“It is a matter of perspective. Those of Furloon and Nargossa are what my race would consider primitives, far worse than those of Earth or even Bar’jek. It is in how science and the use of resources are viewed. While Earth is significantly behind the technology level possessed by we of Crembor, you are far more advanced than any of the other three worlds.

  “Over the competition, information both true and untrue about the various worlds and their races has come to the attention of the various Forerunners. This has caused added tension. We of Crembor believe the system does this intentionally, as it appears to be fixated upon conflict.”

  I was nodding along in understanding.

  “We of Crembor are the only ones to have physically visited the other worlds, but even then, our biases must be factored in when assessing the validity of our observations. I can only say that to you, Bar’jek would have been at an iron age of development, technologically speaking, while those of Nargossa still live in small villages and act as hunter gatherers. They worship the land and eschew any attempts to develop it despite having quite a high natural intelligence. Those of Furloon are even more primitive and essentially live in family units only.”

  Nevin asked, “What about our world? How does Galen compare to the others you’ve mentioned?”

  “Since I’ve been trying to explain this for the benefits of the newest human Forerunner, I will say that my people have far less information about Galen, as we’ve only observed the world from afar. I would say that prior to the system coming to your world, you were at a level of technology which was prevalent upon Earth around 200 years ago, but even now you are significantly more advanced than the other worlds in this competition,” Gal’Or answered.

  Nevin shook his head. “So much has been lost.”

  “That is what the system does. It replaces technology with its own process. There is still technology, but it becomes mana based rather than the physics from an un-inducted world. Two of the Forerunners from my world have focused themselves on trying to understand these processes. They came up with ways to adapt our current technology, but it is difficult since the system works on principles we do not yet understand.”

  Thinking back on what Anika said about Crembor, I just had to know the answer. “If your technology won’t work after our worlds are fully inducted, then what benefit would it be for Earth to provide asylum and how would you get your people to leave your world?” It was mercenary and perhaps a little self-centered considering that they were trying to save their world and the innocent lives among them—but we were fighting for the same thing and I didn’t understand enough about… anything, really. To base Earth’s survival on my emotions and how unfair everything was… I couldn’t afford to do that, so I pushed my feelings about it aside and added. “Especially if the system prevents you from communicating about it to the rest of your people?”

  “Valid questions. We believe that both our native intelligence and our technology could be used in a number of ways. I will however honor the agreement with your fellow Forerunners of Earth and for now we will have a temporary alliance. Perhaps if you rise amongst your ranks, you will be in a position to negotiate for more information.”

  I wanted to keep asking questions but restrained myself as Gal’Or started explaining how they believed the ships would work. Their best guess was that anything less than 25% allocated to speed would not allow a ship to complete the course within the allotted time.

  They also believed that the abilities of the Forerunners and their chosen designation on the ship would enhance their respective functions. One of us would need to be the pilot, one would be on offense, and one on defense. We listened to him, and both Anika and Nuri nodded and seemed to take what he said at face value. After he left, I asked about that and Nuri said, “We’ve found that they don’t make claims they can’t back up and that they have a far greater understanding of all of this than we do.”

  Anika said, “That still leaves us figuring out which of us should fill each role and how to assign the assets.”

  “It would help if we knew what each of you were capable of, although, I understand that you might not want to share specifics,” Dori said.

  “What makes you think this is any of your concern?” Nuri snapped back.

  “Because he’s part of my team. Besides, who do you think is going to be helping defend the ship if we get boarded? If the three of us have to be connected to it, then my team is our mobile force. I get that neither of you ever accepted a role on another world that got you a team, but in my mind, they are one of our key advantages in this race.”

  “Maybe if all of you weren’t so weak, I’d agree,” Anika said. Then she sighed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for that to sound so harsh. It’s just… well never mind. You know. In broad strokes, I have some illusion and light-based abilities. My class is made up of one Phantasmal Seer shard, two Lumiomancer shards, and one Shift Rogue shard. I’d probably be best as the pilot.”

  I looked at Nuri to see if she was going to offer up anything about her class. When she didn’t speak after a minute, I said, “I should be put on defense. That will match with my skill set as of now.”

  Nuri said, “Fine, I’ll be our offense.”

  We then discussed the setup of the ship. We decided to focus more on speed and defense so we assigned 40% to speed, 20% to maneuverability, 30% to defense and 10% to offense.”

  The final design of the ship ended up with an almost oval-shaped design. The ship had a central three-sided command console. There was a chair on each side of the console and hand shaped impressions which we had to connect with. Behind our chairs towards the rear of the ship, but still as part of the uncovered platform which sat atop the vessel, were three more chairs, presumably for my team.

