It wasn't until three days later that the group found something. James was still reading through reports that the others had found, learning what he could while everyone scoured the station. Nearly all of the Forsaken had been killed, and their bodies searched for badges that let people into the labs. It was trial and error to see which ones worked, and where they worked, but eventually, they found a lab in the very back that only one badge worked for.

It was that discovery that found James setting down his reports and finally venturing out into the station. Amber was the first to meet up with him, her tail swaying happily.

"I think we found it," she announced. "Everyone is gathered already, and the last of the Forsaken are inside."

"Good." Ruffling her ears, he smiled. "We should hurry over there."

"If you keep rubbing my ears, there's somewhere else we'll be going."

Laughing, he let her go. "Still a tease as always."

Smirking, she didn't respond. Starting at a jog, they hurried through the illuminated streets and toward the complex. When he arrived, it wasn't at all what he was expecting.

"That's it?" he questioned. The building before him was a single story box that couldn't have been more than ten feet wide.

Luna caught his attention. "That was our thought too." Walking over, she gestured to the building with her thumb. "Feel under it."

Spreading out his soul, he found several hundred souls under the building, spread out by quite a distance. Not only that, but they were grouped up in large numbers and weren't moving.

"Let's get in there," he stated. "No point in waiting out here for any longer."

Nodding, Luna moved to the door and started going through her badges one by one until she found the needed key. After nearly a minute, a small chime sounded from the door before it slid open. Glancing back at him, she held his gaze for a moment before stepping inside.

Linda and Jamie hurried in after her, splitting apart to cover the other sides of the room. When nothing happened, Luna waved for everyone to join her.

James was the last to enter. Reaching the doorway, he peered into the room and found that it only contained an elevator. In fact, the entire interior was the elevator.

Stepping inside, he waited for an alarm to go off, but nothing happened. Instead, he found the control panel and waited for Luna to activate it. When it flashed red and the security voice came over the loudspeakers, they all braced.

"Forsaken detected. Lockdown protocol in effect."

"Forsaken?" Tian asked.

Before James could answer, the door slammed shut and the lights turned red. In all four corners, turrets dropped down and took aim at Luna.

He was about to throw himself at the first one when Jamie touched the panel and it flashed green. With a few taps of her finger, the voice came back.

"Security breach contained. Returning to normal protocol."

With another few taps of her fingers, the floor shifted and started lowering. Taking the moment, James explained what just happened. Most of them had already heard it before, but telling Tian that all demi-humans were actually Forsaken was mind shattering. Grace took it in stride with a shrug, but Zenaria looked visibly concerned.

James didn't want the conversation to derail, and thankfully they reached the bottom at that moment. Once the door slid open, he was the first one out.

The souls around the facility still hadn't moved, and the sterile white walls and floor stretched forward, the hallway illuminated by dozens of lights. James kept the lead as they started walking, their steps echoing through the hall as they approached a heavy metal door on their right.

Around a hundred souls rested on the other side. Waving Jamie forward, he pointed to the panel on the wall. Pressing her hand against the reader, they watched the door slide open and crisp, clean air blew out.

James's first impression was bewilderment. The place looked like a jungle with towering plants and growth covering everything. Vines had creeped across the floor and entangled stables and chairs. Ferns and trees had broken through the tiled floor and had flipped a number of stands and tables.

A watery mist hung in the air, coming from the sprinklers in the ceiling. Some sort of gas was being released into the room, and yet the place smelled amazing. That didn't take away the fact that there were a hundred souls somewhere among the growth.

Keeping the lead, James stepped inside and over several vines. Their leaves broke underfoot, releasing a heady aroma that made his head swim. Luna was quick to gather up the scent with her wind magic and suppress it before it affected the others.

"Stay together," he said after his head cleared. "We don't know what to expect."

No one argued, and James was more careful as he walked. Gently pushing ferns out of the way, he felt his skin burn from the contact and was surprised when a new skill popped up.

