As Lucius left the room, Johan laid down on his bed, his katana still in his hands, its blade now having slight dents.

  After laying down for a few minutes, Johan got out of bed, and went to take a bath.

  After finishing his bath and putting on some new clothes, he went to the ship’s armory, to find something that would complement his fighting style.

  “I suppose a support item will help and maybe a controller weapon that I can handle. But that’s a later problem, the blade’s not so damaged to where it’s unusable, just a little banged up.”

  Johan said to himself as walked towards the armory. Nearly halfway there, he smelled the scent of fish and started thinking of the meal he ate earlier.

  “Man, I really want some fish. To be honest, the meals this cafeteria has are some of the best I've tasted.”

  As he walked towards the armory, the smell of fish grew stronger, until eventually he entered the armory and realized why.

  There was someone eating seafood in here. It was a teen about 13-15 years old. He seemed like a shy and kind kid, though he seemed a little frail. He had a skinny face, high cheekbones and glasses. His hair was a dark brown that had some hints of blonde. His eyes were brown, his shirt white, his pants, and boots were black.

  The only things that kept this guy from looking like the average nerd was his above average physique and scars.

  He had a burn mark on his right hand and a cut across his mouth.

  As Johan saw him, he noticed me and stopped eating.

  “Hello, you're the new kid Rodolfo mentioned, right?”

  He said in perfect Japanese, the only difference between him and a native is the accent.

  Johan, stunned for a second, spoke up:

  “Probably, if he said it’s for Johan Nakaya, then yes that’s me.”

  After hearing that, the kid stood up from his spot and went into the back of the armory:

  “Come with me.”

  Johan walked towards the entrance of the armory. As he walked, he looked towards the dish that he was eating.

  “Hey what is this?”

  Johan said as he pointed at the dish.

  It contained rice, shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, onion, garlic, and chopped red bell peppers.

  The teen turned around towards Johan before resuming walking towards the inside of the armory:

  “It 's paella de mariscos. When you want to order it just say "give me what Laureano likes the most or something along those lines.””

  After hearing this Johan looked away from the dish before catching up with the teen that seemed to be named Laureano.

  After a while of walking forward, Laureano turned to the right and entered a room before coming out with a box:

  “Here, pick one.”

  Johan looked inside the box that Laureano brought out, it contains pictures of weapons, tools, everyday items, and more.

  After grabbing one of the pictures, he sees that on the back of them, it contains what the item on the picture does, what it’s made of, and how powerful it is.

  After a bit of searching, Johan finally decides on a small book with paper figures for pages, its ability is to allow the holder to use the figures as a substitution in combat.

  “I want this one.”

  “Alright let me go get it.”

  Laureano said after hearing Johan’s answer before walking off and returning with a small bronze covered book with no title.

  “Here.”

  He said as he handed the book to Johan.

  After grabbing the book, Johan placed it in his pocket before saying goodbye to Laureano and leaving the armory.

  As Johan left the armory, he heard a voice call out to him, it was Ha-Yoon:

  “Yo Johan, what you got there.”

  ‘I got to learn English or something.’

  Johan thought after he heard Ha-Yoon.

  Ha-Yoon kept on speaking in English before remembering that Johan couldn’t understand her. After remembering that she took her phone and used its auto translation”

  “Sorry about that.”

  The translation of her words came through her phone as she held it to Johan’s left.

  “So as I was saying how you’ve been?”

  “I’ve been well, I just got this controller weapon from the armory and I'm also a real fighter now.”

  Johan said as he took out the bronze covered book and waved it in front of Ha-yoon.

  “Wait, you're already a controller, didn’t you say you weren’t yesterday?”

  Ha-Yoon asked, her face and hand gestures showing her shocked confusion.

  Johan looked at her for a few seconds before speaking:

  “Yes, It’s because I became one today. I'm currently a level 8 Fighter.”

  “What?!”

  “I said I'm level 8.”

  Johan repeated as Ha-Yoon looked at him in shocked confusion, thinking to herself:

  'Is he lying, there’s no way he’s already a level 8 in one day. It took me 3 weeks to become a level 8. Of course we’re different pathways but I was still considered to be quite fast. What if he's not lying?! Is he just that much of a mad man to fight over and over again or did they just beat him up a lot?!'

