With tired steps, Nimh returned to the basement. The vital energy flowing through his body left him feeling light, but his hand hung by his side like lead weights. His steps were slow and a weight on his heart grew by the moment

For the first time since arriving in this world, he considered the possibility of a bloodless conquest. A conquest where he didn’t need to kill.

It was a beautiful idea to aspire towards.

But it would never come to pass. The little of this world he had seen was enough. It was not a place he would raise a child, nor bring Meira to.

It could be argued whether he had a right to conquer this world and bend it to the whims of his people. That argument was becoming far more enticing as he considered his current path.

Nimh loved fighting, was neutral towards killing and had a passing relationship with justice. He hated politics and preferred straightforward partnerships. He had no issue working with like-minded people towards a common goal.

But what if the goal was the destruction of the society they had adhered to for all their lives?

Personally, Nimh wanted to make this world better, but he had no idea how to begin the process. Had it been a world under his people’s control, he could not imagine people like Wolfgang or Alonzo existing.

Nimh’s people would not allow such weeds to exist.

So, by force or by politics. Both filled Nimh with disgust. And he knew that there was a third option. There were many choices, but they were unconscionable.

He did not want to live without Meira, and the only way to see her again was to forge an anchor point. It wouldn’t be hard per se. but he did need to meet certain requirements.

Like finding this world's central vein. The place where the spiritual energy of the world was at its most potent. And Nimh had already found it. It was the place he had entered this world from. Unfortunately, it was also the place where he learned about S Ranks in this world.

It seemed that this world followed the same patterns as the worlds conquered by his people. Regardless of culture, age or sophistication, the world's central vein was often occupied by the strongest of individuals. And it had been true here too.

After discovering that disgusting power disparity and his inability to possess such monsters, Nimh had needed to flee. He had wandered for so long that he couldn't remember where the central vein was by memory.

Luckily, he didn't need to. All he had to do was follow his spirit sense straight to it.

But there was another issue. When Nimh forged the anchor point, creating a gateway between this world and his home, then citizens from this world could pass through it.

The very thought made Nimh shiver in fear. He did not think that every person was a twisted monster like Wolfgang, but the sheer difference in power would mean Nimh’s people would be the conquered ones, not the conquerors.

Nimh would not accept that. Could not accept it.

He would need to be strong enough to keep this world’s people in check, which bought him right back to where he was. He needed strength.

Tiredly, he opened the passageway to the sewers and began walking down the stairs. His spirit sense told him that Keira was nearby, training by the looks of it.

At the bottom of the stairs, he found her, vital energy glowing off her as she moved through the nine forms. He nodded, noting her improvement.

“Not bad.” He said, his words breaking her concentration.

“Nimh,” Keira said, awkwardly wiping sweat from her face. He smiled.

“This isn’t really the best place to train,” he said conversationally. “The problem above has been resolved, so you can go and walk about outside. If you come across anyone following you, beat them up and leave.”

He sat at the bottom of the stairs, leaning against the wall.

“Are you okay?” Keira asked. Nimh thought he heard the concern in her voice.

“Just tired,” Nimh replied honestly. “I may have been overdoing it for the last few days.”

“Do you need me to stay and watch over you?” Keira asked, coming over to stand near him.

Shaking his head with a sigh. “No, I’ll be fine after some rest. You are free to do what you want for a few hours. Go on, take some time to figure yourself out. Just remember when you get back the training goes up a notch.”

He heard her gulp, pausing a moment before running up the stairs. He smiled at that, curious to see if she would come back. Her echoing footsteps faded and with them, so did his consciousness.

On the tallest tower of the tallest building in the heart of the undercity, Sebastian Stain paced his office.

He had just received a message from Sapphire, alerting him to Wolfgang’s death. The fool had gotten himself killed by a child. Not surprising, seeing how the man had been a disappointment all his life.

And with him dying, an insult had been made. Sapphire had been right to track down the perpetrator and gather the other gang lords to reprimand him. It would be a good experience for them to work together for a change.

But he worried. Wolfgang may have been a failure, but he wasn’t weak. Talented and cruel, bought low by his own vices, yes. but certainly not weak. Had he been more focussed on growing his strength he could have left the undercity years ago.

But those damned vices. Vices that disgusted even him to the point that he considered disowning him. But Wolfgang was still blood.

