February 18, 2019, 6:31 pm. A time to reflect, and a time to shop.

Instead of heading back in, I guide Rufka to the shop while Beth takes Josh for a walk in the park and the others head back to the kitchen. Despite our massive influx of points, there's no celebration.

Shaking my head, the first thing I do is buy enough Integration points to cap my Perception and Resolve at 125 each. With all my attributes capped, I glance at Smoulder's status. She's doing well, but it's only a hundred thousand to buy enough Integration points to bring her nearly to max. I also buy the rest of the Progression points. Which still leaves me with over eight-hundred thousand to spend. I start looking through some of the other upgrades, eventually settling on increased damage when using fire, lightning, metal and ice alongside their matching resistances.

My investigation also reveals there is no damage bonus for Twilight. Not a total surprise.

Once Rufka's finishes making her selection, we move to the park and I buy the last point in Elemental Chakram. Again, the guidance I receive is improved, and despite our day so far, I find myself grinning as I craft a second Chakram out of a tough metal alloy and a third of lightning. With each one, I feel I get a better grasp of the process. I'm considering changing the third to ice when Rufka indicates she wants to practice.

So, for the last few hours of the day, Rufka and I test our abilities against each other until she calls for a break after a particularly rough trade. As she picks herself out of the new furrow in the ground, I step away, letting my non-metal chakrams drift into a lazy orbit. We're both smiling. Despite knocking more than a few Health off each other, our vigorous training hasn't once taken on the sort of edge that arose in the arena.

"I'm done," Rufka calls as she picks blades of grass out of her fur.

I nod, saving her more effort by whisking the grass away.

"Those extra points over a hundred really make a difference," Rufka says, waving to the ball of condensed grass I stripped from her fur.

Shrugging, we make our way off the mound. Thankfully, the others have already turned in by the time we get to the kitchen. Or they're doing challenges. Either way, Rufka, Smoulder and I have the kitchen to ourselves as we talk about our plans for the morning. Which we've decided is going to involve a lot of not getting out of bed.

We follow through on our plan, only joining the others in the kitchen at lunch. Beth isn't there, but she's the only one missing as Roberts prepares an 'old family recipe' that seems to involve a lot of green vegetables I don't think we have on earth.

It doesn't stop it from being delicious.

As I'm dragging a slab of flatbread through the last of the creamy sauce from Roberts' stir-fry, Beth storms into the room. No one else seems to notice as she stomps over and takes a bowl for herself. It's only as she takes a bite that her expression changes. When she looks up, I'm already sliding into the seat across from her.

"Rough morning?" I ask, twirling a strand of hair around my finger as I sit.

"One way to put it. Atun's final form is a... very big step up."

"Oh? You've been fighting her?"

Beth nods as she takes another bite. As I wait, Kellica comes over, speaking as she takes a seat, "We've all given her a try. Except Roberts, of course."

"Tipan almost beat her by using her wind-form and her new class ability. But apparently she's highly resistant to status effects now."

"Now? I haven't seen her more than a little staggered or stunned," I say, looking towards the steaming pan of stir-fry and gauging whether I want another bowl.

As I give in to my desire for 'moar fudz', Kellica confirms Atun's increased resistance. Apparently, it's almost impossible to move Atun now. The others come over, and soon everyone is comparing notes. I'm surprised when Beth mentions it might be easier if we could fight in groups instead of just pairs. I thought she'd enjoy the challenge.

After our group's thorough analysis of Atun's new combat abilities, Rufka and I find ourselves standing in front of the challenge console.

"So. Ready to get thrashed like newborn Zanbia?" Rufka asks with a smile.

"Hell yeah," I reply as we reach forward and press Atun's symbol together. Like Beth mentioned, only the single combat and pair options light up.

"I'm kinda gonna miss this," Rufka says as we walk towards the arena.

"Fighting Atun?" I ask as we pause in front of the portal. We both know exactly where the invisible portal is at this point, with how often I've stopped to inspect the boundary.

"That too," Rufka says as she takes my hand. "But no. We've had so much time, just you, me and Smoulder. It's been... nice."

I nod. It has been.

"Anyway, let's go kick this Vaus-damned Desh's ass," Rufka says, squeezing my hand while shooting me a smile.

I shoot one right back, following her inside. We emerge in the arena with Atun already waiting in the arena for us. I snap another analyze on her, almost expecting the results to be the same. When they're not, I drop into Pause to read them properly.

“Creature analyzed: K'tharn. Gene-seed D."

"Name: Desh Atun of clan Okerren."

"Desh Atun is the living remnant of the former warrior queen. When integration came, she was offered a chance to continue her trials for as long as the System remained. After eagerly accepting, Desh Atun's arena became the premier dungeon on Akilo until a great mana-shift reshaped the surface. Now, she slumbers for long periods until worthy contenders awaken her."

"Attributes: Physical; Extreme, Mobility; Very High, Magic; High, Awareness; High."

"Attacks: Desh Mandate-Abilities. Multiweapon Mastery."

"Defences: Physical: Very High. Magical: High."

"Special: Disruption Field, Integral Being."

[Wyonna] "Oh, sweet. She's not just a copy. Betcha she learns your moves as fast as you learn hers."

My eyes move back to Atun, registering the way she stands with both of her blades out. The grip seems more natural. As if the weapon is an extension of her arm.

Stepping forward as my Pause ends, Atun raises both her weapons out and to the sides, leading the artificial crowd to roar. "Finally, our contenders Citizen Pandora and Citizen Ashkaban have chosen to face me. Let their courage be known to all in attendance. And may their screams be sweet."

