Too Stubborn to Die

“You haven’t even been in here yet?” Aaron questioned as the hulking asura craned past him to nervously take in the spectacle that was his cooking.

“Quite the concoctions you’re making over there,” Mo’han grimaced. He was a polite alien, but even he couldn’t guard against the offensive scents assaulting his senses, and soon, his purple skin was blanching as he struggled to hold his stomach down.

“You okay, big fella?” Aaron raised a concerned brow.

“I’ll be fine,” Mo’han covered his mouth as he backed out of the kitchen. “That is—it’s quite something. Do all earthlings eat like that?”

“No… not really. It’s a long story. Hey! What about your Profession? Where’s your crafting station?”

“Yeah, yes, I totally forgot!” Mo’han facepalmed. “Can we go somewhere more agreeable, first? I’m sure whatever that is is a delicacy for your kind, but those fumes are curdling my guts.”

“Oh, yeah. Good idea.”

He figured he could explain that this was ogre cooking and had little to do with humans later. After all, he was far more interested in seeing what the strongest sapient creature in the sector could do.

“Come, right this way, A-ran. I’ll show you,” Mo’han said, color already returning to his face as they created distance between themselves and the kitchen.

The two walked down the massive crafting station until they reached what looked like a gothic pillar with a stone console before a ring of portal-shaped runic stones.

“This is it; a wormhole crafting station,” Mo’han said as he reached the console.

“This thing looks ancient.”

“It does have a particular aesthetic, doesn’t it?” Mo’han said as he began fiddling with the runes on the console. “It does have its limitations, though. The Cosmic Web dictates how the multiverse is connected. Webs connect worlds to one another, allowing portals to be formed between them. Without a connecting web, you need to find yourself another means to travel between two worlds, and I can only craft portals based on the webs available. Furthermore, considering we are stuck here in the trials until the Tutorials are completed, we are blocked from traveling out into the wider multiverse. Although there does appear to be a few locations available.”

“I see. So you can’t make these web things?”

“No. However, I believe that the System provides special quests to form webs occasionally. But generally speaking, the webs connecting a world to the multiverse are static. That said, creating portals is very useful. It is a difficult Profession to unlock and will allow me not to just travel between worlds, but also hidden pocket dimensions where treasures may lie.”

He learned a lot by being around the alien, although it also reminded him of how much he’d missed out on by not doing the Tutorial.

“So, what is this portal connected to?”

“Let me see.”

Mo’han got to work, reading the runes and making adjustments to the runic stones of the console.

“There, that should work.”

“So? Where can it go?”

“You’ll see.”

“Wait, we’re actually going through a portal?”

“Of course we are.”

Aaron’s face lit up like a child’s. Sure, he had already experienced teleportation through the trials. But it was still pretty damn cool to be going through a portal for the first time.

Making his final adjustments, Mo’han placed a palm at the center of the console and summoned a portal. Within seconds, a swirling blue portal appeared within the previously dormant stone archway.

Mo’han explained that forming portals required an absolutely ridiculous amount of mana. The Profession almost sounded as if it were made for his cheat race that was overflowing with mana. If a human managed to unlock the Profession somehow, they might not even have the mana required to build portals, making it useless, at least not before D grade.

“Come, let us take a look,” Mo’han said and stepped through.

A chill ran down Aaron’s spine as he stepped through the portal. He was giddy with excitement.

On the other side of the portal was what Aaron could have only described as the greatest man cave ever built. There were mini jumbotrons across the ceiling depicting sporting events from across the multiverse, a bar equipped with a tap that must have had at least a hundred different beers from across the multiverse available. Snooker tables, darts, lounging areas, and various alien games. Air hockey, foosball, board games, tabletop gaming stations, and countless other things Aaron didn’t recognize.

“What the bloody hell is this place?” He muttered in wide-eyed amazement. “Did I finally die for real back there?”

