Xavier sat in the middle of the Staging Room. Volkarin was back inside his Companion Cube. The dragon had practically eaten his weight in meat back down in the tavern. Sam had to keep bringing back more and more plates, setting them on the floor with a frown.

  Howard, Siobhan, and Justin had taken the news of Xavier’s plans well. They were back on a floor of the tower, grinding hard to gain more levels and power. It was clear they took their role as Earth’s protectors just as seriously as Xavier did—they each had people back there they needed to protect, too.

  A time dilation field surrounded Xavier. The moment he’d returned to the Staging Room, he’d wanted time to pass more swiftly. He could have opened the loot box he’d gotten from the hundredth floor back on Earth, as he could return to Earth whenever he wished now, but he wanted to open it here.

  The moment he returned to Earth, there would be a million things to do. The citizens from Collinsville would likely swarm him. Not a whole lot of time had passed since he’d left, but that didn’t mean things hadn’t changed back there. And even though he could theoretically ignore them and retreat to his quarters, he knew he would feel inclined to find out what had happened since he’d left.

  He wanted a few moments of peace before he returned, but he was too impatient to sit there and wait the nine hours that remained until he could open the loot box.

  So he pushed time forward within the time dilation field until the countdown on the loot box reached zero and he was finally able to open it.

  So much for cultivating patience. He chuckled.

  Xavier rubbed his hands together then reached out for it. Before his hand touched the lid of the loot box, however, he received a message.

  [Xavier? Are you there?]

  Xavier frowned. It took him a moment to recall who this person was from the sound of their voice in his head. He really had been on that floor for a long time. They were talking to him with a Communication Stone. Only so many people had that option.

  Then he remembered—John Hammond. He’d left the man with a Communication Stone. He was one of the Denizens that Xavier had brought up to E Grade so he could help protect Earth while Xavier was gone. He had a direct line to Xavier but wasn’t able to contact him while he was on one of the tower floors, only when he was between them.

  [John? What is it?]

  There was a long pause.

  [I should have contacted you sooner… We thought they’d just gone missing.]

  Xavier blinked. [Thought who had gone missing? John, what are you talking about? What’s wrong?]

  Even through the Communication Stone, Xavier was able to feel the man’s worry.

  [Three people have been kidnapped from the camp. Guardian has gone after them.]

  Xavier touched the loot box, returning it to his inventory. He would have to open it later after all. Without replying to John, he brought up the System notification that told him he could return to Earth if he wished.

  Then he willed that option without fanfare or ceremony.

  In a flash, Xavier was teleported from the Tower of Champions back to Earth. He arrived, standing in the middle of Collinsville.

  The town, fortress, or base of operations—whatever one wished to call it—looked much as it had when he’d left. He didn’t know why he’d expected it to have changed.

  Not much time has passed in this universe. He was still gaining his bearings. Getting used to the time difference. Jet lag was one thing, universe lag was another.

  [Xavier? Did you hear me?] John asked, clearly in distress.

  [Where are you?]

  [I’m on the wall, above the front gate. But aren’t you in the tower…?]

  Xavier leapt into the air and spread his wings wide. It was nighttime back on Earth. He flew over the different buildings that had sprouted around the town of Collinsville. Behind him was the tower where his own rooms were, right at the top. In that tower’s basement would be the war room, where one could see all around the base.

  There were more people out and about than he had expected at this time of night, but he supposed people didn’t sleep as much as they used to. A few people gasped and pointed up at him as he soared through the air, but there were still others who looked at him without awe in their expressions—these were people used to seeing humans fly by now. Xavier wasn’t the only one around here with that ability, after all.

  Xavier landed on the wall right beside John Hammond.

  John Hammond had been standing against the balustrade, staring into the dark night, his eyes narrowed. John had a kind of summoning class that allowed him to take on the aspects of the beasts that he summoned. Right now, he was taking on the aspect of a Giant Eagle. He had wings, similar to the ones Justin had when using his Winged Flight spell. He also had taloned hands, pointed, tufty ears, and the sharp eyes of an eagle.

  John startled as Xavier landed beside him. The man whirled around, eagle-eyes widened as he took in the dragonkin before him. The black dragon wings. The clawed hands. Xavier and John almost looked similar. But John was still very much human, he merely appeared otherwise.

  The summoner shook his head. The fear he’d felt at seeing Xavier fled, but the shock was still evident in the slackness of his face and the tone of his voice. “Xavier, you’re back from the tower? When—when did you return?”

  “About two seconds ago,” Xavier said, coming up to stand beside him at the edge of the wall. He put his hands on the balustrade and looked out into the night. “Now, tell me what the hell is going on. Who’s gone missing? And how did this happen?”

