I woke up sometime later and something was wrong. I bolted up right and circulated my energy. "Xerxes, is everything alright?" I looked at the small qilin who was staring off into the forest. "Xerxes!"

  "I don't know. Something weird."

  Well that was fucking ominous. I stood up and opened the Eye of Heaven. It took me a second to process what the problem was. There was no energy. It was just like Earth before the System arrived. I tried to pull in energy with my cultivation manual but it was like turning a water will without water. I expanded my Tao field until it covered both of us and stepped out.

  I shivered as the air brushed across my skin. It was empty. I hadn't realized just how used to spiritual energy I had become but this felt horrible. It wasn't quite as bad as not having air obviously but this was wrong. It felt like hundreds of crawling things were going across my skin. Or I guess more like a drug withdrawal.

  I was about to head back into the hollow when I caught sight of something. It was a humanoid figure about two hundred feet away. I couldn't see them clearly with either my normal sight or the Eye of Heaven which made me even more anxious. They looked almost like a living shadow with pure white eyes. I took a step toward the figure only for four more sets of eyes to appear just behind it.

  Every horror movie instinct I had told me to just turn around and walk away. Only this wasn't a movie, it was very real and since this was a trial it likely had something to do with the forest. "Do you sense anything from them?"

  "No. very weird people."

  The slight tremor in his mental voice told me all I needed to know. Whatever the fuck this thing was it wasn't to be played with. Before I could decide what to do more eyes appeared and then the shadows smiled. Each and everyone at the same damn time.

  Fuck that. I expanded my Tao field to its maximum but either the shadows didn't care or they enjoyed it. Each and everyone started laughing. The sound grated on my soul. Like dozens of claws scratching across dozens of metallic chalkboards. Intellect Fortress activated which confirmed that this wasn't just for show. These things were actually attacking us.

  I braced myself for a fight but none of the creepy things moved. I checked in with Xerxes who wasn't faring as well as I was but he wasn't in danger. I was about to activate **Apportation** to get us out of here when an idea came to me. The more I thought about it the more the idea felt pretty good. I took a seat just outside the hollow and gestured for Xerxes to join me.

  "Master? What are you doing?"

  "Its fine. Sit in my lap I have an idea and it might not be fun." The fit was a bit uncomfortable but when he was in position I pushed the Tao of Adamance into him. I felt him relax as the pain from the creatures attacked ended.

  "I am going to use it to improve my mental defense spell. Can you keep an eye out? Just in case something else tries to attack us?"

  I ignored his protests and closed my eyes. It took me nearly a minute lower my mental defenses just enough for the pain to increase. It was a bit like goldilocks. I had to find the right amount of agony that it would help me while not actually killing me. Intellect Fortress slowly absorbed more and more of my energy. I slipped into a meditative trance where I was half awake and half not. The pain became a constant presence both a familiar ally and a the worst kind of enemy.

  By the time I opened my eyes I wasn't sure if I was relieved or disappointed. The hesitation lasted until I opened my spell screen. It worked! Intellect Fortress had leveled up. From what I could tell advanced proficiency didn't provide much in terms of new toys. It just made the defense it provided even better. When you added it to what my Wisdom provided my mental defenses were pretty busted.

  Which only underscored the need to get something better for my physical defenses. I tried to get to my feet only to stumble and nearly fall. My knees felt like they were made out of paper.

  "Stupid master" Xerxes said.

  "Well good morning to you too buddy. I hope my cultivation didn't hurt you too much?"

  "Of course not. The evil creatures gave up almost an hour ago but you didn't stop."

  I nodded and took a deep breath. I didn't need the Eye of Heaven to tell me that the energy returned. Which only made me more confused. Did the shadows drain the energy or did the energy leave as a way to weaken us before they showed up? I looked up at the tree canopy and chuckled. The System was a son of a bitch.

  "Did you sense anyone nearby?"

  "No, no monsters no humans nothing."

  I scanned the forest with my eye but there was no one within range. Even with energy pushed into it. I shrugged and started to stretch. "Alright so they way I see it we are dealing with one of two possible scenarios. Either the shadows are just monsters that appear in this area of the forest or they appear at night. Or whatever period of day that was. Are you able to keep track of time?"

