We found a games room and gathered round a Ping-Pong table. I laid out Cody’s drops first. In some ways the first item was a step back, but it was still a powerful combination that cut down on the noise of the Thunderfury.

“Here you go.”

Item – Stormcaller (Legendary)

Type – Bow (Ranged - Magical)

Description – Harnessing the power of the northern tempests, the mage-rangers of Corass protect their cities from the countless threats of the Dire Plains.

Requirements – Strength 12 Dexterity 16

Effect – Converts standard arrows into lightning arrows that cause piercing and shock damage

Misc – None

Item – Bottomless Quiver (rare)

Type – Projectile storage

Description – A leather bound quiver that holds standard steel-tipped arrows. Enchanted by the powerful mage-ranger Dale Tillner, the ammunition never runs out.

Requirements – Dexterity 15

Effect – Limitless steel-tipped arrows

Misc – None

He picked up the magical bow. “Whoa. This thing really fires lightning arrows?”

“Let’s hope you don’t electrocute yourself with it,” I replied.

Cody laid the bow down. “I’m not sure I want to try it now.”

“He was kidding,” said Liza, grinning.

“They wouldn’t boobytrap a loot drop.” Or would they? I picked up the weapon and took an arrow from the quiver. Slipping it into position, I nocked the projectile and drew back the string.

“Is it broken?” asked Cris when nothing happened.

“If I were to guess, I’d say it probably only adds the lightning infusion after you shoot. I don’t want to risk starting a fire down here. We can try it later.” I replaced the items and looked over the bow in finer detail. It was a recurve type, but seemed to be made of a bluish crystal, which was impossible as it flexed like a normal bow.

“We’ve just fought a giant robot dinosaur,” said Cris, picking up on my doubts. “A flexible crystal is nothing.”

“Good point. Here’s the next thing.”

Item – Cloak of the Shadowborn (epic)

Type – Clothing

Description – Favoured cloak of the Ruvinian werewolf hunter clans. The fur is taken from their first kill and fashioned into the garment you hold. The musk that carries in the cloak allows the fearsome warriors to enter the wolfen domain and strike from the shadows.

Requirements – Dexterity 16

Effect – Increased ranged damage

Stealth skill increased by 1

Misc – 2 x damage multiplier when firing from stealth

Cody swung it around his shoulders and secured the clasp. “It doesn’t smell as bad as I thought it would from the description.”

“I think it’s been washed by our inventory cleaner, or we’re not sensitive enough to pick up on it. Like the pheromones. All we got was a hint of the scent but it drove everything else crazy.”

“Nice!” he beamed, stashing all three drops in his pack. “What did you get?”

“Something that I’m not going to get full use of just yet,” I replied, taking out the final pieces to the armour set I’d been wearing.

Item – Legplates of the Kohren Templar (Legendary) (Set piece)

Type – Armour (Heavy)

Description – The blessed leg armour of the Kohren order of noble Templar

Requirements – Strength 10 Dexterity 10 Wisdom 8

Effect – Increase to physical resistance

Increase to magical resistance

Increase damage to Smite

Misc – Resistance values increased when in presence of demonic enemies

Set – Sanctify Ground (ability)

Item – Armguards of the Kohren Templar (Legendary) (Set piece)

Type – Armour (Heavy)

Description – The blessed arm protection of the Kohren order of noble Templar

Requirements – Strength 10 Dexterity 10 Wisdom 8

Effect – Increase to physical resistance

Increase to magical resistance

Increase damage to Smite

Misc – Resistance values increased when in presence of demonic enemies

Set – Sanctify Ground (ability)

I put them on, completing the full set. With the world-adaptation, it was a figure hugging set of interlocking black plates and guards that protected my body completely. I suspected it would return to a more time-appropriate attire when we skipped back and forth.

“That looks badass,” gushed Cris. “What does the skill do?”

“It lays down a patch of hallowed ground that causes demons to weaken.”

She clicked with my earlier words. “And that’s why you’re not going to get much use out of it? You don’t want to fight Satan?”

“I’m going to avoid that place as best I can. Unless they fuck us and dump us into it, which I wouldn’t put past them.”

“Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,” Cris replied.

“Does it matter if they do?” asked Sun. “We have to face it at some point. There wouldn’t be the option if we couldn’t win.”

Cris snapped her fingers. “That must be why the next options reveal themselves when we finished in Kherrash. Because we’ve somehow picked up the skills, power, whatever, to actually stand a chance.”

“Good point,” I agreed. As terrifying as Sar’Ozan was, he was still vulnerable. Bart’s people obviously thought we could take the world, even if I had my doubts. “I also got this.”

Item – Warhammer of Maximus Cavvius (Legendary)

Type – Weapon (1 Hand)

Description – The blessed weapon wielded by the Grand Master of the Kohren Templar in the war against the demon lord Volgus.

