Adam had to grab the orb to keep his balance. It was surprising how quickly the land tilted. The Drathan were thrown off balance even further. The whole Sentinel Army must have been pulling on the chains.

The increased tilting wasn't steady either. It went in fits and starts. The ground would jerk, the angle increasing, then stop. Before any of the Drathan could stand back up, there was another quake and slant.

"Humans win the tug-of-war," he muttered with a chuckle.

It was Adam's preference not to break the orb. Who wouldn't want a floating island and the magical knowledge that would come with it? Adam would add it to his bucket list. Or he would create a bucket list just so he could cross off "get a floating island."

The Drathan looked at Adam as though he was an insane monster as he laughed at his own thoughts while keeping a murderous look on his face. That further tickled Adam. He would accept being considered a monster by invaders. In fact, he hoped for it. That would mean he was doing it right.

It took a full ten minutes for the ground to settle at about a 30-degree angle. Adam was also sure that the altitude had gone down, since along with tipping, the ground kept having slight drops. Plus, the fireworks were now exploding higher than the island.

The Drathan had dug their hands and feet into the ground to keep from sliding. Even the Arcane Obstructor needed to dig in to keep from falling.

Twice, a couple of Drathan had managed to pull themselves to where Adam held onto the runic control orb. A release of [Arc Shockwave] was enough to throw them back, where they slid further away than they had started.

Once the rumbling of the ground stopped, a piercing sound started from outside the floating base. The sound was joined by more as Adam recognized the sirens from fire trucks, envisioning the Sentinel troops climbing the extended fire ladders to get onto the lowered floating base.

"It worked!" screamed Adam. "I can't believe it worked!"

"What is that noise?" shouted the Arcane Obstructor. He seemed both angry and concerned. The sirens weren't nearby, but there were enough that they could be heard for miles around.

"That noise is the signal of your loss," Adam shouted back. "I'll offer you one chance. Leave the control crystal with me and then your soldiers can portal back to your own world."

It pained Adam to make the offer. The river was raging, and the heat was pulsing. The voice from the corruption was screaming for him to kill and conquer the invaders in front of him. Giving the Drathan clemency required Adam to fight all the hate and noise inside himself.

Yet, Adam knew how tough the Drathan were. The offer would save the lives of the humans fighting them, and Adam didn't want to needlessly see more humans die.

"Are you so sure of your victory?" asked the lead Drathan, while one of his eyes looked at what was probably the Rift Menu. Adam wondered if the invader was watching the Sentinel Army climbing onto the floating ground. There was shouting and noise from a clash that seemed larger than just Adam's three friends would account for.

Adam stared at the Drathan. [Intimidation] was included in the look, forcing the Drathan to bring both eyes to focus on Adam.

"Yes," said Adam, almost at a whisper. Even quiet, the intensity seemed to catch the invader by surprise. "This world is ours. Mine. I won't tolerate others trying to steal it."

"I see," said the Drathan, also quietly. "Unfortunately, even though you are a native that has broken from precedence, this is how world taking goes. When you stand in front of me you are just another race. One sent to feed us your strength. The Scyrric might think they have purchased this world, but we will do everything we can to bring it to the Drathan. You cannot stand in our way."

Adam nodded in understanding. This war, these battles, to the invaders they just represented a chance at strength. Whether they valued the resources, land, and world were secondary to building their own race.

For once, Adam thought of humans as just another race in the universe, under the [System]. Though without a world to control and call their own, they would be relegated to trash for the rest of the universe, regardless of how strong they got. They needed to fight and survive, to slay and defend if they wanted to keep the Earth. Adam had put his all into protecting and expanding their territory, but ultimately that was just a small step to survival. It would mean nothing if humanity couldn't take the rest of their own world back.

The invaders could always decide when they were done. When they had fought enough. Portaling home was an option decided by their own race. Humanity didn't have that option. Adam would need to be fiercer than all the numerous races and creatures out there.

Heat surged in Adam and his lips curled into a snarl. He felt his mind being enveloped by the river, the anger and hate permeating all his thoughts.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"So be it," he spat with his jaw clenched. "Before I kill you, can I ask a question?"

The Drathan before him held up a hand, as if welcoming his question. Adam almost found this individual invader to be reasonable and interesting.

"You may ask, though I expect you to answer a question of mine in return."

"That's fine," said Adam.

"Then ask your question, native."

"Where are the portals to your world? We've taken many bases and have never found them."

The Drathan started laughing lightly, his mouth turning into a smile. It surprised Adam that it didn't feel condescending. It was more self-deprecating of the Drathan.

"All you've done makes it easy to forget that you are still just an uninformed native, new to the [System]. That all this is new to your race."

Adam began to growl and raised his weapon, even as his leg leaned against the control orb stand to keep steady on the slanted ground.

"Calm down, berserker," said the Drathan, with a wave of his hand. "I do not mock you, just the absurdity of this situation. The portals can only be opened by a leader of the base's original race. It would require me, as the current leader of this Drathan base, to open a portal and let anyone through."

