For a horrible moment, I wondered if we’d arrive to find no one else there. Then, I cracked my eyes open to see a field of twinkling lights against a dark void.

  It had to be space, which made sense given our target was surrounding the entire planet. What made less sense was the construct around us, which somehow held back the vacuum.

  The shape was a hexagonal prism, with each of the six-sided panels so translucent I could see through them with ease. Only the joints were light with a dull orange glow, similar yet less brilliant than what Fragment had been bleeding.

  As I glanced around with awe, I realized we were far from alone in the void. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of similar vessels dotted our surroundings.

  “Incredible,” I breathed, almost collapsing in relief. “So many came.”

  “Relieved Anticipation: Indeed, Ethan Parker. It is a good beginning.”

  I blinked at the chill emotional declaration, turning toward my companion. “Fragment! You’re alright?”

  I’d half expected to see it on the verge of death after moving us; only the shock of location had driven its plight from my mind.

  Fragment floated beside me, cables extended and plugged into different sides of the prism. The eldritch glow from before was gone, leaving the usual dull lines and fresh cracks on its injured side.

  “Sorrowful Apology: Do not worry, Ethan Parker. The [Will of the collective] is upon this location; This one is no longer in danger now we have arrived. It regrets that it could not buy you more time.”

  The effect of this new phrase was far beyond the other strange words I’d seen, striking like a spike to my brain.

  My head snapped back, and a groan burst from my lips as I struggled to stay upright. The ringing in my brain lasted for seemingly endless seconds before I recovered enough to respond.

  “That’s… good to hear. Can I ask why we didn’t arrive earlier? As long as the explanation doesn’t need you to say that again.”

  “Mournful Regret: All System usage has a chance to draw the Labyrinths’ attention. This is a negligible chance with a single individual…”

  “But a few thousand people would be different,” I shook my head with a deep sigh. So much for checking my class details, or the heavy book I still clutched in one hand.

  I could see the heavy cover out of the corner of my eye, and some fresh instinct I’d never had before told me looking too closely would bring up a System screen. Like the class, it would have to wait.

  “Resounding Hope: It is more than a few thousand. Watch, Ethan Parker: this one’s stronger brethren arrive.”

  Arrive they did, orange prisms flashing into being around us like tiny starships coming out of hyperspace. First in the hundreds, then the thousands, then more than I could count.

  “There has to be... at least fifty thousand people out there,” I breathed in awe as the avalanche of light finally slowed. “Maybe even a hundred thousand.”

  I might not be able to count them individually, but I could hazard a guess at the number from the swarm that now surrounded us. So thick the individual vessels blurred into a wall, blocking out all natural light.

  There were so many of us that we’d outshone the stars.

  My throat caught as I realized what this represented. Fragment said they’d contacted those who’d survived an early encounter; regular people who’d just had perhaps the worst day of their lives.

  And then, when asked to risk it all again, they’d chosen to step up.

  It was an extraordinary, uplifting moment to know that so many were with me in this crazy plan. Yet it was also a tragic one, for less than one in ten of us was expected to survive.

  “Nervous Anticipation: Prepare yourself, Ethan Parker. The collected members are preparing to strike.”

  “Right,” I nodded, nerves flaring now that the moment was upon me. “Any last advice?”

  “Concerned Consideration: This one suggests preparing for immediate combat. From the research it has done on previous incidents, it seems the Labyrinth always displays a level of eagerness to test invaders.”

  I resisted the urge to curse; that book better do something without requiring hours of study.

  “This one expects you will arrive in an Annex Dungeon, which you will need to clear to escape. Once through into the Branch dungeon, it would recommend searching for a Safe Room.”

  “Got it,” I chuckled, a near hysterical sound, trying to laugh off my nerves. “Annex dungeon to Branch dungeon, all in a Labryinth. Dungeons all the way down.”

  “Growing Concern: Gather yourself, Ethan Parker. This one understands it is difficult, but you must hold on until you reach safety. There will be time to recover once you are in a saferoom.”

  “This one has registered itself as your official [Guide]. It will see you when you level or earn a major reward, assuming it survives this attack.”

  “Oh,” I sighed, glancing at Fragment in the middle of the prism. It faced away from me, focused on some target hidden in the ambient glow.

  While I liked the idea that I’d at least have it to talk to if I couldn’t find anyone else, the fact that Fragment was risking its life again didn’t feel fair. It already almost exploded while getting me through those selections.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  We were risking our lives for our family, for the world. Why were they? Right at this moment, it hardly seemed to matter.

  “Thank you, Fragment. Just… thank you for everything. I expect to see you there when I level, no dying on me.”

