Ch 44

  Finally, alone, safe, and free from any urgent matters for the first time since arriving in this new world, Matt sat atop the crumbling fort wall and gazed out into the inky night sky. The breathtaking display before him stirred a deep sense of wonder, yet his thoughts soon scattered like stardust. He pondered where Earth lay amid the vast sea of celestial bodies, contemplated his next destination, and, more profoundly, questioned the significance of anything in comparison to such infinite vastness. It was then that Tempormr spoke once more.

  "It seems that you were successful in surviving that dungeon," the voice intoned coolly.

  "No thanks to you," Matt shot back sharply.

  "Peering into such places is beyond—" Tempormr began.

  "I don’t care," Matt interrupted, his voice thick with resentment. "You sent me here without even warning me that those who came with me would be trapped inside."

  "Do not speak to me in such a manner. You know nothing of the rules governing your existence at this moment, but—"

  "I don’t care. As of now, I consider all our deals broken."

  "That is not for you to decide."

  "I don’t care."

  "Then tell me, how did I break our deal?"

  "You caused me to harm others, and it nearly cost lives."

  "I gave you no orders. I merely pointed you in a direction. Everything that followed was your own doing."

  "You manipulated me with the information you provided."

  "Yes, and I will do so many more times. The key is that I will not order you to do a single thing when I know that the death of you or those under your protection is a possibility."

  "Then how can I trust anything you tell me moving forward?"

  "Can you point to anything I have lied about?"

  Matt frowned, feeling as though he were conversing with a diabolical figure. He had no means of verifying anything other than the fact that Tempormr was undeniably powerful—a force far beyond his control. The truth was, Tempormr’s influence extended well beyond mere words and actions. The real question was just how much they truly knew.

  "Everything," Tempormr stated simply. "At least, everything you are aware of—your own thoughts, your deepest fears—like the weak minds of those around you, open books to me. I know every argument you might form, every counter you might muster. Would you like to know what Apricity has thought of you since all this happened? How your face comes to her mind every time she faces danger? Perhaps you would even like to know what Bob truly thinks of you."

  "And you claim not to be a god? No, it’s just that calling yourself one would put me off."

  "No, I refuse to allow myself to be so arrogant. It is the arrogant who always fall, for they overestimate their own capabilities. On the other hand, there are those like you, who exceed what they should be capable of when pushed to the limit, yet if given a choice, would avoid any semblance of greatness. You see living merely as the goal of your existence, yet you save many through your actions simply by refusing to abandon them."

  "I want to change our deal," stated Matt.

  "No," answered Tempormr firmly. "There’s no way to force me from reading your mind—unless you hide in places beyond my reach or muster enough power to block me out."

  Before he could stop himself, Matt wondered, "How much power do I need?"

  "When you solidify six or seven aspects of your path, it should be possible for you to prevent me from intruding," Tempormr explained further. "Unless, of course, you choose to squander one of those aspects on a power designed to block my access—a choice I highly doubt you'll make, judging by the fact that you prioritized self-sacrifice as your second aspect."

  Questions swirled in Matt’s mind about the intricacies of paths, and how he was supposed to comprehend that the blood healer was a cross between regeneration and self-sacrifice.

  "You wish to redo our deal," Tempormr continued, his tone calm yet decisive, "so let me present an offer that I believe benefits us both. Consider it a take-it-or-leave-it proposition: if you refuse, our original arrangement remains intact."

  "Fine," replied Matt, eager to resolve matters quickly so he could return to his solitude.

  "I will reach out to Apricity, sharing with her vivid images drawn from your memories that depict your current circumstances. My goal is to earn her trust and convince her to allow me to guide her, helping her develop the strength needed to survive—and, when the time is right, to ready her as a potential mate for you, should she wish to be."

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  He paused before adding, "If she is killed as a result of my direction or negligence, you will be freed from our deal. All other restrictions you previously established will remain, but you must never seek any method to break our contract from this point forward."

  "You're mocking me," retorted Matt, his tone edged with disbelief. "Is this your way of implying that no matter what you offer, I’m bound to refuse?"

  "No," Tempormr replied calmly, "it’s my way of showing you the path you’re following—a path where you sacrifice your own potential happiness for the sake of others. After all, she is the one who would leap at the chance, and you will eventually agree as things are, once you truly understand her feelings."

  Matt paused, aware that his emotions were a tangled mess after Zara’s kiss. How could he possibly deny that giving up on escaping Tempormr for her was inevitable, particularly if it meant boosting her chances of survival? Yet, Matt also wondered just how lethal their current predicament truly was.

  “It really isn’t dangerous for the vast majority of the human population from your world,” Tempormr explained with a cool detachment. “It’s the outcasts and loners like you who have it the hardest; it’s always those among your numbers where problems arise. That’s why I put on an act of displeasure when dealing with you, even as I secretly search for someone like you to utilize.”

  “So I’m not the only one you have plans for right now?” Matt asked, a trace of incredulity in his voice.

