Path of the Slayer B3 61. Dark Walks & Deep Talks

[Welcome, Pathwalker, to your Veteran Placement Quest! The Realm Verse System will test you to verify if you are worthy to advance!]

[And boom, bam, wham, you pass!]

“System, stop playing with me,” I grunted, shifting my weight slightly, the mud slurping at my boots making squelching sounds.

All around me were the wicked woods of my soul meditation journey. Chilly fingers of mist grasped around me. Skeletal trees, with thrusting branches bare of all leaves, clawed at the air above me and near my head. Hoots, howls, screeches, and other demented bestial sounds resounded far and near. And it smelled like a build up of a million corpses rotting at once.

Visions of all my deaths against my own murderous soul flashed before my eyes. My heart rate picked up. Energetic adrenaline flowed through my body, my muscles tensing, coiling, ready to spring into action. But this time I had a humanoid form instead of the monstrous form I took on when savagely fighting my blob of an inner soul.

I searched left and right for it. I looked all around. But my killer soul was nowhere to be found. Instead, I sensed a presence above me. Something lurked in the dark, cold clouds above. Something big and monstrous.

“System?” I called.

Another notification arrived, a public one.

[Yes, dear, it’s me. I’m closer to you now than usual. I hope you don’t mind that I’m being a bit of a creeper, do you? I got it from my mom.]

That shook me a little. I’d never imagined the System having a mom. That humanized her while also making her strangely distinct from me.

I’d never had a mom. I had Lady Tiffany at the orphanage instead. She wasn’t bad. She did what she could. But she wasn’t a nomad mother.

[Ah, damn, please don’t spiral. With you in your soul like this, certain traumas can take on some truly monstrous forms and be even more unforgiving than your own soul fire.]

I reached for my Warrior Nomad Mentality, and the Great Skill activated. My mind sharpened, and my emotions became more fortified. I focused on the present.

“Were you serious when you said I passed?” I asked.

[Yup! The Veteran Placement Quest is honestly a prerequisite course that only counts against you if you don’t earn your Levels. There’s plenty of rich, snobby brats who’ll have others do the hard work and help them get last hits on things they have no business fighting or trying to Level Up from.]

“So, it’s some sort of stopgap measure. Those who are already worthy have already passed.” I nodded, pleased with that explanation.

[Yup! And those who aren’t worthy, I’ll chew on their souls!]

I frowned at that. “System…”

[I’m not chewing on your juniors, okay! No freaking way! I only pick out souls that deserve to get chewed on a little. Might help them do better in the next life, if I let them have a next life.]

Anything else I had to say became mute. It was hard to believe I’d scolded a God-Queen who could chew on souls and consume them like candy. When I looked up into the dark, cloud sky, her face remained shrouded, but I sensed an incomprehensible creature of cosmic proportions watching me.

That made me think of those small pets a few orphans would have in little boxes. The comparison was slightly unnerving until I reminded myself I was still at the beginning of my journey. 

I had more to go.

I’ll Keep Going.

Looking back down, I found a narrow, muddy trail snaking through the wicked woods. The familiar draw to wander caught me, and I let my feet guide me instead of my thoughts.

I wasn’t wearing my armor here. When I glanced down at my right side, Hellion wasn’t there. There was no prosthetic either, only a nub beneath the elbow. For this once, I went without Hellion and had some alone time with the System.

Along the way, spindly foliage rustled to my right.

Heart rate spiking, I turned to face what I expected to be an actual challenge. Instead, I found a shady figure with dragon horns, dragon wings, and dreadlocks reaching down to her waist.

Doomie kicked through the mud, toes wriggling, as she marched over to me. She reached around and hugged my torso, and without her having to say a word, I sensed she wanted a pat on the head.

I gave her what she wanted, and she nodded enthusiastically.

A notification popped up next to us. [I love her so much. She’s so adorable. Better yet, she went from another scary ex-girlfriend type to a cute and helpful daughter figure in the span of a month.]

“Is that supposed to be a dad joke?” I asked, peeling Doomie off of me. She was holding on with extra enthusiasm.

[You would make a wonderful dad.]

“I doubt that,” I said, leveraging my one hand to break free.

Bracing my legs, I watched Doomie carefully as she flapped her wings aggressively. A dragon tail sprouted from the small of her back and whipped about in a frenzy. The look in her shaded eyes was filled with the dark determination.

She launched at me for a hug tackle, and I smoothly stepped out of the way, kicking up mud. She splashed belly first into a putrid puddle, face sinking into the mess, wings laying flat, all heavy and pathetic from her failure to grab me again.

I could sense the System looking down at me expectantly.

“No,” I grunted.

The pressure of the System dug into my spine between the shoulder blades.

