Zak informed Jack that there was a bounty board to hunt things, this also included people looking for others with specific skills or abilities to go take on a portal or quest.

Though we all had a good look to ourselves on our current perspective of things going on. I was still reeling from what it is that was happening. The city went through shifts sometimes, in the mage council that ran things, or even in our relation to geo-politics or things being made. It felt like I was catching on pretty quick, but that didn’t mean logically I wasn’t afraid of the prospect of what life was now.

Was it just our city? The world? Would I have to travel out of the city or stay? Were we isolated from reality? One thing I knew for certain was that the only way a skill, boon, or power, could have been passed on was that it was possible to survive this. Somehow.

When he was asked about what the portals were mostly like, Zak had a dismal look in his eye, “It’s…fucked up…” He didn’t say much more than that and changed the topic just as fast, so Jack didn’t push him on it.

“They got all types of stuff…I have seen people with high tech rifles, people who can shape shift, others who are far stronger then I remember them the previous day…it’s crazy. I mean powers and magic were one thing, but some of this stuff seems like it’s right out of a book or some shit” Zak drank back the rest of his beer and washed the glass without haste.

“Yeah? Shape shift huh…where would I get that? ” Jack rubbed his chin, swirling the table spoon or of his drink.

“…it changes you on a fundamental level, litterly changes your genes and its horrendously painful…but you also come out pretty damned powerful too, but you will forever be marked by such a change and going back will always leave remnants. You know the tales of truth?”

“Yeah the explanation on all that is, how everything began, pieced together by those from different planes of existence they say. You seem to know what it’s like, you get one?” Jack swirled his drink much slower as he looked over Zak.

“Yeah exactly, and that comes from the Beastman races in the world who are descendants of those people from other planes. They have it naturally, different genes, but now we can too. It ain’t that obvious, I got the genes of a tiger. They nicknamed me the Tiger demon” Zak took his shirt and jacket off, showing his bulging muscles and several scars that crossed his body. Jack wasn’t estranged to the scarred body of another man as he had fought quite a few, lived with the rest, and killed the others.

However, Jack set his drink down when he saw Zak’s skin bulge. Hairs started to break out from his skin as it fell off in sheets, black and orange stripes covered his body as the hair took over.

Even his palms grew wider, with thick blade like claws protruding from where his fingertips were previously. His face squared up, and thick fangs came out from his mouth as his nose pushed forward. The most stunning thing was how his iris thinned out vertically into that of a cat.

“wHOOwhoo! You weren’t lyin!” Jack couldn’t say much more than that, his eye brows raised and his brain reeled at the concept he now understood what he meant by it, shape shifting. True Transformation.

A deep voice resonated from Zak’s throat akin to a low waking thunder, “Just like here, in another place there is a god called Genome…he is more of a mad scientist in my opinion. He can change the composition of your body, add genes to you, hell…make you a demon for all and tense and purposes. You can upgrade your attributes there too…I have a strength of multiple men personally…I left the place though because people were starting to act like animals…”

Jack wanted to laugh, but as he looked at Zak stare at his palms he realized it might not be a joke.

“I will keep that in mind…where is this place?” Jack couldn’t help but ask.

“Here…give me your medium” Zak’s hand reached forward and by the time it reached Jacks wrist a human hand touched his watch. It was that quick. Zak touched his own watch, and then moved it near Jack’s again. Jack flicked up his display, and a map appeared detailing a long drawn out path across the city. It wasn’t all the way on the other side, but it was in the south section of the city. To be exact the south eastern side.

“Thanks…ill pay you back for this” Jack flipped the map away and shook his hand.

“Don’t mention it…if you go there, be careful. Mages are a lot nicer here then the people there…if we have mage faction here, then they have tribes down there”

“I was wondering, what is amongst the list for gene splicing?” Jack couldn’t help but be curious seeing Zak transform into a weretiger.

“A lot, and then mixes of those a lot’s. Demon genes, angel genes, animal genes, beast genes, and if you have an affinity then you can have quite the powerful transformation…I knew a guy with an affinity for fire, and when he took the genes of the Fire snake from that mountain range like what…300 miles from the city? He could breathe fire like a fucking dragon…it was insane”

“Wow…that does sound insane” Jack tried picturing a lizard looking guy with scales breathing fire, and couldn’t help but shake his head, “Damn…”

“Yeah…you are here, got some affinity?” Zak couldn’t help but ask his own question.

