Published at 6th of September 2026 6:19 am

Chapter 373: Convergence

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Serrin regarded the circle of humans, plus one small wolf creature. Their indecipherable faces were all staring at him intently, but he did his best to ignore their features and instead focus on their bodies.

Nicolai always kept his Soul tightly bound, except when actively emanating something, but hed learned to understand the humans body language, with which he could be quite expressive. Especially while fighting. These humans did not possess the spiritual skills of his newfound brother, and he could gauge much of what they were thinking from their Souls. Excepting the black robed woman, who had clearly been trained to guard her Soul.

However, Serrin struggled to devote the necessary focus to fully understand the signals he was receiving. All he could really tell was the obvious. They were eyeing him with deep suspicion, wariness and, in the case of the bald man, dislike.

The reason for his struggle was the Summoner, who had come forward to stare up at him with her big round human eyes. Obviously, she and all the others were far from attractive in his eyes, as though he often disagreed with his fellow Hornets he could not deny they had a point about how deeply disconcerting the squishiness of human features was. Still, there was something about her. The earnest determination she radiated was putting him under a strange pressure, weirdly ill at ease.

The bald man thrust his chin at Serrin. Who are you people? he growled. This is the third time now theres been an attack like that. You looked like you stood on the side thats been defending us, and thats the only reason youre not a red stain on the ground. But the time is long past for hiding the truth. Spit it out!

I began Serrin, uncertain. Im not with anyone. I was just walking by, and I saw you and you were attacked... So I thought I thought I should help?

A likely story, sneered the bald man, before exchanging a narrow-eyed look with the black robed woman. I figure the teleport broke or something, stopped him going back with his friends. Now hes stuck here but hes under orders to keep silent. Its just like I said. Some of them are defending us, but I dont think theyre on our side, if you get me. The gaze he turned on Serrin then was accompanied by a weight of vicious intention, images of Serrin tied to a chair and squealing rising off his Soul like steam from boiling water.

Possibly, replied the woman in black. Either that, or hes here not by mistake, but to do exactly what hes doing. Pretend like he was uninvolved from the start and attempt to worm his way into our group by appearing as some random, friendly idiot who happened to be walking by. But what he intends to do once hes close enough, who can say? She suddenly lunged forward, positioning herself before the girl. Dont get any closer, assassin, she hissed at him, while the tiny wolf lunged at his ankles, growling. Get back! We know what youre about, you spear-waving imbecile! Think you can trick us? Not so easy!

The Summoner girl was frowning, first at him, then at her companions. She seemed uncertain, but he could feel the change in her Soul, feel that they were convincing her.

I was just walking here! he said, desperate. I was thinking about my problems, and I saw you coming, so I ducked around here. But then I was thinking of going, because I thought it would weird when you arrived here and saw me and Id been waiting, as though I wanted to accost you or something, after I watched you in the Tournament. Then everything went mad, and I he trailed off. Really, what could he say? Would he believe himself, if he was them? It was suspicious. He shook his head. Whatever, he muttered. Ill go.

The bald man lunged, hand reaching. Oh no you dont! Weve questions and youll

Serrin dodged quick out the way. Or youll do what? he snapped, half-raising his spear. The dislike he felt from the man was finding a mirror in him. No one can do anything now the Restriction is back.

Ill find a way, growled the bald man, pursuing Serrin with hands clenching into fists.

Stop it! cried the Summoner, and to Serrins surprise the man stopped immediately, though he didnt stop glaring. He helped me, she added, her squishy face furrowed slightly as she gazed at Serrin, thoughtful. I believe you, she told him. I dont think youre with them. The others were emanating horror and disbelief, staring at her. She shrugged at them. Hes an honest guy. I can feel it.

Feel it, muttered the tiny wolf. Just like you felt it when that shopkeeper was definitely giving us a great deal, and look how that

That worked out in the end, she said quickly, flapping her hand.

Fine, grunted the man. But if thats the case wed better get moving. See what we came to see then head somewhere more populated, or better yet, go home. They could strike again at any moment. We still dont know a thing about whatever the hell is going on here. His glare returned to Serrin. You sure about him? I dont like his look, I

The abrupt boom of the killbots voice caused Serrin to tense, but the others just looked up at it, the bald man frowning irritably, the Summoner nodding. It turned away, no longer aiming any weapons at Serrin.

