Pandora’s first replicant in Prague opened her eyes just as an assassin teleported into existence behind her first body. Pandora’s link to her other body connected just as her Prime vessel on this plane turned and summoned an adamantium short sword into her hand, which she drove up under his ribcage, through his throat, and into his neck. With a flick of her wrist, she split her would-be assassin in two from his navel to the top of his head.

  Brutal, don’t you think, Tantur sent mentally.

  That was one of the people that visited this place, Pandora replied.

  Fair enough, Tantur agreed.

  Both Pandoras began creating another Replicant while they allowed the nanites they were controlling to clean up the mess. She also let the nanites deal with anyone else who approached the building with ill intent. Pandora allowed her replicants to double the number of replicants she had five more times. Two became Four, Four became eight, Eight became sixteen, and sixteen became 32. Instead of sending the children back to her mother, she was going to fix this Earth.

  After six days of creating she paused for a small break as she realized that her friends would be here in five days. Pandora stuck around for one more day. Now that there were 64 replicants, she set 32 to stay in the building while 31 of her replicants exited through the Shadow Plane. They were headed to the other Archways to clean up any wrongdoing that was going on. Pandora walked out of the building on her way to the Archway. As she made her way down the street, Pandora sensed the Guv’nr making his way to intercept her. With a thought, she was at the Archway and stepped through. Her Replicants could handle the Guv’nr and all the other lowlifes on that planet, she was off to begin the Trial.

  As she stepped into the Archway, Notifications appeared.

  SYSTEM Message

  You have discovered The Archway to Transcendence.

  You may turn away and continue with your mundane life

  OR

  You may walk through the Archway and begin a journey that will offer Power beyond your imagination or death.

  Pandora had already stepped into the archway and appeared in a white empty room. A moment later a holographic screen appeared in front of her.

  Welcome to the Trial of Transcendence.

  The Trial of Transcendence will continue once you have become familiar with The SYSTEM. If you are familiar with the SYSTEM, you may bypass the SYSTEM Introduction Tutorial.

  To Bypass the SYSTEM Tutorial, say “Bypass.”

  To Continue with the SYSTEM Tutorial, say “Continue.”

  Or return to your world through the Portal behind you.

  You may return at any time.

  Pandora chose “Bypass.”

  She knew that Tantur’s knowledge of the SYSTEM might have holes in it, but she also knew that her existence broke a lot of the SYSTEM’s rules. She was pretty sure she could figure out the major rules on her own. As she contemplated this, she felt herself get translocated a vast distance from her other replicants. Vast enough to know that she was in another universe or another dimension.

  As she appeared in the middle of the road on a thriving 20th or 21st-century street, new notifications appeared.

  Welcome to Challenge Planet U911019110

  Planet Category: Crossroads.

  Monster Spawning: Yes

  Monster Levels: 1-100

  You have decided to embrace a path to power. As your journey progresses, you will become more powerful.

  Pandora was pulled from reading through her notification when a man in futuristic sci-fi armor looked at her with a leer. " You're Pretty enough. Did you get sent through the Archway to help keep us satisfied? Spoiler, we’re never satisfied,” the pig of a man said as four other men of various races jeered and laughed at his joke.

  Pandora cocked her head to the side as Nanite Communication activated and linked with nanites that had infiltrated this city and everyone in it linked with her.

  AUTHORITY RECOGNIZED,

  Welcome to the Trial of Transcendence, Pandora, I will be there shortly to greet you – Dad.

  “Hey, I’m talking to…” the thug started to say as everyone within 100 feet of Pandora froze. She knew immediately that the Nanites that had infiltrated them had been activated by her father who had frozen them in place. With them temporarily taken care of, Pandora put them out of her mind and continued reading her notifications,

  You have decided to embrace a path to power. As your journey progresses, you will become more powerful.

  At the end of this journey, a place among the divine is possible. This Path is fraught with danger, and death is a reasonable outcome for those who continue.

