My Recycling Supervisor Gloves I’d gotten in my brief exploration of the inner world appeared on my hands and I reached out to touch the mana barrier. At the same time, I activated Spellseer’s Gaze.

  The colors all around deepened as mana came to life in my vision. The vault did not contain a lot of ambient mana, but some of the artifacts pulsed with powerful enchantments. I’d remember that in the future when exploring the vault to not overlook important items.

  Of course, the most powerful mana was contained in the glowing barrier walls. It flowed over my gloves, and truths about the mana and the spells fueling it percolated into my mind.

  “These are fueled by pure Nexus energy?” I’d expected some kind of attuned energy mana. Maybe electricity or light mana, but not Nexus.

  “Very clever,” Cyrus said. “Yes, your vaults are tiny pocket dimensions with limited natural mana, so they often feed on pure Nexus energy. Using attuned mana risks spells fading over time.”

  “Good to know.”

  With a bit of focused will through the gloves, the barrier winked out. The sudden darkening of the vault drew everyone’s attention and they came running.

  “How’d you take down the barrier?” Ruby asked.

  I held up the gloves. “A special bit of loot.”

  Cyrus interjected. “Excellent creative thinking.”

  And Eva added, “Congratulations, Lucas! You have completed the secret quest, Think Outside of the Vault. You unlock access to the rest of the contents in your vault for inspection. You may take any 1 item from within the restricted area per day.”

  “Just one?” Jane grumbled.

  “Still! One is better than all the nothing he could get before,” Steve chortled, and together we stepped over a line on the floor that still shimmered faintly. Although I’d taken down the barrier, some kind of protection remained.

  “Have a care,” Cyrus added before we’d gone far. “Some higher-tiered items can melt your brains just from touching them. There area reasons these areas were restricted.”

  “Thanks for the warning,” I said as everyone froze, their enthusiasm replaced by wary caution.

  “We can at least look, right?” Tomas asked.

  Cyrus didn’t respond. I took that as consent. I didn’t like considering that one of us could melt their eyes just from looking too long at a higher-tiered item, but it was a good reminder to be cautious. Tier-1 items would be too powerful for anyone but me, and even tier-2 items would probably kill me. No doubt, if I tried removing a tier-2 item, it would be auto-downgraded to tier-0 the moment it left the vault.

  I was a tier-1 level 44 human. That meant I was roughly equivalent to a tier-2 level 4. For a moment, I marveled at the insanity of a system that forcibly down-leveled beings that should be able to crush us like bugs to weak tier-0 beings for the game that we could actually fight.

  Sure, Cyrus had explained how those higher-tiered worlds and the factions living on them benefited from the unique loot they could access from Arasha after the game, but it still seemed ridiculous.

  If I traveled to a tier-3 world, the youngest toddler could kill me. The thought of leveling up and evolving to that level of power still boggled the mind. We’d have to do it eventually, though, if we planned to compete in the multiverse, or one of those more powerful worlds could destroy us.

  Shaking off the depressing thoughts, I joined my team inspecting the previously-restricted loot. The back wall contained tier-2 items, and most of them were weapons and armor, all part of matching sets, as if we’d walked into his house armory.

  Sets of sleek armor in iridescent greens and blacks that looked like they were made from the scales of an actual monster marched in a long row in front of us. Behind them stood racks of pure white tridents, ebony spears, and elegant, curved swords that reminded me of elven blades from the Lord of the Rings, but with wave patterns engraved into the steel.

  “Blacktide Carapace. Tier-2. Legendary. Crafted by the emperor’s elite armorer and gifted to house Blacktide 14 centuries ago for inspirational valour in combat, each suit of armor is a work of art that provides exceptional defense against all types of attacks. Doubles the effectiveness of the wearer’s water-based abilities and spells while also boosting agility and movement speed by 50% underwater.”

  Tomas started to reach out to touch a suit, but Jane pulled his hand back. “Better not risk it.”

  He sighed. “They’re beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful, and you just got new armor,” she reminded him.

