Chương 55: I rarely think before I act

"Are we there yet?" Veda asked for the tenth time.

"Yes!" Joe exclaimed. He shifted slightly as the Voldura on his back stirred. She had clung to him the entire journey, and despite several attempts, he'd been unable to pry her off while she slept.

"Wakey, wakey," Joe said. A head lifted over his shoulder, eyes scanning the surroundings. Her grip loosened at once. Thankfully, Veda's tail was still coiled around them both, preventing the Voldura from falling. She gently lowered her to the deck.

"Thirsty?" Joe asked, kneeling as a bottle of water appeared in his hands. The Voldura glanced at him, then raised her hand, producing a canteen of her own. She took a swig, deliberately turning away. Joe shrugged, noting the two rings on her fingers. So, she still had access to her storage. That was good. He returned to the vessel's controls. They had reached the base of the nearest mountain, and he adjusted course slightly, guiding the boat toward a small clearing at its foot.

Nestled among the trees, it looked like a safe place to land. He set the boat down gently as Veda shifted onto his head to get a better look.

"What now?" She asked. Joe looked down at the Voldura now seated beside him. He extended a hand towards her. She looked much better, still weak, but far from the half-dead figure pulled from that cell.

"I'm Joe. I realize I haven't introduced myself yet. Can you understand me?" She nodded.

"Great. We are going to get down here. Are you okay with me picking you up again?" She nodded once more. Joe crouched down, and with Veda's help, she climbed onto his back again. He was careful of her still black leg as he leapt gently down to the forest floor. The moment he landed, Joe activated Nature's Paradise. That warm, familiar energy spread outward as the lush mana of the forest responded to his presence.

"Don't be alarmed. I'm going to make this area safe," he said. Veda helped the Voldura into a sitting position by a tree. But the moment she settled down, Joe's eyes widened. A stream of energy, Nature Energy, flowed into her. She was using it the same way he did, and it was healing her. Does she have Nature's Touch? Shocked, Joe briefly lost control of his skill. Paradise surged outward, wild and untamed, before he reined it back in.

The Voldura looked up at him, eyes wide, a faint red tinge creeping into her cheeks as her energy stream halted.

"No, sorry. Don't stop. I was just surprised," Joe said quickly.

"Please, continue if you need the healing." She didn't respond verbally but resumed drawing from the stream. Joe composed himself and activated Identify as he settled down on the grass. Identify:?? She had an item like his that blocked identification. It was the first time he had encountered this from someone else, and now he understood how it must have been for others when they met him. He chuckled to himself.

"What was that about?" Veda asked. Joe reached up and scratched her chin.

"I was just surprised for a moment. Nothing to worry about," he replied. Veda had been unusually quiet since the jailbreak. Even stranger was her pointed refusal to address their travelling companion. Joe was beginning to feel increasingly like he was missing something important. Deciding not to dwell on it, he pulled out his magical stove. There was always one guaranteed way to improve any situation: freshly cooked meat.

Veda immediately started drooling on his shoulder as the scent of cooking drifted through the air. Veda devoured the first plate of food he prepared. As he worked on the second, Joe noticed his silent travelling companion casting frequent glances at him, her eyes full of hunger. He offered her a plate stacked with meat and vegetables. At first, he thought she might reject it, but after a moment's hesitation, she snatched it from him and began shovelling food into her mouth. Joe smiled, quietly triumphant.

Maybe, just maybe, he was one step closer to getting her to talk to him. As the three of them ate with enthusiasm, Joe focused his skill on a nearby patch of earth. The soil shifted and softened, transforming into a small pond over the next thirty minutes. A gentle brook bubbled at its edge, and the clean, crisp scent of fresh water filled the air. Joe took a deep breath, enjoying the simple pleasure. A few small birds flitted down and dipped their beaks into the pond.

Veda had curled up on his lap after her meal, clearly satisfied. Joe was finishing the last bites of his food when one of the birds hopped over and settled on Veda's back. It chirped, and Veda, true to form, completely ignored it. Next, Joe set to work on creating two large fruit trees. Within the hour, their broad canopies stretched overhead, offering cover and shade. The thick foliage also helped hide their location from any airborne vessels that might fly overhead. He glanced over at his travel companion.