See? said the Summoner. If Striker says hes fine, then hes fine. No need to worry about another attack so long as the summon lasts, either. She put a fond hand on the killbots leg, then looked to Serrin. But you, even if you werent involved with those who appeared do you know anything about what happened here? Did you see anything? Have you heard anything? She emanated what Serrin could only call desperate hope. I need to know who they are. I need to know why theyre doing this.

He found himself lowering his spear, digging into his memories as he tried to find something he could tell her. I dont think so, I just saw them preparing to make their move. But, actually, there was something weird. For a moment he slowed, coming to the realisation even as he spoke, but the sudden flare of hope he felt from her caught at him, pulled him on. When the Restriction disappeared, right at the start. It wasnt normal. The last time, we were given a warning. Well, the others were, not me. Niuh, my friend told me we had twenty seconds to leave, if we wanted, before the Restriction would fall. That didnt happen this time, it just disappeared in an instant. It seemed I dont know, unplanned, or broken he trailed off, unsure if he was making any sense, trying to work out the proper word in their language.

Youve experienced this sort of thing before? asked the black robed woman, tapping her thumb against her chin, exchanging an unreadable look with the others. For the first time, he felt something other than total suspicion from some of the Summoners companions.

Yes, I happened to be there when one of the People Houses attacked another. The Restriction was lifted then, too, but it was nothing like this.

Do you often happen to be present when things of this nature occur? she asked next, and he was reminded suddenly of Psychology.

He wasnt sure how to answer that so he didnt. The group exchanged glanceswell, except for the small wolf, which was still glaring at him, and the killbot, which was simply standing there, completely still. Enough to almost seem just a part of the scenery, an inanimate object.

The three fell into a discussion, ignoring him for the moment. They seemed desperate, afraid. It reminded him, more than anything, of Poyang and the others, those hed failed to save.

Except for the small wolf, which was now sniffing at his legs.

What is it? he asked, wary of the creature.

You got a strange smell, boy, it huffed, and I dont like it. Not one bit. Youre hiding something.

Uh, no, Im not, said Serrin lamely. He backed up but it just followed afte him, continuing to snuffle.

Ha! it scoffed at his knees.

What are you, anyway? he said, in an attempt at some kind of distraction.

Me? He was glad when it stopped smelling his legs, instead glaring up at him. What do you think I am?

Well you look like a little wolf. A little tiny wolf.

Its eye bulged. A tiny wolf, you say? it hissed.

Yes?

Yes! it continued, tail curling right up, body vibrating with rage. The other three glanced over, and he saw the black robed woman roll her eyes, the Summoner wince, the bald man sigh. And so we were, lad, the creature growled, We were wolves, proud and strong! He turned slowly back, cast a murderous glare back at the people behind him. They changed us, he hissed. I was meant to come up over your hip. Thats how big I was. I would have been up to your chest and twice as long. No, three times! It darted at his legs in some kind of mock attack, seeming lost in a world of its own imagination. Aye, with teeth that couldve punched through your silly little suit like it was made of rubber. But then the bastards bred us, you hear me, they bred us. They turned my proud people into

It stared up at him, lips peeling back in a furious, miserable grimace. Look at me! Made us small and cute so we could sit on their laps! A lapdog, thats what I am! Oh, look at his fur!, Look at his little wagging tail! Look at his eyes, isnt he just adorable? Oh, just adorable! Bastards! I fucking hate the lot of them! Its voice subsided into a grim, slightly whining mumble. It wouldve been all right if theyd left us stupid, but of course once they got the tech, they thought, wouldnt it be fun to make our stupid little toy dogs smart? Wouldnt it be great if we could talk to them? And so they did, and now here I am! And do you know what else?

It came up closer to Serrin, cast a look back at the others, seemed to pretend not to see them staring back, then, spoke in a conspiratorial tone, voice lowered. They made up all this tech for their own kind, all kinds of wonderful new bodies. But do you think they invest anything like as much into a body for a dog? No. Even this robot suit was absolute hell for me to find. You wouldnt believe how long I was operating with just my trusty muzzle-gun back on the streets of New London. I stole this from a bunch of rich mutts called the Silvertail family, fucking huskies. This was sized for one of their kids. Why couldnt I have been a husky, eh? Theyre beautiful, you ever seen their eyes? And that fur? Mad things, but beautiful. Eh, one time, I met this husky bitch, well, I got some stories course it never works out, what husky wants to run with a corgi, eh? A corgi! Who would want to be a fuckin corgi!

So thats what you are? A dog? A corgi? Serrin asked, feeling he ought to interject at least something, unable to make much sense at all from its spiel.

