Chapter 8

  "Good boy." The smugness gained in Wormpool's voice. "Now tell me this: What is your core? What is your affinity?"

  "I have a Chaos Core, an Anarchy Affinity," Tyler said, still gasping for breath, remembering Vlad's advice to lie about his true nature.

  "LIE!" Wormpool's voice boomed through the chamber, rattling the jagged walls. "HOW DARE YOU STILL LIE TO ME, BOY!" The bat-creature’s eyes flashed with rage, and his claws slashed through the air, inches from Tyler’s throat, leaving a faint sting where the wind grazed his skin. "Chaos channels don’t bleed yellow. Do you still take me for a fool?"

  Panicking Tyler looked inward.

  [Congratulations! You've successfully force-bonded an ability gem]

  [Choose one of five available abilities.]

  While his mind fumbled through the options, Wormpool sneered, "Those won't help you, Human. It's too late."

  The choices flashed through Tyler's consciousness:

  [Fortune’s Favor: Intermediate]

  [Active Spell (5 second activation time)]

  [While active, loot obtained from Cosmore-generated sources is improved by 100%. Additionally, there is a 50% chance to upgrade items found in non-Cosmore-generated chests. (50 Core) Short*** CoolDown]

  [Lucky Charm: Intermediate]

  [Passive Spell]

  [Grants favorable treatment from individuals with low will. In some cases, they may even feel as though their actions are influenced beyond their control.]

  [Critical Success: Intermediate]

  [Passive Spell]

  [Boosts the chance of successful hits and parries. All attributes temporarily increase during critical moments in combat.]

  [Strike Streak: intermediate]

  [Active Ability]

  [When active, after landing 3 consecutive successful strikes, the next 4 strikes gain an increased chance to deal critical damage. (50 Core) Short* Cooldown]

  [Flicker of Fortune: Intermediate]

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  [Auto-Activation Ability]

  [When near death agility and dexterity increase by 500 and 100% until energy pull is fully drained. (60 core-draining) Long*** Cooldown]

  Damn it, The choices were all so cool, but only two would get him out of this scenario: Flicker of Fortune and Lucky Charm. This animal couldn’t be that powerful; he couldn’t truly have a will higher than "low," whatever that was. Could he kill Wormpool though? He couldn’t even move. Could he use Flicker and run out of here? Where would he even go? Wormpool’s claws scraping the stone floor with a sound like nails on glass. Time was running out.

  Time was running out. Wormpool's fangs gleamed in the purple light as he waited for Tyler's next lie or confession. Tyler had to choose, and he had to choose now.

  Wormpool lunges, and the air whooshed past Tyler—"Tell me, bug!"—fangs gleaming, claws out, and Tyler's vision swims as the notifications flash. Lucky Charm, he thinks, locking it in—fuck it, it's now or never.

  A faint golden shimmer ripples from Tyler's body. Wormpool pauses momentarily, his grip on Tyler’s tunic slackens, and his snarl falters, replaced by a furrowed brow. Then, his tone shifts, unexpectedly calmer

  "What is your Core? Another lie and... and I will..." The creature hesitates, his previous rage seeming to dissipate. "Tell Severen, He will let me get a part of your soul for my enjoyment”. Tyler's eyes went wide he could tell something changed and it happened so fast.

  “But why lie, I can help you, boy. We don't need to be enemies."

  Tyler's numbness was starting to fade. He could wiggle his toes, and his back didn't feel unnaturally arched anymore. His thoughts started to flow more smoothly again.

  I knew this thing wasn't as powerful as it let on, he thought.

  "Thanks, Wormpool, and I am sorry for lying in the first place." Tyler decided to roll the dice with this one. "Vlad told me to conceal my Core for a reason. What could you offer me, and how could I help you in return?"

  "Tell me your Core, Your Affinity, and Your ability, and I'll tell you what it's worth to me."

  "I have an Order Core, With a Structure Affinity" Tyler lied again, adapting his strategy. "Vlad told me that it was highly disliked in the void. Was he right?"

  "Vlad steered you wrong. He is always playing games with the Newcomers," Wormpool said, his voice now less threatening. "Your core is useful in all realms. It's very useful for crafting, very useful indeed." He nodded approvingly. "Now, was that so hard, Tyler?" Fuck it knew his real name, even if it was playing nice this could be a problem.

  Wormpool produced a potion that was clear except for its center, which contained a red sphere of liquid suspended within it.

  "Drink it," he commanded. "It's a health potion. It will quicken your recovery."

  Tyler eyed the potion skeptically but took it anyway. The Lucky Charm ability seemed to be working well enough to keep Wormpool in a cooperative mood.

  "You can be useful to me," Wormpool continued. "I need Structure beads. At level 5, you will be able to create beads. To keep things short, they are this world's currency. You can offer them to our God, Lord Vacuus, and he will give you boons and items." His pale eyes gleamed with calculated interest. "But I need them for a craft. That's a rare core, boy. I now know why he told you to hide it."

  Wormpool's claws tapped together as he spoke. "It will take time, but I need 10,000 beads. It's a task, but you will be here for many lifetimes if you survive. And in return, I won't tell Severen about this little... incident."

  Tyler took a sip of the potion, feeling warmth spread through his body as the paralysis continued to fade. His mind raced with the implications. He'd managed to turn an enemy into something approaching an ally—or at least a business partner. But he was still lying about his core, and if Wormpool discovered the truth...

  "Sounds like a win-win," Tyler said, feeling the strength return to his limbs. "And this Severen—what's his deal? Why would it matter to him what my core is?"