  The Wavebinder tridents were enchanted to boost water and lightning magic, so Steve was sorely tempted to play with one. Ruby had to forcibly drag him back until one of his clones appeared and picked one up. It didn’t explode, or anything, but Steve gasped and the clone replaced the spear immediately.

  “What?” Ruby demanded.

  “So much power,” Steve whispered. “It didn’t even have any active mana running through it, but just picking it up nearly melted my clone.”

  That helped temper everyone’s temptation even more. Good thing, because Andy nearly wept over the Foamdancer blades. They allowed the wielder to walk on water and release razor-sharp blades of water for ranged attacks.

  “Let’s move on,” I suggested. “I’ll pull one out later and see if Sythrak can get it adjusted so you can use it.”

  “That would be amazing,” Andy said, real emotion in his voice.

  “Better to get one of the suits of armor,” Lana said.

  “We’ll try that too.” It sucked I could only choose 1 per day.

  On the left wall, the tier-3 items were more eclectic. A set of jewel-encrusted royal robes made Ruby nearly swoon. Apparently they were the actual robes worn by Queen Zelyra Blacktide, who won the hand of the then-emperor of the Moonlit Cascade.

  Racks of paintings depicted idyllic underwater communities and sprawling hillside towns in breathtaking detail. Imbued with subtle illusions, they came alive when one stopped to look, the landscape so real it felt like I could step through into the distant world of house Blacktide.

  Several shelves of other odds and ends that didn’t look super impressive stumped us all. Even with my enhanced Identify, all I got were a series of question marks when I tried studying them. None of us dared touch them.

  “This is actually depressing,” Andy said finally. “So much epic loot that we can barely risk breathing around.”

  “You’re right. Let’s go.”

  When I had more time, I’d study the loot in the vaults more closely. Maybe Sythrak could get me a tool to help me identify the higher-tiered items, or at least catalog them for sale back on Tydrion’s home world.

  As I followed the others out of the vault, Steve fell into step beside me. “Susan will be home later and we can get more details about the upgraded Expanse.”

  Steve: “I scanned Matthew’s memories too. The upgraded club is pretty impressive.”

  Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

  “Good”

  Steve: “Matthew is now a bartender and roving attendant, so I’m getting tons of intel. The upgrade is insane. The interior expanded by at least 10 times, with tons of new venues for ‘meet-ups’. The glass-walled trampoline room and the zero-gravity room are among the new favorites.”

  “Are folks getting all the VIP points they’ve been hoping for?”

  “Hopefully,” Steve said, then switched to another message.

  Steve: “Probably not. Elizabeth was going to start posting a public listing of top VIP points, but she pulled it at the last minute for some kind of vague enhancement plan.”

  Lucas: “That doesn’t sound promising.”

  If anyone was getting a lot of points, it was probably Elizabeth herself. Hopefully the plan failed spectacularly fast so folks got enough time to try something else to make up the experience and win the levels they needed. Hopefully Paul and Crystal came up with some good alternative plans.

  Steve added, “I did hear the upgrade includes a virtual battle arena where folks can engage in no-risk fights that actually help train abilities.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, but it sounds like it’s not nearly as efficient as the Training Guild. Takes like 10 battles to maybe get 1 level, and the line to get in is backed up hours.”

  “Folks still not using the Training Guild?”

  “Nope. I’ve got a clone keeping tabs on it. I’d say less than 10% of everyone has even gone once.”

  Not good. We needed better numbers, but even promising to cover the cost hadn’t helped. What were people thinking?

  Steve: “There’s also something called the New Life Lounge that might help make the whole plan work, though. Elizabeth has been hyping it as some kind of ultimate personalized experience that will help folks multiply their VIP points like crazy.”

  Lucas: “Will it?”

  Steve: “Haven’t gotten into it yet. Few have, but she’s announced that tomorrow she’ll gift 30 special access tokens to some lucky winners to get in. People are going wild for a chance to get one, even though she hasn’t specified how they’ll be chosen. Most folks plan to spend the night so they don’t miss out. Susan’s with them. Figure tonight’ll be the chance for her and Matthew to start their fling and get some drama going.”

