Jasper had found himself above ground a short while after Serrix had torn through the earth in order to reach the surface. The other converted had remained below the city under his orders in an attempt to keep them safe. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to, as they were nothing more than expendable soldiers for Lord Serrix, yet he’d done it anyway.

He stealthily made his way to a rooftop, hidden from sight. He watched as Serrix tore apart his former party, making Leo look like nothing more than a pathetic child. He expected to feel some kind of justice and pleasure from it.

He felt nothing.

Leo put up as much of a fight as he could, unleashing attacks Jasper had no doubt would kill him instantly. But Lord Serrix was too strong. That was the kind of strength worth following.

As he watched Leo, about to be killed, Jasper realised that things were finally over. The strongest would die. With no one left to contend with his Lord, the tutorial was all but finished. They had won.

Then a shout had wrenched him from his thoughts. He watched as Bjorn appeared before Leo, taking the hit and sacrificing himself. It made Jasper pause, emotions running through him.

He hadn’t liked Bjorn all that much, but he’d spoken for him a few times. To see him die filled him with… sadness.

No! They’re humans. Nothing but the lesser evolved, he screamed in his mind, trying to make sense of his thoughts.

But as Bjorn died, all the remaining hairs on Jasper’s body began tingling. Leo changed, becoming some kind of monster that Jasper wanted to run from, as far as his legs would take him and more. It was unnatural, it was unbelievable.

He watched the two monsters battle it out, disbelief at how someone could stand against his Lord like that. He kept his distance though, not wanting to be discovered.

It was only when Serrix was being trapped within the ice did Jasper receive a message.

“Jasper! Save me! Kill him! Do as I say!” Serrix had screamed into his mind, making Jasper wince.

So much so he almost moved.

“What are you doing?! Why are you so incompetent?” The berating continued.

Then he stopped.

Jasper revealed himself, no longer in stealth as Serrix’s eyes met his. At first relief, quickly dwarfed and extinguished by fury and betrayal as he became nothing more than a frozen sculpture.

The moment Serrix was killed, Jasper felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His mind, once occupied with rage, pain, and undying loyalty for Serrix had become completely clear.

The silence in his mind felt unbearable.

And peaceful.

You are no longer bound under Serrix’s rule

Your class: Disciple of Serrix, has been lost.

New Class selection available.

Some skills will be changed or lost, depending on your new class selection.

Your race will remain as Insect-converted until your next race evolution where you will be able to select another, should you wish.

Jasper exhaled slowly, then dropped down to the area where Serrix had first emerged, in complete view of everyone, including his former party. Those alive or conscious at least.

“Jasper?” Cecelia questioned. Her limbs had been regrowing during the fighting, but still weren’t fully formed.

Ron swiftly took his bow out, pulling his string back with his teeth as his eyes bored holes into Jasper. Fire lit up the string, tickling at the corners of his mouth, ready to release.

Before Jasper could say anything, however, everything froze. A notification appeared, and not just for him.

Tutorial update

One of you has done the impossible.

Serrix has been slain.

No more enemies capable of contesting this tutorial remain

Unless you wish to fight amongst yourselves for superiority.

Your choices are as follows and will be decided on by a vote:

Leave this tutorial early and enter a neutral zone until Earth finishes terraforming.
or

Remain within the tutorial until its natural conclusion before entering the final phase.

You will receive all your rewards upon the ending of all the tutorials.

Vote commenced:

Stay or Leave

Voting ends when all remaining participants have cast their vote.

The world remained frozen, but Jasper had access to his screen. Around him, people he once hated, perhaps still did, were ripe for the picking. With his strength and their current state, he could probably ensure all of his converted would be the only victors. With that, he made his choice easily.

He was done here.

You have voted to leave.

~

Leo received the same system notification, his body becoming frozen. A sudden relief washed through him. Whatever the Apotheosis had done to his body and soul, he desperately needed help fixing it. This brief moment of stasis gave him hope that he could survive it somehow.

Hopefully the system had some way to fix whatever he’d done to himself. Or maybe he’d visit Iskarion again after this. It had been too long.

