Maximilian made his way over to the child. The boy was covered in dirt and had several rips in his clothes. Other than that he seemed fine which only made Maximilian more confused. He was just about to ask what was wrong when he saw the look of terror in the boy's face. He looked around and finally noticed what was in the room. It was empty except for a statue that had to be over a hundred feet tall and a pair of double doors. The scale of the room made no sense. He hadn't gone deep enough underground for something this big to be here.

  That should make it impossible. They should be back on the surface. Yet he had been there and hadn't seen any signs of the place. That wasn't even the strangest part. The statue was looking at him. At first, he thought someone had designed it to look down on this spot as if trying to frighten people away, but he realized that was wrong. The statue could at least its eyes could. He knelt down with his back toward the child ready to take him out of here as soon as possible. "Climb up. I am going to take us out of here."

  The boy hesitated before wrapping his arms around Maximilian's shoulders. Maximilian never took his eyes of the statue. He wasn't how or why but there was a clear sense of danger coming from it. Not that he thought the statue would attack them. It was more like the statue was a guardian for the massive door and that if he had tried to get any closer something would happen. Part of him wanted nothing more than to try it. Than to see what was on the other side but he didn't. He had to get the boy to safety first. He took one last glance at the statue and then stepped through the hole in the wall. He decided not to release his dao or anything that could've drawn the statues attention. He couldn't shake the feeling that it was wrong to do so.

  The sensation didn't pass until he was halfway back to the surface. At which point he placed the palm of his hand against a wall and took a breath. His mind raced to piece together anything he might've missed from either the room or the boy's appearance. It was clear that the statue had kept the kid safe but had it stopped him from leaving? Or had the statue attacked something? He hadn't seen blood or any signs of a battle so he thought that unlikely.

  He considered asking the child but he didn't want to risk hurting him. He wasn't a psychologist but he figured the kids would have mental issues already. That and he in truth he wanted to explore the answer himself. He tried to communicate with the kid several times with no luck. He wasn't sure if it was because he was afraid or if he just couldn't speak. Regardless there was little he could do about it. When he returned to the surface he found his Mother and several others waiting. The group was dressed similarly in a set of dark red robes. That made them look like they were all in the middle of their graduations. He could tell that they weren't talismans which explained the makeshift armor. It was all very post apocalypse which only made him feel worse. He needed to find a way to get them proper robes, weapons and everything else they would need.

  "You found another one?" His mother asked as she gestured for one of the soldiers to step forward. Maximilian handed the child over. "Its time for you to rest. We will have someone stand guard here and let us know should there be anymore people."

  Maximilian wanted to argue. Wanted to go back down there on the off chance the kids were wrong and that there were others but he also knew she was right. He didn't need much sleep anymore but that didn't stop him from feeling exhausted. He glanced at the hole and nodded. He would have the time to explore soon enough. Whether it was to look for more people or explore the strange room. His mother gestured for him to follow and he did. "You've done good work. We are all thankful for your help." She said as they began their walk back to the heart of the settlement. "Have you decided what you wanted to do with the people here? The settlement could use some work, but someone could salvage it. Or we could have everyone moved to Nubia. There is interest and several people are able and willing to pay for their own transport."

  Maximilian nodded and pulled up his quests progress. When he saw that the progress had increased, he shrugged. He didn't want to uproot the people here but if they wanted to leave there was no reason to stop them. It would be easier to protect everyone on the mountain anyway. "We aren't forcing anyone to leave, nor will we force people to stay. If they want to go we help them. If it's a financial issue, then we do what we can to support them."

  "I get that you want to help. But if I’m right about those credits, there are things you can buy, right?" she said. "How many are you planning on spending on other people? I don't understand cultivation much at all and in truth I can't say I care to. That being said your assistant has explained some of it to me. Your 'momentum' is important. You can't afford to slow down for too long or else you might not be able to get it going again. You should save your credits to help you buy what you need." Maximilian was about to blow off her comment when he caught the look in her eyes. He understood what she was saying and part of him agreed. Hell the rational part agreed but a more stubborn part disagreed. He had real power now. He flexed his fingers and looked up at the stars.

  "I get it and I will. I don't understand a lot of it but what I do know is I've been blessed or gifted or whatever you want to call it with high affinities. I barely understand what that means but I do know that my path is easier than others. I lead the world in both levels and dao. I want to do something good with it. I can afford to give up a lot. How many people out there are going to die because they can't get here or to some other safe place? How many because they were unfortunate enough to be born to late for whatever this is? I have the chance to do something good to be a symbol for change. A new leader for a new generation and I want to even if it makes my own road harder."

  They stopped and stood there in the dark street for what felt like an hour, but he knew it was less than thirty minutes. It was his mother who broke the silence. "You sound like your father. Every bit the idealist, every bit the hero of the story. Now I don't know where he is or even if he survived this chaos. Not only that, but I found you, or rather you found me and instead of buckling down. Instead, or securing your safety, I am watching you march off into battle. I understand what you're doing, but it's dangerous."

  Maximilian opened his mouth to reply but the words escaped him. A dozen options lay before him, but he knew none of them would work. None of them would make her feel better. If he were in her position, none of them would convince him either. So, he offered the only thing he could: "I will do my best."

  She nodded and the two started walking. Maximilian wanted to break the silence, but he knew he couldn't. That they had said everything there was to be said. Things didn't change until they had stepped through the teleporter to Nubia. "I am going to take the rest of the night to rest. If you all need me, feel free." He didn't need to say the words, but they made him feel better. He watched her head into the command center before he shot off. When he arrived in front of his house, he paused. He had to double-check that he had gone to the right spot because his small, humble home was gone. In its place was something more impressive. He wouldn't call it a mansion, at least not by old Earth's standards, but it was nice. Three stories and surrounded by a simple stone wall.

