Eric couldn't help grinning, feeling a curious mixture of triumph, satiation, and just a touch of exhaustion. Now that he thought about it, he had been up and fighting for what must have been close to two days. He hoped his friends would understand why it had been so important, even if, in his heart of hearts, he could admit to himself at least that part of it had been just to get away from the disturbing crush of memories that had plagued him.

But before he made his way there, before he could even move, he was surprised to find a certain interface window demanding his immediate attention.

Congratulations! You have successfully cleared West Gilton Undercity Domain!

You possess the essence of Dominion!

You have uncontested Rites over this Domain!

The endless potential of an entire realm is at your fingertips!

How do you wish to shape this realm?

And as sweet and wondrous as it was to sense the unlimited potential of this tiny little realm of sewers and tunnels, now with the potential to become so much more, a part of his mind already sensing all the wondrous boons he could grant it... he hardened his heart, pushing away fantasies of mysterious ruins filled with mystery and wonder.

He’d be a fool to give this prize to another, not after what Mayor Stibbs had done the last time he had dared such an inconceivable act of generosity. And he’d be even more of a fool to keep it for himself. Because the minute he dared walk the Path of Rulers, he could never again embrace the hidden Path of Consumption that promised such sweet, forbidden fruit.

It was a path that countless unseen enemies would despise him for ever daring, for not staying a broken little frightened mouse, hiding in his tiny little underground paradise, until a ruthless scion of some powerful clan tore free his hard-won prizes and his life, with nothing but contempt for his desperate wails.

Because in a world where strength was everything, and treachery was everywhere, only the strong could truly be free.

So he didn't hesitate to look past the paths of enhancement, and focus on darker, hidden paths known by very few.

Do you wish to embrace Necromantic Consumption? – Success Rate – High. Hostile Detection Likelihood: Nil. You may feast upon this realm's potential to permanently increase Strength and Vitality by 5 Points Each!

Do you wish to embrace Essence Consumption? - Success Rate – High* Background Anomaly: West Gilton Undercity Domain is the home of one Malformed Pod! This pod has deliberately been altered by local Orc Shaman and his disciples via ritual sacrifice to steal the essence of any and all mortals fed to it! Said orcs are well on their way to forging an Abomination, regardless of countless Codicils broken!

This Malformed Pod was in the process of stealing your Flame Essence before you escaped!

Your Flame Essence was muted to ‘Flickering Essence,’ thanks to the malfeasance of this pod! Now is the perfect opportunity to tear free that which was stolen, and every additional speck of power that you can! - Note. There is a modest likelihood that a psychic battle could be detected. (Reclaiming seized power by any means available IS permitted by the Codicils.)

Alex’s breath grew ragged. It hadn’t just been terrible odds and an indifferent System. That goddamned pod really had been trying to consume him, and every single poor soul shoved in its twisted tendrils!

The hot fury he felt at how he had been left a mangled wreck with a damaged essence and a ravaged exterior before being maliciously dumped at the feet of carnivorous rats turned to a fierce killing joy.

It had stolen from him, so he would happily return the favor.

And when he sensed the Pod's surprising awareness of what was happening, its furious objections and psychic threats to destroy Eric utterly, he couldn’t hold back the surge of savage satisfaction he felt when he reached forth with metaphoric hands into the hissing Venus Flytrap of a creature that snapped and seared his soul with the Essences of Agony, Hate, Sorrow, Despair, and Strength.

You have been critically struck by Enraged Abomination!

Willpower Check made!

The hot fires of your Wrath Counters Agony’s Hate!

But Eric refused to flinch or back down, clenching his jaw tight as pain seared through his soul. For even if there was no greater agony than helpless despair, now, finally, he could FIGHT the source of so much sorrow and pain. An abomination that had devoured countless thousands of innocent souls.

In a world where so much had been destroyed by forces utterly beyond his control, here and now, for the first time since crawling free of that awful pod, he was finally in a position to invoke his Wrath upon at least one of the orchestrators of his torment.

A dozen battles superimposed themselves upon his mind’s eye.

One moment he was roaring and tearing free massive spike-covered vines attempting to throttle the life out of him… before they burst into flame.

