The Bent World (Formerly: Multiverse Revenge Story): Chapter 14 Increasing Difficulties

Chapter 14

Increasing Difficulties

(Two Months Later)

We moved with precision and silence.

By now even the escorts guiding us moved silently through the brush.

This was our seventh lower ranked rift in four weeks.

The process for the previous six rifts was simple, we’d go out, let the advanced warrior maidens surge forward, fully open the rift. Then they would kill off most of the monsters, only leaving a few heartier monsters with open wounds to be struck by us.

This way it was easier for us all to get our bloody strike in. As long as our blades struck the areas where blood was freely flowing, we were able to gain our participation energy and slink back to the group.

Once we were all part of the killing group, we would retreat back to a safe distance and watch as the warriors unleashed their full powers against the rift and the last of the monsters.

I was not idle during this time, for I used every second I could to improve my Telekinesis grabbing, holding, and crushing enemies as needed. Each attack making it just that much easier to break into the next realm of mental power.

When I finally unlocked my second full arm of Telekinesis, I didn’t even celebrate. What would have been a rite of passage in my past life went without even a moment’s worth of recognition in this world.

Instead, I just nodded in my own satisfaction at my accomplishment before continuing to choke, main, or injure monsters moments before the guards struck.

As we progressed, we were of course given down time. Which was nice, and also a good sign as it meant that rifts weren’t forming constantly.

Also, there was a way that people were able to track likely rift breach locations. Tracking the area where one breach would occur was able to be discerned through mathematical calculations related to energy readouts.

The problem with finding rifts was that they were all nearly impossible to identify before they were fully opened. But once they opened, they could erupt to any size, making it impossible for our guardians to properly protect us, while dealing with the incursions.

This was where my ability to smell the energy sources came in handy. As I learned that I was more valuable than a Pathfinder, as Pathfinders could only find paths to open rifts, while our group tried to get to the anomalous energy fluctuations before they fully formed.

Making us a vanguard of sorts.

In fact, some of the additional warrior maidens with us were effectively on loan from the state. They tracked our progress, and made sure that each child had enough dwell time between runs to properly adjust to our energy exposure levels.

Each rift came with at least two days of down time, where we were to heal up, learn from our mistakes, and train to be more effective.

Then the mathematical process to divine a new rift opening location was conducted and we were out and about for our next mission.

After the first mission where the one girl spoke and was subsequently kicked out, everyone remained quiet. That girl managed to make her way back for every run since that first.

By now my senses had all evolved to a point where I could easily smell the location of the rift. Or the area where the rift would have its easiest time forming and then directed us all there.

This time like the last time, the moment we got out of our vehicle I could smell the source of power.

Sniff.

“You can smell the rift?” Auntie asked.

I just nodded.

Then we were off.

By now the warriors that had been with us previously had no doubt of my abilities to easily find the rifts. Not only could I tell where the rifts were, but I could generally discern an element or two that we could expect to encounter.

We had worked out our own form of silent communication.

The advanced guards would go out about a hundred meters in the direction that I had indicated. Then when we caught up, they would glance back at Auntie. Auntie, being the leader of these operations, would then glance at me and I would point in a direction, either telling us to continue forward or turn slightly.

Then she would relay my gestures to the others, and we would go.

The message was clear, regardless of what I thought or did, ultimately this was all on Auntie’s shoulders. Our success or failure depended on her using the resources available to her and acting accordingly.

Honestly, it showed a lot of discipline on behalf of the lead guardians who all saw my hand signals to Auntie, but they all waited stoically for Auntie to give her own directions, regardless of what I might do.

Sniff.

Cough.

This time, for whatever reason the smells accosting my nose were pungent. They were so thick that I had to cough, to clear my throat.

At that, Auntie held up a clinched fist and stopped moving.

Those two guards ahead must have eyes in the back of their heads because they immediately stopped their movement and waited. One turned backwards to look at Auntie for directions, while the other remained facing forward, ready to protect us from lurking predators.

“Everything okay?” Auntie asked me, her voice low, but again given the advancements that I now had, I knew that others around us could easily hear every word.

