Ch16 Shopping

Ryan stood halfway down the Streamer Guild's marble steps when the first reply appeared.

BEN: Dezzy and I got accepted.

Ryan stopped.

Another message followed.

BEN: The Whispers. Information network. Very secretive. Very dramatic. I like them.

Then Dezzy:

DEZZY: He has been a member for eleven minutes and has already been told twice to stop asking where the hidden rooms lead.

Ryan laughed.

RYAN: Sounds about right.

Jessica replied next.

JESSICA: Raven and I are in too.

RYAN: Which faction?

There was a short pause.

JESSICA: City Lord's faction.

Ryan blinked.

RYAN: THE City Lord?

Raven answered.

RAVEN: Apparently he has an organization.

BEN: did you meet snake jesus

RAVEN: No.

BEN: disappointing

Ryan shook his head.

The silver Streamer Guild drone hovering behind his shoulder adjusted automatically, maintaining its position as he continued down the steps.

RYAN: Everyone get the 20 crystals?

Four confirmations appeared.

Ryan grinned.

RYAN: Outer District market plaza. We finally have money.

RYAN: Time to buy actual gear.

Ben responded immediately.

BEN: AXE

Ryan smiled.

At least somebody understood.

Regrouping took almost an hour.

The city was simply too large.

By the time Ryan reached the outer market plaza, the local cycle had moved well into the afternoon. The twin suns remained high, though the smaller crimson star had begun its slow descent toward the horizon.

Ryan found Jessica and Raven first.

Jessica noticed the drone immediately.

Her blue eyes moved from the silver sphere to Ryan.

Then back to the sphere.

"So you actually did it."

Ryan spread his arms.

"Official provisional Streamer Guild creator."

Raven studied the drone.

"Is it recording us?"

"Not broadcasting yet."

"Good."

Ryan frowned.

"Why does everyone react like that?"

"Because I don't want strangers watching me eat."

"They might love watching you eat."

Raven stared at him.

Ryan smiled.

"Noted."

Jessica stepped closer to the drone.

It rotated slightly toward her.

"That's actually kind of creepy."

"It's a high-grade multispectral recording platform with thermal imaging, terrain mapping, and an emergency locator beacon."

Jessica looked at Ryan.

"You memorized the specifications."

"Obviously."

"Of course you did."

Ben and Dezzy appeared several minutes later.

Ben had barely entered the plaza before he noticed the drone.

He pointed.

"No."

Ryan laughed.

"What?"

"You actually did it."

"You're the second person to say that."

Ben walked around him, inspecting the silver sphere.

"So this thing follows you everywhere now?"

"Pretty much."

"Bathroom?"

"Automatic privacy blackout."

Ben nodded solemnly.

"Important feature."

Dezzy joined them.

Her attention lingered on the drone for a few seconds.

"Model Seven?"

Ryan's smile widened.

"You know it?"

"The Whispers maintains technical files on common Guild surveillance equipment."

Ryan paused.

"You've been a member for an hour."

"Forty-seven minutes."

"And they already let you access that?"

"No."

Ben grinned.

"She found it."

Ryan looked between them.

"What exactly is The Whispers?"

Ben leaned against the fountain.

"Information brokers."

Dezzy corrected him.

"Information acquisition and exchange network."

"That's what I said."

"It is not."

Ryan folded his arms.

"Explain."

Dezzy considered.

"The Whispers gathers information and assigns value to it."

"What kind of information?"

"Any kind."

Ryan waited.

Dezzy didn't elaborate.

Ben did.

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"Monster locations. Dungeon conditions. Merchant prices. Political rumors. Faction movements. Missing people. Trade routes. Which guard takes bribes. Which merchant waters down potions. Who slept with whose sister."

Jessica blinked.

"That last one seems less useful."

"Depends on the sister."

Raven looked at him.

Ben raised his hands.

"I'm explaining the business model."

Dezzy continued.

"Members can earn faction credit by supplying verified information. Higher internal standing unlocks better intelligence."

Ryan's interest sharpened.

"Maps?"

"Potentially."

