We split up due to the rather large hand smashing through the staircase. I was separated with Horace, whilst the rest were gathered. We ran upstairs and the walls were light work for the creature. I couldn’t gather my thoughts from the constant dodging and picking up Horace when his legs were giving out. A hard hit from the creature eventually landed and we crashed into a room and onto a balcony outside we had not noticed previously.

  “UGH, this is ROUGH” Horace piped up. Nodding, I slumped down against the wooden balcony and hiding to the sight out of sight, thunderous banging was ringing out and more than likely could be felt from quite far away too. As it was wrecking what was I assumed to be my party members and newfound acquaintances.

  I thought back to the words the serpentine eye said. “You must fight in ways you would not think to~”

  I reached into my inventory and pulled out the droplet. Looking and holding it, I thought maybe the answer would come to me…it didn’t. Horace looked at me bewildered having not looked around after the froze everyone and noticing the teardrops. He pointing at the tear, as if asking, ‘what is it?

  “No idea, but it’s supposed to be able to help us fight?” shrugging my shoulders at the end of my sentence. Peeking round the corner it seemed that creature focused on the others and not paying much attention to us I thought it would be a good opportunity to try at sneaking towards the thing.

  Horace shook his head and used a sneak canister he made to help me reach it. I told him to stay outside since it doesn’t seem to be interested in us and maybe if it all goes to hell at least one of us can get out. Besides… he was exhausted and scared; fear will make you do silly things.

  Now being invisible and silent, it’s an opportunity to strike but these sneak tools aren’t always fully safe; true sight, true hearing, and the not so unique: sniff, are dangerous. Considering how tough this thing, is it’s probably got at least one of those to counter my attempt. I snuck around and got up into the attic and hid in a corner.

  I was able to notice from up here, it had consumed all the shards in the cellar and put two and two together thinking it was, and it is likely now the reason the barrier is staying powered and stronger than when Broekslang had control of it.

  Looking down from the ceiling I thought to myself it’s now or never, drank several durability potions and I dropped down. The creature noticed me dropping down, but I was unable to deduce how. One of its large hands punched me midair, causing me to lose control of the droplet and it fell through the air as I blasted through the armoury doors.

  It felt as if time was stopping, watching everything happen slowly. My vision faded through losing consciousness. The droplet fell onto the creature and the deepest black erupted throughout the manor. The creature screaming was the last thing I saw and heard.

  “N-NO, HOW!? L_LOST TO THE AGES, BLECH~”

  Darkness and Silence.

  “Well done boy.”

  My eyes opened and I was in the grounds of the garden, but it also seemed like it wasn’t quite the place either.

  “You defeated a baptised one fate denier, you, and your friends deserve much praise for this” A dark portal-like whirl appeared to be next to my face “Is it you? The thing from before?

  “Yes boy, it is I-” it said.

  “Who and What are you?”

  “Who am I? well, this I cannot say for my purpose was served long, long ago… and I have long since stepped beyond… though I suppose you may call me Tofla for the time being. A fragment of another age, hoping to make things right… that have gone wrong.”

  “There are agreements in place that prevent me interfering, I may only guide. “Well, that can’t be true, or else that stuff you gave me for the fight would have counted against that surely?” I said to Tofla. “So, what was it, the stuff I used against that crazy thing, we were practically swimming in enhancements, and it may as well as fought us with one tendril tied behind it’s back” I followed up with.

  "What I gave you was guidance… AND The Obelisks Eight. It was down to you fate denier to make what you will with them. The thing you battled with your friends, it is called an Inv?rs?r, that particular one was the Holy-Inv?rs?r, a corrupted entity that comes forth during a broken baptism, the summoning of something forcefully from another time, another place in the universe, they are not meant to exist, the signs to summon those were taken by the gods they lead to nothing but misery.

  “The little girl? She is one of the corrupt ones too I take it?” Tofla stayed silent for few moments from my question towards it.

  “I am not aware of this little girl that you mentioned said Tofla The voice sounded curious “Are you feeling well fate denier perhaps you took a bump to the head you are a fragile creature after all"

  I stared into the sky for a brief time. And rolled with it pretending I was hurt “I just don’t get any of this, and yes, I think I did just take a bump to the head too hard I will be ok.

