Alien memories filled my mind. They were memories I’ve never had before. Most of them were lost in the blurry rush as they flooded in.

  The first one was the most disorienting. It was me as a child, but it was wrong. I was a stranger in my own body. In front of me were the bodies of two shaylips. They were dead, one filled with arrows, the other split from shoulder to hip.

  I knew who they were. They were my parents, but they weren’t. It was impossible. What’s happening?

  Lying next to them was an equally dead man with red skin, horns, and a tail, blood pouring from the hole in his chest. Standing over him was Layith.

  Layith knelt in front of me. “Sorry Bark, these things happen in the Soul Nexus all the time. Every once in a while, some lunatic thinks they have to kill everyone they come across to gain levels.” The shaylip shook his head. “None of us belong here. This isn’t a fate we deserve.”

  This is Bark’s memory?

  Where there should’ve been sadness, there was nothing. Bark was numb. He just kept staring at the three bodies.

  Layith grabbed Bark’s hand and led him past the bodies. “I’ll give you a hand, kid. It’ll be my good deed for the day.”

  The memory washes away after that point. More unfocused memories marched past in an instant. Then a clearer one came to the forefront.

  Bark was swinging four swords in front of a mirror. He worked them through a series of stances.

  Layith walked into the room, his face was turned into a deep frown. “Still training? It’s very late. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

  “If I spend my time sleeping, I’ll never be able to do anything.” Sweat poured off Bark’s body as he let the swords rest at his sides. “Someone has to save our people.”

  Layith crossed his arms and leaned against the door. “You’re still on that, aren’t you? Countless people tried and failed. Throwing your life away won’t save anyone. Greater than you have tried and failed.”

  Bark threw the swords to the ground. “Doing nothing is throwing away my life.” He jabbed a finger at his closest friend. “You have the power to fix this, but you stay here doing nothing about our plight. Of anyone, you should be the one trying to climb the Soul Nexus. Join me if you don’t want to do it alone?”

  Layith raised an eyebrow. “Together? Where would you get an idea like that?”

  Bark smirked. “Tyras got drunk again. He got on a rant about the more people in an orgy, the better. He even wanted to get a dozen people together for one. When I asked why, he told me, 'The more people together, the more you’ll be able to do things you wouldn’t be able to do otherwise.'”

  Layith chuckled. “Sounds like something he would say. But what does that have to do with anything?”

  Bark held out a hand. “It gave me an idea. If I can’t climb the Soul Nexus alone, then maybe I could do it with others.”

  Layith stood up straight and bobbed his head side to side. “Okay, I can see the logic. But the problem lies in, who are you going to get to join you?”

  Bark shrugged. “That’s the hard part. I’ve got to find someone who can help teach me how to organize a group.”

  The memory ended. Who is Layith? They look like friends, even though I now know there’s an age difference between them. What Layith said to Bark seems to have had an effect on him. He really is trying to climb the Soul Nexus. What’s his wish?

  Another memory started.

  I was still watching through Bark’s eyes. He was standing in a familiar room of the dungeon I was in. Gary’s podium was in front of him. He was exhausted, covered in wounds, and completely lost in disbelief after the robotic head greeted him.

  Layith had suggested the dungeon to him. His friend had warned him about the spiders and even provided needed antitoxins since his resilience wasn’t high enough yet. This was supposed to be able to answer his questions about putting together a group. Somehow, this Gary was his answer to many questions.

  “What’s your name?” Gary’s question snapped Bark out of his stupor.

  “Sorry.” Bark cleared his throat. “I’m, uh, Bark. Are you real? Will you really answer any questions?”

  “One query at a time, please.” Gary’s robotic voice hummed in the small room lit by a small stone light in Bark’s hand. “If I can provide an answer to the provided queries, I will. Is there a specific request you wish to make?”

  Bark wiped the sweat from his face. “Can you teach me about group compositions and tactics?”

  “I can.”

  Bark held out all four of his hands, pleading. “Please. I need to reach the top. I have to have my wish granted. I need to free my people. Who should I get to join me?”

  “Everyone who climbs the Soul Nexus believes they need their wish granted. You are nothing special,” Gary responded coldly. “If you desire it so fervently, you must earn your wish. As for your query, keeping your group diverse yet small will give you your best advantage.”

  “Why?”

  “A small group grants a great deal of freedom while allowing the whole to benefit from each other’s strengths to cover any deficits. Diversity is important because there will be obstacles some individuals will be better suited to handle than others. Finding the right people will be up to you. Start by looking for those that excel in areas that you struggle in.”

  Bark crossed his lower arms while tapping his chin. “That’s not hard. But—most people who come to the Nexus aren’t interested in working together. The last time I tried to work with another shaylip, he stabbed me in the back—literally. Finding someone trustworthy is the part that’s going to be where I’ll struggle.”

  “If your kinsmen can’t be trusted, seek newcomers to the Soul Nexus.” Gary made it sound like it was the most obvious fact in the world. “Look for those who are struggling, then provide them with the helping hand they need. Loyalty is a strong motivator.”

