System Change

”So... what kind of short journey do we have?” Derek asked as he walked beside Sheen and Alex. He had no clue where they were going, or even where the public teleporter was.

”This city is still one of the Loomis Clan cities,” Sheen said. ”Teleportation is pretty stringent, so private cities can’t teleport to public ones. However, public teleporters can teleport to private ones if you have the right information. So, we just have to travel to the nearest main city that has a teleporter connected to the next planet. It won’t take long.”

”Oh, I see,” Derek replied.

”Yes,” Ancestor Sheen said with a nod as he walked forward. ”So, we’ll head there, bring your friends out somewhere private, then pay the credits to get there.”

”Gotcha,” Derek replied. ”How has your recovery gone? You seemed a bit tired after that duel you had yesterday,” he asked.

”Oh, I’m fine, you don’t have to worry about me,” Sheen said. ”Just a little soul damage to an Ascendant like myself doesn’t take long to recover. I’ll be back to 100% in a couple of days.”

”That’s good,” Derek replied as he turned to Alex. ”I have two people traveling with me who are actually just a butler and a taste tester—so they should be able to occupy the servant role,” he said. Giving Alex a spot and keeping the remaining one open for Silvi seemed to be the best option for Derek currently, if he didn’t have to worry about Bones and Ogre. ”If they are able to, then you can have one of the spots from my guest pass.”

”Really?” Alex said with bright eyes. ”You would really do that?”

”I would,” Derek replied. ”Nivara is going to be dropped off at the planet before, and I’m sure she will be able to figure things out from there. She knew she was never going to take up one of the slots when she agreed to come along—as did Klaus. However, Klaus stayed on the training planet with Jace, so I don’t have to worry about him at all.”

”That’s... I don’t know what to say,” Alex replied.

”You say thank you, boy,” Ancestor Sheen said with a big grin. ”My young friend here is giving you a great opportunity. Ten years may not sound like much, but if you take advantage of the options that it opens up for you—and you better take advantage—then your future will be much brighter than anyone originally hoped.”

”That... thank you so much, Derek,” Alex was grinning ear to ear as he spoke. ”And if there is anything I can do for you, you just let me know. Maybe I can help you look for information on certain topics when you need it.”

”Maybe,” Derek said. ”Just keep out of trouble and focus on your own growth.” He chuckled. ”I’ve done pretty well alone, and I’ll also have a Transcendent to help teach me a thing or two... hopefully.”

”If he does that for you, you will have a wealth of knowledge at your disposal,” Sheen said. ”Don’t squander the opportunity.”

”I’ll do my best not to,” Derek said.

”Good,” Sheen replied. After that, they all fell silent for a while.

Alex was almost skipping in delight and was walking with a dumb-looking happy smile on his face. Derek wasn’t having any regrets about choosing to let Alex have one of the open slots. He felt a little bad for Nivara for not letting her go, but he would much rather have the remaining position open for Silvi once she needed it. Besides, the former queen of the elves was getting more than she signed on for just with Derek taking her to a safer planet before heading to Origin City.

The trio soon found themselves standing outside the city, past the entrance. ”Okay, boys, if you hold on, I will get us to the next teleporter in a few minutes.”

”Hold on?” Derek muttered, but as soon as he did, he was lifted into the air along with Alex. Once again, it was like he didn’t have any control of his body at all. ”How are we supposed to hold on like this?” he asked.

”It’s a figure of speech,” Sheen replied, then they were suddenly off.

Derek was moving at a pace far faster than any movement skill he had ever used. He couldn’t even see the terrain below him, as they were moving much too quickly for it to be anything other than a blur. I’m glad I don’t have any motion sickness or anything, he thought. That would suck right about now.

However, Derek didn’t have a lot of time to think before he suddenly stopped. The speed at which he stopped moving was enough to jar his brain a little, even. Ouch! he shouted internally. Why did Sheen do that? He wanted to ask, but when he turned to look around, he saw that Alex was wincing at the sudden stop, too, and that Sheen was staring forward—his normal, natural smile nowhere to be seen on his face.

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”Ancestor Sheen?” Alex suddenly asked as he rubbed the back of his neck from the whiplash. ”What’s wrong?”

Sheen turned and looked at Alex and showed a brief smile, then he looked at Derek and said, ”It seems that we have company.” Then a dangerous look fell over his eyes. ”And it also seems that we have at least one rat in the clan who knew where we were going.”

Derek frantically searched around, but no matter where he looked, he couldn’t see anything. Still, he didn’t for a second believe that Sheen was lying or joking around—he’d never seen the old man with such a serious expression on his face before.

Suddenly, with Sheen looking at him, Derek received a notification from the Origin System.

...

You have been gifted 700,000 Origin System Store Credits from Sheen Loomis.

Do you accept?

...

”Sheen?” Derek muttered.

”Just accept the transaction, boy,” Sheen said, leaving no room for discussion.

”Okay,” Derek replied, then agreed to the transaction.