  Lucas: “Good luck with that. I hope she gets in, and that Elizabeth delivers, or a lot of people are going to have to face some hard truths.”

  Steve: “I know. I’ll get Matthew inside if I can.”

  Lucas: “Good. Keep me posted.”

  When we returned to my living room, I asked, “Jane, what time today are you two planning that wedding ceremony?”

  Before she could answer, I got a message.

  Crystal: “Lucas, are you still in town? I was just reviewing the personnel card of Emile Coulon. It just flashed and all the text disappeared, replaced by a single giant crimson word: DECEASED.”

  I held up hand to forestall one of Steve’s jokes. “Hold on, there might have just been another disappearance.”

  I knew that name. Emile was the pencil-necked guy with the sweet Halo power armor that was afraid to fight. So he’d made it up to stage 3 after all. What killed him?

  Lucas: “Where?”

  Crystal: “I don’t know. It doesn’t give me directions.”

  I swore under my breath and glanced at my team, who were gathered around, waiting intently. “Does anyone know Emile Coulon?”

  “Sure,” Ruby said. “He’s a baker. Works at the Expanse.”

  Steve added, “Not his shift, though. He lives in the south side of town, not far from the club.”

  “If you have any clones in the area, send them in. Let’s go.”

  We boiled out of my castle and behind me, Tomas said to Jane, “Tomorrow, I guess.”

  “Damascus,” I muttered. We had to make time for their wedding, but we couldn’t ignore this lead. And we couldn’t waste time following the winding streets.

  So I summoned my High Lord Observation Patio platform for what felt like the first time in forever. The flat, tile-covered platform appeared hovering in the air at about knee height and I expanded it to 20 feet across as we all piled on. Then I sent it shooting up almost to the apex of the shimmering dome protecting the town from the constant rain.

  “Are we all going to squeeze on Switchblade, or are you only taking a chosen few?” Steve asked.

  “Nothing so slow,” I said and set my tether point on the distant wall next to the outer gate. As the golden chain shot across the distance, I added, “Everyone hold on.”

  “I’ve wanted to try this,” Lana laughed as they grabbed onto my arms.

  I banished my platform and triggered Tether Slide. Andy whooped as we shot across Port Royale, while Jane laughed with glee as we soared over the spires of the central castle. Steve waved his free hand at one of the guards standing atop the castle wall, while Nigel pressed his shaggy side to my head and said, “Go faster.”

  “Brace yourselves,” I warned as we approached the gate at impressive speed.

  “Wait, where are the brakes?” Lana cried, not sounding so enthralled.

  “They’re called feet.” I lifted mine to absorb the impact and triggered the weight-altering effect of my Heavyweight Grieves to lighten myself just as we hit.

  It didn’t seem to help a lot as a lot more weight than I was used to drove me into the wall. I still absorbed the shock and managed to keep anyone from smacking face-first into the wall before we dropped to the ground.

  A few nearby guards turned to watch, and one woman leaned over the inside of the wall. “What’s all this, then?”

  “Have you seen that guy in the Halo armor, Emile Coulon?”

  “Sure. Passed through the gate a while ago with Commander Burns and a big group heading out on a scouting mission.”

  “That was quick,” Steve said with an approving grin. “No need to waste time searching an empty Base Camp tent.”

  “But not good,” I said, chilled with sudden fear. I vaulted up to the top of the wall and asked, “Who else was in the group?”

  “Looked like all them folks with broken classes, plus a few other low-leveled crafters. Burns and 2 of his team were the only real fighters in the bunch. Weird mix to go hunting, but Commander Burns knows what he’s doing.”

  We’d talked about taking the broken classers out hunting, but something about the situation prickled my unease. When my team vaulted up to join me, I said, “I got a message from Ed earlier. Said he was in the group Burns took out hunting. It sounds like Emile was in the group too.”

  “And now Emile’s dead,” Jane exclaimed.

  “Ed!” Tomas cried, worry to match my own in his eyes.

  “We need to find them. Let’s go.”

