The portal flared, and light flooded my vision. I hit the stone hard and rolled, keeping Alice and Liz protected beneath me.

  Alice was coughing as she sat up and began frantically checking the baby. “Riven, she’s crying. I don’t see anything wrong, but I’m worried! We need a doctor!”

  Before I could respond, a message appeared in my vision.

  A wave of green light swept over us as the message appeared. For a moment, the green glow felt like a fever dream, like the VA hospital after too many meds, but the warmth in my chest was real.

  I felt something I hadn’t in years, true, clean health. My aches and pains vanished that I had become numb to over the years. Alice gasped, visibly relieved, and the baby calmed in her arms, curling onto her chest.

  Still breathing heavily, Alice turned to me. “Riven, what’s happening? Where are we? What was that light?”

  I placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, the other gently brushing the baby’s head. “Stay calm, Alice. Breathe. In and out. Deep breaths.”

  Alice looked like she wanted to protest, but after a moment she did what I asked. My sister had never rattled easily, but even her innate composure was being tested.

  A second message flared in my vision:

  What was the deal with all these messages? It was the same thing that had happened in my dream. Holy shit, was that fight with the monster real?

  I rose slowly and took in our surroundings.

  We were standing on an enormous flat stone slab that stretched out in every direction. The surface was mostly smooth but scattered with coarse grit and dirt. The dry wind whipped around my ankles, hot and bitter with a faint stench of rot.

  No trees. No cover. No buildings. I just see miles of exposed rock.

  I adjusted my stance, knees bent slightly. My military mind kicked in. Wide open terrain. High visibility. No cover. A bad place to fight. No place for me and the girls to stay.

  “This isn’t ideal,” I muttered.

  The twin moons above confirmed what I already suspected. It had been no dream. “We’re not on Earth anymore, Sis.”

  Alice followed my gaze skyward. Her mouth opened and stayed that way for several seconds. "Then where the hell are we?"

  "It’s not Oklahoma, that’s for sure," I replied.

  Movement caught my attention. Twenty meters out, someone crouched low, blending into the stone. A figure in a brownish robe that seemed to change subtly, slowly rose and waved at me.

  “Contact. One o’clock. Low profile. Watching," I said calmly. "No visible weapons."

  I stepped between Alice and the newcomer automatically, muscle memory guiding my stance. The bracer on my wrist glowed, its silver tree projecting out.

  “What is that?” Alice asked.

  “When I figure it out, I’ll let you know. Just stay behind me and hold tight.”

  She nodded without speaking.

  The figure still hadn’t moved, just stood watching, waiting. My eyes narrowed.

  “I see you. Camouflage’s decent, but you’re not invisible. Waiting for friends to ambush us? Let me guess, an advanced scout that got sloppy?"

  The man straightened up, waving his arms awkwardly over his head in what I guessed was this world's declaration of surrender.

  “Huh? No! Surely you jest,” the stranger said in a shaking voice. You’re an Outlier; any fight would be suicide for me."

  The stranger took a few cautious steps forward. “I’m Balt. I received a System task to guide you, great Outlier.”

  “How do you know that word… Outlier?"

  Balt had begun to walk closer to them, hands up over his head still, but that question brought him up short. "Well, like I just said, the Task came to me through the System. But everyone knows what an Outlier is.

  I know this one is unworthy, but I promise you great service and a straight path to the starting town you seek, so you can prepare for the first floor of the Dungeon."

  "He’s laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?" asked Alice behind him.

  I smirked. "Yeah, a little, but I am pretty great, you know?"

  "Oh yeah, you're just so great," said Alice in a thick sarcastic voice.

  "Harsh, you know your best friend Lucy thought I was great."

  "You dummy! I knew you two hooked up." seethed Alice. "She has not spoken to me in years, and now I know it was your fault. What did you do?"

  I put on my most innocent face. "Huh? I didn't do anything; she broke it off. Said she caught feelings. Who can be sure?"

