If there is one blessing of the #*^%* system, it is that it makes learning things trivially easy. With a good teacher, or sufficiently advanced training facilities, it is trivial to get the equivalent of a }:{:>{{ degree – something that would normally take six to seven SSR, and would qualify someone as a professional in that field, in only three (System) months. It tells us a great deal of the creators that they only class this level of understanding as a Journeyman: I myself was humbled when I realised how much I now knew as a grandmaster of the sciences, compared to before the System arrived.

Take advantage of this as much as you can – not just on the combat arts, but also on the innovative. Surprising the 'heroes' that will arrive soon enough is one of the keys to victory.

- What you need to know to survive the Voidbound System, by &*%:”%^%

As they left the boss room, he looked to Garcia. “So, Doctor Richardson. We haven't really had a time to talk. How are things with the wounded?” Even to his own mind, his words sounded a little weak – something about the older woman scared him a little.

“What wounded?” She replied, shaking her head in disbelief. “By the time I woke up this morning, they were all fully healed. A blessing of the System, I suppose – it even cured the diabetic, and fixed everyone's vision, hearing, or anything else that was wrong with them. Without being asked, I might add.” her tone was a mixture of disbelief and irritation.

Jonathon was a little surprised, himself, as he led her to the elevator. “That's... good, I suppose. Can I ask – how advanced is your Life Magic?”

“Beginner eleven.” she replied. “I gather you're a little more advanced?” the irritation was definitely beginning to grow.

“Journeyman one.” he replied – a little apologetic despite himself. “I don't know that many spells yet myself, but I can create more and teach you them, I think. What sort of spells do you need?”

She gave a bitter laugh, eyes flashing. “I spent most of my points on medicine. I can tell what's wrong with someone just by looking at them. Close wounds with a touch. I apparently can't get sick or get anyone else sick. But from what I've been told about Life magic? You can do all that and more with a wave of your god-damn hand.”

She had a palpable presence – he could feel himself backing into a corner of the lift as she spoke, and took a moment to reassert himself in his own mind before stepping forward once more – just as the doors opened onto his suite. “That is not my fault.” he stated, flatly. “But I can teach you Heal, and we will see what's in the book – we can both learn what we can from it. I'll also try and teach you all I know. Okay? But don't bite my head off. If it makes you feel any better? This is the sort of thing I can do.” and before they stepped out of the elevator, he cast Rejuvenation upon her.

She glared at him as the mana left his system, reaching out to slap the back of his head; reflexively, he caught her arm – unarmed martial arts training made it trivial. “What the fuck was that?” she snarled, trying to launch a kick at his knees – which he dodged easily.

“Rejuvenation. It will dial your age back until you're looking like me and the rest of my friends. Making you faster, stronger, and the best possible you. That's what I can do at the Journeyman level.” he said, keeping his tone level. “It's what we need to stay alive.” he kept his gaze upon her until she stopped struggling – he could already see colour flowing back into her hair – then let her go and stepped into his suite. “Let's see what that book holds, shall we?”

Alas, for Jonathon, his perception was not up to snuff – there was a reason the System assigned him a 4. She may have stopped trying to hurt him, but this did not mean that she was calm in any way, shape or form. No, Garcia unleashed a torrent of Spanish profanity at his back, simmering anger that took a minute to wind down. “What kind of fuck are you?” she snarled, eventually. “You think you can remake me into a prettier woman for you, right after you bring me to your room? Is that what you meant, you piece of shit?”

That caused him to turn, back-pedal, and fall back onto the table. He hadn't thought of it that way, and his face filled with frantic sorrow. “Nononono..” he replied, urgently. “I was just trying to show you the spell! I think everyone should get the upgrade! It'll help us survive longer! I was a thoughtless idiot, I'm sorry, Let's.. Let's grab the book...” putting action to words, he did, “And go somewhere public? Please I would never... Look, I'm sorry, okay?”

She was just about to reply – when his phone rang. This caused her words to die in surprise, as they both looked at the device – clearly, she was just as aware of the lack of service as he was. It took a second, then Jonathon walked over to answer it: It was Mike's number.

“Mike?” He asked, a touch incredulously as he answered, holding up a hand to pause Garcia's comments.

“Bro? You okay?” Mike sounded a little frantic. “I've been calling every hour or so, kept going to voicemail. You respawn? Where are you? Is everything okay?!”