New Skill: Lingering Death Resistance: Level 1/10

Poison Resistance: 6/10 (+1)

Eyes wide, he turned to the others. "Be careful touching the plants with your bare skin."

Luna reached out and brushed her fingers across the ferns and hissed in pain. Grinding her teeth, she rode out the effect of her fingers turning black before Regeneration and the new resistance kicked in.

"Maybe we should wait in the hall," Amber suggested. "I don't think our bodies are tempered enough to be in here."

James agreed. "Go find another room. Don't enter it though."

Everyone but Luna left him as he started deeper into the room. Pushing vines out of the way, he felt his skin react in a different way. Hissing in pain, he gained another skill increase.

Corruption Resistance: Level 7/10 (+1)

"Why the hell are the vines trying to corrupt me?" he questioned.

Luna touched them as well. "I don't know, but it's very powerful. I jumped an entire level from that."

As carefully as he could, he approached the first soul. What he found was a table with a lone body on it. A teenager that couldn't have been more than sixteen years old. His body was rippling with muscle as he was bare to the world. Vines had creeped over his table and body, merging with him as black taint spread from the contact points, yet didn't kill the boy.

Using his soul, James studied the kid. He didn't have the soul of a human, nor Forsaken, and yet James couldn't place it.

"He's like you," Luna said after a moment.

"What do you mean?"

Turning to him, Luna explained, "his soul is like yours. Something otherworldly. I think he is one of your people."

Frowning, James grabbed the vines on the boy and ripped them off. If the kid was still alive, he wanted to save him.

The moment the vines were gone, the boy's soul disappeared, shredded instantly. A second later, the boy stopped breathing, and his body turned to ash.

"What the hell?" James muttered.

Luna was the first to step back. "They aren't really alive. I think the plants are like parasites."

Closing his eyes for a moment, James realized he didn't really feel bad for the kid. Yes, he wanted to save him, because the kid might have had answers about his people. But ultimately, him living or dying didn't matter.

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

"Let's keep going," James murmured.

Luna nodded and took his hand. "We might have to drain the souls of all of the ones in here. You should do it."

Squeezing her hand, he took the lead as they walked to the next table. Yet again, they found a boy similar to the previous one. Although, this one had silver veins pulsing under his skin, and the boy's hair was stark white.

"He's been here for a while," James stated.

"According to the reports from the first city, yes. So, this is what we'll look like in a few years."

James nodded. The vines that had claimed the last boy had also claimed this one. Knowing that there was no saving him, James reached out and Siphoned the boy's soul.

Soul Absorbed: Soul Strength: 9.00861 (+ 0.005)

That was the largest increase he had gained in a while. With a glance at the other ninety-eight, he prepared for what he needed to do.

***

Amber stopped the group further down the hall as they neared another door. Tian and Zenaria still felt conflicted over the information they had received, and it was up to Amber to sort them out.

"Zenaria." Walking over to the kitsune, Amber grabbed her hand. With a glance at Jamie, they both nodded before the assassin took over the group.

"Help me with this door," Jamie ordered the rest of them.

Leaving her to it, Amber led Zenaria back down the hall. "I know it's hard to hear."

"Do you?" Zenaria questioned, a slight shiver to her voice.

"Yes…you do know I'm a nekorian, right?"

Slumping, the kitsune nodded.

Sighing, Amber squeezed her hand. "James has no control over us. We follow him willingly, and I know you feel the comfort he gives off. He has an affinity with Forsaken, as you saw with his vultures. He doesn't tame, and he doesn't demand. If he ever does, I'll kick him between the legs."

A snorting laugh escaped Zenaria before she looked up with a smile. "Thank you. So much is changing. I-I don't want to bring harm to my family again."

Amber took note of that statement. It was something she would have to share with James later. Instead of commenting further, she pulled the kitsune into a hug. "I'm a very physical nekorian, I hope you can get used to that."

Giggling, Zenaria hugged her back. "I might be able to. I have a question for you."