  At that moment snapped his fingers into Ha-Yoon's face as he spoke:

  “Hello, anyone home.”

  “Oh sorry just, how did you become a level 8 fighter so quickly?”

  Ha-Yoon said as she gave a dry chuckle.

  “I sparred with Lucius over and over again for 15 minutes straight. Well it was more like him abusing me while I tried my best not to get hurt as he countered the moves that hit each time. In fact I only landed six strikes in total throughout those matches combined.”

  “Oh. Imma be honest, I thought you were some genius or some mad man who doesn’t understand danger–yeah no that makes more sense.”

  Ha-Yoon said as she calmed down significantly as she realized that Johan isn’t ahead of her in terms of talent.

  Johan looks at her for a few seconds before speaking:

  “Well anyways, I'm going to go eat something, wanna come?”

  “Oh sorry, I gotta go do something real quick.”

  Ha-Yoon says as she waves her hands in the air, her tone respectful and kind.

  “Suit yourself.”

  Upon finishing his words, Johan resumes walking down the hallway and turns into the cafeteria.

  As he went up to the stand, he suddenly spoke:

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “Can I have paella de mariscos?”

  After saying that, the person at the counter looked at him for a few seconds before speaking:

  “You saw Larry eating it didn’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  At the next moment the man who was taking Johan’s order, gets out of his spot and walks towards the back. After a few minutes, he returns with a plate of paella de mariscos.

  “Here. Don’t worry about it now being fresh. I make 3 of them just in case someone sees Larry eating it.”

  “I'm guessing it’s pretty common.”

  “Common is an understatement.”

  Upon finishing his words, the man turned to the next customer while Johan walked away to find somewhere to sit.

  “Yo kid.” A voice called out to him.

  As Johan turned his head to see who it was, his vision blurred and in the next moment he was in front of a cozy living room.

  “Yo behind you.”

  The same voice called out again. Johan looked towards the direction of voice and saw a man with dark blue hair, bronze skin, a brown trench coat, dark pants, and an emerald necklace sitting down a wooden table that had 2 chairs and two cans of coke right next to where one would sit.

  It was Rodolfo.

  Rodolfo, sitting down at a wooden table, suddenly grabbed at the air and Johan’s plate of paella de mariscos teleported from his hands and appeared at the side of the table facing Rodolfo.

  “I heard you became a controller, so to congratulate you, I send you into my spiritual temple.”

  “Spiritual temple? Is that the wizard’s version of a soul city or a divine stronghold?”

  Johan asked as he walked over to the table and took a seat.

  “Well yes, fighters as you know go from soul city, divine stronghold, to divine kingdom. While Wizards go from mystic tower, spiritual temple, to false paradise.”

  Rodolfo said with a smile before drinking a can of coke that he had right next to him.

  After eating some of his dish, Johan opened, and sipped some of his soda before asking:

  “So what about rogues?”

  “Rogues go from thieving bar, faceless throne room, and finally puppet circus or marionette circus. Also unlike the other two which gain theirs at rank 4, rank 8 angel , and rank 11 true false god.

  Rogues get theirs at rank 5 saint, rank 7 demigod, and rank 10 false god.”

  “Shouldn't the puppet circus and faceless throne room be switched?”

  Johan asked, his tone showing confusion.

  “It may seem that way but you must understand the abilities that each pathway has.

  Fighters can enhance and create physical objects, wizards can summon others and perform spells like in a magic show, and rogues can steal the ability to use a move in exchange for something they have.

  That shows the thieving bar as thieving means to steal something. Faceless throne room shows their ability to manipulate their bodies to become someone else.

  As for why it’s a throne room, some believe it’s because they are the king of their bodies as they change however they want. Others think it’s because they are able to control others in the shadows as they are able to be someone else. Personally, I go with the latter option. Now for the puppet circus it’s because they are able to turn others into puppets.”

  “I see. If you don’t mind, can I ask a question?”

  Johan says as he finishes his paella de mariscos. “You must have been hungry. It’s only been a few 4 minutes, well anyways what’s your question?”

  Rodolfo said with a smirk, his tone teasing.