The corgi ignored him. Do you know how much it costs for a proper big body compatible with a dog brain? snarled the dog. Four, even five times as much as it would cost for the same thing if a human wanted it, because theyve made loads of them, but theres barely any for pitiful dogs like me. They fucked us. Got us both ways, coming and going! They made us smart, and now they fleece us if we want to get a proper body. Fuckers!

The expletive-laden rant at last came to a stop as the creaturethe dog, the corgidescended into rabid mutterings, pacing aimlessly around, snarling and snapping at nothing.

Sorry about him, said the Summoner, coming forwards, mouth twisted into a weird kind of expression.

Serrin had no idea what that expression might mean. Its no matter, he said, tracking the dog as it stomped in a circle around him.

Were going to check out one of the exits out this Sector, you can come with us if you want, she told him, smiling.

You what? We didnt agree that! cried the bald man, eyes rounding. Youre telling me you trust this guy now?

She frowned at him. I gave you the benefit of the doubt, back then, didnt I? I think he deserves the same. He stepped in and helped us out, back there.

Yeah but, but hes not even taken his helmet off! We dont even know what he looks like! and he jabbed accusingly at Serrins helmet.

Serrin almost replied in ripples, the sudden demand so wrong-footed him. My helmet? he echoed at last, something clenching inside of him.

Thats right, take your helmet off. said the bald man. I dont trust a man unless I can see his face.

I but why?

Why? Its just suspicious, isnt it? The bald man was smiling now, sensing hed found a winning line of attack. You can see all our faces, and he gestured broadly at the others, the body language innocent and reasonable. If youre a friend, whats the problem with taking the helmet off? Is it normal for you and your friends to wear helmets all the time?

Serrin only had one person hed consider a friend, who did in fact wear a helmet most of the time. But he could sense that wasnt the right thing to say. But what could he say? In the City, he began, Im not meant to he trailed off. He knew what would happen if he took his helmet off. Surely everyone knew of his race and their reputation. The moment they saw his face, the talking would be over. And what would Nicolai think? Hed been told not to take his helmet off!

He was saved by, of all people, the black robed woman. This City is highly public and full of dangerous people. He may have very good reasons, unrelated to us, for wanting to keep his helmet on. The bald man shot her a look, emanating a sense of betrayal, but she only shrugged. He did save her.

The Summoner nodded. He did. If not for him, I might be dead. She looked at him with those big shining eyes and spoke very seriously. Were choosing to trust you. I really hope you wont betray that trust.

Serrin straightened. I will not, he promised, a sudden warmth washing through him. Had he just made a new friend? This was great! He had been thinking for a while now that he and Nicolai needed allies, and in that regard this Summoner was perfect. Not only was she obviously a really good person and totally trustworthy, she was also strong. She and her friends needed help, and so did he and Nicolai. Hed done something good!

This was what he told himself, but deeper there was something else, something he struggled to truly identify. When he had seen these people that first time in their group, seen how closely they walked together, seen the way they talked amongst one another, hed gained a sense that they belonged together, that they cared for one another. That had grown in him a sense of yearning. These people had something that he wanted.

Plus, they were doing something important. She was a hero. Though Nicolai had nothing but cynical words in response to this fact, Serrin was quite taken with the idea. Within him a small, uncertain dream was growing. One day, he would like to be called a hero.

He also felt sure that Nicolai would approve of his decision here. He had seen that his new brother was someone who made plans, took control, got stronger. The world didnt happen to him, he happened to the world. Above all else, Serrin admired that. Now, here, he felt he was beginning to do the same. He had done something, and the world had changed as a result. He had stepped in, and the Summoner was alive when she could have been dead.

The group started moving, the Summoner gesturing him after them. The killbot walked beside them, its steps surprisingly quiet.

###

Beneath the most secure building within the compound there was a small room containing a podium. An opaque grey barrier sprang from its top, forming a protective sphere over the treasure hidden within.

The hacker had been staring at that barrier for some time. Hed dug his way through all the others but this, the last remaining between him and the rb, had proven especially stubborn. He sat cross-legged on the floor before it, hands and Soul Sense extended, fingers twitching as he probed and teased at it. His tendrils, twisted into key-like shapes, were burrowed into the podium itself, which was much more complex than it had seemed.

But his features, visible as a vague shadowy impression beneath his white veil, shifted into a smile. With a deft twist of his wrist and flick of his fingers one of his tendrils undulated and then, with a satisfying, clicky ripple, the barrier dissolved.