“Yeah…wind, or rather air” Jack said waving his hand and casting a breeze against Zak.

“Damn man…let me remember…they got some for avian like bird genes down there, hawks, eagles, you name it. Those might fit you the best.”

“I was actually thinking a wolf…werewolf in fact” Jack smiled “I was read stories from my mom as a kid of tales of men hunting such beasts. Powerful and fast, striking to the last.

“Ah the Wind wolf…they have those out in the wild, I almost forgot they even existed since we haven’t seen a migration near the city in too many years to count, go for that. It has your affinity as well.”

Wind wolves like people; shared an affinity for an element, as most animals did. They shared an affinity for air, and hunted amongst a forest in the far north. They were swift, silent, and deadly. The world apart from strange occurrences: was full of deadly beasts and creatures as well. Even dragons weren’t unheard of, just never seen. So the creatures of ‘ancient’ times were more of myth now adays. However, like the fire snake he just mentioned the proof was there that it was possible that other such greater beasts existed like the dragon.

Those that seemed to know would never say, and those that didn’t would rarely ever ask. 

Solomon walked over and patted Jack, who nodded and waved to Zak he would be back, setting his cup off to the side.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had overheard their conversation not far from me, currently most of my attention was looking at a bounty board posted on a wall for a low level quest, “In our currency section of our watches…we are all broke. You earn currency by gathering certain things for people attached to a god, the temple, working for a business detailed as a city job etc. Like this tavern, that guy you talked to gets payed to work as a bar tender by the gods. I learned you can make money working in these places, but not as much as ‘Adventuring’ for it. Although this way is far… far safer, much more lucrative.”

Jack nodded and looked over the bounty board.

Alexandra pointed to one she was looking at, “This one is set not that far away…it says to bring back the materials of a beast in a certain portal, it’s issued by a mage. I heard from a mage in the tavern there are quests like this all the time, as certain spells need certain materials for crafting an item. Or bringing it to the craftsmen of this sanctuary to make something…I hear there are lists for what materials are needed. There is a ‘God of craft’, as well as that Imp or their brethren, and small temples of each of the ten prime gods in every sanctuary. Although…each city sanctuary details a major god, like here the god of magic.”

“That would make sense…to have to travel far and back just to reach your god would be tiresome.” Malcom sighed.

“They also said…that if you bestow yourself to a certain god, wherever you can find their shrine or small temple you can transport back to their major city” Alexandra had made note of this, as if they chose here…then even if they crossed the city they could come back here without having to journey back.

I couldn’t help but think very well of this, it was highly useful to anyone, especially in the current era.

Ana was thinking over something, “In each city they have a hall for healers too…doctors, people who make potions through alchemy to heal people. I have a power involved with healing, I am sure they would offer me quite the sum to work for them. What do you think Solomon?”

“Not a bad idea while were here…although, you are pretty useful on the road” He smirked at her, and she slapped him upside the head.

“Ow…” He laughed.

I could feel a frown slowly forming on my face, “He’s right though. We have quite the knowledge on several things, but not the potential of them. If I go see this god of magic, want me to ask what certain things would look like for you, Alex, or Jack? I overheard you say you wanted the wolf gene, and this goes for everyone else…we have to start thinking about just what kind of ‘Player’ we want to be”

Everyone nodded, they didn’t know just what kind of skills, powers, abilities, or items were out there in the world but if they had a thought in mind for what to pursue; it make their decisions later on a lot easier.

How did I know that? Because I didn’t know jack diddily shit either, just an over attentive imagination to lean on. My role was figuring shit out, I was an investigator. Time to investigate.

Alexandra looked out the tavern window to the tall mage building and its entrance across the way. “I want to be a mage, a pyromancer and get into spells from a distance and close combat. After seeing what we did…I don’t want to be in the middle of the street powerless. It scared me.” I held her hand and nodded.

Malcom spoke up as well, “I want to get into magic too…specifically Conjuration if I can, hidden weapons, maybe even a summoning ability or something as well as upgrade my ocular powers in some way. Something unique to me, and fun”

“Honestly not a bad idea” Jack laughed, “I want to become a beast honestly…yeah the wolf genes, and from what I hear I can do… I want the wind wolf transformation, and then I will pursue air affinity related abilities…buffs…whatever works with it, and become a real killing machine tank. Zak said your senses become heightened in certain ways, and it also boosts your attributes so…that will do for me”

i couldn’t shove the idea away; it fit a brick-shit-house of a man like him quite well.

