The expanse of land looked down at them. The moonlight streamed in from whatever space was open above.

Aiden stared at the crystal in front of them. It didn't seem to stare back in any poetic way. If it was being poetic, the crystal seemed to not care for their presence, like a drunken king willfully ignorant of his subjects arraigned in front of him in supplication and imploration.

They were, ultimately, unimportant to the crystal.

Are you really going to use it on Valda? He asked himself, hesitant to step forward. He had never been in the actual cave, and he had never really studied the subject extensively, but he knew enough. Dissecting everything about the crystal and its cave had never been his interest. All he knew was it worked. He had read the records of expeditions, those recorded by the Order of others doing it, since the Order had never held an expedition on the cave for Order reasons.

His actual plan for the crystal had been to use it as a trade item. The [Enemy of the Order] was known to take payment for his services in very odd ways. A man had once come asking for help, seeking treatment for a daughter who would die from some kind of disease that rotted the liver. As payment, the [Enemy of the Order] had taken said rotted liver. As treatment, he had made her a new liver.

Once upon a time, he had taken the crown of a king as the price of extending his life. He had shortened the expected life span of a tree-runner in exchange for granting them the ability to see once more.

In all the things that he had taken in history, the [Enemy of the Order] never bargained nor offered a price. You found him and you offered payment while requesting his services. It was he who decided whether the payment as well as the service interested him. Like the Order, his interests were entirely his own as well as the reasons behind them.

But, on very few occasions, occasions so few that there were only two that Aiden knew of, he would allow the experience of his service or the possibility of things triumphing over his interest in payments. Once upon a time, a woman had brought a child as well as the [Heart of Nosrath] to him.

The child, not old enough to use mana, had been experimented on countless times, and she had brought him to be helped and healed and made better. How she had gotten her hands on the heart, no one knew. But in the story, her payment had been, the single root of a [Dying Tree]. A rare item stolen from the treant people from the other side of Nastild.

The rumors claim that the [Enemy of the Order] had used both the heart and the tree on the child. The Order had confirmed this because they had found the child and confirmed their constitution.

Aiden had hoped, in exchange for merging him with the heart of Nosrath, the [Enemy of the Order] would accept the crystal. And if he refused, then he could always use the threat of the Order.

So, what will I pay with if I do not have the crystal?

Finally, ignoring his own worries, he turned to the others.

Everyone stood waiting for what would happen next. Dreg and his team looked like men watching and waiting for the impossible. Aiden couldn't blame them. By reason of the normal timeline, the crystal was not supposed to be here for at least another year, yet it had come to life right in front of them, almost as if he himself had willed it.

They would be fine.

"Letto, Drax," Aiden said, turning his attention to them.

Letto seemed to straighten up, as if at attention in a parade line.

Drax must've seen it too because he gave the boy an odd look before turning to Aiden.

"What do you need?" Drax asked.

"Both of you and the rest of your team to stay behind while the rest of us go in," Aiden said simply.

Drax frowned. "We came for this, too."

His voice was sharp, harsh. Aiden could see the echoes of a challenge in his eyes. The question was whether he was challenging Aiden's decision or if he was challenging Aiden. One was a refusal to be set aside, the other was a refusal to be set aside by Aiden.

Aiden shook his head. He could understand Drax's response. In his past life, Drax had grown to be a leader no one had challenged. He had grown to be powerful and precise. A good leader. But he had still had his flaws, like all living things. He hated being bossed around.

With a sigh, Aiden pointed at the crystal still in the distance. "That thing will create enemies that will scale to the person who touches the crystal, and you won't be able to take it from them unless they willingly relinquish it to you or you kill them. But here's where it gets tricky. It can also decide to scale the enemies to the strongest person in the group."

Drax's frown did not leave. "And who is the strongest person in the group?"

"That does not matter," Aiden said, shaking his head. "What matters is that I will be the one touching the crystal. When I do that, the enemies will scale to my level if we are lucky."

Jen, son of Vilion, stepped forward. "So?"

Aiden looked at him, barely stopping himself from disrespecting him by using [Detect] on him. The thing about the [Detect] skill was that despite how rude it was to use it on a person without permission, a person could also understand just how much more powerful than them the person using the skill on them was.

