Title…Ummmm….Meh…Short Backstory for the Twins

  “No word from your brother?” The beautiful queen Magdelinazostrum asked as she stared at the distant lights of the enemy's camp.

  “I fear he has betrayed us. He and the reinforcements should have arrived hours ago. Why Maggy? What could possibly make him betray us?” the king’s breath steamed in the cool night air. “Bahhh… It does not matter. We tried to be fair. We tried to be good. Now we see where that got us. We saved the lives of half of those that now march on our kingdom. Power is the only thing that is respected. Mercy and kindness are too soon forgotten. This is a lesson I will not forget.”

  One of the maids quietly stepped on to the balcony. She spoke when the king acknowledged her. “Only the 1st wing remains, sire. They are ready for flight on your signal. Everyone else has departed.”

  The king nodded and motioned for the ladies to return back inside. Following them he saw the other four maids dressed in uniforms of black and grey standing ready to go. Two were holding the essence heated blankets keeping his children warm. “Keep my family safe. I will grow my power and secure a safe home for us. Remember, stay hidden until you have reached level 40. The essence of the world may have been practically non-existent, but with science and technology they have developed weapons that are quite dangerous to lower levels. They have mighty ships to patrol both the sea and the air. In 100 years, my agents will scour the markets and coliseums of the wilderness until they find you or your planet. I expect you will have the entire planet under your wing by then.” He finished with a half-hearted smile and attempted to lighten the mood. .

  “You can come with us.” The queen replied.

  “The dark ones will hunt me to the edges of the universe. It is better for all of us if you remain safe within a hidden world for now. I will gain power while you are safely tucked away. When we meet again, we can build a new kingdom. But tonight, I strike so my people can move to safety hidden behind the flames of war.”

  Maggy looked her husband in the eyes and then gave him a quick embrace. He was a stoic man who did not show much emotion, but she knew he was also a good man. They had worked together to build their kingdom before the dark ones had risen in numbers much greater than previously thought possible. She hoped they would meet again, but the winds of fate were fickle.

  The queen moved and took the bundles warming her children and opened her interface to enter the pre-integration stasis. When she opened her eyes again she and her children would be on a new planet with only the maids to protect them.

  After watching his wife depart, the king moved to the balcony and jumped hundreds of feet into the air and grew to his true form. The entire castle could hide in the shadow of one of his wings. Other dragons rose from the cliffs to join him.

  In the enemy camp, a man put down his scrying crystal and turned to the man cloaked in shadows sitting on a throne. “It is as the prince says. The king comes with his army. The queen has hidden herself and the children awaiting integration. The kingdom is evacuating.”

  “Good. Good.” The man turned to his generals. “Integrate a hunter into each of the next 5 planets scheduled to join the system. Tell them to track down and eradicate all dragons on their planet. Tonight we will put an end to this king. The hunters will put an end to his line.

  Xenolitha Academy

  Chancellor Xenolitha looked out the window at the academy he had built. Widely recognized as the finest academy for training and research in elemental magic outside of the great sects, the Xenolitha Academy had students from all over the multi-verse and close working relationships with several of the minor and major sects. Having high affinities in both earth and fire, the chancellor had literally built most of what he could see. This would be the last time he would see his academy. His time was coming to an end and he was passing control of the academy onto the next generation.

  An alert flashed and Xeno knew it was time. He looked around to see if there was anything he wanted to add to his dimensional storage. Nothing caught his eye. He would have no use for equipment or comforts and had chosen to take copies of a variety of manuals from the lower level courses taught at the academy. He could barter those for whatever he needed easily enough.

  Exiting his office through a side door, he entered the attached meeting hall where the vice-chancellors and department heads were assembled. He didn’t take his seat, and instead chose to stand at the head of the table. This was an announcement, not a debate or lengthy meeting, his part would be finished in a couple minutes. No need to stick around while the wordsmiths argue over the details.

