Wilheim did not quite realize what had happened yet, awakening aboard the Piercing-Void Ship. The notification had appeared before all the participants in the System Introduction, regardless of location or Rank.

  He first realized that something had gone wrong after seeing enormous crevices appear in the skies above him. Vast swathes of surging green eroded the mountains and deserts which once stretched across the night sky. Glaciers and rivers metamorphosing in a series of violent transformations, giving rise to pillars of black-salt and bones that seemed carved from metallic-ivory.

  It was as if the very foundations of the small realm were being corrupted by some unknown force.

  One moment he was fighting against swarms of Knight-Ranked insects, the next, he was gazing up towards the two Angels above the Hive-Womb Capital. For better or for worse, his guess ended up being right on the money.

  ‘Well, considering how everything went down, I’d say that “for worse” is correct.’

  If it was not for the Sunlit-Heart Of Golden Creation, neither himself nor Maliq would be able to understand why the System Introduction was ending early. For whatever reason, the Angel Of Green and the Angel Of Transformation had entered small realm designation “732-GFS” resulting in the System fragmenting the System-generated world in an effort to save some of its participants.

  Maliq and Celadonis debated just what sort of resource could entice the Mother Of Verdant Night and Divine General Of Alteration to perform such a dangerous manoeuvre, although Wilheim himself an inkling of a suspicion.

  ‘It’s Avahni. It has to be.’

  ‘The concepts contained within her Source are not related to “summoning” at all but rather-.’

  Wilheim stopped himself there, dismissing the thought from his Imaginary Mental Sylvascape. Fragment Of Mind burying the seedling-shaped thought beneath an impossibly large tree, consisting of his fears and worst nightmares.

  The Fragment Of Imagination he had integrated into [Mine Is The Leaves And Trees, The Roots And Flowers] granted him an extraordinary level of control over his imaginary mental construct. The Imaginary Mental Sylvascape which served as the structure for his subconscious also granted him protection against mental attacks through way of overt manipulation and creative design.

  Unless the opponent was someone like Jon who could infiltrate Fragments Of Mind using his Minerva-Infiltration Eyes and then strike using his Carcosa-Form Horrors, Wilheim knew he didn’t have anything to worry about.

  Even Mael with his abnormal mental constructs couldn’t quite as easily break into his mind as Jon could.

  ‘The Imaginary Mental Sylvascape was quite resistant against pressure the Angel Of Green exerted. Although I know that Title Fragments are considered ‘inactive’ until they combine together to form a complete Title, I cannot help but wonder if those ‘three’ are partly to blame…’

  Eyes glancing towards the very corner of his vision. Wilheim had dismissed all his notifications out of annoyance for the sheer number of debuffs and afflictions he had become afflicted with accidentally dismissing the other System notifications in the process.

  Knight Title Fragment “Viridis Sapling Blessing”: Concepts and notions related to ‘forest,’ ‘sapling,’ and ‘trees’ become infinitesimally easier to understand and comprehend.

  Knight Title Fragment “Environs Sanctus”: Increases the effectiveness of all abilities with the Forest Trait, Desert Trait, Ocean Trait, and Mountain Trait.

  Lord Title Fragment “Returnee”: Increases resistances towards abilities with the Fate Trait and Destiny Trait.

  Maliq had managed to obtain Returnee as well, something which, given the name of the Lord Title Fragment, alluded to a more general reward. Perhaps even one granted to all the returnees from small realm designation “732-GFS.”

  Maliq also obtained two Knight Title Fragments of his own.

  Sun-Moon Transformation and Medicus Vita, although for obvious reasons did not stat their actual effects.

  But still-.

  “Where the hell do you think the three of us have ended up Wilheim?”

  Maliq and Celadonis turning towards him, the three of them still standing atop the Piercing-Void Ship. The soft lapping out waves and ocean tides echoing out all around them, not a single speak of land visible in any direction all around them.

