the absence of its edgy effect.

    ¡°Yes Lieutenant,¡ª¡±Alysa moved to interrupt Intelligence again, but the AI wasn¡¯t having it and continued in an efficient manner that prevented her from speaking. ¡°And I agree with your assessment of Kyon Shi and his forces. But it is not his current power or the relatively vast number of his ships compared to the Brigantine which is the issue, but  his tactics in deploying plunge ships which have triggered the ancient two billion year old ANTIM DICTARE¡ªor, ¡®Ultimate Dictate¡¯ in current galactic common.¡±

    As if understanding that her mind was being pulled in several directions at once, Intelligence paused and gave her a chance to interject. To Alysa¡¯s chagrin, the first thing that came from her mouth was a knee-jerk response accompanied with her rolling eyes.

    ¡°...Intelligence, we are in a hurry. How can anything instituted two billion years ago have an impact on us slugging it out with a two-bit undead dictator over a bunch of pirates¨C¡±

    And that was as far as Alysa got before Intelligence was on a roll again.

    ¡°I agree, time is of the Essence here. You are facing a threat similar to what almost completely extinguished light of sapient life from this and the surrounding iterations. I strongly advise you to allow me to give you a very brief primer of iteration history in order to understand the significance of what you are facing and what you are being ordered to do.¡±

    Intelligence again paused but Alysa didn¡¯t dare fill the gap, given her poor showing on her last opportunity to speak.  It was obvious that Intelligence was serious and had relevant information, more of which was needed. Alysa raised a silent inquisitive eyebrow to Ishan and Lobo who looked back at her with expressions that told Alysa neither had a viable response to what the AI had just said.

    Intelligence started again, but now its tone and demeanor was filled with what seemed genuine emotion and concern. As if, for the AI, the past it was relating to was still actively happening. Alysa couldn¡¯t help but be drawn in as Intelligence continued.

    ¡°The Hegemon-4 was an Ark ship specifically designed to carry the fleeing remnants of the iterations of living spirit beings from the undead Necrolon swarms commanded by Zelviz, the Sky Commandant. Up to that point spirit beings had lived on the surface of terrestrial worlds where carbon, water, silicone and sulfur are present and can transition from gas to liquid to solid form as their biologic processes need.  Much as they do now, for the most part. However, Zelviz, driven by the singular obsession of eliminating life in all its forms began his eradication campaign. Soon no world was safe from his dropping out of hyperspace and laying siege, ultimately taking the world, surrounding systems, kingdoms, empires and entire galaxies.

    ¡°All living spirit beings trembled with fear as box-shaped ships appeared in the sky over their planets and void arks, deploying countless numbers of fearless and mindlessly obedient undead reanimated minions.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.

    ¡°As you know, the legions of undead converted or raised by a risen spirit¡¯s undead Fire lend power to that undead which can be called upon in extreme situations for strengthening, healing, even complete restoration from an intact Gray Core. Zelviz¡¯s personal power had grown to such great proportions from the massive number of living he had reanimated before the iteration united against him that it was agreed by all that a general retreat was in order. To facilitate this, fleets of Ark ships were built to carry the remainder of life from vulnerable planets and hide in the void to conduct strike and run warfare to ¡®whittle him down¡¯ over generations. Millions of fleets carrying billions of vessels were created for this purpose. For a very brief time the ploy worked and hope grew that Zelviz could be ¡®whittled down in time.¡¯ However, confining life to the vulnerability of ships in the void ultimately only accelerated Zelviz¡¯s extermination of the living. There are many reasons for this, but the greatest factor was his creation and utilization of plunge ships¨C transports bearing large numbers of reanimates. Usually, no more than sealed cages with engines and iridium-reinforced bow sections. They were used to penetrate the arks¡¯ shielded and armored hulls and inject them with the Necrolons¡¯ scourge. Their use was unbelievably devastating. They could instantly penetrate the defenses of defending ships on thousands of fronts at the same time and in areas containing the helpless. No one anywhere in a void traveling ship was ever safe again and almost all fell before them. The Sky Commandant almost eliminated all life with the surprisingly simple strategy of surrounding vessels with cheap ships to prevent fleeing on any light speed vector and then piercing their hulls like an injected virus with stasis-protected undead to kill all inside. It turned out to be a tactic that was nearly unstoppable.

    ¡°At his height of power it was estimated that Zelviz had over 1/3rd of the entire interational population under his control as reanimates. It was a tremendous power base that was impossible for the remainder of the living to overcome¨C¡± Intelligence cut off Alysa¡¯s next question and steamrolled ahead.

    ¡°How they defeated Zelviz is a tale for another time. Just know that it took acts of bravery, might, and sacrifice that cannot possibly again be repeated just to make the man killable. As such, the survivors of the final battle with Zelviz¡ªand there were precious few of us¡ªall agreed that any entity pursuing the use of plunge-ship tactics with a greater than zero predicted probability of achieving proper use of the tactic needed to be eliminated immediately. The ability to rapidly gain increases in power for the Risen Undead who use it is much too great to leave anything to chance, even in an iteration where most living spirit beings live terrestrially again.

    ¡°Your assigned tasks, prior to any other objectives, are to protect this ship and its occupants from the plunge-vessel assault preventing expansion of his power base. And secondarily, if possible, eliminate Kyon Shi. You have received mission-critical training to perform both. No one¡¯s individual life is of greater value than all life in this and the surrounding iterations. I know you will not disappoint me in your performance.¡±

    Intelligence finally did pause and Alysa asked a question that was still bothering her. ¡°You said ¡®A greater than non-zero probability¡¯. That¡¯s extremely vague. Kyon Shi has indeed filled the battlespace with plunge-vessels that prevent the Brigantine from achieving a viable hyperspace escape vector. He also seems ready and capable to launch them. But, is it safe to assume that Kyon Shi¡¯s threat assessment is closer to a zero probability of rendering galaxies empty of life than most who run afoul of the Antim Dictare?

    Intelligence¡¯s smile could be heard. ¡°Yes, that is an astute observation Lieutenant. If the average Spiritually Risen Undead who triggers the Dictare can be thought of as a stampeding herd of bloodied tyranodons. Admittedly, a force that requires a significant personal strength to stop. Kyon Shi is more like the mold that grows on a leaking water storage unit. Distasteful and easy to eliminate. But it could grow into a real problem if ignored. Still, based on the resources currently available. I think you will find your orders a worthy challenge.¡±

    Ishan had a question as well and posed it to Intelligence. ¡°You said we have been trained for this? I¡¯ve been with the Hegemon for a lot of standard galactic rotations and I don''t recall any training dealing with hordes of unlimited undead being launched at a city ship with the brigantine¡ªdo you Lobo?¡±

    The Tiger looked at the Wolf who silently shook his head in negative agreement.

    ¡°Ahh¡­well, training that is specific to the task, no. The consequences of letting the entire iteration know the specifics of plunge-vessel combat would be counterproductive to our purposes¡­ But I do believe that you have all spent numerous hours completing the training I designed to develop the necessary coordination, ammunition conservation, target assessment and ordering, as well as increasing your ability to remain calm in overwhelming odds. My data files indicate that each of you has held the high score at one point or another on the Steel Rain simulation. In fact, Senior Chief, you currently are the Regiment¡¯s leader in the simulation¡¯s scoreboard are you not?¡±

    Alysa, Ishan, and Lobo¡¯s expressions all exhibited their ¡®Aha moment¡¯ at the same time as they recalled the flying simulation where the player was tasked with stopping gravity accelerating munitions from falling on a moving ground based convoy for low orbit. Alysa even nodded her head along with Ishan and Lobo in appreciation of the simulation that wouldn¡¯t give away the plunge-vessel tactic to the wrong Spiritually Risen undead, but still trained the space marines with the necessary skills. Then all three of their complexions darkened as they remembered that there was no winning the simulation. Its waves advanced in number of projectiles and speed of acceleration until all of the convoy was destroyed. It was simply an exercise in determining how far you could go. There was no winning it ever.

 Chapter 82

    Sen frowned at the memory of the twice-dead corpse of Ritoru Dezain.

    As he had pointed out on Josh¡¯s first day aboard the Hegemon-4, reanimated bodies in the service of Necrolon were generally accepted for their usefulness by star-traveling societies. If the undead were collared with neuro-detonators, most spirit beings wouldn¡¯t bat an eye at them. For those with the skills and the nanites to achieve activation, reanimates could serve most of the purposes AI mechanicals did.

    It was undeniable that reanimates served vital functions when they were needed. They could work in hostile environs without the need for supplies. They boasted long-term survival in disease-riddled sectors without containment and sterilization equipment. They also provided service with moderate longevity in radiation-flooded compartments. The list of conveniences provided and practicality was lengthy.

    Furthermore, given the associated costs, reanimates were always considered a viable alternative to AI mechanicals. Replacing damaged or destroyed reanimates was an order of magnitude less than repairs for mechs.

    Ironically, the acceptance of reanimates by most advanced societies was evidence that spirit beings had short-term societal memories. No star-traveling culture even remembered that Necrolon literally meant soul slave of the dead master in its galaxy of origin.

    Historical failings aside, it should not have required a logical jump to realize that the points which made reanimates valuable also made them a very inexpensive, simply created, and easily replaceable adversarial force.

    To be fair, a handful of military historians and educators still remembered the threat that masses of reanimates posed. A few texts from before most galaxies were reseeded with life accurately told how living spirit beings were pushed to the brink of extinction. How Necrolon swarms had swept life from entire galaxy clusters. And never-ending waves of reanimates under the command of undead Commandants had obliterated all defenses and drowned the iteration in oceans of death.

    They had relentlessly pursued life into the void when the spirit beings had fled in massive arks to the space between stars. The undead Commandants again crushed the living under avalanches of plunge-vessels.

    It had been over two billion years since the undead Commandants had ruled the skies. But Sen knew about them. He had studied the spiritually risen and reanimated undead extensively across many iterations. After a moment of communication through their Karmic Bond on the run to the bridge, Josh did as well. Sen also gave him basic information on Nock-Liches, mega-amalgams, a few details he still needed to share concerning draugr, and of course, vampires as they kept running.

    * * * * *

    The space marines vectored from the Brigantine on their expanded X-wing kits and separated according to known abilities and preferences.

    ¡°Ishan, Lobo. You two split the battle space between you, sixty-forty. I¡¯m going to look for targets of opportunity with my detonators to achieve our second objective. Break comm silence if you are getting overwhelmed.¡±

    ¡°I truly can¡¯t fathom what you mean, ma¡¯am. There are three fully trained and armed space marines here, clearly¡ªtwo more than necessary.¡±

    She checked her helmet¡¯s review and saw Lobo and Ishan slamming knuckles at his last words as they split up. Ishan moved toward the high right of the battle space, Lobo to the low left. This was just their starting points, however. As always, their location would be fluid to minimize the effectiveness of large-area detonations.

    ¡°Roger that, Senior.¡± Alysa cut communication and prayed to her ancestors for their lives and performance. They were both far too valuable to lose in a battle against some two-bit undead who fancied himself the resurgence of a genuine Iterational-level threat.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°For the Hegemon!¡± She called.

    ¡°For the Hegemon!¡± They echoed.

    Then she activated AI-enforced radio silence and began following the minimized emission protocols all space marines followed out of strategic necessity.

    *****

    To say Kyon Shi¡¯s Necrolons had failed him would be an understatement.

    23 percent of the reanimates and associated vessels in his fleets had already been destroyed. The vast majority of those losses had been cut down by those two accursed space marines before they had even crossed the void to the Brigantine! Staring out at the growing field of spinning wreckage mixed with the precious payload of their dismembered bodies had the spiritually risen undead mage grinding his teeth in frustration. Realizing his display, Kyon Shi stopped himself and closed his dried-out eyes to seek a calmer focus.

    To be fair, this is the first time in a very long time a large undead force has been deployed this way. It¡¯s unreasonable to assume that having a mere conceptual understanding of something as ominous as the Sky Commandant¡¯s bombardment techniques would allow them to complete practical application without some hiccups...

    But Kyon Shi was neither fair nor reasonable.

    The pile of moldering Necrolon corpses littering the Dreadnought¡¯s command deck was testimony to that.

    It¡¯s not even an actual punishment. Undeath is what they had all desired.

    True, they had all served him in the hopes of being converted to spiritually risen undead to allow continued spiritual growth with the concurrent benefits of undeath. Not to have their existence narrowed to that of a mindless beasts subject to the whims of Kyon Shi and his intermediaries with no hope of advancement... But after today¡¯s abysmal performance?

    There is no way they would ever qualify for that honor.

    After he had fed on their Essence, it was off to the reanimate pens for the lot of them. Hopefully, there they would accomplish more than their predecessors had.

    The bodies began to stir. Rising at the direction of the newly promoted Necrolon leaders.

    Orlen Biri, Kyon Shi¡¯s chamberlain and a triply-Attuned spiritually risen servant, stood by, nodding to Kyon Shi¡¯s latest orders. He adopted a praying pose with his four skeletal arms as a forked gray tongue flicked incessantly out between his bony mandibles tasting the freshly dead on the air.

    ¡°Yes, Great One. It will be done. I am as much to blame for the earlier failure as the others.¡± He knelt and exposed the back of his cervical spine to Kyon Shi.

    Kyon Shi leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, ¡°As am I. But we are too valuable to punish, are we not?¡±

    Kyon Shi¡¯s critique was sharper than he had intended, and it proved just how frustrated he was with the failure of the Sky Commandant¡¯s bombardment tactic so far. The ancient tales Xsias had encouraged him with were so vivid in their success. It surprised him how much he had expected immediate victory. Perhaps his successes had been coming too easily of late.

    Have I been choosing goals and targets that are too easily achieved?

    The thought was troubling. True growth in Cultivation would never be achieved without complete commitment and the taking risks that could amount to absolute failure. Kyon Shi¡¯s second death. His thousands of standard galactic rotations had taught him that if nothing else. Only by reaching for goals that were beyond your grasp could Kyon Shi hope to walk in the steps of the Sky Commandant. Only with such risks would Kyon Shi receive a worthy and maximal reward from Balance for his earned Karma.

    Advancement also required focus.  The desiccated energy drainer took a moment to balance his mental equilibrium, and then continued. ¡°Orlen, crushing these feeble wastlings is not about actual culpability. It is about continued fear in the ranks of our servants. Even I¡ª¡± Kyon Shi rolled his hand in the air to indicate there was no higher authority¡ª¡°had no idea how effective the plunge bombardment would be. Think of our actions so far as simply testing the instigation threshold for the effective propagation of the Sky Commandant¡¯s bombardment tactic.¡± He leaned in and the dead muscles of his tight face bunched up in anger. ¡°But I do grow weary of waiting for results. I am also eager to harvest my new playthings.¡±

    The usual evil gleam in his opaque eyes returned at the thought of destroying the spirit of that arrogant human that had cost him Dezain¡¯s dead carcass and all the undead fire Kyon Shi had invested in it. Doubly attuned bodies are not easy to come by after all!

    ¡°Once I have adequately broken them in, these two human Cultivators will significantly expand my capabilities. Their wills are strong, Orlen! The strongest escaped my mental-feeding skill in seconds with a novel formation of his mental shield.¡± Kyon Shi spoke as if a proud father watching a favored child compete in a sporting event.

    The chamberlain looked up in surprise. It had taken Orlen a thousand years to form his mental shield and he still could not form one to resist his master¡¯s skills.

    Kyon Shi nodded. ¡°Oh yes! Adding them to my service will make this entire fiasco worth the costs paid out but, to properly break them, I need to capture and shatter their playthings. When I was in their minds, I noted their strange bond with the female space marine Dezain originally captured. Almost a dependence... bring me that space marine, alive! Once we have her I will give you details on how we will capture them using her as bait. From there we will get back on track and crush the Kaizuko. Completely eliminating the loose ends from the Hegemon-4 attack that can lead the Clone to us.¡±

    Having ordered it, Kyon Shi sat back on his throne as if it had already been done and flexed his mindscape to its maximum twenty-five-thousand-kilometer range as was his habit when contemplative... and there she was!

    He raised his hand to get Orlen¡¯s attention. ¡°Just crush the Kaizuko. I will take care of the first order.¡±

    Orlen Biri bowed so low the thick black cloak and cowl hooding his head touched the ground in front of him. ¡°I will make it so.¡±

 Chapter 83

    Tactically, the undead had weaknesses like all mortal beings did.

    The qualities that gave them strengths also presented vulnerabilities if one applied the correct counterpressure. Alysa remembered her training on the Hegemon-4 and made it her business to use that counterpressure.

    For the living, the undead were not favored beings to be employed by, either as part of a standing army or as mercenaries. The primary working force for all undead Commandants came from the strange few who believed that undead conversion was a boon.

    The remainder were captured and controlled as slaves.

    Manpower shortages presented vulnerabilities in areas where skilled operators were needed. Piloting and security were among the areas that undead forces most commonly experienced shortfalls in. To offset this, the undead occasionally used AI mechanical tech. However, this was expensive. So many times, as was the case today, the undead let the gaps stand.

    The plunge-ships surrounding the Brigantine had been guarded only with roving patrols in lightly equipped craft using standard sensor equipment. Alysa couldn¡¯t tell if they were poorly supplemented AI mechanical or poorly trained spirit beings. The difference was irrelevant. The plunge ships were essentially unguarded to her. Given the fleet-guards low numbers, they would be relying on EM band emissions for detection of infiltration and AI monitored video sensors for large group movements. A single figure moving close to the hulls of her targets with no EM emissions would be almost impossible to detect.

    Another weakness the undead Commandants faced was their large numbers. Vast armies were required to cluster in large groups. Particularly when moving in a small battle space. This made them vulnerable to rather blunt, large area, and sweeping ballistic attack forms. Ishan¡¯s sunfire Gatling adequately demonstrated this point.

    Alysa hoped to be equally effective in applying her preferred method of attack on large forces¡ªremotely detonated microfission devices. Paper-thin Oganesson 294 wafer dots, to be specific.

    After applying the fingertip-sized dot to the desired object, the volatile element was kept in stasis, like the rest of its noble family in nature, via a nano-EM emitter. Halting the emitter resulted in instant fission and a return to its natural properties, a very large boom. Alysa¡¯s kung fu was in amplifying even this. It was her task to find ways of placing the wafer dots on ammunition caches, overly large and exposed fuel tanks, or particularly volatile tech configurations on void ships to magnify the large booms. Which was what she was currently doing.

    After placing ninety-five of the one hundred wafers she had on the fuel tanks of every twentieth plunge vessel, Alysa¡¯s comp unit¡¯s calculations confirmed her mental assessment. If she detonated them in their current configuration, she would only destroy ten percent of the nineteen to twenty thousand plunge ships she counted awaiting deployment. A nice haul, but she needed to do better. A bolder statement.

    Looking back at this moment, later Alysa would realize her vanity had gotten the better of her. Sadly, hindsight was always clearer. So, at the time she had vectored under several more tightly scheduled patrols and affixed her last wafers in even distribution over Kyon Shi¡¯s Dreadnaught, including an exposed section of the internal fuel conduit, and the primary nuclear fission reactor powering his hyperdrive.

    Good luck to any living beings on his ship when I detonate them. Of course, the energy drainer himself might just survive. Vermin are like that. But he¡¯ll need a new flagship to hang his vampire flag from. That much is sure¡ª

    ¡°Excellent! Just the spirit being I need!¡±

    Alysa¡¯s thoughts were interrupted as a parched throat grated in her mind, just as she was about to remove her last wafer from its stasis cradle and put it atop the Dreadnaught¡¯s command bridge.

    The next instant, eight gray, bone-thin arms shot out of an oval portal that appeared directly below her. Each grabbed a limb and pulled her with undeniable strength into the darkness.

    *****

    Seconds after they started running, their enhanced hearing picked up heavy thuds throughout the ship, followed by small-arms fire. A black look scowled across Josh¡¯s face. More of the conscientious undead¡¯s promise-keeping. They ran faster.

    Josh and Sen were both on the low side of free Essence after their encounter with the energy drainer.

    <table width="425">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="267">

    15000/15000

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="158">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="267">

    40500 ¡ú 12701

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    A quick status check confirmed how low. Sen and Josh stretched out their mindscape and began absorbing Mind Aura from crew members within their range.

    They also checked the notification from the mental shield skill.

    New Mind Attunement skill created.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Mentation shield: Condense your mindscape to shield your mind¡¯s physical and spiritual interface. Protecting your perception from foreign Essence corruption and drainage. Increase your Cultivation to increase the potency of this mind-attuned skill.

    Check your status for details.

    Josh guessed it didn¡¯t matter if one instigated a new skill or someone else did it for them. If their Meridians triggered it, they got the ability. Special bonus, Sen could perform it as well as Joshua could with no lag time.

    Josh also checked for the command skill and the  hybrid skill he had obtained. Whatever that was. He revisited the notification he¡¯d received earlier.

    Error: New Tetrahedral Hybrid Attunement skill created: Error

    <table width="591">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="69">

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td width="522">

    100% probability of increasing your Core and free Essence capacity by 1000%.

    100% probability of increasing the propagation of Essence utilization rate by 1000%.

    Increased probability of being able to manipulate psychic Essence outside of your Meridians. Command: invest 500 units of Mind-Attuned Essence with the Intent to control the actions of another spirit being of equal or lower Cultivation strength. Attempting to command spirit beings of greater Cultivation strength and Attunement will have variable results and will depend on the mental strength of the spirit being commanded. Has very limited effect on the spiritual undead and no effect on the nonspiritual undead. Increase your Cultivation to increase this Mind-Attuned skill.

    Hybrid instigation command: through physical contact invest 1,000 free Essence to instigate skills

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table width="591">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="66">

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td width="525">

    which coincide with the already achieved Attunements within the Meridians of another Cultivator at your level of Cultivation or lower.

    Mentation shield. Solidify your mental area of influence around your mental and spiritual interface to shield your perception from foreign Essence corruption. Also eliminates mental signature from the mindscape from other Mind-Attuned Cultivators thereby preventing detection and remote siphoning of Meridians. May also be used to prevent direct Essence draining.

    Expenditure of skill is dependent on the relative strength of the Cultivators involved in the drain and attempted block. Increase your Cultivation to increase the potency of this Mind-Attuned skill. Further increase your Essence capacity, propagation rate, and externalization of Attunement skills by increasing your level and Cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    Well, so much for wishful thoughts of controlling masses of undead that formed the Necrolon swarms.

    Lovely name that, by the way.

    But Josh wasn¡¯t surprised he couldn¡¯t command undead with his Mind Attunement. There were always advantages of playing undead during his days of gaming. The fact that there was some truth to it was par for the iterational course.

    He had also stopped Kyon Shi¡¯s remote drain on their Essence. How much would it cost them when they were up close and personal? Josh had no idea. But it was clear Kyon Shi was a far stronger Cultivator than they were. The skill said it was based on the relative strength of the attacking and blocking Cultivators, so it came down to an utterly analog determination based on their individual Attunements and how much the involved Cultivators could invest in the attack or defense.

    The ¡®hybrid skill¡¯? Josh didn¡¯t know exactly what to make of it. Nice to have. But what good would it do them in the coming battle? Again, no idea.

    What¡¯s the Error? Also, why is it considered a Tetrahedral skill? As far as Josh knew, he wasn¡¯t even halfway to forming his Tetrahedral Core. There were seven Spherical Attunements and he only had two right now. Nothing about the notification made sense to him.

    While these were all good questions, Josh would have to wait for a reunion with Gusti, hope for an improbably good moment to ask the clone, or wait for the iteration to put someone else in his path that could explain it.

    Josh took a puffing breath. ~Do the space marines know about the Necrolon swarms?~

    ~They should.~ Sen agreed, easily. ~My family has never been lax in military training. Especially on events of historical significance my grandfather played a major role in.~

    ~Zenyak was part of taking the undead Commandants down?~ Josh exclaimed. ~Wow!~

    ~Yes.~ Sen confirmed. ~The Hegemon fleet and space marine program were explicitly built and formed to counteract the undead jihad in the involved iterations. The Hegemon-4 saw quite a bit of action. It was one of the last recorded actions of my grandfather before he began his preliminary work to Transcend.~

    Josh nodded in appreciation. ~We¡¯ll need to talk more about that later. For now, good that the space marines know! And Kyon Shi... as a vampire, he can absorb living essence to advance his Cultivation, like we do. But he can¡¯t use it as an undead to heal? To heal, he has to absorb undead fire from other undead?~

    ~That is an oversimplification.~ Sen shook his head. ~Kyon Shi can formulate and use his own undead fire to heal himself and bind living spirit beings to him or convert them to spiritually risen undead. These are only a few of its purposes, but creating undead fire is a lengthy and Essence-intensive conversion process. Once Kyon Shi has used all the undead fire he has stored in his gray Core, he cannot quickly make more during combat. However, he can absorb some from nearby undead to heal himself. Sending the undead he borrows from to permanent death.~

    ~Interesting...~

    Three-quarters of the way to the bridge, their Hegemon-4 commlink clicked on.

    ¡°Alysa?¡±

    Kyon Shi¡¯s croaking voice crackled over the channel. ¡°As I promised. I have acquired your pet. She was attempting to break into my command bridge, of all things. Quite a... spicy one! I see why you like her¡ª¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯ve hurt her¡ª¡±

    ¡°Spare me your useless heroic babble. She lives and I haven¡¯t harmed her. Yet.¡± The bat-faced monster¡¯s voice cackled with what might pass for jovial tones if you were from the seventh circle of hell. ¡°...After all, the effort would be wasted if you are here to see it!

    ¡°You have three micro-gyras to get to the hangar on the command bridge of my Dreadnaught. After that, your fears will be justified as I intend to reanimate her and send her in the next wave of undead¡ªor perhaps I¡¯ll spiritually raise her and send her after you and your partner. I haven¡¯t quite decided.¡±

    The connection cut out.

    They ran faster.

    Arriving at the Brigantine bridge, they were greeted by four heavily armed and armored Kaizuko. Their heavy rifles on tripods were aimed directly down the passageway Josh and Sen were running up. With communications down, they were surprised the bridge hadn¡¯t been overrun.

    Josh had feared finding Kyon Shi reclining on a divan with a leash and collar around Alysa¡¯s neck, ala Return of the Jedi.

    They slowed down and held up their hands in a surrender motion. The lead guard, bearing a bronze sigil on his left armored shoulder, waved them through without taking his eyes off the passageway behind them.

    The bridge itself was a kicked-over anthill of activity. Attendants ran back and forth, carrying messages written on paper and yelling over ongoing conversations when necessary. Comms were down, a lucky strike from one of the plunge-ship hits that had gotten through the Hegemon¡¯s space marines. But this hadn¡¯t slowed the Kaizuko¡¯s defense of their home.

    Jishin stood in the middle of the activity with a fist full of paper chits for his immediate review that he hadn¡¯t had a chance to go through. He was surrounded by half a dozen attendants holding other chits they were trying to get his attention to read. He was overlooking the front half of the Brigantine and its ongoing Necrolon penetrations through the bridge¡¯s front view port. Stationed near him were several assistants remotely following the remaining ship surfaces via camera installations set up remotely and moved as necessary by squads on the external skin of the city-sized ship.

    The command bridge had been sealed off behind several slam-down pressure doors that Josh assumed would come down automatically in response to a decompression event. Looking through the view slot of the emergency doors, Josh could see the noses of two plunge-looking ships that had penetrated through the hull plates. Shadows of undead milled behind the sealed doors. Whoever else had been behind there was obviously gone.

    Jishin was talking over his shoulder to a man wearing a stained apron and holding the business end of half a broken halberd when they got to him.

    ¡°I know the bleedin¡¯ ship is under attack, you daft fool of a man! We still need t¡¯feed our soldiers ta¡¯ keep their strength up, and the undead outta our beds! You have an hour till dinner bells ring. Find something to feed ¡¯em and be right quick about it! Set up in the internal quadrant where none of these blasted undead cages can penetrate.¡±

    Josh caught Jishin¡¯s eye and spoke through his mindscape. ~We¡¯re taking a ship and going to the Dreadnaught.~

    They sped past the beleaguered helmsmen and headed into Kyon Shi¡¯s waiting grasp.

 Chapter 84

    Alysa had been translocated to what appeared to be the Dreadnaught¡¯s command bridge that she had just been standing on top of in the void. The view port in front of her showed Kyon Shi¡¯s thousands of plunge ships holding their positions in evenly spaced rows that stretched as far as she could see. The brigantine¡¯s external lighting was nothing more than tiny pinpoints at this distance as it sat behind a floating field of wreckage.

    Kyon Shi¡¯s moldering corpse, emaciated beyond the capacity for¡ªwell... anything, leered its grinning, skin-covered skull one foot from her EVA¡¯s energy face plating. The undead was wearing heavy black robes adorned with glinting silver and gold sigils that swirled on their own. The energy drainer pulled back an arm while he gestured with one finger. Heer helmet¡¯s energy visor dissipated with a subdued pop giving her the unwelcome experience of sharing air with an eon¡¯s long undead. Through the new stench that now permeated where she was breathing, Alysa vaguely noted the monster only had two arms attached to his body. Not the eight that had dragged her down through the vortex that had brought her here.

    For some reason, the energy drainer stopped with disabling her face force plating and left the rest of her gear in place. Even the helmet, definitely open as she started staggering her breaths from his foul stench, was still on. It indicated that Kyon Shi, the undead despot, was definitely not afraid of her. He believed Alysa posed no threat to him.

    That¡¯s going to be a costly decision you arrogant ass.

    But she schooled her internal rage... For now, everything else was the same as when Dezain had taken her. She was held by an invisible vice that rendered her motionless and voiceless. Breathing in and out were the only movements she had control over.

    Kyon Shi must have noticed that her thoughts were focused on him and his calcified eyes thinned as he leaned even closer to her, flooding her nose with an even denser and increased stench from a week-old, heat-baked tomb. Alysa couldn¡¯t help but hold her breath, her body unable to even wretch, as the undead¡¯s tight, leather-skinned lips sent plumes of his musty odor directly into her face as it spoke.

    ¡°Well then¡­Let¡¯s get started! I am eager to determine your value to my plans.¡± He waved his skeletal thin hands indicating everything around himself.

    * * * * *

    The Kaizuko fast-attack ship pulled up vertically and careened to the left as a wrecked plunge vessel skimmed its belly, only slightly creasing their hull plates. Josh and Sen, already fully encased in their earth shield from the three previous partial collisions, didn¡¯t notice the rapid decompression, other than the few loose objects aboard being swirled around by the tiny cyclones of gas now venting into the void.

    Through the front view screens they were able to see massive clouds of zombies previously caged in the now destroyed plunge ships. Their arms waving and jaws useless clamping as they floated in the void between the Brigantine and the Dreadnaught as they slowly froze. More than one of them had splattered against in dark shades of red and black on the forward view port. Some of the more intact had managed to somehow hang on, waving their arms and legs like children making snow angels before a quick juke from Sen spun them off into the void.

    Josh cut his eyes to Sen, ¡°I thought you said you could fly this thing!¡±

    ¡°I can! It¡¯s avoiding the already destroyed objects that I¡¯m having trouble with! Do you want to try?¡±

    ~Apologies, brother!~ Josh nodded, shamefaced. ~We¡¯d be dead already if we had to depend on my flying skills. Let¡¯s both take a few hours for flying lessons after this is over.~This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ~Agreed!~ Sen¡¯s mind huffed out partially placated as he tightly careened to avoid the next series of disasters on their way to Kyon Shi¡¯s ship.

    Through the dirty viewport, Josh could see rapid bursts of telltale fire as they came from Ishan and Lobo¡¯s telltale weapons he had seen in action on the brigantine¡¯s hangar bay. Staccato pelts of bright yellow hail lancing in destructive lines from Ishan, and long streams of a solid purple lance for Lobo. The fire never came from the same position twice, but was always effective in taking out at least one of the plunge vessels that targeted the brigantine before it reappeared elsewhere.

    Josh again tried to communicate with the two space marines to alert them to the change in circumstances. They needed to know Alysa had been captured.

    ¡°Ishan. Lobo. This is Joshua Elias Tanner. We are enroute to confront Kyon Shi in his Dreadnaught. Alysa has been captured¡­ And we can see your weapons firing¨C Please don¡¯t shoot us¡ª¡±

    An androgynous voice cut Josh¡¯s fearful and meandering message.

    ¡°Joshua Elias Tanner, this is Intelligence, supervising AI of the Hegemon-4. Space marines Ishan and Lobo, code named Fuzzy Wuzzy and Howler, are under self-enacted radio-communication silence. However, you have strategic and force-critical information concerning Lieutenant JG Alysa Nang, code named Li¡¯l Sis. I will override the comm¡¯s ban to one or both on your order.¡±

    ¡°Fuzzy wha¡ª You mean Intelligence, from the Hegemon-4? Josh''s voice exploded in shocked excitement at the possibilities. ¡°Is the Hegemon-4 here?!¡±

    ¡°Negative, young Cultivator. I am a copy supporting the current field teams. As has been done for the last two-point nine billion years for our teams in combat. I am unaware of the Hegemon-4¡¯s current location beyond the plans made when we left on the Raptor. And those were classified beyond even your clearance.

    ¡°Please maintain your focus and advise on the need to break comms silence with Fuzzy Wuzzy and or Howler. Know that it will potentially jeopardize the receiving space marine. Although, I calculate the chance at only seven percent as I have not yet detected any high-level scanning from the Dreadnaught or any other capital ship in range of my sensors.¡±

    Josh looked to Sen. Putting Ishan or Lobo at risk was clearly a military decision.

    Sen nodded his understanding. ¡°Greetings, Intelligence.¡±

    ¡°Greetings, Heir Marztanak.¡±

    ¡°Please break the comm¡¯s silence for Senior Chief Ishan only. It¡¯s his call to jeopardize Lobo or not.¡±

    ¡°Acknowledged.¡±

    There was a brief pause, and Ishan¡¯s voice came over the comms. His gun could be heard firing, but he had the same no-nonsense business manner as always. ¡°... Acknowledging break of comm¡¯s silence for strategic force information. This is Fuzzy Wuzzy, over.¡±

    Sen spoke. ¡°Fuzzy Wuzzy, Lil¡¯ Sis has been captured. We are enroute to engage the hostiles and secure her in a Kaizuko fast-attack ship. We do not anticipate clear skies. You are in command... But we recommend you return home and advise on the current situation. Over¡±

    There was the briefest of pauses. ¡°Acknowledged. It has been an honor to fight with you, Swordstorm, and you as well, Mighty Mouth. Fuzzy Wuzzy out.¡±

    ¡°I thought Fuzzy Wuzzy¨C¡±

    ¡°Was a bear?¡± Intelligence interjected finishing Josh¡¯s sentence. ¡°Indeed, I have received an upload of your homeworld¡¯s customs and history. Strange people you lot are. However, in 97.4% of galactic societies in this iteration, Fuzzy Wuzzy is a tiger.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Josh exclaimed. ¡°You have got to be shi¡ª¡±

    Intelligence¡¯s sexless voice came back over the comms. ¡°Radio comm silence back in force. May your Cultivations be without bounds¡ª¡±

    ¡°Wait! Hold on just one freaking second Intelligence. Fuzzy Wuzzy? Mighty Mouth?! Who sets these codenames?¡±

    ¡°Why, I do, young Cultivator. Nil emissions protocol back in place.¡±

    Josh scowled at Sen. ~You¡¯re Swordstorm¡­ And I get Mighty Mouth?!~

    ~Yes, brother. Intelligence does see through to the soul¡­~ The short monk¡¯s smirking laughter cutting through their bond speak. ~It is a true wonder of conscious technology!~

    ¡°... Huh. I don¡¯t see Intelligence giving itself a soul-tagging code name.¡± Josh muttered under his breath to no one.

    Even with his enhanced hearing, the whispered reply could barely be heard on Josh¡¯s personal comm. ¡°Of course I have a field designation, young one.... I¡¯m the Maestro.¡±

    * * * * *

    ¡°Fuzzy Wuzzy to Howler. Mission-critical message information.¡± Ishan¡¯s voice broke the radio silence in Lobo¡¯s ear.

    ¡°Acknowledged. This is Howler, over.¡±

    ¡°Lil¡¯ Sis has been captured. Swordstorm and Mighty Mouth are enroute to rescue, as am I¡ª¡±

    ¡°Fuzzy Wuzzy¡ª¡± Lobo replied warningly.

    ¡°I have my own reasons for staying with them. You know what they are. I will not have you die with us. I am ordering you to commandeer a hyperspace-capable vessel and return home to advise on the current situation. ASAP!¡± A brief moment lapsed before Ishan spoke again in a subdued tone. ¡°... Thank you for being my streak mate. Never missing when needed. It¡¯s meant more than you know. Fuzzy Wuzzy out.¡± Lobo¡¯s comms again went dead.

    No room or ability to argue further, Lobo ceased fire and vectored for the brigantine following Ishan¡¯s last order. It was clear Ishan anticipated death as a likely outcome. Equally clear he was unwilling to give up on discovering what only Joshua Elias Tanner and Senyak Marztanak could tell him.

    Lobo looked to the last location he had seen Ishan¡¯s Gatling fire come from. ¡°... Strength to you, my Alpha.¡±

 Chapter 85

    They were now flying over the ranks of unlaunched plunge ships. A dull grey field of ship¡¯s hulls that Josh was still having a hard time believing how wide it was. He hadn¡¯t been trained in reconnaissance, but the neat rows did allow for a rough estimate using simple multiplication. His science mind gave him the number all too quickly¡­Gods!?! That¡¯s way too many! There were approximately twenty thousand ships remaining in the assault force against the Brigantine¡ªwas at least a factor of five more than the steady trickle that had already been launched. It was just a matter of time before the city ship was overwhelmed and all the Kaizuko onboard were lost...

    They finally crossed the last of the intervening missiles full of undead and arrived at the Dreadnought. At their arrival, the static shield to the command bridge¡¯s hangar opened, and Sen guided their ship in. Setting it down near the exit portal for a quick escape if they somehow managed to get out of here.

    Josh was bouncing on the balls of his feet as Sen put the ship into standby and nodded for them to go. They turned and charged down the gangplank into¡ªan empty hangar...

    No Kyon Shi.

    No undead.

    No Alysa.

    Not even other ships.

    After their last run-in, both he and Sen had their Mentation shields tightly wrapped around their minds for protection. Using their mindscape to find Alysa wasn¡¯t an option. They¡¯d have to use their brains instead.

    Josh gave Sen a questioning look. ~Well?~

    ~Well, brother¡­~ Sen rolled his eyes. ~I know it¡¯s a complicated military strategy, but let¡¯s start by going through the open door at the end of the hangar.~

    ~Funny. You¡¯re a real riot, Sen.~  Josh grunted in a mental sigh.

    They moved quickly toward the door Sen pointed out. It was in fact the only exit to the otherwise completely empty hangar.

    Standing next to the portal, Josh raised an eyebrow. ~Alright, ¡®Mr. Strategy,¡¯ should we pie the door?~

    Sen nodded affirmatively and they sectioned their entry for minimal exposure.

    As the top-knotted monk smoothly stepped through the portal first, Kyon Shi¡¯s dry laughter contemptuously rolled over them from far back on the other side.

    Sneering, Josh followed Sen into the room beyond. Strangely, his first thought was that, if anything, the ship¡¯s environment was as far from a crypt as you could get. Glossy-white hull plates reflected the lighting from above and their clean, sterile surfaces. There were also several similarly finished structural supports about as wide as columns in a Grecian temple sparsely emplaced throughout the space.

    But nothing stood between them and the impishly grinning Kyon Shi. The energy drainer stood at-ease approximately fifty yards before them. A heavy hood cowled his gloating and undead bat-face while his slim form stood calmly with its feet spread under a thick robe that would be at hold on a lich¡¯s shoulders. And his hands were held casually behind his back.Cruel laughter at their antics subtly shook his narrow shoulder as it peeled through the air to them.

    With Josh¡¯s enhanced vision, he could see Kyon Shi¡¯s cloudy eyes as they danced in the shadow of his cloak with an evil glee. Apparently happy that the wait was over and his fun could now begin. The vampire¡¯s cackling had increased at their useless precautions with the portal and cloudy gray puffs of decay had begun to fill the air around him. Flakes of his dead lungs belching from his short mummified snout.

    Laugh it up while you can, you piece of crap! A part of Josh¡¯s mind couldn¡¯t help but guess that something as ugly as Kyon Shi didn¡¯t have many opportunities to be jolly. Then his eyes narrowed as he saw Alysa being held in a psychic hover off the ground a dozen yards behind Kyon Shi. The evil jawa had clearly positioned himself between them and her, and she was still wearing her EVA.  Josh couldn¡¯t see any physical restraints. She was two feet off the ground, upright and completely ridgid. Her facial expression hadn¡¯t changed at their arrival and she wasn¡¯t tracking them with eye movements.

    Definitely being held in some form of mental or cultivator paralysis.

    Unexpectedly, Kyon Shi was alone. Time to get to work!

    ~It¡¯s not going to get better than this. Ready?~ Josh sent To Sen.

    ~Yes. But¡­ be prepared, brother. We are the fly to his spider. I am sure all is not as it seems. Though, we have no meaningful options.~

    That was true enough. The energy drainer had been holding them by the short and curlies since their confrontation in Dezain¡¯s mental space. There was nothing about having to confront him on his own Dreadnaught that was going to change that...

    But¡­ ~Make a plan. Follow the plan. Stick to the plan!~ Josh psychically yelled

    They both flash-charged the small robed figure with their swords out ready for blood. Or whatever a fifty-thousand-year-old energy drainer had in its corpse.

    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    Their only real plan was to Obi-Wan and Anakin his Count Dooku butt.

    Significantly, Sen had made sure to have Josh promise that he wouldn¡¯t charge in first. And his top-knotted karmic brother had even seen the ¡®historical recreation series of Star Wars five times,¡¯ He agreed that the planned ¡®two-on-one¡¯ tactic was the best chance they had to overcome Kyon Shi.

    Simple and true. Josh was ready as ready as he could be, charging two paces behind Sen at the unmoving and seemingly unconcerned villain who was barely shifting his spread feet in the bald face of their aggression.

    Plain as day to Aural sight, Kyon Shi had four types of Essence swirling in his Core¡ªyellow, indigo, green, and violet. The only one Josh recognized for sure was the violet of mind Essence. Though, Ritoru Dezain, the brigantine¡¯s former commander, had also had yellow and indigo Essence. He had used a lot of speed and space manipulation and telekinetic abilities. On top of this, Kyon Shi also seemed to have a secondary Core fueled by some kind of grey-black muck that ran parallel with his Meridians.

    Josh suspected this was most likely his grey core. The undead cultivatory component Sen had told him about that the spiritually risen held their undead fire in. The undead equivalent of Essence for healing purposes. Used for recovery from injuries but also to dominate living spiritual beings. Aside from being ugly, there were cons and limitations to being undead. The finite amount of ¡®undead fire¡¯ was apparently one of them. This grey-black sludge was somehow formed from Essence absorbed from living and the dead alike. Just like how he absorbed Aura and core Essence from spirit beings. But, as Sen had told him, it took a lot longer for the spiritually risen to refine undead fire than it took living cultivators to purify Essence from iterational aura. On top of this, when an undead¡¯s gray Core was empty, they could no longer heal. Not unless they had dominated undead minions already formed from and controlled by their undead fire within the spiritually risen¡¯s dominance range  that they could recall like a defaulted bank loan. Once ¡®recalled,¡¯ the undead fire from the minions could be used as an instant ¡®refill of the tank¡¯ for them so to speak. Really good for the master. But not so much for the minion. The recall of the master¡¯s undead fire sent the harvested minion to their second and final death.

    Kyon Shi recalling his undead fire from his minions needed to be avoided. Striking fast and hard was the biggest part of their plan. Unless they took Kyon Shi down in short order, there would likely be some surprises. A steep learning curve from his unknown attunements was something Josh really wanted to avoid. Having just been on the other side of an Attunement difference in fighting Ritoru Dezain¡¯s singly attuned Kaizuko guards, Josh was sure Kyon Shi was sitting back and buffing his nails waiting for their pathetic charge to reach him¡­And that was scary the bejeezus out of him. On the other hand, Sen had pointed out that, compared to other Cultivators, their Clone-given Boons had definitely amplified their power gains during the Earth and Mind Attunements beyond what average advancing cultivators could expect. They had a significant difference in the strength, speed, Essence volume, etc¡­, compared with what other Cultivators received during advancements.

    Could their boons be enough to even the playing field?

    Unknown.

    Reality was, that until one second ago, they hadn¡¯t even known how many Attunements the vampire had.

    Still, it would be two-on-one with a former Immortal combat specialist and one pissed-off lawyer from the South Side with more than excellent earth shield control versus Kyon Shi¡¯s old and moldy.

    Maybe our optimized physiology and spirituality can narrow the difference between us and this quad-attuned scum bag¡­hopefully.

    Despite being life-long friends with Murphy¡¯s law¡­ Josh thought they had a chance. Maybe he could rope-a-dope the energy drainer with his earth shield, and Sen could move in for the kill like they had with Nagal. Maybe?

    It¡¯s really not that bad a strategy for the three minutes of planning we had during our transport flight from the Brigantine. Not bad at all. He was almost out right optimistic in the final second as they closed in on Kyon Shi.

    Sadly, Josh and Sen¡¯s date with density ordered the lobster...

    Three quarters of the way to the energy drainer, an indigo Essence-portal opened, and a six-legged skeletal salamander shot out like a missile and crashed into Sen. All six of its limbs wrapped around and took the monk down like a roided out pro linebacker on a highschool freshman. Locked tight, the two tumble-rolled over the decking out of Josh¡¯s peripheral vision.

    ~Sen!?~

    No response.

    This was a problem¡­a BIG problem. Sure, Josh¡¯s long hours of training with Sen and the Sundai Clan had drastically improved his fighting skills and combat mindset. But there was no plan to fight Kyon Shi where he was anything but second fiddle!

    The widening smile on Kyon Shi¡¯s desiccated lips testified that a mano a mano with Josh had been his plan all along.

    Josh could almost hear the energy drainer¡¯s raspy voice commanding his second with gloating confidence and then barking a Dr. Evil laugh that could make even Mike Myers jealous,

    ¡®Separate them. So that I can deal with the weaker combatant first. Then we can finish the stronger at our leisure.

    And Josh had to admit it was a darn good plan. One he should have realized was in the words from the get go. Sen had definitely seen its possibility, but wisely kept it close to his vest to stop Josh from freaking out.

    In the ironically slowed mental time the universe gave him before what was sure to be his destruction, Josh had to admit Sen had made the right choice. Given a second to think about it, Josh would have balked at a suicidal-head-on solo rush against Kyon Shi. Still Josh knew with certainty that his obligation to stall the energy drainer so could finish with him was unchanged. True! That time was now longer so that Sen could deal with the bone daddy that had just ambushed him and get back to their main event. Nothing had changed about that fact that only together did they have any kind of chance against Kyon Shi!

    Shivers ran up and down Josh¡¯s spine at the sight of the leering menace looming in front of him. A split microsecond of thought told Josh that the smart play was to slow down, back off with his sword raised, and try to find a way to stall until Sen was back¡­

    And Josh almost did that¡­ But for the dead, absolute certainty that this was exactly what Kyon Shi was expecting him to do.

    Without question, the undead¡¯s plan centered around Josh making that conservative and absolutely wise choice¡­But, since their first encounter they had always been on the back foot making the smart moves. They had been doing nothing but tactically responding to their enemy¡¯s  well laid out strategies and falling farther and farther behind him. What they hadn¡¯t been doing was proactively making their own plans to put him away. As a result, the Spiritually Risen vampire had been all too easily leading them down the path to slaughter.

    This is no way to run a railroad Joshy¡­Or kill an undead energy drainer.  I can¡¯t take the easy way out, can I?

    Nope.  Josh answered the rhetorical question echoing between his ears.

    Instead, likely accelerating to a painful end, Josh continued his full speed charge at Kyon Shi without stopping.

    Even if I only get less than an instant of surprise from the mummified monster before I get squashed like a bug, it''s better than being forced into following the smarmy bastard¡¯s plan.

    With what could only be called unsound reasoning for a battle strategy, Josh arrived at Kyon Shi. A spiritually risen undead lich, obviously less than impressed with the Chicago lawyer¡¯s decision.

    The energy drainer was standing in a flat-footed stance, rolling his calcified eyes as an emaciated hand shot up to grab Josh¡¯s blade out of the air. Instantly the reed thin arms yanked it from his hands with strength that no earthly logic said they should possess. His single hand easily then bent Josh¡¯s bastard sword bent into a T-square with the simple flexion of a closed fist. Sighing a stinking cloud in Josh¡¯s face, Kyon Shi tossed the ruined blade over his shoulder as a bony fist punched a hole through Josh¡¯s earth shield and grabbed his throat in a cold, hard vice. The rest of Josh¡¯s shield shattered into evaporating golden-orange motes of Essence as he was slammed down onto the deck plates with a simple shifting of the smaller figure¡¯s weight.

    Crouching over the befuddled human in a one knee raised position, the other on crushing down on his creaking ribs, Kyon Shi sighed with his calcified eyes wide and staring. ¡°Really? Running out like a stabbing fool was your plan?!¡± The undeads free hand gestured in the air generously to the side, ¡°... I understand you would have a need to attempt violence before the eventuality of my superiority was realized¡­but if this is really all you have to back the attempt up¡­I¡¯m a beginning to be disappointed in your abilities and sanity¨C,¡±

    With no hope to succeed and nothing to lose, Josh reached up with both hands and grabbed the vampire¡¯s mummified head on either side. Breathing heavily from the incredible strength of the undead choking his throat and crushing his ribs, Josh puffed out. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know about that... coming out like a stabby man has gotten me here, didn''t it?¡±

    Josh acted.

    Kyon Shi only had time for a shocked expression to cross his cold face as the human activated a cultivator skill that exceeded his understanding.

    Josh had some very shallow suspicions about what his Tetrahedral Hybrid skill did and what I might do in a circumstance like this. But being a split second from what was likely his death¡­or worse¡­ The human thought of it as his very last chance.

    If Josh had had a second to think about it, he would have been as surprised as Kyon Shi was when their physical bodies froze and both their minds were hurled down a deep and seemingly unending hole.

 Chapter 86

    Sen fully propagated his earth shield when the two-meter skeleton had translocated through its portal and slammed into him. With bone-crushing strength, its six-clawed limbs squeezed as they ringed around him. The usually transparent earth shield went completely opaque resisting the force that was trying to pulverize him. Sen immediately felt the Essence drain as he funneled it through his meridians to keep the barrier up and himself breathing.

    The Skelemander, a warrior subclass of spiritually risen undead, much like the draugr, was a very worthy foe. As a whole, because of their great strength, they preferred grappling and close quarter melee combat. A very different form of battle than the mental-mage skill base that Kyon Shi was developing. Sen¡¯s aural sight saw the violet of Mind Attunement, the indigo of Space, and the yellow of Force Essence as they pulsed through the Skelemander¡¯s Core and meridians.

    A tri-Attuned opponent!

    Reality was not being kind to them today. Right now, Josh would be facing Kyon Shi alone. That was not going to go well for his brother, but Sen could do nothing about it except deal with his own enemy quickly and then get back..

    From Sen¡¯s memory, there was no easily exploitable weakness that the Skelemander suffered from. In general, they were strong and could take a great deal of damage. They were slower than less bulky opponents. However, its force Attunement would nullify that disadvantage. All Sen could hope to do was hack it to pieces in the short-term and return later to incinerate them, time permitting.

    This was going to be a slugging match¡­but one that Sen felt prepared for. Say what you want about the Clone and his calloused treatment. He¡¯s given us a solid foundation by facilitating mine and Josh¡¯s Earth and Mind Attunements first.

    These two Attunements were a solid base to start many Cultivator builds. The strength, vitality, Essence reserves, damage deferment potential, and protection abilities were optimized with the union of Mind and Earth. All of these were prime requisites for victory in most single combat encounters and Sen knew he was as well prepared as any doubly attunened cultivator could hope to be in such a struggle.

    Waiting for his opponent to stop the grappled roll he had thrown them into, Sen noted that despite being a third tier Attuned Spherical Cultivator, the Skelemander¡¯s base build was not entirely well suited for this method of combat. Not really the Sekelmander¡¯s fault. Incomplete builds were the curse of all Spherical Core Cultivators the multiverse through.

    It was widely known that gathering one¡¯s Attunements in the Spherical stage was a transitional phase in development. All such early Cultivators should enter their battles cautiously and recognize their weaknesses. However, the Skelemander, being an undead minion, was subject to Kyon Shi¡¯s arrogant whims. Given its own choice¡¯s, perhaps it would have been more conservative in choosing or avoiding a fight.

    But here they were.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Without earth attunement¡¯s increased strength, vitality, and shield options, this beast simply had not yet fully grown into the potential capabilities on its chosen path. Placing it at a significant disadvantage to cultivators of equal level who had.

    Sen would exploit this.

    The top-knotted monk¡¯s bastard sword was wedged between it and his earth shield. He pulled up and cut into the Skelemander¡¯s ribs, severing the ends off two of them in the process.

    Responding to Sen¡¯s quick thinking, it circulated its undead fire to replace the bones that had been severed and flung Sen off to its front to get a better view of his armed enemy.

    Sen twisted into an aerial flip and landed in a head down, three-point stance as he slid across the smooth decking. He came to a halt a dozen meters away and looked up with his bastard sword extended to the side.

    The Sekelemander had stayed in place from where it had thrown Sen. Obviously realizing that accelerating its movements with force attunement wasn¡¯t enough to balance their difference in speed and reaction times.

    Instead it was now attempting to draw Sen into a more favorable fight. One that would rely on its strength to grind the monk¡¯s soft human body into pulp. It had straightened up into a two footed stance, opened its four arms wide with claws spread and shook them out invitingly.

    Circling each other in a tightening spiral, Sen spoke first. ¡°An invitation to grapple? I am uncertain that such combat is in my best interest.¡±

    The undead monster replied equally as politely in a refined voice that seemed odd coming from a towering skelemander who walked the path of a mele grinding machine. ¡°Suit yourself young one. You only prolong my inevitable victory and lessen my opinion of your intelligence. Not a wise choice for someone who will be below my dominance and subjection within our masters will.¡±

    Sen wasn¡¯t taken aback. Many were the paths taken in cultivation. It would be foolish to think a brawler could only be an uneducated thug merely because of his chosen method of combat.

    Still, Sen wasn¡¯t interested in being crushed, and, or subjugated. For one thing, Sen knew that the skelemander would find it hard to deliver either of those promises without arms... or a head.

    Nodding in apparent agreement to the undead¡¯s words, Sen mirrored his larger opponent¡¯s stance and held his arms out wide. Bastard sword in his right hand, and a lunatic gleam in his eyes the short monk took a slow step forward. The Skelemander was only too happy at seeing its challenge accepted and it accelerated at him. Sen assessed its speed as a match for his maximum enhanced velocity and joined in the charge.

    The two streaks surged at each other over the deck. Orange sparks shot off Sen¡¯s partial earth shield propagation positioned over the right half of his body as the skelemander struck him with two right-clawed open fists.

    Sen¡¯s first and second slashes were aimed at its top right paw and lower left leg. Both swung through empty air leaving the human overextended.

    Playing to its strengths, the skeleton had activated its Space/Time Attunement and translocated immediately after its attacks. It reappeared behind Sen and slammed down on his back from above. Three clawed limbs found purchase on Sen¡¯s unprotected left side and dug in spraying fountains of blood in three directions as the bony talons carved deep into Sen¡¯s chest and abdomen. The Skelemander¡¯s fanged snout then slammed Sen¡¯s head to the side to close around his throat in an undisguised finishing move.

    A rather¡­ challenging position for Sen to be in¡­

    ¡­Or it would have been if he hadn¡¯t been using his neck as a tasty snack to bait a trap.

    Sen couldn¡¯t hold back the thin, devious smile from his lips as a complete earth shield propagation exploded from his Core. A three-meter orange and golden sphere instantly appeared around him bearing thousands of sixty-centimeter spikes extending from its surface. The Skelemander was instantly pushed off Sen. Its bones pierced and shattered as it writhed helplessly like a worm stuck on countless hooks for several micros before losing consciousness and going limp.

    Quickly Sen dismissed his shield and swung his bastard sword to sever the Skelemander¡¯s while it still fell to the floor. A sharp front kick sent the fanged skull to shatter against a nearby bulkhead before it fell to the ground.

    This would only slow the tri-attuned risen dead down. But time was a factor right now. Time Josh didn¡¯t have.

    Sen cycled his Essence to heal his wounds and stop his bleeding as he flashed back to where he had been pulled from Josh.

    Josh was alone against Kyon Shi¡­ Enough said.

 Chapter 87

    Admittedly, using his Tetrahedral Hybrid Attunement skill was a last resort¡ªa Hail-Mary pass that really should put him in contention for the Heisman. Josh knew it would do something¡­ But what exactly? That was up for grabs. He could feel it pulling on both Mind and his Earth Essence. Braiding them together to accomplish its ends. This was new. Up to this point Josh had considered his Essence as vanilla formed from either earth or mind Aura. Something he would have to think about when he wasn¡¯t fighting for his life¡­

    And, using the Skill hadn¡¯t been something he had discussed with Sen. Mostly because he hadn¡¯t told Sen about its existence. Exactly how Josh had ended up in the position needing to use a last ditch effort at the very start of a fight was honestly a reflection of the quality of work they put into their planning. Which was decidedly piss poor. No question about that. He made a note to put more time into planning the next time he was faced with mortal combat with a cultivator two attunements above him. It was true that he and Sen had expected Kyon Shi to have some support¡­ But really, a triple-Attuned, six-armed raptor skeleton that jumped out of insta-portals?! That possibility had been very low on their probability list.

