Chapter 27: Options and Decisions

The first worm to get in range was also surprised. Pneuma moved incredibly fast and to the side, dodging a lunging worm and slamming the weighted wrecking ball on the head of the Tunnel Worm. Pneuma grabbed the worm with another two limbs and yanked it in the air. Two other limbs formed long blades and, like scissors, cut through the worm even deeper.

This repeated as Pneuma quickly grabbed, yanked, and scissored the worm till it was just many worm sections. Trint again was a passenger but was in control of the main body. Still, he was left to roll his eyes at the efficiency that Pneuma could bring to their fighting.

Pneuma continued this process, not waiting for the next worm to arrive but rushing it headlong. Only to dodge, smash, grab, yank, and scissor through the beast again. He was like a meat processing plant. As he finished processing the second worm, Trint Sensed the first sectioned-off worm was dissolving. Trint also felt the rush of Exp and a level. This had turned out easy with Pneuma’s help.

‘I don’t want to distract you, but what level am I now?’ Trint hesitantly asked.

’No, no, no,’ Pneuma taunted. ‘You said not peaking till level 31.’ Pneuma laughed and continued to cut these Tunnel Worms like giant hotdogs. It only took about five minutes to get through all five worms.

‘The phrase your world uses is, “I’m a man of my word.” Pneuma quoted. ‘Well, I suppose I was never a man, and I will never be a liar either. I was only finishing the fight first. You became level 32 after that fifth kill.’ Pneuma began consolidating their form till it was back to the former nine limbs and gave back total control.

‘So do we just backtrack and leave the instance now that we can leave the iteration?’ Trint asked, considering their options.

‘I don’t want you to get lazy now.’ But you are right; we could explore that options since you have Iliana with us. Check on her.’

“Iliana, you can come out,” Trint shouted, not seeing her but knowing she was sitting cross-legged 100 yards further back from the entrance. “They’re all dead now.”

Iliana approached at first, slowly rising from her seated position. Then quickly navigating the dissolving remains of carnage.

“I watched for a while. Then I chose to meditate.” Iliana stated. “I knew you would defeat them after you increased your limbs. I did not expect only to get a few minutes of meditation. You truly are a powerful fighter, Trint.”

“Thank you, Iliana.’ Trint accepted the praise. “I look forward to fighting together once we get you better gear and find some time to train. Anyway, I was thinking of our options, and we might be able to exit the instance and ascend to i8. Or we can finish this instance and then go. Do you have a preference?”

“It depends on your estimate for completing the rest of the instance,” Iliana explained. “My level increased with yours to 32, but the mana density is so low here I most likely couldn’t cultivate at all. I need some time to adjust to this form, and I think cultivating through mediation and training will help me more than following you through the rest of this place.”

“Well, I don’t think you will be able to adequately cultivate till you get to i7, the first of the Spirit Realms,” Trint explained what Pneuma had taught him. “The density of mana and Spirit increases in the system as you ascend each iteration. Right now, and even in i8, mediation won’t be a lot of help. At least that’s what I’ve heard.”

“If it were up to me, I don’t want to waste time in i9 any longer than necessary,” Iliana stated.

‘Pneuma, what do you think?’ Trint asked. ‘Move forward or attempt an exit. Iliana won’t mind either way if we’re quick.’

’Trint, you have seen a little more of what we can do,’ Pneuma said. ‘Do you want to explore more of that now or later? You also recently found that you can bond with sentient beings from the Subsystem. There is a possibility the next boss will be a potential ally. We know so little about that now. Whatever you decide is fine, and it would make more sense to fight i8 enemies when you are in i8. The density of mana will be substantial enough to feel it.'

'I know that won’t impact you as much since you are somehow pulling Spirit already, but it might make you even more powerful,' Pneuma continued, 'But I know for Iliana, it will be a vast improvement. I have not mentioned this yet. But to exit an instance after it closes without completing it has always been an option. There are items called IETs. Or Instance Exit Tokens. They can be bought from the system and are not expensive once you leave i11. They are only suitable for instances on the same iteration they were purchased. I have quietly purchased you several each iteration. The costs increase, but that is not an issue.' Trint didn’t want to become lazy, but progress was possible, and staying here felt like a delay in his primary purpose of getting to his family.

“Iliana, let’s leave and ascend.’ Trint agreed. ‘I searched my storage and realized I have some exit tokens.”

Trint, as party leader, was able to activate two exit tokens. They both arrived in front of the instance at the same time. The system displayed a timer over the entrance. It was counting down from one day.

“Looks like we are locked out for a day. Glad we don’t need to go back in. It helps to know for the future.” Trint told Iliana.

They had already readied their gear and used [Cleanse] before exiting the instance. Now they began their journey back to the ascension pool. Trint was looking forward to i8 and the increased density of mana and Spirit. His use of mana was minimal in many ways. He didn’t utilize his skills, spells, or mana in his Spirit form. The combined form Pneuma provided was almost entirely fueled by Spirit. Since unlocking his Sovereign privileges, he had yet to experience weakness or reduction in Spirit. He at first thought his system readout was broken when the Spirit display was removed from his stat screen.

Since the Sovereign status, he could no longer see or view any stats related to Spirit or Soul. Yet he could use the Spirit form, sense, and view his internal Spirit. Trint was hoping that he hadn’t done any harm. So far, all the changes had been positive, providing him with many benefits. Only time would tell if he did anything to hurt his race to reach his family. His current stat sheet showed the following information.