She sat with her eyes closed, focused inward, clearly using her skill to continue healing. Suddenly inspired, Joe turned his focus to something new. He coaxed a slender stalk from the ground before him. At its tip, a tiny bud formed and slowly began to open. It bloomed into a rich purple rose with a single pink petal nestled among the others. Joe moved on and began creating a second flower. This one was different from the rose. It started as a vine-like plant with a green stem that gradually grew more vibrant.

The vines extended outward, looping and twisting around themselves until they formed a bush. Green petals bloomed at random intervals along the vines, their tips beginning to shift into a pale shade of purple. He stared at the two distinct creations. His mark of fate pulsed with warmth against his chest. A flower and a bush. He wasn't sure why he'd been compelled to make them; it had just come to him, unbidden. But somehow, it felt… right.

As Joe sat, admiring the natural beauty that had grown around him, he didn't notice the look of utter shock on the Voldura's face, as she stared wide-eyed at the bush before him System Message Quest Complete. __ Corel sat frozen, her mouth slightly open as she stared at the bush. She recognized it immediately. She could never forget that fateful day from her childhood... Not in a thousand lifetimes. It was the same bush. But how? How had he created it so perfectly? And why? Her gaze shifted to…

Joe, studying his face. It was smooth and strangely rugged at the same time. Humans were odd-looking. Similar to Voldura in some basic ways, but vastly different in others. Their skin was soft, almost fragile. No horns, duller nails. Everything about them seemed… delicate. She wondered how he had freed her so easily. She had missed most of what happened while fading in and out of consciousness as she was cocooned on his back. What happened to the trackers? The Vor Clan members who had been guarding her?

How was she just sitting here, in the middle of a forest, unchained? Free? A single tear rolled down her cheek. It had been so long since she had felt anything close to true freedom. The sensation of it, it was beautiful. But she shook her head. She couldn't let herself get comfortable. She didn't know this human. He who comes… The quest had advanced the moment he touched her back in the camp.

System Message He Who Comes: Guide the being of unknown origin to lead your people to greatness, or fail and watch as your entire world is torn asunder. Good Luck. It had been shortened, no details, no path forward. Just a vague warning. She considered ignoring it altogether. She could flee once her leg healed, disappear again. But they would find her… She grimaced, glancing down at her blackened leg. It was still grotesque, but the healing energy pulsing through it kept the pain at bay.

Still, she could see how slow the recovery was going. She wouldn't be able to walk properly for some time. And then… that bush had appeared. Now she was torn. She couldn't pretend anymore. She couldn't keep telling herself he had nothing to do with her or her people, that he wasn't her problem. The quest warned of destruction, of their world being torn apart. So what if it happened? She had already lost everything. Her family, Her Clan. Even her two closest friends. All dead. Everyone was gone.

Corel closed her eyes as the thought of ending it all passed through her like an omen. __ Joe stared up at the canopy above. Completely unaware of the storm of emotions churning inside the Voldura beside him. His quest 'Save the Cheerleader' had just been completed without fanfare. The notification simply read: System Message A Fated Encounter awaits you. Achieve the hidden requirements. Good Luck Naturally, Joe had no idea what that meant. So, true to form, he chose to ignore it. What would be, would be.

Instead, he turned his attention to something glowing inside his storage ring. One item had suddenly activated on its own. He pulled out his integration pillar, which floated in front of him. As he tapped it, a screen appeared: Integration information 1: World-Ranked 31 Leaderboard 2: Upcoming Competitions 3: Credit Store 4: Integration Leaderboard 5: Integration Rules 6: Personal Page It looked simple enough. Joe decided to start with option one.

World-Ranked 31 Leaderboard 1: Pathfinder (Voldura) - 108, 000 Points 2: Gecko Vor (Voldura) - 18, 890 Points 3: Clors Vor (Voldura) - 14, 300 Points 4: Neuwo Vor (Voldura) - 13, 900 Points 5: Desu Vor (Voldura) - 13, 500 Points 6: Godo Vor (Voldura) - 13, 300 Points 7: Nodo Vor (Voldura) - 13, 250 Points 8: Geckvo Vor (Voldura) - 13, 200 Points 9: Coralro Relashra (Voldura) - 13, 000 Points 10: Corelliandra Relashra (Voldura) - 12, 500 Points Joe eyed the names and point totals.

The gap between first and second place was massive. Whoever this Pathfinder was, they were clearly someone of note. But since he didn't recognize a single name, he shrugged and moved on to check the second leaderboard screen.