Solomon turned to Ana who nodded to Jack, “I alsooo….overheard him say Angel genes…that doesn’t sound bad…I want skills that help buff people or help my healing power. Support type I guess?” Solomon wrapped his arm around her waist, “Then I’ll always need you with me”

I was tapping my arm in imaginative thought again, damn me, “What about you Sol?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I can’t upgrade my power, and I don’t have a magical affinity because of my power, was never tested for a vessel so who knows if this place fits me…unlike Mal who has an ability like yours that is half magic in some ways or related…I want armor, one that helps out the flaw in my power and then from there I want to train to use it better.”

I sighed, “Should I go see this Mage god first before we take up a bounty?”

Alexandra looked at me and scrunched her lips, “What do youuu want to be when you grow up”

“Pff…I like my guns…I want to just upgrade my attributes evenly over all, and maybe if this mage god tells me I can…upgrade my affinity for metal and lightning as those are my favorites. I can take on almost any roll, earth for tank, air for agility, fire for power; water for… water doesn’t really do much. Rubber for dexterity… but I like metal and lightning the most honestly. So I will train myself in those like Solomon his power. Maybe I can upgrade old froggo?”

Everyone shrugged, my guess was as good as theirs. A lot of doors were open; they would figure it out as we went along.

“So? Should I see him first?”

Solomon patted my shoulder, “If he just happens to give you a new power, would you be prepared for whatever came with it? You know your dysfunction for now; master what you have yet to know before you change hands. Ya dig?” These were actually really good words, i really hadn’t truly practiced with my newest power and thus should get a feel before being offered a different meal. Take a bite, enjoy it or hate it, move on to the next thing if it didn’t work out.

“I dig” I smiled.

“GoooOOD….now, I was thinking about this one.” Solomon pointed to a large framed quest on a bounty board ‘Survive the onslaught’ this was a strange quest to say the least. It, unlike going through one portal as they were told, was one that could be constantly challenged and remembered those that went through it to continue from where they left off. In fact, the portal was amongst several in the main grounds of the sanctuaries public area and in fact from the rest of the description every sanctuary had one.

“Rack up points by surviving the onslaught? It says its true death training, how can you train and yet die from it?” I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.

Jack and Solomon smiled, while Jack was the first to speak “It’s because…when you dance on the edge of death, it is the truest form of training. When you whack an opponent lightly, because you wish not to kill him when will you actually grow? If you fought to the death, you’d realize just how weak you can be sometimes…and powerful in other ways.”

The more Jack spoke, the more I felt that man was a treasure trove of stories.

Alexandra looked at them both, “So? You pussies going to wait up or skedaddle over?” She didn’t say it in a condescending tone, but the laced sarcasm was just the right mix to win her 6 birds from all three of us.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An old mage stood by a window high above the city, his robes fluttering faintly in the winds of altitude. Even from this height, his eyes locked onto the face of the boy he had come to know as Jaeger.

"Your Lordship," the mage said softly, his voice tinged with curiosity and reverence. "He has great potential. What do you think he’ll trade? His affinities are vast—he could combine almost anything."

A deeper, more ancient voice answered, resonating through the chamber like the echo of thought made manifest.

"I do not yet know… Some with fire and water affinities ask merely for flamewater. Simple minds see only what is obvious. But him… no. He is not one to combine elements just because he can. He will ask for something greater—something beyond even his current understanding. And I think," the voice paused, thoughtful, amused, "I will give it to him. For the right price. For the right… exchange of equivalence. And to work with me."

"Your Lordship…" the old mage tilted his head. "Don’t you mean… for you?"

"No," the voice replied, not offended, but resolute. "Not for me. With me."

A silence settled for a moment. Then, with a softness uncharacteristic of divinity, the voice continued.

"He has the aura of someone I once was. He won’t be my equal… but he might become like a son to me. A bright one. One worth guiding."

The old mage bowed his head.

"In the end," the voice said, distant and heavy with burden, "we must let those we choose walk their path… so the world follows the right one in turn. I’m sorry for his misfortune."

A sigh, low and eternal, echoed across the sky.

“…for being chosen."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The group left the tavern and asked around until they were pointed to a fountain at the crossroads of the Y, near the end of the sanctuary. A small crowd had gathered, clearly waiting for something.

Alexandra walked up to a nearby person and asked what was going on.

