Blake navigated the narrow forest road north of Payson in his converted diesel truck. He intended to meet with Jessica hours prior, but it had taken him far longer than he expected to reach the expansion town, and he was anxious to collect his charges and return to Pinetop.

  Stupid Jennifer.

  He gripped the steering wheel and allowed the frustration to wash over him.

  Such a waste of time!

  Once he invited her, her cameraman, and the pilot to his faction, Jennifer asked if their families could join. Blake, of course, agreed immediately. He wanted to save as many people as possible, and they had plenty of room. Unfortunately, after he confirmed they were welcome, she asked him to provide an escort to retrieve them.

  Jennifer was still live, transmitting the feed to over two hundred thousand people. If he turned down her request, he would be seen as a heartless monster. His reputation was already low, according to Oliver, so he had no choice but to give in to blackmail.

  At least I stuck her with Oliver.

  He grinned as he remembered how elated his brother was when he heard Blake’s suggestion. For the next hour, while they collected the families, Oliver alternated between talking Jennifer’s head off and trying to sell his potions to her audience. Each time they exited the vehicles, Jennifer attempted to corner Blake for a sound bite, but he easily escaped her grasp.

  Thank God for teleporting.

  Eventually, they arrived back at what Jennifer insisted he call The Dome. Blake abandoned his new faction members along with his brother, and delivered supplies they liberated into his mother’s care. After he said goodbye, their fleet of fifteen diesel trucks turned around, and continued their initial mission.

  A twenty-foot gate in the town wall appeared before him, so he slowed down and waved to the guard atop the battlement. The gatekeeper recognized Blake immediately, and ordered the barrier opened. In the distance, he could hear shouts of excitement that he finally arrived.

  Most had yet to meet Blake in person, and he felt awkward with the way everyone now treated him within The Dome. He was not used to being famous, nor in the limelight. For ten years, he had hidden in the background as a fighter. His name was never sung in taverns, and his deeds were not celebrated. However, he knew he made a difference, and the fact that he survived as long as he did, proved he was one of the best at his job.

  Once the gate opened, he slowly drove into the expansion town, took in the changes, and dreaded the attention he was about to receive.

  Hard to believe there was only a hut last time I was here.

  The almost completed wall was even larger than the one in Pinetop under The Dome. Unlike his original fortification, it spanned the entire allowed property for a level three faction hall. The level two wall upgrade was almost completed, just a one hundred foot section remained at ten feet of height.

  Looks like Jessica’s right on schedule.

  Within the walls stood row after row of bunkhouses. Most were level two and four stories, but a few had yet to be upgraded. Behind the housing was a plethora of structures built so enchanters, tailors, blacksmiths, carpenters, and alchemists could do their work. They were completely filled with people doing their jobs, and he was sure Jessica appreciated his workers aiding her town’s construction, but he had come to bring them back home.

  Blake parked his truck near the entrance and exited the vehicle, bag of healing potions in hand.

  “Blake!” the gatekeeper greeted him and shook his hand. A small group of people stood off to the side and awaited their turn to approach. “We’re so glad to have you here. I’m Roger, please, let me show you around town!”

  “Don’t you need to watch the gate, Roger?” Blake asked, eager to escape the attention.

  “No, Bradley’s on duty, it’ll be fine for fifteen minutes.

  He grudgingly accepted the escort, and followed Roger as he pointed to each of the buildings. As they toured the small town, the small group followed and countless residents introduced themselves and shook his hand. They were excited to finally meet him, and wanted him to regale them with tales of his exploits.

  It was difficult for Blake to keep a pleasant smile on his face the entire time, but he did his best while he greeted his faction members. He momentarily wished his brother was there to take some of the attention. Finally, the tour ended at the faction hall, and Roger returned to his station at the gate. Blake climbed the lobby stairs to the second level, where Jessica worked in her office.

  At least she won’t be weird.

  He knocked on her office door.

  “Come in!” she said loudly.

  Blake entered the small room and greeted the Vietnamese woman. “How are things, Jessica?”

  She grinned and rose to her feet. “Good, good. Especially since you are here now. I have a few things to discuss, and it is easier in person.”

  Blake shook her hand, and was surprised when what felt like a wave of heat suddenly assaulted him. He checked his most recent notification and frowned.