Integration Leaderboard World Ranked 1: 22, 000, 800 World Ranked 2: 10, 500, 000 World Ranked 3: 7, 300, 500 World Ranked 4: 7, 100, 600 World Ranked 5: 5, 650, 850 World Ranked 6: 5, 510, 500 World Ranked 7: 5, 450, 600 World Ranked 8: 5, 420, 890 World Ranked 9: 5, 200, 500 World Ranked 10: 5, 100, 760 (World Ranked 31: 280, 420) Joe got a better sense of the scale of the Integration competition. Over five million points just to break into the top ten, that was the goal.

While stuck in that cursed white room for thirty days, he'd taken the time to read up on the objective of the Integration: secure a top ten ranking, and your world would become part of the Multiverse. He glanced at the absurd lead of the number one world and couldn't help but wonder what kind of monsters were climbing that high. Then he decided he didn't really want to know and didn't care. He moved on to the next section.

Upcoming Competitions Collision Protocol (BR) - Begins in two Multiversal days (five spots open). Total point distribution 500, 000 If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Puzzle Completing - Begins in twelve Multiversal days (five spots open). Total point distribution 100, 000 Stellar Racing - Begins in twenty-five Multiversal days (five spots open). Total point distribution 100, 000 Collision Protocol BR? Joe squinted. What the hell did that mean?

Maybe he should read the rules first. He considered it… then shrugged. Nah. He mentally clicked on Collision Protocol and signed up. Half a million points was too big a reward to pass up. He briefly wondered why there were still five open spots. A notification popped up on his status screen confirming his entry. With that sorted, he moved on to the last tab he wanted to check, the credit store. A massive interface opened up, revealing hundreds of listings.

Joe grinned and rubbed his hands together, already scanning the vast list of items. __ Corel awoke and, for a brief moment, forgot where she was. Panic surged through her. She looked around frantically until her nerves began to settle. A fruit tree stood nearby, along with a small, bubbling pond. Her throat still burned, dry and raw. She opened her mouth, but only a croak escaped. The red creature curled on Joe's lap was watching her. Corel stared into its red eyes, unlike any she had seen before.

The intensity unsettled her. The creature didn't blink or break eye contact. Eventually, Corel looked away. The creature seemed to smirk before closing its eyes, drifting into what she assumed was sleep. She scowled. She didn't like the thing. Her attention shifted to Joe. He was fiddling with a pillar… wait. A pillar? Her eyes widened. That meant he had access to integration data. Who was he that he had his own pillar he carried around in his ring?

She tried to call out to him, but her voice failed again, no more than a strained rasp. He noticed her movement. Setting the red creature aside gently, he stood and walked over to her, carrying a bundle of something she didn't recognize at first glance.

"Hey, these are for your leg. They'll protect it while it heals," he said. Corel stared at the bundle of bandages. Had he bought them from the credit store? She looked up at him, trying to meet his gaze, but something strange covered his eyes. White… shapes. Was he blind? He seemed to catch her confusion, and with a small smile, removed the items from his face, revealing warm, sparkling brown eyes.

"Sorry, I always forget I'm wearing those. Better?" he asked. She nodded, unsure what he meant exactly, but it seemed to satisfy him. He exhaled in relief before continuing.

"Can I wrap your leg?" His politeness caught her off guard. When was the last time someone treated her nicely? She was so distracted by his tone and demeanour that she nodded before fully thinking through. A beat later, she tensed in preparation for pain. But none came. His touch was surprisingly gentle. He'd wrapped himself in Nature Energy and carefully began to dress her blackened leg. The energy flowed into her like a balm, easing the pain she'd lived with for far too long.

She let herself relax and leaned back.

"I saw you try to talk earlier. I'm guessing you can't right now," he asked. She nodded again. He smiled at her. She flinched. It wasn't his fault. Images of Pathfinder flashed through her mind every time someone smiled at her. She hated what that Voldura had done to her. Rage flared in her chest, and she clenched her fists. But took a deep breath. Relax, Corel, she told herself. You're free, for now. Just heal.

"Are you hungry?" Joe asked after finishing with the bandages. Corel nodded.

