Randidly rolled his eyes at the opening line of Neveah’s message. As a more social person, despite being a Bone Wyrm, she wasn’t a fan of the way that he had handled the governmental situation on Expira. Still, the rest of the message was more serious so he carefully read every word.

Contrary to expectations, Expira has been rather peaceful in your absence. Perhaps a peacekeeping and temperamental overlord was more aggravating than helpful. Most of the Zones are spreading outward in a queer mirroring of colonialism, seizing large tracts of land and resources. There are some small disputes, but there is simply so much land that the Zones won’t bother with confrontations over it. Similarly, most bubble cities have aligned themselves directly with a Zone. With Kharon patrolling the unexplored areas, civilization has a chance to rebuild itself.

I must say though, if Expira plans to run through the history of Earth at an accelerated pace, I’m a little anxious.

Speaking of which, thank you for asking how I am. I appreciate your newfound focus on emotional balance; I can sense it through our connection and it’s helping me ground myself. So I’ve been… better. After hearing your description of what likely caused Roy to take his own life, I believe I’m slowly coming to terms with it. Feeling like your actions are meaningless can destroy someone.

There was a big piece of news recently: Donnyton announced that it will soon be moving. They will maintain a presence in that original valley, but your original town is growing a bit too small for their operations. And I think they want to avoid the growing tensions between themselves and Franksburg for control of Zone 32. So they claimed a large river valley near the equator and are currently recruiting people to join in their move.

Zone 1 is low-key thrilled. The presence of Donnyton always aggravated them, even now that Greyman is no longer President.

I’ve made more progress on Yystrix’s legacy. The current section I am working on appears to be related to the Nexus Ways. It is a fascinating look at the way they used Aether to mimic Nether’s ability to connect, but it honestly seems not very useful considering your Philosopher’s Key. Therefore, I plan on switching again soon to try one of the few remaining areas I haven’t addressed.

In other news, I’ve made a new friend. I believe humans call our relationship pen-pals? So I’ve never met this individual, but we communicate semi-frequently about trivial matters. It is quite the novel experience.

Finally, concerning your questions about additional physical suppression… please stop. You have a problem. You are straining your physical form to the point that it damages your images! That cannot be healthy.

But, to my mentally sick Soulbound companion, below is an Engraving that I believe will achieve the desired effect.

Best wishes,

Neveah.

Randidly grinned and scanned quickly through the Engraving. His eyes rapidly brightened. The Engraving essentially took principles from Randidly’s own experience as the Alpha Cosmos to restrict individuals even further. It would forge a weak energy sympathy between the body and a larger structure: in this case, the whole of the Rally Station. Thereafter, a portion of an individual's effort would be directed to moving the entire Rally Station and therefore largely wasted.

Sensing that he was steadily approaching the required suppression to force the Grim Chimera image to evolve, Randidly flexed his fingers. Heh, Grim Chimera, do you really want me to pile on the physical necessity to push you to the next stage of your evolution? Don’t say I didn’t warn you… This will not be pleasant.

Randidly hopped to his feet and walked to the window of his apartment. He still had about twenty-four hours before he needed to release his recruits to attend the funeral. Therefore, he also had time before the planned Darkstar Challenge. As long as he pushed himself to the limit, there was a chance that he could evolve the Grim Chimera before the challenge.

And a dominant Grim Chimera was exactly the image that could scare the recruits into behaving during their time off.

Nodding to himself, Randidly moved to his personal training area and began adjusting his Engravings to incorporate Neveah’s idea. The training pod was becoming quite cramped with all the layered Engravings, but it was still possible to fit everything he wanted.

Congratulations! Your Skill Architecture of the Primordial Ways (M) has grown to Level 312!

But right as he was about to head in and strain himself, Randidly had an idea. He quickly sent Helen a message.

*****

“Should I say congratulations… or condolences?” Overseer Helen teased. The mercurial flow of her expressions as she was speaking was almost petrifying; despite the fact that she knew she shouldn’t stare so openly, Charlotte Wick could not tear her eyes from the features of the feminine goddess in front of her. She could barely even breathe. This hairless humanoid was simply that perfect.

Although her lack of movement might also be due to the brutalizing workout they had just endured. Each of her muscles was releasing a constant stream of feeble complaints under the new array; Overseer Helen hadn’t been exaggerating about how difficult these two days were going to be. Charlotte’s dominant emotion had become numbness.

Currently, Charlotte was standing with DiOrtho Vant, Jieu Ronault, Kallum Xeruth, and Tilem Joust, the top five ranked recruits. Aside from Vant, they were all also captains of squads. They regarded the Overseer in front of them carefully, all of them antsy, albeit for very different reasons than Charlotte.

“The Ghosthound is currently training in his pod, making preparations to adjust his image,” Overseer Helen jerked her finger behind her. Charlotte managed to tear her eyes away and glance at the training pod building in question. She couldn’t sense anything, but her instincts warned her to stay away from the hunched metal shell of a structure. “In addition, he has decided to give you five an opportunity: you will be allowed to come with me into the waiting area and witness the image reverberations he is releasing. And should you survive for an hour within the staging area… you will receive a Darkstar Coin for your efforts.”