"Beast data?"

"Yes."

"Dungeon information?"

"Yes."

Ryan stared.

"Okay. Your faction might actually be incredibly useful."

Ben grinned.

"Thank you."

"I was talking to Dezzy."

"Rude."

Ryan looked at Jessica and Raven.

"What about yours?"

Jessica and Raven exchanged a glance.

Jessica answered.

"It's literally called the Sovereign Administration."

Ryan raised an eyebrow.

"That's not ominous."

"It's the City Lord's governing faction," Raven said. "Guards, administrators, bounty officials, tax collectors, municipal contractors."

Ben grimaced.

"You joined the tax people?"

"They accepted us."

"Traitors."

Jessica smiled.

"The benefits aren't bad. City contracts, reduced administrative fees at higher standing, access to municipal bounties, potential equipment privileges."

Ryan looked at Raven.

"And?"

Raven's expression flattened.

"And we may be required to perform municipal service if summoned."

Ben immediately laughed.

"You joined the government."

"Keep talking and I'll report you."

"To yourself?"

Raven almost smiled.

Ryan looked around the group.

They had each landed somewhere very different.

The Streamer Guild.

The Whispers.

The Sovereign Administration.

Three separate power structures.

Three separate sets of opportunities.

That could be useful.

Then Jessica's smile faded slightly.

"There's something strange about it."

Ryan looked at her.

"What?"

"They accepted us immediately."

Ben's humor disappeared.

"Same."

Dezzy nodded.

"The Whispers normally requires an information contribution, background investigation, and provisional review before membership."

Ryan frowned.

"They skipped all of that?"

"Entirely."

Raven crossed her arms.

"The Sovereign Administration didn't even test our Talents."

Jessica nodded.

"We walked in, showed them the Exclipse directive, and they registered us."

Ryan thought about his own experience.

Bo had told them directly that the Guild normally conducted preliminary evaluations.

But not today.

Circumstances have changed.

Ryan looked at the others.

"Streamer Guild did the same thing."

Silence settled between them.

Ben was the one who finally said it.

"So somebody made a call."

"Obviously," Raven said.

"Unkud?" Jessica asked.

"Or Vorash," Ryan said.

The name carried more weight now.

None of them had met the prince.

But everyone knew who controlled their cohort.

Dezzy's gaze moved across the crowded market.

"Every major faction suddenly accepting newly arrived humans on the same morning is unlikely to be voluntary."

Ryan remembered the Guild's explanation of faction protection.

Evidence.

Retaliation.

Political consequences.

"Something happened yesterday."

Jessica nodded slowly.

"Something they aren't telling us."

Ben glanced around.

"Are we in danger?"

Raven looked at him.

"We're stranded on a Class-Three frontier world."

Ben sighed.

"Right. Stupid question."

Ryan looked at his drone.

For the first time, he thought about its camera differently.

Not as a way to become famous.

As evidence.

If someone tried to kill him...

The Guild would see it.

Ryan's excitement dimmed.

Only slightly.

"Whatever happened, we have faction status now."

"And twenty crystals," Ben said.

Ryan smiled.

"And twenty crystals."

Ben immediately straightened.

"Axe."

They headed for the armories.

Dezzy stopped them halfway there.

"We should not hunt today."

Ryan looked toward the sky.

"We've got hours."

"Not enough."

Dezzy opened the local cycle clock.

"Equipment selection, supply acquisition, food, and return travel will consume the majority of remaining daylight. Leaving the city costs nothing, but returning costs two crystals per person."

Ben nodded.

"Ten crystals for the squad."

"Correct. Spending ten crystals in gate fees for perhaps two hours of productive hunting is inefficient."

Ryan considered it.

Yesterday, they'd spent six hours hunting fifteen creatures.

And that was after taking nearly an hour to locate the first one.

"Tomorrow morning."

"At dawn," Jessica said.

Raven nodded.

"Full day."

Ryan gave in.

"Fine."

Ben looked offended.

"You say that like she's wrong."

"I just bought a sword in my head five minutes ago. I want to use it."