He wished he could go and discuss this further with his friends and make sure they were all okay.

He knew one of them wouldn’t be.

He forced the thought down, focusing on the vote.

Time to go.

Time passed, or didn’t, he wasn’t sure. But everyone eventually cast their vote. He nervously panicked when he thought about the converted. There was a whole army of them under the city!

The humans had more people, but would they all agree?

It appeared he didn’t need to worry.

Voting has concluded

With a 98% majority, the tutorial will end early.

You will be transported to a neutral zone for the remainder of the tutorial.

No violence can occur within.

Leo’s vision flashed and he was suddenly transported to a white room. The city had vanished like it had never been. He was about to cry out in pain as his body shattered under the overwhelming strain of his Apotheosis like he’d felt approaching…

But he felt…fine?

“What the hell? I’m dead aren’t I,” Leo muttered. “And I’m talking to myself in a locked white room…again.”

Ellie appeared a moment later from his soul-space. Her wing was fully healed, and she was jumping into his arms like she was pleased with herself.

It was all real.

Serrix was dead.

Leo reached inward toward the storm within him, albeit very carefully. It felt completely dormant.

“I’m gonna have a lot of System notifications to go through,” Leo groaned.

They likely weren’t going to be all that good either, a feeling of apprehension rising within.

What had happened to him when he’d fought Serrix felt like a distant dream. Some of it he’d been in control of. For other parts it had been like he had been moving on instinct. The instinct of something deep within him.

The power he’d experienced was like nothing he’d ever felt. Overwhelming. And honestly? Terrifying.

Losing control was something Leo hated. But when Bjorn had died, he didn’t care anymore, giving up all control. It was a gamble that had paid off. Somehow.

Before Leo dove into the mess of notifications and the consequences behind whatever an Apotheosis was, a door appeared on the wall of his blank white room, wooden and rather inviting.

“If that’s not a sign to ignore the consequences of my actions, then I don’t know what it is. Come on, Ells.”

He reached for the door and it opened. Inside—or perhaps outside—Leo saw a vast open space. Training items, workshop facilities, and many other things were dotted about everywhere. There was a false sun hanging high in the sky, gentle in its warmth.

This place felt too perfect. Too clean after the blood-soaked nightmare of the tutorial.

Before he could take more than one step out, he was tackled onto the ground by a blond missile.

“I thought you’d be dead! I got woken up by the system when the vote commenced and you weren’t there. I didn’t know what was happening. My limb’s back too. What happened?” She bombarded him with questions as he was pinned to the ground.

“Woah, easy now, Ash,” Leo said while attempting to sit up again. Ellie tackled Ashley off of Leo and she squealed in joy.

“Oh, Elliebean, you’re okay.” She cuddled into the dragon. Ellie preened as Ashley stroked her.

“I don’t even know myself what really happened,” Leo said, standing. “All I know is that if it wasn’t for the system doing this vote thing then I’m pretty sure I’d be close to dead. Possibly worse.”

“Did you not get a system notification thingy?” she asked without looking away from Ellie. Although Leo could feel the frown.

“I did. Lots of them. Just haven’t looked yet. Kinda nervous about it, honestly.”

She looked up at him. “Are you okay?”

He took his time answering, biting his lip as he replied. “No. I can’t stop thinking about Bjorn. About all those we lost.”

“Bjorn? What do you mean?” she asked, voice trembling.

“He’s gone, Ash.”

Ashley’s eyes opened wide, mouth slowly opening. “No,” she said softly. “He can’t be.”

Leo nodded, tears forming as he did so. Ashley began crying too, more openly and much louder than Leo did.

Ellie cuddled into her, tears forming in her own eyes as she whined and cried.

Leo could let the grieving process begin now. At least a little.

Before long, more of his friends started stepping through doors that appeared in the middle of seemingly nowhere. The doors disappeared after they exited, but Leo could still see his. There was no back, it just kinda stood there.

More people began arriving. Those left behind at camp during the fight looked around in confusion. They hadn’t known a thing that had happened apart from the system notifications. He’d leave that to Cece.

Right now he wasn’t sure what to say. Or what to do.