Jonathan let a touch of relief enter his voice. “No, I'm... It must be the communications centre we just set up. You OK? I've been worried about you.” his own tone wasn't that calm. “You in a Fortification, Mike? We're at ground fucking zero for one of the dungeons. I've got something like twenty thousand people respawning here tonight.”

His words seemed to remind Garcia of their situation: something struck a cord, at any rate, and she moved to take a seat – shooting a glare in his direction as she grabbed the book on her way.

“Nah, Bro. We're at the University: It's been wild. Glad to hear you're okay: sounds pretty cool. We held off some weird tigers with lasers on their head last night, then the army moved in.” Mike said, his tone a mix of relief and excitement. “They've got a lot of magic users, too, only a few people with guns – apparently, most of 'em didn't buy the right skills – but they've got a decent bulwark set up. And listen – I got a class! You're talking to a level four Arcane Mage, Bro! The class selection is kinda weird, though. You seen it yet?”

Jonathon sighed. “No, Mike. I'm level two right now, and the owner of a fortification. We've got level twenty plus monsters outside. I'm guessing there's no dungeons near you?”

“Nah, bro.” Mike replied. “From what the news is saying. There nine dungeons in the states. One in Washington, one out where you are – you're that close to it? Damn, bro... One down in Idaho, One up in Alaska, Our closest is in Philly. One up in Montana, Denver, out near Odessa, and the last took over Vegas. It's a complete fucking news blackout near them – apparently, there aren't many pilots who bought the right skills to fly, and the dragons are making life difficult. And seriously? Level twenty? Damn, bro. You safe enough?”

“for the next month.” Jonathan replied, a little glumly. “Apparently, we have to defend this place every twenty-seven days or something. And.. well, We've got that long to level up. Formed a guild – A Gang, they call it – and we're thinking of making some custom classes to help, But.. I dunno. Think your army friends can help? You guys safe enough?”

“I guess you're not in the fucking newbie zone, Bro.” Mike sounded thoughtful. “I'll ask some of the army guys, but aren't there a lot of air-bases near you? Maybe you'll get help there. It's relatively easy round here – The TV is mostly rerurns, mind – but I'll let the colonel know?” he sounded a little dubious. “Still, if you get fucked over, there's a Temple near here you can respawn at. Get this – the god is called 'Hakor'. Some girl took over one of the churches in his name. It's weird as fuck, Bro.”

Jonathon gave a snort. “Well, Mike, I've got a Fortification set up, And a temple to Maskeline, the god of magic. Hakor, as best we could tell, is all about cheating – I'd be careful with them, okay? From what our cleric could find out, his spells come with consequences.” he was, he admitted to himself, somewhat relieved that his cousin was safe – and a little irked he wasn't taking his situation into account.

Garcia, at this point, was listening with half an ear – flicking through the spell book as she waited, still tossing irate glances his way every now and then, but seemed t obe calming down, he devoutly hoped.

“Yeah, Well, We couldn't afford one, Bro.” Mike replied, a little annoyed. “And it's not like we need one here, is it? Maybe once we've levelled up some, we'll come rescue you, Bro.” his cheerful, confident tone did not reassure Jonathon in the slightest.

“Yeah, Maybe you will, Mike.” Jonathon replied. “But... Be careful, okay? Keep me informed – If I can find a way to charge my phone. If not – don't worry about me, okay?”

“Sure, Bro. Anyway, It's good to hear you're alright – I gotta go on patrol. Stay safe, man.” Mike replied – and it was quite obvious that now he knew his cousin was 'safe', he wasn't worried about him.

“Sure, Mike. You too.” Jonathan replied: Hanging up the phone, he sort of slumped onto the bed, talking before Garcia could speak. “That was my cousin Mike. Apparently, they've got the level one and two monsters to level up on, and the army has moved in to keep them safe. He's a level four mage already, and was joking about moving in to rescue us.” his tone was a little stunned.

“But it is good to know he is alright.” Garcia replied, after a moment – her temper suppressed for now, the Doctor was now in. “So why are you upset?”

“He's not taking this seriously!” Jonathon burst out after a moment. “They're not in a Fort, the army is around them, he thinks it's just going to be a game!”

“You don't?” Garcia replied, arching an elegant brow. “That is not the impression I got downstairs.” her anger was definitely still lingering in the background. Lurking in her tone, like a tiger in the veldt.

