After meeting my new Contractor, and the revelation of Joshua’s horrifying betrayal, I knew that it was finally time to formulate a plan for the bastard. His incessant need for glory and violence would, more than likely, end in the erasure of our species. We no longer shared the same goal and I couldn’t take such a large risk.

  Those were all the altruistic excuses that I tried to give myself after receiving my power. My real reason of course… ‘He plotted against my family and is directly responsible for the killing of my son!’

  Over the next few years, before the last battle, I honed my abilities in secret. I studied everyone in the camp intricately, involving myself in all their different problems. I also explored their different irritations, ambitions and desires; to better understand the leverage I could use for a possible Contract.

  I counselled every person I could about their skills. I made sure the scavenger groups hit the old public library every run and no subject was off limits. Thermodynamics, philosophy and even esoteric and hermetic practices were constantly poured over, to better guide our people to stand a chance against the coming waves.

  The new ability she had gifted from the Archon pool was called Mind Palace.

  This skill allowed me to create an inner mental dimension where I could explore ideas, practice skills, and store memories with incredible detail. By channeling my mana into my consciousness, I could construct an entire world within my mind. A sanctuary where time flowed differently than in the outside world.

  Mind Palace [Archon Tier]

  Construct a personalized inner mental dimension. The User manifests their desires using their mana and imagination as a base.

  Time Dilation Ratio = 5 hours internal time is equal to 1 external hour

  Five hours in the Palace equated to roughly one hour in the real world, making it invaluable for planning and experimentation. The larger my mana pool grew, the more expansive and detailed this inner realm became. It was as if Lilith had gifted me an entirely separate universe to bend to my will.

  I tested the limits cautiously at first, creating simple rooms and objects before attempting more complex constructs. I discovered I could manifest training opponents, replicate environments for strategic planning, and even experiment with abilities that would be too dangerous to attempt. Within this space, the consequences of failure were minimized, though I quickly learned that mental exhaustion from the Palace could still affect my physical body.

  As weeks passed in my inner realm, mere days in the outside world, my Mind Palace evolved. The spaces I created became more intricate, responding to my subconscious thoughts as much as my conscious desires. In one secluded corner, a towering structure began to form, reaching impossibly high into the fabricated sky of my mindscape. The Infinite Spire, as I came to call it, housed my darkest experiments and most dangerous knowledge.

  She would observe silently as I trained within the Palace; her presence like a shadow at the edge of my awareness. My Contractor rarely spoke, but when she did, her words carried the weight of eons. “The spire grows as your power does,” she once commented, her voice barely above a whisper. “Be wary that it does not outgrow your control.”

  The warning gave me pause. I understood then that the Infinite Spire wasn’t just a creation of my magic, but a manifestation of the parts of myself I kept hidden. The ruthlessness I would need to save humanity, the darkness I would have to embrace to protect my family and the lengths I would go for their revenge. I cordoned it off from the rest of my Palace, establishing boundaries that even I was hesitant to cross without preparation.

  What made the skill truly exceptional, however, was its potential for growth. As my understanding of mana expanded, so too did my ability to manipulate this inner world. I could catalog all my Contracts, knowledge, strategies and more inside my mind space in a small Rolodex. The more information I gathered, the larger my inner space grew, and with it, the looming shadow of the Spire. Those truly were dark days.

  I realized that the plans of growth I constructed for the camp had to be implemented slowly and methodically. Aggressive types tended to rebuff efforts of teaching. Trying to convince someone whose very life was a state of constant survival mode that a hammer wasn’t the only answer to a problem was a task in and of itself.

  Joshua couldn’t understand that everyone didn’t have his penchant for battle, nor his ability to adapt so fast during it. Humans needed options. You couldn’t expect a fish to beat a monkey in a tree climbing test. Everybody learns in different ways; some need to see it and others need to experience it. I tried to adapt all my training to each individual to maximize our chances at survival.

  I also came to the early realization that we didn’t have enough support classes, at least not as many as we should. What do you think happens when you allow people to become gods? Do you think any would choose to be a healer, buffer or crafter? No, people enjoyed blowing stuff up and, as a species, we needed to get more organized.

