II-109Second Try

The best Skills aren’t the ones that deliver the most damage, but the kind you don’t see coming. Or are just plain weird.

Everyone in the Fathoms has some kind of beam or blast they can channel. It’s practically the bluntest thing you can do with your Essence and Concepts. What not everyone can do is achieving something relating to teleportation or alternating geometry. Or time. Or something like that.

So. For all of you new Trespassers, here’s a piece of advice. Get weird. Get strange. Get creative.

Someone might be better at fighting compared to you. Faster. Stronger. All that stuff. But if they can’t anticipate your next Skill—then who does the edge truly belong to?

-The Trespassers’ Compendium

II-109
Second Try

A blinding pulse of fire washed out from Agnesia. The Tower of Possibility was drowned in light, consumed by the expansion of a Concept Core.

It took Wei well over five hundred Concept Shards for Agnesia to advance two levels for her Concept Core of Destruction. Even the process of feeding her this power was more difficult than doing itself. That said, he couldn’t say the process wasn’t worth it, for as she advanced twice, he felt her power advance and expand, as her shadow extended from where it was cast, rising to become a solid object in of itself. At present, it resembled a draconic silhouette now perpetually looming over Agnesia, and she manipulated its movements with casual gestures, marveling at her Skill advancement.

Aspect Shards: [640]

Concept Shards: [160]

“Ignium,” Agnesia breathed. The flames radiating from her person fused with the dragon as well, connecting her with her avatar on a fundamental level. “My Core is at Moderate now… and my Draconic Avatar Skill advanced twice. It’s not just you… it transforms for me as well.”

Gathered to observe the girl’s advancement were Vendrian, Ellena, Bishop, William, Wei, and Rafael. Roggi and the other Oathbearers were indisposed—focusing on expanding the Grinding Camps into a proper facility with movable belts, trap doors, and other mechanisms of future convenience.

“So why the hell does it do that?” Bishop muttered. The Trespasser looked as flummoxed as anyone could be. “Doesn’t make any sense. You need to feed a core memories and experiences. Give it proper directions to make a Skill or advance an existing one. It shouldn’t just do this shit automatically.”

“Maybe it’s not automatic,” Wei said. “It might be something already affected by my mind. I am… technically my System, after all. I wouldn’t exist without it. Did Moonscar suffer my fate of Source Corruption when she obtained her Concept Breaker?”

Bishop and William eyed each other. “No,” William said, shaking his head. “She’s a pure Trespasser.” He didn’t finish the other part, and Wei appreciated that. The young master still didn’t know how to feel about his hidden parentage. After all his father had done… But him being partially “real” was likely the only reason he didn’t die all those months ago.

“Enough of this theory,” Wei said. “We can uncover more of these details in the future under proper examination. Right now… Agnesia, what can your Skill do now?”

Instead of replying, the princess was moving her fingers, watching the shadowy dragon mimic her reactions. Slowly, the imitation ended, and while she continued to wave her hand, the dragon stretched out its fiery wings and did a full turn. Afterward, it took a few steps back away from her, and—to Wei’s surprise—even as if the distance between them continued growing, her spirit remained connected to the avatar.

“It used to be something I had to summon by burning Essence,” Agnesia said, swallowing. “Now, it just… just demands a percentage. So long as I have that much, it stays. I can use it.”

“That was your first advancement?” Wei asked.

“Yeah,” she replied. “The part after that is full control. I can use it as a remote spiritual avatar within the confines of my Perception. It uses the same Aspects I have… but since it is solidified, any damage it suffers will carry over to me as well.”

Wei frowned slightly. That was a drawback, but not the worst thing he heard. “I see, then—”

With a gesture, Agnesia pulled the dragon back to her. It rematerialized around her body in a burst of black and gold fire. Afterward, she sent it soaring over the group, had it loop between the bridges leading to different portals in the Tower of Possibility. Every time the dragon came close to smashing into a bridge, Ellena flinched.

“B-be careful,” the queen said, barely able to watch.

