Lyn-Tar had failed. Even more worrying, Lyn-Tar could not be brought back. How was someone keeping his servant's soul from returning to him? There were only a few ways that could happen and none of those possibilities or creatures that could shred souls was supposed to be on this planet.

  “What is your command Lord Charr?” his 1st assistant, a goblin housing a minor demonling from one of the tribes that supported this conquest asked.

  “Get word to the Commanders. They are to prepare a strike group and set out with their strike forces to the other ley lines and Safe Zones on the other land masses. Destroy anything that stands in our way, especially the city nodes and safe zones. Leave the anomalies alone.

  “And if we find those that wish to join?”

  “Accept them of course, let them help hold the territories. We’ll separate and vet the useful from those that aren’t after we’ve converted this planet to a hellscape and established our foothold in this dimension,” Lord Charr said as he paused for a moment before he asked, “How is the portal holding up?”

  “The portal at the leyline nexus known as Stonehenge in this world remains open and our troops continue to funnel through from Aazerk. So far the only demons on this side of the portal are you and I Lord. We need to create the link to the hells before others will be able to come through without needing to be summoned like I was.”

  “How many more are going to come through from Aazerk?”

  “It’s only one portal, even as big as it is. Your generals estimate that it’ll be at least two more weeks before everyone has come through.

  Lord Charr looked thoughtful, “Two weeks?” He said to himself. “Two weeks should be plenty of time to head north. Prepare three legions. We have a city to visit on this Island.

  ***

  After 3 days, Pandora, with the help of Thor and Caspa, had completely revamped the underground base in Scarborough. So much so that it went at least a mile down and encompassed the entire Safe Zone. She’d been very careful to keep all of the base within the Safe Zone so monsters wouldn’t spawn within the structure, though the underground tunnel that went off to the southwest and came back to the surface near a retirement center 3.7 miles away almost reached its edge.

  Thor had placed cameras at strategic locations all along the Safe Zone and within the complex. Additionally, Thor had set up a reactor of some sort that she didn’t understand but it allowed him to power the facility and 4 portal devices that he’d installed on the bottom level which gave them access to portal technology. The facilities were completely self-sufficient with enough backup supplies created that would allow this facility to run for the next century without support from anywhere. Water was brought up from a well but could also be drawn in from the sea and desalinated if needed if one of the cleric/healer types didn’t just create it.

  Two entire floors had been converted to house farming and livestock. Artificial sunlight had even been provided which allowed the two floors to grow enough food to feed at least 2 million people. Also, the people were adjusting as well. The soldiers were looking at ways to get stronger by leaving the safe zone and hunting monsters in the area while the normal people raised their kids and schooled them. Some credits were even spent to learn about the various things they could do in a newly integrated SYSTEM world.

  Pandora had even purchased a few documentaries to become more informed. Everything she had come across described the first couple years of integration as being the hardest as food ran out and the alpha personalities rose and abused those below. Every text recommended that everyone do whatever they could to get stronger in the newly integrated worlds. Whether you wanted to be a crafter, work in the service industry, or be a monster hunter every text said the same thing. Whatever you decide, work to become stronger.

  The people in Scarborough and London, because of the Safe Zones, were going to have a leg up on everyone else because they could take a break from the monsters without needing to worry about monsters appearing in their rest area, had a significant advantage over anyone that didn’t have a Safe Zone.

  They’d also improved the living conditions of everyone in the facility. Thor, with her father’s memories, had access to all the technologies of the 20th, 21st, and a couple more centuries as well as copies of movies and shows in his memory that he downloaded and made available to everyone. He’d also created a couple of broadcast chambers that could be used to make local news shows and documentaries that would be useful for those wanting to learn how to use basic skills and spells or get out local announcements. Her team, especially Robert and Asling had taken to making instructional videos over the last two days and were thoroughly enjoying themselves. Callum, Pythias, and Cedrik had even stepped in to help.

  Pandora’s thoughts were interrupted when Thor’s voice entered her mind, “Pandora,”

  Pandora answered in kind but she hated talking out loud, “Thor, why are we talking out loud, you’re in my head, well my body somewhere, why not just talk to me mentally.”

  “First, it’s weird, second others needed to hear this, we have incoming.”

  “Incoming, what kind of incoming?” Pandora asked.

  A holographic screen appeared in front of Pandora on which three floating vessels, about the size of a football field, the English version not the American version. The image zoomed in on the ship that was trailing behind the other two where a man, no, a demon was standing on the deck. The ships were coming up on the edge of the Safe Zone about a mile above the ground where they halted. Pandora watched as a portal appeared at ground level and a group of goblins exited and started walking back and forth along the edge of the Safe Zone as more continued to come out.

  “How should we handle this?” Amanda asked through her connection to the emergency communications circuit.

  “Well, it looks like we’re going to need to go see what happened to London after this,” Pandora said. “As for this, Thor if you would be so kind as to create a portal above the leader.”

  “On it,” Thor said as a portal opened 100 feet above the leader.