  “From the fact you have a spiritual temple, it must mean you're at least an angel. So anyways, the question is what do you feel? How does it feel to be a true mystic creature?”

  Upon hearing Johan’s question, Rodolfo smiled sadly before speaking:

  "I'm sorry kid, I'm not an angel yet. You see there is another way to have a domain in the spirit world. That is to simply to be born with it. In fact most people who were at ultimate levels of skill in history were born with one. They were born in a state similar to what you were before fighting Lucius. They have ki but they ain't a controller. Well yes but no. Simply because they aren’t leveled up. You have to be a level 1 to be considered a true controller. level up. Meaning most of the best people in history were low to mid level fighters as it’s the easiest pathway to level and find out. Heck I'm pretty sure they didn’t know they were different. They probably just thought they were really special or blessed by something.

  Anyways for people like them, who were born with ki but were not a true controller for them to level, they have to focus on the energy and blast it inside of them to be in the same state as you now. Or just do trial and error until they get it, which probably none expect from some fighters.

  Compared to what you needed to do, it is quite easy as there is no pain. Of course that’s if they realize what to do as if they didn’t, they wouldn’t level up.

  The only difference between them and a normal person is the abilities you gain by skill level and the ability to train in their soul city.

  That’s my case. I was born with a mystic tower, by age 11 I could increase my overall ki by using it. When I reached rank 6, I absorbed the ki of a divine aura for the angel level and my tower became a spiritual temple. Though I can’t use it to its highest potential.”

  “I see.”

  Johan after drinking the last bit of coke.

  “So for fighters I'm guessing having a domain in the spirit world earlier on is the best for them. As they can fight the entity in there to help them train.”

  “Correct. In fact fighters are the ones who need to work the hardest as their ability over their weapon is one of most crucial things in combat. If you want to ask how it is to be a divine creature, ask Lucius, Audrey, Carlos, or Sophia.”

  “Sophia’s an angel?!”

  Johan said, his slightly raised voice, shocked tone and expression showing his bewilderment.

  “Yep, well no. She’s at rank 8 so she’s a demigod. But she’s still talented as it took her four years to get there or rather I should say it’s easier for her to advance as a rogue.

  As you know fighters need to fight to level up. The more intense the fights, and more frequent, the better. Wizards need to shock viewers with magic tricks. The more people there are or the higher the rank of the person the better. For rogues they need to trick others or at least that's how it seems.”

  Rodolfo says as looks towards the ceiling. At the next second, another can of coke appears next to Johan and the empty one disappears.

  “Oh thank you, but what do you mean by “that’s how it seems”? Shouldn’t you know the advancement method for it? You literally have them as teammates, couldn’t you just ask?”

  Johan asked before opening the can and drinking some soda.

  “Well why would someone who needs to lie to level up tell the truth unless in situations where they need to.”

  Rodolfo said as looked back down at Johan. His gaze was cloudy yet warm.

  “Yeah that makes sense. Well, can you send me back?”

  Johan says as points behind him with his thumb.

  “Oh yeah sure.”

  Upon saying that, Rodolfo waved his hand, and Johan’s vision started to blur before he suddenly appeared sitting down at the desk inside of his bedroom.

  After Johan left, Rodolfo stood up and looked towards the campfire of the room:

  “You can come out now.”

  After Rodolfo said that, the fire inside of the fireplace soared up and turned shadowy before transforming into Lucius.

  “You know I don’t understand why you hide in there, isn’t it uncomfortable?”

  Rodolfo says as he looks towards Lucius, a smile placed on his face.

  Lucius smiles back while walking towards him:

  Well it is worse than simply doing anything else but it’s not painful.”

  “Well anyways, why are you here?”

  Rodolfo asked as he sat back down in his seat before grabbing his can of coke and drinking some it.

  After a few seconds his eyes widened and looked towards Lucius with a frown:

  “Wait, how did you even get in here?”

  Lucius’s smile widened a bit before he spoke:

  “When one becomes an angel, they are able to freely travel the spirit world with no consequences.

  When a domain of a controller is open, it's possible, if you're a high enough level, to enter inside. Now the main thing is, are you ready?”

  “Ready for what?”

  “Ready to arrive, we’re nearly here. Just two more hours and we’re here.”

