+ Reid +

Connection.

Reid didn't know how he was going to do it, but he could sense possibility.

He pulled the spring down in a diagonal from the paver. There was something there that felt... correct was the wrong word. It was truth, and confidence. Reid knew what he wanted to keep out, and who he wanted to let in. He knew that his interpretation was waiting for him, somewhere between conscious thought and memory. He just had to reach it.

Reid pressed forward as he followed that sensation to a section of the threadspace that looked no different from any other. He held himself still for a moment, then pushed. Resistance met him, heavy and deep.

It reminded Reid of the opaque wall that he had broken through to unlock his skills so long ago - tough to damage, that it would cause him pain to hit it, and that it was breakable.

Reid lowered his metaphysical shoulder and rammed himself forward. It felt like trying to tackle a fridge. He balled a fist in his free hand and punched out. Blow after heaving blow landed until a crack started to form. Reid pulled himself back, and kicked.

Pieces of the opaque barrier broke away before him, and Reid shivered with mixed sensations of cold, acute pain, and a deep-seated unease.

A shiver ran up his spine, and his neck and shoulders shook. He knew this was the right way forward. Instinct demanded that he continue - even as half his senses told Reid this was dangerous and he should stop.

Reid pressed forward, into an impossibly black environment that laid just beyond the threadspace and the wall. Every movement felt like he was pulling against resistance bands. As he made slow progress, Reid felt something substantial and deep shift. It folded back in on itself and tore at the corners and magnified the mix of cold and pain and unease.

He fought through it all - but not against it. Reid felt his destination, and stayed focused on following it.

Like a bubble popping, resistance disappeared as Reid flew forwards into a new space. He floated high above a dim floor freckled with gelatinous mounds. The spring in his hand pulled towards one, and Reid dropped it. The creation moved the same way energy did when it 'knew' where it wanted to go, and Reid watched as it flowed down and settled into place. A notification accompanied his sensation that the connection had been completed.

Congratulations! Skill Manipulation Mechanism, [Selective Resistor] Created! Congratulations! Equivalent experience awarded for producing a skill manipulation mechanism.

New Achievement Earned!

Skill Manipulator (Earned for creating a skill-manipulating metaphysical mechanism).

Skill Manipulator Increases innate understanding of skill threads and their potential. Slightly increases the ease of manipulating skill threads to achieve intended outcomes.

Experience: 37,786,001 -> 42,786,001 / 52,428,800 Intelligence: 518 -> 535 Perception: 523 -> 529

Reid frowned.

He'd gained another achievement, and he'd succeeded in his attempt to make a tool to provide selective resistance to a skill. An entirely new part of himself was now visible and accessible and he'd broken down a barrier to get there. He'd gained experience, and stats, and Skill Manipulator was going to make it easier for him to build more resistors going forward.

But it wasn't right.

Reid still felt the pull - his instinct told him that he hadn't yet reached his destination, and that there was more.

He was sore, tired from the exertion, and doing his best to ignore a throbbing headache. He knew, logically, that he could rest with his progress, here. He deserved to be content with the accomplishment he'd gained. He could sense Nyx slowly making her way over to him - probably to congratulate him on a job well done.

Celebration and rest could wait.

Reid took a breath through his nose, then pushed himself forward with every ounce of effort he could still bring to bear.

Darkness clung to the very space around him, and the intensity of the unease and pain doubled as he felt the same sensation of folding and tearing as he pressed on. Reid refused to let it slow him. He followed the sensation, his instinct, and lost himself as time slipped away. There was only the now - the darkness - and what laid ahead.

He pushed through it all until he finally felt the sensation of another wall.

Reid balled a shaking fist, and swung. His shaking hand collided with the hard surface, and Reid winced. He was so drained, so tired. But he was here. He just needed a little more.

Energy welled deep within him, and Reid channeled it up to himself. It burned against his arms and legs, but that was fine. Reid concentrated the energy near his hand, and struck out again at the wall. A tiny piece chipped off as a deafening boom rocked through the area. Reid's metaphyiscal hand felt broken, so he squared his shoulder, gathered energy, and rammed forward.

Another boom. A bigger broken piece fell away. And now his shoulder felt useless.

Reid smashed against the barrier with one foot, then the other. He used his knees. His other hand, and elbow, and his shoulder. Pieces fell away and cracks spidered out all around him. It was so close, and he refused to fail.

Power gathered around him.

Reid roared, and slammed his head into the wall.

Blinding light joined a disorienting set of noises and sensations as Reid tumbled forward and slammed into a solid surface.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Every inch of his metaphysical self pulsed with pain, and he could feel his pulse as it assaulted his brain in his physical body.

He realized he was panting and gasping in the real world.

His breathing steadied. The throbbing in his head lessened just enough for him to think straight again. His metaphysical body was still pain, burning and chilled in waves that washed through him.

Reid slowly opened his eyes - and recoiled. He swore as his head smacked into the floor and he smashed a still-useless elbow.

Nyx hovered inches from his face. The concern in her eyes faded as she looked him over.

"You really do find unique and exciting ways to damage yourself, Reid. You'll recover from this, but be prepared to take it easy for a few days. Honestly..."

Reid swallowed, and tried to find his voice. Nyx stopped him with a raised finger.

"No, no. You're going to rest. If you want answers, listen. Otherwise, just pass out. I'm not letting you do anything other than that."

She folded her arms, and watched Reid with narrowed eyes. When he didn't try to speak or move, she donned a mischievous grin.

"Listening it is, then. Let me compliment you first on your resistance construct. It is good, Reid. More advanced than I'd hoped for a first try, with wonderful application and a well engineered solution in general. You've come up with a template that will function for a great many skills. We will tweak things on the one you made already, and the next ones you make, but only slightly."

