AA. 173

[I apologize for the late chapter. November 5th's fireworks damaged something in my area and we woke up to no internet on the 6th. It just returned now 36 hours later.]

The Cleansing team, Andrew and Susan, gathered in Layla’s office three weeks before the event. A usual horseshoe table awaited them, and the screens already carried images of an alien world, Cursed Ones, mysterious creatures, and environmental anomalies Nil couldn’t get his head around.

Nil saw creatures whose entire bodies looked like a mess of twisted chords, appearing almost biomechanical. The entities reformed appendages, sprouting new ones or strengthening the existing ones. They adapted to changing terrain almost instantaneously, moving at speeds Nil believed would rival his own. He couldn’t be sure whether they actually had faces or the openings similar to eyes and mouths were simply for show. There were no eyeballs or tongues, just lights evershifting like the rest of their body.

Then, there were the creatures he had learned about while looking up the Void in Ashe Fall’s libraries. The diagrams proved accurate. Nil mentally listed the three most common types that accompanied Void incursions.

Scuttlers were insectoids with thick chitinous armor and the most commonly seen Void entities, often accompanying Void Lords or summoned into the multiverse by one of their cults. Most sources claimed they had a loose hive mind, chitinous armor, and physiologies differed based on their roles in the hive. Their adaptation and evolution abilities were the most concerning. The creatures transformed rapidly, adapting to environmental factors, and some displayed the ability to steal magic, techniques, or power seeds from consumed organisms. 

The hive leaders were especially worrisome. Many displayed intelligence far beyond that of a human and often proved themselves to be excellent tacticians. Their ability to communicate with lower-ranking scuttlers telepathically while hiding amongst the swarm or away from it made them challenging targets to find and shut down. 

The next most commonly seen Void entities were widely referred to as assimilators, but all who encountered them used different names. Reports of them varied; most described them as monstrous flesh masses with dozens of eyes and mouths. Other sources said that the assimilators started as masses of sludge or protoplasm with glowing eyes. The mouths were a constant, with some accounts claiming they weren’t for eating but for speaking. 

The creatures lured victims by mimicking their loved ones or simply sought to terrify them. Apparently, assimilators only became fleshy after feasting a good deal—which they did like an amoeba, surrounding their victims and taking over all tissue. They eventually turned the consumed bones into tools or weapons, becoming so large and terrifying little could stand in their way. Apparently, nothing but gravity limited their mass and power.

The final creature that appeared most frequently during incursions was simply called the Glimmer. Most reports surrounding them read more like speculative fiction than actual reports. All descriptions spoke of floating, luminous lights, terrifying vision, and powerful Mind Magic. The textbooks knew far less about the Glimmer than the scuttlers or assimilators but considered them the most horrifying. Nil agreed. The floating orbs of light looked harmless and pretty but as the person on the team with the lowest Mind attribute and no passive resistances, they terrified him.

They hypnotized people, encouraging them to do terrifying things or possessed them. Often, the Glimmer used their targets as puppets, manipulating things to lure everyone into a trap and then draining everyone’s psyche and sanity together, leaving them insane or catatonic. Other times, they went on murder sprees with the puppets, murdering all who got in their way. Most knew nothing about how the Glimmer functioned, their motives, or how they sustained themselves. The element of unknown concerned people the most. Layla’s screens showed the dense orbs of light followed by humanoid entities whose faces resembled octopi, insects, or fish.

Nil also identified the countless anomalies he had read about. The laws of physics, Qi, and magic that Nil thought he knew meant little when Void energies entered the mix. The meeting started, and Nil was so mystified by the screens he missed most of what had already been said. If Selia hadn’t nudged him back to reality, he would’ve missed more.

“Things are worse with this Cleansing than we initially imagined,” Layla said. The screens all changed at once, displaying individuals who mainly looked like ordinary humans. Their skin was discolored, often pale, and blackened veils peeked through them. Eyes, occasionally, glimmered with the same lights as the colorful motes that accompanied Cursed Energy. “It’s not two Scourge worlds that have been invited this year, but three.”

“How does that work exactly?” Zora asked. “I keep hearing the word ‘invited.’ If there are hundreds of thousands of Seed Worlds out there, why do we keep getting invited year after year?”

“We’re not the only Nexus office. This one place isn’t enough to accommodate all of them. We’re part of a network where each branch is overseen by a coalition of Control Worlds. The oldest and most powerful worlds sit at the top, reigning over all. The arena backrooms and construct work using the same model. Subconstructs and a ruling intelligence. Not all subconstructs run the same events. The ruling intelligence finds worlds for the Cleansing in all corners of the multiverse and highlights them for the subconstructs.”

“So there aren't hundreds of Cleansings happening at the same time?” Nil liked having Zora around. She asked questions many often didn’t think to, and everyone always ended up learning as a result. Most of them got so caught up with their own universe and corner of the multiverse they didn’t think to wonder or care to find out about what else was going on just beyond their bubble.