Next to her, DiOrtho Vant raised his head. His breathing quickened.

Charlotte was somewhat scandalized to feel a sense of familiarity with DiOrtho’s emotional reaction; he appeared to fetishize Head Drill Sergeant Ghosthound just as much as Charlotte did Overseer Helen. Very quickly, Charlotte suppressed that thought. No! My… my emotions are much purer. There is simply… a magnetic pull… I’m purely an observer I have no special desires… Unlike that uncouth Vant…

During Charlotte’s bout of vehement self-hypnotism, Overseer Helen continued to explain. “You do not need to take advantage of this opportunity. I won’t force you. It will take the place of your rest hours, so you will need to proceed directly to your next physical fitness block after this. In addition, I will not protect your life while you are in there and the Ghosthound… well, he is notoriously oblivious to the harm that he can cause with his image. There is a significant risk, both of injury and of having your image warped by his. Does anyone want to back out now?”

All five recruits remained silent and still. No one had come this far from balking in the face of challenges.

Overseer Helen beamed at them. “Glad to see we haven’t yet cured you of your overconfidence. Well, come on then. Let’s get this fucking over with.”

With her usual swagger, Overseer Helen walked forward to the door to the Ghosthound’s personal training facility. In terms of exterior, it was perfectly in line with the other training buildings. Its pod was no larger than any of the others. But with every step they took toward that building, Charlotte’s instincts upped the volume on their warning about that place. There was something dense and dangerous swirling around it. Every more worryingly, Overseer Helen paused in front of the doors. Her image exploded around her, thick currents of crimson energy winding their way around her lithe limbs.

Only then did she open the door and reveal the ominously still interior. She walked forward with even steps. The noise of her boots against the tiled floor echoed strangely. After exchanging alarmed glances, the recruits followed. Each activated their own image in imitation of Overseer Helen. Charlotte’s plant/beast hybrid, the Primordial Spirit, cantered slowly forward behind her. On its leafy rack of pale antlers, small bells chimed, calming the emotions of the individuals around her.

Although DiOrtho Vant spared her an irritated glare, the rest of the recruits radiated gratitude as Charlotte’s assistance helped calm their emotions. Although she would never admit it out loud, she paid tribute where it was due. Advisor Salazar might be tiresome, but his teachings about creating an aura are absolutely sublime…. Peh, I suppose it was a survival instinct. If he didn’t have a calming shroud around him, he would be killed for constantly telling his stupid tales…

As soon as Charlotte stepped across the threshold, her attention snapped back to the situation at hand. There was a strange ringing in her ears. She could barely suppress a gasp; laid bare in front of her was the ongoing struggle of their Head Drill Sergeant, Randidly Ghosthound. The interior area was dimly lit and murky, with powerful emotions and half-formed emotions warping and obscuring the space just as surely as fog would. Her bones resonated with the rumbling force that was rumbling through the air of the training hall. If their bodies hadn’t been a point of emphasis for the past several weeks…

It felt like they were standing suspended in the middle of a storm cloud during a typhoon. Everything was howling force and potent charge. Or like she had been plunged to the bottom of a frigid sea. Her skin crawled.

Even with all of the training they had done, it was only Jieu who appeared completely at ease in the staging area. Overseer Helen glanced over her shoulder casually, her crimson blood flows seeming to easily push away the crashing waves of image in the surrounding air. She gestured slightly toward the swirling darkness at the far end of the hall. “Adjust your state here. When you are ready-”

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM!

Next to her, Kallum Xeruth spat out blood and fell to one knee as a horrifying cry emerged from the darkness in front of them. That rumbling groan was almost infectious; somehow, after it experiencing it, it began to feel like it was coming from the depths of your own body. Charlotte’s Primordial Spirit wavered. She began to sweat. She wrapped her arms around herself like she was desperately hugging her own torso.

Overseer Helen’s mouth twitched. “...when you are ready, follow me for a closer look. But I’d recommend not taking a step closer than me. I’ll be using this opportunity to train as well. And as for the pressure right next to the training pod… I wouldn’t dare experience it, even for a second. It would physically squish you. Like a bug.”

Then she walked forward. Snarling, DiOrtho Vant forced himself to follow after her. Jieu Ronault glided serenely after them. For the moment, Charlotte Wick waited and radiated energy from her image as best she could. But with the chaotic rumbles in the space, her image was warped and weakened.

But soon, Kallum appeared to have stabilized himself and stood. His gaze was toward the training pod of their Head Drill Sergeant. There was something fanatical in his gaze. Charlotte glanced sideways at Tilem Joust, a young woman with almost a dozen eyes on her face. Pale and sickly looking, Tilem shook her head; her body could barely withstand it as it was.

Charlotte nodded slowly then led Kallum forward, wanting to observe the Ghosthound, even if it was only for a moment.