“Yes, no, Just..” he shook his head, starting to pace. “didn't it feel like a game when it started? Like it was going to be fun? You can't tell me you didn't feel the same way! How else were we going to think of it? Then last night... I'm just glad I don't need much sleep, because I don't think I could have gotten more if I tried. Now a month from now, we have to fight them off again? That we're going to need to take care of twenty thousand people? Are you telling me you don't have some god-damn whiplash?” His anger erupted, now, simmering like an active volcano, ready to unleash a pyroclastic blast if she made light of his words.

She nodded, slowly. “Do you know, Jon, that I was a nurse for at least as long as you've been alive? Watching arrogant doctors with no time to spare for the hurting, profiting off death. Looking at people like numbers, things to be fixed then put out the door. Knowing I could do a better job, if I was in their position. So when the System came, I poured my points into becoming their better. A doctor. They? They poured their points into their golf games. Into magic, into improving their ability to seduce women. There were only five of us capable of practising medicine when it was over. Which was fine – as all the patients were healed. Apparently it was just something the System did to prepare them. It was not like a game to us – it was a miracle. And now? It is the work of the very devil himself. So yes, I know somewhat of what you speak.” her words were calm, level, her gaze almost haunted as if looking at something else.

“But that still does not take from us our need to prepare for what happens next. Your cousin is healthy? Doing well? Then perhaps we can join them later. For now, we need to focus on the job at hand. Don't we?” Her tone still gentle, the tiger of her rage prowling back and away as she laid out matters.

Jonathon nodded. “It makes you wonder how many people bought the skills for things they could already do.” he said, softly.

“I imagine there were a lot of dreamers stepping into their idols shoes, yes.” she rose, proffering him the spell book. “It is... interesting. Shall we go test the learning facilities, Jonathon?”

He nodded, taking the book as he slid his phone into his pocket, and the pair headed back down to see the new facilities.

As the elevator descended, she nodded at the book. “It has some spells in it I think I can learn, but also a lot of theory. It seems to have a primer on all types of magic, from flicking through it.”

Jonathon blinked. “Useful. From what we learned, once you know one path of magic – say, life – learning all other types of magic in the overall type – so for life, that's arcane – becomes easier: and most spells require multiple magical skills. So it makes sense to get a broad base.” a thought that had been niggling at him suddenly emerged from the depths of his mind. “Jeeves?”

The shimmering hologram took for. “Yes, Jonathon?” he asked in a melodious tone.

“How does the Fortification level up? We got the extra points for being first, but... how do we get more?” His question struck Garcia as well, who followed his gaze to the AI, as they awaited his answer.

“You have forgotten your briefing already?” Jeeves replied, irritably. “once a number of incursions equal to my present level have been successfully repelled, we gain a level and more points to spend. Happily, since we are dungeon-close, this will be a frequent occurrence!“ it smiled at them. “Is there anything else, Jonathon?”

The worthy in question shook his head. “No, thank you.” the AI winked out, and he glanced to Garcia. “Another reason to make sure we survive.”

She gave a thoughtful nod. “Yes. We should find out, this evening, what the 'afterlife' is like.”

Jonathon nodded, and the pair moved in silence as the doors opened, and they headed towards the instruction chamber. The door was very similar to that of the training room – flicking through the options, he saw the options were 'Peer-to-peer', 'Record lesson' and 'Purchase lesson'. Selecting the first, he led her within.

Peer-to-Peer Instruction set!

Be aware!

You have an effective Instruction score of

Grandmaster 1 applicable to all skills while within this chamber!

“Holy shit.” Jonathon muttered, as he glanced to Garcia. “That should make this... Easier.” She seemed equally surprised, smiling softly as they took a seat at the chairs provided in the otherwise bare room.

“Indeed.” she said with a laugh. “let us see how effective it makes you, hmm?” And so the lesson began. He explained, first, the spells he knew that were within her capability, teaching her Heal in a matter of minutes, then spent half hour walking her through more advanced life magic before she reported she was now at Apprentice one: just over an hour later, she reported she was at Apprentice two, and after another two hours, she was at apprentice four: They were both, frankly, astounded.

“It is.. As if everything you teach me, you are teaching me ten other things at once.” she said, as they took a break for lunch – she was hungry. “And everything is crystal clear. And I got five perks at each option! It was quite astounding.”

Jonathon nodded. “The perks of instruction indeed.” they were back in his room, at the dining table. He'd been slightly distracted as the lessons had gone on – Garcia was now an athletic woman who appeared to be in her mid-twenties, all smooth toned muscle and flowing black locks – and, he admitted, now rather his type, physically. “What perks did you buy, if you don't mind sharing?”