I nodded my head but then raised my right-hand palm upwards towards the sky.

Fortunately, Auntie and I had already worked on several hand signals to quickly explain certain things to be weary of.

“It’s high?” She asked, then glancing out of the corner of her eye she clarified, “the energy levels you are sensing are higher?”

I nodded.

At that, Auntie just paused. A myriad of thoughts going over her features.

“How much higher?” Auntie asked.

Sniff.

Once again, I smelled the air, feeling its pungent scents all mixing together in my nose and realized it was easily twice as pungent as other portals.

Evaluating the smells, I held up two firm fingers and paused. Then after a second, I added my thumb to the mix and gently rocked my hand.

“Two to two and a half times more potent?” Auntie asked to clarify.

I nodded.

Once again Auntie’s analytical mind went to work, before she asked.

“How many unique powers?”

At that I held up three fingers, then lowered one and touched two to my head.

“Three, but you only know two of them?”

I nodded.

“Meaning that one has never been experienced by you, meaning it could be a first-time exposure.” Auntie mused out loud.

While her words might have seemed like she was trying to assess the risk involved, it was clear that this was all calculated. These words were being spoken not for me, but for the other warriors in training around me, who were all hoping to be exposed to as many power types as possible and awaken their best possible futures.

After giving her previous words a moment to percolate, she then began calling everyone in to discuss the issue at hand.

“Okay, everyone form up on me.” Auntie called out, and gestured for even the guards to come back and form a tighter perimeter around us.

Then turning to the grouping of nine warrior children in training, she spoke.

“Okay, I’ve got some good news, some bad news, and some indifferent news,” Auntie began. Then with mechanical precision she spoke.

“As you know this is likely our last run of the summer, meaning we go home here we are done. That is the indifferent news. The good news is that there is a rift with a new and unique form of magic that we have not been exposed to thus far. The bad news is that it is a lot higher than we originally scoped for. Since this is your run, I will let you all decide what we do from here.”

At that comment Auntie paused and let everyone take in her three key points that she wanted to make. Then when people began to shift in their positions, that is when she spoke again.

“Now do we want to err on the side of caution and leave. Knowing that this will be our last delve before the end of summer break. Or do we want to go out and work one last rift together, knowing that for many of you it will be the last time you can have such an experience under such ideal conditions?”

There was a pause as many of the girls all turned to face each other.

As it was habit by now, the other girls all seemed to cluster on their own, speaking their odd language without speaking. Their hands gesticulating in odd understandable patterns.

All the while, I just stood there staring at them.

I wanted to go, but I knew that I couldn’t force them to want this, they had to want this on their own.

That was why I just stood there silently waiting.

Finally, after only a few moments, one of the larger females broke from the cluster and then pointed towards me. This was one of the girls I pushed on the first trip.

Ever since that first trip there had been a bit of a divide that built up between us. I knew the other girls all met up after these excursions, they had to have to have formed such a bond of their own. Yet, for whatever reason they did not look for me. That or if they did, Auntie protected me from their meddling.

I was so lost in trying to figure out how there became a noticeable divide between us, that I almost missed Auntie’s response.

“Is that your final decision?” Auntie asked the cluster of girls that all seemed to be in agreement with this one girl who pointed at me.

The girl nodded.

“Very well then,” Auntie began and turned her head towards me. “It seems that the group is putting their faith in you. So, I will ask you, what will it be, go on and clear this last rift for summer, or call it a summer?”

Sniff.

Hearing the question, I once again smelled the air, trying to sense if there were any powers that I had missed. Or if there were any other factors that would cause this mission to go sideways.

The scent was thick, like trying to breathe in burning incense sticks, but it was manageable.

Seeing that I wasn’t taking this responsibility lightly, everyone relaxed.

Then after a moment, I nodded my agreement. Then gestured towards the direction of the rift opening, and once again held up three fingers indicating the unique smells that I could discern.

“Okay, Pathfinder, let me work it out with the others.” Auntie replied while using my nickname that I had earned from these trips.

I nodded.

Then with that, Auntie and the other guardians broke away and began discussing details of the operation.

Well, Auntie spoke and everyone else listened.

