Oath of the Survivor

Kyle was surprised by the potent energy that slammed into him, and his mind once again found itself in that strange space. This time, though, Kyle wasn’t caught up in the storm. He was the storm.

His perspective was active, the scenery around him blurring as he moved. He hunted. He killed. He consumed. The prey was small at first, weak. As time passed, however, that began to change. His hunger was no longer satisfied with simple meals, he hungered for challenge. His prey grew in power, and so did he along with it. Thousands upon thousands fell before him, his maw the last thing any of them would ever see. Until he saw a familiar sight – a small black-clad figure giving off an unmistakable aura.

Kyle replayed the battle with the Endless from its perspective, feeling the hopelessness as the creature realized it was no longer a predator to be feared, but an adversary to be fought. He felt its death, and the surreal sensation of its body not being willing to give up, still fighting purely on instinct. He felt it’s rage, even in death, at being defeated. And Kyle felt it.

The presence washed over him, regarding him. AMUSING, LITTLE LARVA. I EXPECTED YOU WOULD BE THE FIRST TO BE CONSUMED ON THIS PATH, YET HERE YOU ARE.

While the rational part of Kyle still understood it was unwise to antagonize this creature, his curiosity wouldn’t allow him to stay silent.

“Why did you attack my planet? What do you have to gain from doing this?”

Immediately, a force clamped down on his mind. An immense pressure weighed down on him, and Kyle fought to stay conscious.

IF I HAD CHOSEN TO ATTACK YOUR WORLD, IT WOULD BE NOTHING MORE THAN DUST IN THE VOID.

WERE MY BRETHEREN AND I PERMITTED, WE WOULD HAVE RIGHTED THESE WRONGS ERAS AGO. YET THE WILL OF THE ADMINISTRATOR REMAINS. AND SO WE, TOO REMAIN.

With that, the presence began to fade away, leaving a lingering sense of anger and… sadness?

Kyle felt more confused than ever. There was no reason for a creature this powerful to lie to him, yet there was no denying its relation to the damage to his world.

His mind remained in the space a while longer, and soon his thoughts turned back to the Endless. Kyle knew which off his attributes would be enhanced this time, and he took the time to reflect on the incredible Vitality the centipede displayed. It was the most physically impressive opponent Kyle had ever seen, and he had to admit that if it was just him against the creature he likely would have lost.

His eyes opened, and he found himself staring up at a metal ceiling with soft white lights.

“He’s up!”

Before he could even sit up, Skippy’s face appeared directly over his own.

“That was a great fight! I got a new skill, I want to use it on your shield. Can I?”

Gently moving the Skrell aside as he sat up, Kyle looked around. They were in a small room in the shuttle, with Duroc and the C.H.A.D.Dpack each occupying a different chair.

The large pig-like alien squealed.

“You’re not fighting on the ship, Skippy. We’re already in enough trouble as it is.”

Turning his beady eyes on Kyle, he continued.

“So… you’ve been asked to join us when we get back to the flagship. I don’t know if you’ll be in trouble too, but there’s somebody who wants to meet you.”

“I’ve met all the D Grades who came along, who else could want to meet me?” Kyle posed it as a question, even if he had a suspicion.

Duroc looked around conspiratorially, checking for bystanders. Satisfied that nobody was within earshot, he leaned in.

“Skippy and I are actually protecting a really important person. The others along with him don’t like the idea of him meeting you, but it’s not their call.”

Kyle was shocked. Truly. Servants moving a nice wooden table around, the gaggle of strangely uniformed people, none of it pointed to this revelation. Fortunately, Kyle handled the “surprise” in stride.

“This is a lot to take in, Duroc.”

The large piggish alien nodded solemnly while Skippy shook his head, an annoyed look on his face.
“Duroc, you weren’t supposed to tell him. When we get back we’ll go to the meeting, then we’re sparring. Again.”

Kyle rolled his shoulders and neck.

“What if I have injuries from that last energy attack the centipede used?”

“Your drone said not to worry and that you’ll be fine. You look fine. I trust it.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow at the C.H.A.D.D.pack before looking back to Skippy.

“I suppose that settles it then. Would you both mind excusing me? I could use some quiet to sort a few things out on my end as well.”

The two aliens nodded, leaving the room. With that, Kyle took a deep breath. He knew that he’d gained a lot after the encounter with the Endless, which he estimated to be at least in the middle of D Grade. The experience against the mosquito, treating the survivors, and counteracting the toxin had all been worthwhile as well. Settling down, he entered meditation.

KYLE MAYHEW. ARTHRO-HUMAN CHIMERA (PARASITE), SURVIVALIST. LEVEL 17 (D)

ADAPTIVE ANATOMY – 4/? – ENHANCED CARAPACE, AURIC PERCEPTION, EXOSKELETAL STRENGTH, CEASELESS VITALITY

VITALITY: 437

ENDURANCE: 488

STRENGTH: 165

DEXTERITY: 314

WILLPOWER: 543

INTELLIGENCE: 543

PERCEPTION: 497

FREE ATTRIBUTES: 198

11 levels… Kyle really was shocked this time. The progress was astounding, well beyond his expectations. He looked at his Adaptive Anatomy, and focused first on the Ceaseless Vitality. He didn’t get any specific impressions from it, and mentally noted he’d need C.H.A.D.D. to run a full scan soon. They just didn’t get much time when they could speak openly anymore, and he didn’t want to draw too much attention.

Looking at his attributes, the growth was massive. However, in the context of the things he accomplished, it was a little more within expectation. The idea of infusing intent into his mana as it formed skills was still so new, and it was a step with virtually endless applications.

The flexibility of his mana pathways offered by RESONANCE helped to make it possible, adapting as he manipulated the mana. That brought him to his next crossroads: his free attributes.

Nearly two hundred free attribute points were waiting for him, and with only three levels before he could upgrade another of his E Grade skills, he wanted to put these to work as efficiently as he could. While he had several options left to choose, Kyle had already made up his mind that RESONANCE was going to be the next skill he’d need to upgrade. It had simply proven too valuable and too versatile not to.

Depending on the different types of upgrades available, a case could be made to continue to specialize in Willpower, Intelligence, or Perception. Without knowing, he was left with a gamble. He could invest and then pick whatever felt fit best, he could save his points, or he could split them. For some reason, the choice felt natural. He split them between the three, feeling a gentle surge of power. There was still a long way to go in D Grade, and as his repertoire grew he knew he’d need to continue aligning his abilities with his specialty.

Satisfied with his decision, he stood up. There were some major issues ahead that he could see – specifically owing to his lacking Strength and Dexterity. While he was physically more than enough to handle most E Grade threats, his relative weakness was clear when confronted with the Endless. His combat training alongside his inflated attributes had allowed him to survive this long, but without some serious restructuring it wouldn’t carry him much farther.

Before he could contemplate his next steps much further, an announcement rang out through the shuttle. With a sigh, Kyle slung the C.H.A.D.D.pack over his shoulder. They’d made it to the flagship, and his presence was requested.

~~~

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