  "No"

  I shook my head and decided to leave that alone for now. Part of me wanted to rush off in search of the group from before but I am not sure we would win. I took their crystal ball thing so we should be able to kill them. Assuming we could use it but did I want that? Intellectually the thought was stupid but it felt like cheating. The weapon was theirs and if I used it to beat them then it was like I hadn't won. Of course I did steal it so...

  I pushed the thought to the back of my head and gestured for Xerxes to follow. I wasn't interested in just randomly activating the thing if I didn't need to. The last thing I needed was to accidentally blow myself up. "Alright, lets see what we can get ourselves into today."

  Xerxes and I started off walking but before long we were jogging. The forest turned into a blur as we sped through the it. I wasn't sure how long we ran before we forced to stop. The section of forest we stopped in seemed normal. Which only made the scene in front of us even more odd. There were two people standing in the center staring down at a red and white lotus flower. The two people were some kind of beastmen. Or some sort of werebear. Each was well over seven feet tall and had massive hammers on their backs.

  They wore leather armor that looked simple for lack of a better word. It wasn't until I passed the **Eye of Heaven** over them that I realized what was wrong. They were trapped in some sort of array. Spiritual energy was drawn in from the forest and into a pattern drawn under the grass. If I hadn't had the eye it would have been impossible to see. Even with it I couldn't tell what the array did.

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  Based on the way their energy moved it was like they were asleep but their eyes seemed aware. "What should we do? I might be able to break the array but there is no way of knowing what the consequences would be."

  "Why help? They got stuck."

  I nodded at the albeit simple point of view but it wasn't that simple. I kind of wanted to see if I could do it. This would be my first test with a genuine array. Or rather the first attempt at getting rid of one. The question was how should I begin? There was no central node for the energy gathering. Which meant the obvious part was out. I would also need to worry about what happened when I acted. If I break it wrong the energy would rush out to fill the empty space. I couldn't properly gauge its strength so it was possible I'd blow us all up.

  I stared at the array for what felt like an hour before I had a plan. I couldn't be sure but it looked like either the forest's growth or time had caused some parts to be weaker than the others. If I could chisel away at those spots I should be able to slowly release the energy. If the worst happened I might able to form the connection with my own mental energy. It wasn't a perfect plan but since when were there ever perfect plans? I pulled out my stylus and got to work.

  The work was painstaking and it felt like something was breathing down my neck. Every step made me feel like a bomb disposal expert where as every time the energy got away from me I thought I would die. I circulated the Taos of Lucidity and Adamance to my mind clear. It was impossible to know just how long I sat there before the final thread was undone. The flow of energy attempted to rebound into the array but I took control of it and directed it into my dantian until it petered out.

  My sense of accomplishment faded when a pair of gruff voice filled the air. Both of the bear people spoke in a way that reminded me of a coach or a drill instructor.

  "Where are we? What in the great beyond happened." The first one asked while he rubbed his head.

  "You ask me but how would I have the answer?" The second responded.

  I got to my feet and smiled as pleasantly as I could. "Greetings gentlemen?" Both of them jumped slightly and reached for their hammers. "Its alright. We have no problems. I managed to get you out of the array and I would prefer not to have to fight you. It would kind of ruin the whole saving you decision."

  "Just who are you? Some kind of human? Are you one of the princes?" The first one asked. His massive paw wrapped around the handle of his hammer but neither of them drew.

  "I don't know who the 'princes' are." I paused and then shook my head. "Unless you mean a group of people dressed in some robes where one uses lightning. I tried to kill those people."

  "You fought the third prince?" The second bear asked. His eye widened into saucers.

  I prepared myself for a battle but there was no anger in his eyes. If anything they looked look like they met some kind of celebrity.

  "Uh honorable warrior. Would you mind explaining your conflict with the third prince?" The sudden change in tone was jarring enough to stop my train of thought. That wasn't a problem for Xerxes who strutted in between us. The bond between us lit up with enough pride to make an angel jealous.

  "I can't say I have anything against the person. He and four others attacked us. We fought until a massive creature interrupted. My partner here" I gestured to Xerxes. "Removed an arm and some fingers from one of the guards. I am pretty sure the prince isn't in the best of shape." When I saw the surprise and disbelief on their faces I decided to recount the battle from start to finish.

