Chương 486: 486

Flying back to New Tokyo, Isoko talked about what she wanted Mark to see before he went off on his own, and how he probably wasn't going to get to see any of it, due to the sped-up timeline, since New Tokyo had cut his Skilling sessions down to just the rest of today. There was always next time, though, and Isoko held Mark to that promise. Soon, Mark was slaughtering cows and taking their Bindings. A little while later, Mark put those bindings into other people, but a lot fewer people than the day before.

Commander Melanie Moore of Crystal Tower was there at the beginning of the event, and Mark asked her about what Zaid had said. Moore answered, "We have intel that some misguided people are going to get into a fight in a few days that is going to blow over way larger than is reasonable for anyone to expect. It will mar this otherwise great opportunity, so we are cutting down the number of people we're running through this system. Today shouldn't be more than an hour, and then that's it.

We're coordinating with Dawncoast and Memphi to freeze and send the leftover cows, if that's something you're interested in, Mark."

"… So it's a real concern, huh. I know I expected it, but at the same time I didn't expect it at all."" We didn't expect it either, for New Tokyo has many diversions for every kind of high powered person in the world, but there's only so many postings for kaiju squads in the world, and this sudden influx of people all keen on that sort of life filled all those easy positions."

When it was over and some guys were putting cows on ice, Mark walked out onto the front parking lot with Isoko, ready to fly into the sky, to head to the Big Torii to send Mark through the Little Torii to Daihoon, but Isoko paused and said that someone was coming. Serge Garin showed up not 20 seconds later alongside Tempest, Specter, and even Captain Titan, the four of them landing on the road just ahead. They were all in their webweave supersuits.

Mark wore his own black webweave underneath a fresh change of clothes." Glad we caught you!" Serge said, looking quite halo'd with Freyala's golden light.

"Zaid told us you were going right now, and a notice came through about someone scheduled for the Little Gate, so we put together a send-off party at Crystal Tower for you. It's a small thing. Just cake and a few of us. Will you come?" Tempest —real name Voloshina Artemieva— said, "We want to say thank you in a proper setting." Specter —Lorenzo Diaz— said, "30 minutes, tops."" We know you're busy!" Captain Titan —Max Knox— happily said.

"But you saved our lives, Mark. You saved the city." Isoko really, really wanted to go, which was great, because Mark felt the same way. Mark said, "Absolutely yes." Twenty minutes later, Mark was standing in front of the round table at the top of Crystal Tower. It was a big, yet small kinda party. No music. No planned events. But there were lots of superheroes and villains. Isoko's grandmother was there, standing to the side in her flowing dress. Zaid was in his brown and golden-pinstripe suit.

Commander Melanie Moore had on her trim, dark blue suit, common to the operators of Crystal Tower, while more superheroes wore their colorful supersuits all over the place. A big cake dominated the middle of the main table. It looked like a pile of dead dragons with a big black dragon standing on top of all of them, roaring in triumph. It was almost cartoonish, with soft edges and rounded faces and little nubby fangs. The dead dragons had Xs on their eyes. No gore at all. Mark absolutely loved it.

Zaid told Moore, "I told you he'd love it." And then Glorious Man was there, alongside Commander Melanie Moore, and the flag of Crystal Tower was there in the background, all blue on white. The flag was just a blue orb over a blue triangle on a white background. It seemed so much more special than that right now, because Glorious Man was holding something special for Mark, as he stood in front of that flag. It was a giant fake golden key to the city of New Tokyo.

And then Mark was standing beside Glorious Man and Melanie Moore and there was a camera flashing, small drones taking pictures, and Mark shook hands with Glorious Man. The key felt light in Mark's hands. He would never let it go. In front of cameras and people, faced with heroes who Mark grew up with and heroes he didn't know yet, Mark Unioned with Dream and Reality, putting the key into his soulhouse.

It felt better when it was on a bracket on the wall across from his bed, next to his Mage Society contract with all its unfurling ribbons and wax seals, and in line with the poster of Mark and Addavein arm wrestling. And then there was cake. Mark got to eat his own head, but in tiny, buttercream-covered form. It was chocolate frosting and a simple butter cake with spun sugar decorations. Nothing fancy. Just done very, very well. It was just like the cake Mom used to make for him on his birthday.

Mom's cake hadn't been as good as this one, which was such a weird thought to have. Maybe not 'better'? Maybe 'different'? No. This one was better. Mom only had Universal Basic Income supplies to work with. Mark imagined Crystal Tower had people with nuanced Powers to make cakes however they wanted to make cakes. Or at least they paid top dollar to whoever made these things. This was a giant cake. How had they gotten it done so fast, and so well? Zaid stood there, grinning, saying, "Good cake?"

Mark snorted a little.

