-Brian Tracy

"John Newman, you will be the **** of me! Your loyalty seems unwavering, and your heart true, but I will be gray by thirty if you continue to cause me such rampant stress!"

"I'm sorry, is me negotiating with your own allies somehow more stressful than a literal war?" John asked, the emphasis and sarcasm heavy in his voice. "You were the one who answered my questions about Kim, you know. I mean, I could've told you I was planning to train with her, but… when I started to ask about what she valued and what things were important to her, what did you think I was asking for?"

"You know nothing of the Abyss… and I am more or less responsible for your current status in it. It is my duty as a 'sponsor' of sorts to watch over you, and provide you with relevant information."

"Well, as my 'sponsor', you taught me that I should be aware of everyone, alert to everything, and always follow my own goals and instincts. I needed training; why is this such a surprise to you?"

"Because you didn't come to me? Because you manipulated an ally, after I informed you of her values? Because they insisted on setting up a meeting within my halls?!" Despite her obvious indignity, Moira seemed most upset about the fact that John had taken liberties with the Order itself.

"That was not my intention."

"So you thought she would agree to meet at your home? Perhaps I would do better to educate you on critical thinking than on Abyssal allies and foes," Moira contemplated ruefully, dramatically sighing. "Barriers are dangerous things - not only for what they may contain, but for what they may exclude. Meetings within Barriers are convenient because the conjurer can choose what forces are allowed within, to a point, but they are extraordinarily dangerous because while one is contained within, they have no influence over the outside world. Only Fateweavers and the highest level mages can hope to maintain control over this world while ensconced within another. Do not forget that, John Newman, or you will surely fall to an army you never saw arrive."

"Yeah, okay, don't trust Barriers, I get it. I'll remember that next time - but you can be as mad as you want, I'm not the one who asked the Order to be chaperone to these dealings!"

"It doesn't matter who asked, how can I say no?!" Moira snarled, sighing. "You are naïve, John, but even more than that… you underestimate your value, and your opportunities. If you had agreed to allow the Order to control and recruit your creations, you would be a-"

"If you continue any further with that train of thought, I'll banish Maera immediately, and never let her return to these grounds."

In the hallowed halls of the Brighton Manor, John thought he felt - if only for a moment - a shifting of the balance. Perhaps his ability to negotiate successfully with Kim had given John a confidence he was only just beginning to discover in this Abyss, or perhaps Moira was starting to realize how serious he was about his stances - not that that had ever stopped her before.

"Well, if she should choose to assist us voluntarily, are you going to lock her up and take away her own freedom as well?"

"If I think you're going to get her killed - or if I think it isn't really voluntarily," John emphasized. "Otherwise… no. I have no intentions of restricting what they can do. Maera was a bit more feral when I first Purified her, but she's intelligent enough to make her own decisions now."

"Not intelligent enough to wear clothes, though?"

"She's wearing clothes now!" John protested. "You saw her when she came in!"

"I saw her wearing a t-shirt three sizes too large for her, lacking a bra, and wearing pants that you had to secure with what I suspect is your only belt, judging by the noticeable sag in your own garments."

"Look, I've never really used a belt, so it's no big loss anyway! A-and that's not the point; Maera doesn't really like clothes. I had to **** her to wear some of mine and some of Seras'…"

"So that explains the eyeful that has been **** upon me every time she bends over…" Moira sighed, shaking her head. "I will ensure that our first point of order is to outfit her with a proper set of armor. Now that the war is over and our smiths are not so busy, it should only be a trifling concern. I'll make sure she understands that clothes and armor are required for all training. She seems quite excited to begin, despite her father not wanting her here."

"I… well…" John tried his best to not say too much, not wanting to encourage Moira's obvious delight, but also to prevent any offense she might take were he to get upset. Truthfully, he was happy Maera would be getting some training. He only wished he trusted Moira more to do it.

"I've told them everything that has happened, since they weren't usually around to see it for themselves. They know as much as I do about the Order, about what you've done, and about what you stand for. I didn't go into too many details, so they don't know about your… requests of me and my Purify ability," John emphasized, trusting Maera's fleeting attention span to forget about those requests immediately, "but they know your values. Despite the times we've butted heads, Moira, I still think you've got the right ideals. You just go too far sometimes."

