Mrs Eceer narrowed her eyes. "I suppose? They call it an Ability Merge. I assumed you'd opened it when you first got it."

It was so like Mrs Eceer to have known she levelled up before she did. Tanya didn't have the brain space for a snarky comment about it; she was already pulling up her level-ups.

* * *

Alert!

Through your efforts, you have increased the following Attributes:

Dexterity +2

Vitality +1

Concentration +3

Will +2

* * *

Level Up!

You have leveled Tattoo Summoner to Level 5.

Congratulations!

You have unlocked an Ability Merge. This allows you to combine two Abilities to broaden their options and potential.

Would you like to see your choices?

* * *

Achievement: Worthy II

You have completed the Tutorial.

Achievement Boon: You have been granted 1 Restricted Question and access to the Progression Menu.

* * *

Level Up!

You have leveled up More than Meets the Eye to Level 4.

* * *

Level Up!

You have leveled up The Power of Intention to Level 7

* * *

"You didn't tell me you got a Restricted Question!" Tanya exclaimed.

Mrs Eceer adjusted her glasses. "I didn't tell you any of it because I thought you had already levelled, like we previously established."

Tanya was still reeling at getting another Restricted Question. Now she was up to three. "Wait, did you use your question?" Tanya asked.

A wet, contemptuous 'pwah' burst from Mrs Eceer, pure dismissal. "Of course not. They should be perfectly aligned with our needs as a group and—"

Fahad poked his head out from under the table. "What question? I'm confused."

"We found out The System lets us combine Abilties at level 5—" Tanya started

"And gives us access to more information about levelling," Mrs Eceer added.

Fahad's eyes drifted off as he opened his Interface. "Rats, I'm only Level 2."

Mrs Eceer began some kind of speech about tortoises and hares, but Tanya had been sucked back in by her notifcations.

Restricted Questions…

She had to consider their uses carefully because she didn't know when she'd next get one. That thought made her think back to the so-called 'Progression Menu. ' She started there.

Opening it made a noise that reminded her of the old windows booting up sound.

She first saw a blank box, then notifications began appearing, similar to her typical Interface.

* * *

Congratulations!

You have survived to Level 5—otherwise known as phase 2 of being Worthy.

This allows you an overview of leveling to allow you to make more informed choices moving forward.

This menu is catered to your specific Class and Abilities.

Please wait a moment…

Initialising…

Loading Earth Data…

Learning colloquialisms…

Acquiring 'slang'...

* * *

The words populated the screen letter by letter in a wave that flowed down her vision. Tanya's heart lurched as she looked at it. It was an overview—a guidebook to the rules of levelling. She skimmed over the basics, such as training being needed to level up attributes and how the interface could be modified. The levelling overview caught her eye.

* * *

Levelling Overview

Level 1:

Something you did warranted you Worthy and that deserves a reward! You now have a Class and at least 1 Ability.

Level 2:

You progressed to Level 2 by proving your understanding and innovation unlocking an Ability! Now you have earned your first Ability Crossroads.

Level 3:

This is a huge milestone. Wanna know why? I'll tell you anyway. You now have a Major Ability Crossroads. These are created utilising your Achievements and those choices then impact your Subclass options later!

Level 4:

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

You're still in The Tutorial, so enjoy your free Ability Crossroads.

Level 5:

Tutorials must end with a new mechanic, surely? Absolutely! You get your first Ability Merge.

Level 6:

You thought the end of The Tutorial would be the end of the fun? Another multiple of 3, so enjoy your Major Ability Crossroads.

Level 7:

Ah, it's your first without an Ability? Yes, I understand your unhappiness. This is only the beginning of the disappointing Level-Ups—I apologise.

Level 8:

Yeahhh, it's another one. I did warn you.

Level 9:

Did you spot that it is another multiple of three? You should have done. SMH That would be like forgetting X-Mas Day. (Did I say that right?)

Level 10:

It's the moment we've all been waiting for—Subclass selection!

* * *

Tanya grinned at the new so-called "colloquialism" stuff, but she winced just as often. It felt smoother—more human—until the Interface started dropping slang like a grandparent who'd been gifted a slang dictionary as a gag gift.