“The portal labeled this place as the gaming room,” Mo-han shrugged. “Oh, look, Nooglewort! Everyone on my world loves Nooglewort. A-ran, care to join me for a game?!”

“Sure, why not?”

As much as Aaron had actually grown to enjoy training and gradually growing into a literal superhuman, he didn’t mind the idea of having a day off, especially when it was spent in a room like this.

Sitting around the Nooglewort table with pints in their hands, the two let down their guards and relaxed.

“Mate, this is bloody brilliant, ain’t it?” Aaron said, his lip fluffy with foam as he sipped bubbling, golden joy. “Maybe the multiverse ain’t so bad after all.”

“Agree, A-ran! This place is magnificent. I’m glad to be spending my time in here with you!” Mo’han boomed as he downed his drink in one.

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“Same here. Hey, let me grab the next round. Wait, you wanna try something from my world?” Aaron said, eyeing the countless drinks on offer within the bar, which included hundreds from Earth.

“I would love that, A-ran! Tasting alien booze? Amazing! I am excited!”

“Here, catch,” Aaron said, throwing the asura a green can. “We call these green grenades where I grew up. They’re not necessarily the best, but they are like part of the culture, you know?

“I understand,” Mo’han nodded as he cracked the can. “Hmm, refreshing.”

“You like it?”

“Well, perhaps not on par with glomtosh, but it isn’t bad. I suspect it would go down well on a hot day.”

“You aren’t wrong about that, mate.”

They shared several more drinks from other worlds as they played the alien game, though Aaron struggled to wrap his head around the rules.

“Should we try another game?”

“Absolutely, A-ran!”

Hours passed as the superpowered bros enjoyed themselves with various games and shows. The power they had gained since the integrations was really something, and even after dozens of beers, fatigue was nowhere to be seen. Although Aaron also mused it would be freaking hard to get shitfaced now.

Even though the multiverse had brought an end to everything they knew, the two enjoyed sharing highlights from their favorite sporting reruns on the jumbotrons.

Mo’han introduced Aaron to a sport called Droughtball. Two teams faced off, similar to rugby or gridiron, but instead of one ball, everyone carried a ball, except there was only one real ball. The two teams collided, smashing into one another in a fearsome tackling rampage as they searched for the real ball, smashing earth other to reveal their balls. But then someone suddenly broke free of the melee and charged out, running the entire length of the field and scoring a touchdown.

“What a great game this was! I still remember watching it with my father when I was but a bub. That man was a true legend of the sport!”

“That was actually pretty entertaining,” Aaron nodded agreeingly. “Now it’s my turn to confuse you,” he added as a player kicked a ball high through the air and down the middle of twin goal posts.

“That’s a goal!” Aaron cheered.

“Strange sport you humans play,” Mo’han nodded curiously, attention fixed on the screen. “Four goal posts and they kick it all over the place? I don’t know if I’ll ever understand this. Wait, did he just jump on that other guy’s back?”

“Yeah, it’s called a mark,” Aaron chuckled. “A pretty good one, too.”

They tried shots of various drinks, including ones that would send a pre-integration human to the ER, and challenged each other in snooker and pollyvort.

Traditional dances and karaoke followed, and the night grew increasingly rowdy with each passing moment.

They watched their favorite binge-worthy programs and turned them into drinking games.

They mocked politics and shared stories of their childhoods.

They adventured into fantastical imaginary lands on tabletop expanses that were empowered by portals, allowing them to actually step into the made-up worlds.

All of this thanks to the inhuman energy provided by the System. Despite everything he had drunk, Aaron felt little more than a fun buzz, though he likely would have been dead by now without the power he had gained.

Then, they spoke of the future and made bets on what would come to pass after the Tutorial, and eventually, after consuming enough alcohol to slay an elephant, they passed out.

“I feel surprisingly good,” Aaron groaned as he awoke.