Before she finishes, Rufka and I are already moving, splitting out to the sides. Our discussion with the others gave us the heads up. Atun likes to charge the moment she finishes speaking. No reason to let her catch us together. As she usually does when we split, Atun chooses to focus on me. My metal chakram meets her blade, still several steps out of melee range, redirecting Atun. Or at least, that was the plan. Instead, Atun adjusts, sliding under the chakram, somehow using it as a support for a twisting uppercut.

I prevent her from doing more than a few health damage by blocking with my lightning and fire chakram, then it's a frenzy of twisting, blocks, parries and attempts to escape her oppression with Anchor.

Thirteen point three seconds go by before Rufka is able to land an arrow of plasma, hitting Atun in the leg. I break away, attempting to move to a safe middle ground. But then Atun reminds me we're not against the lesser versions of herself, that follow standard patterns as she calls out, "Attend me!"

The unexpected usage is enough for her to clip me with a backhanded strike. I'm only able to recover by using Anchor, and even then, I use an entire 'path' just to recover from the shift in battle.

Then Rufka is there, and I move to support her. Our actions are in sync, despite having mostly been practiced on the lesser versions, Atun still has a lot of the same motions. I'd say it's muscle memory, but since she's an avatar made by the System, I'm not sure it applies.

Three point one seconds after we begin the latest exchange, Smoulder arrives. She's able to maintain her heat even better now, storing it close to her until just before she strikes. It still only singes Atun's shoulder. Which is fine. That means we're through her Health.

Now we just need to deal with her body’s insane resilience.

"Acknowledge me!" Atun cries as I'm dodging a two handed overhead chop that probably would have split me in two if it had hit dead on. The crowd roars back, and suddenly Atun is moving faster. I take three hits, shredding my armored jacket and my Health before I'm able to adjust to the new tempo.

And then, we're being pushed back.

Three on one, and we're being pushed back.

Even so, I can't help but smile. Because we're not being thrown to the ground. This is her strongest form, and she's still not able to run us into the ground. If she beats us now, we'll be able to keep coming back until we win.

Then I see an opportunity. I don't need Anchor or Pause, laughing as I roll to the side, one foot on the back of Atun's blade. Using the momentum of her swing, I fling myself away from her. I'm able to get outside her disruption field, and the cackle rises up as I Channel every element I can into a storm. I don't unleash it on Atun.

Instead, I send the whirling ball of death at the crowd. The figures barely have time to notice before most of them are dead. As the last falls, Atun's speed returns to normal. The sudden loss of speed costs her, as Rufka drives an arrow into one of her eyes.

Atun roars, but before she can speak, my fire chakram smashes into her mouth. A second later, Smoulder hits her behind the knee.

In a flurry of elemental violence, we bring her down, until her body finally collapses into a wave of blue dust.

My eyes flick towards her throne, but she doesn't reform.

There's nothing but silence in the arena as Rufka and I receive a pair of notifications.

Then we laugh.

As Smoulder climbs up on my shoulder I can feel her smug surety mixed with a sense of disappointment. It takes me a moment to realize she's upset she didn't get to mark her defeated foe. Luckily, her smug satisfaction at winning outweighs her disappointment.

The arena is a wreck, the only thing not turned to glass or stripped away is the throne and the exit. It's a little weird to not have Atun watching us as we walk towards it. But as we're about to leave I stop, grabbing Rufka's hand.

"Lex?"

Pulling her with me, I can't wipe the goofy grin off my face as I fly to Atun's throne. And just like I suspected, it's no longer protected. So, with Rufka in my arms, I plop down in Atun's throne.

And then we celebrate.

...TPWM...

February 19, 2019, 1:22 pm.

After Rufka and I are done celebrating in Atun's throne, I finally look at the notifications.

"Bonus quest. Defeat Desh Atun's remaining avatars without using the Ability Lesser Cataclysm, 1/1. Rewards: 10,000,000 Arena Points. 1 armor upgrade. 1 personalized armor."

"Zone Quest completed: The Queen Atun. Requirements 1/1 Queen Atun defeated. Rewards: 25 Edge."

I can't stop from chuckling. "Guess we're done here, huh?"

"Yeah... I mean, I don't know why it's so many points. Can we even spend that many?" Rufka asks as we hop down from Atun's throne, Smoulder rousing from where she was napping in the groove where Atun fell.

"Not from what I saw. Guess we're just going to have to pig out in the kitchen," I reply as we return to the challenge room. Beth is there, splayed out over one of the stone benches. For some reason, I'm struck by the urge to sneak up and tickle her.

Probably cause if I saw Rufka like that, that's exactly what I'd do.

"Another rough fight?" Rufka asks as Beth sits up. Beth waves as we get close, but now I see a small smile on her face.

"Yeah. But I almost had her. And you know what I just realized? I didn't reset my class. Was gonna do it after I had enough points to max out the temporary class, but I forgot after my fuckup yesterday. How're you guys doing?"

"Oh... it was pretty close," I say, then I can't help but glance at the entrance that we walked down.

"But... you won? Wasn't that your first attempt?" Beth asks, and despite the smile, I can't help but hear an edge to her voice.

"Yeah. But we were fighting her together. Don't think I could win solo," I reply, trying to reassure her.

But Beth surprises me, flipping onto her feet then wrapping me in a hug. "Don't sell yourself short, kid. You guys did good. I'm proud of you."

I'm not able to speak as I return the hug. A lump the size of Smoulder seems to have climbed up my throat.

Even when Beth releases me, I'm still unable to talk, so I just nod as Beth squeezes my shoulder before jogging towards the park and telling us to wish her luck.

Rufka steers me towards the shop, her hand in mine as we enter. And it's only as my eyes fall on the material representations of power that I turn towards Rufka and start sobbing into her shoulder.

And I don't know why.