Level-Up Apocalypse: Surviving With The Assimilation System

Compared to the rest of the town, the interior of the mansion was immaculate; there were no aftermath of fire with paintings still hanging on the walls. Even lavish pottery and porcelain still remained on display atop wooden stands.

"This place is still in good condition. That's odd," Charlotte said, following in right behind him as she looked up at a painting of a serene mountainside.

"I was thinking that as well," Finn remarked.

Just down the hall to the left of the staircase, he could see Magnus and Jasper near what looked like the entrance to the basement. There was a huge hole in the corridor, with burned edges, clearly fit for the size of a burning ogre.

Finn and Charlotte caught up with the two down the hall, looking around at the rather spotless manor.

"You know, I'm wondering something," Magnus remarked, looking up at the ceiling. "That brute obviously didn't come through a door. I'm not seeing where it would've come into the manor from."

"Mm. You're right, mate. How the hell did that bloke get in here?" Jasper wondered.

"Let's not get too caught up on applying logic to this world. That being said…We still have to check down there," Finn pointed out, taking the first step that descended into the basement.

Something felt off about the manor, along with the town itself, aside from the clear tragedy it had suffered. The bottom of the steps led to another door, this time of wood with a circular seal that glowed red on its surface.

Magnus stepped past him on the steps, pressing his palm against the door as it didn't budge even an inch, "—Locked?"

"Nope, it's sealed," Finn pointed at the humming seal on the wood. "You won't be able to open it with force."

"Shit outta luck then, aren't we?" Jasper asked.

"Not entirely," Finn said, stepping closer to the door as he called upon his black-bladed dagger.

"What're you planning to do with that?" Magnus asked.

"Testing this out," Finn answered.

Bringing his blade close to the seal, he swiftly swiped it down, slashing across the magical mechanism.

Just like that, the seal dissolved after being slashed, leaving the door unguarded.

"Oh, that was simple," Jasper remarked.

"How'd you do that?" Charlotte asked, peeking around the assassin's shoulder.

He flipped his dagger around before dismissing it, "Never had the chance to test it before, but my weapon can cut through magic."

As he explained the method, it only took a gentle push of his hand to open the door to the ominous basement. A dark, stone underground was revealed, devoid of light with only shadows waiting ahead.

"…Why are we down here again?" Magnus asked in the face of the eerie basement.

"If this place is still a "floor" of the Tower, it'll be worth exploring it. There's probably loot stashed around," Finn presumed.

"You had me at "loot." Jasper said, marching right into the lightless basement. "On second thought, mate…I can't see a thing."

Charlotte took it upon herself to caress her sword before it swirled with embers, "I can handle that."

["Blazing Infusjon"]

Using it like a torch, the spellblade used her weapon to guide light into the dark area.

"Much better, cheers," Jasper said.

It resembled more of a dungeon than a simple basement; chains hung from the ceiling, a mess of dusty books piled high, and a peculiar table sat at the back. There were shelves of jars, containing peculiar concoctions, some of which shined with an unusual complexion.

"What is this place?" Charlotte wondered.

"It seems like some sort of laboratory, I'd guess," Jasper guessed, inspecting a shelf as he grabbed a jar containing a flaming butterfly within it.

"This world must be one where magic is natural to it," Magnus remarked. "Looking at all of this down here–this man must've been some sort of pioneer of magic, studying it like a science."

Finn carefully stepped past the mess of books, finding his way to the work station at the very end of the dim basement. There was a clearing amidst the unorganized mess, where symbols were drawn into the stone, covered in charred marks.

'This place…' Finn thought.

Stepping towards the table, he noticed something learned up against the back wall, barely seeing it amidst the blackened walls: a body, or at least, the burnt remnants of a corpse.

"Shit," Jasper quietly said as he found the unknown person as well.

Charlotte covered her mouth, "Is there anybody even left here…?"

"I wouldn't get your hopes up," Magnus realistically answered, turning around as the sight of the charred body didn't inspire his gaze to stay any longer.

The opened journal on the messy desk was brought up by Finn, finding it set to a page that looked messily written in:

["It's almost done. I've almost perfected the spell now–it will just take…some fine tuning. Such a particular incantation; a polymorph that can even turn a child into a calamity. My son, Avery, you want to be a hero, don't you? Your father will grant you that wish–you will be the hero that brings salvation to this sad land. With fire and flames, you will be that hero."]

The excerpt inscribed with sloppy handwriting was read by them all, falling to silence at the sickening admission.

"I'm reading this right, aren't I? I'm not misunderstanding? This guy…He…" Jasper quietly said in adamant shock.

Magnus turned himself away in disgust at what was written in the journal, "You're not reading it wrong."

