"How exactly does submission work, Ed?" Lucian asked. "Is it a verbal submission?"

[To annex another Domain, the opposing Host has to submit physically and mentally]

"And how exactly am I supposed to know?"

[Error]

"Fine, fine," Lucian dumped a load of the spoiled meat into the void as he thought of some more questions. There were many things he wanted to learn before the next wave, but Ed was pretty stingy with his answers. Ways to get more Psyons or a higher Grade, the best Microlinks to spend them on, and other questions played on his mind.

He focused on the Microlink page. After choosing the [Endurance I] Microlink, he'd run off and fought a giant saber-cat! Too much had been going on, and now that he had some time, he wanted to take a look at the changes.

"Alright, let's see what we have here," He zoomed in on the [Initiate] Microlink. Around the [Initiate] point, six Microlinks were visible in any direction, which was enough for Lucian. "So after [Endurance I] is [Endurance II], it seems. But what is this..?"

Like with the [Map], after unlocking his first Microlink, three more were visible to him. The [Endurance II] hexagon was blue, but the name was red, indicating that he didn't have the ten Psyons required to buy it. Beside [Endurance II] were two tiles that were completely red, suggesting that he hadn't met the requirements to unlock them even if he had the Psyons available. Each of these cost a whopping 100 Psyons!

Of the two Microlinks, the one between [Endurance II] and what Lucian assumed to be [Tempering II] was called [Fortisurgy I]. He was surprised to find that once he focused on the ability, it actually gave him a cost and brief description.

[Fortisurgy I]

[Cost: C]

[Requirements: [Endurance II][Tempering II]]

[The strength of any material or object that Host works with or crafts is increased]

"That's... interesting," Lucian frowned. "But Ed, I'm not sure that I understand. Can you give more details on the description or give me the concepts as you did for the base Microlinks?"

[The art of Fortisurgy embraces the concepts of both Tempering and Endurance. Any item that Host attempts to create will be a great deal harder to damage than an item crafted in a normal fashion]

Lucian's eyes lit up, "Does that mean that if I were to craft a wooden sword, it would be as tough as a weak metal?"

[Yes]

"No way!"

Lucian's heartbeat quickened, and he began to walk faster as he carried the cleaned-off bones back to his shelter. The concepts of the Microlinks were outlandish, but he was starting to understand the purpose of this Tournament. Whatever the Sectors were, they weren't just trying to win some resources. They were trying to find the most talented warriors and artisans!

"Ed, I'm positive the people running this Tournament are looking for the best... Do you happen to know why?" Lucian asked, knowing that he wouldn't get a response.

He waited for the usual error message, but nothing ever showed up. Lucian stopped walking and gazed at the wall of Microlinks still floating before him, waiting for some type of response, but nothing ever came.

"Ed..." Lucian whispered. "Are these rabbits edible?"

[Error]

"What the fuck, Ed! Don't scare me like that!"

Lucian continued walking and piled the cleaned-off bones in a corner of his shack, next to the greenish-brown fur. He stopped for a moment and thought about what had just happened. Why wouldn't Ed respond to that question? Did he know but couldn't say? Was there someone on the other end typing the information to him as he asked the questions?

"Wait..." The moment the last thought appeared, he thought it very likely. But... should he ask? Would he just be killed off early if he started asking the wrong questions?

'I should hold off on asking any questions that might piss the 'overseers' off, just in case,' Lucian thought to himself. Even though it was a strange concept, Lucian found the idea that someone was probably experiencing this journey with him to be warming. Maybe... Just maybe he wasn't alone.

"Alrighty then," Lucian smiled at the screen. "Let's see what this other option is."

The second red Microlink was nestled between [Endurance II] and [Mental Fortitude II]. He focused in on the Microlink and found it to be called [Psychokenesis I].

[Psychokenesis I]

[Cost: C]

[Requirements: [Mental Fortitude II][Endurance II]]

[The ability to move small objects in close proximity through mental effort]

"Uhhh... Ed... Does this mean what I think it means?" The text was straightforward, and there was no way for him to misunderstand it, but... "No way!"

[Psychokenesis embodies the concepts of both Mental Fortitude and Endurance. Host can understand and use the laws of both to solidify thought]

"How awesome!" He looked at the Microlinks with a newfound fervor, and suddenly, he almost couldn't wait for the next wave. "Lucas would have loved this."

He thought about his son, who was always playing video games or talking about superheroes. Lucian had read many of the earlier comics as an escape from his younger life, but as he got older, those heroes just didn't have the same meaning. He'd waited every day for one of them to jump out of the pages and rescue him from his shitty home life, but it never happened.

Once Lucas was old enough, he'd quickly gained interest in the heroes who had forsaken Lucian, and the two spent many hours browsing the net for collectibles and figurines. Lucian grinned, thinking that he might make it back to his son one day and show him that heroes really can exist.

"Wishful thinking," He murmured, but the smile never left his face. This was just one more reason for him to push forward. Lucian would strive to become one of the powerhouses that he and his son loved.

"Don't worry, Lucas. I'll beat up all the bad guys and come back home."