Letting the woman go, Amber leaned back. "Yes, James will pet you too."

"What?" Zenaria asked in surprise. "No!" Lowering her voice, she whispered, "why aren't you his mate?"

Smiling softly, Amber shook her head. "We have our reasons. Luna is the one he needs right now. Not me."

"Doesn't that upset you?"

Cocking her brow, Amber deflected the question. "Are you thinking of moving in on Luna's terf? I can put a good word in for you."

Quickly shaking her head, Zenaria looked away.

Laughing, Amber grabbed the woman's tail. "Where are your others?"

Closing her eyes, all of the strength seemed to leave Zenaria as she turned away. Without saying anything, she started walking back to the rest of the group.

Amber realized she had messed up by asking, but now she knew something tragic had happened to the woman. Something that James would need to talk to her about at some point. He had a way of fixing things, and Zenaria had a lot that he needed to mend.

Returning to her group, Amber was about to take over when the world seemed to shudder. Everyone turned back to the room James was in and Amber watched as nearly a hundred souls were pulled into him. Each one winked out and his soul surged with power unlike anything she had felt before. His golden flamed danced in response and Amber gulped. She could tell the others felt the same as they all started shift nervously.

Amber needed to calm them and quick.

***

James felt the souls flow into him after having checked his third body. Once he felt confident that they were all the same, he siphoned.

Souls absorbed: Soul Strength: 9.49861 (+0.49)

It was a vast increase that he wasn't expecting to have. Not to mention that there were still a few hundred souls grouped together around the facility. If they were all the same, he would reach level ten and then some.

"Umm…" Luna murmured.

Blinking a few times, he turned to her. "Yes?"

"I think you scared the others a little."

Spreading out his soul, he found his party fidgeting and their souls nervous as they stood outside another grouping of souls. Filling his soul with warmth, he did his best to calm them before leaving the garden of a room.

Amber was the first to greet him, her dazzling smile making him smile as they stopped a few feet apart. "Thank you for taking care of everyone."

Her tail flitted back and forth at the praise. "I was just about to calm them."

He wanted to scratch her ears, but knew that those moments had mostly passed since he got back together with Luna. Still, there was a lingering sense of wanting to connect with Amber that hadn't gone away.

Instead, he patted her shoulder. "Still, thank you. I can always count on you, Amber."

Luna sighed behind him. "She's supposed to be your second. She damn well better be reliable."

Ignoring Luna, Amber walked back over to the group. James also ignored the comment and followed while everyone parted so that he could enter. Unlike the last room, this one was intact and sterile. Curtains, hanging from iron rods partitioned the souls from view, but it was already clear that he would be finding reports and hopefully answers.

"Want us to help?" Amber questioned.

"Yes." Walking further into the room, he added, "spread out and find reports. Don't touch the bodies."

Luna took charge with Amber as they spread everyone out. With that handled, James focused on the first curtain. Pulling it open, his eyes hardened.

Laying on the table before him was another of his people, but it was clear that it was missing flesh that was likely used in experiments. The child was no more than fifteen and already had the silver veins and hair.

Tubes of some sort of liquid were hooked to her stomach and arms. A mask was attached to her face, while some sort of gas was pumped into her. He didn't know what taking everything off would do, but he was about to find out.

Removing the mask, he sighed. The child immediately stopped breathing and her skin grew ashy. It wasn't until he removed the tubes from her arms that she died just as suddenly as the first boy he had found.

Before her soul could shred, he grabbed it and pulled it in.

Soul absorbed: Soul Strength: 9.508361 (+0.005)

Closing his eyes, he rested his hands on the bed to brace himself. There were hundreds of his people in the facility, and yet he couldn't save any of them. No matter what he tried, they were already dead.

Rubbing his eyes, he felt despair for the first time in a while. Humanity truly had used his people as experiments, and he finally had proof. There was only one thing left to do for the people in the facility.

Reaching out to the few hundred souls, he pulled on all of them. The air grew thick as souls flowed through the building and were added to his flame.

