Trace Taylor, Elizabeth Evergreen, and Adair Russell headed back for Liberapolis.

It was morning. The sun painted its way up the blue canvas, its golden rays brushing past the white smears of clouds and onto the treetop. It leaked down from the shorn canopy, spilling its light over the undergrowth and wetting the mud with a glint of yellow.

The group of three sluggishly trudged through the dampened dirt. Fruit-rind, dead leaves, and fallen branches squashed under their feet as they dragged themselves onward. The city laid ahead: tall edifices that broached from the horizon. Crowded buildings that were mostly empty and deserted since it was… well, the end of the world.

People flocked away from cities and towns in search of glory in slaying monsters, or safety from each other. After all, no one could be trusted anymore; suspicion perfumed the air like the aroma of sweet wine, and a single whiff of it would rid one of their common sense. Even Trace was affected by this diffusing distrust.

She warily eyed the other group heading for Liberapolis. Four individuals stalked behind, bringing with them the large head of a durable serpentfiend strung onto a makeshift sled. They pushed and pulled and heaved and panted as Trace shook her head.

“They’re following us,” Liz said as she looked over at the Precursors of Peace. “You think they’re going to try anything?”

The redhead pursed her lips. “I don’t know. But they’re dangerous…” She tightly gripped her pistol. “Just be on guard in case they try anything.”

The Precursors of Peace halted abruptly. Trace tensed as Liz reached for her Obsidian Longsword. Adair’s fingers twitched, gathering aether.

And a voice with a Brooklyn accent shouted.

“Do you think we can’t hear you, or what?” Jackie shook a fist at them.

The redhead blinked as Nathan continued. “Yeah, the fuck? Why are you guys shit-talking us after we helped you?”

She exchanged a glance with her best friend, while Sam grunted as he pushed the sled from behind.

“Guys?” he said in a shaky voice. “Why’d you stop pulling?”

Jackie and Nathan had let go of their ropes, and the head of the durable serpentfiend was threatening to topple over and crush Sam, the only one who was at the back.

“Oh, sorry,” they chorused as they helped steady it.

The three of them continued to labouriously push their prize forward while Darius stood to the side, watching. “Why do we even need to do this, anyways?”

“Because, Darius,” Jackie said, annoyed, “somebody decided to crash our truck.” She glared at Nathan.

“Hey, it’s not my fault, remember? There was a giant fucking monster there, bro.”

“You could at least get yer dogs to help us, right?”

“Sorry, bro. They’ve done enough work for today, haven’t they?” He dropped his rope to scratch the back of Major’s ear. It barked in return.

“Nathan!” Jackie and Sam shouted as the durable serpentfiend’s head tilted back.

“Oh, fuck—”

Trace stared at the Precursors of Peace. She watched as they rushed around to stop the giant snake-like head from falling over. Then she turned back to Liz.

“Actually, I take it back— they’re not dangerous,” the redhead said with a sigh. “They’re just idiots.”

Both groups eventually reached the edge of Liberapolis. Trace, Liz, and Adair continued towards the northwest where the buildings grew just a little taller, while the Precursors of Peace started for downtown. To the northeast. A different direction.

Trace narrowed her eyes as she looked at where they were going. The looming archway that towered over the city waited in the distance. It was a Gate: one of the supposed portals that led to another world.

“Where are you guys going?” she asked.

“Oh, so now yer talking ta us?” Jackie spat.

Nathan made a look of disgust. “What the hell, bro? That’s disgusting! You got your saliva all over me!”

“I’ll do it again—”

“We’re headed for the Gate, as you can tell,” Sam said, speaking over his two friends. He gestured at the tall archway far behind him. “That’s where we’ll be setting up our base.”

“Your base?” The redhead raised a brow.

“Yo, Sam,”— Nathan wiped at his face as Jackie splattered saliva all over him— “don’t you think you’re telling her a little too much?”

Sam waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. I’d prefer it if she visits.” He winked at Trace, and she blinked in response.

“Erm? …”

“Anyways,” he said, turning back to Nathan. “We’re not going to be the only ones at the base. What are they even going to do when they get there? Fight all hundred of us?”

“I guess…” Nathan trailed off.

“Yeah, are you a moron or what?” Jackie smacked the back of his head.