  “What is a tear… sorry The Obelisk Eight?” I said now holding my hands over my eyes trying to block the light out.

  “Your world uses hierarchies so perhaps I should explain it using that? Tofla echoed.

  “Sure” I said too tired to fully talk and move at this point

  “If the elemental sands are at the bottom and then, shards, clusters, rods, boulders, and formations are the at the top with the most power and uses. Then the obelisk eight are the purest and raw elemental forms, born during my time in the past. A failsafe, designed to stop the things that should never be.

  “Inv?rs?r?” I quickly replied.

  “Things such as those but not exclusively those” said Tofla.

  “Bit vague mate” I said frustrated and not particularly thrilled about these damn gods and other worldly entities invading my normalcy for the third time.

  “Forgive me for the mystery fate denier, should I break the agreements I will cease to be for eternity” Tofla echoed. “Always keep your friends close, united you stand against the perils ahead, I will return to you soon, go, return to your party members.”

  The whirling dark faded away and I stayed for a few more seconds in my homemade darkness. “Obelisk eight huh…” What have I got myself into now z-z-zingeroni! I thought to myself aloud.

  Seems I zoned out for a while as a kick in the leg arrived and caused me to sit up straight and swing my fist out in a reflex.

  “Wardi. glad to see ya standing man!” I stood up and punched his arm it’s only fair after all tit for tat. He made an oof face and we both laughed. Rhua and the rest came over to us, and I saw when everyone had their backs turned to them that Horace gestured to Rhua do the high five jive, she reluctantly agreed barely put any energy she normally gives for it, whilst they quickly did it before anyone else caught on and wanted to join in.

  That was one hell of a dangerous event, that darkness… it was almost pleasant dare I say? As if it wouldn’t hurt me if I tried touching it?” said Wardi.

  “How you interpret the world really matters, light isn’t always as honourable as it seems, and the dark is loathed when it’s just misunderstood” Lucy said with a proud tone in her words. I think this, has been testament to that, don’t you?" Wardi shrugged at her words and Rhua responded.

  “Darkness banished an evil today let’s not forget that, still though, I can’t believe, that we all levelled up twice though, that’s never happened” Rhua followed up with.

  “I learned a new Agni art, it sounds scary though. Hope I don’t have to use it anytime soon.” Said Lucy

  The manor is all but destroyed as I looked around, the Von family had gathered near the main entrance bloody, bruised beaten, and yet still smiling.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Good on them for making it out of there” I said, nodding in the direction of the family.

  “Broekslang is going to be on a bounty list if we don’t intervene and help set the record straight though, we should stick with them for when the guards arrive” Rhua said with a stern voice.

  Rhua called to them, waving at them to come in closer to us. “I think it’s best we stick together Von’s… the guards will expect a full report for what occurred here” said Rhua to the family.

  Broekslang replied “Right you are lads and lasses, lead the way, this old coot has had enough for one day.”

  “Broek my love, here, let me help you walk, put your arm around me” said Frigibits with Rella helping on the other side.

  “Thank you, my little angels he said gratefully,”

  It wasn’t long as we limped back into town before the head guard was in full step heading our direction. Hattie was also with him towering above everyone as expected of her. “Wardi! what’s going on!? The town evacuated from all the chaos from the manor! She said concerned.

  “Better sit down for this one Wardi said, though, without even a remote chance of us knowing it they were there, Guild leader Emcee and her co commanders Frank and Curly. Stood tall, dangerous, and proud, she was looking exceptionally enraged but that is her typical look.

  “What an honour it is for someone of your prestige to come meet us personally” said Wardi not before having to quickly react to Frank’s quick step and defend himself “Watch your fucking tone boy, I could end you easily and she would demolish all of you alone” pushing Wardi down to his knees in a show of force.

  “Huk! Show your respect for the boss mate, won’t be telling you twice! Said curly.

  “ENOUGH” she shouted, stamping her foot causing all but Rhua to lose balance in the tremor.

