Nicolai appeared in a place that looked almost like a city from Earth. Not from the modern day, though. From long ago. Buildings of brick and mortar. He stood in some kind of alleyway, trash and filth covering the ground. He immediately activated his Lurker Symbiote, hiding his Soul Sense signature. The lips of the large mouth covering his chest split apart and an assault rifle slid out, taken into his hands. Already fully loaded, safety off.

He saw the whole world around him through the 360-degree camera coverage on his helmet, but after taking a moment to scan the side to his right, he turned and looked to the left. His eyes could see spiritual effects, unlike the cameras.

No immediate threats. Normally he would detach the drones attached to the hooked chains wrapped his body, and send them to investigate his surroundings at a time like this. But that wasn't possible.

This was because of the massive wave of Local interference washing through the area. A wave that was only growing. This wasn't the result of any singular individual; it was due to just about everyone out there with some kind of cyberwarfare capability activating their interference protocols, all at once.

His Soul Sense remained in a passive sphere around him, one that was a little drifting and unfocused as he used it to listen to the Aura of the world. There at least nothing gave him trouble. He could already feel the ripples. They came from all around him. The signs of Cultivators using Symbiotes, Imbued, and perhaps even Artifacts. Threat Analysis listened to them closely, and from ripple analysis identified there was a Cultivator somewhere nearby to his right, perhaps forty metres. The Module struggled to achieve its typical accuracy due to the general disrupting effect of so much Symbiotes.

He heard a rapid, distant crackle of gunfire. Earth's version of Aura ripples. Some kind of fully automatic weapon, likely a rifle. Perhaps two or three hundred metres away, though it was difficult to tell in a city where terrain would bounce the sound in unpredictable ways. He heard a booming crack a moment later. Much closer.

His gaze turned upwards. It had come from right above, the roof of one of the buildings he stood beside. Someone up there with a sniper.

A rooftop was a decent position. It would be good to get a view of his surroundings. Exposed, however, and as the sniper had just fired, attention would now be focused on that building. Flying up himself therefore wasn't a smart move.

Nicolai intended to take things easy. There was no need to do anything risky. He merely had to be one of the remaining 32 combatants, and from what he heard and felt he knew people were busy taking one another out already. All he had to do was stay safe and wait. Threat Analysis nodded approvingly within.

The microphone sensors on his helmet, which the other Modules had already tweaked to work at maximum efficiency in this new environment, detected the sound of movement nearby. Someone running in his direction.

Of course, he still had to defend himself. And it was wise to have a proactive attitude to that defence. He made out a faint clacking; magazines in a tactical vest, knocking together as the bearer ran. He heard the slap of rubber from their footsteps which told him they were from Earth. The sounds came from the end of the alley to his left, where it exited onto a larger street.

Nicolai activated two Pegasi rings and the Grasping Finger.

He shot silently into the air.

###

The man jogging down the street wore tactical gear and held an assault rifle. His arms and legs bulged with artificial muscle, and he moved fast.

He'd decided he needed to get out of this street. It was dangerously exposed. A nearby alleyway beckoned.

He knew what he was doing. Find some good cover, hide out, shoot anyone he saw. He'd been doing it long enough.

He crashed against the wall and held himself there beside the alleyway, breath coming easy and even. While scanning the street around him, he raised his right hand and held it near to where the wall turned.

An eye-wire popped from the back of his wrist, and turned on a flexible tendril to look around the corner. Where drones failed, the eye-wire, connected directly to his hardware, worked just fine.

He saw an empty, trash filled alleyway, cramped and narrow. All clear. As good a place as any. Maybe he'd find a way to break into one of the buildings; window or a door, it wouldn't matter. He stepped out and ducked into the alleyway.

He let out a slow breath. Good to be off the street. He held his assault rifle tight and sighted down it as he stepped down the alleyway, keeping it aimed at the far end. He held his finger ready on the trigger; squeezing gently. His Combat Chip was active, a comfortable humming, if someone appeared he'd have plugged them in the head within 0.2 seconds.

He heard a gunshot from above and twisted to send a look upwards. No one visible. There was a sniper up there, he'd heard the guy earlier. Good position. If he could get up there, he'd be in business.

Something caught his eye, a flicker of movement on the ground. He paused, staring down. It looked like a vague, diffuse shadow. It was getting bigger, darker. He'd just began to understand, began to twist to look up, when he let out a shocked grunt in response to the flash of pain on the back of his neck.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

GAME OVER, said his Mark.

He blinked in confusion, then looked around and realised that he was stood in the lobby of the Duel Arena.

###

Nicolai landed on the ground, legs flexing. He held a combat knife in two hands, extended outwards from where he'd stabbed the guy in the back of the neck while falling onto him.

It had been a strange sight. The knife had only dug in some fraction of a millimetre then glowed blue as it plunged straight into and through the back of the man's head, and the guy disappeared in time for Nicolai to pass through where he'd stood.

The ripples told him there was a Cultivator about to enter the alleyway from the other side.

The mouth on his chest spat the anti-material rifle into his hands as he crouched, slotting it against his shoulder, manoeuvring the long, heavy weapon easily.

A robed figure appeared, peering around the corner. Nicolai fired before they'd even seen him fully.