John had expected a quick rebuttal, or a chiding from the ever-vigilant Warden. Instead, Moira looked somewhat thoughtful, staring away from John briefly. That hesitation disappeared the moment she locked eyes with John again, nodding to herself as they continued toward the designated meeting room with the Moon Clan.

"Well, I certainly appreciate your honesty and portrayal of the Order, despite the things you have been put through, both because of and in spite of the Order. I do not hold your creations in the same esteem that you seem to, John Newman, but… I will try to imagine that they are extensions of you when I am dealing with them."

John's mind flashed back to his conversation with Lord Brighton, the one that seemed so long ago now. Thinking back to what he had learned of Moira in that moment, John couldn't help but wonder what an effort Moira was making to even say such a thing. Her eyes were hard, but her voice was soft, and even as she glanced down, her eyes strayed almost unwittingly toward the Neko at John's side.

"You don't need to thank me," John said quietly. "I was honest, that's all. You've been harsh at times, Moira, but I think… I think your heart is in the right place, even when it carries you away."

The three of them continued in silence for a while longer, until eventually Moira ushered Maera into an open yard with multiple dummies and training soldiers. There were a few soldiers John recognized, but he was disappointed - if not surprised - to notice that Etriyya was nowhere to be seen. Apart from fleeting glances during the final battle against the Cabal, John had almost never seen the Irish noble. Moira didn't give him long to consider his regrets, signaling John and continuing down the hallway.

"The Moon Clan has already sent several representatives to watch over the place which Kim departs from. Are you sure you're alright with this situation? The Order would not allow any harm to come to you, of course, but still… you have brought only one ally of your own here, and she will be both busy and fatigued by the time anyone may intervene on your behalf."

"If I thought you'd let me down," John began, glancing into Moira's unwavering gaze, "I would never have agreed to have this meeting here. Not only do you value me as an ally, but I know you value me as an asset. No need to deny it, either. Even if I were your best friend, you understand how much more valuable I am to you alive and free than dead or captured."

Moira said nothing as they continued onward, steeling herself as she pressed forward through the Order's many hallways. John followed after, feeling strangely naked without Seras or Maera to trail him. Neither of them stopped again until Moira opened a door to a vast, windowless room. Inside, Kim Moon paced impatiently around a circle only she could see, while a cluster of Moon Clan guards and Order Knights stood at the edges of the room, oddly ill at ease.

"This is the space designated for your training. The guards are to stand watch for eight hours, or until you stop early, whichever comes first. Should one of your Barrier dives carry you over this time limit, they are to immediately notify me and send a search party in."

"It should require less than six hours, unless the young Mr. Newman drags his feet," Kim instantly replied, her body snapping to attention at their arrival. "Let us waste no further time. Our smiths are already hard at work; by no later than tomorrow, I expect them to have finished. Hopefully you will have shown appropriate progress by then."

"Aren't you the one supposed to be showing progress?"

John couldn't help himself; a mischievous twitch even manifested itself at the corners of his mouth. Kim Moon's face broke into a sneer, and idly she brought a full inch of her blade out of its sheath, baring it with the same intensity as she snarled at John.

"I will show you far more than progress, John Newman, mark my words."

---

"Faster… faster… faster!"

In a world of Purified creatures John created himself, as well as newly born creatures like Sophia granted to him by quests, John Newman had never witnessed something so… purely demonic as what Kim Moon had become. While not a truly fitting title given her strict morals and the cause she swore herself to, John could think of nothing more fitting to describe the look in her eyes as she cried out those words and continued to slit her way through one Barrier creature after another… except perhaps fetishistic bloodlust.

John had thought Kim already had a firm grasp on his abilities after their brief training session together prior to the war's end. Between her obvious intelligence and the fact that John had made no real secret of his basic abilities like Gamer's Body and experience gain through kills, he had made the basic assumption she either knew enough or had researched such from the Cabal's leaked information. That assumption, like so many others, was proven wrong rather quickly when Kim continued to react with surprise as more and more enemies fell before her, and she continued to grow in strength.