  One of the others on the wall stepped forward. A slender young woman clutching a bow in her left hand with a full quiver of arrows strapped to her right hip. She had a serious look about her as she took Xavier in. This was Melissa Donavon. Like John, she was one of the Denizens he’d powerlevelled up to E Grade to help protect Collinsville.

  “Your mother,” Melissa said. She didn’t turn her head to look away. “Justin’s mother. And Howard’s wife.”

  Xavier’s eyes widened. He looked from John to Melissa. “How did this happen?”

  “We… we don’t know,” John said. “Initially, we thought they went missing. Justin’s mother disappeared first. We just thought maybe she’d been venturing outside the wall and got lost. We sent out search parties, but she never turned up. Then when Kelly Jacobs went missing…” The summoner shook his head. “It all happened fast. Then Guardian got wind of something. He said, ‘Guardian has found the kidnapper,’ then jumped straight off the wall and moved faster than any of us could catch up with.”

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  “Guardian is D Grade now.” Melissa tilted her head to the side. “But you already know that.”

  Xavier inclined his head. The golem would have advanced with him, making Collinsville even more protected. Xavier took a deep breath.

  He had thought there was nothing on Earth that could be a threat to him. He should have taken something like this into account. These people being taken, it was targeted. Targeted at him. They could have kidnapped anyone in this place, yet they hadn’t. They’d targeted people close to him and his party members.

  Xavier had a way of tracking Guardian from the War Room down in the bottom of the main tower, but he didn’t want to backtrack. “Did you see where Guardian went?” he asked John.

  John nodded. “I was about to go after him when you appeared. I might not be able to keep up with him, but I can spot him from the air in this form.” The young man looked at Xavier’s wings, a clear question in his gaze, but there simply wasn’t time to ask it.

  “Point.” Xavier didn’t wait for John to follow. The second the summoner pointed in the right direction, he leapt into the air and spread his wings wide. He moved like the wind, leaving the others far behind. He scanned the area with his natural sight. He was far too high up for his Farscope to help—he really needed to upgrade that thing. In fact, there were a lot of things he needed to upgrade.

  It didn’t take long for Xavier to find Guardian. The golem stood out like a sore thumb. He was standing outside what looked to be a small tent. Xavier dropped down beside the golem and retracted his wings as he landed beside him.

  “Guardian,” Xavier said. “What’s the situation.”

  Guardian turned his metal visage toward Xavier. “You have returned? Guardian is surprised.” Guardian’s shoulders dropped and his head fell forward. “Guardian has failed in his most sacred duty. Three of your kind have been taken by a most vile man.” The golem motioned toward the tent.

  Xavier took a step forward. “Why haven’t you entered?”

  Guardian shook his massive head. “The people the man kidnapped sit on traps. If Guardian kills this vile man, then Guardian cannot disarm the traps. They will blow, and your people will die, and Guardian will have failed. Guardian is sworn to protect.”

  Xavier sighed. Honestly, he was surprised he’d found them so quickly. He’d thought for sure that they would have been taken through a portal, kidnapped to another world. They would certainly be better collateral there.

  “Did you hear me, Guardian? I want to talk to Xavier Collins!” The voice came from inside the tent. It was a deep voice, and it sounded almost confident, but Xavier could sense an undercurrent of panic in it.

  “Who are you?” Xavier replied. As a D Grade, his voice could be quite loud. He took full advantage of that.

  The tent shook.

  ~

  Alexic Kalcav shuddered at the sound of that voice. He swore inwardly.

  The D Grade Progenitor of Earth had returned. He’d gotten just what he’d bargained for, but now he realised he no longer wanted it. The women he’d captured remained silent. They knew what would happen if they talked. Knew what would happen if things went wrong.

  D Grade or not, there’s no way he’ll be able to disarm these traps!

  From the intel that Alexic did have on this Xavier, he knew that the man had the ability to control other people’s mind. Fortunately, Alexic already had a solution to that. He had a device that prevented his mind from being controlled. The only problem was, he didn’t know how long it would last against something this strong.

  Just long enough. It has to.

  Alexic took a risk, then. Feeling a confidence he likely shouldn’t have, he moved the flap of the tent and stepped out into the night. His plan was foolproof. Alexic may only be E Grade, restricted by his B Grade master to stay that way, but his mind was an exceptional one. He had a way with plans. If he could best this D Grade Progenitor, use the leverage he had against him, use the man’s care for the people he had kidnapped to get a better deal out of this…

  Things could still work out for me.

