The closer Henry got to the surface, the deeper his exhaustion was making itself known. He was still swimming leisurely and of course, by now, most of the A-rank's essence had been flushed out of his system. But damn was he just… tired. And no matter how much his abilities had just basically jumped in potency thanks to the Aspect levels he'd just gotten, he was just looking forward to finding a pool or bed and just conking out.

Well. In a figurative way. Nowadays, his mind just didn't sleep anymore. Not really. Even if he was asleep, it was almost as if he was sleeping with his eyes open. As if he was just zoned out.

Turning back his attention to the last wisps of healing coursing through him, he could sense how Life Surge had become more potent, and he knew that by now, both his body and soul were fully healed already, as if he'd just stepped out of the evolution process. But it seemed that even though Renewal of the Trickster was already halfway to A-rank, his healing Skills still couldn't outright delete fatigue. Which was, to be frank, understandable considering the last twenty-four hours.

I basically teleported an A-rank across the ocean then brought her back, and then followed it up with an A-rank fight. Not to mention everything else I've been doing with the Octominds and the Shadows. Being only a little sleepy is almost a miracle.

Henry's head finally cracked the surface, and he took a deep slow inhale as he looked up at the sky as his Octominds' projection floated above him. It was late afternoon, and above, he could make out people going about their business in Thalis in the distance. Turning his attention to the projections, Henry began shifting his body as he lifted himself out of the water with Telekinesis.

"[You guys are tuckered out too, huh?]"

One of the projections nodded, while the others just floated about, limbs hanging limply. He wondered if they were really tired or if they were just reflecting his own mood to him.

"Well. One last thing I want to test before we get some rest," he spoke as his bare foot landed on the dock.

***

"No way…! Where'd you find it?" whispered Velistraine as she leaned down and stared at the teal-colored orb.

After making the climb up to his guest home, Henry just put the orb down and sent his Octominds to go fetch the others. Velistraine had shown up first, and was quickly followed by Maurice and Arisia. As for Zerathstra, Henry hadn't been able to find him, but not even a couple of minutes later he showed up and seeing the ruffled fur, it frankly looked like he'd been asleep.

"The blue lobster near the ruins. It was in its stash. Along with some shiny rocks empty shells. I picked it up while I sparred with it."

Velistraine looked away from the orb, eyes shining. "Oh? Do tell? Did you win? Was it strong?"

"It was fast. And I'd call it a draw…"

"So it's still alive?" Zerathstra asked, and as Henry glanced up at the ape, it almost looked like he was relieved. Velistraine gave the ape a sidelong glance while Henry answered.

"Yeah… I wasn't sure if I'd even be able to stand to it at first, but after we fought for a bit, I started getting the upper hand and I just… couldn't kill it. I mean I went out of my way to pick a fight with it when it was in its own home. Plus I swiped this from it," he said, tapping the orb. "Did you know it, Zerathstra?"

The ape smiled. "Yeah. It's a troublemaker that just looks for good fights. It's not as malicious as some other A-ranks, and it mostly keeps to itself. If you want A-ranks worthy hunting, you'll find plenty others that are better to cull. And it's still young. It only reached A-rank in the last couple of years, I think, so I'm glad you left it be."

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"So," said Henry as he popped the orb he had in storage and settled it next to the teal one before he looked up at Velistraine and Zerathstra. "You two wanna try and see if anything changes with an extra orb?"

The other orbs were quickly produced, and one by one, they were placed next to the one Henry recovered until it was the last one's turn. The one he'd first recovered in the Kraken's den. And as he slowly lowered with Telekinesis, he sensed something pulse out of the three awaiting orbs, and he froze as he looked up at Zerathstra.

"Wait," said the ape, while Velistraine raised an arm to Arisia and Maurice to take a few steps back as she did the same and a moment later, the air shimmered around Zerathstra and Henry, as if the ape had just enclosed them in a barely perceptible sphere.

"We don't know what's gonna happen. Just a precaution," said the ape.

Henry nodded, and just to be safe as well, he gave Trickster's Fortitude an extra push of mana just in case, though he didn't think this was some sort of elaborate trap. Yeah, the thought of some magical effect taking place was slightly worried, but what would be the point of killing whomever it was that collected the orbs? After all, the System had said that they were on the right path with the orbs.

They're a key. Not a trap, he thought, and then he finally put the orb down, and when the four metallic relics snapped together, Henry's breath caught.

A small breeze picked up as the orbs detached and floated off of the ground, slowly orbiting around the brightening mote of golden light. The magic swelled, and Henry found himself taking a step back as he watched as sweat beaded down his back. The magic in itself didn't feel offensive, but the sheer intensity of it was making his throat dry. He had never sensed this much magic in his life. Not even when Velistraine and Zerathstra had been fighting that giant bird.

Zerathstra was stepping away as well, alarm on his face as more magic poured out of him, aiming to reinforce the barrier he'd created. Beyond him, Velistraine had her hand on the shield and was pouring her own concepts within, thickening the barrier and giving it an almost pinkish hue.

Looking back at the orbiting objects, Henry was reminded of that first talk he'd had with Zerathstra. About how the Aspect they used were only akin to a candle or a torch when contrasted to the real conceptual forces out there.

This would be the first time Henry had experienced the levels of forces that came after A-rank. He felt… small. And it made his heart beat faster as a smile stretched across his lips.

Then, not even fifteen seconds after the whole process had started, there was a little flash of light, and a ring appeared within the center of the coalescing light. Then the orbs floated back down to the wooden ground, while the ring stayed in the air as the light disappeared, floating in place.

Henry took a step forward and realized his hearts were hammering. Everyone else was approaching and even Zerathstra was titling his head as he eyed the ring, though he didn't drop the barrier.

"Arisia? Can you see anything?" he called out

Henry looked out and watched as the pale-faced woman adjusted her glasses, blinking as she collected herself before her eyes flashed. "… no. I see nothing. I can't tell what it does."

It was a simple, engraved ring that looked as if it was made of raw iron. Of course, there was not a single trace of rust on its surface, while the mysterious symbols on its side glowed with pale white light that slowly faded as time went by, until it was just a bare ring floating in front of them.

Henry took a deep breath, and reached forward.

"Careful," called out the ape, and Henry nodded. Then he made contact with the cold metal.

Henry expected pain. Or a vision. But nothing happened. Gingerly, he brought the ring closer, turning it in his hand, then looked down at the orbs and when nothing happened, he looked up at the others and shrugged.

Tension leaked out of the ape and the captain's shoulders as they took their hands off the barrier. But so much power had been poured into the construct that even when Zerathstra tried to push through, it refused to budge. With a sigh, he teleported out, and Henry followed.

"Well. That was exciting," said Velistraine with a grin as she peered down at the ring. "What do you guys think it does?"

Henry eyed the ring, thoughts whirling, then looked back at the orbs. "Probably still a key."

Without a word, he cast Pathfinding on the ring, demanding it showed him where the rest of the orbs were, but when he sensed the magic whisk away his spell and channeled it in the ring, he knew he hadn't even needed to ask.

The ring was programmed for it already.

His sight lit up with threads of golden light. Four went down to the four orbs below, while three spread out.

Henry looked up at the others and grinned. "It's the key."

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