"You don't own one yet."

"Details."

The same armory they'd visited yesterday looked completely different now.

Not physically.

Financially.

Ryan no longer stared at everything as though it belonged behind glass.

He could actually afford some of it.

He went straight to the weapon rack.

The seven-crystal sword from yesterday was still there.

Ryan reached for it.

Then stopped.

Something better caught his eye.

A darker blade hung several spaces farther down.

It was longer than the first, with a simple black grip and a slightly wider spine. The metal carried a faint bluish sheen beneath the light.

Ryan lifted it.

He immediately felt the difference.

Heavier.

But balanced.

A Skynet identification prompt appeared.

[ REINFORCED VARKAN-ALLOY LONGSWORD ]

[ GRADE: BASIC ESOTERIC-COMPATIBLE ]

[ RECOMMENDED TARGET RANGE: RANK 0–1 ]

[ PRICE: 15 LOW-GRADE X ENERGY CRYSTALS ]

Ryan stared.

Fifteen.

Yesterday, that number would have been impossible.

Today...

He rotated the blade.

The weapon responded smoothly.

Earth's combat curriculum had given him basic training with several melee weapons. Swords, spears, knives, polearms.

Mostly simulation.

Some blunt practice weapons.

This was different.

A real edge.

A real weapon.

Made to cut things that wanted to kill him.

The alien merchant watched him.

"Human."

Ryan looked over.

"Yeah?"

"You buying or touching?"

Ryan smiled.

"Buying."

He brought his wristband to the payment reader.

Jessica stepped closer.

"Ryan."

He paused.

"What?"

"Are you sure?"

He looked at the sword.

Then his balance.

Fifteen crystals was a lot.

Food.

Maps.

Ammunition.

Housing.

Medical treatment.

But a reusable weapon meant fewer bullets spent hunting.

And his Talent naturally pushed him toward close-range battlefield control.

He confirmed the purchase.

[ PAYMENT ACCEPTED ]

The sword was his.

Ryan grinned.

Ben appeared beside him holding an enormous axe.

"Brother."

Ryan looked at it.

Double-edged head.

Reinforced shaft.

Far too much enthusiasm in Ben's expression.

"Absolutely."

Ben checked the price.

Fifteen.

He paid immediately.

Raven stared at both of them.

"Children."

"Armed children," Ben corrected.

"That is significantly worse."

Dezzy had been studying the same sword Ryan purchased.

She lifted one.

Tested the weight.

Swung once.

The movement was compact and controlled.

Ryan watched.

"You know how to use that?"

"Basic academy instruction."

"Same."

Dezzy studied the blade.

"My Talent can increase strength and acceleration. An edged weapon extends effective reach while reducing the need to expose my hands to claws, teeth, or corrosive fluids."

Ben nodded.

"She makes buying a sword sound like a research paper."

Dezzy paid.

Jessica and Raven didn't.

Ryan noticed.

"No upgrades?"

Jessica shook her head.

"Not yet."

She rested a hand on her sidearm.

"My Talent works best with projectiles. Spending fifteen crystals on a sword moves me away from what I'm good at."

Raven nodded.

"I'm saving too."

"For?"

"Better firearm."

Jessica smiled.

"Same."

Ben looked toward the locked ranged displays.

"How much?"

A nearby rifle displayed its price.

[ 58 LOW-GRADE X ENERGY CRYSTALS ]

Ben whistled.

"Never mind."

Jessica studied it anyway.

"Eventually."

Ryan understood.

For him, fifteen crystals bought a meaningful upgrade.

For Jessica, fifteen crystals bought something she'd probably avoid using.

Better to save.

That was the first time Ryan realized their squad's progression wasn't going to look the same.

Different Talents.

Different factions.

Different equipment.

Different priorities.

Good.

That meant more options.

They spent the next hour buying supplies.

Water first.

More than yesterday.

Each person purchased a durable canteen and filled it with purified water.

Then ration bars.

Field bandages.

Antiseptic sealant.

A compact fire starter.

Basic cord.

A small cutting kit.