“Maybe a dozen or two? Don’t forget about time flow differences. Usually, a construct will work with clusters of universes that experience time at a similar rate. There is also the matter of how far they’re transporting you across the multiversal web. The farther you go, the more different time, space, and the laws of the universe might be. I’m afraid we’d be here all day if we were to get into this topic. Your best bet would be to continue service, ascend, and eventually move to a Control World. Their libraries and scholars will explain these things to you better. You could even become a student or an assistant and become an academic on the matter in your own right.”

Layla carried on to brief them about the Cleansing, what they knew about the world where it was to be held, and the possibilities of how the Void might’ve altered things. Shawn voiced a query of whether the additional knowledge and resources the team received unbalanced the playing field for their competitors, but the thought was swiftly squashed. Every advantage was vital, given what was at stake. In fact, Layla believed most teams would have their own perks and unique legs up on others. Their world was one of the few where both times weren’t allied. They also came from a barren realm, unlike the majority. 

Wilson Luduses had also given all of their people a leg up when it came to combat training and tactics classes. They also had ways of getting detailed information regarding the competition. She believed that the Forge’s infrastructure was still lacking and, if anything, the quartet was at a disadvantage. Shawn didn’t seem convinced but also didn’t argue. Layla reminded him of his priorities and loyalties. 

You have been offered a quest!

A world and universe of immense arcane value to the Control Worlds is at risk of being twisted by the Void or returning to the Scourge’s dominion. Ensure neither party succeeds.

Neither Scourge World can be allowed to win the Cleansing. Eliminating before reaching the top three would be ideal. The Void has also perverted the five Wells of Power. You must free at least three.

Each Scourge World eliminated by your team will earn the team 5 Schema Tokens, 500 Schema Credits, and spirit weapon materials.

Each Well of Power freed will earn the team 5 Schema Tokens, 500 Schema Credit, and gifts for spirit companions.

Danger Level: Silver 2

“Is that it?” Nil asked, finally speaking up. Everyone in the room looked at him surprised. His tone was much more challenging than he intended. “We’ve been working our asses off to prepare. Even though we’ll have forfeiture tattoos that’ll teleport us to safety, the likelihood of death is high.” Nil glanced at his friends for support but didn’t wait for them to contribute. “If one of the Glimmer takes over our mind or some other Void thing screws me up or the tattoo so bad, there is no escape. I’d argue the chances of our survival is much lower than it was in the Death Gauntlet. And this is all the compensation we get?”

Layla’s mouth hung open. It wasn’t strange for Selia to speak up. Zora also looked like the type but the case wasn’t the same for Nil. Shawn only spoke up when something seemed unjust or wrong according to his strange moral compass. Concepts like reward for risk didn’t seem to bother him.

“I think this is more than fair. If your performance is good enough, bonuses—”

“I’m grateful for everything you’ve done for me or my family, but this is bullshit. The Death Gauntlet thing was for the sake of taking out Symbiotech’s agents and rescuing our world. This is us going into almost certain death for a Control World’s economic and security interests and dealing with an enemy who has no interest in a barren world like yours.” Nil sighed. “Look. It’s not like I’m not willing. I just want my family and their future taken care of if I’m going to take on something of the sort. All we have is measly rewards that are meant to be split between the four of us and more on the off chance we make it to the final three.”

“I don’t know what more you could want?” Layla’s voice was small. She appeared embarrassed. Nil felt guilty for the outburst but it felt necessary. “This is what my superiors suggested.”

“The team can speak for themselves,” Nil said. “I want my family moved to Ashe Fall.”

Layla frowned. “Do you have any idea what you’re demanding? That’s not something you have earned yet. I’m sorry but your contribution to the Nexus and the multiverse isn’t enough for such a prize. The Forge and your world getting to keep its magical plants is already incredible compensation. Maybe eventually once you’re at a higher realm—”

“According to multiversal druid law, you can’t do anything about the Forge,” Susan interrupted. “Once a world tree or descendant of Yggdrasil has set root, it and the surrounding flora may not be uprooted. Your hands are tied on that end.”

“Fine. If you can’t move my family to Ashe Fall now, enrol Sammy and Emily in Onyx Dragon Academy or one of the schools for a year. Their summer holidays are in a few months. The timing is perfect.”

“That’s what you want?” Layla raised an eyebrow. “You’ll go ahead with the Cleansing quest if I sort out your family’s education?”

“I can’t speak for the rest of the team, but that’s what I’d like,” Nil stated. 

“It should be possible for Emily since she’s already a summoned and the druids might like her power seed, but I’m not sure for a civilian like Sammy. He’s—”

“Sammy is a cultivator. He can already sense Qi. I think he’d do well in Onyx Dragon Academy. Send him to Master Seer. I’ll pay for his time if necessary.”

“No promises.” Layla sighed. “But, I’ll send the demand up the ladder. But you’ll have to go on a quest in exchange. A request for Selia just came through the Weave and it's important. It needs two people on top of her and if we are to go through with this, you’ll need to do this for me. My bosses won’t be happy, but I’ll put my ass on the line for your sake.”

“That’s acceptable,” Nil stated, somewhat surprised that she didn’t immediately request for the ticket and show him the door.

Layla’s eyes moved to the rest of the team. “Do the rest of you have any such requests? If I’m moving this up the ladder, you might as well throw your additional requests in the pool.”