  “Touched Surprise: This one will try, Ethan Parker. Brace yourself, we strike [now].

  The final word echoed as if voiced by thousands as a heavy force drove me back into the wall.

  For a moment, as my consciousness was fading, I thought I saw the wall of light in front of us split around a vast pillar of gray stone, extending into the depths of space.

  Then everything went dark.

  It was still in near-complete darkness when consciousness returned. Somehow, I was still standing, though the shock of the change almost had me toppling over. Only a frantic windmilling kept me from the hard ground I could feel under my shoes.

  Which was probably where I should have woken up, given the odd way I was leaning outward in that prism. At best, I should have been falling backward when I came to.

  It had to be a parting gift from Fragment, one I appreciated as I scanned my surroundings. Despite the creature’s words, I couldn’t see any imminent danger.

  I couldn’t see much of anything, in fact. The only light source was a faint luminescence from the walls and floor, leaving most of my surroundings lost in an ocean of darkness.

  In two opposite directions, the illumination extended in parallel lines. The walls of a corridor? It bared investigating, though I would have to be careful wandering around in these conditions.

  Though at least a calm moment would allow me to—

  A high-pitched shriek echoed from the potential corridor to my left, bringing my planning to a crashing halt. A series of low hisses followed, sounds that I would recognize anywhere.

  Kobolds.

  Why did it have to be Kobolds?

  Was it the Labryinth digging into my deepest fears? Had Fragment tried to help by directing me to a familiar enemy? Or was it some horrible curse fating me to encounter the foul creatures?

  For a moment, my focus wavered, fear threatening to burst in. Then I shook my head clear; It didn’t matter. Kobolds or not, I needed to take them out to escape.

  As insane as that sounded, this was my life now.

  That didn’t mean I had to be stupid, however. I glanced in the opposite direction, and the lines of illumination seemed to lead into the distance. If I could sneak away for a few moments, I could at least...

  My foot slid on something soft and damn as it landed, skidding forward as I struggled for balance. Worse was the sound echoing around me. Perhaps ten [Dexterity] hadn’t been the best idea.

  The voices cut off, replaced by the distant sound of scraping footsteps. They knew I was here.

  As much as I wanted to, fleeing into the darkness would be insane. Fighting was my only choice.

  I glanced with concern at the grimoire in my right hand, the cover almost invisible in the dim light. This was it, Fragment said the book would let me start with magic.

  I could only hope that meant immediately.

  My gaze flicked over the screen, ignoring most of the information to lock onto the final line. Limited proficiency was precisely what I needed right now. Lacking instructions, I tried focusing harder on the book itself.

  Complex occult sigils on the cover lit up as my eyes danced across them, triggering a profound change inside me.

  Two motes of potential blossomed in my mind: one a pulsing ball of power, the other a tiny shield. A grim smile crossed my lips as I focused on the ball; now I had a chance.

  Power shifted in my chest, pouring from a source I’d never noticed. Perhaps a source that had never existed before.

  I could feel the grimore calling to it like a magnet, and the power responded. Flowed through my body in an electrifying stream, forming strange patterns as it went.

  Upon reaching the book, it entered for a moment, then burst forth toward my left hand. I caught the result by instinct, looking down with wonder as the [Arcane Bolt] sent flickering shadows through the room.

  Real magic, right there in my hand.

  I’d imagined that Arcane magic would be white, or perhaps a kind of blue. Instead, the spell was a deep red colour, forming a pulsing blob around my hand.

  Energy bled off in tiny flecks as I watched, sometimes forming tiny flames, sometimes dancy electric sparks.

  The spell tingled as it continued to grow, fed by a steady stream of energy from the book. After a couple of seconds, the growth paused, striking a limit I instinctively knew was far from the spell’s full potential.

  In any other situation, I could have spent endless minutes playing with the wondrous energy to see how it reacted. As it was, only the growing sound of approaching footsteps pulled my attention back to the left corridor.

  Just in time to spot a dark shape crossing the furthest illumination. A corner? It didn’t matter; all that did was the knowledge my enemy had arrived.

  I squinted, my heart pounding as I tried to judge the distance. Would my spell make it if I threw now? How far could it even reach?

  The instinctive feeling I got from it was ‘far enough.’ That would have to do.

  I thrust my hand forward and down, well remembering the height of these things from my first encounter. At the furthest point, I visualized the spell shooting forth on a straight path.

  There was a sizzling hiss as it obeyed my command, illuminating ancient stone walls with flecks of shed light as it blazed down the corridor.

  About sixty feet down, it struck, blowing a brown-scaled figure off its feet with an anguished shriek.

  It should have been a moment of triumph, yet my heart fell as I spied the two other figures behind it.