AA. 188

Shawn and Zora became impossible to contact for several minutes. The couple started in their direction concerned. When they caught up, they found a dead Cursed One and one human dead body. Another notification followed.

Team Forge has scored 1 point and needs 1 more to make it through the next checkpoint.

The pursuit of the Cursed One had left Team Forge’s slower pair to an injured trio. Unfortunately, the enemy team took out the monster before Zora could snipe it. None of them knew whether the monster had a point to give. In the end, it didn’t matter. Zora and Shawn had little trouble and burned minimal energy, eliminating their competitors. One got cleaved in half by the barrier blade launched by the soulsmith-made longsword. One apparently suffered a near-fatal wound and surrendered, while the other just gave up.

There was no argument regarding whether the solo takedown was a good idea. Nil and Selia weren’t hypocrites, and an injured team was easy pickings. Even Shawn didn’t seem to consider it wrong or dishonorable. There was too much at stake, and it was in the nature of the competition.

Afterward, the team moved together, continuing in a straight line toward the beacon. They took out several Cursed Ones, scuttler squadrons, and assimilators along the way, hoping to win the final point. Unfortunately, none got them what they needed. In the end, they chanced upon another team racing toward the beacon.

Zora opened fire, sniping the slowest among them instantly. The remaining three ran for cover but fell for a pincer attack launched by Nil and Selia. They each took out a competitor, and the final member tried to negotiate a team-up. She promised loyalty and showed off support magic that Nil thought would’ve made their life a lot easier.

Unfortunately for the woman, Meatball had other ideas. She still didn’t understand most human words and only successfully communicated with Nil. Selia theorized that the drakeling understood his tones, gestures, and inflections more than direct words. Their empathic link also played a role. Nil had set Meatball free after Team Forge started moving as one. Their speed was lower, and he didn’t have to worry about her falling behind.

While all the humans in the group had slowed to hear the woman out, Meatball hadn’t. In fact, Nil believed she was bored and frustrated from watching everything unfold from his core and took the matter into her own paws. She appeared out of nowhere, flashing red and silver, and rammed into the negotiating woman’s side, spikes fully extended. The drakeling tore clothes, skin, and flesh. Several cracks also added to the humid rainforest’s many sounds. The blow didn’t kill the woman, but she surrendered, winning the team's final point.

None of them knew whether to be amused or annoyed by her taking the decision into her own paws. But they moved on wordlessly, racing to the gate. Team Forge avoided most other creatures that appeared in their path. A Cursed One, a pack of speedy scuttlers, and a significantly smaller assimilator refused to leave them alone and also perished. The team didn’t consider it a waste of time. If any of them carried points, the final team in the area would have to work harder to get the necessary five, tiring themselves out.

It came as no surprise when they reached the gate first. Team Forge had spent thirty percent less time covering ground than they did in the last sector. The Cleansing pods released by defeated teams kept everyone revitalized and their energy levels from dipping too low. The Sunmetal Staff still had no fuel, but the team felt confident about getting through without needing it.

The arena construct didn't give them the choice to challenge another team, leading the group to believe that no one else had survived the sector or the intelligence wanted more people making it to the next area. After all, Team Forge eliminated three other teams. Just because the arena construct let more people than expected past the first challenges didn’t mean they were in the same sector. 

The choices for the gate challenge included taking out another Silver Realm Cursed One, dissolving a Void Anomaly by closing a tear in space or taking out a mech-hive—a group of the biomechanical Void entities that were mostly metal chords and light. Everyone's first instinct was to choose the first option. If there was another team behind them and if they were of the Scourge, denying them Cursed Energy would make future endeavors easier. Shawn requested otherwise. He was confident that he could take care of the anomaly and save everyone time, energy, and effort. After much debate, they agreed with his idea and weren't disappointed in the slightest.

The Druid's Grove volunteered to oversee Shawn's training because they believed his barriers would eventually translate to spatial magic. Nil initially thought swinging a sword through barriers was the extent of it. After all, it felt like spatial laws took a back seat during the fight as the world folded around the weapon. Now, as Shawn worked, it just looked like masterful usage of his barriers.

Dealing with the spatial anomaly involved far more than just killing a monster causing distortions or holding open a rift. Both were in play, but getting to the source first required dealing with scuttlers, mutated humanoids, and more alien organisms pouring out of the tear in reality.

Zora stuck to her usual artillery bombardment duties while Selia watched her back. The alien lights and drained soul weapon gave her no other choice. Meanwhile, Nil covered Shawn. All the alien attackers were ground-bound and, fortunately, lacked ranged attacks. Nil sped through them, tearing apart bodies with Expend blasts, slicing them to bits with Energy weapons, and releasing Chaos Lightning Spheres whenever possible. Occasionally, he dropped into Shiver Shield to avoid getting overwhelmed and recover energy.

