Sam expanded the screen of his tafla so Siel could follow along. At one point, he might have been embarrassed to see his whole person laid out like this, reduced to clinical pictures and numbers. Now, they were a badge of pride, a testament to the trials he’d overcome.

  Name: Samuel Lin

  Race: Human

  Patron: N/A

  Class: N/A

  Rank: Iron

  Titles

  [Child of Babel]

  [Deific Mark]

  [Rodent’s Resilience - Tier 6]

  [Apostate - Tier 7]

  [Giantslayer - Tier 3]

  Achievements

  [First Blood]

  [Frugal Beastslayer]

  [Frugal Usurper]

  [Skill Morph]

  [Mana Network]

  [Trailblazer]

  Enhancement Skills

  [Iron Skin - Tier 4]

  [Battle Healing - Tier 4]

  [Prototype Cor - Tier 2]

  [Kinetic Discipline - Tier 3]

  [Arcane Eyes - Tier 5]

  [Basic Mental Resistance - Tier 5]

  Martial Skills

  [Basic Shield Proficiency]

  [Simple Melee Weapon Proficiency]

  [Spear Mastery - Tier 7]

  [Longinus Strike - Tier 4]

  [Light Armour Proficiency]

  [Hammer Mastery - Tier 5]

  [Medium Armour Proficiency]

  [Shield Mastery - Tier 2]

  [Platebreaker - Tier 2]

  [Spira: 5,585]

  He couldn’t help but grin as he reviewed his progress. It had been a steady grind over the past few weeks, but he was finally about to taste the fruits of his labours.

  When he’d hit Tier 5 with [Arcane Eyes], his initial reaction had been to evolve it immediately. Unfortunately, as he discovered, skills could only be evolved once per rank, and Skill Morphs counted toward that limit. That left [Basic Mental Resistance] as his only upgradable option. He considered purchasing a skill–there had been a few that had caught his eye, but he didn’t want to leave the skill stuck, wasting spira.

  He selected the skill and reviewed his options.

  [Battlemind - Iron - Common - Upgradeable]

  Increases the effectiveness of [Basic Mental Resistance]. Allows for the selective purging of unwanted memories.

  Cost: 2,000 Spira

  [Illusory Consciousness - Iron - Uncommon - Upgradable]

  Grants the user a particularly elusive mind, making it harder for mental attack skills to take hold. Allows the user to project a fake version of their spirit within 10 yards.

  Cost: 2,500 Spira

  [Mental Fortress - Iron - Uncommon - Upgradable]

  Significantly increases the effectiveness of [Basic Mental Resistance]. Gives the user the ability to expand the skill outward, extending its effect to nearby party members.

  Cost: 3,000 Spira

  Again, there were use cases for all three options. Selfishly, he spent far too long considering the benefits of wiping away unwanted memories. While it may have had short-term benefits, it also came at a cost. While certain battles may have been especially traumatic, they were also how he learned. His skills were built on a rock-solid foundation of practical application, and he didn’t want to lose that.

  [Illusory Consciousness] was interesting, but too situational. Most Warriors wouldn’t even be able to detect a projected spirit, and it felt like overkill unless he was running into all but the most potent [Mind] magic user.

  That left [Mental Fortress], the clear choice, in his opinion. Being able to extend the skill to others was a huge boon. It meant they could focus on purchasing other skills, further shoring up potential weaknesses.

  Choice made, he selected the skill and settled down cross-legged.

  “Are you ready?” Siel asked, genuine concern on her face. Despite the banter, they’d grown close as the days passed. It was reassuring to know that he wasn’t alone.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. Arther told me about the ascension process, but I’m sure it won’t be the same as experiencing it.”

  “There is also your…unique situation to consider,” Siel added, face pained. Sam had told her about the whole ‘level six skills at once and hope you don’t die’ start that he’d undertaken. She’d understood Arther’s thinking, but like him, agreed that he should have been told beforehand.