He rose quick to his feet, starting towards the podium and his prize while throwing a glance behind him, where a heavy, ritual-scribed metal door tottered, smashed open so as to remain attached to the doorway by only a single hinge. The other door, on the opposite side of the room, was identical though still in one piece. The broken one was the work of his temporary partner, who, though entirely lacking in the arena of ritualism and its subsidiaries of warding, formations, and spiritualism, was at least good for opening things and holding off those upstairs. Gunfire and ripples and shouting formed a background noise, leaking through the doorway. Of course, the hacker reminded himself, it was no surprise his partner was clueless when it came to ritualism. Very few possessed skills like his own. A rarefied, precious breed, he thought, nodding smugly. His position as an assassin of House Thrynn was all but secured. Only one more act to demonstrate his excessive usefulness, just to be sure

He reached for the object atop the podium. Not an orb, as hed expected. Instead there was a square box with a carrying handle. But from his interaction with the Guardian Spirit of this place, he knew this was the home of the Orb, that it must be inside the box. He reached for it

The ground shook beneath his feet and he felt a great crack snap through the earth, then as dust poured from the ceiling he heard a dull boom, rendered distant by his position beneath many tonnes of stone. Turning to frown at the broken door, from which the sounds of excessively renewed battle were leaking, he could only shake his head. Barbarians and their toys

Then he grabbed the box before something else unexpected could happen. It would be quite silly of him to just stand there without securing his reward, after all. The moment his grip tightened around the handle his Mark pulsed, a notification springing out. It informed him hed just completed one of the goals of the Trial: Be the first to claim the Orb.

He was quite glad to find that he didnt have to open the box to claim his prize. Severin wouldnt be happy, but what did he care? If Severin had wanted the reward so keenly, he should have been here the moment it opened. Even if they did still both end up working for Thrynn, the hacker was sure that fear of losing his role would keep Severin in line and himself safe. Gaining a Heavenly Reward was well worth enduring a slightly frigid working environment.

He probed the box with his Soul Sense, trying to make sense of it. There was something odd. Spiritually, it seemed to be somehow alive.

It came as quite a shock when the box wriggled in his grasp, a tiny spiritual face bulged out of it, and it screeched, Help, help! Im being manhandled! DONT TOUCH ME YOU BASTARD!

What the fuck? was all the hacker could manage as he found himself fighting the box, which had grown little arms which were trying to pry his fingers off of its handle while continuing to shriek at him.

Ill get you, fucker! Ill bite your fingers off! it howled, and began trying to do just that.

Shut up, he snarled, trying to shove the face back into the box. For a moment he thought himself successful, but the face just appeared on the other side where it let out a continuous shrill scream.

Cursing and muttering he pressed on it with his Soul Sense, and at length managed to suppress it. At least, the face faded away. But the screaming didnt stop, if anything it was louder, and no matter what he did he couldnt stop it releasing an endless warbling ripple that was somehow sharp and painful where it brushed his Soul, not to mention far reaching and insistent.

It was at that moment that something changed in the air. A sense of presence.

Turning his head, he saw Severin stepping down the stairs. In spite of all the fighting, there was no sign of any injury or damage on the mans tight-fitting barbarian combat attire. His helmet hid his eyes, but in that moment the hacker practically felt the mans sudden fury.

Severin stepped into the room, Soul Sense swirling ominously. You will regret stealing that from me, he said, voice tight.

My apologies, replied the hacker, unable to help his nervous chuckle. I thought touching it wouldnt count as completing the task, as, after all, its just a box.

Before Severin could respond, the hacker felt movement from the Guardian Spirit. The disabling of some kind of protections, over there. His head whipped around in time to see the other door hinge open, a figure stepping through. One he recognised by reputation. Nicolai, the bloodthirster of the Tournament.

The pair immediately locked eyes, gazes burning over the head of the hacker. He backed up towards the wall and the moment he was close, felt the comforting presence of the Symbiote-enhanced formation hed set up earlier slide over him.

Now both their gazes had fixed on him and the box he held. In a fight between these two, he wouldnt last long. So he engaged the insurance hed set up.

His formation flashed, seized him, and one of his Symbiotes died. He reappeared outside the building and broke into a sprint, hoping that those two would stay and kill one another back down there. If they did, then his plan would have gone off perfectly in every way, except one: the continuously shrieking alarm on the box.

