We go deeper into the seemingly endless expanse of past urban development. When we pass some arbitrary threshold, the androids accosting us change. If the previous—let’s say, Mark One—were the base configuration, then these—the Mark Two—are an iteration. The new monsters have the same variety of weaponry, but they are able to disrupt my conventional sensors and, to a degree, the magical. Nevertheless, Erysis and Nexen are still handedly in control, combining the input from the tactical view their neural interfaces provide and their mana senses to dispatch the increased threat with comparative ease.

  Erysis lets a supersonic projectile clip her unshielded but still armored arm. The bullet ricochets away with a brief shimmer, leaving a pristine surface.

  “That voids your warranty.” My stellar quip is ignored.

  As we take our time, cleaning up monsters and collecting android scrap for later study, the two active participants in the fight start using more power.

  Nexen punches the air, leveling an entire block into a cascade of rubble, and taking out at least a hundred of the swarming androids.

  Erysis shoots a few bursts of sparks that quickly burn out into nothing. But eventually, her spell resolves successfully and into a ray of light that evaporates a perfect hole through buildings as far as can be seen, eventually filled in by the oppressive brown smog.

  But the exertion soon proves too much. We take advantage of a relative lull in the assault, or a desolate square that might be a safe zone of sorts, to let the two rest.

  “I’ve seen all your delves from when I was gone. There’s no need to show off,” I say as we sit on warped-in chairs.

  Erysis removes her helmet and scoffs. “No one’s showing off.”

  “I am,” Nexen counters.

  “Lying is bad, Erysis,” her teacher piles on.

  The now fire slash light mage grumbles a little. Then she turns away slightly and mumbles, “If I was showing off, what would you say?”

  “That you can’t be the only ones.” I use a particular section of the universe edge to generate a random number between one and three. I get a two. “Erysis the Apprentice.”

  My world is bathed in fire. The frantically beating heart in my chest threatens to tear itself out. Anxiety and uncertainty are mixing with a burning desire to defend, to right all that is wrong. Slowly, the feelings dampen, now an ever-alight ember deep in my core, filling my existence with warmth and love.

  I move somewhere else, a hand lifts up, bright flash, I am back. The world is extinguished.

  I plonk down on my seat again with a groan. “Who says I can’t”—a few greedy gulps of air fill my lungs—“teleport now.”

  Erysis remembers she can speak. “...What was that?” Her gaze shifts back from where a giant fireball just was to me. “Are you okay?”

  Elisa gives me a quick once over. “He’s fine. My little dummy got a bit too excited playing with his new toy.”

  “Did you turn into Ery?” Nexen asks, pure curiosity in his voice.

  “Not exactly. But what do you think?”

  Erysis answers dismissively, “That you are immature and petty.”

  “I know that. What do you think about the spell?”

  She shrugs her shoulders. “Meh, it’s alright. ...Don’t cry. It was good.”

  Nexen chimes in, choosing to ignore my totally fake tears, “I’m guessing it’s not constrained to just Ery?”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Yup. But I can only... ‘conceptualize’ people I know quite well.”

  “So, everyone,” Erysis says.

  I shake my head. “It’s more complicated than that.”

  “Do it again. I want to see if you are as strong as me.”

  “Trying to kill me? It’s not at a state where I can use it consecutively yet.” Erysis looks at me with scrutiny. “It’s not about power. It’s about the techniques.”

  “All I’m hearing is that the imitation is weaker than the original.”

  Huh, a surge of energy pulls me back to my feet for some inexplicable reason. “Wanna go?”

  Erysis’ helmet snaps around her head as she also stands up. “Get ready to be humbled, S-grade string bean.”

  Elisa slowly blinks once and commands, “Sit.” Erysis obeys immediately. As the helmet comes off again, she directs a nervous glance toward the elf. I have also taken a seat, but that’s not important right now. “You are a bad influence on my apprentice.”

  “Not denying that.” Erysis and I exchange cheeky smiles, leaving Elisa to mockingly sigh.

  After replenishing their stamina, impressed by how much faster their improved bodies managed to get topped up, Erysis and Nexen continue their destructive advance. Or just Nexen. Erysis is simulating a sparkler.