For a while, no one spoke. Leo’s original party—his friends—sat together around a fountain. Cain was elsewhere, brooding on his own. Nolan and Gordon were with them, but sat a bit further away.

“What happened to you, Leo?” Cecelia finally asked, breaking the silence.

He waited for Bjorn to speak out at this point like he usually did, clearly sensing his hurt. It wasn’t coming. It never was again.

He took a deep breath. “I honestly don’t know yet.”

“How can that be?” Cecelia questioned. “You… changed.”

“Changed how?” Ashley asked, curious.

“His hair turned grey. His eyes became darker, something cold in them that shook me to my core,” Cecelia said, shuddering slightly.

“He got old?” Ashley reached over and ruffled her hands through his hair, searching for grey hairs.

“I’m not old!” Leo argued, pulling his head away. “System called it ‘Apotheosis.’”

“Whew, that sounds fancy,” Ashley said, whistling.

“Until I check my notifications I won’t know the extent of the damage. Whatever that was… I don’t think I was supposed to survive it. At least not without issues.”

“I suggest you do so soon,” Cecelia said. “All of us are worried about you. I’d rather not lose… anyone else.”

The group turned solemn as Leo nodded. “I’ll check them now.”

Ashley squeezed his hand as Ellie jumped onto his lap. “We’re here for you. No matter what.”

He smiled, then unfocused as he opened up his notifications.

Apotheosis has temporarily enhanced your Essence skill: Cloak of Wind (Uncommon)

Apotheosis has temporarily enhanced your Essence Skill: Frost Lance (Uncommon)

Apotheosis has temporarily enhanced your Essence Skill: Absolute Shatter (Rare)

Those continued for a while… They’d enhanced almost every single one of his Essence skills. Surprisingly, none of his class skills were mentioned, nor his bond skills—In this section at least.

After all those, which had happened during the fight, there were some more in there.

Apotheosis has unlocked a dormant Bloodline skill within you:

Prismatic Dominion (Exalted)

Apotheosis has temporarily changed your Elemental Severance (Rare) into Prismatic Invocation (Legendary)

Overusing Apotheosis has inflicted you with permanent soul damage

Overusing Apotheosis has inflicted you with permanent soul damage

There were more after these.

Leo sucked in a sharp breath, one that Ashley noticed and squeezed his hand tighter.

He continued reading.

You have slain: Serrix - Level 118

Experience increased for defeating a higher-level enemy

+500,000 Store Credits

Your Elemental Adept class has reached level 76

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

…

Your Elemental Adept class has reached level 82

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Anchored Progression:

+7 All stats, +14 Free Points

Level 80 Elemental Adept class skill selection available

Ellie has reached level 72

Stat Points distributed

+3 Free Points

…

Ellie has reached level 77

Stat points distributed

+3 Free Points

Ellie’s gains from race:

+30 Free Points

Ellie’s level 75 Skill Selection available

Warning: You still have a level 70 Bond skill selection available

It must be selected before the next milestone

Title gained: Slayer of the Mighty

Title gained: Denier of Fate

Okay, those are a lot of level ups, Leo thought, looking over the ‘good’ news. He had no idea what permanent soul damage actually meant. But it sure as hell didn’t sound good.

He quickly checked out the titles, unable to resist.

Slayer of the Mighty

You faced and defeated an enemy in a grade above your own.
Whether it was dumb luck or your own strength, take pride in your accomplishment.

+10 All stats

Denier of Fate

Fate. The threads that bind all that exist. Few can change their fate, some can merely delay it.

You have denied it.

Divination based skills will have no effect on you

Oh boy.

The first title he understood. That was just for killing a D-grade while still in E. Great. The stats were useful.

The second title, however, was like a cold splash of water. To deny one's fate couldn’t be something all that common. It made him worry that he would be standing out even more should anyone discover him. Divination based skills weren’t something he had any idea about, having never met anyone who could do such things.

Immunity to anything can’t be that bad though.

Lena is blessed by the Fate-bound Seamstress, he considered …Should maybe ask her if she has information on it.

Now wasn’t the time for that, these titles were good, a message telling him he wasn’t going to die the moment he got back to Earth—if they went there—would be better.