  You will soon appear on a Crossroads Challenge Planet containing monsters and other trial participants. You can work alone or team up with others; the choice is yours.

  White Archways on Crossroads Planets will lead back to the Nursery Planet attached to that Crossroads Challenge Planet. There is only one Crossroads Challenge Planet with White Archways that leads back to your Nursery Planet.

  Once you have completed the tutorials available in this room, stepping into an Archway on the Nursery Planet you originated from will lead directly to a corresponding White Archway on the first Crossroads Challenge Planet.

  If you do not wish to participate in the Trial of Transcendence at this time, step back through the portal behind you. You will be transported back to the Archway on your Nursery Planet that you stepped through to get here.

  You may resume your journey into the Trial of Transcendence at any time after that.

  The first Challenge Planet, a Crossroads Planet, will contain Monsters ranging from levels 1 to 100 and Various Archways to other Challenge Planets.

  Green Archways are only found on Crossroads Planets and lead to a pocket dimension where you can visit a SYSTEM Store, rest, and relax. They are not located near any other Archways and must be discovered.

  White Archways on Crossroads Planets (Crossroads Planets are planets with Archways that lead to Challenge Planets of Various levels) lead to the associated Nursery Planet.

  White Archways can be found on any Challenge Planet. White Archways NOT on Crossroads Planets may lead to alternate Crossroads Planets and allow access to other Nursery Planets.

  Blue Archways lead to Blue Challenge Planets that contain level 1 – 100 monsters and additional Blue Archways that lead to additional Blue Challenge Planets. The planets are not unlike Crossroad Planets. They do not have Archways to Crossroad Challenge Planets.

  Yellow Archways lead to Yellow Challenge Planets that contain 101 – 500 monsters and additional Yellow Archways that lead to additional Yellow Challenge Planets.

  Red Archways lead to Red Challenge Planets that contain level 501 – 1,000 monsters and additional Red Archways that lead to additional Red Challenge Planets.

  Violet Archways lead to Violet Challenge Planets that contain monsters greater than level 1,000 and additional Violet Archways that lead to additional Violet Challenge Planets.

  Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  Challenge Planets will contain any and every environment conceivable.

  You decide how you will tackle the Trial of Transcendence. However, it is recommended that anyone entering the Trial of Transcendence remain on a Crossroads Challenge Planet until they are prepared to meet the greater challenges.

  Remember, you can exchange anything in your Personal Storage for Credits without returning to a SYSTEM Store to free up room in your Personal Storage. Alternatively, you can find someone with a Merchant Class. Items exchanged from your Personal Storage only garner 50% of their value.

  When you have finished reviewing these rules, say, “Continue.”

  When Pandora finished reading the notifications, she looked up and saw her father standing in front of her with a massive grin on his face. Something was off, though. He felt like a…

  “Are you a replicant?” Pandora asked.

  “I am, as are you,” her father said before he grinned and waved his hand, releasing everyone from their stasis.

  “It’s the Merchant,” the jerk yelled with a hint of fear as he fell to one knee and lowered his head.

  Pandora watched as the other four men that had been with the jerk, froze and dropped to one knee as well.

  Her Father, The Merchant, looked at the jerk and then smiled, “None of that, Jackal. There was no way for you or me to know that my daughter was coming to visit today.”

  “Your daug..hter?” The Jackal asked with a stutter.

  “Yes, and this is the part that you should really pay attention to; while I never stepped in and did anything about your, uh ’hum business, which your ‘Boss’ knows that I disapprove of, my daughter is not me, and has a mind of her own. Oh, where are my manners? Pandora, this is Jackal, one of the right-hand men of the local underworld Boss here. Jackal, this is my daughter, Pandora.”

  Pandora nodded to Jackal, who nodded back as both of them wondered what her father was doing. The Merchant didn’t disappoint as he continued,

  “Now, as I said, you know I didn’t approve, and my family was outside of the Trials temporal distortion, so there was no way for me to get a message to her. Pandora, how long has passed back your Mom’s universe?”

