Successor of Kukulkan
Chapter 143

The two greatest shifts in the physiology and potential for any Participant come at the time of evolution to the Copper (I) tier and at the time of evolution to the Ruthenium (VII) tier. This is due to the injection of Divinity at both times. A Dirt (0) tier individual evolves once they have touched on the true essence of Divinity, and a Rhodium (VI) tier individual evolves once they have seized an aspect of divinity for themself.

It didn’t matter how he asked, he continued to get the same answer. Sven had been telling the truth without any apparent deceit about the importance of the Copper evolution. It was a miracle TJ had chosen what he did, then. If he’d made a misstep, then he might have screwed himself for the rest of his life. He shook his head, focusing on his surroundings.

Before deciding to go get his stuff from the house, TJ had spent time checking out the “settlement” the New Republic was making. They were capitalizing off of the established buildings that the university’s campus came with, and since many of the people that returned straight here were students, they knew where most everything was. A dozen Occupations TJ hadn’t thought of were on display here, with a Biologist working alongside a Horticulturist and an Architect. The greenhouse they were looking to create was impressive, though TJ wondered how they’d find the advanced, synthetic materials that they seemed to be planning on.

That wasn’t his problem though, and as he walked with the others from his little group, Gus pointed to an Eastern Asian-looking woman and said, “That’s Raya. Hey, Raya!”

She turned and, seeing Gus walking alongside them, she nodded. Her face was severe, though pretty and showed that she took special care to look pretty. Full lips, tended eyebrows, clean hair. As soon as he thought it, TJ laughed inside at the thought that such “care” of taking a shower and being clean meant that Raya was taking special care to look pretty. 

“Hello Gus.” Raya nodded, holding a clipboard and taking a quick note as she did so. “Is there something I can do for you? Or is it just these new arrivals that need attention?”

“Just wanting to get to know you. TJ here just spoke with Sven.”

Raya perked up at that. TJ Appraised her at what he was sure the same moment she Appraised him.

Acolyte (Copper), 24

TJ nodded to her, seeing again just how established this place was. Sven and their Tutorial had brought plenty of Copper tiers into the world, and TJ only then realized that the Acolyte he’d run into at the park was probably also someone who evolved to Copper once he had the opportunity to do so safely. 

“I can see you’re Copper, and if you spoke with Sven the same moment you appeared, I’m sure he’s given you the general explanation of our plans. I’m glad you’re here to lend your strength to the New Republic.” 

Just like everyone else, Raya spoke with easy confidence that the “New Republic” would be the best option available for him to join. There wasn’t any attempted convincing, it was just the solid truth, and, despite himself, TJ agreed. He didn’t want to create a full town or city, and even if he did, he didn’t think he could manage to match what Sven and his people were doing. After all, the dozens of people in charge here were doing a good job of creating a place for all people to be safe, even if not everyone would be treated as equals. 

“Yeah.” TJ nodded. “I don’t know if I’m quite ready to throw myself behind Sven’s flag, but it certainly is a good option.”

“Do you have people you wish to protect?” Raya asked without any inflection.

“Who doesn’t?”

“Then you will find yourself drawn to the New Republic. This will be your best option available to keep the weaker safe.” Her response wasn’t at all critical or unkind, just a statement of fact. “It will be better for you in the long run, the earlier you join under the offer Sven has provided. The offer will not improve, but it may be reduced in quality.”

“You feel like a salesman in this.” TJ answered without giving a real response as he idly checked his Status. 

“It was not my intention to do so. I just wanted to tell you that you’ve been given the best offer you’ll get. Do with that what you will. Now, what did you wish to learn from me? I should have sufficient information to give whatever answers we are capable of giving.”

“The questions aren’t mine as much as theirs.” TJ answered, gesturing at the four people with him. Mimi had stuck close to him, and she didn’t seem to want to ask any questions, but the others did have them. It wasn’t long before TJ heard about the general plans for how to ensure that everyone was fed, how to sustainably produce vegetables and fruits, and how to ensure that everyone had at least some equipment. The more he heard, the more TJ realized that whoever was in charge of developing this, whether it was Sven, Raya, or someone else entirely, they’d been inspired. Every facet of life that was picked at by Sam, Susan, and Roger was answered and then given additional information to show how much deeper the plans went.

After several minutes of this TJ finally broke. “How do you already have all these plans prepared? How could you have planned for the contingency of ‘all monster meats are unsafe to consume and husbandry needs to be accelerated with nontoxic life’?”

“This campus is full of people who think they know better than everyone who’s ever ruled.” Raya said dryly. “Plans and aspirations and egos abound, there’s been no shortage of ideas of how to ensure that the New Republic is a utopia to end all utopias. In truth, the difficulty has been curtailing meaningless experimental thought experiments, instead focusing on the reality we’re in. We’ve only had one person stupid enough to take a Philosopher Occupation, and he’s regretting it every day.”