  Bark furrowed his brow. “And what about the group itself? You mentioned diversity. What roles should I be looking for?”

  Gary’s head let off a faint whirr. “Every effective group must cover three primary areas: offense, defense, and support. Offense to take down enemies, defense to protect the group, and support to maintain balance in prolonged fights. However, there’s more nuance depending on the environment. In the Soul Nexus, adaptability is crucial.”

  Bark sighed. “So, I need people who can multitask.”

  “Correct,” Gary continued. “Specialization has its uses, but flexibility increases survival rates. You must think beyond the immediate. You will face traps, ambushes, environmental hazards, creatures resistant to certain tactics, and possibly betrayal from within. As the leader, be ready to make hard decisions.”

  Bark lowered his head. “Hard decisions… like?”

  “If their skills are no longer useful or if they hinder the group’s success, you may have to sacrifice individuals for the greater good. The climb demands it. If not, then you will fail.” The bluntness in Gary’s voice hammered into Bark. “The Nexus is not a place for mercy. You must be willing to make ruthless choices. Loyalty is important, but survival is paramount. Keep that in mind as you assemble your group. You must be willing to do anything to reach the top.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Slowly nodding, Bark hummed. “Be ready to do anything…”

  The memory ended before moving on.

  Gary made him believe that he has to attack his friends and allies to get what he needs? But if he took Gary’s word then, why did he not listen when everyone said that taking my nanites would kill him? He’s desperate to save his people from the Nexus. Why is he willing to die for this? Gary told him survival was the most important part.

  Several shorter memories played out; all of them were similar to one another. Bark studied others who entered the Nexus and noticed a pattern. They were all alone, and almost all of them died within the first few days.

  But that all changed when a certain green slime woman skipped through town. Her carefree attitude was a stark contrast to the entire atmosphere of the town. Bark noticed several others were watching her with obvious ill intent. He was about to wave her off as yet another failure until she turned around, winked at those watching her, and walked into an alley.

  That’s Killa!

  The men watching her ran in after her. It wasn’t more than a few seconds until there was screaming and an explosion that sent one of them flying out of the alley and into a cart of lizard dung.

  Raising an eyebrow, Bark had to investigate now. To him, this slime woman was either reckless or far more powerful than she appeared—and either way, she was intriguing.

  He watched the alley for a moment longer. His mind flashed back to Gary’s advice, “Seek those who excel where you struggle.” The slime woman’s audacity drew him in. She might be just what his group needed.

  Carefully, Bark made his way to the alley’s entrance. The air smelled of burning hair and dust. When he peeked inside, he saw the slime woman casually leaning against the wall, one of the shaylip thugs melting in her arms. The other men were either unconscious or dead.

  “Enjoying the view?” she asked in a playful tone without looking up. “You their boss or something?”

  Until that point, Bark had never seen a slime so animated. Bark straightened, folding all four arms in front of his chest. “You handled them pretty easily.”

  Killa glanced at him with a sly grin. “Oh, that? Barely worth the effort. Are you here to try your luck too?”

  Bark shook his head, stepping fully into the alley. “No. I was simply interested in you; maybe give you a hand if needed.”

  She chuckled. “You give me a hand? That’s a new one in this place. Unless you’re offering to feed me your hand. But I doubt that, even if you’d have three to spare.”

  Bark instinctively grabbed his wrists. Her dark humor was disconcerting. “Not what I was going for.”

  Killa waved her hand with a chuckle. “I’m joking, I’m joking. Relax. But seeing as you haven’t run nor attacked me, there’s something else you have on your mind. My name’s Killa, by the way.”

  “Bark.” Bark counted the three remaining corpses and took note of the one that went flying and the one that she dissolved. “So, how did you deal with five thugs? And is eating people a regular thing for you?”

  The slime woman shrugged. “Sometimes. But it’s not needed most of the time. I was just doing this place a favor by cleaning up some trash.”

  She wiggled her fingers before curling them into a fist. A yellow tentacle wrapped around Bark, restraining him completely. “As it turns out, I’m a competent magic user.”

  Bark squirmed, but couldn’t break free. Fear for his life overwhelmed him. He was worried Killa was planning on killing him, much more torturously than she had the bandits who tried to jump her. His curiosity got the better of him. “Wait…wait.”

  Killa put her hands on her hips. “Why? Aren’t you planning on lowering my guard and learning my secrets before killing me?”

  Bark shook his head. “No. I wanted to team up with you.”

  Her expression shattered. “Team up?”

  The tentacle relaxed, but continued to hold. Bark took a deep breath. “Yeah, you know, work together. Help each other out to reach the top of the Nexus. I can’t do it alone.”

  “I know what it means.” Killa snapped her ginger before tapping her chin. “Besides, I can believe you’re not strong enough to reach the top on your own. But where do I come in? Are you looking for an escort? Too bad. Baby sitting isn’t my speciality.”

  The blood dropped from Bark’s face. “Sorry. I’ll leave if you let me go. This was a mistake.” When the tentacle vanished, he turned to leave. “Good luck climbing the Nexus. Hopefully, it doesn’t take you like it has so many others. Maybe you’re strong enough on your own. There’s only one way to find out.”

