I didn’t sleep for too long. Despite my safe barriers, the oppressive aura of the Malice Zone made it hard to remain relaxed for too long. By the System’s indication, I had been out for an hour or so and I had to rub crust from eyes and yawn.

I stared blankly up at the ceiling where I saw my shield! I was buried into the ceiling tiles like a throwing star. It looked a little cracked but still useable. I pulled a chair over and frowned as I still lacked the reach.

I had to settle for poking it with my rod and it eventually was nudged it loose into my waiting hands.

“Welcome back my flaming disc of awesome!” I beamed. Strapping it back on, I took a chance to drink some water and ask some questions about my new finds.

“System? Can I influence the direction of my offensive skill gem? Like said I wanted a fire-related ability, could I nudge it that way?” I inquired.

No. Skill Gems are formed by existing or leftover experiences of the Zone. Thye swap the versatility of item gems that can vary from useless to maybe useful at current rank. With the red gems, you will always get a skill that has combat applications if not an outright Active skill to use similar to your Flamebrand or Power Swing.

I mulled that over.

So red gems were more just use them and abuse them. Yellow gems required thought on my current needs and was adaptable if potentially not helpful at worse case scenarios if the wording or my bad luck came out bad.

Red gems could maybe grant skills I wouldn’t use or passives that didn’t synch well but at worse, they would always offer my power in the form of passive or active powers. Something no one could take away from me and I could grind later if I enjoyed them.

I was really liking the gem system so far.

I turned to the blue gem.

“I think I get it but do you mind expanding on the blue gems?” I said as I turned the blue teardrop in my hand over curiously.

Blue depicts creation. Creation can range from summons, weapons, portals, crafting, buildings, and more. Blues are considered support as they lack direct damage from yourself.

I imagine as a blue G-1 rank, I was unlikely to get a dragon or a blood knight as a summon.

I repeated my query of it was able to be directed like Yellow gems and got a firm no. I didn’t mind as the build-up of blues could pave the way for an army... base building, and even more. I crushed it and my head pulsed in slight pain as the information found space for itself.

Well done! You have learned the skill: Sanitary Rock Creation! Skill is levelled to 2 due to the common level of skill.

I quirked an eyebrow and read my new skill.

Sanitary Rock Creation Lv 2: Active skill. Energy.

Summons a fragile rock that casts a light that sanitizes and cleans a small radius around it from filth and reduced fatigue of user and allies. Cost 3 ENE

I had no idea if I just got let down or rewarded heavily combat wise but as a person still covered in goo and blood...

This was amazing.

I cast it and memories of clean cotton and wide-open windows letting in fresh air filled my mind. The scent filled my lungs and it was soothing like cleaning for my soul.

I looked down at the porous rock I now held that gave off a soft yellow light like a night lamp. The light faded within a foot or so but it did light the area up beyond the gloom. I moved it and winced as it crumbled at the gentlest movements. I put it down and held my hand over it.

I Observed it as I waited.

Sanitary rock(Creation of Russel).

A fragile rock that emits cleaning light. Duration left: 1 minute.

Effect: a weak cleaning aura that struggles against stains and dirt.

Not exactly the bleach scrub I was hoping for. I cut the skill some slack since it was only level 2. I imagine evolutions would be a powerful aura to heal friends and even remove powerful poisons. I was a little amused that yet again I was throwing rocks around albeit with a different intent.

Watch out Aizen, the Rock King was coming for you.

I created another three and experimented with crushing them or generally throwing them. The crushed one seemed to release all its energy at once before fading. The thrown one turned to dust before it impacted anything.

My first one expired and I saw the small spot around might have looked less rusty than the rest of the room. Maybe...

Well, I would find a use for them. I was noting I got a skill to clean and sanitize from the hospital but didn’t know enough to guess if that was luck of outside influence.

I crushed my red gem.

Well done! You have gained the active skill: Flimsy Weak Tentacle. Skill is levelled to two due to common rarity.

Pain shot through my entire body as things rearranged without my consent. I saw a stripe of my arm skin lift and turn from shifting flesh into a pink rope with faint veins. The pain stopped and I gasped as I spouted a tentacle.

In Japan.

Oh no...

The new limb slowly moved, using new muscles to hold itself up and I began to understand how to move it and control it as the knowledge finally settled.

Flimsy Weak Tentacle: Active Skill. Physical.