  Alice put her hand over the baby's ears. "Even in a new world, it’s good to know that some things will never change. You're still a jackass."

  Balt had resumed his walk towards them as she was berating him. My eyes had never left him. When he was less than five feet away, I held up my hand for him to stop.

  I looked the man in the eyes. "Okay, let's get serious for a minute. What is this place, stranger? What is going on here?"

  I could see Balt was taking in their clothes and their condition, then Balt’s eyes flashed faintly. He opened his mouth to answer then the odd man’s face went pale, and then he suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.

  The laughter turned quickly to sobbing. The man collapsed to his knees, face in his hands. “Oh, I am so screwed," he wailed. "Sweet Miranda, your best customer’s going to be ogre shit before nightfall!”

  He pointed at them as if they were cursed. I tensed, ready for a fight. This guy is clearly off his rocker.

  “You’re only Level 1! The woman’s a noncombatant! And that’s a literal baby! Cried Balt, I thought you guys were screwing with me!" Balt spun and raised his fists to the sky.

  “You bug-ridden mess of a system! This is your idea of a quest?! Your mother, whoever she was, should've swallowed your 1000111000 ass!"

  His tirade lasted nearly a full minute. Alice, at some point, had once again covered the baby’s ears.

  Alice whispered, “What the hell is going on? And what’s with this guy?”

  “No idea,” I whispered back.

  "Let’s just see what happens when he finishes. He may know how to get us back home, and I see no one else whom we can ask at the moment."

  Turning around to watch the man again, I had to admit, the man had a gift for swearing. I filed away a few phrases for future use.

  When Balt finally ran out of breath, he slumped forward, spent, his body folding like a cheap lawn chair to the ground.

  "Are you done?"

  “Yes, I’m done,” the man said dejectedly.

  "So, did you become an Outlier like yesterday or something? asked Balt. Or did my Identify glitch out like this dumb quest I accepted?"

  "Huh?" That was all that I got out of my mouth before Balt swiped a finger, and a notification appeared in my vision.

  Balt wishes to share his screen. Accept, yes or no?

  "Just accept that and see what I see," said Balt. It’s just your stat sheet; it won’t bite. You can do it yourself if you just concentrate."

  Curiosity won out; I need answers. I mentally clicked yes.

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  I read over the information and shrugged my shoulders. "So?"

  "Here is mine now," said Balt, nodding his head this time toward me.

  “So what? Does that mean you are some kind of power-leveled badass or something?”

  Balt let out a crazy laugh. "No, that means I am one of the weakest people in this realm. You're only level 1, Outlier or not. You, Me, the woman, and the baby are all in big trouble right now. This is a Dungeon Runner training ground."

  "It’s used by the Factions Combat Classes as a training ground to prepare themselves for the Dungeon. Few actually use it or think they need it, but that is the point of this place."

  I focused on the numbers again, trying to make sense of them. “So, you’re saying… we’re screwed because I am underleveled for this area?"

  "How do you know that term? asked Balt, but not where you are or what you are?"

  "I play video games and watch a lot of Anime" I stated. "Like an unhealthy amount." added Alice.

  "Hey!"

  Alice just shrugged her shoulders unapologetically.

  Balt groaned as if someone were trying to pull out his teeth with pliers." System, help me. Okay?! "You’re new. Fine, I get it. I’ll give you the quick and dirty version that every 15-year-old level one receives."

  But in return, Balt raised his arm and pointed west, we need to start walking in that direction. If we are still here at night out in the open, when the monsters are most active, we will be in trouble."

  "Let me ask a few questions before we go anywhere with you." I need to know the answers immediately if you want our cooperation in any form.

  Balt nodded his understanding. "What is this thing?" I pointed to the leather bracer.

  “That thing?... That’s your System Anchor. It tracks your level, skills, gear, quests, storage, all of it. I honestly thought until just now that you were threatening me on purpose by displaying it so openly."

  "Threatening you how?" I asked.

