After some time, Alex managed to catch his breath. The world had changed. It seemed that it wasn’t blood that flowed in his veins, but an emulsion based on magic. The system message came in time to bring him to his senses:
.
Attention, player Phoenix! Spontaneous growth of opportunities!
The ability Dark Demiurge is activated!
.
These motivating words were followed by incomprehensible information that constantly changed. It was either encrypted or a puzzle, and Alex refused to waste time on it. The shadow turned black, and he wondered if it would come to life and speak, maybe even dance.
Alex had to slow down the process of creating manipulators. He mentally ordered it to stop, and recorded sequences giving this spell the name ‘Dark Master’. He then went on to develop the concept of the platform, which would combine protection, information, and interface.
He examined the aura of his main magical core, what some might call his power center. It didn’t surprise him that the Dark Demiurge skill helped him see much more than before. In addition to the main aura — a dense honey-colored substance — he beheld two more, barely noticeable, shells. The second, a hundred yards away, resembled the thinnest film of water. The third, barely visible at half a mile away, looked like an unsteady fog. Alex guessed both shells were associated with him subconscious — intuition and insight.
Well, let’s start to work with my aura.
He was interrupted when the ermine put his heavy paw on Alex’s shoulder. The man felt the deepest of disappointment… He was so close to the result.
Pull yourself together! We must return to the flock! Something’s wrong! Flash’s words boomed in Alex’s head.
The exit to reality from the Igloo was abrupt and painful, leaving Alex feeling helpless and weak. Tis people understood his weakness– working with magic tended to drain one’s energy. Anna leaned close to Alex. He felt her fear and anxiety.
“Commander, something’s wrong with AK-47,” she whispered, staring straight into his eyes.
Alex met the worried blonde’s gaze. Anna, what’s wrong? What do you mean? Alex mentally asked the girl, too enfeebled to speak out loud.
She shrugged, glancing furtively at the building where AK-47 had disappeared. I don’t know, but there’s something wrong with him.
Alex grew concerned. He trusted Anna’s judgment.
Can you see him? he asked.
The girl nodded, clearly confused. I see two figured – one has severe injuries and is unconscious. The second person seems to be healthy, but his image is black, like anthracite.
Alex got the sudden impression that his friend’s life was hanging by a thread.
***
Tekot Smul the Many-Faced took several deep breaths, his heart thumping hard and fast. He recalled missions he’d failed on other planets – Sfani, Kleins, Aurkur. However, these failures paled in comparison to his incalculably bad luck on Earth. He glanced around, as if looking for a way out of this situation.
What can I do? What can I do? The thought boomed in his head like a cracked bell.
Tekot Smul spun around, just in time to react. He flung himself backward as the ‘Scarlet Eradicator’ dagger whistled less than an inch from his temple. He crashed on top of his former body.
Tekot Smul swore, examining his previous form. This man is a worthy warrior, he woke up in my dying body and somehow managed to fling a dagger at me. Looks like I was wrong about him… but … how did he do it?
He had to act quickly. All his skills, talents, and abilities were now housed within this crippled body, which may only have seconds of life left.
Tekot Smul grabbed his spacesuit. “I’ve got an emergency call! Connect me to Skit Nou, and quickly!”
A moment later, the famous antiquities dealer’s fat face appeared on the hologram.
Damn huckster’s in his workplace. Luck is on my side for once.
Skit Nou spoke first. “Oh, honorable sir, you use long-distance communication! Ah, to be young and rich… charming. May I offer you something? I have –”
“Be silent, you annoying slug! It’s me, Tekot Smul! The passkey is ‘Death will Come 02342’!”
The seller swallowed noisily, his hospitable expression wiped away. “Erm… confirmed.”
“I need a working ancient first aid kit, and a better personal analyzer, as well as a set of emergency supply cartridges for my Shadow spacesuit. Send it through the mail portal to my coordinates. Now!”
Despite his obvious terror, Skit Nou summoned the courage to ask, “What about payment, respectful master? These ancient artifacts are expensive. Fabulously expensive.”
“I will pay without bargaining!” Tekot Smul barked.
Skit Nou had dealt with this most volatile of clients before, so he worked quickly – he selected the best artifacts, discounted them, drew up the bill, and opened a mail portal using the provided coordinates.
Tekot Smul, cursing the universe and this world, transferred a mind-boggling sum to the account of Skit Nou’s trading company and leaned back.
“One, two, three,” he counted out the seconds. If Skit Nou was too slow, he would kill him upon his return, and in the most painful way he could conceive.
Skit Nou, a professional in his field, did not disappoint. The small mail portal opened after Tekot Smul counted off seven seconds. He grabbed the artifacts, activated the Acceleration skill, and began to work with the blinding speed of a medical droid.
First, he pressed the first aid kit to the chest of his former body and activated it. Next, he replaced all seven of his spacesuit’s cartridges. Only then did he allow himself to cease Acceleration. He furrowed his brow in puzzlement – this skill shouldn’t have worked in the young earthling’s body.
Riddles again!
Despite the inexplicable oddities, his mood improved as the prospects inspired him.
After making certain that the ancient