  Nothing, but the vast sea of stars that seemed to stretch from one side of the horizon to the other was visible to them. A glittering ocean of starlight and noble gases, adorned with the distant lustre of hundreds of thousands of planets and moons.

  Even Maliq who was famous within Springtown for being a grump could not help but sigh in appreciation at the sight. Xue Ying inert as his Void Mana Core worked to regenerate its spiritual energy, bathing the Piercing-Void Ship in a soft glow of a billion stars.

  Neither Maliq an appaloscian, nor Wilheim a floresiensis could recognize any of the stars or constellations above their heads. Celadonis who was born in the Realm Of Loathsome Yellow had not experienced a universe that was devoid of spiritual energy.

  This unfiltered experience was mind-boggling to the golden-heart toad, especially considering that it was possible to travel between planets completely on foot. Although not a common occurrence, it was something that Celadonis had not experienced for himself.

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  At least, during the course of his previous existence.

  “I think…” Maliq scratched the top of his head.

  “I think Delila told me about this once.”

  “Humans have no actual name for the solar system that they reside in, referring to it plainly as the ‘Sol System.’ The Sol System was one, amongst tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of stars within the gravitational orbit of their central black hole.”

  “I believe she called it-.”

  “The Milky Way?”

  Break.

  “How long have we had the creature in custody lieutenant?”

  Major General Arnold Graff glanced around the various hallways and corridors of Apartment Complex B, taking note of the armed guards every thirty feet and the dozens of scientists that walked between its passages.

  Despite just having been debriefed on the situation, Arnold Graff remained expressionless, listening to the words of this lieutenant he had just met moments ago. His initial shock and surprise giving way to a strange sinking feeling within his chest, teeth gritting as he walked down the brightly-lit hallways.

  “The creature appeared within a small town approximately 90 clicks north of Denver. One of our own was out holidaying with his family when he encountered the creature. He called it in the moment he was able to but unfortunately…”

  The man’s voice trailed off towards the end, Arnold Graff and his armed entourage knowing exactly what it was the lieutenant was trying to say. He continued, despite the obvious connotations.

  “The local police was called although we contained it before anyone saw the creature. Despite capturing one alive our team encountered three more suffering heavy casualties as a result. It took the combined efforts of nearly sixty-men to capture this single living specimen in addition to the two deceased specimens.”

  “In addition…”

  Arnold Graff raised an eyebrow, knowing that there was nothing in the report about additional encounters. His steady gait coming to a swift and sudden halt as he listened intently to the lieutenant standing before him.

  “In addition, upon inspection of the two deceased specimens, we discovered multiple wounds stretching across its abdomen and rear. Wounds consistent with that of a large bird of prey… an extremely large bird of prey.”

  “… The report stated that the two deceased insects were the size of a school bus.” Arnold stated, pausing at the end of his sentence in order to observe Lieutenant Schultz’s expression. The thirty-something year old man nodding, taking a deep breath while doing so.

  “There are three sets of claw marks across the length of the insect. The largest more than nine-feet in length. Members of the secondary response team reported hearing the cries of a bird alongside the flapping of wings.”

  “There was nothing detected on the cameras or sensory equipment we brought along with us, so we did not include it in the report. However after bringing the specimen in and performing an autopsy on it-.”

  “You discovered that it died from wounds sustained before the firefight. Rather than the wounds we inflicted on it.”

  Lieutenant Schultz nodding his head, half-glancing towards the personnel behind Major General Graff. The group continuing their stride down the pure-white halls of Apartment Complex B, nothing but the faint humming of electric-lights accompanying their arrival.

  Arnold Graff occasionally glanced towards some of the rooms with half-open doors. Those that had yet to close after scientists or security personnel entered.

  One room containing a duck the size of a small horse.

  Another containing a sheep with the mouth of a lamprey.

  Another containing a bear that seemed to have a fully grown tree sprouting from its back.

  Within the span of twenty-four hours, Apartment Complex B had become a veritable animal zoo for the strange and the abnormal. The facility, once devoted to genetic research and technological development had become a viewing ground for the horrifying and the mutant.