However, she did not seem interested in hearing from John himself the most effective way to train with his abilities. John had tried to explain frantically that his abilities functioned faster than the human body could regenerate, and that killing enemies in the most efficient way possible was the best training one could undergo, but his words seemed useless. No matter how he explained things, Kim understood only two things. Number one was that the more enemies she killed, the more powerful she would grow. Number two was that…

"A Slayer never falls until the battle is won. My clan will put me back together… all you must do, John Newman, is stand by me and keep these enemies coming."

"That's so incredibly fucking stupid, I don't-"

John didn't have time to finish before Kim was off again, charging into a cluster of dwarves a few dozen feet away. Axes and blades flashed in the air as Kim weaved between them, but her steps were beginning to slow down. Blood loss, fatigue, and perhaps just the strain of being herself had all begun to wear on the Moon Clan heiress, and John could tell. Not only with his eyes, unskilled as they still were… but from Kim's own expression and evaluations.

John had started them off in a Level 10 dungeon, trying desperately to keep himself as safe as he kept Kim. Even for the powerful Slayer it was meant to be just enough of a challenge to provide her with the desired rate of experience gain, while still not risking either of their lives. Not only that, but by revisiting the dwarves Kim had already slain once before, John hoped to build a stockpile of Iron Ore for him to craft with later on.

But as soon as Kim had cut down that miniboss, she had immediately demanded that they proceed on to a higher-leveled dungeon. After seeing the way she had handled herself, John actually thought that sounded like a pretty good idea. Her enthusiasm and skill filled John with confidence, and so it was without much hesitation that he started to raise the levels, jumping first to Level 12.

The change was not unnoticed by the Slayer. Just completing that first dungeon had taken almost no effort, but suddenly she was actually engaging with her enemies. Where the dwarves had fallen before, yielding to her merciless blows, Kim did something John had not seen her do outside of the war with the Cabal. She drew her blade against the Level 12 bandits they now faced, using the lethal edge of her sword to slice through their protection in one motion.

To his eyes it was a relatively mundane katana, as it had always been, but to the bandits it seemed somehow superior. Their thick, plated armor was little more than wooden planks to it - so sharp and so deadly the strikes that they cut through with little effort and no resistance. As John progressed the levels of their dungeons, slowly Kim began to have more difficulty with her strikes. After only a few dungeons, she was actually having to target vitals, her blade sparking and struggling with the effort required to slice through the metal of their foes. Now, with the bandits gaining sufficient stats to challenge her in direct combat, Kim was finally facing a challenge against an enemy other than the final boss.

"Perhaps we should call it a day," John noted, glancing at his phone. It had only been four hours so far, but they had both improved vastly. John was already up to Level 7 from the enemies Kim had slain and the completion bonuses, and had only been attacked a single time. Thankfully back then the enemies had been such low level that, even with his own level still limited, a single Thunder Punch followed up by a few melee attacks had easily dealt with his foe. Though it had left John with zero mana and limited combat options.

Kim seemed less than impressed with John's improvised victory, returning to John's side after slaughtering a half-dozen of the foes, only light scratches and an obviously labored breathing showing how much the battle had affected her. Still, she seemed reasonably unsettled that she had allowed even a single foe to attack John in the first place.

"I apologize. They seem to be gaining in not only power, but also skill and intellect. One slipped by me, and when I turned to attempt to stop his advance, another- Ah!"

Kim fell forward toward John, a motion so unexpected that John could do little except extend his arms. The moment before Kim touched him, she recovered slightly, getting her footing just enough to stop her descent. The fall still took her close enough to John that he got a quick glimpse over her backside… where, alongside her muscular and well-toned ass, John got an eyeful of a long tear reaching nearly from shoulder blade to opposite hip. Blood poured from the wound, staining Kim's rear from torso to foot.

"You're hurt!" John exclaimed, more surprised than worried about the indomitable Slayer. "I just used one of my abilities, let me rest and I'll heal you before we fight the boss of this dungeon."

"No need," Kim assured John, pulling herself back with an obvious **** of will. "My body was meant to take far more **** than this. If I had done my job properly, you would not have needed to waste your spellcasting ability on an enemy in the first place. After I have slain the rest of the enemies within this Barrier, we can take a quick rest before continuing on."

"Continuing on?" John asked, half in shock. "Kim, I think we've done enough for today. You've been seriously wounded and you've gained…"

Kim Moon
Level 19 Slayer
<Silver Crane of the Moon Clan>
229 / 535 HP
Relationship: -7
Alignment: +35
Status Effects: Slayer's Precision

"At least a full level since we started."