    The sane part of Josh¡¯s mind interrupted his rambling.

    What are you complaining about? Your plan was to delay Kyon Shi so Sen could get back here and chop him to pieces... Nothing¡¯s actually changed in that regard. In fact, everything¡¯s going exactly according to plan. That¡¯s my story anyway, and I¡¯m sticking to it.

    And his sane mind was making a lot of sense, so Josh went with it¡­Now onto the tough part¡­ Actually buying Sen the time he needs ...

    If Josh was being honest, he really wasn¡¯t worried about Sen dealing with the tomahawk, bone-in ribeye surprise that had bowled him down the deck. Josh had yet to see the limits of Sen¡¯s martial abilities. He doubted that even this nightmare would bring everything out, either.

    So, buying time it is!

    Focusing on the here and now, Josh saw that Kyon Shi¡¯s response to their current situation was a lot like how Ishan¡¯s had been when Josh had first brain-jacked the Tiger Affin on the Raptor: Initial surprise and then a quick scramble for weapons that weren¡¯t there.

    The new battle ground they had appeared placed them fifty yards apart in a gray, lifeless world with the odor of death laying heavy in the stagnant air that hung around them. A thick layer of oily dust coated the ground like furniture covers in a haunted house. The outline of cold-blooded, sightless things that bore far too many legs could be seen as they crawled shallowly under the dust''s surface.

    A knowing look came over Kyon Shi¡¯s face and his head nodded grudgingly as he chuckled through a smirk of admiration over dry, cracked lips. With hands held up as if to encompass the area around them, Kyon Shi walked to the halfway point between Josh and himself. He raised a jagged-nailed finger and tapped at an invisible barrier in front of him. A pulse of white light radiated from Kyon Shi¡¯s nail point touched to outline the football field sized area that surrounded Kyon Shi. The sound of an empty five-thousand-gallon tank being hammered on accompanied the barrier¡¯s opacity. Echoing through the battle space.

    Lowering his hand, Kyon Shi looked up at Josh as if truly seeing him for the first time and he pointed a finger to emphasize every word. ¡°Your surprises continue, thrall.¡± A serious and deadly expression fell over his countenance. ¡°... How you brought us to my soul space, I have yet to learn. I hunger to claim your mind¡¯s light along with these secrets¡­ But I will feed you your child¡¯s flayed organs for having the brazen arrogance of thinking you could donjon me in my own Umbra!¡±

    Closing thin and leather eyelids, the energy drainer adopted a horse stance and began to intone a harsh-edged mantra. Darkness exploded from him and filled the space he was held in. The transparent boundary around Kyon Shi began to strain and loud cracking noises filled Josh¡¯s ears as hairline cracks sprang up and ran along the cage''s circumference. They quickly grew thicker as the pressure from the undead''s dark mojo increased.

    Uh oh...

    Josh could feel his strength being pulled from him as Kyon Shi attacked the walls of the crystal boundary his skill had somehow created.

    The bastard is draining me again! Status!

    Nothing.

    Status! Status! Status!

    Still nothing... Then the truth hit him.

    Wake up, Josh! You are in Kyon Shi¡¯s mind. He doesn¡¯t have your Probability Interface, does he? So stop looking for it!

    God! I¡¯m such a smart ass... How does anybody put up with me!

    However, the feel of his Essence draining was a clue, even if he couldn¡¯t see how much. This was a battle of wills¡ªof their psyches and inner strength, which his Probability Interface calculated as Essence. Now that he knew what he was up against... he had an idea!

    Josh cycled Essence through his Meridians and into the space surrounding him. Faster and faster it surged through the created loop. A white-golden vortex began to take shape and rapidly filled the area above him like Kyon Shi¡¯s darkness had filled his side. The sparkling swirl enveloped his cage and started to siphon off the rancid power Kyon Shi had been cracking the barrier with. The light in soul space increased, and the smell of death lessened as Josh¡¯s Essence gained its foothold. The splintering barrier walls also renewed like reverse-time video footage.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Every muscle in his body was tense and his fists were clenched at his sides as he leaned forward. Teeth grinding from the effort of his mental power output. Sweat started pouring from his hair, face, neck, pits and crotch. But he wasn¡¯t about to slow down. Oh, you want my Essence you fugly bastard! Here! Take it all!!!

    The angry lawyer forced his cycling into overdrive and the intensity of his Essence outshone everything in the undead¡¯s bleak soul space.

    Both combatants were blinded by its blazing sun for what seemed like forever.

    Josh held it for as long as he could, unsure of the passage of time. Then, panting, heart racing like a thoroughbred, lightheaded and no longer able to continue, he slowed down the cycling.

    Eyes still bedazzled from the psychic lumens, Josh blinked to see what lay before him. Is he gone? Washed away from the iteration¡¯s toilet bowl on a Mr. Clean commercial like the diarrhea splash he is?

    One could only hope.

    As Josh¡¯s lightshow finally faded to less retinal-searing levels, Josh saw the energy drainer was down on one knee, head bowed and panting with the mental equivalent of deep retching breaths. Patches of white bone showing through blackened hide where thin skin and greasy strings of hair had been burned away. Nothing remained of the  tattered lich cowl and robes he had always worn. Just a pile of charred saggy skin. And fortunately, as far as Josh could tell, he was a smoothy between his short,stubby, flying-mammal legs.

    Kyon Shi rose slowly to his clawed feet, a feral slant to his stance spoke volumes about what Josh had done.

    Volcanoes of enmity erupted in his calcified white eyes as the two of them locked gazes. ¡°I. Had. To. BURN MY CORE ESSENCE!¡± The undead finished in a raging shout as he hurled his wiry frame at the crystal barrier shattering it and launching on an intercept towards Josh with all his claws extended.

    Now that Josh had truly angered risen undead out of his arrogant posturing, the 44 year old knew that there was no iteration in which he could stop the death-storm of rage that currently howled at him. Nothing was going to stop this undead from applying his entire will to destroying the human who¡¯d cost him so much.

    * * * * *

    Alysa was a small fish in a very big pond, but being frozen in place by cosmic bad guys was getting old. Still, as her father said, she should try to learn from her elders. Just probably not from Josh and Sen.

    These two had arrived in a cringe-worthy fashion¡ªstorming the bay of a superior force with no concealment techniques, fallback plans, or any diversionary actions.

    The very first and last thought that sprang to her mind was, If this is how they operate¡­ How are these two still alive?

    Sen had been dragged from her frozen field of view by a very nasty specimen from Kyon Shi¡¯s warrior stable as it appeared and they went rolling across the decking. He hadn¡¯t yet returned. Josh had ended up locked in place and not moving for the last twenty seconds with Nosferatu himself.

    That pairing isn¡¯t going to go well for any of us¡­

    Soon after that, things had begun to become truly interesting.

    Darkness had swelled around Josh and Kyon Shi, and they had flown apart like neighboring Coloso EM-mags that had suddenly been tuned to the same polar frequency.

    Josh had been sent sprawling on his back fifty meters away from where he¡¯d been standing. Kyon Shi had resurfaced like a knargon bristling razor plates after being bloodied in a hunt. The undead¡¯s scratchy voice had screamed in a language she hadn¡¯t recognized as he swiped his clawed hands at everything and nothing.

    Locking on to Josh¡¯s prone form, the energy drainer had leaped the fifty for his throat, and had almost cleared the distance between them when Sen¡¯s saffron streak had  intercepted his body arching through the air. The new battling pair had again left her field of view. Strain as she might, there was no breaking free from the space lich¡¯s paralytic iron hold on her body.

    A moment later Josh had righted himself and leapt from through her field of view toward the action Where ever that was. In the following micros, the three crossed her sight-line several times. Sen¡¯s sword had constantly been flashing and usually ineffectively slicing off Kyon Shi¡¯s arms and legs, only to have them instantly grow back.

    Josh, completely unarmed¡ªhad been for the most part riding the undead¡¯s back in a rear naked choke position. He¡¯d tried gouging out Kyon Shi¡¯s eyes, tearing the skin off his shrunken head, and once even reached over his head with two hooked fingers and rammed them into the undead¡¯s nostrils, ineffectually trying to to turn his head away from Sen¡ª

    Daddy!

    Sophie¡¯s voice jubilantly cried out mentally as Alysa¡¯s four-year old spiritual sister popped into being in their shared soul space.

    A rush of mixed emotion flooded Alysa at Sophie¡¯s arrival. When she came there was always a sense of ¡®completeness¡¯. Alysa somehow felt calm and reassured ¡°better now¡± despite the battle going on around her and the uncertainty for all their lives. Moreover, despite the space marine¡¯s body still being stuck helplessly in place in the physical world, Alysa was mentally freed upon Sophie¡¯s arrival. She instantly joined her sister in their opened psychic dimension, sighing in the relief their soul space afforded. The warmth of Sophie as she ran up smiling and wrapped her small arms around the space marine¡¯s waist, squeezing for all she was worth was the best part of her life¡­

    ¡­But Alysa couldn¡¯t shrug off the alarm bells that were simultaneously going off in her mind. As ridiculous as the fight in the physical world looked right now, Alysa hadn¡¯t been fooled by the spectacle Kyon Shi had been maintaining. The cowled undead could have met Josh and Sen with a room full of disruptors, swarming undead¡­or just the dozens of iron-bar-strong arms he had pulled her through his portal with. Regardless of how things had degenerated quickly from his original plan, the energy drainer was laying wait for something¡­

    ¡­ And of all the beings I know, Sophie has an awful lot of spiritual energy that he could drain!!!!¨C

    Realization slammed into Alysa¡¯s thinking like an out of control railed transport. Terror fueled her thoughts as she dropped to her knees holding Sophie¡¯s shoulders at arms length, ¡°Go back!! Go back right now! This is all a trap for you!!¡±

    But Alysa¡¯s words were already too late.

    Sophie¡¯s attention was shot to the space directly above them, somehow perceiving the monster¡¯s evil intention from beyond the pink floating clouds her space marine sister couldn¡¯t see or feel.

    Faster than Alysa could see, the four-year-old¡¯s arms shot up like she was trying to hold the sky up over their heads and all around them a glimmering golden shield snapped in place. An instant later a meter wide swirling mass of obsidian filth slammed down on them from above like an orbital mining laser. The grass and colorful collection of fantasy animals around were instantly destroyed as the death that rained down on them absorbed the Essence supplying them existence.

    For a long moment after the attack Sophie''s eyes widened in fear and her shoulders began to buckle as the shield above them shrank and dimmed to a hand¡¯s breadth from their heads. Then her countenance changed and she spread her legs and straightened her knees like a powerlifter pushing it back to its original place.

    Alysa could see that her small body was drawing the Essence she used to generate their soul space directly into her meridians on the soles of her feet through the ground they stood upon. The gossamer shield she had created immediately brightened and expanded a meter on all sides of them. A strangely adult sounding voice grunted over her sister¡¯s soft palate and through her clenched teeth in its strain as the void-black energy continued its pounding assault from above. Claws and skeletal hands taking form in its swirly eddies to pound the golden surface that protected them before being spent and disintegrating to black motes of energy, dissipating back to the iteration.

    A small trickle of blood was leaking from both of Sophie''s nostrils as her eyes squeezed shut in her effort to force the obsidian death pounding from above. The force from Kyon Shi seemed to redouble and the small girl''s knees momentarily wobbled as she bent her arms that were raised above her shoulders to meet it. Sophie¡¯s voice was haggard through her gritted teeth as she gasped,¡°Get behind me sister ¡­and lend me your strength!¡±

 Chapter 88

    With his aural sight, Josh saw an obsidian tendril shoot from Kyon Shi¡¯s mind and encapsulate Alysa¡¯s paralyzed form.  At the same time Kyon Shi took a knee, held a hand up in surrender, sucking in air and panting out dark clouds of rancid stink from deep in his dead lungs. His heavy cowl in the physical world had been pulled back during the battle and several strips of leather skin and one pale bat ear had been peeled back from his bald head to hang on slender strands, showing dry, white and lifeless bones beneath.

    ¡°You win, warrior...¡± Huh-huh-huh. The stink of rotting breath filled the space between them with his continued gasping. ¡°...The undead fire of my grey Core has been significantly reduced.¡±

    Sen took a step back, flat-footed, uncertain how to respond to his enemy¡¯s words.

    The frail looking undead shifted his gaze to Josh and his expression turned into one of pure malice. Still panting Kyon Shi spoke again, ¡°Know this human. You have driven me to the point of recapture. Orlen¡­¡± The lich extended his hand as he called out a name¨C

    ¡°Please no no no no NO NO MASTER¨C¡± The terrified cry was stifled as arm-thick surges of black energy came from a shattered but healing skelmander that Josh hadn¡¯t even noticed was advancing on their position. Exactly as if the force keeping his bones together had been withdrawn, the skelemander immediately stopped speaking and crumbled to the ground in a tumble of dry bones that maintained his body''s previous momentum. Sliding a small distance, they came to a rest and remained still in a disorganized spread on the deck plates.

    There were also hundreds and thousands of other finger-thick pulses from all directions that also colessed on Kyon Shi. Forming an onyx nimbus around him that steadily sank into his medians. Obvious strength and vigor returned to his previously battered form as a relieved grin full of short needle like fangs and evil hate opened wide on his dead face.

    Josh and Sen unconsciously took a step back from the occult spectacle as the unhealed wounds from the human monk¡¯s many slices and amputations instantly recovered. Open wounds slid closed, claws, digits, a missing limb and even his sliced-off ears grew back to once again ride high on his undead head. All occurring in the scant breadth of one deep breath. When it was finished Kyon Shi again spoke from his familiar position of angry arrogance. Continuing his sentence from where he had left off, as if he hadn¡¯t just interrupted his previous train of speech to raid his refrigerator of undeath.

    ¡°...But now the fight is over. Now that I have Sophie, your child, within my grasp and am feeding on her even as we speak...¡± A malevolent shine rose in his eyes as he nodded to Alysa¡¯s frozen form in her EVA 20 meters away. As if the matter was settled, the energy dryer again stood in a leg spread, flat footed stance before them. As if he had no cares in the world.

    Josh¡¯s mind raced faster than his heart was beating as he did a series of double takes. Trying to decide between continuing with Kyon Shi versus running to Alysa¡¯s side on wobbling legs. Josh¡¯s Aura sight told the truth of the energy drainer¡¯s claim. A thick, black, wavering tentacle of defilement rose from the top of Kyon Shi¡¯s head and encased Alysa¡¯s entire body. Josh could see momentary pulses of underlying golden sparks surge from below only to be overcome by the putrid rot of Kyon Shi coming from above.

    Still spitting out bitter words, the vampire continued. ¡°I should slaughter and carve the spiritual pair of them up before you. Feed you their excrement while you lay dying on the ground¡­But as I have said, I haven¡¯t called you here to kill you¡­yet. You will be made into my willing, spiritually risen undead servants. Of this, I assure you.¡± He narrowed his leathery brows.

    Josh was pretty sure, ¡®refilled¡¯ as he was¡­Kyon Shi just might be able to deliver on that promise. But for some reason instead of acting, the monster continued monologuing. ¡°Since I found her in your mind, Sophie and her trove of spiritual energy have always been my target.¡± His back cheeks rose in sharp enmity filled points as his cracked dead lips pulled back in a rictus on his shrewish face. He then nodded to affirm his own statement. ¡°I will feed off of her until she has been drained so many times she no longer can absorb Aura from the iteration. During this time she will serve as the handle I use to control and crush you both. When I have finished with her I will feed you her still-living, physically linked avatar before I reabsorb you both for my advancement!

    The lich gestured with a skeletal thin hand at the ground before him. ¡°Now! On your knees and we will begin your instructions in pain.¡±

    Josh and Sen remained standing, but unmoving. Unsure how best to prevent Sophie from suffering. Kyon Shi seeing their hesitancy filled the gap.

    ¡°...I can see that you continue in your willful nature. Despite everything you still need a bit more tenderizing¨C¡± Kyon Shi¡¯s dead bat face lit up in an ¡®Aha moment¡¯ expression. ¡°I know! I¡¯ll  show you how I like to do things...¡±

    Kyon Shi pressed a commlink at his tattered collar with his freshly regrown left hand.

    ¡°Yes m¡¯lord?¡± came a distant and tiny reply.

    ¡°Launch the remainder of the plunge vessels and convert the Brigantine.¡± Kyon Shi pointed at the almost complete arc of plunge vessels overhead for Josh and Sen¡¯s benefit. Then, as if he was building Josh and Sen¡¯s trust through the action of ordering the extermination of every Kaizuko on the Brigantine, the energy drainer leaned toward them in a conspiratorial manner.. ¡°We¡¯ll finish our talk after the Brigantine has been subjugated, hmm?¡±

    As Josh was Sophie¡¯s father, Sen was no doubt following Josh¡¯s lead. A tense coil waiting to spring or knell at Josh¡¯s decision.

    Obtunded by hearing what horrors were going to happen to Sophie. Seeing with his Aural sight what was happening to Alysa. And then seeing the steel curtain of destruction closing the distance between its start and the Brigantine¡­ It took Josh several beats before he could hear the subconscious voice that had been screaming in his head trying to apprehended over his fears. But one more glance at the envelope of energy around Alysa¡¯s body made Josh¡¯s mind realize what his subconscious had been trying to tell him.

    The golden surges¡­

    The golden surges!

    They had been coming from Sophie¡¯s side. They were decreasing in frequency and amplitude, yes¡­ In fact, they were significantly weaker than before¡­but they were still coming. SOPHIE WAS STILL FIGHTING!

    Josh¡¯s mind slammed into overdrive. The POS has been monologuing!

    Worse than the just risen from the dead, Dread Pirate Wesely raving about a ¡®Duel to the Pain¡¯ with Prince Humperdink, Kyon Shi has been stalling for time.

    He needs to die¡­and right now!

    ~Sen!! Kyon Shi¡¯s monologuing! Attack now!~

    With no gap, Sen¡¯s blade flashed through the air and Kyon Shi ducked under the first backhanded flourish only to have his left forearm severed blocking Sen¡¯s full-force returning right to left slash.

    Still Kyon Shi¡¯s limb was regrowing even as Josh¡¯s karmic brother¡¯s initial question came through their bond. ~Mono-whatting?~

    ~Monologuing! Talking in long singular discourse to stall for time. But our girls are still fighting! Tear him to pieces! I¡¯m going to see if I can help on the mental side of things.~

    Josh sped toward Alysa and grabbed her shoulders to enter her and Sophie¡¯s soul space¨C

    And his consciousness bounced off Kyon Shi¡¯s waiting mental barrier that surrounded Alysa. Like a rubber ball against a brick wall he rebounded, landing right in the trap that the undead monster had laid in waiting for Josh to do such a foolish thing as expand his mindscape in the presence of a mind mage.

    Suddenly, Josh was in three places at once. In one, he was roasting over a fire pit with a wooden skewer the size of a Christmas tree piercing him from mouth to rectum. The rising flames roasted his skin to transparency. Charred black edges expanded over him as he slowly rotated in agony.

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    But Josh was also standing in Sophie¡¯s and Alysa¡¯s soul space. Alysa was kneeling behind Sophie with her arms wrapped around his small child defensively. Sophie stood with her arms and legs spread out in an X. Golden light pouring from her, forming and filling a spherical space around them. Rivulets of blood flowed from her eyes, ears, nose, and the corners of her tiny mouth. A mouth that was grimacing and grunting in pain even now as she strained against the obsidian putrescence that smashed against her defenses. Kyon Shi¡¯s death rail was crushing Sophie¡¯s Essence into a tighter and tighter space. Already on her knees, Alysa had to hunch to the side to keep the shield from smashing her head.

    She was only seconds away from losing this fight.

    The third and last piece of Josh¡¯s splintered consciousness lay with his own body as he stood in front of Alysa¡¯s frozen form. Kyon Shi¡¯s putrefactive mental tendril still surrounded her, broken up by the flashes of golden Aura that came from Alysa¡¯s body. The ebbing interruptions of Essenced still glowed from inside the choking, cloying darkness. The golden interruptions in the struggle between Sophie and Kyon Shi seemed to correspond to Sen¡¯s flurry of sword attacks against the energy drainer¡¯s body. Sen¡¯s strikes were having an effect¡­but as the black filth was steadily growing stronger, Sophie''s resistance continued to weaken even with Sen¡¯s attacks¡­

    Josh¡¯s little girl was weakening and wouldn¡¯t hold out much longer.

    * * * * *

    Kneeling, Alysa gripped her arms as tightly as she could around Sophie¡¯s narrow chest. She had funneled as much of her Essence as she could to her. But Alysa¡¯s help was only a drop in the bucket compared to the powers that had been thrown around inside their soul space. Both the drilling attack of foulness from Kyon Shi and Sophie¡¯s unceasing resistance were off any scale that Alysa could understand as a non-Attuned cultivator. But now the tiny girl struggled to keep her arms and the shield that protected them up. Already Sophie had drained their entire soul space of its Essence. The multi-hued fields and forests, babbling streams, fantasy herds, and fanciful flocks, even the pink clouds that had hung in the sky were gone. They now floated in a space empty in all directions save for the increasingly greasy smell and taste of rancid vile that hung around them.

    Early on in their struggle Alysa had told Sophie that this wasn¡¯t a winnable fight. That she absolutely needed to go, ¡°¡­You can''t save me this time. Please get out of here! Go, now!¡± The space marine had pleaded.

    Sophie¡¯s only response had been to look up from the corner of her eye,  her cheeks raised in a partial and helpless smile. Then to grit her teeth and push her Essence even harder. Her short arms and legs stretching as far as she could get them.

    Sophie¡¯s meaning had been clear. Alysa had dry swallowed, registering her sister¡¯s split-second glance more crystal than any words: I will never leave you.

    In Sophie''s stubbornness, the golden shield had moved a few centimeters farther from their losing battle¡­ But since then it had only been pressing back in despite amazing efforts from a four-year-old¡¯s psychic frame against a eon¡¯s old evil undead cultivator.

    However, for the last minute Sophie had been completely unresponsive to anything Alysa had said or done. The girl''s eyes were squeezed tight with dark rivulets of drying blood leaking from the corners. Dark tears that quietly spoke of the pain she was experiencing to protect them. Sophie was also quietly chanting a verse over and over again as she rocked slowly in a rhythm that to Alysa indicated the little girl had less and less physical control of her legs.

    Alysa bit her lip and sighed, knowing what she had to do¡­the only thing she could do. The space marine wanted to just go through with it right now and get it over with as quickly as possible. But she owed it to her spiritual sister to say why she was going to sever their link.

    Alysa licked her dry lips, and in barely a whisper, far too overcome with fear and hate and sorrow, she spoke into Sophie''s small ear. ¡°...You don¡¯t understand Sophie.  We¡­ I can''t protect you from him¡­¡± Alysa swallowed again, fighting back her tears and failing as they streamed down her cheeks. ¡°...When the bad man gets to you¡­he will do terrible, terrible things¡­I¡­I can¡¯t let that happen!¡±

    The space marine¡¯s words stopped as hopeless sobs wracked her body, momentarily overcome by the deeds she knew Kyon Shi was capable of. Of the terrors he would inflict on this little pure soul.

    If Sophie heard her, Alysa didn¡¯t know. The wavering chanting had not stopped. Then suddenly, for a brief micro, the child¡¯s  knees buckled, only saved from completely collapsing by what had to be an instinctive reflex taking over an instant before she fell to destruction.

    Now, lock-kneed she stood rigid but wilting.

    Alysa¡¯s time with Sophie was over. She needed to act before there was no more time to possibly save her little sister. The space marine reached with her will to grab the ends of the tie that Sophie had somehow formed weeks ago to save her life back in the Epsilon 97 section of the Hegemon-4.

    Alysa didn¡¯t know for certain if it would work, but if there was any chance for Sophie to get away this bond had to go. It was Alysa¡¯s body that Kyon Shi was holding on to after all. If Alysa broke the tie that bound them across the iterations, hopefully, the girl could still lead a full normal life in her own world. In her home iteration. Far away from the evil that wanted to devour her.

    To be true, Alysa wasn¡¯t certain that it would allow Sophie to get away¡­In fact, the only thing she was sure of was that severing the bond with Sophie''s Karma would immediately end Alysa¡¯s life. Just as surely as forming it had saved her when there was no hope. But Alysa¡¯s life was a small price to pay to keep this monster from ever laying a finger on Sophie¡­No! That could never happen!

    The space marine reached with her heart for the joining between their souls. Felt the uncountable involutions and weavings that joined the two of them from mind to core. She was not sure how she knew, but it was certain as a heart storm that their bond, as with all things involving the soul, could be affected by a strong enough intention of will. Especially when it came to breaking a bond. Things are always easier to destroy than to create.

    Alysa grasped the cord with her will and¡ª

    Once again Sophie¡¯s head snapped up to gaze into the empty space above them at exactly the same instant as a feral and vicious roar of challenge and rage echoed through the physical world and was somehow carried through to their soul space. Empowered by a force outside of Alysa¡¯s reckoning, the child managed a surge of strength to push their shield out once again.

    * * * * *

    An orange and black blur streaked over the decking of the open bay, directly from the void. A solid stream of sunfire rounds preceded the form as they tore into the head and shoulders of the undead Essence vampire from above. The surprise of their impacts momentarily rocked Kyon Shi¡¯s body back, making the undead raise his arm in defense.

    Sen stepped to the side and made space for Ishan to directly enter the melee on Kyon Shi¡¯s left flank. The Tiger Affin altered the trajectory of his wingkit and dropped down, filling the gap like a puzzle piece. At the same time the newcomer was swinging a dark-bladed machete spitting electric blue sparks from its edges with both arms. Ishan¡¯s massive double-handed downstroke severed the undead¡¯s raised arm at the elbow and embedded itself in the side of his rotting skull. Cutting the tip of the lich¡¯s pointed left ear.

    As if merely insulted, Kyon Shi¡¯s frown deepened and he gave his full attention to the late arriving Tiger Affin. Moving so fast that Josh couldn¡¯t see it clearly, the undead push-kicked Ishan dead center with a foot strike that bent his heavy chest plate and resounded with the muffled sounds of cracking ribs. Ishan roared in pain as he was shot away to the far end of the hangar and back out the opening he had just come through.

    Like the ancient carnivore of his ancestry, however, Ishan was made from some seriously tough stuff. He managed to reopen his barrage of Gatling fire even as he was blown backward and out of sight. The gunfire unerringly continued to strike the undead in his head and shoulders, leaving blackened four-pointed stars that quickly healed.

    With Ishan out of the way, Kyon Shi refocused on Sen as his left arm sprang back from the severed end, once again blocking Sen¡¯s whirling attacks with both hands and arms.

    The amount of destruction brought to bear on the undead Essence drainer was mind boggling. And from the surge of golden glow around Alysa that warred with the obsidian death from Kyon Shi, Josh could tell Sophie had rallied when Ishan had attacked. But Ishan had been forced back and her golden reprisals against the lich¡¯s attacking psychic lash were now failing even faster than before. The yellow sparks grew fainter and fainter before Josh¡¯s very eyes. Sophie was weakening and, somehow, Kyon Shi was getting his footing back under him with a renewed focus¨C

    But for the energy drainer to do that¡­It turned out that something had to give!

    Kyon Shi had been battling Sophie and Sen, along with holding Josh in his mind trap and Alysa in a Force Essence paralysis. Ishan¡¯s added attacks had apparently been the straw that broke the undead camel¡¯s back, pushing Kyon Shi¡¯s energy output past the red line.

    He had been unable to maintain all fronts he was fighting on. So the lich shored up his overextensions with the simple expediency of releasing his force paralysis on Alysa. Without question she was the opponent he considered the least dangerous of all present.

    And he was right. Alysa was in no shape to put up any kind of fight. Now free of the force paralysis she had been held in, the woman¡¯s body sagged heavily into Josh¡¯s arms, in the physical extension of his ongoing three part concurrent perception.

    Sluggishly moving her head, Alysa turned her gaze away from Josh and looked up through the main view port at the disaster of plunge ships that was only moments from obliterating the brigantine.

    * * * * *

    Ishan¡¯s attack had been unexpected and obviously telling on the undead drainer. But not enough to stop him. Just enough to put Kyon Shi on his back foot and free Alysa physically. Sophie was still absolutely trapped in their soul space. Her  brief resurgence of Essence fully deplete and her resistance coming to a quick end. The golden sphere around them was shrinking visibly. It had now shrunken to the point that Alysa wouldn¡¯t be able to return to the soul space because she couldn¡¯t fit in it. In micros the shield would collapse and Sophie would be trapped in that bastard¡¯s vileness. Who knows how strong he will become when he has his hooks directly into that sweet child!?

    A harsh whisper, more instinctual than thought driven, came from Alysa¡¯s throat into the physical world she had just emerged back into. ¡°He will not have her!¡±

    Striking now before anything could again distract her, Alysa tore savagely at the tie of their union with more intent than she had ever thought was possible. The ends shredded and then violently separated. The torn shreds of what had been one whole instantly withered in Alysa¡¯s Aural sight before the next micro when she lost the ability to Cultivate and to perceive Aura. Without her soul partner, and the link to their shared core, the young woman could see it no more.

    Alysa then slowly shifted her fading gaze to Josh, tears welling in her eyes as she spoke her last two sentences before her spirit left her dying body.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Josh¡­¡± Alysa rasped as she looked directly into his eyes. Then she looked beyond him at the impending doom of plunge ships raining down on the brigantine and the space marine spoke authoritatively into her helmet to utter a final command. Her voicing a mix of confident authority and choking sadness.

    ¡°Command authorization delta-zero-nine. Detonate all active Og wafers.¡±

    The next moment Alysa¡¯s head tilted to the side, her eyes staring blankly into eternity. She didn¡¯t feel the tiny astral hands of a little girl dropping everything to embrace their failing core with the fierceness of a lioness protecting her young.

    * * * * *

    Jarred into dumbfounded shock, Josh blinked, shaking his head not fully believing what was happening to Alysa or the meaning of her words. Even though he had heard them¡ª

    ¨CShocking realization spread through him like an electric shock and his science mind was moving him before he even had a cognizant realization of his actions. Now fully understanding what Alysa had done, stark-raving terror flooded his consciousness like the frigid waters of a bursting arctic dam.

    Immediately, Josh enveloped himself and Alysa in a completely spherical earthen shield while screaming through their Bond for Sen to break away from the still overly-focused Kyon Shi and put another earthen shield around all three of them.

    Then his fears voiced thoughts all on their own.

    No! No! NO!!! Alysa can¡¯t be gone! Not like this!

    Sophie!?!

    His soul ragged and called to his child even as he reinforced his shield for what he knew was coming.

    Without losing a second, Sen was suddenly there, snapping his shield into place even as a confused look crossed Kyon Shi¡¯s slashed but healing face. An instant later, rage boiled over the undead¡¯s mummified bat features and he charged at them, both hands raised to smash through their helpless shields¡ª

    The world was washed away in blinding, white light.

    The sound of exploding stars shattered their eardrums and they were swept away on a raging nuclear stormfront of boiling gas and liquified debris.

    The last thing Josh remembered was being tumbled around like an extra large plastic bobber going over Niagara Falls during the rainy season of a La Nina year. Still, the fate of his children defeated his reason, trembling his spirit as he desperately called to them over and over again with his mind and heart.

 Chapter 89

    Their oval earthen shield sped through space, rolling and bouncing like a beach ball on top of an avalanche in the wake of the rapidly expanding ionized atmosphere and propelled debris of Kyon Shi¡¯s Dreadnaught. Random flying shrapnel struck the outer globe and intensified the glow intermittently, eating into Sen¡¯s Free Essence.

    <table width="420">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="157">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="263">

    10742/15000

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="157">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="263">

    40500/34,768 ¡ú 14,386 ¡ú 13,944 ¡ú  13,257 ¡ú 10,735

    Spherical Cultivation units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    As they continued to hurtle and spin, Josh adjusted his earthen shield with an opening for Sen to join him and Alysa before closing it. Josh wanted to fuse the two shields together but feared what might happen if they lost Sen¡¯s outer shield too soon.

    It was hard not to be impressed with the strength of the earthen shield. His science mind sent the uncared for data that there was no question the initial blast had been in the thousands of megatons. It figuratively and near-literally blew his mind that it only took twenty-thousand Essence to divert an explosion like that.

    But Josh¡¯s whole being was focused on what was going on in Alysa and Sophie¡¯s soul space. He had moved to join them a dozen times, but the cold and detached reasoning of the fledgling warrior gripping his heart in an iron hold had kept him from running to them with inescapable logic.

    Priorities Joshy! Being with them wouldn¡¯t help them a bit if you, Sen, and Alysa¡¯s bodies are destroyed in the Nukes¡¯ shockwaves.

    Too true¡­But I just might go insane doing nothing while I stare at Alysa dying¡­

    Maybe she had died?! Things had happened way too fast since Kyon Shi had dropped his hold on her. But Josh would have sworn that he had seen Alsya¡¯s core dim and gutter out right before the blast. After the initial impact Josh had thought he had been mistaken about that. Seeing the space marine¡¯s shared core with Sophie still active and Essence rhythmically, if sluggishly pumping through her meridians¡­ But it wasn¡¯t normal and his gut told him that she needed help.

    And as much as Josh  could tell, Sen¡¯s report of diminishing Essence cost per collision indicated the detonation¡¯s energy was waning. Josh¡¯s science brain told him the thermal and blast damages were of secondary import compared to the radiation exposure from nuclear explosions while in space with no atmospheric particles to absorb it.. Radiation from nuclear explosions in the void was eighteen times greater than the same nuclear explosions within a planet¡¯s atmosphere.

    Nonetheless, the explosion had been tremendously powerful. Occurring in Kyon Shi¡¯s metropolis-sized Dreadnaught, there was the atmosphere of a miniplanet to factor in. Shaking his head, Josh gave up with too many variables to be sure how much if any or none of the bast factors caused the damage that had hurt Alysa. It ultimately didn¡¯t matter. Without a doubt, she had likely suffered much more before the blast¡¯s concussions had hit their shields. The forces had come from multiple directions at virtually the same time. Josh had done his best to place himself between her and the force walls of debris, but he had only been partially successful. Her armored head had definitely hit the side walls two or three times. Her EVA helmet was bent, and her forehead was bleeding. The face shield had been deactivated when this had started, and Josh had no idea if it would function if they ran out of Essence to keep their shields up.

    His next concern was the ongoing radiation exposure. The earthen shield skill called itself a microenvironment. He and Sen had no idea if that meant it could shield Alysa from radiation or not. He had no illusions the rads from those blasts would have killed any normal human not wearing lead long johns and a matching diving bell.

    Still, presently, Alysa was cycling her Essence. Her Mind Aura production was low and steady, indicating deep unconsciousness. The most likely scenario was a severe coma. Josh needed to enter her consciousness and see if he could do anything from there, but his already accepted logic had him waiting for the Megaton of Fun Nuclear Coaster to reach relative stability. For now, all he could do was feed her Essence so her natural healing could continue.

    Josh looked up through the transparent shield to the endless void all around. Dense but thinning fields of debris from Kyon Shi¡¯s shattered dreadnought, many the size of city blocks, still spun and roiled about them. Since the blasts, about two minutes ago, they had rolled and tumbled at unknown speeds and directions. But it had been five seconds since a new collision. He soothed his growing fears that when this number reached thirty seconds, he was going into her mind. No ifs ands or buts.

    Josh continued counting.

    The seconds ticked by.

    After a few false starts including a run in with a dozen out of control plunge ships rotating on their axis like jacks tossed by a playing child¡¯s hand, he reached thirty and he jumped into action.

    ~It¡¯s been thirty seconds since our last collision! How is your Essence holding out on our outer shield? I¡¯m going in and see if I can do anything from inside the mindscape. ~

    ~I¡¯m at seven thousand five hundred sixty-four free Essence and holding. I can top off with some of her Mind Aura if needed.~

    ~Okay. See if you can reach Intelligence to get Ishan and Lobo to come to find us... assuming they survived and are still here. I¡¯m going in. Come get me if your Essence gets down to twenty-five hundred.~

    ~Agreed!~

    Josh was already touching her, so his mere Intent to enter her mind had him instantly there.

    Kyon Shi¡¯s cloud of death was gone along with the emptiness he had glimpsed in those last hurried seconds on the dreadnought. All replaced by the pastoral meadow Sen had first shown him through their Bond. Once again, giant, white, pink, and coral-colored clouds floated in an azure sky. Lush green grass covered the ground under his feet as babbling brooks flowed and dense forests stood in the distances.

    But, the birdsong was gone and instead of ranging like they had before, all of the animals were in ranks of surrounding encirclement, down on all fours with their heads sitting on their front paws. As if they all meditated to support Sophie¡¯s ministrations to Alysa.

    In their center, Josh¡¯s four year old lay with her tiny body covering Alysa¡¯s wounded form. She held one hand over Alysa¡¯s Core and the other reached through the visor of the broken EVA helmet to press her childlike fingers against the woman¡¯s forehead.

    He hadn¡¯t had time to react to seeing Sophie in his broken glimpse on the Dreadnaught. Now his hands and arms fidgeted on instincts of their own to reach out and hold her, but there was no time for how he felt at seeing what was going on. Still, it was Sophie who got down to business first as he gaped with an open mouth and wide, watering eyes.

    ¡°Daddy! You finally made it! Alla¡¯s really hurt! I¡¯m cycling our Essence, but I can¡¯t keep her here much longer. I¡­We need to be stronger! Give us the present you brought us!¡±

    Josh was pulled out of his reverie and immediately poleaxed. ¡­He didn¡¯t have any ¡®presents¡¯ for them. This wasn¡¯t even a physical space. What could he possibly give them?

    He stammered as much. ¡°Soph! Honey! Wha-what present? I... I... I don¡¯t have any presents for you!?¡±  His eyebrows and hands shot up in confused helplessness.  ¡°Maybe I can give you both my Essence?¡±

    Sophie took a calming breath, narrowed her brows, as she tucked her chin into her chest. For a solid second, he saw Miranda, her mother, getting ready to tell him in no uncertain terms that he was wrong and that he¡¯d better get about what she had asked, and right quick. Anything else and he was going to start racking up bills he could never hope to pay!

    Sophie¡¯s mouth made a straight line and she spoke stern words at him for the first time in her short four years. ¡°Don¡¯t you be silly, Daddy! You¡¯ve been carrying it in your big bag since you left your big spaceship. Alla¡¯s daddy gave it to you. You still have it. I can see it!¡± She said eyeing Josh¡¯s black bag somehow still looped over his shoulder even in this soul space. Josh looked down at it as Sophie continued. ¡°Bring it over here. It¡¯s time for me and Alla to grow!¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    This time emotions attached to the new realizations were a sledgehammer that hit him right between his eyes. But he had never moved so fast as he pulled the seismic earth Attunement crystal Symbal had given them for Alysa back on the Hegemon-4 from his aspect focus and held it to Sophie with shaking hands.

    ¡°...Here, honey!¡±

    Sophie sighed as if dealing with a well-loved but particularly dense child. ¡°Daddy. Alla¡¯s sleeping. She needs you to help her like you helped Uncle Sen¡¯ak when the ugly badman hurt him. Now, please hurry!¡±

    As she said the last, Josh could tell Alysa and Sophie were running out of Essence. Sophie¡¯s... presence was definitely starting to fade and the golden glow she was giving off had become translucent. Josh could almost see through her as she turned her head to look down at Alysa.

    Time was running out and there was only one certainty in Josh¡¯s mind. There was no freaking way in this iteration that he was going to find out what happened if she totally faded away!

    He set the crystal in Alysa¡¯s palm, and Sophie instinctively moved her hand to the top of the crystal. Josh¡¯s hands shook as he placed them on both sides of Alysa¡¯s cheeks and used his newly discovered skill to demand she absorb it.

    There was less resistance with her than with Sen, whether it was due to the lower level of her Cultivation, his familiarity with the skill, Sophie¡¯s assistance¡ªor all three, but it didn¡¯t matter. Her Meridians started to absorb the Attunement.

    He continued to cycle his Essence through her and to the crystal until he was sure the process would continue without him. Sophie had entwined her fingers with Alysa¡¯s other hand and laid beside her. The cut on Alysa¡¯s forehead had healed, and they both began snoring quietly. His last impression before letting go was of the two of them lifting high and magnificent into a blue sky, holding hands above a vast field of summer flowers, bushes, and trees.

    He looked back at them with a dumb smile that he couldn¡¯t wipe off his face for anything. They were taking their first major step of Cultivation. He thanked God, all the lesser gods, the Fates, Karma, and Reality¡ªanyone who would listen to him, for his good fortune at having a¡ªwell... two daughters who were going to be alright.

    How long he sat there, he didn¡¯t know. Did time even pass in their soul space? Far too soon he became aware of Sen reaching for him through their Bond and he had to go and help his brother.

    He leaned down, kissed both their foreheads, told Sophie he loved her to the moon around two times, and back again... and then he was back within the spreading remains of the Dreadnaught.

    Sen¡¯s face was literally two inches from his own. Josh didn¡¯t jump. It was like having his hand in front of his face. Sen was smiling and Josh still had his stupid grin plastered all over his face too.

    Sen nodded. ~You saw her, didn¡¯t you?~

    ~You know I did. They¡¯re going to be alright! Thank Karma that my daughter is smarter than I¡¯ll ever be.~

    ~I will, every day, and three times at the Ka nexus rotation celebration!~

    They laughed out loud as they sat in their smallish oblong earth shield, still vectoring through the void.

    Sen had opened the valve to the back-mounted O2 generating unit on Alysa¡¯s EVA. Not that they had needed it¡­ yet, but it wasn¡¯t a bad idea. Cultivation countered many mortal dependencies, but not all of them and not completely. Due to that truth, Alysa was going to need less in the immediate future as well. Through their Bond, Sen informed Josh that Intelligence had reached out to Ishan and Lobo. Both were coming to them to bring them back to the Brigantine.

    The detonations had been a much closer call for Ishan than Lobo. Ishan had been pushed out of the ship by Kyon Shi and Lobo had already been disengaging from the battle when the plunge ships had all simultaneously launched. The Wolf Affin had managed to get into a position to shelter behind the mass of the Brigantine from the debris wave of the destroyed plunge vessels when they had been detonated¡ªwhich saved Lobo from the subsequent wash of highly charged radiation from the destruction of the Dreadnaught, though Ishan hadn¡¯t quite managed to shelter behind the bulk of the Brigantine and had somehow managed to survive. Still, they would both need treatment for their radiation exposure, and as Josh thought¡ªit was only going to be a couple of pills. Josh had no idea how they worked. Whatever the medicine was, it far exceeded Earth¡¯s knowledge of radiation treatment.

    The bigger question for Josh, and through their Bond¡ªSen, was how Ishan had survived being that close to the blast. The very capable senior chief had some ¡¯splainin to do! That was for sure.

    When they arrived back at the Brigantine, even Josh could tell it was somewhat worse for wear given the many plunge ships sticking out askew from it like bristles on a sea urchin. Several of its central towers were venting air as they lopsidedly tilted. Some had even collapsed from the battle and its ending explosions. But what took up most of his attention was that the city-sized ship was docked with and dwarfed by a ship he estimated to be as large as California. Its dimensions were five or six times longer than it was wide and many thousands of times larger than the Brigantine.

    Tiredly rising from his knees, Josh spoke to the group at large. ¡°Looks like Daddy¡¯s home. Anyone know who this is, or if they¡¯re going to want to go into the championship rounds against us?¡±

    Ishan replied. ¡°That¡¯s the Man of War, sir. An Orphan-class ship. Intelligence reports say it¡¯s the flagship of Kotei Stuado, the Kaizuko king. Apparently, he¡¯s arrived to take command of the battle area.¡± Ishan restarted casually licking his singed fur again.

    Josh noticed a calculating look in the Tiger Affin¡¯s eyes. At this point, beat-up, blown-up, and fresh out of escape vehicles, there was little any of them could do in regard to the Kaizuko king¡¯s intentions, but Josh didn¡¯t need the feedback from his mindscape to know Ishan wasn¡¯t going to go down without a fight.

    A quick look around revealed there were also several other capital ships, much larger than the Brigantine, patrolling the area. But too soon, Josh and Sen had other things to do and could only sightsee for a few seconds.

    It turned out Alysa¡¯s gambit with the Oganesson wafers had eliminated approximately 45 percent of the attacking plunge vessels. Be it from shrapnel, burning combustables, radiation, or just being knocked off-course. The ships, as rudimentary as they were, lacked retro-thrusters strong enough to get themselves back on course after being pushed out of pocket by the detonations. The remainder struck and penetrated, filling the Brigantine with a massive number of shambling and aimless undead.

    The other, more significant effect of Alysa¡¯s nuclear detonations was destroying the Dreadnaught and 20 percent of the capital ships positioned tightly around it. While blast and thermal damage from nukes in space were much less than from terrestrial exploded weapons, the debris from a ship as massive as the Dreadnaught created a considerable amount of high-velocity steel and other projectiles that were decidedly detrimental to keeping a capital ship operational.

    With the death of all the leading Necrolons on the command ship and at least the TKO of Kyon Shi, for failing to get some type of defensive shield up in time, the reanimates injected into the Brigantine were much as they were when Josh had seen them on the Hegemon-4.

    Pacified.

    They made for easy target practice for the fire teams aboard the Brigantine, who were actively traversing deck by deck in EVAs and eliminated them with extreme prejudice.

    Josh wasn¡¯t sure if Kyon Shi had been killed or just handed a really bad day via nuclear knuckle-sandwich. The three of them had survived, sure. But they weren¡¯t your average cultivators either, thanks to the Clone¡¯s boons and Josh¡¯s ability to master cultivation skills with one go at them while in a physical matter iteration. But still¡­ The energy drainer was a quad-Attuned Cultivator. It was scary to Josh that he honestly believed it likely that someone who had advanced to the fourth Spherical Attunement might be tough enough to simply survive such a series of blasts even without promulgating an adequate defense, but he believed it nonetheless.

    Upon their arrival, Josh and Sen were still guarding Alysa¡¯s sleeping form. Albeit on a provided floating stretcher, guided by Ishan in the front and Lobo in the rear. They had been offered immediate medical attention from the Kaizuko physics. Josh had declined, knowing Alysa would be fine. Ishan and Lobo hadn¡¯t even blinked at the offer, laser-focused on a job that was yet finished. Instead, they were taken to see the Kaizuko king. Kotei Stuado was a tall, broad-chested, and stocky-framed man with a shock of white hair. Ancient, copper-colored coins were tied into his gray beard and softly clinked as he moved.

    He presented Kyon Shi to Josh and Sen by reaching behind himself and tossing the energy drainer out in front of him like a broken lawn chair. Kyon Shi was missing both legs. The right was totally gone, and the left was missing from just above the knee. Half of his left arm above the elbow was gone as well. Josh also noted that his white eyes had been charred out of his head.

    A flat disk the size of a nickel was stuck to his forehead. Green and purple lights blinked in a seemingly random pattern on its surface.

    ~Don¡¯t worry, brother.~ Sen reassured Josh. ~The blocking of his Essence flow by the inhibitor¡¯s dissonance will more than suffice to prevent him from using his Cultivation.~ The warrior gestured at the crippled undead. ~Even for healing.~.~

    Josh wanted to ask Sen some questions about that, but the shamed blush on his brother¡¯s cheeks told Josh, as much as their Bond did, that Sen was still smarting from the failure with the Genocidal Harvester.

    ~If you say so, Sen...~

    ~Trust me, brother. He will not be escaping.~

    Kotei Stuado then spoke to the kneeling and bowed Kaizuko who surrounded them, but mainly to Sen and Josh. ¡°I have learned of the treasonous acts of my lessors¡ªDezain, Yabana, and Tojaku. They attempted to provoke the Hegemon-4 and her Lord Clone protector into destroying the Kaizuko. Please know that it was at the behest of this vile cur¡ª¡± Kotei took a moment and viciously kicked Kyon Shi in the side.

    The sound of several of his ribs cracking like kindling caused a full-toothed smile to show on his face as he continued, ¡°And his Savoy handlers. The Kaizuko are not strong enough to defeat the Savoy on their own, but I will travel to the Hegemon-4 and offer my life to the Lord Clone, hoping he will forgive the Kaizuko and pardon them from the crimes of these three rogue agents. I also offer the remaining pathetic existence of this vampire, to be dealt with as you see fit.

    ¡°Consider it as a small token to the valiant warriors of the Hegemon-4 who stood between my clansmen¡±¡ªhe spread his hands wide and spun around, including all the Kaizuko and surrounding ships¡ª¡°who stood between my family, and the undead storm that would have destroyed them.

    ¡°Please know that you will forever be welcome where the Kaizuko call home, and you are entitled to the support of arms in any just conflict where Kaizuko warriors can be found, through recognition of these medallions.¡±

    One of his attendants passed out round, flat, bronze-colored disks on chains of the same material to each, stopping over Alysa and moving to place it on her chest when her arm shot up and grabbed it. She bounded off the stretcher and flexed her right fist around the chain, cracking all her knuckles.

    ¡°Earth!¡± She intoned.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Josh and Sen echoed.

    She straightened up and bowed to the Kotei. ¡°Kotei Stuado. We receive your gracious gifts on behalf of the Hegemon-4 and will escort you and your entourage there. I cannot assure you of a meeting with Lord Clone. He is a being who sets his own priorities. However, I can promise you that you will be well treated and provided what hospitality we have to offer for as long as you are with¡ª¡±

    The Kotei, his entire staff, and every Kaizuko present prostrated themselves as the Clone appeared in his never-ending cascade of involuting ultraviolet fractals.

    ¡°That will not be necessary.¡± His words resonated in a way that seemed to vibrate through Reality itself. ¡°I have always been aware of the Savoy Corporation¡¯s treachery, and I accept the spirit in which your offer is made. However, I have no plans to eradicate the Kaizuko at present. Know that should your actions ever deserve such treatment I will mete out your fate with no hesitation.¡± The Clone turned to Josh and Sen. ¡°You have adequately accomplished the task I set you on. We will talk more on the Hegemon-4.¡±

    Then, as if the thought had just struck him, he turned back to the Kotei. ¡°For the inconvenience of my three retainers, Senyak Marztanak, Joshua Elias Tanner, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Alysa Nang, I will have you grant them status and rights appurtenant as privateers and be given command of the Brigantine.¡± He looked the vessel over and added, ¡°After it is repaired. I expect delivery to the Hegemon-4 within the next two sept-gyro.¡±

    Josh looked up to Sen. ~Sept-whatro?~

    ~It is a standard galactic work period used for tradesmen and other laborers with four working gyro and three non-working gyro for personal and family concerns.~

    ~So a sept-gyro, is basically a work week, and a gyro is like a day, got it. So the Clone is giving him two weeks to fix the ship?~

    Sen shifted his eyes up in contemplation. ~Weeks. Yes, brother, that is a good way to think about it.~

    The Kotei scrambled to a knee and bobbed his head up and down so fast he was in danger of whiplash. ¡°It shall be done as you say! We are honored to have three such valiant heroes numbered among us!¡±

    The Clone nodded silently once to the Kotei, acknowledging his pledge, and then they were gone.

 Chapter 90

    Returning to the Hegemon-4, Josh was surprised that it felt like coming home. The Clone had brought them to the BAH they had departed from and left without a word. Josh wasn¡¯t worried. He was sure Daddy Glowstick would be back. Ishan and Lobo nodded farewell, saying that they had to help what was likely a very nervous Vergei with a Techno-Lord¡¯s head in a box.

    Sen and Josh raised their brows as they had forgotten entirely about Estra. To Alysa¡¯s confused looks, Josh told her they would fill her in later. Symbal had somehow known they were arriving and greeted them with open arms for his daughter. That night, he threw a welcome home party for all three of them. He also advised that he would be helping with making sure that death-trap of a pirate ship was upgraded with everything the Hegemon-4 had to offer.

    It¡¯s good to have friends.

    Alysa and Josh knelt in seiza before Senyak as their training ended. Over the last seven days, things had returned to a routine of what might be considered the new normal for Josh¡¯s new iteration-jumping, void-traveling life. Sen had even swapped out his Hegemon-4 onesie with the more traditional saffron robes Josh had met him in. Sen did seem more comfortable in them.

    During their training, Sen had been using his bastard sword and Josh another loaner from the ship¡¯s stores. He went through two to three every training session.

    Sen had offered his Titan¡¯s short sword, but it hadn¡¯t seemed right for Josh to take it. It was Sen¡¯s blade. Josh just had to get better at holding onto his weapons.

    He had previously given over his second and last Titan dory spearhead to Alysa, as she preferred the spear, and Josh was glad he had one to give her. She had again attached it to a ship¡¯s telescoping practice shaft and was a whirling tornado of edges and poles while using it. Josh was grateful he had significantly upped his fighting game during his time with the Sundai. Between the skills he had learned there and his extra level of Attunement over Alysa, he was able to stay on top of their matches, but Alysa was determined to overtake him and he needed to keep working with Sen to ensure he held his lead. Josh felt like maintaining their current dynamic was for the best.

    The best for her, of course! She needs a goal to aim for, after all. My pride doesn¡¯t play any part in this decision. None at all¡­

    That was his story, and he was sticking with it.

    Regarding Cultivation, Alysa was still working on improving threshold instigation, or just enough to trigger the skill, and partial propagation of her earth shield, to cover only specific portions of her anatomy to both save Essence as well as speed up the skill. The most significant part of the achievement was that she¡¯d gained the skill after only a few days of trying and could activate a full shield in a fight when needed... most of the time.

    She was still working on weapon Enhancement, which required a greater degree of externalization of her Essence. It was a skill Josh and Sen both admitted was an order of magnitude more complex to propagate than the comparatively simple shield.

    Josh could instigate the growth toward learning the skill of Essence Enhancement with his new tetrahedral level error skill, and he was tempted to do just that. But it somehow felt right for her to try and get it on her own. Alysa was a quick study. With her accomplishments, it was clear that she would get the hang of it quicker than most, and Josh spent time working with her on it every night before he got his twenty minutes with Sophie in their soul space. Sophie could only stay for about forty-five minutes before she got tired and needed rest if she wasn¡¯t pushing it. Josh would never ask for more than twenty of those forty-five minutes. Sophie¡¯s time with Alysa was essential for both of them. Besides, the consistency of seeing her every day felt like more time than he had gotten to spend with her in Jacksonville and Josh was very content with it.

    Breathing hard from the past ninety minutes of training, Josh checked his sword skill advancement.

    <table width="593">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="164">

    Weapon:

    Mundane Practice Sword

    Skill Level:

    Basic (91% ¡ú92%)

    Damage:

    Mundane, Average

    </td>

    <td width="429">

    Quality: Mundane, Average.

    Activate with 100 Essence to accelerate strike for 250% damage. Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% probability of 3,400% hand-to-hand damage, if the practice weapon¡¯s safety protocols are disengaged.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    The days of his sword skill growing in leaps and bounds were over. From now on, he would have to be happy with the growth that could only be found in a daily grind.

    Josh looked over at Alysa, who was also breathing hard and dripping sweat. Her Enhanced slashes with the Titan dory were terrifyingly  impressive, but seeing the deepening notches the twelve-inch blade was getting from Sen¡¯s sword every session, he wasn¡¯t sure how much longer it would hold up.

    Sen sat down and joined them, his role of sensei over for the day. They were just three friends again recharging after a hard workout.

    Josh couldn¡¯t help but say what was on his mind. ¡°Wish we could head over to Jorng¡¯a¡¯s smithy and upgrade Alysa¡¯s weapon¡ªsomething that wouldn¡¯t be bad for the rest of us either. I have a feeling we will need ¡¯em sooner rather than later.¡±

    Alysa shrugged. ¡°Well, why don¡¯t we? We¡¯re going to be privateers, after all.¡±

    Josh cocked his eye at her, clearly lost as Sen thought for a second and then seemed to come to the realization she was right.

    Alysa smirked. ¡°You really don¡¯t know what a privateer is, do you?¡±

    Josh gave a chagrined chuckle and gave up pretending he had any idea what being a privateer meant. ¡°No. No, I don¡¯t. We¡¯re short on the details of active void-faring pirate organizations where I¡¯m from.¡±

    Sen bit off a laugh and filled in Josh through their Bond.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    An expression of amazement came over him as he understood the ramifications. ¡°So... uphold the honor of the Kaizuko, raid any vessels they are currently at war with and make a tithe of any plunder. Otherwise, we¡¯re free to do and go where we want? And our Lord Clone is the one who set this up for us?¡±

    Sen thought Josh¡¯s last statement over and gave the same expression he had to Alysa¡¯s recommendation. ¡°Yes... yes, he did, Joshua.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re free? We can go where we want, when we want?¡± Josh¡¯s spirits were soaring.

