"GUIDE, among those present in this room, rank our level of authority from one to five."
But instead of the answer he was expecting, the GUIDE disappointed him:
|*Resident Kane, you do not have the authority to make that request.*|
The others sighed, having expected such a response. No way the GUIDE would just agree to requests like that. But Kane did not seem to be bothered, as he turned to Eli and asked her to make the same request again.
"Eli, you try it this time. Ask your GUIDE to rank us on authority."
She did not seem sold on the idea, but Kane motioned at her to just do it. She summoned her GUIDE, which was a fluffy ball and made the same request as Kane had. Already expecting the same reply as before, she turned towards Kane, wanting to question him further. But the refusal from the GUIDE did not come.
Instead, numbers popped up above the heads of the five people seated.
Eli, Zephyr, Jay, Kane and Asche. In that order from one to five. There was no additional reply from the GUIDE, just that.
Kane excitedly spoke up after seeing the numbers.
"Just like I was expecting. Eli who has completed the most number of scenarios and thereby has acquired the most rewards has the highest authority. Because the rewards from the scenarios are bound to our souls, it might also in fact help to strengthen them. In that order, its obvious the more scenarios you complete and rewards you receive, the stronger your soul becomes."
"But in that case, why are you ranked above me? I have completed more scenarios than you, so shouldn't you be the lowest." Asche seemed to have noticed that difference and immediately questioned him.
Kane thought for a moment, before remembering something.
"Back when I had just finished absorbing future Kane inside my dream stage, the GUIDE had said that it had rewarded me by raising my authority by a little. That would explain why I am above you. Also, if I had to take a guess, Zephyr might have an inherently stronger soul than normal. Which would explain why the GUIDE listened to his requests earlier. Anyway I am not entirely sure about this theory, and the GUIDE isn't going to confirm it. But it makes sense somehow."
Zephyr's eyes glinted when Kane mentioned him. He nodded in agreement, as his words made sense in all ways. Now what was left was to decide what to do with this information.
"Does that mean our focus should be to find ways to strengthen our souls then? Instead of worrying about others like the Neimun people who have merged with countless other selves but haven't improved their souls. Which would bring us back to grinding out more scenarios and stages."
"Seems like we went full circle to come back to what we were already doing." Jay said, lying across his couch. For him the discussion was practically over, since there was not much more for them figure out now. They had gathered to maybe figure out something that would give them a clear goal to work towards, but everything was still in the shadows. Or was it?
Eli got up from her couch and sent her fist straight into Jay's large frame, making him wince in pain. She looked at all of them and shouted, "This is clearly great news for us, so why are you all sulking now? Get up and start grinding scenarios, now that we know that they actually have some sort of meaning. Other than preparing us for the Reality stages, I can bet that those with stronger souls would have a better chance absorbing others. So stop lying around like pigs."
Kane understood her words, but despite that he could not motivate himself. Maybe this was his flaw. Whenever something didn't fall into place like he had expected it to, he would always find his motivation at an all-time low. Even in situations like right now where literally his existence was at stake.
"Ugh, don't be like salted fishes. Also, I just had an idea. You remember that I mentioned how I can share my magic inheritance after I finish piecing it together right? Maybe it's possible that we all can similarly share our rewards with each other. Perhaps it would also help strengthen our souls, since it's a magical technique, right?"
Asche and Jay perked up at that thought, while Zephyr deflated. It was because Asche and Jay had both obtained some techniques and abilities as rewards, but Zephyr had only gained either materialistic rewards such as the jet or knowledge as reward such as the coordinates of this lab. He felt that there was no way to share such rewards to benefit his friends.
But Kane instead thought of something else.
"There is a glaring fault in that thought process, Eli. If sharing rewards with others can also strengthen their souls, it would be a big loophole to hasten progress. Which makes me believe that, either sharing rewards does not strengthen our souls or rewards that can be shared are very rare. Confirm once if any of you have any rewards that can be shared."
Saying so, Kane called out to the GUIDE in his mind and asked it if he could share his illusion ability with others. He already felt that it was not possible, since unlike a technique or mantra, his ability was like an inherent trait that he knew how to use. Like breathing. It wasn't a skill that could be taught to others.
And as he expected, the GUIDE answered negative to his query. Everyone else also shook their head, confirming his thought.
"Such rewards are all going to be very rare, I suppose. And we can't confirm yet if they will strengthen our souls either. But since there is such a vast diversity of rewards, it makes me wonder maybe there will be some rewards that can directly help to train and improve souls. Like a soul technique or ability."
They all continued to make guesses, with no intention to stop anytime soon. Which irked Eli, who watched them just sit on their asses doing nothing. Frustrated, she got up and left the room, making up her mind to finish her magic inheritance soon.
Better than doing nothing.
...
The four of them watched her leave, acutely aware that they had all pissed their friend off. Embarrassed at their own act, the four of them got up from the couches together to talk to Eli and apologize for their sloppy behavior.
"I think she is right. Rather than just sitting around and making no improvement, we should start to grind scenarios. Some progress is better than no progress." Asche said, as they made their way to the training room, where Eli would be.
"I know that bro, it's just that diving headless into this grind with no plans or goals makes me restless. The second thoughts keep making me lose my attention. You know how I always overthink and that is making it impossible for me to focus on tasks. Which is why I started this discussion in the first place. But I guess she is right. I won't find any solution, not at least until I raise my authority enough to get some answers from the GUIDE. Which means grinding scenarios." Kane smiled wryly. At least he had found a direction to direct his thoughts into now.
More scenarios meant more chances to get rewards from the GUIDE. Which in turn would strengthen his soul and raise his authority level.
Zephyr and Jay did not add anything else, already readying their minds to jump into a seclusion of sorts. Their goals had been set now. Something of the sort.
They all turned a corner, the training section across them.
*RUMBLE*
A tremor passed through the building. They all stopped in their tracks, not sure what that had been about. But then-
*RUMBLE*
Another tremor passed through the building, shaking the four of them and Eli who was standing just across them on a matted floor. The lights started flickering as more tremors passed through the laboratory under the desert.
The four of them rushed towards their friend, trying to make sure they were all together, when all chaos broke loose.
*CRASH*
The ceiling before them shattered as the desert above them flooded the building. Dust and sand covered them from all sides as the floor started breaking. The four of them hurried to get away from the crack in the ceiling, but then a shriek from the other side reached them.
"It's Eli, something is wrong at her end. We have to group up with her immediately now. Follow me." Kane assumed command as he asked them to follow him. Something seemed to have entered the building, but he couldn't be sure as the sand and dust were obscuring their vision. Whatever it was, he just hoped they were not too late.