  I jumped off the wall, and as soon as I crossed the barrier, torrents of chill rain washed over me. I pushed out my full-body mana shield and after my recent mana manipulation training, the effort came easier than ever. Might not even be necessary for a while, since the warming and drying effects of Sam’s Dewdancer Lager were still active, but the practice was worth it.

  Nigel’s Shingle Pin kept his shaggy fur dry too, and my entire team all had Shingle Pins too. They followed, and Nigel led the way like a shaggy, tan blur disappearing into the broken-down city. I tried messaging Burns, but got no immediate reply.

  Lucas: “Tony, have you heard from Burns? We got notified that a crafter who might be with him just died.”

  Tony’s response came instantly.

  Tony: “No. I barely got back from the raid, which went better than we had any right to imagine. We swept through the warehouse and destroyed everything. They started activating, but before they could get organized, we wiped them out. Every member of the strike team is now well above level 50. Some of us got even higher. I had no idea Burns had returned to town to pick up more people.”

  I frowned. It was unlike the two military commanders not to communicate during an active fight. Burns could be laser-focused, which was usually a good thing, but not when leading a bunch of folks with broken classes out to hunt.

  Lucas: “Sounds like he might have grabbed most of the broken classers.”

  Tony: “Are they in trouble?”

  Lucas: “Maybe. I knew he had a few people with him, but not so many. Ed texted me earlier and said Burns told them to not message anyone until after the trip so they could focus.”

  Tony: “That’s not standard protocol. Something’s up. Last time I heard from Burns, he just said he was in the middle of something. I’m mobilizing a team to come help.”

  Lucas: “We’re already heading north. I’ll keep you posted what we find.”

  Not good. I tried to ignore the cold fear creeping down my spine that had nothing to do with the chilly rain. Why hadn’t I followed up with Ed earlier?

  “You think they stumbled on the Mech-mantis lair?” Ruby asked as we ran north.

  “I hope not. With only 3 real fighters in the group, they’d get swarmed under.” Burns was a go-getter, but he didn’t take unnecessary risks. This didn’t sound like him.

  My mind flashed back to the time Burns and his small team had gotten discovered and captured by Noctarus. I couldn’t imagine him pushing into known hostile territory with a bunch of non-fighters with broken classes. Had they been ambushed?

  Or had one of Queen Marisara’s agents led them into a trap, or even ambushed Burns and taken over his mind? It wasn’t an impossible idea, but I would have assumed a possessed Burns would try to assassinate Tony, not take a bunch of folks with broken classes on a hunting trip. Unless they planned to possess all of them and create a force strong enough to kill a lot of people when they got back.

  “What?” Tomas prodded.

  “We’ve run into spies from Queen Marisara on this stage.”

  I briefly outlined my fear and everyone’s expression turned grave.

  “Do you think it’s possible?” Tomas asked.

  “It might be, so we can’t ignore the possibility,” Jane said. “I can mess with people’s heads, so I bet some of Marisara’s monsters can.”

  “Do you have ways to tell if people have been possessed?” Steve asked.

  “I might be able to figure out something, but after all the mess the werewolves caused, some of the spell casters in the militia invested in detection and purification spells. They scan scout parties.”

  “Would they scan Burns, though?” Steve asked.

  “Probably not,” I said, and sent another message to Tony, asking him to bring some of those folks who could detect possession.

  Jane growled, “If those monsters have hurt Ed, I’ll kill them all. Slowly.”

  Unless I got to them first. Hopefully we were jumping at shadows, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. I’d thought we had plenty of time to help Ed and the others. We’d just hit the second official day on stage 3 and made so much progress, but had I delayed too long?

  Pushing the fears aside, I focused on the hunt. We were running north, but that was too slow, and bunched up like that, we might miss important clues.

  “Take some Water Flight potions and spread out. Head north. Most likely, Burns and his team were exploring north of that warehouse.”

  “And what about you?” Tomas asked.

  “Nigel and I will scout to the west to make sure we don’t miss anything.”

  Steve said, “I can send a few clones to watch the east.”

  “Good idea. Let’s find Ed.”