January 18, 2019, 6:03 pm.

After the others retrieve their gliders from Rufka and Tipan, we make our way across the city to the next challenge. On the way, we hunt down any Fallen we discover, though Beth has requested I hold off on assisting so everyone else can get more practice in.

Beth demonstrates the utility of her new pistol exactly once when a Fallen happens to wander out of a nearby building after we land near the next challenge.

I feel her pistol is far too quiet for the damage it does, an enormous hole replacing the Fallen's head. Morbidly curious, I approach the Fallen, confirming that its head didn't explode in a shower of gore. Its scalp is still there. Her weapon simply disintegrated everything from the chin upwards until just above the eyebrows.

I gag a little, but it's amazing how much I've adjusted since just a few days ago because while I do gag at the smell, it's mild and easily overcome. I wonder if this is a side effect of my attributes increasing or just the amount of dead bodies I've been around. Hard to say.

Turning back, Beth has found the entrance to the next challenge and is beckoning us over.

Beth leads us inside an office building. At least the desks and chairs scattered throughout remind me of an office building.

There are over a dozen doors leading off a single central lobby, each door charred black. So black I can't help but wonder if Smoulder wasn't here before us. The doors range in size, from ones that Luggett could barely squeeze through down to a door that would barely accommodate Smoulder.

Speaking of Smoulder, I checked her status on the way here. I discovered her Agility is still at one hundred and she has two integration points to spend. When I pointed it out to her, both points went straight into Endurance. She really likes those movement attributes.

Since I know that Smoulder gets attributes from these quests, I encourage her to take the door next to me. Reaching out, I read the notification as it appears.

"Zone Quest Hidden Objective revealed: Complete the obstacle course challenge, 'Fire Drill' using only your base attributes and movement skills. Use of any ability, spell or movement item will result in a failure of this challenge. This challenge may be attempted repeatedly. Requirements 0/1 burning buildings escaped. Rewards: +1 current Endurance, 2 iron rank integration points, 1 iron-grade mana essence. Time: 4/7 days remaining."

"Your discovered skills which are allowed for this challenge are running, swimming, and climbing."

Huh, endurance this time. Interesting.

"Okay, people. Ready?"

Our chorus of agreement is followed by a notification echoing Beth's question.

"Raven Queen would like to initiate the challenge, Fire Drill. Are you ready? Y/N?"

I send my redundant mental confirmation to the system as I push my way through the charred door. The other side of the door is a short hall with another door. The next door is so badly charred that it looks like it's going to collapse. Which turns out to be exactly what happens when I try to push it open.

As I release the ashes that were a door handle a moment before, a glowing arrow appears. This time the arrow is yellow with a small orange glow in the centre. The arrow is floating in the middle of a low room. The only light within the room comes from the arrow which gives off a glow that lights the surrounding. Well, the arrow and the flames licking through small gaps in the walls and the low ceiling.

Looking to the left, where the arrow is directing me, I see a hallway filled with flames. Holy crap. I know I'm theoretically resistant to flames, but that going down that hallway seems like a bad idea. Then I see a collapsed wall, where the flames haven't reached yet.

Stepping over, I realize the air is full of smoke. It's not causing me to cough, but it does start draining my health. It's only 0.1 per minute, but if I take any other damage in here, this could get bad.

Carefully climbing over the collapsed wall, I'm startled when a loud crash comes from behind me, glancing back, I find a flaming beam running across the room I just left, the nearby ceiling reduced to kindling. Remembering how many times I was hit by fallen objects during the first challenge, I decide to pick up my pace.

Squeezing through a small gap in the next wall, I find myself in a hallway full of flaming debris with no way forward except to run through them. It's not the wall to wall flames I saw in the last hallway and the fires aren't placed too closely together, so it shouldn't be too bad.

I continue forward, and the heat doesn't even bother me. Since I'm already being forced to get close to the flaming debris, I test to see how close I can approach before the flames cause me damage. I'm able to put my hand directly in the fire without losing health. I'm taking more damage from smoke than fire.

Shaking my head at the incongruity, I decide to make my way as quickly as I can. I pass through another three sets of rooms, their hallways all full of burning flames. Which I continue to avoid. No sense pushing my luck. I seem to be outrunning the falling beams when I come across a new challenge.

