Chương 111: Next Steps

Over the next month, the world of Thropia mourned the loss of one of its pillar cities. Millions were dead or missing. The ruins of New Eden became a graveyard of broken stone and broken hearts, where search parties scoured endlessly for survivors. But apart from those first frantic hours when the Progenitor himself had arrived, only a handful of scattered groups were ever found. Questions spread like wildfire. What had truly caused the disaster? Who was to blame? No answers came.

Every city official and member of New Eden's fledgling government had perished, leaving no high-ranking voices alive to speak for the fallen. At least, that was the story told to the world. In truth, one man survived. A member of the Divine Sword's personal guard. Felicia Price, once of New Eden's Elite, had found him half-dead among the survivors. She gave him a new identity and helped him vanish into obscurity. It was decided that the truth of that day was too heavy for the people to bear.

Ignorance would bring peace, where knowledge would only ignite anger. Those truly responsible for the fall of the city were already dead, or so they believed. Better to mourn and move forward. And they did. From tragedy bloomed a fragile hope. The wounds between Thropia's two dominant races began to heal, and a new era of cooperation took root. A treaty was signed, granting equal access to the gates as they spawned, giving all a chance to grow stronger together.

None knew what the end of the integration would bring, but with Thropia climbing ever closer to the top ten, preparation became the order of the day. Beyond Thropia, the integration shifted. entire races fled from dying worlds, seeking refuge wherever they could. More and more names vanished from the leaderboards, swallowed whole as the top five worlds issued resource grabs with merciless regularity. Amid the chaos, Thropia stood out as a beacon. Unlike most worlds in the top ten, it did not discriminate.

Any race was welcome, provided they abided by its rules and caused no harm to others. The reason this ideal held was simple, one being sat at number five on the individual integration leaderboard. The bounty target known as Feormere. His name was slowly becoming a legend. Nearly every competition he entered, he won. At first, hundreds rallied to hunt him, lured by the promise of his bounty. None survived. Ruthless in his efficiency, Feormere carved through them until the tide of challengers thinned to a trickle.

Soon, few dared risk their lives chasing what had become an impossible prize. Months passed. Points rose. The rankings shifted. Gale'So Con'Dora was feeling uncharacteristically melancholic. She was stuck, truly stuck. She had hit the final bottleneck of the E-grade: level 170 in her class and both professions. For five long months, she hadn't gained a single stat point, and the frustration gnawed at her.

She even considered visiting Kilch's palace to burn away her irritation, but the memory of his suffocating poison Aura soured the thought immediately. Flexing her wings, she drifted toward the city pillar. Perhaps it was time to break the monotony. She hadn't joined a competition since the strange dancing one, and, much to her surprise, she had actually enjoyed herself then. Maybe what she needed now was a spark, something to stir inspiration past this blasted bottleneck.

She pulled up the individual integration leaderboard. Individual Integration leaderboard 1 - Kilch'Kitz Novo'Fara (16, 500, 000) 2 - Target Practice (5, 500, 160) 3 - Bas Horo (5, 000, 560) 4 - Lore Tru (4, 782, 566) 5 - Feormere (4, 000, 000) 6 - Lando (2, 100, 450) 7 - Deku (1, 900, 540) 8 - One (1, 750, 340) 9 - Jet Li (1, 600, 450) 10 - Boba Tea (950, 250) Not much had changed since the last time she checked. With a sigh, Gale'So closed the list and flicked to the page of upcoming competitions.

The integration's six-year mark was almost here; surely something new and worthwhile was on the horizon. She blinked, rereading the screen. A strange message had appeared in the competition listings. TBA - Star Shard Emergence Star shard? What in the system was a Star Shard? For it to appear on the list before an actual competition was even announced, it had to be important. She had never seen anything like it. A rare treasure, maybe? Something that could help her break through the bottleneck?

Her mind spun with possibilities until her family communicator beeped. She paused, her eyes widening. For the first time she could remember, her older brother was calling her… __ Joe stood frowning at the thing in front of him. He wasn't quite sure what he was looking at. After his recent exploits, he had finally pushed both his classes past level 150 and earned a new skill. Scarecrow. What stood before him now was exactly that: a scarecrow.