There were some blurry bits in his memory, but he remembered well enough to know how much he had drunk and was once again thankful for how strong he had gotten. No more hangovers definitely made a night on the booze more enjoyable.

“You’re awake, A-ran!”

“Oh, hey Mo’han. Last night was… it was a hell of a lot of fun. We totally have to do that again sometime.”

“Agreed, A-ran! Or should I say, brother-in-ales!”

He definitely has a way of overdoing things, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.

“But I do need to train as well. I’m not naturally gifted like you.” Aaron groaned. He was grateful to have a bro in the multiverse, but they were going to go their own separate ways after the Tutorial, and Aaron needed to make sure he was strong enough to stand on his own.

“Understood. Rewards require hard work to be earned. This is something all asuras understand. I would never wish to hold you back from your potential, friend.”

Friend? He’s right. We’re friends now, aren’t we? My first alien friend. Unless I count Sooty and Douglas? Nah, that title definitely goes to Mo’han. Screw those guys.

“Yeah, friend,” Aaron acknowledged with a nod.

“So, what trials are you eyeing now, A-ran?”

“Er, well… anything really. I need two more levels before attempting to impress one of the shadows again.”

“Impress a shadow?”

“Yeah, the one I was fighting before. Back before you met me.”

“Oh, right! The one you spent months fighting, right?”

Months, why’d he have to bring that up? Aaron still felt a little like he was standing in the asura’s shadow when he was reminded how much longer trials took him, although the huge man had a glimmer of admiration in his eyes as he looked at Aaron. It was honestly a little weird, and he didn’t understand where it came from. After all, the huge guy could run circles around Aaron.

“I’ve had six such offers so far, but have yet to accept one. I have to carefully consider what my choice will be. It is hard to make a decision when you can only carry one blessing, isn’t it?”

Six? Six freaking offers?!... But as his jealousy calmed, Aaron’s thoughts lingered on the rest of what Mo’han had said. Even this monstrous talent could only handle a single blessing?

“Wait, just one?”

“Of course,” Mo’han’s expression twisted. “Was that not explained to you? I pity you, A-ran. You truly missed a lot of information skipping the Tutorial, didn’t you?”

“No… it wasn’t…” Aaron trailed off. “It’s just that…”

“It’s fine—no need to explain yourself. Well, be careful, A-ran. You don’t want to give your only chance at a blessing away to a god that doesn’t suit your path. I suppose it’s still better than no blessing, and many throughout the multiverse never get the chance to earn any. But still, since you’re here, you should think wisely on this.”

Aaron bit his tongue. He didn’t necessarily want to keep a secret from his new friend, but decided he needed to learn more about blessings in general before spilling the beans. Was having two really that rare?

He knew he wouldn’t be getting any concrete answers right now. However, it was certainly something he would take up with Yendal next time they met. But for now, it was time to focus on his push toward level 25 and a Class evolution.

“I had fun, Mo’han, but I really must get back to it now. Until next time.”

“Until next time!” The asura waved.

It wasn’t just hitting level 25, his evolution, or even post-Tutorial that had Aaron’s mind occupied.

Every day, they grew closer to the finish, which took them one step toward more people joining them in the trials. And suddenly, Aaron was thinking a lot about Earth’s top rankers.

Did he have a plan for when they arrived? Should he? Should he make alliances, or something like that? What if he stepped on some toes and created enemies?

Dammit, brain! I’ll be fine.

It wasn’t really fear that persuaded him to want to avoid making enemies. But they would have to share their world with two other races, and as such, it was probably for the best that humanity came together.

With that thought, he formed the start of a plan. Get the first humans to enter the trial to unlock the viewing room and see what dangers lie ahead. Hopefully, that would be enough to form some kind of human alliance.

Okay, and the second part is getting strong enough that people actually want to listen to me!

Aaron marched toward the trials. His plans hadn’t changed much, but as the clock counted down, they started to feel a lot more real.

It was time for another Trial of Dominance.