Red still couldn’t believe everything.

“That doesn’t make any sense. My own father is over level 150, and he isn’t like you.

Mash shrugged his shoulders in a non-committal manner and didn’t bother responding to her. Instead, he moved over the tent flap and opened it right as General Irkish approached.

“Maybe you can explain.”

He had been tracking her approach since she entered his domain. He was also aware of when she had begun eavesdropping on them. She knew what they were talking about and would certainly have more answers than him. Without any change in her firm expression, she responded.

“It’s because what Mash did normally doesn’t happen till level 200. And I would love to hear how you managed that. And why did you advance like the monsters?”

The general did not look pleased, but her words perked Mash’s ears.

“Wait, you know that monsters have levels and advancements. Did you know that animals did too?”

“Answer my questions first.”

She made sure to stress every word, and she somehow pressed her power upon him. The highest leveled person in the kingdom was intimating. He let out a relaxed breath as her attempt to press him washed off like rain.

“Sorry, but I don’t have an answer for either of those. I think it was a mark from one of the many world owners that I have met. I mean my own.”

He was made to stop speaking, as Red covered his mouth. She smiled at the general sweetly before speaking.

“I think that’s enough of an answer. It’s your turn.”

The annoyed face the General made when Red decided to speak was telling. Mash decided it would be better to leave her to it.

“You know, this is why your family has such a shitty reputation. But fine, yeah, I know that almost any living being has access to something. Most animals never manage to get far, but you get some stories occasionally. A cat causing some bad luck or a turtle that has been said to live for countless years. Not to mention the things in the seas’ depths. Plenty of the monsters we see outside of dungeons, are animals that wandered into a dungeon and managed to kill or pass it.”

Despite what Irkish suggested with her words, Mash struggled to imagine a cat clearing a dungeon. She answered his question though, so he guessed that meant it was his turn.

“Well, got any more questions for me?”

The General nodded.

“Yeah, but we don’t need to bother with this back and forth. Just ask what you want, and I will just tell you if I can’t answer. I’m not a noble and don’t care to turn a conversation into a competition.”

Mash preferred this as well. Straightforward and simple.

“What’s two plus two?”

Jill’s joke was not amusing, and everyone ignored her as Lisa pulled her away. Red’s voice was biting with her glare pointed at Jill.

“What makes level 200 so special?”

“The normal class system only goes so far. Normally, people don’t hit that limit for a long time. I call it level 200, but it’s really a power threshold. Most people have to find new sources of power after hitting that level before getting out of it. Honestly, I was stuck at level 200 for something like a decade or two.”

The general spoke about two decades in the blink of an eye. He found himself nodding in understanding. He knew that his power far exceeded his level. Thus, getting the change early made a lot of sense.

“Wait, so the same thing won’t happen to us?”

Luke piped up from whatever deep contemplation he had been struggling with.

“No. I expect you will have to wait unless one of you has gained considerable power outside of your class. Although, from what I was led to believe, Mash was the only one to have done that, I have already been caught unaware once, so I would appreciate a warning if one of you were going to accomplish the same.”

Everyone other than Mash shook their heads furiously. The general nodded, and Mash asked his own question. He had realized something once the General entered his domain.

“What does it mean to have an aspect? And why don’t I feel like you have one?”

“Because I don’t. At level two hundred you can abandon the class system and get something like that, or you can get a second class. If you choose the class, the second class will balance you and cover any would-be weaknesses. As for the aspects, thrones, or shards of divinity, they grant a form of protection, let’s call it. Mash can explain that part better than me.”

Heads turned to him, and he cleared his throat.

“Yeah, I didn’t get there yet. I fairly certain I can’t die. So long as my aspects exist in reality, I won’t die. I’ll just keep reviving, but I imagine it would take a long time.”

He stopped there, turning to see if the general had anything to add. She eyed him curiously before asking.

“What aspect do you have? How fundamental is it?”

“It’s change, so very.”

Her gaze narrowed.

“Change and freedom are quite immutable. So yes, you won’t die, even if you wanted to at this point. Although with things that fundamental, I imagine it would be a century or two for full revival. It’s shorter with the more specific and fragile aspects.”

Mash had an idea of how she knew what his aspects were. Red didn’t though and drew attention to herself merely by shifting her stance. It was a subtle unobtrusive motion, but it drew everyone’s eye.

“Care to explain how you knew his aspects?”

“You’re not supposed to have two aspects. And when I say you, I mean literally anyone. Whatever form of power it is, a person’s body can normally only handle one. Now that brings me to my questions. Why do you have two, and why does that make you, Mash, my enemy?”

Her gaze turned to Mash. It changed from the domineering but the neutral gaze of a commander. Now it was filled with open hostility and bloodthirst. He met the gaze evenly. It wasn’t the knowledge of his undying nature that made him confident. He had finally made it. His power was no longer something that could be ignored or threatened easily.

“I got offered two and took them. The consequence of that is letting everyone know what I have, and it marks me for those who don’t like those things. It’s pretty unspecific though, so I’m pretty sure most parents would likely see me as an enemy if they could.”

Luke stepped in between the two of them to interject.

“Why don’t we sense these things?”

The General rolled her eyes.

“You're too weak. Get to level 200 then you can sense them too.”

Mash actually felt a wave of relief at that.

“That’s one weight off my shoulders. I was worried that every other person I met would think I was their enemy or something.”

They talked a little more. The general asked plenty of questions, but so did Red. Before long they had tired most points of conversation. It came to an end when Mash finally asked an important question.

“How do aspects actually work? Is it like other magic?”

That question provoked Irkish to an angry response.

“After everything we talked about, you actually think I will tell you anything about them? Don’t use them.”

Her expression hardened. It was the gaze of someone needing to discipline their children. The words irked him.

“No!”

Mash shouted the word, and he could feel his domain react. His very presence seemed to fill the domain. He could see his friends step away from him. Only, Lisa seemed to be withstood the sudden change. The General also remained unflinching, and she stepped closer.

“You don’t understand those powers. They are destabilizing the kingdom.”

He considered what she said but didn’t care. He was tired of restrictions; of people or things trying to manipulate or control him. He was tired of discovering new forces that far outclassed him. This was not the end of his journey, but he finally had enough power to say no.

“I don’t care. I mean I care, but not in the way you do. My powers are good. They will change this world and I want them to. So, I will use them.”

“Is that the grand plan you’ve come to? Destroy the world and force it to be what you want.”

The General was getting angry too. Mash snapped back.

“No. My power is to change the world and give it the freedom to grow without bonds. People like you or me shouldn’t be able to control the whole world.”

“You think I haven’t heard that before? Your answer half baked. It will do nothing but create anarchy. You can’t just break things because you don’t like them.”

Mash cursed and stepped back from her. He didn’t have the words to dispute her, so he turned to things he couldn’t accept.

“Your right, but even still there are things I want to change. There are two things I can start with now. Slavery and the class system.”

The General clearly wasn’t ready for him to agree. Her eyes went wide when he mentioned the things. Then she smiled.

“Well, I’ll be more than happy to drop you like the calamity you are in the north. Although, be careful about messing with the class system. You’re not the only that has the power to affect it. There are changes you can make, but don’t expect much. As for the rest, we can discuss that later. If you want to practice your abilities, do it outside of my home.”

Those last words were accompanied by the warping of space. The entire tent seemed to distort and vanish like Jill’s skill. Mash felt like he could’ve blocked it, but he didn’t. He could tell where she was sending them.