Around Ink stood other people: boys and girls. However, after meeting his voice, he knew that the bodies were recreated young, regardless of whether they went here by ascension or rebirth. In the former, the bodies looked as usual, and in the latter, they were slightly blurred due to the halo surrounding them. The same Ink noticed in himself - white. Others were surrounded by haze of various shades: green, purple, blue, red...

Many on their faces did not have any emotions, and their appearance did not particularly stand out against the background of Ink himself. There were two exceptions - the only ones who did not have a glow around them. One of them turned out to be a young man with wheat-yellow wavy hair - his skin was cast with golden highlights and upon closer examination it seemed that it was metallic.

"Although it seems... he definitely bought the ability to turn into some kind of metal life form. Or has he changed only the surface for hardening?"

Ink did not know, so he turned his eyes to the second colorful neighbor - a tall guy in a motorcycle suit. His short-cropped dark hair stuck out with a brush, his face portrayed irritation and discontent, his fingers clenched fists every now and then. The most prominent part of it was a beard. Not as usual - he left stubble only on his throat. Everything above the line outlining the lower jaw was smoothly shaved.

- You did not have time to get there? - Ink asked, and only then realized that now is not the best time to attract attention.

- No, that's my style. I always leave this part, - the interlocutor snapped, touching the throat covered with vegetation.

- Enough talk! - the man in the robe who met Ink clapped his hands to attract attention. - Looked at each other and that's enough. We assume that we have already come to our senses. Get to know later when you find out with whom you will become comrades.

- What are you talking about? - "the motorcyclist" has sternly voiced, as Ink decided to designate it.

- Everything is very simple. Come on, I'll tell you along the way.

The group slowly followed the guide. Ink was surprised to look around. There was no sky in this place. At a great height, stone replaced him. Whether the whole world was underground, or only part was covered with firmament, remained unclear. Most of all, Ink was struck by the presence of ponds on this pseudo-sky. There were several lakes directly above it, and in the distance something huge was visible - apparently, the whole sea. Ink failed to discern the other side. Fog floated over some lakes, which created a strange resemblance of clouds sticking to the heavenly earth. The edge of the sea broke on a rare group of rocks.

"I wonder if they fall to our land like rain, or come back to their surface to merge with the sea again?"

The circle from which Ink and the others were taken was in a vacant lot. Stony soil, rare dry grass, and several narrow stripes of planted trees - this is the whole landscape on three sides. On the fourth, a view of the city opened up. Stone buildings whose style Ink could not recognize. Maybe due to lack of memory, or maybe due to a lack of knowledge about architecture. Peaked roofs coexisted with flat ones. Tall buildings hid squat. Some had balconies supported by columns hanging over the entrance, while others had nothing of the kind.

And yet there was something in common between all the buildings. Not only the stone from which they were made, but also the shape of the windows, the style of embossed decorative elements. Ink was interested in everything around him, especially people, but had to be distracted by the talking guide.

- You all ended up here in different ways, but you are united by the ability to achieve your goals, so large that they deserve to be called simply dreams in the eyes of the majority! These are worthy qualities that are valued by everyone in this world. Of course, even so - you are still not equal. I think everyone remembers the number of points they received for which abilities and skills were bought.

"Yeah, it's hard to forget such a huge number," Ink grimaced to himself.

- Get to the point! - the voice of a disgruntled motorcycle rider voiced.

- Just getting to the point, - the guide turned around with a slight smile.

"He, apparently, is not the first to meet groups of newcomers. Or he simply considers below his dignity to react to the provocations of a motorcyclist. "

- Those of you who got the opportunity to get here by rebirth after death, as well as those who used an artifact and carried over with a real body, but for some reason chose to preserve their identity, not their memory, - the guide glanced at the motorcyclist, "not They know how everything works here. I will say briefly: this world will be for you the beginning of a movement along the path of development and evolution, which is much faster than natural selection. You won't have to wait until many millions of years have passed before the descendants of humans change. Each of you will begin to adapt and strengthen independently. Of course, the acquired features will be passed on to your new descendants, but only when you leave this place.

- Why? - one of the girls was surprised. - That woman said that in the first world we will become like reborn anyway. The process of incarnation becomes an instant of a new life with all possibilities, including the birth of children.

- That's right, - the guide said. He did not forget to look at the asking question. - Only this is not the first world.

Several people were surprised, and the guide noted everyone's eyes.

"He is calculating us! - Ink realized. - All who are surprised, obviously, were reborn. They have no knowledge of this place, therefore ... they are not among the followers of the clans, recruiting in the zero world. He said that we are not equal. Already, this type is building us in a certain hierarchy!"

- This world can be considered a buffer, - a metal-skinned type gave a voice, for which he received a favorable nod of the guide.

- Really. Here, those who have lost their body or retained their own, but are dissatisfied with it, have the opportunity to receive additional strength. Passing through the process of incarnation, you will be reforged into a more perfect being and begin a new life with much greater prospects.

- Where can I get them? Asked another non-clan reborn. - These new forces?

- In many places in this world, - the guide replied. - But you will discuss this with representatives of the factions to which you join. We will deal with distribution quite soon.

- If I do not want to join anyone? - the motorcyclist frowned.

- For such a case there is always a library. This is not a fraction in the full sense of the word, but rather an institution. It was in this world initially and is not included in the list of forces. It gives protection to its members and allows you to earn money by searching for information for other factions. The library is useful, everyone recognizes it, but it has one extremely significant drawback.