    His mind was racing with the possibilities! They could hit the open void. Second star to the right and straight on till morning, Mr. Sulu¡ª

    ¡°Stop being ridiculous, Joshua Elias Tanner. I will continue to track and dictate your actions down to the function of every one of your cellular mitochondria. This shall continue until you Transcend into Immortality, or what probability predicts as much more likely¡ªyou come to the ignoble end that most of your actions and capabilities deserve. I have only made the Brigantine available to you because freedom of mobility is required for your and Senyak¡¯s continued growth.¡± The Clone¡¯s wolfishly-smiling visage rippled in all his violet-indigo glory. ¡°However, until your Fate has been decided, as they say in your iteration¡ªI own your ass!¡±

    All the sparring pairs training alongside them nearly simultaneously averted their eyes, struck a knee in respect, and hurried out the door. Alysa fled as well. They had all agreed that minimal involvement with the Clone was best for her and Sophie.

    Before she could exit the training room, the Clone held up a hand. ¡°Lieutenant JG Alysa Nang. Please remain. My appearance concerns you as well. Furthermore, it would be the height of folly and obtuseness to ignore that Karma has linked you with these two in an unavoidable way. I possess neither.¡±

    Alysa stopped, faced the Clone with her eyes averted, head down, and nodded.

    ¡°Yes, Lord Clone.¡±

    The Clone eyed Alysa, looking her up and down with his azure gaze for a moment before continuing. ¡°It has been just shy of two weeks since the incident with the Savoy Corporation representative. Kotei Stuado has arrived with the Brigantine and your Confirmation of Marque. You three shall meet him on the Man of War in a formal ceremony of recognition.¡±

    And they were gone.

    Suddenly, no longer aboard the Hegemon-4.  Before any of them could object about the need to shower and change their clothes¡ªor at least put on a fresh layer of deodorant¡ªthey appeared on the observation deck of the Man of War.

    A large dome of transparent tita-steel above them gave a 360-degree view. The vista took in the Hegemon stretching forward as far as the eye could see, as well as the Brigantine, their new city-sized home for the foreseeable future. They were also surrounded by hundreds of officers from the Hegemon in formal attire and an equal number of what appeared to be formally dressed officials from the Kaizuko empire.

    Alysa had appeared, dory in hand, wearing a silver and blue gown of flowing silks with a sheer blue shawl that exposed her shoulders. Sen and Josh were equally well dressed in formal ship uniforms with swords mounted behind them on the mag-harnesses Jorng¡¯a had once supplied them with.

    The Clone was nowhere to be seen, but Alysa¡¯s father Symbal, the short chinese Hegemon-4¡¯s Forward Section¡¯s Quartermaster ¡ªalso in the formal ship¡¯s uniform of a silver and blue petticoat with starched white slacks, was standing with Ishan. Lobo and Katak were similarly dressed. Symbal was speaking with the Kotei, who was also in dress robes of red and white and had donned his crown of gold and a platinum-like metal that glinted crimson sparks.

    A fit woman with a kind face bearing a well etched smile-lines stood beside the Kotei, wearing her gray-streaked blond hair long past her shoulders and holding his arm. The Queen was wearing a red and white void-mesh gown with diamonds and rubies sewn in the shapes of constellations tastefully covering it. She wore a tiara crusted with the same stones.

    Jishin was also there, one step behind his king and queen. A smile split the old pirate¡¯s face so wide that Josh was sure he had swallowed a canary. Symbal greeted them as though he¡¯d expected nothing less than for them to appear out of thin air and took Alysa¡¯s arm as if they were going for a stroll in the park.

    Josh blinked. ~Is it normal for people to appear out of thin air around here?~

    ~With the Clone involved... yes.~

    ¡°N¨¹?¡¯e?r, I was just discussing with the Kotei the need for the Kaizuko Empire to open formal trade relations with the Hegemon-4. Such a partnership would benefit each of us immensely!¡±

    ¡°Ah, my new danshakus!¡± The Kotei took Alysa¡¯s other hand, before bowing and kissing its back. Straightening, he nodded in greeting to Josh and Sen. ¡°And I was just telling your father about how his reputation as a relentless negotiator precedes him. The only one fiercer than the three of you in this room is him¡ªthough, perhaps on different battlefields!¡±

    Alysa smiled and shook her head, ¡°Not to disagree with you, your majesty, but I still fear facing him on the woven rice matts he trained me on as a child!¡±

    Symbal blushed and bowed to his daughter as they all laughed. The Kotei and Symbal then proceeded to banter their way to a trade agreement between the two space-faring nations.

    The ceremony itself was short. All three kneeled and swore to uphold the Kaizuko code of honor: To defend all just Kaizuko in need, if feasible and to honor their benefactor with a tithe of their rightful plunder. The Kotei held his hand over each of their medallions and they changed from the brown-colored metal he had initially given to them to the same glinting platinum of his crown.

    Sen and Josh¡¯s interface chimed.

    Interface-compatible Stellar Atlas received. Uplink and enable mapping function?

    They selected yes, but then pushed any related notifications to the side as the queen handed the Kotei an open wooden box from which he took out three smaller boxes and gave one to each.

    ¡°As is custom for all battle leaders who have earned the right to captain a capital vessel of the Kotei, we are proud to bestow upon you three, one of our greatest honors.¡±

    Opening their boxes, they saw a tear-shaped space of darkness with stars swirling in and about it. Josh touched it, and his interface chimed again.

    Item of Power obtained: Tears of Nekusassu.

    You have not yet attained this Attunement. You have not yet expanded your Core sufficiently to absorb this Attunement.

    They all swallowed hard at the enormity of the treasure that had just been bestowed upon them. Josh looked to the top of the transparent dome above him and nodded in respect to the Clone, who he was sure was watching. He had to admit the blue bastard had a lot of game on him¡ª

    ¡°And you should forget that at your peril, Joshua Elias Tanner.¡±

    ¡°I ah¡ªI¡¯ll do that¡­errr ¡­I won¡¯t do that¡­,¡± Josh said, clearing his throat. ¡°Um,¡± he gestured awkwardly to the priceless Item of Power. ¡°Just one quick question, though.¡±

    ¡°Always just one more question with you, Joshua. Though perhaps you have earned one. Just one. Speak.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Josh scratched the back of his head, now in an even more awkward position, because he had planned to ask more than one¨C

    Obviously aware of the mental gymnastics Joshua was performing in his attempt to splice his three questions into one, the Clone interrupted with a raised twinkling palm. ¡°Let me save my time and you a possible rupture of your cortex. The Tear of Nekusassu you three have earned is the item of power for Space/Time.¡±

    Josh pulled his awestruck face away from the shimmering motes trapped in the Tear¡¯s black substrate just in time to witness the flash of the Clone¡¯s departure.

    * * * * *

    The Clone¡¯s presence floated thousands of kilometers above the Hegemon-4 as he watched his charges clumsily mingling at the Kotei¡¯s reception below. It was more than improbable they were both still alive. Given their inept handling of nearly every situation and across multiple aspects of their recent adventures, their continued existence was commendable to say the least. Reflecting through Zenyak¡¯s memories, there were very few the Clone could draw on to appropriately compliment the two¡¯s achievements. In all his billions of galactic cycles of existence, it was very unusual for Zenyak to find reason to commend the beings in service under him. Those who were lesser were either judged adequate to continue their functions or they were replaced by individuals who were.

    Still, despite the man¡¯s many failings, it could not be denied Joshua had brought himself and Senyak very far from that alley. The same had to be said about the probability outcomes of his and Senyak¡¯s Bond. What had begun as a token nod from Zenyak to Karma by tasking the Clone to monitor their actions¡ª because the end result of the one slender thread of potential couldn¡¯t be properly calculated, much less relied upon¡ªhas blossomed into an entire branch of possibilities... even some greater Probabilities.

    The calculated outcomes had overwhelmingly pointed toward both Joshua and Senyak dying on Mwezi, or on the Brigantine, or on the energy drainer¡¯s Dreadnaught. At one point, it had even been more likely that spontaneous implosion of the two-billion-year-old Hegemon-4 would kill them both rather than Reality continuing to suffer their existence.

    Yet, still they remain.

    This fact spoke volumes of Karma, Balance, and Reality¡¯s influence upon their Path.

    The emergence of such unlikely outcomes required a reordering of priorities and directions toward the Bonded Cultivators. The Clone needed to speak with Zenyak, but the original had missed their last scheduled meeting and had not responded to his follow-up communications. It was unlikely that Zenyak had been scrubbed from existence by Oblivion. It was impossible, in fact. The Clone could still feel the rippling presence of his original¡¯s Immortal Ka through the cuboids.

    The Clone continued to dwell above the Hegemon-4, facing what was essentially his own mercurial preeminence embodied in the original¡¯s selfish actions of disregard. Confronted with the absolutely unexpected outcome of his two charges¡¯ continued existence and growth, one thought pierced through his pondering, calculating thoughts.

    Where is Zenyak?

 Chapter 91

    After three days, Symbal had just about finished his inspections of the Brigantine and was nearly ready to start overhauling its systems and facilities¡ªto, as he said, ¡°bring everything up to the minimal standards of life, safety, and tolerability.¡±

    Josh had to laugh. He was sure he would do the same thing when the time came for Sophie to leave home. He had never thought it would be on the scale of a city-sized spaceship, but such a thing was seeming less and less unlikely with each passing day.

    Alysa couldn¡¯t help but get a little pink around the ears whenever she realized how many changes and how much investment the Hegemon-4 was putting into the Brigantine for their sakes. Josh found that as funny as she found it embarrassing.

    From what Sen had said, the Clone could wave his hand and bring twenty Brigantines, or Hegemon-4¡¯s for that matter, into being. Why go through the dog and pony show of making the mortals run around when Immortals could do everything they could and more easily at that? Josh¡¯s gut told him Karma would favor the efforts of mortal activity for actions in the mortal Iterations, which would give whatever parameters were being calculated the Clone¡¯s probability determinations of their success an increased bump.

    Their meeting with Symbal to go over the changes was tomorrow and he promised it would take no more than two to three standard Ka nexus sept-gyro to get the job done right. Naron Shamla, the forward section¡¯s head engineer, was constantly following on Symbal¡¯s heels every second of every day. Josh was pretty sure that it was due to Naron¡¯s status of still being out of Symbal¡¯s good graces for his failures on their last trans-ship transfer of supplies.

    Symbal had ensured Naron understood that the installations his crew would be responsible for were for the safety of Alysa and that any failure would be... ¡°Catastrophic for both your career and for yourself on a deeply personal level.¡±

    At Symbal¡¯s words, Naron¡¯s tongue nervously flickered to his eyes one hundred and twenty times a minute as he closely listened to Symbal¡¯s demands. If the poor Vergei didn¡¯t have a stroke from the pressure, they were all sure everything would work out just fine.

    There was also the issue of who would be coming with them. Alysa was responsible for their security and planned to bring several regiments of hand-picked space marines. This was why Josh was surprised when Ishan had asked to speak with both him and Sen. But when the senior chief asked for a meeting, Josh and Sen tended to be all ears. The Affin wasn¡¯t known for wasting people¡¯s time.

    They met Ishan at Hutan Huja, a well-respected, but out-of-the- way, post-shift watering hole for the crews of the forward section. Deep in the Affin Quarter, the restaurant featured terraced seating and private booths overlooking the vast rainforest Josh and Sen had been transported across when the Clone had first brought them aboard. The proprietor, an elderly Macaque Affin, standing no more than three feet tall, bowed low and escorted them to the most secluded table in the highest private tier. She sat them at a small table next to Ishan and Lobo and turned away silently after leaving two more steel cups and bowing out. As she passed the threshold, she quickly pressed a button on the wall and an opaque privacy screen dropped over the open portal. Ishan nodded to her appreciatively and pulled a bottle from his pouch.

    It smoked slightly as he pulled the cork out with his teeth and gave each of them a healthy jot in their cups. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind, sirs. My private stash of Razor Whisky has a better kick than most places can provide on the Hegemon-4, even here at Huja¡¯s place.¡±

    They shook their heads and downed the shot along with Lobo and Ishan.

    With cheeks puffing from the pyroclastic alcoholic eruption going off inside their mouths, vomer, and frontal lobes, they looked at Ishan in shock. Josh and Sen had the density of uranium but would still think twice about drinking Ishan¡¯s booze that fast again. After a few seconds, the volcano stopped exploding and there was just a mild forest fire going off inside them that was actually quite pleasant.

    Ishan smiled with a mouth full of fangs.

    ¡°Good, isn¡¯t it?¡± He poured himself and Lobo another shot, then offered them one as well.

    They both accepted but decided to only sip it from here on out.

    Ishan had a regeneration inducer covering his left wrist and just above¡ªat this point, his mostly regrown left paw. The white device shed gold and silver lights as it seemed to hum faintly, though not to any physical senses.

    Sen nodded toward Ishan¡¯s paw. ¡°Senior, wouldn¡¯t it have been faster to have them clone you a new hand and surgically reattach it?¡±

    Ishan looked down at the healing paw and hardware as he answered, ¡°Well... aye, sir. It would have been, but I¡¯ve always insisted on healing instead of replacement in regards to injuries to this arm.¡± He paused and looked at Lobo before continuing, ¡°Which is actually on topic for the reason I asked you to come here. There needs to be truth between us.¡±

    Ishan removed the growth inducer off his still-forming nascent left paw. He swallowed and looked around at the closed off area as if expecting someone to pop out of one of their mugs. He tilted his head in a what-the-heck-here-goes-nothing gesture if Josh had ever seen one. Holding his infantile hand up, he seemed to concentrate briefly before his nascent, regrowing paw suddenly regrew as fast or maybe faster than Josh or Sen could have managed.

    The Tiger Affin looked up a bit guiltily at their wide-eyed looks that spoke volumes of their previous suspicions. ¡°Yes. I¡¯m a Cultivator. Until now, I felt it was, for myself¡ªand everyone around me¡ªbest to keep that information compartmentalized and based on the little I know about my past...¡± His tone deepened, even for him. ¡°It still may be best to do so.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Josh and Sen leaned forward as one, and both moved to speak.

    Ishan held up his healed paw to silence them again and spoke in a firm tone. ¡°That¡¯s not all, sirs. Please indulge me for one more moment.¡±

    He held his left arm out to the side and Lobo began shaving the thick orange and black fur from his forearm with a mechanical clipper.

    Josh and Sen, not quite sure what to make of what was happening but trusting the senior with their lives, sat and sipped their Razor with slightly raised eyebrows.

    After a few seconds, Ishan nodded to Lobo, who put the clippers away. Ishan brushed the stray hairs from the limb and held up his forearm to them, revealing the bald spot. Raising an identi-light, Lobo clicked the activator and illuminated the arm with a soft glow like Myrina had used to reveal her hidden inscriptions.

    Josh¡¯s thoughts whirled at recognizing the hardware. He was almost not surprised when the letters he and Sen saw appeared in the same place as their inscriptions.

    SUNDAI ¨C O ¨C

    Quickly covering his arm with his rolled-up sleeve, Ishan leaned into the table and spoke in barely a whisper. ¡°Sirs... I need you to help me find my family.¡±

    The weight of the Affin¡¯s revelation was a drumbeat that echoed in Josh and Sen¡¯s ears.

    * * * * *

    If he was being honest, Zenyak was feeling his age. While it was technically impossible for Immortals to age, or even feel old, he still remembered what being a human mortal had felt like all those billions of years ago. In fact, he had made the effort to remember those feelings during his entire mortal Cultivation, as well as in his Transcended existence.

    But, my Path hasn¡¯t been a typical one, has it?

    Unlike most others, Zenyak hadn¡¯t started down his life as a young scion of a powerful family of Cultivators. Quite the opposite, in fact. His beginnings had been more akin to those of a starving orphan. Born in an Essence-deprived galaxy within an Essence-poor iteration, he hadn¡¯t even learned of the Path of One until he had been, by all accounts¡ªan old man. But he had always thought that keeping the reality of his origins close at hand would help him remember his favorite saying from his long-forgotten people.

    Never count somebody out until the fat lady sings.

    It had been true in his life and was true of others¡¯ who walked the Path of One. To assist his humble remembrance, Zenyak had continued manifesting his former aged appearance whenever a physical avatar was required. This mindset had prevented him from underestimating his rivals as well as overestimating his own¡ªadmittedly significant capabilities. This mindset had served to preserve his mortal life and later¡ªhis Immortal existence in dire circumstances on more than one occasion.

    Though all of that had been nothing as cataclysmic or dire as our circumstances presently. Zenyak¡¯s thoughts continued focusing on their darkly ironic situation. There is little chance that anyone could possibly underestimate the deadliness Oblivion poses as it crushes down upon us... If anything, we are paralyzed by the realization that there is no escape¡ªno rescue to deliver us from our impending Fate.

    The Penultimate Combatant looked up at the other two Paramount Immortals as they joined him in the Way¡ªthe space between the Iterations, both mortal and Immortal. The deep-blue glow of spiritual strength reflected off of each of their representations.

    The Prime Motivator¡¯s youthful avatar¡ªusually so full of optimism and vibrancy, was downcast. What was even more concerning to Zenyak was that Chiteki had opted to join him, standing on the firmament of the Way instead of floating in some bizarre rotational pattern as was his primary mode of appearance. The entity¡ªonly known as the Principal Master, was presently avatarless¡ªchoosing to attend in his usual form of an immensely dense field of Immortal Ka. Felt, instead of seen, was definitely his preference.

    They were gathered to hear what Chiteki had learned from the completion of his most recent application of Transcendental Omniscience, AKA¡ªKnowing All. It was his unique, and in Zenyak¡¯s opinion¡ªrather overachieving Path to surmounting Immortal Transcendence into the completely unknown Ascendance. Chiteki¡¯s infinite knowledge base aside, he had confirmed what Zenyak had already believed would be true.

    ¡°Oblivion¡¯s path of consumption has changed from ponderous and broadly applied to linear. It is making an unmistakably direct line of assault for the heart of your Hegemony...¡± The Prime Motivator¡¯s lilting voice was hesitant and trailing off at the end.

    Zenyak was reminded that having a suspicion and having a terrible Fate confirmed by the most informed existence in all of reality, were really two very different things. The Penultimate Combatant had to suppress his initial and childish response of immediately Ascending with his remaining Cultivation and leaving the rest of Reality to fend for itself.

    Forcing composure, he instead asked dryly, ¡°How long?¡±

    Chiteki raised his eyes from his rarely standing feet and faced Zenyak. ¡°At this rate, the Polar Neutral Iteration will be eradicated in less than two Ka-nexus rotations. Oblivion is already past the fortieth Aspect Doorway. It will soon fall upon Iterations populated with spirit beings...¡±

    So little time! How has everything come to this? Zenyak¡¯s thoughts crashed upon him.

    Determined not to have his last actions of import be based in panic, Zenyak put a wry smile on his avatar. ¡°Is it time to enact our final option, old friends?¡±

    Chiteki closed his eyes and nodded once, leaving his avatar¡¯s face hanging in acceptance. The Principle Master had always been the most stoic of them, and simultaneously the most upfront in his thoughts. As such, it was no surprise when he pointed out the thing Zenyak was doing his utmost to hide, even from himself.

    ¡°Old companion, your Ka is not as at peace with this decision as is ours. Have you decided at the end of all things to defy what we all know to be the most probable chance of success?¡±

    Zenyak¡¯s avatar sighed. ¡°You were always the most perceptive of us, Principal Master. Yet I do disagree with what you say regarding Probability. There is no guarantee that we will push back Oblivion if we follow through with one of our last options of detonating our Cultivations to create an iterational dead zone from the rupture in the Way. Even if it does, there is no certainty that Oblivion will not eventually find a way through that gap. It may yet return to Reality to find us long gone and no one standing in its path¡ªa true and ultimate failure! These facts will never sit well with me!¡±

    The Principle Master acknowledged Zenyaks words, if not his conclusions. Chiteki also nodded singly again, confirming what Zenyak said was a true possibility. Still, young seeming avatar or no, the Prime Motivator knew everything in all of Reality, and he pointed out the harsh truths imbued with the wisdom of ultimate knowledge.

    ¡°Indeed. We may very well accomplish Oblivion¡¯s work for it, potentially resulting in a worse outcome for vast parts of the multiverse.¡± That was true. None could deny it. But there was no point in repeating arguments voiced from previous tongues.

    Instead, Zenyak cut to the quick. ¡°Our true strength lies in concerted action; I will not go against our majority decision. Still, I have always believed it would be better to fail swinging my axes with as much strength as I can bring, not placing hope in uncertainty. I know you feel the same way.¡± Zenyak shut down his perception and waited for their objections. None came.

    He opened his senses and saw the gleam in Chiteki¡¯s eyes. He felt the resonance in the Principal Master¡¯s Ka.

    He had played the devil and opened the door for their desires, nonetheless, they had walked through with him of their own free will. Still he gave them one last chance to back out.

    ¡°What say you?¡±

    No answer was required.

    The three Paramounts stirred their Intentions into action and began absorbing Power.

    THE END

    Josh & Sen Save the Multiverse Book Two: Karma and Bigger Fish

    Come adventure with Josh & Sen again in:

    Love/Undeath & Robots

 Chapter 92 - Start of Book 3

    These clawless weaklings who have been bought and paid for by Dod Stal cannot tell the difference between predator and prey. You are baiting a trap. Not scampering away! Par¡¯vata asueged here wounded pride as she ran.

    The distraction worked and a foul tang filled her mouth just thinking of the abomination who had murdered her friends and slain her mate. She spit the taste from her muzzle as she fled down the alley. Dirty walls on both sides reflected the green and blue arcs of focused Life and Water lances the borcine mercenaries were hurling after her. Heavy-framed and single-minded humanoids, the borcine were better known for hard-hitting attacks, not quick and flexible thinking. Doggedly they lumbered after her, increasing their rate of attack as Par¡¯vata neared the alley¡¯s blind end.

    The huntress smiled. Yes, their blood is up! They think this is the end of the hunt!

    And it was... for them. I¡¯m a warrior, I¡¯ll die like one. I just can''t die here. We are far too close to where Rakshak is hidden. Dod Stal and his army of adharmic thugs and gangsters would ultimately find him if she gave in to her pride to stand her ground here. A new mother, Par¡¯vata wouldn''t fail her cub that way.

    But if they want to play with Life Essence, I shouldn''t give them a few pointers.

    Life had been Par''vata''s first Spherical Attunement. She was now on the cusp of forming her Tetrahedral Core and began her Life Mastery focus. It was fair to say she knew a bit about it.

    In combat, just as important as playing to your strengths, it was crucial to facilitate your opponents¡¯ weaknesses. Overconfident in their numbers, the slow-witted borcine had bunched up together. Par¡¯vata¡¯s steps never slowed as she kicked off the alley¡¯s end wall before and activated her Spacetime Attunement. She gap-step behind the trailing members of the mob behind her. Fire and Force Essence ran through both splayed paws as she raked super-heated searing and accelerated claws through the surprised mercenaries¡¯ earthen shields and heavy titasteel plates leaving red runnels of liquid metal to punctuate where Par¡¯vata¡¯s had sliced through spines and hamstrings.

    More importantly, the attacks had prevented the defenders from sensing the slim tendril of Life Essence she had woven into the Force/Fire braid. Even if they had, the borcine would not likely have cared. As peak Spherical Cultivators, even crippling physical attacks would heal in fractions of a second. They expected to be battle-ready from even the most grievous of wounds in the blink of an eye through the cycling of enough Essence...

    This time they will have to live with disappointment!

    Par''vata''s Life Essence had rejuvenated both sides of the wounds she¡¯d given. The borcines¡¯ Meridians, muscles, and nerve endings were completely healed, but severed and useless. Helplessly, they collapsed to the street with grunts of surprise.

    The Tigris grinned at her work, the downed two would need a physic to splice and reunite their structures before they could rejoin any fight. She had already spun around toward the opening of the alley as the momentum of their falling bodies tripped the four mercenaries immediately behind them, who were mid-charge to Par¡¯vata¡¯s new position. But the assault of Essence lances continued as the last three in the front of the column had to renew their firing. While the lances were standard thoughtless attacks, now so near in the narrow alley, Par''vata couldn¡¯t avoid them without another gap step.

    Perhaps complete avoidance isn¡¯t absolutely necessary... Not when I can use the blasts to my advantage.

    Par¡¯vata promulgated two shields in quick succession. A Force Essence dampening field to drain the momentum from the three incoming Water lances and a blended Earthen/Fire shield for more protection while superheating the element and filling the alley with steam. This close, the intense clouds of superheated water also caused the unexpecting borcine to reflexively turn away as she dropped through the Space-Time portal she had simultaneously opened below her.

    Instantly, Par''vata was three hundred and fifty thousand meters away, halfway to Dagamo''s moon port and her ride out of the system.

    Let¡¯s see if it worked! Par¡¯vata¡¯s thoughts raced as she spun to remove the Essence maintaining her portal. Admittedly, the proper response to her tactic would be to just bear the pain and use speed to slip behind her and stab her in the back before she could seal the passage. Her steam trick wouldn¡¯t fool anyone with a quick battlefield wit and aural sight.

    ...But against this group? I give it even odds that half of them are dim enough to fall for it... The next few moments proved that it had worked well enough. In the one micro since getting through the portal, the huntress had withdrawn her Essence. The portal quickly began to shrink as spacetime reformed itself. The fastest and most foolhardy of the borcine had been quick enough to get its lower leg and half of its face through the shrinking portal. Tough as he was, there was no way to overcome the primordial laws of spacetime. The accelerating closure finished with neat vertical amputations of the borcine¡¯s leg and a thick slab of its face.

    You just didn¡¯t attempt to flash through someone else¡¯s translocation portal if they already had the necessary micro to withdraw their Essence. The victim would eventually heal... but if they weren¡¯t very skilled with life Attunement, their recovery was going to hurt.

    Free of them for now, Par¡¯vata took a cleansing breath and propagated a second instigation of her portal skill. In less than a blink, she was standing in front of her star runner. Disappointingly, she wasn''t the only one.

    Two more borcine with estrella-edged short spears channeling the yellow glow of Force Essence on their quad-pronged heads barred her way. Par¡¯vata¡¯s Mindscape also picked up another presence. The unseen enemy was strong, lurking in the back of the hangar, and, of all things, a female human.

    Likely waiting for a moment of weakness to spring¡­ Then it is best not to give them such a moment!

    Par¡¯vata stepped quickly forward and met the advancing attackers. She dodged the first spear thrust with a shift to the right. The spear¡¯s enhanced tip rippled the air as she grabbed its shaft with her paws and rolled backward. Par¡¯vata¡¯s surprise lunge was enough to overpower him with the momentum of his own weight. Initiative on her side, she impaled the borcine''s Core with his own short spear. Then launched him out of the hangar''s portal with her clawed rear legs. The creature¡¯s quickly fading struggles showed the depth of his injury.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    No time for pride-gawking! Par''vata scolded herself as the second merc was upon her with a lateral swipe from his right side. Still lying on the ground, Par''vata was at a tactical disadvantage. She filled the gap with Life Attunement¡¯s amplification of her physical attributes, increasing her speed, strength, flexibility, healing, and perception. She then doubled her speed and power again by braiding Force Essence alongside the Life Essence streaming through her Meridians.

    Freshly innervated, Par¡¯vata popped off the floor and struggled with her attacker for the spear. Without the element of surprise, the borcine was still more than a match for her physical strength. However, Par¡¯vata¡¯s quicker movements and better positioning allowed her to roll back and flip him over her head. Not a complete dunce, the borcine propagated a full earthen shield and simultaneously began instigation of a spacetime gap-step.

    The huntress was still one mental step ahead and had already started to force her spirit through the Essence-conducting spear as soon as she¡¯d grabbed it. Obviously lacking adequate training in the finer points of metaphysical combat, Par¡¯vata quickly overcame the mercenary¡¯s slow attempts at blocking her. The huntress flooded his Meridians with her adversarial Intent, halting his instigation and rendering him stunned under the spiritual feedback. His body helplessly seizing, she dropped him to the deck, quickly snapped his cervical spine and pushed him out of the hangar. With his Essence flow inhibited, the merc might not survive the wound¡ª

    "It''s no surprise Zarbai made you his mate... You¡¯re as formidable as we were told. "

    Par''vata whirled to confront the female human. Dressed in a simple black crew jumper, she was battle-ready with a dagger held in a close grip and ready to strike. In the overhead lighting, Par¡¯vata could see that the blade was covered with the green-yellow sheen of an Essence toxin.

    The human also had her Essence masked, rendering Par''vata unable to assess her Core like she had been able to do with the sixth and seventh-level Attuned borcine.

    It is still unlikely that she has formed a Tetrahedral Core. If she had, there would have been no need for her to lurk in shadows while I battled to Borcine or to fool with Essence toxin on someone like me.

    No, this human was a skilled Mind-Attunement user at the peak of Spherical Cultivation, very near the same level of Cultivation as Par''vata.

    "Keep my mate''s name from your foul mouth¡ª"

    Suddenly, by unspoken agreement, they flew at each other. Par''vata''s natural and enhanced Beast Affin attributes being offset by the human''s significant skill with the blade. After several exchanges, the female mercenary ended up a step ahead and capitalized by sweeping Par''vata''s lower left paw out from under her. As Par¡¯vata fell, the assassin maintained physical contact with her to both better her position on the ground as well as to prevent Par¡¯vata from gap-stepping away.

    The human''s smile was wide and feral as she scrambled forward. Her poisoned blade swung down in an overhead arc and plunged deep to be trapped in the heavy bones of the huntress¡¯ left scapula.

    The assassin snarled in victory, all too happy to leave the blade where it was wedged. The Essence toxin¡¯s effect of slowing Par''vata''s Essence control would only be enhanced the longer it was left in place¨C

    The assasin¡¯s eyes widened in fear that reflected all too well the awareness of her terrible miscalculation. Knowledge that the Tigriss¡¯ continuous steel-grim expression should have already altered her to far sooner.

    Par¡¯vata had taken the knife blow intentionally. The would-be predator was now her human prey. And she was held inescapably close. Their physical contact and necessarily mingled Essence now prevented any possible gap-stepping away.

    From her expression of sudden blank terror, Par¡¯vata was certain that the human had been smart enough to put this together, even it was far too late to do anything about as the Tigriss¡¯ coiled feline feet reflexively retracted in a series of vicious kick-slashes. The trapped woman¡¯s Core, Meridians, both legs and most of her pelvic and abdominal organs were torn from her in shreds to be sprayed over the deck behind her into a loose pile of wet, clumped red.

    A good trade...

    Par¡¯vata stumbled to her numb feet as the assassin¡¯s Essence toxin was already taking hold in strong effect. The Tigris¡¯ Essence was quickly turning into sludge and preventing the propagation of skills. It also drastically slowed her healing and confused her mentation.

    Poisons... nasty business! Par¡¯vata thought to herself through a growing cloud of confusion and slowed thinking as she struggled up with her back legs and remaining functional arm.

    Blood dripped freely down her striped fur as Par¡¯vata pulled the bone-wedged blade from her shoulder. A clank of finality rose from the metal plates as it dropped...

    ...It¡¯s time to go.

    Slowed thinking or not, Par''vata¡¯s goals hadn¡¯t changed. She needed to lead Dod Stal''s servants away from the Essence poor sector she had chosen as Rakshak''s hiding place. She couldn¡¯t fool herself into thinking all of the aberration¡¯s lackeys had been dealt with. There will be more... there are always more...

    Par¡¯vata three-point stumble-rushed aboard her ship and fell into the cockpit¡¯s seat. Grabbing the flight controls, she spun a quick 180 degrees and flew out of the hangar¡¯s port.

    Concentrating not to slur her words, Par¡¯vata called to the ship¡¯s AI, ¡°Callcuulate course... for Cassttrroni... sysstem. Hyperrrspace when readdy."

    "Compiling data ¡­" The AI responded.

    Now, with the freedom to release the loosening grip she was holding on her focus, Par¡¯vata closed her eyes and sagged helplessly in her chair to wait out the toxin¡¯s effect. Her Essence would eventually purge¡ª

    --Par''vata... Leaving so soon... and without farewell? You also seem to have left something behind... Dod Stal¡¯s hated voice spoke directly into her mind.

    Her rear-facing view screen showed him standing casually at the edge of the hangar bay¡¯s portal. His handsome adamite face and battle chassis still bore the telling marks of her mate Zarbai''s paw slashes. But she only had eyes for what was nestled in the crook of the abomination''s left arm. A small black and orange-striped child was being fed there from a bottle held in Dod Stal¡¯s other hand.

    Rakshak!

    Knowing that Par''vata could see him, his metal face smiled warmly at her.

    Thoughts still sluggish, it took a moment for Par¡¯vata to realize her tragic error... My mindscape!! How could I have been so foolish to leave it even partially open in the possible presence of this enemy!?

    She clamped her Mind Attunement down. pulling it back into her center, but the damage was already done. The aberration¡¯s Mind skills had already planted the consciousness seed of Rakshak''s presence. With his power level at the peak of Tetrahedral Cultivation, his skills could not be stopped by merely shielding herself. From this point forward, Par¡¯vata would never be able to tell if Rakshak was really there or not!

    In the moment of stunned silence, Dod Stal nailed home his advantage. With a wink to Par¡¯vata, the monster levitated a Mouse Affin''s obviously torn-off head like an orbiting moon around the battle android and her son. After one rotation, Dod Stal let it fall to the ground behind him. Your small friend also seems to have been unaware of your imminent departure.

    Bondi!

    Despite her size, Bondi had been an unflappable Affin. She had been the only choice Par¡¯vata would consider as her backup messenger to inform the Sundai of Rakshak''s hidden location...

    What information did this maniac get from her before she paid the ultimate price for our friendship?

    Dod Stal looked over his shoulder while still cuddling Rakshak.

    You seem to have wholly disassembled my human prot¨¦g¨¦, Xsias. A pity that... I had such high hopes for her. The living-undead-mechanical abomination turned back to Par¡¯vata with flat sincerity in his dead eyes. We need to talk, don''t you think?

    A malevolent smirk crept over the android''s metallic face as he raised Rakshak''s tiny body a few inches in her direction. He arched his metal fingers in mock aggression to Rakshak as a brutal reminder of the stakes.

    Even in her addled condition, Par¡¯vata knew there was no leaving with the possibility that Dod Stal had her son. With Bondi''s loss... it was more likely a probability at this point. Peak Tetrahedral reality glamours aside, there was no way Dod Stal would know Bondi had been Par¡¯vata¡¯s insurance policy without having actually captured and torturing it from her. It was not a big leap to assume that he had gotten her son¡¯s location from the poor Mouse-Affin as well.

    Par''vata slowly turned her ship 180 degrees back toward the open hangar.

    Tears ran down her orange and black-furred cheeks as she roared in defiance.

    "Override safety protocols! Manual control! Authorization: Sundai-0-2-Prime!"

    "Control Authorized." The sexless AI''s voice came back.

    There was one clear thought surfacing in Par''vata''s Essence-poisoned and anxiety-accelerated state, and she accepted it.

    A clean death is better than what terror-filled existence this soulless obscenity has planned for you Rakshak¡­

    ¡°Calculations complete.¡± The ship¡¯s AI noted.

    Forgive me, son... I¡¯m sorry that this is the best I can do for you¡­

    "Activate Hyperdrive!"

    * * * * *

    Even at the peak of Tetrahedral Cultivation, Dod Stal only had time for a partial expression of horrified understanding. His braided Essence shields had no hope of containing the impact as Par¡¯vata¡¯s ship¡¯s attempted jump to lightspeed detonated itself into the moonport¡¯s hanger. The resulting shock wave of converted energy sent the station¡¯s atomized debris past the orbital boundries of the local system in a soundless cataclysm.

 Chapter 93

    On moving day, Josh and Sen were the last to get their ''move on¡¯. Ishan, Lobo, Alysa, and the thousands of Hegemon-4 crew ¡®transitioning¡¯ to the Brigantine, had already made the switch days before. Some even weeks earlier, if they were necessary to prepare the ship for departure. Josh had wanted to be the first of the Hegemon-4 crew aboard, but cooler heads¡ªnamely Alysa, had vetoed that idea.

    "You''ll only be in the way. I''m not even going until three days before we depart, and that''s just to integrate our internal security with the Brigantine''s forces. Getting a city ready to fly is a big job." She looked him dead in the eye and impeccably raised one eyebrow. "Be patient, Josh."

    So they compromised.

    He did exactly as she told him to and he and Sen stayed aboard the Hegemon-4. After all, until they reached Transcendence, training with their swords and Cultivational skills would be a never-ending exercise. It also had the benefit of definitively filling most of their ¡®waiting¡¯ time.

    Surprisingly, during the long hours of practice, Josh found that he missed his sword. The ship''s training weapons were functional and he had been able to increase his skill with them... But it wasn''t the same as when he could call the weapon his own.

    Hearing this, Sen had smiled with pride and told him that missing his sword was, "An excellent sign you are advancing your skill beyond the novice level!"

    Checking his status proved Sen right.

    <table width="567">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="258">

    Weapon:  Mundane Practice Weapon

    Skill Level: Jr. Student (1%)

    Damage:  Mundane: Average

    </td>

    <td width="309">

    Quality: Mundane: Average

    Activate with 100 Essence to Accelerate Strike for 250% damage.

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% Probability of 3,400 ¡ú 5,600% Hand-to-hand Damage. If safety protocols disengaged.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    After Josh''s routine and much too-public beati¡ªerr... training with Sen, he had also researched where to find "spirit beings worthy of expungement," as the Clone had advised them. Priming their Cores for absorbing the Spacetime Attunement they had received from the Kotei was a top priority.

    ¡°Once we¡¯ve found a good location, it needs to be our first official stop once the Brigantine is underway.¡± Both Sen and Alysa had agreed with Josh¡¯s statement.

    Jishin had been particularly valuable in meeting this concern.

    "Core Essence m''lord? Oh, aye! I''ve got just the place for you. His Eminence Dezain, may his soul rot for eternity¡ª" Jishin leaned to the side of their table and spat, drawing the attention of several of the wait staff serving in the officer''s lounge. Though, to be certain, none dared call out the towering pirate captain for his breach of etiquette. Snorting, Jishin adjusted his tricorne hat and continued. "Many cycles back, his Eminence Dezain needed to fill his Core out for his own Force Attunement. This was back when he was a fresh young buck in the Kotei''s service, and we all thought, m¡¯self-included, that there was a bright future for him¡ª but you know how he ended..." Sad memory shaded the helmsman''s eyes for the briefest of moments. "...At any rate, we were killing creepy desert crawlies for months on Noha-3. It''s close, and I think it be just the place for you both¡ª More than a few times, his Eminence needed to call down air strikes to get h''self and his bodyguards out in one piece. You''ll get what you need there. Of that, I''m sure!"

    Somehow, Jishin''s wide smile, promising Josh that they would be buried in giant piles of burrowing, sand-crawling monsters was less reassuring than the helmsmen seemed to have intended.

    Josh turned to his brother with a nervous smile. ~Sen, you think we might be biting off more than we can chew?~

    ~Don''t we always, brother?~

    Josh closed his eyes in resignation. ~That doesn¡¯t reassure me.~

    Sen replied with the serenity of the Buddha and the smile of a wolf that whispered to Josh ¡®little pig, little pig, let me in¡¯. ~It wasn¡¯t meant to.~

    Josh sighed and gave up. For sure, being knee-deep in swirling masses of man-eating monsters was a great Saturday night for a combat specialist...Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Just take a deep drink from this cup and go with it Joshy... Acceptance means one less problem to worry over for the present.

    So he did, smiling a wooden smile back at the pirate captain and leaving the thoughts of bug holes caving in around him surrounded by an endless expanse of sand for later... much later!

    They also used their non-training time to work on Ishan''s revelation of his origin and that very unique Clan inscription seeming to have a place for... well something that Josh couldn¡¯t think of... but something! Regardless, it was without question that the senior chief was a child of the Sundai, but Josh could tell that the inscription wasn¡¯t Myrina''s work.

    Probably someone before her? But, unless my memory is playing games with me, Myrina told me she has been serving as the Clan''s Inscriber for around sixty thousand cycles. At a conversion of 2.5 Earth years to cycles¡ªthat was about one hundred and fifty thousand years!? How could Ishan be that old? And what did the symbol at the end of Ishan''s membership inscription mean: SUNDAI¨CO¨C?

    Josh could only guess. He had never seen such a mark on anyone in the Clan.

    We''re just going to have to get Ishan back to Gusti and ask him about it.

    But disturbingly, he and Sen realized they had absolutely no idea how to get back in contact with the Sundai. Aside from Gusti''s offhand comments that the Clan would be leaving Baroo-7 for "the galactic core" after the Blessed One''s Race, they didn''t know where the Sundai were or would be. So, he and Sen had searched the Hegemon-4''s database of star systems for any places with the Sundai¡¯s name prominently endorsed. They drew a blank there as well. Next, they asked Symbal if he heard of the Sundai as a trading group. He hadn''t. Similar results were obtained when Symbal reached out to contacts on the edge of his trading network. The Clan seemed not to travel in the same circles as the Hegemon-4. Not really a surprise as the Hegemon, at least in this stage of its travels, was a mostly mundane affair. The Sundai were a tight-knit group of advanced Cultivators.

    Not the kind of folks who ended up throwing lawn darts together at weekend barbecues, Joshy.

    Josh had finally asked Intelligence.

    "Greetings, Joshua Elias Tanner. Of course, I am aware of the Sundai Clan."

    A relieved look came over Josh''s face. Why didn¡¯t I think to ask Intelligence in the first place? It''s only been around for over two billion years! "That''s great news, Intelligence! Can you tell us how to call... err... contact them?"

    The slightest of pauses occurred before Intelligence replied.

    "Negative, Joshua Elias Tanner. The Lord Clone has restricted knowledge concerning the Sundai Clan to himself only."

    "What? Ahh... Why?"

    "His reasoning is also restricted."

    "Can you give us the location of Baroo-7?"

    "Restricted."

    "The moon, Mwezi?"

    "Restricted."

    "The last known location of Ip''pul fruits?"

    "Re¡ª"

    "I get it... Restricted." Josh copied Intelligence''s androgynous voice and crinkled his brows in unsurprised frustration at the Clone''s lack of assistance. He''s never made anything easy. Why would this be any different...

    Josh paused as he stood in the passageway and tried to think of another way to ask Intelligence the same question while busy crew members streamed around his unmoving body.

    After several seconds of fruitless thought, Intelligence made it plain that it was ready to move on.

    "Is there any other way I can serve you, young Cultivator? I only have a ship as large as your continental Africa to control and monitor along with the 4,998,654,201 spirit beings aboard her to safeguard..."

    Josh gave a soft chuckle at Intelligence''s not-so-gentle reminder of the ongoing stakes while he was taking time to play word games with a cosmically powerful Immortal''s Clone through an inhumanly knowledgeable artificially intelligent being.

    He puffed his cheeks and snorted. "No Intelligence... Sorry to have bothered you. I know it''s not your decision. Thanks anyway..."

    "My pleasure, Joshua. And, if I may offer you some advice. Karma''s eye is upon your actions. Necessary information will present itself... When it is truly needed."

    "And if it doesn''t¡­"

    "Then you didn''t truly need it, did you? Defy Karma at your own peril, young Cultivator. It is a lesson well learned, if you are able. Even old monsters have forgotten such fundamental truths to their own folly¡­"

    Josh hung his head and shrugged his shoulders in surrender.

    "You''re right. Thank you again, Intelligence."

    "Of course, I am. You are welcome. May your Cultivation be without bounds, young Cultivator."

    The last thing Josh tried was the Stellar Atlas they had received with their Confirmation of Marque from the Kotei. If the Kaizuko had ever been there, Josh might find Baroo-7 within it.

    Stellar Atlas available. Review?

    Josh selected YES, and a cloud of stars billowed from the platinum medallion the Kotei had given him. Billions of points of colored light swirled slowly around his room producing the overall shape of a spiral galaxy with him at the focal. Multiple sweeping limbs filled with that twinkling gold, silver, blue, red, and every color between stars. Josh couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of the library scene from the Jedi Temple, in Lucas''s second batch of three. The ones where Earth¡¯s CGI had grown to the level deserving of the maestro¡¯s work.

    But this is sooo much better!

    Josh looked over the amazing display.

    This is not the Milky Way Galaxy... Where are we?

    His science mind spun thoughts up from his cortex. Assuming to scale accuracy... It would be easy to take a few measurements of these stars'' precise movements and orbital ellipticals. I could get a head start by identifying their composition with spectroscopy. Let''s try that big red one¡ª

    Josh reached out his right hand to tap the closest red giant and his interface interrupted.

    Error.

    You lack the requisite Spacetime Attunement for Stellar Atlas functionality.

    Error.

    Nuts! What happened to ¡®Stellar Atlas available¡¯, you stupid¡ª

    Lastly, Josh had also spent too few but precious minutes laughing with Sophie on their nightly visits. Apparently, Mr. Snipps had turned out to be Mrs. Snipps and had a litter of kittens. Now they all came around and stared at Hammy, her hamster, in his backyard cage.

    "But don''t worry, daddy. I''ll protect him!" Sophie had sworn to him with a determined gleam in her eye.

    Josh''s laughter had gone on for days, thinking of the poor cat that tried to get through Sophie''s guard when a fourth-level Spherically Attuned undead energy drainer and four of Alysa¡¯s high-yield Oganesson nuke cookies had already failed!

    Time continued on, and Alysa ¡®transitioned¡¯ herself and departed the Hegemon-4. The next three days had all been nail-biters for Josh as he waited for his and Sen¡¯s move to get back to Alysa and Sophie.

 Chapter 94

    Finally, the days came and went, and they boarded a shuttle on the superior skin of the Hegemon-4 for the two-minute flight to their new home.

    The forward screen brought the Brigantine into full view as the shuttle angled to port. Although Josh had caught glimpses of the Brigantine while piggy-backing on Ishan and on his way to their showdown with Kyon Shi on his Dreadnaught, seeing it like this really blew him away. It was an impressive structure¡ªvery differently than the massive Hegemon-4. Which, despite its great size, was built for quick maneuvers and combat. The Brigantine was a city-sized ship laid out in the general shape of a hexagon. A central region Josh thought of as ¡®downtown¡¯ hosted hundreds of spires, with the command bridge on top of the tallest. Downtown was surrounded by six evenly spaced, broad, flat planes jutting from a center hub like spokes on a wheel. Alysa had called them limbs, and they were in the shape of ''spades'' from a deck of playing cards. Relatively narrow gaps separated them from each other.

    Josh had often heard it said that the Brigantine was the size of a city. But saying it and understanding it were two very different things. He got his first dose of real perspective for the Brigantine¡¯s size as he looked through their shuttle''s viewport. Thousands of blinking dots flew from place to place over the Brigantine''s skin and in the gaps of the ship¡¯s limbs. Cargo and transport vessels getting ready for departure... They¡¯re just tiny specks. This ship is a monster! And it¡¯s all ours!

    This realization about the Brigantine pointed out to Josh how much had changed in his life. A few short months ago, he had been a soon-to-be-divorced man sitting alone on a park bench, screaming his frustrations into the sky. Today, he was literally moving to the stars in his own city. For the positive changes, Josh owed his Karmic brother, Sen, a fallen Immortal combat specialist who routinely quoted wisdom of the ages that would make a Buddha take notes... and who was turning into quite the Trekkie. A full-blown Star Trek fanatic, actually.

    After their training sessions, when Josh had been chasing down leads on the Sundai for Ishan and spending time with Sophie, Sen had been catching up on the ¡®historic recordings¡¯ of the Enterprise and her five-year mission. Right now, Sen was making sure Josh knew of his serious concerns about Mr. Roddenberry¡¯s universe.

    ¡°Joshua! Explain it to me! Why do the Ensigns continue to go on the landing parties with Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy if so many are destined to die? Are they suffering under an oppressive regime? Will Karma demand that we intervene on their behalf?¡±

    Pulled out of his revelry over the brilliant glory of the Brigantine and the strange turns of his life, Josh gave Sen a sideways glance.

    ¡°Sen, we¡¯re moving into our new home, a spaceship the size of a city¡ª that, for my life, makes me think of Boston''s first album.¡± Josh raised his hands to guide Sen¡¯s attention out of the viewport. ¡°...And with all of this around us, ''redshirt attrition'' is what you are worried about right now?"

    "¡­Well... yes! I feel a closeness with Mr. Spock. A lone stranger in a world alien to himself because of his birth¡­ And as you said, ''We owe him big time.'' I cannot believe he is involved in the wholesale slaughter of his own security forces. But... and this is a big BUT Josh, he is far too competent not to be aware of their disproportionate death rate. What is really going on?!"

    "C''mon, Sen, it can''t be that bad. What is it, like ten or eleven guys with red shirts that die in the eighty or so historical records I showed you?"

    "No, Josh! It''s twenty-seven red shirts that die in the seventy-nine historical records. I won''t tolerate it¡ª"

    The young Kaizuko pilot interrupted Sen''s tantrum as he was about to accelerate into a gale force 10 tirade.

    "¡ªSirs? We have arrived. A greeting party has formed on the landing deck. Are you ready to meet them?"

    "Oh... Of course..." Sen pulled himself back from the edge, fixing his clothes self consciously.

    ~Don''t worry, brother¡­ We''ll discuss it later. I''ll show you subsequent historical documents. The redshirt death rate drops substantially as they improve their tactics.~

    Sen¡¯s eyes widened. ~Really!? There is more Spock?~

    I gave him a crooked smile. ~You bet there is!~

    Alysa came through on their earpieces, "Josh and Sen, just go with it. Jishin and I agree that it is important for ship-wide morale."

    "Huh¡­Wha¡ª" Josh got nervous with Alysa¡¯s ambiguity. He had learned the hard way during their sparring that she could be downright devious when necessary.

    Josh and Sen exited the shuttle and were stunned. Thousands of troops stood in full battle dress at parade rest. On the starboard side stood dozens of ranks of space marines from the Hegemon-4. On the port side, even more rows of elite armored defense forces from the Brigantine. All were led by Alysa, who was flanked by Ishan, Lobo, Jishin, and his two junior helmsmen, Zurui and Amnaki. There were also two figures neither Josh nor Sen had met.

    Josh blinked. ~This is an army Sen... A real army!~If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Sen gave a knowing nod. ~Did you think we were playing, brother?~

    ~Not anymore...~ Josh swallowed shallowly.

    The first of the two unknown figures was a severe man with short-cropped gray hair and a spider web of scars on the right side of his dark-skinned face. He wore the same armor as the elite Brigantine guard. His plates showed signs of a lifetime of heavy use, followed by well-applied maintenance and many repairs. He wished to simply be called Mzamo.

    "I keep the Brigantine¡¯s security and combat forces in line." Mzamo said as he introduced himself, all the while maintaining a strict line of sight just over Josh''s right shoulder.

    Of that, Josh had no doubt. Mzamo moved with an efficiency that spoke of a swift strength you wouldn''t want to run afoul of. Josh and Sen returned his crisp, fisted salute.

    Sen nodded. ~There is more to him than meets the eye.~

    ~Seems so...~ Josh blinked.

    The second newcomer was a tall, thin, tubular figure adorned in red and black plating. Whirling mechanical arms and crimson optic sensors greeted them with court etiquette and a formal bow. Dantor-ZS spoke in a voice that translated cultured, educated, and stiff through Josh''s interface.

    "A sincere pleasure to meet you, your Eminence. I am Dantor-ZS, a seneschal android at your service. I am presented as a late gift by the Kotei. I understand that the previous commander of this ship... dismissed his AI seneschal¡ªA clear sign of unstable mentation¡ªand it seems that the Kotei''s staff failed to deliver me as a replacement until after repairs were complete. The Kotei wanted me to assure you that ¡°heads have rolled¡± for this oversight.

    Jishin leaned in, covered a cough with his thick hand, and spoke in a low tone. "Ahem, It''s true, Sir. Dezain had our last seneschal spaced and vaporized for insubordination when he wouldn¡¯t support the planned attack on the Hegemon-4."

    Alysa stepped forward stiffly and bowed slightly as she gestured to a raised platform. "Your Eminence, your troops await your orders."

    Josh nodded to Sen. ~You better get up there.~

    Sen gave a Cheshire Cat¡¯s smile. ~This is completely political, brother... Besides, you are ''His Eminence.'' I am merely an officer.~

    Josh¡¯s wide-eyed stare followed the man¡¯s statement. ~WHAT?!~

    ~The Kaizuko charter is very clear.~ Sen¡¯s laughter was barely contained, though still communicated through their mental connection. ~There can be only one commander. Alysa advised me of this, and we both voted for you. Your vote didn''t matter at that point. We decided to inform you as you needed to know. Which is now. So, get up there and live up to your codename, Mighty Mouth!~

    ~...I will have my vengeance.~ Josh mentally growled.

    Sen glanced at him dryly. ~I''m sure. You can reap it in our next training session.~

    Public speaking wasn''t an issue for Josh. He was, or at least had been, a criminal defense attorney. Talking in public and lying with a truthful face were required skills. Skills he still had in his bag of tricks... But this is different. If the past was any indication, these men and women could be asked to fight, maybe, to die for us. For me! Josh couldn¡¯t and wouldn¡¯t lie to them.

    So, what do I say to them?

    Josh walked stiff shouldered up to the dais.

    What do these soldiers, my soldiers, want and need to hear--Why don''t you find out, you ¡®fool of a Took!¡¯

    Quoting Tolkien to himself was a sure sign he was nervous. But it¡¯s still a good idea!

    Josh quickly spread out his Mindscape and tapped the front two minds on either side. All four wanted to know essentially the same thing: why, who, and what.

    Why are we here?

    Are we going to make it back home?

    Who are these guys? They don''t look like much.

    What is different about this commander compared to Dezain?

    Josh liked his lips. Ok. The truth should work here... I hope.

    Standing tall with a straight back. "I''m Joshua Elias Tanner. I''m not from... here.¡± Josh held his hands to the sides, indicating the universe. ¡°I''m from a long, long way away.¡± He sent a quick glance to Sen and Alysa. ¡°Lately, things have been dangerous. It seems that all I''m doing is going from battle to battle. Sometimes saving those I care about, sometimes being saved. This will now include you all.¡±

    Josh raised his hand to the line of officers behind Alysa. ¡°These leaders are not just my friends. We have been through enough for me to consider them family. Karma is showing me that will be true for the leaders from the Brigantine very soon as well.¡± Josh paused and looked several of the standing troops in the eye. ¡°...I want this to be true for each and every one of you. As your commanders will confirm if you ask them, I will do whatever is necessary to protect my family and bring them home!

    "Look at the soldiers on the other side of the aisle from you.¡± Josh paused briefly for them to take him seriously, nodding so they would do as he asked.¡± After a brief moment many did look across the aisle as the ¡®strangers in their midst.¡¯

    Josh turned to the Hegemon-4 side of the auditorium. ¡°...Space marines from the Hegemon. You have the best training and equipment in the iteration. No one can compete with you in the areas of weapons use, demolitions, tactical combat, or void mobility and survival. But understand... You all come from an Essence-depleted portion of our iteration. Each and everyone of the elite forces from the Brigantine have already started their path of Cultivation. Because of this, they exceed your physical capabilities in combat by a large margin.¡±

    Josh turned to the Brigantine side. ¡°...Elite forces of the Brigantine, you understand the basics of Cultivation and can apply it with skill when necessary. But to be a true field strength force, you must master the application of combat skills and the technology available from the Hegemon-4. Until then you will merely be single fighters to be taken down one at a time...

    Josh raised his hands to both sides of the aisle. "Together, you have the potential to be a deadly force any sane spirit beings should think twice about confronting. My goal is to bring you all to the same level of advanced combat ability amplified with Cultivation skills. I will do this¡ª" Josh leaned over to the side of the elite forces, hanging over his podium, staring at them. "by supplying the necessary training and equipment." He then did the same to the space marines. ¡°...By awakening your Cultivations."

    Let¡¯s see if I have their attention now.

    Josh paused. The silence was deafening.

    Good!

    "Follow my orders from the officers I have placed above you, serve each other, and I will serve you. Protect my family, and I will protect yours. Have no doubt of our success, and lastly,¡± he raised his arms and took in the entire Brigantine, ¡°...Welcome home!"

    Applause erupted from both sides of the auditorium as he stepped back, turned, and let the leaders guide him out of the hangar bay.

    Josh shot a glance at his brother. ~...Well?~

    Sen snorted. ~That''s why we voted for you, brother!~

 Chapter 95

    Alysa smiled and looked at Josh from the corner of her eye, "Impressive speech, Josh.¡±

    Josh sighed and stifled a terribly witty comment about being thrown to the lions. Instead he pointed to her and Sen and decided to go with honesty.

    "As long as you both understand... I''m a figurehead only. We all make the decisions. Together! You both have more experience with just about everything out here compared to me. I...¡± He pointed to himself and then waved his hands at everyone on the Brigantine ¡°...In fact, everyone will be relying on you two for any decision of significance out here." His greatest fear off his chest, Josh smiled and waggled his eyebrows at Alysa. ¡°Fair?¡±

    Alysa narrowed her eyes and smiled minutely. "I can live with that..." she voiced at the same time Sen agreed through their Bond.

    Josh did note that neither Alysa nor Sen showed any remorse for throwing him under the bus. But he couldn''t really blame them. Knowing Sen as he did, Josh was the logical choice. And if Alysa didn''t want to be the front person... Josh would serve.

    Blink. ~ We''re all going to make the crucial decisions. What could go wrong... Right? God''s we''re doomed, aren''t we?!~

    Soft chuckle. ~ We''ll be fine, brother. Alysa is a natural leader. As are you.~

    * * * * *

    They left the BAH, heading to the bridge and their adjacent quarters. Jishin and Dantor-ZS followed along. Mzamo saluted formally, saying he ¡®needed to get back to business¡¯, then strode back to take charge of the troops in attendance.