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  There was a yard and backyard, which he thought was a bit pointless, but it made the whole thing come together aesthetically, so he couldn't complain. He entered the house and took a quick tour. The uppermost floor was the simplest but also the oddest of the three. It was one large room with a flag in each corner. They had made him a cultivation chamber. They even had his mat in the center of it all. There was a small podium behind it where he could place a spirit stone if he so chose. Altogether, he liked it. There was room for it to grow should he find things to add. Part of him wished for more light, but that would be later. He strode over to the mat and sat down in the lotus position. Once he was comfortable, he pulled up his status screen. Only to discover that he had earned a new title.

  Savior: Save more than ten people. Reward: +2 points to all attributes.

  The title didn't provide many attributes, but it did give him a boost to Luck, which was more than worth it. Not that it would make a difference on his actions moving forward. He had decided to save them, so he saved them. He closed his screen and considered starting a meditation session but decided against it. He wanted actual sleep and a shower. There would be time tomorrow to cultivate. He go to his feet and went about his nightly ritual. He awoke several hours later refreshed and ready for a new day. He looked outside and confirmed that the sun hadn't risen yet which meant he should have a few more hours before morning. Which should let him push to the next level and make some decent progress onto the next. He made his way back into his cultivation chamber, placed a stone in the array and activated it. He activated his cultivation technique and energy poured into him. He was forced to place two more stones into the array before it was enough to push him to level 17. This time he spent the point on Wisdom instead of Agility. He wasn't sure why he felt like he should make that change but he couldn't ignore stop himself. Wisdom would be key if and when he came across something that could target his mind so it should be a wise choice regardless of the why.

  He gave himself a few more minutes to draw in ambient energy before he ended the session. He had to fight the urge to review his to do list as he stepped outside. Only to find his mother already waiting for him. He was about to greet her when he saw the look on her face. The rare display of emotion put him on guard. "We received a messenger from the United World Government. They want a meeting."

  Maximilian cocked his head. His mind raced to try and find connections there. He hadn't done anything to them since the New Philadelphia incident. He doubted they were upset about that. Further they should at least think that he was the leader of the leader board though a smart person would know it was true. He had said as much after all, so he doubted they wanted to fight. Which meant they either wanted to ally or recruit him. With the latter being more likely. "I see and am I supposed to go alone?"

  She shook her head. "They did not specify but you won't be going alone." Maximilian was about to point out that he was not only stronger than anyone that could join him. When she glared at him. "I am aware it is not about strength but about perception. People need to see you as a leader."

  "Going alone would also send a message." He replied.

  "I am aware but this will be for the best. I will gather five people to join us. Can you be ready to go in thirty minutes." She asked though it was a question and more a statement. Maximilian nodded. "Bring Joshua, if he's willing." He watched her leave and then turned his attention to the library. The shift in priorities was only a little annoying. It gave him an excuse to do some reading which was always worth it. He entered the area and took a seat in his personal reading nook. The account he chose wasn't anything special, but it was something he was curious about. Class selection. He was pretty sure the Network had removed anything that would help him prepare for when the time came but it wasn't a perfect censor. For example, the account he read described the preparations. Of an unremarkable cultivator had to take to prepare but it also had his inner musings. Including his disdain for a richer cultivator who could buy his way to level 27. There were no more details on that part of the process. Maximilian was able to make some assumptions he felt good about. Either a person could drown themselves in spirit stones until they had the required energy or you could hire someone. A person that would defend you the same way he did for Joshua. He figured there could be a pill or potion for it to but without knowledge of alchemy that was a guess.

  He understood why you would and wouldn't want to follow that path. He knew firsthand that you didn't get a lot of energy when someone carried you. It also made sense that your achievements wouldn't count as much either. He had no idea how the Network would count what he had done but he had learned a bit about the Dao. He should be well accomplished by that alone. Not that he had access to enough stones or pills or anything that would let him jump ten levels but he could. Not that he would if he could. He had no guidance, no teacher nothing but he was gifted with good fortune. Which meant he needed to lean into it. His plan if you could call it that was to do as much as humanely possible and hope that he got something he liked from it. He had to admit that wasn't really a plan, but it was all he had, and he figured that it would work out. His attributes were textbook spell caster to the point that it worried him. His titles and to a lesser degree his dao fixed the problem a bit but he doubted it would stay like that for long. He had to assume that as people got their feet under them, they would start to catch up. That being said, he had the advantage today, and he wouldn't waste it.

  He went through a few other accounts but there was very little prescient information. He had learned that there were only 81 levels. In one of the oldest crystals there was something about their being nine stages before but either that wasn't the case anymore or it was wrong. He had even asked the librarian for more information but the bird refused. Something that only made the story weirder. The bird was an enigma but it had always asked for information in exchange for what it knew except now. He decided to leave it alone. He would learn soon enough and he was already running late for the meeting. He left his reading area and five minutes later he stood in front of the teleportation array. His mother, Joshua and several others waited for him. Despite how confused they seemed they all looked serious. He wouldn't call them soldiers by any stretch of the imagination, but they were here. Which meant they were serious. He could respect that. He was about to tell them to stick close and he would protect them if something went wrong but something stopped him. He felt like it would be insulting to their resolve. They had come here to be a body guard and he wouldn't insult that.

  "Greetings everyone. I am honored you have come to support us and to represent Nubia like this. I will leave my mother in your care so please take care of her." He flashed them all a smile and then stepped up to the array. He stepped through array and found himself suspended in nothing. The sensation lasted for less than a breath before his feet found solid ground. He stood in an unadorned metal room with only one exit. An exit that was blocked by five men with large rifles. Rifles that were pointed at him. Maximilian only cocked his head in amused curiosity.