  When I plugged into the vessel by putting my hands into the imprints on the defensive side of console, I felt an immediate connection. It was almost like when I’d been trying to attune my mana to the life mana. There was a hum that vibrated through my hands and into my arms. I felt the urge to accept the power of the system and become one with it, or at least one with the ship created by the system.

  Ship defenses increased by 870% based upon level of the defender and class specifications.

  Defensive Options:

  Static Shielding- the surest defense, this shield remains in place around the entire vessel for as long as the energy can be maintained. The base mana cost is 100 mana per minute. Attacks upon the shielding will cost more mana. It provides superior defenses but at higher costs.

  Spot Shielding- a cheaper type of defense, these shields must be individually activated to stop specific attacks. Cost per shield activation is 30 mana. Each shield will last for 7 seconds but provides absolute protection. Each shield will cover a 15 foot square.

  Variable Shielding- a balanced defense, this type of shielding will cover variable portions of the ship as static shielding. The cost and size of the shielding are variable.

  Defensive Buffing- since your crew includes non-forerunner team members you may provide a defensive buff to them. Divide the buff amongst them. Crew members may only receive one ship buff. Available buff: +870% to defensive abilities, taunt abilities, armor, damage reduction, health regeneration, healing received, and HP.

  Available targets: 4

  As I read that, I realized it did count Urg as a crewmember so this could work.

  I asked Nuri if she had the option to provide an offensive buff. She said that she had up to 920% as an available buff based upon her level. I could only assume that meant that her class was deemed to be an offensive specialist like mine was a defensive specialist.

  We discussed the pros and cons of assigning the entirety of each buff to one of the team members. It was good because it at least got Nuri and Anika talking with the Galenians. We were going to be racing around this massive track at incredible speeds while trying to fight off enemies who seemed to believe our very existence was an affront to their way of life. Of course, it would be a good thing if they could connect a bit better.

  In the end, we decided to have her split her offensive boost between Dori and Nevin with the mage getting about 60% of the buff since he had better ranged attacks and if he could use those to stress the shields of the enemy vessels then all the better. Dori would be a secret weapon specializing in attacks of opportunity. If she got the chance to strike at one of the enemy Forerunners through a gap in their shields all the better.

  I split the defensive buff down the middle between Urg and Crag. Urg was probably slightly stronger as a defender, but while he was displaying an increase in intelligence since I had upgraded my class and then leveled up several times rapidly, Crag was still better able to respond to situations. We also hoped that his taunt abilities would throw the enemy off, since it was boosted by the buff.

  Before we cast our individual buffs, we took the ship out for a test run. For the first few laps, we simply focused on speed. I knew that there were jets on Earth which could probably equal or exceed this speed, but traveling at nearly three thousand miles per hour on top of an open ship was an entirely difference experience.

  The arena and track had to have some type of atmosphere because I seemed to be breathing just fine, but there was zero rush of air as we flew along. I knew that shouldn’t have been possible, but it was exactly what was happening. That led to a moment of self-examination.

  I felt my heart thud within my chest as I realized that in fact; I wasn’t breathing. I hadn’t even noticed it till now. The impossibility of the situation hit me hard. The system kept throwing me for loops. As I turned my examination inward, I got another notification.

  Respiratory function and need have been currently replaced by mana absorption. Should you cease to regenerate mana it will be necessary for you to resume your normal biological functions. Mana reserved for respiratory function: 35.

  Sure enough, when I looked, my total mana pool was reduced by that amount. It wasn’t significant but more of a shock to my system, that I could stop breathing and not even realize it. It was less that the system could replace breathing and more that it could make me fail to notice. I almost said something to the others, but they seemed oblivious to the problem. I assumed that Anika and Nuri had experienced something like this before. Heck, maybe the others had too. I was, after all, the most inexperienced one here.

  After the first few loops, Anika began testing how maneuverable the ship was. We learned that it would be almost impossible to fly off of the track. There was a barrier on both the innermost and outermost sides of the track which kept a ship from edging too close. I supposed that it was a relief that we wouldn’t be sent flying off into space. That seemed like a bad way to go, if there actually was a good way.

  Anika was able, however, to jump from one lane to another. She practiced it a few times. The first time she managed it, the ship shook, and I thought we were about to spin out of control, but then we locked right onto the second lane. We raced around with only a minimal loss of speed from the lane change.

  Then, just when we were all getting used to the motion of the ship a notification popped up.

  Prepare for random training simulations.

  Oh great…

  Chapter 54- Weakest Link?

  The training turned out to be painful in more ways than one. We were faced with all different types of simulations, ranging from obstacles suddenly appearing on the track in front of the ship to constructed monsters trying to board us. The monsters turned out to be one of the easier types of tests we had. The Galenians handled most of the heavy lifting on that test.

