Chapter 13

  Tyler’s gut churned—terrified, knowing this was it, the start of something batshit crazy. How’s this gonna kick off? he wondered, heart thumping. Red’s words echoed back—Tier 4 before he could choose his fate. What tier am I? He looked inward, pulling up the sheet in his mind’s eye.

  [Character sheet] [Subject: Tyler Jackson] [Age: 28] [Level: 4] [Race: Human (Basic 1) (High-Conscious)] [Affinities: Fortune] [Affinity Rating: 14.7] [Core Type: Fate Core (Basic 6)] [Energy: 412/412 Fate]

  [Classes]

  [Stats] [Will: 7] [Strength: 8] [Intelligence: 9] [Vitality: 8] [Agility: 7] [Dexterity: 7] [Resilience: 7] [Unbound: 0]

  [Abilities]

  [Skills]

  [Sword and Shield Mastery: Basic 7] [Two-Handed Sword Mastery: Basic 7] [Knife Throwing Mastery: Basic 7] [Survivalist Mastery: Basic 7] [Lockpicking Mastery: Basic 7]

  [Spells]

  [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.]

  No tiers listed—lame. Guess I’m still a scrub, he thought, disappointed. Felt like he wasn’t bringing much yet—lucky they hadn’t grilled him on his ability. Hope class selection lets me flex, he mused. “Classes” plural caught his eye—Multiple? Sweet. He trailed his new crew, each strutting their own way, and damn, he liked it. Rima, petite but venomous, glided smooth—all Agility and Dex, bet she’s quick as hell. Red bounced with each step, her red hair swinging side to side like she owned the corridor. And Venra—big sexy, still dunno if she’d vibe with that—swayed her hips, chainmail clinking, oozing a vibe Tyler couldn’t tell was on purpose or just her.

  They wound through corridor after corridor, purple flames licking the walls, shadows twisting wild. The bat-man leading them had wings—evolved Wormpool? Same species or what? Tyler wondered, eyeing its rustling silhouette. No one talked, the air thick with what’s-next tension. Tondrick lumbered behind, glaring every time Tyler glanced back. Lucky Charm’s busted on this asshole, he thought, smirking despite the creep.

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  They hit a chamber—same obsidian vibe as before, but center stage? What the fuck. A Red gem, big as a dining table, pulsed with crystalline veins snaking over it, liquid shifting inside like a heartbeat. Tyler’s jaw dropped. All the contestants were here—no Vlad’s crew, just them and the bat-men. Then he appeared—Severen, the Living Lord himself, stepping out excuse me more like he glided out.

  Severen stood before the pulsing gem, his presence a heavy shadow over the chamber. “Welcome, contestants,” he intoned, voice rolling out like velvet thunder, smooth yet edged with menace. “Here begins the weaving of your fates. Hal-Marrek, the Wither Heart, has slumbered long, awaiting bold souls to stir its depths. An ancient dungeon, he is as just as he is unyielding—bestowing bounteous rewards upon those deemed worthy, and ruin upon the rest.” His purple eyes swept the crowd, glinting sharp. “Employ your wits, wield your cores, summon whatsoever you deem needful—for within his sanctum, all shall be tested.”

  He raised a hand, long fingers unfurling, and drew forth a triangular stone—its surface etched with a rune that flared in Tyler’s mind’s eye: Tier 0. So that’s what I am—a fuckin’ bot? Tyler thought, gut sinking.

  Severen then placed it into a slot Tyler hadn’t clocked—a jagged notch in the gem’s side. Severen turned it slow, muttering words Tyler couldn’t catch—guttural, alien.Then shit got real. Twenty somethings—portals—bloomed around the gem, their edges swirling red and black, metallic sheen glinting like wet steel. They grew fast, each pulse stretching them wider, warping the air into a haze. The pressure slammed in—a crushing weight, gravity gone feral. Breathing turned thick, like sucking air through syrup. Loose debris—rocks, a stray dagger—skittered across the floor, then lifted, spiraling into the voids. One green-skin stood too close; a portal’s edge sheared his legs clean off, blood spraying as he screamed.

  This is real—this is fuckin’ real, Tyler thought, heart slamming, eyes wide. The gem pulsed louder, veins throbbing, the air a snarl of heat and static. The contestants—green-skins, moosekin, humans—started filing in, boots thudding, no hesitation.

  Tyler froze. No rules, no clue what’s coming, he thought, mind racing. Hadn’t asked his crew jack when he could’ve—dumbass. Fuck, I’m screwed. Rima crouched low, bowstring taut, eyeing the portals like prey. Red tilted her head, dagger hand twitching, red hair flicking sharp. Venra grinned wide, chainmail creaking as she flexed, itching for it.

  Tondrick lumbered forward, his massive frame shoving a green-skin aside, axe slung low and scraping the floor with a dull screech. “Outta my way, meat,” he muttered, voice thick, tossing Tyler a side-eye that promised trouble. Tyler smirked despite the panic—Lucky Charm’s still DOA with this guy—and he slowly stepped up, his crew falling in behind. The gem pulsed louder, veins throbbing, the air thick and buzzing like it might snap.

  Tyler’s throat tightened as the chaos of the scene sinked in deep, veins glowing hotter. He glanced at his crew, words stumbling out. “So, uh, what’s the play in there?”

  Rima cut him off, voice like a whip. “Save it—we’ll figure it out when we’re not dead.” She flicked her bowstring, eyes locked on a portal’s red-black swirl.

  Red smirked, shifting her stance. “Tier 0’s a grind, not a grave—keep your head on, Henry.” Her red hair caught the light, sharp as her tone.

  Venra let out a low chuckle, flexing her hands. “Blood’s the same anywhere—spill it or lose it.” Her chainmail gleamed, hips cocked like she was daring the void.

  They’re chill—am I the only one shitting bricks? Tyler thought, forcing a grin. “Cool, cool—just checking the vibe.” Rima rolled her eyes, Red gave a half-nod, and Venra’s smirk widened. The gem thrummed louder, the air snapping tight, and Tyler’s pulse raced—Guess we’re winging it.

  Severen Turned and looked directly at Tyler and in those beautiful purple eyes he saw finality. He launched himself in.