Sprout a tentacle the length of your arm from any part of your body. Cost 10 Energy. Sustained at no cost once formed. Limb will have same sensations as normal limbs.

This was so damn weird and disgusting... and handy.

My tentacl- I shuddered and moved the limb slowly, it shifted around my body as a speed that was slower than Virus Piles. I had it near my lower back and still had full awareness of it.

There, now it was just an ugly tail.

The amazing side of this fucking weird thing?

I could access my inventory with it. It also seemed to ignore my clothes with some odd phasing thing. I was glad I would not be cutting holes into my clothes but it raises odd questions nonetheless.

I turned the skill off and it melted back into me with ease. I shuddered. All skills had uses, didn’t meant they weren’t a bit gross at times. I knew that the gem must have come from the Tumor’s own tentacles.

I guess gems could be influenced by the source they came from but the blue gem had taken the opposite reaction of flesh and illness, doing the healing.

Two gems, two outcomes of the same spectrum. One got you closer to the tumour and one became a repellent. I got its strength and learned how to weaken them in the future. How... handy.

For improving your sensory sensations and taxing your brain with new input, your Mental stat has risen!

I opened my skill page and looked at the Tentacle skill again. I had missed the last line in my panic.

Increased Physical stat every 10 levels. Increases Mental Stat every 15.

Oh great, the skill was useful. Maybe future versions might be less disgusting or I could level it where no one could see me.

Feeling slightly better and wondered if my Mental stat helped with mental well being and general health up there? I moved to the barrier and peered out. A Tadcell threw itself from the group of ten at me and I yanked back as the thing smashed into the barrier with no effect.

They must have been drawn to the room by the demise of the Tumor. I pondered how best to handle this. Do I continue with fiery death or did I level Pure Rock (my own name for the skill)?. Despite being no combat, I had a feeling using them in interesting ways would pump more results than constantly recasting it.

I tried it and saw my Energy was below half so I wouldn’t be messing around too much. The Pure Rock was placed outside the barrier. The faint glow I could see beyond the fuzzy barrier was engulfed instantly and a white flash erupted. I risked a peek out and saw two of the things were clawing at their bodies where the Pure Rock must had touched their flesh. They had a small rash on their main body. I mean A serious pebble would kill these things so the destructive power was obviously...

Needing work.

I chucked two more down the hall and the group actually scattered to chase them, leaving three visible ones behind to readying an attack at me.

I swung with my pipe and two ignited while the other backed off as if trying to regroup with the horde. I killed that one with a Discarded pebble.

6 EXP gained!

Combat rod Proficiency has levelled up to 6!

Neato.

There were bright flashes and the Tadcells dispersed as if panicking at the burning. I assumed pain for them was non-existing as they would usually die in one hit. Actual suffering seemed to be a new concept to these Viruses.

I ended the two that came back towards me for a lovely 4 EXP and the hallway went quiet. I waited a minute to see if I could hear more thundering hordes but I didn’t seem to be so desired by the little scavengers now that I was laying on the hurt.

I moved to the crossroads of the hallway. None screamed ‘Boss Route’ and I picked North. My go-to direction. I passed rooms with nothing in them and came to a stop near a hallway that split again. I did hear something this time but it faded fast. I frowned as I looked around at the rusty floor and walls, noticing gouge marks.

I saw the remains of two Tumor Tremors littering the hallway that lead to an open elevator shaft. The two mawed beasts had been half torn, half-devoured. Ichor seeped along the floors. I didn’t spot any gems but it looked like the heads and center mass of the creatures had been removed violently. I peered into the elevator, dropping a Pure Rock down the shaft. It crumbled a floor below, briefly showing long streaks of ichor and claw marks. The floor above looked cemented off.

This lift only went down.

Skill name changed to Pure Rock!

Pure Rock has reached level 3! Increased effect and light! Pure Rock will evolve in 2 levels.

I knew I could climb higher which confused on my I came this way and the danger seemed to be below. I was informed ever so casually by the System.

Malice Zones take into all surrounding factors. The state of the area, the history, the current reputation, and inhabitants. While the Core Domain Keeper, the CDK, is in charge... it does not alone rule this realm.

Based on gather intent, a nearby Spirit was developing Demi-Hollow features. That too would have been considered as a factor of content.

“So I got a potentially beefed up free-roaming pissed off ghost as well as a boss in here?” I asked with incredulity.