In front of me, there's a four-storey drop to a blazing inferno below. The smoke in this room is so bad my health is now falling at 0.5 per minute. The way forward is clear. There are several narrow planks leading out and over the room. There isn't a single plank that leads all the way from where I'm standing to the far side, but I can trace several paths by making transitions at the centre crossbeam.

Starting out, I balance on the narrow plank, ignoring the drop, the slight wobble and the flames below. Gotta love being immune to fear.

I make my way out to the central beam with ease. But as I set foot on it, a familiar timer appears. If I'm halfway, the five minutes the timer displays feel pretty generous.

When I take a step towards the plank I was planning to take, the central crossbeam shifts. As I'm teetering, all but one of the planks that lead to the far side fall away. And I nearly join them, the shifting of the beam catching me off guard, knocking me to the side. I latch onto the beam which crumbles under my fingers. Digging in with my fingernails, I feel the edge of the beam give until I find the solid wood buried beneath.

Okay, maybe five minutes isn't so generous.

Pulling myself up, I slowly move to the remaining plank, which is at the very end of the crossbeam. Looking at it, I sigh. I specifically avoided crossing near this side. All the planks here were in worse condition. The one in front of me looks like a solid thunk could split it in half. But it's my only choice, so I set out across the plank.

I'm just over halfway across when I hear a crack beneath my feet. Deciding that my time is running out, I dash forwards, trying to keep my feet from slipping. I'm only a metre from the end when the plank cracks, then snaps.

I slam into the edge of the balcony, taking no real damage while keeping myself from falling. For the second time in less than a minute, I find myself dragging myself away from the fire below.

But I don't have time to rest on my laurels. The timer is still counting down. Pushing myself to my feet, I continue forward. I go through another two debris-filled hallways before I come across another beam filled room. This time there are three crossbeams. Starting out, I choose a close plank instead of trying to find the best path. If they're just going to fall anyway, why bother.

When I make it to the first crossbeam, I'm ready for the shift, but I still almost slip again when it hits. These obstacle courses are almost making me want to up my agility. But it sounds like those with higher agility get harder challenges, so it wouldn't help anyway. Much.

Half of the planks are still up, so I move to the closest plank, making my way to the next crossbeam. This time, there's no shifting when I set foot on it. I wait for ten precious seconds before I decide to chance the next plank.

Amazingly, I make it to the central crossbeam and there's still no shake. Choosing another sturdy-looking plank, I make it three steps when the room shifts. The plank I'm standing on is only one of the victims, but it's the one I care about, as I'm currently heavily invested in it remaining in place.

But my desires have no bearing on reality.

As I feel myself falling, it occurs to me that I'm about to find out what the conditions are like when you fail. I really hope they're right about not being able to die in here.

Deciding, I'd rather be disqualified than find out, I cast flight, halting my fall. Unfortunately, I'm not taken directly out of the challenge.

Instead, I receive a notification.

"Challenge failed: Unauthorized use of flight."

There's more, but I don't have time to read it before I feel a heavy thud that knocks me down.

I slam into the ground with a thunderous crash, as a flaming beam comes down on top of me, smashing my shoulder into the floor. I feel shooting pain shoot up through my arm. Something's out of place. Then I feel the warmth of the flames getting hotter. It's more than uncomfortable as I try to stand, only to be held down by the beam. The pops and crackling all around me get louder as my fire resistance no longer seems to be enough to defeat the damage, my health disappearing rapidly.

Moments later, I can't hear anything over the sound of my own scream. Then another heavy object strikes me, rendering me mercifully unconscious.

_______________________________________

When I wake, I find myself sitting on a clean bench in a room much like the one I entered the challenge in. The incredible pain is mostly gone. Until I shift, causing my right shoulder to scream at me, that is. Then, when I bump my left hand against my seat, I receive a fresh flash of pain.

I should have paused time before using flight. Or at least before I read notifications in a dangerous area.

