Buck jogged back into camp and was greeted with a sight that made him stop in his tracks. Where the pile of rubble had been—-the sad pile of what was supposed to be his home— now stood a sturdy two-meter wall. The river stones, carefully gathered from the Popo Agie, were held together with a dark brown mortar that made the wall blend seamlessly into the forest. It was as if the earth itself had decided to lend a hand.
But that wasn’t all. Stretched between the wall and a pair of trees was a roof made of coyote pelts sewn together with surprising skill. It wasn’t a house—not yet—but it was a damn sight better than sleeping under the stars.
Buck heard a rustle behind him as he stood there, taking it all in. William Wight emerged from the brush, carrying a bedroll made from the same pelts.
“Ah, young pup!” William called out, his voice warm and proud. “I see you’ve stumbled upon my latest creation. I hope you find it up to your standards.” He unrolled the bedroll with a flourish, as if presenting a masterpiece.
Buck couldn’t help but grin. “This is incredible, Billy. You’ve really outdone yourself. Did you make all of this?”
If William had managed this alone, he was holding back more knowledge than Buck had given him credit for. Buck couldn’t even begin to guess how to prepare a pelt, let alone build a stone wall from scratch. Sure, Bev had probably helped by providing Skills, but still—it was impressive.
“It ain’t nothin',” William chuckled, brushing off the praise. “I figure if you’re gonna be going out riskin’ your hide to keep us safe, you might as well have somethin’ comfy to return to. And yes, I did it all myself—well, minus the rope. The Nexus Shop had those in stock. My [Construction] Skill hit level 10, so I figured, why not put it to good use?”
Buck shook his head, still smiling. “Regardless, Billy, you did this all for me. If there’s anything you need, let me know. Seriously.” He paused, his tone turning more thoughtful. “Is this really what you want to do with your new life?”
William stopped, his translucent form flickering slightly as he considered the question. Like Buck, William had been working tirelessly since escaping those caverns, leveling up and gathering strength to prepare for the [Defensive Talisman]. Over the past two weeks, their conversations had been brief and hurried. This was the first chance they’d had to talk.
After a moment, William spoke again. “I find this kind of work…rewardin’. My previous life weren’t so different, minus the magic and evil monsters, of course. I had to build my whole life from the ground up. It’s all a bit fuzzy, but my family and I had set out west, chasin’ the American Dream. We landed just south of here and decided to stay.”
He paused, a shadow of concern crossing his face. Buck hesitated, then said, “You don’t have to talk to me about this if it’s painful, Billy.”
“Oh no, young pup, it’s not that,” William replied, patting down the bedroll. “It’s good to think about your history. Our memories are what make us who we are. It’s just… I don’t seem to remember everything about my past life.”
Buck frowned. “Is it getting worse?”
“Thankfully, no,” William said, standing up and brushing off his ghostly hands. “But the more I try to remember, the more I realize how much I’ve lost. You heard of South Pass City?”
“I have; it was a gold mining town,” Buck said softly. “Is that where you're from?”
William didn’t respond; he just nodded wistfully as he drifted back toward the Nexus. Buck felt a pang of helplessness. In this new world, he’d found a sense of purpose, but seeing William—his first real friend in this godsforsaken world—struggling with his fragmented memories made Buck feel powerless. All this Charisma, and he couldn’t even cheer the guy up.
Jogging after him, Buck called out. “Billy, I’ll say it again. If you ever need anything, you let me know. You may have nearly drowned me, and I may have punched you in the face, but that doesn’t mean you’re not my friend.”
Willam let out a deep, rumbling chuckle. “Why, I appreciate that, young pup. And I am sorry bout the whole drowning thing. Bev can really be mighty fickle, can’t she?”
He clapped Buck on the back with a resounding thud. It was still so strange— looking straight through William’s translucent form but feeling the solid weight of his hand. As Buck glanced through him, something caught his eye.
“Is there a television on my father's grave?”
William turned, following Buck’s gaze. “Now, I don’t know what no television is, but Evander did purchase that [Leaderboard] over yonder. It’s to keep track of all the highest-viewed Kingdoms.”
Perched precariously atop his father’s crypt was what could only be described as a flat-screen TV—and not even a nice one. The rickety thing leaned against the headstone like it had been tossed there by a disgruntled mover. It reminded Buck of his college days when he and his roommates had bought the cheapest TV they could find just to say they had one.
But as he stepped closer, he noticed something odd. The screen displayed a list of Kingdoms, their names glowing faintly in the dim light.