It was a bit of a bluff; John hadn't scanned Kim since before the war with the Cabal broke out properly, but based on her reaction to his words, he knew he was close to the mark. Whether it was a full level or not, Kim had levelled up at some point, maybe more than once depending on how much she had gained during the war, and she had clearly felt the difference in strength and speed. More than that, based on her exertion levels and response to the attacks, she had clearly felt how much more powerful the enemies they faced were.

"That isn't important. I asked you to assist me with training, I did not ask for your advice on my life choices." Kim scoffed as she turned away, back toward the direction that the enemies had originally come from.

"You-" John paused as soon as the word left his mouth, seeing Kim blur and vanish into the distance, pushing herself almost as hard to escape John as she had to slay their foes. He couldn't track her very well but had no doubts as to her location; she had surely passed John by, rushing toward the eventual boss of the current dungeon they were in.

Perhaps she had guessed John would no longer provide her with stronger enemies, or perhaps she had assumed John no longer wished to be associated with her and would take his party/XP system with him. Whatever the case, she had already begun to suffer injury and pain in the name of further gains before he could properly flee, judging by her slowly falling health. Part of him still yearned to escape the Barrier, to blame whatever came after on Kim's incredible determination and refusal to back down.

But he couldn't abandon her. Whatever manipulation John had done to tempt Kim into this, he still had a heart. And, in some ways, John was curious. What drove her on to such desperation for power, such dedication to her training? Moira had the weight of the world on her shoulders and yet she had never shown such an interest in John's ability to grow her own power, only in his personal contributions to her Order.

John chased wildly after the Slayer, hoping to find her before she did something even more foolish. The ground she had gained on him was significant, but John was able to follow the corpses until he found Kim. When he finally came upon her, she was deep in combat with the boss of the dungeon, her blade flashing so quickly that John at his low level could barely keep up. Unfortunately, her health was depleting almost as quickly. By the time John was within range to do anything to contribute to the battle, Kim was already in double-digit health range.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" John called, not daring to shake his head for fear of losing track of the Slayer. "If you want to keep going, at least let me bring in some backup! I can call for Seras, for Lunaya, for-"

"If you call a single one of your creations, John Newman, I will break your blade between my own hands!"

John had just been ready to call forth Lunaya, the only non-pregnant creation he had left in his private world, when Kim voiced her opposition. Much as he wished for the Slayer's safety, voiding the agreement they had was not high on his list of priorities. John settled for gritting his teeth and watching as the lithe swordswoman dashed between blows of the absolutely massive bandit boss' greatsword, receiving cuts one after the other as the blade came closer and closer to a fatal blow.

"I can extend the time," John pleaded, not daring to take too many steps closer due to the gap in their strengths, "I can help you train for longer."

Kim cocked an eyebrow, a look of surprise and - perhaps for an instant - disbelief crossing her features. John saw it because her reaction slowed her for long enough that he could perceive her… and long enough for the Bandit Leader she was dueling to aim his blow for a more precise finisher.

John moved on instinct more than skill, charging toward the incoming bandit strike. It was not only foolish, but futile. Kim was already in the path of the blow, and he lacked the speed to keep up with such a high-level bandit. By the time John was within arm's reach, the blow had already landed, Kim's own sword deflecting the bandit's just enough to avoid a fatal blow. Blood sprayed across John as his arm stretched out, struggling to reach the bandit before a second strike could land.

John had recovered a reasonable amount of mana between Barriers, thanks to a combination of level-ups and contributing almost nothing to most of their dungeons. It wasn't enough. John utilized an ability he had been hiding from Kim, his Siphon spell, to steal away enough mana to cast his **** spell. She would surely notice, but it was either that or watch her die. Almost all of that stolen mana disappeared in an instant when the bandit striking Kim lit up with a frenzy of light, his entire body lighting up in sequence as John's mana poured through the Abyssal manifestation.