“No,” I repeated.

The pressure intensified.

I turned and walked away. I managed a dozen steps before coming to a stop and looking back. Doomie remained on her belly, face drowning in mud.

I went back and scooped her up, letting her sit in the crook of my left elbow. She fluttered her wings, swung her tail, and swayed about merrily while attached to my side, getting mud all over me.

A world-shaking, soul-vibrating, wordless noise resounded around us. It took me a few seconds to realize that was the System herself. The God-Queen was cooing.

“How can I be a dad when I’ve pushed my juniors to death?” I asked.

[It’s part of the course in this life. Many children of Elder Pathwalkers die from trying to leave the Ranks or from climbing ever higher on their Paths. And how can you not push them? Didn’t you find your favorite among them? Didn’t you hope to find more talent just like Grimmy? Are you the type to give up on others?]

“I wouldn’t want people to give up on me if I were in that position,” I muttered. “Does that mean I should convince them to come along to the Grand Generational Passing?”

[That depends. Do you care about their choice?]

“I do care.”

[Then they shall decide what’s best for them.]

I chuckled at that as I carried Doomie through a misty clearing. The skeletal trees and clawing woods peeled away, but the mist could hide further dangers.

“I wonder if I’m too careless or too kind,” I said.

[You’re you. A beautiful soul, an enthusiastic wanderer, a man striving to reach the summit of his existence, and find meaning throughout.]

“I don’t believe I’ve been delving too deep into the meaning of my actions. It’s all been a series of accomplishing as many objectives as quickly as possible no matter the obstacle. Sometimes, I expect pushback, so I can overcome it once more. It’s a comfortable pattern. It’s what I’m made for.”

[Yet, you’ve learned to cook.]

“That too became a part of my power to push back against the odds.”

[Yes, it became that, but you didn’t set out wanting to make cooking a power, did you?]

“No, I didn’t.”

[And why is that?]

I stopped when the slurping mud reached up to my thighs. Forward progress grew more dangerous. When I looked back, the mist covered the way I’d come. I sensed there was no going back.

When I tried to use Path Energy to stand on top of the mud, the mud only slurped me down further. I paused to think before answering the System’s question.

“I was enjoying food more because of its tastiness. It made me wonder what it would be like to cook it. I thought of even cooking for Melody.”

[Well now, isn’t that another frivolous distraction?]

“Melody Eclipse isn’t a distraction. She’s a hugely powerful force of nature. She rules the biggest faction in the Realm Verse. She’s a monster in politics. She’s not perfect. She makes mistakes. But her mistakes are largely because she’s above most concerns.”

[Yet, you wish to court her? Is it because you want to conquer her?]

The mud had slurped me down to my midsection. Doomie was looking down at it now. Instead of dealing with my precarious position, the System’s inquiry took up more of my attention.

“Partially yes, but mainly no. I want to see if I can get her to understand more. I enjoy the thrill of facing a powerful woman like that and the ultimate test she provides. The danger that surrounds her is undeniable as well. She might even be bad for me. Yet, she draws me. So, I want to go see what will happen.”

[I love how you make it sound so logical when it’s anything but. You’re a catch, Arden, love. You can have your choice of almost any woman, and they’ll kill to have you. Yet, you’re willing to risk life and limb in courting someone as dangerous as the Dragon Princess?]

The mud was up to our shoulders now. Still, the conversation with the System held my attention more. “I know it’s not logical. I don’t think I’m very logical, or I would’ve quit a long time ago. My Epiphany isn’t for a logical man. I’m more of a madman who’s good at deluding myself enough to find success. Just like how I’m certain that sinking into this mud won’t be the end of me.”

[Ha! Fair enough! I’m sure you’ll be alright, too.]

Doomie took action, wriggling from my embrace. She sank into the mud. A rumble passed through the area. Waves appeared suddenly.

Then Dommie broke the surface of the mud, her face as large as my body, her head rising upward beyond before I was suddenly thrust up as well, mud spilling away. The mist parted quickly as Doomie’s giant form stood fifty feet in the air, her wings batting with a silent thunder, her tail cracking quietly.

I sat on the edge of her palm as Doomie continued our trek to nowhere.

“Why do the Slayers exist?” I asked.

[It’s too soon to reveal that. Just like how it’s too soon to show myself.]

I rolled my eyes. “Grand Generational Passing?”

[Yup!]

“Well, I’m ready to see the beautiful monster you are hyped up to be. It’ll help give me perspective on why Paige wants to kiss the ground you walk on.”

[Would illustrations of my feet suffice?]

I snorted. “Don’t be weird.”

[Come on! These grippers can snatch up entire universes! I swear they’re pretty! Or are you holding out for the royal stompers of the Dragon Princess?]