“Is that so?” TJ asked, unable to help himself.

“Yes.” Raya’s voice dripped with condescension. “He now spends most days lost in Meditation on the reality of the System and the Throne.”

“Has he come up with anything interesting?” Sam asked.

“I believe his latest attempt to understand the world culminated in the thought that, and I quote,” She said after flipping through a couple papers on her clipboard, “‘the System is the sole flaw in a flawless cosmos. Thus, it is the source of destruction, and the origin of life, the reason for being and the reason for nonexistence. It is the determiner of success and the harbinger of failure.’ Frankly, it’s seemed to be a whole lot of self-congratulatory intellectualism that doesn’t serve the self nor the other. He’s still a good Disciple, so we’re keeping him around, but whenever someone thinks about a more… internalized Occupation, we make sure they get to speak with him. It turns their interest into disgust rather quickly.”

“That’s… impractical at best.” TJ agreed. “Does he just wait around hoping for enlightenment?” 

“I suppose. However, I do not care to speak about him further. With the world in a flux as it is now, such self-indulgence is not only a waste of the self but a detriment to the whole. Now, do you have any other helpful questions?”

Everyone looked at the others, and seeing that there didn’t seem to be any more to ask, TJ shook his head. 

“If that is the case, then there are experiments regarding crop production that need my attention. I’ll thank you for your permission to go.” She looked only at TJ for said permission, and he waved her off.

“Thank you for your time.” 

As Raya stalked off, her steps quick and predatory, TJ looked at the people with him as he asked, “Everyone keep an eye on your Status through that?”

Mimi nodded, though the other three shook their heads. 

“Alright Mimi. What’d you see?”

“Just a minor Friendliness affliction. Why is it called an affliction if it’s for Friendliness?” Mimi wondered as she answered.

“It’s because it can cause you to act in a way that may have been detrimental to you.” TJ offered. “Even so, it seems like it’s a common enough thing for people who have Classes or Occupations that are focused on dealing with other people. I don’t consider someone using a Skill to hit other people with Friendliness to be concerning. I saw it too, for the record.”

Sam seemed embarrassed after being told about the possibility of other people using afflictions on him, but Roger and Susan were, largely, unconcerned. When TJ asked them, Roger looked at Susan before speaking.

“TJ. We’re grateful for what you’ve done for us. But you don’t need to concern yourself with us. We are adults, and we will care for ourselves.”

“Sounds good.” TJ nodded. “Just one last piece of advice, and you can ask the System to tell you if what I’m saying is the truth—your evolution to Copper will be perhaps the most important one you get. It’ll set your path moving forward, and if you want to be able to keep yourselves safe, then you should make sure you’ve done as much as possible to ensure your evolutions are good.”

“Ok.” Roger nodded. “Thanks.”

Then, without another word, the Vietnamese couple began talking to each other in their native language as they walked away. 

“They’re not going to stick around?” Sam hissed in a whisper to TJ as soon as he thought Roger and Susan were out of earshot. TJ wasn’t sure they were, but he didn't mind if they heard his response.

“They don’t need to. They don’t owe me anything.”

“They owe their lives to you!”

“Maybe kinda, but that’s not something I wanted to get payment for.” TJ shrugged. “I heard two people who needed help. I gave it to them. We came here together. Our relationship doesn’t go a whole lot deeper than that. I get free access to their pool now, whenever I’m at my house. I have a good relationship with them. Why would I try to force them to stick around me? You two don’t have to be around me if you don’t want to.”

“But you saved our lives! With the devotees as well as with the Vangr. You’re… They’re… It’s just…” Sam was genuinely distressed by the turn of events, but TJ didn’t mind. He merely chuckled as he put his hand out and on Sam’s shoulder. 

“There’s no betrayal, it's just two people who decided to make a decision for themselves. I see it as a natural choice. I hope they do well.”

Sam frowned. “We won’t abandon you.”

TJ smiled wistfully. “I hope you don’t feel like I do when I go off to do my own thing sometimes.”

Sam seemed to grapple with himself before he turned and wrapped his arms around TJ. “I don’t think you’re gonna leave us behind.” Sam mumbled through the quick hug. He pulled back and continued, “You just… like… need to go to work.”

“I guess.” TJ responded. “Now, do you two want to stick around for a little while, see if you can find some people to work with and see if you can hunt an Elite or something? I’m going to check on my pelt and horn. I’m getting a little antsy about someone sneaking into my house and grabbing something without my permission.”

Sam and Mimi both blushed as he said that, but TJ just laughed as he passed the Vargr fur over to the teens for safekeeping.

“We’ll stick around. See you for dinner?” Mimi asked.

“If not earlier.” TJ nodded. “Anything you want me to bring back?”

Both teenagers shook their heads no, and so, with a quick nod, TJ turned and jogged towards his home. And if he found someone in there, stealing his things? Well, then he’d need to do something about it.

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