"I'll cook up some more, then you rest," Joe said, pulling out his strange cooking device. He began prepping another one of those heavenly meals. Corel couldn't stop the tiny pearl of drool that slipped down her chin. For a brief, blissful moment, all her worries and sorrows faded away. __ After preparing enough food to feed a large family, Joe returned and sat beside Veda, who was dozing lazily nearby.

He gently stroked her back, his thoughts circling around how to help the Voldura recover enough to communicate properly.

"What do you think we should do next? She clearly can't talk until she has healed more. And moving her feels like a bad idea."

"Don't you have a skill to help communicate with her?" Veda asked. Joe slapped a hand to his forehead. Of course, he did have a skill for that. He'd once again completely forgotten. Feeling slightly sheepish, he glanced over at the small green Voldura and sent her a party invite. Corelliandra Relashra has joined the party. [Hello?] - Corelliandra. [Great, it works,] - Joe. [It's good to finally talk to you, Corelliandra.] Corelliandra changed her name to Corel [Just call me Corel, to save time. How have you survived so long? You don't seem to know what you are doing. You had this skill the whole time?] - Corel. Joe stared at the message, then looked over at the Voldura, who was calmly eating and not even looking his way. A familiar, weary feeling settled in his chest. Why is every woman I meet so quick to mock me? [It's been a long day, okay. Anyway, How are you feeling?] - Joe. Corel finally looked at him. She didn't respond to the question, just stared while chewing.

Joe sighed and reached to stroke Veda again. But then, something caught his attention… something odd. An impulse hit him, and he sent Veda a party invite as well. Veda Locvora has joined the party. Locvora? he wondered, surprised. He hadn't expected the invite to work, and definitely hadn't expected to be able to fully use Identify on her now. Identify: Veda Locvora, Divine-Touched Red Serpent (Grade E), Classless - 199. 2 Hidden stats, Bloodline present. Joe stared, mouth agape, at the result of the Identify.

He could barely process what he was seeing. [Oh, look at that.] - Veda. [It's about time they kicked in. I am going to go and practise my new skills, you two talk.] Joe watched as Veda darted off and disappeared into the trees. Her dot appeared on his mini-map, reassuring him that she hadn't gone far. A moment later, loud explosions echoed from the distance as she began chasing the red dots he now noticed circling the edge of his map. He hadn't even realized they were there before. So..

the Beasts were still around. He absent-mindedly raised a hand and sent a small Mana Blast toward a branch overhead. A fruit dropped neatly into his palm. Walking over, he sat across from Corel and took a slow bite. He thought about Veda. Level 199. That explained a lot. Especially why her tail slaps hurt like hell. Which happened far more often than it should. He chewed in silence, re-evaluating several of his life choices. [I'm fine.] - Corel. [Huh?] - Joe blinked, before realizing she was answering his earlier question. [Oh, that's great. Sorry, I got a little distracted by Veda's sudden reveal.] [Hehe.] - Veda. [Have you always been level 199?] - Joe. [Never ask a woman her age, child.] - Veda. Corel laughed while Joe sighed. [Need any more food, Corel?] - Joe. [No, thank you.] - Corel. Joe hesitated momentarily, then decided to ask the question that had been gnawing at him. [I'm just going to come out with it. Who are you, and do you by chance have a Nature profession called Nature's Guardian?] - Joe. Corel carefully set the last of her food aside and placed the plate on the ground. She inhaled deeply, steadying herself, before answering. [I am Corel of Clan Relashra. The last of my Clan. I was given a 'He who comes' quest three hundred days ago. That quest was… partially completed today when we met. As a Seeker, the quest said that I would guide you in saving my people. And no, my profession is called Nature's Seeker.] - Corel. Joe stared into Corel's purple eyes. He was beginning to understand her earlier anger. System quests were a nightmare, always forcing you into decisions, shoving you down paths carved by some cosmic entity you couldn't even begin to comprehend. Powerless. That's what they made you feel. But still… that was a lot of information to drop at once. So her profession was similar, but not quite the same. Definitely connected somehow. A Seeker. Why did that mean she had to guide him, though?

