Chapter 153—Bittersweet Good Byes

Mr Cricket moved.

Tom was pretty sure that nothing as exotic as teleportation was used, but it still crossed the distance between them too quickly for Tom’s perception to follow.

In less than a blink, the ball of arms went from a comfortable conversational distance away to hovering next to his shoulders. Hands, arms, appendages were suddenly draped over him, restricting his movement. He tried to move, but it was like he had been encased in steel.

There was a click.

He froze in disbelief as Mr Cricket moved away. Hardly able to believe what was happening he raised a hand to confirm what the nerves on his exposed skin were telling him. The fingers encountered metal; it was smooth and presumably shiny and completely encircled his neck.

What the hell? He thought. The alien had collared him. Why?

His darting hand proved the truth. He wondered what it did. Did it force obedience? Or block magic?

What!” he snarled, turning to face the ball of arms. If the curse hadn’t just triggered, he was sure it would have overcome his willpower such were the natural simmering flames of rage. As it was, he felt it stirring, but he had just barely enough mental fortitude to suppress it . “What have you done you to me?” Even as he asked, he triggered Spark and electricity crackled between his hands.

“Hatchling, don’t be idiotic. Use your brain, even someone of your limited intellect should be able to work it out.”

He hesitated.

If magic was allowed and the trial wouldn’t consent to him being enslaved, then it had to be something else. Experimentally, he attempted to use the Scalpel skill but couldn’t touch the ability. The failure was similar to what the trident had done with him, but that had been targeting magic. “Soul containment,” he whispered, and like that the rest of his anger melted away. He found he wasn’t even angry. It was actually a sensible precaution given the power Soul Rend would presumably start with.

“Exactly. This will restrict your ability and prevent your rage problem from causing innocent collateral. You obviously can’t take this outside, but I’ve asked Corrine, and she’s organising you something for Existentia as well.”

He touched the cold metal around his neck and now that he had explored it further, he discovered there was a clasp that he realised could undo at a moment’s notice. If he could take this off whenever he wanted to it didn’t seem like something that could stop him from hurting someone when he was raging.

“Stop your fretting. Its tuned to your blessing,” Mr Cricket emphasised blessing like it was a curse. “If it activates, then you won’t be able to remove the collar. Your Soul Rend when boosted can do damage even through the protections of this place. This is necessary to keep everyone safe.”

“I didn’t hurt you did I?” he asked, trying to sound contrite, but kind of hoping that he had injured the prick.

“Hatchling, as much you probably wish you did you did not. You are much too weak for that.”

Tom wasn’t sure he believed him after all Mr Cricket had fled the room rather than tanking the blow.

“Even empowered as it was my soul defences are too strong, but there are other open competitors who would not have been so lucky. No hatchling, don’t be proud about that. Strength without control is meaningless and your Blessing was the only reason you can get close to threatening one of us.”

“I understand.” His fingers touched the collar yet again. “I can’t leave here until I have a solution in Existentia can I.”

“I would recommend against it and arrangements have been made. Your waste of space distraction specialist said they started sourcing the materials months ago.”

“Corrine?”

“Yeah, that one.”

When I got the Scalpel skill. Tom thought. He hadn’t realised the significance at the time, but it was clear his primary teacher had.

“Now,” Mr Cricket made a creaking noise and a moment later a new figure appeared in the room with them.

It was not someone he had met before, but he recognised the person from when they gathered together prior to their individual duels. It was one of the many open competitors who didn’t interact with the lower buckets. She was thin and vaguely resembled a human sized praying mantis which was a little off in its proportions. There was magic sunk into its very body because it had an undeterminable number of legs and arms. Sometimes it was six, but he had seen her moving with as many as twelve active at once.

Like many in the open section, watching her to closely had caused migraines. At some level of power, classes or possibly the side effects of a high levelled skill caused something to happen that made people in the echelon feel more substantial than reality or maybe put themselves outside the bindings that bound most people. At that point, it became difficult for unranked people like him to interact with them.

“May I introduce Wendaga to you.” Mr Cricket said in a more normal voice than usual. “She is here filling an archivist slot.”

“As an archivist?”

“That’s my role here,” she said with a surprisingly pleasant voice. Apparently, she could moderate her vocal cords like she could her arms because he had heard her speaking before and that time it had come out as a high-pitched screech. “It’s a pleasant change of pace. In Existentia, due to my power I serve as an enforcer.”

