“Whoever created Aimaxion could very well be one.”
Silence descends as the implication gives rise to hopelessness.
If Aimaxionwascreated by a Primordial… Then what are our chances ofactuallymaking it out?
42
It’s the next day when I find myself standing in front of the obelisk longer than usual, watching names flicker in and out.
Our discussion from the day before still echoes in my mind, as does the fear for the future.
“We’re not moving fast enough,” I say quietly. I’m not advancing. And if I keep fighting the same low-point opponents, it will take us an eternity to get to a thousand points—if weeverdo.
Moe nods. She studies the obelisk, her expression thoughtful. “No,” she agrees. “We’re not.”
More than three months and I haven’t even accumulated one hundred points. Not even one tenth of what’s needed to escape.
I exhale slowly, my gaze lingering on the shifting numbers.
The warriors with the highest number of points appear every now and then in orange, flashing on the obelisk like a warning, or perhaps a challenge.
Currently, Varex Naredi is the highest with eight hundred twenty points, followed by Syrinos Belakov with seven hundred forty. There are a few others ranging from six hundred to seven hundred points.
It makes me wonder how long it took them to reach that, and how long it will take me.
Restlessness grows within me as the answer echoes in my mind: a long,longtime.
We need to move forward. We need to take risks.
Yet no matter how comfortable I’ve become with fighting low-point warriors, I’m wary about aiming too high. My ego has no place in this. Not when this is about survival; not just mine but also Moe’s.
I have to find a way to advance faster. While I am aware that it’s been only a few months since I cleansed my meridians and that consuming and absorbing energy takes time, I’m worried about how long we can keep this rhythm.
“Let’s choose the same as yesterday,” Moe says.
“Yes—” I stop when I see the obelisk shift.
At first, it’s no different from any other change. Names flicker, rearrange, disappear. But then the surface stills in a way I haven’t seen before.
A single line forms at first. Nykander v’Kyro (98).
Underneath is another name.
Zarek Raveli (87). Level two. Eight points.
Accept or Reject.
It’s a challenge—my first.
The battle points are higher than I’ve encountered before, even though he’s only a level two.
I frown slightly, taking it in. It must be because his total point number is high—eighty-seven. A little lower than my own, but it means he’s handled himself well until now.
Does that also mean my point value to an opponent is eight?
Somehow, I haven’t wondered that before. I kept choosing low to mid point contestants but I did not realize they would be shown the same point benefit if they won the fight.
Does the mean my own value has changed?