"So did you interrogate me about my cake preferences in a discarded timeline?"" Yes. You're pretty good about telling me what I need to know when I say stuff like 'I'm going to do something nice for you so what kinda cake do you really like' and then you tell me. The important part is you don't freak out when those nice things happen. Some people absolutely hate that." And then Serge was there, holding his own slice of cake, asking, "Will you support the Church of Freyala at Dawncoast?" Mark answered, "Absolutely.

I had mixed up that Dawncoast was on Daihoon for a hot minute there, but if you guys are willing to come to Daihoon then I am willing to support you." Serge nodded, vector solidifying, "I thought so, but I needed to make sure. We're mostly evacuated from the Citadel and we're looking for land—" Zaid said, "It was nice working with you, Mark."" You, too!" Mark said. Glorious Man was there, saying, "Maybe we can take down a kaiju together sometime. Or a few dryads."

Zaid went, "You're just determined to get in over your head, aren't you, Ren." Those two moved on. Serge remained, and then Captain Titan and Tempest showed up. Tempest said, "A woman contacted me from my homeland, Gogmov. Do you know Lisa Gamebridge?"" Maybe? Quark?" Mark asked. Quark rapidly flicked some information into Mark's vision, with both a map of where Grogmov was located on Earth and some information on Lisa Gamebrige. Mark realized who she was, and so he answered, "Yes. I met her at the Winter Ball.

She buys for a few cities including Grogmov and Moscow. What about her?" Serge and Captain Titan both went 'ohh'. Tempest had an emotional moment. She took a small breath and said, " Thank you. I did not realize that you… Blackleaf bought some new Wall equipment for my home and… You have helped me so much already, Mark, and just now I have heard that you empowered a whole new Kaiju Squad team for my home." She got truly serious as she added, "You need anything at all. Anything.

And you tell me and I will make it happen." Mark felt delightfully warm. He smiled and said, "I'm just glad we could help." Tempest nodded, words too hard to say for a moment. Serge chuckled. Titan grinned and patted Tempest's back. Mark tried to remind himself of their real names, but a lot was happening right now and he had called them by their superhero names for a very long time.

The small party lasted a few slices of cake, and Mark got to talk with his childhood heroes, to hear how he had saved some of them in specific ways that he never expected to save them. It was a great ending to his time in Crystal Tower and New Tokyo, though he would come back later, for sure. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Melanie Moore had told him, "It's a 10 year wait for the Hall of Heroes, and that time starts based on the first large action a person takes to become a true Hero of Humanity. 10 years is a hard, lower limit. I expect to see you here again in 10 years, for a much more formal party." And now Mark flew through the sky, to Big Torii, with Isoko at his side, holding her hand as he flew. He didn't carry anything, and he didn't need anything.

They landed at the Small Torii, the larger Big Torii looming in the sky overhead, all red and really high up there, while the turrets overhead turned away. Everything felt so open. Mark turned his gaze back to ground, to someone who was waiting for them beside a little hoverskiff with a few different bags on the back. Isoko had organized that. Those were some clothes for Mark, and not much more than that.

The driver of the skiff leaned against it, but he stood up and stepped away when Mark and Isoko finally showed up— Oh shit, Mark thought. I forgot about him?! And then Mark smiled and called out, "Hey, Derek! How've the last few days been?" Isoko instantly said, "Sorry they didn't let you in the Crystal Tower." Mark scoffed.

"They didn't let you in?" Derek waved a dismissive arm, saying, "I broke in there and scouted out the entire place like… three times, and long before I came here with you guys. They didn't appreciate it this third time most of all, though." Mark laughed. Derek grinned, saying, "You would not believe how angry it makes some people when you infiltrate what are basically movie sets." Isoko asked Derek, "They didn't blacklist you, did they?

I've got like 10 meetings this afternoon and tomorrow morning and I want you there with me."" Nothing that serious. They threatened! Never followed through." Derek gestured at Mark, happily adding, "Because this one is an honored hero!" Mark said, "You took down a Living Kill spell all on your own. You should be honored, too."" They gave me a slap on the wrist because of that; it would have been worse. So are you really going to Vaka on your own?"

Derek added, "That doesn't seem like a good idea, Mark, even if you are immune to the Forgetting." Surprisingly, the antimeme grabbed Derek, but Derek didn't care. He just grinned, showing off, actually. Mark was flabbergasted.

"The fuck? Since when are you immune?"" Figured it out two days ago." And then Mark had a weird moment.

"... And where the fuck have you been? Actually. Like… where?"" Well… That's complicated." Isoko was fully affected, unable to understand what Mark and Derek were talking about, so she said, "We have a lot of good will with Crystal Tower and New Tokyo, and I don't want to waste that on anything but shooting for A-list stardom." Derek told Mark, "It's a lot easier to be normal by forgetting the Forgetting, Mark. Believe me, I know.

I'm at Crash right now, so it's not too surprising that you forgot about me for the last few days." Derek told Isoko, "Aye aye, boss!"" I want to talk with you about everything. Are you coming with me?" Mark asked." I am." Mark looked toward Isoko, and then he said to Derek, "Watch over her, too, okay?"" Oh please," Isoko said, "I'll be fine." Derek told Mark, "I'm still there, so a lot of people the world over are forgetting about me. The place is weird as fuck.

