Allan_G
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Chapter 97 – Hidden Confrontation
🕑 Added 2024-09-15 00:48:35 +0000 UTCWho’s we? Tom screamed inside the safety of his own head. These sessions were supposed to be confidential between just the individual child and Dimitri. Under the rules, another person was not allowed.
For a few moments, he deliberately remained frozen in his seat, and he took the opportunity to study Dimitri. He was very aware of his precognition ability and he searched Danger Sense for any kind of warning, even a hint that something wasn’t as it seemed. There was a slight tickle from the skill, but nothing significantly stronger than the usual background noise. While he focused on that ethereal feeling from his precognition, he also physically examined him. Carefully, Tom inspected every detail and leant on his title to pierce illusions.
There were no tricks.
Everything about the other man was real. Including the increasing look of annoyance. Dimitri gestured him forward in frustration. “Tom, don’t just sit there. Hurry up!”
He stood, knowing he had no choice, and entered the room with a straight back. No matter what the other man had to say, he was an adult, and he wasn’t going to act like a child. He would not get defensive, Tom promised himself. Instead, he would clearly communicate that Briana was not to be touched. That was the best way to get the result he needed.
Once he was through the doorway, he glanced at the other person sitting in the room. Tom’s heart jumped and his feet refused to move forward. He remained frozen on the threshold of the room and he wanted nothing more than to run.
Everlyn older than he remembered from his previous life was there. She looked like she was in her low thirties and was currently flipping through a set of reports on her lap, radiating bored vibes. She didn’t even look up when he entered.
Dimitri’s broad hand was planted firmly on his back. It was a pressure that stopped him from running and could just as easily be used to thrust him more deeply into the room. Surprisingly, the large man chuckled. “No need to react like that Tom. Yes this is the famous Eden of the green. But she doesn’t bite, unless you’re a wador.” He chuckled again and began to push.
The larger man’s strength was too much, and helplessly Tom stumbled forward. Defeated, he sat on the chair placed for students in front of the desk. Then back straight and looking everywhere but at Everlyn he waited.
Everlyn still had not looked up, but he thought he could see a slight clenching of her jaw.
“Eden has kindly asked to sit in for all of these meetings. Because of the recent assassination attempts, she’s considering taking over the caretaker’s spot. She is uniquely positioned to stop any of those shenanigans.”
Tom swallowed. He didn’t know how to deal with this. Yes, there was their messy break up and history, but there were also the fifty years she had lived and experiences she had had since then. The idea of having to interact with her more frequently made his blood pound. He didn’t need or want that type of reminder of his previous life.
Dimitri continued acting like nothing unusual was happening. The doors shut with a click that made him jump. Then the large man’s hand on the wall made the privacy runes light up. “And we’re secure.” Dimitri declared.
Everlyn was suddenly right in front of him. She had moved so fast it was like she had teleported and quite possibly she had. Her hands gripping his and she was staring deep into his eyes. There was a manic gleam to them, but more heartbreaking was the hope that they contained. He feared the delusions she might have had while he waited in limbo to be reincarnated.
Why? He thought. Why was she here? What was that expression. His skin crawled and not because he was in danger, it was just that she was so intense it was scary.
“Is this him?” She asked and then her face lost all animation as she ducked into her system room. It was like she went from a vibrant living person to a robot. Then almost as fast as it happened life came flooding back into her with a vengeance. Both changes were familiar to Tom. This was the difference between the protection granted from his reincarnator title and what everyone else got. When he went into the system room, no one could tell. For everyone else, it was extremely obvious.
“Yes. This is Tom. Your Tom and he is reincarnated.”
Tom’s head snapped around and up to look at Dimitri in horror. That was not something he was meant to be able to say. The title was supposed to prevent Dimitri from outing his status to anyone.
The big man cleared his throat. “Don’t look at me like that, Tom. The title clearly binds her now. You can check if you don’t believe me. For goodness’ sakes, don’t give me that look. The fact I can even say the words is proof enough. It’s a GOD’s enforced contract.”
In a daze, he ducked into his system room and the title text was displayed for him to review.
An extra line had been added to cover her.
He looked back and had to resist the instinct to flinch. Everlyn was too close to him, her eyes examining him like he was a puzzle to be unlocked. “Tom, what did you do?” She sounded horrified. “How did you do it when you’re this weak?” She glanced up at the other person in the room. “Dimitri. You run this place. Tell me how.”
