Beyond The System
Chapter 171: Second Island

“Nice to sleep through the entire trip,” Elric beamed, stretching his arms overhead like he hadn’t a care in the world. He was unusually peppy, practically bouncing as he spoke.

“Yeah, and I had to push my energy to its limits for several hours,” I muttered. “Lucky you.”

He shrugged, gaze drifting to the glowing water beneath us. The World Force still shimmered beneath the surface, casting pale reflections across the boat’s underside. “Pretty lights, huh?”

The shore I’d chosen to approach was sandy, an enclosed cove that felt serene, like someone had carved a crescent from the moon and dropped it here.

Once we got close enough, I hopped out and splashed into the shallows, grabbing the side of the boat. Griffith joined me in the water as Thea’s voice drifted over from behind.

“It feels strangely nice, right?”

Elric turned to her with wide, incredulous eyes. “What you and Peter do in your free time is your business. I’m not weighing in on that.”

Crackle.

“OW!” Elric shouted. “What the hell! Fine, yes! The foundation feels nice… or it did.”

He grumbled something under his breath as he jumped in, sending another splash of water skyward before grabbing on to help us haul the vessel in.

“Thea?” I called, glancing over my shoulder. “We’re in salt water, so please, please don’t kill everyone here.”

Another splash followed. I heard her draw a breath before she surfaced beside me and grabbed the side of the boat, slipping easily into the rhythm of our tugging.

I hesitated. For just a second, I thought about splashing her hair. It always looked good wet, drenched and glinting under the light, but I thought later would be better.

She arched a brow, catching my eye like she’d plucked the thought right out of my head. “What are you thinking about?”

I shook my head innocently. “Empty mind.”

She did not looked convinced. But the smile tugging on her lips didn't show any anger. 

The water reached my chest, then dropped away as we trudged up the sloping beach. Each step brought us closer to dry land until finally, all of us emerged fully from the water.

And that’s when it hit.

A collective groan slipped out of us.

“W—what is that?” I grunted, recoiling slightly as the air around us began to hum. Though it was just sound, it was sensation. A low vibration, like my Voidseed had suddenly stirred awake. There was weight here, a force that pressed down. Not physically, but through something else entirely.

My feet didn’t sink into the sand. My limbs didn’t feel heavier. But some invisible pressure bore into us the moment we stepped onto the island’s forested edge.

Griffith gasped, panting harder than the rest of us. He dropped to his knees.

“M—my—I can’t…” he wheezed, clutching his chest before pitching forward.

“Griffith!” I shouted, sprinting to his side. Elric and Thea rushed in behind me, helping to turn him over.

His face twisted with pain with eyes wide, teeth clenched as sweat streamed down his forehead. His body shook as if gripped by fear. A grunt escaped him, then his mouth opened, but no sound came. Just silence, broken only by the trembling in his jaw.

“Back in the water!” Elric barked, already moving.

We didn’t hesitate. Together, we dragged him back toward the shallows.

The moment we crossed that invisible line, it lifted. Instantly. Like someone flipped a switch.

I think I know why there were no monsters coming in, Luna said, her voice slow, strained. She was recovering too. Whatever this was, she had felt it as well.

Any ideas, Wyrem? I asked.

No… the worm groaned. Sorry, I need time, Peter. I only know it’s affecting our energy…

If this pressure worked on spiritual force, someone like Wyrem—with no physical body—would be hit harder than the rest of us.

You okay? I asked.

I'll be fine. Just time.

Griffith was already breathing more evenly. He sat upright in the waist-deep water, arms limp at his sides as he caught his breath.

After a few moments, he finally spoke. “That was... intense.”

“What the heck was that?” Thea asked. “We all felt it, but—”

“The foundation,” Griffith guessed. “Yours must stabilize your internal flow better… or maybe it’s just stronger. I don't know yet.”

Elric nodded slowly. “Sure. But still… people were sent here before. There’s no way a group saw someone collapse on arrival and thought, ‘Let’s all go too.’” He paused, frowning. “And yet there’ve never been any survivors…”

The large scholar nodded gravely. “Without preparation, someone could and likely would perish the moment they set foot on this shore. But I’m a tank. Energy blocking is kind of my specialty.”

To demonstrate, a thin barrier of brown force shimmered to life around him. He moved forward without hesitation, slow and deliberate, wading through the water until his knees broke the surface. He paused there. “That being said… please come over here.”

Elric and Thea started toward him immediately.

I stayed put. “One moment. I need to handle something.”

They didn’t question it.

Wyrem, I reached inward, if I surround you in a core, could you take in energy? Eat, I mean?

It took him a moment to respond. H–have you ever made a core that lets energy through?

True… I paused, considering. That was the point of the cores I've made thus far. To trap, condense, or contain. I’d never tried designing one that invited energy in.

Another experiment, then. This time for intent.

I focused. Slowly, blue energy gathered inside me, swirling with purpose, intent. I shaped it not to seal, but to filter. With the idea to create a semi-permeable shell that would allow only Internal Force to pass through.

Bit by bit, it closed around Wyrem.

The little energy creature sat curled near my core, in his usual spot, almost snugly nestled into place. Energy drifted past him, flowing through the structure. I couldn’t tell if it worked, so I asked.

Can you eat?

He waited a few breaths. Slower, but yes. Nice job.

This is what you get for not practicing our method, Luna chided, voice tinged with a little smugness. You just eat instead.

Wyrem twitched faintly. I have no physical body. Besides, there are so many methods out there. Too many to count. Even the systems your companions use, they’re just different ways of growing, of bending the energy of the universe to one’s will. Don’t get overconfident with yours.

I actually appreciated that. Not as a critique, but more as a glimpse into how he functioned. I did wonder what stage was he even at, if dragons had stages? If there was even a name for his levels. But those were questions for another time.