  Although I chose to leave a few things out. Including the the sphere that I stole. I didn't want to risk getting betrayed for whatever it was. When I finished they both looked much more impressed. The larger of the two let out a bellowing laugh. It was so loud that it hurt my ears.

  "I only wish the great mother had seen it fit to let me see the look on that smug bastard's face."

  "Ah right by the way do you mind telling me your name?"

  "I am Ursine of the Iron tooth Tribe and this is Tanuk." The largest one replied and pointed to himself then the other one.

  "Right nice to meet you. My name is Amari and this here is Xerxes."

  "How did you get your hands on Qilin? Are you sure you aren't a member of the Taesha Kingdom?"

  I shrugged. "No clue who or where that is. All I know is my planet recently got the System. Not even a year."

  When I said that they both looked like they were about to leap out of their fur. They then both unleashed a roar that turned into a laugh. "By the Great Mother you fought a prince and his entourage to a stand still? Such a terrifying junior. What do you say that we stick together? My brother and I intend to use the trial to get strong enough to defend our tribe."

  "From that Kingdom? No offense but if you two are the strongest you got I don't think you will be able to fight off a whole kingdom. Especially if the princes are organized by power and not age."

  "Don't we know it but no our goal is to get a place in the imperial army. If we rank high enough our tribe will get to avoid conscription." Tanuk replied and nodded to his brother.

  "Oh then are you sure you want to travel? I mean I have no problem I doubt the guy is going to be very happy with me. Especially after Xerxes bit of a guy's arm off."

  "Aye that is true but together it might be easier for us to get somethings done. You saved us from the array and I imagine you could use some help with the nastier beasts."

  I considered it for a moment but decided against it. "No thanks. I appreciate the offer but this is my first time off world and I would like to explore a bit. I also don't want to get drawn into a world conflict. Especially when I don't understand what's happening."

  That made the mood grow a bit heavier and I was worried that things would fall apart. Thankfully we got through it. I asked a few more questions about their home and learned that it was a planet full of beast people. Up until it was purchased through the System. King Taesha purchased it and half his kingdom that way. Which was apparently allowed through the System. They weren't sure why so I couldn't figure out how to protect earth.

  The System's defense would defend us for now but nothing was absolute. We sat and talked for a while before it was time to go. Ultimately this wasn't a social call. We were all in competition for the same prize. I considered asking about their token but I decided against it. I was pretty sure me and Xerxes could take them out but why? I already had two token including a spare so there was no need. I also wasn't in a hurry to reach the middle. This was a great chance for me to get stronger.

  "Alright, we are going to leave you both. I wish you the best of luck in your goal. I hope if we meet again that we are able to part on good terms." I decided not to let them watch us leave. Just in case they told some of the princes about it. **Apportation** opened and Xerxes stepped through.

  "Good luck. I hope you manage to gather your tokens." Ursine waved as the portal shut. A few seconds later we were five miles away.

  "Meat."

  I shook my head at Xerxes. "Well at least someone is entertained. Come on lets see if we can find something fun. Not taking whatever flower that was kind of sucked." We turned and took off deeper into the forest. The trees slowly began to shift ones that looked more like palm trees. Only their canopies were a dark sanguine red. Something that made me think the forest was hungry for lack of a better word. We ran for what felt like an hour before we noticed the first problem.

  The issue came when I stepped through a bunch bramble-like bushes and cut myself. The blood dripped onto the ground and was immediately drained. "Who the fuck made vampire plants?"

  I was going to ignore when the Eye of Heaven showed me something that made my blood run cold. A black energy flowed into the cut from the trees. I watched this foreign energy travel into my body and then into my dantian with a mixture of curiosity and horror. When it entered my dantian nothing happened. It took me several seconds to realize what it was doing to me. It was slowing my energy down. I popped a healing pill to deal with the small cut and stop the energy.

  When I circulated the Ethereal Codex. My energy was slightly slower to respond. It wasn't a big deal right now but if it happened over a long period? Or if I got into a battle and was covered? I shuddered at the thought and checked with Xerxes. Thankfully whatever method he used made it the foreign energy weaker. "Alright so from now on we need to avoid getting cut. Or bleeding at all I suppose." Once again I expanded my Tao field and got ready to leave. The multiverse was truly a fucked up place to be.