Chapter 17: The Ashen Relic

  I tried to listen to what Victor had to say. I really did. But he was spouting the same old shit—the same narrative that had dictated my life on earth. I knew what men like him would do in the name of achieving control. An image flashed into my mind. A car on fire. Elana's screams. The way she thrashed in my arms, fighting to reach the burning wreck that held her youngest daughter. People like Victor would do anything to maintain their control.

  I tuned him out and dove into my notifications. I’d not had a chance to investigate them since before my fight with Gabe and there were dozens of them, with more pinging up every moment. If they appeared like this during combat I would be in real trouble. After a few moments searching I found a toggle that would temporarily condense everything into the rim of my HUD, clearing my view. That would be useful.

  A short, pale man with a neck as thick as his blocky head glowered at me from across the room. I wasn’t sure what his problem was. I cocked an eyebrow in question. He cracked his knuckles and smiled. I’d always found it easy to make friends back on earth, but I was getting nothing but hostility from this room. A slight, woman with purple streaks in her black hair stood at his side with a hand through the man’s belt loop like she held the collar of an attack dog.

  Something Victor said caught my attention and I turned back to him.

  “You in this throne-room are the chosen few. Those who wait outside for our orders will rely on us for strength, direction and wisdom. As on Earth, they can not be trusted with autonomy.”

  That seemed like bullshit to me. But all around, people were nodding, straightening, muttering. I glanced down at the kid but she avoided my eye. When I looked back up at Victor, he had a little smile on his face.

  I took a closer look at the people around me. Satisfied smiles, pride and faint signs of cosmetic surgery. These people weren’t like me and Ariel. What were we doing here? I looked down at Ariel, now cleaned of blood and mud. Took in her posture, remembered the way she spoke, how comfortable she was ordering me about. I had thought that was just because she was a teenage girl, and she thought the world hers. But the kid had secrets.

  I let out a deep breath and pulled up my menus. I was getting a damn headache.

  My class menu fizzled as I opened it, lines of text erasing, rewriting and changing before my eyes. I faintly heard a whispered argument, followed by a giggle. Then a spike of pain made me hiss. Tingles coursed through me from scalp to toes.

  Class: Stormprowler (Electrician x Predator Hybrid) *Unique

  A fusion of arcane electrical mastery and primal predatory instincts.

  Perks:

  Complete Circuit (Passive)—Chaining attacks results in an escalating stat bonus. Break the circuit and the bonus will be lost.

  Predator (Passive) — A predator should be greater than its prey.

  + 10% all stats.

  + Rise to the Occasion: When facing an enemy of a higher level, base stats will increase by 5% per difference in level (Max 100% boost).

  Abilities:

  Storm Sense (Passive) – Sense electrical disturbances, predict enemy movements based on nerve impulses and view the flow of electricity.

  Rapid Repair— Use MP to bridge circuits and repair complex technology

  Soldertouch — Superheat your fingertips to weld, or solder circuits… or burn what you touch.

  It was a whole lot of nerd shit, the kind I would have closed out without even reading just a few days ago. Dying had changed my perspective and now the description gave me a bit of a thrill. I shifted from foot to foot, feeling the latent power in my muscles. I felt strong, the world was clear and bright and my mind crackled with focus. When I closed my eyes, I could still faintly feel the people around me. But a sense of unease lingered. This predator business that Priorita was pushing me towards felt like a trap.

  I minimised the menu and realised that Ariel was staring at me. Her hair had risen like there was an impending lightning strike and it hung about her head as a golden halo. She cocked a brow and I shrugged. I’d tell her my secrets when she told me hers.

  Victor was still droning on—something about the value of unity and sacrifice for the greater good. I snorted, he wasn’t planning on sacrificing shit.

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  I remembered the vow I had made under the influence of my Hatchling Predator perk. I’d promised to kill the Aliens that had torn me from my home. I’d promised to kill the humans who had controlled my life even before this had began. The idea had seemed ridiculous once the perk was deactivated, but as I listened to Victor’s words the fires of my anger were stoked.

  My achievements and awards screen opened next. There were dozens— stacked neatly and organised by rarity. Most were white, common achievements that supplied me with more red, green and blue balls. With torches, food, an assortment of odds and ends. To my relief, the last box finally supplied me with some boots. I had ditched my double pluggers days ago, and had felt no desire to explore this nightmare bare footed.

  Among the uncommon achievements, I received a ring that would glow red-hot if removed, a spool of copper wire, and a new pair of jeans. According to the description the jeans were enchanted and would provide protection from slashing attacks. I was glad to receive them. The ones I had been wearing when I was transported here hung loose, exposing most of one thigh and the edge of my boxers. Nobody wanted to watch a man fight aliens in his underwear.

  I clicked to equip the clothing, drawing a few glances from those around me. The purple haired lady—her hand still through the belt loop of her thick-necked attack-dog glowered at me so I flipped them off.

  That left just one achievement. The one that I’d received for being in the tribe that killed Gabe. This was in blazing gold font and I got the impression that it was a big deal. I clicked it and a cartoon treasure chest appeared in my HUD, sparkling with gemstones. Priorita cheered and gushed—her voice echoing in my skull as the lid opened and golden light poured forth.

