The glass sphere exploded into a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes. A blob of what felt like primordial ooze formed in the middle of the sphere, from which came dozens of apparitions. Each lasted for less than a second before being dragged back into the sphere. As if each element, each Dao, fought the others to emerge at the forefront. Alongside the images was an almost tangible presence that pressed down on him. Unlike when the Network did it, this felt warm and inviting, as if each apparition wanted him to reach out and grab it. Part of him wanted to do just that, but he held himself back. No one else had tried to touch the orb, nor did Thrawn tell him to. The blob struggled to maintain cohesion as the apparitions continued for several seconds. The apparitions slowed down until eventually the sphere went inert.
Throughout the display, Maximilian kept his facial expression calm and unreadable. Though inwardly his emotions were a complex storm of confusion and excitement. It was hard to keep track of all of them, but he counted all five of the eastern elements on top of the western ones. There were also a few of the weapons, though he had to admit he didn’t care about those. The one that drew his eye was the lightning bolt. It felt like both electricity and more. Like anger, judgement and something he couldn’t put his finger on. Whatever it was, it was terrifying. The display washed away the fear and anxiety that had nestled into his heart. Not only were his affinities diverse, but he thought they were rather high. It was hard to compare — a powerful hand pressing down on him interrupted his thoughts.
“Not bad. Not bad at all, this fledgling might grow into a dragon. I doubt I need to explain the obvious, but your affinities are rather high across the board. There are a few that aren’t suitable for you, but you have a wide road ahead.” Thrawn said and offered him a slip.
Maximilian nodded his head and accepted the item. “Thank you. Is there anything I should focus on more than the others? Any Dao more powerful than the others?”
Thrawn shook his head. “The Dao doesn’t work like that. All paths lead to the top if you have the strength to walk. Some are more common than others, and some provide more unique opportunities like Time and Space, but each one is strong. The slight differences in your affinities aren’t worth fretting over, so go with whatever feels right.” He then slapped Maximilian’s back with enough force to cause him to stumble forward and almost fall over. “And speak louder. My hearing isn’t what used to be.”
Maximilian grimaced but ignored the comment. He was tired of people telling him that. He wanted to ask a few more questions, but Thrawn had already moved on to the next person. He placed the slip into his bag and stepped down from the platform. As he did, he could feel the gaze of the crowd land on him. Scattered conversations between the people who stuck around until the tests were done. He kept his expression even and disinterested. He wasn’t sure if standing out at this point in the game was wise, but that decision had been made. He would deal with whatever came next. He took a seat and watched the remainder of the test, though his attention was on the slip in his bag. Part of him wanted to review the information, but he didn’t. Unfortunately, there weren’t anymore stand out performances. There was a pair that had high time affinity, which was interesting, but he didn’t pay it any attention.
“Alright, that’s everyone. Your group has some impressive fledglings. I wish you luck in facing the dangers of your world. Take the time to familiarize yourself with what’s in your slips. It has everything you need to proceed until our next meeting.” Thrawn said before a new pillar of light engulfed Maximilian. He blinked away the blinding light until he could see again. The pillar had sent back to the meeting room, and since the dwarves didn’t come with them he assumed he was free to go. Still, he gave it a few minutes before he left just to be sure. As he walked away, he let his mind wander around what had just happened. He didn’t stop until he was back in his apartment.
He entered, took a seat and pulled out the slip. A torrent of information flooded his mind. It was the largest download so far, and it gave him a slight headache. Once he reviewed the information, he determined it was worth it. The Dao was akin to power or, rather, control over an aspect of reality. He remembered the concept in Earth’s religion which worried him. Had cultivators visited Earth before? If they had, what happened to them? It was possible that they were the legendary heroes of myth, but if that were true, then who or what killed them and why didn’t they make more? He had dozens more questions, but the slip didn’t provide those answers. He was confident that he wouldn’t find the answers until he got back to Earth. Despite his list of questions growing, the slip provided a lot of information. That he sorely needed. His affinities were listed on a graph and, as Thrawn explained, they were more or less even across the board. It was easier for him to treat the base as one hundred. Which meant that almost all his affinities were there.