If he used the skill on Jen, Jen would understand the level gap between them. But he didn't need to be rude.

"Drax," Aiden said in as calm a voice as he could muster, "I am stronger than you. I'd wager that I am significantly stronger than you."

Drax grit his teeth. His jaw ticked as he clenched it tightly perhaps in anger or displeasure.

"I'm not that weak," he bit out.

Aiden shook his head. "I didn't call you weak, Drax. I said that I am stronger. If you face monsters that scale to my level, you won't win."

Drax stepped forward, now the challenge in his eyes was strong. If they were not in the situation that they currently found themselves in, they would've probably gotten into a fight. Drax would've challenged him.

That was the kind of hero that Drax was. A hero that would not back down from a fight. A hero that would not be called weak.

"How are you so sure?"

Aiden could see Drax holding himself back with nothing but sheer will. Was the boy always this annoying or did he have a special distaste for Aiden for leaving?

"What do you know about the [Giant Slayer] title?" Aiden asked Drax.

Drax paused. "What's that?"

Sir Thompfer chose that moment to join the conversation. He stepped up to them, seemingly regal and in command.

"It is a title granted to those who have slain an enemy at least twenty levels above them," Sir Thompfer said, eyeing Aiden skeptically. "It is not an impossible title to gain, but many have lost their lives attempting to gain it."

"What is special about this title?" Drax asked, turning his attention to the knight.

"It is special because it makes it harder for those stronger than you to kill you and makes it easier for you to kill them." Sir Thompfer was watching Aiden now. "But you have to first survive the twenty-level gap difference."

Drax finally turned to Aiden. "What does that have to do with this? Are you saying that you are twenty levels above me?"

Aiden could still feel the weight on his heart. Since killing a human being twenty levels above him, he had gained that weight along with the title. The problem was that the weight refused to leave. He had thought it would reduce and dissipate as he leveled up, but it didn't. It never weighed him down or distracted him. It was just there. A reminder of his accomplishment. To him, however, in this life, at his current level, being twenty levels ahead of him as a person was not a threat.

"What gives you the right to claim that?" Drax asked, baring his teeth like some provoked beast.

Was he always like this? Aiden wondered. Had Drax always been easy to anger or was this specific only to Aiden?

As for Drax's question, if Aiden remembered correctly, in his past life, none of them had gone past level fifty by this time. It would take at least a week or two more, if not a month.

So, he met Drax's gaze and gave his answer.

"I know this because you are not yet at level fifty."

He saw the shock on the faces of most of the people present. The mercenaries probably thought that he had done the unethical thing of checking Drax's level. But Drax would've known if he had done that, so while the others were unsure, Drax knew that such a thing had not happened.

"You are level seventy?" Jen asked in shock twisted in awe.

Aiden ignored him just as he had done before. Jen was only speaking because he was the son of a noble and did not like the idea of a conversation of importance happening without him being a part of it in some way.

Having no hate for children of nobles, Aiden tended to see them as petulant children. They annoyed him very easily with their natural inclination. They weren't inherently evil, but there were certain traits that came with being the child of a lord that could be grating, even if not bad.

One of those was the natural inclination to be a part of the important when those that were a part of it were not greater than you.

It didn't make them bad, it made them look like children.

"You and the team will stand down," Aiden said to Drax. As he spoke the words Ted was already shaking his head. "Maybe stand here and protect Valdan until we get back."

"No," Jen said in defiance. "We will not be relegated."

Twice now Aiden had ignored him. It begged the question. Was his defiance a reaction to that or did he believe that he was standing up for the team.

Sir Thompfer seemed eager to say something, but held his tongue. Letto had a look in his eyes that Aiden couldn't quite place. It certainly wasn't defiance. Drax was growing enraged. Derrick said nothing. He had been stewing ever since Aiden had taken him down when they'd met earlier.

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The man that had guided Drax's team through the cave was a perfect side character filling the NPC role. He just stood and waited.

Interestingly enough, Ariadne occupied the same role as him, standing right next to him in uninterested silence.