  The more I learned about the Mana-Bound Contract ability, the more a ridiculous idea formed. A contract could share not just the benefits of a skill, but also the mana costs with the contracted individual.

  The higher tiered skills usually required a hefty sacrifice of some kind. Through multiple trial and error experiments with close friends like Will, Hawk, Michael and numerous others, I realized that I could augment their power by gifting them mana.

  Other than the Contract, Calming and Mind skills, she had effectively tripled my mana pool. An average human has a base Mana pool of 50. The mage starts at 150. My Archon class is 500 and my skills require little to none. I had effectively become a Human Mana Battery equipped with the ability to ‘Jump’ someone else, for a charge of course.

  While having tea with Richard, our researcher Beverly’s husband, frontline tank, and close friend; he produced a very interesting question. One that changed the path of our species, forever.

  “Man, if I could take all this weight on to me instead, I think I’d do it. I’d even ‘Make a deal with the devil’; as they say.” voiced Richard with his customary compassion.

  The statement made me spit out my gas station tea, which was like gold after drinking flat soda. I contemplated his words deeply. “What would you do?” I asked Richard with a serious face.

  He turned to me with a curious expression “What do you mean?”

  “I mean what would you contract for? What would be a good deal to make? Power?”

  “We already have someone who’s lustful for that, and we both know that won’t be the answer.” he said chuckling low. “That’s a good question though man, I was just rambling.” He said, looking out at the horizon. “Well, why not just start over?” he asked simply.

  I stared at him blankly, almost dropping my cup.

  “If what we’ve seen so far is true, what makes you think The System isn’t powerful enough to give us another shot? What a wish that would be, huh.” he said musingly. “All right I better get back to Bev, she’ll kick my ass if I’m late again.” he said standing from the lawn chair on our tenth-floor view.

  The wall had been destroyed at some point, and it opened to the stars. He and I took this spot for tea whenever possible. A small light in the darkness.

  “Tell her I said hi for me, and thanks for everything.” I said appreciatively with a wave and a smile. “And thanks for the great conversation as usual.”

  “Later man, and next time let’s try to find a battery powered record player or something.” he laughed while walking away.

  “And pull every monster in the vicinity, I think not.” I quipped with a smile.

  Beverly, or Bev, was Rich’s wife and our self-proclaimed researcher. Her obsessive addiction to the new knowledge of this world had helped humanity find medicines and food sources we never knew before. She was a vital part of our lives, and everyone loved her for it. In this world, resources and food were hard to come by while in constant survivor mode. She used her meticulous nature to constantly test everything we came across that had mana infused within it. It became her calling.

  After Rich walked away, my gaze became stern. I activated Spiders Calm, like a drug, to help me think clearly. There was a path here and I needed to remove my restraints if I wanted any hope to survive. Joshua would come for my life and possibly Maeve’s; in that I had no doubt.

  I am stronger now however. Where he would brute his way into a room, I would be invited. It was time for me to stop thinking as a bystander and take more of an active approach for our people’s survival.

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  I’d never understood the reasons tyrants in stories and history gave such ridiculous quotes. As I watched Maeve practicing however, I decided that maybe the ends do justify the means.

  If Joshua needed to play the hero, then I suppose I should pick up my script for his Villain. “The problem is that he’s a walking fortress.” I muttered to myself, lying down on my bed.

  “A tree is mighty young one. Standing against the winds and the rains, it seems immovable. However, a single termite queen can spell its doom. Form the cracks, apply the pressure, and rip it asunder from the inside.”

  The intensity of her words hit me like the flood from a dam that burst open. I’d learned long ago that everything she spoke needed scrutiny. Multiplicative meanings and endless implications from a single sentence made it abundantly clear that when she speaks, you listen.

  “Thank you, my lady.” I whispered into the darkness with a slight nod. No reply.

  She rarely spoke, maybe once or twice every few weeks, but always at a critical juncture. Yes, I had made that deal with the devil, and I haven’t regretted it yet. Another of those old sayings is; ‘Better the devil you know.’

  I cast off the chains that kept my mind in check all these years. I allowed no limits to the strategies that I could make, regardless of emotional attachment or physical harm.

  After losing Aurora and the children over these last few years, it was only Maeve and I left. There was nothing else to lose and my last child’s life was on the line. For the first time since the start of the apocalypse, I allowed myself to plan an exit strategy.