A surge of power escaped him, rippling the air and shredding the curtain. Tables were knocked away, sliding across the floor with grating screeches. His companions gasped before he noticed them sinking to their knees. Only Amber stayed standing, a slight smile on her lips.

Souls absorbed: Soul Strength: 10.012251 (+0.50389)

New Soul Skill: Soul Retribution

He instinctively knew what the new skill did. He had gained it from absorbing the souls of his people. People that attacked him would now have their souls damaged. It didn't matter if they used ranged attacks, Qi, or melee. If they hit him, their souls would be damaged.

Pushing the information aside, he focused on his body. His golden flame had shrunk and grew denser from his growth. The sheer power it radiated was unlike anything he had felt before. He once again had to worry how people would react with him around.

Panning his gaze over his group, he found mixed reactions on their faces. Amber was positively vibrating with happiness, but Luna was subdued with her happiness. She wasn't scared, but she wasn't accepting either. Jamie and Mender wanted to get closer to him, feeling protected.

Zenaria was the first to take a step toward him. Her soul craved protection, and comfort he could provide. Linda felt a different kind of happiness. She knew her revenge was that much closer and was looking forward to him acting.

Tian was the odd man out. He felt nervous, almost hesitant about the change. He tried not to show it, but his soul was too weak to hide from James.

Stretching out his arms, James met Amber's gaze and smiled. The nekorian didn't hesitate to run to him and throw her arms around him.

"That was amazing!" she chirped.

Chuckling, James rubbed her ears again. "Did you learn anything while I was busy?"

"We hadn't even started." Huffing, she let him go. "Be a good boy and read through some of the reports."

With a soft smile, he walked over to the nearby desk that she had protected. Stacks of papers were littered haphazardly over its surface. Picking up sheet after sheet, he frowned as he didn't learn anything that he didn't already know. It wasn't until he was on his twentieth page that he had to sit down.

Date: 12/14/2101

Lead Scientist: Dr. Galphon

Subject: Assimilation of Soul and Core

After many long months, we have finally succeeded in merging the soul and core. The previous trials have all led to this point. The first success that didn't turn the subject into a black monstrosity that had to be put down.

Tissue samples from the Valiants were cultivated and broken down for their DNA. Sections of the subjects own DNA was replaced with the sample, transforming their body. The spark of their soul was noted as the body grew silver veins and their core was transformed from Aether, into something wholly different.

Testing needs to commence immediately to discover the potential of the subject. A few months will show if they will be a viable weapon for the war. Already, the corruption draws closer. Most of China has fallen and the Forsaken mutated. These new weapons are our only hope for closing the rents and reclaiming our planet. Even if we must sacrifice the Underworld to do so.

James read through the report multiple times before adding it to his storage. It took a moment longer to realize that Amber was rubbing his shoulder. The others had gathered around him, waiting for him to speak.

"It's as we thought," he said softly. "The scientists were experimenting on merging soul and core into a weapon. A person that could be used to close the rents across the world."

"Why close them?" Luna asked.

Shaking his head, James rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I can't answer without guessing. It seemed that they believed closing the rents would stop the spread of corruption from claiming the world. They were willing to sacrifice the Underworld to do so."

A solemn silence descended on the group. Amber stopped rubbing his shoulder as she pulled out another chair to sit down. Luna leaned against the desk, both of them knowing what that meant for James and his people.

"What do we do now?" Mender asked.

Letting out a slow breath, James picked up more of the reports. "We gather more information for me to go over. Then we get out of here and help in the city however we can. Once I've had a moment to adjust to my new power, I head up the mountain and talk with the elders."

"Understood."

Amber shook out her body. "Let's split up. Jamie, Mender, and Tian can open the doors. Grab whatever reports you can find and meet up at the elevator." Getting up, she started walking toward the door.

The others followed, leaving James with Luna. The Fenrir moved to sit in his lap before resting her head on his chest. "What's going on in this world, James?"

"I don't know," he whispered.

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