Say something if you feel any pain, I told him, and started toward the others.

They were standing safely on the dry sand now. Thea was already in full question mode.

“I mean sure, the Harmonic Foundation could be the reason we’re okay, but why?” she asked, arms crossed as she glanced between us.

Griffith sat down and took a long, calming breath. He didn’t seem to be struggling anymore. “Excellent question. What about your Inner Realm’s construction makes it so resistant to the pressure here? Is it stability? Raw power?”

Before he could continue, Elric cut in. “Wait—Inner Realm?”

Thea perked up instantly, turning to me. “We came up with the name. You like it?”

I smiled. “Awesome name.”

She moved over and gave my hand a tight squeeze, buzzing with content.

Griffith grunted at our detour. “Anyway. Blocking energy is a solution for now, but it can’t be the only one. I don’t think your new bodies completely prevent energy from entering you. Unless you suddenly can't cultivate.”

Peter, Wyrem’s voice came through, more forceful this time. Stop your Spirit Refining.

That caught me off guard. I never thought I’d hear him say those words.

PETER HE’S DYING! Luna’s voice rang in my head, sharp and panicked. For once, she wasn’t teasing. It came with a jarring vision of her veins glowing with frantic energy, and even her petals shifting through colors I had never seen before.

I’m not dying?! Wyrem barked in confusion.

B–but… you must be, Luna replied, voice cracking with distress.

She sounded genuinely… heartbroken. Her petals dimmed to a dull gray, a sadness soaking into her presence. But then, as Wyrem’s reassurance settled in, her tones began to brighten again, regaining their usual hue.

I glanced inward to confirm, and realized what had triggered her panic. My Voidseed had quietly started drawing in my energy again. I cut the flow immediately.

He was just telling me to be careful, Luna. He’s not dying… not any faster than usual anyway.

Dragons are immortal beings, Wyrem added flatly. I won’t be dying anytime soon. You’ll have to endure my teachings for the rest of your life.

Luna returned to her normal colors, the storm passing. When you asked someone to do something so outrageous… I thought maybe the pressure had driven you mad.

I tuned them both out, exhaling slowly.

Griffith and Thea were still deep in discussion when Elric suddenly raised a hand, pointing toward the horizon.

“I think we need to make camp,” he said, watching the sun begin to dip below the edge of the ocean. “Also, you should complete the foundation as soon as possible,” he added, glancing over at Mister Ironscribe.

Griffith nodded. “You’re right.” He reached into his robes and pulled out a storage cube, activating it with a flick of his thumb. “Peter, gather some wood and shavings. Just from those trees there. No need to explore beyond that for now.”

With a brief shimmer of light, a few dark stones appeared in his palm. I was already moving, sprinting toward the treeline. As I neared the center of the island, that heavy pressure increased, wrapping around me like a second force of gravity.

I summoned an ice blade and quickly began carving into the trees. Each movement was slower than it should’ve been.

I gave a brief test of my sense, but pushing it felt like it was swimming against a current. Even at full focus, it only extended a few feet, barely enough to pierce through the dense brush beyond the beach.

Still, I managed, and returned swiftly, arms full, dropping the gathered materials onto the sand.

Griffith crouched beside the pile and began demonstrating the same fire-starting technique he’d once taught us when I first arrived. With practiced ease, he struck stone to stone, guiding sparks into kindling. In seconds, the fire was lit.

He leaned back with a satisfied grunt as we all sat down around the warm glow.

“We’re going to need more wood,” Elric noted, eyeing the modest flame. “This won’t last long.”

“I could go—” Thea began, but her voice abruptly cut off.

Rustle.

Rustle. Rustle.

Something moved in the brush behind us. Fast. Low to the ground. Skittering.

I reached out with my sense, trying to lock onto it, but I just couldn’t get a grip. It slipped past me like mist through my fingers.

Luna, can you see it? I asked, syncing our vision.

It’s small. Just one, she replied calmly. Fast, but not faster than you.

Stay on guard either way, Wyrem warned, his tone unusually serious.

The fire crackled low.

Then it appeared.

It emerged from the shadows of the brush creeping and curious.

“What is that?” Thea breathed, recoiling slightly.

I froze. I had seen something like it before. Not quite the same, but close. Back in the underground world Marcus and I had escaped from. The malformed creature near the exit. This thing looked like its much much smaller, faster cousin.

It barely reached my knee. Mottled and pale, like flesh never meant to see the sun. Its skin glistened with a wet sheen, slick and almost translucent. It moved on three limbs—two in the back, and one deformed arm that dragged or bounced awkwardly beneath its front, prodding at the ground.

Whatever it was, it didn’t seem to belong in the tropics. Or anywhere natural, for that matter.

“Elric,” I whispered.

There was a golden flash. His shattered blade snapped into his hand, already gleaming with condensed energy.

The thing twitched. A seam split forward along its front, revealing a gaping maw packed with needle-thin, jagged teeth.

“Rraeee!”

“Elric!”

A single flash of light cut through the air.

The shriek stopped instantly. A burst of goreless flesh popped outward as the blade shard rammed straight through the monster’s mouth. It twitched, convulsed once, and collapsed.

“It’s not bleeding,” Griffith noted, eyes narrowing.

As if his words had summoned a response, the creature began to melt, liquefying into a translucent goo that sizzled faintly in the dirt.

“That’s something I—” I started, but the world decided I’d said enough.

The slime shifted. Then darted.

It retreated with shocking speed, slipping back into the underbrush without a trace.

Peter, Luna called, suddenly tense.

Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.

“Yeah,” I muttered aloud, standing slowly. “I know, Luna. Thanks.”

The forest all around us began to shake.