Formless Ascension: My Affinity Is Limitless

Krijn closed his mouth immediately. Whatever message passed between them in that split second, it was enough to make him yield. It seemed she wanted them to split up for now as well.

”We will meet here in a few hours,” Krijn grunted. ”Do not take long.”

The two groups separated. Uhtred and Zara turned back toward the human Grotto heavens in Zone 2, while the two ancient variant generals headed toward their own people.

When Uhtred reached the primary human positions within Zone 2, he found that information about the third trial had already begun to circulate, though the source and the specifics were completely unexpected.

Before he even reached anyone in leadership, he caught whispers among the lower-leveled ascenders. People were talking about a warning that had come directly from Perfection — one of the top-ranked human powerhouses.

Uhtred tracked down Black Sun Mateo and Mateo confirmed the rumors immediately. He had encountered Perfection directly, and the information hadn’t stayed contained. Several other high-level ascenders had been close enough to hear, and from there, it had spread selectively through the camps in Zone 2.

The message that had spread was simple: The third trial is unwinnable. The System does not penalize anyone for remaining in Zone 2. Going into Zone 3 to face an enemy that cannot be defeated when Zone 2 offers incredible cultivation density is strategically irrational.

That was the stance Perfection had held with certainty long before Uhtred and Zara had arrived to announce the specifics of the next trial.

Once Uhtred learned of this, he was more than surprised. He had no idea how Perfection could have known what the third trial entailed ahead of time. The System notices had only been delivered to those at the boundary, which meant only he, Zara, Krijn, and the female general should have known the details.

It was a mystery that put Perfection firmly on his radar. He had never met the man, but based on Mateo’s tight-lipped demeanor, Perfection was a strange, dangerous anomaly.

Setting the mystery aside, Uhtred focused on the practical effect of the rumor.

A large portion of the human population in Zone 2 was now operating under the assumption that Zone 3 was a death trap. And honestly, they weren’t wrong. Most of them lacked the strength to get to the boundary, not to mention surviving in Zone 3 at all.

Staying in Zone 2 to cultivate was the smartest move they could make, and many would survive to reach much higher levels because of it.

Uhtred looked at Mateo directly. ”What about you?”

Mateo looked back at him, his face completely devoid of emotion. ”I found my daughter.”

Uhtred blinked, but stayed silent.

”She’s alive and well... So you know what that means,” Mateo said plainly. ”I won’t be joining you in Zone 3. Now that you’ve confirmed what Perfection said about the trial, I’m even more certain of my choice. But I didn’t want you hearing it from someone else. You deserved to hear it from me.”

That was the extent of the obligation Mateo felt, and he discharged it cleanly.

Uhtred looked at him for a moment, then nodded. ”I’m glad you found her, Mateo. That was the whole reason you started this.”

Mateo had made it clear from the first time they met that nothing mattered to him except his daughter. Not even the collective or the fate of humanity.

It was cold-hearted in a way, but Uhtred didn’t hold the decision against him for a single second.

”Good luck out there, Uhtred,” Mateo said quietly, turning back toward the inner parts of the Grotto heaven.

Uhtred watched him go, then sighed. He moved on immediately to check on the rest of the leadership. Any other powerhouse available.

Antoine Blanc was present. The Frenchman saw the strategic logic of staying in Zone 2 as clearly as anyone else. But unlike Mateo, Antoine had a political coalition to maintain and people who looked to him as a symbol.

”Every rational thought tells me to stay here and cultivate,” Antoine admitted, a dry, bitter smile on his face as he spoke to Uhtred. ”But I am the face of New Eden. If I retreat now, the coalition fractures. I will be coming to Zone 3.”

The conflict was evident on his face. His expression was that of a man making a terrible choice for reasons that had nothing to do with his personal survival, but Uhtred respected the resolve.

King Alexei wasn’t present at the camp, but those who had met with him at some point, or had heard rumors about him, confirmed he wasn’t someone that would be put off by such warnings. He was going to push into Zone 3 for sure.

Uhtred didn’t have the time to track down Diya or Dennis during this trip. He had to accept that he couldn’t reach them before moving forward.

Before leaving, however, he took a few minutes to describe the female ancient variant general to a few ascenders who had pre-integration backgrounds in science and anthropology.

The most solid lead he got came from a former paleoanthropologist. After hearing Uhtred’s detailed description of her broad brow, pronounced jaw, and facial structure, the man offered a tentative guess.

”Sounds like Homo heidelbergensis,” the man said, stroking his chin. ”A middle-Pleistocene hominin. Broadly speaking, they’re considered the common ancestor line that split into Neanderthals in Europe and modern humans in Africa. If your description is accurate, her strain predates the refinements that made us... us.”

The man admitted he couldn’t be a hundred percent certain without seeing for himself, but based on Uhtred’s descriptions, it was the closest match. Uhtred filed the name away and left.

He and Zara returned to the Zone 3 boundary, where Krijn and the female general were already waiting.

Without wasting more words, all four of them crossed into Zone 3 together.

.

.

”First priority is scouting,” Uhtred said the moment they set foot in the new zone, his voice low and firm. ”No engagements unless forced. Every kill carries a risk we can’t afford until we understand how this Otherworlder force operates.”

As Uhtred spoke, Krijn’s eyes twitched slightly. Perhaps Uhtred didn’t realize it, but his tone had been somewhat commanding, even though they had established ”leadership rules” just hours ago.

The only thing that stopped the Neanderthal general from calling it out was the fact that there was a layer of assuredness to Uhtred’s tone that made him let it slide. Krijn was well aware that the modern humans had gotten an Inheritance Shard. Perhaps Uhtred’s emphasis was tied to what they had received?

Uhtred turned directly to the female ancient variant general. He didn’t frame it as a polite request. ”Your ability to move undetected is vital here. We’ve all seen what you can do. Use it.”

She stared at him, saying nothing.

Krijn grunted and stepped in. ”There is no trust between us yet, Uhtred. You ask for her abilities, but what about you? Are you ready to reveal yours?”

”...If the situation demands it, yes.”

Krijn snorted. ”You and I both know that is utter hogwash! No one here is willing to reveal their cards just yet.”