It was amazing to see the way everyone bowed to her knowledge and understanding of the situation we were in.

They spoke in hushed whispers for about ten minutes, before Auntie and one guard came back to the group.

“Okay, we have determined that it would be best if you all missed the initial burst and release of energy from the opened rift. As such, you will stay here and only come when you are summoned by us.” Auntie spoke.

Nervous posturing.

It was clear that some of the girls wanted to be present when the rift opened, as that meant they were guaranteed to unlock the energy of the portal. But I could understand the need for caution in this particular case, this way the guardians could use their full power immediately to help whittle down the energy released by the rift, without having to hold back or ensure containment was kept.

“When you are summoned, you are to come with weapons already ready and be prepared to immediately strike at the enemies you see.”

Then pausing for that lesson to come in, she asked what was now becoming our fight chant, “any questions?”

Silence.

“Very good, now again, stay here and wait for our signal.”

With those last orders given, we were forced to stay behind and watch as the group of warriors and Auntie all left over the ridge.

Splash, swoosh.

Almost immediately afterwards, we heard the sounds and eruptions of pitched battle happening.

In my mind, I could almost imagine waves of fire, lightning, frost, and other elements being wielded with maximum precision by the group of highly trained and motivated warriors.

We all stood there, rooted to the spot, just waiting for our chance to join. Which for a moment seemed like it might never arrive.

Then finally it arrived.

WOLF WHISTLE!

A loud piercing whistle performed by Auntie rippling her tongue and placing her fingers at the edge of her lips rang out.

Hearing the sound, our guardian gave a form up motion and then began to move forward.

She made it about twenty paces, when she looked back at us.

I immediately followed, as did a few of the stronger females. But it was only after looking back behind us that we realized that three of the other girls all looked to have been frozen in time. Only after our stopping and staring at them did they all seem to thaw out from their state and sheepishly join our formation.

The guide just stared at the lot of us for a long moment, but once she saw that we were all in fact committed, she continued moving forward.

Thick tingling energy.

As we moved, I could feel the energy of the world coming to life and almost saturating me in its presence.

Shiver.

I don’t know why it was, but this time it felt like there was something deeper to this power.

Then finally, we saw the mayhem being produced by the maidens.

If I had to describe the monsters being fought in pitched battle and boil it down to one word, that word would be squirrels.

Giant ravenous meat-eating squirrels that had yellow bulging eyes, sharp talon like claws, and stood about as tall as a standard horse. They were massive creatures, worse it was clear that they wielded both nature and lightning magic.

As we approached, it was clear that our presence had been observed by at least a few of the squirrel-like monsters, for two turned their large snout like heads towards us and focused.

Feeling their gazes, and a building pressure of energy, I quickly held my hands up to the side and pushed outward. This was a gesture indicating that we needed to move.

By now no one seemed to doubt my ability to sense magic. As it was a common enough ability that every year, at least one promising student would be identified as having the condition by the system.

That was why everyone just dispersed immediately in either direction my arms indicated, even going so far as to follow me as I too began running quickly to my left.

Swoosh.

Then, just like the first time we had experienced an opened rift, a large wooden spike erupted from the ground, only to then sprout massive needle like tree trucks that jutted out like dangerous needles trying to pierce anyone still within range.

The only real difference between this one and the one from our first run was size and scale, for the size of the powers being used were easily twice as large as the first ones. While the scale was easily a few hundred meters away.

It was a death trap, any chance of us getting closer meant that we would well be within the range of these monsters. Given the moment needed for the two great beasts to focus on us, the group of maidens went to town, bisecting and striking at the beasts multiple times during this large buildup and release of power.

ZZap.

Arcs of electricity also flew throughout the clearing, but those were wild and unclaimed after the first few dozen meters.

The translation was clear, nature magic was far easier to wield at a distance, but the trade off was the time needed to cast these spells would leave a monster vulnerable for some time.

By contrast, Lightning was far faster to release, but it seemed to be unable to be directed after a few dozen paces. Only the fact that the maidens wielded metal weapons did this power truly prove its effectiveness. As I could see the arcs jumping from open fields in what would have been clear misses, only to then arc back up to a nearby maiden’s metallic boot or other item that attracted the blast.