Requirements – Strength 14 Wisdom 12

Effect – Causes holy and crushing damage. Bonus to demonic enemies

Misc – Weapon can be thrown and will return to the wielder’s hand upon command

“It looks like they really want us fighting demons,” said Cody with a grimace.

“They can keep on wanting,” I replied, laying it on the table.

“It looks like it could do some damage,” added Cris.

The head consisted of a flat, square stone just under six inches wide. The pale grey rock was covered in glowing glyphs of a language I couldn’t comprehend. They had the aura of the divine about them, which wasn’t a surprise considering its purpose. A vicious looking spike protruded from the back of the head, perfect for piercing demon brains. The wooden handle was warm to the touch, as if it had recently been laid out in the sun.

“It’s no Mjölnir, but it’s still pretty cool. Cris, you only got a single item. Sorry.”

I laid out the armour piece on the table.

Item – Nya Chestguard (epic)

Type – Armour (Light)

Description – An enchanted chest piece worn by the warriors of Nya

Requirements – Intelligence 15

Effect – Increase to mana pool

Increased mana regeneration

Misc – None

Set - Unknown

It vanished and then appeared on her body, shimmering in the fluorescent light. “I’m fine with this. I already got a massive boost from Milley’s drops.”

“That’s true. Sun, you only got one thing too, I’m afraid.”

Item – Sash of the Berserker (epic)

Type – Clothing

Description – A sash taken from the blood soaked sand of the Grand Arena in Slenn. The pain and hatred of a thousand gladiators pervades the stained cloth. Their spirits yearn for a way to restore their lost honour in glorious battle.

Requirements – Strength 18

Effect – Summon a random ethereal gladiator to fight by your side for 1 minute.

Misc – Increases damage absorption skill by 2

She picked up the gory strip of cloth and smiled, before wrapping it around her wrist. “I like it. I’ve already had some pleasing gifts, much like Cris. This will suffice.”

“There’s also this,” I said. The item appeared, crushing the table flat. We all staggered back in shock and I quickly stashed it again.

“What on earth was that thing?” blurted Cris after falling on her rump.

Cody had dragged Liza aside with enough force to cause minor whiplash.

“Sorry, I didn’t realise it was going to be that big. It’s the power source from our last fight. The thing that kept the T. rex moving.”

Item – XT-9 Power Core (miscellaneous)

Type – Machine Part

Description – A power source capable of running machines such as the mecha-tyrannosaur

Requirements – None

Effect – Unknown

Misc – Unknown

I helped Cris up off the floor and she asked, “So what’s it for?”

“Fucked if I know,” I replied. “We’ll find out at some point.”

“The amount of energy contained in it must be off the charts. I’m talking terawatts, maybe even petawatts.”

“All inside that thing? Maybe I need to leave it here for the people to utilise? Think of how much good that can do.”

She shook her head. “No, there must be a purpose to it. The technology will be on Lake’s system. Our hackers can dig that out for the world.”

We all stood there, feeling useless with nothing to fight and only the timer countdown to wait for.

“What now?” asked Cody.

“You get to spend some time with your sister, mate. Sun gets to spend time with the coffee maker, because I’m not sure our next world will have it.”

She looked distraught at the prospect.

“Try and steal as much as you can from here,” I suggested. “We’ll make it last.”

The barbarian was gone in an instant, hunting down the precious beans. Cody and Liza followed, leaving myself and Cris alone. As much as I wanted to do something deemed illegal in half of the civilised world to her, I had to remain focussed. “Shall we pick our celestial affinity?”

“Let’s take a look,” she replied, blushing slightly at my depravity.

Affinity – Daenan, god of all Saurs.

Description – When worlds are born, Daenan smiles on the lush, fertile land, providing the first seeds of reptilian life. His subjects are unaware of their own devotion. Instead, they worship by forming a peaceful balance with nature.

Effect – +2 to Evasion

+2 to Juggernaut

+2 to Damage Absorption

Perk - Locked

Paladin Divinity Unaffected

Affinity – Salariel, goddess of chaos magic.

Description – One of the three deities of chaos, Salariel thrives where imbalance reigns. War, anger, spite, all are fuel to the fires of chaos.

Effect – +2 to Casting Speed

+2 to Spell Power

+2 to Mana Regeneration

Perk - Locked

- 1 to Paladin Divinity

It was a no brainer and I picked the saurus god as my second affinity. “Are you affected by the divinity at all?” I asked Cris as the reptilian deity roared triumphantly inside my head.

“No, I only get the bonuses. Why?”

“It counts against my paladin class if I chose the wrong god. I’d become fallen with enough points lost.”

“Then make sure you don’t pick them,” she replied, grinning madly.

“I’ve got some achievements too. It looks like we both get the bonuses on some now, I guess Bart came good.”

“He always does,” she replied.

I opened the flashing tab. The first had been issued a while ago, when we’d first arrived.

Achievement Unlocked – One Good Turn

Description – Your good nature resulted in an almost unprecedented sequence of events. Keep thinking outside the box!