Sector 95.8Y
856th Integration Ranking
- Point Pleasant Kingdom
- Gulf of Mexico Kingdom
- Himalayan Kingdom
- Hawkesbury Kingdom
- Osaka Kingdom
- Roanoke Kingdom
- Cliffs of Moher Kingdom
- Stonehenge Kingdom
- Bern Kingdom
- Mesopotamian Kingdom
Buck took a moment to study the list, his stomach sinking. It was undeniable— the whole world had been integrated. Until now, a part of him had clung to the hope that Emily and his mother were just sitting at home, watching some cheesy B-movie. This crushed that hope. He had no idea where Bern was, but the Cliffs of Moher were in Ireland, and Point Pleasant was in West Virginia. He couldn’t imagine why West Virginia was the number one most-watched Kingdom—but he was pretty sure it wasn’t because of their scenic highways.
“This is fortuitous news, Blackwood,” Evander’s shrill voice piped up, snapping Buck back to reality. “Those herons you so efficiently dispatched put us just over the price for the [Leaderboard]. Until now, we could only hope no one had noticed your…creative approach to survival.”
Creative approach? Buck snorted. He couldn’t help that Bev had decided to make him a veritable superhero in a world full of superheroes. All he’d wanted to do was say goodbye to his father one last…wait.
“You spent all of our money on this?” Buck said, looking down at his disintegrating jorts. Saying they were falling apart would be generous—at this point, he was basically wearing a denim kilt. The only thing keeping him decent was the belt the Bottomless Bag had formed. He shot daggers at the little hamster.
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“Do not look at me with such disdain,” Evander said, raising his tiny paws in mock surrender. “This device is a critical tool for our future endeavors. It will upgrade itself as more ladders are added after the first convergence. I assume you’ve returned because you’re ready to receive your first Attunement?”
Buck took a deep breath. He couldn’t let himself get mad at Evander. So far, the hamster had been annoyingly helpful. He was the only reason Buck had any clue what was going on, and if he was telling the truth, Buck might’ve already been hunted down by some Faction if he hadn’t focused on hiding himself from the Viewers. All this death had to have a purpose, right?
“Yeah, I’m here for my Attunement,” Buck said, crossing his arms. “I know I’m supposed to pick something Death-related. Anything else I should know, or are you just gonna keep being cryptic?”
Evander leaped up onto the Nexus, striking a regal pose. The little guy loved being the center of attention. “An Attunement, Blackwood, is a pivotal step in your journey to Ascension. This first one is a gift from the Root and the AI, but it is imperative that you choose something that resonates with your path.
“Forcing yourself into an Attunement that does not align with your nature can have… unfortunate consequences. Think of it as a physical manifestation of your will imposed upon you by the Root. It grants you the ability to reshape reality itself. For example, a Citizen who follows the Path of Fire and attunes, say, a Seed of Ash can ignite the very air around them in battle.”
Buck raised an eyebrow. “So, what you’re saying is, I could walk out of here shooting fireballs from my hands? I thought you said I would never be able to use mana?”
“In theory, yes,” Evander said, his tone dripping with condensation.” Your Attunement will be linked to the Source, of course. Though I would advise against such a crude interpretation of the power you are about to receive.”
Buck smirked. “Noted. But what if a Death Attunement doesn’t vibe with me? I’m not exactly thrilled about becoming the Grim Reaper. I’ve got people to save, you know?”
Evander sighed, not even trying to hide his eye roll. “Blackwood, the Path of Death is not so one-dimensional. Consider the circle of life. A pinecone cannot release its seeds until a forest fire clears the way. The Root will not provide you with an Attunement that contradicts your purpose. Though, of course, much depends on Bev’s…whims.”
“Great,” Buck muttered. “So, it’s a crapshoot.”
“Place your hand on the Nexus,” Evander said, ignoring him. “And remember, as with all things in the Cracked Kingdoms, rarity matters. The ranks are as follows: Basic, Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, and Unique. Choose wisely.”
Buck stepped up to the Nexus, glancing at William, who gave him a reassuring nod. “You got this, young pup,” the ghost cowboy said with a grin. “Just don’t go pickin’ something’ that’ll turn you into a buzzard or nothin’.”
“Thanks, Billy,” Buck said dryly. He placed his hand on the cold stone, bracing himself.
[Congratulations! You have reached level 20! The Attunement Tab has been added to your Menu. The Root has provided you with 5 Attunements. Choose Wisely!]
Attunements:
Seed of Shadow
(Basic - Death)
In twilight’s grip, the Shadow sighs,
A silent force where darkness lies,
It stretches forth with ghostly grace to claim the night, its rightful place.
Reward: Ability - Shadow Step (Basic)
Attribute: +4 Dexterity +2 Intelligence
Seed of Destruction:
(Basic - Death)
In chaos’ wake, Destruction sings,
With trembling earth and shattered wings,
It carves a path through dreams undone, a cleansing fire that bows to none
Reward: Ability - Destroy (Basic)
Attribute: +4 Strength +2 Endurance
Seed of Bloom:
(Common - Nature)
In morning’s glow, the blooming plant sways,
With petals unfurling, it dances and plays,
A tapestry of colors, joyous and bright, a cheerful embrace, welcoming spring’s light.