“i bought Life Aptitude five times, which means I'm learning Life magic twenty-two percent faster now.” she replied with a smile. “And then I spent the rest on enhancing my healing aura – Those near me now heal..” she paused to check, and her tone sounded a little surprised, “Four times faster.”

Jonathan blinked. “That..” he thought for a second. “Compound growth, not additive. Fuck.” she gave him a puzzled look, so he explained. “I was wondering, when I read the perks, if the ones you could buy more than once added, or multiplied. There is no way five purchases gets you that high if it's additive.”

She gave a shrug. “It is powerful. It would be nicer if I had more range, however.” she nodded towards his spell book with a smile. “Now, I think, you should look at your book. If I may, I would learn the first two spells shown.”

He opened it up, and looked at... well, this was not a normal book, it was plain. The pages appeared to be plastic, and the opening chapter on life magic showed a total of four spells. The first was Purify, a beginner 6 spell that cost a mere twelve mana, and would remove any poisons, afflictions, curses or ailments the subject is suffering from that had a Toxicity less than the level of Life magic of the caster.

The second was of a similar vein: Mass Heal. Sitting at Apprentice 2, a spell that cost 22 mana per System Minute, and would heal all allies you could perceive at a rate of 6 health per cycle. He nodded, absently, as he moved onwards. “That seems sensible to me.” the next two, on the other hand, were decidedly on the darker side of the art.

Bolt of Corruption was – frighteningly enough – a Beginner 4 spell, costing 8 mana, that when cast upon a subject you could perceive, inflicted 24 points of permanent damage. That paled in comparison to the finale.

Gaze of Malignancy was a Journeyman 1 spell, lasting for a System Hour. Costing a staggering two hundred and fifty-six mana, it promised to inflict four times his level in life magic as damage per cycle, on any opponent he could sense, literally rotting them from the outside in.

“Jesus Christ.” he murmured, as he thought it over – at his own level, that would be a hundred and twenty four damage every... nine seconds or so, if he recalled correctly. Nearly enough to kill him in one look.

Garcia nodded. “Indeed. If we were in the newbie zone, it would be most helpful, wouldn't it?” there was just a touch of irony in her tone. “Shall we return to the Training facility?” He nodded, rising, and – given that she seemed to have warmed up to him during the lessons – proffer her his arm.

“Lets.” with a faint smile, she shook her head, and stepped towards the door – before looking over her shoulder at him. “Do keep up.” a light hint of amusement he chased after, and once more, they descended to the ground floor.

There they were met by Larry, who flashed a worried smile. “Was looking for you. Something you should see.” he jerked his head towards the main entrance: Exchanging a glance with Garcia, the pair followed after.

Outside, it was a warm, sunny day, and perhaps a hundred metres past the door, there was that imposing, impenetrable wall of shimmering metal: Larry led them to a staircase, running up to the top, where the now silent turrets were placed.

The wall was clearly thick enough to stand – even fight – upon, and the view, Jonathon had to admit, was spectacular. The walls reached for thirty feet, and they ringed the top of a large hill, to begin with: The terrain out to almost half a mile had a faint, neon yellow glow, a landscape he did not recognise, bereft of monsters: Beyond it, however, strange shapes could be seen moving, scavenging the corpses that were strewn hither and yon.

Garcia looked out upon it silently, as Larry pointed towards one of the hills. “Look there.” he handed Jonathon a pair of binoculars.

It took him a moment to find what Larry was talking about: Just to the side of the peak of the rise, there was.. Something, looking back at him. A spherical body of polished ivory, surrounded by what looked like a dozen tentacles of bone: Four to stand upon, the other eight ending in blades that shimmered strangely in the light. The centre of the body held five marks, two glowing a bright, electric purple, the other three dark – but then it moved slightly, and he realised the trio of dots around the eyes looked like... gun barrels. He had no real sense of scale, but if he was to guess, it was roughly the size of a car. “What. The Fuck. Is that. Jeeves!”

As expected, the green form of Jeeves took form almost immediately. “The entity you are looking at, Jonathon?”

“Yes, Jeeves. The Thing I'm looking at. What the Fuck.” he replied.

“The Sensor array tells me it is a Level thirty Bone lord, with a variant on the Gundancer class. It has seven thousand two hundred health. It appears to be armed with a set of multiphasic blades and a trio of heavy gamma ray lasers: If I was to guess, I would say it is a scout for the Dungeon.”

“Fuck.” was all anyone had to say about that.