  “There is that,” he agreed, nodding his head. “I guess we’ll find out. See you on the other side.” He closed his eyes and purchased the skill evolution, letting the familiar sensations wash over him. For the first minute, everything proceeded as usual. His brain felt like it was being set on fire, his consciousness strengthening as imaginary plates of mana were layered on top.

  The mana continued to flow from his Heart Chakra, only instead of slowly dissipating, it increased. The influx of energy radiated outward like a raging storm cloud, quickly spiralling out of control. His heart pounded, panic overtaking him as his body started shaking uncontrollably. His head snapped back, muscles tensing, the echo of a scream dying in his throat as his jaw locked shut.

  Out of desperation, he found himself falling back on Arther’s [Mana Network] refinement techniques. His mind became a paddle, directing the flow of energy. The effect was slow but steady. Bit by bit, he shaped the mana to his will, drawing the cloud in towards himself. Rather than an uncoordinated crashing of waves, his body became a river.

  Mana surged through him in a roughly figure eight pattern, out from his Heart, to Root, to Third Eye. As it passed through each point, it solidified, condensing into something stronger, more permanent.

  He wasn’t sure how long he stayed in that trance-like state. Time slipped away like sand between his fingers. He caught glimpses of other planes, other places. Behind it all was a wheel, turning, grinding, bathing a field of black with a flurry of sparks. Those sparks became stars, and he was falling through an endless void, surrounded by swirling nebulae of brilliant colour.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  And then it was over.

  He hadn’t moved, and yet he felt himself slam back into his own body. He blinked, mind reeling at the sudden influx of information.

  Everything was clearer. From the fading light to the taste of ozone on the wind, it was as though his perception had been dialled to another level. He became acutely aware of his own body, subconsciously directing [Battle Healing] to repair minor injuries he would otherwise have overlooked.

  He had become more. While his first skills had taken him towards the peak of what humanity could be, reaching Bronze Tier felt like taking the first step towards the divine, to truly becoming a demi-god.

  A gong echoed in his mind, and he felt a wide grin creep across his face.

  Name: Samuel Lin

  Race: Human

  Patron: N/A

  Class: N/A

  Rank: Bronze

  He’d done it. He’d taken his first real step up the Spire, and he hadn’t done it alone.

  “Well?” Siel asked, voice soft, almost reverent. “How do you feel?”

  “Like a million bucks,” he replied, leaping to his feet.

  “Is that a lot? And what are bucks?”

  Sam laughed, glad to be able to give the sylvan a taste of her own medicine. “It was a lot, now inflation’s a thing…anyway, never mind. Good. I feel good. Better than good, actually. I feel like I can take on the whole gods-damned Spire.”

  “Well, you might have to if you don’t keep your voice down,” she chided, shaking her head. “Was there anything else? Some Warriors get bonuses when ascending.”

  Sam opened his tafla and noticed a new notification. “Yes, actually.” He read the text, eyes going wide. “Holy shit, take a look at this new Title.” He swung his arm around so she could get a better look.

  [Dominator - Permanent - Bronze]

  The Dominator. The one who never balks from a fight. The one who seeks to bend all they see to their will. Increases the power of all other [Permanent] Titles.

  Gained from defeating (2) Iron Ring Tier Bosses.

  “The holiest of shits,” Siel whispered. “I’ve never heard of a title like this. It doesn’t necessarily scale, but it doesn’t have to. It will impact every new title you get for the duration of the War.”

  “And you’ll likely get it too,” Sam added, noting the requirement. “I wonder what we would have gotten if we’d killed three before hitting bronze.”

  “Two were quite enough, I think,” Siel said, chuckling. “But yes, I think there is a good chance I will also receive this Title. We were fortunate to discover the [Frost Archon] when we did.”