A straw-filled man dressed in farmer's clothes, a straw hat perched on his head, white sunglasses hiding his eyes. Its face, however, was his own, down to the last detail. The only thing missing was the wooden frame to keep it propped up. Joe leaned forward, studying its expression. Then he nodded in mock approval.

"You, sir, are the most handsome scarecrow I've ever seen," he chuckled, watching it bounce lightly on the training ground.

"Now, how durable are you?" He was about to test it when seven dots appeared at the edge of his mini-map. Joe threw his hands into the air.

"Dammit, Rel! Stop doing that! When I figure out how you keep hiding from my map…" His tirade was cut short as he frowned at the small crowd standing gawking at the scarecrow. Esha, Gao, Corel, Tevenny, her sister, her friend, and even a bespectacled councilman from Heliopolis, all wearing varying shades of disbelief.

"What the hell is that?" Esha barked, marching forward. She jabbed a finger into the scarecrow's chest, then punched it. The straw man rolled back, popped up again, and stood tall.

"Oh. Pretty durable," she admitted, tilting her head.

"But really ugly. You should change its face."

"Ha ha. We both know that's a lie," Joe grinned. At the same moment, he felt a tug deep in his senses. Esha's punch had triggered the scarecrow's defensive combat mode, and it was now asking for permission to retaliate. Joe's grin widened. He gave it a mental yes. A plain wooden quarterstaff appeared in the scarecrow's hands. It dropped into a ready stance. Esha's eyes went wide.

"Wait, is it about to…" She never finished her sentence, as the scarecrow lunged at her. Five minutes later, Joe stood at the edge of the training ground watching Esha tear into his scarecrow with wild abandon. Her face was alight with almost feral glee as she roared,"Ha! Die, Farmer, die!" For the third time, she ripped its head clean off, ending the melee. Joe simply shrugged and dismissed the skill.

He hadn't expected the scarecrow to actually beat Esha, she was already pushing close to level 170, but it had forced her to activate nearly every skill in her arsenal. That, to him, was a win. He turned away as Esha shouted for him to summon another, and thankfully, Gao stepped in to placate her.

"I thought it was very handsome," Tevenny said as she rolled closer. Joe had to suppress a sigh. He'd been dreading the moment Corel and Tevenny met. He had no idea how Corel would handle the tiny woman's relentless flirtations.

"Hey, Tevenny. Good to see you. This is Corel, my bond," Joe said quickly, gesturing toward Corel. She was already eyeing Tevenny like a cat sizing up another prowling into its territory.

"Rel, this is Tevenny, the one I helped during the Tides of Movement event." Corel stepped forward, approaching Tevenny without a word. Every muscle in Joe's body tensed in panic. He was about to move in and soften things, but one sharp glance from Corel froze him in place. He took a cautious step back.

'She's just harro the invader, kakaka,' Uriel cackled. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Corel leaned down, peering directly at Tevenny's partially covered face. The smaller woman sat still as a stone. A full minute passed before Corel finally straightened, giving her the faintest nod. Tevenny returned it in kind. Joe exhaled in relief, thinking the worst had passed. Naturally, he was wrong.

"Can you see? Or are you using a skill?" Corel asked.

"When I lost my eyes, I learned to see through vibration. I can sense your outline, but I'd need to touch you to know your features. May I?" Corel nodded. She leaned forward and pressed her forehead to Tevenny's. Joe heard a soft gasp as Tevenny's breath caught. Then Corel stepped back, returning silently to his side. She gave Joe a single look, a promise of a conversation later. He sighed in defeat.

"Your bond is beautiful," Tevenny said, still breathless.

"I am very jealous. And now I understand why you refused my marriage proposal." Joe coughed hard, nearly choking, and ducked as Corel swiped at him.

"Ladies," he blurted, scrambling to change the subject.

"To what do I owe the pleasure today? And welcome to Landradad." By then, Esha and Gao had joined them. Esha was doubled over, laughing at the scene. Annoyed, Joe summoned another scarecrow, which immediately lunged at her.

"My sister and I came to see the famous tree," Valeri said as she dabbed a cloth gently over Tevenny's brow.

"It is quite a sight."

"Thank you," Joe said, calmer now.

"It took a few months to grow, but I'm very happy with the result." Valeri looked a little surprised by that.

"Would the three of you like a tour?" Joe offered.