"Then I can't force the portal open once I take control?" asked Adam, a bit frustrated.

"No. As soon as you take control of a rift it loses all portal capabilities to other worlds. That is why original bases are so important. Just trading bases will isolate species from their home worlds."

"I see," said Adam. "Then I guess I can't get to your world?"

Again, the Arcane Obstructor laughed.

"Get to my world? Ha! You would never survive it after living your life in this soft environment. Now, I have answered your question, so answer mine."

Adam nodded, each passing moment his skin was getting redder and the voice shouting in his soul grew in volume.

"Even in your race's ignorance, surely you know that berserker is a powerful class line," said the Drathan, waiting for a nod from Adam before continuing. He then pointed above Adam's head. "Then why have you cut off that line to restart from the weakest defensive class?"

Adam's lips curled up at the questions.

"Do you remember what my tag said when we fought?"

"Much was happening, and I admit to not checking it. It did not stand out to me."

"Then just know that I did not cut off any class."

"But the [Protector] class is unlikely to make you stronger. It won't be enough to change the outcome of our previous fight."

"Now you're showing your own ignorant," chuckle Adam. Steam was coming off him, even in the warmer temperature of the Drathan base.

"My ignorance?" asked the Drathan, taken aback at the idea. "Educate me then, native."

"Oh, I'll educate you," said Adam as he crouched down and took a two-handed grip of the hammer. "There is no explanation to your question. Just a single answer. It's because I'm the aberration!"

Then Adam launched himself forward.

The ground slanted away from him, placing the Drathan lower in height than him. The other Drathan were still scattered around, some laying on the ground while others had climbed to their knees or feet. Many hands were raised, ready to attack Adam with spells from their positions on the ground.

Adam arched through the air. When he came down, the flat half of his hammer began to glow with a dim red. His target was right in front of the Arcane Obstructor.

"[Motionless Stance]," activated the boss Drathan.

"[Explosive Strike]!" used Adam. The moment his hammer hit the ground, a larger explosion occurred. The dirt and rock were gouged out, launching in all direction. Many of the Drathan shielded their eyes, although the Arcane Obstructor used his shield [Repulsion Shield] to summon the purple bubble barrier so that he could continue to see.

The debris bounced harmlessly off the barrier, but the force of the explosion destabilized dozens of other Drathan surrounding them. Before Adam landed in the crater he had created, he used [Arc Shockwave].

Force burst out from Adam. Other than the large, defensive Drathan, the others were already unsteady from the sloped ground and the explosion. The shockwave hit them all, causing them to be flung backwards or to roll. Almost everyone was sent down the tilted ground, leaving just Adam and the Arcane Obstructor.

"Clearing the others out was a solid move," analyzed the Drathan, "but I hope you didn't think it would work on a true defender,

"It's unfortunately that I have to kill you," said Adam. "You seem halfway decent for a thief and murderer. Are you sure you don't want to sign on with us?"

The Obstructor stared at Adam for a moment in surprise and curiosity.

"It is odd hearing that. This isn't usually how enemies speak to each other."

"Unlike you invaders, humans were mostly peaceful. We didn't kill or steal, preferring law and order to find our places."

"That is even odder to hear, considering that my research showed that you personally have killed more than any other individual who has come to this world," pointed out the Drathan.

"It was all self-defense," shrugged Adam. "Don't come into my house and attack my people."

"Justify it however you want," said the Drathan. "It is all part of life under the [System]. Strength is all that matters."

Adam nodded at that.

"Then I guess my strength will put you in your place."

The invader sighed, then cocked his head at Adam.

"You talk too much," said the Drathan.

Adam frowned before speaking. "Yeah, that's rather odd. I guess getting a class made me a bit more talkative."

"That seems unlikely," said the Obstructor. "[Proximity Discharge]. [Arcane Flare]."

Adam jumped sideways as two orbs manifested over the Obstructor's shoulders and fired energy at him. The flare of energy that erupted from the purple barrier curved in the air to follow Adam.

"[Gladiator's Approach]!"

Instead of moving towards the Arcane Obstructor, Adam used his pseudo-skill to move to the dying Inscription Master. Since an attack was required to use the skill, Adam kicked the body, sending it into the path of the trailing flare of energy.

The already charcoal black skin was scorched, and the hit Drathan opened his mouth to cry out. All that came out was blood, from the wounds Adam had already caused. The eyes of the Drathan rolled upwards and his body hit the ground and rolled away.

"Ruthless," said the Obstructor. "Clearly you do belong within the [System]."

Adam's jaw tightened and he spoke through closed teeth.

"I might be doing alright, but it will only last until every single invader is gone from my world."

"So, you say now, but it seems deeper inside of you. All that I have read and watched on you shows that it is who you have been since the [System] came here. Levels can't be turned off just because you feel safe."

In a fury, Adam rushed forward again to punish his enemy, and to try to hide what he had already known. Even with the soul corruption and as much hate as he had for it, Adam had changed more under the [System] than anyone else.

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