“Ouch— the fuck, bro?”

“All hundred of you?” Trace narrowed her eyes, and Adair Russell pursed his lips.

“He is not being hyperbolic, Ms Trace—” He cleared his throat. “I mean, Tr-Trace Taylor.”

“Good enough,” she scoffed. “It’s still too formal, but good enough.” Adair flushed, and she rolled her eyes. “Anyways, what does that mean?”

“It means—” he started but was promptly cut off.

“It means that it’s going to be our base of operations.” Sam smirked. “Our friends will be gathering here, Trace. Other members of the Precursors of Peace. Hundreds of them. Maybe even thousands. And—”

Sam paused as he held Adair’s gaze.

“And so will Noah Hawthorne, Supreme Leader of the Precursors of Peace.”

* * *

When Trace, Liz, and Adair returned to the commune, Veronica was ecstatic. She was delighted to hear that the serpentfiends had been defeated. Or at least, ostensibly defeated for now. But when she heard the news about the Precursors of Peace, her lips twisted into a frown.

“They’re coming? Here?” she asked, aghast, and Trace nodded.

“We’re not sure either,” the redhead said. “They were lugging around the head of the durable serpentfiend too. Bringing it with them downtown.”

“But why?”

Adair pointed out of the window. “It is because of that.”

All heads turned to where he was pointing. A pure archway. One that seemed to glitter from far away. The Gate that led to another world.

Trace stared at it, dubious. “They can’t just be coming here to take a gander at that, can they? There’s dozens of other cities with a Gate. Hell, New York City has two Gates.”

“And yet, that is where they are gathering,” Adair said, adamant. “I understand Supreme Leader Noah Hawthorne’s character. And he would not step a foot in this city without purpose.”

“What is that purpose?”

“To unlock the Gate: to go to another world.” His answer was kind of expected, but Trace still raised a brow when she heard him say it. “That’s why they brought the durable serpentfiend’s head. To gather the credits lodged in its body. And for material. Armor and weapons which they can wield and sell for even more credits.”

She crossed her arms. “Why are you so certain, anyways? Isn’t the Precursors of Peace only half a month old? You couldn’t have been with them long enough to know all this.”

“It is, indeed, Trace Taylor. But I have known Noah Hawthorne for far longer than that.” There was something in his eyes, a hollow gaze that was hidden behind the tint of his spectacles.

Trace waited. “Are you… erm, going to elaborate?”

“I apologise, Trace Taylor, but...”

“Of course not,” she snorted.

Veronica placed a reassuring hand on Adair’s shoulder. “It’s fine,” she said. “You don’t have to say anything you don’t want to.” Facing Trace, she continued. “Adair has already explained his circumstances to us. That’s part of the reason why we decided against keeping him locked up. That, and he promised to aid us in setting up this commune.”

The redhead shrugged. “I’m just saying, he shouldn’t have mentioned anything about knowing Noah in the first place if he didn’t want to elaborate.”

Veronica and Adair looked at each other. “Fair,” they admitted.

Liz leant against the wall, arms behind her back. “Why are we so worried about the Precursors of Peace, anyways? I deadass don’t think they’re that bad.”

Trace gave her best friend a flat stare.

“What? I find them funny.”

“Nothing,” the redhead said with a sigh. “Somehow, I can’t disagree with that.”

“For now, we’ll leave them be.” Veronica nodded before glancing at the Gate. “But if they try anything to harm our commune or the people living here, we will act.”

Trace, Adair, and Liz nodded in agreement. Then the redhead blinked.

Wait, we? …

[Affirmative.]

Fuck, I’m some sort of city guard now, aren’t I?

[Affirmative. Congratulations on acquiring employment, Trace Taylor.]

* * *

Trace honestly agreed with it— with Veronica’s rationale. Things were going to shit, and the commune needed someone to protect it. The only problem the redhead had was just how absolutely exhausting of a job it’d be.

“Alright, I’mma head to bed now. Didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’m beat.” Liz waved as she slammed her door shut. They’d returned to The Evergreen Gun Range. Just the two of them. And the first thing they did was take shower. The next was to retire to their rooms.

The redhead dragged herself into her room, yawning as she collapsed onto her bed. However, before she could pass out, there was something she’d been curious about and wanted to investigate.

“Hey, Ex.”