  “Gentlemen and ladies. I thank you for coming. I asked you all to join me here so I could announce my retirement. I am passing full ownership and control of my academy to the vice chancellors who will do with it as they choose.”

  No one was too surprised. The Chancellor had slowed dramatically the last few thousand years as age caught up to him. One department head was curious though, “What will you do, Chancellor?”

  “I plan to integrate onto a new planet and begin a new life.”

  “But…what if the planet has been targeted by an orc horde or a dragon? What will you do?” another newer department head asked.

  Pulling up his interface and preparing to enter stasis, Xeno smiled fondly and said, “I expect I will eat the orcs and hope that the dragon is a pretty female. My time here is done. I wish you and your academy the best.” And he was gone.

  “Why would he eat orcs?” “Does he really think he could bed a dragon?”

  “If the tales he told me over drinks during the early years at the academy are true, I assure you, it will not be the first time Xenolithazostrum has done either.” one of the vice-chancellors assured them.

  The Five Orphans

  Shady looked around nervously. He and his group were on their way back to the city after spending the last 5 days farming levels, credits, and loot to sell for more credits prior to integrating onto a new planet. This planet was toast. The Kesmerton sect had recently begun mining the planet’s essence and essence levels were already dropping fast. The boys had agreed their best option was finding a new planet and a fresh start. As lower C grades they did not feel that they were strong enough to head off into the more established parts of the multi-verse on their own and none of them liked the idea of joining one of the mercenary groups. But something dangerous was coming. Growing up as orphans, the boys had developed a sixth sense for danger or when situations were about to become dangerous. Something bad was definitely coming their way

  They had felt it for the first time nearly 15 minutes ago and Asmin suggested they leave the road. They had been farming in an area that was safe for them, but the road back home brought them within a few kilometers of the edge of a B grade area. Shortly after passing that area when the road turned away from the higher level area and started the long turn down the side of the mountain was when their premonition started screaming at them. Most likely it was a group of high level adventurers heading back to the city and moving off the road seemed the safest response.

  But the trouble had evidently followed them. Doug Doug and Roffler, their dps caster and healer were struggling. Their stamina was starting to run low. Shady looked at the spur he was about to move past and decided to take a closer look. It was time to stop running and prepare for whatever was following them. He called a halt and the group took positions behind trees while Shady scouted. The spur was actually higher elevation than the small path they had been following. At its highest point there was a small clear area in the middle of the hill. At the end of the spur was a dangerous drop off, but probably not life threatening. Worst case scenario, they could all go over the edge and hope that whatever was coming wouldn’t follow them. Roffler could heal bumps, bruises, and a broken bone or two.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Faith entered Destiny’s domain and took a seat on the couch next to her sister. Projected in front of them was a familiar looking middle aged man dressed in mis-matched armor running down the side of a wooded mountain carrying his staff. Faith rolled her eyes, “I can’t believe you are going to bet it all on this guy’s failed experiment, Destiny.”

  “Just because the experiment gave unexpected results does not mean it was a failure.” the man replied.

  “50 integrations and all he does is train and fight. Congratulations. You’ve created a murderhobo monk.” Faith snorted.

  “Just watch sister. He is much more than a murderhobo.” Destiny replied.

  Asmin found a position to conceal himself on the cliff side of the open area. The rest of the team spread out in the treeline. Shady backtracked to where they had left the trail and began using one of his skills to remove all traces of their passing. He had about fifty feet done when he heard a deep sniff of a large beast testing the air for prey. Not waiting to find out what it was, he silently made his way back to the clearing and took his position behind a large tree on the far right side. Opening his group chat, he sent, “Very large beast hunting by smell. Did not get eyes on.”

  “If it comes this way, I’ll engage with a taunt. No way it will miss all of us. Krop, Doug Doug, and Shady open up as soon as it engages.” Asmin replied. Less than a minute later they could hear something large moving in their direction. Soon they could catch glimpses of the enormous scaled beast. Mottled scales of black, brown, green, and grey showing through the vegetation.