But instead of acknowledging her mother’s fears, Agnesia did something Wei didn’t expect. Just as she conjured the dragon back to her, the other way worked just as well. The girl vanished in a stream of black-gold fire, and she emerged a moment later from the cracking core of the dragon—let it carry her like it was a set of wings.

“Huh. Existing in two places at the same time. Neat.” Bishop whistled.

“Effective,” Wei said. “She can perform pinchers on her own, and if she gained more skill…” The young master considered facing Agnesia when she was better trained. Someone who could fight like they were two without spending substantial effort creating Essence-forged constructs would be a treacherous foe indeed.

After a few moments of experimenting, Agnesia announced her return with growing laughter. As she landed next to Wei with a thud, he read some manner of deep satisfaction on her face. “This feels…” she let out a contented sigh. “I feel more complete. But heavy too. It’s hard to describe. It’s like I’m… growing out of proportion with myself. But strong. Much stronger.”

“Your Aspects remain unchanged, yes?” Wei asked.

“Yeah, but the other empowerments I gain when the avatar is active remain constant now. Like I can finally bear its weight.”

“Good. Good.” Wei examined the princess with his Omniscience, noting any oddities or Essence fluctuations. She seemed stable—far more stable in spirit than even he by now. So focused was he that he barely avoided getting part of his ear taken off as she created a long ferromagnetic blade for her avatar, compelling the dragon to take a few swings.

“Feels natural,” she giggled. “Like I’m doing the swinging myself.”

“Yes,” Wei agreed, sneering. “The dragon is, indeed, as clumsy and unaware of its surroundings as you.”

The girl’s beaming expression collapsed into a flat glare. The dragon proceeded to give Wei a two-handed “salute.” The kind she recently learned from the Trespasser soldiers under MacArthur.

“Agnesia!” Ellena chided.

Now both Bishop and William were laughing, it was Wei’s turn to glare. “Is this how you treat your benefactor and patriarch? With crude gestures and insults?”

The dragon dropped the gestures and slinked around Wei, while the girl circled him counterclockwise. “Thank you, your grace,” she said, offering him a strange bow. The dragon did the same, and she devolved into a fit of laughter again. Wei’s faux-severity collapsed and he just blew out a breath.

“I am far too lenient with you,” Wei said. “Any other master would have you punished for this—frankly, I should have you punished for refusing to call me patriarch.”

“Wei. We already went over this once: It sounds strange.”

“It does not.”

“It does!”

“How does patriarch sound odd? There are countless—”

“It’s like I’m bloody calling you daddy,” she said. “I don’t want to call you daddy.”

For a few moments, Wei felt his inner organs bounce up then plop down. Hearing that from her… did things to him that he tried not to focus on. Judging from how her face flushed a bit, and she turned away, it did things to her as well.

“Eh, it ain’t that bad, being called daddy,” Bishop muttered off to the side. “I heard plenty of people call me daddy.”

“Were you their actual father?” Wei asked, absentmindedly. 

“No, but I was holding the whip or the belt in most cases… so close enough.”

The young master was about to nod, then he did a double take. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s uh… something I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

“I—I am an adult! I am grown! What can’t you tell me now?” Wei snapped.

Vendrian and Bishop both snorted, and as two men eyed each other, they exchanged knowing nods.

“I am! I am an adult!” Wei said. “I am the Patriarch—” He bit back his outburst as his Shell informed him he was being mocked. “Outrageous. Never before has someone been so disrespected.”

“Hey, Master Disrespected, am I ready to head into the final trial for my specialization or what?” Agnesia asked.

Wei pressed his lips together and took a silent oath of vengeance against the people who offended him this day. “Yes,” Wei said, measuredly. “I think so. I boosted your Aspects drastically… you have a twice-evolved skill…”

She pulled his gun out of her Inventory. The Pale in the Dark looked small in her hands. That was because she was a bit too tall. “I got your gun. Seriously. I think we’re more than ready. The few test fights I did earlier were a breeze. I even managed to pull the Alchemist in half this time.”