  “Felt unlucky at the time, but certainly less so now,” he agreed, closing the screen. “Let’s get a move on. I want to make it into the woods before that storm hits. I feel like if we’re up here, Zetos won’t even have to cheat to get me struck by lightning.”

  Siel laughed, and they both descended the stairs to where Mjolna lay waiting. The boar had continued to pack on the pounds, transforming into a veritable wall of armoured flesh. Despite that, she gave Sam a nudge as he went by, and he sighed and gave her one of his last remaining [Redcap Mushroom]. She gave an oink of appreciation and let him give her some scratches behind the ear.

  They exited the gate, and Sam felt a shiver as they passed through the barrier. A chill wind picked up around them, and they charged off south, not bothering with stealth, only focusing on putting as much distance as they could between them and the city. Miles bled away, and Sam began to feel a prickle at the base of his neck that had nothing to do with the weather.

  He turned and made eye contact with Siel, who returned the look with a nod.

  “We’re being followed,” came her words in his brain. “I’m not sure how many, but they’ve likely been tracking us since the gate.”

  “Do we try and lose them, or do we stop?”

  The elf gave him a sly grin. “What do you think, Dominator? Ready for your first real fight?”

  Sam’s gut went cold as the weight of her words hit him. All his battles so far had been against monsters. And while yes, some had been sapient, maybe even ‘real’, they’d all been constructs of the War. Was he ready to fight against his fellow mortals? Was he really ready to kill?

  Yes.

  The immediacy of the answer should have shocked him, but it didn’t. He’d put his life on the line every day for weeks. This was no different. They were all prisoners to the gods, but no one was making these Warriors hunt them. This was their choice. If this was the War they wanted, then he’d give it to them.

  He skidded to a halt, and Siel fell in beside him. She had a vicious glint in her eye, and he knew he’d made the correct decision. They turned, backtracking a few paces to stand at the edge of a natural clearing. The sound of the wind whistled through the trees, and in the distance, Sam could make out the roar of thunder.

  The storm was coming, in more ways than one.

  He caught a glimpse of figures moving through the woods towards them. He counted three–no, four Warriors. Their auras were all vastly different, and he tried to take a guess at what kind of magic they used.

  The first broke through the wall of trees at the other end of the clearing and nearly tripped when they saw Sam and Siel standing there. The tzen wore a tight suit of studded leather armour, and she seemed genuinely taken aback to see her quarry standing out in the open.

  Clearly, the goblin was meant to be some sort of scout, and Sam could see her fiercely communicating with her party members through the tensing of her jaw. The others soon closed in, taking up positions on the flanks. Sam made sure he never lost track of their auras through the trees.

  The strongest of the bunch casually walked through the bush beside the scout, patting her on the shoulder.

  “Well done, Teer. It seems your tracking abilities are as good as you claim.”

  The tzen gave a sheepish look, but Sam thought he could detect a hint of fear in her watery eyes.

  The second Warrior spoke again, and for some reason, Sam thought he recognized him.

  “Well, well, we meet again. Still looking as lost as ever, I see. You have something that belongs to me, human. I want it back.” The sylvan’s drawling voice slithered through the clearing, and Sam finally realized where he recognized it from.

  “How’s the arm?” he called back, a spark of anger igniting in his gut.

  “Shut your mouth, you sunless son of a whore.” The sylvan's voice dripped with venom, tanned skin flushing as a vein pulsed in his forehead. “And you!” he yelled, turning on Siel. “Just when I thought your kind could sink no lower. I see you partner with not only a human, but one who is spurned by the gods? You are truly a testament to your caste.”

  Siel stiffened, and Mjolna let out a growl the likes of which Sam had never heard before. Everyone in the glade froze as the rumbling rose to drown out the approaching thunder.

  “You shouldn’t have said that,” Sam said softly, letting his words carry on the breeze.

  The haughty sylvan clenched their jaw, but couldn’t seem to take their eyes off the armoured boar. “Give me the heirloom, and I will let you off with a warning, human. I am feeling merciful today. Maybe the gods are smiling on you after all.”