  “About three days now,” Pandora answered instantly.

  “See, like I was saying, you know how long you’ve been alive, but for my family and friends, only three days have passed. So before you ask Pandora about your business associates on the other side of that Archway, I want it understood that I did not influence her actions directly.

  “Yes, Yes, Sir,” Jackal said with a hint of fear

  “Okay then, jackal, ask Pandora about your business associates.”

  Jackal only hesitated for a moment before he asked,” How are my business associates on the other side of the Archway?”

  “I will need you to be a bit more specific, please,” Pandora said.

  The Jackal listed a few names and described his associates.

  “They’re all dead,” Pandora said flatly.

  “Did you kill them,” The Jackal asked.

  “I did,” Pandora said.

  The Jackal looked to the Merchant before he said, “You know what this means, Sir?”

  “I will remain neutral unless attacked, Jackal. I want to offer some free advice to a repeat customer if that is okay.”

  “Please?” The Jackal said.

  “Please pass on to your boss that I will neither help nor hinder any action he decides upon concerning my daughter. Also, please pass on that I am not concerned about her death, not for a moment.”

  “Sir?” The Jackal said, confused.

  “Pass on the message exactly. Either your Boss will remember or he won’t. Now Pandora, let's head to my home,” her father started to say before he turned back to Jackal, “and Jackal.”

  “Yes, Merchant.”

  “Please make sure your Boss understands that anyone who attacks me or my family on my personal property will only attempt to do so once.”

  “Understood Merchant. May we depart?”

  “Please,” her father said as he turned back to Pandora, “Let’s go.”

  Her father floated up into the air and headed away from the Archway. He flew up and over a few buildings as Pandora created wings with Mold Chaos and followed. As they came closer to the edge of the city, Pandora noticed a building with neon lights that said Merchant Goods next to a very nice three-story house that was right next to it. Her father landed on a balcony and walked inside. Pandora followed him in.

  Once inside, her father turned and held out his arms, which Pandora rushed into for a quick Hug.

  “So, you’re looking good, not a lot of change but you’re looking good.”

  “You too, Dad. A Merchant, though?”

  “Don’t knock it. Access to a SYSTEM shop is a good thing, especially with the direction the SYSTEM seems to be going.”

  “Aren’t we part of the SYSTEM, though?” Pandora asked.

  “Yes and no. But that’s not what I want to know about. Why did you kill everyone on the other side of the Portal?”

  “They were abusing kids, Dad.”

  “And?”

  “I couldn’t just sit back and let that happen.”

  “Did you give them a trial? Did you give them a chance to plead their case?”

  “No. I read their actions from their memories, and I judged them! But that’s beside the point. Why didn’t you do anything about it?”

  “I judge the judges,” her father said.

  “You judge the judges. What does that mean?”

  “For the last couple of thousand years, I’ve been working as a merchant. Because of you, I know about replicants, and because of one of my classes, I have access to every skill. So, I can do almost everything you can do. That said, I have been putting replicants out in this Trial of Transcendence and watched as the various entities compete to become the deities for The SYSTEM. Mortals are becoming gods. I have taken it upon myself to be the buffer against those who abuse what the SYSTEM gives them.”

  “But you didn’t do anything about those monsters…”

  “They are outside of the Trial. Trust me, no one tries that crap in here. Depravity toward their fellow would-be gods; I don’t do anything about that; there are evil gods. But there are also children in the cities that have cropped up. Crimes against children are not tolerated here. That is what I worry about.”

  “What about after the Trial?” Pandora asked.

  “That is the question, isn’t it? Do I return to your mother, or do I become a God? I know which way I’m leaning.”

  “Mom misses you too, though it’s only been a couple of days from her perspective.”

  “She’s not missing me as much as you think,” Her dad said with a grin.

  “You sent one of your replicants out of the trial?”

  “I did,” her father admitted.