Joe suddenly had a dozen questions burning in his head, so he started asking. [Okay, firstly. We've only just met, and I have no idea if any of what you just said is true. But I did get a quest to… save you from your imprisonment. So I can kinda see now why I got that quest.] - Joe [Tsk.] - Veda. Joe ignored her. [Next. Save your people from what? Do you mean all the Voldura? That feels like a big ask, and not something one man can solve.] - Joe. [I'm unsure. The quest is very vague. But it might have something to do with… him.] - Corel. Joe nodded; he understood that completely, except for the last part. [Who's him?] - Joe. [Pathfinder.] - Corel. [Ah, the guy at the top of the points leaderboard. Is he some kind of bad guy?] - Joe. [Yes. He was the one who… took over when my family was killed.] - Corel. Joe flinched internally. That was clearly something heavy, maybe even traumatic. And he didn't know her well enough yet to pry. So he steered the conversation in a different direction.

[Okay, I think I understand, mostly. But I have one fundamental question. Forget about quests, forget about the system and what it wants. What do you want to do? Because you know, I'm not holding you here. You can leave whenever you want and pretend I don't exist. I don't really feel like I need guidance. I feel I've done pretty well so far.] - Joe. From where he sat, Joe heard the unmistakable sound of laughter echoing through the trees. He winced. Held back the urge to react.

After the laughter faded and only the distant calls of birds remained, he turned back toward the pair of eyes still locked onto him, burning, unwavering. Corel wasn't exactly staring at him, more like studying him, her expression lost in thought. Joe had seen that look before. A sudden image of Rose flashed through his mind, and he understood what he was seeing. Those vibrant purple eyes, once guarded, now softened. They bloomed with light and something deeper.

In that moment, something clicked in the back of Joe's mind, like a lock finally turning. He felt it. The delayed fated encounter. One of the hidden requirements had just been fulfilled. He knew, with absolute certainty, that this Voldura, Corelliandra Relashra, Corel, would become someone far more important to him than he could have ever imagined. [I want to come with you.] - Corel. Those six words echoed through him like a heartbeat. Joe reached out his hand. His gaze was open, gentle, almost vulnerable.

He hadn't expected her to take his hand so easily. But she did. No hesitation. Joe felt something profound pulse inside him; a spark formed in his mind. He immediately knew what to do, and for the fourth time, he activated his Bloodline ability…

"Eternal Moment," Joe said as his vision turned black. __ Corel floated in a space between moments. Her body was light, shimmering, free. For the first time in over a month, there was no pain, no hunger. Just weightless clarity. She felt alive. She turned toward Joe, meaning to ask what he had done, then froze. A blue, translucent image of him hovered nearby, his eyes drawn to something just off to the side. Curious, she followed his gaze. They were no longer in the forest.

Instead, they stood above a sprawling woodland that framed a massive, golden-yellow lake. Sunlight spilt through the gaps in the towering canopy, dancing in rays along the glittering surface below. A massive, antlered beast bounded by, graceful and serene. Corel had never seen such a majestic animal. She wondered what it was called. Her attention shifted to the lake's edge, where a large white bird glided along the shoreline, its wings elegant, its form regal. She instinctively knew what it was. A swan.

Even though she'd never seen one before, the name came to her as if whispered by something ancient. Majestic, graceful… and completely unaware of the squat, green creature watching it from the shore. The thing had long, crooked legs and a ridiculous tongue lolling from its drooling mouth as it stared, captivated, at the swan. She blinked. A sound behind drew Corel's attention. A human female burst from the nearby brush, laughing, breathless with joy. She tumbled onto the grass and lay back, staring up at the sky.

A moment later, a male human stepped through the same bush. His eyes landed on the girl, sprawled in the grass, and a fond smile touched his lips.

"Elmira, my sweet. Didn't I tell you this place was beautiful?"

"Yes, and you were right. So very, very right." The two laughed as they stood and walked hand in hand along the lake's edge, their carefree voices echoing through the clearing. Corel watched them, confused. What was this? Why was she seeing it? Was this from Joe's world? A memory from his past? No… he wasn't here, and these two looked nothing like him. She couldn't sense he was a part of this scene. It didn't feel like him. She quickly decided this scene had nothing to do with him at all.

So she watched, quiet and observant, following whatever strange power had brought her here. The pair soon climbed into a wooden boat and paddled out onto the golden lake. The man told stories, tales of wonder and heroism, of love and loss, of passion and sorrow. The sky gradually darkened with dusk, and they returned to shore. As they stepped onto land, the woman stumbled and dropped to her knees, suddenly weak.