  When it stepped into the clearing, they knew they were in trouble. It was a lizard bear. At least mid B grade. Not even Asmin could take a single shot from that creature. When it’s six legged frame was entirely in the clearing it turned and started moving rapidly towards Krop’s position.

  “Fire.” Asmin yelled as he used his taunt skill to attempt to give Krop time to run. As soon as the beast spun around, Asmin began running. Shady fired two shots. Doug Doug hit it with a fireball. Roffler cast a speed buff on Asmin as the beast leapt for him. Asmin almost made it but was clipped in the shoulder and sent flying into a tree. Shady’s shots barely penetrated and soon fell out of the beast’s tough hide. Doug Doug’s fireball seemed to do nothing besides disrupt the beast’s vision for a second. Krop ran in from behind the beast and hit it with stabs from both of his swords. They also barely penetrated. The beast spun again as Krop jumped back towards the trees. Roffler had Asmin back on his feet and the tank attempted to taunt the creature again. It ignored him and leapt after Krop. Its face was met by a boot. The boot was attached to a middle aged man wearing armor that looked like something you would find in the reject pile of a low grade general store.

  The lizard flew back ten feet and landed on its side. The man casually stepped forward and broke its rear right hip with a single strike. The beast rolled and stood. The man stepped around and broke the other rear hip. “Tank Engage.” he said as an essence shield formed around Asmin. Asmin stepped forward and the beast tried to bite him in half, but the shield held. Asmin began striking at the beast's head and with his sword.

  A small essence blade appeared on the end of the man’s staff and he rapidly moved around the beast. Long slices through its tough hide exposed the softer flesh underneath. “Healer buff your mates.” the man called out as he continued along the other side before stepping back. A shield appeared on Krop and the man called out, “Everyone attack.”

  Looking around at the team, the man asked, “Healer, can you buff stamina?” Roffler responded, “No.” The man nodded and suddenly the tiring Asmin seemed to catch a second wind. “Essence regeneration?” the man asked. “Single target.” Was Roffler’s response. Asmin’s shield was broken by a swipe from the beast and the shield was instantly replaced. The man flashed forward and lightly tapped the beast on top of the head. It was stunned. He picked up Asmin with one hand and said, “Continue.”

  Shady felt a cooling breeze and saw his stamina and essence regeneration had quadrupled. He began firing at a faster rate aiming at the cuts the man had opened. Doug Doug had switched to his other affinity and was sending shards of ice into the cuts on the other side of the beast. Krop was using all his skills as they came off of cooldown and stabbing into the cuts on the rear of the beast.

  Occasionally the man would stun the beast with a light tap with his staff or reopen some of the cuts that were trying to heal, but other than that he merely watched and continued casting his area buff and refreshing Asmin’s shield.

  Thirty minutes later the beast crumpled and turned to dust. The group slowly walked forward and took knees near Asmin trying to catch their breaths. Shady saw the expected loot notification, but beside it was a golden notification he had never seen before. Opening it up he saw it was a title. Giant Slayer: Awarded for being a major contributor to a group that slays a beast 50 levels above the group average without taking any casualties. +5 to all stats.

  The man looked at them with a smile and asked, “Did you get a title?” They nodded. “Good, I figured you would.” He then turned and started to walk off.

  “Sir.” Asmin called. “Do you know why the beast was here?”

  “It was hunting. As the essence levels drop, higher level creatures will expand their hunting territory in an attempt to maintain their levels.”

  “Thank you for helping us.” Roffler said.

  “No. Thank you for distracting the beast. I was on my way to the city when I came across its trail and I feared it was heading for the city, so I followed it. You boys made my task easier.” the older man replied and started to walk off again.

  “We are headed to the city also. We’ve been farming for loot and essence in preparation to integrate into a new world in a couple days.” Doug Doug interjected obviously hoping to travel with the man.

  Looking interested for the first time the man returned and sat down pulling a flask and some dried meat out. “I assume you are from this planet?” the man asked.