  “You lot get to the guild if you know what’s good for you, she said angrily. She pointed at Hattie and the head guard Sazi, as if to say you pair to, then told Frank to go find Larry and in her unnecessary words

  “That fucking stinking butler Hans” And so we did mostly out of terror, nothing says come and spend time with us like the threat of quick death.

  I personally have visited many guilds and but it’s my first time being in one of the top ten. Zooport guild was far plainer and more modest than I expected inside…minus the taxidermy trophy wall above the bar and guild flags that hung from the rafters. If you someone told me this was tavern, I would have thought none the wiser.

  Frank and curly set up multiple anti sneak spells and Emcee herself casted the most violent wind barrier I ever seen and felt, there is definitely no one, besides those in the top ten rankings that could even try to listen in on this conversation coming.

  “Now, Broekstwonk, it’s your manor that’s been the talk of the town for a while now, so you’re first up to talk. Emcee said. I looked at the others wondering if someone may get bumped off in here, she is serious the pressure in the room, its intensity is unbearable, are all the high rankers like this? I thought to myself.

  Meanwhile ….

  “Your grace, the CCTV is fully operational once again, the G.I.T’s have been hard at work to meet your expectations and more, they have agreed among themselves: Godployees must always work in pairs during the shift.

  “What say you Yayzus, earth was your department, so tell me how did the space2u company end up being on the trajectory course for Terra and Malicore, I’ve waited eight years for an answer, lest you forget…they’re not even in the same direction!? Tyrokun the 7th shouted to the lesser god.

  “We are still investigating your graces, earth earned the space traversal right, but it is clear their technology is still behind, far behind in fact compared to worlds like Regalsha, I believe the cause of the problem was a software failure that failed to update the auto pilot coordinates, they still use Ffenstri 89 in most of their systems.

  “Of all the higher-level humanoid worlds, how did that one end up progressing beyond its limits said Eria the 2nd.

  A voice in the background coughed “Lowkey” cough.

  “Omg Z shut the F up." said Yayzus looking at Zeus in his typical toga and sandals, was letting out a bellow of a laugh and won himself an invisible smack from Nellah which sent him flying out a window.

  “Loykey…that little dritt deserved to be punished, hijacking the ships from the Scioners and puppeteering them around earth, setting the natives into frenzy, he knew what he was doing when crashed the ships there too, he practically gave them a free pass to space with their tech, lucky for us they’re too stupid to figure out the insta-port technology and only managed to figure out how to make galacta-fuel for their puny earth rockets."

  Tyrokun the 7th said. “Of course, your graces, he’s serving a Jurassic sentence at HMP God Harsh after all for his stupidity, rest assured he’s being regularly brutalised by Atnas himself.”

  “SPLENDIDLY GOOD” said the seven of dawn in unison.

  “Always doing good work Atnas, He deserves to be in line for a promotion to the lessers if you ask me” says Tyrokun.

  “I’ll consider it…Now for the agenda at hand” Serilia spoke aloud.

  Eria floated up into the air with a parchment at hand showing various statistics. “Phaals chasm ideas have been a great a success, feedback gathered by the lesser has given us some valuable insight into the system. The inhabitants and I quote ‘Go bananas’ whenever one of them opens and it’s lead to some interesting results when the drop items get used by the sentients particularly by those with creation-based skills.

  Sentient 1337 – Broekslang Von, using his status to gather expensive materials appeared to have manufactured a potion called ‘Abominade’ which gave him some notable physical enhancements against that group that has the non-sent in it. Serilia upon hearing about her old creation perked up,

  “Oh my little cherub is still around” she scorned “That little shit and his nerve Serilia thought to herself “I do hope he continues on his merry DEATH! DEATH! DEATH she screamed internally - "way" smiling as she said so.

  “In other news it seems Aaya has been spo-“

  I zoned out whilst the group caught Emcee up to date with hippity happenings that had been going.

  “I’m so sorry Emcee, I wish I could help but, I genuinely cannot remember anything about what I wrote in my journal, it must be a side effect of the manipucent." Broekslang said to Emcee.