Boom!

Even when the bolts landed, the maidens never faltered in their strikes. Making sure to cut down any monster that came before them.

I too was busy during this time, as I was already applying my improved Telekinesis to aid in these battles. By now the effective range of my Telekinesis was massive, and all I needed to do was to be able to see the monster or target of my mental focus once. Then even while ducking or otherwise hiding I could reach out and squeeze the intended target.

Trying to be discreet with my use of Telekinesis, I only used my power sparingly. Holding a monster still, just long enough for a strike to perfectly hit and sever a spine. Leaving a stomach or other vital organs visible in a lunge for a moment longer than expected.

By themselves, each of these events were minor, but added together, they helped the flow of battle immensely.

We were caught like that, for what felt like an hour, just watching the other maidens fight, while we just watched from the ridge.

Finally, after a few moments, the battle died down, and we were all instructed to come closer as the last remaining monster was incapacitated.

With this monster we all made our cuts on the beast.

This event more than any others was hardly sporting, but who were we to complain. We are getting added to a kill, and gaining additional splash experience by just being here.

Our making a surgical strike on this one monster just guaranteed that we would all gain participation experience.

Squee, squa..

The other girls went first, all making a thrust and easily drawing blood. Their strikes and precision showing drastic improvements since the first run we had at the beginning of summer.

This time, just like last time, I waited at the end of the line to make my strike. The only difference being that I would now wait until the others had their chance to draw blood. Sometimes some of them still needed multiple attempts to draw blood. Then as was becoming a practice in performance, I would go last, focusing my mind and body, then performing a final coup de gras blow. One that often ended up with the final decapitation of the monster, and end to the threat.

What they didn’t know, what many didn’t know was that I often used these moments to practice applying my Telekinesis to my strikes.

Slink.

This often meant that even with some of our tougher monsters I was able to provide one crisp clean killing strike.

Why?

Well simple, the amount of energy released after having made a killing strike was far more than the energy received from just performing an initial insertion. Or cumulative wound, which the other females in this experiment received.

It also added to the mystique that Auntie was helping to build up for me.

Yes, it meant that I was likely seen as a monster that the other girls feared. But it also went a long way in helping me maintain my anonymity from them, as they all seemed too frightened to try to strike up a casual conversation with me directly. Even though I know for a fat the others spoke at least in passing with each other.

“Very good, I will begin the rift closing procedure now, be weary of any monsters trying to make a last second breach.” Auntie stated as she went over to close over charged rift.

Normally this would be an easy time when we could relax.

At least, that was how these were for the lower-level rifts.

Yet, this one was different.

For just as Auntie predicted, monsters did try to break free as she began to close the rift.

These ravenous squirrels were intelligent though, and seemed to be coated in a thick layer of dancing shadows that seemed to evaporate like mists as they moved.

Yet, despite their obvious coatings, it was clear that the other maidens didn’t notice them.

Swoop.

In the end, three of the now large dog sized squirrels managed to leave the rift before Auntie sealed the rift completely.

I wanted to call out, to warn of the beasts that were stealthily crawling their way through the gaggle of warriors that all seemed to be relieved that their efforts were over. But calling out now would blow my cover. Cover that Auntie and I had spent months cultivating. I couldn’t do that to her, so instead I waited, particularly as the monsters seemed to be drawing ever closer to me, and my still exposed sword.

As was tradition, until we were told to sheath our weapons, we were to keep them out. Even though many of the other girls around me had already sheathed their blades, determining that the threat was gone.

“Huh? That’s odd?” One of the maidens cried out, just as a monster stealthily crawled past her.

“What is?” Another maiden replied.

The more they spoke, the more it was clear that these shadow coated monsters were purposefully avoiding the maidens as they made their way past their group, and towards me and the other girls who were all oblivious to the encroaching doom.

Then finally giving word to the inherent danger that was steadily crawling towards us, the first maiden spoke the obvious.

“We haven’t gotten experience for completing the rift?”

That’s when all hell broke loose.