It took Shieldmaster Shawn ten minutes to resolve the issue. He stood on a floating barrier high above the battlefield. An amorphous construct molded itself around the tear in space, covering the three-meter-wide opening and the spider web of cracks spreading from the center. A soothing chant filled the air. Its vibrations filled Nil's ears despite the low volume and deafening screeching of the Voidlings.

First, new monsters stopped pouring through the tear. Nil thinned the crowds and got some breathing room. Then, the damage to the fabric of the universe slowly repaired itself. Reality clumsily stitched itself together, and alien versions of red and purple winked out of existence.

Team Forge has completed the second gate challenge and may continue to the next section of the arena. The team has eleven and a half hours of rest that must be used across the before entering their fourth sector.

Since Team Forge was the first to reach the gate and complete the second gate challenge, no subsequent sections will open until they move on. If a waiting team has run out of their allocated rest period, they’ll be ejected and may continue.

All team members have earned 4 Schema Tokens and 100 Credits.

Nil now had eight tokens. Instead of hoarding them, he invested in Finesse and Spark. Toggled Supercharging and Anti-Friction Lattice demanded improved reflexes and balance.  Nil wanted more speed and didn’t want to wait for Finesse’s natural growth before receiving the supernatural boosts. Also, Spark was more likely to experience natural growth thanks to the constant cultivation and the way Nil manipulated Brutal Battery’s energy and the Source. 

When Nil was a teenager and dreamed of becoming a Summoned mage, he didn’t quite understand what it entailed. Now that he thought about it, the abilities he now wielded felt more his style and were far more enjoyable. 

Its cultivation and the related techniques. They can make anyone feel like a magic wielder.

The second rest area took the party to a crumbling stone fort whose architecture reminded Nil of old Hindu temples. He had never been to one but had seen enough images of the ancient structures. The weather also changed. Temperatures dropped, and Nil heard powerful winds blowing through the windows high above. The gate had once again teleported the team elsewhere. Nil was glad for it since he hated the humidity. Breathing became laborious, and Nil detested the stickiness.

“We got the whole place to ourselves,” Selia sang, skipping through the structure. She peeked into the spaces branching off from the main corridor. Each area had a roaring fire, pots, jars and barrels, cots, and even a giant magic crystal. It was far better equipped than the first rest area. “I think you were right,” she told Nil. “We got rid of all the competition. Maybe no one else will join us.”

“That’s unless multiple sectors link to this and subsequent rest areas,” Shawn stated. He removed the white coat and dusted it. Even though the fabric looked like cotton, none of the grime, blood, dirt, or other unwanted materials stuck to the fibers. When he put the garment on again, it looked as good as new. “I know you’d like nothing more than to get some alone time, but it's best if we’re considerate and use only one space.”

“Didn’t even cross my mind.” Nil smiled, claiming the space furthest from the rest area’s entrance. He checked the jars, crates, and sealed barrels. “I knew I smelled something familiar. It looks like our generous event organizer teleported in supplies. Why don’t you guys rest and recover? I’ll whip together something warm to eat.”

“Are you sure?” Zora asked, looking concerned. “You did most of the heavy lifting while Shawn worked.”

“Energy Purification worked over time, unentangling Void powers from ambient energies.” Nil waved her off. He filled two pots from the provided basin with crystal-clear frigid water. Energy Instinct and a taste test helped ensure the Void hadn’t twisted any of them. Putting anything in his mouth when unsure was perhaps silly, but he believed Silver Realm Might would help him survive such minuscule quantities of most threats. Energy Purification also gave him the power to purge harmful, alien substances. “You guys relax. Recover your magic and energy. I’ll get some stew going, maybe something sweet afterward?”

“Nothing heavy,” Zora told him. She made a beeline for the giant magic crystal near the rear wall. “We don’t want to waste more time here than we did during the last break.” She shot him a concerned glance. “Are you sure you’re not mentally exhausted? That was a lot back there. I don’t mind just snacking—”

“Nonsense. This is my curative. Cooking relaxes me, Zora. You guys just relax, recover.” Nil caught Selia’s hand just as she was about to get involved in the preparation. “That includes you. I’m not falling for the tireless rogue act. Rest. Recover the spear’s energy. We need that Sunmetal.”

“If you insist.” Selia stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. She joined Zora. 

Shawn hesitated, glancing between them and Nil. “Are you sure?”

Nil nodded, shooing the taller man away. He sprinkled the leaves directly into the cast-iron kettle. “Tea will be read in a couple of minutes. There’s no milk, but this looks like honey. We also got dried citrus.”

“Leave him to it,” Selia said, waving Shawn over. “Nil is in his element. He’ll join us when he’s ready.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t spend the entire rest period cooking. I also want to rest my feet and butt.”