Chapter Thirty-Eight

  "Few things capture attention like the potent mix of young love and violence." – Chief Marketing Officer at the CNC.

  Level Five

  Zar’Keth Village

  Nadia & Tuck

  "Every day, I think I’ll get more used to not having it," Tuck admitted, his voice carrying a weight he hadn’t quite shaken. He and Nadia were nearing their usual training and meditation grounds, the familiar path crunching under their shoes. "I feel like it was more of a safety blanket than I ever realized."

  "I think it’s good for you to be without that Warhammer," Nadia replied, her tone light but pointed. She caught the immediate eye roll and shake of Tuck’s head, which only made her smirk. "What did Williams always tell us about adversity and challenging ourselves? What better way to adapt than not having your big club to ‘Green Smash’ everything in sight?"

  "It’s Hulk Smash," Tuck corrected with a chuckle, though his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I understand and believe you, but I don’t know. Look at me—I’m what, close to 400 pounds now? How am I supposed to finesse anyone?"

  "I’m not saying you need to fight like Will," Nadia countered, her voice softening but firm. "I’m saying you need to face your weaknesses head-on. Even Coach Williams tried to get you to shift during the last Intermission. And seriously, what other 400-pound guy can jump up a cliffside? That’s agility, Tuck. Do you really want him to be disappointed in you for not pushing yourself further?"

  Tuck shot her a wry smile. "What’s one more person?" he teased, though there was a flicker of something deeper in his eyes. "Seriously, you’ve got to realize I break meditation at least twenty times during your single sessions. Energy control just isn’t my thing. I trigger my skills with emotion. How is absolute calm supposed to teach me anything?"

  "Are you saying you don’t want to join me anymore?" Nadia asked, her tone deceptively casual.

  "No. Not that," Tuck said, his voice softening as he glanced away.

  "So, what are you saying?" Nadia pressed, her gaze narrowing.

  Tuck hesitated, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I just need something… something different. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up," he muttered, trying to steer the conversation away. "Let’s just get back to meditation."

  "No," Nadia said firmly, her voice calm but resolute.

  "No?" Tuck echoed, blinking at her.

  "Yeah, no." Nadia folded her arms, her stance unyielding. "You act like all emotion is triggered by anger. How can you be so dense sometimes?"

  "Dense?" Tuck repeated, his brow furrowing.

  "Stand there and close your eyes," Nadia instructed, her tone brooking no argument. "If I see even a twitch, I’m leaving, and we’re ending these sessions."

  "Okay—"

  "No. No talking," Nadia cut him off sharply. "Listen and react. Nothing more."

  Tuck sighed but obeyed, closing his eyes as instructed. Nadia took a deep breath, letting her frustration ebb away as she centered herself. She placed her hand flat against Tuck’s chest, her energy flowing into him in a steady, deliberate stream. His body tensed at first, but the familiar warmth of her healing energy quickly calmed him.

  "Feel my hand on your chest," Nadia began, her voice low and steady. Tuck instinctively started to lift his hand to touch hers, but she stopped him. "No. Don’t move."

  "Calm your mind," she continued, "and focus on the heat of my hand. Feel the push of my energy behind the wall of your chest." Under her palm, she felt the subtle shift in Tuck’s energy, his heartbeat quickening as heat and energy tension built within his core.

  Nadia moved her hand lower, just beneath his heart. "Follow my hand," she instructed, "but keep the energy around your heart contained. Isolate it. Create a bridge of energy connecting the two points."

  Tuck’s breath hitched as her hand slid to his left side, just under his ribcage. "Keep following," she urged, her voice unwavering. She traced her fingers back up the right side of his chest, then onto his shoulder, guiding the energy with precision. Tuck’s body trembled as the energy surged through him, his core and arm now alive with raw power.

  Nadia didn’t stop. Her hand moved back across his chest and down his other arm, the energy building into a frenzy. She stepped closer, her hands trailing down both legs, triggering a downward energy funnel that left Tuck shaking with intensity.

  Finally, Nadia straightened, her Ghostwalkers activating as she rose to be level with Tuck. Her breath brushed against his skin as she leaned in, her voice a challenge. "Feel it?" she asked, daring him to acknowledge the storm within him.

  Tuck stood frozen, his body pulsating with raw energy. Nadia leaned in further, her face mere inches from his, before closing the gap entirely. Her lips met his in a brief but electrifying moment, the connection igniting the energy within him.

  "Now," she whispered, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "Release."

  The command hit like a spark to a powder keg. Tuck’s energy erupted, slamming him backward with a force that sent him flying into the forest. He crashed into the ground five meters away, the impact knocking the wind out of him. His head spun as he stared at the sky, his body still buzzing with residual energy.