“I’ve already told you I don’t know.”
“You said you something but wouldn’t reveal it. Why?”
The large man shrugged. “It’s Tom’s secret, not mine.”
Tom didn’t know how to react. What did he do? There was only one explanation. They had to know about Briana. They might not know the ins and outs of the situation, but they knew enough. “You haven’t killed her have you? Please. Because I don’t want that… I can’t.”
“Killed who?” Everlyn asked, sounding puzzled. Once more, she threw an accusing glare at Dimitri.
“She’s safe.” Dimitri assured.
“Who?” Everlyn demanded. “Who’s safe.”
“It doesn’t concern you, Eden. She’s only a child.”
“Then why would we kill her? Oh, you didn’t.” She looked at Tom with a horrified expression. “Points aren’t worth that.”
“What?” Tom stammered in confusion.
“No, Tom’s not like that. He wouldn’t. Dimitri,” she demanded, “explain what’s happening?”
“And promise you’re not going to do anything to her.” Tom insisted.
“I wouldn’t do that.” Dimitri answered him in frustration.
“Ah. someone discovered he was reincarnated.” Everlyn concluded. “And she’s a loose end not covered by your title.”
Tom went white at the clinical way she was talking. “You can’t kill her.”
“I said I wouldn’t do it.” Dimitri said.
“Me? I’d never. I don’t kill humans.” Everlyn clarified at the same time.
Tom was glad Everlyn had said that, but from his previous life it was something he had expected. She was not one to cross ethical lines even when it was necessary. Dimitri was a different matter. He met the other man’s eyes and wished he was in his adult body because trying to look intimidating as a six-year-old was an exercise in futility. “Corrine said in the past that…” Tom paused what he was saying to observe the older man’s reactions. From context, it was clear what he was implying.
Dimitri hesitated and licked his lips before swallowing heavily. “You’re right. But I wouldn’t do it without permission and if there’s no…” Dimitri had been clenching his fists tighter and tighter as he spoke. He stopped talking with an anguished expression and banged his head against the wall. Then he took a single deep breath and focused back on Tom. They were the actions of a man who would hate himself for it but would still do his duty. Tom wasn’t sure he would be able to do the same. “It would be yours and Kang’s choice and there is no way I’m doing anything otherwise.”
“Whose choice?” Everlyn demanded. “Who’s Kang?”
“And if he wanted to kill her and I didn’t?” Tom asked, ignoring Everlyn.
Dimitri hesitated. “I don’t know. Luckily, I don’t have to make that decision.”
“What happened?” Everlyn repeated.
“A friend of Tom’s discovered his and Kang’s status.”
She raised her eyebrows. “A six-year-old friend?”
“My new little sister,” Tom shot back. “Kang’s too I expect.”
“So this girl somehow uncovered that you were a reincarnator?”
“Yes. We were helping her get a spell. We both showed too much expertise.”
“And how is that related to all the points you earned?”
“My what? Contribution points?” he asked hesitantly, looking at Dimitri for confirmation.
He got a shake of his head in response.
Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean? Why are you pretending dumb and asking what points?”
This was safer ground. “Because I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“I’m here because you reappeared on the ladder.”
Tom’s mind went blank for a moment. “Wait. Are we talking about ranking points?”
“Yes, what else would I bother with?”
“I’m back on the ladder?”
Both Everlyn and Dimitri nodded.
His thoughts raced in response. “As in top sixty-four?”
They nodded agreement.
Tom tried to work out what it could mean. How many points did it take to breach the top sixty-four? Humanity as a whole only had two hundred million in total. So half a million would be enough, but that was a huge number by itself and more than he could have accumulated by accident. Dimly he recalled that he had recently read the current affairs folder, and that a large amount of point gains had been unexplained. He had even speculated on why the cause hadn’t been identified. “Um,” he swallowed heavily. “I don’t have three million points, do I?”
“No, it’s a little under one.” Everlyn answered. “But Tom, whatever you’ve done to earn that must have been incredibly dangerous. You don’t have to take those risks. You’ve fulfilled your duty. It’s okay to stop?”
His mind had frozen. Whether it was half a million, a million or three it didn’t matter. It was too much and he could think of only one action that could have earned that much. He glanced at Dimitri. “Is Everlyn saying that I’ve earned a million ranking points?”
