Sworded Affair

As before, Emma vanished from the Colosseum in a flash of teleportation, leaving the Colosseum behind scarce seconds after the third trial concluded. Breaking the pattern however; she appeared not in the theater but rather back in her bed, her body and head thankfully realigned. With self-healing no longer restricted, her body immediately began to rebuild the connection between her head and shoulders, one sliver of steel at a time. Whilst this somewhat lengthy process was ongoing, Emma took the time to examine her updated status page.

Emma Knight - Level 4 Revenant

Race: Undead [LOCKED]

Alignment: True Neutral

Anima: 250

EXP: 405/600

Abilities

Summon Unholy Sword {Epitaph} (Cost: 50% current Anima)

Traits

Arcanivore: Enemies restore Anima when wounded or slain.

Wolf, Ram and Heart: All attacks imbued with Death magic, significantly increasing damage dealt.

Add-Ons

Music Player: Most of YouTube's hits, all in your head.

Fast Travel

Academia Mortalis

Main Quests

404 - Answers Not Found

Objective: Discover the cause of the Apocalypse

Reward: ERROR

Blood Borne

Objective: Find your Father

Objective: Find your Mother

Reward: ???]

"The quest log's looking a lot cleaner now," Emma mused. "Although, that first quest is probably staying there for a good long time."

[Well, you know the old saying; nothing worth doing is easy.]

A few minutes later, Emma was whole again, and more importantly able to move her limbs. As she approached the door to the theater however, she hesitated. Deciding that she'd said all that was needed to the crowd, and also that such a quick return would be awkward given her grand sendoff not long ago, Emma instead turned to the bathroom door. To her relief, her brother's previous arrangement was still in place, and thus she was able to step on through to the black desert. Felix was there awaiting her as expected; Romulus being there was considerably less so, his appearance more or less identical to the man Emma had fought in the Colosseum, with one glaring caveat.

[Mars - Level 99]

"I was never meant to win that fight, was I?" Emma asked rhetorically, as she approached the glowing pillar of light that represented the Dungeon Core.

"Anyone can present a charming face in victory, whereas far more of one's character is revealed when facing defeat." Felix smirked, confirming her suspicions. "The first two trials established a minimum baseline of strength, whereas the third trial selects for resolve; the determination to face seemingly impossible odds, giving it your all without taking a single backward step. This mentality, more than anything else, is an absolute requirement for success in this new world of ours. It's also why I knew you would pass: I've never known you to back down when faced with difficulty, you much prefer to double down if anything."

"Sounds about right," Emma laughed. "Still, Level 99? That's a bit much isn't it?"

"Oh, you can see that?" Felix tilted his head. "Your integration runs deeper than I expected. But yes, Mars here is very much the true final boss, defeating him would grant you ownership of the Dungeon with all the power and responsibility it entails. An impossible task at this stage of course; even though you're well ahead of the curve when it comes to strength, the new era has only just begun and most systems for growth haven't had much time to work, or even come online in many cases. The Dungeons aren't meant to be truly conquered in the near future; they're more a long-term goal, so anyone trying it now is definitively doomed."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Good to know," Emma grinned, undeterred as she stared at Mars for a few moments longer. "One day though, I'll be strong enough, and then we can have a proper fight without holding back."

Mars nodded to her once, eyes gleaming with faint interest.

[Academia Mortalis (Heroic) unlocked! - Level 45 required!

Academia Mortalis (Mythic) unlocked! - Level 90 required!]

"So… Fast travel?" Emma moved on to her next question, when it became apparent that Mars had nothing more to say at this time.

"Fast travel," Felix parroted back at her. "It's very much a work in progress, but the same principles that allow me to shape the Dungeon also allow for instantaneous transfer by connected users. You can't bring anyone with you, as only those who have passed the trials qualify, and it's a one way trip so you'll need to make your own way back to wherever you started from. Either that, or defeat more dungeons to unlock further fast travel points, your choice really."

"More dungeons are definitely on the table, once I find them anyway." Emma agreed wholeheartedly. "I really need better transportation in general, there's only so much walking I want to do given the distances involved."

"I'm sure you'll figure something out. That aside, what's the plan now?"

"Look for our Dad, probably," Emma shrugged. "His office isn't too far from here; much closer than London anyway, given that I doubt any trains are running."

"Makes sense. When you want to leave, just think of the Dungeon entrance to activate fast travel, and it'll take you right outside the main gate. Oh, and try not to die again."

"Not planning on it," Emma laughed. "I still need to pay you back for ditching me with the vinegar."

With her questions answered and her limited stock of small talk depleted, Emma didn't dither any longer. Activating fast travel, the endless desert disappeared in a flash of light, and next she knew she was back outside; the centurion who had greeted her initially was gone, the gate left open for her to enter at her leisure. Making her way back down the yellow brick road, Emma was greeted by an empty town, a far cry from the chaotic battle that was her first arrival here. Of the people and wolves battling before, there was no sign, though plenty of bloodstains, claw marks and spent ammunition remained behind, paying homage to their passing.

[Three days is a long time in war. By now, the locals have all either reached the Dungeon, fled the town or fallen in battle.]

"I doubt Felix will be happy with a couple dozen people total," Emma noted. "He seems to have bigger plans than that, so maybe the wolves are just further afield, hunting for more aspirants? Oh well, I guess it's not our problem anymore."

Reaching solid ground, Emma turned westward, her stride steady as she followed reasonably clear memories of her semi-frequent visits to her dad's office, the legacy of multiple instances of canceled childcare and the odd 'Take Your Daughter to Work Day'. Granted, she'd never seen most of the office, her visits being strictly confined to a public visitor's area, but that was enough for her sense of direction to work. By her reckoning, she'd traveled ten miles by reaching the town, which left approximately thirty miles and another ten hours of walking to go. On the upside? At least this time she had some music to listen to. Spinning up a suitable playlist, Emma took the first step forward of many towards her next destination.

"Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong…"

—

Seeing that Emma had no further need of her guidance for the time being, Edith Knight set the System back on autopilot, dismissing the screen showing her descendant amidst the wonderfully dreary English countryside, bathed in gray with a coming forecast of rain. Truly, some things never changed even eight centuries on!

"Emma has turned out to be a wonderful wielder," Edith smiled, beside herself with glee. "Capable, focused, resilient and altogether unburdened by that dreadful savior complex that sent so many heroes to an early grave. To think I'd worried we'd miss out on the fun this cycle! Oh, Noah is still such a disappointment, but at least he did something right for once in his life, raising her up in his place."

Reluctantly rising herself from her plush armchair, Edith headed for the door still clad in her nightgown; seeing no point in dressing up when her glamour would prevent anyone seeing her regardless.

"Perhaps I should spend a bit more time guiding Emma towards the right track?" Edith pondered, before shaking her head. "No, no, I'm sure she'll be fine. It's too early for any major threats, not when she hasn't even left England yet."

Heading out the door into considerably sunnier Cambridge, Edith had a spring in her step as she walked. This was a very special day after all: following months of increasingly heated disagreement, a band of academics had departed Oxford for the final time, and would officially open England's second university in her hometown today. The year was 1209, and the strongest human precognitive to ever live was looking forward to a good day out.