  Sam cocked an eyebrow. “Yeah, I have no idea what you’re talking about…” his voice trailed off, interrupted by a flash of memory. He opened his tafla and cycled through the many, many folders in his inventory. He went all the way back to the beginning, opening one he hadn’t thought about since the first days on the Spire. He’d labelled it ‘Spoils of War’ as a joke, but hadn’t opened it since.

  A curved, silvery metal dagger appeared in his hand, and he heard Siel gasp. The blade was still extremely uncomfortable to hold. The grip was just too small for him. More than ever, he appreciated Arther’s tailored craftsmanship. For the first time since he’d picked it up, he inspected it.

  [Dagger of the Celestial Conqueror - Iron - Relic]

  A legendary blade carried by one of Skógurrun’s most feared warlords.

  Significantly increases the potency of all [Celestial] [Divine Skills].

  He blinked, wondering if the Arbiter was playing some sort of joke. He looked back up at the blustering elf, who was positively frothing with rage at the sight of the weapon. Siel was also having a tangible reaction to the sight of the blade.

  “I assume this thing is pretty famous?” Sam muttered, leaning towards her.

  “Yes. It was one of a set of two blades. They were forged on the Spire and carried home by the Celestial Conqueror.” Her face darkened. “He was the one who organized the First Families and exiled my people from the surface.”

  Sam considered that for a moment as he turned the dagger over in his hands. Then he burst out laughing.

  “Well, that's perfect, then, isn't it?” He handed her the blade, handle-first. “This knife helped enslave your people, right? Then who better to carry it than the one who is going to free them?”

  Siel stared at him, eyes wide. She reached out a hand, then stopped herself. “This weapon has spilled too much Ot’ena blood. It has been tainted by it. I would sully their memories if I wielded it.”

  “I don't think so,” Sam replied, speaking with a confidence that he rarely felt. “I think they'd want you to use it. It's symmetry, right? Like the moon. Sometimes dark, and sometimes light. This is your chance to do something good with this…and besides, it's too damn powerful. We’d be stupid not to use it.”

  Siel stared at the weapon for a long moment. “You'd just give this to me?” she asked, voice shaking.

  “I mean, yeah. I'm not going to use it. And [Lunar] skills count as [Celestial], right? It's perfect for you.”

  A deranged scream split the clearing. “Don't you touch it! I will not stand for it! I am Atlan Aen’Yun, second son of the House of Yun, Praetor of the Eastern Reaches, and Scion of Helios. I will not watch this blade be soiled by some Ot swine.”

  Siel’s face hardened, and she took the blade without a word. Sam was pleased to see it fit her hand as if it were made for it.

  “Altlan,” Sam replied, “I’m going to need you to shut the fuck up. This is the second time you’ve pissed me off. You were unconscious when I said it, but I swore that if I ever saw you again, I’d kill you.”

  He stepped forward, summoning his spear. Above, the wind began to howl in earnest, branches whipping in the fierce gale. He pointed the [Relic] weapon at the Warriors hiding among the trees.

  “Come out and fight. Don't hide like cowards. I would give you a chance to run, but we’re well past that.”

  He slammed his spear against his shield, letting the sound ring through the clearing. “My name is Samuel Lin. I am a son of Earth, and a worshipper of none.” He activated his [Prototype Cor] and felt the organ slam into his ribs, sending out a wave of raw, unfiltered power.

  His entire [Mana Network] felt as though it had been completely overhauled, and he was astonished by how much more smoothly the energy flowed. What had been tiny, narrow streets were now four-lane highways. His aura swirled around him, and he was pleased to see the tzen visibly recoil.

  The others walked out from among the trees, though none looked thrilled by the proceedings. He saw various magics flare to life, but they were a candle to the bonfire burning in his chest.

  “Come on then,” he growled. “Let's see what your gods are worth.”