“Because you shot them with the gun first,” Wei recounted through gritted teeth. “My gun. You shot them after fooling them into bowing to you. You abused their honor.”

“I abused their stupidity, more like. Why did they think I wasn’t going to shoot them. Besides, I remembered how they finished me the first time. I’m still sore over that.”

“That is the consequence of losing an honorable—”

“Stop saying honorable. He pulled off my arms and legs and broke my back!”

“What?” Ellena gasped, paling.

“It’s not that bad,” Wei said, trying to placate the queen. “This happened within the trial realm, so her death was impermanent. Only her suffering was true.”

Ellena stared at Wei. And kept staring. And stared until the young master looked away, a cold shiver running down his spine. “And that will not happen this time,” Wei declared. “Because you have the power. You have the speed, the strength, the durability—my gun.”

“The skill,” Agnesia added.

“No,” Wei disagreed. “In fact, that might not exist at all. But the other parts are so potent that even a crippled, blind, vulnerable child should win.”

Now both mother and daughter were glaring at him, and Wei did his best not to wilt.

“And back to having the charm of a sandpaper dildo,” Vendrian murmured.

Bishop barked a laugh. “Sandpaper dildo. Yeah. Yeah, I see it.”

Why are they all attacking me, Wei said, trying to get through this moment. Wasn’t he trying to empower Agnesia? To finally get her a specialization and make her more powerful?

“They are jealous of our potential. Our strength. Our honor.” The Shell sighed. “Envy expresses itself in many forms. This is their failing. Not ours. Forgive them. Bear this with grace and dignity.”

The young master did what he could. It wasn’t his fault that he was so skilled, so capable, so strong of will.

“Yes. In fact, your only failing is that you need more of all those things. Be proud of yourself. Even prouder. Let your pride become a rising mountain that cannot be shaken by even the mightiest wave.”

Wei resolved to do just that.

“You are ready,” Wei said, pushing through the nonsense. “Only one great challenge remains before you. A Legendary foe. An enemy I dared not risk you before. But now… thanks to mostly my efforts and nobility…”

“You’re an arsehole, Wei,” Agnesia spat.

“Agnesia! Stop—stop using such language.” Ellena fumed.

“...you are finally ready to overcome great and terrible threats. That you should have no chance against on your own.”

“That’s right,” Wei’s Shell commended. “Keep your pride hidden. Keep how much they offended you beyond their sight.”

“The strategy remains the same as before—”

“Surprise them, shoot them, burn them to death when there’s an opening,” Agnesia recounted, nodding her head. “Right. So. I’ll—I’ll be going, then.” A slight look of apprehension weighed on her. “To… to fight another dragon-kin. A Solar Leviathan at that.”

Wei nodded. “Remember your lack of training. Use the gun.”

***

Seconds later, everyone was gathered around the base of the Tower again, watching as Agnesia materialized in her final challenge. Wei, Vendrian, and Rafael all shared nervous glances with each other as they recounted how the last attempt ended. Well, it was mostly an ego-contest between Wei and Vendrian by the end, but Agnesia got things done regardless.

It just took a great many tries. Right now, with her mother present, and the foe even greater…

“She just needs to shoot them once,” Rafael said.

“I know. You mentioned that three times already.” Vendrian focused hard on the screen.

“Just once,” Rafael repeated.

“I have faith,” Wei said, taking a measured breath. “In my rifle. She just needs to use it.”

“Yes,” Rafael replied. “Just one shot.”

“Yeah, it’s not hard to—to miss…”

Agnesia began walking along a bridge leading to a large platform. There, at the end of the platform was a cracking cocoon the size of a small mountain. So bright was the cocoon that it resembled a second dawn, and the air itself sizzled with heat. Though Agnesia remained unbothered by the temperature, she still seemed nervous, taking each step tentatively, walking to the platform as if she was approaching her gallows.

“Wei,” Ellena said, placing a hand on Wei’s shoulder. “If my daughter suffers… if I have to watch her get torn limb from limb… I will tell you how disappointed I am in you… In your plans… And your training… Do you understand?”