"You don’t know? Wait... you must be new. You’re here for the survival portal, right? Be careful. It’s manageable for first-timers, but when you reach the level of the people inside right now... one wrong move and you’re dead."

"Levels?" Ana poked her head out from behind Alexandra.

"Yeah. When you enter, you only need to survive for a day. Doesn’t sound bad, right? Then it becomes a week, then a month, then three, nine... up to a year. Past the year mark, the real challenge begins. Every day beyond that, you face a trial. You’re given one week to prepare for each creature—spirit, monster, or worse. You have to defeat it to move on. There are seven total. If you pass the year mark and don’t leave, the trials begin. No going back."

"What are the rewards?" I asked, staring at the starlight-like shimmer of the fountain.

"Supposedly, each boss gives you a choice: a legendary item, a spell, a skill, a unique buff, or something else. But no one's made it past the second boss. See the water streams at the top of the fountain? There are six. If the water turns red, everyone died. If there are fewer streams, fewer people are alive. One stream, one survivor."

"How many go in?" Jack asked.

"Depends. There are six starting zones: a cabin in the forest, open flatlands, a hilltop fort surrounded by swamps, a desert, an ocean, and a city. Most choose the fort or city. The group inside now chose the fort."

"What about rewards below the year mark?" I asked.

"Currency. You can find relics, gear, supplies. The place is a real demi-plane. It resets when you die or leave, but it remembers your progress. You have to complete quests while surviving. For example, to even get the fort running, you have to locate a generator, power the place, find control switches, and get the defenses online. It’s not just hiding in a bunker."

"Think someone could sell us a guide?" Malcolm asked, jingling coins.

"Haha, coin from the old world means jack here unless you're melting it for silver or gold. But yeah, those merchants over there collect player data. Ask them."

"Why is everyone here though? You can't watch them, right?" Malcolm asked.

"Oh, but you can. Is your medium that watch? Flick your watch toward the fountain."

Each of us did, and a display opened. Only the wearer could see it—makes sense now.

"Can you choose to disable watchers?" I asked, a bit disturbed.

"Of course. But those trying to go far usually let people watch. Just in case they die, y'know? Merchants record it too. Even if you’re not 'the one,' people always want to see what lies at the end of the black rainbow."

The screens revealed the fort, mid-assault. Undead poured in, shot down by spells and skills. A man smashed the ground, sending up spikes of earth. Another summoned lances of ice. A woman conjured a radiant wall of light. The man beside us narrated:

"That’s some of the best talent we’ve got. Abjuration mage. Earth affinity warrior. Ice elemental specialist. There’s also the captain—a dual-sword user with buffs tied to his blades. The priest? His magic specializes in spirits and undead. His brother is the sword-wielder. Sixth is a magic engineer keeping the fort online."

"How many went in originally?" Jack asked.

"Over twenty. The system allows it, but the more who enter, the harder it gets. If you pass the year mark, you can bring people in for the trials—once. If they die, you die, if you are relying on a bigger force."

"Fuck," Jack muttered.

Only six streams remained. Fourteen were gone.

Switching views, I saw the captain sharpening his blades. Beside him, the engineer monitored magical systems. The priest whispered something to him—I read his lips: "It's in your hands now. Here it comes."

A mist rolled up from the swamp.

The priest and his brother stepped forward. Golden scripture flowed from the priest’s book, bathing his brother in radiant light. His swords extended into radiant greatswords. His silver aura flared as his strength multiplied. Golden armor encased him, conjured by the abjurer. He looked like a divine warrior.

Through his eyes, I saw a woman in the mist. She vanished. Then a looming shadow rose from the earth and through the mist.

A 20-meter-tall monstrosity emerged—bone, blood, and screaming faces. Its eyeless face was surrounded by a body full of gaping, writhing red eyes. Tentacles of blood slithered as if alive.

It roared, and souls were drawn into its eyes from the bodies of weaker creatures defeated around the swamp. Enemies I could only guess them to have just faced in a wave like fashion.

The ice mage summoned a downpour, freezing the air and ground. Ice golems rose from the shards. The beast lashed out, cleaving some, but the others latched onto its arm. The cold crept up its flesh.

Suddenly, the swordsman was above the beast, his blades cleaving through their massive extended limb right at the wrist. The severed hand fell. Spirits streamed out. The hand turned translucent and immaterial. It was reforming.

"Holy... fucking... shit."

What kind of nightmare had we stepped into? What twisted game had we become a part of?