Sir Thompfer stepped forward. He moved to take Aiden by the arm, not in a threatening way or a show of violence, but stopped himself when Aiden looked down at his hand before it reached him.

Taking a deep breath, Sir Thompfer met his gaze. "Your friends are not that weak," he said in a gentle voice. "Please do not underestimate them so greatly because you are stronger. They can pull their weight."

Aiden did not doubt that.

"They've slain monsters they had no right slaying," Sir Thompfer went on. "That's how much they've grown."

Aiden took in a deep breath. He understood what Sir Thompfer was trying to say. But it was not a worthy point.

"Sir Thompfer," he said.

Sir Thompfer nodded. "Yes, Lord Lacheart."

"I am not underestimating their strength," he said, then he turned to Drax and Letto and Derrick, even if the last of them had not said anything. "I am not looking down on you or making you seem weaker than you are. You are strong." He remembered just how much stronger than him they had been at this point in time in his past life. "But I was not wrong when I said that you are not strong enough for this."

Sir Thompfer sighed. "They have faced unimaginable odds."

Drax nodded. "We have killed monsters that we've had no right killing."

"And that is the problem," Aiden said. "That makes you strong, but not strong enough for this."

Ted, still shaking his head, finally approached them. When he took his first step, however, Elami intercepted him, whispering something in his ear. Ted paused, looked up at him in thought, before nodding. That done, he finally walked up to them.

"What my dear brother is trying to say," he said, putting an arm on Drax's shoulder so casually that it seemed very natural, "is that he upped the difficulty level of this task intentionally and for good reason."

Sir Thompfer's brows furrowed and Ariadne was now paying attention. Aiden guessed it was because Ted had thrown himself into the discussion.

"How and why, Lord Lacheart?" Sir Thompfer asked, looking to Ted.

"Well, you have all slain monsters that you shouldn't have survived," Ted began. "And by you all I mean them. But they don't have this title that my brother speaks of…"

"Do you?" Jen asked.

Aiden held back a smile.

Ted almost snorted. "Dude, I'm like a one-man army. I never fight alone yet my wins still count as mine. I got the title long ago."

Ted had gained his own title of [Giant Slayer] by completely overwhelming a level twenty monster with a horde of summoned creatures. It hadn't been very easy, but it hadn't been as difficult as it should've been. The monster had definitely given him a run for his money despite his eleven familiars, at the time.

I guess 'horde' is not the word.

"As I was saying," Ted continued. "The reason for all this talk is this. The monsters we are about to encounter will be stronger than you all by at least twenty levels. However, we have a handicap."

Drax looked from Ted to Aiden, then back. "What handicap?"

"We're supposed to survive this fight without killing them."

"That makes no sense."

"It does not," Letto confirmed. "How will you win if you don't kill them?"

Ted shrugged. "By knocking them all out."

"Why?"

"Because killing them," Elami said from where he was standing, "risks the possibility of killing one of us."

"What of the monsters?" Ariadne asked, focusing on Ted. "What about them?"

"Oh, they'll definitely be trying to kill us. Nothing we can do about that."

"So, what you're saying is that we'll be fighting monsters twenty levels stronger than us that will be trying to kill us while we are only trying to knock them out?"

Ted nodded, smiling amiably.

Ariadne raised her hands in surrender and took an intentional step back. "I'm out. I'll stand guard."

"Me, too," Taeli said, doing the same.

Aiden would've liked to point out that she had been hired specifically for this job and she had taken it, but he did not. In fact, he felt safer not having her around. With the rest of them, the task could still be met. In fact, they could lose a few more people and still meet the numbers requirement.

"Elami is out, too," Aiden said. He could not risk one of the [Doppelganger]s developing the skills of a [Healer].

Elami nodded. "Understandable."

He took a step back. The step back did nothing, but it was a symbolic gesture.

Aiden looked at the others. Drax and Letto specifically.

"I'm not trying to lose people I know and care about," he said. "That's why you are not joining us. As for the mercenaries, they know what they signed up for and they will be paid for the service."

Letto and Drax were not happy about this, but at least they looked like they understood now.

