The wind moved steadily across the Stone as the sunset, leaving the area quiet and still. I didn’t know how long I lay there, staring at the empty space where the portal had been.

  My arms refused to move. Blood trickled down my brow, tracing the curve of my broken jaw. The blood dripped onto the cracked ground beneath me. Every breath burned. My thoughts came slowly, but it was always the same thing my mind circled back to. They’re gone.

  Balt had woken up and was just sitting next to me, in silent companionship. He had summoned a blanket from his Anchor and put it over me. He had told me three different times to take a healing potion, but I couldn’t bring myself to.

  I was no stranger to grief, but I couldn’t bring myself to feel all right when I had lost my family. I coughed and breathed in; the faint smell of scorched ogre flesh and the metallic tang of blood permeated the air.

  Beside me, Balt’s slow, steady breathing was the only thing keeping the silence from swallowing me whole. A scream built in my chest until I just let it out. I didn’t care about tactical awareness. I didn’t care who heard. I just let it out for all to hear. After a dew seconds.

  A System message appeared in my mind, stopping my painful cry.

  I felt the System power healing my wounds. My jaw snapped back in place. I felt the power course through me. I felt stronger, faster; my mind was sharper.

  I came to a realization right then, some bit of knowledge I knew instinctively. This was the key. This was my answer. Tyrants only respect power, and I would become the kind of power they feared.

  I pushed myself upright. My clothes were torn, and I felt the dusty wind hit my skin.

  I breathed deeply, trying to center myself. It took a few long breaths before I got there.

  I needed time to think and plan. Now I had one purpose: figure out how to kill him and get my girls back.

  My eyes narrowed, still blurry with dried blood. “You wanted an Outlier to control? All you've done is forge your own executioner.”

  Balt didn’t say a word; he just stood and offered me a hand.

  I stared at it for a long second before taking it. My fingers had blood crusted on them, but Balt didn’t act like he noticed at all.

  “We can’t stay here,” the old man said quietly.

  "The System has stabilized the realm, and even though the monsters will probably stay away for a while, it would be better to relocate.

  I gave a weak nod, and together, we moved away from the battlefield.

  The sun had dipped deep beneath the horizon, painting the landscape in hues of deep orange and violet as we walked in silence.

  Balt guided us to a flat outcrop, providing a small refuge beneath the rocks. It would give us shelter from the wind, at least.

  “Okay, let’s stop here, said Balt. Pull up your storage and set up the tent you got as a reward." I did as I was instructed.

  A shimmer of light formed a neat little structure before them, angular and reinforced, like a hybrid of a military tent and a semi permeant structure.

  It seemed to mold itself into the rock. Canvas stretched taut between lightweight alloy-looking supports, glowing faintly with protective runes all over it.

  It was large enough for several people comfortably. Balt opened the flap and gestured inside. “Get in and rest, I’ll keep watch.”

  I hesitated, scanning the horizon one last time before ducking inside.

  As Balt was about to close the tent flap, I heard him say, "See to your progression. I got a level from just surviving the Elite, so I am sure you got 1 as well. Out here, 1 stat point can mean life and death."

  I paused mid-step, hand still gripping the flap. “Progression?”

  It was Balt’s turn to pause in place. We just stared at one another, both stopped at the tent entrance.

  Balt’s face looked a little surprised, but it quickly disappeared. "Okay, I see... Let’s go inside and have a conversation, and I’ll do my best to explain what I can."

  The tent’s interior was surprisingly warm, with padded flooring and a low hum of magical comfort. No air conditioning or anything, but it felt nice enough.

  We both sat on the padded floor and faced one another. Balt began; "I am sure you guessed some of this already. But let me explain from the beginning to be safe."

  Balt took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. Progression’s the System’s way of rewarding growth. You survive, you fight, you adapt; the system tracks it all. Leveling isn’t just about adding to your stats and getting physically stronger. It’s about advancing your class talents as well."

  "Anchors." Balt held up his wrist. "It is your interface to everything. Talent points, stat allocations, abilities. The system gives you tools. How do you use ’em? That’s on you. For example: If I wanted to have a longer life and more health, I would put a point into Vitality."

  I was nodding along. I had played many RPGs and knew about stat allocation. “How do I access it?”

  "Just like your inventory, just focus on the Anchor to view your stats and make any changes. Talent points are very rare; I’ve only earned 2 over the years. When you get one, you can apply it to your skill tree and choose from the available options."

  "Okay, I think I understand." My face must have given something away.

  "Hey, wait, do you already have a Talent point?!" It was the first that Balt had not been completely calm since the Elite had left, and I did start to smirk a little. I gave a noncommittal shrug.

  Balt ran his fingers through his hair and sighed deeply. "So, you have only been here a few hours and already have a Talent Point... I just nodded. "Of course you do. Well, go on then, see to your progression, oh blessed one."

  I focused like Balt suggested, but all that came up was a blank screen. There was nowhere I could click where I could upgrade my stats. Balt must have seen the look on my face because he asked, "You see anything yet?"

  "Nothing yet," I replied.

  "Just calm yourself and think Status." I did as I was told, centered myself, focused and thought Status. This time, my stat sheet pulled up without issue.

