Ozzy looked over the siege breaker shard. It took no effort or scanning to surmise this was a shard on a level entirely of its own. It held none of the normal impurities or imperfections Ozzy had come to see not as either of those things but as important characteristics of each shard.

  As he turned it over in his hands he could feel an innate resonance within the shard. Almost like it was not only calling out to him but actively trying to latch itself magically to his soul. The very vibrations and energy within the shard making it feel sticky and viral.

  Looking over the shard he was somewhat taken back to when he’d absorbed the specialty shard. Back then a small part of him had at least recognized it as different from the status quo but only through passing observation. It was like noting the difference between a basic a normal car and its luxury version. From a distance they’d look just about the same, but as you got closer the trim and luxury design would always stand out. In this comparison the siege breaker shard was a tank.

  “I suppose it’s your first time seeing a shard at a tier above your own?” Aria asked him, sounding more than a little pleased with herself.

  “You could say that...” Ozzy said, pointing his watch at the treasure and scanning it.

  *BEEP BEEP*

  Item identified:

  Affinity Shard of Siege Breaking Tier 2

  The shard of siege breaking is an object of power that bestows powers related to the concepts of siege breaking within the scopes of the wielder’s cores.

  Postulations

  This affinity shard is likely to bestow a power that will grant the wielder an incredibly powerful destruction related ability.

  Note

  This is a tier 2 shard, the ability bestowed by this shard will not require empowerment upon tier up.

  Note

  This is a tier 2 shard. You are tier 0. Absorbing this shard may have adverse effects. Absorbing this shard will lead to an empowered ability if successfully absorbed. Absorbing this shard may lead to a broken core slot should absorption fail.

  Note

  This is a tier 2 shard. Absorbing this shard will cause immense damage to your body and soul.

  Absorb? Yes/No

  As Ozzy read the page and numerous disclaimers he felt a little less than excited to absorb the shard. Slowly he panned the screen around, allowing everyone else to get a read over as well.

  “You might want to save that Ozzy.” Trinidad said, concern working its way through her words. “You shouldn’t risk something as important as a core slot.”

  Aria sighed, “Do you think I’d have given it to him if I thought he couldn’t handle it?”

  “I’m in agreement with Aria. Despite my many *cough* many reservations about our young friend he does not strike me as someone wanting within the department of soul.” Arlan said.

  “What does soul have to do with it? Like I can totally guess, but really I’m in the dark here when it comes to anything deeper than the basics.” Ozzy said, looking curiously at the old man.

  Arlan got down to sit cross legged in front of Trinidad and Ozzy, finally tired of standing. “Your soul has everything to do with your powers. If you don’t have a healthy soul you wouldn’t even be able to absorb a single core, let alone three and 12 shards. And if I recall correctly, you absorbed three shards in a single sitting after your matriarch hunt, correct?” Arlan asked, and Ozzy nodded in ascent.

  “You see Ozzy, most core users have to build up to each core and shard they absorb. They simply don’t have the requisite capacity within their souls to contain such vast objects of power. That’s why people spend so much on monster meat. There’s another way to expand that soul space though.” He said, and Ozzy knew exactly what he was going to talk about.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “It’s hunting right? I was reading that killing monsters can help you get stronger faster because of something to do with monster mana, right?” Ozzy asked, trailing off a bit as he realized his base understanding wasn’t exactly on par with whatever Arlan was going for.

  “That definitely helps.” Arlan confirmed, throwing Ozzy at least a bit of credit. “You’ve waded through conflict a plenty for it to matter, but more than that you’ve made deals with gods. Your power and soul space are not only your own but partially their own. Seeing as you have two blessings already, we could probably fill you full of shards and send you straight to tier 1.” Arlan finished.

  “I mean I probably have enough shards to get that done already.” Ozzy offered, thinking back on the shards he’d looted from the edge slinger compound.

  “No no no no no, you’re not taking any shortcuts buddy. We’re only using shards you find or win through combat. We need to keep the head start you have with your soul space. Otherwise, if you start absorbing things that your soul doesn’t have some kind of bond with you’ll end up bottlenecked just like everyone else at your level.” Arlan firmly.