Jessica insisted on buying an additional medical pack.

Nobody argued.

They pooled the supplies on a table.

Ben looked at the pile.

Then at his hands.

"Behold."

Ryan crossed his arms.

"Please don't make this dramatic."

"I possess dominion over space itself."

"Ben."

"Reality bends to my will."

"Put the food away."

Ben sighed.

"Nobody appreciates art."

He placed his palm over the supplies.

Space distorted.

The equipment vanished in sections.

Canteens.

Food.

Medical supplies.

Fire kit.

Cord.

Everything disappeared.

Ben opened his status.

His expression shifted.

"Okay."

Ryan looked over.

"What?"

Ben shared the relevant portion.

[ X ENERGY: 5 / 5 ]

Ryan frowned.

"Your maximum is five now?"

"Normally seven."

Dezzy immediately understood.

"The stored supplies reserve two units."

Ben nodded.

"But unlike that giant carcass, putting the smaller items inside barely cost anything individually. The main issue is total storage load."

Ryan considered it.

"So you're losing two maximum X Energy while carrying our gear."

"Basically."

"Problem?"

Ben shrugged.

"I'm not exactly our primary damage dealer."

Raven looked at him.

"Until we need your Talent."

"Then I drop the supplies."

Dezzy nodded.

"Correct. If combat requires greater energy availability, remove stored mass."

Ryan looked at Ben.

"You okay carrying everything?"

Ben smiled.

"This is literally the one thing I'm uniquely qualified to do."

"Fair."

Ryan clapped him on the shoulder.

"Congratulations. You're the backpack."

Ben's smile vanished.

"I hate that title."

Jessica laughed.

"It's official."

"It is not."

Ryan looked toward his drone.

"Streamer name: The Backpack."

Ben pointed at him.

"Don't you dare."

They found food afterward.

Not gray paste.

That requirement came from Ben.

The vendor sold roasted root vegetables, strips of seasoned meat, and something resembling flatbread.

It cost more.

Nobody cared.

Ryan sat at an open stone table with his new sword resting against the bench beside him.

He kept looking at it.

Jessica noticed.

"You've checked whether it's still there six times."

"Have not."

"Seven."

Ryan took another bite.

"First real sword."

"You sound twelve."

"I've wanted one since I was twelve."

"That explains it."

Ben rested his axe beside his chair.

"I understand him."

"Of course you do."

The silver drone hovered above Ryan's shoulder.

Raven glanced at it.

"Ten thousand."

Ryan looked up.

"What?"

"Subscribers."

She nodded toward the drone.

"You need ten thousand in thirty days."

"Twenty-nine now."

"Even better."

Ryan smiled.

"I'll get there."

"How?"

He opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

Ben laughed.

Jessica smiled.

Ryan frowned.

"I'll stream."

"Excellent strategy," Raven said.

"People like fights."

"People also have millions of other streams to choose from."

Ryan leaned back.

"Then I'll give them better fights."

Jessica's expression changed slightly.

"Don't do that."

Ryan looked at her.

"Do what?"

"Start taking stupid risks because a number is watching."

"I'm not going to."

"Ryan."

"I'm serious."

Jessica held his gaze.

Ryan understood why she was concerned.

She knew him.

Knew he liked showing off.

Knew he'd dreamed about this for years.

And now the system literally rewarded attention.

Ryan rested his hand on the sword hilt.

"I'm not dying for views."

Ben nodded.

"Good. Because I'm not putting your corpse in storage."

Ryan looked at him.

"You said that yesterday."

"It's an ongoing policy."

Raven lifted her cup.

"Reasonable."

Ryan smiled.

"But I'm still using the sword tomorrow."

Jessica sighed.

"I knew there was a second half."

"Deadshot gets the opening shot if we need it. Same as yesterday."

Ryan leaned forward.

"But if we find something manageable, I want to practice."

Dezzy nodded.

"Controlled melee exposure is necessary eventually."

Jessica looked betrayed.

"Not you too."

"Our ammunition is expensive. Melee capability reduces long-term operating costs."