“Yes, Eden is.”
“A million,” he started, and then stuttered to a halt. Maybe it wasn’t what he thought. There was a chance that timing could be in his favour. He licked his lips and prayed, but knew deep down that the answer would be yes. “Was this six weeks ago?”
Everlyn shrugged. “Could be. I only noticed five weeks ago, but I only check the ladder every few weeks.”
“It was.” Dimitri answered. “We keep records, and I double-checked when Eden raised it with me.”
He shut his eyes to stop the tears flooding out. The timing was too coincidental and the point tally too large to be anything else.
“Tom, you don’t have to be taking these risks,” Everlyn repeated. “What you set off in your first life was more contribution than you were required to give. You’ve done your bit. Leave the rest up to other people. Live so you can see Emily and your parents again.”
The words didn’t get through to him at all. The only thing he could think about was the trigger, the action, the disgrace that could lead to him receiving a million points. He remembered standing in that contender’s circle and the hippo like person who had pleaded her case. Then later the presenter asking him if he wanted to keep his spot. Swift Hope had begged him to let her have it and he had said no, and now it seemed that, that decision had been worth a million points.
Logically, at least with a pure human first attitude, he should be celebrating. Instead, he had felt like vomiting at the time and the emotions were even worse now. Those points were a tangible proof of the consequences of his actions.
“Tom, you don’t have to keep fighting.”
His eyes snapped up at her with simmering fury. Had she really just said that he didn’t have to keep fighting. He who had just doomed an entire species should surrender and give up. It was crazy and insulted the sacrifices he had already made. All of humanity was on the line. That was why he had been selfish and she was now asking him to do nothing. Worse, she was encouraging him to give up. “What happened to you, Everlyn? We’re in sixth place. Humans might lose everything. Why are you telling me to quit? What about your kids? Do you really want them to die?”
She looked hurt by his venom. “No, no. It’s not like that. You know me. You’ve seen how far I’m willing to go for humanity.”
“Maybe once, but right now I see someone making excuses and being a coward.”
She coughed, momentarily unable to talk. “Tom, do you trust me?” her voice was urgent. “Can you remember how much I cared. I still love my kids and will do anything for them?”
“You just told me to give up. To accept the doom of my species. That’s not doing everything for your kids. Are you unnerved?”
She cleared her throat once more and rubbed it in an irritated manner. “No, I can guarantee you that I’m not unnerved. I’m just…” she stopped talking. “In my opinion you’ve done enough. You don’t have to do anymore.”
“So you want me to give up?”
Everlyn said nothing. Her face was red, and her coughing had left tears in her eyes.
“Putting whatever that was aside,” Dimitri interrupted. “I want to know how you earned a million points. You’ve been in this orphanage the entire time and I have to understand how.”
He glanced at him and then back at her. It was safe to ignore Dimitri. “Be more direct. Why are you telling me to give up?”
She said nothing for a long time like she was struggling to come up with a lie that could justify such stupidity. Because nothing could excuse the idea, she struggled to find the words to defend herself. He remembered how passionate she had been and how dedicated she had been to the competition in order to save her kids. In the context of her history and prior actions, the advice she was now giving was beyond bizarre. He didn’t understand what was happening.
“I’m asking you to trust me. You don’t have to suffer and strain? There’s no need to sacrifice yourself.”
Tom stared at her. Something had changed, and this was not a suggestion he would follow. “I won’t let us finish below third. I’ll do everything I can to stop that.”
Everlyn went to talk but obviously decided that it wasn’t worth it because after starting she stopped.
“It has to be the Divine’s Champions trial?” Dimitri concluded suddenly. “Somehow you got in and did something there to get the points.”
Tom wasn’t prepared for the sudden shift, and he knew his face gave everything away.
“I’m right. But how? I thought you needed that trait stone to make it.”
Everlyn clicked her fingers. “Yes, the trait stone. I’ve got something for you.” She held out her hand palm facing up, and on it was one of the most elaborate stones that he had ever seen.
“What does it do?” he asked in amazement.
Her fist closed over it. “Promise you won’t take unnecessary risks and I’ll give it to you. You can earn points, but don’t do anything stupid in your quest to get stronger.”