After those notifications, the system had frozen everything and forced him to vote. Those weren’t even in the log. He couldn’t believe that he’d forgotten all about the level 70 Bond skill too. It wasn’t guaranteed that it would be something that would have changed the tide, but it definitely could have made some sort of difference.

Fuckin’ idiot, he scolded himself. Too focused on himself to think about Ellie.

This had to change. He needed to be more aware of the system and things around him, things being hectic couldn’t be an excuse. It was clear to him how strong things could be out there and how weak he was. Serrix was only level 118, and he wiped the floor with him like it was nothing.

If not for this Apotheosis…Well. He knew that ending. One guess at the fate he’d denied and he was almost one-hundred percent sure he’d get it right.

He continued reading, those that had come after the vote.

You have been fully restored.

Your soul is no longer damaged.

You have unlocked the Bloodline skill: Prismatic Apotheosis (Unique)

Prismatic Apotheosis (Unique)

You have partially awakened the dormant power within the Bloodline of the Prismatic Storm.

During Prismatic Apotheosis, the storm within you is unleashed upon the world.
Your body, mind, and elemental affinity are pushed far beyond their natural limits while you temporarily approach your true form.

Your Essence skills may be temporarily enhanced

Your stats will be temporarily enhanced.

Skills may be augmented or changed while Prismatic Apotheosis is active.

WARNING: Your body is incapable of sustaining a complete Apotheosis.

Continued usage may result in permanent physical or soul damage

Leo closed his eyes in relief as he read the final line.

He buried his face in one hand, suppressing a relieved chuckle.

“What is it?” Ashley asked. She’d been patient while he read, but he could tell she was nervous by the sweat on her palm. Maybe that was his.

“The system restored whatever happened to me,” Leo said. “Whatever I used had permanently damaged my soul. The system said my body wasn’t ready for it.”

Cecelia nodded after a breath. “I was hoping as much after reading my own notifications. But healing an arm and leg is different than whatever you went through.” She smiled. “That’s a relief.”

“Tell me about it,” Ashley sighed, hugging him from the side. “What do we do now?”

“We should talk about the orb,” Cecelia offered, surprising those gathered.

“You mean the one you stole?” Ashley quipped, not a lot of hostility behind it.

Cecelia nodded, unfazed. “Yes.”

The orb appeared in her hand. It let off a dim glow as she moved it around absentmindedly, eyes fixed on it.

“I… suffered a moment of weakness. One I am ashamed of.” Cecelia sighed. “I do not deserve whatever power comes from it. So perhaps we should continue the vote from before.”

“What vote?” Lena asked.

Gordon quickly explained what had gone down in the Queen’s chamber, the vote and the aftermath.

“Hmm,” Amy spoke first. “Sounds like Matilda was manipulating things a bit.”

“It was a bit sudden.” Ashley nodded. “At the time I was just going along with it like it was normal. But it was definitely not the time or place for it.”

“Sorry Cecelia,” Ashley said. “I said some… choice words while emotions were high.”

“Not necessary,” she said, glancing at Leo. “I also said some words I regret.”

“So, if we’re not doing a vote, how do we do this?” Gordon asked. “Can I have it?”

Everyone spun to look at him, eyes wide.

“I was kidding.”

Cecelia chuckled. It turned into a laugh that spread amongst them all. Soon, all the tension and seriousness was gone, turning into a relaxing time where they could finally be at ease.

“We made it,” Ashley said. “We really made it.”

“Yes. We did,” Cecelia agreed.

She was right. Leo could hardly believe it himself. The tutorial was over. All they had to do was relax while the timer ticked down. They could chat, people could work on their professions, he could sort out his new skills and test them in the training area.

For the first time in a while, Leo let himself truly release some tension.

System message

While the tutorial has prematurely ended, there is still the time for divine meetings.

Gods have sent out invites to those they have deemed worthy, offering them a trip to a location of their choice.
You will be unable to be harmed while in their presence

Some may grant you boons, blessings, or opportunities.

You have 13,212 Invitations

Leo sighed. Yeah. That’s about right.