She kept skimming, half-focused, flicking through the sections on how her Abilities levelled and the way her summons worked. It took her a minute to get her head around it, especially with how much was redacted. Half the time, it teased overviews without giving her the actual numbers or the names of anything new.

So me Abilities get Minor Ability Boons every 3 levels, and me Summons get their Ability Crossroads every 3 levels too. Seems like sometimes me Summons get to choose between a new Ability or a Boon to buff an existin' one.

She read it again, squinting, but it wasn't any clearer.

Tanya was still puzzling through a section on Boons when Mrs Eceer suddenly jumped to her feet. "They're coming," She said, stiff and staring towards the parlour. "I can hear them coming."

Tanya snapped her Interface closed and sprang up beside her. "What's comin'?"

Mrs Eceer locked eyes with her, sharp and certain. "A horde." Without waiting, she stormed into the parlour, scooping up Ishita's unconscious body and tucking her behind the counter with jittery, anxious speed.

Tanya blinked, then hurried after her, grabbing a cushion off the sofa and slipping it under Ishita's head. "Woah, slow down. Somethin's comin'? More monsters like earlier?"

"Yes," Mrs Eceer huffed, already scanning the room. "We need to get ready."

Fahad poked his head around the kitchen door, Assistant perched on his shoulder. "What's going on?"

Tanya shot him a quick smile and flapped a hand at him. "Stay in the back, Fahad."

"No, don't," Mrs Eceer snapped, voice sharp. "That back door is a vulnerability. They could break in."

Fahad's bottom lip wobbled. He edged into the room, wide-eyed, staring down at Ishita on the floor.

Tanya shot Mrs Eceer a sharp look, but the older woman didn't even seem to notice. Tanya crouched down by Fahad, softening her voice.

"Yeah, that's a great idea, Fahad. Sit with your mum. Hold her hand and get real small-like, yeah?"

Fahad nodded and ducked out of sight again.

Tanya straightened and grabbed Mrs Eceer by the shoulders, halting her frantic movements. "You're scarin' him. Quit it. Slow down."

"Better scared than dead," Mrs Eceer hissed. Her eyes met Tanya's, and for a heartbeat, Tanya saw it—fear. Mrs Eceer looked away fast, pushing it down into brittle frustration.

Tanya stepped into her path, blocking her. "Hey, we've got your traps. We've got the barricades. We just need to work as a team, yeah? We'll be all right."

Mrs Eceer raked a shaking hand through her hair. "I haven't tested the traps. Ishita's unconscious. The back door's still busted—" Her eyes darted around the room, wild and restless, before she stabbed a finger at the sofa. "Let's move this."

Tanya followed, lifting one side of the sofa and helping Mrs Eceer move it on top of the counter for extra protection. She guessed Mrs Eceer could've done it on her own and wondered if it might've been better suited to the busted back door—but for now, she was happy to go along with any plan that included her. "How far out are they?"

Mrs Eceer paused, tilting her head towards the road at a sharp angle.

Monsters are comin' from the A road then.

"Less than a mile," Mrs Eceer said. "They'll be here in a minute or less."

"Do you need to be with your traps for them to work?" Tanya asked.

"No." Mrs Eceer moved the filing cabinets to either side of the counter, boxing Fahad and Ishita in. Fahad whimpered.

"S'okay there, buddy," Tanya said, crouching to look through a gap between the counter and the sofa at where Fahad was cowering. "Get your lantern out, yeah? So you don't fall too deep into the shadows. It'll keep you company too."

Assistant wriggled out of a smaller gap on the other side, tail flicking.

"If you don't gotta be with your traps, then I think you take the back, and I take the front. I can stab through the gaps here."

Mrs Eceer positioned herself in the kitchen doorway and looked both ways. "I can see the back and front from here for barriers."

"Great. Think you could throw up somethin' extra for the front door? It's blocked alright, but I reckon it's weaker than the window." Tanya glanced towards the window—which by now was more wood than glass—then back to the doorway just as Mrs Eceer stuck her head around.

Mrs Eceer slid a cabinet door across the floor. "It's just wood, but it could work as a shield."

Tanya picked it up and tested the weight. She realised she could hold it by the handle for better leverage. "Good thinkin'."