Sebastian would personally burn this undercity to the ground to find his son's killer. And when he did…

With a grunt of resignation, Sebastian flung himself onto the sofa, leaning his head over the back. He couldn’t do a damn thing. It was his job to keep the peace in the undercity and scout for promising F Ranks.

Exploiting these worthless F Ranks was just a perk. His lazy eyes looked out onto the horizon. At the edge of the undercity, a tall wall blocked the view, though thankfully the sun could at least be seen from this height.

He had hoped that his service to the Prime would have earned him elevation from this position by now. Every year, new blood left the undercity, pressed into the Primes army of loyal servants. The soldiers kept the country at peace with her neighbours.

Yet, after twenty long years, he still remained. It galled him to be set aside like this. Hadn’t he served the Prime faithfully? Hadn’t he been the Prime's first and most loyal killer?

So what if his talent peaked at D Rank? Wasn’t he worth more than that?

He was still staring at the view, lost in thought when an attendant ran in.

With a complacent glance, he took her in. Pretty, short with nice curves and a forgettable face. Just like so many.

“Mr Stain. A report just came in. Your daughter, she’s…” the attendant stopped, face white as a sheet. Sebastian had her by the throat.

“My daughter?” he whispered. “Sapphire? Has she arrived?” He loosened his grip just enough for her to shake her head.

“Survivors…” she gasped. “Survivors from the massacre…they say your daughter…dead…”

Sebastian stared at the woman incomprehensively for a long moment, his grip tightening slowly as the woman started struggling. Her nails scratched futilely at his forearm.

Sebastian did not care. Wolfgang, he did not care about, but Sapphire? She was ambition given form; talent forged into ability. She had an actual chance to escape this place. Her brother's potential with her own brand of wicked determination.

And now she was dead? This wasn’t possible.

He let his hand fall limply to his side as he walked to the window, tears rolling down his cheeks. This would not stand. The Prime be damned.

“Summon every E Rank at my command, find that bastard and drag him to me.” His command was filled with anger and vital energy shone from his flesh.

Seconds passed as he stared, waiting for a response. Finally, his annoyance won out and he turn, ready to kill the useless attendant…who was on the ground, her neck twisted at an angle.

A growl rose from his throat as he stared at her. “Useless fucking F Ranks.”

Keira walked the streets, numb and lost in thought.

After leaving the building and seeing the carnage Nimh had left, she now knew for sure that Nimh was a monster.

There was no way an ordinary E rank could do that. All those F Ranks, not to mention the E Ranks that she recognised through their mangled corpses. The gang lords. Dead in as little time as it would take to have a bath.

After leaving the area, she had thought to run. There were stories of E Ranks and D Ranks getting drunk on their after leaving F Rank behind. And Nimh was no doubt nearing D Rank.

She still had an out, assuming that Nimh was telling her the truth. After reaching E rank herself, she was more confident in her ability to survive in the undercity. But more than that, Nimh had shed light on the path forward.

With what little she had learned; she was certain she could progress. But she was unsure if she should.

“He hid me away so I wouldn’t get hurt.” The words came to her lips as she remembered Nimh all but throwing her down into a sewer. It had not been an enjoyable experience, and she had seethed at the words he had said to her.

She had still been angry when he came back. Then he had spoken to her, given her one more out and then all but collapsed. He didn’t want to leave himself open to her so he had sent her away. That thought made her feel somewhat bitter to her surprise.

She didn’t know what she wanted. Did she want the power to choose her future? Yes. Did she want to follow Nimh and learn from him? Despite her fear of the man, she found she did.

“We need to find him, Wolfgang’s place has already been checked. Only dead bodies.”

The words shook Keira out of her thoughts. Looking around, she spotted a few uniformed E Ranks. Without a second thought, she dipped into an alleyway and hid her presence, a trick she had picked up from Nimh. Slowing down the flow of vital energy within her until it all but ceased to exist.

“Fucking hell. Didn’t someone say a chick left soon after? We should find her. She might know something.”

“Hah, one girl? In this place? There are too many holes for rats like them to hide in. She’s probably gone into hiding by now if she’s smart.”

“Who’s to say she’s smart. Maybe she’ll head back to Wolfgang’s place.”

The voices faded as Keira stayed hidden, breathing deeply as she tried to stop her shaking. Those were Sebastian Stain’s personal enforcers. If they were already moving…

Before she knew it, she was on the move. She had to get back to the sewers and find Nimh before Sebastian Stain found him.