...

700,000 Origin System Store Credits have been credited to your account.

Origin System Store Credits: 1,950,000

...

”Good,” Sheen said.

”What is going on?” Derek asked.

”What’s going on is that we aren’t too far away from the city. It is directly in that direction.” Sheen pointed into the distance. ”At Alex’s speed, it will take the two of you no longer than half an hour to reach it. Derek, I suspect you are faster than Alex. If you are, take him and go when I tell you to.”

Derek looked in the direction Sheen pointed, then nodded. He still didn’t see or feel anyone nearby, but he prepared himself to grab Alex and run. Alex was moved beside Derek, and the three of them dropped to the ground.

”Do you want me to put Alex into my space?” Derek asked.

Sheen paused for a second, then shook his head. ”No, that may put the ones inside in danger right now. It is also possible that the way to the city may not be completely clear once I tell you to run, and it will be easier for one or both of you if you are together.”

”Okay,” Derek replied with a nod.

”Derek,” Sheen moved over and whispered to him. ”Your flame skill is strong and dangerous. If you have to, don’t hold back. No questions, no stalling... attack and move. Once you make it to the city, you won’t have to worry much about danger. The risk that the Void Emperor finds out about you will be high, but he will be unable to do anything to you once you reach Origin City. Again, if it comes down to it, don’t hold back. Surprise with that flame, then run if the threat is too high. Do you understand me?”

”I understand, Sheen,” Derek replied. ”But you have to be careful, too. Whatever this is, you better be right behind us.”

”Boy, you never have to worry about me, this is one of the main reasons I decided to escort the two of you,” Sheen said. ”I have faith in myself against most Ascendants in the System Universe, and even a few Transcendents. I just cannot guarantee your safety if you are caught up in a fight. Thus, you will need to run. Then, I can fight without holding back.”

”Okay,” Derek said. Is this what it feels like for others when I say the same thing? Derek thought. He did not like the feeling one bit. He felt useless, but he knew that Sheen was right. Whatever had a man like Sheen so tense wasn’t a problem that the current him could help with.

A few more moments went by, then Derek finally saw it. Two figures covered in darkness moved towards them leisurely. Instantly, it all clicked for Derek.

”I have already sent a message informing the clan of our current problem. It will take some time, but it will be relayed back to the clan,” Sheen suddenly said. Then he cracked his neck, and the constant glow around him grew more and more radiant. ”Because when I’m finished here,” he looked at Derek with his smile back, more so than ever before, his eyes shining brighter than the sun. ”I’m going to need someone to come clean up after me.”

Suddenly, the two figures paused. Derek couldn’t make out what they were doing, but they seemed to be discussing something. Eventually, they had to have agreed on something, as they began moving once again. This time, they moved at a brisker pace, but also proceeded with what looked like much more caution.

Soon enough, the two figures were upon them. They paused, and then, as if the voice was right next to Derek’s ear, he heard them speak, ”You wouldn’t happen to be The Grinning Maniac Sheen, would you?” His voice actually sounded uncertain.

”If you turn around and leave right now, you won’t have to find out,” Sheen said. ”We can say that a couple of Ascendants from the Grimshaw Clan were just passing by on the same route we were. There’s no harm in passing.”

”I am afraid we can’t do that,” the unsure voice said. ”A little birdie informed us that one of our Main Branch candidates was slain on the training planet by one Alex Loomis. Now, if you would be so kind as to hand him over, we can let you and your other companion go—no harm, no foul.”

”A little birdie, huh?” Sheen replied. ”I think I may have some questions about that little birdie. The two of you look like the perfect candidates to answer those questions.” He then turned to Derek. ”What do you say, young friend? Shall we hand Alex over to the Grimshaw Clan?”

”Not a chance,” Derek answered coolly.

”I was thinking the same thing,” Sheen said, then turned his attention back to the others. ”I regret to inform you that young Alex will not be handed over to the Grimshaw Clan for something that happened on a training planet.”

”That is too bad,” the voice said. Then, just as Sheen’s light had grown, the darkness from the two Ascendants of the Grimshaw Clan began to become stronger as well.

”It is too bad,” Sheen replied. ”It is too bad for the two of you. See, I came out of retirement just recently and have already knocked the rust off. I’d say I’m almost at my prime. What better way to test it than by turning a couple more Ascendants from the Grimshaw Clan into corpses? It’s been over a century since the last Grimshaw Ascendant was shown that fate. I think her name was Ericka Grimshaw.”

”It was,” the man said. ”She was my cousin.”

”You’re all cousins,” Sheen said.

”That may be so,” the voice replied. ”Yet we still offer you a way out. Leave Alex Grimshaw with us and be on your way.”

”I refuse,” Sheen said as he suddenly straightened his back, and an almost imperceptible thread began to grow out from his fingertips. The old man whom Derek had come to call friend looked at him, and then, with a whisper that only reached his ears, he said, ”Go.”