  As Rich had mentioned, nothing had shown that the reversal of time was impossible. I’d been trapped in the bounds of human thinking. We only perceived reality through our limited senses and with what limited information we were provided.

  “This is so insane it could possibly work,” I said aloud to myself.

  First question. What would I need to set this plan in motion? Trusted companions will be essential, as I can’t handle it alone. I already had a pretty good group of people that I knew I could trust.

  I needed to trickle truth my way until the very last moment. One hundred percent trust is never an option, save Maeve. I know I can always count on her, but I can’t let the child know how dangerous this could possibly be to me.

  There was one option that seemed to keep pulling my brain towards its path: the Mana-Bound Contract skill. That would be my way out.

  Starting the following day, I immersed myself in the study of law and contracts. I spent countless hours in the abandoned library, poring over legal tomes, contractual precedents, and court documents. I studied as if preparing for a bar exam that no longer existed in this broken world, something that would have made any law student laugh at the absurdity.

  I learned the intricate dance of contractual language, how agreements were meant to provide fair exchange of resources or labor, and how, throughout human history, they had been twisted to benefit the powerful. The labyrinthine bylaws and obscure clauses threatened to drive me to madness, but I persevered, driven by the singular purpose of humanity’s survival.

  Through careful experimentation, I discovered a troubling truth: eight out of ten people would sign a contract without reading the fine print. Human nature remained unchanged, even at the edge of extinction. This weakness could be exploited or, in my case, used to protect.

  Over the following month, I studied the psychology of my fellow survivors, mapping out what motivated them to continue fighting day after day. I learned what each person valued, what they feared, and what they would sacrifice everything to protect.

  By the second month, I had discovered I could share abilities between contracts if the terms were properly structured. The strain on my system remained significant, but each subsequent contract became easier to manage, especially when I activated Spider’s Calm to maintain emotional equilibrium throughout the process.

  “I also need to be able to protect myself,” I thought aloud, aware that contracts alone wouldn’t be enough in this brutal new reality.

  I devoted myself to mastering my Psychokinetic Threads, refining their application across various scales. I learned to suture wounds with threads so fine they required no needle, to bind dangerous creatures while my allies delivered killing blows, and to create intricate webs that could detect the slightest movement across vast distances.

  In quiet moments within my Mind Palace, I continued my experiments with manipulations and powers that would be too dangerous to attempt in reality. Five hours of practice within translated to a single hour outside, allowing me to compress months of development into mere weeks. The Infinite Spire that had formed in the distant corner of my mental landscape grew taller with each session, housing the darker applications I discovered but dared not share.

  After months of tireless study and practice with the Contract skill, our camp faced a particularly vicious attack from a pair of Steelscale Raptors. Maeve had returned severely wounded. After I sutured her injuries and wrapped her arm, I sought out Hawk to discuss moving her away from frontline combat. Perhaps he could train her in ranged weaponry, giving her the distance that might keep her safer in future encounters.

  It was during this conversation that The System screen appeared before me.

  Congratulations Alexander, you have reached level 10.

  Reward: Advanced Job Class Promotion

  Your choices based on your status, abilities, mental capacity and contracts are as follows.

  Fateweaver [Fate\Dream] Your inner understanding of the red strings of fate has produced exciting results. Your mastery of the Fate Law is unmatched, and you control the very fabric that binds them. You also gain the ability to interact with the dreams of your intended target.

  Sage [Magic\Fate] The touch of magic has permeated your being and mana itself becomes your constant companion. Your constant studies have increased your intellectual prowess, the very foundation of Magic. As a Sage all magic is open to you with enough research and dedication. The path is longer, but the reward is Absolute Power.

  Lord [Charisma\Fate] Your village is your body and your limbs, it’s people. You will inspire the forces of the people around you and gain access to the Charisma Law. Each of your abilities will be suited to party and domain. You gain additional access to special construction perks.

  Please make your choice...

  Error Attention: Your Contractor –redacted- has given you access to a final class.

