I immediately called up a system window that allowed me to pull up a chat group with just the admins. I also noticed that Bethany had been busy getting everyone added to the access lists.

  Welcome, Admins.

  Bethany: I see you have been successful.

  Dan: Mostly, yes! Still a few stragglers.

  Selka: Hello Bethany. I’m General Selka.

  Bethany: General?

  Dan: Long story, but she’ll handle the organizing of troops to take some off your plate. Also, how soon can you start teleporting people over this way?

  Bethany: I don’t know. Maybe a few hours.

  Selka: We’ll establish a safe teleportation zone for your troops.

  Bethany: Not sure I like the sound of ‘troops,’ but we’ll start gathering people in preparation.

  More names began to populate the access list as Selka got to work. The updates were very fast, and in only a few seconds the updates stopped.

  Selka: We have an issue, Dan. Our platoon we sent out to get the last several Control Spheres are not able to be added. I fear they have been slain by something or someone in control of the spheres. North of here.

  Dan: Did you just preemptively answer the first couple of questions that just popped into my head? Are you psychic or something? I didn’t feel anything.

  Selka: I’m not psychic, and this is the time you run off to check on them.

  Dan: I’m on it! Y’all get everyone together.

  Bethany: Yes, sir!

  I closed the chat to focus on my task at hand, and quickly left to the north. There was definitely something there, as my Sense Power was giving strong signals. Several, in fact.

  One winked out, then another. Time to hustle!

  My Ravenous Cloak blended me into the background as I drew near. Bodies laid strewn about the grassy plot of land that now was dotted with craters variously burned, frozen, and pocked from acid damage.

  Large beasts also lay about the landscape, and the powerful beings I sensed were still in the middle of the field, fighting vigorously.

  Dan: How many were in the platoon you sent out?

  Selka: Ten.

  Dan: I’m sorry, Selka. They are all here. I’ll gather them up for burial.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  There was a long pause before she responded.

  Selka: Can you gain from eating them?

  Dan: Only if they’ve died within the hour.

  Selka: Eat them. This tutorial space is only temporary anyway. Burying them would help nothing. We will not forget them. Plus, you may need the points for the battles to come.

  Dan: Very well.

  Being as quiet as possible, I moved to the nearest fallen soldier and began my work. All but the largest of the humanoid races didn’t fit within the large mouth on my chest, so I had little trouble making short work of it. I tried to ignore just how delicious they were. I left their gear on to get a few points out of some common gear they were wearing. I looked over each one before consuming them. I would not forget them either, if for no other reason than I was fairly sure I had a photographic memory at this point.

  The first was a ferran, like Selka, and wore a suit of metal armor that bore only minor damage from the battle, though a gout of dark blood erupted from a garish neck wound.

  You have devoured Level 61 Ferran Swordsman. Their highest stat was Agility. Your base Agility has increased by 25 points. Bonus stats from eating a Ferran Swordsman of a higher level than yourself. All stats increased by 12. Bonus experience earned.

  DING! Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary has increased from Level 44 to Level 46!

  DING! Race: Omnis Vorare has increased from Level 36 to Level 37!

  You have devoured Anviled Plate, Common. All stats increased by 10. Consuming magic items does not grant experience points.

  The second was an Elven woman who must have been partially Dryad, as she had leaves, many now blackened around the edges, growing within her hair. She wore a simple robe and a staff lay next to her broken corpse.

  You have devoured Level 59 Druwyd Druid. Their highest stat was Wisdom. Your base Wisdom has increased by 22 points. Bonus stats from eating a Druwyd Druid of a higher level than yourself. All stats increased by 11. Bonus experience earned.

  DING! Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary has increased from Level 46 to Level 48!

  DING! Race: Omnis Vorare has increased from Level 37 to Level 38!

  You have devoured Staff of Trees, Common. All stats increased by 10. Consuming magic items does not grant experience points.

  Third was an exceptionally hairy man who wore no armor, like myself, whose axe lay broken beneath him. The disrupted fur pattern on his right middle finger was my only clue that he was wearing a ring.

  You have devoured Level 63 Sasquatch Hatchetman. Their highest stat was Strength. Your base Strength has increased by 25 points. Bonus stats from eating a Sasquatch Hatchetman of a higher level than yourself. All stats increased by 12. Bonus experience earned.

  DING! Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary has increased from Level 48 to Level 50!

  DING! Race: Omnis Vorare has increased from Level 38 to Level 39!

  You have devoured the Pivot Ring, Common. All stats increased by 10. Consuming magic items does not grant experience points.

  Fourth was a Gorgon like Cari. This one felt more difficult, given my time spent with her. She even had similar colored snake hair. She wore shredded studded leather armor, too damaged to maintain its enchantment, and a buckler and dagger still held in each hand.

  You have devoured Level 57 Gorgon Knife Juggler. Their highest stat was Perception. Your base Perception has increased by 18 points. Bonus stats from eating a Gorgon Knife Juggler of a higher level than yourself. All stats increased by 9. Bonus experience earned.

  DING! Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary has increased from Level 50 to Level 51!

  You have devoured the Envenomed Dagger, Common. All stats increased by 10. Consuming magic items does not grant experience points.

  You have devoured the Buckler of Daggers, Common. All stats increased by 10. Consuming magic items does not grant experience points.

  The fifth was a smaller humanoid almost bisected from left shoulder to right hip. Some kind of blade or cutting magic did a number on them, and there was so much dirt and gore on them I couldn’t tell what they were. The System knew. Like always.

  You have devoured Level 60 Rock Gnome Stoneshape Mage. Their highest stat was Intelligence. Your base Intelligence has increased by 21 points. Bonus stats from eating a Rock Gnome Stoneshape Mage of a higher level than yourself. All stats increased by 10. Bonus experience earned.

  DING! Class: Hypocrite Revolutionary has increased from Level 51 to Level 53!

  DING! Race: Omnis Vorare has increased from Level 39 to Level 40! New Race Skill selections available.

  They must have not had any common magic items, as I got nothing there. I'd have to check on my skill later, as the fighting in the park was getting more intense the further along in my task I got.

  Several small fast creatures darted around and on top of a large grey beast that was using beam attacks of some sort. But that’s not where my Sense Power skill was pointing. Behind the fight, on the other side of the park, stood a humanoid figure holding a wand and waving it like they were a musical conductor.