[Affirmative?]

“Do you know what exactly changes for each skill when they level up?”

[The changes are significant, but also depend on the skill. I can relay the improvements if you request it.]

“Please.”

[(F+) Magically Enhanced Accuracy Level 13 – Your accuracy is permanently improved via magical means.

(E-) Quick Fire Level 9 – Your gun can unload bullets thrice as fast as it is designed to fire.]

There didn’t seem to be any quantitative change for Magically Enhanced Accuracy, as Trace expected. But she was surprised by Quick Fire. It had previously let her shoot twice as fast as she should be able to. Now, it was three times.

“Perhaps it multiplies for every five levels gained?” That was the assumption she’d go off on for now.

[(E) Recall Weapon Level 8 – You can summon the last weapon you were holding if it is within 28 metres of you. Range will increase for each skill level gained. Can be used once every minute.

(E+) Vulnerability Vision Level 10 – You can pinpoint the most vulnerable body parts of any creature up to 24 levels above you, as well as any object that is smaller than 10x10 metres and is not enhanced by magic. Level range will increase for each skill level gained. The maximum dimensions of the object will correspond to the skill level.

(E+) Last in the Chamber Level 9 – You can fire a powerful magical bullet when your magazine is emptied. Can be used once every nine minutes. Cooldown will decrease for each skill level gained.]

Recall Weapon had increased in distance, but it still could only be used every minute. Unlike before her class evolution where each level corresponded to an additional metre for its range, the skill now added 2 metres for each level gained. Which was why it had gone up from 14 metres at level 1, to 28 metres at level 8. 7 levels and a 14 metre increase.

Vulnerability Vision now affected things up to 24 levels above Trace. Which was fortunate for her, especially if she encountered another monster like the durable serpentfiend again, except a little higher levelled. The durable serpentfiend had been level 32. If Trace had been at a lower level, she wouldn’t have been able to use the skill on it to take it down.

Now that she killed it and levelled Vulnerability Vision, that wouldn’t have been a problem. At least, for other level 30 monsters.

Last in the Chamber seemed to function similarly to Quick Fire. Trace assumed that it would take off a minute from the skill’s use for every five levels gained.

“Interesting. And what about Mystic Bullets?”

[(D-) Mystic Bullets Level 8 – Your bullets are magically enhanced with additional damage.]

“Should have expected that.”

[While the additional damage is not quantified,] Ex explained, [it does increase for each level the skill gains.]

“I see.” Trace lay in her bed, taking a moment to absorb it all in.

[Are you satisfied with my explanations, Trace Taylor?]

“Quite satisfied,” she said, rolling over and closing her eyes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to continue my sleep.”

A few hours passed, and Trace eventually woke up when the sun had reached its zenith. She didn’t get a lot of sleep. She probably slept a total of five or six hours throughout the night. And yet, she was refreshed.

“A trait of endurance, I’m presuming?”

[Affirmative.]

The redhead grabbed a tin of dried food and popped it open, scarfing it down greedily. Neither endurance nor vitality did much to alleviate her appetite. Or maybe they did, but the use of her skills and magic negated their effects. Once she was finished with her brunch— if the canned food could be called brunch— she searched for Liz, only to find that her best friend had already left.

“Now, where could she have gone?” Trace stopped at the front door, staring at the wooden planks lying on the ground in pieces. “Seriously, she could at least just pry them off instead of slicing them apart.”

Grabbing a hammer, she quickly fixed the barrier over the front door with Makeshift Materials, Quick Hands, and Rapid Repair.

[(G) Quick Hands has reached level 9!

(F) Makeshift Materials has reached level 6!

(F) Makeshift Materials has reached level 7!

(F+) Rapid Repair has reached level 8!

Builder has reached level 8!]

However, as she laboured away, boarding up the doorway, she heard what sounded like an echo of her hammer on metal and wood.

In the distance, someone— or multiple someones— were working with hammers and tools too. Trace didn’t hear any electric tools, which, of course not. The power grid was dead. But she was curious enough to investigate the source of the noise.

She dropped what she was doing, heading down four blocks west where the banging of tools was at its loudest. There, she spotted Veronica’s partner, Jeremy, watching over a group of Builders as they worked at a…

Trace frowned.

“Are they building a fucking wall?”