Tom stared at her and considered what she was asking. “No. I won’t allow myself to be bribed, and I’m not about to betray my species. I refuse to give up for anything.”
A look of irritation crossed her face. “You’ve done enough… ahh … I can’t keep doing this. It’s too hard. Why won’t you listen? Why can’t you just trust me? You’re always so dogged, chewing on the bone and not letting go. For once, let others carry the load. The result of the competition is not on you.”
“Sorry Evie, I’m not that sort of person.”
“I know,” she threw her head up and looked at the sky. There were actual tears of frustration in her eyes. It was surreal. “Stubborn, thick-headed mule, who can’t…” she stopped talking once more and rubbed her throat. “I’m out. I’m not raising this again.”
“Eden,” Dimitri said forcefully. “You can’t give that trait stone to a kid. Not even a reincarnator. Use it yourself or give it to a proper proven powerhouse.”
Everlyn snorted. “No. This is almost trash level for an elite but for a child. Especially a reincarnator it’s powerful beyond and reason and Tom you can have it if you promise to.”
“I thought you said you had given up.” he interrupted before she could finish. “And no, I won’t accept it if it has that condition attached.”
“Fine, it’s yours, anyway.”
She tossed it to him. Dimitri went to snatch it out of the air, but Everlyn blurred and blocked his hand. They had both moved too fast for him to perceive. It was a firm reminder of how weak he was against a true enemy.
“No Dimitri, you can’t stop this. I’ve given it to him.”
“Don’t absorb it.” Dimitri snapped. “She’s being reckless and counterproductive. If you’re worried about humanity, give that trait stone to someone who can actually use it.”
“Stop being a wet wipe,” Everlyn shot back. “I’m not completely deranged. Did you manage to identify it when it was in the air.”
“No, I didn’t and my skill was blocked when you were holding it.”
“Then what the hell are you objecting about? You don’t even know what it is.”
“I saw how elaborate it was. It was too good for a child.”
“As I said I’m not deranged, and I helped put in the rules that you’re parroting. That trait makes the first ten mana cost of a spell free. I doubt it’ll give even a percent boost to the combat effectiveness of a powerhouse. Tom, use it.This is one of the trait stones that is better with a child.”
AG. Bonus chapter. It might stuff up next week but I'm hopeful not. I hope you enjoy.
Comments
Annachie
Who appeared in the top 64? Tom Smith (or what ever the orphan surname was), or Tom Brayshaw?
Annachie
Took a peak ahead, and the next chapter is named "trash spells" :)
Annachie
Tom called Evelyn both Evelyn, and Eve. Dmitri only referred to her as Eden.
Annachie
Once he thinks about it he'll remember that he thought his trait stealing trick would be a competition winner, and that it wasn't. I don't think it will really change anything for him. I just wonder if he'll come to this realisation in time to remind Eden of it.
Annachie
Most of the hate comes from Incels and the like.
Silver Beard
Disappointed he never spoke her name. Not once. Pretty obvious Dimitri doesn't know...
Ashley Cook
Really, really hoping things work out with Brianna she brings balance to Tom and Kang
Wiggles1
They had a fling. It was a little lopsided maturity-wise since she was 40 with a decade or so in the Tutorial, vs Tom who was maybe 20 before spending 40 years isolated in the Tutorial. She wasn't in a good enough place herself to make it good for him. Tsundere vibes, etc. Spoilers follow: Tom's hard decision was to allow some people who took a soul-vampire bloodline to live and join the troll-genocide mission. Which was pretty clearly indicated as the correct move by DEUS, who'd directed the people to get the bloodline. She was mad that they'd murdered her friend and broke up with him, which had a very predictable impact on mission focus. IIRC towards the end she wanted to get back together, and Tom gave her a blank face like "FFS focus on killing this damn dragon."
Wiggles1
I think cost is a function of how powerful you are in general, with particular weight on traits. Trait stones are a workaround, but non-competitors value them even higher.