  Pandora changed the subject; she really didn’t want her mother's memories about her dad and what they did to pass the time….oh gross…damn!

  “Are you okay,” Adam asked.

  “Yes,” Pandora struggled to say. “Let's change the subject; what’s up with this, Boss?”

  “He’s a level 7,500 tank-type person who isn’t going to be happy about you killing his people, nor will his god.”

  “Do I need to worry about the God?”” Pandora asked.

  “Nope,” Her father said with a grin. “Are you worried about Jackal’s Boss?”

  “Level 7,500 tank type, Not at all,” Pandora responded honestly.

  “That’s my girl. Let’s eat.”

  Pandora watched as her father summoned a meal for them to eat, which appeared on a classic dining table with very comfortable chairs set opposite each other. They sat, and for the next hour, her father listened as she let him know what she’d been up to. He, in turn, explained what he’d been up to.

  After he stopped talking, Pandora commented, “So you took on the Merchant class to keep an eye on all those that would be Gods?”

  “I did. Once I realized that my class allowed me to utilize any skill, I reviewed your Replicant skill and acquired it.”

  “But you don’t have a Chaotic entity within you?”

  “True, but I am a creature of Chaos in my own right,” her father said.

  “So, what do I do now,” Pandora asked.

  “That’s up to you. Do you want to pursue becoming a Divine, or do you just want to get stronger? If you want to get stronger, pass back through the Archway, bring the rest of your replicants here, and then spread out and level as quickly as you can. Eventually, the SYSTEM is going to give you an opportunity. It will be up to you whether you go off and do your own thing or move on to the Path to divinity. Just understand that there are things more powerful than the new Gods.”

  “Like you?”

  “Like me.”

  For the next couple of hours, Pandora just sat and talked with her Dad. She’d only had a few opportunities to do so, and she wasn’t going to waste it.

  ***

  Adam enjoyed dinner with Pandora, though that was just one portion of what he was dealing with at the current moment. His Replicants had spread throughout almost every Red and Violet world that the SYSTEM had provided for this Trial. He only had copies of himself in this White classed world because it was attached to the Earth, which led back to his domain the long way. Of course, he could return there with a thought, but the SYSTEM was pretty picky about how he could exit, so keeping a path back to the door was the best option he had.

  Adam watched as Pandora left the city. While he had Stabilization Arrays at every Archway city with one of his Replicants on this planet, which allowed him to utilize Nanites in those areas, he chose to keep an eye on Pandora with his Scry spell. He wanted to see if the Boss was as stupid as he thought he was. While he’d been sitting with Pandora, he’d noted that she already had two classes with levels above the maximum 10,000, which was doing better than himself. Of course, he knew that was because his primary body was currently outside of the SYSTEM and that this body and all of his replicants were allowed to participate because he’d agreed to follow the rules to a point. Pandora had agreed to no such thing.

  Adam had to give it to the Boss, a burly man named Alfred Jones. He didn’t try to talk, didn’t try to snipe her from afar. He rushed in and punched her as hard as he could and then tried to follow that up with a kick between her legs. Anger issues towards women, maybe?. Pandora took both blows without moving and then overrode the nanites within his body and sent the kill command to every nanite inside of him. The Boss evaporated.

  That was a pretty brutal way to end someone. Adam decided that he needed to get an honest opinion from a ring-side observer. He needed to talk to Tantur. Adam dropped into his soul core, found the thread that linked him to Tantur within Pandora, and followed it. A little trick he’d learned in the last 8,333 years he’d been in this Trial.

  Adam’s mental projection entered Pandora’s Mindspace and followed his link directly to Tantur. The door was open, so Adam followed the thread inside and found Tantur watching a screen with what was happening outside of Pandora's body on it. Tantur looked up from what he was doing, “Adam, I’m surprised to see you in here, especially if Pandora and Caspa don’t know that you are here.”

  “You are me after all, or at least you were; you know how much I like following rules.”

  “I do,” Tantur agreed. “What can I do for you.”