  “Fine, fine, guess I should pop this thing then?” Ozzy asked, waving away Arlan’s concerns as he focused back on the siege breaker shard.

  “Yes finally.” Aria said.

  Looking back over the page and re-reading all of the warnings Ozzy took a deep breath, and feeling like a performer stepping out onto a tightrope closed his eyes and clicked the yes button.

  Mana burned. Not in the pretty display of color and magic he had come to an associate the term with but truly burned. Pain burned so white hot within his body he couldn’t even think. It was an all-encompassing pain so complete he’d have given anything to be rid of it. Made any deal, swore any oath, or done any deed. It was like having molten metal poured over his nerve endings, and rather than frying and ceasing to work they relayed each indescribable minute detail with superhuman accuracy.

  Even sensation around him was turned into a hellish experience. Trinidad’s touch was like having an angle grinder taken to his bones. The clothing on his body burned worse than any sunburn he’d ever felt. The very air on his face felt caustic, like it would slowly eat away at him till he was nothing but charred black bone.

  It was a constant hell, and he was unable to do anything but simply exist. The moment could have stretched for eons and he wouldn’t have been able to tell the minutes apart. Relief only coming after he’d begun to consider throwing himself from the catamaran as his best option for ending the pain, touching on him in the glorious form of the drawn curtain of unconsciousness.

  ***

  “It has been too long my friend!” A voice, Slavic and like the grinding of great stones woke him like a falling sledgehammer.

  “Hey Fauga.” Ozzy greeted, the two words taking more effort from him than his whole swamp trip had.

  The god laughed uproariously, and even through his still closed eyes Ozzy could tell they were at the lord of powders little tea table setup. Complete with the subtle scent of what Ozzy could only hope was a soothing peppermint tea.

  “Do not tell me you already try to use tier 2 shards?” The god said, just barely catching his breath.

  “Yep. It was horrible.” Ozzy grunted, slowly opening his eyes to take in the sights of the now familiar workshop, complete with tea and some delicious looking little pastries. “I’m never letting anyone convince me to do that again.” Ozzy said stubbornly, already thinking of what he was going to say to Arlan and Aria. He was definitely going to make fun of the old man for looking the way he did, Aria was a little trickier, but ammunition would come with time.

  “I could tell. But sit! Relax, have tea, it make you feel better trust me.” Fauga encouraged, acting more like a Russian grandma than a god.

  Fauga didn’t have to tell Ozzy twice, and he made short work of a steaming glass of glorious peppermint tea. The god had even put honey and a little bit of creme in the beverage, making it perfect to have with the little pastries that had bits of candied apple in them. It was the perfect post torture pick me up.

  As Ozzy ate the good looked on with some apprehension, it was the first time Ozzy had ever seen him as anything other than jolly or scary and it was slightly off putting. It nearly made him loose his appetite as he wondered what could possibly make a god like Fauga worried.

  “What’s wrong?” Ozzy said, washing down a pastry with tea.

  It was like the god had been waiting for him to ask, “I am concerned for my position.” He admitted, and Ozzy had to restrain himself from asking how that was even possible as the god continued. “The above has not taken kindly to defiance against the goddess of light. She is powerful, well respected. I received criticism in great quantity for shielding you. She also receive criticism for letting train captain die, but is not as damaging for her.” The god explained.

  “I appreciate it Fauga, it’s not like she can force us to do anything though right? I agreed to hear her out and then I’ll just say no if she’s not interested in sticking with us.” Ozzy said, hoping his words would be of some comfort to the being he assumed to be as old as this world itself.

  “She will convince with more than words. She has many ways.” Fauga said, “She might try force still. If she believe you only have two cores?” Fauga said, thinking out loud.

  “How would she think that and why would it matter?” Ozzy asked, setting his teacup down.

  “Simple. That thing you spoke to when you get artifact? Not one of us.” Fauga shrugged. “Something we do not associate with. Thus, we cannot sense it.”

  “Why don’t you associate with him? He seemed like a nice enough dude.” Ozzy said, defending the void guy he’d met when he used the artifact tome.

  “Simple again. We do not associate with monsters.”