Her eyes flicked to the side, and Reid followed them. He could see the dim space and the rows upon rows of gelatin-like mounds. One had the spring he'd created sticking out of it, and he could trace the thing back through a wide tunnel-like structure that stretched a surprisingly short distance between the dim area and his threadspace. It was nowhere near as far as Reid imagined when he was pushing his way through it.

"Your connection from the construct to the junction is impressive, all on its own. Breaking through to that is what generally takes the longest amount of time, and people often struggle to figure out where exactly they need to go. They take care of the barrier, but then lose themselves in what follows. Believe me when i say you were downright speedy once you figured out you needed to get somewhere else. That connection, from skill tangle to the mental junction, was the culmination of the work I intended you to undertake."

Her eyes came back to him, and rested there.

"You needed to do this on your own because it needs to be yours, in every sense of the word. Telling you too much could negatively influence and harm you, in the long run. So thank you for sticking it out and not losing your concentration on the lesson."

Nyx lifted her head, and slowly spun in a circle. She extended her arms as she moved and spoke.

"I would tell you that it gets easier the more you do it, like your metaspace creation did - but I guess I don't need to, do I? You've given me plenty to marvel at, Reid. I shouldn't be surprised - and yet..."

Nyx let herself fall into one of the reading chairs surrounding the low table. She glanced behind herself at the shelves, then into the game room. Two of her fingers pressed against one of his reference guides and spun it towards her. She read over the cover, then looked back at the tunnel.

Reid mirrored her. He took in the opening with its oddly dark walls that connected his game room and library to the junction - and his threadspace. From where he lay on the reading nook floor, Reid could clearly make out the construct he'd just crafted.

"It is... magnificent. You don't understand the significance, I know. You will, in time. This-" She gestured at the tunnel between metaspaces, "is what's called a Conduit. Going from one metaspace to a junction point is a half-conduit. You did that, then blasted through the other side to make a full Conduit. They're... supposed to be hellishly tough to complete. My goal was to try and get you a half conduit before E grade, but now..."

Her grin returned. This time, it felt predatory.

"Get your rest. You're going to need it."

)+\( Hugo )/+(

Two months passed, and Hugo had truly started to lean into his magic.

He was a frequent face on hunts, for food and against tougher beasts for experience. The environment around them was bountiful with game and potential strength following the rain. He did what he could to ensure his people made the most of it. Levels and spirits rose in equal measure.

Hugo had also become a known entity amongst the cooks. He took a line that 'no one was above the duties critical to survival', and made sure he was on the butchering group.

When he bled livestock for meals, Hugo shivered at the sensation of the warmth that transferred into him. On patrols, he felt excitement run up his spine every time they saw movement amongst the trees. He was happy for his people's growth, and equally satisfied when he harvested the kills.

The only issue in his idyllic time of advancement and personal expansion was the deepening rift.

Ignored at first, the agitators had stewed in their convictions and become more bold in their disagreement. The true traitor even went so far as to seek out Belar's spies that watched the camp. Hugo knew it was only a matter of time before he'd have to deal with it.

Whether cowardice or optimism, he put off the decision and hoped for a better outcome. He hoped for one that wouldn't negatively impact the rest of his people. Leaves brushed over his shoulders as he let his mind wander on a morning walk. Lost in thought, he didn't see the Belar spy until it was too late.

A short run's distance in front of him, a man in muted burgundy leathers spoke to Yudel. He didn't hear their conversation, but saw the man pass his traitorous noble a paper before his eyes fixed on Hugo. The man's boots barely made a sound as he launched himself into a sprint. Yudel had been changed and altered on his return, set against his better judgement to oppose his prince. Even still, Yudel's voice rang loud in the quiet early hours.

"Don't kill him!"

The guard spared a disgusted glance towards Yudel. It slowed him half a step.

Hugo's heart hammered in his chest.

Beasts were just... things. But a person was complex. Difficult, and dangerous. He hadn't done more than distract or lightly damage people, yet. That was quickly going to change.

Would it even work on something like a person?

The urgency of the situation removed Hugo's time to consider what he was doing.

Power flared in his eyes. The first time he'd activated them, he was simply trying to peer through the forest and find their enemies. He'd lost his composure when it worked. Colors and density and motion had overwhelmed him and dropped him to his knees. People and beasts stood out, like flares of light against the muted surroundings.

As his vision flashed this time, Hugo nearly smiled at the thin, glowing form that approached.

He was lucky. This was the weaker spy.

Hugo raised his arm, and reached out with his magic. It quickly surrounded his target, and the man slowed with a frown. He pulled a device from his leather armor and aimed it at Hugo.

He had to do it, now. It was the one choice. The one solution.

Hugo curled his fingers, and squeezed.

The Belar man screamed.

He kept screaming as he crumpled to the ground, and scrunched into a ball. He writhed as Hugo shook with effort and strain. He begged for Hugo to stop.

Hugo watched on as his magic overpowered the man's light. The thin illumination tore and crumpled under the force. His hand twisted as Hugo pulled at the weakened light.

The man resisted. He screamed. He fought.

He lost.

Light burst out of the man's body, and raced into Hugo's outstretched hand. It seeped into him, and settled in the same place that the energy from livestock and beasts did.

You have defeated Belar Trade Corporation Officer - lvl 25. Experience awarded (50 xp - F)

Level: 19 -> 26 Grade: G -> F

Hugo dropped to a knee. The act had taken almost all of his stored energy, and the new influx he'd received from the man wouldn't be processed and usable for some time. A memory of the tutorial's warning about pain between G and F grades ran through his mind.

In the distance, Yudel stared on in horror. When he met Hugo's eyes, the traitor sprinted back towards camp.

A second later, Hugo fell and sprawled in the dirt as painful lightning tore through his body.

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