  Just as Bark was about to leave the alley, a wall of semi-transparent green tentacles appeared to block his path.

  “You know something, don’t you?” Killa called out behind him. Bark turned to face her. “How long have you been in the Soul Nexus?”

  “All my life,” he answered despondently.

  Killa’s face scrunched up. “Do you know this place well?” He nodded. “Are you working with anyone else?”

  Bark’s heart rose a bit as the sliver of hope grew. “Not yet. I’ve been looking to put a group to conquer the Nexus for a little while now. You’re the first one who is capable and seems interested.”

  The memories of those he tried to work with before played in the back of his mind. All of them tried to take advantage of his naivete. Before he could continue, a loud crash and a thrum of thunder sounded behind him.

  Layith was standing at the shattered barrier, his fists sparking with lightning. His eyes narrowed on the slime woman. “I will give you three seconds to stand down.”

  “Done,” Killa chirped. “We were just having a charming conversation about working together.”

  Layith almost stumbled. “You what?”

  Bark scratched at the back of his head. “Well, I saw Killa here walking through the streets, almost carelessly, and the way she took out these guys caught my attention. So, I thought, maybe, she’d make a good ally.”

  Layith sighed. “You’re really going through with it. Okay, fine.” He threw his arms down, and the lighting around them stopped. “Tell me, Killa, why would you agree to this?”

  The slime woman rocked back and forth with a playful grin on her face. “Because I’m curious too. He’s the first person in a long time that hasn’t tried to kill me, eat me, or call me a world-ending abomination.” She winked at Bark. “Besides, he’s sincere, I can tell. I’ve been alone for a long time; maybe it’s time I spent time with someone who isn’t my patron. Our conversation has been refreshing.”

  Bark noted her flighty whims, but didn’t say anything.

  Layith turned to Bark and pointed a finger. “I’ll help you. This was stupid, and you got lucky. From now on, I’ll find people who you can ask to join.”

  He nodded. “I’m aware of how bad of an idea this was. But thanks, Layith, I knew I could count on you.”

  More memories played until he found me facing off against Culson. From there I remembered most everything, but feeling his envy for my nanites grow each time I described a feature hurt just a little more. The memories ended when he stabbed me. I couldn’t bear the desperation and hatred he felt.

  The contrast between the young, vulnerable boy from his earlier memories and the more hardened individual who approached Killa gnawed at me. It wasn’t Gary’s calculated pragmatism that convinced Killa to join Bark. It was his genuine desire for help, for something more than survival. It’s good to know that Killa’s always been a kind person. Ruthless, yet kind.

  Bark learned a lot from Gary, but did he focus on all the wrong lessons? Gary drilled into him the idea that survival meant sacrificing anything—and anyone—when necessary. That included me—and trying to take my nanites for himself.

  My thoughts drifted back to Gary’s blunt proclamation: “You must be willing to make ruthless choices. If their skills are no longer useful, you may have to sacrifice them.” That’s wrong. You can’t do that to your friends. Would he have done the same thing to Layith if that was the case?

  My vision returned to see the poor shaylip still trembling.

  He’s dying. There’s no saving him. His internal organs are shutting down now. You were too late.

  “Why, Bark?” Tears welled up in my eyes.

  I knew how envious he was of my nanites and everything, but I still couldn’t bear the pain of his death. Because, alongside those feelings, I knew his unbreakable desire—no need—to save his people was just as fundamental to his being. I knew that was the answer to my question, but accepting it was another matter entirely.

  “My people…I’m…sorry…” Those four words were the last to leave his lips as his body went limp.

  His chest rose and fell slowly. He’s still breathing. But for how long?

  “He’s not going to make it.”

  Killa’s simple proclamation horrified me. He was one of my first friends. I wanted to climb the Nexus with him. I wanted to see him to free his people. He just wouldn’t stop hounding me for my nanites. Nothing would deter him. Now, he’s dying, and there’s nothing else I can do for him. This is my fault. Instead of helping him free his people, it’s come to this.

  “Correct,” Gary said all too frankly.

  Killa stood up and walked over to me. I backed away from her and Bark until I was as far away as possible. My body shook as I dropped to my knees, warm tears pouring down my face.

  “Rina, calm down. What’s wrong?” Killa reached out to me. I shirked off her touch.

  “It’s my fault. I did this to him.” The words bubbled out of my mouth. I’ve practically killed him. I tried to save him but it wasn’t enough. If he never met me he’d still be alive.

  Killa flinched, but then hugged me. “No, no, you didn’t. He made his choice. He did this.”

  I looked her in the eye, tears streaming down my face. “This isn’t what I wanted. I never wanted to see him die. What else can we do? He doesn’t deserve this.”

  She froze. Her mouth opened and closed without saying anything. She went back to hugging me, and I closed my eyes and hugged her back. And for a few minutes, we stood there with Gary, silently letting us come to terms with what just happened. When I opened my eyes again, the air was colder. It was cold enough that I could see my breath.

  “Come out, come out, wherever you are.” A frustrated demoness voice called out. “No more running you rat. We end this now!”

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