The group’s leaders, yet again cloistered away from the rest of the survivors in yet another destroyed building, discussed how they should move forward. They’d gotten closer to the large building looming over the campus. They’d wanted to go in the opposite direction, but that was where the horde was thickest. Even if they made it through, they would suffer heavy casualties. That wasn’t acceptable to anyone there.
As they had approached the building, its strangeness became more and more apparent. It seemed to be made completely of materials from Earth, in the same overall way large buildings were built, but it only highlighted its awkward true nature. A weird design choice here, a window in a strange place there… the entire building seemed like it was built by an alien entity that didn’t understand human sensibilities. They could also tell that it had a strange energy about it, though its purpose escaped them.
After they’d gotten closer than any of them would’ve liked to, they could see the base of the tower-like structure was surrounded on all sides by the same hordes that had been hunting them. Hobgoblins and grand treeants dotted among the forces in numbers they hadn’t seen before, prompting the survivor group to scramble away to find shelter. They didn’t have to look far, but the band of leftovers were now huddled in a barely standing residential building. Some of said remnants of the destroyed school life went off to explore the building, with most of them recognizing that the building they holed up in was their old college dorm.
The leading party, which now included Sherman, was in a separate room near the group, in case of emergency. They were discussing what their next steps should be.
“We should go around it… right?” Gideon said.
“It isn’t that simple, I’m afraid.” Sherman answered. “That horde is entirely too big to move past with this many people without being noticed.”
Silence reigned for a while as the group sat or leaned on a wall in thought. As the moment dragged on, Arthur was startled to hear a loud ding as a notification appeared next to his center vision.
Your Accord partner(s)
[Fallen Angel of the Gordonian Court]
Has requested contact with you
“I’ll… be right back.” Arthur said, slowly getting up, his eyes not losing contact with the words illustrating his view. The others looked at each other in confusion as Arthur left the room.
Arthur was sitting on a piece of fallen concrete a fair distance away from the rest of the group when he accepted the chat request.
“I didn’t know we could contact each other this way.” He spoke into the air, knowing instinctively that Gordeau would hear him.
“You can do more than that. But that’s not why I called you. I saw you and your team approaching the Obelisk.”
Arthur tilted his head in confusion. “Obelisk?”
Though he couldn’t see it, Gordeau leaned back in his chair, preparing for an explaination. “Yes. An Obelisk is a point of power for the Raiders I told you about. You might as well get comfortable, because now that it’s relevant, there’s a lot to tell you.” Arthur looked down at the rock hard slab of concrete.
“Uh… go ahead.”
“Alright. I told you before that your world is subject to an event in the System called The Quine. What I didn’t tell you yet is that the leaders of the Raid groups are split up into several tiers. A Raid Commander is the lowest, and normally a boss tier monster created by the System to assist in the event. The slot can be filled by a normal System user if they’re weak enough, but that isn’t important right now. The second tier is a Raid Captain, which are the mid-tier Raid leaders. They’ll always be sentient System users from other realities and worlds. The last tier is-”
“Wait,” Arthur interrupted. “Other realities?”
“Yes, other realities.” Gordeau rolled his eyes. “It’s The Macrocosm, not The Multiverse. It includes not only many universes, but other realities of many universes, too. When it took over your world, it took over every version of your world across every reality. Me and this version of you just happened to be in the same reality at the same time. None of this is important for the matter at hand. Stay on topic.”
The very not human robot at the side of his reclined chair made a very human throat clearing noise. Gordeau erected a sound barrier between himself and robot with a throat problem.
“As I was saying,” He continued. Arthur wrestled with the thought of multiple versions of himself and Gordeau insinuating that there was only one of him before snapping out of it to pay attention. As much attention as he could, at least, considering his lifetime companion of ADHD.
“The final tier is Raid General. These are the most dangerous of the Raid group leaders, and the top of their respective parties. Even with someone like you, you will need an entire party of high-level users before you even consider taking one on.” He took in a breath, then took in a swig of strong alcohol. “Judging by your capabilities, that I’ve seen so far, at least. Maybe once you’re stronger, you might have a chance alone. Maybe.” Arthur stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.