He ignored the weapons and poison related ones since he didn’t like those and they didn’t fit. Lightning moved to the top of the list because that was all he had been using until now. He wasn’t sure what he should pair with it or even if he should pair anything with it. Wind and water were obvious options, but what drew his gaze was something he hadn’t expected. Sound. Were thunder and lightning separate? The thought sent him down a spiral of dozens of other questions. If he picked lightning, would he get all of lightning? Including the heat it generated? What was the difference between that and fire? He stopped the runaway train after several moments. He didn’t have enough information, which meant he needed to focus on what he knew. Once he decided on a direction, he would need to meditate on it. The information wasn’t very clear in that part. Only that he needed to understand the specific Dao. Upon doing so, he should gain control over it. Each Dao was different even if the name was the same. It would be based on that practitioner’s understanding and the way they used it. He assumed that was related to the sense of progression he had. Which should mean he had already started the process regarding lightning. He closed his eyes and reviewed the information two more times to make sure he understood it all. He placed the slip back into his bag just in case he needed it for something and then went to take his ancestry pill. He wished there were a way to deal with disgusting gunk, but there wasn’t.
He checked his status screen after the unfortunate session, but there were no changes. Which meant his pill taking wasn’t over yet. It wasn’t all bad, though. His body felt different, as if he had better control over his muscles. The improvement was more than welcome. The encounter with the lion had clarified that if he was going to continue going at it alone, he would need to be as strong as possible. He spent the rest of the day and the next secluded in his cultivation chamber. He split his time between energy gathering, the Dao and his battles. His efforts brought him to level 4. He split the points between Agility and Constitution, with the former getting one. Altogether, it brought both attributes to 50, which left Strength as the only attribute below that marker. He wasn’t sure if there would be a title for that, but he wanted to test it out. He hoped that the next time his quest upgraded, he would get his chance. For now, though, he put the worry to the back of his mind.
The fifth quest day started the same as the last. He increased the challenge by one stage, which represented a decrease of 5%. It was uncomfortable to see that number and know what it meant. Still, he couldn’t stop himself. If everything he heard were true, his mother and father were still on Earth. They were resourceful, but who knew what the changes would cause? Since he couldn’t speed up his arrival, he had to be as strong as possible. He had to make a difference. He wished his resolve were enough to banish the fear, but it wasn’t. It just made him feel worse. The white light engulfed him a moment later.
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When the teleportation ended, he found himself in a snowstorm. He braced himself for a chill that didn’t come. At first he thought it was his robes, but that wasn’t it. He couldn’t see anything in the robes for weather or heating. Which meant it was him. Once again, he marveled at how his body had changed. He figured it was near zero, but he couldn’t feel it at all. He cocked his head and tried to get his bearings. The snowstorm was intense, but it wasn’t at whiteout levels, which concerned him. He searched the skyline for any monuments, but there was nothing. He stayed put until he received the quest. The prompt appeared a short time later.
Find the Aidlotus
He wasn’t sure what an “Aidlotus” was, but he figured the quest would update when he found it. He waved away the prompt and started walking. He tested a few things as he traveled. He spread spiritual energy through the channels in his fingers and hand. He let the energy circulate for a few seconds before he plunged his hand into the snow. Not only did the snowmelt, but the water drained away from his fingers. As if he wore a wetsuit. He conducted a few more tests, including one where he picked up the snow and then circulated the energy. The result was the same. From what he could tell, this was normal snow, so he couldn’t gauge how well energy could protect against other materials, but it meant he could insulate himself to a degree. It would work for cleaning as well, but if the snowstorm got bad enough, he could use it for a time. He assumed the cold would become part of the danger at some point.
He walked for another ten minutes before he encountered his first enemy. It was an odd ice mole with light blue and white fur, the size of a squirrel. Its fur allowed it to blend into the snow and ice, which let it attack easier. It wasn’t enough to make Maximilian activate his robes. He could deal with them without his skill, but it helped him learn a new feature of Static Bolt, paralysis. The bolt could make them freeze for a few seconds, but it required a lot of effort. He had to control the amount of energy in the skill to avoid overwhelming their nervous systems. It took him ten tries to get the ratio correct, after which he could defeat them without killing them. Which is where he learned something else about the Network. He didn’t get energy from beating them. It was only if he killed them that the Network counted it. Which was worrying.
If he assumed that humans and the other ancestries would give energy when killed, then the Network had not only given everyone a bounty but it dis-incentivized mercy. He knew what kind of person would thrive in that environment, which meant he needed to be stronger. He needed to be someone who could establish order or at least help hold it together. He let his thoughts meander until he came across a small town surrounded by a massive ice wall. The structure was beautiful in a simplistic way. It looked like something out of ancient history or a fantasy TV show. He made his way over to the gate, where a man stepped in front of him. The man was the same height as Maximilian but much bulkier. He had a nasty war-hammer hooked to a belt on his hip. His armor was blue and white chitinous plates. He couldn’t see the man’s face because of the helmet he wore, which only made him seem more intimidating.