"He turned his own child into that…" Charlotte realized.

Jasper couldn't hold back his own anger as he kicked his boot against the charred corpse by the table, causing it to crumble to ash, "What kind of sorry excuse for a father!--"

"Hey, calm down–" Finn said, grabbing the Aussie's arm.

"Don't you get it, mate? It's because of that bastard…that wasn't a monster we took down out there! It was a boy!" Jasper spoke with heartfelt regret.

There was clear sorrow felt by the others; though the knight's face was hidden as always, he could hear his voice breaking up with tears. Charlotte looked down with quiet sadness, while Magnus opted to turn away entirely, hiding his own emotions.

"I get it," Finn spoke up. "I'm the one that did it. I killed him, none of you did."

"Mate, don't–that's not how it is," Jasper said, assuring him with a hand on the shoulder.

Magnus wiped his own face before turning back around to face the assassin, "Speaking logically, the boy mentioned in that journal was gone long before we ever came to this place. There was no consciousness left there, no memories of the child that once was–I can guarantee that."

"Can you?" Finn asked before dismissing his words, shaking his head softly, "Sorry. You're right, Magnus. What we fought out there was a monster, through-and-through. If anything, we put it to rest."

"Yeah. Poor bloke can sleep now," Jasper accepted.

"There was nothing else we could do," Charlotte added.

It was when setting the repulsive journal back down did Finn notice something on the table; a black cloth wrapped around an object, which only peeked out just a little after the book was moved.

Finn grabbed the fabric, parting it as he retrieved what was kept wrapped up. A sable-chain necklace with an amulet hanging from it; it was a crest of fire, crossed with an amber glow.

"What's that?" Jasper asked.

["Amulet of The Unburnt"]

"It's an enchanted necklace," Finn said as his system displayed the object, recognizing it.

"So, we really were meant to come down here and find this mess…What the hell?" Jasper remarked.

"I get the feeling this world has been toyed with just as ours have–turned into some sort of "dungeon" for us to ransack and exploit," Magnus theorized.

Finn stuffed the amulet into his pocket, making his way out of the grim basement, "I'd get used to it if I were you. I don't think whoever is up there is going to stop messing with us all anytime soon."

There was little to find in the remnants of the town beyond ashes and charred memories, bringing them to take their leave, once more moving onward towards the ever-distant structure.

Beyond the city walls awaited a road that led between twin mountains, looming with the grace of rain greeting the travelers. It was an hour straight of hiking through the same scenery until reaching the valley between the grand mountains, greeted by blooming flowers of golden petals.

"How much walking are we doing today?" Jasper asked, wincing a bit as he took another step.

Finn led the way, coming to a stop as he turned around, "I guess we can take a break."

"On that note, what shall we do about food?" Magnus presented what was all on their minds.

In the bounds of the First Order, the reliability of simply ransacking abandoned stores for canned goods was no longer an option. With a land far off from the conveniences of modern innovation, it was back to the basics: foraging and hunting.

"Alright, I guess right here is as good a place as any to camp out," Finn decided, finding the walls of the mountain providing a sense of security, with the abundance of trees further hiding their presence.

Charlotte drew her sword with an excited smile, "I can handle the campfire–I'll get the wood and start it up. Leave it to me."

"Sounds good," Finn said, giving her a quick thumbs-up.

It didn't take more than that affirmation to send the spellblade skipping over to the trees, ready to use her blade like that of a lumberjack.

Finn looked at the other two with a shrug of his shoulders, "We oughta look for some food, then."

"Sure thing–let's make it a competition, how 'bout it, mates?" Jasper offered.

"I truly wonder how you have this much energy at times like these," Magnus quietly remarked.

Jasper laughed, "Gotta keep the mood light, right? Anyway, let's just see who can bring back the most."

"I'm down," Finn accepted.

All that was left was the swede's agreement, who looked one moment from bursting a vessel before finally giving in, "Alright. Whatever–let's just focus on surviving, right?"

"'Course, mate," Jasper assured.

Before setting out, they made sure the spellblade knew the plan, not seeking to leave her aimless and alone.

"The smoke from the fire should rise high enough to guide us back, though I don't think we'll be going that far out anyway," Finn said, watching Charlotte chop away at a tree with swift, but deep slashes.

"Yeah! I'll get it made soon!" Charlotte assured, breaking a sweat amidst her lumberjacking.

The forest amidst the vale undoubtedly was inhabited by a variety of creatures, letting the men each take their own direction without straying too far to be helpless in case of the worst. Finn set out to the west section of the stretch of nature.

'Alright, I'd like to find some meat,' he decided.