“Obelisks,” Gordeau went on. “Are hubs for dispatching hordes of monsters. You can think of them as home bases for the System event participants. They can contain anything from a Raid Commander all the way up to a Raid General. They passively grant buffs to whomever is in charge while inside the building, so going after the leaders there is usually not a good idea.” He took a pause.
“Here’s the catch, however. If you manage to kill a Raid Commander or higher, all of the monsters attached to that leader are rendered inert. Which means-”
“If we put down whomever is in that tower, we’ll be able to get out of here without any casualties.”
“Normally, I would argue against trying such a plan,” Gordeau said. “But you’re a T.H.O.D. with an Audacity class. An anomaly like you might be able to do it.” Arthur wiped his face with both hands before rubbing them together.
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“I don’t like the thought of leaving the helpless people behind, even for just a bit. But if I go in alone-”
“Don’t even think about it.” Gordeau interrupted. “You’re an anomaly, not a demigod. I saw the energy output that building has and it’s hosting a Raid Commander. That may be the lowest tier of leaders, but it’s still a leader. Take your entire party. If nothing else, at least take the healer.”
“Ema wouldn’t go anywhere without Aurora. And I wouldn’t want her to either, anyway. I’ll let them know what’s going on.”
“One last thing.” Gordeau leaned forward in his chair. “Do not risk your life in that building. As far as I’m aware, and I’m aware of a lot, you’re the only one on your planet who has a chance of fighting on equal terms with the Raid Party. You must not die. If you have to leave the others to escape, you have an obligation to the rest of the world to do so. Do you understand me?” Gordeau’s words were sharp and demanding, as though giving Arthur an order.
He didn’t answer.
Arthur walked back into the meeting room with uncertainty, his thoughts consumed by Gordeau’s parting decree.
He’d declared that Arthur was the only hope on the planet, but he wasn’t so sure that could be true. Gordeau had to have known that Mira existed, which meant he believed that Arthur was somehow better for this than her. Arthur didn’t believe that for even half a second, regardless of his uniqueness.
He’d also asked Arthur to abandon the others if it became necessary. No matter what anyone said, he wasn’t sure he was capable of such a thing, even to save his own skin. While he knew that Gordeau believed he was the only hope of their world, he also knew that Mira was much more of a main character than him. He didn’t necessarily disbelieve Gordeau, but at the same time, he wasn’t sure putting all the eggs in his basket was such a good idea.
Arthur was forced out of his thoughts by his companions looking to him as he sat down in the chair he’d left previously.
“What was that about?” Ema asked, giving voice to the question everyone present had in their minds.
“A… benefactor of mine.” Arthur said with uncertainty.
“A… benefactor?” Gideon repeated after the group looked at each other.
“Yeah, he had some insights that… might be a way forward for us.” Arthur said, and began explaining what Gordeau had spoken to him about. He left out the part about multiple realities, keeping that particular revelation to himself until a more appropriate moment.
When he finished, the group fell into yet another lull of silence.
“So… we go in, find this ‘Raid Commander’, take it out and we’re home free?” Gideon said.
“It’s risky,” Aurora remarked. “A bit too risky for my liking.”
“It’s our only shot!” Ema said to her friend. “You heard the Tin Man. If we pack up whatever jackass that’s in that tower, we can finally get out of here!” After her and Arthur’s talk the previous night, Ema had begun on the long path to self rehabilitation. Her issues would not disappear overnight, but her reticence in being their party’s driving force had disappeared. Her determination was tempered, but no longer marred with shame and self-loathing. Her use of “Tin Man” when referring to Arthur had transformed from a snarky nickname to an affectionate one.
“It can’t be that easy,” Gideon mumbled. “The exact simple solution we need just happens to drop into our lap the moment we need it most? It makes me itchy.”
“What choice do we have? Even if it is a trap, we don’t have any choice but to at least try if it means a safe way out of here!”
The collection of survivors looked at each other uncertainly. After a bit more discussion, the team decided that if there was a chance, they would pursue it.