“Hatchling, show her more respect than you do me. She is important to her people and to those here. She will brief you on the trident,” Mr Cricket said. “Value the knowledge that she imparts.”

“Are you leaving Mr Cricket?” she asked in the same melodious tone.

“Now he has the abilities he needs. My role in this endeavour is done. With the penalties in place, I haven’t been able to win a fight for weeks. My continual presence here is wasteful. I’m out there will be someone new to replace me within the hour.”

Mr Cricket vanished.

“He is not an evil person.”

“He trained me and did a good job but Wendaga,” he turned and met her eyes. “He enjoyed torturing me. That sick and depraved and I’m not going to forget it.”

“I’m sure he did. His kind are known for their little foibles. They are however a net benefit to the world.”

“Enjoying torturing children is hardly a little foible. It’s a terrible peculiarity.”

“Yet as you said he has given you the tools to seek your revenge faster than anyone else could have. You were very fortunate to have one of his kind available to teach you. Without one like him, it would have been a fool’s errand to attempt what you did. There just wouldn’t have been a chance of you gaining the necessary abilities before you aged out. Usually only those who come in with innate soul abilities can go after those who specialise in incapacitating others.”

He bit his tongue. The surge of hate he felt for the ball of arms surprised even him. He would have thought he would have instantly forgiven someone who gave him the gift of the soul abilities Mr Cricket had, let alone the bonus he would get from the title once he started leveling. But the opposite was the case.

“Some people aren’t destined to be loved for their actions. His people fall into that category. They’re all degenerate. Now, my purpose here is to brief you on the RealityBroken 272 subspecies.”

She waved one of her arms, and an illusion appeared. It wasn’t the teddy bear like creature he had fought, but he could see the similarities. As he watched, the illusion cycled through multiple images of different individuals. A lot of the younger ones closely resembled the one he had fought.

“That’s it,” he confirmed. “I’m positive that’s the same species.”

“Of course you are. I had over a ninety-nine point nine, nine, nine chance of being correct. Now, bad news first. Your fears are accurate. The archives in this trial are not that extensive, but realityBroken age differently to you humans. They only ever exist in child buckets one and two as they lack the tertiary steps of development you humans get. That means that within six months, he’ll become an adult.”

Tom’s throat constricted before he blurted out a sarcastic response. It was Social Silence enforcing discipline, and he quickly adjusted what he was going to say to something more reasonable. “I totally agree. That’s what the research showed me.”

“Indeed, Mr Cricket did say you were unusual. The data from here corresponds to what our research team found out by studying them in Existentia. There’s no doubt that it’s going to age out soon. But you’re lucky enough to be scheduled against it, I can teach you how to incapacitate it long enough to soul flay it. The issue is that you have less than a fifty percent chance of meeting it before it leaves.”

“That shouldn’t be a problem. I’m sure I can arrange a duel.”

The insect peered at him with interest. He shivered slightly at being studied like that.. “That’s a big call. The GOD’s power the sanctity of the trial. They’ve deliberately made it so it’s not an absolute. They allow match ups to be influenced, but the only proven method is via expensive fate rituals and I mean expensive even for eternal civilisations. Can your people really afford that?”

Tom pretended to be contrite. “Um…if that’s what it takes then maybe not. I guess I’ll need to rely on luck.”

“Well, luck you do have. You’re very fortunate that their civilisation was only three hundred years of travel from my own. Basically, that’s as good as being next-door neighbours to a species with our life span. If they weren’t so close, neither I and nor would any of my colleagues have been able to help you. As it is, I can give you exactly what you need.”

She waved her hand again and an illusion of the realityBroken that had been hovering in the air suddenly had its skin pulled off it and the skeletal structure separated from its muscular and organs. It was realistic to the tiniest detail apart from the fact blood had been excluded.

“Mr Cricket briefed me. With its expected soul strength and your abilities, you’re going to need to disable it for two minutes without killing it. Because we have carried out numerous living autopsies of them, I can tell you exactly how to do it.” Her arms twitched, which the body language interpreter perceived to be intellectual excitement.

She then proceeded to show him the creature’s weak spots with her illusions.