  Pandora activated Shadow Step And walked out of a wall near the leader. One moment after she stepped forward she was struck three different times by three heavily enchanted weapons which she didn’t even bother to deflect. With her attributes at over 100,000 again her Damage Resistance had increased to 501. Of course, she didn’t just let them hit her. Instead, she activated Kinetic Absorption. All three attacks came to an abrupt halt and Pandora ended up spending 244 Chaos to Earn 487 Psychic Energy as each attack was stopped.

  To make a point she stepped forward as one of the Goblins tried to jump up and claw her eyes out. Pandora reached forward and flicked him on the forehead which caused the goblin to explode into a fine black mist, which her nanites immediately captured and broke down.

  The Demon Lord, dressed in exquisite armor with a very large sword at his hip held up his hand and the attacks stopped, “Who are you?”

  Thor: Let me know when you are ready,

  Pandora acknowledged Thor’s mental contact without showing that she’d heard and understood and looked at the demon in front of her, “I am Pandora. Who are you?”

  “I am Lord Charr, Demon Lord and Ruler of this land.”

  “I have a Town Node that states otherwise…” Pandora started to say as she was interrupted by Lord Charr.

  “If you surrender…”

  Pandora sent her mental command to Thor, Now.

  While Pandora had been keeping the Demon's attention Thor had the nanite back at the facility create four Level 10 Ship Mounted Particle Projection Cannons. Normally they were ship born. Thor converted the weapons so they could be installed on a turret and then had three turrets target the ships while the fourth targeted the demon center mass. When Pandora said now, she activated Shadow Step as four 5-inch circular beams of energy tore through the ships and the demon. Three of the beams bisected the three ships while the fourth slammed into, and through, the demon's chest.

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  The Demon Lord staggered back as Pandora reappeared next to him, reached forward, grabbed the two very small horns on his head, and twisted with her full strength. His head was ripped from his shoulders as a portal opened directly below her feet and she dropped into the command center next to Amanda with the demon’s head in her hands as a Notification appeared in her vision.

  Congratulations! You have killed The Legendary Demon Lord, Lord Charr. You have earned 300,000 XP and 11,400,000 Credits

  You have gained Levels 75 and 76

  Pandora’s attention was brought back from her notification when Thor called out, “Say hello to my little friends,” as three deafening explosions went off on the south side of the estate.

  “Thor, what did you do?” Pandora called out.

  Instead of an answer from Thor, Pandora watched as the nanites near her solidified into the semi-solid form of Thor as a holographic screen appeared in mid-air in front of them with an image of the three airships floating a mile above the ground. Four seconds after the deafening explosions the first two ships disintegrated, followed a split second by the third. There was a delay as the wood of the vessels started to expand, which was followed by three massive fireballs in the sky.

  Thor smiles, “He Shoots, He scores!”

  “What does that mean?” Pandora asked perplexed.

  “It’s a sports reference. It means my three guns shot and then three ships exploded, “Thor said with a grin.

  “Are you having fun?” Pandora asked.

  “Oh yes. The SYSTEM has put a lot of restrictions on what I can do with the nanite portion of our arsenal. Modifications, creating food, that kind of thing is allowed. Taking over sentient creatures and dominating everything without giving them a chance to resist, The SYSTEM had given a big “No” to such actions. What you just witnessed was me creating three Rail Guns, mounting them to turrets, and then firing them at our invaders.

  “What if they would have turned around and left,” Pandora asked.

  “Your father was never a big fan of leaving enemies behind him. I know your mother wasn’t and now you have both of their memories in your head. Are you going to tell me you weren’t trying to figure out a way to either capture or destroy those ships?” Thor asked.

  “Capturing them would have been nice. Also, how did you destroy that ship with what amounts to a normal weapon?”

  “Oh, there was nothing normal about that projectile. The tip was made out of Adamantium and the round was accelerated to 5,100 miles per hour, or just under 7 times the speed of sound. “At just over 4 miles away, the travel time was 2.83 seconds,” Thor explained.

  “Seems like a bit of overkill,” Caspa offered.

  “What she said,” Cedrik said as he walked into the room. “I had to come up and see what all the cool people were doing.”

  Pandora smiled at Cedrik and then turned to Thor, “Thor was going to explain why he thought annihilating a source of loot and experience was a good idea?”

  “Well, the first reason is the notification you have waiting for you concerning that head in your hands,” Thor said.

  “What?” Pandora said looking down, she’d forgotten that she still had the demon's head.

  “Here, I’ll take that,” Thor said as two tendrils gently took the head from her hands and created a clear case around it before it was set down on the ground.

  “That was neat?” Cedrik said, “How did you grab the head and then move the box?”

  “There are enough nanites in my form that I can create linkages and solidify connections which allows this body to have some physical interaction with my surroundings. I’m nowhere near as strong as you or Pandora but Caspa and I can lift things in these forms.”

  While Thor explained how he grabbed the head and moved it Pandora looked over her Notifications.

  You have killed the City Owner of London. Would you like to assume control of the London City Node?

  Error!

  You are currently outside of the Domain of the City of London, please return to the Domain of London to accept or decline control of the London City Node.