I can tell why most of the People leave, and why the goblins haven't secured the land. I can't find anything in that mist." And then Zaid flickered into existence on the tarmac, saying, "The Small Gate is ready, and Aleph One is freaking out because he recognizes that no one here realizes what you're talking about. Please don't invite the Forgetting here more than you already are."

He gestured at the Small Gate and it opened, ripping the Veil between worlds only a little, making the world scream in a quiet sort of way. A rush of mana flowed across the gap in the Two Worlds like a sea of ephemeral mirages.

"See you later, Mark! Also: There are some leviathans in the oceans south of Sidecity. They have Ocean Shaper." Mark turned toward Isoko and hugged her, saying, "See you later. Tell the team I'm good. I haven't gotten a chance to talk to them nearly enough." Isoko hugged Mark back, a bit confused but rather delighted. She felt warm. She said, "Love you."" I love you, too… And send my love to everyone else, okay?" Isoko chuckled, and patted Mark's back.

"We'll work on that." Soon, Mark settled onto the hoverskiff and Derek drove them through the Small Torii, into the thick manasphere of Daihoon. It felt like home again as Derek took them into the sky, away from Sidecity, and into the atmosphere of Daihoon." So how is everyone doing?" Mark asked, when they were outside of Sidecity and flying over the ocean.

"Has Dominant attacked?"" No attacks yet. Politics are happening to prevent an all-out war. Yesterday there was a broadcast with First Prince Doomo and Dominant in the Great Desert— D'Sahara, as most people call it. It was highly edited and people don't think it actually happened. Eliot's running around with Sally and the Church of Drakarok to get them settled into Dawncoast, while the Church of Freyala is happening in Memphi..."

Mark stared into the wind, watching the ocean and the sky and the blue horizon while subtle auroras hinted at the daytime heavens above, and he listened to Derek talk about home. They seemed to be doing alright without him—" Eliot can't use that staff, though, so Addavein is keeping it."

"… Huh... Is it too hot? It doesn't burn him, does it?"" No. He's protected from the heat when he uses it, but it did raise the temperature inside the entire settlement by a few degrees before he stopped trying to use it."" Ahh… fuck. Hmm. Surprised I didn't get a call from Aurora? Ahh... He can have the next version I figure out— Oh shit. And you! I promised you a weapon that replicates with you. Uh…" Mark considered his stash of Powers, and he rapidly concluded, "I have no idea how to make a replicating sword.""

I have confidence you can figure it out eventually!" Mark hmm'd, unsure. And then Derek added, "There are some leviathan sightings in the D'Philippines, if you want to head there first." He patted the console, smiling.

"This baby is juiced up for long range, quick visits! Got some brightspeed crystal in the engine from Eliot." Mark grinned.

"Awesome!" And then he had a thought. He admitted, "I was expecting to fly there myself. I kinda… completely forgot about you." A quite terror broke across Mark's mind as he admitted, "There are so many fucked up parts about that." Derek shrugged.

"I did that on purpose to myself and made most people forget about me. It made delving into the depths of Okuana really easy. Spoiler alert: the Forgetting works until it suddenly, violently doesn't."" Oh… Tulo told me that you could activate it on purpose, but I thought that was a natives-only thing?"

Derek split into two people, one remaining at the controls as he began fiddling with the systems to lock down the skiff, to put up an air bubble force field and hit the big buttons to make it go faster, while the other Derek began, "So the island of Vaka is sort of like the elven lands, in that there is a clear and separate area between here and there. But instead of being at the deepest core of the System, it's on the bleeding edge.

Emphasis on bleeding, but it's bleeding stuff that looks more like mist than blood..." As the hoverskiff sped up faster and faster, Mark listened to a land unlike any other he had ever expected to visit, all the while the antimeme coiled around them, flexing in and out of both Mark and Derek, and when that didn't work it started flexing the very air itself. It created a separation between them and the world. It never got worse than that. Derek paused in his debriefing, asking, "You can actually see it, can't you?""

Yeah," Mark said, looking around, watching the thing swim alongside them, making mirages out of the rest of reality as the ship flew fast.

"I think it's the fragment of the divine mirror as well as my soulhouse and Clean House ritual."" You'll get deeper into the mist than me. Anyway! People to visit: The place is full of elders and they control pretty much everything about the island because they can control how people move around. There are some friendly faces, though. Tulo Khava at Dawncoast says that Uncle Ropapo and Auntie Mabi from the Winter Ball are back at Vaka, and I'm with them right now. They say 'hello!'

They're gonna want to talk about the goblin threat in person, before you meet with the elders, but they're already talking about how you can go hit the outer banks on the eastern coast first if we end up over there..." The skiff flew on.