  Alexic had always been the best spy under his B Grade’s employ, even if his master had never deemed to say that aloud. Alexic knew his worth. Finally, he would get what was due to him.

  Outside the tent, the golem loomed. Tall. Bulky. Terrifying.

  The man beside him, however, frightened Alexic even more. The confidence he’d been feeling as he’d stepped out of the tent wavered. He tried to scan the man, but it came up with information he knew to be patently false.

  The man had massive black wings. He wore a dark robe but held no weapon. That scythe-staff of his must have been inside of his Storage Ring. Did Xavier Collins not deem it worth wielding against Alexic?

  Alexic didn’t allow himself to show any visible signs of fear, but the way the man looked in his eyes…

  He can see my fear.

  He wasn’t sure what he was looking at, but Alexic was sure that Xavier Collins was no longer simply human. He must have changed his race somehow when he turned into a D Grade. That was uncommon, but it happened sometimes.

  “Why are you here?” Xavier asked. “And what the hell do you want?”

  The man’s voice was incredibly calm. Too calm. He should be worried about the people that Alexic held captive, shouldn’t he?

  “You know the situation?” Alexic asked. “Any sudden movements and I can detonate those traps. Your people will perish.”

  “If they die, how will you escape?” Xavier asked. Again, he sounded too calm. Had this man really been a part of the System for such a short time? How had he risen so swiftly?

  “I am hoping it will not come to that.” Alexic shut his eyes. He was past the point of no return, now. “I have been ordered by my master to send a message to you, Xavier Collins.”

  “He could have written a letter.”

  Alexic shook his head. “The message was to be written in blood.” He motioned to the tent. “The blood of those you care about.”

  Xavier inclined his head. Still calm. “I believe I made myself clear.” He took a step forward. “I will not have anyone on Earth threatened by outside sources.”

  Alexic shrugged. “My master is not worried.”

  Xavier Collins took another step forward. “He should be.”

  Alexic raised a hand. “One more step and I will activate the traps.”

  Xavier paused. Still, he looked confident. Not a hint of worry on his face. He tilted his head to the side. “What does this master of yours wish to gain?”

  “Ultimately? Your service,” Alexic said.

  Xavier threw his head back and laughed. “My service?” He gestured toward the tent. “And this is the message he sends? A threat to kill the people I love?”

  “Oh, you misunderstand,” Alexic replied, speaking smoothly and easily. “The message was to be their deaths.”

  The D Grade Progenitor’s eyes grew could. “I will serve no one, but especially not someone like that.”

  “Indeed. I did not think you would bend your will to that of another’s. However, my master, he can be rather persuasive. In just a short five years, your world’s restrictions will be lifted.” Alexic paused. “He intends to destroy your entire world if you are to refuse him.”

  Xavier’s eyebrows rose. “Then this master of yours courts your death along with his own.”

  Alexic, hand still raised, responded swiftly. “Be careful with your threats. You do not know the strength of the person I am speaking of.”

  “I don’t much care how strong they are.”

  The man took another step forward, but before Alexic could do anything about it, he was frozen in time.

  ~

  Kelly Jacobs sat on a bomb.

  At least, that was what she thought it was. Either way, she knew that if she moved more than an inch, she would die.

  All she could think about were her children and her husband. Howard was off, fighting on other worlds—no… other universes. Michael and Rebecca would be all alone. She’d thought they would be safe inside Collinsville, but whoever this man was…

  Xaiver has created powerful enemies with his actions, and here we are, left behind to suffer the consequences.

  She knew that wasn’t fair. The man had basically saved their entire world. But she, like others, worried about what would happen to Earth in five years, when the restrictions were lifted, and the world became free game for anyone in the sector.

  Could this Xavier truly be strong enough to protect everyone by then?

  She could hear them talking outside. Xavier had returned from the tower. That gave her hope that maybe her husband was here too. But if he was, he would be out there. She would be able to hear his voice, and the cold rage that would be in it at her having been put in this position.

  How in the world are we going to get out of this?

  “Hey, Kelly.”

  Kelly almost jumped out of her skin, but managed to remain calm enough not to move from the spot she was in.

  A man’s head was floating before her. No, it wasn’t floating—it was sticking out of some sort of portal. She recognised the man, though there was something starkly different about him that she couldn’t put her finger on.

  “Xavier? Please, be careful—”

  “There’s a trap. I know. Don’t worry.” He pushed his head farther out of the portal and craned his neck to look at the other two women who’d been kidnapped and taken to this place. Kelly knew that one of them was his mother. “Just… stay still and try not to panic. This will all be over soon.”

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