  “Yes, sir. They said as they sat in a half moon in front of the man and pulled out flasks and food.”

  “What level are you integrating at? What is your plan for integration expenses?”

  “We are going to max our levels as best we can and keep the best gear we can afford after paying to keep our most important skills.” Asmin answered.

  “Solid plan. You’ve done your homework, but would you like some suggestions?” the man asked.

  “Sure.” they all shrugged.

  “For skills. Only keep the ones you can’t teach yourselves easily. Striking skills are obvious ones you can quickly pick back up with a little practice.” He said making moves with his hands that simulated various strikes or parries. The boys nodded. It made sense.

  “For gear. Get superior quality gear for the level you are going to integrate at. Enchanted gear isn’t worth the cost because you will outlevel it soon enough. Leveling is faster on newly integrated planets. But be aware. You may not get the class you expect. I once integrated as a fisherman because the previous planet I had been on fishing was my primary source of food.”

  “Did you stay a fisherman?” Krop asked.

  “Not really. I taught myself the skills I wanted. When I had a chance, I picked up other skills and subclasses and pretty much fought the same as I did when I integrated as a spearman or martial artist. Now here’s something you may find controversial. Pick up all the skills and sub classes you can and rotate your subclasses for faster stat gains.

  “Don’t you want to pick sub-classes that align with your build or at least add to your primary stats?” Shady asked.

  “If you are going to be a gladiator fighting short fights in an arena under strict rules, but not if you are going to be an adventurer.” seeing the boys not understanding he continued. “Would it benefit a tank to be able to heal, buff, and cast shields on himself? Would a caster be safer if they had enough agility to escape an attacker or enough vitality to take a hit or two?”

  “But then you’d be missing out on your primary stats.” Asmin interjected.

  “That’s why you rotate your subclasses. You get 3-6 active subclasses depending on the quality of your main class. You only get ? of the stats from each that you would if they were your main class, but that still means ? to ? of your stats can come from your subclasses. Rotating through a large number of lower level subclasses will provide more overall stats than sticking to a group of high level subclasses. Plus you gain more flexibility and class skills increasing your potential for more subclasses. It is a self repeating cycle. I recommend picking up any skill you can get for the right price and leveling it and its supplementary skills to get as many subclasses to rotate through as possible. You never know when someone may need to heal the healer or temporarily replace your tank.”

  The man thought for a minute, then continued, “Starting level is capped at level 20. You can then use your excess essence or credits to take extra skills. What’s leftover can be banked and you will regain it over time. The closest estimate I’ve seen is that you receive ? the essence it takes to reach the average of the top one thousand natives on the planet. That regained essence can be used for levels or for skill gains. As I said before, you want to pay for the skills that would be nearly impossible to learn quickly. Essence sight and essence manipulation can be easily picked up by closely observing skills and spells. Your affinities and titles will automatically integrate free of charge. I tend to pay for basic healing and basic enchanting. Those are hard to learn until you’ve leveled essence sight and manipulation and are often difficult to find a trainer willing to teach you. I also tend to keep a movement skill, a shield skill, and a complex finisher that I pay to level.”

  The boys were deep in thought. What the man had said, made sense. Standing, the man seemed to make a decision and pulled out five dimensional bags and quickly filled them with something. After tossing a bag to each boy, he nodded and said, “You boys work well together, I hope to see you in the new world, but not I must be off. I have a lot of equipment to sell before I integrate.”

  “Sir. May we know your name?” Doug Doug asked.

  “My apologies. John…John Drake. One last piece of advice. The town is lava. Don’t waste time shopping or chasing women. Work hard. Train hard. Live free.” And the man was gone. Disappearing into the tree line moving faster than their eyes could follow.

  The boys looked at each other with wide eyes. “Number 5 on the leaderboards.” “And the only non-sect employee or associate in the top 500” “They’ve been hunting him for years.” The chatter continued for a while until one of the boys opened the dimensional bag John had given him. It contained 500.000 credits easily enough for each of them to integrate at level 15.