In another, he was pivoting and dodging around a massive troll-like abomination made out of endless ropy tendrils, Eric’s serrated war blade chopping right through the toughened cellulose like the axe the weapon had originated from, a sentient plant’s worst nightmare, as Wrath infused his muscles with power undreamed, and the dozens of decapitated limbs the abomination sent slithering after Eric froze under Dominion’s weight.

Leaving a shrieking, furious shambling mound that stumbled after a madly taunting Eric… who suddenly burst into flame as the flickering embers in the pods own core abruptly exploded, now burning to the beat of Eric's furious vengeful heart, utterly consuming that abomination from within.

And no matter the weight of agony and the pall of despair the pod tried to crush Eric with, all he felt was fiercest satisfaction when the flame in his heart was kindled anew, now blazing brighter than it ever had before.

You have survived your first Contest of Dominion!

You have survived your first Essence Battle!

You have torn free all that was stolen, and so much more!

Flickering Flame has become Saturated!

The Fires of your soul have blazed through five opposing Essences, consuming them utterly!

Congratulations! Your Fire Essence has doubled in intensity!

Essence Consumption has improved 2 full ranks!

Essence Consumption is now Rank 3!

Eric opened his eyes with a gasp, laughing for sheerest joy even as he heard the earth groan and creek all around him.

He had done it! He had dared the impossible, taking on that goddamned nightmare horror of a pod, and tearing free that which was stolen!

He clenched his fist and laughed for joy when he saw and felt how easy it was to summon fiery heat to a single drop of pricked blood. So much easier than it had been before!

Somehow he was all but certain it would cost him far less in terms of Soul Reserves or Experience Points to permanently infuse his blood with fiery heat, or the ability to resist the same. Crimson gifts he could now coat upon any prize. And who knew what other abilities he could unlock with the sudden rush of understanding and completeness now flooding his soul?

If it weren't for the fact that the stone walls of this very chamber were cracking and splintering before his eyes, revealing endless darkness, he would have done just that.

But seeing as he wasn't a complete idiot, he chose survival over making the most of his epiphany, cursing for all he was worth as he sprinted for the steel bar steps bolted into the stone wall leading to the manhole above.

And he couldn’t quite hold back the awful spike of terror he felt when the manhole cover refused to budge, not hesitating to embrace Burst of Strength as he roared and heaved, though more than a bit surprised when the disc of steel went flipping end over end through the air as Eric near lost his balance before grabbing the lip of the hole and pulling himself up to breathe fresh air for the first time in countless weeks.

For all that the air smelled of baking asphalt, burnt plastic, and rotting food.

Eric squinted in the sudden sharp light as he took in the abandoned cars and broken window panes of this formerly posh area of the city, catching sight of numerous mannequins broken and spray painted amongst shattered window panes as the loud boom of the manhole cover smashing into a hatchback roof echoed through the block.

Eric didn't think, he just moved, dashing for the nearest alcoved doorway as he crouched down and took in his surroundings with a racing heart, chilled to hear the rough guttural roars and grunts that he knew to be the orcish language as he stole quick glances down both ends of the street.

For half a second, he wanted to give into the killing fury blazing through him.

Instead, he prepared to enter the alcove doorway, surprised to find it was actually locked.

Though not for long when he pulled one of his searing hot bolts from storage, melting through the deadbolt within seconds, a quick splash of water from a flask in storage quickly putting out the sputtering door frame as he darted inside.

He spotted a shop entrance to his left, and stairs ascending to second story and higher apartments straight ahead. Making full use of his infravision in the dim corridor, he quickly skipped up the steps, pausing at the second story landing for long seconds as he pulled each of his fired soul-linked crossbows, nearly snapping one in two when he attempted cocking it back via goat prod and belt hook, just like in the movie. Because now, with 28 strength, it was as easy for him to load it by hand as it once had been to draw back a 20-pound bow.

Once more, he found himself smiling in sheerest delight, despite the tension he felt in this unexplored section of a city now more strange than familiar with orcs doing daytime patrols below.

He took a deep breath, reveling in Strength once the province of super heroes, anime, and characters in RPG games. A strength that now was well and truly his.

Of course, it was one thing to visualize inhuman power. Quite another thing to live it. It was a gift he had made best use of while fighting for his life, thanks to absurd levels of Perception, Finesse, and most of all Speed. Because it wasn't just that he could move faster than ever before. Rather, it often seemed like it was his enemies that were forever moving slower. Giving him time not just to attack, but to plan, act, and counter whatever was coming his way.