The information was delivered in painstaking detail with lots of explanations of what not to do. But it basically boiled down to him having to strike all the brainstems as they left the brain and leave the daggers embedded in place afterwards to slow regeneration. After that, he would need to unleash continuous damage to its heart, which was the size of a volleyball with multiple chambers all capable of functioning independently so when attacking it there was little risk of completely disabling it and killing the creature like what would happen with a human heart. Tom, if he applied a mixture of continuous stabbing and electrical jolts he would inflict sufficient damage to stop the creature’s regeneration from fixing the brainstem issue. If he also took advantage of the diagnosis functionality of Touch Heal, he could ensure he didn’t accidentally kill it.

She waved her hand, and suddenly the illusion that she was maintaining became real.

“Is that like what it can do? Just higher tiered?”

She laughed. “No, I think if I was relying on illusions for your training it would not be very efficient. After all, you would probably break them and stabbing empty air will achieve nothing. This is a golem but crafted to perfectly match the physiology of a realitybroken. Here,” she handed him what could be best described as a miniature trident with smooth blades.

He flipped the weapon in his hands and got a feel for the balance and thrust it with all of his strength at the base of the golem’s skull. The weapon was wickedly sharp and easily split the fur and skin before grinding to a halt half an inch from where he needed it to be.

“Wrong angle,” he muttered and yanked it out. The wounds healed instantly, but it left blood on the weapon. He flicked it to clean it and then, holding the weapon up, he glanced at the skeletal illusion that she had kept in place. It was strange to see three spinal columns going into the brain as opposed to the single one that everything on earth had. He pointed at it. “This thing carves a trident on its victims. Did it really model that on its own anatomy?”

“It seems that way,” she said simply. “Many terror assassins select their call signs like that.”

“But to flag a weakness seems stupid.”

“Existentia is a big place. Most don’t realise it. Plus, to a realitybroken if the fight becomes physical they’ve lost. Now that blow you just did it failed because you didn’t have enough angle to slide through the vertebrae. Go again.”

He thrust hard and this time with a better angle the weapon slipped through and embedded itself to its hilt. Then, with a more traditionally shaped dagger he struck lower down to separate the secondary brain. That thrust felt like he was stabbing a real monster.

“That’s an amazing first attempt, but your top dagger is too low. Do it again.”

He hit bone and failed to puncture deep enough.

“Incredible. You’re really getting it, but again.”

“Great angle but not quite centre. Again.”

“Wow, almost. Again.”

Two hours later, he was disabling the creature to her exacting standards every time. “That was great progress. Now you need to get someone in your bucket or lower to create one of them. You can keep my version until you manage to get an identical one crafted.” She nodded at his trident. “I unfortunately made that, so it’s not one you can use.”

“Because the rules of this place mean you can only gift up or in your own bucket.” Tom summarised.

She nodded. “Get the weapon made and then you’ll be ready to get your revenge. I just hope you get the opportunity you need. Best of luck.”

With that, she vanished.

It took him three weeks, but with the help of multiple fighters with a modicum of crafting talent he had what he needed. While he waited on the strange blue grass, he flipped the weapon in his hand. The balance on the weapon was near perfect and it glowed in a way the manually forged weapon shouldn’t have been able too. He smiled as he fumbled it slightly and nearly lost a finger.

A simple spell and the only evidence of his clumsiness was the red that had already dripped on the grass.

When he met the trident, he would have no problems disabling it. Not with a tier three specialised dagger with the property of accuracy embedded into it. With the upgraded weapon, the hardest of the necessary cuts was basically guaranteed.

He still had a few months. He would get the fight and then he would kill it.

“How does it feel knowing you’ll be ten soon?”

He didn’t jump as he had been expecting her. Instead, he turned around with a welcoming smile on his lips. “That’s three months away. Your milestone is more important, and it’s tomorrow.”

“It is, and it feels fucking great to finally be able to act. Finally, I’ll be able to kill stuff, level and get experience.”

“So, what’s the plan?”

She laughed. “A fucking full tour. What else?”

Tom frowned slightly. “That means you’re going to experience what I did?”

“Not even fucking close. I’ll be renting a pendent to remove the pain. I’m not a fucking masochist.”

“Nor was I. I kind of wasn’t given a choice.” He flipped his weapon in his hand. “I’m surprised the system lets us do these ritual trips. It’s awfully close to a system exploit..”

“Don’t talk the fucking world into screwing an opportunity. There’s absolutely nothing fucking wrong with doing a pilgrimage to honour and experience what the greats of humanity did on their first fucking couple of days here.”

Tom could see many reasons why the enemy GODs were incentivised to stop it, but the tours were supported, so they had to work. “If you say so.” He told her. According to the star system, they received an average rating of four point four from those who took it. With traversing, the vine whip valley being the most poorly rated.