Death of additional powerful forces is not required to collapse Malice Zone. However...

I sighed.

“However, loot,” I waved a hand. I used a levelled Pure Rock and it was maybe a bit brighter and lasted half a second longer in the fall. The slight clattering it made on the way down made me wince.

I half expected to hear the drums of war.

---

I chose the path of logistics.

I was already this far up and the higher I went, the lighter it seemed to become. I was growing accustomed to the Tadcells and maybe I was sure I knew how to kill the Tumors. The ones I saw in the distance has had a firm G-2 rating. Making the one I fought clearly stronger.

I searched carefully in rooms for hidden gems or cold spots where I could find some but these floors had been picked clean with mindless effort. I kept my back to walls and stopped ever so often to see if I heard anything following me. I did not need superboss and boss gunning for me in the same room.

There was an interesting thing I learned after I kill three Tadcells and another Tumor with a flaming frisbee that ignited its devoured Virus Piles. Getting 16 EXP altogether, I was seeing few... and fewer monsters as I climbed.

It was freaking me out a little.

I saw a Tadcell ahead and it was running into the darkness, vanishing before I could nail it with a pebble. I followed carefully and found an impressive door at the end of a hall. Wide oak doors that the Tadcell slipped into.

I frowned at the obviously out of place door compared to the ruinous hospital. I smelled a trap but my options were to turn back of sit here and panic. Without more monsters, I could hardly make grand progress on getting ready so I just opened the door to the room beyond and froze.

Sunlight gently flowed in through white curtains as a perfectly clean room with rugs and books cases made the feel of the room become important.

I stared at the elderly gentleman sitting in an armchair near the window, lost in thought.

I saw no sign of the Tadcells. The man looked up with an elegant beard and looked pleased to see me.

“Ah, there you are, young man. I was getting worried you wouldn’t make it before I... well, come in,” he beckoned and I didn’t have danger sense going off. The man stood and his tailored suit of browns and red made him seem grandfatherly.

I didn’t trust the scene at all.

He must have expected that.

“Or remain near the door, It makes sense to be on your guard. I am Director Noda Mori. Well, ex-Director as my hospital has very much ceased to be under the guidance of my son,” he sighed and the scene shimmered slightly.

“I don’t understand,” I said cautiously. The man’s chuckle was light and held no menace to it.

“As I wouldn't if I were not fed information as this place formed. Quite a curious power you have to make this reality exist. As I know that I am not the Noda Mori that once was alive and must have moved on... I am an echo of him. A small light that was pulled up along with the darkness. If I am to understand what I feel... I am to be classed by your power as a ‘NPC’,” he mused. I did take a step in and the space felt very odd.

“Sorry for busting up your hospital, Director Mori,” I said and he brushed this off.

“It should be brought down. This lingering version is not how I want to see my work. I thank you for easing the pressing decay as you have but I fear you merely sent the infection to gather and grow into your final obstacle. I have a request if you wouldn’t mind humouring a foolish old man?” he said hopefully.

I saw no harm so I nodded.

“My son lingers in the real world. I can feel his greed and growing madness chaining him here. If you return, would you release him? Be it to the afterlife or to a quiet rest?” he asked, the pain in his eyes mingling with the shame of his own powerlessness.

It was always nice when Quests ended up being something you already planned to do. I smiled.

“Count on me, Director. Any idea what the infection is gonna look like?” I decided to ask.

“No, but it will be the gathering of decay, the failures of my staff, the sucking greed of my son, and darkness. I cannot do much but I offer you a... gem?” he said in confusion as it seemed his own mind was getting a silent lesson.

“Ah yes. I can offer you a G-1 gem of any colour! How interesting but it will spend me,” he warned. After the tentacle, I had my share of red. The usability of blues seemed to need massive build-up and yellows were a gamble.

“What colours can you offer?” I said instead. The man hummed and thought about it.

“A red, blue, green, yellow, indigo, orange, and violet,” he announced.

I stared.

That... was a lot of sudden options.

I sat down in the chair and tilted my head.

“Mind if I think about it?” I asked and the man smiled.

“Let me rustle you up some tea. I have not had any guests besides rude hand monsters and my thoughts,” the man beamed. Director Mori was a pretty swell guy.

Crystals, quests, lore, and now tea.

I rated him as a damn good NPC but a nice host as well.