In the buildup to our invasion of California, the Systemless Squad has made excursions away from Mount Osore. That place was extremely beneficial to our army, but we are now forced to expand, to split up our forces in preparation for the multi-pronged assault to come.

As for me, I’m on the MS Zaandam, riding with a small army of elite Santa Barbaran commandos. We’re setting forth to retake the city, with the help of the Beaver Hopper Clan who have expertise in precisely the endeavor we need.

“Yeah, we got this,” Lumen says. “That skeleton maw dragon’s toast. Beavers are well-known monster hunters, after all.”

“Is that why you were out in Balloon Land?” I ask. “Were there incredible beasts to be slain there?”

“No,” Tropy replies. “We were hiding because we were afraid of the U.S. military massacring us and stealing our universe hopping abilities.”

“Oh, right. That’s an entirely reasonable thing. I’m glad we convinced you to join us, at least.”

“We’ll see how it goes.”

The beavers mostly keep to themselves. I suspect they would rather have continued to hide, but my sheer charisma was enough to at least partially sway them.

But my side of this story is not overly interesting right now. Rather, those of my allies is the real focus. And I’ve been getting updates constantly on my phone of the great successes they’ve been having on their own.

Let’s take a look at some of them:

—

Delta has sent me a series of pictures and video messages showing a quite unexpected conquest.

“Yeah, San Francisco is pretty heavily guarded,” she tells me in the video. “So I sort of fixed it.”

Delta steps back from the camera to show a large cast of ruffians behind her, standing with rigid and loyal postures.

“I used these horrid balloon powers and took over the Persian Mob. It kind of took a lot of fighting, but whatever. I’m the leader now. Guess I shouldn’t tell Julie about this one, though.”

The video clip ends, but is followed up by photographs of the hundreds of gangsters that now will apparently follow Delta to the ends of the Earth.

They’re unkempt, they’re rowdy, and they’re now by proxy part of the Systemless Squad. They will have no trouble taking back San Francisco when the time is right.

—

Francis video calls me and immediately pans his camera over to the rest of his family, staying in the mansion in Los Angeles, a far safer location than the increasingly hostile San Francisco.

The elder Bacalls, who I haven’t seen since I first left on our adventure all that time ago. And in addition, Francis’s sister Taylor along with her young daughter Victoria. It’s a whole big family reunion, which is absolutely heartwarming considering the drama-like scenario between them in the past.

And, as I now realize with my appearance here... I am a part of this family.

“Welcome,” Francis’s father says. “It’s about time my boy got a catch worth something.”

“Arthur,” his mother chides. “Don’t be rude to your own son when he’s showing off his boyfriend.”

“I’m glad to meet you again, even under these far-from-ideal circumstances,” I say to them from the other side of this phone screen. “I love your son very much, and it is not simply the love of comrades. He is not the first person I’ve felt great romance towards, but he shall be the last.”

Francis giggles. “You have a very dumb way with words.”

“Thank you.”

—

And then, a few hours later, another call from Francis. This time, he is still in his sister’s mansion, but he’s huddled up next to a laptop with a feisty grin on his face.

“What’s the matter, Francis?” I ask. “You didn’t project anything to me with our [Empathetic Link] that I noticed.”

“I’m about to totally change the war,” Francis says. “I’m gonna let you watch, since I know you don’t normally watch my streams or anything.”

“Oh, that’s exciting.”

“Don’t talk or anything though. I’m about to go live.”

I comply with that gesture where it looks like I am zipping shut my own mouth.

Francis begins his newest video game stream on Mixer. The biggest, most popular streamer in the world, Francis Bacall has turned Bac Nation into a hallmark of American pop culture. And now, he is about to use that status to great ends.

Ever since the invasion, he has been just about blacklisted by every single media organization on the planet. But he still has a way into Mixer. His connections just run that deep.

“Okay, guys,” he begins. “I’m recording. And this one won’t be a game or anything. Yeah, I hear the new Dungeon Core Saga Series game’s just come out, but I’ve got something a lot more important to talk about.

“Thanks to Geoff Keighley for the account access, bee tee dubs. Obviously I can’t get on here all by myself, you know?

“So, the war. America’s doing some bad shit. Y’all know it as well as me. The whole multiverse is being torn apart for their neoliberal economic causes, and there’s nothing any of us can do because we don’t have any RPG system or anything.

“But that’s where you’re wrong. You’re not even close to helpless. Because you have the Systemless Squad behind your back.

“Starting today, we’re taking back California. Freedom from tyranny. Treading hard on that stupid snake. You can help by joining our ragtag team, sure. But you can also help by joining in our financial drive.

“That’s right. I’m setting for the record. The big one. The MoistCr1TiKaL Memorial Fundraiser world record is going down.

“I’m asking for your help in the Systemless Squad caus: TEN MILLION GIFT SUBS!

“Help us retake California and save the multiverse! Give us the gift subs!

“Bac Nation Y’all!!!!!”

I watch in wonder, admiring the man for his powerful charisma.

And just as he predicted, it works perfectly. In the end, well over thirty-five million gift subs are donated in one day. Mixer shuts down the next, just as Geoff Keighley goes on the run.

—

The Goddess looks like a mad scientist as she runs around the portable lab, with Abby and G’L’K lurking in the background of the video.

“Hyperstone! A whole lava girl made of hyperstone!”

Abby waves to the camera, and so does G’L’K. They’re awfully close to each other. Is it... perhaps...

“Eryk, I done completely forgot I made a whole danged race of lava people. This is just the thing we need!”

She’s so excited. I’m positively exuberant for how much The Goddess has going on all of a sudden.

It makes me think a breakthrough is imminent. And so will be our victory.

—

And, just before my ship arrives on the Santa Barbara coast and begins its invasion, I receive one last video clip, from Julie:

“Eryk, hi,” she says. “Delta and I’ve made a decision. Or, let Esther make a decision for herself, I guess.”

She looks as calm as ever. It’s so difficult to see what’s going in that woman’s mind. However, even through the gap of space and time, I can still sense, to some extent, the extremely powerful aura emenating from her very being.

I’m glad I’m on her side.

The video shows Esther standing next to a large orb that glows with strange magical energy. The Warring Core, I am told.

Esther looks at the camera. “I’m thirteen years old, now. At least the Warring Core believes so. I’m actually only one year old. But it means I’m allowed to accept the powers of this device within me, and I believe it will help us reach great balance in the battles to come. It may prove key in our destiny for you to remember the importance of the Warring Core, Eryk. To help you recognize it, I have decided to accept the Warring Core System on video to you.”

What an oddly specific and vaguely suspicious address from that precocious baby.

“Okay, here it goes. Warring Core, I accept you.”

A long series of flashes and swooshes overtake the scene. The magic channels into Esther, and the whole world rumbles as if to herald the arrival of her new powers.

Once it’s over, it’s clear nothing will ever be the same.

Esther has a distinctly mustard-hue aura surrounding her.

“I have Yellow magic affinity,” she says. “Support magic that can help all of us. The system is... remarkably straightforward. This is fascinating.”

Julie and Delta embrace her and congratulate her on the newfound powers.

Might they be the first nuclear family in the whole multiverse to each have a different RPG system within their souls?

A remarkable day indeed.

Now, Esther is approaching a power level of that of myself and her mother. I can sense just how strong this new yellow magic will make her. She is overpowered in almost every way, except for social skills and stamina, thanks in large part due to her being a baby.

She likely does not have the stamina available to truly change the tide of the war, but with some training, she will be able to help us all out very much.

This is all so exciting. I’m so very happy for everyone and their successes.

California’s coming.

And now it’s my turn to shine...

By ranking up!