  “It is a good thing your wife, could remember the group you dealt with, I believe them to be real, their Identities to not be, however."

  “Alright, butty, It’s Emcee here. I got told it’s important to explain the ranking system a bit. And I’m high up it so I know a lot more than these dipdritts. “There’s many in the rankings who don’t wanna show their real strength, it’s a violent world and some of em out there wanna be at the top of the food chain.

  Us in the top twenty is where you know, not to f around and find out, we are powerful, and everyone knows it only causes massive damage if we scrapped but we never do… unless that Edge Lord is around. Since nobody has ever actually seen number one, Edge is considered the strongest officially and an absolute nutter.”

  “You hear those stories of people that love a good fight, well Edge Lord just goes out swinging for the person he sees. His class, Overtaker, infuses him with pure uncontrollable battle lust, either he takes you out, you knock him out or you kill him…though it doesn’t manifest around non-combat classes so there are some exceptions.

  I had the pleasure of encountering him coming out of chasm with Velvet Blossom Ranked fourth and Stonker ranked fifth. It took the three of us working together just to knock him out. The top one hundred is a dirt storm of fighting, but the ranks are disingenuous here, they aren’t a real representation of it. Rank ninety-nine could be powerful as rank fifty-two for example and since some of them hide how much power they really have, I think you get the picture. Anyway, im bored of this peace out!

  “Manipucent are rare, and Broekslang is well known for his wealth. “You think he was targeted boss? said Curly.

  "FUCKING hell yes, he was targeted Curly, and it’s probably one in the top one hundred."

  “Boss, I’ll look into some suspects, I think it will be a arts user, no way would a fighter class have that sort of smarts about them for a plan like that you know what I mean?”

  “That’s a terrible stereotype, we just finished talking about how people hide their true strengths for the rankings, if anything a fighter would be the smartest pick, especially now that double classing has become a trend” said Rhua frustrated at being pigeonholed into the ‘Must be dumb because not a arts user grunt-grunt’ category.

  “You’re not even in the top 100 so shut the F^&* up loser” Frank raged at the gall that she thinks she has any position to talk.

  “Enough Frank, she has a point, a mage may be the most likely candidate, but it could be anyone, I suggest looking into who has had a hold of manipucent in the past.” Said Emcee

  “Well Barry has had his fair share but you know he’s an honest bloke, he gave all his away to the leaky tap back in forty-five which was on an odd choice but in his words”: “they’re neutral, they’re not going to get involved with anything outside the business, and the failsafe spell automatically teleports the traitor to the shame square near Bompeeyo’s domain, and nobody wants to risk a clash with the one colossi who actually wants to scrap if the chance occurs Wardi said jokingly”

  Emcee smiled ever so slightly, I’m not sure if she thought it was funny or was thinking of the possibility of what that fight would look like and is enjoying the thought in a sadistic manner.

  Either way, I looked away in case I caught her attention. “I’ll get in touch with some of the other guilds and hold a meeting, I appreciate the intel ya dingbats now clean up and Fuck off I have no other need for you” said Emcee politely.

  “Thanks for your hospitality, Emcee” we all said together, and Frank and curly both decided to shove us in the direction of the door. Though they were more polite with the Von family, You save a rich bunch, putting our lives on the line and we get treated like this… elitism is crazy I thought to myself fake smiling but dying inside!

  “Here” said frank who slammed a large bag of HMC’s into Horace knocking the wind out of him and I’m sure his eyes popped out his head for a brief second before he slumped to the floor.

  “From the boss." Frank followed up with - "she said “Ta”." And the door was slammed so hard we were pushed back a little and Horace slid down to the street still grasping the money.

  “Her lackey could do that, it’s scary to think he’s forty places lower than that one and he has that much power I said”.

  “Screw that guy pushing us around like that, where the hell where they when all that was going down!” Rhua said angrily. “Probably in a Chasm or dealing with someone far more worthy than our mere mortal selves” said Lucy who was silent up until now.

  “We should meet up with Larry and Hans, I want to know if that little girl is doing all right, maybe she has woken up after the big clash, I’ll get some niceties along the way we can try to lighten the atmosphere after all that.