Reward – +1 Wisdom (Mark Craig and Cristal Anderson)

Achievement Unlocked – Tyrannosaurus Vexxed

Description – You overcame Lake and, more importantly, the madman’s metallic monstrosity. Years in the making, you turned it into scrap in less than fifteen minutes.

Reward – +2 Primary Stat For All Party Members

I didn’t need to check what that meant. I saw the ripple in my armour as my muscles grew. Cris’s character tab showed a gain in her intelligence. I had to assumed Sun would similarly get a boost to her strength, while Cody picked up some more dexterity.

There was one more waiting.

Achievement Unlocked – Relentless

Description – You just won’t die. Like, what’s your problem, dude? Jeez. The Reaper always gets his dues. Remember Final Destination? Watch your back.

Reward – Paladin Skill Enhancement Unlocked – Pillars of Smite

Paladin Skill Unlocked – Resurrection (Level 1)

The enhancement added the option of an area of effect toggle on my smite skill, much like the AOE on my fated tattoo. It was a great upgrade to have, though with my limited mana I would only get one use and I’d be dry. Checking the second reward, I did a double take. The aliens were mocking me for being resilient and cheating Death of his souls, while on the other hand encouraging me to cheat Death of his souls. It made no sense.

Skill – Resurrection (Level 1)

Description – You draw upon your holy power to restore the lifeforce of a living creature. Further healing will be required to restore health to target at lower levels.

Warning – This skill is not for the faint hearted. Its use is guaranteed to get the attention of powerful forces.

That sounded ominous. Was Death a force? Would I need to kick his bony arse from time to time? It was currently unknowable, so I put it aside. “Now for our levelling points.”

”Same as before?”

“Sounds good to me,” I replied. I was now level 17, which gave me six stat points and three skill points to distribute. I split the six between strength, dexterity, and constitution, giving me more survivability and fighting power. I knew I was leaving luck out of it, but I wanted the certainty of a good outcome, not just a possibility. The skill points were split two and one between damage absorption and juggernaut. I closed my eyes as the increases took hold.

Cris shivered deliciously, feeling the new power flowing inside of us. “A few more worlds and I’ll be a sorceress unmatched in the universe.”

“The size of your inflated head will be unmatched you mean,” I said, chuckling.

“Hey! A girl’s allowed to be proud of what she’s achieved. You’re going to be unkillable at some point with how you’re levelling your class.”

“I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The aliens won’t allow that to happen.”

“Speaking of aliens, where’s Bart to congratulate us?”

I’m right here, he said, popping into our minds. That was quite the spectacle in the caverns. I thought you were going to fail at one point. But then I remembered who you are.

It was close, I admitted. That thing was monstrous.

And yet you prevailed. Are you ready for the break?

I could kill for a proper cup of tea and a snuggle with the hounds.

Not to mention, Mrs Atkins might’ve finished our scarves by now, added Cris.

She’s fast, but she’s not that fast, Bart replied. Remember, only a short time has passed back on Earth.

What’s with the new locked ‘perks’ mentioned in the affinities?

Your chosen deities have requested that you not only receive the combat boost, but something extra. My competition have successfully stopped it. For now.

You’ll fight them on it?

You know I will, Mark.

A godgift? That could only help our cause. My gleeful thoughts turned to “the price” and what we would find upon waking up, souring my mood. I think I’ll stay in my flat this time. No matter what’s going on outside.

Bart nodded telepathically. That’s probably for the best. There’s nothing you can do, except for what you’re doing. Keep fighting. Keep winning.

How is it going in general? Are your bosses happy with our performance?

Very much so, Bart agreed, enthusiastically. You’re two of the remaining volunteers. I’m afraid we lost another six hundred and forty-one along the way.

I’m not surprised, Bart. This world’s issues were complicated to the point of being absurd. Are the others so convoluted and fucked up?

I can’t say, but Cris was correct in her earlier assumptions. The worlds open to you are all conquerable. Your growing power reveals new challenges that wouldn’t have been possible before.

So it doesn’t really matter where we go? I asked.

It’s all choice.

It wasn’t last time.

No, well, that’s been dealt with as far as I’m aware.

I’m not upset with you, mate. Your guidance has been invaluable. We’ll do what’s necessary, no matter where we go. You have my word.

I felt his cosmic smile. No more thoughts of quitting?

Not for a couple of hours at least. Once I touch down in the new world I expect I’ll have a wobble.

Cris took my hand. A wobble’s allowed. With what we’ve been through, it’s to be expected.

She’s right, Mark. You’ve been through more than anyone could’ve asked, and you’re still willing to go on.

Any suggestions on where to go next?

Nice try, but you know I can’t tell you that.

Even if you did give us a nudge now and again?

I was merely nudging you back into the right place.

And it was appreciated.

Is there anything else? You’ve only got a little while left in Osterland.

Then I guess we should go and spend our last few minutes with the others. Thanks, Bart.

You’re both very welcome.

He retreated back to the mothership, and Cris and I retreated to the lounge.