"Yes!" Tevenny said quickly, before coughing into her hand. Joe frowned, worry tugging at him. He couldn't help but wonder how much strain she'd taken just to come all this way.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his tone more serious.

"She's fine, so long as she doesn't push herself too much," Valeri answered, giving her sister a stern look. Tevenny blushed, embarrassed, but still drifted forward toward Joe.

"Can I come?" Corel asked. Joe shot her a surprised look.

"Where else would you go?" he teased as he scooped her up and settled her on his shoulders. She squeezed lightly with her thighs, sending a warm pulse of happiness through their bond. He grinned at the feeling. Then a thought struck him.

"What did you show Tevenny when you greeted her?" he asked. Corel did not answer. It wasn't long before their small tour reached the main village. Joe led the way down the crafter's street, where the sounds of hammering, carving, and chatter filled the air.

"You know," Joe said, a little glinting in his eyes, "I didn't completely forget about you being here. I've actually been plotting something I think you'll like. Have you seen Esha's arm?" He gestured toward his friend, who was busy harassing one of the armorsmiths while examining their wares. Tevenny turned her head slightly but shook it after a moment.

"What is that? I can't make it out. The vibrations around it are… strange."

"It's a magical synth arm," Joe explained.

"Loot I pulled from one of the Gate bosses a long time ago. It was an epic battle in the skies above a foreign land. I faced a beast of terrible magnificence in a duel of wit and daring!" He launched into his grand retelling with exaggerated flair. Corel flicked him lightly on the head, but was chuckling all the same.

"Needless to say, I was victorious," Joe continued with mock solemnity, "and was gifted that most sacred arm… which I then bestowed upon the devil you see yonder." He gestured at Esha again, who thankfully didn't hear him.

"But it also gave me an idea. If you'd humour me?" He held out a hand. Tevenny took it with a smile as he guided her into a nearby store.

"Is the apothecary in today, my dear child?" Joe asked the small girl perched on the counter, nose buried in a book. The girl's eyes went wide when she spotted him, Corel riding on his shoulders, and a floating wheelchair trailing behind.

"Dad! The guy who talks funny is here again!" she yelled, springing up and sprinting into the back.

"Hey! That's extremely rude," Joe muttered, but the girl was already gone. He shook his head, resigned, as they waited. A moment later, a tall man with spectacles emerged from the back room, wiping his hands.

"Progenitor. I was about to send you a message. Are you here to check the progress?"

"Ah, Anthony. Good to see you. And yes, we are." Joe tapped Corel's thigh, prompting her to wave.

"This is my bond." Anthony greeted her with a warm smile.

"Nice to see you again, Seeker."

"You've met?" Joe asked, brows rising.

"No," Anthony replied.

"But everyone knows the Seeker." Joe nodded, fair enough.

"And these are my friends, Tevenny and her sister Valeri," he added with a flourish of his hand. Anthony gave a slight bow.

"I believe I'm close to adjusting the seed to your requirements." He retrieved a glass canister, inside of which a dark green cloud swirled around a glowing brown seed.

"It was tricky at first, but my wife had an intriguing suggestion." Joe's eyes drifted to the short woman peeking from behind a doorframe. She flushed crimson and vanished as soon as he looked at her.

"Hi, Janice," Joe called with a wave. A muffled reply floated back, barely audible.

"Still shy, I see. Tell her I really didn't mean for that potion to explode last time." Anthony chuckled as he pressed a button on the canister, injecting a fresh swirl of yellow into the mix.

"Honestly, it's more who you are that… unsettles her. She doesn't mean any offence."

"None taken," Joe said, his gaze fixed on the shifting colours inside the canister.

"What did you change? It looks very different now."

"I used droppings from the sabretooth tigers to fertilize the seed," Anthony explained.

"Their high-protein diet leaves their waste packed with nutrients useful to this particular plant." Joe wasn't sure whether to be impressed or repulsed, so he simply nodded, stroking his chin as he caught the curious looks Tevenny and Valeri were sending him.

"Would you mind explaining to them what exactly this is?" he asked. Anthony nodded, turning toward the sisters.

"This is an amalgamation of three plants. The first is a vine called Wisteris sinensis, provided by the Progenitor. The second is a foreign plant my wife discovered, Londragora folorensis. And the last is a synthetic copy of a synth arm I had the opportunity to study." Anthony set the canister on the counter, then reached beneath it and produced a small figurine, a hand-sized sculpture of a woman, her form made entirely from the same strange material as Esha's arm.