“State your business, traveler.” The man’s voice was harsh and firm. Something like a drill instructor who was well beyond caring. Maximilian considered whether he should tell the truth. He couldn’t tell how strong the man was, but he was confident in getting away at least even if he was stronger. That assumed that the “Aidlotus” was some sacred artifact.
“Greetings, I’ve come in search of the Aidlotus. I hope—” A scoff from the man stopped the rest of his words before they came out of his mouth.
“Another prospector? Well, we will see if the frigid worms leave anything of you. My recommendation is you turn around and head back.” When he saw that Maximilian wasn’t going anywhere he snorted and knocked on the large wooden gate behind him. The gate creaked as it was lifted into the wall. Maximilian gave the man nod but ignored the comment. He didn’t have a choice so it didn’t matter what warning they gave. If anything it made curious about the situation. So far everything he had encountered made him think the whole tutorial was fighting mindless monsters but this was a quest. Were the people here real? He reflected on that question as he entered the frozen city. From what he could tell, everything was made of ice. There were about a dozen buildings within the town. The center most had a sign with the word “Tavern” on it, so he started there. Each step filled him with excitement as he settled into his role as an rpg style adventurer.
When he entered the tavern, he was surprised to see a fire in the fireplace with a large bowl of something that smelled delicious. His stomach growled at the thought of proper food. He pushed thoughts of the quest to the back of his mind and took a seat at an empty table. There were five other people in here, two of whom he assumed worked here based on their clothes. They looked like frost trolls. Tall, bulky and icy blue skin. The one woman was almost seven feet tall. He had expected to stand out since he was human, but either the Network had made them ignore that, or humans were common here.
“What would you like?” The male worker asked after a few minutes.
Maximilian paused since he didn’t know what was available and then shrugged. “Whatever is common. No alcohol though. Also, if you know anyone who could provide a map of the region, I would appreciate it.”
“I can get you some soup. As for a map, that will cost you more. Do you want a room?”
He considered it for a moment and then shook his head. Part of him wanted to live the full adventure life, but he wasn’t sure how that would work. The last thing he wanted was to get penalized because he took too long. “No, thank you, just the food and map. Oh, do you mind telling me your name?”
“You can call me Zufem. I will be back in a bit with the soup and map.” Zufem turned and walked into what looked like a kitchen. Maximilian sat and took in the tavern as he waited. From what he could tell, this place was some sort of mining town, though he wasn’t sure what they mined. He assumed it was ice since that was the only thing around as far as he knew. Even after several minutes, he couldn’t determine if the people here were real or not. They seemed real. They weren’t the most talkative people in the world, but they all moved with purpose. They interacted with each other and referenced events from before he arrived. By the time Zufem returned, he hadn’t made up his mind either way. The frost troll placed a bowl and a slip on the table.
The bowl smelled wonderful. It reminded him a bit of the ramen shop he went to as a kid, which only made his stomach growl more. He was about to ask about the price when he checked his status screen. Sure enough, he was missing five hundred points. He wasn’t sure if the Network ran every purchase like that or if it was just the tutorial. Either way, he didn’t care. It was good to have something he could spend the points on. “The map is going to cost you extra if you still want it?” Zufem asked. His free hand still pinned the slip to the table. Maximilian nodded and took the slip. A quick check showed the Network had taken ten thousand points. Part of him wanted to complain about the price, but he stayed quiet. He had no idea what the credits were worth in terms of Earth money, so it felt like video game currency. He placed the slip in his bag so he could focus on his food.
When he finished, he considered buying another bowl. He wasn’t sure if the food was just that good or if he was that hungry and he didn’t care. He stopped himself, though. He needed to get going before he convinced himself to spend even more time here. “Thank you for the food. I hope the rest of your day goes well.” He flashed Zufem a smile and exited the tavern. As soon as the chilled air hit him, he regretted his choice. It was just cold enough to make him not want to be outside. “Why couldn’t I be sent to a tropical climate world? A place like magical Florida.” He grumbled as he circulated his spiritual energy. He pulled out the map and sent a bit of energy inside. He took a few minutes to look it over and found that there were three potential places. One was some sort of frozen lake, another was an icy cavern, and the third was a frozen forest. He jotted out a plan that would take him through the forest, then the lake and finally the cavern. Though he was pretty sure the item was in the cavern. Either that or the Network would make it appear at the last place he checked no matter what. Either way, he didn’t mind.