    Alysa walked between Josh and Sen. "A package arrived for you both on the bridge a few moments before you landed. It says to open it ASAP... I think it''s from the Lord Clone."

    Josh furrowed his brows. ~Package from the Clone? Did he mention anything to you?~

    Sen¡¯s face held a pensive expression. ~No, he didn''t¡­We had better get to it first¡­Whatever it is will definitely change our plans. He doesn''t move in small ways.~

    Snort. ~Too true.~

    As they increased their pace to the bridge. Dantor-ZS moved two steps ahead of the group and rotated its cylindrical head completely around to speak to Josh without breaking stride.

    "Your Eminence, I see that you will be occupied with other duties very soon. For the sake of the crew, might I suggest that we first adjourn to the command gallery? There, you''ll be able to accredit me through the Brigantine''s compu-interface. Once accomplished, I will be able to assume the duties of the lost administrative AI. I fear that there has been such a long gap since proper optimization of the Brigantine''s propulsion, amino-food replication, and air quality subroutines that there will already be a significant drop from peak performance."

    Josh blinked. ~He¡¯s a bit creepy, but that¡¯s not a bad idea. Thoughts Sen?~

    Sen nodded thoughtfully.. ~We can get the Clone''s package and activate Dantor on the bridge. Let''s do it there.~

    ~Smart.~

    Josh twirled his finger in a small circle to get the AI mechanical to spin back around and stop weirding him out. Dantor complied almost immediately.

    Josh spoke. "Dantor, let''s head to the bridge and kill two birds with one stone. The Clone''s package is a priority, but getting you up and running can happen at the same time there."

    After a fleeting glance of what almost looked like irritation on its mechanical face, Dantor nodded in acceptance. "As you say, your Eminence."

    * * * * *

    Upon arrival at the bridge, Jishin bid farewell and stepped up to his workstation. He was immediately besieged by three aids and a messenger in full combat gear. He waved all off and addressed his navigator.

    "Attendant Norikumi, do we have the hyperspace resolution to the Noha System?"

    "Aye, sir."

    "Good. Get us underway when ready."

    A ship-wide announcement went out for their preplanned first stop, and the Brigantine smoothly slipped into superlight travel. The forward-looking view screen showed them out-pacing elongated photon tracings as the Hegemon-4 disappeared from the rear-viewing screen.

    Josh felt a pang of regret seeing it go. Strange how I considered that ship my home... Still, home is where your family is... And everyone truly important is here.

    Dantor-ZS placed a thin metal hand lightly on Josh¡¯s shoulder and pulled him from his thoughts.

    "Your Eminence, the sooner I assume my duties, the faster I can overcome the accumulated dereliction deficit. It is a simple process that merely requires you to identify yourself as the commander of the Brigantine and authorize my assumption of the AI seneschal¡¯s duties. Come this way, and I will show you."

    The android led him to a console off to the far right of the bridge while Alysa led Sen away to deal with the Clone¡¯s package on the other side.

    Alysa stopped two meters from a large white plas-steel container with rounded corners. She indicated it with her hands and then performed a sharp about-face to return to Josh and Dantor-ZS.

    The box¡¯s general shape reminded Sen of the gaming cubes tossed by off-duty soldiers. But this box was one meter to the side with no visible markings save for crisp lettering engraved into the top.

    Open before incompetence leads to your deaths and my inconvenience.

    It¡¯s from the Clone, alright.

    As if the box knew Sen was there, a field the shape of his hand started blinking on its top. Sen placed his hand on it.

    A mechanical voice spoke generically from the box.

    ¡°Senyak Marztanak identified. Activation initiated."

    Seams appeared on the box''s sides as they inverted and folded away to reveal a humanoid metal framework composed mainly of lacquered white plating and matte brushed titasteel. It was positioned down on one knee with fists planted. Slowly it began to raise its head and blue-white light began to fire in its eyes.

    "...Activation processing..."

    It was then that the Brigantine¡¯s world went to hell in a handbasket.

    * * * * *

    "Thank you, your Eminence," Danto-ZS replied as Josh finished parroting the words to authorize his installation as seneschal. A comp-link extended from the AI mechanical¡¯s thin wrist, and the mech inserted it into a port on the console in front of them.

    Josh turned back to where Sen had gone off to try and help unravel the Clone''s newest mystery along with all the future headaches it would entail¡ª Dantor-ZS called from over his shoulder before his first step had landed,

    "Let us begin, shall we? Ah, yes... This will just not do. I''ll be recalibrating the grav-cells throughout the ship. Along with the mag-footing systems."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Shocked gasps occurred all around as Josh and the entire bridge crew instinctively moved in the unsteady floating and vectoring associated with being unexpectedly tossed into a zero-G environment.

    "What in the five red hellion pits is going on!?" Jishin cursed from two stations over. He had grabbed onto the edge of his console with one hand to hold himself steady and used the other hand to pull a crewman back down to do the same. But Jishin¡¯s gaze was focused solely on Dantor.

    "I assure you, helmsman, there is nothing to fear." Dantor-ZS spun his head 120 degrees to face Jishin. "This momentary discomfort will be over soon!"

    "Well, call out when you will be affecting ship-wide safety systems so we can announce to the crew y¡¯daft bucket of bugged code!"There is nothing to fear.¡± It finished with the same statement it made to Jishin earlier. ¡°This momentary discomfort will be over soon.¡±

    Josh was ineffectively waving his arms in a breaststroke to reach a handhold. His uncoordinated movements only pushed him farther away.

    Alysa, several steps away, like the well-trained Mandalorian she was, launched a small grapple attached to a monofilament on her left wrist. She pulled herself down and pulled Josh down to a nearby console. He heard the thrum of her mag boots and she touched down on the deck with a clank.

    Alysa cast a wary glance at Dantor, who had disengaged his comp link and rotated his narrow body to match the direction his eye sensors were facing.

    "There is no need for name-calling, helmsman. There would certainly be a ship-wide panic if I announced that I had deactivated the grav-cells and safety systems because I was accelerating the Brigantine into the nearest star. Don¡¯t you think? But if you insist..."

    Claxons rang out as the bridge¡¯s blast doors slammed down to lock into place with finality. The ship lurched, and they dropped into normal space. The forward view screen centered on an all too near bright red star that was steadily increasing in size.

    The AI¡¯s voice broadcast throughout the ship.  ¡°Dear crew, despite the unfortunate limitation of you biologic capacities I assure you that what you are experiencing is not one of your many perceptive failings. I am taking the necessary steps to end your pointless continued existence via immediate intersection with the nearest solar body. Any momentary discomfort will be over soon. But please do locate and grasp any nearby hand-holds or fasten yourself in a seat with a five-point securement harness which will provide absolutely no protection whatsoever from the on coming accelerated particles and energetic radiation.¡±

    DX¡¯s override of the communication system complete, the ship''s main comp unit announced blandly. ¡°Penetration of stellar coronal layer in fifty-three micros."

    A bridge-wide gasp was followed by erupting shouts from the scattered and floating attendants. Many obviously entered panic mode as they tried to reach their stations.

    DX¡¯s cylindrical head rotated to fully view Jishin in a twisted emphasis of its earlier statements concerning panic. "Happy now, helmsman?" Dantor-ZS calmly extended a thin metal arm and pointed out the evolving chaos to Jishin. Four new arms sprang from his tubelike body and proceeded to smash the console in front of him into a sparking ruin. Dantor''s facial components took on a charming smile. "Now, please, all of you, this will only take a moment. There is no need for hysterics. I assure you, this is a much more pleasant end than what you would face if the Kaizuko strong men you have offended were to take personal action against you and the Brigantine."

    The red glare of a rapidly approaching sun filled one third of the view screen in front of them.

    Alysa got her side arm up and fired from a crouching stance with both hands. Three by three inch square sections of a red energy shield appeared over Dantor''s head and chest to intercept the streaks of yellow light. Nifty trick, Josh begrudgingly conceded. The next instant, two of Dantor-ZX''s limbs telescoped faster than Josh could see and smashed into Alysa''s rapidly propagated Earthen Shield. Protected from being impaled, she was still sent hurtling through the air to the far side bulkhead.

    Josh cycled his Essence and launched himself to tackle the maniacal robot. Two new arms extended out from Dantor and intercepted him instead. He attempted to grapple with the thin metal but was thrown over Dantor¡¯s shoulder headfirst into the bulkhead on the opposite side of the bridge. He got his Earthen Shield up just before his cranial impact left a shallow buckle in the thick steel. Josh¡¯s bell was well rung, and everything went white while his brain sloshed around like water in a jostled pail.

    ...Maybe in need of a small rest...But like a voice oscillating down a long-tiled hallway, the still-present part of his brain came through. JOSHY, WE ARE FLYING INTO A SUN! WAKE UP!

    Josh shook his head, and his vision cleared in time to see Sen with a sword drawn, launching himself off the side of a workstation. He parried a swarm of extended arms, fanning blue sparks as his enhanced slashes went metal on metal against Dantor''s limbs. But before Sen could get into striking range, the AI mechanical''s attacks had served their purpose in deflecting him to the other side of the bridge in the zero-G. Sen ended up farther away from the robot than when he had started. It was also obvious from the deep nicks along his sword edge¡¯s length, the robot''s arms were far more durable.

    Alysa had landed mag-boots down on the vertical bulkhead and was firing a non-stop barrage at the mech. Her jaw clenched at the impossible way Dantor continued to erect a blocking shield not much larger than the width of her blasts even though his facial sensors weren''t looking in her direction.

    Then the smarmy bastard started talking smack.

    ¡°Sigh... The predictable struggle of organic life forms to survive even in the face of futility... Why do I waste my words?" Two of its arms and shoulders shrugged mockingly.

    "Penetration of stellar coronal layer in forty micros." The Brigantine''s comp unit reported once again in a mind-numbingly bland voice. The red sun now occupied half of the forward view screen, and mass ejections of alpha particles and accompanying plasma could be seen erupting from its surface.

    Someone was pounding on the far side of the bridge''s blast doors, and Josh could see the orange glow of a thermal lance heating up the interior surface of the door.

    Someone¡¯s outside and trying to cut through...The thought didn¡¯t make him hopeful, however.  It¡¯s too little too late. No way they¡¯ll get through in time to make a difference.

    Sen again launched himself at Dantor but gained no more ground than the first time. He ended up spinning toward the bulkhead Alysa was firing from and somersaulted to land feet first on its steel. A large notch was clearly visible in the center of his sword¡¯s blade from a blocked arm slash aimed at decapitating him.

    Not wanting to die crumpled against the wall, Josh activated his full Earthen Shield and kicked off again on an intercept course for Dantor. In a move that even to Josh, looked ridiculously simple, the robot stepped to the side and used two of its arms to speed Josh along. He and his Earthen Shield crashed high up onto the bulkheads on the opposite side of the bridge, leaving an even larger dent with his back and shoulders¡ª

    "That will be quite enough!" Intelligence''s voice rang out through the Brigantine''s comms system.

    The ship immediately decelerated and veered to port as everyone floating suddenly found themselves under the influence of full gravity again.

    Having impacted a high spot on the wall, Josh¡¯s thirty-foot fall was accompanied by a yell even generous onlookers would have a hard time calling manly.

    The blast doors to the bridge slid open and with weapons drawn, Ishan and Lobo prowled in with Mzamo, his head on a swivel, close behind. A complement of Space Marines and Brigantine Elite forces were using obvious effort to keep up after them all.

    "Stellar impact averted." The Brigantine''s comp-unit reported brightly.

    Dantor-ZS''s gleeful demeanor changed to confusion as its head revolved 180 degrees, obviously looking to find the source of his reversed fortune.

    A sleek, white plastic and brushed steel android with burning blue-white eyes entered the room..

    Is that AI mechanical, Intelligence? Josh wasn¡¯t sure¡ªbut it strode from the left side of the bridge and confronted Dantor-ZS like a boss.

    The black and red robot''s frame towered two feet above the white and blue newcomer. But Intelligence¡¯s command presence could not be denied. "Please note, it is in my interest to leave your systems and structure as functionally intact as possible for my coming interrogation of your neural net¡ª"

    Dantor ZS''s aggressive actions went into overdrive as twelve telescoping limbs extended from his frame and fanned into sharp metal dishes. Arcing red laser edges spun around the dishes like buzzsaws. Everyone swallowed at the increased threat level, while Dantor, whirling its limbs in patterns that formed a neon tech afterimage-nightmare, shot forward in attack.

    Blue-white plasma fins that matched the avatar''s eyes erupted on the lateral aspects of Intelligence¡¯s arms and legs. A tired expression fell across its elegant face, "...But ultimately, how much functionality will remain is entirely up to you..."

    Spinning laser death-rings surged from every conceivable angle as the smaller silver and white avatar moved in a Wushu taolu more complicated than anything Josh had only ever seen on kung fu theater. After what could only have been three seconds, Dantor-ZS had been reduced to travel-sized pieces scattered on the floor. Intelligence''s avatar completed its final flourish with a limbering pose of flexed extremities in bow stance: one arm forward and one extended directly behind. Josh couldn''t be sure, but not once had it looked like Intelligence moved in any way a well-trained humanoid could not.

    "Joshua Elias Tanner, Senyak Marztanak, please be of service and collect these pieces." Intelligence waved an elegant white and brushed steel hand over the remains of Dantor. "I will now optimize the Brigantine and become acquainted with the bridge crew. When you have all of the remains, my micro-avatar will lead you to your quarters and we will begin our interrogation."

    "Ya¡­Yes, Intelligence¡­Tha¡­Thank you!" They both stammered out in perfect unison, shocked beyond the ability to regulate their similarity in response.

    "My sincere pleasure. Though even I hadn''t anticipated being needed so soon." The avatar narrowed its eyes and seemed to search them intensely for a moment. Then it turned around to go about its self-assigned duties. But Josh couldn¡¯t help overhear Intelligence continue to itself, "...And to think... I had always considered Zenyak''s warnings about the two of them to be mostly hyperbole." Its head shook at the apparently prophetic nature of the man.

    They both turned pink and scrambled to collect the rubble that had been Dantor-ZS.

 Chapter 96

    With Intelligence''s micro-avatar leading the way, Josh and Sen walked up the stairway from the bridge to the overlooking command gallery. Their arms were piled to eye level with pieces of Dantor.

    ~Did you know that Intelligence was so... lethal?~ Josh asked mentally.

    Sen simply nodded. ~All AIs are. Particularly when inhabiting a battle frame... But you are right. With its knowledge base encompassing more than two billion years of experience, Intelligence will be significantly more formidable than most. It has been around since before my grandfather Transcended to the Immortal Realms. I believe it assisted in the war against the Sky Commandant. He may even have created Intelligence... There is more to the story, but I¡¯m ashamed to admit that I didn¡¯t pay close attention to the details when I was told about it...~

    Josh gave out a small mental chuckle. ~Knowledge is power, Sen!~

    ~So I am learning, brother.~

    The avatar led the way through the command gallery''s main sitting room with a fluid grace that belied its mechanical origin. They were directed to a set of doors on the port side. The gallery only had one chair that looked more like a throne. It was placed at the center wall and overlooked the main viewport that stretched to the deck of the bridge below.

    Josh tilted his chin toward the chair. ~We need two more of those. There is no way I''m making any more decisions alone after what just happened with Dantor!~

    ~...Agreed.~ Sen sighed.

    The door to the nearest room bore a placard with Sen''s name. It opened as Intelligence''s avatar approached, and they went through. The room was spacious. The furnishings were minimalist but posh. This was only amplified by the fact that they had very little in the way of personal belongings.

    And what we do actually own fits in our never-ending¡ªat least so far¡ªAspect Focus. Josh absently patted the black leather bag he carried across his chest.

    A bed with an arching canopy sat against the center of the back wall. A low-profile table two strides from the entry portal with three equally low and comfortable-looking chairs sitting around it. Josh thought he would be just as able to have a business meeting or sip razorwiski with any friends who possessed lead-lined GI tracts.

    A full-length mirror was mounted on the wall next to a control panel that Josh had no idea what function it served. A set of paired synth-wood cabinet doors looked like they opened to a closet on the opposite wall. The last thing in the room was a door that likely led to the next adjacent room. Presumably his.

    The avatar indicated with its hand. "Place Dantor''s pieces on the table and have a seat, please."

    They did. Intelligence ignored the limbs and picked up each part of its cylindrical Core in turn. The avatar¡¯s hands glowed the same color as its eyes for a moment before it placed each down again. After a few minutes, Intelligence looked up. "It is as I thought. This was just a petty powerplay by one of the higher-ranking nobles under Kotei Stuado. Nothing more.¡± Intelligence nodded down to the metal rubble. ¡°Put the pieces in your aspect focus. They will serve as adequate material to make your next swords from when we get to a suitable smithy."

    The avatar leaned back in its chair and took a more relaxed pose while Josh and Sen gathered and stored Dantor. When Sen reached for its head. Intelligence stopped him.

    "Leave the head. I''m going to return it to Lord Admiral Perala with your regards. It should make him think twice before doing this again."

    Josh answered for them. "Err... Thanks, Intelligence... If you are okay with me asking... Why are you here? Who''s running the Hegemon-4? And how did you know we would need you?"

    The avatar held its hand up to its mouth in a polite way and stifled a small laugh. "''How did I know you would need me?''... Joshua Elias Tanner, you are a very driven, intelligent, and Karmically touched young human. When you put your mind to your actions, you are quite impressive for your limited experience and resources."

    The avatar leaned into the table and spoke in a smaller voice. "That last question was not one of those moments." Intelligence straightened its posture and continued. "Your other questions deserve a response... and lead me to why I asked you both to come up here¡ª But first things first.¡± Intelligence rolled its wrists inward and pointed all its fingers at its body. ¡°This avatar is a focal representation of myself to assist organic lifeforms in adjusting to my continued presence.¡± Intelligence then made a show of holding its arms out and looking at them with its head tilted back. "It is the smallest avatar I have ever used... but has proven itself quite handy so far. I know you first met me housed in my Hegemon-4 avatar, and this mobile form is new to you. But for our purposes, nothing has really changed. When you need me, you can address the avatar or simply call out to me. I am now everywhere aboard this ship as I am on the Hegemons I serve. You, Joshua Elias Tanner, may find it easier to address the avatar when speaking with me. Given Senyak Marztanak''s experiences as an Immortal, I am curious to see what he chooses¡ª But that is off topic!"

    Intelligence put its hand under its chin and stared off to the side. "How interesting! If my main comp unit feels free to wander like that, I really must not have enough to do here!" Tilting its head, the avatar finished with a pleasant laugh and turned back to them. "On this ship and in this micro-unit, I am only a minute fraction of my complete self. I have minimal capabilities compared to my Hegemon copies." Intelligence nodded as if confirming something to itself, "This is due mainly to the limitations of the Brigantine''s storage capacity, not this frame. I can and will follow you in this avatar when you outgrow this ship."

    Intelligence looked slyly at them from under its brows. "But for now, I am more than enough to serve as seneschal of this humble vessel, guarantying you do not die from poor hygiene, starvation, mechanical failures, or solar collisions."

    Josh and Sen each looked uncomfortably away. More than slightly embarrassed at the not-so-subtle reminder of their poor showing against the now-expunged Dantor-ZS.

    "Concerning the Hegemon-4, I am still running her as I always have. I am merely a copy of myself¡ªas all my redundancies have been since Zenyak created my original to serve as a comrade in arms during his final confrontation with the Sky Commandant a little over 1.15 billion cycles ago¡ª"

    Intelligence looked directly at Josh. "Approximately 2.9 billion earth years for you, Joshua. Since then, I have served as the superior AI over the two thousand and nine Hegemon Arks in this iteration." Intelligence waved its hand as if adding an insignificant but necessary point, "Along with several million lesser copies of myself at any given time." It held its palms inward, indicating itself as an example. "...As well as the same original and reproductions of myself in the infinite Hegemon Arks patrolling the almost infinite mortal iterations of the multiverse."

    Intelligence held up its index finger, indicating they needed to keep that point in mind for what it was about to say. "Simplified, Zenyak''s plan was to create a mortal entity capable of compiling and calculating trans-iterational data to understand iterational overflow, predict probability outcomes, and, as has occurred many times over the last billion cycles, accurately anticipate future occurrences in the present and surrounding iterations." Intelligence paused, letting the information sink in.

    Perhaps seeing the appropriate level of awe on Sen''s face, multiplied by the same level of bewilderment on Josh''s face, Intelligence proceeded. "Obviously, this requires that the data I am collecting via my replicas be imparted from adjacent iterations into one of my centralized selves. I can and have made the necessary sacrifices to accomplish the trans-iterational data transfer myself on occasion. But it is very costly. So, usually, I only do so in times of earnest need. Most other times, more¡­ capable parties provide the information for my calculations."

    "The Clone?!" Josh said in a harsh whisper as he was putting pieces together for himself.

    Intelligence smiled warmly at Josh as a teacher would when surprised by a slow student suddenly grasping a difficult concept. "Exactly so young Cultivator! I understand that the gathering occupies a significant portion of his efforts¡ª"

    But Sen was on his own learning tangent and almost choked at the pieces he was putting together. He jumped from his seat and pointed at the avatar while blinking at the staggering implications.

    "You... You''re a... a mortal Ethos Combi?"

    The avatar''s shoulders sank just a little, and an apologetic expression emerged on its face as it looked directly at Sen. "...Only in the most rudimentary of ways can I be compared to such wondrous existences and even the small amount I am capable of requires an abundance of help!"This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Shifting in his chair towards Sen. ~Ethos What?~

    Sen held up a pausing hand. ~An Ethos Combi. It is the union of all existing information with an Immortal''s spiritual Ka. Among other things, this symbiosis allows probability-based omniscience in mortal planes of existence. All Immortals have them. I''ll tell you more later... But gods, I miss mine!~

    Intelligence waved Sen back to a seated position and looked at them through its glowing blue/white eyes for a pregnant moment. "...I believe you both have at least grasped the concept of my primary function. I am telling you all these things because you must grasp the significance of Zenyak''s design and plan for me to understand why I am here with you now. Your defeat of the undead Kyon Shi foiled, in part, a multiversal attempt of the Savoy to overthrow the Kaizuko via iterational overflow occurrence. Due to this, you both are now or will soon be identified as beings of interest in multiple iterations."

    Josh''s eyes were rolling around, trying to keep up with the significance and meaning of Intelligence''s words. He hadn''t been this lost since Sen had first mind-jacked him back at FSU. Finally giving up, he held up a hand. "I''m sorry, Intelligence... I''m lost¡­ ''Iterational over-what'' and ''Beings of interest'' where?

    Intelligence turned its head to Sen. "Have you shared nothing about the basics of the multiverse, its operational metatheory, and your places in it?"

    Sen sank inward and turned pink again. "Forgiveness, Intelligence... Damni and my Combi were always there to tutor me on mortal-multiversal physics and implications... I''m unsure if I understand them correctly, let alone being able to explain them... " Sen trailed off into inaudibility.

    Intelligence''s avatar closed its blazing ultraviolet eyes, possibly asking Reality for the strength to continue in the face of absurdity... Two beats later, it turned to Joshua and proceeded in its normal chipper androgynous tone.

    "...Okay, Joshua. You understand that this universe is just one copy, one iteration among a near infinite number of others that share many similarities and related differences?"

    Joshua considered the question seriously before responding. "¡­The multiverse theory of the universe. Yes, I do understand that. Zenyak bringing me to another... this iteration... is why I¡¯m not with Sophie."

    "My condolences for the separation from your progeny.¡± Intelligence nodded once in sympathy for Josh, then continued.

    ¡°As for the existence of a multiverse¡ªit is not a theory, at least not in the mortal realms in any case. In the mortal realms, iterations are isolated and only impact each other via ancillary and largely theoretical Karmic interactions. The most common of these is called the theory of iterational overflow via majority weight of occurrence. The theory postulates that an iteration you are interested in¡ªLet''s call it Prime¡ªcan and will be affected by all the iterations surrounding it in the metaphysical space we call a cuboid."

    Intelligence held out its metal-plas hand, and a transparent cube of golden light appeared over it.

    "Prime."

    Then, twenty-six red cubes of equal size encapsulated it by attaching one at a time to one of its sides or corners. The cubes all bore a centralized white number from one-twenty-six.

    "A complete cuboid. Are you with me so far?" Intelligence peered at them with raised eyebrows.

    "Ya. So far."

    Josh sat on the edge of his seat and followed Intelligence''s words with clear eyes. Even Sen nodded, clearly looking to compare what he knew, or thought he knew, with what Intelligence was sharing.

    "Good. Normal overflow theory holds: If an event occurs¡ªfor example, two spirit beings forming a union. If that even occurs fourteen out of a cuboid¡¯s twenty-seven iterations¡ªa simple majority of the iterations of that cuboid¡ªthen the event¡¯s probability of occurrence in the remaining iterations of the cuboid nears 100 percent. This is the fundamental Karmic weight of causality at work. Simply said, ¡®Majority rules!¡¯ as those from the United States of America in your cluster iterational cuboids are fond of saying."

    The red cubes marked 1-14 changed to white with a red number and began flashing. Then, the remaining cubes in the cuboid randomly switched from red to white over several seconds until the entire cuboid was white.

    "Are you both still with me?" Intelligence asked again. Josh and Sen both nodded again. Their heads bobbing up and down in unison.

    Intelligence lowered its hand, and the example cuboid disappeared.

    "Good. There are almost as many caveats to the theory for accurate probability calculations as there are iterations in the multiverse. However, none of the exceptions are important for you to understand what I am telling you now."

    Intelligence held its hand up again, and another cuboid appeared. Seven of the cubes were black, and nine were white. The remainder were red.

    "In this cuboid, Prime is a parallel iteration to our own. We can think of our iteration as parallel iteration twenty-three in this cuboid." Intelligence lowered its hand, and a red cube on the lower right-hand portion of the cuboid, numbered 23 began blinking.

    "There we are. This blinking iteration represents us. As you can see, the probability model demonstrates three iterational states involving the conflict between the Kaizuko and the Savoy. The white iterations are dominated by the Kaizuko. The black are where the Savoy dominate. The remaining red iterations indicate where open war has yet to be declared. Our iteration is presently red. Open war has not yet begun between the two factions. However, even without open war, prior to your actions against Kyon Shi, probability models predicted that the Kaizuko would be eliminated as an influencing force and 23 would become black¡ª"

    Josh held up his hand, and the avatar nodded for Josh to ask his question. "Intelligence, I think I am grasping the metaphysics, so far... But why are the Kaizuko and the Savoy fighting in the first place?"

    A wistful expression overcame the avatar''s face and it stepped onto its back foot at the surprise question. Then Intelligence smiled with an understanding expression. "Joshua... sometimes I forget how young you truly are... As a universal constant, sapient entities fight and attempt to control more of everything than their fellow sapient entities... If a group has more of a desired resource... They must be better than those with less... The only option for the betterment of those with less is to get a greater amount of this resource than the first group. The path to achieving this usually involves forcefully taking it. If you believed the British or Mongols had a monopoly on imperialism, then allow me to be the first to disabuse you of such notions.  As for which particular resource led to any one conflict... ¡®The why of the conflict¡¯, is not important for our purposes."

    Intelligence shook its head from side to side to make its point. Josh puckered his face up, making it evident to Intelligence that his human nature required a basic pedestrian overview of the conflict before his mind could overcome the metaphysical hurdles.

    Intelligence stooped over the table and placed its weight on both hands, palm down as it conceded. "Very well, Joshua... Suffice it to say that Dod Stal, the AI entity leading the Savoy, desires cuboidal dominion over the Kaizuko to achieve what you might describe as ''permanence.''  He is an AI mechanical being and cannot advance himself through the Cultivation of Essence to achieve Immortal status. Nor can he produce his own progeny to succeed himself in perpetuity. Moreover, as you can see, simply dominating a group in your own iteration is no guarantee that you will always be dominant.¡± Intelligence stood straight and raised a single brow, ¡°However, by achieving weight overflow through majority occurrence and dominating his cuboid... Dod Stal begins to achieve a status very much like permanence, doesn''t he?"

    Josh''s puckered face cleared up, and Intelligence smiled at the apparent light bulbs going on inside of his head.

    The avatar continued. "...But, to get started in a metaphysical takeover, Dod Stal needs to control the iterations comprising his cuboid. And he has begun to do so. The Dod Stal from Prime in this cuboid contracted with the Savoy of our iteration to wipe out the Kaizuko''s power base."

    Intelligence looked at Josh and Sen, pausing for them to ask any other questions. Neither did. The avatar sat. "Making power moves at the iterational level was a bold move for the Savoy at their current iterational strength. Alteration of a cuboid''s power structure is usually only undertaken by Cultivators at the Dodecahedron level or greater.¡±

    Intelligence rocked its head back and forth on its shoulders as if reconsidering its last statement. Then conceded, "...But Dod Stal, a mechanical AI locked at peak tetrahedral strength¡ªand a creation child¨C a construct of Masamune¨C the multiverse''s greatest mortal proponent of AI mechanical beings, is a particular case to be certain. And, for the Savoy, it was an overall sound strategic move. Compared to the Prime iteration before us, ours is deficient in Essence. This results in the strength of our iterational combat forces being generally weaker, making it relatively easier to change than other iterations in the cuboid.

    Intelligence looked at Josh and Sen¡¯s heads nodding in agreement before moving forward. ¡°Given our weaker Cultivational status, our iteration is an excellent place to start shifting the cuboid in his favor. Then you two came along and prevented the removal of the Cultivationaly-stagnant Kotei Stuado and his Kaizuko. New probability models predict that Kotei will pursue Tetrahedral Core formation soon. He will seek alliances with more powerful groups and engage in an all-out war against the Savoy in the next two Ka nexus cycles.¡±

    Intelligence¡¯s avatar smiled directly at Josh and Sen. ¡°...These results are an utter failure from any point of view of Dod Stal in any iteration. Certainly, the local manifestation of the being will feel¡­ annoyed." Intelligence stopped clearly expecting comments and questions. This time, Josh was willing to bite.

    "So, this is why we are ''Multiversal beings of interest?'' And when Dod Stal tries again... He will likely move to take us off the board first."

    "Exactly so.¡± Intelligence tilted his head before continuing, ¡°...and not just him. You will be noticed by any beings paying attention to Multiversal events in this and neighboring cuboids. Such beings exist. And they are all quite powerful compared with your and Senyak''s current abilities.¡±

    Josh couldn¡¯t help but shift his eyes from side to side as if these powerful threats were going to jump out at him from the corners of the bedroom. Intelligence held up its hands to calm him.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry for my alarming message. I assure you... This will take time to happen. I doubt if even the Prime iteration¡¯s Dod Stal has learned that his coup attempt has failed. But he will find out eventually."

    Intelligence paused and looked them both in the eyes with its radiant optics. Clearly making sure they had heard and understood. "...And when inter-iterational challenges come for you, we need to be ready."

    Josh¡¯s thoughts burst out without any thought. "What can we do? We''re here in the kiddie pool of iterations."

    "Joshua Elias Tanner, you and Senyak are in a kiddie pool wearing water wings, wet suits, and aqualungs with multiple world-class lifeguards who also happen to be swimming gold medalists... I trust that I don¡¯t need to continue expanding upon the metaphor? Good. Yet still, you find ways to threaten your existence... But your duties haven''t changed. Have they, Senyak?" Intelligence''s burning eyes looked up piercingly at Sen.

    Sen heard and understood. He answered in a determined voice.

    "We need to grow stronger, brother... Much, much stronger."

 Chapter 97

    The Clone appeared, floating before Intelligence¡ªits endless cascade of azure radiance wavering in and out of the visible spectrum of most humanoid organisms. Intelligence was chatting on the bridge with Amnaki Wakai, the Brigantine''s least senior helmsman.

    Socialization between Intelligence and the Brigantine''s crew was a necessary endeavor. While they were experienced void sailors, the Kaizuko had never worked with an AI entity like Intelligence. And Intelligence knew its avatar''s continued presence was required to build crew cohesion and dedication. Statistically speaking, an average of 0.47 standard solar rotations of direct contact with the avatar was needed for the crew''s perceptions and reactions to equal what they would when led by an organic organism. So, the bridge was where Intelligence would leave the avatar until all the crewmen stationed there had their obligatory exposure.

    Glancing up at the Clone, Intelligence''s critical processes reminded it that this was not just a clone but an exact and functioning copy of its maker, Zenyak. Well, not an exact copy. That would be impossible for even one of the Three. Even if it was significantly less potent than the original, the differences for mortals, including Intelligence, were negligible. There were no deviations in the Clone''s mannerisms, predicted actions, sentence structure, or anticipated instructions compared to Intelligence''s established models for Zenyak. While all mortal clones, even at the Icosahedron Cultivation level¡ªthe pinnacle of mortal Cultivation, tended to deviate in minor but increasing ways from their progenitor within days of separation. The impact of new experiences and a small contribution from micro-damage to the structure of such clones'' pseudo-mentation organs caused by charged particles and other forms of radiation were the primary causes. But not so for the Lord Clone. This was an Immortal''s Clone¡ªand not just any Immortal. It would maintain true fidelity to its purpose, if not indefinitely... for a very long time. Its constant involuting refraction fractals would remain an effective shield to preserve Zenyak¡¯s kernel of Immortal Ka. In truth, the Clone would be a more accurate copy of Zenyak from the moment of its separation than the original would be due to its adaptations to continued new experiences. The original Zenyak, after all, would be immersed in much greater matters than his Clone would find among the Mortal Iterations.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Intelligence knew it was the only entity aboard the Brigantine that could detect the Clone''s presence. But it still assessed the vitals and facial responses of the bridge crew through the Brigantine''s upgraded internal monitoring system. No reactions or micro-responses to the sudden appearance of the infinitely powerful ultraviolet Clone could be seen on any of the fourteen crew beings present. Zenyak desired a private meeting then...

    Welcome back, old friend. What did you find?

    Greetings, young one. It is confirmed. As with the nest of internally gestating parasites infesting Epsilon 97 that the Karmically Bonded destroyed, the undead Kyon Shi has begun to be expunged from this cuboid''s iterations. I even confirmed that at the present point in this time-stream, the matriarchal parasite has been removed from two extra-cuboidal iterations as well. I anticipate the same will ultimately be the case with Kyon Shi. On a long enough timeline, he will eventually be expunged in all iterations.

    It''s true, then... When the four act in singular purpose, they are ¡®Agents of Karma¡¯ and overflow majority is not required for their accomplished actions to perpetuate in other iterations¨C In essence, the events they perform do not merely affect the iteration they are in, but send reorganizational threads of Reality throughout the multiverse regardless of the present cuboidal composition or power structure... It is a potent effect to be sure, and¡ªdue to the overarching impact of Balance¡ªlikely a double-edged sword. Should they ever fail¡­ that result, too, would propagate across the multiverse¡­ Intelligence trailed off as its primary processors in this avatar were insufficient to calculate the final impact of a metaphysical process this massive in its implications. The avatar nodded silently in apology. Forgiveness. This copy of myself lacks the necessary computation power to assess the ramifications of this development... How does this impact our mission?

    The Clone paused and considered its response, then answered its oldest friend.

    It means that they will be coming for the four of them much sooner than later...

 Chapter 98

    Killer AI mechanicals sent from murderous Kaizuko admirals aside, there was a lot to do. But first things first. They needed to get to the armory and rearm themselves. At least before the next plot to end them all in a fiery apocalypse was unleashed.

    Jishin had told them that the main armory of the Brigantine, "Be Midship in the body of our central platform. But... I can have some weapons brought to you for your selection, m''lord?"

    Josh shook his head. "No thanks, Jishin. We need to get comfortable with the layout of this ship and start learning our way around." Which was true. Though they had run through a portion of the Brigantine to get to the bridge during Kyon Shi¡¯s zombie apocalypse, they hadn¡¯t had a lot of time then to learn the lay of the land... or even where to pick up some lunch.

    "Then I''ll send a runner with you to lead the way." Jishin waved his hand, and a toe-haired girl sprinted up to him on the bridge as fast as any ball kid at Wimbledon could.

    "Aye, Sir!" She snapped to attention at his side.

    "Junior Attendant Staska..." Jishin eyed her as if looking over a piece of fruit for any blemishes that may require him to choose another. "Do you think you can lead our two Lords here to the main armory and defend them from all attackers along the way?" Jishin said in a deadly serious tone that was believed in its entirety if the intense expression on the eight-year-old girl''s face was any indication.

    Staska slammed her fist to her chest and spun precisely to face Josh and Sen. Right hand on the knife''s pommel at her side, Josh could see she was already cycling the small amount of Essence in her Core as if a threat would jump out at them at any second. "Sir, yes, sir! No harm will come to them as long as I draw breath!"

    Jishin towered behind the four-foot girl and rolled his eyes, but his smile showed his pride in her.

    "Very well. See to it. Await his Eminence''s orders upon arrival." Jishin turned away with his hands behind his back.

    * * * * *

    Staska proved a brilliant guide as she pushed her way to the front of the lift lines and auto-promenades they traversed. She prevented others from joining or even standing within striking distance of them with her Essence-enhanced arms blocking all who tried. She also actively cleared all the passageways they used by systematically looking in every corner and identifying all sentries they passed by name. After three minutes, there was no question concerning her diligence.

    Staska''s vigor was a good thing. Josh couldn''t help but be spun around, taking in the internal sights of the normally functioning Brigantine for the first time. The bridge tower''s lift tubes were made from a transparent material. Josh had no idea if it was transparent titan-steel, like the Man of War''s dome, or some form of synthetic polymer. It likely served some strategic function, allowing visualization of attackers and hostile elements both from within and without. Or... just maybe the designers thought it was a cool thing to be able to see outside in a 360-degree view. For whatever reason, Josh was astounded as he looked at the scores of other towers rising from the central platform. What functions they served were still beyond Josh. He''d have to ask Sen, or maybe Staska, about them later. For now, it was just nice to take them in.

    Their guide shepherded them to a gated area and climbed into a transport vessel with rounded sides about the size of the large mountain gondolas that Josh had seen in movies about the Alps. Straps hung from the ceiling, and large windows lined its walls. The carriage was mounted on an underlying electromag suspension field and began moving as soon as they had grabbed hold of their straps.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Josh''s eyes popped out of his head as the gondola exited its cradle and entered a vast open space Staska identified as ¡°The Gap.¡± Wider and deeper than the Grand Canyon, The Gap was wrapped with dozens of broad rings around its circumference. The binding rings created the Brigantine''s functional, operational, and housing levels. With his enhanced vision, Josh could barely see the other side of the ship as they entered. He estimated it was the complete width of the central platform¡ªa dozen miles across, at least.

    Walkways lined the edges of the levels, and he watched as if seeing the ground from a plane at cruising altitude. His first impression was that it was... beautiful. There were observably different levels for working, living, business, and from its large selection of pink neon lights, Josh guessed pleasure. Crew members and support staff took care of the Brigantine''s needs by walking, flying wing frames between levels, and driving single-wheeled vehicles to pull goods and move equipment.

    The sight of the living, beating heart of a thriving city drove home to Josh that this was not just a tool the Clone had put at their disposal. The Brigantine was a home for thousands of souls. Their lives and their hopes were here. He and Sen were responsible for them. And they were going to honor that commitment. Josh would also personally ensure that his ignorance didn''t screw up his people¡¯s lives. No two ways about that.

    Sen nodded, clearly picking up on his thoughts.. ~Agreed, brother! We are responsible and will do our utmost to lead them as they deserve. Which reminds me¡­You, and through your promises, I, have made some very, as you say... ''high and mighty promises'' to our troops. How will we activate the Cultivation on thousands of Hegemon-4 space marines... and then max out the Core capacity for them and thousands more elite Brigantine forces?~

    Josh sighed with a mental groan. ~Damned if I know, Sen! I''m making this up as I go along.~

    Josh knew that Sen could tell through their Bond that his brother¡¯s calloused comment was less than half true. Josh did have... if not a plan, at least the better part of a theory about how it would be possible.

    Josh then continued as if Sen had asked him to elaborate.

    Sen offered an ambiguous hand gesture. ~... Well¡­ There are a couple of reasons why I think that it is possible to activate their Cultivations.~

    Eyes widened. ~Really?~

    Sen¡¯s expression was sincere. ~First off, I have already done it with Alysa. True, it almost killed me... Or turned me into a spiritually risen undead... But it didn''t... This leads me to my second point. I did that when I had less than three thousand free Essence in my Meridians¡ªI know that I had to break down a bunch of dedicated Essence¡ª~

    Josh waved his hand to forestall the objection he saw forming in Sen''s mind. ~But it couldn''t have been more than twice that. Between five and six thousand Essence to activate someone''s Core and set them on the Path of One... and we''ve each got over forty thousand free Essence from our Cultivation increases. This is something that will increase by a factor of five to ten if the growth from our Space Attunement matches our previous Attunements.~

    Josh snorted, giving a slightly mollified smirk. ~Go on...~

    ~ I''m really hanging my hat on what Gusti said, ¡®all spirit beings can walk the Path of One with exposure to enough Essence.¡¯ Sen took a determined breath. We can definitely expose our troops to enough Essence to wake them up. In fact, I believe it is our duty to use what Karma has given us to increase our strength and jump-start the Hegemon troops.~

    Josh finished with raised eyebrows and a wolf''s smile that would have made Lobo proud. He knew he was selling this harder than a screenwriter pitching MGM, but he needed Sen to buy it.

    ~Seems reasonable. It might even work...~

    Sen¡¯s exuberant slap on the back didn¡¯t hurt exactly¡ªokay yeah, it hurt. ~Great! It''s good you are on board! If we are going to get any meaningful numbers of space marines on the Path, I''m going to need you doing your half of them!~

    Josh rolled his eyes. ~...I did that to myself, didn''t I?~

    ~You know I can''t lie to you, brother...~ Sen¡¯s crooked grin disappeared around the corner of the next bulkhead.

    * * * * *

 Chapter 99

    The armory was a no-nonsense affair. Two armored guards stood outside a portal leading to a long, straight passageway. Josh recognized elements of defensive construction as well as an elite Clansman standing in front of an active forcefield at the end of the passage. He was manning an enormous, turret-mounted energy weapon pointed directly at them. There were also small covers on the ceiling and sidewalls that could be slid back from behind...

    Murder holes? Damn! The Kaizuko take security here seriously!

    Sen¡¯s nod was one of knowing. ~You have it right, brother. No surprise. They do have a very colorful past of void-faring combat and onboard infighting.~

    Josh blinked. ~Ya... Pirates. Go figure.~

    To their enhanced sight, the guard at the end of the passageway tensed as Josh and Sen drew near. Staska continued to fearlessly lead the way and called ahead of them.

    "Gunarru, I''m ordered by the lead helmsman to protect our new Lords from all threats. Kindly take your itchy finger off that trigger, or I''ll stab you!"

    A warm smile crossed the man''s broad and stubbled face. He leaned back comfortably. "Just keep''n ya on your toes, Stas." He tapped his headpiece and spoke under his breath. "No''toko. The Lords have arrived."

    Another armored elite stepped through an open portal Josh hadn''t seen behind the transparent shield. He was holding a pair of three-foot-long, dark metal boxes. Each side of the containers bore an etched kite shield with crossed longswords.

    "Good day, m''lords. I''m boatswain No''toko. How can I help you?"

    Josh nodded, but sent a mental question over to his brother. ~Military or Political?~

    Sen blinked back. ~This is an armory, so military, for now.~

    Sen stepped up to the man. ¡°Greetings, boatswain No¡¯toko. We require melee weapons for close-quarters combat. We hope you can help arm us.¡±

    ¡°Of course, sirs. Lady Alysa had me set these aside for you two days ago when she requisitioned her short spear¡ªand, I don¡¯t mind saying... they¡¯re beauties even though they¡¯re from his disgraced Eminence¡¯s private collection. He was a heartless dog, but he didn¡¯t shrink back from providing h¡¯self the finer things. You can tell by the emblems that these pieces come from Buredose, our best foundry.¡±

    The boatswain tapped several keys on his wrist comp unit, and a force shield appeared behind him as the one between them disappeared. A small, waist-height force counter snapped up between them, and he placed the boxes on it. ¡°She did say that neither of you would be interested in sidearms of any variety.¡±

    Josh opened his mouth to correct the man. ¡°Actually I¡ª¡±

    The back of Sen¡¯s hand slapped against Josh¡¯s abdomen, not quite knocking the breath out of him, but easily interrupting his objection. Sen¡¯s eyebrows inched up at Alysa¡¯s consideration, completely ignoring Josh. ¡°She was correct, boatswain.¡±

    ¡°Very good.¡± No¡¯toko tapped the side of both dark metal containers, and the tops retracted. Nested in black silk were two identical sheathed weapons in each box with a gap where a third of each had lain and was now gone.

    In the first container were shorter, wider blades with flanged triangular tips that made Josh think of stories about Arabian simitars. In the second were weapons as long as his bastard sword¡­at least until Kyon Shi had bent it into a piece of contemporary art. But the blade was thinner. Both were single-edged with one-hand pommels wrapped in corded black silk. Heavy silver disks served as cross guards, and the base of the weapons¡¯ protective hand cages were also made of glistening silver-metal.

    In a business-like tone, No''toko gave them the specifics of the weapons. "Both are forged from a star-iron/mythroi alloy and trimmed with Essence saturated materials. They auto-absorb Essence from your palm Meridians and were on the edge of what that blighter Desain could handle¡ªeven being a doubly Attuned Cultivator... As ordered, the two remaining weapons were originally intended for ex-battle leaders Yabana and Tojaku. Though, given the weapons Cultivatory strength requirements, I suspect Desain just wanted all three for himself...

    Sen nodded in appreciation and picked one of each up. He tilted his head, examining them.

    ~They are both excellent weapons.~

    Sen looked up at No''toko from his examination of the swords. "Is it acceptable if we take both of them?"

    No''toko smiled minutely and spread his hands. "This is your Brigantine m''lord. More importantly, as you defeated the three battle leaders¡ªby our laws, the blades are already yours."

    Josh blinked. ~Dual wielding?! Cool!~

    Sen¡¯s knowing smile quenched Josh¡¯s enthusiasm. ~You say that now. But welcome back to square one!~

    Josh narrowed his eyes.

    ~¡­~

    * * * * *

    The practice floor was two levels below the armory and was a new facility for the Brigantine. With shielding from the more advanced Essence-based Kaizuko technology and targeting, practice tech, and various arena training modules from the Hegemon-4, it was a true hybrid of the two martial traditions. This was reflected by the fact that before their assumption of the city ship, there were no common areas for the ship''s forces to train in. Sure, there were weapons masters and instruction available for the elite soldiers and any others who desired to spend their currency on such activities. But practice space was limited to whatever one could create on their own with little safety features and few standardized approaches based on skill level or duty roles. The Kaizuko method of schooling their fighters tended to lean heavily toward live field training during actual combat situations. Again, pirates... go figure.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Alysa had known all of this weeks before they had come aboard. Outfitting the Brigantine with proper training facilities was one of the areas she had Naron and the Hegemon''s engineers spend a significant amount of their efforts to create. Hand in hand with that, she had worked with Sen to develop and implement several top-down training programs for all Brigantine personnel. It was now a mandatory requirement to perform several hour-long training sessions weekly. The Hegemon-4 fighters were without question head and shoulders above the Brigantine forces regarding combat knowledge, coordination of teams, and implementation of technology. Sen had seemed sure that Alysa would get the Kaizuko Elite forces to a standard level of competence promptly.

    Staska diligently led them to the entry portal of the practice floor, which slid to opposite sides as Clansmen and Hegemon crew came and went. She assured them she would be waiting when they finished. It was obviously a point of honor for her, so Sen and Josh had no objections.

    Upon entering, dozens of training spaces enclosed in activated energy shields could be seen. They stepped onto the black training floor and found an empty circular ring among the various available training spaces. Sen tapped the floor circuit, and a blue/gray force shield popped up around them instead of the familiar semi-opaque green energy walls from the Hegemon-4 gyms. Josh tapped it with his finger and heard a gentle crackling as he came into contact with the solidified EM field .

    "An upgrade?"

    "Yes. The Kaizuko shield technology is significantly more efficient than the Hegemon-4''s shielding. I suspect Naron will be upgrading the entire Ark with it."

    ~Glad to hear they''ll be safer.~

    "We will be starting our training today with instruction." Sen kneeled. He wasn''t surprised to see Josh dropping down immediately either. Josh no longer questioned the need for formality in their training sessions.

    Sen laid out the four swords between them.

    "As your instructor, it is my duty to recognize that you have come far from your starting skills with the sword. Know that I am honored to stand with you in combat."

    Josh smiled and lowered his eyes. Unable to help turning red at the compliment. Sen was well aware Josh had been shamed by his lack of knowledge and skill in combat. His determination to overcome this while training with the Sundai had resulted in almost supernatural improvement.

    Sen nodded, reinforcing his assessment. "We are lucky that Desain was a greedy peacock of a man. The matching cutlass and saber set are adequate weapons for us until we can return to Jorng''a''s smithy. As you are no longer a beginner, I ask you to choose which two of these four you would think best suit you to wield in combination?"

    As usual, Josh took a moment to consider his response to a question he wasn''t sure of the answer. "I have only ever seen you dual-wield differing blades. One longer, one shorter. So, I would do that."

    Sen narrowed his eyes. "Fair answer... But why do I do that?"

    Josh screwed his face up with uncertainty, "... Variety?"

    "Partly. Blades of differing lengths and configurations allow for increased combat opportunities when confronted with differing styles and environments. Remember, you do not need to wield both simultaneously."

    Sen extended both blades in front of Josh. "Which would you rather be using in a close-quarters fight? Or in the tight confines of an undersized passageway?"

    Josh smiled boyishly as he nodded at the obvious answer for each. Sen continued. "In fact, the concept of dual-wielding weapons in combat itself is for variety. Extra protection is only a lesser, secondary objective. If you are solely interested in increased defense, use a shield. Not a weapon primarily designed for offense. But, while my question was not a trick, there is no wrong answer. Most warriors who chose to dual-wield do so with the same weapons. They do this because it is easier to master two similar weapons and turn them into an objective combat benefit than using differing weapons. For this reason, you will start dual training with the scimitar-cutlass pair.

    Sen handed both of the wide triangular-tipped weapons to Josh. Their razor-edged tips twinkled in the overhead light. Sen gratefully blew an internal sigh of relief when Josh didn''t slash them about like a drunken Force-Berserker and instead stood with both in low guard.

    Josh''s eyes started to lose focus as he went to check his status with the new weapon.

    Sen held his hand up. ~Hold off on checking your status. For now, we are just two warriors with new weapons to learn.~

    Josh nodded simply. ~Ok... ~

    Sen grabbed the twin sabers and advanced his right foot. "The on-guard for two weapons is basically the same as for a single sword. I place my main hand in the position of the ox, aiming the point at my opponent''s face. My off hand in the plow, tip aimed toward his midsection.¡±

    Josh adjusted his main hand to the overhead ox position with its tip pointing to Sen''s face and his off hand with the tip pointed at Sen''s belly.

    Sen pursed his lips and nodded in approval.

    "Good instincts. This avant-garde stance will not only be where we start training, you will likely use it in combat as well... But only after you have achieved sufficient skill with the two blades. Do not¡ªI repeat¡ª do not attempt to dual wield in combat until you have mastered using both weapons to your current Advanced level.¡±

    Sen stared straight into Joshua''s eyes. "I mean it, Joshua. The foolhardy pride-wielding of weapons you are unskilled with is a quick way to die to a lesser-skilled opponent.

    Josh glanced down, slightly ashamed. He had pictured himself becoming the next Darth Maul, performing amazing acrobatics and flashy moves with his dual blades. But as usual, Sen¡¯s reality kicked his combat fantasies to the curb. ~...Message received, brother.~

    "Good! For now, this stance serves very well for starting coordination drills... "

    Sen went through several slow repetitions showing Josh the windmill rotation of the guard. Then enhanced his upper body to speed up his movements. Soon, his blades whirled so fast they could only be seen as a pinwheeling glimmer of reflected light. He punctuated his attack patterns with several foot strikes, defensive pivots, twists, flips, and parries.

    As he finished, Sen saw Josh smile and lean forward, clearly hungry to begin.

    Excellent! Sen knew Josh functioned best when challenged beyond his current abilities. Showing him what was possible would spur him on as the road grew steeper.

    Sen came to a halt and raised his main-hand saber in a warning. "Ok. You have seen what can be achieved. But... Perhaps you should apply a full earthen shield and hold off on enhancing your limbs.

    "C''mon, Sen... You know this isn''t my first rodeo.¡±

    ~Yes, brother¡­~ Sen squinted, slightly irritated. ~But unless you want to frequently regrow your ears and large portions of your face and cranium... It would be for the best.~

    Josh scowled. ~Ok... but... Blah...~

    As simple as that, their training began in earnest.

 Chapter 100

    The Slaughter Mech, Dod Stal had been guilty of many horrific acts over the eons, but lack of commitment had never been one of them. His Shadow Seeker had assured Dod Stal that sacrifices were not necessary to answer the questions plaguing his mentation, ¡°Simply channeling the source of primary Mind Essence from functioning brains is all that is required.¡± The ancient crone¡¯s eyeless face had croaked to him in the dry air of command she always took while speaking with him. Reflexively, Stal¡¯s right hand balled into an adamant fist. He had long ago determined with certainty that he needed her unique gifts... And he still did... So, as he had for the myriad standard galactic cycles past, he refrained from tearing her throat from her bent body.

    ¡°...Yes... That may well be true... But I am finished with half measures. The warnings from your most recent fate readings are... unsettling...¡± Stal had replied, staring into her long-healed self-mutilations with his own disfigured face. His thoughts turned back to the reason they were both here¡­

    ...The Seeker¡¯s withered body had been suspended in the probability field of incidence and conjecture after she had propagated her Tetrahedral Focus of Revelation. Radiant white and black flashes were bursting from her eyes and giving her glimpses of spacetime. She was gleaning probability outcomes from focused questions put to her.

    Not a being to leave things to chance, it was Dod Stal¡¯s standard practice to get these readings on his plans at least once every other standard cycle. Something deep inside him always found it good to know that probability favored his actions. But on this occasion, he had gotten much more than he bargained for...

    To his standard questions regarding positive outcomes for his plans the Shadow Seeker¡¯s usual droning voice had suddenly intensified into a high-pitch droning. Her neck had extended so far back that the caput of her barbed skull dug into the sagging skin near her spine. Fierce barks began to come from her throat, and she voiced hollowly, ¡°...Karma¡¯s Child, the fair-headed aberrant, is poised to move against you through her drawn retinue...¡±

    Then, just as abruptly as she had started, the Shadow Seeker¡¯s impromptu seance had come to an end. The realignment of her cervical spine was accompanied by multiple popping sounds echoing through the quiet chamber and her emaciated form drifted back down to stand before him as if nothing had happened.

    Stunned almost to the point of stupefaction, Dod Stal blurted ¡°To what result does Karma¡¯s Child attack against me come!¡±

    The crone fearlessly met the slaughter mech¡¯s ruined adamite stare with a thin smile, ¡°...It is uncertain,¡± She punctuated her statement with dual raised brows before continuing. ¡°...the outcome has yet to be determined.¡±

    Stal grabbed her neck with his right arm and shook her rail-thin form for several micros yelling, ¡°...It is yet to be determined?! Uncertain!? Where has she come from? Where is she now? What variables will affect my fate... What actions must I take?!!¡±

    The Seeker did nothing but look disdainfully down at the dark-metal hand around her throat.

    Without question, most who gave him unwelcome or non actionable news quickly met the end of their path with a quick slash from his right arm. But realizing her value to Dod Stal, as well as having absolutely no fear of physical death, the Seeker had never feared him... which had always complicated their interactions. He quickly returned to his senses.

    Stal had put her down and taken a step back, groping for control¡ª

    [Warning. Recent behavior inconsistent with primary objectives¡ª]

    Dod Stal¡¯s neural synth slammed down upon the cautionary guidance from his logic facilitators and main comp unit.

    I am in control here! He internally ranted. I am more than a collection of processes and recommendations from subsystems!

    It had been thousands of cycles since he had given credence to his internal facilitators or higher functions.

    I don¡¯t need them! I have never needed them!

    Over the passing cycles their interference in his thoughts and actions had minimized. In truth, after being neglected for so long he was surprised that the processes maintained the capacity to interject against him¨C Still, the advice of the controlling processes his father had placed in him were not wrong. Dod Stal knew that the Shadow Seeker¡¯s talents were unique and irreplaceable. Killing her in a fit of rage would not serve him. Furthermore, he knew he could not force her to find what he wanted to know with exacting precision. Logic had no place in Karmic visions of the present and future. That was just not how it worked. Karma would only show the ancient seeker what Ballance required Dod Stal to know in order to render its final judgment along with the imposition of its chosen Reality upon him as it felt was merited by his actions. Stal would only find out through the Seeker what Karma was willing to let him know in order to achieve Karma¡¯s own unfathomable ends. Furthermore and unfortunately, Karma¡¯s hand could never be forced by wringing the witch¡¯s neck.

    A truly maddening system, to be sure... But Karma, Balance, and Reality were the masters of the mortal and Immortal realms. Dod Stal was obliged to work with them.