  A shadow loomed over him, and Nadia’s concerned face appeared. "Are you okay?" she asked, her energy flowing back into his channels to stabilize him. "I hope you didn’t mind—"

  "No," Tuck interrupted, his voice dazed but filled with awe. "That was… incredible."

  < Level Up! Tuck is now a Level 11 Accelerator >

  ***

  Will

  Will stood puzzled as he noticed the active views across the team spiking. “That’s right, 42.3B Active Views right now—my man is popular,” Nexy said internally, their voice brimming with smug amusement. Curiosity tugged at Will, wondering what the rest of his team could be up to, but he quickly refocused and turned his attention back to Steel.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Mission today is to contain our perimeter on the eastern front. The path spans from just south of the river bend to the eastern mountain mining entry points,” Steel commanded, his voice firm as he addressed the group of ten Warriors. These routine sweeps had become a grim necessity of late, their frequency increasing weekly.

  “I’ll take Alpha squad north to the riverfront. Brick, you’ll command Delta squad to the south,” he continued, pointing out the trail. “The path rises to the second rock wall along the mountain. You’ll see a cleared line giving you a vantage toward the western tree line.”

  Will nodded as Steel’s gaze lingered on him. He could feel a few sidelong glances from the others as Steel added, “The Chief won’t tell you this, but I damn well will—be alert. These perimeter checks aren’t nature walks anymore. Keep your eyes sharp, follow your leader’s command, and don’t hesitate to blow your whistle at the first sign of trouble.”

  The groups split, leaving Will to lead his newly appointed Delta squad uphill along the rugged trail.

  “Congrats, Commander…” Todor teased, his grin as wide as his energy signature was bright.

  “Seriously, it’s about time the prick made it official,” Gabby chimed in, her tone as sharp as ever.

  “Wait, what?” Will asked, caught off guard for once, his brow furrowing.

  “Oh, don’t play dumb,” Gabby replied, her civility laced with sarcasm. “You’ve been his second-hand boyfriend for months now. Steel pushes you twice as hard as the rest of us—you goddamned earned it weeks ago. Outside of Steel, nobody can touch you.”

  “It’s like he’s trying to set you up to marry his sister or something,” Todor added, his voice mixed with mischief.

  “Yeah, you lucky bastard,” Gabby said, smirking. “Lysa’s a gem. If it weren’t for Steel knocking you around and sending you her way, I’d reckon you were already smitten.”

  The conversation struck a chord, and Will finally grasped the nuance. His deliveries to the infirmary had indeed decreased, with only Steel’s relentless attacks forcing him to seek Lysa’s care. Even after gaining just a single level, he had grown stronger; there was no doubt about it.

  “As much as I’m enjoying this little circle of compliments, I think I’m hearing a touch of jealousy in your voices,” Will fired back, his confidence snapping into place. “Lysa’s clearly out of your league, but maybe Sutt’s looking for a few new companions.”

  “Oh, come off it. She’s older than my grandmother,” Todor said, mock disgust etched on his face.

  “Hey now, I like Sutt. She and Uma don’t give a damn about leadership—they just do their thing,” Gabby retorted.

  “I see what you aspire to be when you get older,” Will countered with a smirk.

  “You know what? You’re right,” Gabby admitted, nudging him with a playful fist bump. Todor and the others followed suit, their camaraderie solidified. “So, what’s the call… Commander?”

  Will’s focus returned as he surveyed the cliffside trail ahead. Despite the banter, he had been spreading his energy outward to catch any signs of unrest, though the rugged terrain made it harder to maintain. The path split into two drop-off points, one higher and one lower, separated by about ten meters, with the cliffs dropping over eighty meters in some spots. Their task was to survey these cliffs while observing the lower lands, all leading to the mining entry point—an emergence spot due to ancient rockfalls creating tunnels below.

  “I’ll take the upper path through the first zone. Todor, keep track of my progress on the lower channel,” Will instructed, his tone sharp and measured. “Gabby, secure the communication point on the upper path behind me. Virog, you’re with me in zone three, and Serah, take the lower path in zone two. Maintain communication with the zones closest to you and blow your whistle at any sign of trouble.”

  Will’s strategy was clear: He placed himself in the riskiest position on the upper path, where threats from above were most likely. Todor’s role was equally crucial but not as dangerous; his position offered visibility toward the Western lands. Gabby’s role as the communication hub ensured the team stayed connected.

  “Primitive,” Nexy’s sultry voice chimed in Will’s mind, her tone tinged with disdain. “Millennia of evolution, and you’re relying on whistles?”

  “Not everyone has a companion as ‘wise’ as you,” Will replied with a mental smirk.

  “Darling, don’t I know it,” Nexy quipped, full of mock disgust.

