Cold, dry air welcomed Marcus and he shivered. He had gotten used to the tropical climate so much, that this colder weather felt outright harmful. He looked around and saw nothing but an endless, sparse plain. How are things looking on your end, Xeen? Portals?

This is not as easy as you think. I need a moment to orient myself. Going through a portal might be simple for you but it is a tremendous change in the Astral Plane. Marcus did not know that and wasted some time looking at the plants and general geography in the vicinity. The closest portal is… we need to find a way for me to indicate directions to you...somewhat to your current left and about 400 kilometer away.

If I run I can be there in twenty hours, Marcus thought.

I would advise you to move slower, you need to conserve your energy. Mainly food will be sparse from now on. Xeen was right, Marcus knew and started with a light trot.

Marcus rested the first night in the shadow of a large rock and also made his first acquaintance with the local monster population. A large sniffing beast with long hair closed in on his camp fire and bared its long jagged teeth. It had a particular long snout and large black eyes, Marcus prepared for an attack but the monster opened its maw and a pain inducing sound filled the area. Marcus instantly recovered from the effect thanks to his vitality and countered the charging monster with a precise kick to the flank. Because he did not know this monster type he went with 70% power and stabilized his attack with Carapace. The body of the beast was flung around as if a car had hit it and it landed on the ground, torn and very dead.

It seems to be a basic monster. Still, well done. I think more are coming. Of course Xeen was right, four more attacked Marcus in the next five minutes, all with the same attack pattern and all ended in the same way. Splendid. Maybe we can use some of their bodies. You can not be picky right now.

Marcus inspected the monsters and carved out some fatty meat to grill it. Here is the interesting thing about the meat of basic monsters. It is horrible, but it is edible and Marcus got the feeling this was universal and also intentional.

Very likely, the whole setup is designed to challenge us but also give us opportunity.

Xeen remarked and Marcus thought about the "setup". What do you know about what is really going on?

This is a difficult question. We.. I, know a lot of small facts and observations but very little about the big picture. Our best theory is that it is some kind of test designed by the Ancients. Marcus nodded, more out of habit than anything else.

He had thoughts going in the same direction. It was all too deliberate and controlled, the monoliths, the monsters… The Ancients, you mentioned them before?

It is just a term we used for the creators of the Astral Plane. We know nothing about them and nobody has ever seen one, or even found proof for the direct working of one. I personally believe they perished a long time ago, but their creation outlasted them. Torturing us for all eternity until we find a way to break it.

That was dark, and coming from Xeen meant a lot of thought must have gone into it.

Marcus harvested long fur from the monsters and made a makeshift cloak out of it. It was bad, ugly and kept him somewhat warm. What controls all of this? A machine? Marcus asked after some time.

You mean an artificial intelligence? Most likely, it is for sure not an organic being. The Astral Plane is gigantic, and the amount of worlds connected by the portal network stretches at least over several galaxies. The intelligence that is regulating all of this is far beyond our comprehension.

Marcus felt a bit bad, because he had suspected Xeen might not know what an AI is, or even a computer.

I certainty know more about technology and the universe than a little boy from an underdeveloped planet. Was Xeen's snide answer.

Now Marcus felt even worse, because he realized Xeen came from a vastly more advanced society than he did.

But it is strange. Given what you told me about your people the Arbiters should not have visited you yet. I have witnessed many species being drawn into the horrors of this universe and they all were further developed than you humans. You have not even established a singular colony on a different planet.

This conversation got worse and worse for Marcus. Humanity was primitive in the scope of the universe, even the ginghi had hinted at that. And the ginghi suffered from restriction based on their small numbers.

Ginghi? Is that the species of Azaa? Xeen asked and Marcus thought about various facts concerning the ginghi. A long silence followed. I would like to meet these ginghi people.

You will, if I make it back. They stopped talking after this and Marcus drifted off into sleep.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

It took Marcus another three days to reach the portal but the journey was not too bad. Marcus found fresh water and enough monster meat to keep him going. More than that, his body seemed to endure the micro organism of the planet rather well.

I believe in time you will develop some level of resistance, especially with your advanced vitality. Eventually when your vitality reaches several hundreds many common problems will vanish for you. It is the same with all other attributes. With enough mental improvements your mind will be crystal clear, including your memory. My transition to the Astral Plane has not diminished my mental abilities, as it seems.

Standing in front of the next portal, Marcus thought, should I go through?

A moment please, I would like to inspect the portal for a bit. Being in the Astral Plane has given me a new perspective on things.

Marcus waited and looked at the landscape beyond the portal, a forest with tall trees covered in colorful leaves. Water should not be a problem.

Ready.

The next planet was a nice and warm, but over six hundred kilometers to the next portal was a bit of a drag. Xeen did not talk much, over the week it took Marcus to get there. He said he was working on something.