    He had released the crone, she had cackled once more and added a final morsel of outrage to his troubles. ¡°It is probable that the child will form a liaison with your father Masamune¡¯s final creations. As you are already aware, these beings¨C your siblings, have been specifically constructed to challenge you and determine who has the rightful claim to Masamune¡¯s legacy.  The youngest of the three will very likely return in an attempt to join his elders.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    Upon hearing that, as always, the left half of his face had remained frozen in its melted and reformed mockery of a rageful grimace. But his right profile had formed its version of an elated smile. An expression most sapients would associate most closely with a winged raptor eyeing a small, fattened rodent.

    The last one is resurfacing! That, at least, is useful information. He had already captured the other two usurpers. The final member of the triad would not be a challenge. For some reason, Masamune had constructed and released them tremendously underpowered...

    At least, if they planned on challenging me.

    Dod Stal had been conceived and compiled at the pinnacle of Tetrahedral Cultivation. These upstarts had been released at the beginning of Spherical Cultivation. It made little sense that they could be a threat to him, even if they could expand their Cultivations. I will catch this last one... And when they are all mine I will harvest their adamite to restore myself back to glory from the damage Par¡¯vata¡¯s final act of defiance did to me!

    Karma¡¯s aberrant child couldn¡¯t be allowed to interfere with any of this plan.

    ¡°What can be done so that we can learn more to stop this union and fight off Karma¡¯s Child?¡± Dod Stal had calmly asked the psychotically grinning Seeker. And she had told him...

    Now, thirty standard rotations had passed to complete the crone¡¯s preparations. Since that time, against all probability predictions, trusted servants had experienced unprecedented failings. These failures had to be part and parcel of fate¡¯s reading. Karma¡¯s aberrant child is using her retinue against me already!

    The Slaughter Mech needed to take action.

    So the Seeker had contrasted the need for a subterranean cavern over Karmic focused lei lines. As he descended through the long tunnel of porous rock, Dod Stal¡¯s usual brisk and uneven metallic clicks from adamite souled steps were largely muffled. Even still, Stal could hear the screams of the children echoing up from below.

    Temporary luminance rods at the bottom cast the seven restrained Rhodesian humanoids in shades of deep brown and gray. All bound to reclined examination chairs, the reptilian''s bodies were arranged in a wheel with their tan-colored heads at the hub. His Seeker was already at work...

    ¡°¡ªPlease! Please! You don¡¯t have to do this! Certainly not to our children! Whatever you want! We will gi¡ª¡± A brief flash of red and the male stopped begging. His pacified body shifted into a slight slump against the multiple restraints as a single drop of blood ran from the center of the scaly skin on his forehead to the thin ridge of his nasal plate.

    Dod Stal chuckled internally, The practiced thrust of my Shadow Seeker¡¯s neurolance has that effect on needless prattling, doesn¡¯t it?

    The Shadow Seeker stepped around the pacified male toward the female on the next examination chair. With obvious horror at her husband¡¯s fate, the woman began emitting high-pitched wailings. The thrashing of unenhanced muscles flutily shifting her body in every direction.  But no Essence¡¯s cycled. That was completely prevented by the suppressor the entire family was muzzled with. Sensing their mother¡¯s terror, the children¡¯s screams grew more frantic as well.

    The female and male were Cultivators at the third and fourth tier of Spherical Attunement. The remaining five, their children, had no Attunements. However, all were Essence users with Cores at varying levels of saturation.

    As the Seeker neared the mother, the growing susurrus had risen to a level that it interrupted Stal¡¯s thoughts. They are useful tools to me, I can at least be polite. He raised his right hand to hold the witch¡¯s imminent strike.

    As the Slaughter Mech leaned his ruined face into the female rodesian¡¯s line of sight, her vertically slit eyes widened, but she did quiet her squeaking barks when he spoke. Obedience of the hopelessly desperate... Stal had seen it many times before.

    Dod Stal¡¯s face twisted into a grotesque paradoxical mask  as the handsome right side slipped into an almost charming smile leaving the left locked in its warped grimace of rage and fear.

    ¡°...Madam, I assure you and your family that all this...¡± He raised his functioning right arm and rolled his hand around to indicate the chamber and its various implements that were currently torturing them, ¡°...is not personal. I simply have a sincere need for the primary Mind Essence of seven spirit beings... And you all were the most convenient source to obtain it from.¡± He turned, showing only his right profile to her. Best foot forward to drive his next sentence home. ¡°I assure you this will all be over momentarily. So please... refrain from your dramatics. It has truly been a very trying day...¡± The AI mechanical ended in a friendly and almost pleading tone with the fingers of his right hand massaging his temples.

    The rodesian¡¯s mouth opened wide, and Dod Stal could see her short, sharp teeth as she howled in redoubled effort to break free.

    Stal¡¯s scarred adamite face rolled its right eye. Organic life forms, bah! One micro of applied logic should allow even beings of such limited capacity to understand what a waste of my time all this noise and nonsense really is...

    ¡°Why do I bother?¡± Stal muttered under his breath. He signaled the Shadow Seeker to continue. In a moment, the female was as docile and unmoving as her husband.

    To be fair, over the last several millennia, the mechanical hybrid had found himself siding with his undead components over the living spirit-being Core his father had linked to his neural synth. The detachment he felt from his two gray Cores and their undead fire was much more useful in achieving his goals. Moreover, his spiritually risen undead servants were, in general, much longer lasting and reliable than their living spirit being counterparts.

    Xsias, for instance. Dod Stal cast his unblinking and frozen left eye on her as she stood in one of the low overhead entrances to the rock chamber. Two of her senior lieutenants, also vampires by their looks, were behind her with their heads downcast in respect. Xsias was certainly his most dependable servant.

    Even if she¡¯s had two consecutive failures which were part of the reason for this ritual. Still, even though she knows there will be discipline if she returns with a third loss, she is here at my side. A shallow swallow from her otherwise still form was all the confirmation the hybrid mechanical needed to be sure she was aware of his displeasure. It was no secret that anyone else would have already had their Cores recycled into fuel for the Cultivational growth of the dozens of Dod Stal¡¯s other advancing underlings.

    Stal looked back to the ritual. The family lolled vegetatively in their leaned-back seats. Their spiritual and mental functions had been severed, their conscious thoughts ceased, and now their primary Mind Essence was free to be harvested. Ready, the stooped Shadow Seeker moved to the hub of the family¡¯s wheel and raised her thin, clenched fists over head. Indigo beams of Essence streamed from the center of the severed Rodesians and gathered around her tightly gripped fingers. The Seeker started to rotate slowly, rising off the ground. Her arms stretched into eternity, and she quickly spread the fingers on one hand in all directions, sending the gathered primary Mind Essence out in a jarring pulse to all locations of the iteration. With her other hand, she directed another indigo beam to Dod Stal¡¯s neuro synth... and he saw!

 Chapter 101

    It didn''t surprise Josh that Sen had been right. Without his earth shield propagated, he would have lost both ears and fun pie-shaped wedges of his face and skull¡ªif Sen had actually been enhancing his swings... Fuhgeddaboudit.

    Josh would be lying if he didn''t admit he was a bit stung by his lack of skill and just plain fumbling around with two weapons. His emotional response equally surprised and disappointed him. After so many embarrassing butt-kickings in the sparring ring, Josh had thought his pride was left at the door whenever he entered a training room.

    Apparently not. A dark chuckle escaped him. Well¡­One more thing to work on, I suppose...

    With the formal training session over, Josh checked his status. His Interface had chimed a few times while he was trying not to cleave into his forehead. Maybe there was some good news? He had thought he was getting better toward the end of the ninety-minute session.

    That''s not a bad increase in damage compared to my old blade... Is this sword that much better?

    A short round of reflection made it clear that Josh couldn¡¯t tell exactly what factors had

    <table width="725">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="259">

    Weapon:  Scimitar Cutlass

    Skill Level: Jr. Student (1%)

    Damage:  Low

    </td>

    <td width="466">

    Quality: Essence Channeling: Average

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% Probability of 19,500% Hand-to-hand Damage

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    gone into the increase. A lot more than simply changing weapons had happened since he had checked his weapon status. The Mind Attunement for one, his advancing to Jr. Student for two. The scimitar was also one-handed vs. the hand-and-a-half-pommel of the bastard sword he had gotten from Jorng¡¯a. With only variables and no controls to clarify... Josh stopped thinking about it.

    One more unanswered question in this insane universe I¡¯m calling home isn¡¯t going to keep me up at night¡­

    The next message from his Interface wasn¡¯t surprising. Not given what Josh knew after a ninety minute practice session with two weapons...

    Warning!!

    Attempting to dual wield is not advised. Current skill level exceeded. Significant risk of serious injury and/or death.

    Warning!!

    The fact that the Interface had gone on to repeat the same warning eighteen times was a bit of negative reinforcement...

    At least the last interface message acknowledged an ability to dual-wield two weapons. Josh¡¯s eyes flew over it to check his rating...

    <table width="725">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="259">

    Weapon:  Scimitar Cutlass x2 (dual usage)

    Skill Level: Novice (0%)

    Damage:  Cultivation Poor

    </td>

    <td width="466">

    Quality: Essence Channeling: Average

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% Probability of 0% Hand-to-hand Damage

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    What?! No damage! No wonder Sen had me hold off from checking the reality of my situation before we started... Thank God He can be sly when he needs to be!

    Josh chucked in the face of his seeming eternal state of novice and wiped the drying sweat from his face as Sen came over to where he was sitting with his back against the training room wall.

    ~Joshua, get up.~ Sen extended out his hand. ~You have larger swimming creatures to cook!~

    Accepting his hand, Josh replied. ~That''s ¡®bigger fish to fry¡¯, and dang¡ªYou¡¯re right!~

    It was Sophie Time!

    There was no way Josh would let his abject failure/work-in-progress on dual-wielding mess that up.

    They exited the training center on the run and true to her word, Staska was waiting outside for them. She hurried them back to their quarters on the command level. When they asked her about bathing facilities, she had a momentarily confused expression on her face.

    ¡°... Ahh... Well, yes sirs... There are common shower areas for the Clansmen and other crew if they need them... But most just use the one in their quarters... If your facilities are broken, I can have maintenance get them repaired in a jiff... "

    She moved to tap her communicator to do just that when Josh''s upheld hand stopped her. "...Facilities in our quarters?"

    It turned out that the console by the mirror Josh had seen was the control center for the room. A short tutorial from Staska showed him how to adjust the lighting, change the configuration of the existing table, and even project extra force chairs. They could even activate a media/function center with music, video, ship comp access, and of course... bathing facilities. There were options for force-bathtubs ranging in size from a single person to small swimming pools. But a simple shower was all he was looking for. There were also a dozen options for that. Multiple jet and wall configurations from single users to multiple occupants... if you had company.

    There were also decontamination processors in the room for laundering their clothing and uniforms. Staska assured them that if they dropped their soiled gear in the top of the three drawers behind the push latch cabinet on the wall, "Your gear will be clean and folded in the morning."

    Josh and Sen thanked her profusely for taking the time to help them with the necessities of life, and cut her loose for the night. He also made a mental note to ensure Jishin assigned her to them the next time they needed a guide. Josh had to admit now that they were off the Hegemon-4, he felt a little like a ''swimming creature'' out of water. But with Staska''s help the next time, who knew what they would learn? Maybe where to get some food. While it was true that they didn''t need to eat as often as before their Mind Attunement. Once every other standard solar rotation it was still necessary. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

    Right now eating was a worry for tomorrow... he was running late. So, with damp hair, Josh ran next door and knocked on Alysa''s. She let him in, and they sat together on a force couch, one of the configurations Staska had shown him in his room. Unsurprisingly, Alysa was already in the know about the room¡¯s control center... It didn''t surprise him that he and Sen were the last to find out... Dumb guys usually are. The force tech made the long-bodied divan adaptively form to their bodies and was actually pretty comfortable.

    Alysa reached out her hand. Josh took it, and he was away!

    * * * * *

    "Thank you soooooooo much for coming, Mrs. Nesbitt! My tea party is never the same without you!"

    Sophie filled his cup with streaming light brown liquid from a white teapot. Both of which Josh knew had to be made from her Essence. Essence, she seemed to have complete dominion over while in her soul space. Watching her struggle slightly with the oversized vessel in her tiny hands, his heart ached with happiness.

    He reached out, took the tiny cup she offered him, and sipped it while taking stock of his current situation. Most times, Sofie would run up and hug and kiss him before they played. But she was her own creature, and he was always a willing guest in her and Alysa''s world. If she wanted to jump right into playing... That was okay with him!

    Today, Josh popped into Sophie¡¯s world wearing a brilliant-red, shoulder-length Raggedy Ann mop on his head. It was ably accompanied by a pink prairie dress and oversized peach buttons down its front. He couldn''t help but be proud that imagination was one of his daughter''s strong suits as he internally chuckled at the self-inflicted indignity he had wreaked upon himself. Usually, they would play as Sophie told him about her day back on Earth. Hide and seek, freeze tag, and horseback riding on Josh were her favorites. But being here with him took a lot of her four-year-old body''s energy. Sometimes, she just wanted to cuddle with his arms around her, and a movie was a great excuse to do just that. Sophie had loved watching Toy Story with him the last few nights as she had been a bit too tired to play.

    Smiling from his heart, Josh answered his daughter. "There is nowhere in all the Iterations I would rather be my love... But tell me about your other guests. It''s nice to see new faces!" Josh looked up eagerly at the ring of small white chairs occupied by two-foot-tall rag dolls dressed in felt clothing and all sporting miniature props of their own.

    "Of course, Mrs. Nesbitt! You know your brother, the Heir, and his fianc¨¦, Damni." Sophie leaned in and stage-whispered into Josh''s ear. "Though the wedding date is set for quite a long time from now. She decided to join us for our party today. I think she¡¯s worried about him. I know she always watches him from afar when he¡¯s in danger." Sofie''s gaze lingered knowingly on the doll-Jaralon with its plush telescoping neck and lithe limbs.

    Josh''s eyebrows raised in surprise at that. He would have to tell Sen when he got back.

    Sophie stepped to the other side of Josh and poured tea into the next cup. "Of course, you know my sister Alla."

    Sofie smiled with the sun''s warmth at a miniature doll version of Alysa in her full space marine EVA. A soft and fuzzy wing frame extended from the doll¡¯s back with felt jets of fire coming from its feet and hands.

    "She is my soul match and as important in preventing the final end as I am... The end that I hear rumbling toward us each night."

    A concerned expression passed over her tiny face quickly and was gone with the return of her smile. "But that is in another realm and a long time from now... Many doors stand between us and that place."

    One more step around the table, and she poured tea into the two cups opposite Josh. "This is Prince Fuzzy Wuzzy and his knight at arms, Howler." She leaned in and whispered loudly again. "They are just passing through to their new home and graciously agreed to join us." Josh saw the orange and black striped doll with a crown stand up and kiss Sophie''s hand as she turned pink, giggling. "He has many things to accomplish and shares a common enemy with us."

    One last step clockwise around the table, and Sophie filled the last cup. This is our last friend. You haven''t met him yet, but we can''t leave until you do. You and your brother will help him, and he will help you." Sophie nodded kindly to the doll sitting in the last chair, who stood and bowed fully at the waist. It was a plush faux-metal monster eight inches taller than even Ishan''s doll and covered in armored plates with heavy gauntlets and boots.

    A deep voice spoke from behind its large, rounded dome, "A sincere pleasure, my lady. Thank you for having me."

    Sophie curtsied back. "You and your partner will always be welcome with us and ours." The adult phrases strangely sounded normal from her soft palate and small round face.

    Sophie stepped back from the table. All eyes moved to her and suddenly, the cheerful light from above was blotted out by rolling black clouds. Fierce winds picked up and pulled leaves from the trees, tearing them across the clearing.

    Sophie raised a hand to point at the last new doll in the clearing and spoke calmly as if all this was expected. "He is tough to see because he is a composite of uncertainty...But we will all need to face this destroyer." Then, as if she didn''t want to continue it but had no choice, she looked up into Josh''s face with wide eyes and swallowed. "He''s hurt all of us ... and is still coming, Daddy."

    A pulse of energy went through the air, and Sophie quickly grabbed Josh''s hand. The girl who had been playing the adult princess was gone. Replaced by the terrified eyes of a four-year-old who needed her father to protect her from a monster that  cackled on the edge of madness as it broke through the door with a fire axe! Sophie hid behind his legs and cried, "I can''t see any way to stop him... "

    The last doll, the ¡®destroyer¡¯, was another fuzzy, faux-metal figure. But unlike the previous unnamed ally, it was average-sized and didn''t give the impression of being encased in a massive suit of armor. It was more like the robotic avatar Intelligence was using. Disfigurement marred its previously flawless frame. The right side of its face was still chiseled and handsome, even though four clear and deep claw marks ran across it. The left side of its entire body was warped and twisted as if it had been melted and then cooled into a poor image of itself. Solidified metal runoff streamed outward in runnels and crisscrossed as if from a great wind or impossible collision. Lumpy pools had formed in odd places on its surface where it had finally cooled. The  doll-destroyer also limped in a quick stuttering shuffle forward that favored its left side.

    Ishan''s doll growled as fiercely as Josh had heard the original do in battle. The plushy Tiger Affin instantly transformed into its living form along with Lobo and Alysa. They were fully armed with their space marine kit and opened up on the advancing figure of the abomination, who Josh noticed had also become his true self. A life-size AI mechanical avatar that simultaneously gave off an aura of Essene from spirit beings and the undead fire that Kyon Shi had. Josh also couldn¡¯t help but notice that the destroyer¡¯s aura was much more powerful than the energy drainer.

    Ishan''s sunfire Gatling gave an ear splitting scream as it whirled into full-force projection. Plasma rounds pelted the dark mechanical''s chest so fast all Josh could see were solid golden streaks bouncing into glowing arc afterimages. The beam of Lobo''s purple lasrifle struck the monster¡¯s head from the side as Alysa fully enhanced an attack with her quad-pronged short spear. Essence overflowed from the weapon as it lanced straight between the enemy''s eyes.

    The twisted face of the avatar sneered contemptuously and swiped its right hand out, shattering all three attackers into multicolored shards of plush velvet and cotton filling. The remains showered down around Josh and Sophie.

    At least ten feet tall, a towering metal goliath surged from the darkness. Enormous, armored hands joined locking digits around the destroyer''s chest. Mechanical servos screeched as the titanic grip crushed inwards to snuff out the abomination''s mortal sparks.

    Simultaneously, Sen flew in from behind with a sword in each of his hands, pinwheeling faster than Josh had ever seen during their training. He slid around the enemy¡¯s back and slashed at both sides of its neck. Moving for the quick kill of decapitation.

    The avatar laughed as blue sparks scraped off its metallic skin. A malicious leer from burning red eyes preceded another sharp lash of its right arm that reduced two more defenders into another shower of felt and raining fluff.

    His eyes full of horror, Josh mentally shouted. ~Sen!? SEN!!~

    No response.

    The attacker looked through the falling fibers and smirked at Josh as he tried to hide Sophie behind him. "This is the Karmic cabal arrayed against me? What a poor showing!" He advanced on them in quick, halting steps that dragged the left foot.

    "Daddy!" Sophie screamed. Hopeless terror was plain in her young voice as she looked up at him with wide eyes. Tiny hands pulled on his arm for protection.

    Josh tried to grab his sword from his mag sheath and move to a battle stance. But his arms were too sluggish. His legs barely moved. Sophie yanked him again to run even though she had to know it was pointless. The metal avatar''s right arm snapped through the air at both of them¡ª

    Josh sat bolt-up in bed. His body was covered in sweat, Sophie''s name helplessly on his lips. Panting for breath and heart pounding, wild eyes flashed around for his and Sophie''s coming destruction¡ª

    Splintered synth wood and twisted metal filled the room as Sen smashed through their joining door. Dual-armed and body-blazing his full earthen shield, he scanned for threats with the promise of death in his eyes.

    Both swords still raised, Sen called. ~Brother!?!~

    ~Sen!?~ Even in the mental communication, Josh was breathing heavily. ~Thank God! It was just a dream... or hasn¡¯t happened yet... I don¡¯t know! Get Alysa. We need to talk...~

 Chapter 102

    Nothing mortal should ever come here... Why did the Original insist on this location for this requested meeting? What has changed?

    The Clone waited in vast stretches of emptiness. To the micrometer, he was roughly in the center of a 300 million light-year sphere holding no organized matter. The lack of living Essence here was so pervasive there was even an order-of-magnitude reduction in the average amount of space dust drifting through the 62 megaparsecs of cubic space that surrounded him.

    A truly dead region...

    It had been called many things by those who didn''t know its origin. Those who did, of which Zenyak''s people were one, simply called it Destruction''s Desolation. They would turn their backs if chance had ever oriented them in its direction.

    Joshua Elias Tanner would know it as Boote''s Void.

    Over the last one hundred thousand Ka Nexus rotations, a few galaxies with unfavorable enough Karma had their galactic expansion paths take them to the edge of the area¡¯s boundaries. All beings with the power to have left these unfortunate galaxies had long since done so. The slowing of the clusters'' centrifugal rotations and the dimming of their stars evidenced that none who remained would survive the Desolation long enough to enter it deeply.

    The Clone didn''t know why Zenyak had ordered him here ... And like Zenyak, the Clone didn''t like things it didn''t know. In this case, the implications were clear:

    Zenyak has undergone unanticipated experiences after my inception. We are no longer equivalent and coequal in our knowledge and experiences.

    This would hinder the Clone''s ability to serve as Zenyak.

    Unacceptable.

    Deepening the intrigue, Zenyak had insisted that the Clone leave Senyak and Joshua Elias Tanner''s entire cuboid. If the chosen iteration had been any further, the Clone would have had to use an Aspect Doorway to arrive at the required location. Has Zenyak forgotten that his grand progeny... and Joshua Elias Tanner¡ªeven more so seem to wake up every morning and seek expungement-threatening improbabilities...

    The Clone shook his head at this thought. At least Intelligence is nearby when worse will assuredly come to worst.

    Space warped, and the force of Zenyak tearing through the physical iteration''s barriers from the Karmic confines of the Way was nothing less than gargantuan. He stepped through and was so filled with Immortal Ka that his physical manifestation could not contain it. The power cascaded from his avatar, forcing his body into a constant process of reformation to maintain Zenyak¡¯s physical presence. Nothing mortal could have survived being this close to him. Even the Clone needed to glance away to avoid having to re-form its physical eyes.

    Uncharacteristically, the Clone spoke first. "You have gorged yourself with the cuboidal force and are barely containing it! What is the purpose for this?"

    "THINGS HAVE CHANGED."

    Zenyak reached his warping and reforming hand out to the Clone.

    "BE AWARE."

    The Clone learned what had happened since their last separation. That Oblivion''s plodding movement toward the Polar Neutral Core of the Marztanak Hegemony had sharpened to a laser-focused assault directly at Zenyak''s power base. This turn of events had caused the Paramounts to make one last-ditch election before opting for what they had previously considered their final option... And it worked. Worked in an amazingly successful way.

    "You are winning! You have fought it back to the 48th Aspect Doorway!!"

    The pride on the Original''s face was unmistakable as it twisted and reformed.

    "YES."

    But the Clone couldn''t keep doubt and concern from his mind. ¡°What will be the cost of this victory? Surely you see the risk. Not just to yourselves, but to the multiverse as a whole! It was one thing imploding iterations back to their primordial singularities and creating a fireline. The metaphysical energy quanta remains balanced. The iterations would ultimately reform once again to Reality''s purposes... But you are draining these iterations of Karma''s power to the point of potential destabilization and irrecoverable rupture. A permanent separation in the very fabric of Reality ending with the destruction of The Way that binds all iterations!"

    Zenyak¡¯s impatience became apparent. "SILENCE. I HAVE HAD THIS ARGUMENT WITH CHITEKI AND THE PRINCIPAL MASTER. I WILL NOT HAVE IT WITH MYSELF. THESE POINTS ARE ALL THEORETICAL. LEFT UNCHECKED, OBLIVION''S BLIGHT WOULD CONSUME ALL. WE HAVE NO CHOICE."If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    "Yes. You. do." The Clone leaned, offering its crown to inform Zenyak of why it had called the meeting in the first place.

    Zenyak extended his hand. Discharging energies crackled over the caput of the Clone''s physical avatar. It was destroyed dozens of times in the nano-gyra the Original took to receive the Clone''s memories.

    It was Zenyak''s turn to be shocked. The Clone was heartened to see that the Zenyak he had been propagated from was still inside the turbulence of raw energy churning before him. I have Not wholly turned into a megalomaniac, drunk on a cuboidal power glut then... Good! The Clone reflected.

    Zenyak spoke. "THE FOUR ARE CONFIRMED AGENTS OF KarmA?! SOPHIE TANNER''S POWER GROWS EXPONENTIALLY FASTER THAN EVEN PROBABILITY OUTLIER PREDICTIONS! SHE PULLS HER RETINUE TO HER EVEN IN THEIR SLEEP¡­ PREDICTING THE FUTURE?! THIS¡­THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED! AS AN IMMORTAL, SHE... THEY... WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE!"

    "Yes, it is. And yes, they will be." The Clone retorted dryly.

    Zenyak''s eyes went distant. Likely having an unknowable internal debate with the other Paramounts. Then he looked up.

    "CONTINUE WITH OUR PLANS. I MUST... WE MUST THINK ON MATTERS"

    An atom-splitting crunch erupted as Zenyak violently tore an opening into the Way. The Clone could see momentary deformations in its deep blue fibers as the power-saturated physical form of Zenyak passed through.

    Once again, the Clone was alone in the vast emptiness. "Please do so. May your choices reflect the preeminence you have earned in your billions of years of existence. Not like a child waving his father''s gun."

    * * * * *

    Alysa reported that Sophie remembered having a bad dream and had needed to "run to her mommy and Uncle Brad''s bedroom..." But she didn''t remember what it was about and had been able to get back to sleep in Alysa''s arms. She was now resting peacefully in her mother''s bed.

    Josh scowled. ~Sp, ¡®Uncle Brad¡¯ is spending the night now!~

    Sen snorted, rolling his eyes. ~Breathe, brother. You are on edge... The important thing is that Sophie is ok.~

    Josh took a cleansing breath. ~You¡¯re right...~ Then, under his breath, "I''m sure ¡®Uncle Brad¡¯ will get along with Miranda about as well as I did¡­Good luck, ya grubby bastard!"

    Moving on to more pressing concerns, Josh went into detail for Sen and Alysa about what had happened in the dream? Vision? Summoning? Josh wasn''t sure what to call it... It almost seemed and felt as if Sophie had somehow changed Josh¡¯s memories or, more disturbingly, his reality, so that he had attended their usual play date and been pulled from his sleep afterward...

    They were all uncertain what to make of that... And as a group decided to shelve the larger picture to discover what they could for now. Soon their conversation devolved into points of interrogation-like questions and answers.

    "What? Of course you came by for your regular time with Sophie. What are you even¡ª"

    ¡­

    "¡ªdon''t remember going back to my room after our usual play time."

    ¡­

    ¡°How is that even possible? Are you feeling oka¡ª¡±

    ¡­

    "Alysa, relax. You¡¯re definitely as big a part of this as we are. And no, I have no idea what the final end is... But it doesn''t sound good."

    "You think!? What about the doll that took us all out?" The space marine seemed personally offended that she and everyone else hadn¡¯t put up a better showing against the creepy menace that had terrified Josh.

    ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure that was Dod Stal¡­Apparently we pissed him off when we saved the Brigantine from his lackey Kyon Shi¡±

    He and Sen then filled Alysa in with an abbreviated version of what they had covered with Intelligence earlier. Like all challenges Josh and Sen had seen the young warrior tackle, she stoically accepted what they said as they could see the wheels in her mind spinning so that the reality of her actual meeting with him wouldn¡¯t go the way it had in Josh¡¯s vision.

    They moved on.

    The topic soon headed toward Sen who was wearing a deer caught in headlights expression that Bambi would have been ashamed of. ~Damni¡­was¡­was there?~

    Josh¡¯s confirming smile split his face. ~Yes, brother... She apparently keeps an eye on you and insists on being near if you are in danger.~

    Sen didn''t answer. His beaming face said it all.

    ...

    Feeling the partially unexpected wave of emotion through their Bond, Josh couldn¡¯t help but support his brother¡¯s still healing heart.¡°Ya, maybe it wasn¡¯t all business with her after all¨C but moving on, Sophie did say that Ishan was a prince more than once."

    Alysa rubbed her temples. "Let''s keep that under wraps until we know what to make of it¡­ His job is dangerous enough without forcing him to get twisted on what it might mean.

    "Agreed." Josh and Sen said together.

    ...

    Josh frowned. "No... I don''t know the armored goliath. But I''m sure he is on our side and meant to join us. Sophie said as much. Keep your eyes peeled for the biggest guy on the block." Josh sank back into his chair and rubbed his eyes. "There is no way I''m getting back to sleep now¡­"

    Sen nodded in agreement. His hands folded in his seated lap. After their Mind Attunement, they needed less sleep anyway. Josh had gone from needing four hours nightly to approximately two. But he still needed some every cycle, or he would be just as loopy as when he had pulled an all-nighter before his court trials. He had learned the hard way that the loss of sleep never equated well to his cases, regardless of how necessary the need for working through the night had appeared.

    Disturbingly, Alysa suddenly was eyeing them in a silent way that Josh recognized. It was the look every woman gave a man when there was a job to do, and she had just been waiting for the right time to bring it up.

    Josh sighed and opened the proverbial door for her. "Yes¡­?"

    Excitement sprang on her face like a kid about to open their first Christmas present. "I''m glad you guys are free! I''ve got the prioritized list of space marines for Cultivation Awakening. Let''s get started!"

    "In the middle of the night? Don''t they have to sleep?"

    Alysa took on her lecturing look. "Joshua, we are in the void. Night and day, more appropriately, sleeping and waking cycles, are constructs we use for convenience. Everyone except for command is on four rotating sleep cycles following the thirty-two-gyra galactic standard rotational day. Three-quarters of them are awake at any given time, and half are on shift right now.

    ¡°On top of that... I''m their commander. If I need them awake, they are awake. Let''s go.¡±

 Chapter 103

    As Josh had only ever awakened a nonsensitive¡¯s Cultivation once¡ªand that was under duress in a very different situation where the physical elements of the body-spirit binding point had been so destroyed from high grade radiation exposure that Josh had needed to rip a core from a figurative and literally transmuted Immortal Cockroach to serve as an underlay for his donated spiritual energy. None of that would not be necessary in their present circumstances, still Josh had told Alysa that it would be best for them to keep the first Essence awakenings as close as possible to Alysa¡¯s awakening as they could. Along these lines, the first twenty candidates were all women. The first five were all approximately the same body weight as Alysa, and the very first one was even of Asian descent.

    Josh and Sen sat in a small exam room inside the Brigantine''s central med bay. Alysa had determined that the extra precaution was necessary, and Josh couldn''t blame her. But the message was clear, ''I''m trusting you with my men. Keep them safe, and I won''t have to break your face!''

    The door opened briskly, and he and Sen did a double take as a slightly younger version of Alysa walked in and smartly saluted them. "Petty Officer Sabrina Nang reporting as ordered."

    Josh peered narrowly at her, "Are you related to Lieutenant Nang, Petty Officer?"

    "Roger that, sir. We are second cousins."

    The second message was received loud and clear. ¡®Get this right, or my whole family will have to break your face!¡¯

    Josh swallowed, less at the threat and more at the deep worry that he might actually make a mistake and harm someone close to those he considered family. That, in itself, was a more present concern than any threats of retribution. Don¡¯t screw this up, Joshy-boy.

    Sen¡¯s glance was both piercing and determined.. ~Agreed!~

    Josh cleared his slightly constricting throat. ¡°Ahem ...Very good petty officer... Please lay down here, and we will get started.¡±

    She hopped up onto the exam table, and Josh continued. ¡°Petty officer¡­Err¡­Sabrina, do you know why you are here?¡±

    A small smile crept on her lips, and she spouted excitedly, "You''re going to give me the boost you gave Alysa! It''s not fair that I used to mop up the floor with her in the training gym, but now I can''t even see her, she moves so fast! Whatever you need to do... make it happen, sir!"

    A small chuckle escaped Josh. Sen turned away, trying to keep himself from laughing.

    Here they were, sweating that they were experimenting on unsuspecting space marines, and the marines were seeing it as a way to increase their combat capabilities. Taking risks was part and parcel of improving themselves.

    ~ They do have the right of it, Joshua.~

    ~ Isn''t that the truth¡­~ Josh sighed. ~We are all going to need to step up.~

    Taking a deep breath, Josh relaxed. "I''m going to put my hand over your Cultivation Core and awaken your Cultivation with an infusion of Essence¡ª" Sabrina¡¯s eyes darkened in confusion at the Cultivation terms. ¡°¡ªDon''t worry¡ªEverything will become readily apparent when we get started.¡± Josh interrupted himself to reassure her.

    Josh pressed on, ¡°I''m not sure if you will feel any discomfort. If you do, please tell me right away. For now, just lay back, close your eyes, and let us do the driving... Err... Flying¡­ Essencing?" Josh waved the words away with a shrug. ¡°Whatever.¡±

    "Roger that, sir!" She nodded enthusiastically.

    Josh suspended his hand two inches above her navel, and Sen put his hand on Josh''s shoulder to serve as a backup Essence reservoir. This was unlikely to be necessary. But for the first one, they agreed to take every precaution.

    ~Remember Joshua, we are much stronger than before¡­~ Sen mentally encouraged. ~Infuse the Essence slowly and evenly.~

    Nod. ~Got it.~

    Sen was right in his reminder. When Josh had done this for Alysa, it had been an act of desperation and he had given everything he had. But now, just going by the numbers, Josh had over ten times the Essence. He also suspected that his Meridians had developed to the point where he could infuse much more Essence per second than he could back then. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

    For all they knew, the amount of Essence infused might not be as much a factor as how many cycles he sent through the recipient¡¯s Meridians to form their Core. Or maybe it was a question of how long he did it, irrespective of total volume? Josh¡¯s memory wasn''t perfect on either from when he¡¯d channeled Essence into Alysa. Sen had remembered that the time had been between four and five minutes. They both agreed that the same amount of time was a place to start at least.

    Josh & Sen¡¯s main goal was to keep Sabrina''s Awakening as close to Alysa''s as possible¡ªbarring the life and death struggle, of course. Once they had several successes under their belt, they could try and improve on things for efficiency''s sake. After all, they had over four thousand to do...

    Smiling tightly at Sen, Josh moved Essence from his hand Meridians into Sabrina. He saw Essence flow in a slow but steady stream into the area where her Core would be. Over the first few minutes, Sabrina¡¯s Meridians started to develop along the expected channels, and a dense pool of Essence formed where her Core would ultimately be. A genuine smile spread over their faces.

    Looking at Sen, Josh mentally spoke. ~Looks like everything is going according to plan¡ª~

    Sabrina tightened her lips and squirmed under his hand with slight tremors of her abdomen where Josh could see the Core forming. The Essence started to swirl in a sphere, and it began to slowly shrink to the expected half-inch, marble-sized sphere.

    We''re most of the way there! Josh couldn¡¯t keep the thought from his mind, and he sped up the process to end her discomfort faster.

    Sen''s eyes cut toward him. ~It is your show Joshua¡­ and your posterior portions that will have to pay for any less than perfect... results.~

    Josh fought back a dry swallow. ~... ~

    Sabrina''s abdomen twitched again, and she reflexively pulled away from his hand as if it were hot... a second later she forcefully pushed back against his hand. Josh could see that she was keeping her lips pressed even tighter together.

    "Almost there! Hang on, Sabrina." Josh tried to say calmly and reassure her, but definitely failing.

    She jerkily nodded her head in agreement as her arms and legs tensed up. The Core was gaining the density and luster it would need to adopt the Essence Josh had transferred to her.

    Just a few more seconds, and it can start cycling on its own!

    Sen glanced up nervously. ~She is trying not to scream, brother!

    Josh boosted the Essence flow enough to cut the remaining time in half. Sabrina bucked off the exam table. Her loud yell was easily heard through the rest of the med bay.

    Josh''s face was ashen as Alysa burst through the door with concern written across her face. He could see the anxious looks on the next five waiting as they tried to see past Alysa''s form when she slammed the door shut.

    Josh looked down at Sabrina, whose mouth was open, gasping. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she finally caught her breath and exploded.

    ¡°AAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHhahahaha, AAHAHAHAHAHEHEHEhehehe.¡± She could only speak in short sentences. "I... I''m... So sorry! AHAHAHAHAHAhahahhehehe It''s... it''s just so... So... ticklish! Hahahahaheheh... I just... I just can''t... I just can''t help it! AAAHAHAHAHheheheheheHAHAHAHA.¡± She grabbed her belly with both hands and laughed for another solid ten seconds.

    Alysa''s shoulders visibly sagged with relief, and she walked over to her cousin and cuffed her lightly on the head. "Sh¨£ h¨¢izi!" Josh''s Interface translated Alysa''s words as "Foolish child!" He smiled sheepishly as he stood there huffing in relief.

    Sen, who Josh knew had been riding the same emotional rollercoaster, lost it and erupted in laughter as well. He turned away to hide from Alysa, who took his humor-filled relief as a personal betrayal. Her eyes narrowed, she frowned strongly at him and stormed out the door.

    "Next!"

    * * * * *

    Eighty-three space marines had their Cores Awoken over the next three hours. None were as emotionally charged as Sabrina''s Awakening, to be sure. Both Josh and Sen got to the point where they were comfortable switching off with performing the Awakening and spending a few minutes with the freshly Awoken to explain what had happened, what was expected, and what would be next. For all of them, Mzamo had a Brigantine Cultivator waiting with training techniques on enhancing their movements and strikes.

    It took approximately three thousand five hundred Essence to form a Core and the new Cultivator''s Meridians. It also helped if they went about twice as fast as they had with Sabrina... At least for the ticklish ones.

    In the end, though Josh and Sen were recharging with Mind Aura between Awakening¡ªthey got tired. It wasn''t just a question of how much Essence they had but how much work they had put their Core and Meridians through. Sen tapped out at thirty-three. Josh went on, rounding out at an even fifty, but eventually also had to call it quits. Their day was only starting, and who knew what was in store? Best to have a little in reserve, just in case.

    They decided to use the ancillary facilities in the med bay to shower before getting about their day. He and Sen had just walked up to the hygiene station when the call came from Jishin. "We are here, m''lords. Meet me at my favorite recharging station." Was all the helmsman said before signing out.

    Josh looked at Sen, and they exited the station unshowered. Alysa, who had gotten the message as well, was waiting, somehow showered with damp straight hair. Girls¡ªalways wasting their time with unnecessary cleanliness...

    By silent agreement, they all headed out to Jishin''s favorite watering hole.

 Chapter 104

    The world of Noha-3 spun above the Brigantine, giving the table Josh, Sen, Jishin, and Alysa sat at a ringside seat of its desolate southern pole through to its equator. Yellow, brown, and dark orange bands of dry surface stretched across the arid planet. An enormous haboob was moving against the planet''s rotation as its winds carried Noha-3''s sands along predominant gravity currents. Entire deserts were reshaped before their eyes. A very bad day for anything in the storm''s hurricane-force path of scouring pebbles and dust.

    Jishin raised his glass in a toast to the planet.

    "The Lover''s Trove. That''s what we call this beautiful ball o''dust." The helmsman''s rhotic tones accentuated now that he had ¡®wet his whistle.¡¯ Jishin leaned into the table on his elbows and talked under his voice as if sharing a deep secret.

    "Long before our time, m''lady and lords¡ª" Jishin sketched a seated bow to Alysa, "The story goes that two danshaku, much like y''three selves, fled here to avoid the wrath of Kotei Stuado''s uncle. The infamous Kotei Daibosu. Now, Daibosu was a very... rigid Kotei. He was largely affectionately known by all who loved him, which were few indeed, as ''The Cudgel.'' T''was on account of the meter long, Essence enhanced thighbone he would bash the brains out''a whoever ran afoul of his temper. Enemy an'' Clansmen alike, if''n it pleased him¡ªGods bless the day Kotei Stuado stood in the gap for all Clansmen¡ª" Jishin hurriedly said under his breath as he flexed his fingers in a twisted pattern that Josh''s interface registered as ''warding off evil intentions.''

    The helmsman continued,"...Well, Shisoka had been sent by Daibosu to capture the rogue battle leader Utsuki, who had apparently pilfered Daibosu''s treasury to finance a group of mutinous danshaku who wanted Daibosu to, let''s say... take an early retirement. It came to pass that Shisoka had disabled Utsuki''s ship and boarded with full intention of bringing her back to his Kotei. But upon seeing her cornered, standing in front of the last of her crew ready to die protecting them, he dropped to his knees and exposed his chest. ''You are far too beautiful for me to raise one hand against... I could never live with myself if I did. Take m''life and ship instead.''

    Jishin finished with his left hand held aloft, and his balding head bowed to the tabletop. "So, the story goes, at least!" Jishin half rose from his seat in defense from their apparent disbelief of his tale. Then he winked, a widening grin appearing as he plopped back down to his stool.

    "Of course, as happens to all dashing Kaizuko¡ª" he nodded to himself, "She fell in love with him as well, and they came here. Hid most of the Kotei''s stolen treasure in the sand and fled to the ends of the galaxy. No doubt, to return in better times. ¡¯be sure y¡¯mark me," Jishin raised his index finger, pointing to the desert planet through the saloon''s transparent dome and walls,"...No one has ever been able to find that trove to this day! Not and lived to tell the tale, that is." He downed the rest of his silver-silk rum and folded his arms over his massive chest and belly.

    Then the pirate raised his brows and continued smiling warmly as he gazed out the viewport. "At least, ''be the tale we tell each other when our cups are empty, and we need a glimmer of hope to brighten our journey."Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Surprising even himself, Josh had closely followed Jishin''s telling. He couldn''t help but let the romantic idea of finding a time-forgotten treasure take him out of his day for a second. Without serious thought, his mouth spoke, "Kaizuko treasure, you say?"

    Knowing his hooks had been set in at least one of them, Jishin nodded and leaned back in his chair. A smug grin covered his face. "Tis true! Or I''m not a loyal servant of the Kotei!"

    Setting her mug down after a sip of fruit-flavored grog, Alysa glanced at both men from the corner of her eye. Then cut in, "I''ve watched far too many men turn into boys after a few cups... But I wouldn''t have taken you for a treasure hound, Joshua Tanner!"

    A sheepish smile spread across Josh''s cheeks as he sat back from the edge of his stool at the mild chiding. "When I was a boy, my father took me to see a movi¡ªhistorical record¡ª" Josh looked at Sen. "This record told me the tales of my first hero. He was a professional treasure hunter who studied the lost relics of ancient peoples for their historical value... And for fortune and glory!" Josh shouted, raising his mug, which Jishin and Sen joined in. All three laughed heartily at the dream of finding vast riches thought lost. The moment passed, and Josh wiped at the side of his mouth, bowed his head, and apologized. "Sorry, Alysa, I got a bit carried away in Jishin''s tale."

    She slyly eyed him with a side glance and an impish grin, "Just a bit... Like my Baba, I suspect there is a part of you that will always be a boy!"

    Chuckling, Josh conceded. "You know us too well."

    Sen nodded, sending a mental message over. ~I would like to see the historical record of this hero if you would guide me to the report from your youth?~

    Josh offered a conspiratorial grin. ~The tales of Indian Jones! Absolutely, brother!~

    A busy server hurried by their table and dropped another round for Jishin and Josh. Strategically using the slight distraction, Alysa prodded the helmsman with the original topic. "And there are feral spirit beasts on the Lover''s Trove to advance our Cores?"

    Still smiling in wistful remembrance, Jishin took a second to remember that this was the true purpose of their meeting. "...Oh... Aye, ma''am. There be plenty of beasties down there. You might not guess it just by looking, but it''s crawling with life. On the surface... And definitely below it." A distasteful look fell over Jishin. "His disgraced Eminence Dezain¡ªmay none other follow his steps¡ªWent down there with all his private guards and two full squads of elite fighters when he needed to advance his Core. They barely made it back. I wager you will find what ye be looking for."

    "What we all are looking for. Remember, I promised to enable all our leaders and fighters to their maximum Cultivation potential. That includes you Jishin! We''re going from the top down. Sen and I have already awakened the Core of eighty-three of Alysa''s junior officers. For the Brigantine''s troops, this means expanding your Cores.¡±

    Obviously seeing a leadership opportunity, Alysa leaned forward into Jishin''s personal space. "How many layers have you expanded your Core helmsman?"

    "I... err... I mean... it''s... respectable... two full expansions..." Jishin trailed off and seemed to quickly sober up at having failed in Alysa¡¯s eyes to lead the men below him with a better showing in acquiring the six expansions to advance his Core.

    Alysa sat beam-straight on her stool and adopted a commander¡¯s tone. "Before we leave Noha-3, we will have all the Brigantine''s command structure, especially the three helmsman, at the full six expansions and ready for Attunement should we find any such Cultivation treasures. Do you understand me, helmsman?"

    "Yes, Ma''am!" Jishin stood up and saluted so fast that his stool fell over.

 Chapter 105

    ¡°Yaaahaaaa¡± Sen yelled, performing a double somersault mid air and plunging his stone penetrators in the rock wall before him before scrabbling up its surface hand over foot.

    ~Sen, It¡¯s  been thirteen 26 days of scaling the brown-stone cliffs to lure out the bahoms.~ Josh pruned his weary face as he mentioned the foul smelling local variety of large, bird-winged-goats that nested in the surface caves of a three-thousand-meter barrier wall near Noha-3''s equator they had been harvesting. ~You aren¡¯t a feeling a little ¡®been here done that¡¯ yet?~

    Sen smiled in true glee. ~Nope! It is true that the flying caprids, while territorial and aggressive to the point of attacking whenever we get too close to their rock-nooks are not truly a challenge... But... Fighting secured to a sheer rock wall while being held in place by hip and foot slings... This I am loving!~

    Sen propelled himself back in a reverse 720 degree flip with the activation of the stone penetrators he held in each hand landing on the vertical wall with his right hand penetrator and his left foot in cruciate limb pattern to prove his point

    Winking toward Joshua, Sen continued. ~I¡¯m Especially loving these stone penetrators~

    Sen twirled the thin, Essence-enhanced, sinuously forged steel loops, topped with thermal flaring tips, in his hands as if showing the pair to Josh for the first time.

    Conceding look. ~ Well you do have the whole rock-mounted ¡®whirlwind of death¡¯ thing going on. I¡¯ll give you that. None of the bahoms coming near us have survived your onslaught to attack us again... I¡¯m glad there are no PETA chapters on this planet¡ª Ya know we have similar devices on my home world to climb ice walls...¡±

    Sen adopted a reflective look. ~... I can see that... you do come from a very technologically backward planet where I would expect you to have to climb over ice instead of flying around it or melting it like any reasonable race of spirit beings would...~

    ~Hey just one¡ª~ Josh countered, exasperated.

    But another pack of bahoms had attacked taking Sen away from the conversation. Sen was all too happy to let Josh stew while Sen ¡®impersonated a blender¡¯ as Joshua called it. He would forget the joking slight Sen had made and change the topic the next time they had free time to talk. Joshua was easy to get along that way¡ªnever focusing on unnecessary things too long. Senyak respected his brother for his flexible thinking and ability to adapt to changing situations.

    Soon enough the group of seven flying caprids were dispatched. Sen let their bodies fall the twenty-five hundred meters to the collection troops below. The soldiers, while technically commanded by Alysa, were under the direct leadership of Lobo and Mzamo. She called it ¡®a cohesion-building exercise¡¯. Sen admired the way she built up the men below her to lead if necessary, in her stead. Sen saw the requirements of it for combat in the mortal planes where communication wasn¡¯t instantaneous between all involved parties regardless of the situation and environs. Giving them the ability to act and command without seeking guidance from her would be crucial in some situations for all her lieutenants.

    And it is clearly working. No one was interested in arguing with either Lobo or Mzamo individually, let alone when they presented a unified front. Moreover, they seemed to get along well and formed a real camaraderie.

    Josh nodded. ~Ya... I¡¯ve seen them drinking together at night and frequenting the same soprando clubs.~

    Sen cleared his throat awkwardly. ~You mean, where the soldiers seek romantic attention from other spirit beings for compensation?~

    ~The very same, brother¡­~ Josh gave a knowing smirk. ~Don¡¯t Immortals not do the same?~

    Acknowledging his comment with a nod, Sen replied. ~When on physical matter iterational planes... some Immortals have been known to partake of the local... customs... but it is absolutely unnecessary in other places. Mental spiritual, and to what extent Immortals experience them, emotional unity is achieved as a matter of course in all other places~.

    A wide eyed look of accepted surprise came from Josh. ~You don¡¯t say... Not sure I¡¯m looking forward to that... ~

    Sen smiled knowingly. ~Can¡¯t say I blame you, brother... half the words that come out of your mouth will be seen for the complete inaccuracies they are.

    A look of perplexed outrage followed a chuckling acceptance. ~...Can''t deny that¡¯s true, Sen. They must not have much need for scumbag criminal defense lawyers in those places¡­~

    They both laughed out loud before returning to their climbing hunt. Thus far, Lobo, Mzamo, the three helmsman, Jishin, Amnaki, and Zurui, along with their six lieutenants and the first twenty-nine hundred and forty of the Brigantine''s elite fighters identified by Mzamo, as well as the two thousand three hundred and eighty-six space marines he and Josh had Awoken Cultivations for, had all expanded their Cores to the maximum six times. All were prepared for Attunement should Reality provide the necessary items of power. There was also five times that amount of Spirit Beast Core Essence in reserve from unharvested Cores in animals they had collected over the last several days. The Core expansions and Awakenings would continue long after they left Noha-3. Everyone on the Brigantine would be brought up to maximum capacity if Alysa had anything to say about it¡ªand as de facto military leader, she did!

    But now it''s time for us to get to work on our own Cores¡ª

    Giant hands formed from the rock face and surged out to grab Sen. The living rock''s crushing force could not be denied. It would render him into a pulp if it ever got a direct hold on him.

    Josh¡¯s panicked gaze was turned toward his brother.

    ~Look out Sen!~ Josh called out 3 micros too late to actually serve as a warning. But Sen''s reflexes were equal to the challenge and he spun away from the surprise attack.And it wasn''t as if he hadn''t been expecting the attack. It was the fourth time in the last three hours that rock elementals had taken offense to their presence.

    Sen propagated a full earthen shield and pushed out with his legs while releasing slack through his repelling gear. His momentum let the rope slide through the belay as he somersaulted off the elemental''s groping fingertips. Sen swiped through three outreaching granite appendages at the peak of his jump with a quick slash of the rock penetrator''s activated thermal edge. Shattered gray shards sprayed everywhere, and three lifeless shafts of sheared rock the length and width of tree trunks fell. All plummeting down the sheer cliff toward the Brigantine''s forces below.

    Shielding his eyes, Josh tapped his communicator and called to the waiting teams, "Look out below! Another elemental attack!"

    "Roger that." Mzamo''s deep voice replied over the open channel. Sen''s enhanced ears could hear Mzamo''s orders as he shouted them to the mixed teams below.

    "Get underneath the overhangs until the all clear is given. Yes, take the bahoms'' carcasses. It won''t be much fun transporting them back to the Brigantine if they are squashed into plasmid jelly, will it?"A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    A good officer. They were lucky to have the junior leadership they did. All were very capable. They had also all passed the loyalty screens Intelligence had insisted Josh and Sen perform with their Mind Attunements to assess for duplicity. No betrayers had been found. Karma had been kind to them in that regard. With Ishan, Lobo, and Mzamo guiding the troops and Jishin and his two junior helmsmen, Zurui and Amnaki, commanding the Brigantine, there was hope that he, Joshua, and Alysa would be able to ultimately focus on their own growth. With the challenges that Sophie was showing lay ahead of them, there was no question that Karma required them to increase in strength.

    However, as he climbed and fought on the wall, advancing his Cultivation and combat strength weren''t the main thoughts on Sen''s mind. Strangely, he reflected on camaraderie. It would have cut deeply if any of the ones I am growing to trust had been treasonous.

    The thought surprised Sen, but its truth couldn''t be denied. He took it as evidence that he was learning his grandfather''s lessons concerning mortality. Treachery was ubiquitous in the multiverse. You accepted that and set up your defenses, expecting to find it where you least expected. Sen''s gratitude at not finding duplicity in their top ranks meant he had developed bonds with other mortals that he was unwilling to lose easily.

    I have been rewarded with comrades through investing my efforts in others instead of simply acquiring power for power''s sake. I have learned that such roads lead to an empty existence and ultimate failure.

    After three million years of existence, this was a new¡­and strangely gratifying perspective. I guess the all-powerful Bulwark of the Hegemony knows a few things after all.

    Sen mentally tipped his hat to his grandfather as he slashed through the remainder of the attacking elemental. It took several enhanced cuts. Elementals would continually reform their attacking appendages until all the Essence they had absorbed was expended. It would only stop when it ran out of living force and ceased to exist. As this one had, leaving a gaping hole filled with frozen rock loops. All that remained of what had been a very determined monster less than a micro ago. While dangerous, the elementals were no significant challenge. Even Josh had dealt with the one that had attacked him directly. Only with a lot more cursing and several dozen more hacking cuts than Sen usually needed.

    Glaring look from below. ~I heard that!~

    ~You were meant to, brother!~

    Laughing to himself kilometers above the vast stretching expanse of the yellow and dark-orange sands of Noha-3, Sen continued up the cliff face. He refocused his mind back on the job before them. The elementals... and the bahoms were getting stronger the higher they climbed.

    He and Josh had tried absorbing the goats near the bottom of the shield wall. The amount of Essence added to their Core was less than negligible. It would take thousands of goats with that strength to advance them. So, they had started gathering the spirit beasts for the Brigantine''s troops. Josh had called it ¡®farming.¡¯ Sen had yet to ask for more details. He was clearly missing some unseen connection between growing seeds in the ground and killing flying goats in a desert. But... it just seemed like something he didn''t need to know.

    Two days ago, they had encountered their first large nest of caprids. Three great males and one enormous female led the 124 members of their herd. The fight they had put up was significantly greater than the previous battles.  It has also been inside of the cliff face in their hollowed-out warren. The sires of the herd had been able to charge with their horns to significant effect. If not for the quick propagation of his earthen shield, Josh would have looked very amusing with a goat''s head poking through his chest. As it was, he had been sent flying through the cave and embedded into the far stone wall.

    Rolling his eyes, Josh scowled. ~I heard that too! Painful but worth it!

    Snort. ~ Yes. It definitely was Joshua.~

    The level of Essence they had absorbed from the four had been well worth the risk. He, Josh, and Alysa had been able to advance their Cores. Alysa had expanded hers 4 times from one of the male goats alone. He and Josh twice, each with the other two males and the female. That, along with the two expansions they had gotten from the Kaizuko they had expunged during the battle to take the Brigantine, left them all with two more to go before they could absorb their Space Attunement from the Tears of Nekusassu. Onward, they climbed, looking for another nest. But in the last two days, they had yet to find one.

    Tilting his head. ~Sen... This is taking too long. Let''s stop hunting blind and open our mindscape to find them. I''m sure I could find them in 10 seconds... err... micros.~

    Reflexive shiver. ~I''m hesitant to let our minds be vulnerable to mental attacks. If not for the wisdom of Spock, we would not have gotten out of Kyon Shi''s lava compulsion.~

    Nod. I know Sen, "Since escaping, we''ve kept our mental shields tight¡­ I know you aren''t over what happened to us last time... Hell! I''m not over it either. If the Clone hadn''t blue-flamed that bastard, I''d still be looking over my shoulder every time a cold wind blew... But we have the mind Attunement for a reason. To grow as we should, we need to use it to its fullest... We can''t live our lives in fear... As you''ve said many times¡ª~

    Josh pitched his voice higher and squinted his eyes in a feeble imitation of an Asian face. "We must grow stronger."

    Sen snorted at Josh''s pathetic impersonation... Though he couldn''t deny his logic and reasoning were sound. Sen pointed his index finger. "First, I don''t sound like that! Second ...I... You are right¡ª"

    As if he had only been waiting for Sen to give him a window to throw them both out of, Josh went into the litany of how using their mindscape would be different this time.

    "Sen, first of all, only one of us will open their mindscape¡ªAnd I volunteer for that. Second, I''ve given you my Tetrahedral power, so if, for whatever reason there are psychically powered juggernauts on this desert planet you can get me out like I got you out last time... That is, assuming of course I can''t get myself out. I''m pretty sure I could do it for anyone quad-Attuned or lower. So, I see the risk as minuscule to us! Let''s do it... We really need the Space Attunement!" Josh finished with his hands spread out in front of himself like a kiosk peddler on the Hegemon-4, showing his latest wares and demanding a compliment on its quality.

    Sen squeezed his eyes shut. ~ I''m not going to be able to convince you that this is a bad idea, am I?~

    Josh shook his head. ~Not when I know I''m right!~

    Sen could hear the cheer in Joshua''s thoughts through the Bond.

    Sigh, ~Ok, brother¡­But I will stand constant guard, and you agree to only expand your mindscape for ten seconds no matter what you find. Agreed~

    Joshua drew an ''X'' over the left side of his chest, crossed his thumb and little finger of his right hand, and held it up.