Ryan pointed at Dezzy.

"See?"

"That doesn't mean charge everything with teeth."

"I know."

Raven looked around the table.

"Then we establish rules."

Ryan nodded.

"Go."

"No melee against anything Skynet identifies above Rank Zero."

"Agreed."

"No melee against unknown targets."

"Agreed."

"No separating from the squad for better camera angles."

Ryan stared.

Raven stared back.

"Fine."

Jessica added, "If I say something is too dangerous to approach, you don't approach it."

"Why do you get that authority?"

"Because Deadshot gives me the best visual read on targets."

Ryan considered it.

"Fine."

Ben raised his cup.

"And if Ryan ignores any of these rules, we sell his sword."

Ryan pointed at him.

"Absolutely not."

"Motion passes."

"There was no vote."

Jessica lifted her cup.

"To selling Ryan's sword."

Raven raised hers.

Dezzy followed.

Ben grinned.

Ryan stared at all four of them.

"You're terrible teammates."

Jessica smiled.

"Drink."

Ryan reluctantly lifted his cup.

"To tomorrow's hunt."

Their cups met in the center.

By the time they returned to the boarding house, the twin suns were descending behind the city skyline.

The crimson star painted the upper towers red.

The golden sun turned windows into sheets of fire.

Ryan stopped outside the boarding house.

"Tomorrow. Dawn."

Ben groaned.

"You said nine yesterday."

"We wasted half the morning."

"We also slept."

"Sleep faster."

"That's not how sleep works."

Dezzy spoke.

"Earlier departure is optimal."

Ben looked at her.

"Of course you'd side with him."

"Local temperatures are lower during the early portion of the cycle."

"Fine."

Jessica checked the time.

"Meet here thirty minutes before sunrise."

Raven nodded.

Everyone agreed.

They separated.

Ryan climbed the stairs.

His sword felt strange against his hip.

Good strange.

Real.

He reached his room.

Tapped the lock.

Entered.

The drone followed.

Ryan stopped.

It hovered beside him.

"Oh."

He'd forgotten about that.

"Privacy mode."

The drone's blue light shifted.

[ PRIVATE MODE ENABLED ]

[ PUBLIC BROADCAST DISABLED ]

Ryan placed the sword beside his mattress.

Then sat.

The room felt different tonight.

Yesterday he'd come back with almost nothing.

Today he had faction backing.

A creator drone.

A sword.

Supplies.

A squad.

Twenty-nine days to find ten thousand subscribers.

And thirty-nine Qi Points between him and Rank One.

Ryan closed his eyes.

That last number mattered most.

The sword wouldn't make him strong.

The Guild wouldn't make him strong.

Even his Talent couldn't help if he lacked enough X Energy to use it.

Cultivation was the foundation beneath everything else.

He slowed his breathing.

Inhaled.

Ambient Esoteric Energy gathered.

By now, finding it was easier.

Not effortless.

But familiar.

Cool energy entered with each controlled breath.

His core refined it.

Warm X Energy spread through his internal pathways.

Ryan waited until his reserves were full.

Then directed the flow.

Qi Point 002.

He found the blockage.

The same resistance as last night.

Dense.

Stubborn.

Ryan pressed.

Pain bloomed.

He released.

Breathed.

Pressed again.

The blockage resisted.

Ryan's jaw tightened.

Again.

Pressure.

Release.

Pressure.

Release.

Minutes passed.

Sweat gathered along his forehead.

The rest of the city faded.

There was no Streamer Guild.

No sword.

No wilderness.

No ten thousand subscribers.

Only the pathway.

The pressure.

The next step.

Ryan gathered his X Energy again.

Compressed it.

And pushed.

Something shifted.

His eyes opened.

He felt it.

Not a breakthrough.

Not yet.

But the resistance had changed.

A tiny weakness existed where there hadn't been one before.

Ryan smiled.

"There you are."

He closed his eyes again.

Tomorrow he would hunt.

Tomorrow he would fight.

Tomorrow, maybe, he would go live.

But tonight?

Tonight he cultivated.