  “Yes, that’s right, threatening me. Balt gestured towards the shining tree symbol. “The projection of your skill tree being that bright and on display usually means that your mana is at full or close to it. People who are not looking for conflict usually dismiss their anchors.”

  Balt cocked his head, looking at me with a questioning gaze. "But you don't even know how to dismiss it, do you?"

  "No, I don’t," I replied in an even voice.

  A bracer materialized on Balt’s left hand. His was only the size of a small wristband and plain-looking brown leather compared to my large, more ornate one.

  "Concentrate on the bracer… on your Anchor. Really focus and a screen should appear."

  I stretched out my arm and stared at the bracer, focusing. A screen snapped over the bracer.

  I put two and two together and clicked yes. And the bracer disappeared.

  "Well, how about that?"

  "That Anchor will appear if you just will it," said Balt.

  I did, and it was back on my wrist. "Okay, you have my full attention."

  Balt just breathed out in what was a mix of relief and weariness. "Okay, we’re getting somewhere. Look, I know you don’t know me, and do not trust me."

  I kept still, not disputing the statement in any way. Silence says a lot if you let it.

  Balt continued. "But my losing my cool earlier in the middle of the tutorial was a piss-poor idea.

  The portal that brought you here, made enough sound that there is probably a monster scout team on its way here right now."

  "You mean a scout team like whatever that is at 2 o’clock closing fast?” I said, looking over Balt’s shoulder. Balt wheeled around to see what I saw. I let him back up next to me.

  I watched three hunched figures run toward our position. Their skin was a green, mottled looking thing, blending into the dust and rock. Their limbs were too long for their torsos, and their eyes looked too big for their heads. One held a dagger, one held a short sword, and one held a spear. And they were coming fast.

  “Goblin Stalkers, Balt hissed. Not strong or sturdy but fast as hell. We’re in trouble if they report back to their commander.”

  I didn’t hesitate. "Alice, get behind me now.

  “You’re level one," Balt began. "They’re at least level 5; let me help deal with them!"

  I surged forward. Not caring what the old man was saying. I don't care what world this is, I will be damned if some alien-looking, bug - eyed motherfucker was going to threaten me or my family.

  The first goblin lunged, dagger in hand, jaws wide. I stepped into it, not away, driving my elbow into the thing’s chest with a wet crack. The monster howled and crumpled to the ground.

  The goblin with the spear darted to the left, as the one with the short sword tried to flank me. I pivoted, grabbed the short-sword wielders neck mid-lunge before it could stab me, and hurled it into the one carrying the spear that was trying to get behind me.

  My Anchor flared white-hot.

  I moved quicker than I ever had. I went to front kick the goblin with the spear, but it sidestepped me and activated what must have been magic and accelerated past me.

  I lost my balance when my kick didn’t land. But recovered quickly and turned to follow the creature.

  The goblin with the short sword I had thrown by the neck earlier was still alive, and it tried to rush in and stab me.

  I evaded, jumping backward out of the sword's reach. The sword wielder dashed forward again, swinging for my throat. It swung wide. I grabbed it in a headlock and squeezed.

  I have to stop the goblin that got past me, or it was going to make it to the girls, and this little shit was in my way. I was squeezing its neck with everything I had.

  I turned to find the creature that had got away. It was almost on them. I was not going to make it in time.

  "I got it!" I heard, and golden energy imposed itself in front of the old man and the girls.

  The goblin that had got away rebounded, bouncing off what apparently was a barrier.

  Balt held up his right hand, and a small beam of force from his palm shot out and hit the creature, incinerating it. He dropped to one knee after shooting the beam.

  Knowing that Alice and Liz were okay for now, I finished my dirty work and picked up the short sword that the creature I had just strangled no longer needed.

  I walked over to the dagger wielder that had come at me first and slit its throat to be safe.

  "Bless the system, said Balt. Where the hell did you learn how to fight like that?"

  "Just because I don’t know this world and this anchor system, does not mean I don’t know how to fight or protect my family."