"The goal of this new seed is to recreate that synth substance, but in a more organic form, something that can mould to any size or shape," he explained, eyes gleaming with excitement. Joe glanced at Tevenny and Valeri. Both sisters stared, mouths slightly open in stunned silence.

"Is this… for me?" Tevenny finally managed, her voice trembling. Joe nodded and motioned for Anthony to go on.

"The organic element was my own suggestion," Anthony continued.

"I studied Esha's arm closely and noticed how it automatically adapted to her frame, perfectly matching her other arm. We can't replicate that exact level of precision, but by weaving in organic matter, we can create a version less adaptive yet flexible, capable of forming different shapes, even multiple limbs if required." He circled the counter and stood before Tevenny's floating chair, his tone softening.

"I have a favour to ask. Will you join my wife in the back room? She'll take your measurements so we can size the arm and any other pieces correctly." Tevenny's head darted between Anthony, Joe, and her sister. Words failed her.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Valeri asked, worry etched in every syllable.

"It is completely safe, I can assure you that," Anthony replied firmly.

"Think of it as a snug-fitting suit that links with the nervous system, allowing her to control the new limbs as if they were her own."

"That doesn't sound safe," Valeri muttered.

"What Anthony means," Joe interjected gently, "Is that we'll ensure the attachment is handled with every safeguard. I'll use my profession's connection with Nature to ease the joining, and we have the best pill maker around to help the process." He patted Corel's leg with a reassuring smile.

"We'll make sure no harm comes to your sister," Corel added, her voice steady and certain. Valeri's eyes filled with tears.

"Thank you."

"It will be at least two weeks before the seed reaches maturity. Will you be staying in the village?" Anthony asked once Tevenny and Valeri had returned.

"You are free to stay with us until then," Joe offered.

"When the seed is ready, we'll only have a few hours to act, so being nearby is important."

"Thank you," Valeri said with a bow.

"We accept your offer." She glanced at Tevenny, who still couldn't speak through her tears, clutching a cloth to her face.

"My sister will thank you when she can. For now, we should return to rest. It's been an emotional day." With another nod of gratitude, she began guiding Tevenny from the shop. Corel hopped down, giving Joe a brief headbump before following the pair.

"Well, that went smoothly. Thank you again, Anthony. Let's hope the final steps go just as well," Joe said, offering the man a firm handshake. Anthony shook his head.

"The last part will depend entirely on your skill. I don't have the ability to attach the seed, but I'm confident we'll succeed." Bidding Anthony farewell, Joe stepped out in search of the others. As he walked, he decided it was time to address something he'd been putting off for months. He had 460 free stat points piled up from recent level-ups, and if he didn't spend them now, he'd keep forgetting. After some thought, he dumped them all into his lowest stat, strength. A rush of raw power surged through his body.

His muscles condensed, tendons humming like steel wires. The sudden change nearly sent him sprawling; in fact, he did trip and faceplant into the dirt. Groaning, he pushed himself up and staggered around, bouncing like an untrained puppet until his body adjusted to the new balance. It took nearly five minutes before he could walk in a straight line again. When he finally pulled up his status screen, the numbers brought a large smile to his face.

Stats Strength: 4977 (200) Agility: 5423 (620) Vitality: 5222 (520) Endurance: 6018 (200) Wisdom: 6665 (60) Intelligence: 8854 (80) Luck: 208 Hidden Stat: Dao Knowledge - 2967 Hidden Stat: Aura Power - 300 Free Points: 0 System Credits: 5, 300, 700, 500 Now, Strength was his only base stat below five thousand, a fact he knew he should not reveal to most people. The look Corel had given him the last time she saw his status screen was enough evidence of that.

Flaunting numbers like his wouldn't always inspire awe, but also righteous jealousy. He snorted at the thought of Esha catching an accidental glimpse of his updated stats. Still, something had become clear. His gear barely moved the needle for him anymore. At his current level, he needed more than minor boosts; he needed true upgrades. His eyes flicked to his storage ring, and the Magical Branch of the Fur Caved Tree, tucked away in his storage since before the planetary fusion. An idea began to take shape.

Joe smiled.