I like to solve problems, before they become critical. Was all he said and Marcus did not mind the silence. Actually, Marcus was a bit worried how being back home would feel like. People around him all the time, talking and listening. It would be a tough change, no question.

The third planet was a massive downgrade to the last. The area around the portal looked like a dystopian nightmare made out of black and green glass. Marcus debated with Xeen if they should not try for a different portal but in the end they decided to go with this horrible planet. The reason was simple, the next portal was only fifty kilometers away. Easy enough, Marcus thought at the time. Very wrong.

Go left! Follow the path and try to stay under those large glass pillars! Xeen advised while Marcus sprinted through the lifeless glass desert. The giant winged thing behind him crushed through another pile of glass, and splinters the size of Marcus' arm shot through the air and cut him all over. He cursed and followed the advice of Xeen using the terrain to slow the massive beast down.

He had not even seen the monster coming from the sky, only Xeen's warning had saved his life. For five minutes now, he was running away, but the monster was not giving up. Marcus charged down a tight corridor between large crystals and the snapping jaws of the monster was right behind him.

A bit further, then turn around and fight the monster.

WHAT?!

You can do it, you are strong enough and it can not properly move in this area. Marcus clenched his teeth and after another ten meters he turned around confronted the monster.

It was some kind of wyvern, at least ten meter long and with some sort of bone exoskeleton covering its head and parts of its lean body. It had various bleeding cuts from crushing through the glass obstacles, and as Xeen had pointed out, it could barely move in this tight corridor. Marcus pushed forward and welcomed the massive maw of the wyvern with a hook and follow up straight strike. The unexpected resistance made the monster hesitated just long enough for Marcus to get his hits in and the head of the beast slammed against a nearby crystal pillar. He saw his chance and used Burst to jump on the long neck of the bone wyvern, pressed his hand against the spine and unloaded Jack Hammer. Over sixty vitality fueled his consecutive attack, shattering the spine and tearing the neck apart in seconds. The large monster body shook under the attack and blood covered the whole area, including Marcus. It was dead and Marcus slowly calmed down.

You are stronger than you think. With a bit of planning a second stage monster like this is very well doable for you. Especially with your reconstruction ability. You should be more confident Marcus. Xeen said and Marcus had to admit he was right. Compared to his past self a few years ago he had grown a lot stronger.

Thank you for the tactical advice, I was so consumed with running away…

Don't mention it. But we should leave as fast as possible. This world is far more dangerous than the last one, and I suspect third and even fourth stage monsters might lurk here. And no amount of strategy will save you against one of those. Marcus agreed and left the corpse untouched. The harsh surface cut into his bare feet, even with his high vitality, but Marcus moved as fast as he could. When he reached the next portal he went through without hesitation. Something gigantic was moving through the glass field only a few kilometers away from the portal, and he had no wish to meet it in person.

The new world was...water. Marcus fell into water and started to swim to stay on the surface. "GREAT" He shouted out of frustration. He looked around and he could see some land in the distance. For several hours Marcus swam towards the coast, the physical strain was nothing to his vitality. But the constant fear some oversize monster whale might come from the depth and swallow him whole made the whole trip nerve wracking. When he finally stepped on land, Marcus felt a strong sense of relief. As it turned out he was on an island chain and the next portal was over 1000 kilometer away. In the weeks it took to get there Xeen finally revealed what he was working on.

As Marcus was resting under a large tree, Xeen explained it to Marcus.

One moment, if everything works out, you should see something. Xeen said and suddenly a bright green light appeared in Marcus' field of view. He exclaimed and moved his hand through it, it was not real.

It is far too large, let me adjust that. Seconds later the light shrunk to the size of a fingernail. Marcus turned his head and the light stayed in his field of view.

Okay, but what is this good for, Marcus thought.

I have been expanding my understanding of my current situation and what I can do. With a lot of effort I was able to devise a solution to our fundamental privacy problem, I hope. Marcus was instantly very interested. For our future cohabitation we both need a way to ensure privacy and I constructed a set of modifications to our link that prevents signals to cross. That was far harder than making some light appear in your mind, I can tell you that. But once more, my brilliant mind conquered a problem, and if you now concentrate on the light it should turn red and our connection is muted. Do the same again and it turns green. With this you can ensure your privacy, if you need it. I will also be able to relax. Always checking your thoughts, in case you call for me, is tiresome. Marcus listened to the voice in his head and nearly cried out of happiness.

Can I try?

Please do. Marcus concentrated on the green light and after five seconds it turned red.

Xeen?...Xeen?………..Xeen?………………………...Marcus closed his eyes and the subconscious stress caused by the constant monitoring, slowly fell away. He slept like a baby and for a whole day he stayed in mute mode. When Marcus turned the light green again, Xeen joyfully welcomed him back. They both felt a lot better.

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