He saw the burst of Oma, flowing out in a wave as the enemies Skin Shield was destroyed in one, and a flare a blue at the same time. One shot, one kill.

He didn't need to have drones up above, nor did he need to hear the movement of the sniper above, to know that they would be coming to check on him. He could imagine it easily, being stood up there and hunting for targets. If you heard a noise in the alleyway beside your rooftop, you peeked over in search of an easy kill. It was human nature.

Nicolai pressed the anti-material rifle into the Hungry Mouth and as it was swallowed into the storage he aimed upwards with his assault rifle, retrieved from where it'd hung on straps.

He saw a rifle held by a man with a focused expression, popping into view as he leaned over the edge.

His own assault rifle was already in position. A squeeze of the trigger and the man disappeared into blue light.

Nicolai breathed out, a hissing exhale between his teeth. This was easier than he'd expected.

These people were… lacking.

The dark stirred within him, and something became suddenly apparent, something he was amazed he hadn't realised earlier.

If he just hid and played it safe, he'd never have any fun.

###

Lin Leng observed the great spiritual screens floating over the battlefield with interest. As a Tier 2 he was not able to take part in the current showing, the Tournament One, but he enjoyed observing others fighting. Not to mention, he wanted to keep an eye on the younger generation, and he knew his sister enjoyed the show.

Leng glanced to the side, seeing Yue staring with wide eyes at the screens. He smiled at the sight. His sister was radiant, as usual, and he enjoyed her enjoyment. He noted she was watching with an especially rapt expression, and followed her gaze.

He frowned at what he saw. That one. She was watching the barbarian who was cutting his way through the round. This barbarian utilised a larger version of the barbarian's favourite weapon: these "guns" they all had. It seemed especially powerful, capable of blowing through the majority of Tier 1 Skin Shields, even many Burst Shields, in a single hit.

Leng shook his head. Those Tier 1 Cultivators were in for a difficult time. The barbarian was on a rampage, moving with slick fluidity through the tournament area. As Leng watched, the barbarian went skidding around a corner, interrupting a fight between a Cultivator and another barbarian. One blast of the big gun took care of the Cultivator, and a spray from a smaller gun dealt with the barbarian.

The sight made him grimace. This was the first time he and his sister were encountering these barbarians. They were thusly at something of a disadvantage compared to some of the Cultivators around them—a few of which claimed to have significant experience with them.

Those he'd talked to had all said the barbarians were nothing to worry about. Worthless trash, they're all Mortals and they die effortlessly! One youth from the Silver Sword Sect had spouted at him.

But the screens above painted a different picture.

'That barbarian is causing our weaker peers much trouble,' he murmured to Yue.

'He is, isn't he?' She pulled her eyes from the vicious tangle displayed on the screens above, glancing at him. 'Are you worried, my brother?'

He snorted. 'Against us he would stand no chance. But of course, that is true for any of those in this Tier 1 Tournament.' He and Yue were Tier 2, each outfitted with a full and well-picked set of Symbiotes. But, still… He leaned closer to her, pitching his voice lower. 'I had not expected to see Cultivators fall so easily to one like that. If there are individuals stronger still at their own higher Tiers… it could prove difficult.' He sighed, sitting back. 'At the very least their techniques appear quite limited. All with this same "gun" type.'

Yue smiled at him, and gestured upwards. 'You've not been watching carefully enough. There is a young prodigy in this Tournament, who appears to have a perfect counter. Look.'

Leng followed her delicate finger, his eyes narrowing. He saw a lone Cultivator striding through the tournament battle area, a sneer on his face. He had one hand outstretched, a silver glow around it. He was approaching a group of barbarians who, shamefully, had chosen to group up. They were all firing their weapons at him.

But the attacks did not land. The faint direction of the tiny projectiles they fired was visible through pale white lines as a Symbiote worked to alter them. Those lines moved straight towards the Cultivator only to suddenly veer off just a few metres before him. None touched him, and as he strode forward he gestured.

A pair of flying swords sang through the air, and the barbarians cried out as the weapons sliced through them, directed by the casual movements of the Cultivator's finger. The swords were joined by a ghostly, clawed hand the size of a person, grabbing and tearing.

'They can't touch him,' breathed Yue breathily, her face slightly flushed.

'He's defended by the Silver Net,' Leng exclaimed, eyes widening, and his voice sped as his excitement grew. 'I don't believe the Symbiote exists at Tier 1, he must have all of its ingredient Symbiotes to form it—a combination Art! It deflects any unguided, non-energy projectiles, and forms a perfect counter to these barbarians!' Leng let out a laugh, pleased by the realisation. 'Not a particularly common setup, but neither is it overly expensive.'

Yue nodded. 'And why would it be? It is of no use against Arts guided by Soul Sense.'

Leng turned abruptly, looking to the man stood in the aisle beside his seat. He and Yue's personal servant, Hua, stood with his back straight, clothed in a formal grey robe.

'Put out the word,' Leng told him. 'I want to know how many Silver Net Symbiotes or ingredient Symbiotes there are in this place, and how much they cost. If the price seems reasonable, line up anyone you can find that is willing to sell to me.' He paused, tapping his lip. 'Actually, I want at least two Tier 2 Silver Nets, for me and Yue. Even if the price is unreasonable, bring them to me.'

'Of course, young master.' Hua gave him a short bow then turned and strode away.

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