"That said," Aiden continued. "Dreg, Nesa, Nela and Jang Su are coming with me and Ted. We will handle this alone."

Oncot took a very large step forward.

You deny me battle? He signed.

Drax's team watched his quick hand signs in confusion.

Aiden stepped up to the man and placed his hand over the man's, silencing his signs. He met Oncot's gaze and Oncot returned it.

There was confusion in Oncot's eyes, imploration, too.

Aiden signed back. There is to be no blood here. There is to be no honor to the Blood God.

But—

Aiden cut the man off with more signs.

The task I offer you, he signed, is one that bears the possibility of honor. I task you with the task of standing guard.

Oncot paused, looking at him.

Guard? He signed. I am to guard your bodyguard?

Aiden shook his head.

No. You are to guard me. You are to stand, blood baron to my duel.

Oncot's confusion vanished. In his tribe, blood barons were important. They were not lords or anything of such import. Their importance laid elsewhere. They were in charge of ensuring that no one interfered in a duel. They were in charge of protecting the hunt, keeping out scavengers while the tribe hunted for food.

They were in charge of guarding the battlefield, ensuring that another tribe did not infringe on a war being fought. They were not lords or title holders.

But they were guardians of the bloodbaths, protectors of the honor given to the Blood God in battle.

I am to be blood baron? Oncot signed with unsteady hands. He was honored, too honored.

Aiden nodded. Should anyone choose to interrupt us, stop them.

Is their life forfeit? Oncot asked.

Aiden paused, thought about it. He looked at Drax, Letto, and Ariadne.

Apart from those three, he signed. The lives of any others that choose to intrude are forfeit.

Oncot nodded once. Thrice seen.

Thrice given, Aiden signed.

And your bodyguard? Oncot signed before Aiden left him.

Protect him, too.

Thrice seen, Oncot replied with a nod.

Aiden returned the nod. Thrice given.

Turning around, Aiden headed back to the others.

"Now that that's settled," he said. "Shall we depart?"

Ted shrugged, leaving the others.

"Be safe," Ariadne called out to him.

Ted gave her a cocky grin. "Safety is for the weak."

As for Letto, he stalled Aiden with a hand on his upper arm. "Since when did you know sign language?"

Aiden shrugged. "I picked up a thing or two since we last saw."

"Fair, but what was the conversation about?"

"Oncot over there is from a tribe of warriors," he answered. "He wanted to fight but I refused."

"Why?"

Aiden didn't have to think about it. "Because he is most likely the strongest person here, and his people do not believe in a bloodless fight. This fight is not for him. I had to explain that."

Letto paused, releasing Aiden. "I guess that makes sense."

"See you when we're done," Aiden said, then he turned and walked into the clearing with the others.

They were only a few steps away when Oncot finally moved. Aiden took a backwards glance and watched the large man move.

He carried Valdan and placed him gently on the ground between them and the others, then he stood with Valdan behind him. He said no words, offered no explanation. His action was explanation enough.

He withdrew his massive cleave. Holding onto its hilt, he planted its blade in the ground.

His words were clear.

None shall pass.

…

The clearing was not as large as it looked. It did not take Aiden and the others long before they were standing in front of the crystal raised by the stalagmite as if on a pedestal.

Dreg looked at Aiden. "What now?"

"Now," Aiden answered. "We take strategic positions and remember them."

When the [Doppelganger]s come, they would come looking like nothing but white humanoids. Mannequins, per se. The problem was that they would have illusory abilities. So, instead of them to look like the others, to everyone else, the others would look like them as well.

Aiden's first counter to that was positioning. It was a long stretch, but if they knew where they were all standing in the beginning, it might give them an edge in identifying friend and foe.

"Stand where you feel is sufficient," Aiden said. "And remember the positions of your allies. When the monsters come, you will be happy for it. And remember, whatever you do, do not kill anyone." He looked at Dreg, met his gaze. "You might kill one of them and be sure of it only to survive this whole ordeal and find Nesa dead by your sword."

The look on Dreg's face said that he definitely did not want to experience something like that.