  “I didn’t know it was my birthday.”

  More sparks. “I’m concentrating. Shut up.” And some more.

  “You can do this.”

  She sighs as her next spell fails to produce even the measly effect of the previous. Then she turns to me. “When is your birthday?” Elisa appears to also be interested in the answer.

  “Don’t know. My internal clocks were scrambled during the transference.”

  “Hmm.” Erysis thinks for a moment. “Why not make it the day you came here.”

  “Sure. I like it.” I turn to Elisa. “What do you think?”

  The elf shakes her head. “That’s your decision to make, dummy. ...But I think it’s a good idea.”

  Nexen throws a thumbs up after he throws a punch that topples a particularly tall skyscraper.

  When Erysis shoots some more sparks and looks dejected, I send her a private message. A subtle glance back is all I get. For but a moment, the dungeon is nothing but pure white. In the next, a section of the ruined city is nothing but a melted mess.

  Her armor keeps the drained mage upright.

  “Good,” Elisa simply comments.

  Our expedition soon approaches its end.

  As Nexen lifts an arm, palm to the sky, a large projectile impacts the nearly invisible barrier he conjured. An explosion shakes the dungeon’s space as a fireball grows tall. Through the curtain of flame and smoke, sharp crackles start pelting the fighter’s unmarred defenses, closely followed by a rhythmic ‘brrt’ sound.

  Erysis extends an arm toward the impenetrable smog, tracking something that appears to be moving fast. After another barrage impacts Nexen’s shield, the mage releases a short pulse of light. Her spell leaves the friendly shield unobstructed, streaks through the dirty air, incinerating a clean tunnel, and impacts high up with a dim flash.

  Large stout, cylindrical projectiles fall around us in a circle, smashing into concrete and asphalt but not burying themselves deep at all. With subdued detonations, the drop pods break up into parts that fly away, freeing their contents.

  We are boxed in by a squad of androids. Automatic fire thunders against a seemingly unbreakable barrier. Nexen closes his palm into a fist and gives the ground a soft tap. Outside the boundary of his shield, earth lifts and comes alive into a circular wave, washing away skyscraper and enemy alike.

  Another missile hits his shield and explodes into liquid fire, burning white and hot, consuming the oxygen and melting everything around us.

  Erysis steadies her stance in a smooth and practiced movement. The dancing flames cease their activity, frozen in time, ignoring the laws of reality, now answering to another master. As if it’s being sucked into a small opening, the fire swirls and compresses above our heads. A radiant ball of inferno contained does not stay contained for long. The fire mage unleashes the seized energy, letting the fireball free. The sphere of destruction moves vertically and then sharply changes direction.

  Due to its intensity, we can easily see the spell as it hunts for its target, lighting up the sky like the sun through early morning mist. The little star explodes, pushing away the smog, only for more brownish haze to flow back in right after.

  As a mana crystal clinks on the asphalt under our feet, a gate shimmers to our side, bathing our forms with a color rarely seen inside this ruined cityscape. Prize and remains are collected.

  Elisa gives her apprentice her final assessment. “Very good.”

  Erysis removes her helmet and smiles at the elf. “Thank you. Did you sense the...”

  “Carrier,” I helpfully supply.

  “Yeah. Did you sense the carrier’s shield?”

  Elisa nods. “Stronger than it should have been.” She turns to Nexen. “How was the power?”

  “Also strong,” he answers. “But it felt very... straightforward, I guess. Just power.” Elisa nods again, having felt the same.

  “Still a C,” I say. “Can’t be too unfair or it will break the Rules.”

  “Higher grades are going to be dangerous,” Erysis says.

  I shrug. “They all are. Now, let’s get out of here. You two are going to need a full day of sleep after this nice workout.”

  Erysis scoffs. “No idea what you’re talking about. I feel great.”

  “Do you mind taking off that suit for a moment?”

  “I do mind, actually.”

  I shake my head and grin. “Improved physical stamina does not mean improved magical one as well. But when you recover, I’ll help get you up to snuff. High time we resumed our spars.”

  Erysis and Nexen grin back, ready for the challenge.