  “Wowee dear viewers, this is a rare treat! Dear Allan here has received a legendary prize for his involvement in the killing of the Balgan Tourist, Gabe!”

  “Allan!” Hissed Ariel, elbowing me in the ribs. “What are you doing? You’re glowing.”

  I looked down at my hands, and sure enough, a soft golden radiance emanated from my skin. “Uh, don’t worry about it. I’m pretty sure it will sort itself out once I finish with my prizes.”

  She sighed. I tuned her out.

  Priorita was still yapping away, and I had missed a little of what she had said. From his throne, Victor had stopped speaking and was staring at me. I shrugged and flapped my hand for him to continue. A little crease I never would have spotted if not for my boosted stats furrowed his brow. The nearby groups were staring at me again, but Priorita’s tone had grown waspish so I tuned them out to focus on her.

  “As I was saying! Under normal circumstances an epic prize would normally be awarded to a contestant for the death of Tourist. But! Considering Gabe’s long and successful history in WARGAMES! AND Allan’s status as a member of a protected species. AND the fact that this all occurred on the first stage… The award for this achievement has been enhanced from Epic, to Epic+, to Ex! Epic and finally, all the way to Legendary! This is one of only 7 Legendary achievements awarded so far this season!”

  She continued speaking, practically bubbling with excitement. But as soon as I saw what was contained in the chest it felt as though I’d been plunged deep underwater.

  I couldn’t hear.

  Couldn’t see.

  There was nothing but the crucifix.

  My Grandma’s crucifix.

  The one I had found all those years ago, hidden in the shrine beneath her stairs.

  “Is this a joke?” I barely breathed the words.

  How could they know? Were they in my head? Reading my mind? The implications staggered me.

  “Is this a fucking joke?” I said it more loudly, cutting through Victors words. The room turned to look at me.

  “Allan!” Hissed Ariel. But I ignored her. Fury coursed through me, the emotion wild like when I was a child.

  Victor stood from where he had sat on his throne. He didn’t bother to hide his anger. “Do you have a problem with my leadership, Allan?”

  A worried susurrus of voices filled the room as Victor’s control over the assembled mass slipped.

  I slashed a gaze at him, but couldn’t find the words. Couldn’t explain that I didn’t give a shit about him or the crap he was spouting.

  The crucifix dropped into my hand as I focussed on it—fingers tracing the ridges and the cool red gemstones set along its length. Each detail was burned into my memory.

  Looking upwards, I roared the question. I knew the alien bitch could hear me no matter the volume, but I couldn’t hold the words back.

  People scattered away, leaving Ariel and I in a wide clearing. Victor and some of his cronies had half descended from the platform that held the throne, but froze there.

  Muttering in my mind. Multiple identical voices arguing. I caught snippets.

  “What do you—” “Has he checked—” “But Prime— “Which of us modelled the—” “—Thought he’d like this?”

  The last phrase struck me. “You thought I’d like this? What the fuck is wrong with you? They killed her, they burned her for this!”

  I threw the crucifix with all my strength. Only realising that it was attached to a chain at the last moment. It flew for about a foot, then disappeared in a shower of sparks that sprayed over a tribe of four. I felt a weight settle around my neck.

  A description appeared in my HUD.

  The Ashen Relic (Legendary)

  Soulbound

  Effect: Soul Consumption

  I couldn't breathe. The heat from the fireplaces bathed me, too real, too close.

  Grandma and little Lilly. Both burned. Both my fault.

  Staggering back, I clutched at my throat. The Ashen Relic was ice-cold, but the phantom heat still seared my memories. The weight of it dragged at my neck, suffocating.

  I ripped at it, clawing, trying to tear it off.

  Soulbound.

  I couldn’t remove it.

  The world narrowed. The pressure behind my eyes built. Whispers swirled around me.

  Judging. Watching.

  “Allan?” Ariel’s voice was small. Careful.

  I clenched my fists. The Predator Perk’s flaming skull pulsed in my HUD—waiting. One tap, and it would burn everything away.

  A dozen Priorita voices whispered, chattered and giggled in my head.

  Victor’s voice sliced through it all.

  “You see?” His voice was steady, perfectly controlled. “This is why our guidance is necessary.”

  A ripple moved through the room. The hushed voices turned thoughtful. Uncertain.

  He was twisting the moment, shaping it like wet clay.

  I looked up at him.

  Victor was already stepping forward—not rushing, but measured. Like he’d been waiting for this exact moment. His eyes scanned me, calculating. Waiting for me to break.

  I saw it then.

  He wanted this.

  He wanted me unstable.

  He needed a villain.

  I let out a sharp, humourless laugh.

  “Yeah, fuck this.”

  Victor hesitated. That wasn’t what he had expected.

  I turned to Ariel, my breathing slowing. My hands still shook, but I forced my voice steady.

  “Let’s go, kid.”

  She hesitated. A flicker of doubt. Her gaze flicked between Victor and me.

  A second. Two.

  Then she nodded.

  I stepped away. The Ashen Relic still burned against my chest, its weight a silent warning.

  The flaming skull in my HUD pulsed once. Waiting.

  Victor let us leave.

  That told me everything.