  Improved Flame Shield has expired.

  Is it really that hot here?

  Blake glanced at Jessica’s forehead and saw beads of sweat had formed. She wiped them away before they had a chance to fall, but frowned at his reaction. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, give me just a second.”

  Blake backed away and began the ten-second cast to renew his Improved Flame Shield. He had been using it as often as possible in hopes he could complete its mastery. Once the spell was completed, he sighed in relief as the uncomfortable hundred degree heat no longer affected him.

  Such an amazing spell.

  “Is that to ward off the heat?” Jessica asked, curious.

  “Yep, it’s amazing,” he confirmed.

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  She sighed. “It’s times like these I regret not picking a combat class. I already miss air conditioning. But at least it's cooler here than Phoenix.”

  Blake checked a new notification that appeared and grinned.

  You have gained mastery over a spell. Improved Flame Shield is ready to evolve.

  Finally!

  “Can you give me just a second, please?” he asked. “I need to upgrade a spell.”

  “Of course,” she agreed and sat and poured herself water from a clear pitcher on her desk.

  Blake already decided how he wanted to change the spell, so he immediately spent fifty mega-nano, chose to evolve the ability, and focused. A few minutes later, the evolution was accepted, and he opened his status to read the new description.

  Shared Improved Flame Shield - Places a protective barrier around up to four targets, which protects them from heat. As this heat is absorbed, it radiates outward from the shield, while the target is immune. Flame Shield uses a moderate amount of mana energy, and lasts until it absorbs a high amount of heat or one hour passes.

  Blake grinned and glanced up at Jessica. “Do you mind if I cast a spell on you? It won’t hurt or anything, I promise,” he assured her when he saw her frown.

  “If it will help,” she dubiously agreed.

  The cast time remained ten seconds, as did the cost. Luckily, when he evolved the spell, it reset the fifteen-minute cooldown period, and he was immediately able to recast it.

  When the spell was completed, Jessica gasped in surprise. “This is amazing!” she exclaimed once the heat no longer touched her.

  “Yeah, it is,” he agreed and checked his interface.

  One hour cooldown, just like it was for Montgomery.

  Blake had decided to evolve the spell in the same method that his friend had in their last lives. At this point, he mostly used the spell for utility, and he felt it would be necessary once houses began to burn down. He could cast the spell on others so they could help him save those trapped inside.

  He closed his interface and broached a new topic. “So, I see the wall’s almost upgraded to level two.”

  “Yes,” she nodded, serious now that they discussed business. “The extra laborers have been instrumental in its swift completion. It should be finished within an hour, and we can begin the upgrade of this faction hall.”

  “It’ll be nice to have air conditioning again, right?”

  Jessica nodded.

  “Do you have the nano for the upgrade?” he asked.

  “Not yet, but we receive two hundred and fifty thousand nano for each new person we invite to the faction. Once you leave with those who wish to move to The Dome, it will free up space to invite more.”

  Blake groaned internally.

  Not you too. The Dome is such a stupid name!

  He kept his complaints to himself and asked, “How many people want to come with me?”

  “The majority,” she admitted.

  “Uh… what do you mean the majority?”

  “As in, you will need to make many, many trips, even if people ride in the beds of the trucks.”

  Blake swore.

  I can’t escort people for the next three days. There’s too much to do.

  “I would also ask you to leave at least five of your trucks here if you could,” Jessica requested. “They would be instrumental in recruiting and transporting new faction members and supplies.”

  Blake nodded. “Actually, once we’re finished, I’ll leave ten. And if you’re right about the amount of people, I’m going to need to hook up some trailers to every truck. Without lights, we can’t drive at night, and monsters are going to appear in a day and a half.”

  Jessica grimaced. “The lack of electricity is frustrating.”

  Blake shrugged. “You’ll get used to it, and once they have time, enchanters will mass produce their own lanterns.”

  “What will the lights run on, nano?”

  He shook his head. “No, they use aetheric energy. Depending on the quality of the lamp, it’ll last a few days and can be recharged by any enchanter. They’ll charge nano for the service, but it doesn’t run on it directly.”

  “Hmm, interesting,” she then smirked. “I suppose I know what building to upgrade first when the faction hall is upgraded.”