Cursing as he ran, he wrestled with it using his soul sense, trying to work out some way to shut the thing off. In the area around him, he saw a few scattered undead turning to stare, and on more than one rooftop, figures poking their heads up to peer down at him. A moment later, everyone started moving.

###

The disappearance of the hacker didnt cause even the faintest hitch in Nicolais movement, nor Severins. The other assassin merely twisted slightly and then he was coming straight for him. Nicolai, on the other hand, reversed.

Hed planned for a fight, and the Big Mouth was open wide in preparation. But with the disappearance of the hacker he and the Modules reconsidered. There was a chance with his planned strategy he could win quickly and remove a major competitor, but the near-certainty of hidden trump cards meant a high likelihood of a lengthy fight that could drag on. The small room also wasnt ideal to take on someone clearly built for close combat.

So instead he opted to pull a couple grenades while activating his Wing Symbiotes and jets. With a shriek of jet-fuel and rapid beats of his spiritual wings Nicolai disappeared backwards up the stairs, going almost instantly from zero-to-sixty, leaving the grenades tumbling in his wake. The stairs were a straight shot and only a dozen metres long, and he burst out into the main room less than a second later, just as the grenades hed dropped went off with a sharp crack.

Spinning in place he landed, skidded, and found himself careening towards a pair of assassins. He vaguely recognised them, the two whod confronted him in the lobby. They were between him and the doorway to the outside where, due to a brief contact with the defence system as he passed out the stairs, he knew the hacker to have gone to.

The two assassins were, for just a brief instant, surprised. Caught out by his abrupt appearance and the deafening shriek of his jets, the sight of a large armoured figure flying out a tunnel like a devil out of hell. The pair were stumbling back, shifting into defensive postures, rasing weapons and pouring Oma into Symbiotes.

Against Nicolai, at this distance, any amount of surprise or hesitation was lethal. He poured on more speed and made a slight adjustment to his course, veering toward the one on the left who looked slightly more dangerous.

One of his arms struck out as he went, the Quiet Knife glittering in the light. Its edge tore into a neck and the man was gone in a burst of blue light, then Nicolai flashed on past, wings thrashing as he pushed on toward the exita yawning gap where large doors had been torn out the doorway, flanked on either side by the large, crumpled forms of fallen undead guardians. He reached with the Spectral Claw and seized the edge of the doorway, flexing it to wrench himself forward with even greater speed.

Through cameras set on the back of his helmet he saw Severin burst out the tunnel, entirely unharmed though perhaps slightly slowed by the grenades, Soul Sense a pool of boiling grey. Aiming wanted to shoot but Threat Analysis informed them that a ripple analysis had revealed Severin to be armed with some kind of hidden Artifact that felt like a compact Silver Net.

There was something astonishingly personal about the enmity he felt from that man, as though they were long time enemies with a history of blood feuds. Many would have thought that strange, considering theyd never encountered one another before today.

But Nicolai understood precisely what it was that the other killer felt, that even hein spite of doing his best to restrain the primitive, thoughtless driveexperienced to an extent. In any area where reputation and skill have importance, running into someone who is comparable in either is a direct challenge not only outwardly but inwardly, a challenge to the ego. Many people, otherwise calm and reasonable, can suddenly develop an extraordinary level of emotional investment upon recognising such a challenger. At that very moment, as he ran from Severin in pursuit of a more important goal, the Dark was stirring, a sick and angry pressure which demanded he turn back and destroy this rival.

It was a difficult urge to resist, so Nicolai didnt even try. Instead he redirected it. He told himself that the winner was the one who got that Orb, not the one who took down the other in direct combat. The Dark recognised this for the lie it was, but for now at least it was willing to buy into it.

Severins course also slightly shifted. The remaining assassin had begun to spin Oma into Art, turning to aim something at Nicolai. But the moment Severins Soul Sense reached the man it dissolved his Art, his Soul Sense, his Shield. Severin flicked a wrist and a monowire uncurled from his arm, a blurred, humming string of metal that lashed out and the assassin was gone in blue.

The Dark didnt truly think in words, but Nicolai felt it, and he knew what it was thinking.

One to me, one to him. It was difficult to stop himself from theorising on how he couldve eliminated both of them without slowing. He was pretty sure he couldve, if hed prioritised it more. But prioritising something like that wasnt worth it when he still had a comfortable lead in the eliminations and the Orb wasnt in his hands.

These were some of the many thoughts emanating from the pieces of Nicolais mind as he burst out through the doors and found himself under open air, faced with a scene of pure chaos.

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