Everyone moved into position as instructed, Dreg took up a place at the farthest end. An archer, he was probably creating range with the hopes that he would begin far from the chaos. Aiden didn't bother explaining that a fight in the melee would be difficult to avoid.

Ted dallied a little.

"I take it we aren't using our manifesting skills for this one," he said.

Aiden paused, thought about it, then nodded. "I guess not."

Since saving Zen and Feira in Dentas, they had talked about it—about the knight that had appeared out of nowhere. The knight Ted had banished.

The conversation hadn't been very long. With Aiden knowing that the monster had been coming after him because of his manifesting skill since turning it off had claimed that the knight could no longer 'challenge' him, that had linked the knight's presence to his manifesting skill.

Ted's ability to banish him away by simply deactivating his manifesting skill when the creature had appeared while his manifesting skill had been active told them the second piece of information they needed to know. The knight had likely been able to arrive only through his manifesting skill.

They had ended up hypothesizing that using their manifesting skills within the range of each other at the same time was what had led to his arrival. They had, however, not put their hypothesis to the test.

Ted nodded. "Got it. No manifesting skill. That's going to make this tougher."

Aiden smiled lightly as Ted turned away to leave. In his previous life he had had days and nights when he had wished he'd had his brother by his side. He'd always wanted to just fight side by side with Ted, to do things with Ted. He had missed him very often.

In this life, he got to do those things with him.

Ted paused in his departure to look at him. "No weapons?"

Everyone present had a weapon, from swords to bow. Even Ted, with his [Summoner] class, was armed with a sword.

Aiden shrugged. "I do my best work with my bare hands."

Ted nodded then took his position.

Aiden walked over to the other side of the crystal so that he faced everyone else. Certain that he had committed them all and their positions to memory, he spoke.

"Ready?" he asked them.

He watched everyone adjust their stance in preparation.

"Ready," they answered in unison.

"Then," Aiden muttered to himself, reaching for the crystal. "Here goes nothing."

He picked it up.

A very brief and abrupt pain lanced through his hands and filled his brain. It happened slow enough to feel it but too quick to actually remember what it felt like.

Oh, no, Aiden thought as he grew suddenly dizzy. He staggered, fighting to stay on his feet.

He dropped to his knee.

No.

The thought was barely alive in his head. Even in his own mind he sounded groggy. He fought against it. He did his best.

Something cool touched his hands and feet. On his knees, he looked down and found mist covering the ground, pooling out of somewhere to envelop the entire floor.

The mist was doing something to him. It was making him groggy. He could not pass out here. If he did, he would lose sight of where everyone was placed. Things would become far more difficult.

So, he did his best to succeed.

His best failed.

But he did not fail alone. Before darkness took him, just as he clawed for the stalagmite to pull himself up while the crystal fell to the ground, he watched every other member of the group hit the ground. The mist swallowed them whole, concealing them.

The reports on the crystal cave in his past life had said nothing about a mist. As darkness took him, his interface popped up in front of him.

[Dimensional mana Detected]

[Anomaly Detected]

[Dimensional Crack Detected]

…

[You have triggered a World Quest]

[Unique Quest: Fragment of Nastild.]

You have found a crystal of existence, a fragment of the world of Nastild. By the existence of an anomaly, you have activated its hidden potential. Now you must wield it. But first, you must survive it. Defeat its protectors and return with your life intact.

[Quest Objective: Defeat Doppelganger 0/???.]

[Reward: Fragment of Nastild.]

[Reward: Crystal of Existence]

…

[World Quest is in progress]

[Anomaly Detected!]

[Prisoner #234502385739 you have encountered your first World Fragment]

[Contacting System Admin.]

[Estimated time until successful contact: 00:03:24]

Aiden paled, a new fear filling his heart. The last two times the system had tried to contact the admins had been in his past life, which he hadn't lived to see. The second was when he'd been teleported and fought against spatial cracks where he had escaped.

Now, they were being contacted while he was in Nastild. What would happen if they were contacted and appeared on Nastild? What would happen if they—

Darkness grabbed him by the neck and choked.

Fuck.

It was all he could think as his thought process was cut off and the world went black.

…

Aiden Lacheart woke up kicking and screaming with a searing pain in his arm.

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