  Warning, The City Node of London has been claimed by the Zax. You have 1 hour to establish control of the conquered City Node before control will be granted to Zax.

  Warning, While City Node is being Contested, The Safe Zone will continue to prevent Monster Spawning but combatants will NOT be ejected from the Safe Zone, nor will they receive any penalties. A warning will be issued when the Safe Zone is reinstated to normal functionality.

  Congratulations You have killed 600 Goblins.

  Congratulations You have killed 300 Gnolls.

  Congratulations you have killed 30 humans.

  Congratulations you have killed 3 half-ogres.

  You have earned 2,479,500 XP

  You have earned 7,082 Credits.

  Congratulations! You have earned Levels 75 – 86.

  “I just received levels for what you did?” Pandora told Thor.

  “Why, wouldn’t you? Technically the three of us are one big happy family now,” Thor said with a laugh as the image on the screen rewound and showed a slow-motion image of the slugs hitting the first two ships. Pandora noticed that a shield flared briefly before it failed and a pressure wave expanded from where the rounds entered the ship which was followed by a few minor explosions and then a giant one that completely destroyed each ship.

  “Well, that’s one way to make a statement,” Amanda said.

  “I know right?” Thor said.

  “Thor, are you okay?” Abi asked.

  “I’m fine, why are you asking?”

  “Well, you’re acting a lot less like a program and more like a person with hormones and such,“ Abi said.

  “Probably has something to do with my new circumstances. But I’m still me and I still have all my memories,” Thor said.

  “Okay, just making sure,” Abi said.

  “So, what’s your plan now?” Amanda asked.

  “Now, I need to get to London in the next hour and claim the city before this prick’s army does,” Pandora said as she moved the boxed head into her Personal Storage.

  “Do you think you can try to unlock our attributes before you go?” Desirae asked.

  “I’ll give it a go, but no promises,” Pandora said as the forms of Caspa and Thor blew apart and their primary consciousness returned to Pandora.

  Caspa: Why don’t we try combining?

  Pandora: I didn’t want to presume to speak for the two of you. Also, what if both of you are completely absorbed?

  Thor: First that would be okay, I made my choice when I chose to merge with you. Second I don’t think that will happen. Even if it does, I’m good with it.

  Caspa: While I do not want to disappear forever, if I have to incorporate myself into you, that would be fine. Of course, that’s not going to happen so let’s do this so you can go kick some butt in London and save the people we can.

  Pandora: Look at you, Callum and Pythias are rubbing off on you.

  Caspa: And you Grandmother

  Thor: Stop Stalling

  Pandora nodded, which she knew both Caspa and Thor noticed, and then willed her title Triumvirate to activate.

  What happened next far surpassed anything Pandora could have thought possible. Her father’s memories, which included more data than she could sort through became accessible in an instant. Unlike the times various entities had tried to absorb her father’s mind, she had Thor, who already had access to the memories and knew them. Instead of being overwhelmed, she had access to what felt like an infinite supply of information as Caspa, Thor, and her became singular. The unity of their minds allowed aspects of Caspa’s Chaotic Identity to access aspects of her father’s memories and from that combination, the ability of The SYSTEM to suppress those that came within its domain became known to Pandora, as did the ability to undo that suppression.

  Pandora reached out and touched Desirae’s chest. With a thought the chaos within her reached out and into Desira, moved down to her Soul Core, and undid the restrictions that The SYSTEM had placed upon her. Pandora felt Dessirae’s restrictions fall away as she seemed to shudder and change as the energies that had been withheld from her flooded back into her.

  Pandora looked up, “Get all my family and friends from before up here now,” she said as she started moving around the room. Pandora’s Grandfather was next. He was followed by her Grandmother, Amanda, Abi, and finally Clarence. Everyone from her father’s group, as she liked to think of them had base attributes that were increased up to over 17,000 as modified by the levels they’d acquired while defending the estate since they’d arrived.

  Callum, Asling, Robert, Cedrik, and Pythias walked into the room saw what Pandora was doing and waited. Pandora unlocked each in quick succession. Unlike those who had worked with her father, her friends didn’t have as many raw attributes from the previous SYSTEM and only received a small boost. Their attributes were only increased by 100 to 200 points. While not insignificant, when taking into consideration others within this SYSTEM, higher-level members of this SYSTEM would be more powerful than them.

  “Well, that will make leveling easier,” Cedrik said.

  “Yes, it will. It will also make dealing with the monsters that are right outside our Safe Zone a little easier too. Let’s go get equipped and head out. Pandora, you need to go take care of London don’t you?” Desirae asked.

  “On it,” Pandora said as she made her way to the inner garden and jumped into the sky, she activated her Dragon Form and rose into the air. She had about 50 minutes to get to London. Pandora flew along the highway for a moment, picked a set of mile markers, and then timed herself. If her, or Thor’s, math wasn’t wrong she was flying at about 1,000 miles an hour. Thor’s memories included geographical data for the planet which put London 192 miles south of her current position, or just under 12 minutes away. She had plenty of time.