  Advisor [Fate\Mind] Your power increases with each connection you make. You may now charge experience points for your ManaBound Contracts. You may also deduct experience from an indentured servant Contract, should you choose to place it. Gain an increase in your skills and experience by teaching others. Psychokinetic Thread becomes stronger and more flexible in its use. Gain skill Memory Pocket, an ability that allows storage of thought.

  The more you help others, the further your web grows and the more powerful you become.

  After ensuring Maeve was comfortable and thanking Hawk and the healers for their assistance, I retreated to my makeshift quarters, heart racing with anticipation. This was it—the turn of the cog I had been waiting for, another step closer to making my plans reality. Without hesitation, I accepted the Advisor class.

  The world fell away as my consciousness expanded outward toward the stars. I found myself in the familiar cosmic space where I had first met Her, surrounded by distant constellations but there was a difference now. Purple threads had attached themselves to the cosmos, pulsating with energy as they connected to a massive cocoon at its epicenter.

  At the heart of this universal web sat a figure clothed in flowing black silk, perched upon a Throne of Stars. “Well done, child,” she said, her voice resonating through my very being.

  Fractals, chaos theory, and sacred geometry swirled in mesmerizing patterns across her throne. As I focused intently on her form, she glanced up, meeting my gaze with ancient eyes and a smirk. With a mere wave of her hand, she sent me hurtling back to my physical form at terrifying speed.

  I awoke sitting in a puddle of my own sweat, immediately casting Spider’s Calm to slow my racing heart and stabilize my emotions. The visions I had witnessed shook the very foundations of everything I, or any human, had ever known about our existence.

  Even before checking the system for confirmation, I could feel the power and clarity coursing through me. My mana pool had expanded by another twenty percent and my body had transformed, muscles toned and defined in ways I hadn’t seen since my youth. After that day, I continued to wear my dusty suit like armor, knowing no one would notice the physical changes beneath.

  Most striking were the changes to my threads, however. They flowed from my fingertips in shades of purple, somehow sharper, faster, and more powerful than I could have imagined. This was what an advanced class truly meant, an evolution beyond mere incremental improvement.

  The psychic abilities granted by the Mind skill were perhaps the most profound change, nearly tearing my consciousness apart as they activated. An influx of thoughts from nearby minds assaulted me like a tidal wave, and I knew immediately that this power would need to remain hidden. In the wrong hands, or revealed to the wrong people, such abilities would spark fear, paranoia, and potentially a witch hunt.

  “An uninformed mind can be worse than a gun in a child’s hands,” my father used to say. The wisdom of those words had never felt more relevant.

  As I sensed the mental signatures of those walking past my door, brushing against my newly awakened consciousness, I understood the magnitude of the training that lay ahead.

  “I won’t lose anyone until I can rewrite this nonsense,” I promised myself, resolve hardening as I began formulating my plan to end the world—so that it might begin anew.

  Alexander Evans (Contracted to -@#%redacted*&%)

  Class: Advisor (Archon Class) Level: 10 HP: 400/400 MP: 1200/1200

  Strength: 12

  Dexterity: 18

  Constitution: 15

  Intelligence: 40

  Wisdom: 35

  Charisma: 30

  Skills: Psychokinetic Threads (Advanced) Mana Manipulation (Advanced) Arcane Knowledge (Advanced) Mana-Bound Contract (Advanced) Memory Pocket (Intermediate) Mind Palace (Advanced) Spider’s Calm (Passive)

  Abilities: Psychokinetic Threads: Create razor-thin threads of solidified mana up to 50 feet in manipulatable length from any part of the body. Threads are stronger and more durable. Sharpness and adhesive properties can also be controlled by Mana input.

  Mana-Bound Contract: Create unbreakable contracts bound by mana. The terms of the contract must be followed by all parties involved.

  Memory Pocket: Store and share memories with others through mana-infused constructs and contracts.

  Mind Palace: Construct a personalized inner mental dimension where time flows differently. Five hours of inner time equals one hour in the real world. Can be used for training, experimentation, and memory storage.

  Spider’s Calm: Passively grants emotional insulation, enabling pragmatic perceptions and rapid analytical response in tense situations. Actively provides near-complete psychic immunity to emotional manipulation and irrational impulses for a short duration.

  Equipment: Needle of Fate (Mythic) (Soulbound) 25% increase in Mana Regeneration.