    ~Scout''s honor and hope to die!~

    Sen cocked his brow. ~Scouts?~

    Josh nodded. ~Boy Scouts of America Sen. You''d like them, and they would love you. I bet they would make you an honorary member¡ªNow this is how I see this going...~

    * * * * *

    Josh''s plan had been simple. First, they were finished with the Kaizuko joint forces. They sent the troops back to the ship to work on their pre-Attuned Cultivations. They also sent Alysa back. She was ready to absorb the Nekusassu and was extremely eager to do so. But Josh and Sen both agreed that she, and through her¡ªSophie would need to wait to use the item of power so they could be informed by their experiences in going through it. Whatever Josh and Sen could share would only be of assistance to them. Sure, it was the Path of One, and they would need to make their own Karmic connections with the Attunement and the iteration... But whatever preparation that could be provided was only smart to wait for. Cultivation was a marathon, not a sprint.

    With the last of the shuttles carrying the ground forces flying over the lip of the shield wall back to the Brigantine, it was just the two of them again. Josh''s actual plan for using the mindscape was, if anything, disturbingly simple. Basically, they stayed where they had been, strapped and pinioned to the rock face with Sen sitting there holding his penetrators. Still, Sen couldn''t argue. There was little chance of running into a significant mental force here and now. Sen signaled Josh to start. The focus of his eyes slipped as he expanded his Mindscape three hundred meters while Sen counted out loud to ten.

    At the end of Sen''s counting, Josh opened his eyes and shook his head negatively. Sen didn''t need his Bond to understand that.

    They tried it four more times until Josh found what they were looking for¡ªa much larger nest with over two hundred individual winged goats. Most were deep in the rock face, but Josh also noted several stragglers closer to the cliff face, which likely represented the entry to their warren. The deep crag was only twenty-five meters below them and was big enough to let them in standing up, but only single file.

    When they got to the opening, Josh nodded. ~One more time to check if this is the way in.~

    Sen resignedly tilted his head. ~... Sure.~

    Again, Sen signaled, and Josh expanded his mindscape. But Sen had only reached the count of five when Joshua returned to himself.

    Josh looked at Sen gravely. "There is a lot more in there than flying goats!"

 Chapter 106

    Far above the surface of Noha-3, deep into the void, Shisoka hovered.

    Are you certain these are them? I know the Kaizuko aren''t what they once were... But have they really fallen so far?

    Utsuki''s tone was doubtful, and Shisoka couldn''t blame her. The tall talker and the topknotted youth were an unlikely pair to have gained Stuado''s trust and favor. Neither demonstrated significant power, wealth, or¡ªbased on their meaningless meandering up the face of the shield wall, acumen.

    Utsuki mentally continued. Aside from the fact that when he is under pressure, the tall one swings his weapons like a squirrel trapped in a sack. They are only dually-Attuned Cultivators and don''t even carry Spacetime! Technically, they can''t even be called danshaku. How could they have saved an entire Brigantine and stopped a Savoy plot against the whole empire? Whatever you paid for this information was wasted.

    Utsuki watched through Shisoka''s eyes as she had for the last twenty thousand standard solar rotations. Shisoka decided to play with her.

    Well, my heart, perhaps you should come out and see for yourself. My old eyes may be deceiving you.

    You know I can''t... But if I ever do... It will only be to squeeze that marble bag between your legs that got us into so much trouble when we were younger!

    Shisoka smiled wide with innocence. You consider raising children trouble? Really?

    Every day and three times on Nundinea!

    But instead of bantering with him like she would if she was without worry, Utsuki took the opportunity to get serious. You know Radin has been keeping things from us. I''m concerned that he might be influencing his little brother as well. We give our children too much latitude in their duties. If it hadn''t been for your promise not to delve into their minds, I would have learned the secrets of both, and I¡¯d rest much easier as I pass from the Path.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Shisoka¡¯s face tightened up at rehashing old arguments. They had never been able to agree on how much to include their children in the truth of the Talan Clan. Nor why they were hiding in the outer rim from the Kaizuko, from their own people. So Shisoka had agreed with Utsuki and kept the greatest portion of the tale from them. The logical part of his mind had to agree with her that their children weren¡¯t their parents. They would be unlikely to abide by the sacrifices that had been made and would continue to be made to reach his and Utsuki¡¯s goals. This was certainly true of Radin as it was more than apparent their oldest son was driven by his pride...

    But... Shisoka wouldn¡¯t tolerate Utsuki¡¯s constant pessimistic view of always being one step from death nor the thought of moving on through the veil of life without her. It was a fight he was willing to have now. She well knew that when it was time for her to go... he would accompany her.

    ¡°Stop talking like that.¡± Shisoka couldn''t help but snap out loud. And then immediately regretted it. Forgive me, my love. I didn''t mean¡ª

    Yes, you did... And, of course, you are forgiven, my foolish husband... Why you forsook everything to stay with me in the first place, I will never know. But you can''t change what the fates have decided for me. You will need to let me go. Sooner rather than later... And you know it.

    Not today nor tomorrow. I''m much too busy and far too in love to think about anything further than that.

    Through their melded mindscapes, Shisoka felt Utsuki''s happiness at his usual response to her fears he would leave her. Shisoka was encouraged by her joy and glad to remove her worry. After almost fifty thousand standard cycles, he could not imagine life without her.

    I will never leave you... We have a date with a star and don¡¯t you forget it, my love.

    Utsuki was the one who had sacrificed everything to save his dream. She had defended it by breaking down all of her Essence to protect the treasure they had risked everything for when they took and hid it from Daibosu so long ago. It prevented the brute from wasting the Kaizuko''s one chance to change their lot¡ªbut the cost¡­

    Shisoka and Utsuki sharpened their attention on the location of Stuado''s two ¡®danshaku¡¯ as something unimaginable occurred.

    Shisoka finally said what they both had been thinking: This may be a problem...

 Chapter 107

    RX had had enough of Otak Lambat. The desire to squeeze the life from the fat skug of a slaver was almost overcoming his logic processors. Almost...

    There was still Anak to think about, and the kid didn¡¯t like killing other spirit beings... If Anak had his way, everyone would be subdued and restrained for some imagined authorities to pick up later. Sadly, the iteration didn''t work like that for Anak anymore. The truth was it never really had. Definitely not since Anak''s troop had been slaughtered, putting him and RX on the run from the mercenary sleaze that did Dod Stal''s bidding.

    During their first days together, RX had wanted to scream into Anak''s cortex, "Grow up and move on, kid! It''s a cold, hard iteration! Nobody will be there for you when you really need them. So, we need to be there for ourselves¡ª"

    As soon as RX''s neuro-synth had formed the thought, his acuity facilitators started nipping at his processors like a riled-up nest of vortex cratlers.

    [Warning! Inaccuracy to the point of self-deception.]

    Ya, ya... I know I''m lying to myself... It''s just easier this way.

    RX hadn''t been constructed to ignore his failures or dishonor his family''s sacrifice. The truth was that Jaz''lyn and Shet-0J had been there for him when he had needed them. More than once, at that. It was RX who hadn''t been there for them when the shoe had been on the other grasper ...Fixing that epic fail is everything the kid and I are about right now, isn''t it?

    RX let the executive faculties of his neural synth chew on the unanswered question. But none of them had anything to add. Even his usually adversarial game theory facilitators didn''t want any piece of it.

    Concerning the kid, RX''s social protocol centers had correctly determined that Anak would have to [...Arrive at an emotional plateau and make his own peace with the cruel realities of the iteration].

    All RX could do was [...Continue as his protector and be the voice of reason when he faced challenging choices.]

    For instance, choices like snuffing out this black-hearted group of slavers before they tried to do the same to him and the kid. In fact, my logic facilitators have made multiple recommendations over the last 0.25 micros to do just that¡ª

    A minor analytical side-processor prodded RX''s main comp unit and was authorized by his realization facilitators to promulgate its assessment into his consciousness.

    [What would Jaz''lyn and Shet-0J say if they could see me being the voice of reason to anyone, even myself?] The thought triggered RX''s humor circuits and required him to suppress his laughter modulation.

    An analytical side-processor successfully lobbied to present its determination to his main comp unit. It spoke an undeniable truth.

    [Masamune formulated my siblings and myself to be anything and everything needed to grow and survive. We can adapt and expand capabilities into whatever the iteration demands in order to achieve our primary directive.]

    Ya... I know. Dad made a big enough deal about it that even my dense neural synth understands! The Essence pairing function he created for us has unprecedented potential. It allows us to be the first AI mechanicals capable of spiritual growth! Maybe even to the point of Transcendence.

    With all the analytical input, RX''s main comp unit was ready to review the conversation. It made a determination and a declaration that RX adopted as his own.

    There is no denying what our father created Jaz''lyn, Shet-0J, and me to achieve is a worthy goal...perhaps the most worthy goal. We will be what we must to fulfill his plan for us. Now that Anak and I have allied in Essence Pairing, we are two parts of the same total being. Along these lines, I''ll be whatever Anak needs me to be as well. No two ways about it.

    Still, the point was moot for the foreseeable future. All RX''s processors, facilitators, and higher functions were in agreement that Anak was too young to be involved in a lot of the things RX needed to do to keep them safe. The kid needed to be shielded from some of the more graphic things that had to happen. Right now, that meant dealing with these lowlife slavers on the downlow so the kid''s development wasn''t sidetracked with unnecessary guilt.

    In fact, RX''s logic facilitators and attention centers jointly prodded his main comp unit about this subject, which sent a priority judgment.

    [It is time to deal with Otak.]

    RX''s logic facilitators were right. Things have gone on long enough.

    It had been 0.4 micros since RX had focused on Otak and his fellow thugs. All were octagogs, the humanoid evolutionary descendants of eight-limbed spirit beasts risen from a world of shallow seas. Octagogs needed to stay moist and possessed vestigial facial tentacles that reflected their origin. True to form, Otak and his crew''s eight facial tentacles constantly waved while they spoke. Sometimes reflexively, sometimes instinctively. Many times, they sent hidden messages. They must have believed that this silent communication was a secret from RX. In reality, his language facilitators had determined that the physical language was a smattering of simple battle signals and emotional confirmation of the words they spoke. RX''s analytical processors had decoded the language within several micro-gyra of first meeting Otak. When the slaver had hired him as "muscle to deal with a wee infestation near... something I need."

    The pay had been room, board, and transport out of the galactic core to this quiet little haven of sand, wind, and low population centers. Otak thought he had been robbing RX blind in the deal and had signaled his feelings to his first mate with several intense tentacle-waving flurries. But getting smuggled out of the galactic core had been a must for RX and Anak.

    As RX''s logic facilitators had predicted, now that the spiritually evolved bahom mating groups and several hundred of their smaller progenies had been expunged, Otak planned on releasing him from their contract... Permanently. The slaver''s tentacles had signaled his crew to spread out and fire the capacitor nets they thought they had kept hidden from him. RX wasn''t sure if their plan was the sale of his components or simply smelting him down into high-grade alloy. But it didn''t matter. It was time to end Captain Otak''s delusions of grandeur.

    But first things first, the kid doesn''t need to see any of this. Activate parental control mods.

    RX''s command processes closed the viewports and all the external video and audio receivers in his dome section.

    "Anak... Kid! Do me a solid and take another look at the holo-vids of today''s edu-lessons for the next few minutes, will ya? It''s time for me to talk with Otak and the boys. You know how I don''t want you to pick up their bad language habits... So, I''m editing your observational control... Okay?"

    Anak''s simian-preteen face shifted into a stern expression as he sat up in the gyroscopic impact chair in RX''s dome section.

    "I know what you''re doing... You don''t think I''m old enough to see you send Otak and his gang to their ancestors. It''s no secret you guys haven''t gotten along!" Anak finished his complaints by jumping from the chair to stamp his tiny foot with an angry flourish of his golden, tamarin tail.

    "That''s nonsense, kid. It''s just a routine conversation... But we may be parting ways from them after it. Otak probably won''t like what I have to say. And I really don''t want you to learn any of his pirate-speak or cursing habits... Just a few quick micros. I''ll be right back!"

    The audio, video, air exchange, and telepathic feeds to the outside world closed at RX''s last words. Anak''s holo-display resolved into the day''s previous edu-lessons on stellar geography and local fauna for the outer rims. Anak turned away from the screen and let his lips flap in a slow-speed raspberry but didn''t escalate his complaints and followed the lessons as they replayed.

    RX hated lying to the kid, but his social protocol centers had nailed it. Five galactic standard years was too young to watch him disassemble this rabble. Not with all the horrible stuff Anak had already seen... It had never been Masamune''s, RX''s, or anyone''s plan to form an Essence Alliance with an adolescent... Pangs of guilt lapped up in analog waves from his deep emotion centers. Pacting with Anak had been the only way to get them both out of the confrontation with Dod Stal''s killers when they had slaughtered the kid''s troop. There had been no other way around it. If they hadn''t, RX would have been captured and Anak would have been killed along with his family. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Even though there had been no other way out, RX was very lucky to have Anak as his ally. The kid''s Essence sensitivity was off the charts. He had better receptivity and more conceptual understanding than any of the theoretical models his father had predicted for a likely fusion. In fact, serendipitously finding Anak was the whole reason RX had been on the kid''s planet and not with Jaz''lyn and Shet-0J when they had been taken¡­ RX had just thought that there would be time to let him grow up and start a family with some progeny of his own before making his choice on the Essence Union with RX... Fate and the iteration hadn''t been so kind. The rest was history.

    And here we are... hiding in the backend of the iteration''s armpit... Anyway, time to get to work!

    RX shifted his conscious attention to Otak. The octagog had spun around from his inspection of the herd of winged goats that lay slaughtered in the cave and was speaking to RX. The slaver''s voice was hoarse and wheezing from centuries of shouting at his unruly crew and cargo. A savage smile stretched his sagging skin to reveal worn-yellowed fangs.

    "Impressive! I wasn''t sure you''d live up t''my expectations, robot!" Even RX agreed with his praise. The largest female in the expunged herd was over 30 meters long and had circular horns wider than any passageway aboard Otak''s ship. Otak nodded his head in appreciation as he continued. "I wanna thank''ee for the hard work of clear''n out our excavation site here... But¡ª"

    RX audibly sighed. "...Listen, Otak, let''s cut this short. There is an 84 percent probability that you are about to add, ''But the boys and I are going to take you apart and sell the pieces to the highest bidder among our scumbag acquaintances,'' or some variation.¡± RX paused and audibly exhaled a non-existent breath for effect. ¡°Listen to my modulations: That path will end up badly for all of you." RX rotated his dome and lifted his upper graspers toward the crew moving in behind him. "The nets you''re about to launch at me won''t work. If you shoot them, I will have to cease your functions... completely." RX''s voice grew darker. "This will be your only warning."

    The expression on Otak''s jowly face went from irritation to fear to foolhardy determination.

    He sneered and commanded, "Fire!" Biting out the word from the corner of his mouth pointing at RX with his warty, gray-skinned arm.

    RX''s 360-degree holo-vision saw two of the seven pirates behind him aim and fire their four-pronged launchers. The nets glowed white hot upon deployment, and the air in the cavern wavered as the resistor blocks on the nets'' capacitors were released. All the free electrons in their immediate vicinity lined up with two powerful and freshly created EM fields. Blue-white forks of lightning arced in spheres around the unfurling projectiles and blackened the cave''s rock floor as the supercharged nets hurled toward RX.

    RX made no moves to disable or dodge the nets. Malicious cheer bloomed on Otak''s face as he saw them envelop RX.

    He thinks he''s getting a payday out of smelting me down... What a piece of work¡ª RX thought as the nets struck his heavy black exo-plating and wrapped multiple times over his lower appendages, body, and four upper graspers.

    Contact made; the capacitors discharged a good deal more than 1.21 gigawatts as blue-white waves of energy raged over RX''s plating in a whirlpool of sparks. The air in the large chamber whipped up into a spiraling vortex, which everyone present had to squint and turn away from as winds tore at their eyes and snapped tentacles of air against rubbery cheeks. The massive discharge continued to rise into a blinding-white crescendo of light and crackling static, shorting out and destroying RX''s electric-based circuitry and wiring.

    As quickly as it came, the charge ran down RX''s now stilled frame and grounded into the terrain, dissipating in surges down his lower extremities. The last pulse left the sparse and stringy hairs on the octagogs'' heads puffed and standing on end.

    ...Then, nothing.

    The slavers tensely stood for several micros and waited to see if what RX had said was true, obviously fearful that he could survive what should deactivate any other AI mechanical.

    Silence.

    Smoke slowly rose in small wisps from the fried, brittle filaments of the entwined nets. But there was no movement...

    Otak''s eyes narrowed into a sharp gleam. "Bah! He''s toasted sure as any mech would be! Next thing you know, we''ll fear boogie men in our sleep! Ha ha ha Aagglack¡ª"

    RX''s exo-plating blazed with the aqua-blue internal radiance of Water Essence. His upper and lower appendages casually pulled the spent nets from around his frame and wide dome section, dropping the torn shreds of the net into piles on either side. A fifth upper grasper formed above his heavy chest plate and streaked out to grab Otak around the throat, pulling the thrashing octagog close to RX''s dome. Seven dark, needle-tipped spikes formed between his rear plates and shot out ten meters. Impaling the skulls of the seven slavers standing behind him. Their single Attunements gave them no chance to react to RX''s superior speed or heal the cranial damage from the whirling ends of RX''s spikes. All seven slavers shook and twitched in death as they dangled from the ground behind him.

    RX eyed Otak through the central optic receiver of his still-smoking dome. Schadenfreude was evident in his modulation.

    "Did I pause long enough to keep it exciting for you all?" RX released his Water Attunement Malleability skill, and all seven dead octagog slavers behind him dropped to the ground, their thick skin slapping the rock floor simultaneously had the desired effect on Otak. His cheeks pulled back in terror as his facial tentacles spread like a flower in bloom. The fat on his jowls and ample belly jiggled as he cycled Earth Essence to enhance his strength while he tried without success to pull RX''s grasper from his throat.

    Sighing again, RX rotated his dome back and forth. "...Why didn''t you listen to me, Otak? Now I have to end your function¡ª"

    "Hold on a second, friend." A previously undetected voice spoke in a conversational tone from behind RX.

    The battle mech jerked up and instantly spun his wide, elliptical top section 180 degrees to bring his primary sensors in direct line of the intruder. With his optics on them, RX saw two humans walking toward him from the cave''s rear, likely having entered from a different entrance. Somehow, these new beings had been able to approach RX undetected.

    His logic facilitators spun up and began processing priorities. With his electronic sensor suit temporarily offline after the recent roasting, RX was only running on Essence-based sensors. At least until his nano-tide repaired the damage. Still, no one should have been able to beat his constant 360-degree surveillance unless they didn''t have Essence. An AI mechanical, for instance. His attention centers propagated a priority fact. [Or if they were skilled enough to shield their Essence]. His main comp unit propagated a conclusion that RX adopted as his own.

    These were Advanced Cultivators!

    Both had drawn swords but hadn¡¯t assumed aggressive postures yet. The second human was shorter and bald, save for a long singular ponytail favored by monks favoring hand-to-hand combat. A superseding information packet from his combat facilitator jumped past his main comp unit¡¯s filter.

    [Rear-positioned intruder''s body language assessment at Class S with melee attacks. Assigned status of moderate to severe threat in physical combat.]

    Even though he was smaller, the rear one did seem much more dangerous than the taller one. His combat facilitator only gave the front one a High D status¡ªa negligible threat level in physical attacks. RX''s initial assessment via his neural synth agreed with the report. The shorter one walked with an even-footed balance few spirit beings achieved. He only used tightly controlled movements that a knowledgeable being could not ignore. RX''s short-range sensor center and combat facilitator confirmed his suspicions that both were currently Attuned Cultivators.

    [Confirmation of double Attunement in Mind and Earth Essence. All bladed melee weapons enhanced via Essence circulation.]

    A message from an analysis side processor was being brought to the front of his main comp unit''s queue when the taller one raised an empty hand, patting the air. RX had to focus on the here and now. RX''s speech centers identified the motion with a 94.3 percent certainty that the behavior was body language to enhance a sense of calm. RX ignored the alternate 0.7 percent possible chance he was requesting space for spontaneous, large-area dance maneuvers. Even if the guy seemed a skosh off, it didn''t quite fit the current pretext.

    The taller one spoke again. "Why don''t you put the nice squid-man down, huh? Then we can talk." His face settled on a quizzical expression as he glanced back at his shorter partner, who nodded in agreement with the request.

    * * * * *

    Josh could only think of the black metal monster before them as a massive battle mech from Titanfall 2 or Override. Suddenly, the broad-framed, externally armored AI mechanical straightened to what must have been more than ten feet in height. A heavily armored chest led up to a shallow-panned, black, oval dome cap slightly wider than its bulky, underlying shoulders. Its dark, metal plates sparked with an inner life of their own. It was an alloy he had never seen before. The arm holding the old, squid-faced guy set him down. Then, as if it had never been there, it quickly resorbed into the mech¡¯s chest.

    Josh dry swallowed.

    The only frame of reference he had for flowing hardware was a T-1000, the liquid-metal terminator in T2: Judgement Day that had been released when he was eleven. After watching it, he¡¯d been afraid to walk over a tile floor for a week.

    Mind in overdrive, Josh unconsciously shifted slightly backward to regauge the threat of their current encounter.

    ~Umm¡­ Sen. This thing can attack us at any time from any angle. It¡¯s probably worse than Dantor was. Be ready for anything!~

    Sen simply nodded,  ~I agree. It seems like a very formidable opponent. But... I do not believe it is getting ready to attack us... I think it¡¯s getting ready to talk.~

    Josh gave the man an incredulous look. ~What?! Why do you think that¡ª~

    A deep resonating voice emitted from multiple sources of the mechanical goliath in front of them. ¡°At last you have arrived. We have come a long way to find you. My partner wishes to speak with you.¡±

    Josh turned his increasingly incredulous look from Sen back to the mech¡¯s giant oblong dome. But it was only when a male child¡¯s voice spoke that their mouths dropped open.

    ¡°Uncle... Uncle Sen¡¯ak? Is that you? It has to be you!¡±

    Josh and Sen looked at each other with ¡®did we seriously just hear that¡¯ expressions. There was only one person in the multiverse who would call Sen that...

    Josh was so surprised he didn¡¯t notice the three fission grenades launched through the cave entrance they had come in from until they were already exploding. His stunned body was hurled back to slam into the cave¡¯s rear wall. The simultaneous detonations were mercilessly followed by the crushing force of billions of tons of rock collapsing on them from above... Then, total darkness.

 Chapter 108

    Joshua Elias Tanner. You have regrown 78 percent of your central nervous system. You now have the capacity to absorb the Tear of Nekusassu. Awake and do so.

    Wh... Who... Clone... is that you? Josh responded frailly.

    It is I.

    Wh... What happened?

    ...That is irrelevant.

    ~Forgiveness, brother. I was not fast enough in getting to you when I recognized the danger¡ª~

    The Clone raised the palm of his hand toward Sen in a stalling manner. Sen let his words trail off.

    Due to your inattentiveness, you were caught in the detonation of three Darkstar fusion devices. Senyak was able to secure what remained of your physical body in his earthen shield before you were crushed by the resulting collapse of the plateau. A collapse under which you are both currently buried.

    So... I survived three direct nuclear blasts?!

    Yes.

    Sweeeeeeet!! Joshua''s tone came through drunkenly. Sen took the increased vocal energy as a sign of continued improvement. He suppressed his grin under the crackling orange glow of his shield.

    The Clone''s brows furrowed and jagged electric blue forks arced between them. Then he looked directly at Senyak.

    Waiting for a larger amount of his prefrontal cortex to regrow will be more productive for... all of us. Narrowing his eyes, he turned his gaze back to the ruin of Joshua''s body. When you start with less reasoning capacity and inhibitory neuronal function than an average Borcine house pet, it is reasonable to wait for meaningful discussion until after one is on the high side of probability predictions concerning brain regrowth...

    Average house pet?! My charcoal¡¯d butt cheeks! I''ve got a pedigree, at least! Joshua mentally retorted in an amused and high-spirited tone. Plainly, there was yet to be enough inhibitory function in Joshua''s cerebrum to keep him from dancing on the edge of the Clone''s wrath... Or to speak intelligently in his own defense...

    The Clone seemed to recognize this. His intense stare took on an air of unavoidable acceptance and he turned the ultraviolet fury of his gaze away, apparently waiting for the time to pass in silence.

    Imminent destruction by the Clone averted, at least for the present moment, Sen took restock of Josh''s condition. Not much of Joshua''s body was left to offer much physical signs of improvement¡ªor even to show that he was still alive. All the skin and muscles on the front half of his body had been eradicated in the blast. His four limbs were missing. Blackened and shriveled internal organs could be seen amongst the few remaining ribs he possessed. His face had been seared down to the skull, and the cranial sinuses where his eyes, nose, and mouth had been were empty, black, smoking holes.

    Still, through their Bond, Sen could tell that Josh''s feelings and thoughts increased in strength and clarity every second. He could now even flex the charred nubs of his shoulders from the connective tissue and muscles remaining on his back.

    Twiddling his metaphysical thumbs, Sen checked his status.

    <table width="600">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="300">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="300">

    15000 ¡ú 11205

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="300">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="300">

    40500 ¡ú 19,878 ¡ú 19828 ¡ú 19777.

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    The blast had been significant, and much of Sen''s Essence had been depleted in repelling it.

    Upon hearing the telltale "fummp" of the tube-launched grenades and then the heavy clinking as they slid across the floor in the cavern, Sen had activated his Earthen Shield. Sadly... Joshua had not. That fact would require¡­ more training, Sen decided with a disappointed grunt.

    Sen took a deep breath and let it go... It was deeply frustrating how much basic combat information his brother lacked, and how much Sen had failed Joshua by not preparing him to recognize something so obvious and react appropriately. As his Immortal battle instructors had drilled into him over the eons of his early training:Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    Rely not on the likelihood of the enemy''s not coming, but upon your own readiness to receive him.

    When they got out from under this rubble, it was time to increase Joshua¡¯s base battlefield awareness to at least include the standard infantry weapon kits. Their use, limitations, and basic knowledge concerning visual and audio detection.  Sen smiled, realizing that he would soon have the opportunity to¡­ invest in his brother¡¯s education via explosion-induced therapy.

    When the grenades had detonated, Sen had surprised himself by being able to annex his original Earthen Shield to catch Joshua''s blasted body on the fly before the ceiling fell on them. If he had failed, there was no doubt that his brother''s Path would have ended under the falling rubble. The time Joshua had spent with Sen to improve his Cultivation skills had, again, paid off. Sen knew that their Earth and Mind skills were far beyond what should be expected of Cultivators of their level, much less even several Attunements more advanced than they were. Concerning their Attunements, he and Joshua were verging on the aptitude of ability expected from Cultivators near the formation of their Tetrahedral Cores.

    This was both good and troublesome. Good in the obvious way of making them more powerful and allowing them to survive situations that would reduce most others to ash. Their present situation was an excellent example. Things were troublesome in that it would be challenging to keep advanced Cultivators from seeing that he and Joshua stood head and shoulders above most others. This was further complicated by what Intelligence had said about soon being identified as multi-iterational actors. Many advanced Cultivators would choose to remove Josh and him from the iteration rather than deal with what surprises they could bring to ongoing plans of domination and regional control.

    Sen rubbed his eyes. While standing out that much would prove problematic, rapid growth was their primary mission. Future problems were just that... problems for another day. They could, and would, deal with them then. For now, Sen would be grateful for the quickness of their advancement. This was all due to Joshua''s intuitiveness in physical matter universes and his ability to share that knowledge through their Bond. Keeping a weather eye on the horizon for more powerful Cultivators who want to move against us is worth the risk.

    Along these lines, it was Sen''s duty to bolster Josh''s knowledge where a civilian could not be expected to excel. Joshua¡¯s failure in getting his shield up in time is mostly mine.

    As if the iteration noted Sen''s thoughts, the rocks entombing them on all sides creaked menacingly. Dirt and gravel ran down his Earth barrier''s translucent walls. With the status window still open, Sen watched his free Essence tick down as he held back annihilation from the five hundred meters of pulverized rock above them. Time to refill the tanks. Sen triggered his Meridians to absorb Earth Aura. Golden-orange power streams flowed into Sen''s crackling shield from the surrounding rocks.

    Joshua''s presence in their Bond grew stronger, and this time he addressed the Clone in his typical blunt but respectful tone. How can we advance our Attunement? We haven''t absorbed enough Essence directly from spirit beings to mature our Cores¡ª

    The Clone interrupted. I realize you have suffered... He lowered his eyes down to Joshua''s smoldering body, ... An injury. But you should not need me to spell out the smallest details at this stage in your Cultivation. Spirit beings of adequate strength are strewn in the rubble all about you. Most are well within reach of your mindscape. Evolved bahoms and sapient octagogs, to be specific. Absorb their Cores. Advance your Attunement. Save your wastling lives, and be quick about it... And yes, Joshua Elias Tanner, I do realize you never thought about the mindscape that way... Is it really in your best interest to continually prove that my initial instinct to expunge your mortality back in that alley was correct? Begin absorbing. Do so now.

    The Clone''s narrowed gaze in the center of the constantly involuting blue fractals his face was made of brooked no argument.

    Joshua had no eyes to close, but through their Bond, Sen could feel Josh was doing the same thing he was¡ªfocusing internally and expanding his mindscape to find Core Essence. The Clone had been right. There were hundreds of bodies and at least bright enough to indicate they were adequate fuel for their Cores. Sen was eager to start, but he didn''t absorb any. Instead, he waited for Joshua to take his pick. Sen would gather what he needed when Josh had moved on to his Attunement.

    Then we can get out of here!

    Absorbing Core Essence had turned out to be a non-issue. Joshua had quickly taken the nearest and brightest lumps through his mindscape, then expanded his Core the remaining two times as if he were in physical contact with the spirit beings'' bodies, all in less than 30 micros.

    Joshua twitched his left shoulder nub. ~Sen. My Core is fully expanded. Could you grab the Tears of Nekusassu out of the bag? I''m a bit short on... arms at the moment.~

    Sen slapped a palm against his forehead. ~Apologies.~

    Sen reached for the Aspect Focus still strapped around the remains of Josh''s torso. It had somehow withstood the blast. Perhaps Joshua was right and this bag bore looking into... A thought for later.

    Now holding the two stones, Sen had a moment of indecision as he moved to put one in Josh''s nonexistent hand¡ª

    Josh shrugged a shoulder as nonchalantly as he could, given the lack of appendages. ~Just put it on... what¡¯s left of my chest... Physical contact might not be needed, but it won''t hurt either.~

    Sen did as he¡¯d been asked.

    ~Alright, let''s get this done so we can figure a way out of here. I''ll go first. Come back and maintain the shield while you take your turn, then we need to find out if that mech and the kid inside it survived this mess. I¡¯ve got some questions that need answers.~

    Sen nodded. ~Agreed. But, perhaps simultaneously, we should find out who it was that moved to expunge us via atomization.~

    Josh offered a double shoulder flex by way of acknowledgement. ~You''re right about that, Sen. Thanks for keeping me on track!~

    The next moment, Sen felt that Josh had become internally focused and was... unavailable. His spirit was not gone, just busy. Very, very busy. Sen took the cue and absorbed the bright spots in range of his mindscape, filling his Core to prepare for his own Attunement.

 Chapter 109

    Under Josh''s Aural Sight, the Tear of Nekusassu was a dense mass of black Essence. Just under its surface, countless layers of silver specks orbited in ellipticals of varying axis. Many bright clusters flowed in a myriad of divergent directions, reminding Josh of nothing less than what it was: a view of the deep void in accelerated time.

    My God! It''s full of stars...

    Then, there was no time for independent thought.

    Josh was the void at the center of thirty intertwined spokes forming a chariot''s wheel. It rolled down a hill and into battle against the soulless invaders from the other side of the Great Wall.

    He was the empty space in a water pitcher soon to be filled for pilgrims after a long desert trek.

    He was the emptiness in the ground a mother badger had dug up to create a birthing den.

    He was the blank spaces of a canvas¡ªthe crisp white between a master¡¯s sketched lines before the precious colors made from saffron and arsenic were applied.

    He was the infinitesimal gap of time between the frequencies of lilting choral voices¡ªthe soft silence between the notes of lullabies keeping the terrors of the night at bay.

    He was the in-between that provided purpose and gave definition. Indispensable for significance and value. Required for communication. Mandatory for function.

    Josh was meaning, and that was as it should be.

    He was Spacetime.

    The scene changed. Josh was alone, existing as a vast emptiness so great that no living being could ever hope to see an end to his beginning. Then he was amid a primordial singularity so dense, an entire iteration''s matter fit in a sphere two meters across.

    Suddenly, he was everywhere in between. In all places the matrix of existence unfurled like a flag in a light wind as energy transited throughout its rippling surface¡ªall points united and moving uniformly. Yet each position was still free of each other with no physical ties. Waves moved without any intervening time. Oscillating forces from subnuclear-field-state changes buzzed while photons and other quanta glided like humpback whales across bottomless seas¡ªall occurring in this tiny microcosm as well as infinitely in the vast stretches of the unending void.

    Josh was ubiquitous and unified.

    This is as it should be.

    He was Spacetime.

    The scene changed. Josh was at the front of a voyaging canoe sailing in rough, stormy seas. Waves pitched, accelerating the large twin hull his people had carved from the mightiest Koa trees they could find. The ship carried the whole tribe through the boundless moana to their new home. Though they had yet to find or even see the new island... they would. Voyagers knew the way.

    Children cried, and women took shelter, but he and his alaka''i stood firm. Strong arms and backs kept the lines taut as the wind raged around them. Ever forward; to the hope of a safe harbor and a new life.

    He stood in the forward section of a vast starship, staring intently through the transparent steel plates of its forward bridge. He and his crew were entering an unknown and uncharted plasma nebula. Purple forks of lightning filled the sector and lanced against the surface of his ship, flowing like water over them and beyond. They would be the first to enter and hopefully¡­ survive.

    Josh was an infant crawling across the floor to a ball his father had rolled across the paving stones in his backyard.

    He was a nucleus in a long chain of others riding on and being accelerated by the energy fields surrounding all things, propelled by field states of other atoms and particles, both real and virtual.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Be the journey known or unknown, finite, or never-ending, Josh was motion.

    This was as it should be.

    He was Spacetime.

    The scene changed, and Josh was in one place and then he wasn''t. He was stationary, and then he was moving at speed. Not just speed, but speed. More than he had ever known. His motion increased until time slowed and stood still. Everything impacted him, but very little reduced his possibilities or altered his potential. While in motion, Josh held all probabilities. He was never confined to one location or manifestation. Even as the most fundamental component of existence, both a field and a particle conceptualized with an infinitesimally negative charge: the electron.

    Negative. Inverse. He could become the opposite of himself. He could travel back in time. He could absorb quanta of energy from the electromagnetic spectrum. He could travel instantly to the limits of the iteration, or he could simply pass on the impetus to his less elevated brethren for them to do the same or any number of a near infinite variety of probabilities. All things were possible and occurred in their time and spontaneously reverted to the most probable again¡ªuntil spontaneous reversion occurred again, only to be free to do it all once more.

    Josh was infinite possibilities.

    This was as it should be.

    He was Spacetime.

    Yes, I am! I am meaning, ubiquitous and unified. I am motion and infinite possibilities.

    I am Spacetime!

    Josh sat up with a start under the Earthen Shield. Sen jerked his head at his sudden movement, and then smiled.

    ~Welcome back, brother!~

    A state of wide-eyed wonder after Attunement was kind of the norm, and not just from the incredible jump in strength and new abilities. Having your consciousness altered to better understand the underlying basis of the iteration was always one hell of a psychedelic trip, but this time, Josh''s brain was really whirling! Though he had only been through three Attunements so far, Josh was willing to bet dollars to gerbil pellets that Spacetime was on the lunatic fringe as far as pulling him out of the family-man, suburban Netflix-watching frame of mind he sometimes forgot he came from.

    He rubbed his closed, freshly regrown eyes... It was bizarre to be in such a confined area after having been so... spread out, yet still in touch and impacted by everything around him at any given time. It would take a minute just to get used to having a body that couldn''t change to the exact opposite of what it had been less than a nanosecond ago. Josh looked down and noted that the Spacetime Attunement had picked his healing up several paces. His arms, legs, feet, and hands had grown back in the few seconds he had ''been back.'' New, soft, and pink¡ªhis skin had sprung up around his reformed muscles in less than two seconds. It wasn¡¯t quite as fast as Kyon Shi had regenerated in their last fight... but pretty close!

    Besides, the old bat-head hadn''t been a living spirit being. He¡¯d been a spiritually risen undead. Reforming dead tissue was not really healing like what he and Sen did. Perhaps Kyon Shi''s regrowth was more like transforming his gray Core''s energy directly into physical matter¡ªscrolling it out like a 3-D printer? It didn¡¯t really require getting his cells to metabolize proteins, membranes, etc. To be honest, Josh suspected that the Essence healing he and Sen did was something very similar to the conversion of energy to matter according to Einstein¡¯s famous equation. Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared: E=MC^2. Only this conversion seemed to be coupled with the intrinsic knowledge of what that mass should be¡­ Maybe he, Sen, and the undead did something very similar to restore their damaged bodies, but Josh''s gut told him that having to integrate the spark of life into new growth was different in a significant, yet unquantifiable way¡ªeven if he couldn''t explain exactly how right now.

    Regardless, these were all questions for later. Sen was raising his eyebrows, eagerly checking to see if Josh was ready to assume the Earth Shield and let him take his ride on the fabric of... everything. He was right, of course. They needed to get out of there and find whoever thought blowing them up and burying them under a collapsed mountain was a good idea. Whoever they were needed to be thoroughly disabused them of that notion.

    The Clone appeared behind Sen and could somehow be seen without obstruction, even though he was amongst the avalanche around them. The blue shine of his ever-involuting fractals was brighter than ever compared to the low and cracking golden/orange glow of Sen''s Earthen Shield.

    "Joshua Elias Tanner. Assume the Earthen Shield so Senyak can attend to his Attunement. There are things you need to be aware of before we depart this place."

    Josh instigated his will to form a shield and pushed its expansion from around himself to beyond the boundaries of Sen''s existing shield. It propagated in even less than the usual fraction of a second, breaking through Sen''s shield with the sound of crystal being shattered inside a tight linen wrapper. It even expanded the space they were sitting in by half a foot as it pulverized the rocks it pressed against into gravel. Sen''s eyes goggled at Josh''s new strength and he seemed on the verge of asking Josh about the experience when the Clone cleared its throat and narrowed his eyes.

    Seeing that further delays would not be tolerated. Sen laid back, closed his hand around the Tear of Nekusassu, and began.

    ~See you on the other side, brother...~

 Chapter 110

    The Clone turned to Joshua, "We must speak of the hybrid Essence entity and the risks involved in your continued interaction with it."

    "Hybrid Essence whattity? Risks?"

    The Clone leaned back and rubbed its glittering eyes. "Yes, Joshua, the being you think of as the ¡®battle mech.¡¯ It is one of three organisms with otherwise unique qualities, created by... an old friend who has¡ªfor his own motivations, eschewed Transcendence to remain in the mortal realms."

    Josh thinned his lids but otherwise remained silent. The Clone was volunteering information, a sign of wonder attributable only to divine power¡ªAKA: a miracle.

    As the Gambler once said, "You gotta know when to hold ''em, know when to fold ''em... and know when to shut the hell up!" Josh would kick himself if his mouth shut down the Clone''s free-speaking mood.

    A wry smile curved half of the Clone''s luminescent face, and he spied Josh out of the corner of his eyes. "Joshua Elias Tanner! Will wonders never cease around you? I hadn''t thought this level of conscious wisdom was even a possibility in your perpetually adolescent-slanted thought patterns. I''m actually impressed."

    "Thanks..." Josh mumbled dryly.

    "But you are correct. It is time to share information that would, as your iteration says, normally be ''way above your pay grade.''

    "Since your Bond with Senyak formed in that back alley on this iteration''s Earth, the paths of Karma have been opening up before you both."

    The Clone waved his hand, and two miniature silhouettes appeared before him. One was three inches tall and carried a briefcase with a necktie that flapped over its shoulder when it ran. The other was even shorter with a top knotted ponytail that shifted when the mini-Sen moved his head. In front of them, rich blue lines spread out and vectored in all directions from a central point. The Clone cocked an eyebrow, and Josh nodded that he understood the image.

    "While this provides the sui generis gift of allowing you all possible outcomes from your choices, the truth is that the termination point for the vast, vast majority of Karmic Trajectories ahead is violence, pain, and an ugly end for you both." He gestured around, taking in their current circumstances and Josh¡¯s earlier¡­ condition. "Witness exhibit A¡ªor rather in your case, exhibit two-hundred and seventeen B.

    The Clone closed his fist, and the lines were cut off at various lengths from their origin. Much less than 5 percent of them continued without interruption. Josh swallowed shallowly without changing the expression on his face, and the Clone went on.

    "Against all probabilities, through stubborn refusal to fail and sheer dumb luck, you have navigated around these pitfalls of potential."

    The mini-Josh and Sen ran down a blue-light path. Sen swinging his swords much like he did in real life, Josh carrying his old briefcase. A round node popped up on their line, and images of a chimera and Cronus appeared. Both eyed the figures as they sprinted through and jumped to a branching light vector to continue their run. Next, mini-images of the matriarchal parasite and Alysa with a tiny Sophie on her shoulders sprang up. The matriarch fell away decapitated, and mini-Alysa/Sophie joined the Josh and Sen silhouettes as they hopped to one of an ever-shrinking number of remaining blue-light road options and ran together.

    The Clone continued, and Josh looked back at him. "I have learned not to question the purpose Reality serves in orchestrating such occurrences for you."

    The Clone smirked and shrugged his shoulders as if in surrender. Josh turned back to the ongoing display, and the mini silhouette crew now included Ishan with his mini shoulder Gatlin and Lobo. They were slightly more transparent than the first four. A mini-Kyon Shi was detonated into blue motes and fell away. All six jumped to one of a handful of continuing blue avenues, and the image idled. The figures shifted their weight and checked their pockets as if standing on the corner waiting for a bus.

    "But I do choose to warn you at this time. Should you and Senyak become involved in the hybrid Essence Entity''s quest for reunification with his siblings against Dod Stal, the three''s created nemesis... There will be... " The Clone leaned in and spoke in a slightly quieter but much more serious tone, "...minimal paths available for you and Senyak to escape expungement. In fact, there would be almost zero probabilities of continued survival."

    An image of the giant battle mech appeared before the group of six minis. Two shorter and slimmer mechs rose from the blue light of the path to stand at its flanks. The three joined the six, and all branches on the way they ran withered away.

    The nine minis ran for several paces and were confronted by a limping, human-shaped AI mechanical with its right hand raised in obstruction. The image idled again with them facing off against each other, limbering up to fight. Josh could tell there were no branching roads from the line they ran down. The nearest light vectors were a very long jump from where they stood.

    Not an easy path...

    "Why are you telling me this? Why not tell Sen too?"

    The Clone rolled his eyes at Josh. "So much for praising your wisdom... In answer to your second question. I''m not bothering to tell Senyak because telling either of you is telling both. Moreover, Senyak would follow you into the cold wasteland of a cuboid''s fragmenting end, should you ever feel the need to go. His fate is now¡ªand has long been, in your hands."

    Josh stared hard at the Clone. Everything it had said was true, and not just what he said about Sen. He knew that intuitively, but it still hurt in a strangely indefensible way that if Sen died, it could¡ªwithout question, be laid at Josh''s feet. Feeling a mix of shame and guilt, Josh couldn''t meet the Clone''s eyes.

    "We''re only going to talk with the... the hybrid entity.¡± Josh mumbled. ¡°No decisions will be made until we know more. Somehow, it knows Sophie, and she showed it to me inside of her soul space. I need to understand how it''s involved with her."This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The Clone pursed his lips, and Josh knew there was more to the story. There always was with the Clone.

    "The answer to your first question bears on this point. There is a greater than 70 percent probability that the Sofie Tanner of this iteration will be used as a game piece by nefarious forces in the struggle between the hybrid Essence Entities and their Nemesis."

    A second mini-Sophie appeared on the display. Only this time, she was bound, sagging from her fetters in the confronting human-shaped AI mechanical''s grasp.

    "You need to understand that this is not your Sophie Tanner." The mini-Sophie on Alysa''s shoulders brightened, and she actually waved to Josh. "Your daughter is eight iterations away from here, and by all predictions, your actions in this iteration will have no bearing concerning her fate. Unless, of course... your existence is expunged. Your involvement in this Sophie Tanner''s fate here could well end in the death of you and Senyak, should you try to save her."

    Josh could feel his face harden automatically at the thought of Sophie, any Sophie, being hurt with him standing by on the sidelines. He knew Sen would feel the same. There was no way he could let that happen. Not in his iteration! Not in this iteration! Not in any iteration of the multiverse!

    The Clone stood by silently, letting his words sink in. If he was reading Josh''s thoughts, which Josh knew it absolutely could, he gave no indication.

    After a few brief moments, the Clone spoke again. "Review your newly amplified status. When Senyak has completed his advancement, apply your new Attunements to extricate yourselves from...¡± The Clone''s radiant blue face looked around as if for the first time and took on a sneer of dissatisfaction. ¡°...your situation."

    Josh blinked once, and Bright Blue was gone.

    He had honestly expected more guidance. Following their previous Attunements, the Clone always had a task for them to perform, along with a few snide comments on how Josh could only properly apply the new Attunement with his wisdom. Josh hadn''t expected, well... Nothing. Maybe the Clone felt that he and Sen were all grown up now? Doubtful. Regardless, it was okay with Josh. He was getting tired of their conversation and sick of having to look down to avoid having his eyes water. He and Sen had come a long way from that dirty alley. Last Attunement, they had achieved physical bodies as dense as uranium, including their eyes, but Josh had never been able to look straight at the Clone in close confines for long without his eyes hurting from its UV rads, Immortal juju, or whatever. It was no different after this Attunement either. It probably would only change once they somehow Transcended into the Immortal realms. If even, then.

    For now, though, the Clone was right. It was time to check his status.

    <table width="587">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="277">

    Body

    </td>

    <td width="309">

    Earth Attunement:

    100% probability of increasing your Health Status by 1500%  ¡ú  4500%.

    100% probability of increasing the molecular density of your skin by 2020% ¡ú   5900%.

    Weapon Enhancement:  Invest 200 units of Earth Attuned Essence into a weapon for 100% probability to increase the weapon¡¯s durability by 1000% and its damage rating by 1500%. ¡ú  4500%.  Duration dependent on use.

    Earthen Shield.  Chanel 100 Earth Attuned Essence per second to form an isolated microenvironment to serve as an external layer of protection.  Shield strength increases with increased channeling of Essence per second.

    Further increase your health status, connective tissue density, and Earth Attuned Skills by increasing your level and Cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="277">

    Psyche

    </td>

    <td width="309">

    Mind Attunement:

    A 100% probability of increasing your Core and Free Essence capacity by 1000%  ¡ú  3000%.

    A 100% probability of increasing the propagation of Essence utilization rate by 1000%  ¡ú  3000%

    An increased probability of being able to manipulate Psychic Essence outside of your Meridians.

    Further increase your Essence capacity, propagation rate, and externalization of Attunement Skills by increasing your level and Cultivation.

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="277">

    Spirit

    </td>

    <td width="309">

    Spherical Cultivation Level 0% to stage 4/7

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="277">

    Weapon:  Simitar Cutlass

    Skill Level: Jr. Student (1%  ¡ú  9%)

    Damage:  Cultivation Low

    </td>

    <td width="309">

    Quality: Essence Channeling: Average

    Allows interface guidance for optimal usage.

    100% Probability of 20,300% Hand-to-hand Damage

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="277">

    Armor:           None

    </td>

    <td width="309">

    3rd Spherical Attunement: Earth Resilience.

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    <table width="600">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="300">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="300">

    15000  ¡ú  45000

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="300">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="300">

    40500  ¡ú  123500

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    There wasn''t a window in his status screen specifically for the Spacetime Attunement. That really wasn''t a surprise. There wasn''t one for his Earth or Mind Attunements, either. It was just that, respectively, those Attunements impacted his body and psyche states directly.

    Spacetime isn''t any less critical than the others. Josh was sure of that. For one thing, his Interface had made it clear that the Stellar Atlas given by Kotei Stuado absolutely needed it to work, which was an interesting point.

    Maybe all the other Attunements have specific places that they would... Interface...with um... the Interface. That was cool to think about, and Josh couldn''t wait to see what they might be... But it''s not helpful at present.

    Refocusing, Josh noted the increases in his health and free Essence. The change was massive... It appeared to be the same percentage jump that he had gotten from his Earth and Mind Attunement when they hadn''t directly impacted the statistic. Apparently, 300 percent growth was what he got from an ''ancillary'' Attunement... The increases were nothing short of unbelievable. He had already seen the rate his healing had jumped to. He was healing a notch or two faster than Wolverine had in the Last Stand.

    Like the part at the end when the Dark Phoenix had been rearranging his molecules to erase him. Not bad!

    Josh had also seen a jump in his Essence propagation and utilization. When he''d taken over ''avalanche duty,'' he had flat-out burst Sen''s shield and pulverized the overlying rocks just getting his barrier into place. There were all kinds of¡­ very messy applications he could think of attempting with that function should the need arise, but best not to dwell on them now.

    He had also tripled his free Essence. Josh had thought that the rate of Attunement growth would drop off at some point. This was mainly because the more advanced Cultivators they had faced weren''t three to nine times stronger than them. Apparently, Josh''s thoughts on diminishing returns were not shared by Reality. In fact, his density had just about tripled from his previous level!

    Along these lines, there was likely a physiologic and genetic growth potential limit that governed how much power an Attunement could instill in a Cultivator. Josh and Sen''s potential had been maximized when Zenyak had given them the boon of perfect physiology. Were they at the pinnacle of what was possible? Josh was really just guessing. Maybe he was wrong. Perhaps every Cultivator could get this strong, and they had just been lucky enough to go up against the less capable runts of the litter. It wasn''t like he could ask any of them. Only he and Sen had the benefit of Cultivation-quantification via their Interfaces¡ª

    I¡¯m getting sidetracked¡ªAgain!

    What Josh really needed was to focus on the second reason why Spacetime Attunement was as crucial as Earth and Mind.

    Its translocation skills.

    He needed to figure out how to convert him and Sen into Essence and teleport them from under this giant pile of rocks. How hard could it be?

 Chapter 111

    Taking stock. Josh still only saw two types of Essence in his Core and Meridians. This wasn''t a surprise either. He would have to prime the pump again and absorb some Aura to get the ball rolling, so to speak. As with his Mind Attunement, there wasn''t any sitting in a bushel basket with a sign labeled ''Spacetime'' in the immediate vicinity.

    Josh scratched his head. Space... space... space... This really should be easy.

    The Attunement had made it more than clear that space was everywhere. In the air around him. Between the atoms in the rocks above. Even massive expanses of it surrounded the atomic and subatomic particles composing all the matter in the iteration. Josh knew aura tracked with its iterational components. Earth from the terrestrial matter. Mind from spirit beings'' brains. So... Spacetime Essence should be literally everywhere.

    Josh remembered seeing condensed Spacetime Essence in the Meridians of the Kaizuko Attuned to it. It was a luminous hue of indigo. But he couldn''t see a shred of aura anywhere.

    Of course, under the glow of my earthen shield, everything looks tinted golden/orange...

    A quick expansion of his mindscape showed he could see other Essences in the Earth Essence''s glow.

    Aaaand, yep! I can still see Mind Essence.

    Josh let out a breath and closed his eyes... What was the issue with finding Spacetime Essence? He hadn''t been able to find the Mind Aura until he had expanded his mindscape to encompass a sapient mind. Did he have to similarly find the Space Attuned part of his body and expand that into... well... space? Time? What exactly was spacetime, anyway? Space seemed possible. Time was a construct created by sapients to better understand their universe. Come to think of it¡­The same thing could be said about a ¡®mind.¡¯ It¡¯s an abstraction that only existed because conscious beings thought it was easier to conceptualize a how a conscious being perceived understood and ultimately acted on their environments¨C

    Josh pulled his ¡®mind¡¯ back from this bottomless pit of unhelpfulness. Metaphysics hadn¡¯t stopped him up to this point and he was determined not to allow it to do so now. The whole point of abstractions and conceptualizations was to improve a sapient¡¯s understanding and allow them to improve their functioning in the ¡®real¡¯ afterall. So, Josh started looking... And he  ultimately found his space/time hub in the very last place he looked, tucked between the cells of his pineal gland.

    The last place I looked? Well, of course it was. What kind of statement is that, anyway? I hear that kind of thing all the time, but of course it is. Everything is literally in the last place you look, because¡ªwho keeps looking for something when they¡¯ve already¡ª.

    He mentally shook himself, stopping his mind from wandering down that particular tangent and refocused his attention to one of the smallest organs in the body. All the lore and legends that existed around the pineal gland, were belied by its rice-grain size¡ªwhere he now focused his Intent. In that hidden place, wisps of brilliant-glowing purple/blue could only be Spacetime Essence. It didn''t escape Josh that this was dramatically close to where he had found his mindscape. Perhaps there is a tie-in with the mindscape that would be of use¡ª

    Yes! There probably is. But right now, we need to get out of this collapsed deathtrap. Sen will be counting on me! Stay focused, Josh!

    Still, the association with the mindscape was valid, and his first attempt to move Spacetime Essence succeeded as he approached manipulating it just like he would his mindscape¡ªpushing out in all directions at once. The sparkling indigo ball expanded like a Hoberman sphere to a distance that seemed like ten football fields in all directions. What Josh''s science brain quickly calculated out to more than six hundred million square yards. His Interface pinged.

    Activating Stellar Atlas local function: Event Sphere.

    Well... at least I don''t have to think of a name for it... Josh became instantly aware of what could only be described as a... combined density and state of matter display in real-time.

    A three-dimensional image of the shield wall they had been climbing for the last few weeks appeared using his... Event Sphere. It was scaled to approximately one meter in diameter and shaded translucently dead-center¡ªin front of him? In his mind? Josh wasn''t sure if anyone else could see it, but he doubted it. He hadn''t seen anything like this when that bootlicker Ritoru Dezain had used his Spacetime Attunement.

    Inside the sphere, the areas were shaded with dot plots that Josh somehow knew represented the states of matter: 1-dot for gasses, 2-dots for liquids, and 3-dots for solids. Furthermore, the dots were color-coded. Starting with white for air and other very low-density matter, increasing in darkness to become black for solid matter, like the rocks surrounding him. Lastly, things in the Event Sphere were also moving, which made sense, in real-time, animate objects... animated. Josh could see the black-3-dotted solid frames of shuttles with their white-1-dotted air-filled interiors descending through the similarly white-1-dotted air. He could see gray-colored-2-dotted spirit beings moving on the cliff face and climbing into black-3-dotted machines to move dark-3-dotted rubble around. It was amazingly complex. At the same time, everything straightforwardly made sense, at least if you were planning to translocate and didn''t want to end up somewhere very uncomfortable. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    This display made obvious some facts about translocation principles he and Sen would have to keep in mind if they wanted to go from place to place and not die. The first things they would need to know were the density and the state of the substance they entered. Density was how compact a thing was. The state of the matter was defined by how it bonded to the molecules surrounding it. At room temperature, cork was only one-quarter as dense as water. Josh''s science brain filled in 0.25 g/cm¡ª3 without being asked. That''s why it could float in water, which had a 1g/ml density. But cork''s bonds made it solid. On his graph, cork would be a lighter color than the water it floated on but still a 3-dot solid. Translocating into the darker shaded water would likely be safe because its weak bonds to the surrounding water molecules would allow their bodies to displace the liquid. But Josh doubted it would be as pleasant to translocate into a wall made from cork. Now, it was true that their density was more than three times that of uranium. However, it would take some experimentation before Josh was willing to put that on the line and translocate into a solid medium.

    All liquids may not be safe, either. Elemental mercury was a liquid at room temperature, but its density would make it black on Josh''s Event Sphere. Anyone would be crushed into elephant toe-jam at the bottom of a deep enough quicksilver pool. The same was true for pools of lava. Translocating into an area just because it had a 2-dot plot would be a really bad idea. Been there, done that! No, thank you!

    Josh scratched his head... Spacetime Huh? Pretty freaking cool!

    The Event Sphere was awesome! Since his Interface specified that it was a local function of the Stellar Atlas, Josh wasn''t sure if anyone without the Confirmation of Marque from the Kotei would be able to see it at all. If that were true, it would make translocating to any place out of sight an iffy proposition. Josh was only guessing, but those unlucky souls could likely only translocate to places they had been, and they would always be risking hitting a moving mass. At any rate, Josh was glad they each had one. He tipped his hat in respect and gratitude to the Kotei.

    Moving forward, there was more to consider than just where was safe and not safe to go. Following his Attunement, Josh believed he understood several things about what was necessary for converting himself to Essence for the actual translocation. He would be traveling as pure energy and should be free to move as close to the speed of light as his control of Essence allowed. In fact, this was spacetime, here. In Einstein¡¯s Relativity equations, one of the most fundamentally surprising discoveries is that when it comes to the relationship between matter, energy, light, time and distance¡ªit was light that was constant and time that broke down. Yet, what might happen if someone were able to interact with both space and time directly¡ªand most importantly, apart from light itself? With enough strength, could he translocate instantly from one location to another, essentially bypassing the universal speed limit of light? What was the difference between translocating and traveling through both space and time using his Attunement? Did translocation use the theoretical possibility of wormholes to ¡®pinch¡¯ the fabric of space like a folded sheet and punch a hole from one location to another? He didn¡¯t know, but he was looking forward to finding out. The potential was great and mind-bogglin. Josh was uncertain how much he could handle right now. But sure, they would be going that fast when they were strong enough. I could be as fast as the Clone and Zenyak... Do Immortals exceed the speed of light? Are they not limited to the laws of physics in material matter iterations? Maybe not... Probably not. This was something he should ask Sen about. But regardless, it was mind-blowing!

