Despite really, really wanting to go test out Tyrant’s Due, I let Tree rest and sat where the ritual circle had been. I decided to just look over the race skills the old way.

  New Race Skill Options Available: One.

  Total Race Skill Options Available: Five. Previously unchosen skills improved.

  Consuming Strike. Uncommon. Your hunger is so great it can affect your other natural weapons. Absorb a significant amount of health with each strike while this skill is active.

  Gluttonous Leap. Uncommon. You seek to feast even upon those who dwell in the skies, and your body adapts. Your leap height is significantly increased when jumping towards a foe, and your first strike against said airborne foe is increased by 15 percent.

  Corrosive Arc. Uncommon. In your desire to consume, you have learned to send out corrosive arcs of energies to significantly break down barriers and damage natural armor.

  Void Step. Uncommon. You can expend personal energy to consume space to arrive at a point you can see within range. The cost is significantly reduced.

  Vital Transference. Common. Your affinity for hunger flows throughout your core circulation, and you can use it to your advantage. You can consume from your own mana and stamina pools to heal yourself at a rate of 14:1.

  I considered them as before. Consuming Strike didn’t change much, changing to significant from moderate absorption. Gluttonous Leap was getting better with the gradually increased damage, but I wasn’t ready to snag that one just yet. Corrosive Arc honestly didn’t change that much. Void Step upgraded in an interesting way, reducing the cost, and it was a skill that might be a bit easier to upgrade manually. The new one honestly would have been a contender if the rate wasn’t so garbage. It was also one that would be easier to upgrade than some others, depending on how it worked.

  Of all of them, there was one I wanted to snag last time but couldn’t, and the time for it was now! I felt the knowledge enter my mind, donned an eager smile, and exited meditation.

  I walked to the window I’d entered and spotted the platform, where Sarah was helping to coordinate the restocking of the pedestal. I had more than enough distance allowed to reach it, and triggered Void Step. I felt the hunger affinity around me instantly intensify, and suddenly I was standing in front of Sarah. My body tingled from the teleportation, and I was a bit dizzy like I’d spun around for a while, but it wasn’t too bad.

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  Sarah reacted badly, screaming and stabbing me in the chest with her fiery dagger, burying it to the hilt. Her eyes widened as she realized who I was and she instinctually let go of her knife.

  “Ow,” I said, plucking it out. “That’s kinda sting-y.” I held the blade out to her.

  “I’m so sorry!” she said, gingerly grabbing the knife. “You scared the shit outta me.”

  “No problem! I knew it was possible you’d reflexively lash out. All good!”

  “How did you-”

  “Just unlocked a sort-of teleport skill.”

  “Oh. Okay. We are only missing one of the control spheres, which should be here in an hour or so.” She said, handing me one from the pedestal.

  She actually helped me load up my soul chamber with the rest, probably in an effort to assuage any perceived slight. Worked for me!

  “I was planning on leaving one here anyway, just in case you needed one to move the bubble. Where’s your sister?”

  “Here,” Bethany said, hopping lightly onto the platform, holding a dull grey metallic clipboard.

  “Where did you get a clipboard?”

  “We have crafters that work in various trades.”

  “Do they need an enchanter?” Bethany stared at me blankly for a second, so I clarified. “I haven’t had much time to focus on actually enchanting anything, so I figured it might be fun to take a day or so before heading out to the other control spheres.”

  “I’ll ask. Give me an hour or so.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Sarah said, looping her arm around her sister’s, “Oh! He’s going to leave one of the balls with us-”

  “-Just in case we need it. I heard.”

  I pulled up the tutorial timer as they left, continuing to talk amongst themselves.

  Tutorial Time Remaining: 36 days, 23 hours, 2 minutes.

  Survivors: 832/2000.

  Almost halfway through the tutorial. So much had changed since that fateful day. I leaned against the pedestal and considered what my life was now. More than anything, if I was completely honest with myself, I felt… fulfilled. My life before the System was droll and dull, flitting from hobby to hobby, playing all kinds of games that ultimately just dulled the boredom. But now, watching my numbers go up had a true purpose. Higher numbers meant strength, speed, durability. I could climb an entire skyscraper in only one or two jumps where before I got winded climbing too many stairs.

  I smiled, lost in my own thoughts, when I realized a line of people was forming. Bethany waved up at me and handed me a sheet of paper, with a list of the names and desired enchantments people were seeking. I addressed the line of people.

  “I’m glad you are all comfortable with bringing these things for me to enchant. It will take time for this, so please set the items around the edge of the platform and we’ll get to them in the order of the list.” I liked lists because it felt good to cross out completed projects. I reached out mentally into my Soul Chamber.

  “Hey, Tree. You feeling okay enough to help me with some enchanting?”

  “I am unable to provide any energy to the cause, but I am able to provide consultation and expertise, yes.”

  “Let’s do this! Time to grind out some enchanting!”