Glancing at my conditions, I discover the dislocated shoulder and burned conditions. But they're kind of a relief, cause I'm alive. And the memory of the pain I was in is already fading. Now I know the system is messing with me. As I contemplate whether this is a good thing, I take a moment to check what the conditions mean and how long I'd be stuck with them without Roberts.

Dislocated will go away after two nights of rest or if it's set back into place. It lowers my dexterity with my dislocated arm and causes me pain when it's bumped, ignoring health.

The 'burned' condition reduces movement speed, increases focus costs by 100%, reduces fire resistance by fifty edge while also causing pain if bumped, touched or thought about too hard. But it can be healed after three nights of rest.

After reviewing my conditions, I have to admit, as bad as my current situation is, it's still so much better than being dead. Or having similar burns in real life. Looking down at my arm, I discover the flesh is…

Well, it's really not supposed to look like that.

Gritting my teeth when I stand, I reach for the door. When I step out, I discover I'm the first one to finish this time. Makes sense. I still had three minutes left on my timer.

The exit is located in a similar office building from the one we entered, which I see across the street. There's a part of me that wants to try the challenge again. I don't need my arm for this challenge.

But that would be foolish. I can wait for Roberts to finish. Then he should be able to heal me.

Then I can attempt the challenge again.

I don't do anything productive as I wait, leaning against one of the many desks while focusing on not breathing too deeply. I don't even summon any magic.

The next person to enter the lobby is Josh. He seems well. No sign of injury or burned flesh.

That's good.

"Hey Josh," I try to croak out. But it comes out more like, "Glog-coff," and it really hurts. Like, it takes me a few seconds to realize Josh is calling my name level hurts.

"Alexis. Are you okay? Nevermind. Stupid question. Obviously, you're not okay," Josh deduces, reaching towards me, but stopping himself before he touches my sloughing flesh.

Despite my condition and my appearance, I'm not feeling that bad. I mean, lots of pain, sure. But the fact it's temporary somehow makes it easier to bear. I'm wondering if there's been a change due to my attribute growth. I've always been able to ignore some pain when I thought it was necessary, but this is on a whole new level.

Then again, compared to digging around in my memories, physical pain somehow seems less real.

Luckily, most of the others finish in the next half minute. Before I can get Roberts' attention, Josh is already there, practically screaming in his face, "Alexis is hurt."

Looking up from where he was just brushing himself off, Roberts' gaze follows Josh's arm, which is pointing in my direction.

I raise my slightly burned, but mostly functional left arm in a small wave as Roberts approaches with Beth, Rufka and Josh all crowding around behind him. Roberts is only just reaching for my hand when I sense Smoulder emerge from her challenge.

Her satisfaction at having completed her trial dissipates immediately. If I thought I'd seen her move fast before, the speed at which she's by my side once she senses my pain is hard to fathom.

One second, she's emerging from her trial twenty metres away. The next, she's at my feet, bowling Roberts over with her meteoric approach.

Looking at everyone with suspicious eyes while wiggling, preparing to launch at them, it takes a few painful laughs before I'm able to tell Smoulder it wasn't them.

She shows zero remorse, concentrating on expressing her confusion and concern. Confusion, because how could I be hurt by something as wonderful as fire. Concern, because I'm still in a lot of pain. I reassure her that I'm fine. Or at least close enough. It's good to know that she's able to sense my condition through the familiar bond. I wonder if I have the same feedback if she's hurt.

"Sorry bout that," I apologize to Roberts as he brushes himself off.

"No harm done. Now, let's take a proper look," he replies, taking my hand. When he starts healing me this time, I feel my body grow distant. It's as though instead of feeling my body, I'm now reading a status report about it. While I'm in this distant state, Roberts pops my shoulder back into place then sends his healing energy through my body. Once the pain is gone, my body reconnects.

"Have I mentioned how amazing that is," I observe while standing up, stretching to test everything. Yep. Just like that, the pain is gone.

"You know, I'm not certain you have," Roberts smirks while stepping back to give me room.

"She must be the only user who hasn't," Rufka chuckles.

"That's amazing. Thank you," I repeat before stepping back towards the challenge. I'm sure I can do this. I just need to try again.

"Kid, what're you doing?"

"I'm going to do the trial again. But this time I'm going to finish it," I answer.