  Rodolfo, upon hearing Lucius stared at him for a few seconds before realizing.

  “We’re at Druhsin?!”

  “Yep.”

  Lucius said as he fixed his left glove.

  After fixing his glove, Lucius snapped fingers, and he turned illusory as a Church bell rang.

  After Lucius left Rodolfo's spiritual temple, Rodolfo looked at the spot he was at before smirking, and turning illusory himself before disappearing.

  In a dimly lit room, sat Johan, looking in the void space by his window in his room. Before he heard a knock on his room. He looked at the door before speaking:

  “Come in.” In the second, the door was opened by Laureano. welding a sheathed long messer in his left hand.

  Its handle’s wrap was blackish blue and the hand guard as well as nail seemed like water. Like the sea being hit by the sun on a warm day. The sheath seemed like metal, blacked carbon steel.

  “Pack up, it’s nearly time to leave. You're with my group. If you see Ha, Edward, James, Ryan, and Sofi, tell them to meet in the armory. They’re also with us.”

  “Wh–well ok.”

  Johan said after he heard Hans give out orders.

  “Here, catch.”

  Hans said as an item entered his right hand and made a tossing motion towards Johan. Johan managed to catch it with both hands. The item was a phone, the newest model.

  “Don’t try to use it for games, or videos. It will waste the battery. Also, just letting you know, it still has the same blockers as one made on earth. So porn or overall sexual content can be seen on it.”

  ‘Porn? Overall sexual content. Porn equals overly sexual content.

  “Alright.”

  You had no idea what porn was, did you?”

  “No, obviously not.”

  “..–..Tell anyone I told you this and it won’t end well for you.”

  “I wasn't thinking of looking at sexual content or anything sexual. Plus, why would I wish to be an addict?”

  Johan said rhetorically as he looked at Hans.

  “Great. Now get packed though judging from your set up over here, you probably already have everything you need.”

  Laureano said as he looked around the bedroom. Pointing out the emptiness of it.

  “I technically ended up with more than I came with.”

  “Great.”

  “...”

  “...”

  “...”

  “..So I'm gonna leave now.”

  Hans says as he leaves the room. The awkward silence disappeared.

  After a few seconds, Johan placed the clothes he was given by Rodolfo in a bag, put on his shoes, his jacket, and grabbed his katana before leaving the room.

  On his way to the armory, he met with Edward and Ha-yoon, who were also going to the armory.

  When the three got there, they saw a muscular figure carrying a spear.

  The man was dark skinned and his sleeveless black leather jacket complied with his muscles made him look like an action movie character come to life.

  His eyes were as brown as the soil and his hair black as the lightless void. Though his current activity was a far cry from his appearance.

  “Larry, how you doing? I hope you're ready to kill some wolves.”

  The buff man said, waving his spear like an excited child about to get sweets from their mother.

  “Ryan please stop, it doesn’t look well for a 32 year old to act like this. Plus your spear will damage my place here.” Laureano said as he looked at his phone and pointed at the armory.

  “Yeah about that, Audrey and Rodolfo aren’t going to place it in a void.”

  “What! “How am I supposed to move all this out?”

  “That’s the neat part, you don’t, but I will.”

  Laureano looked at Ryan for a few seconds before speaking.

  “Never scare me like that again or I will never make anything for you ever again.”

  “Why do you even care, it’s just an old storefront.”

  Ryan said as looked around the place, catching the gaze of Johan, Edward, and Ha-yoon.

  “It’s easier to have this than make a new one. Plus It’s the controller weapons and tools i’m more worried about. Also it’s rude to stare.”

  Laureano said as he looked at the three.

  “Um so–are we going or not?”

  Edward said as he spoke for both himself and the two beside him.

  “In two to four minutes.”

  A young woman’s voice sounded out from the room but it had no speaker.

  Laureano suddenly started looking around the room before looking into the cabinet of his desk.

  As he opened it, he saw Sofi squeezed taking the form of a liquid inside:

  “How long have you been here?”

  “About 10 seconds ago.”

  “When did you enter?”

  “The same amount of time.”

  “Should we be here for this?”

  Johan said as he looked at the chaotic mess of a room.

  Realizing that even the most reasonable of controllers were insane and that he will soon become like that in his own way.