GSA
I believe the cost for them to buy traits for themselves goes up the more they have. Could be wrong, but that was what I understood from book 1
Nimps
Haha very true, he even has a boon for it lol
Allan Greenwood
Tom's not known for his brilliant social clues... Plus There's past history with Everlyn, worry about Briana, and Evelyn trying to take away his reason for living... Lots of reasons for him to be clueless
Nimps
I am surprised he didn't think something was weird though
Nimps
Ah so either no one else picked up that she was trying to talk around a gease or they just didn't want to spoil it. I guess I just spoiled it then if it's true... I definitely feel like she was trying to tell him something but wasn't allowed
Zy
I dont get the hate she gets. I mean I think she was really mistaken and didnt act correctly but I think you portrayed correctly a conflicted person. I do think you made her change opinions too fast a few times and that didnt reflect well on the story
SoJoe
Was there any limit or restriction on the number of traits one can acquire?
Johan Persson
@Shannon, how are you coming to that "math conclusion?"
George
yeah, based on tom's reincarnation condition presumably everlyn's efforts aren't guaranteed to succeed
Eli Gray
She’s the worst person in history; the most manipulative, gaslighting, self-centered bitch out there. The author did an AMAZING job of portraying her archetype.
Casual Ham
"Everlyn older than he remembered from his previous life was there" is really awkward to read. I'd recommend "she looked older than he remembered, but there was no doubting it—it was Everlyn."
Casual Ham
Free spell casts for tom are a gamechanger. No more waiting between every cast. He can just keep working.
Johan Persson
I think so too, probably she's got long term plans that rely on him actually staying alive until adulthood.
Laura Pilkington
That trait stone is spectacular for Tom and shit for others. She’s right. She hasn’t given up, she’s asking him to back off of truly dangerous attempts for some other reason. Hope her plan works, but as this is a story with Tom as the protagonist, I doubt it will
Arkeus
It could definitely invalidate Tom's contribution depending on how successful he is imo, as well as how successful she is.
Scott Frederiksen
Such an awesome trait! I can't wait to see it in action.
Allan Greenwood
Someone can probably give it better. They were a couple, broke up because she disagreed with a hard decision Tom did. Most readers hated her.
Marbas
Can anyone give a summary of their relationship for someone who hasn’t read the first story?
im Panda
It's an exclamation
Shannon Sexton
Ooh yeah. Can you imagine the title for obtaining a tier 0 spell in 8 schools of magic under-age? This could boost like the spell one. Awesome if it is actually 10 mana of every type invested in the spell... so 10 unaspected, 10 precognition and 10 lightning mana when he gets it in spark? Hear comes the next Thor! Unchained chain lightning 🌩 😍
Shannon Sexton
Is that a statement or a question?
Arnon Parenti
It all depends on how the points are retained, if they are subbed by outside Mana it's a lot less useful than if it returns these points back to him or triggers an instant regeneration.
Shannon Sexton
Every low mana spell just became much faster to learn from first principles. 8-16 times faster if you can stretch the law that far. Go forth and grind!
Shannon Sexton
Not Social Silence. Definitely a Geas. Everlyn is involved in something that she believes will change humanity's fate. This may be game changing, but it won't be enough to invalidate Tom's contribution. Will be interesting to see if it effects Tom's story 🤔
Corwin
Time limit and cool down would most likely be something that can be trained down lower
Amazon Shopper
I think it’ll have a time limit/cooldown on use. If not then it has crazy implications for training and Tom will have a domain and tons of new spells soon
Amazon Shopper
Holy shit. The implications for that are crazy. He will be able to build a domain so much faster. Experimenting with creating skills by changing structure of other skills and casting them at low mana(free) is so effective. The combat uses are alright but the utility and training uses are wayyyy higher. Does this let him turn an active skill at say 5 mana into a sort of passive where only limit is his attention/control over it and no longer his mana?
George
oh nice that's an insane trait for him, interesting stuff going on, does she have social silence too?
Fisher McLaughlin
Loot goblin 👺 mood activated 🤚😄! Get your shiny trait stone Tom!
jumbosauce
Everlyn is back! And that trait stone is cool, very synergistic and amazing for grinding, but not OP for higher levels, nice choice
Corwin
More specifics needed on the trait in the next chapter. But that sounds like a trait that would make all the cheap trash spells worth having.
Frardowin
That trait is freaking awesome. It will let him use touch heal and spark for free in the trial. Infinite casts is a serious training aid for him. Here comes level 256 heal and spark.
Tyler Tate
Thanks for the chappy!
im Panda
WHAT IS HAPPENING
GSA
Thanks for the extra chapter, hope you’re feeling a little better!!