Reward: Ability - Rejuvenate (Common)
Attributes: +4 Intelligence + 2 Endurance
Seed of The Gray:
(Unique - Death)
In shadows deep, The Gray awakes,
With whispers cold that bind and break,
It seeks to weave its dark design, reclaiming power once divine.
Reward: Ability - Gray Mist (Unique)
Price: Lose Access to Intelligence
Attribute: +4 Dexterity +2 Charisma
Seed of Withering:
(Uncommon - Death)
In silent corners, the withering plant bows,
Its leaves so crisp, the end it allows,
Once vibrant and green, now brittle and gray, it fades with the light, in stillness it lay.
Reward: Ability - Wither (Uncommon)
Attribute: +4 Dexterity +2 Strength
Buck stared at the list, his mind racing. This was it—a turning point. Time seemed to slow around him as he gazed upon the list. Gone was the happy-go-lucky attitude of Bev. Here was the true face of the Root, and it was threatening.
The Attunements seemed tailored to his past decisions. Shadow aligned with his sneaky tendencies, and Destruction with his brutal combat style. Bloom for his desire to save, and Withering for his fear of failure. But one Attunement stood out.
The Gray.
It was Unique, which was tempting on its own. But the Attributes were perfect for the path he envisioned— ending his battles quicker while using Minions to support him. And losing access to Intelligence? Honestly, Bev seemed determined to keep him dumb anyway.
But something about the description nagged at him. The Root made it sound like The Gray was some sort of sentient force bound on a path of Destruction. The Seed of Shadow and the Seed of Withering were right there, each providing him an excellent path forward. Why should he risk this Unique Attunement?
Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained. With a reluctant sigh, Buck selected the [Seed of The Gray]. The prospect of adding a Unique Skill and Attunement was just too good to pass up. He didn’t know what challenges awaited him on the eastern border of his Kingdom, or how he’d handle the [Ironfur Bears] to the north. And the “opposing force” still loomed over him like a shadow.
As he stepped back from the Nexus, Buck expected…something. But nothing happened. Then, without warning, his body was wracked with unfathomable pain. It started in his core, where his puddle of Source began to wither and dissolve. It felt like his very soul was on fire.
He collapsed to the ground, writhing. William stepped forward, his face full of alarm, but Evander raised a tiny paw, stopping him. “Let it happen,” the hamster said, his tone disturbingly calm. “The process is…unpleasant, but necessary.”
Unpleasant?!” Buck choked out, clutching his stomach. “This feels like I swallowed a chainsaw!”
“A chainsaw would be far less efficient,” Evander replied, adjusting his tiny robes as if this were a perfectly normal conversation.
Buck wanted to argue, but the pain was too overwhelming. Source flowed through his body, saturating every cell with liquid fire. The pain was absolute as if every part of him was about to burst. He scrambled to stay conscious, grasping for any sign that the agony was receding.
“Y’know,” Buck managed through gritted teeth, “if this is what ‘ascending’ feels like, I think I’ll stay on the ground floor, thanks.”
William chuckled nervously, floating closer. “Hang in there, young pup. You’re tougher than you look.”
“Gee, thanks,” Buck muttered, his voice strained. “That’s real comforting.”
Within him, something changed. Adjusting, mutating his being until it was something Buck did not recognize. His Source transformed, shifting from a shallow pool into a swirling mist that floated around his core. The mist was pulled deeper into him, coursing through his fingers and arms, down his legs to his feet, and then tore through his nervous system, coating the very fiber of his being with the gray mist.
Buck felt every grueling second.
“Ok, this is fine,” Buck said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just a casual Tuesday, getting my soul ripped apart by sentient fog. Totally normal.”
Evander sighed, clearly unimpressed. “Your penchant for melodrama is truly remarkable, Blackwood.”
“Yeah, well, maybe if you—” Buck’s words were cut off as a fresh wave of pain hit him. He curled into a ball, his vision blurring.
Just as he couldn’t take it anymore, the pain began to recede. The mist inside him settled, coalescing into an orb of thick gray fog that now sat behind his navel. It swirled within him, powerful and unpredictable.
Buck lay on the ground, panting, as the last of the pain faded. He felt…different. Stronger, yes, but also heavier, like the weight of something ancient now rested inside him. Buck glanced down at his hands. His skin had taken a faint, ashen hue as if he’d been dusted with ash. As he stood, from deep within the orb of gray mist, he could’ve sworn he heard a deep, resonating chuckle.
Buck Blackwood had attuned [The Gray].