  I walked to where Alice stood. She was shaking. I held her and felt her calm down after a while. I just let Alice center herself.

  I was about to let Alice go when I heard a roar ring out from the direction the goblins had originally come from.

  "That's the sound of a commander," said Balt. "We must run; my mana is almost depleted. My spirit will recover it in a few minutes, and I can help then."

  "We’re not running with Alice and a newborn baby. We wait; we can take it down and get to safety without being pursued by some monster on our tracks.

  I see no cover even if I wanted to run anyway," I stated.

  "I don’t think you’re understanding," said Balt.

  "What am I not getting?! Let me tell you what I get…those were just scouts; the weakest of the band, correct?"

  Balt just nodded, his face going a little slack.

  "The big, scary, bad boss is coming, right?" Balt again just nodded.

  "So what? Ranger the fuck up, old man!"

  "What?" said Balt, getting caught completely off guard.

  It was my turn to explain something now. I just grinned. "It means a lot of things. But at its core, it means toughen up and make it happen."

  Balt looked at Alice and Liz. Then back at me. "You got guts kid but no real knowledge of what was coming for us. But I will not abandon my task or this woman and her child. "I'm with you."

  Balts’ bracer flashed, and a blue vial appeared in his hands. He downed it. "That’s better. All right, let’s do this."

  "What was that?" asked Alice. "It was a mana potion, the only one I got. I restored what I used. Let’s just hope it’s enough."

  They didn’t have to wait long. A heavy boom echoed across the Stone, followed by a deep, snarling bellow. The ogre was massive, easily nine feet tall, with huge shoulders and arms like tree trunks twisted with corded muscle.

  Its skin was cracked and grey. It carried a huge two-handed club that was covered in dust and what looked like old, dried blood.

  "Ogre, Balt called. And not a weak one. That bastard’s Level 10."

  "We can’t run. We can’t hide now. I hope that Ranger Up shit was more than a catchphrase or we’re all dead."

  “Do not worry, old man, I said, stepping forward. I have something special in mind for this guy."

  The Ardent was no dream, I knew that now. I also knew I had an ace up my sleeve.

  The ogre charged, covering ground fast, each step slamming into the stone like a minor earthquake.

  I focused. The Anchor flared to life on my arm. I concentrated and got a full description of his skill this time.

  My muscles tightened. My vision narrowed. I could feel the power building up inside me. I reached my hand through the silver tree and pulled Ashbourne out.

  “Limit Break Slash!”

  The bracer glowed searing white.

  Time seemed to slow. The ogre lifted its club, bellowing. Balt threw his hands up. Alice crying out. In a split second, I saw these things.

  I surged forward, dragging a glowing silver line behind me. The ogre swung down at me, but I had anticipated the strike and dodged. I felt the wind of the huge downward strike of the club on my face.

  I slammed the blade into the ogre’s side. The impact sent a shockwave across the area.

  The ogre screamed, cut clean in half and on fire. The creature's momentum carried it a few more steps before it collapsed, club falling uselessly from its twitching hand.

  Dust settled, and silence ensued.

  I turned, breathing hard.

  Balt and Alice stood with their mouths open. As the sword disappeared back into my Anchor.

  "As long as you’ve got that, we might just survive this place," laughed Balt, smiling ear to ear and doing what I assumed was this world's version of a happy dance.

  "No wonder you were so cock sure. I knew you Outliers were really something! I never doubted you, you know."

  Balt stopped dancing and bowed, looking relieved and apologetic. "Is that sarcasm?" I asked.

  "Oh, no, I would never do that to one such as yourself, oh great one."

  Alice burst into relieved laughter. "You are back to laying it on thick, Balt."

  I flexed my hand, unsteady on my feet. “Yeah… about that move.

  There appears to be a cooldown on it."

  "How long a cool down, oh great Outlier," asked Balt, still smiling.

  “I can only use it once per level,” I replied.

  Balt stared at him for a long second. Then groaned long and loud. “Yup. We’re back to being dead again.”