Mini-Boss Purified, Dungeon complete [Level 15]!
+1875 EXP [+50 from Perks]
7500 (3500 + 100% from Perks)
+23 Silk Cloth
+30 Zone Customization Points

John didn't glance at the figure left by the Purify, his mana almost depleted. What little was left he spent an instant later, tapping the still-glowing figure forming from the bandit with a cast of his Summoner's Warp. John wasn't sure what sort of creature was going to be created, but he'd find out later when they returned. He only hoped that Lunaya and Mithra could deal with the situation until he got there to resolve it.

"What was- what did you do?" Kim asked, glancing toward John. The bandit's blade had cut her across the midsection, just above her waist. It looked deep, but Kim was holding it with an arm and an immense amount of pressure, not allowing him to see just how far it extended. She was covered in similar, if shallower, wounds across her torso and legs.

"I probably saved your life," John growled, pointing to the spot where the bandit had been. "That thing was strong, almost as strong as you are, and you're getting tired!"

"I told you, I don't need rest. I need to train. Now, form us another Barrier. I used the last of my mana during the past few engagements."

"No mana, near ****… and all you can think about is fighting. What the hell is wrong with you?" John asked, foregoing politeness for honesty and directness. "Seriously… what drives you to this length? Why would you risk ****?"

"You think you're the only one with goals, John Newman? Your power is amazing, but you have played too many games, it seems. You are not the main character, you're another actor in the great story of life. I don't know what you want with your life, and you have no idea what I will accomplish with mine. We both need power, and we are both using each other to that end. I need power… more, hundreds of times more. So conjure another Barrier, and I will carve my way to that power."

"No."

The boss defeated, the Barrier shattered on John's command, his words ringing in the empty void. The Order guards and the Moon clan bodyguards shifted uneasily, especially the Moon Clan ones. They had already seen the pair return from each Barrier as it deformed, but Kim had never come back so injured. The gash at her side was leaking profusely, loudly dripping in the silence to a growing puddle on the floor.

"Then you are breaking our agreement?" Kim taunted, looking amazingly confident despite the fact that John was quite sure he would be able to push her over without much effort in her current state. "If you do not conjure another Barrier, right now, stronger than that last one, we will never forge you your blade."

"Is that what you think I care about right now?! You're going to die, Kim," John swore, shaking his head at her incredible drive.

"If I die, my Clan will uphold our bargain. You will have your blade, and all further training sessions will be transferred to our next in line as Slayer."

"Lady Moon-"

"Silence!"

Kim's words halted the bodyguard who had stepped forward immediately. There was an unease among the armored warriors at the perimeter of the room. They seemed to sense something in the air - John only felt a growing rage.

Status Effect Gained: Shard of Bishamonten: Activated [10%]

"I used to be sad that I had to lie to my own mother. Sad that my family couldn't be a part of the Abyss like yours and Moira's, that I had to abandon the few connections I had to the world. Seeing what this world has done to you all? I can't believe I ever regretted it, even for a moment. Each and every person I've met since gaining these powers has had such deep scars etched into their spirit I can't even see their full depth.

"I don't know what broke you, Kim… but I won't be a part of it. I don't know what you want to do with your life, or why it is making you go so insane for this power. I’ve seen that insatiable drive in so many since I gained my powers. I swear, if it’s ever within my ability, I will tear away the shadows of this world. These specters of darkness and pain that have haunted so many lives, this Abyssal society of conflict and war that shatters trust and love. I'll burn them all away, and I'll make this world what it could have been."

Kim laughed, a choked and wet noise as a bit of blood leaked from the corner of her mouth. She wiped it delicately away before returning her gaze to John Newman's eyes.

"Your goals are even loftier than mine. But you lack dedication."

"If lacking dedication means I'm not willing to throw my life away for another level," John snarled, "then I suppose I do."

"That is why you will fail. Or you'll wish you had."

Kim gave a hand signal, and the guards scattered around the room came to her side quickly. Two of them started to mutter incantations, and a green light surrounded Kim's wounds. Blood began to evaporate and disintegrate from the floor, and where it flowed from her body, the leaks stopped, and her eyes gained a semblance of relief from pain. The group began to walk, even as Kim was still being mended, toward the furthest door to exit the room.

"If you are not willing to push yourself beyond your limits, John Newman, you will fail. Men die every day accomplishing far lesser things than what I wish to do, and men continue to die every day in pursuit of what you seek. You might just succeed in your goal with those powers, John.

"But if you won't die for your dreams… who will?"