  I got the feeling that the simulations weren’t designed with the assumption that the ship crews would have three extra members. The fact that we had three sapient beings fighting on our team who didn’t need specific directions turned out to be a godsend.

  Nuri said, “The elves will almost certainly have some sort of summoned monsters to act as their attackers and defenders. Monsters can be strong and are disposable since they are only summoned with magic. As long as Daina has mana, she’ll be able to summon more. I don’t know what abilities the other elves will have because, just like us, there is a lot of turn over at the lower levels for Forerunners.”

  Anika looked at Dori and added, “It’s a pity, it would have been better if you three, at least, had Uncommon classes. But we will have to make do. Though the monsters Daina can send against you will outclass you, your ability to think and react on your own is a true asset I want you to utilize.”

  I was a bit confused… or perhaps, not confused so much as wanting to confirm some of my suspicions. “What about Urg? He is summoned with my mana and capable of acting on his own.”

  Dori nodded and Crag said, “That’s true. Urg’s saved me from taking a hit more than once.”

  Anika said, “I’m not a summoner, but I fought beside your uncle enough to know that there are different types of summons. Some summons give you rudimentary control at best, where the only agreement you have is that they won’t attack you or your allies. Others require your direct interaction. Urg is an eidolon, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Then the way your uncle explained it, he is probably connected to you much more and takes on his abilities and nature as a representation of you. Based on what you’ve told us, when your class changed, his form changed, so that would support the idea that Urg is not a typical summon.”

  We talked about it a bit more between simulations, but I was becoming happier by the moment that I had chosen the eidolon spell as an inheritance. That truth was especially driven home on the last simulation. This time, we were flanked on both sides by enemy vessels, and both were using an array of projectile or beam weapons to attack us.

  The simulated elven ship was using lightning bolts generated by the ship to attack us while the Furlooni ship was launching something like seed pods at us. They were powerful kinetic weapons in their own right, but that wasn’t their real danger. The larger problem was that if they managed to make it to the deck, they would explode in a riot of vines or sometimes in clouds of spores. Either presented lingering dangers for our ship.

  It was my responsibility to block those attacks from coming through. The interface I had with the ship allowed me to detect the incoming attacks just fractions of a second before they would launch. There was obviously no way that I could have blocked a lightning bolt once it was actually fired, but that split-second warning was enough to allow me to conjure a shield to block those attacks. That made them less dangerous.

  The pods were another problem because while I might be able to block them, they often bounced or exploded on the shields and if they were too close, then they still presented a danger even after I stopped the kinetic portion of the attack. Practicing showed me that for all that I was proud of my mana levels, I simply didn’t have enough to maintain static shields all the time.

  Practice with my staff made conjuring spot shields the natural idea and progression. Again, for all that I thought I had become competent with them, this simulation showed me—simply leveling and gaining new abilities was never going to be good enough. I lacked the years of training with my abilities that the rest of the team had. This simulation seemed to highlight that reality.

  It made me feel like I was truly the weakest link on the team.

  Eventually, our practice time ran out. I would have liked to have days or even weeks more to hone these skills, but I got what I got and had to make do with it.

  No sooner had the practice time ended, when I felt a rush of energy surge through me. It was like when I leveled up. All my mana and stamina were instantly replenished, and I felt as refreshed as if I’d just slept the entire practice time.

  The surge of energy that rejuvenated me was both invigorating and disconcerting. It washed over my form, infusing every cell with renewed vigor. This was the starting gun, the call to action. But before I could fully process that sensation, my senses were arrested by the scene around me.

  The nebula that painted the backdrop of this stadium was unlike anything one could imagine. Streams of purple and blue gossamer light threaded against the inky darkness of space, pulsating with a life of its own. It lent a surreal, otherworldly illumination, outlining each ship in the race with ethereal radiance.

  Our ship was stationed in the second lane, its metallic surface glinting, looking almost fluid under the nebula's glow. Sensors and lights blinked intermittently, giving off an impression of a creature at rest, yet alert. The engines rumbled softly beneath the deck, a heartbeat waiting for the signal to roar to life.

  Adjacent to us on the innermost lane of the track, the elven ship was a breathtaking spectacle. Crafted from wood, or what looked like wood, its structure was intricate, resembling the ornate craftsmanship of ancient Earth sea vessels. But there was no doubt it held secrets of advanced technology. The surface seemed to breathe, with patterns of luminescent foliage weaving across the deck, their glow fluctuating rhythmically. It was organic and mechanical in equal measures, a harmony of nature and engineering.