Such as right now, he thought, spinning around in the blink of an eye as two skulking figures wearing leather jackets over tattered clothes, with metal clubs raised over their heads and body odor Eric could have smelled from miles away abruptly jerked back with curses when the point of Eric's razor-sharp saber tore open the first man's nose, causing the fool to lurch back and drop his pipe while the second quickly tossed his weapon aside and fell to his knees.

“Please don’t kill us, please!” Begged the rear man who looked to be well in his thirties, though the dirt-encrusted features weathered by desperate living over the past handful of months was doing him no favors.

The closer man was gazing at Eric with furious horror, holding his gushing nose.

Neither man was small, each easily six feet, and built like bruisers. Yet they moved so slowly and awkwardly, Eric was almost surprised they didn’t topple right over.

Then the more panicked one did, shouting a curse as his widened eyes took in Eric’s saber, now hovering over his huddled form. Fortunately for him, it wasn’t the one blazing with steel-melting heat.

“Please man, you don’t have to do this. Just let us go!” Bloody-nose said.

Eric glared at the fools for long hot seconds before flicking his blade free of blood and resheathing it in a single practiced motion.

“So, you assholes wanna tell me why I should let you go, when you sure as fuck weren’t going for love taps with those pipes?”

The smaller guy swallowed, gazing at Eric with wide, frightened eyes. “Because you’re one of their hounds. Oh fuck, please, man. Please don’t kill us, we have families! If we’re dead..” The man let out a choked sob. “We’re all our kids got! Come on, man, why the hell are you hunting us anyway? What the fuck do you think will happen to them once you slice our throats? Please, don’t do this. You don’t have to do this!”

Bloody-nose nodded desperately. “Look, man, we’re sorry we tried to jump you. We were just fucking scared out of our minds! They’ve… they’ve never bothered with apartment buildings around here before. If they’ve expanded their hunting zone… fuck, we’re just trying to protect our own!”

Tears were now flowing freely down the man’s cheeks. “For god’s sake, you gotta have some humanity left! Look, just let us go, and what we scavenged is yours! I know it ain’t much… but it’s all we have left!”

Eric clenched his jaw, righteous wrath quickly deflating, replaced by unwanted sympathy and an ever-deepening hatred for the monsters that had made desperate savages out of once strong men.

“You don't need to give me shit," Eric said, looking the closest man square in the eye. "Just tell me which way La Maison hotel is at, and I'll consider us even."

The pair of men exchanged glances. “Shit John, you got any idea?”

The larger man, still holding his nose, nodded. “Turn left on Parmount street. Head up to 27th Avenue and you’re there.”

Eric flashed a hard smile. “Thanks, gents. Now kindly turn around?”

John and his friend’s eyes widened. “Come on, man, you don’t have to do this!”

Eric smirked. “Turn the fuck around and relax. It isn’t what you think.” His eyes flashed. “Now!”

Both men sobbed and cursed and spun around, and Eric was gone by the time they flinched at the sound of bodies rolling over. Though he did smile with a certain amount of pleasure at their shouts of surprise, and gratitude.

“Thanks man, this meat will feed a lot of families! Hell, rat tastes almost like pork!” said John at Eric’s back, raising his voice but only a tad. “And watch your step. Parmount is fucking saturated with orcs!”

Eric just smiled, saying nothing as he slipped out the front door. But not before checking the peephole then cracking it open, making sure that the coast was clear before slipping out, his goal now to make his way back to his hotel walking parallel, to but not directly on, Parmount street.

Because as much as he wanted to go to war with the orcs, that wouldn't bring all the people who had already died back. Or at least that's what he told himself as he spotted Paramount just ahead before turning on Vine, keeping a low profile, crouching behind rows of double-parked cars that were in surprisingly good shape, for all that a good number had shattered windows and absolutely none of them would ever run again.

He grit his teeth and loped steadily forward as the distant sound of breaking glass and screams could still be heard, though thankfully far more sporadic than they had been when Eric and his sister had first dared foraging in the world above.

But just when he was about to pat himself on the back for self-control and thinking of the bigger picture, the desperate shrieks of a young child changed all his plans in a heartbeat.