“I’ll hold down the fort while you go hunting for this Raid Commander.” Sherman said after the meeting was over. “Someone has to watch over the lambs while you’re gone.” Arthur smiled at him. “Thanks, Sir.”
“Don’t call me sir. You know I always hated that.”
“Sorry, S…Mr. Sherman.”
Nicholas Sherman shook his head and turned to rejoin the group at large to start distributing rations. The rest of the party staying in the meeting room to discuss plans of attack.
Gordeau stood before the System screen in the dining hall. Every Dungeon Admin had a stall specifically for them, which Gordeau quite relished as he passed the scores of small-time System administrators waiting for their turns. Lunch was truly a precious thing in every universe.
“Scans indicate that the current choice you are considering has a value of: 30 thousand calories.” Halla droned off.
“Are you calling me fat?”
“Of course not, sir. One such of your biology requires a high daily calorie intake.” It responded. Gordeau watched her suspiciously before returning his attention to the screen in front of him and scrolling on.
The place he was currently in was a dining hall created for the System Admins. Though many of the Admins didn’t need to eat, food was a pleasure that transcended universes. Just like there tiers of Raid leaders, there were also tiers of Admins who watched over the various processes of the System. While they hadn’t created it, the various factions of the Macrocosm had come together to create the Administration, a way to manage and disseminate the functions of the System to anyone the Admins could reach. Gordeau was one of the Dungeon Admins, which was higher than most, but not near the top, which was reserved for Dungeon General Admins and Merchant General Admins.
Gordeau considered his conversation with Lindow as he made his way back to his office. He had very specifically told him to play it safe for a reason; the very combination of his abilities that made him a key piece on the board. During his time in the Undersea Redoubt, he’d gained both the True Heart of Devotion passive and an Audacity class. Both during his first struggle against an abomination that had attacked a helpless older man and his child. Abominations that were not even supposed to be around yet, at that. The only reason they were there was because of the human’s presence.
When the dungeon formed, it trapped a large amount of humans inside. Such a thing was not a rare occurrence, but it did trigger the forced formation of monsters. The dungeon, in its larval state, wasn’t supposed to have access to monsters until The Quine had run its bloody course in its entirety. The fact that there were humans trapped inside, however, had kick-started its normal processes and forced the System to compensate, causing the rise of the abominations Arthur and Mira had fought against. Abominations were only supposed to appear after The Quine had finished as well, as a final backlash of the Systems…
Gordeau shook his head. Even thinking about the true purpose of The Quine could cause him backlash, and such was not something he wanted to deal with right now. The issue was Lindow, and his self-destructiveness that was clear through his anomalous nature.
As mentioned before, he had both the True Heart of Devotion and an Audacity class. To a normal user of the System, while the combination was potent, they wouldn’t think much more of it. Gordeau, however, understood its implication.
Someone gained an Audacity class in multiple different situations. More times than not, the main cause was a showing of an intense will to accomplish something, or an absolute dedication of much the same. The Heart of Devotion, on the other hand, was gained through an intense desire to protect someone or something. The True version of that skill was gained through a selfless sacrifice to protect that very thing, if you synergized with the title enough.
Arthur had gained all three things at the same time in defense of someone he did not know at all, which could only mean one thing.
Arthur was unflinchingly dedicated to sacrificing himself for anyone or anything he believes is worth it. Which, something that Gordeau had learned simply from talking to him, was… everything.
Gordeau sat down in his chair with his food, already mentally exhausted simply from thinking about Lindow. Normally, he wouldn’t care about his proclivities, but Arthur was important. As far as Gordeau knew, he was singular in his powers, making him a perfect counter for the forces that would be and already were coming for the lives of innocent people. If he died, then the damage done by The Quine would be much worse. Much worse than Gordeau was willing to think about, so he instead focused on his sandwich and the recording he’d make of the raid on the Raid party leader soon to come. He took a bite.
“Master, I’m inclined to inform you that this dish will overlap your daily calorie intake.” Halla robotically informed.
“I knew it!”