  “No,” Tempormr replied, his tone unwavering. “Anomalies like yourself are rare. There are hundreds of others who, if left unchecked, would morph into tyrants—gleefully indulging in debauchery while amassing power. Believe me, before you all return to your home world, many of these individuals will make the goblins seem tame. But that isn’t your problem.”

  Matt scoffed, “It feels like you enjoy taunting me. I chose to live in solitude so I could escape the chaos of the world and embrace peace.”

  Tempormr leaned in, his eyes gleaming with a hidden challenge. “So, will you leave Apricity to her fate, or are you prepared to trade your freedom for hers?”

  “What do you mean?” Matt demanded, his tone both wary and desperate.

  “In this very moment, one of those men who sees himself as God’s gift to women has set his sights on her. He won’t take no for an answer when the opportunity arises.”

  “You’re basing that solely on his intentions. How can you be sure he’ll actually act?” Matt protested.

  Tempormr’s tone as he responded was chilling. “True enough, though I must add that she wouldn’t be his first victim.”

  “There’s no way you can prove any of that,” Matt countered bitterly.

  “Listen carefully,” Tempormr continued, his voice smooth and measured. “If you accept my offer, she will be joining you and Bob when I transfer you off this world. If she isn’t there, you’re free from our deal. I’ll even throw in a detailed explanation of what you gained in that dungeon and the specifics of your level up.”

  Matt’s voice trembled with a mix of anger and resignation. “And what about avoiding tying my fate to others?”

  “Your fate was already intertwined with Bob’s and Apricity’s,” Tempormr replied coldly. “Left untouched, neither of them would be the same the next time you lay eyes on them. The issue is that you’re considering dragging more than one person from your world with you. You must let go of any sense of obligation; you’ve already done far more than you promised. They know you’re leaving once you hit level 9, so continue training Greg to become a skilled wielder of magic. Take comfort in the fact that they will be among the strongest when you depart.”

  For a long, heavy moment, Matt hesitated. He knew he was being manipulated and Tempormr’s true motives were hidden beneath layers of deceit.

  “I just can’t,” Matt finally admitted. “I can’t lock myself into a cage, even if it means Apricity will suffer. She’s already beyond my reach. But judging from your words, you’ll save her no matter what I say. It seems you’re utterly fixated on my future, irrespective of any deals I might strike with you.”

  Matt smiled as Tempormr fell silent—a moment of clarity striking him. Instead of trying to plan ahead before Tempormr even made an offer, he realized it was much easier to simply counter in the moment. After all, mind reading wasn’t omnipotent, nor could it predict the future. In that instant, a notification popped up that caught him off guard.

  Base mind stat +1.

  Nothing else accompanied that message, but as a slight headache washed over him, Matt sensed that his base stats were very different from his effective stats. Despite the nagging pain, the idea that he could increase his stats in ways other than leveling up sparked an entirely new series of questions. He almost felt Tempormr poised to use those questions as bait to entice him into a deal. But as the headache faded, a sobering thought crept in: perhaps he shouldn’t celebrate his minor victory over Tempormr too soon. After all, he was aware that his current ability to think and analyze surpassed what he’d known before, and he was convinced that Tempormr’s cerebral prowess was far beyond what any human should expect.

  With that in mind, he spoke aloud once more, “For the record, I know I can’t truly best you, but I don’t like the feeling of being toyed with or trapped.”

  Tempormr replied coolly, “Yes, well, regardless of your wishes, until you have the power to avoid either fate, I intend to do exactly that. Still, I’ll reward you a bit for acknowledging your helplessness against me. Your skill, ‘give of yourself,’ is a boosting ability that increases your durability and spirit when you’re actively sacrificing for others or have recently done so.”

  “Then if I stand in front of them taking a hit, would it work?” Matt asked.

  “No, not quite—but if you use ‘Injury Transfer,’ it might. The ambiguity of that skill suggests it will likely scale with the magnitude of the sacrifice,” Tempormr explained.

  Matt’s brow furrowed. “Are you saying that you know nothing about the skill?”

  Tempormr continued, “Yes, each path is unique—except perhaps for those who never reach E rank—and even two who follow the same path will acquire different skills. They’re adapted not only to the chosen path but also to the individual’s abilities. You have a natural affinity for regeneration, likely thanks to your bloodline, but you lack any inherent aptitude for healing others. That’s why you had to take the wound upon yourself, revealing that your bloodline’s life force is limited to its own survival.”

  “Any idea what that darkness was that I experienced when I was unconscious?” Matt inquired.

  “No, though I do worry that if you were to die, your body might become undead on its own, based on the available path options,” Tempormr warned.

  “What?” came out as a surprised retort.

  “As I said, I only know what your mind shows me. I don’t have all the answers, yet I see enough in you to feel comfortable taking these risks. Now, go back to the others before the situation deteriorates any further.”

  Matt frowned as he realized he hadn’t even been gone for long. He could only assume that Steven’s group was already stirring up trouble over one of the orders he had left with Eleanor.