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  I knew instinctively what every stat did. I always went to a fighter class every time I played my MMORPG'S.

  That is what I knew and enjoyed. But this was real life. Did I want to be up close and personal every fight? Or did I want to blast the crap out of everything?

  Both were cool, to be sure. But there was only one option I really considered. I clicked the stat points over into strength.

  I felt my muscles grow denser; I felt the increase in my body immediately. This is crazy.

  The truth was when I activated Limit Break Slash. I couldn’t hardly swing the sword; it was so heavy. I needed more strength to wield my one big move properly. Okay, now let’s use these Talent Points.

  I focused on the Silver Tree, but instead of a stat sheet appearing in front of me. I was mentally transported to the base of a glowing blue and silver tree.

  I looked up, and the branches were so far away, I had to strain my eyes to see them.

  I touched the closest root.

  I clicked the option without delay. I should have been more patient than that; I knew.

  But to have that beautifully powerful weapon in my hands whenever I wanted was too good to pass up. I would plow through the monsters like butter and get to Carson all the sooner with that kind of weapon.

  I willed my choice and brought myself out of the tree realm to try it out.

  I backed up into the tent on one side. I explained my plan to Balt, and he cautiously stepped back, nearly bumping into the tent flap as he watched me.

  With a smirk, I willed Ashbourne to appear. A clunk of rusted metal resembling a sword materialized in my hand. It had pits and dirt all over it, and there was not a speck of silver fire on it.

  "What the shit!" I head myself say. I tilted the sword, inspecting every rusted inch.

  Balt just started to laugh. "Serves you right" he crowed, voice loud with mirth.

  "What is this?" I held the rusty weapon up for him to inspect.

  "Look, I am no expert in all my years as a guide through this tutorial. I did not have a lot of interaction with other people sharing their Talents.

  This stuff is usually held very close to the chest. So who can be for sure. But if I were to venture a guess...that is the base level form of your weapon."

  "I have never had any Talent to materialize a weapon myself, Balt mused. But I know that the combat classes do have the ability to upgrade weapons when they get them."

  "So, you’re telling me this is the real Ashbourne currently. So, the badass one that comes out with my Limit Break Slash is its ultimate form or something?"

  "Hell if I know," said Balt. You will need a Master Arms trainer or another Outlier to confirm anything about your weapon and class skills.

  But I promise you, neither of them is on this floor currently, or this realm would certainly collapse just like with that elite."

  "Shake it off," said Balt, laughing through the words. "You have a solid club at least. Balt eventually stopped laughing, seeing the dejected look on my face.

  "Look, kid, when you get to level 5. You will get another Talent point, and then you can upgrade your weapon then."

  "Oh, I’ll just do that now then, if a talent point is all it takes."

  "Wait, you have more than one available point?"

  Now it was my turn to laugh; "oh no." Balts’ face seemed to relax.

  "I have two more, "I said with a grin.

  "You son of a B… well that’s just great! said Balt. I am so happy for you… oh great Outlier." The old man could really turn on the sarcasm when he wanted, I mused.

  I re-focused and went back to the tree roots. I pulled up the same pulsing talent root again. I mentally looked for the upgrade.

  My focus brought him to a pulsing root going to the middle of the tree trunk. I touched it.

  I willed my yes.

  I had never dismissed the rusty sword. In the real world, I watched the sword get bathed in system light.

  It vibrated in my hands.

  When the light left it. I could now make out what was clearly a sword now. It even seemed to have an edge now. The guard looked a lot less rusty, and the grip was no longer torn leather. The pits were gone.

  When I picked it up this time, it felt heavy, and I could see small silver flames coming from inside the blade. Cool.

  I had one more talent point to use, and I needed to explore other available Talents. I moved my hand through the root system, but only three gave me a prompt.

  He took a calming breath, centered himself and began to read.

  I found it a bit dull. Running everywhere without vehicles in this world might make the ability useful, but I doubted this would be a good choice for me.

  I wanted to see the other options before writing it off completely.

  Now that’s cool. A rotating shield that can be launched or keep arrows or other magic from hitting me unawares. As well as damage over time spell for enemies that get too close.

  Solid option for sure. But I had one more to get through.

  The mana cost was high as all get out. But to have up to 40 percent damage reduction even for a short time was an amazing option.

  I considered my options. But if I was going to be a melee fighter type, I needed the protection.

  I selected option 3.

  I activated it. Spectral silver armor exploded over my skin, gleaming with power.

  "That looks amazing," he heard Balt say.

  "Yes, it does". It was not long before I was out of mana and the armor disappeared.

  I felt woozy and lightheaded from the lack of mana. Like I hadn’t eaten in days. I am going to have to watch that mana cost in a real fight.

  "Okay," said Balt. I’ll take the first watch. I’ll wake you in 4 hours." "Sounds good," I told him. I don't know how I was going to get to sleep after today, though.

  “Sleep if you can," Balt said softly. "You’ll need your strength. Tomorrow, we will start walking to the safe zone of the floor. Give you time to think about what you're going to do."

  "No, that’s a hard pass, old man."

  "What?" asked Balt.

  I didn’t answer right away. My eyes burned, but not from tears. “We rest for now, but tomorrow… I start my war."