  “Pandora just utilized the Nanites to vaporize her opponent?”

  “It was either that or assimilate him. She wanted nothing to do with him or his memories?”

  “Assimilate? Like downloading her memories with nanotechnology?” Adam asked.

  “Similar, but based on her Chaotic Nature,” Tantur agreed.

  Adam took a moment to look over Pandora's core before he responded, “That is an ability-driven skill. I would need that ability to absorb someone that way. I'm not really interested in that; just don’t let her become super evil, okay?

  “She won’t. She has Adaline’s memories as her moral compass and your memories through me to grind off her mother’s rough edges,” Tantur said with a smile.

  “Very well,” Adam agreed. “Now that that is done, here are my memories for the last couple of thousand years,” Adam said as he pulled out a cube and handed the compressed version of his memories over, “I’d wait to absorb them until Pandora is done,” Adam said.

  “Tantur!” Caspa said as she appeared in the room before she froze when she saw Adam, “Dad, I mean Pandora’s Dad, I mean, how did you get in here?”

  “Don’t worry about that. I’ll be leaving in a moment. You were saying?” Adam said encouragingly.

  Caspa looked at Adam with a bit of skepticism before she turned to Tantur as her voice rose a few octaves, “You should see it. Pandora is really pissed. I think he cracked her tooth.”

  “She can heal that almost instantly,” Tantur and Adam said simultaneously

  “True, but then all of that Boss’s lackeys attacked her, and instead of just vaporizing them with the nanites, she’s beating the snot out of them.”

  “Really?” Tantur asked.

  “Really,” Caspa said as she waved her hand, and their surroundings were replaced with a three-dimensional visual representation of Pandora's surroundings in three dimensions. A popcorn bucket also appeared in Caspa’s hands as the images around them began to move, and they watched Pandora begin to decimate over 100 rogues, thieves, and malcontents.

  Caspa turned to Adam, who was watching his daughter fight attentively. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Shoot,” Adam replied

  “Why did you allow these scumbags to continue to exist?”

  Adam composed himself before he answered, “There are two answers to that question. The first, simple answer is that there are deities of evil, and the SYSTEM needs people to fill those roles. The Second, more complex, answer is that if I start to judge people, when will it stop? I do not see myself as the person who judges people or forces people to fall in line. That is a function of order, and I am anything but ordered.”

  “But you sell to them, you offer your services to these monsters?”

  “I offer services to anyone who has not crossed me or my family. I am not a Merchant for the system; I am a vendor, which means that ultimately, all I do is give people the opportunity to purchase items from the SYSTEM in locations that generally don’t have system access.

  “And you’re okay with this?” Caspa asked.

  “I am now. Souls have a chance, I made sure of that. This Iteration has a chance. If those that are accepting a position as a God don’t go and fuck things up, I shouldn’t have to step in.

  “Would they even have a chance against you?” Caspa asked.

  “The old gods and the founders, those that were older than the gods, sacrificed everything to ensure the SYSTEM would continue. There may be a few bumps along the way, but we should be fine, But, to answer your question, No,” Adam said.

  “What will you do now?” Tantur asked.

  “Now? Now, I will continue as a Vendor until the Trial for Transcendence comes to an end. After that, I’ll visit Adaline for a bit, and then I might head to non-SYSTEM areas and see about integrating them into the SYSTEM.”

  “Because of the Vendor class you picked up?”

  “That, and as you know, we are part of the SYSTEM now. I want to see what else is out there. Now, though, I think I’ll take my leave. You three have fun,” Adam said as he withdrew from Pandora’s Mindspace and returned his mental projection to his closest body.

  Adam had watched Pandora's aggression. She wasn’t killing just to kill. Those that were high-level and extremely evil were ended, but the lower-level people she left unconscious on the ground. Maybe he could have taken more direct action. Yeah, no. Once he started, he would never be able to start, and then he’d have to come up with a structure and rules and….That’s what The SYSTEM was for.