The young master could only muster the courage to stare at her from the corner of his vision. “She just needs to shoot it. Just once.”

“Just once,” Rafael repeated.

“Really hard to fuck up,” Vendrian agreed.

“You’d be surprised,” William grunted.

“I—I am Princess Agnesia of Dawnrest,” the girl said. She had her dragon avatar hold up its ferromagnetic blade in a show of bravery. “I have c-come to face you, and c-claim my specialization. Come out and f-face me, fiend.”

A for a beat, there was nothing. Nothing but silence. Then, suddenly, a massive arm burst out from the side of the cocoon, its scales the shine of a dying star. Agnesia staggered back, and across from her, eight sets of massive claws pried the cocoon open, revealing a large, sinuous creature looked something between a centipede and a dragon.

“Just… just one bullet. I hope.” Rafael said.

“Yeah. It’s a bit… big…” Vendrian deflated.

“The principles are the same,” Wei declared with all the confidence he didn’t have. “She just needs to shoot it. It’s spirit will crack.”

“I hope so,” Ellena nodded. “It would be very disappointing for me if it didn’t.”

Please, heavens, let the gun work.

“It must,” the Shell agreed. Mostly out of desperation. “Because if it doesn’t, she is not winning. We need months to train her—at least.”

With strong emphasis on “at least.”

Loud, realm-shaking laughter sounded through the screen, and the mandibled head of the solar leviathan loomed over the platform, glaring down at Agnesia. “What is this?” It sniffed. “Ah. A feeble, little mortal. No… not a mortal. Not entirely. A dragon? No. More than that. A scion. Ah. Ignium. The old one has bestowed another with a piece of their soul—”

Agnesia flinched and pulled out her rifle. With a shaking hand and a scream of fraying courage, she shot the leviathan right in the eye. With how big the beast was, Wei couldn’t even see where the bullet hit—if the bullet hit. In the seconds that followed, Agnesia stared up at the monster, her legs shaking, the draconic avatar shaking behind her. The Solar Leviathan, leaning its mass over her platform blinked once, scales sliding over its massive eyes.

And then immediately started screaming. “AHGHHHHHHHHH!”

“AGHHHH!” Agnesia agreed.

“One shot! One shot!” Rafael began cheering. “It worked.”

“PAIN!” The Solar Leviathan moaned. And promptly slammed its head down on the platform. Where Agnesia stood.

Another silence followed. Ellena’s grip on Wei’s shoulder tightened. The young master found a nice part of the ground to stare at. “I… this is a good thing. It reveals gaps in her training. We will focus on… on dodging… dodging massive entities in the future.”

Meanwhile, the Solar Leviathan continued howling misery and pain on the screen. The gun had worked. The only issue was Agnesia letting the creature drop its head on her.

“This shouldn’t be our fault. We would have dodged.”

Yes. Yes. Her—she was taken off guard. It is understandable.

“Yes.”

Yes.

After a few more moments of thrashing, of their spirit shattering, the Solar Leviathan suddenly spasmed, and the toppled over the side.

And in the smashed remains of the platform was a flattened draconic avatar, whimpering in pain—and a coughing girl crawling out from under it.

“Sweet Marx,” Rafael breathed.

“Fuck me,” Vendrian said.

“O-one shot!” Wei threw up his hands. “One! I am the greatest Patriarch in the world!” He laughed. “And I love guns! Guns are the best! Guns for everyone who can’t fight.”

On the screen, a surge of Essence rushed into Agnesia as she wailed in pain, her legs and lower back bent in awkward directions. Ellena just looked on, her eye twitching.

“Guns forever!” Wei cheered, trying to distract her.

“Shit,” Bishop muttered. “Looks like there’s plenty of natural American in you, Wei.”

“I don’t know what that means,” Wei said. “But she did it! One shot!”

“One shot,” Bishop muttered. “Shit. Fucking Kalrus. This is going to cause a shitstorm.”