“Plus, it isn’t like it’s mandated or free. I earned this. Less than half of cohort had the points for a full tour and only four others are planning on doing it.”

“Only four?”

“Well, if you were a kid would you sign up to be fucking tortured, for a nebulous religious benefit?”

“No, I would not. Hey Corrine I dare you do the wasps without the amulet.”

“Nope. There’s no fucking way that’s happening and there’s nothing you can say to make me.”

Tom chuckled. “I wouldn’t want you to go through that, anyway. I’m glad you’re going with the pain reduction option.”

“I fucking won the age fourteen tournament, and potentially put a target on my back, to make sure I could afford it. Though, since you’re my friend, I might just do a bit at the end without it just so I ‘know what happened to you.”

He shook his head vigorously. “Don’t. I was just teasing you. It’s not worth it. You know the first wasps that stung me literally had venom whose only purpose was to cause pain.”

“That’s not unique. That’s the most common mutation.”

“So, are you leaving straight after you get full access to the shop?”

“Fucking oath. I can’t wait to earn experience.”

“Lucky you. I’ve got another five years.”

“You’ve got the girls who know about you and so you can vent to them.”

“I had Kang. Briana in here?” he shook his head. “Having her around is nothing like you. I guess Kang’s new ability gives me a safe space to talk to some of the others but even then they won’t be you either.”

“Of course they fucking won’t be. I’m special.” She tossed her hair an action that emphasised the white streak in her hair. He remembered what he had first thought of her when she had been acting as a bully to try to provide some extra protection for new reincarnators. At the time he had detested her, but with the benefit of hindsight he knew she must have hated every moment of acting that role.

“Thank you for everything you’ve kept me sane.”

“Same.”

“Hey Corrine I have a question.”

She grinned slightly lopsided at him. “Shoot.”

“What happens with Bri and Eloise when they go through puberty?”

“Seriously, that’s what you want to fucking ask.”

He knew his cheeks were reddening. “Well… um… I.”

Next to him Corrine doubled over laughing. “You should fucking see yourself.”

“Why are you laughing? It’s a valid question. They’re going to be become teenagers.”

She laughed even harder.

“Don’t laugh at me answer the goddamn question. Give me some good advice.”

Still chuckling, she tried to calm herself. “There’s no blanket advice to give. People react differently.”

“I’m expecting Eloise to go off the rails.”

“She could, or Bri might or none or both.” She shrugged. “There’s no teenager state that infects them for a while. All girls cope differently.”

“Um…” he knew his cheeks were going even redder.

“Spit it out.”

“What happens if… um… um… one of them gets a crush on me.”

She arched an eyebrow. “They’re your sisters.”

“Not biologically.”

“I don’t think that matters.”

“Well, I don’t know how that shit works. But if they do, it’ll be.”

She patted him on the shoulder. “I think you’ll be safe. You’re just not that attractive.”

“Um… thanks…”

She giggled. “But if they do, then just ignore it. Crushes come and go.”

“It scares me. I just don’t know how I’d deal with something like that. If you were here, it would be different.”

“I’m not fucking staying around the orphanage just so you don’t have to have an awkward conversation with some kids.”

“Please Corrine. I’ll owe you.” He pretended to beg.

“Not on your fucking life, but isn’t that black girl a reincarnator?”

“Yes.”

“Then fucking use her. As for you Mr, I put humanity first. What were you thinking asking me to hang around?”

“If you do, it’ll avoid a really awkward conversation.”

“And that makes it fucking okay?”

Tom chuckled. “Well, yes… No… It was a joke.” Then he looked up and sighed. “Mostly a joke.”

He met her eyes once more. It was curious that she was here, as there was no need. She had purchased the foundational trait from the curated list that was only supposed to be aspirational last night. Any coins she got today would be directed toward something small and probably completely insignificant in the context of the experience she would soon be earning.

“Why are you here?”

“Because I checked and selection for replacements won’t be for another month and the moment I stop fighting I get kicked out. I wanted more of this.” She indicated them sitting casually together and chatting.

“Yeah, to me it’s been the best part of the trial.”

“Same,” Corrine said simply. “Same.”

AG. Daylight savings has occured in Aus. I posted this at 7am instead of 8am to keep the same time but it's not something I can sustain. So expect the posts to start going an hour later from Wednesday.