Trinten Atlas Henderson

Stats

Level 32: 42%

Stat Pools

Health: HP - 3200/3200 (Regen 320/min)

Stamina: SP- 3085/3200 (Regen 960/min)

Mana: MP- 3200/3200 (Regen 320/min)

Unassigned Points: Body (0.0), Mind (0.0)

Body

-Strength: 4.2

-Agility: 4.2

-Vitality: 4.2

Mind

-Memory: 4.2

-Wisdom: 4.2

-Adaptability: 4.2

Trint and Iliana made good time getting back to the city. Trint considered doing some shopping for Iliana, but Pneuma reminded him of gear limitations as you ascended. The i9 equipment here would be less valuable and less useful in i8. They would wait and get her iteration-appropriate gear when they got to a safe place in i8. Trint explained these plans to Iliana during the trip.

They made their way through the city among the crowd. Not wanting to draw attention to themselves, they tried to blend in. Trint was still using his Spirit senses, but he didn’t know what to look for in this crowded area. It was akin to being a tourist and just gawking, but he kept his physical body looking uninterested.

He hadn’t spent much time in the city in the iterations. As they approached the outskirts of the City Center, Pneuma warned Trint to avoid any interactions with recruiters or merchants. Especially any who Pneuma highlighted in his perception as higher iteration merchants. They couldn’t attack anyone under their own iteration unless first attacked. They had ways of enticing a fight or control of forces in each iteration that would gladly start something for the rewards merchants could offer.

Many people had improved skills or versions of [Analyze]. Pneuma had given Trint two options. Either block his level and all system information entirely or limit it to only showing his level. Both were risky. If he showed his level, everyone with the ability to see it would know he had leveled past the level for ascension. That was very rare and was a reason to check him out. But if Pneuma continued to block all of Trint’s information, he would appear even more of an anomaly if anyone tried to use any strong enough version of [Analyze].

Trint had chosen the least risky option and had Pneuma show his level 32. It showed he and Iliana were strong. Not too strong but strong enough that anyone fighting in i9 would have trouble fighting them. Trint was not eager to fight other people. He realized he had been too quick to adapt to murder and death so far. He had been relying on his Spirit forms, and his skill use was falling to the wayside.

He knew he would struggle against a more experienced fighter unless he transformed, which wasn’t a good option. Iliana would be a better fighter in that situation. They had discussed, and she agreed to act as a guard for him, and Trint would unsummon her if she were in danger.

They were unable to avoid the merchants and recruiters. After scouting a little and grabbing food to blend in, they readied to try to sneak through unnoticed. They would make a run for the ascension pools if things went wrong.

They moved with the crowd deeper into the city’s winding streets with hoods covering their heads. Trint’s anxiety was rising. As time passed, he had begun feeling a little more emotion and just feeling more like his old self. With the added Sovereign status, he had felt a loosening of the emotional restraints. He now understood the system had emotionally numbed him. It had helped him integrate, but he felt violated, and looking back, he hadn’t entirely been himself.

He was aware of his anxiety increasing his heart rate, and sweat was beading down his forehead. As they were amid the Merchants and Recruiters, a passing man stopped and grabbed his arm. Ready to explode into action, Trint spun, and Iliana reacted and took a defensive posture. He was instinctively unleashing a predatory snarl. Part of Pneuma was bleeding through.

“Whoa, hold on!” The stranger shouted. Stepping back from the quick response. “John, is that you?”

Trint realizing his mistake, quickly responded. “No, I’m not John. Sorry for the surprise.”

“Well, I apologize,” The man said. “I was mistaken. Let me buy you and your friend a drink as a way of apology.” The man had bowed slightly and seemed genuine in his apology.

“I really must be going,” Trint said. By this time, they had become the center of attention in the area. Most of those around had begun staring, and a few whispers were shared.

“Hey, young man!” A recruiter said. Taking a couple of steps as he spoke over the men. A merchant followed him.

’Time to go, Trint.’ Pneuma quickly said.

Trint grabbed Iliana’s hand and took off. Her strength and speed were not ready for the sudden change in direction. She was yanked off her feet, but Trint helped by tossing her ahead of himself. She landed gracefully and immediately ran. They didn’t look back, but Trint sensed a commotion in the area. Suddenly a dozen people were moving toward them from the surrounding buildings.

Trint and Iliana quickly gained some distance. There was no telling why they were being followed; their levels, to be robbed, killed, or to do with his adoption. Nothing Trint could think of giving him a reason to stop. They only pushed him to get to the pool. This would be his third time and first since becoming a Sovereign and bonding with Iliana.

He didn’t know how ascending worked with a summoned bond. He didn’t know if it would be better to jump in the pool and ascend or if they could capture him while he was attempting it. The other times it happened almost instantly. He hoped nothing would be different this time. He didn’t want to stay in i9 and find out what his pursuers wanted.

Trint’s fear of being cut off was unfounded, and they saw the pool’s light glowing above the crowd. As best Trint could tell, the pursuers were no longer in sight. He couldn’t be sure as the crowd was thicker as they neared the pool. Pushing through without being too offensive to the crowd, Trint and Iliana made it to the edge of the golden glowing pool.