  The squad maintained a steady pace up the cliffside. Hours passed without incident, but as they climbed, the wind began to rise, the air growing colder. Rain fell intermittently, stinging Will’s skin as it hit. The wind howled, asserting its dominance over the team, a natural warning of the dangers ahead.

  “Todor, Gabby—report!” Will called, raising his voice against the growing gale.

  “Clear!” Gabby shouted back, the wind swallowing any further detail.

  “Clear—wait,” Todor’s voice crackled through the air. “I see movement.”

  “People?” Will asked, straining to hear.

  “No… creatures,” Todor’s voice carried through the howling wind, fragile and fleeting. “Getting a better—” The rest of his words were ripped away, swallowed entirely by the storm’s fury.

  Before Will could react, a powerful gust slammed into him, pushing him back. He dug his heels in, stabilizing himself against the assault. His senses sharpened, tension coursing through him as he awaited Todor’s response.

  “Todor?” he called out again.

  ….

  “Gabby, report on Todor!” Will’s voice edged with urgency as his eyes scanned for a path down to the lower trail.

  “No contact,” Gabby’s voice returned, hollow and tense.

  Will was already in motion, focusing on the lower ledge ten meters below. One step, two steps, and then a mighty leap carried him through the air. For a brief moment, his foot caught on the wind as if finding an invisible step, slowing his descent but sending him into an unsteady tumble. He hit the rocky surface hard, jagged stones scraping his legs and arms as he rolled to a stop. Catching his breath, he steadied himself and looked down toward the forest floor, where he spotted a prone figure encircled by the predatory shadows of Vul’Raxx.

  Without hesitation, he raised his whistle to his lips, the sharp sound piercing the howling wind. He steadied himself, glancing down from the cliffside before taking another step and then another leap.

  As Will plunged downward, the wind howled in a feral rage, tearing at him, but he summoned his energy, pushing it outward with focused intensity. The chaos stilled, the air forming a fleeting calm as his Permafrost skill activated. Crystalline platforms of ice shimmered into existence beneath his feet, catching his momentum and guiding him forward. With seamless precision, he glided through the storm, his steps weaving a rhythmic dance across the glistening pathways of air and ice, every movement pulling him closer to the encroaching danger below.

  BOOM! Kenobi struck true, cleaving through the nearest Vul’Raxx as he landed with a resounding crack. The ice beneath him absorbed the impact, stabilizing his stance. Two Cryostrikes followed, streaking towards two other Vul’Raxx as he stared down the pack leader.

  Nightshade Vul'Raxx: Level 12.

  A towering alpha predator cloaked in a void-black coat absorbs all light, vanishing seamlessly into the shadows. Leading its pack with relentless precision, its piercing violet eyes and crystalline claws radiate raw, corrupted energy, while bioluminescent streaks pulse along its spine, marking its chaotic essence.

  Rain fell in sheets, streaking Kenobi with blood-soaked water as he faced the creature. He moved like a phantom, his steps curving upward as icy platforms spiraled beneath his feet. The beast lunged with deadly speed, claws slashing through the air. Will twisted mid-jump, his blade slicing deep into its flank. The creature roared, whipping around with a twisting strike that grazed his shoulder.

  Will retaliated, hurling Cryostrikes that shattered against the Vul’Raxx’s crystalline claws, shards of ice scattering like stars across the battlefield. The brief distraction gave him enough time to leap higher, rain and wind shimmering faintly beneath his feet. As the creature unleashed an energy blast from its core, Will twisted sharply mid-air, planting his foot on a hastily conjured ice step. The stable platform redirected his momentum, sending him into a precise descent as his katana arced downward, slicing through the beast’s eyes with deadly precision.

  The creature’s hollow gaze was its last as its massive form crumbled.

  MAY THE ICE BE WITH YOU!

  < Level up! Will is now a Level 12 Condenser >

  Corruptive energy tore through Will’s body, the corruption burning his veins like acid. Instinctively, Will isolated Permafrost on the eroding energy, encasing the damage in ice to hold it at bay. Voices now reached him, blurred and distant.

  “Grab them!” a sharp yet distant voice shouted, cutting through the fog in his mind.

  “We need to get him back to Lysa…again,” another voice, rough with urgency, rang out faintly, laced with strained humor.

  “Did you see him in the air?” someone else exclaimed, their voice trembling with awe. “That was at least a 100-meter drop!”

  “He’s connected… rooted with the earth.” The last voice was softer, reverent.

  "Get Kama…" Will’s voice barely rose above a whisper as his eyes fluttered closed, the relentless tide of pain surging through his body. Focusing with every ounce of his will, he channeled his energy, redirecting every fragment of life within him to hold the corrosive acid at bay.