Chương 28: 15A. Into The Wilds

In the third week after Sam arrived on Level Four, he finally felt comfortable enough to head out into the world beyond the compound's walls. His ether stores and natural absorption abilities had grown enough to keep IEF in its most basic form running almost indefinitely. Both his vessels were over five feet tall. Instead of countless wisps, the ethers in his soulspace existed in two large clouds with a few smaller satellite clumps floating around them.

"I should be ready now, right?" Sam had asked Oros during the previous evening's meditation.

"It's not a milestone you can just pursue and achieve," the familiar had answered.

"You'll feel it when the core is ready to form. Keep shaping and building the vessels." Her speech and communication improved with every passing day.

"They're your conduits and containers for the ether. The further you take them, the more easily your star will come together. There's a surefire way to hasten things."

"I'm guessing that involves going out to find more essences and corruption?"

"Precisely." Sam had no choice but to change his approach to developing his soulspace. In Bastian, most people he knew—or rather had overheard—followed two schools of thought. First, there were the scholars who he got along with. They preferred the by-the-book, scientific and technical approach, following designs and patterns outlined by techniques and manuals. Apparently, their soulspaces were geometrical and followed precise engineering and architectural designs.

From what Sam now understood, they traded flexibility and versatility for precision and ease of use, much like his first iteration of Pulsing Palm. The second school went in the complete opposite direction, following the path of intent, understanding, and 'feel'. They enjoyed incredible flexibility with their vessels, modifying techniques to fit a wide range of needs. But complained about high ether usage and occasional, unexpected results. It made the school particularly appealing to Sam.

Now that he was awakened and received occasional memory fragments from Oros, he understood the issues of both groups and how to balance them. Going down the creative path that relied more on feel, understanding, and intent felt better for attunements as abstract as Genesis and Terminus, but balanced with the logic of the more technical school. IEF's vessel didn't need much change, but Sam had spent the past weeks gradually adapting Pulsing Palm's vessel to the new approach.

He went back to the scroll still tucked in his coat's inner pocket and studied it closely, focusing on the minutiae, function, and philosophy rather than memorizing the blueprints. He hadn't yet overcome the precise input-and-output issues, but his connection to the ether sphere had significantly improved. Internal logic brings the two schools together. That's where the academy fools fucked up. The hand cannon hung from Sam's shoulder. He had resolved not to use it unless an emergency arose.

The weapon was far too loud, and the last thing he wanted was to draw the attention of all creatures in the vicinity. Oros believed the nest was just over a mile away. The last thing he wanted was to stir it or draw attention to himself. It wouldn't surprise Sam if roving predators and hunters also stalked the area, looking to prey on the small and weak, and he currently fell into both categories. Earlier in the day, Oros had spotted movement in the buildings beyond the compounds.

It wasn't the usual kind, like the scouts or patrols who kept their distance. Instead, it looked like a large group of disjointed individuals, scavenging in the nearby buildings. They had started off together, but Oros believed they were competing. A pair had started a fight and parted ways, both injured. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. The familiar had noticed a pattern. Every few days, a handful of such individuals rushed out of the nest.

They appeared smaller and weaker than the scouts and patrols. It seemed the tribe of humanoid creatures was expelling the weaker members of their society. Sam had read of several social creatures in the old Animal Kingdom that exiled non-dominant males who dared to challenge the leader. It happened often with lions. Certain walrus species were known to have one dominant male who killed any lesser males who tried to mate with his harem.

Hyenas were a matriarchal society where the highest-ranking male ranked below the lowest-ranking female. He wasn't sure if he was misremembering or confusing it with another animal, but bachelor groups occasionally tried to strike out on their own. Sam wondered if things in the nest were similar. It didn't matter too much. He didn't plan on staying in the area for long. Even if he did, unless the creatures spoke or understood English, knowing how their society worked wouldn't help him.

Oros led the way, slithering swiftly around rubble and through shrubbery. The telepathic connection gave Sam a rough idea of her location, and he used it to follow her closely. Her senses seemed keener than his when it came to ether and corruption. She claimed it was because she was a predator on the hunt and excelled at seeking out food. Sam hoped it meant she'd lead him straight to creatures carrying an essence. He wasn't sure he could deal with corruption just yet.

The last thing he wanted was to attract an Inhuman's attention. Leaving Iris behind concerned Sam. He glanced back at the compound every dozen steps or so. The surrounding area was reasonably clear, and the nocturnal creatures on the roof kept threats at bay. Yet he couldn't help but worry that something would sneak in and try to get her. As a result, Sam didn't want to stay out for too long or venture far.

Pursuing Oros took him beyond the nearest buildings, toward a monstrous tree that rose from the ground to the rocky ceiling above. Long, gangly vines thicker than the bone bison hung from the ceiling, ending in giant bioluminescent bulbs. Their color and brightness changed with the time of day. Sam had read about them before, and using the current shade, he deduced it was not long after noon. He hoped to finish their hunt and be home before the pink hue of sunset tinged the current bright yellow.

"They almost always make their way to the base of the thick stalk and scale it all the way to Level Three," Oros said when the telepathic connection strengthened. It meant the distance between them had closed. The familiar had slowed down.

"Our best bet is to head in the same direction. If we don't find them along the way, I'm sure we can camp out at the base, and they'll eventually come to us."

"I'd rather not wait," Sam replied.

"The last thing I want is to be stuck outside after dark. Our upstairs neighbors might stop ignoring us, and I don't like the sounds in the night." He didn't want to discuss his concerns about leaving Iris alone overnight.

"We'll get to the stalk and return immediately. If we find something to fight along the way, great; if not, there will be next time."

"I suppose exploring and understanding our current surroundings is just as important." Oros didn't sound pleased but made no complaints. They had softened towards each other over the past weeks. Familiar and awakened, they understood each other better and weren't as abrasive. Sam wouldn't call Oros a friend, but he saw her as an equal. The air was harder to breathe the further Sam wandered from the compound. It seemed Oroboros had portalled him to a reasonably calm and safe part of Level Four.

The atmosphere wasn't particularly offensive, and the neighbors seemed reasonably calm and avoidant. From what Sam had read, Level Four was supposed to be a terrifying realm where entire teams of four-star awakened struggled to survive. As a newly awakened individual, his body was far from adapted to the Abyss's harshness. The miasma was meant to keep weaker individuals out of the depths and prevent movement between the Levels. The same barrier that kept the monstrosities from ascending to Bastian now trapped him.

He could only hope Iris had special Seeker knowledge or a hidden stash of alchemical concoctions that would help him return to Bastian. Every breath felt like sitting by the steam box in the bath house, heavy and uncomfortably hot. After wandering half a mile from the compound, an uncomfortable tingle started to prickle Sam's skin. Now, close to an hour later, the sensation had evolved into a mild burn, no different from sitting under the glaring sun with no humidity.

It was another reason Sam didn't want to stay in the wilds overnight. Recovery from prolonged effects would take too long, and he would have no choice but to rely on Genesis. He lacked the confidence to use it on himself for recovery. I need a body technique as soon as possible; otherwise, surviving this place will be impossible.