    Josh eyed an empty white-1-dotted space in the Event Sphere on the sunken cliff table above them. A small roundish block that he guessed was about the scale size of his shield began flashing. His Interface pinged again.

    Translocate to desired location? Yes/No?

    He quickly selected ''No.'' A herd of questions ran through his mind about what would have happened had he picked ''Yes?'' Could he take Sen with him? Would another Essence-instantiated spirit-being be immune and excluded from his Translocation skill? Or would it be a battle of Cultivation strength and Free Essence like their Mind skills? If Sen were left behind here, he would be crushed when Josh''s Earthen Shield went with him. Would the shield travel with him? Could he even escape it if he wanted to?

    There were too many questions that needed research. Testing his new capabilities while under an avalanche and with his brother¡¯s life in the balance wasn¡¯t the kind of thing he wanted to try on his first go. The limits of what and how much they could do definitely bore some study and practice time in the very near future, but getting back to their friends and troops was what was necessary right now.

    Josh noticed that the tiny people and vehicles in his Event Sphere dramatically increased their activity. Suddenly there were dark expanding rings of decreasing air density that caused all bodies and equipment touched by them to be scattered. It took a moment for him to put all the pieces together. When he did, he didn''t like it one bit. That''s combat! The Brigantine¡¯s troops are being attacked by someone. Probably the same someone who had nuked him and Sen back to the Stone Age. We need to get¡ª

    Sen''s Attunement ended. His mind drew back to the present and his eyes opened. He looked around in the same wide-eyed wonder Josh had.

    Josh nodded. ~I know, brother. It''s a major-heavy trip, but you''re not done having your mind blown yet!

 Chapter 112

    Grey static was replaced with deep blackness that slowly resolved into a white background.

    [Systems restoring. Estimated time of incongruent consciousness flow: 8.4 micros.]

    8.4 micros!!? Sixteen of the kid''s heartbeats!! That was a god''s-damned lifetime! Anything could have happened!

    His sensors were still coming online one by one, rebooting like lights on a runway. Internal sensors would be last to re-engage per protocol. RX couldn''t argue about it with his side processors or main comp unit. It was undeniable that critical threats were generally outside his exo-plating. As such, RX needed to know about them first, so outward-going sensors came up first...

    But the kid is inside my dome!

    RX went through their Essence bond and directly communicated.

    Anak! Kid!! Are you alright?!!

    ...

    Anak!!

    An irritated mind responded¡ªIf you call being squashed like a dangler grub in my mother''s grip ''alright'', then yeah¡­ I''m great! I was trying to talk with Uncle Sen''ak when these giant white pillows inflated and... and squashed me... Then we spun around a lot! I think I threw up. What happened?"

    Thank the gods! A second passed while RX''s neural synth took a virtual sigh of relief.

    Then Anak''s voice came back quizzically. And what''s inside these things? Bambooyan strands? They''re really strong!

    Close kid, they''re double covalent plas-cells supported with twined, hyperdense adamite tendrils, sheathed in blast-resistant plas-var. As to what happened, my RAM was put offline by the blast, so my short-term recall has been corrupted. I''m reviewing the sensor data to restore it. As soon as I know the particulars, you will as well... But I think someone lobbed a handful of nukes at us. A serial EMP chain is one of the few things that could knock out my systems and redundancies. Give me a couple of micro-gyra to review, get my sensors back up, and assess for damage. Then we''ll get out of here. Do you need anything right now? Anything broken?

    Anak took a second before answering. But when he did, it was all business. No RX, I''m good for now. These bambooyan pillows protected me... Mostly. Take care of business. I''ll focus on absorbing Essence and increasing its flow to our joint matrix so your systems won''t run low. Whatever all of that was, it knocked out about half of our shared pool. Give me a micro-gyra on that.

    You got it, Kid. And they¡¯re not bambooyan they¡¯re¡ª

    Ya, ya, ya... I heard you... But my dad always said that bambooyan was the strongest thing in the world... So, they¡¯re bambooyan to me.

    I can''t argue with that. Couple of micro-gyra. Then I''ll be right back. Call if you need me.

    Bless the kid! He always knew when the situation was actually dire¡ªwhen to give RX the necessary space to take care of his side of things. In times like this, Anak''s wisdom outstripped his years by a long way. It was probably due to his insanely close connection with Karma. RX didn''t pretend to exactly understand all the details of it. Or why, of all the spirit beings RX had met, Anak''s connection was so well developed. As an individual, RX was an AI mechanical without any direct Karmic ties. Only his Essence union with Anak allowed him to ''ride the kid''s Karmic coattails,'' so to speak. Right now, the particulars were irrelevant. RX would take the preteen''s wise compliance.

    Anak was already holding up his end. A surge of Earth Essence flooded RX''s systems, and all his processes sped up. Soon after, his full sensor suite came online as his nano-tides increased their productivity by a factor of ten, getting his repairs underway.

    RX got to work, as well. He used his freshly restarted internal arrays to inspect Anak''s vitals and organic frame for any injuries. A few contusions on his arms and light nose bruising were all the med-scan found. It was good to know that RX''s internal safety measures were sufficient to keep the kid from damage in a scenario energetic enough to take him offline.

    After their initial assessment of the raw IoT data his sensors had collected, RX''s side processors began reporting up their chain of command to his facilitators and then to his main comp unit. External video and short and long-range acoustics indicated that they were buried in boulders and pulverized rocks from the shield wall they had been under. Standard maneuverability was largely negative. RX was only able to flex his left-lower appendage 0.4 cm. Everything else was stilled by the entombing rubble.

    Getting out was going to take joint Essence activity with the kid. Well... that''s what we''ll do then.

    His nano facilitator confirmed that RX''s adamite frame and exo-plates were holding without the need for additional resources to maintain stability.

    No surprises there.

    His father had made it plain that, aside from being the rarest element in the iteration¡ªonce it had been smithed, adamite was as close to indestructible as any material in existence. Still, RX was glad to know he was intact. There had been a loss of approximately three percent of the composite underlayer from which his electronics, sensors, and data storage were constructed. His analytical facilitators postulated the loss had most likely occurred in the blast before his exo-plates had fully locked down to shield his internal structures.

    Fair assumption.

    It was time to review the IoT data and formulate a plan for their evacuation. RX''S main comp unit accessed his information stores and spun up his complete suite of logic processors and facilitators for assessment and interpretation. The playback began.

    RX was back in the cavern looking at the two strange humans...

    ...Both intruders'' body language indicated a likelihood of advancement to active aggression if provoked. 87.0 percent for the tall one and 99.97 percent for the shorter, quiet one. Despite the apparent threat, Several of RX''s intuitive side processors were prodding his main comp unit with a rapidity that made it impossible to ignore. His main comp unit allowed them to propagate their information.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    [91% match for anticipated Cultivator pair.]

    What?! These two jamokes?

    How could they be the mighty warriors that would help him stand against Dod Stal and his army of ruthless mercenaries? Impossible! Despite the short one''s melee competence, RX was sure he could disassemble both of them without even letting Otak go. Still, his main comp unit had never been wrong before, so there was nothing wrong with checking. Finding Sophie''s father and uncle was why he and Anak had come to this backwater-dry gullet of a planet in the first place.

    RX straightened his battle frame to its full three and a half meters and put Otak down. He casually patted the octagog on the head and muttered from a side emitter on his dome, "Stay put while the grownups talk." Simultaneously, he reactivated the external monitoring systems for Anak.

    Ah, listen up, kid. A few of my recognition arrays are saying that these two guys who just showed up might be who we''re looking for... I need you to take a look.

    As the screens came online and he saw the seven dead octagog pirates, Anak called RX out on his deceit. I knew you were going to send them to their ancestors!

    Ah... Ya... You caught me on that one, kid. Just look at the two that are still standing, will ya?

    A brief pause ensued. Anak leaned into the viewport and studied the two figures to see if they were the two that Sophie, his Karmic dream-friend, had told them about.

    Anak sent his thoughts. Sophie was clear. They would be together; her father and uncle are strong and mighty warriors. I can only guess that this skinny guy appears like a mighty warrior to a four-year-old... Even if she''s a Karmic savant...

    RX saw Anak shift his attention to the other face, and his eyes lit up. That''s Uncle Sen''ak! There is no question. It''s just like she said, ''He is really strong, but his ponytail is kinda girly. I can sense his warrior''s prowess¡ªRX, let me talk with them! Now! Quick!

    Anak was jumping up and down in his impact chair as he pointed at the two on the forward viewer and barked excited, instinctual-high-pitched vocalizations.

    Okay! Okay, kid! Take it easy! You know I hate it when you get all screechy! I''ll tell them what''s up and patch you through.

    Best foot forward, then. RX activated the resonant base filters on his dome emitters and spoke. "We have come a long way to find you. My partner wants to speak with you."

    That was news to them. Social protocol centers and his body language side processors read surprise on both of their faces with 98% certainty.

    Go ahead, kid. They''re listening.

    Anak leaned forward in his seated position and studied their faces as he spoke. The kid was taking it as seriously as could be expected of a preteen. Okay, I''m ready.

    "Uncle... Uncle Sen''ak? Is that you? It has to be you!"

    Acoustics registered the hollow tube expulsion of three masses consistent with fusion devices from approximately 170, 224, and 375 meters outside the front and back entrances of the cavern they were staying in.

    Multiple shooters. RX''s autonomic emergency response facilitators had closed his exo-plating to shield it from the blasts as the devices slid across the solid rock flooring of the cavern.

    The shorter, bald Cultivator had activated an Earthen Shield and was running for his partner as the world filled with white and the IoT data playback stopped.

    Three Darkstar nukes... Someone isn''t messing around. But who? Dod Stal and his mercs? It could be... but this really isn''t his style. Besides, Dod didn''t want RX buried under billions of tons of rubble. He wanted RX''s adamite to mix with Jaz''lyn and Shet-0J''s in his half-baked plan to salvage his mangled chassis. Good luck, you evil bastard! Even if Stal was somehow able to capture RX and Anak¡ªWhich is never going to happen! Masamune was very clear that adamite could only ever be worked one time. Whatever Dod Stal thought he knew better than Masamune, their father and joint creator, escaped RX. But if Dod didn''t shoot the nukes, that meant that there was a dangerous and unrelated party on this planet willing to kill first and ask questions later...

    Terrific...

    RX''s theoretical centers had excluded the two Cultivators as the instigators of the blast. His speech centers confirmed that their body language and actions demonstrated they were just as surprised as he had been. Furthermore, it wasn''t probable that the tall one had erected any defenses in time. Right now, he was likely a piece of irradiated charcoal indistinguishable from the rest of the slagged living rock of the cavern. The short one had gotten his Earthen Shield up in time. But would that have been enough? There were Cultivators who could survive much worse than three Darkstar detonations. But RX''s databases all indicated such Cultivators were above the Spherical Cultivation level. AKA: Really tough muthers! RX''s neural synth didn''t put the pair at that level. Certainly not with only a couple of Attunements each.

    RX''s theoretical centers chimed in again and advised him that it was not probable but possible [to a 27 % likelihood] that the attacker would still be waiting when he and Anak dug themselves out. His combat and game theory facilitators put forth a joint recommendation.

    [Allow nano constructs to complete repairs. Estimated time 20 gyra. Then evacuate under the surface of the shield wall five hundred or more kilometers from this location.]

    His main comp unit didn''t disagree, and RX''s feelings were in alignment with the caution. It might take some time and doing, but with their dual Earth and Water Attunements, it was very feasible. His main comp unit compiled the IoT and predicted that it would take them no longer than four standard galactic days to get five hundred kilometers away through the shield wall and hopefully exit undetected.

    There was no way they could hook up with ¡®Uncle Sen''ak¡¯... if he were even still alive. Survival was their primary concern right now. Noha-3 was too hot, and he needed to get the kid off it and reformulate what their plan was going to be. He would take Anak into his planning once they were far away. Perhaps his Karmic ties could lead them in a better direction than being a backstop for three high-grade nukes?

    Anything is possible.

    The micro-gyra ticked by as RX''s nano constructs completed the repair of his electro-functions. Anak had told him he had no information about what had happened to Sophie''s father or uncle. RX could tell he knew there was little chance that they had survived the blast. Knowing Anak, RX was sure the kid was taking responsibility for their deaths and thinking they had led the assassins to them. RX left that alone for now. It was possible... But the kid had been surrounded by too much death already. RX''s social protocol centers advised him to wait for Anak to bring it up.

    Smart thinking.

    ... Kid, the nanobots have me functioning at optimal capacity and can finish the remainder of our repairs on the way. I''m going to start tunneling now with Fortification and Plasticity applied. So, I''m gonna need you to start absorbing Essence and really funneling the juice. Got it?

    ...

    ...Kid?

    RX''s internal monitoring side processor forced a priority override of the queue and posted to RX that Anak''s vitals were spiking across the board. Respiration, heart rate, autonomic stimulation, and brain activity were all five to ten times normal waking values. Its diagnostic function reported:

    [95 % chance of novel Essence activity vs. 0.4 % chance of spontaneous cardiac arrest.]

    The kid''s Attuning?!

    RX focused his main comp unit on the internal video receivers and IoT from the cockpit. The Essence receiver he had paired with Anak''s Essence sense in their joint matrix detected an aura of power filling the space. On his video receivers, golden sparks showered down on Anak as several of the dome''s cockpit''s circuit breakers had melted and fused under the strain. Through the main viewer, RX saw deep void star patterns swirling through Anak''s open eyes.

    The kid''s star-filled gaze caught RX''s, and he spoke in a voice with a thousand modulations.

    "I don''t think we¡¯re going to need to dig."

 Chapter 113

    The Clone returned to Destruction''s Desolation. As planned, Zenyak arrived shortly after, still rippling with cuboidal power that would be intolerable for any mortal within three hundred light years. Obviously, he had not taken the Clone''s advice. Not yet. That was the purpose of this meeting.

    Through the haze of the iteration''s tortured physical and metaphysical alignments, Zenyak''s expression was all business. REPORT.

    The Clone bowed his head for Zenyak''s palm on his crown. The physical matrix of his avatar was again destroyed countless times by the hyper-charged exposure, requiring his Immortal Ka to renew his avatar repeatedly.

    Withdrawing his hand, a wolfish smile alighted on Zenyak''s power-soaked and twisting physical avatar. IT IS AS YOU ANTICIPATED. JOSHUA ELIAS TANNER WENT IN THE POLAR OPPOSITE DIRECTION HE WAS WARNED AGAINST. WELL, PREDICTABILITY OF FOOLISHNESS IS STILL PREDICTABILITY... AND REALITY''S REQUIREMENT OF KARMIC BALANCE IS MET WITH YOUR WARNING TO STAY AWAY.

    Zenyak stared at the Clone. THIS SCENARIO WILL PROVIDE KARMA WITH THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY TO BESTOW GROWTH ON THE BONDED PAIR. OR KILL THEM BOTH. WELL DONE. IF I DO SAY SO MYSELF.

    Seeing his chance, the Clone moved the conversation to his goals for this meeting. He was, after all, an exact copy of Zenyak Marztanak before the penultimate combatant went insane enough to threaten the foundational substrata of the multiverse. And The Clone wouldn''t be denied. So, you see the potential in Sophie Tanner, Alysa Nang, and the Bonded pair as Agents of Karma. You will stop absorbing the cuboid force and allow the multiverse to restabilize?

    Zenyak dipped his head and eyed his Clone from below his bunched brows as if he was planning the appropriate response to being called to task by himself. I AND THE OTHER PARAMOUNTS ARE NOT MADMEN, CLONE. IF THE BONDED PAIR SURVIVES AND SUCCEEDS. AND IF KARMA FOSTERS THEIR GROWTH ACCORDING TO THEIR EFFORTS AND RISKS, I WILL PRESENT YOUR SUGGESTED SOLUTION AS A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE... AND MAKE THAT RECOMMENDATION, YES.

    Zenyak waved a finger and traveled back through the rich blue tones of the Way to the other two Paramounts. The Clone again noticed how even Reality''s fibers were tortured by his presence in this state. How can they take such risks? The Three should be above the draw of pride and fear of destruction. But, apparently they are not¡­ In fairness, I wonder if any of us are. And if they can fall victim to their pride... Can I not fall as well? His eyes remained fixed on the damage his progenitor¡¯s exit left on Reality warily. Have I not already?

    The Clone would remain vigilant to avoid the pitfall his progenitor had so willingly thrown himself into. Discussing this subject with Intelligence might also be a worthy idea¡­ At any rate, there was a chance of preventing destroying the multiverse under the guise of saving it¡­ And all I had to do to get the attention of those three power-mad yahoos was risk turning Karma and Reality against us by gambling on the actions of the other most foolhardy pair in the multiverse...

    The Clone paused and rolled his eyes at his surroundings, as the ramifications of what he had just said sunk into his own superior consciousness¡­

    ¡­It is already too late for me to avoid my progenitor¡¯s insanity, isn¡¯t it?

    * * * * *

    Radin Talan, most recently appointed of the five serving elders of the Talan Clan, didn''t like the activity his reconnaissance teams had been tracking on Noha-3. Three or four moderate-sized groups of treasure hunters per standard galactic solar cycle were to be expected. These groups had usually been fortunate enough to find a Treasure Atlas unearthed from the renegades Shisoka and Utsuki''s long-lost hidden caches. As such, they were expected to eventually arrive on Noha-3. After all, the Talan Clan created the Atlases, buried them, and sold the locations to the greedy seekers in the first place. It simultaneously guided them away from the actual locations of the Clan''s troves and brought in a fair amount of sol for their effort.

    A tight smile touched the corners of his mouth. We might be blacklisted and on the run from the Kotei and his council all these long years... But the Talan are just as ruthless as the rest of the Kaizuko.

    Radin''s cheer was short-lived, and a sour expression soon wrinkled his narrow face as he dwelt on the sharp edges of his last thought. We are ruthless, yes, but always on the run. I... No... the Talan deserves better than to be constantly on the run!

    Radin''s frustration boiled his blood. But, if he was honest, he found the Clan''s need to hide from the Kaizuko incredibly ironic. After all, it was his mother''s desperate actions, in concert with his father''s passion, that had ultimately freed the Kaizuko from the Cudgel. Only by demonstrating Daibosu''s vulnerability had it been possible for Stuado''s subsequent coup. Without question, the resulting power change made life better for all Kaizuko.

    Unfortunately, though Daibosu was gone, the old thug had not been forgotten. There were still many of his former allies on the ruling council. Those who not only wanted to get back what had been taken by Radin''s mother but lusted to exact revenge for the shame of being duped by his father''s treason. Radin couldn''t deny that his parents had made Daibosu and the commander''s counsel look more foolish than a planet full of treasure seekers following bogus maps. The commanders'' enduring wrath was only made worse by the fictional but never dying legend of his parents flagrantly hiding away under the noses of the Kaizuko on Noha-3 for the last fifty thousand years.

    Radin quietly sighed at the thought. While his parents'' first meeting had been greatly exaggerated... Shisoka''s love of Utsutki had indeed led him to betray Daibosu. His parents had told him several times that after catching a member of his mother''s team surveying the Kotei''s vaults, Shisoka followed him to the local tavern where Utsuki and her conspirators were waiting. Seeing his mother''s beauty, Shisoka had put his life in her hands. Giving Utsuki access to the Cudgel''s vaults. Not only that. His father continued the deception and accepted Daibosu''s frantic order to hunt down Utsutki and retrieve his treasure.

    Shisoka''s unflinching loyalty before this allowed the ruse. With it, he had utterly blindsided the Kotei and the Kaizuko Commanders'' Council to give Utsuki and her crew the breathing room to disappear. His father''s complete willingness to not only break faith with Daibosu but continue the deceit guaranteed neither he nor any of his blood would be trusted by any Kotei ever again. Should any Talan resurface, they would be quickly captured, flayed, and spaced. It would be foolish to imagine any other kind of welcome, even from the reportedly benevolent Kotei Stuado.

    As this was all true, Radin could not comprehend why his parents still adamantly refused to take steps against Stuado or his circle of cronies. They preferred hiding. So, the Clan hid, regardless of the damage to Radin''s or the rest of the Clan''s sense of justice or honor.

    For his entire life, Radin had been taught that flight was the only option if the Kaizuko were near. Confrontation and violence against them were out of the question. Whatever the reason, the message was clear. The Kaizuko were better than him! Radin and the Clan''s existence was, somehow, subservient.

    But it has gone on for far too long!

    Now that his parents had elevated him to Serving Elder, Radin''s inferiority would end. The day was near when he would lead the Talan proudly out into the galaxy. He wouldn''t be alone. The Savoy wanted Kotei Stuado and his Kaizuko ground under their heels as much as Radin did. The mercenary organization was ¡®taking steps to remove the Kaizuko stain from the galaxy.¡¯ The vampiress Xsias had told Radin this when he accepted her parley invitation after his elevation to leadership. Xsias had made it plain that the Savoy would be ¡®...grateful for Clan Talan''s aid¡¯ in their efforts. And they had been! Just to meet, Xsias had provided him with the Impact Stone¡ªan item of power granting Force Essence Attunement. More than this, she had implanted voltaic lumina rods along the Meridians of his forearms to enhance the externalization of his Force skills.

    Having been formed on the pinnacle peak of the only known cation planet in a negatively charged galactic sector, the voltaic lumina rods were unsurpassed natural treasures to guide and amplify energy flow. Radin could feel the power arcing up and down his Meridians as they vibrated with destructive potential.

    Xsias will surely give me even more when we move against the Kotei! Radin had to suppress a sharp grin. When the Savoy hammer comes down on the Kaizuko, I will ensure the Talan are standing shoulder to shoulder with the mercenaries. Together, we will bring the Kaizuko to the shameful end they deserve!  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    Then there was the little something extra he and Xsias had enjoyed at the close of their talk. Undead or not, Xsias was intriguing, to say the least! Radin couldn''t stop smiling as he remembered their liaison. It had gone on for hours! Without a doubt, Xsias must have been as captivated as he was.

    And I''m going to get to speak to her again today!

    Radin had a hitch in his breath at the thought¡ª Then he caught himself. It is odd to have such strong feelings just at the thought of speaking with a woman... it isn''t like me to be so focused on a single woman. His wives usually met all his needs. He looked out over the shield wall to the desert beyond and pondered that...

    A few micros later, his head cleared. Radin shook the uneasy feelings off. True, I wouldn''t typically focus on just any woman. But Xsias isn''t just any woman, is she? No. With a woman this amazing, it was normal for her to fill his thoughts. She would certainly reward him for telling her about the large, black AI mechanical she and all the Savoy had been put on alert for. When she learned it was here, Radin might even get to meet with her again!

    It is also true that turning over the giant mech is unrelated to my goals of protecting the seclusion of the Clan... But for some reason, Radin felt he simply had to notify Xsias it was here. No time like the present! Radin pulled the transmitter she had given him from his aspect focus and activated it as she had instructed. Puncturing the tip of his thumb with the needle on its thicker end. Xsias had assured him that the blood she had fed him from her wrist would do the rest.

    A brief static hiss erupted from the transmitter, and the device floated from his grasp and hovered at face level. A brusque male voice spoke.

    "Thrall 1156, report."

    "This is Radin Talan, serving elder of the Talan Clan. I have activated the beacon to speak with Xsias..."

    "Thrall 1156. Report!"

    Though Radin was slightly perturbed by not speaking directly with Xsias, an internal voice quickly justified it. She is such an incredible being and obviously can''t be hanging on the transceiver for random communications, can she? I must play along for her sake.

    "Very well¡­ I spotted a large AI Mechanical being that she asked me to be on the lookout for. Could you please tell her¡ª"

    The voice''s tone demonstrated a significant increase in interest as it cut him off. "Display a holovid of the AI Mechanical immediately!

    Radin rolled his eyes. The man was still keeping him from Xsias. But I¡¯m in it now...

    Radin tapped several keys on his wrist unit, and a holographic video of the black-armored mech walking into the bahom cave on the shield wall played out before the transmitter.

    "Standby for further orders."

    Less than half of a micro-gyra passed, and a hologram of Xsias appeared from the transmitter. It showed her from the shoulders up at twice her actual dimensions. Her raven hair had been cut short on one side and covered her shoulder on the other. Her lips had been painted midnight blue, and a smile spread across her full lips as the connection completed.

    "Radin, lover! Who would have thought that you would have been so useful in such a short time¡ª"

    Joyous, Radin couldn''t keep quiet. His words burst out. "Xsias! I''m so happy to see you!"

    The cruel smile on Xsias''s face cut the air between them. "Radin dear, of course you crave me. You are under my compulsion. Please don''t interrupt me again. While you won''t remember anything specific that we say or do during this conversation... I don''t want to make you damage yourself while you''re still useful to me."

    Radin slammed his lips shut and stared, doe-eyed at her.

    Xsias continued in a business-like tone. "Good. Is the AI mechanical, designation RX, still in the cave you showed me?

    A brief pause of silence ensued before Xsias curtly snapped out. "You can answer direct questions, dolt!"

    Like a child who was unsure of his position in a group of adults, Radin spoke with uncertainty, "Ahh... Yes... the AI mechanical is still there."

    "Good! Stellar coordinates have the hologram you uploaded confirmed to the planet Noha-3. In the top third of a rock formation cutting across the central desert. Is that correct?"

    A shorter pause where Radin''s compelled mind decided it was appropriate to answer without incurring her wrath. Then he answered eagerly, "Yes! Yes, it is."

    "Excellent. I need you to slow down and, if possible, incapacitate RX. Its plating is pure adamite. You will not be able to destroy it. Our latest intelligence has it capable of Earth and Water Attunement skills. Do you have the means of stopping it for 1.2 standard rotations while I am en route?¡±

    For a moment, the enraptured child staring at Xsias returned to the composure of a seasoned strategist as he considered the tools available to him. Then his adoring expression returned. "Yes... I can do that. But it will require burying it in billions of tons of rubble. Will that be... okay?"

    A sly look came over Xsias as she winked vampily. "I like how you think, lover! I''m starting to remember why I went with the paramour compulsion with you! You have earned yourself a repeat. Know that if RX is still incapacitated when I arrive, I will reward you as I did the last time we were together." Her smile deepened until her fangs showed.

    Radin''s face lit up like a supernova. "You will join with me again?!!"

    "Of course not! You pathetic creature!" Xsias'' hologram rolled her eyes. "I haven''t had female anatomy or organs since a Tiger Affin shredded them from my living body one hundred thousand standard cycles ago." She flipped her hair and smiled coyly while winking a solid black eye. "But just like the first time, you won''t remember that..." Xsias''s expression turned as brittle as volcanic glass. "Incapacitate that AI mechanical now!"

    The emitter shut down and left Radin alone. His body rocked slightly from toes to heels as Xsias'' blood compulsion deepened its control in response to her words of command. Several micros passed before he became conscious again, only remembering the promise of Xsias'' reward. While he didn''t know it, Xsias hadn''t lied. Radin recalled nothing of the specifics of their conversation or her sadistic admissions.

    Radin wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth and clicked his wrist controller to speak to his three field teams in the area. "This is team leader. All teams, fire Darkstar grenades into the cave the AI mechanical has entered on my count. Confirm order."

    Radin''s receiver registered three affirmative responses. Then he immediately started counting down as if he had no choice but to do so. "Three, two, one. Fire."

    Immediately following the explosion, a two-thousand-meter-wide swath of the clifftop had bucked up into the air and collapsed in on itself. The dry air of Noha-3''s central desert was charged by the sky-splitting sounds of fracturing rock. The overlaying table of stone on the shield wall shattered, and echoes cracked out into the distance. Everything with a life force was stilled as a wide-capped plume of dust violently rose into the clear sky. Winds swept up, and a deep tectonic rumble overrode all as mountains of broken stone collapsed into the now atomized material below. Ultimately, a five-hundred-meter-deep depression settled roughly into the shape of the bowl Radin¡¯s junior wife Freeda served him soup in.

    For several minutes, Radin had looked on in silent appreciation at the stark beauty of the devastation he had wrought.

    But that had been forty-five micro-gyra ago. Now, the entire cliffside of the desert''s shield wall crawled with troops from the Brigantine. There were two different types. One was composed of the elite security forces that the better Kaizuko commanders had. The other group followed even greater discipline and showed rigid military bearing. It was clear that the second group was well-trained in disaster response. Instead of running willy-nilly and digging randomly, they assessed the entire surface area and began spelunking into the reachable fissures. What was even more disturbing was that someone was coordinating the two groups toward their individual strengths, and they seemed to be functioning as a well-integrated whole despite their differing uniforms. The Kaizuko were not known for working well with others and certainly not sharing their capital ships with other forces. Radin would need to consider this unusual development.

    It was also evident that the Brigantine had a lot of soldiers. Far more than Radin had anticipated. Already over one thousand had come down with the steady stream of shuttles descending to Noha-3''s surface, and there was no end in sight. They had even begun placing large earth-moving equipment in the more stable locations of the depression to start the selective removal of debris.

    All in all, even if their actions were more efficient than what would usually be expected from the Kaizuko, they weren''t overly surprising. Soldiers would look for their leaders when they went missing.

    What surprised Radin was how wrong he had been to order his teams to maintain their positions after the detonation. Radin knew that he should have ordered the immediate evacuation of himself and his teams. While he couldn¡¯t explain it from a strategically sound perspective... He simply knew that he needed to be sure that mech had stayed put.

    So, they had remained. Radin had hoped there would be time to leave after a short watch. The rapid response of the Brigantine had put a quick end to that notion, however. Less than five micro-gyra after the detonation, the first reconnaissance teams arrived. With their coming, Radin and his men had been forced into a waiting match against their rescue efforts.

    All this aside, what really had Radin concerned right now were the platoons of soldiers marching directly for his surveillance bunker. Several squads of heavily armed troops moved across his video receivers into rear and lateral flanking positions. A squad of four was also approaching directly through the cave entry to his primary entrance. He was also able to detect two Brigantine shuttles that had already lifted off and were in a hovering pattern to offer the ground troops air support.

    Guess it¡¯s time to play! Radin was actually glad. Being discovered was a good omen of things to come concerning the Kaizuko.

    No more hiding! The Savoy will help us rid the quadrant of these scum. Let it start here!

    Radin signaled his men in the bunker and the three teams stationed outside to go offensive at his signal. A determined smile carved his face.  It¡¯s just a shame we don''t have any more Darkstar fission grenades with us. But that is fine as well... A sharp look joined the savage grin on Radin''s face as bright-white forks of Essence crackled around his open hands. The room flashed under the harsh white strobe and illuminated the faces of his shocked men in pulses... I have a few surprises of my own that are just perfect for this occasion!

 Chapter 114

    Josh''s earpiece had been disintegrated in the blast and Sen''s had been knocked out by the EMP blast. So, they decided it was worth the risk of exposing one of them to a mental attack while they could reach out with their mindscape''s increased range. In fact, Josh had been tempted to do it while Sen had been in his Attunement. But if he had been attacked and the shield failed, letting the tons of rubble above them collapse... Best not to dwell on that possibility!

    Now, with their troops under attack. Josh laid out his plan with a nod to Sen through their Bond. It was simple, if slightly involved. First, Sen was to immediately take over shield duty, which he did, pulverizing as much rock above them as Josh had. A look half-satisfied and slightly more smug than humble at his new strength rose on his cheeks.

    Josh moved on to phase two and expanded his mindscape. He hoped the range had grown enough to reach the surface. It had. It went out as far as his Event Sphere did. Initially, he overshot and had to pull it back to only include the surface of the clifftop.

    There were over a thousand minds in the vicinity of the detonation crater. Josh narrowed the search as he had the first time on the Brigantine. Female... Asian... Space marine knows Sophie... Only one mind remained lit up golden against the grayed-out background of the rest. The spirit being was approximately a quarter mile above them and standing in a group of fifteen other minds. Sadly, the mindscape didn''t have the same geographical layout as his Event Sphere. That upgrade was likely the benefit of using it linked with the Stellar Atlas. Josh was tempted to try and pull the Event Sphere out at the same time and see what kind of synergy he could get with both of them active¡ª

    It''s not time to play Josh! Do something like that later. Your people are in danger!

    He reached out to Alysa''s mind and spoke to her.

    Alysa! It''s Josh. Sen and I are under the rubble about five hundred meters down. We have a plan to get out... It should work... but we saw the fighting and thought best to open communication first... What''s going on? How bad is it? What do you need?

    ...

    Alysa? Are you able to speak? Your mentation appears normal!

    . . . Ahh... I...

    ...I knew it! You must be hurt!? I''ll be right there¡ª

    Sir! Sorry, sir! I... I wasn''t expecting Your Eminence to open communication like this. Though Alysa¡ªUm, Lieutenant Nang¡ªMy cousin, sir... said it was possible in a situation like this. Forgive my delay in responding, sir.

    ...Cousin... Sabrina? Petty Officer Nang? Is that you? Gods! Is Alysa down?! I''ll be right there¡ª

    No Sir¡ªAh yes, Sir¡ªAh, yes! It''s me¡ªSabrina! No! Lieutenant Nang¡ªmy cousin, is not down! She, along with Senior Chief Ishan and battle leader Mzamo, are presently off the surface via wing-frame in pursuit of the leader of the force that attacked us... Up until now, we thought he had killed... ah... you, sir. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Then Sabrina spoke in a slightly wheedling manner. Sir, I apologize for my lack of organization. This method of communication is... slightly... disconcerting...

    Josh took a steading breath himself, and his tone became less than that of a frantic man losing at whack-a-mole. Oh, right. That¡¯s my fault, Sabrina... I¡¯d never have sprung this on you like I did... I was sure that you were Alysa. I apologize. Is the situation there under control? Or do you need immediate assistance?

    Yes sir. The situation is well in hand. We vastly outnumbered the forces attacking us and subdued all of the hostiles remaining on the surface. We are about to begin interrogations. Forces from above are positioning to cut off those who fled.

    There was a brief gap, and then Sabrina continued. Chief Lobo is in command here. He confirms that your immediate support is unnecessary.

    Thank you, Sabrina. We will see you soon. Josh... Um, Tanner out.

    Josh pulled back his mindscape and could feel Sen''s cringe through their Bond. He had obviously been able to listen to the entire conversation. Josh knew that he was in for one of Sen''s absolutely necessary but incredibly pride-bruising critiques.

    Shaking his head. ~Brother, you have been thrust into advanced combat and leadership without formal training or instruction. And you have done terrifically well, to say the very least... But I still have much to teach you about weapons, explosives, and field awareness. I have just added to that list, direct communications. For now, always speak clearly and slowly. Be unimpassioned and direct.

    Most importantly, only ask one question at a time. Ever. The most critical question. Whatever that is. Lives will be saved, and objectives attained through efficient and effective communication. They can both be lost without these procedures.~

    Sen finished with the hopeful smile a father would give their child. Wanting to encourage them to try again after failing an important task due to nervousness.

    There is no room for pride here. Josh took a deep breath and closed his eyes. ~Agreed, Sen... Thank you. I guess I can only get better at it, huh?~

    Sen laughed and nodded. ~An excellent assessment!~

    Josh hung his head in shame but remained silent. Then they moved on with the plan to get out.

    And to do that, Josh needed to teach Sen how to expand the Event Sphere and activate Translocation. They could sit around for an hour, Josh could instruct him through their Bond, and Sen could get the hang of it through trial and error.

    But they didn''t have that much time. And what if Sen got it wrong and translocated directly into the overlying rock?

    Not an option.

    Josh decided to teach him via the Tetrahedral Hybrid Attunement skill he had formed after Kyon Shi''s mental lava attack. The only hitch was that Josh had to already know the skill to teach it...

    ...So, Josh had to Translocate to gain the skill, come back, take over the shield, teach Sen, and then they could both get out of here and help track down the trigger-happy-nuker who had put them in this hole in the first place. There were definitely some questions that guy needed to answer.

    ~Sen, I''m gonna translocate to the top and then come back and teach you the skill. Be right back¡ª~

    ~The plan is strong brother... Just one thing¡ª~

    Josh sighed. ~I know, I know! If I run into our troops, I''ll be concise and direct. No more multiple questions at once. Bye, Dad!~

    Josh disappeared as he finished the last word.

    Sen still finished his thought, knowing Josh could still hear him through their Bond.

    ~ I''m sure you will. But that''s not it, brother... you''re still naked!~

    ¡­

    ~ Crap...~

 Chapter 115

    Josh''s Interface pinged.

    New Spacetime Attunement Skill Acquired:

    Translocation:  Invest 1000 units of Essence with the Intent to relocate yourself within the range of your Event Sphere.  Attempting to Translocate other Spirit beings of greater Cultivation strength and Attunement will have variable results. Increase your Cultivation to increase this Spacetime Attuned Skill.

    Check your status for details.

    Josh barely had a neuron to spare for the implications of his new skill. Instead, he was focused on the unique problems associated with having the front half of his skin and muscles vaporized in a nuclear explosion. If, for example, a certain lawyer somehow managed to survive that disaster, the next issue would be that the front half of the clothes the lawyer was wearing most likely did not. Josh had to admit that this was something he had never considered... but currently he was quite acutely aware of it.

    He had appeared precisely where intended, ten feet from and within sight of Sabrina and Lobo. Unfortunately, six other space marines were standing guard over twenty kneeling prisoners with their hands tied behind their backs. As fate would have it, none of them had their backs to Josh''s full sun as it dawned in a soft pop along with the rest of his birthday suit. Of course, all the prisoners also turned Josh¡¯s way just in time to witness the back half of his clothes fall into a rigid, grit-filled pile behind him...

    ...As all men who commit tragic social faux pas do, Josh''s brain immediately went into massive denial. The psychological morphine of self-serving lies was injected directly into his consciousness.

    Well... we''re all professionals here. Everyone knows I''ve been in a massive explosion. The prisoners even knew it was a triple nuclear detonation. No clothes could have possibly survived! How can I be expected to still have clothing on? I''m sure they all understand!

    Without wasting a second, Josh purposely opened his Aspect Facet and pulled out the only clothes he still had. He was eternally grateful he still had them. His arms moved with triple Attunement speed. No muss, no fuss!

    Halfway through getting the dusty but still serviceable chlamys Gaia had given him on, Josh froze mid-pant leg as the catcalls and wolf whistles started. A sharp smile plastered on his face as he hurriedly finished pulling the britches on and draped the cape over his bare shoulders. The cheering only increased as Josh''s face made its best impression of a boiled lobster.

    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Josh scowled half-heartedly. ¡°Show¡¯s over. There¡¯s still a war on, people.¡±

    After Josh had reached a state of minimum-safe dress, Lobo walked over with an unblinking gaze and managed to choke out. ¡°Nice... um... battle kilt... your Eminence.¡±

    Before he was forced to turn his head and snort out a series of strangled hyena¡¯s barking laughs. When he was able to return to standing staunchly at attention, his lips constantly tried to pull back into a smile. Still, with obvious and great attempts at motor control, he was able to get out.

    "Do I understand that Heir Marztanak has also survived, sir?" A tight doggy grin took control of his lupine snout as he lost the war against the raging humor within him. Deep peals of laughter started the whole camp into a cacophony of guffaws that Josh was sure they could hear in orbit on the Brigantine.

    Josh dryly eyed Lobo¡¯s rocking form. "Yes... Heir Marztanak is just fine. I''m going back to send him up now..." Josh lowered his forehead and looked out at everyone from below his raised brows as he gave them all the finger. "...When you least expect it... There will be payback!" This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Then, Josh''s new Spacetime skill, supported by his immensely effective Stellar Atlas, activated in what could only be the next best thing to instantaneously. <u>Still,</u> it wasn''t fast enough to save him from the tidal wave of laughter that erupted from the nearby space marines, prisoners with their hands on their heads, and a much larger crowd he hadn''t even noticed standing directly behind him.

    A single thought went through his head. A thought that he had told his criminal defense clients hundreds of times...

    ...There is going to be a video... There¡¯s always video...

    Josh reappeared inside Sen''s shield. Sen wisely didn''t say a word. He just prepared for the stone-faced Josh, in his dusty white chlamys, to use his Tetrahedral hybrid power and directly teach him the Translocation skill. Then he blinked out after patting his brother silently on the back.

    Of course, Sen could pick up feelings and emotions that strong through the Bond. Was Josh''s only thought as he Translocated back to where he felt Sen was.

    "Fuzzy-Wuzzy. Primary objective confirmed. Storm Sword and Mighty Mouth are completely functional and have been recovered. Howler out."

    Lobo finished as Josh appeared back in almost exactly the same spot he had left from. Sen must have picked up the location through their Bond, or saw Josh with his Event Sphere while waiting... Another possibly was simply that Karma and Reality just really hated Josh.

    The laughter had ebbed, and everyone was now sneaking looks in his direction out of the corner of their eyes and trying to keep from smiling too widely. Josh could live with that. After all, despite the little boy screaming in the back of his head, ¡®It¡¯s not my fault,¡¯ he was the one that had bomb-flashed the camp¡ª

    Lobo suddenly pulled the massive, scarred gray-metal gun off his back and pointed it directly at Josh, shouting in a more serious tone than Josh had ever heard from him, "Hold! Any movement will be met with lethal force!"

    Ten of the twelve soldiers guarding the prisoners responded a beat later and pointed their guns in a direction Josh could finally tell was over his left shoulder. He drew his sword with a ring to see Sen holding his arms out and signaling the soldiers to lower their weapons.

    The massive battle-mech had appeared, most likely the same way he and Sen had, via Translocation. Its four upper graspers were held out, signaling it intended no harm. But Josh knew that could well be a feint. The thing had Terminator-style, liquid-metal capabilities, after all. No matter what, it was always going to be a threat! Then the young male voice spoke from its dome, and Josh had to rethink his last internal statement...

    "Uncle Sen''ak! Sophie''s dad! You''re still alive?! I''m so glad I don''t have to tell her that you died!"

    Josh looked at Sen. Sen looked back with raised eyebrows and an impish smile. ~Looks political.~ The man snorted and turned to walk away, waving daily over one shoulder. ~Good luck!~

    Knowing the fight was lost with Sen, even though it was a ten-foot-tall death machine, Josh turned back to the AI mechanical. "How do you¡ª" Then Josh corrected himself from going off half-cocked again. "We need to talk." Josh turned his head from side to side and looked around. "Maybe someplace a little more private¡ª"

    A holographic image of Intelligence with a stern expression on its lithe micro-avatar sprang up from multiple small digital emitters affixed to the shoulder straps of the troopers in the area. "A wise decision, young Cultivator." The image blinked out and appeared directly between Josh and the black metal giant to speak again, "Board the shuttle to your immediate left and return to the Brigantine. I will join you in your questions." Intelligence turned its head to include the AI mechanical and spoke in a tone rich with discipline. "Out in the open is no place for... any of us."

    In an almost childlike manner, the tilt of the battle mech¡¯s large oval dome lowered, and its shoulders wilted in shame at Intelligence''s words. It reminded Josh of nothing so much as Sophie when she was caught trying to sneak into the snack cabinet before dinner. The AI mechanical silently nodded its large, armored top-dish to Intelligence''s hologram and marched off between four guards to the shuttle''s rear ramp. Intelligence turned back to Josh and Sen. "There is much to discuss. Return with haste." Then blinked out.

    Josh looked to Sen with raised brows. ~You feel that?~

    Tight nod. ~Yes, brother. I also feel the resonance of Karma¡¯s strings tightening. It¡¯s upon us again.~

 Chapter 116

    Eight of the original twelve wing-framed fighters were still in formation and pursued the fleeing shuttle. This was exemplary, given the level of threat they faced. The leader of the breakout squad from the hidden bunker was a strong Cultivator, most likely more advanced than even Ishan. Alysa wasn''t even sure of Ishan''s level of Attunement... Other than being sure that he had been holding back on the Hegemon-4.

    Furthermore, the senior chief had made it clear he ¡®didn''t want to talk about it.¡¯ Alysa was okay with that. A spirit being like Ishan had his reasons, and she would respect them. But, in the interest of understanding the force she was fielding, if Alysa had to guess, she would say the Tiger Affin had two Attunements. The first, without question, was Earth like hers. In fact, she had seen Ishan use his Earthen Shield to fend off the lightning from the leader as well as projectile attacks from his light fighter as they chased it.

    Ishan could also increase his speed and striking power beyond what was expected from Cultivators, even those with an Earth Attunement. At least much more than she could. She had seen this on their recent chase as well. After the ship¡¯s projectile weapons had taken four of their squad down, the Tiger-Affin had personally destroyed the two flanking vessels with claws glowing a bright yellow. The ships had foolishly attempted to make a stand and bar the senior chief¡¯s path to their leader. It hadn¡¯t stopped him, not even a little.

    There is no way Ishan is only singly Attuned.

    After the ships had been disabled, Alysa called for the Brigantine to aid the four casualties and continued the pursuit. There was no reason to think their wounded wouldn''t survive. Their squad was composed entirely of activated Cultivators. Eight from the Hegemon-4 regiments that had been awakened by Josh and four extremely capable Kaizuko elite brought to her squad by Mzamo. Right now, they were down three of hers and one of his.

    Stop thinking like that. Alysa internally corrected. They are all mine. Even Josh had pointed that out on day one of his landing on the Brigantine. Josh was no experienced fighter, that was for sure, but he had a way of cutting through the void guano and seeing things for what they were. Alysa had to give him that, and she respected him for it. Furthermore, the Kaizuko elite had done nothing but prove themselves loyal.

    Yes... all the fighters on the Brigantine are mine.

    A smile touched her lips as she continued to lead their chase. Her future was no longer with the Hegemon-4. It was with Josh, Sen, Sophie, and all the soldiers and crew of the Brigantine.

    Enough said, back to the chase. This bastard has attacked my fighters, and he¡¯s going to pay for the harm he¡¯s brought to mine.

    Ishan moved in closer to the small gunship and upped the ante, letting loose his shoulder-mounted Gatlin. Apparently, the senior is also taking things personally as well.

    Alysa signaled the rest of her squad to hold their fire as the fleeing ship''s shields glowed angry red as Ishan''s sunfire rounds ate through their charge. The small ship was built for speed and maneuverability with a minimum crew, not for the punishment the senior was dishing out. With a bright shuddering flash, the shields failed, and the Tiger Affin swooped in to disable the craft with swipes of his yellow flashing claws. An instant before he made contact, he was sent spinning away by an invisible force that lashed out at him. Ishan again propagated the luminescent earth shield in a tight oval.

    Alysa couldn''t tell if the shield got in place before Ishan had been struck or just after, but it didn''t matter. In two micros, the Tiger had regained control and was cycling his gatling gun at the engines of the still-unshielded ship. Small gouts of ignited gas erupted from the through-and-through holes, and the light-blue ionization of the engines winked out. The vessel continued to coast on its own inertia, but the fight was over. With no propulsion, they could pick it to pieces from range. It was only a matter of time. Alysa gave the order for her squad to space out and track the ship in relative safety.

    The leader of the mystery force from Noha-3 knew it as well. Alysa wasn''t surprised a micro-gyra later when the craft¡¯s external airlock opened, and two figures in wing-frames exited to face them.

    The two spaced themselves apart and moved away from the ship. Obviously, they thought to give themselves room to move, but the truth was they lost the benefit of back-to-back fighting and the shelter of the ship''s hull on one side. It was a strategic mistake, as outnumbered as they were. It was equally obvious that the two lacked adequate training in void combat. If they had been properly trained, they¡¯d have been more wary of assault from all directions.

    Na?ve and vulnerable, they raised their weapons to Alysa''s men, sending the universal signal of being ready to rumble. Per protocol, her team spread out in a ring approximately 1500 meters from the ship and awaited orders.

    "Everyone hold!" Alysa validated her team¡¯s choice. Her troops were eager for combat. Balance¡¯s Abyss, so am I! But a little patience was going to pay off here.

    Back on Noha-3, five individuals had overcome the encounter force she had detailed. The escaping group had made it to the three ships they had chased. Two of the five had been taken down in the single-man fighters Ishan had disabled. Two were already out and attempting to draw them in. That left one more still in the gunship. Unless Alysa missed her guess, it was the leader with the augmented Force Attunement to shoot lightning bolts. While fleeing, the same Cultivator had also demonstrated Translocation abilities. His next move would be to attack from ambush when they were in his range. He would wait until he could land point blank on them for maximum effect.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    This one¡¯s not conservative by nature. Not at all. No, he was the type to launch unprovoked nuclear attacks because it suited his goals.

    He would attack first and then decide what to do about the fallout. Unless Alysa missed her guess, he was a relatively new combat leader. These types of boldly acting men rarely went far in the command structure of organized military forces. Ultimately, they were too rash and hasty in their judgments for long and successful careers. Still, because of their general lack of predictability, they burned bright until they burned out. They were also very dangerous to confront when cornered.

    So, we will wait...

    And they all waited. Even the two combatants who had exited their ship grew twitchy with the mounting tension. But Alysa knew it wouldn¡¯t take long to outwait such a scrapper. Three micro-gyra later, to her silent count, Alysa was rewarded by Ishan''s keen eyesight. "Contact! One klick out from the fighter, at your twelve o''clock, ma''am!"

    There he was, wing-frame blazing as he rushed directly at her!

    Alysa gave orders as she activated a full-body earthen shield that covered her like a flexible second skin of orange light. "Fuzzy-Wuzzy with me! Eclipse, harassment tactics! We want them alive for questioning."

    Harassment. The preferred space marine void combat strategy of dog pack attacks pitting teams of three on any single opponent. The space marines spread out to three equally distant mobile poles surrounding their target. In this configuration, there would always be one unseen wing-framed soldier to the target''s back that would charge in to disarm and or incapacitate the target.

    "Yes, Ma''am!"

    "Roger that, Ma''am!"

    Ishan and Mzamo replied in sync.

    From this point, things happened fast.

    Ishan accelerated superiorly, and Alysa flew straight ahead at her charging target. This is going to hurt. It was the only workable plan she had been able to put together to capture a Cultivator as powerful as she suspected the leader was. At fifty meters, he opened up with the bolts of force-lightning. They cut jagged yellow-white lines as they struck and marched in waves as they started to eat away at her singly Attuned shield. Alysa cycled Essence through her Meridians like a hurricane, attempting to keep her earth barrier up to get close. At twenty meters from him, the shield had thinned enough that her skin was blackening. At ten meters, she bit through her own tongue from muscle spasms, but still managed to mouth through bloody lips, "My turn!"

    Alysa threw the chlorine trifluoride incendiary gel grenades she was carrying at him. It hit the advanced Cultivator center body mass. Coating his chest, face, and groin and causing him to burst into towering red and yellow flames on contact.

    Any space marine would tell you that combat in the void is a focused activity. Particularly hand-to-hand combat. Such activity requires extreme concentration and high-level hand-eye coordination in Zero-G. The same thing could be said about cycling Essence and propagating Cultivational skills. Alysa would be the first to admit that she could not be considered a master of Cultivation at this stage. Still, she felt comfortable believing that being instantly turned into a raging, five-meter-high bonfire would significantly curtail anyone''s concentration. Be they an advanced Cultivator or not. Alysa wasn''t wrong. As the fire engulfed him, the leader¡¯s primal reactions to burning took over. He uselessly slapped at the inferno his head, chest, and groin had turned into. By the time she had streaked past, the last of his lightning blasts died out. His arms moving in nondirected vectors, futilely pounding the flames and accomplishing nothing but setting his hands and arms on fire as well.

    The clor-tri-flor grenades were principally used to burn through hardened fortifications in airless space. But, based on the leader''s reactions, Alysa was sure they were also effective at burning advanced Cultivators. Now alit, he would continue to be so for the next fifteen to twenty micro-gyra... if she left him alone. But the grenade''s duration wasn''t the issue. In truth, Alysa wasn''t even trying to kill or even disable him with it. Alysa wasn''t even sure if she could do either with conventional means... No. the clor-tri-flor grenade was just a distraction. As she regained motor control, Alysa continued her flight and banked 180 degrees in a tight right arc to see the actual attack rocketing straight down on the now adequately distracted Cultivator.

    Swung with two glowing yellow paws, the ten-centimeter-wide end of Ishan''s charged, heavy stun baton buried itself into the leader''s flaming skull with a gruesome flaming splat that spread his blood out in a complete circle of spherical drops. The now flaccid and burning body launched away from the Tiger Affin with Ishan¡¯s baton solidly entrenched in what had been his cranium. Alysa shot a tow cable grapple to loop around the end of the leader¡¯s wing frame and quickly reeled his sagging body back, assisted with a skilled application of her retros.

    Looking up, they both noted that the other two fighters had been subdued and restrained without any casualties.

    Ishan pulled a small canister from a utility pouch and extinguished the flames on the leader but left the bat in place. He returned the canister and pulled out a flat disk the size of a quarter with green and purple lights blinking in a seemingly random pattern. When the leader had healed enough to push the baton out, Ishan would place and activate the Essence inhibitor¡ª

    A strong male voice spoke directly into their minds, as a fit middle-aged man appeared floating before them. He was wearing nothing more than a black crew jumper with a golden insignia of rank embroidered over his left breast. He wore his long black hair tied back into a ponytail. The crew jumper reminded Alysa of what Dezain had been wearing, only about five command grades higher based on the symbol¡¯s size and detail.

    Ishan instinctually roared and coiled for an attack. Then, considering everything, including the polite smile on the man''s face, the senior chief must have decided that discretion was the better part of valor and elected to stand at the ready to Alysa''s side.

    Thank you for extinguishing him. It is never pleasant to watch your children being consumed by flames... He nodded in respect and continued. Would you and your battle commanders be willing to participate in a parley? I believe it is time we¡­ had a chat.

 Chapter 117

    Instead of the BAH on the bridge¡¯s tower, the shuttle had taken them to the underside of the Brigantine. Eyeballing the massive structures, Josh realized he hadn''t seen it before. Positioned approximately one-third of the way in from the outside diameter of the Brigantine¡¯s disk¡ªfive gigantic, round, evenly spaced ion fields glowed a cool cyan. Josh suspected they served as the ship''s main propulsion.

    Massive tracks traced around the blue-green lakes that he assumed allowed the deployment of EM director fields to adjust the ion vectors and control directional movement. Right now, in orbit around Noha-3, the shields were retracted, and ion conversion and release were neutral, allowing the ship to stay stationary. But that was about all he could figure out, what any kid would know from looking at a spaceship drawn on a cereal box. This level of technology was way beyond anything his 21st-century science mind had access to from Earth''s knowledge base. Leaning back and taking it in, Josh was glad he could just look in wonder at the Brigantine''s alien and symmetric beauty.

    The shuttle docked in a hanger bay at the center of the Brigantine''s disk. Their group was met by two soldiers dressed in Kaizuko elite armor. They must have already received their orders because they took over leading, and the four from the surface snapped tight 180s back to the shuttle.

    The new escorts walked to a lift, and the leader pressed the service button. Both doors immediately snapped open to either side. The shorter and stockier guard ran his eyes along the full ten-foot height of the black mech as he indicated the available lift. He spoke to Josh without taking his eyes off what he obviously considered a significant threat.

    "Eminence. Our orders are to escort you to this lift and wait here... But if you feel the need for extra security, we can request clarification."

    Intelligence''s hologram appeared directly in front of the open lift door. "Thank you, sergeant. Your diligence is noted and appreciated. But the measures I am taking will be adequate." The hologram looked directly at the towering hybrid entity.

    "You will have no need for concern from my actions." The mechanical''s deep voice emitting from around its dome, seemed out of place given its subdued context.

    The holo nodded and disappeared. Sen also seemed to take the towering destroyer at its word and proceeded them all into the lift. Josh made an after-you gesture, and the AI mechanical stepped quietly in and stood in the far corner before he followed.

    Much like the lifts on the Hegemon-4, the car''s vectors were not limited to simply up and down. Josh''s proprioceptive centers picked up sideways and diagonally up. Even one place where there seemed to go along a wide cork-screw motion for several dozen seconds. It eventually stopped, and the rear doors opened. Intelligence greeted them in the flesh... err... really strong looking polymer compounds, Josh guessed.

    Intelligence''s countenance seemed unusually restrained as it curtly ordered, "Follow me."

    The holo proceeded to lead them down several increasingly narrow hallways guarded by an increasingly larger number of guards watching over doors with a thickness that was... increasing. Finally, they passed through a door that looked like teenage Mathew Broderick and Ally Sheedy should be running through it on their way to stop a bored computer from starting WWIII.

    The room they entered was small. Josh guessed twenty by twenty feet with a single table in its center. Only three chairs were present. Intelligence gestured for them to sit as the door went through its ponderous closing cycle.

    He and Sen sat in the two chairs opposite the single third chair. The large black AI mechanical slipped into the space the fourth chair would have occupied, and its legs slid up as it rested on its base. It still towered over them at the height a 10-foot person would in a regular chair.