Mrs Eceer sucked on her teeth, glancing upwards as she thought. "Front door's got the most traps, but I'll try to jam it in tighter. Thinner pieces are trickier though. No guarantees."

Tanya could hear it now too—the low rumble of chaos and footsteps. It was like being a block away from a football riot. She crossed to the window and pressed her face to one of the holes, craning her neck to look down the street. Couldn't see 'em yet, but over here, they were louder.

Her heart fluttered.

This is real. They're comin'.

She turned back to Mrs Eceer. "Nothin's ever guaranteed. We just need the odds on our side."

"Ha!" Mrs Eceer barked from the kitchen. There was more clattering and banging; Tanya figured she was ripping off cupboard doors or something. "Fifty to one? Terrible odds. Personally, I wouldn't bet on it."

Tanya snorted, already peering through the gap again. A black smear appeared in the distance. "Don't look like you've got much choice—they're comin' past the chippy!"

She grabbed the hem of her skirt on one side and tucked it into her waistband. She flexed her hand by her hip, focusing on the feel of the tattoo beneath her skin. It was always buzzing, always full of energy. Focusing on it felt like closing your eyes on a sunny day and letting the heat soak through you.

The sword materialised in her hand. Her back tingled as the ribbons peeled off her legs and spine, floating up into the air a moment before drifting down. Except they didn't fall right—more like squid tentacles, pulsing, reaching for something to grab onto. A couple of them already wrapped around Tanya's wrist, constricting. She tugged them off, muttering, "Quit it." They either couldn't listen or didn't care.

Her eyes scanned the room for something to feed them. Wood was a solid choice, and she'd take it if there wasn't anything better.

She spotted Assistant scurrying over to her, a piece of paper folded and pinched between two fingers. It limped slightly, careful not to drop the paper. Tanya realised she hadn't even thought to check where it'd gone in all the mayhem of preparing.

As Assistant got closer, it lifted off the floor, still running on its fingers but now hovering just above the ground. It stopped at hand level before her.

"What's this?" Tanya said, taking it and unfolding the paper.

Inside, scrawled in shaky letters, were the words 'Me?' — the 'e' written backwards.

"Wait, did you write that?" Tanya asked.

Assistant pointed towards the counter where Fahad was hiding.

"Fahad helped you—oh yeah—you're usin' that new Ability." She tore another clump of ribbon tendrils off her wrist and peered through the gap again. They were closer now—getting near the scaffolding Assistant had knocked over.

If I could get access to one of their bodies quick enough, maybe Phantom Brand would count it as organic...

Assistant poked her sharply in the back.

"Ouch, yeah, yeah, I'm paying attention." Tanya rubbed her shoulder, wincing. Assistant could really poke with nails like that. She yanked off another batch of ribbons from her wrist.

Assistant tapped the paper.

"Me?"

"You want somethin'?" Tanya asked.

Assistant tapped the paper twice for no, then pointed towards the street—the direction the monsters were coming from.

"Oh! You wanna know what to do." Tanya grunted as one of the ribbons phased into her skin. The sensation made her gag a little—it was like feeling her Vitality drain out through a mosquito bite the size of her palm. She yanked it free and shook the writhing ribbons in her fist. "Fuckin' quit it!"

Assistant jabbed her again, even harder this time.

"OUCH! Assistant, that really fuckin' hurts!" she snapped.

In response, Assistant scrunched the paper into a ball and hurled it at her face.

Tanya raked a hand through her hair, breathing fast, glancing between Assistant and the growing shadow of monsters down the street.

"How close are they?!" Mrs Eceer shouted from the back.

"Past the scaffoldin' now!" Tanya yelled back.

She turned back to Assistant, mind racing. "Information—we need information. Find some way to see them. Gimme a flash for every ten or so you spot, yeah? Fuck—wish I had that scoutin' ability right about now..." She grimaced. No point in getting caught up in what she didn't have. She'd survive without it—and prove Mnemonic Etching was worth keeping.

Assistant snapped a sharp salute and floated off toward the kitchen.

Tanya watched it go, her heart pounding. There wasn't time for questions now.

The monsters were right outside.

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