"Elmira, let me carry you." She nodded. He gently picked her up, placing her onto his shoulders, legs dangling down his chest. A faint smile returned to her face as they disappeared into the trees. The scene shifted. Now they were inside a modest home. Elmira lay in bed, her skin pale and drawn. Her breathing was shallow, her body slick with fever. The man, Tanyon, knelt at her side, clutching her frail hand. Silent tears streamed down his cheeks, falling onto her fingers.

"I'm sorry, sister. I tried to find a cure, but nothing. No doctor had any answer. I've failed you."

"Oh, Tanyon. You've never once failed me. Fate is a fickle mistress. There was nothing you could do." Tanyon stood. He pulled on a long coat and slung a heavy pack over his shoulder.

"I am not done yet, sister. One more try. One more option. Wait for me. I will return." He left. Elmira closed her eyes, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"Hurry, my brother. Time is not on our side." The scene shifted. Tanyon climbed a jagged wall of blackened rock, the air thick with heat and smoke. Ash clung to his sweat-soaked skin as he pulled himself up over a ledge and slipped into the barely visible entrance of a cave nestled along the side of a volcanic mountain. He staggered through the winding tunnels, exhaustion pulling at every step. The air shimmered with heat, but he pressed on until the passage opened into a brightly lit cavern.

To one side stood a large tent, its hide made from the leathery skin of some long-forgotten mythical beast. He pushed aside the flap and stepped inside. Within, a woman stirred a cauldron over a crackling flame. Strange scents filled the air. She didn't turn to face him, but her voice echoed softly through the tent.

"Hello, hero. You've come far to reach here alive. For that feat alone, I offer you a reward. Ask. What is it you seek?"

"I need a cure for my sister. She is diseased and dying. No doctor can help her. Please, I'll give you everything I have. I will pledge to you my life, my service, anything, just please, save her." The woman finally turned. Corel gasped. The alchemist had vibrant purple eyes… eyes exactly like her own. And not just the eyes. Her face, her hair, her posture, everything about her resembled Corel, though she was unmistakably human.

For the briefest moment, those purple eyes flicked in Corel's direction, locking with hers. She smiled.

"Lead the way, hero. Let us meet this sister of yours." The scene shifted one last time. Elmira sat up in her bed, her hand trembling as she stared at the empty vial resting in her palm. Her cheeks were flushed with colour, her lips full of life. Her skin, once sickly and dull, now radiated warmth and health. She was cured. Tears streamed down her face. She turned to the woman beside her and whispered her thanks. The alchemist only smiled, gave a nod, and slipped silently from the room.

Tanyon pulled his sister into a hug, both of them laughing through their tears as the burden of fear finally lifted. Joy echoed through the tiny house. Later, after Elmira had fallen into a peaceful sleep, Tanyon closed her door and stepped outside. He found the woman seated at the edge of the village, watching the stars. He knelt before her, head bowed.

"I thank you. You have done more than I could ever have dreamed."

"It is fine, hero… Do you remember what you said to me in my tent?" She paused for a long moment before continuing.

"It is time for you to pay the price. For now, return to your sister's side and enjoy these next few days. I will return. Then, you and I will leave on a journey, one perilous beyond imagining. You will not survive it. You may hate me. But you asked for my help. This is the cost. I am not an alchemist. I am your seeker, hero. And I will guide you into the fire." Tanyon looked up. There was no anger in his eyes. No regret. Only peace.

"For my sister, no price is too high," he said.

"I would charge into the maw of a god itself, blasphemy painted across my lips, if it meant she lived a long and happy life." He smiled.

"You are my seeker, and I am your £$%$%&." The last words fractured in Corel's mind, as if torn away by some unseen force, lost in a storm of sound and light. Then, in a rush of sensation, the vision dissolved, and she and Joe were pulled back into reality. __"Guardian," Joe whispered, a tear slipping down his cheek. Corel reached up with a trembling hand and gently wiped the tear away. Joe blinked, realizing the vision had ended. He stood quickly, brushing his face with the back of his hand and coughing awkwardly.

"Well, I guess that settles that," he said, clearing his throat.

"For now, heal up. Then we can make a plan moving forward." He turned away, taking a few steps to regain his composure. That Bloodline skill activation had hit hard. But then again… they always did.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath.

"Way to look like a big, strong man in front of the tiny green woman." He sighed. [Oi, Veda. You done blowing shit up? Corel's coming with us.] - Joe. [Excuse me. What did you just say…] - Veda. Joe laughed.