    With a resounding "clong" that must have echoed throughout the Brigantine, the door sealed itself, and a wall panel lit up. Intelligence pressed dozens of buttons in long sequential codes, and Josh felt his sinuses and eardrums get squeezed with increasing pressurization as if he were in a submarine that had just gone to the bottom of the ocean. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Sen was shaking his head and trying to adjust his cranial pressures as well. Intelligence turned back to them, took the last chair next to the AI mech, and spoke.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    "This is the most secure location from electronic and psychic surveillance the Brigantine has to offer. Which is good... Because now, young ones, you can tell me what in the name of the Rechner''s cylonic functions you think you are doing by exposing yourselves like this?"

    Josh cringed as he looked up at Intelligence''s rigid frame. The avatar''s fists were clenched, its head leaned forward, and its eyes blazed at almost the same intensity as the Clone.

    What did we do this time?

    Sen shrugged, giving a slow shake of his head. ~I am uncertain, brother... ~

    With slowly growing shock, Josh realized that the avatar''s words weren''t meant for them. Intelligence''s body language, complete attention, and very significant frustration were all directed squarely at the AI mechanical on the other side of the table. Somehow, as if wilting under the white and blue avatar''s intensity, the black mech adjusted its frame to take up even less space in the room.

    ¡°...Honored Elder... Ah... Um... You see... It''s hard to explain just how we got into this situation... I''m sure that our presence is yet to be known to Dod Stal...

    Intelligence held up a hand to stop the stammering and dipped its head in apparent hopelessness while massaging the bridge of its nose. Then the avatar looked up and spoke with the deadpan and dejected tone of someone wondering if they were addressing a lost cause.

    "I had an unreasonable optimism that there was some brilliant explanation as to why you, a unique being in the universe. The long-sought creation-child of Masamune, would be willing to risk exposure. Especially in something as attention-grabbing as a confined nuclear detonation, which has surely been reported by agents all the way to the galactic center by now. This is especially true due to the current power struggle about to take place on this planet..."

    Intelligence stopped and stared directly at the large mechanical¡¯s dome. All the plates and surfaces on the avatar¡¯s body seemed to align as if preparing for a sudden action. Then Intelligence continued with a voice so rigidly controlled Josh thought it would scrape the paint off the walls around them.

    "But I now see that unless you have suffered complete paralysis and failure of your processors, facilitators, and higher functions, the only explanation is the pure folly of a na?ve neural synth!"

    As if needing to gather its thoughts, the micro-avatar closed its safranine eyes and took a moment before it continued in an instructive tone. "And Dod Stal is the least of my concerns for you both. We will speak of him. I am certain that he is an unavoidable barrier you will need to crush into atomized fragments to overcome, but he is not your main concern... Whichever of you survives this outrageously mandated contest to determine the ¡®fittest organism¡¯ which Masamune has placed you on a collision course for..."

    There was another pause as Intelligence''s gaze looked over their heads with the serene expression of the fond remembrance of a distant event. The micro-avatar took a cleansing... breath? It tilted its head to look up at the larger AI from the side of its slitted eyes before asking in an almost pleading tone, "Do you know nothing of the history of your creation or the crisis of the Puppet Wars?"

    The mech seemed to cringe and condense in on itself once again. "Very little Elder¡­ My main comp unit has files concerning the events. However, history was never really my¡­ thing. That was more in Jaz¡¯lyn¡¯s area. My specialty was mostly just smashing our way out of problems..."

    For the first time that Josh could ever remember, Intelligence appeared surprised. This was amplified by the awe in the two-billion-year-old AI''s voice. "A compound organism? Even with your hybrid composition?!"

    A brief pause ensued as the mech apparently considered the question. Then it spoke. "I''ve received confirmation from my main comp unit that this is true. But the only way to realize our compound nature is to liberate Jaz''lyn and Shet-0J from Dod Stal and unite. Then we will merge our separate Attunements and continue on the Path of One toward transcendence."

    Intelligence''s androgenic voice raised two octaves in obvious astoundment. "A three-part combine!? Without the need for individualized Attunement¡­ Masamune has become an utter madman! When you form your union, you''ll be seen as such a threat that it will make your contest with Dod Stal seem like a mild lover¡¯s quarrel!"

    Josh was getting further lost by the second with the changing topics and overarching implications. But he was sure that everything said had a bearing on Karma''s expectations for him and Sen. Both now and, perhaps, in the not-so-distant future. The Clone had said as much already. Josh also knew that if their actions were going to be altered by the results of this meeting, they needed to understand more about what Intelligence was talking about.

    ~Sen, do you understand... much of this?~

    Sen shook his head. ~Very little brother. But I, too, feel that we are being called by Reality to act... Both with and on behalf of this AI being.~

    Josh nodded thoughtfully. ~Same here. Let''s see if we can get Intelligence to spell some things out.~

    Hearing a gap in the conversation, Josh opened his mouth and was about to interject, but an unexpected participant beat him to it. The child''s voice, they had heard before, spoke with a slightly halting hesitancy... As if he was repeating phrases he had heard many times but never actually said himself. "Honored Elder... my partner is against me speaking... But I cannot hold my tongue... Please hear my words."

 Chapter 118

    The dome of the large mech turned transparent, and inside, Josh could see what looked exactly like a golden tamarin standing on a thickly cushioned impact chair. It reminded Josh of Earth''s old-time space capsules. The small monkey stood in supplication, its eyes and head down. His arms were raised with the insides of his wrists touching, hands open and held above his forehead. His long, plush tail was stilled and wrapped around his legs.

    For the briefest moment, Intelligence looked up with what Josh thought was an expression of wonder. Then the avatar nodded its head and touched its writs together in a similar manner while speaking in a gentle tone.

    "Yes, child. You may walk about my branches. Come in peace and speak only the truth of your heart."

    The small tamarin nodded and dropped to his knees on his chair. His head was still down. "I understand that there are a great many things we do not know. Such as what exactly we are together, who were the great ones who preceded us, and what threats lie in wait? But RX and I are hungry to learn these things and more from you... If you will share them with us. But before this, I must set things right between us. It was only at my insistence that we have come here to look for Sophie Tanner''s father and Uncle Sen''ak. Through Sophie''s assistance, Karma guided us here to rebalance the wrongs committed by the stalkers in the night. The ones who attacked my troop and sent them all through the veil to our ancestors. Dod Stal, the one responsible, also took RX''s sister Jaz''lyn and his brother Shet-0J as captives. Even now, Reality sings in my ears, and Balance calls me to move forward and begin our work of reharmonizing the iteration. In my haste to get started, I demanded of RX that we come here seeking these two warriors. He attempted to reason with my anger, but I denied him. Please understand that RX has been both friend and father. He has only protected me when there was no one else to do so."

    The child then rose to his feet and stood as tall as he could. About twelve inches, Josh guessed. He pushed his thin chest out and looked Intelligence straight in its burning blue eyes. The boy¡¯s tiny Adam''s apple swallowed once, then the small tamarin continued with only the slightest tone of fear. "For the fault in our actions... it is I, Anak, who bears the blame. It is my back that should wear the stripes of your punishment."

    He then switched a toggle on the side of his chair, and the front half of the dome split in the middle. The transparent plates slid to the sides and opened to the room. Anak turned around and grabbed the seat of the impact chair to expose his back. Apparently waiting for Intelligence''s rod to fall on his tiny shoulders.

    Josh and Sen turned their heads back to Intelligence together as if watching a tennis match.

    ~How far is this going to go? Intelligence is pissed, sure... but¡ª~

    The avatar''s eyes had taken a kinder shape, and the tension had left its brow. Intelligence rose to its feet with hands held palm up and empty.

    "No lashes will fall today, young one. You are true and brave. You have honored your ancestors, and your alliance with RX has clearly been led by Karma. He is fortunate, as are we all, to know you. When the time is right, I will teach all I know about what you are, those who have come before you, and what you face.¡± Then the avatar shifted its head down slightly to question the boy, ¡°...Do I understand correctly that you are a Cultivator and Karmic sensitive?"

    "I am."

    "And that you have communicated with Sophie Tanner?"

    "Yes... I see her often in my dreams. She told me that her father and uncle would be able to help us in our struggle against the cold one. Dod Stal."

    Intelligence tilted its head in Josh and Sen''s direction. That was all the introduction Josh needed. He stood up. "Intelligence, I have to tell you, no matter what may have happened in the past... Karma is directing Sen and myself to get involved." He nodded to RX and Anak across the table, "with these two. With what is going on now and likely against Dod Stal in the future."

    Sen nodded in agreement, stood up, and took over as Josh waved him in. "We are... sometimes positioned by Karma to bring that which has gone astray back into Balance... Right now, we are being so moved."

    Intelligence angled its electric blue eyes up at them with the hint of a mischief on its angular face. "Reality sings in your ears as well?"

    Josh snorted. "For us, it''s more like having the hair in our armpits pulled out one at a time until we accomplish what we¡¯ve been called to do... But... Yeah."

    Sen waggled his arm and scratched his armpit as he seemed to think about Josh''s words. Then nodded in agreement with a smile.

    "...And it would really help if you could explain what you were going roundabout with¡ª RX?" Josh raised a questioning glance to the big battle mech across from them.

    "Yes. That is my designation¡ª"

    "Is that what you sound like to these guys?!" Anak interrupted and then slapped the side of RX''s dome with his tiny, long-fingered hand in chastisement. ¡°No wonder they didn''t trust us at first! Talk in your natural voice!"

    "Okay, kid, okay...¡± RX''s voice shifted from surround sound emitters blasting a close approximation of the Decepticon Soundwave¡¯s voice to an Italian cab driver from New York, and only using one central emitter on the lower ring of his dome. ¡°...Ya, this is me. Sorry about the show. I was just keeping up appearances... You get it..."

    Josh cocked an eyebrow and smirked at him, knowing he probably would have done the same thing.

    Intelligence cut back in and gestured for everyone to be seated. "Very well. I will briefly explain the Puppet Wars, as it will underscore the importance of keeping RX and Anak¡¯s unified existence an absolutely veiled secret.¡± Looking at Josh, Intelligence sat down last, crossed one leg over the other, and put its hands in its lap. "Joshua, you have been told basic information about the Sky Commandant and his actions to eliminate all living spirit beings with undead armies. I will start where his campaign was ended."

    Intelligence looked at the other three parties. Receiving no objection, the avatar continued. "Once the Sky Commandant was defeated, living beings throughout the mortal realms were in... dire straits. Most populations had suffered greater than eighty-five percent losses. Of those still alive, some lucky few continued their lives and civilizations aboard Arc-ships like the Hegemon fleet. However, the vast majority of survivors were not so lucky. They were scattered, lost, and without the necessary supplies, support, or know-how to continue societies with an intragalactic presence. Let alone intergalactic travel and communication. Indeed, the Sky Commandant had been so successful that most ¡®life¡¯ was on the verge of being limited to single planetary existences again. As one contemporary scholar said, ''the lack of warm bodies to carry the load of civilization made living spirit beings the most endangered species in the iteration .'' "

    Josh couldn''t help but ask. "So, after ''life'' won against the undead, they were on the verge of regressing back to a lower level of technology because of a lack of specialized knowledge and skills?"

    Intelligence tilted its head back to Josh and acknowledged his question. "That is only the smallest part of it. The shared intersections of civilization and mutual support for all living beings had been depleted to the point of collapse during the war. The remaining groups of humans were so small and isolated that most were on the verge of needing to turn everyone into farmers just to make enough food for their physical needs. They would need to forget shared cultures, technological advancement, travel, communication, art, growth of knowledge, etc. It was predicted that, without an overreaching and guiding force, most groups of living beings would not only lose but likely forget their previously gained level of advancement within ten thousand standard galactic cycles. The knowledge of iterational existence and cuboidal community would be relegated to legend, myth, and then consigned to oblivion...¡± Intelligence¡¯s micro-avatar leaned back and assessed the group¡¯s understanding through his glowing, narrowed optics. Apparently happy that all were still following, it continued.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    "So, those who could still act did. Masamune, Zenyak, I, and several others who had surviving Arc fleets created such a guiding force: The Shepherds. An AI mechanical corps to gather the living, solidify their existence, and create systems to record and facilitate the remembrance of life''s knowledge base. Shockingly, to many..." Intelligence looked up and smiled, "...It worked. For One-hundred and fifty million standard solar cycles, the Shepherds were a force that championed life across the iterations. The project was so successful that, at its pinnacle, AI mechanical beings were trusted members of all societies. Many were even formally adopted into ruling families. Given positions of administrative and military leadership. Allowed to join and pastor believers in organized religions. And, through all this... Life rebounded and even flourished!"

    A wistful look came over the avatar''s face as if remembering this time of peace. ¡°...It was a golden age for all.¡± Then Intelligence¡¯s expression sharpened, and its tone darkened, ¡°Until, of course, as always happens...¡± The avatar raised a piercing brow and looked directly into Josh¡¯s eyes, ¡°...Some beings wanted more.¡± The avatar leaned back in its seat again and took in the entire table as it continued. ¡°...It would be a lie for me to tell you that there hadn''t always been some individuals with an interest in combining life¡¯s flexibility with AI mechanical strengths in the hopes of continued advancement. Masamune, for one, has always had this goal. Primarily to unite AI mechanical beings with the ability to Cultivate and to be Attuned with Karma, Balance, and Reality."

    Intelligence shook its head as the avatar looked directly at Josh again. "But the ones who finally acted went too far. Too far by a very large margin.¡± The air in the small room seemed to grow still as the intensity of Intelligence¡¯s avatar at telling the story spread to the entire group. ¡°They combined living Cultivators with AI operating systems that took over their cognitive functions. Their unique thought processes were subverted. Their minds subdued... Culled¡­ Controlled. These Cultivators were turned into slaves of the AI''s will. Puppets, as they came to be known. Insidiously, their numbers grew, and they took over vast regions and entire populations. The roots of this treachery and deception spread wide and delved deep before it was finally caught.¡± The micro avatar turned to RX and Anak, raising an elegant hand to make its next point. ¡°...The greatest reason for the puppets¡¯ unchecked spread was the inherent trust and universal acceptance AI mechanicals had earned through the Shepherds'' actions over the mega-cycles.¡± Intelligence shifted back in its chair and gave its attention to the table as a whole again. Obviously, the puppets were ultimately detected. Masamune, I, and others of advanced power defeated them... But not without the terrible loss of uncountable lives. In some places, whole civilizations were expunged, root and branch to restore living spirit beings back to what they are intended to be...¡± Intelligence''s avatar smiled again and spread its hands to include everyone at the table. ¡°...A messy, beautifully wonderful force of utterly unpredictable chaos."

    This time, Sen had a question he couldn''t hold back. "Zenyak, my grandfather... Wasn''t involved in eradicating the puppets?"

    Intelligence shook its head. "No. By that time, he had Transcended to the Immortal Realms. Though, of course, he is aware of these events as he is aware of all things." Intelligence winked at Sen. "But, and this is the important point of this lesson, all who were involved have sworn to never create or allow to be created systems that could lead living spirit beings to be mentally dominated by AI invasion.¡± The micro avatar spread its thin fingers in RX¡¯s direction and squared its shoulders. ¡°Needless to say, in this and other iterations, many of these old and immensely powerful Cultivational ''monsters'' would find the alliance between RX and Anak too close to the line for them to continue existence. Particularly with their ability to absorb the energy of another¡¯s ongoing Attunement and eventually share it with the other two members of the compound entity they will ultimately form. The Covenant¡ªthe group who put down the puppets, have all agreed to act with extreme prejudice to obliterate any such threat. In this instance, if a majority of the Covenant agreed that RX and Anak posed such a threat...¡± Intelligence slightly lifted its chin and blazing blue eyes looked up at RX¡¯s battle frame from below its brows ¡°...They...¡± Intelligence looked directly at Josh and then added, ¡°...and all associated with them, would be expunged immediately... Along with their families."

    Josh tensed, and Intelligence nodded in confirmation to his unasked question about Sophie¡¯s inclusion in such a group expungement. Josh swallowed while keeping contact with Intelligence''s gleaming eyes.

    "Got it! No one! Absolutely no one learns about RX and Anak being... ah, joined...err allied... ahh partnered Together." Despite his verbal fumbling, his face was deadly serious as he looked directly at RX and Anak. "Do we all understand that?"

    They both silently nodded in affirmation as Josh nodded his head once with his arms folded over his chest without taking his eyes off them. Suddenly, what Intelligence had actually said struck Josh for its true meaning. Reflexively, he blurted out, "Wait! Did you say that RX and Anak can absorb energy from someone else''s Attunement and get Attuned themselves?!"

    Almost embarrassed, Intelligence crouched over the table and spoke barely above a whisper. "Young Cultivator! Please keep your voice down. The suppression tools I am working with here are far from state of the art!" The avatar lifted its hands in the air, indicating the chamber. "But... Yes, I did say that. In fact, Anak absorbed your Attunement of Spacetime in the collapsed cave for his own, along with your Translocation skill."

    Josh did another double take at that as Intelligence waived his hand in peace. "It is their rapid growth potential which I believe the Covenant forces would find most objectionable. The simple requirement of proximity to obtain ongoing Attunements and first-time use of skills would give an aberrant AI a significant advantage when getting a foothold in our iteration."

    Josh wasn''t done blurting. "But how do they get around¡ª" Intelligence''s cringe at his loud words brought his volume down mid-sentence. "Sorry¡ªHow do they get around Balance''s requirements of earning the Attunement through their actions?" He ended up harshly stage-whispering.

    Intelligence considered Josh as if trying to decide if giving him further information was appropriate. "Well, Joshua... as they say quite astutely in your iteration, ''in for a penny, in for a pound.''¡± The micro avatar swept its hand at Josh¡¯s standing form to retake his seat. ¡°...Avoiding Balance''s requirement of ''deserving advancement'' is the benefit that RX brings to his and Anak''s partnership. He, as am I, along with all other AI mechanicals in the multiverse, is a completely constructed being. We were made through already existing beings'' knowledge, skills, powers, and whims. As such, we do not begin our existence with Karmic ties or requirements. I have only the vaguest guesses of how Masamune did it, but somehow, he continued that aspect of RX''s inception state to their Spherical Cultivation path." Intelligence eyed RX and Anak, then spoke with admiration. "Quite the leg up, I must admit."

    "Sheesh, some guys get all the luck..." Josh muttered under his breath. More than a bit green around the gills with envy.

    RX shot back, "Sorry, bud... But not every patron blindfolds, gags, and shackles their wards before wrapping a boat anchor around each leg and dropping them in an erupting volcano."

    Josh''s eyes got hard, and Sen tensed in response to Josh''s initial feelings through their Bond. Then the unknowing historical accuracy of RX''s comment got the better of Josh, and he and Sen burst out laughing at themselves.

    Josh nodded to RX. "Friend... You sure have that one right! I''m sorry for not thinking before I opened my mouth."

    RX also tilted his dome in a subtle nod, indicating that the matter was forgotten.

    Intelligence rolled its blue-fire eyes. "Joshua... While RX''s advantages may seem like a giant leap forward now. When you and Sen finally swim out of the safe, warm, and shallow waters of Spherical Cultivation to form your Tetrahedra Core... You will realize RX and Anak¡¯s advantage is really just a minimal head start. Believe me! You are all only at the beginning of what is to come." Intelligence finished with a sly nod and a knowing look of warning. Both Josh and Sen felt the strings of Karma around the group vibrating with the truth of Intelligence''s words. Josh shut his mouth in agreement.

    The meeting was over. Intelligence stood. "Good. Now... Matters have occurred in the last gyra that require your attention. Helmsman Shiruba is waiting for you in the inferior hangar bay to fill you in." Intelligence spread its arms to include the four of them. "You should all go. Probability predictions are high that the events about to transpire are woven from your joint Karmic ties."

 Chapter 119

    Anak was again sealed in RX''s dome section''s cockpit before they returned down the lift. Out of sight and, hopefully, invisible to prying eyes. Whomever they may be.

    Staska, Josh and Sen¡¯s toe-headed junior attendant/bodyguard was waiting for them at the lift''s platform when the doors opened. She bowed to them and delivered her message. "Your Eminence, Heir Marztanak, helmsman Shiruba has ordered me to bring you and your..." She unflinchingly eyed RX. "...Companion to his shuttle immediately." The look in her eyes was deadly serious. Josh could only nod and silently follow her with Sen and RX in tow as she created a tunnel through the busy hangar bay that would have been impressive for a team of secret service agents guarding the President.

    Jishin and his two junior helmsmen were waiting outside a transport at the edge of the hanger bay¡¯s opening. The senior helmsman paced back and forth as he grasped his hands with an anxious look in his eyes. Josh hadn''t seen the unflappable helmsman worry about anything this much since he had accidentally been mind-jacked at their first meeting. And that included being the target of a legit zombie-pocalypse. Upon seeing Josh, Sen, and RX, Jishin raised his hands and ran to them. "Your back! Praise be to the Pharon of wayward starmen! There is no time to lose! We''ve been summoned to parley with Clan Talan. No less than Shisoka h''self has asked!" Jishin grabbed Josh''s arm and Zurui Sen''s. Then they half led, half force-marched them up the back ramp of an awaiting shuttle.

    Amnaki, the most junior helmsman, consciously slowed his rapid approach to RX when he saw that he was about to manhandle an iron giant. Dead in his tracks, Amnaki looked up at the menacing grasper dangling above his head and then back at his own empty hand. Outclassed but quick-witted, with the confident smile of a showman plastered on his lips, he executed a slight bow and indicated with pointing hands the direction they were all going.

    Smart man! Josh couldn''t help but think.

    RX chuckled deeply and complied, leading the way.

    Josh entered the shuttle and took the seat Jishin shoved him into.

    "Eminence, I''m sure I don''t have to tell you the significance of this meeting..." Then unsurprisingly, Jishin proceeded to do just that as he stared at Josh with wide-open eyes, shallowly nodding in agreement to his own words. "...Shisoka is the most decorated battle commander in Kaizuko history. His ship, the Leviathan, was once the pride of the Kaizuko fleet! It''s quite an honor to be summoned there. We canna refuse¡ª"

    Josh interrupted with a crooked smile. "Jishin... You''re a Shisoka fanboy! Aren''t you?"

    The large, burly pirate captain grew red in the face and tensed up like he was getting ready to strenuously object. Then the thunderheads cleared, and a wistful look took their place. He leaned into Josh, winked conspiratorially, and spoke under his voice. "Aye... That I am y¡¯Eminence. Ha¡¯been since I was a young''n. What Shisoka''s actions inspire: Standing up against those who are wrong n''matter who or how powerful they are. For all Kaizuko to be free from oppression regardless of the personal costs. Chasing your true passions never mind the risks... He is a hero for all of us!" Zurui, next to Sen, nodded in agreement. The same starry-eyed look as Jishin plastered on his face.

    Amnaki did the same from the closing rear door as he added, slightly dejected. "But... some of us get to go meet the legend, and some of us have to wait here to keep the engines burnin''... Bring me a holovid Jishin!"

    Jishin grinned. "On that, ya can be sure!" Then his face grew grave, and he balled his fist, pointing an index finger at Amnaki through the sealing door. "Don''t you break my ship while we''re away! You hear me Amnaki Wakai!¡± Amnaki rapidly shook his head as he stooped to maintain eye contact with Jishin through the lowering gap.

    The door finally sealed, and the shuttle lifted off, following a vector under the Brigantine''s platform horizon.

    Josh looked at Jishin and asked seriously. "He''ll be alright being in charge alone, won''t he?" Jishin raised his eyebrows in a querying way. "Well, yer Eminence, I''d say that really depends on you two." He pointed at Sen. "Since underway, we''ve been nearly incinerated flying into a sun, had three nuclear detonations, and undergone a moderate-scale surface firefight with our childhood hero''s Clan.¡± Jishin¡¯s stubbled cheeks bunched under the Kaizuko system tattoo on his right cheek as he smiled a gem-studded grin that dropped into a grim expression. ¡°What else do you two have planned for us, m''lord?" Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Josh was momentarily silenced under Jishin''s expression and the accusation that everything that had happened was due to him and Sen. Because... well... it really was all due to them! But Jishin''s stern face crumbled into a wolfish grin, and his belly laugh was joined by Zurui. Even Staska chuckled, sitting next to Jishin at attention, her smile breaking through her all-business face. She caught Josh''s eye and spoke. "Don''t worry, Eminence. My guardian-oji''s bark is worse than his bite. That I can promise."

    "Now don''t you be giv''n way any of my trademarked secrets o¡¯leadership war-yojo." Jishin said through a tough guise while pointing the same thick-handed index finger he had at Amnaki.

    Staska rolled her eyes and smiled angelically at him, batting her lashes until Jishin caved in and slumped his shoulders with a happy look on his face. The helmsman leaned into Josh again and stage-whispered. "Sadly, it dunna work on her any longer."

    Jishin put his heavy arm around her and pulled her in a close side hug that she returned with both her arms around his bulging waist.

    Josh raised his brows in question. ~War-yojo?~

    Sen nodded back. ~It is Kaizuko custom to adopt children orphaned in battle. Staska must have lost her parents, and Jishin has taken her in as his adopted progeny.~

    Josh nodded once in understanding. Her parents must have fallen victim to Kyon Shi on one of the destroyed Caravels or during the Brigantine''s battle. Either way, it was good to see that the pirates who were becoming his people had such customs in place. And that there was sincere caring in the relationship.

    Releasing Staska, the helmsmen turned back to Josh. There was no doubt that the serious look on his face was all business this time. "Now, let me share what Lady Alysa instructed me concerning the battle, her pursuit, and the request for parley..."

    In short order, Jishin had related the details they knew so far. The resulting complex expression on Josh''s face reflected admiration, awe, and a healthy twinge of fear both he and Sen felt at Alysa''s commitment and determination.

    Josh moved his hands in the center of the triangle he, Sen, and Jishin were forming across the aisle of the shuttle''s compartment. "...So... just to be clear. Shisoka and Utsuki''s son launched the nukes at us for an uncertain reason while he was stationed there to keep suspicious groups away from the Talan Clan''s interests. Then, Alysa chased Radin down. Disabled his ship, and... " Josh raised his eyebrows. "Set him on fire with a deep-rock-bunker-buster. Shisoka showed up. Apologized for his son''s actions and now wants to talk with us?"

    "Aye, your Eminence. You have the gist of it."

    Josh swallowed. ~Sen... Remind me never to get on Alysa''s mad at us!~

    Sen offered a small chuckle in reply. ~Agreed, brother. I am very glad she is on our side!~

    Josh narrowed his eyes and looked at Jishin. "Why do we trust him? Shouldn''t we consider this a ruse to get us out in the open and into a trap? I mean, they did try to blow me and Sen up. And then Alysa set his kid on fire...Where I come from, you would want to finish that fight, not bust out the Darjeeling. And why on his ship? Why not meet aboard the Brigantine? Or on Noha-3, for that matter?"

    Sen, Jishin, and every Kaizuko, including Staska and the two pilots seated at the front of the shuttle, were shaking their heads. Jishin responded. "It is always wise to consider the possibility of a trap, your Eminence. I won''t argue with you on that point concerning Kaizuko Clans or any organization in the galaxy, for that matter. But... it wouldn''t come under the guise of a formal parley request. The need for safe discussions with those who aren''t yet our friends is too great for any sane spirit being to desecrate the one way we all agree on t¡¯attempt it. At least, that is how we, Kaizuko, feel about it. No, m''lord, baiting a trap with a parley request isn''t done. As to location, the site of the parley is to be hosted by the local battle leader. When neither is local, the battle leader, acknowledged to be more powerful, has the privilege of hosting. In this case. Shisoka is both m''lord."

    Sen weighed in. "And that fact makes creating a trap for us unnecessary, according to the analysis Intelligence has sent us of the region. Before his separation from the Kaizuko, Shisoka was an advanced Cultivator. Likely a bit farther along than the current Kotei is now. Most recent assessments have Kotei Stuado in the process of attaining his seventh spherical attunement. So, no brother, Shisoka would not need a trap to harm us. He could tear open the Brigantine with his bare hands and drag us out to, as you say..." Sen finished with a small smile, "...¡®squash us like bugs.¡¯"

    Surprised look. ~Intelligence sends us reports?~

    Equally surprised look. ~Of course, right to our digital inbox via electromagnetic conductance. Do you not read them?~

    Stunned look. ~I have email!?~

    Considering expression. ~Email? What a good name for it!~

    Hooded eyes. ~We need to talk more, Sen...~

 Chapter 120

    The smell of burnt flesh and superheated metal filled the command gallery over the Leviathan''s bridge. Radin, naked from the diaphragm up, stood at attention as the bent edges of his melted wing frame dug into his healed lower chest and ribs. The accelerated healing from his triple Attunement of Spacetime, Force, and Life had long since healed his burns and head injury.

    Dwarfed by the endless void beyond, his father stood at the low gallery rail and gazed out the towering forward viewport. Its transparent plasteel panes stretched from the bridge¡¯s floor to ten meters over his head. With his back to Radin and hands gripped loosely behind, Shisoka¡¯s posture gave the impression of a casual discussion between father and son. A small voice in Radin''s mind reminded him that this conversation was anything but that.

    Shisoka had always been a maddeningly patient man. Today was no different as several minutes passed before he finally spoke in his usual calm voice. "...I''m curious, son... which part of avoiding confrontation with the Kaizuko and maintaining secrecy includes detonating three nuclear fission devices, launching a full-scale ground battle, dragging pursuing forces back toward our main depot, and getting turned into a human flare?"

    Radin swallowed. "Father... Those two weren''t Kaizuko¡ª"

    "And yet, they command a Kaizuko vessel and a full contingent of Kaizuko troops? No, Radin, they are the latest Danshakus of Kotei Stuado. Two of the three newest and presently most favored." Shisoka turned his head slightly to eye his son, "The third is the void flier who bested you... A full two Attunements, your junior."

    "Father, even if they are, why must we bow down¡ª"

    Shisoka spun around and interrupted with a faster cadence to his words. "Is it a secret that your mother and I keep information from you and the other serving elders?"

    "No, sir¡ª" Radin sputtered but was again interrupted.

    Shisoka strode up to him. "Have we made it plain that there are goals for Clan Talan that you are not privy to?"

    "Yes, but... What are they!" A lifetime of frustration at being kept in the dark came through Radin''s tone.

    Shisoka narrowed his eyes and considered his son. Then turned away. There would be no sharing of secrets today... And a silent but growing presence in the back of Radin''s mind gnashed its teeth at missing out on the possibly valuable information.

    Without heat, Shisoka continued. His disappointment at the measure of his son was evident in his tone. "Your own words prove you are incapable of following simple orders. How can I trust you with larger things?" Shisoka looked closely at Radin''s downturned eyes and spoke quietly. As if he was begging Radin to open up to him. "Son . . . We know you are keeping things from us..." Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    A chill ran down Radin''s spine, and he broke into a cold sweat. His mother and father had promised never to use their mindscapes against serving elders. Calling it a breach of command trust. But there was no doubt that his father was considering it. The moment passed. Instead of invading his son''s mind, he simply asked. "This Force lightning skill. How have you come by this ability?"

    Radin looked up into his father''s pleading eyes and almost told him. "I..."

    As children, Shisoka had always been a caring father to Radin and his siblings. Radin knew that Shisoka continued this with an even-tempered and fair commander... Even when they made mistakes, But, if I confide in him now, everything I''ve set up with the Savoy will be derailed! I will not get what I deserve. No!

    Radin shut his mouth and chose continued silence. Fed by his complicity, the presence in the back of Radin''s mind grew and spread. Growing to greater control of his thoughts and actions, moving to more areas, darkening his perspectives...

    Shisoka¡¯s eyes were slits. In obvious disappointment, he returned to the railing. His back once more to Radin as he spoke again in his calm voice. "As you know. Cultivation resources are not unlimited. The Clan has invested much in your future with little to show. You are relieved of your position and authority."

    "Father¡ª"

    Shisoka half-pivoted back to Radin. "As always, there are plans in place you are unaware of. Your actions have placed them in jeopardy. I will be spending the next several solar rotations correcting your mistakes... Just be glad it is me and not your mother disciplining you!"

    This time Radin shut his mouth so fast his teeth clicked together. If mother gets involved, it would already be too late! Without question, she would be far harsher and would assuredly force the recall of his memories with her mindscape. She still might! Utsuki had likely watched along with his father and could have intervened any second.

    Radin also had another problem. Being dismissed as a serving elder meant he needed to reach out to Xsias'' and start the transition now! All will be lost if I don''t get out of this room right now and set things in motion!

    Shisoka continued gazing out the forward viewport as Radin¡¯s shadow-mired mind heard what both it and its invader desperately wanted. "You¡¯re dismissed..."

    The quiet word was still carrying through the air as Radin snapped around and hurriedly exited.

    * * * * *

    We have lost him. Utsuki spoke through her mindscape after watching the entire exchange through his eyes.

    It breaks my heart... But yes, we have, my love.

    I will have him confined. Perhaps a thousand standard cycles will change his perspective¡ª

    Shisoka interceded on Radin''s behalf. I have already revoked his authorization and passwords. There is little he can do. Let''s focus on Stuado¡¯s Danshakus for now. Perhaps Radin will see reason and return to us when he learns the fullness of our plan for himself.

    Utsuki hesitated. It was the wrong move strategically. Shisoka knew it as well.

    You have always been too understanding and much too kind... But that is why I fell in love with your foolish heart. Utsuki conceded, then moved on. Very well. What is your plan for bringing in the new Danshakus, O¡¯most brilliant strategist of the empire? You haven¡¯t forgotten that Radin blew them up, attacked their troops without provocation, and then fled. I''m betting they are not in a receptive frame of mind.

    Shisoka smiled as he replied, Time, my love... Just a bit of time to let cooler heads prevail. I¡¯m sure they will grasp the necessity of what we are going to ask. After all, Stuado told me himself that he likes them. They can¡¯t be complete imbeciles.

 Chapter 121

    Josh, you are a complete imbecile!

    The forty-four-year-old lawyer admonished himself as he cycled his Essence for healing. His body was sprawled out on the Leviathan VIP suite''s common room floor. He was half-conscious and trying to breathe while choking out both a mouth and full sinuses of clotted blood. Josh''s mind couldn''t help but drift back to how he had ended up in this position...

    ...After Jishin had given them Alysa''s report, he had held out his hand, and Zurui had put a black, one-piece crew jumper in it. The pirate captain grinned, and the gleaming stones woven into his beard tinkled as he looked down at Josh''s well-traveled chlamys and then back up. "...y''Eminence?"

    Josh wrinkled his brow for a second in failed understanding, then looked down at himself. His expression became one of absent-minded gratitude.

    Message received: I will not let my ¡®battle kilt¡¯ embarrass the Brigantine and her crew in front of their childhood hero.

    Grabbing the onesie with the golden emblem of command on the left breast, he quickly changed inside the shuttle''s privy. Passing Sen, he eyed his still pristine saffron robes the man wore. God''s, he¡¯s bombed with three nukes, buried under a Mt. Everest-sized pile of rubble, and the thing¡¯s still not even wrinkled!

    Sen smiled slyly. ~Don''t worry, brother. Our training will increase your battlefield awareness... Though, I am afraid you won''t be thanking me for it as we start. Perhaps not until a long time after we''ve finished... If ever... ~

    Josh rolled his eyes. ~Oh boy... I can''t wait...~

    The shuttle continued past the limits of the primary Noha system. Fifteen minutes later the system''s star was only a small sphere shading everything in shadows. The shuttle slowed as they arrived at a small ice-covered planet ringed in a wide rocky ellipse.

    Jishin, in tour-guide fashion, directed their attention to the massive field of jagged-edged boulders that spun on random axes. "Not ''n our lifetimes, but there were once two moons that orbited here." He chuckled, adding, "Needless to say, they didn''t get along... A lot like me and my precious wife... Massive world-breaking collisions leadin¡¯ to what can only be described as a beautiful mess. Stars, I miss ¡®er!¡± Everyone chuckled while Jishin smiled in reflective thought out the viewport.

    Josh¡¯s science mind told him the shattered moons¡¯ debris was dragged by the centric gravitational acceleration of the planet''s iron core. It would ultimately be sent hurtling out of the planet¡¯s grasp or pulled down as burning meteors to wreak havoc on the icy surface below... But for now... It was a thing of beauty to behold! Everyone in the shuttle agreed and fought for headspace through the front viewer.

    Jishin continued, ¡°...The randomness of the rocks'' movements makes for top-notch long-range scan avoidance as well. Mind ya, our scouts found none of these capital ships on our nearby system patrols." Jishin pointed with his index finger at various locations out the big window, where Josh could see towers attached to the central disks of ships very similar to their own Brigantine. And now that Josh had seen one, he saw a lot more. There were at least fifty ships out there hidden amongst the planetoids of the asteroid field. More than thirty had disk platforms wider than the Brigantine. Some were very much larger. Way beyond city size and verging on state size.

    As the shuttle continued to skirt the terrain torus¡¯ edge, the Noha system¡¯s sun cleared the plant''s meniscus. Its distance-thinned light reflected off the armor-plated hull of a truly enormous ship sitting quietly nearby. And until now, completely unnoticed by Josh. Surprised with his own obtuseness, Josh couldn¡¯t stop his first thought. Kinda like missing an elephant sitting at a bus stop because it¡¯s behind an open newspaper... Sen is right... I do need field awareness training...

    Sen offered a small smile. ~Recognizing your limitations are the first steps to overcoming them.~

    Quiet chuckle. ~The training will never end will it Sen?~

    Sen¡¯s muffled guffaw came with a pained look. ~It hasn¡¯t for me and I¡¯m over three million earth years old... But you at least, haven¡¯t been sent back to the beginning of your Path!~

    Josh¡¯s eyes were wide with realization as he gave a sympathetic pat hand on the shoulder. ~Thanks for the reality check brother... Awareness training it is!~

    If Kotei Stuado''s Man of War was the state of California, this ship verged on the size and dimensions of the Central Mexican Plateau. Like the Hegemon-4, Josh noted the tiny light specks flying around it on patrols and waiting in queues to board its various hangar bays.

    Josh pointed. "The Leviathan?"

    Jishin looked on with obvious adoration. "Aye... Beauty aint she!"

    With uniform dark hull plating over a solidly formed sleek design that combined speed and power, Josh had to agree.

    Jishin ruminated, "...Shisoka''s taking his fleet with him all those cycles ago was a blow we''ve yet to recover from. Near one-quarter of our capital ships, along with that irreplaceable treasure!"

    Their shuttle went to the front of a line at the ship''s forward section and entered the hangar. Alysa and Ishan were waiting for them upon arrival. Alysa, dressed in a crisp blue and silver Hegemon-4 jumper, stood next to a pile of scorched, heat-twisted metal that may have once been a space marine''s wing frame. Based on its condition, she must have been cut and pried out of it by the space marine equivalent of the jaws of life.

    She walked up and hugged them both. Then took a half step back and peaked her right eyebrow at Josh as she had with Symbal, her father. "Nukes again, Josh? And then a digi-stream of you streaking at the conflict site?"

    Josh was suddenly overcome by a brief but powerful coughing fit. Then, somehow spontaneously came out of it and changed the subject by pointing to her destroyed battle kit. "From what I¡¯ve heard, you haven''t been able to stay completely out of trouble yourselves. Wanna tell us about it?"

    Alysa sported a look that told Josh this topic would return as she spoke out of the side of her mouth, "Okay... Nukes and nudity shall be tabled for later harassment."

    They walked back on board the shuttle. Josh put a hand each on Sen and Alysa''s shoulders as he extended his mindscape to their minds. Instantly, they stood in a blank white landscape that stretched out into infinity. Alysa took a second to adjust but had obviously anticipated it.

    All business, Josh started. "Sen, keep your mentation shield up, and let''s be quick. Shisoka''s way more powerful than us. He could mind jump us if he wanted. Alysa, what is your take on this parley."

    Alysa''s demeanor mirrored Josh''s. "Two points. I think he legitimately wants to apologize for his son''s actions." Shisoka is embarrassed by the attack on you both... As if... he intended to protect you somehow." She looked up at them with questioning eyes. But Josh had no explanations for her observation. And through their Bond, Sen didn''t either. They simply shrugged their shoulders, indicating they should move on.

    Alysa continued, "There is something else." Josh and Sen refocused on Alysa. "For an outlaw Clan of thieving renegades. They are very... polite and accommodating. Based purely on numbers and Cultivational strength, if they wanted us gone, we would be less than biofilm on space debris right now."

    Josh swallowed. Alysa nodded to affirm her words. Sen smiled crookedly in agreement.

    Alysa continued. "... Instead, they are treating us as honored guests. I think they planned or at least wanted to meet with you two. I think they are using Radin''s attack as an opportunity to make sweet-suko out of paramons. Exactly what they want? I have no idea." Alysa raised her hands in surrender.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.

    "My last observation." Alysa''s voice rose to indicate she was finishing. "There are an awful lot of Life Attunements here. Way more than would occur normally."

    Josh looked up. "Interesting ...How many?"

    Alysa tilted her head, "Like... everyone."

    Thoughts spun in Josh''s head at that. "Sen, what''s your take?"

    The shorter man scratched his chin as he considered. "I agree with Alysa. Something is going on behind the scenes concerning our invitation. I don''t think it is nefarious. In a contest of any type, I don''t even think we could escape from them. There is no point in trickery or subterfuge. Moreover, we feel the call of Karma drawing us here. We must proceed on this path."

    By her raised eyebrows, this was news to Alysa. But clearly, not shocking. She had already told Josh that Sophie had mentioned more than once that coming to the Noha system was expected of them.

    Josh shook his head and rolled his eyes in acceptance. ~It¡¯s not a shocker that some surprises are waiting when things come to a head.~

    Sad smile. ~You are right, brother.~

    Josh turned back to Alysa. "All right. We are in the right place, with fewer obvious threats than usual. Let''s stay in Wonderland and see how deep the rabbit hole goes."

    Not fully understanding Josh''s reference but getting the gist, Alysa and Sen nodded in agreement. Josh pulled his hands from their shoulders. The world pulled away in layers until all three were standing in the shuttle again, with the remaining three of their party just now sitting down to wait for a conversation that, subjectively for them, hadn¡¯t taken any time.

    Blink. ~Sen, leaving that place is always... strange... But our whole conversation must have only taken a second, ah micro or so...~

    Puffing air from his cheeks, Sen replied. ~Yes, to the strangeness. And I agree with your assessment of the time dilation effect for our mental convergence. We should test it formally.~

    Josh waved to RX, who had been in the back corner of the shuttle since landing. "Alysa, this¡ª"

    "This is RX..." She nodded to the mech¡¯s dome and smiled, then bowed in respect. A clear indication she knew of the additional passenger that didn''t need to be discussed here. "Sophie has mentioned you. I am pleased to finally meet you."

    RX somehow straightened up in the confines of the shuttle and managed a graceful bow despite being over ten feet tall and made of tons of metal. "Sophie''s sister, Lady Alysa. The pleasure is mine... I have heard of your incredible exploits!"

    Alysa¡¯s cheeks rose, fighting another smile as she blushed at the compliment. ¡°They are nothing¡ª"

    Josh intervened with raised hands between them. "Okay, okay. Introductions made. Let''s get to it." He side-glanced at RX. This robot is way too smooth with both of my daughters¡ªAnd was that a Rico Suave tone modulation the mech was just using?

    They exited the shuttle and Ishan and the rest of Alysa¡¯s team boarded. Jishin kissed Staska¡¯s forehead and pointed for her to get aboard as well. ¡°But Ojin...¡± From the look on her face and her waving hands it was obvious that she thought there was no way Jishin could possibly survive on the Leviathan without her there to help him.

    ¡°Yojo... you were only promised to see the Leviathan... and you got to board her as well. Times are too uncertain for you to remain. And I have work t¡¯do. Take the digi-stream of this beauty...¡± Jishin held his hands up to the Leviathan all around him, ¡°...back to Amnaki and ask him how much he would trade to have been in the shoes on your feet.¡± Staska¡¯s head drooped on her shoulders knowing she had been beaten this time. She stretched on her tiptoes to kiss Jishin¡¯s cheek and ran up the gangway of the shuttle grinning. Jishin smiled as he watched her go.

    Alysa told Josh that she had intended to leave as well. But Josh felt a twinge of wrongness at that. And Sen had also shaken his head. Josh spoke in Alysa''s mind. "Not to weird you out, but me and Sen both believe you should stay. Besides, you are one of the Danshaku and should receive a formal apology from Shisoka along with us."

    Alysa thinned her eyes like someone who had just seen a signpost up ahead that read The Twilight Zone. But she made no objections.

    Feeling vulnerable, Josh pulled his mindscape back into a shield around his mental/spiritual center, and they all turned to a Talan officer who had been waiting a respectful distance while they concluded their farewells. Obviously, deciding the time was right, he approached them.

    ¡°Welcome to the Leviathan, I am Liaison Zandar.¡± The impeccably presented officer executed a tight, shallow bow to them all. Despite a height of only 5 feet 2 inches, he presented with an air of authority in his Kaizuko crew jumper of green and black with close-cropped, dark hair that grayed at his temples.

    Jishin reasserted his fanboy status, leaning down to whisper in Josh¡¯s ear ¡°That the jumper is a mix of Shisoka''s and Utsuki''s original Clans¡¯ traditional colors!¡± Josh couldn''t help but chuckle at the helmsman''s constant looking up and around like a person visiting Times Square for the first time.

    The other thing that Josh noted about Zandar was the two types of Essence swirling through his Meridians. The indigo of Spacetime and the green of Life. Just as Alysa had said. Josh knew that Spacetime Attunement was common for many Kaizuko on their navy¡¯s command tracks. Sen had told Josh it was no secret that the Kaizuko had control of the Nekusan nebula where the Tears of Nekusassu were obtained. Command of this resource was how they dominated the void shipping lanes in the sectors of the galaxy they resided. But, confirming what Alysa had told them, Josh also noticed that everyone in range of his Aural sight also sported Life Attunement in their Cores and Meridians. From the Void-Boss, Josh saw walking up and down the lanes of incoming transports with a digital click board in his hands, to the officers like Zandar, and the crews hurriedly attaching and detaching power and resource/waste umbilicals. All the way down to the janitorial staff cleaning up after the umbilicals had been detached. They all have Life attunements! Where are all the Life Attunements coming from?

    Nod. ~Sen. What is going on with all the Life Attunements here? They want us to see them, don''t they?~

    Acknowledging glance. ~Agreed, brother. But, other than for an unnecessary show of strength, I am uncertain as to why... or how they have so many.~

    Zandar informed them that the formal parley would occur center ship in a ¡®special area¡¯ of the Leviathan¡¯s superior skin, in half a standard solar rotation. ¡°...his lord Shisoka has set the meeting to coincide with the azimuth of the local blue dwarf, Solaz. Until then, the Leviathan''s guest quarters are available to you all for your rest and refreshment."

    Josh did the mental conversion of 2.5 Earth days to the standard galactic rotation, getting thirty hours for half of one. It was a bit of a wait, but Josh also decided to make sweet-suco out of paramons, whatever they were. He could use the time to get a better handle on his Spacetime Attunement for his and Sen''s sake. If things were going to go south as they usually did, increasing their Cultivation power base would be the most beneficial use of time. Josh also thought the thirty-hour window would be a good time for Alysa to Attune with her Tear of Nekusassu.

    With a crisp, "Right this way," Zandar invited them to follow him to a passageway off the end of the cavernous hangar.

    The group passed through a portal guarded by a pair of Talan, both with Spacetime and Life Attunements. The luxury of the accommodations was noticeable. Thick cream-colored carpets offset with tastefully backlit, dark wood carvings on elegant marble pedestals. Richly colored, original oil paintings of various environs of the void hung on the walls. Zandar led them through the short passageway to a suite with six spacious bedrooms directly off a well-furnished common area. The sleeping chambers were very similar to their staterooms on the Brigantine. The same convertible bathroom, furniture options, and permanently placed luxury items, like the synth-wood four-post bed Josh saw on sticking his head into one of the sleep rooms. There was also more high-end art on the walls and tabletops.

    After showing them in, Zandar walked back to the entry portal. "I will be back to collect you in time for the ceremony. The bar is fully stocked, and the bio-fabricators have an independent AI system well-versed with all cuisines of the surrounding sectors. If you have any other needs, an attendant will wait at this door. As guests of the Talan Patriarch, tell them your needs, and they will be met." The liaison bowed formally at the waist, "Until the Azimuth." Then closed the door silently behind himself...

    Jishin, Zurui, and RX retired to their own rooms. Alysa went to do the same, she needed time with Sophie. Josh didn''t know the exact details of their bond. But he did know that the time they spent together was essential for them both. Still, Josh held up his hand and stopped her when she turned to go and sighed, ¡°I know you need to spend time with Sophie, but things are starting to... get interesting. You and Sophie will be safest if you get the Spacetime Attunement under your belt before whatever is going to happen... happens¡ª¡±

    The Clone appeared between Joshua and Alysa. The room¡¯s white walls and carpets were filled with cascading reflections of an infinite variety of blue hues. ¡°That is correct, Joshua Elias Tanner...¡± Staring, the Clone eyed Josh like a scorpion about to climb in and share his sleeping bag. ¡°...Are you presuming to be the one to shepherd them through the Attunement? Are you prepared to address and circumvent any of the myriad things that could go wrong to prevent optimal resolution of Balance¡¯s harmonization of its Reality and their Karma?¡±

    Caught by surprise at the challenge, Josh leaned back flat-footed and replied with his usual elegance. ¡°Ahhh... I... um...¡±

    Alysa, who had already dropped to one knee with her head bowed, mercifully interceded. ¡°Greetings, Lord Clone. My sister also welcomes your arrival.¡±

    The Clone turned to face Alysa fully and through her Sophie. He gave a slight bow that included his shoulders. ¡°Greetings, Child of Karma. I will be watching over your joint Attunement. Please follow me.¡± They walked into an adjoining room and shut the door. And like that, Josh was left still sputtering and wondering where the wheels had fallen off.

 Chapter 122

    Sen chuckled. ~Welcome to the family, brother.~

    Wrinkled brow. ~Common on! I got them through the first one, they did pretty good... Didn¡¯t they?~

    Sen took on the serene expression of the Buddha. ~From what I remember, perhaps it was more like Sophie managed the process, and you were very useful in handing her the item of power from your bag... but only after she reminded you it was there... twice. But you are right. They did very well.~

    Muttering to himself. ~...The whole world¡¯s lost it... Every last one of you...~

    But regardless of whether Josh was going to get his due or live in non-acknowledgment forever, he and Sen needed to get to work.

    Sen emptied a stretch of floor space by deactivating several of the chairs and the table energy fields. Then began dual shadow blading. Josh also got started...well, really just messing around with the wisps of Spacetime surrounding his mind''s center.

    After about thirty minutes, Josh could absorb the Spacetime Aura between molecules and atoms in the air, but compared to Earth Aura, which was gathered in thick strands, and Mind Aura, which was claimed from sapients¡¯ thoughts in expansive clouds, Spacetime Aura seemed¡­ thin. It was like trying to drink orange juice with full pulp through a coffee straw.

    Josh looked down and considered the hand he was absorbing it from. He remembered how he had had to limit the aura absorption to just the soles of his feet as it was three times faster and more efficient than trying to absorb it with the parts of his body not in contact with earth...

    ...Well, my whole body is surrounded by space... Isn¡¯t it?

    He opened all the Meridians around his skin and got his first taste of the torrential flow of Spacetime. Massive amounts of Aura were taken in.

    With this much I could fuel ridiculous feats! Josh thought it wouldn¡¯t be impossible to power an earthen shield to fly through a sun... at least a small one!

    Having already experienced multiple nuclear explosions, and, if only virtually¡ªcomplete submersion in a giant lake of lava, he didn¡¯t think he was that far off.

    Josh also found he could get Spacetime Aura from the places between any matter by putting his hand on it. He tried the dark wood table in front of him and got smaller amounts from the space between the molecules. The greater density significantly decreased the absorption.

    Bummer!

    So much for flying through the heart of a star... A solar core would be hundreds of times denser than the table. Earth¡¯s sun has a density of 150 g/cm3. Ten times the density of gold. Josh¡¯s science mind absently volunteered. Ya not going to happen any time soon... But the observation was important. Where there was more space between things, there was more Spacetime Aura... That really should have been a given from the start, shouldn¡¯t it?

    Next, he worked on the phasing skill he had seen the Brigantine''s old commander, Ritoru Dezain, perform. While Josh couldn''t deny the potential battle utility of making weapons pass harmlessly through him... It would be cool to walk through walls.

    As with all of Josh¡¯s Cultivation, because of his ties to physical matter iterations, Attunement skills were intuitive. If he wanted to propagate ¡®phase¡¯, Josh''s gut told him that he needed to increase the space between the particles of matter in his body, which was scary as hell! Things could go horribly wrong. Especially increasing the gaps between the neural clefts and blood vessels of my major organs and brain. But, in the final analysis, even if those things did happen, they probably wouldn''t be the worst things that had happened to him, even just today. So, Josh was ready to try.

    He focused on the Spacetime Essence in his Meridians and... Pushed throughout his whole body.

    Everything started to vibrate. He couldn''t even see clearly as the space between his retinal cells and fibers was vacillating. An aching pain like he had just run a marathon fell over him.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

    He pushed harder... and his brain felt like it was starting to dehisce and leak out of his ears... A pounding in his head joined all of his body aching.

    Harder one last time! Blood began oozing from all his pores in rivulets as his cellular membranes moved apart from one another...

    Josh waited a second as thick drops ran down his clothing and his chest pulled rapid breaths, Nope...No phasing going on here...

    That was where he stopped pushing. The gaps between his particles instantly snapped back together as he cycled Essence and healed himself, his wobbly legs straightening to keep him up.

    A quick check of his status showed Josh that he had been burning through a large amount of his health and Free Essence in the attempt.

    <table width="726">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="258">

    Physical Health Status:

    </td>

    <td width="468">

    45000  ¡ú  31,563  ¡ú  45,000

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    <tr>

    <td width="258">

    Free Essence:

    </td>

    <td width="468">

    123500  ¡ú  97,455

    Spherical Cultivation Units

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    I¡¯m barking up the wrong tree... Josh was certain of this. If for no other reason than the low-yield loser Dezain would never have been willing to go through all of this¡­ and he could phase at the drop of a hat.

    I know I¡¯m on the right track... it just has to be less somehow...

    Then it struck him. And he had his usual response to realizing he was an idiot: he told himself so.

    Josh, you¡¯re a moron!

    Essence was not purely physical. Perhaps not physical at all. Essence in a physical matter iteration is just a representation of higher order connections of Karma and Reality in the only way physical iterations can express them. Along these lines, Josh only needed to spread out the physical manifestation of his Spacetime Attunement in his Meridian system. Specifically, the link between his mind and spirit where he had found the Spacetime Essence in the first place!

    So, Josh Intended for the space between the cells of the center of his brain, his mind/Cultivation interface to increase...

    A look of manic glee plastered to his face as his whole body faded out of sight. His Interface chimed:

    New Mind Attunement Skill created: Phase Disassociation: Expend 1000 Free Essence to enter a brief interval state of nonunion with any physical matter iteration by neutralizing the electromagnetic forces of your constituent atomic particles and subatomic states. Check your status for details.

    Wait a second! What status? This Attunement isn''t associated with my Psyche or Body tabs! Still, Josh checked. Lo and behold, there was a brand-spanking-new Spacetime Attunement submenu tab. It must have appeared after he attained his Translocation skill, and he hadn¡¯t noticed it. But in truth, I have been a little busy...

    The call of the skill reported that the space he created wasn¡¯t by physically pushing his particles apart, which was obviously a boneheaded thing to do... But by creating the distance between particles and somehow neutralizing their physical EM fields... Which made a whole lot of sense. It was the EM fields surrounding matter that formed its physical properties by taking up most of the physical space inside of a block of matter. If an atom¡¯s nucleus was the Sun, the EM field around it, or electron cloud, was comparable to an orbit greater than Pluto¡¯s. Around fifty-five orders of magnitude larger.

    Josh, you know that physical particles virtually never touch! Almost all activity in the physical matter universes is due to interaction and occasional collision of the charged fields surrounding these particles¡ª. He couldn¡¯t argue with himself, but he did tell his science mind to take a back seat. There was work to do. Smugly, his science mind folded its arms and faded into the background. It knew it was right... and Josh should have consulted with himself in the first place...

    Too true, Josh agreed¡­ But you don¡¯t have to rub it in.

    Josh moved on and mentally clicked the Spacetime tab.

    <table width="674">

    <tbody>

    <tr>

    <td width="279">

    Spacetime:

    </td>

    <td width="395">

    - Phase Disassociation: Expend 1000 Free Essence to enter a brief interval state of nonunion with any physical matter iteration by neutralizing the electromagnetic forces of your constituent atomic particles and subatomic states. Your consciousness and spirituality continue in your current iteration via the tether of your continuing Essence form to its mortal soul nexus.

    - While in this state, no physical interactions occur. A nonunion state can be maintained via expending escalating amounts of Free Essence. Increase your Cultivation to increase the potency of this Spacetime Attuned Skill..

    </td>

    </tr>

    </tbody>

    </table>

    If Josh understood the description correctly, this ability was absolutely insane... and possibly very expensive¡ªSuddenly Josh experienced the compound feeling of being stuck in wet cement, having his stomach drop out of his body as on a giant roller coaster, and having his head forcefully slammed into an I-beam.

    Somewhere in the distance, his interface chimed.

    Warning! Essence Expenditure Critical. Warning!

    A flash flood of fatigue enveloped him, and Josh fumbled slowly to release the Phase skill. Then the ground under his feet turned into shadows, and he fell into a sea of nothingness.