- This is a dead end, - the metal guy continued behind the guide.

- Why? - surprised the girl who asked about the incarnation and the first world. Ink noted that she turned not to the guide, but to the metal skin.

"There are no fools. The guide is respectful enough to this guy, and the motorcyclist does not ignore, apparently, only out of caution. You never know, suddenly his case, like mine - did not have time to make a choice, as he had already lost his memory. However, he got here in the body. There are two options: either he is a follower of a clan, or an intruder ... In the first case, the guide will receive more benefits for a benevolent attitude, and in the second - for handing over the used artifact to its owners.

The girl seems to have grasped the essence of what my ex-boss was talking about creating ties ... She quickly began to integrate into the local system of government "

- Are you aware of Dante's Divine Comedy? - another guy got into the conversation.

The girl glanced hostilely at the feeble young man who came closer to her. He just grinned, teasing her, and continued:

- Some people think that worlds are similar to the system of circles of hell described by him. Stupidity, of course, but this "buffer" between the zero and the first world has something in common with the first circle of the place described by the poet for the torment of sinners. Dante spoke of him as a place of gathering of people who did not swear to God. So here - the one who by himself, has not joined any of the forces, will not be able to go to the first world. Opening a road requires resources accumulated by clans for its followers. It is important to choose the right group with which you will collaborate. Like mine, which has a connection with the first world.

After that, the feeble one fell silent, proudly throwing up his chin.

- May I know which clan you belong to? - in the eyes of the guide, an open reverence shone.

- I'm from the Ralgo clan, - the puny one glanced at the metal one, - and you?

- Letu, - answered the guy with the golden skin, while the girl looked from one to the other. - I am glad to welcome the representative of one of the forces of the big circle.

The feeble on this pretty shook his head, then without taking his mocking glance from the girl added:

- I am also pleased to meet a member of the Letu clan. Let you not enter a large circle, the services of specialists of this profile are very much in demand in the "buffer".

The feeble took the girl's hand, but she pulled her away.

- If you're so cool, why did you get here reborn? - the motorcyclist intervened.

- This is not surprising, - the metal answered him, oddly enough. - Clan Ralgo refers to the fighting, so they often engage in battles and learn the art of killing there, on Earth. Many of them find themselves here after the death, but their extensive combat experience is not something that can be neglected even here. Despite the imaginary immortality.

- You want to say that in this world, the "buffer", you cannot die? - the motorcyclist stopped frowning for a moment.

- That's right, - the feeble nodded with an important look. - Just what is the point in eternity without development? This includes those who have achieved certain successes in that life. There is no one among us who would like to be frozen at one step, discarding not only risk, but also such opportunities. Or are you not going to the first world?

- Not just the first, - the motorcyclist clenched his fists. - I'm going to go through all these worlds, no matter how many there are. Even creating your own world will not be the limit for me.

- Very ambitious, - Ink decided to work a little on his authority. - Just how many are so ambitious here? Countless. And how many of them can open the way to the world of reflection with their own strength? Even such a small test will fail many, but only after that a really real way begins.

Ink went ahead, but suddenly noticed that the guide had stopped. The metal-skinned guy, the feeble, even the motorcyclist, all looked at Ink in astonishment. Doubt and a certain amount of fear appeared on the face of the guide. The rest of the group looked at each other in embarrassment.

- May I find out a member of what strength...

- There are none here, - Ink interrupted the guide. It seemed to him that from these words the guide was really scared. - In the "buffer", I'm just a weak reborn.

- Weak? Who then are we? If the representative of the highest...

- Hmm! - the guide coughing in warning, silencing the metal.

"I did not overdo it with a bluff? The voice did everything so that I would not stick out and try to remain invisible, but I still decided to make myself some name. This is the right decision, right?"

- Amazing, - continued the metal one. - The spirit of reflection said that my ability to recognize other people's forces in the "buffer" will be absolute, but it seems I was too naive. For some reason, she shows that the abilities you gain are equivalent to just nine points.

- Huh? - was amazed by the girl who was approaching him during the movement. - It's impossible. The cheapest ability costs fifteen points.

- Indeed, - the frail representative of the Ralgo clan looked serious, picked himself up like a carnivorous sinewy cat, and no longer looked like a harmless kid.

- No mistake, - Ink shook his head. - There are rules that cannot be violated, and for some features you have to pay accordingly. I have only a few abilities. For some reason, they are really equivalent to only nine points, although I appeared in front of the spirit with a large number of them.

- You would, - snubbed the feeble. He seemed to put on the mask of the ironic guy again, relaxed when he found out that Ink was not dangerous.

- Gentlemen and ladies, - the guide who returned his composure again patted. - We are almost here. The auction building is around that bend.

Ink looked around, others appreciated them with curiosity, but kept their distance.

- And what do you offer us to buy when you are penniless? - the motorcyclist crossed his arms over his chest. - What kind of money is used here?

- You will learn about the currency later, - the guide smiled. - We're not going to the auction to shop. We go to arrange a sale.

He raised a hand to suppress the questions that opened people's mouths.

- We will not sell your things or skills, as some beginners often think.

- And then what? - the motorcyclist growled. - The memory of the zero world? So not everyone has it here.

- No, no, no, - the guide took a few steps forward and turned to see all the newcomers. - Lots for the auction... it's you.