“I’m not a hentai otaku or whatever Merlin and Thumper are about.”

A deep rumble fell upon us, making the dark clouds ripple and the forest sway. Old skeletal trees broke apart into many splinters. Doomie had to brace herself as the rumbling shook her about until it abated.

[Sorry, that was me laughing. I love those two. They’re really your friends.]

“I wonder if they have much of a choice with what I’ve dragged them into.” Their loyalty meant a lot to me. But it was one that was forged out of necessity at its base roots.

As I thought about that, Doomie lowered me back onto a trail and shrank to her usual five-foot-three height. She let out a silent yawn and looked up at me expectantly.

Rolling my eyes, I scooped her up with my left arm. She snuggled in tight and rested her head on my shoulder.

Another deific sound pierced through the dark cloud cover. The barely imperceptible high pitch shrill made me wince.

The clouds circled about violently, and when I looked up, I saw a glimpse of something my mind couldn’t exactly comprehend. My soul world shook even more violently before going still suddenly.

[So, let’s get back on the topic of your friends instead of stealing glances of a peerless beauty like me. They really are your friends. Through thick and thin now. And then there’s your little ‘sister’ and knight, Grimmy, whose loyalty is unquestionable. These three can be your rock through stormy times.]

“Yes, I agree.”

[Then I imagine we both know what you must do to cement how much you cherish them, right?]

I stopped at the bank of an eerie gray lake. A strange hollow sensation filled my chest. “Yes, I do. It’s just … I don’t have the proper cultural knowledge. I didn’t keep it as I should’ve. I gave everything to become an adventurer in the empire.”

[That’s what other nomads are for, sweetie. You’re not alone. You can always call for help.]

I looked away from the lake and up at the dark, twisting clouds. “What are we to you? Why are we treated the way we are, like second-hand citizens or tools?”

[A trade-off. Nomads have more freedom in my Realm Verse. You have your ancestral roots and nomadic powers that are beholden to you while slightly or largely outside of my parameters. These are mainly subtle powers. In fact, those powers have consistently helped plenty of nomads, you especially, even if you’re not aware of their help.]

“That does make sense,” I said. “It must’ve helped me when I landed in that Hell Realm.”

[Yup! They’re advantageous enough that you’re feared, envied, and desired plenty by regular folks, leading to widespread cases of discrimination as you’ve seen. That and there are no nomads who are Primordials, and the Primordials wouldn’t want any of you in a powerful position to challenge them.]

“But this is your Realm Verse,” I challenged.

[Yes, it is. But Primordials have the privilege of challenging my greater parameters even if I can directly crush them in a fight. Because of their position, they forced me to concede in some areas to avoid the worst for your people. You are all, after all, technically Realm Verse Outsiders. Even if only in the spiritual sense.]

“Realm Verse Outsiders?” I questioned, glancing down at Doomie’s lengthy, shady dreadlocks.

[You’ll hear more about that eventually. But that’s the gist of things for nomads, at least from my top-down view. A far too simple explanation, but the best summary I can give without overwhelming you.]

As Doomie continued snoozing on my left shoulder, I suppressed a tremble that wanted to pass through me. I hadn’t expected a frank answer like that.

There were still holes that needed filling, but the large scope provided by the System explained the overreaching problem – the damn Primordials. It also left me with many questions that twisted about in my midsection, as if to corrupt my cultivator core.

“There is much to discuss beyond this simple summary,” I said. “But if we discuss these things now, it might be too much for me.”

[Yeah, I figured. You want to stay focused on what’s achievable and in front of you. I want that for you as well. Take it one step at a time, my dear.]

I murmured, “I’ll Keep Going,” and the power of my Epiphany sent ripples over the gray lake. Once that faded, I let out a sigh before asking, “Is this the end of the placement?”

[It could’ve ended earlier. Or later. But this feels about right. Next up is calibrating you. Once you wake, you just have to pick your sphere type and enhancement for yourself. You can only get one of each. The Personal Parameters are something everyone gets right away, though the Quality of those can range from Common to Rare for a Veteran.]

“What will get me a Rare Quality?” I asked.

Immediately, a flash of the System’s smile, a toothy, impossibly immense thing, appeared in my imagination. Her words seemed more vocal than usual, as if her lips were right next to my ear.

“One way is to be Legendary. The other way is showing how awesome you are and having great promise.” A giggle, both alluring and terrifying, pierced my soul. “Now, let’s get you going. We can always talk more at the big shindig. It’s gonna be a helluva party, and you must be there, my Slayer, so I can be my most beautiful and most nightmarish self.”

[Initiating … Veteran Parameters.]

[Calibrating.]

[Calibration complete. Continue your journey, Pathwalker Veteran Arden the Nomad.]