"Alexis, what's wrong with you?" Josh asks, causing me to stare at him.

"Why, whatever do you mean Josh?" I snark at him in response. As grateful as I am for his concern, his question feels insulting.

"Why would you go back in after what obviously just happened to you?"

I stare at Josh for a second before ignoring him, turning to Roberts, "I would appreciate it if you waited for me to try again. I might not succeed."

Roberts smiles at me as he responds, "of course Alexis. I'll wait right here."

"Good luck Lexi," Rufka offers as encouragement when I pass Smoulder over to her. As I'm giving her Smoulder, Tipan emerges from her trial looking slightly shaken but otherwise intact. Looks like I'm the only one who didn't succeed on the first try.

Congratulating her, Beth and I go to the trial start.

"You're sure you want to do this?" Beth checks as we approach the door.

I tilt my head while giving Beth an are-you-serious look as I answer, "Yes. Aren't you the one who said that it's fine because the conditions are just temporary?"

"Just checking. Didn't want you doing this if you were just trying to impress us, that's all," Beth responds as she triggers the notification for starting the challenge again.

Reading the notification, I wait for a moment, turning to Beth, "I suspect we're going to have to endure far worse than burning buildings to get home. This is a safe way to increase our stats and get experience in extreme circumstances. I'm not going to leave any of these challenges uncompleted if I have a choice."

Beth smiles at me for a second before clapping me on the back, "Good. Best of luck, kid."

Thanking her, I step forward confirming my choice.

Okay. Let's try this again.

Stepping through the second door which again turns to ash with a touch, I find myself back in the same first room. Knowing what I do about the course, I quickly run through, making it to the first beam room quickly. Taking care, I move to the centre crossbeam where it again shakes. This time I don't fall, since I'm prepared for it to move. Strangely, a couple of planks stay up this time.

I make my way across a more solid-looking beam than last time. There's no further shifting and I'm soon on my way to the next room. Another minute of dodging and crawling brings me back to the room with three crossbeams.

This time, I purposely choose a different first plank. When I arrive at the first crossbeam, a different set of planks fall into the blazing fire below. I wonder if it's based on the plank I chose or just random.

Either way, I don't have time to worry, the timer is ticking down. Even though I'm making better time than before, the next step is worrying.

I race across the widest plank I can, moving to the central crossbeam. No shaking, just like last time. I set foot on the nearest plank, but instead of crossing, I only take a step out then wait for a second. There's no shaking, so I grit my teeth before dashing forward. I'm about to set foot on the third crossbeam when the plank wobbles under my feet.

Thankfully, the plank doesn't fall this time and I'm safely on the third crossbeam, making my way to the second closest plank. Since I just experienced a shift, I don't pause, hopping on the plank and running full speed across. This almost backfires when I near the far end. My foot grips on a knot which causes me to push the plank backwards out from under my foot, sending it plummeting into the fire.

But I'm at the end. The same push that nearly doomed me also lands me on the balcony. As much as I want to, I don't stand around celebrating my success.

Instead, I follow the arrow through another burning hallway. I still have a minute and a half left when I come across an empty room with no fire and a blackened door, just like the entrance. Looking around, I try to figure out the catch. There's no way it's that easy, right?

I spend a solid fifteen seconds searching for it before I realize it's the floor. It's not as solid as it looks. The constant smoke is obscuring my view, but I'm sure there are sections that'll collapse if I put too much weight on them. Looking at the door, I judge the distance is only three metres or so. And the section in front of the door should be solid right?

Working backwards, I find two different paths that I think might work out. With only thirty seconds left, I chance it and jump as far as I can to the wider looking path. When I land, I step farther than I'd intended, my left foot breaking part of the floor but not slipping through.

Carefully pulling my foot back up, I make a dash towards the exit, making it through with fifteen seconds on the clock. But there's still the second door. I run forward, opening the second door which finally causes the timer to stop.

"Zone Quest Hidden Objective completed: Requirements 1/1 burning buildings escaped. Rewards: +1 current Endurance, 2 iron rank integration points, 1 iron-grade mana essence."

"Please return to your closest available Nexus to retrieve your items."

Well, that's a relief.