  “The report stated that some of these creatures possessed… abilities?”

  Graff enquired, peering at the lieutenant.

  Schultz nodding without hesitation.

  “A handful yes. Although most are manageable. There was a purple-lemur creature capable of manifesting condensed wall of air capable of blocking small arms fire, alongside a hummingbird that could turn invisible for short durations.”

  “Most of the mutations that we have encountered are purely physical. Most granting enhanced strength and speed. We have some sort of ursine-creature with a tree growing on its back that could resist 5.56 NATO rounds but could still be knocked out with the tranquilizers.”

  Lieutenant Schultz gesturing towards a hallway on the left, allowing Major General Graff to walk through before him. Unlike the previous hallways and corridors, this one possessed security personnel every ten feet, armed to the teeth, and adorned in near-full protective armour.

  Graff raising an eyebrow at the strange ceramic-metallic armour placed on the soldiers.

  “An experimental piece of equipment developed here within Apartment Complex B. About two-thirds the weight of traditional Kevlar but more than three-times the flexibility and elasticity. Those equipped with a shield woven from it are even capable of resisting minor explosives.”

  “Up to a certain threshold of course.”

  “But what General Maine wanted to show to you is right through those doors.”

  Lieutenant Schultz pointing towards the enormous gate at the end of the hallway. Something that seemed more apt within a science-fiction movie at motionless several dozen metres down the hall, pistons and enormous metallic-rods inserted into the ground and walls, preventing the gate from moving, or even so much as shifting even an atom out of place.

  Arnold Graff had taking a single step down the hall, noticing several automatic turrets lock onto him before a computer-generated voice echoed down the corridor.

  “New biological material detected. Analysing…”

  “Biological material confirmed. Good afternoon Major General.”

  Automated turrets disengaging within the blink of an eye, lowering their barrels and awaiting standby. Graff could not help but raise an eyebrow, turning his head and peering in the direction of Lieutenant Schultz.

  Said Lieutenant merely smiling at him, gesturing for him to step forward towards the metal gates. The Major General pausing, as if trying to memorize the facial features of the Lieutenant before turning back towards the gate walking towards it undeterred.

  Even with more than a dozen armed personnel all around him and half-a-dozen automated turrets that could be activated with the flick of a button, Arnold Graff strode beyond the literal four-foot thick gates of steel and concrete entering a chamber filled with all manner of technological equipment.

  More than a dozen scientists worked and chattered all around him, muttering words and terminologies that he did not quite understand. Scanning equipment placed beside various gemstones. Vials of biological material placed within reinforced plastic containers capable of surviving a small explosion.

  “… sentient species or sapient species…”

  “… specimen can talk, even learn our language…”

  “… is ‘Jon’ referring to the creature itself or…”

  “… first encounter with an alien lifeform!”

  Arnold Graff strode towards the enormous glass wall placed between this research room and the specimen known as “Jon” beyond it. Eyes widening and breath hitching as he observed the humanoid creature lounging lazily in the room opposite it, playing with an object that it seemingly pulled out from empty space.

  A wooden ball.

  One that seemed to possess the elasticity of rubber despite having been scanned numerous times over the past thirteen hours.

  Alongside a couch and several books written in a language that they could not decipher.

  For the first time in his forty-seven years of existence, Arnold Graff was baffled beyond words, heart almost skipping a beat as he gazed upon this green-skinned creature. Two emerald-green eyes turning in his direction, shadows flickering beneath it as it sat up from its reclined position gazing at him with an almost-.

  “Another one?!”

  Tired expression on its face.

  Sariel Of Lemnos laying back down onto the couch behind her, sighing before waving Arnold Graff off, shaking her from side-to-side. Rahu-Ocean Shadow returning back to normal as Sariel shouted towards the human researchers, switching between English, French, Korean and Arabic every few words.

  “I thought I said “Guilliman! Not Graff!”

  “I told you I’m looking for a man named Guilliman!”

  “Jonathan Randall Guilliman!”