  Blake grinned. “Yeah, they can make some amazing stuff. Once they reach high enough mastery, they can even make portable air conditioners and heaters. It’s…”

  A knock at the door interrupted Blake’s diatribe.

  “Yes?” Jessica asked loudly.

  “I heard Blake’s here,” Montgomery said as he opened the door. “There he is!” the young man raised his hand to give Blake a high five.

  Blake returned the gesture and greeted Jeff as he followed silently behind.

  “I’m so glad we’re leaving this place.” He then gave an apologetic glance to Jessica. “No offense, but it’s super hot, there’s no A/C, and I’m tired of killing spider people. I swear, if I have to clean one more web off my armor, I’m going to scream.”

  Jeff nodded in agreement.

  Blake grimaced. “About that… I need you two to stay here until the shield goes up.”

  Montgomery frowned. “I’m not liking where this is going… How long will that take?”

  “Well, if we prioritize it and get the nano we need, as soon as three weeks,” Jessica answered.

  “Three weeks!” Montgomery threw his hands into the air. “That’s forever! Why can’t one of the other combat teams do it? Kasey’s team can handle it! I’m going to roast alive here!”

  “Kasey’s family and friends are all back in Pinetop. My mom is also going to appoint him head of Pinetop security, and I’ll make him a Knight. It’d be kind of hard to do that from here,” Blake pointed out.

  “Dude, I want to be knighted! That sounds awesome!”

  Blake gave Montgomery a skeptical look. “No offense, but I don’t think you’re cut out for administration.”

  “Wait, you mean like pushing papers and crap?”

  “More like recruiting, training, and coordinating guard schedules,” corrected his friend.

  “But does it give you a title?” Montgomery leaned forward.

  Blake frowned. “Yeah. It adds ‘Sir’ in front of your name and gives you five percent higher attributes.”

  “Make me a knight!” Montgomery pleaded, his hands before him in supplication. “I could be, ‘Sir Montgomery Brown’!”

  “Each faction town can only have one,” Blake informed him. “And sorry, I don’t think you’d be a good fit.

  “Fine,” his friend deflated.

  “Cochise?” Jeff croaked in his deep timber, referring to another team leader.

  “Yeah!” Montgomery agreed. “Cochise can stay here! He’s got no family or friends.”

  “Harsh,” Jeff reprimanded his friend.

  Montgomery returned the statement with a look of disbelief. “It’s true. Guy’s got a personality like a rusty nail. I don’t know how he got put in charge of his team.”

  “Competence,” Jeff replied.

  Blake interrupted the argument. “Cochise may not have family in Pinetop, but his team members do. Can you please just stay for another three weeks? I’d feel a lot better knowing you guys are here protecting the town.”

  “And, when the faction hall is upgraded in a week, you can stay in one of the spare offices,” Jessica added. “It will be cooled.”

  Montgomery and Jeff both exchanged glances before the taller, skinnier man sighed. “Fine, but you owe us! I already told my parents we were leaving today. They’re packed and everything. And, I want a title someday.”

  “Same,” Jeff nodded.

  “How about twenty mega-nano each?” Blake asked.

  “Sweet!” Montgomery grinned. “That’ll work.”

  Blake shook each of their hands and transferred the last of his nano reserves. He did not mind paying them to guard the town, and he did not need the currency at the moment. However, once he finished his current tasks and got the next expansion started, he planned to grind out scenarios like there was no tomorrow.

  Once his friends received their pay, Blake insisted he needed to speak to Jessica alone. Jeff pulled Montgomery out of the room, despite his need to finish his tale of killing Arachne.

  Blake was about to ask her about her own choice of head of security, when he received a message from his mother.

  Donna Summers: Blake, I think we may have a problem.

  Baron Blake Summers, Scion of Humanity, Ambassador to the Architect: What’s wrong?

  Donna Summers: The second group of Natives came in from Whiteriver. Unfortunately, two unknown people joined the group, uninvited, and are asking to join the faction. Normally, I’d say yes, but without you or any other combat teams here, we have no one to provide security in case they’re hostile.

  Baron Blake Summers, Scion of Humanity, Ambassador to the Architect: You left them outside the shield, right?

  Donna Summers: Of course. How long until you’re back?

  Baron Blake Summers, Scion of Humanity, Ambassador to the Architect: It’ll probably take me and the others about three hours to get there. I’ll talk to them then.