Van was lying awake in bed. He was restless despite taking a shower and changing out of his damaged armor. The Techs took his armor for repairs and adjustments while he washed up. The lack of privacy was a little discomforting but the level of service was nothing less than luxury.

He took a moment to visit his sister. Sitting next to her pod and telling her of his recent adventures reminded him of the past. It felt like a million years ago, when Van would visit Violet in the hospital just to tell her about his gaming accomplishments. She probably thought he was keeping her company. But the truth was that Van never felt more lonely than when Vy wasn't around.

His story was more yawning than words. His fatigue was undeniable. Van could hardly move, but his mind was as active as ever.

Maybe I should take a walk.

Walking around the stadium at night had an eerie feeling to it. In the silence he could hear his own thoughts loud and clear. The final words of the Hunter was playing back in mind. And whenever he pushed those thoughts aside, the words spoken by Golem took their place.

"Care to join me, young man?"

Van stopped in his tracks. Before he had noticed he had already walked past the skybox and was near the Commander's quarters.

Commander Isaac motioned for Van to join him at his table as he fetched cups from his cupboard.

"My conscious won't let me sleep, knowing I sent yet another young person to their death." The Commander spoke, while pouring hot tea into the cups.

"So what keeps you up?" The Commander sat and blew over his cup.

The question was like a cork being popped from a bottle. Van poured his thoughts into the restless night.

He told the Commander about his run in with Golem and the battle with the Hunter on the verge of evolution.

The Commander gripped his cup firmly, but replied in a soothing tone. "Thank you."

Van was taken aback.

"Thank-you for doing everything you could to bring your allies back home safely. Rest easy, we know of the Nomads and have heard tales of these Zombie Lords before." 

Commander Isaac sighed deeply into his cup and took a sip.

"The evolution beyond Rulers, is Lords. They are said to reign over the places that stink of decay under the red skies. Those places are known as Deadzones." 

"Know this, if humanity is ever to rise out of the ashes of the undead, we will need to venture into the dead zones to reclaim civilization."

Commander Isaac stood up and motioned Van back to the door.

As if cannibal Nomads weren't enough, these Zombie Lords sound just as bad as Demon Lords from a fantasy RPG.

Van yawned as he stood up. 

"Take this time to recuperate, I will excuse you from tomorrow's debriefing. Also, I would like this conversation to remain between us. The Commander spoke in a more hushed tone in his doorway. "Now, get some rest."

Van looked back toward the Commander on his way out. The entering old man turned and waved. " I haven't forgotten my promise to you and your sister."

Van hadn't doubted the Commander for a second, but hearing those words put him at ease. By the time Van reached his bed he was already half asleep.

When he awoke, it was well into the afternoon. Van stood up fully recovered thanks to a good night's sleep. Now it was time to move forward. 

With enemies more powerful threatening his new home and Vy, he had to get much stronger. Before going back to the training rooms Van paid a visit to the Innermost Light to devise a smart training regimen.

Hey, Metatron.

"Hello Van. Would you like to begin conversion?"

Yes, and I want to look over my abilities while I wait.

Van decided to browse over everything while floating into position to see the crossroads.

[STATUS

HP 520/1000

SP 610/970

EP 280/280

Level 61--[51,422/68,000]--Level 62

(STR)ength: 200

(END)urance: 87

(DEX)terity: 85

(PER)ception: 133

(INT)elligence: 74

(CHA)risma: 62

Points: 76]

Looks like I gained a few more skills too. Oh right, and that special skill.

Before Van could ask, Metatron explained that reaching certain stat thresholds unlocked special passive skills to further specialize his growth.

" In addition, 8 skills have evolved into their master form. Giving you a total of 9 Lux including your emergency quest reward."

Ok then first, I'll boost  Endurance, Dexterity and Intelligence to 100. The rest can go into Perception.

(STR)ength: 200

(END)urance: 100

(DEX)terity: 100

(PER)ception: 155

(INT)elligence: 100

(CHA)risma: 62

Points: 0]

His plan worked and a list of special skills were unlocked.

[ENDurance threshold milestone reached]

[Special Skill Unlocked: Second Wind]

[DEXterity threshold milestone reached]

[Special Skill Unlocked: Deadeye]

[INTelligence threshold milestone reached]

[Special Skill Unlocked: Foresight]

[PERception threshold milestone reached]

[Special Skill Unlocked: Clairvoyance]

[SP threshold milestone reached]

[Special Skill Unlocked: Recover]

[SKILLS

Survival (⁴/⁴) Master- Use of techniques to sustain life in any environment. Passive.

Sprint (⁴/⁴) Master- Boost speed to superhuman levels. Toggle. Cost: 1 SP Per Second.

Athletics (⁴/⁴) Master- Move with unseen quickness and masterful control. Passive

Danger Sense (⁴/⁴) Master- Perceive threats and enemies within an extremely wide range. Passive.

Psyn-Sense (¾) Expert- Detect sources of psyn energyic energy including Undead and Unturned in a small radius. Passive.

Scan (⁴/⁴) Master- Highlight valuables, clues and all potential threats. Toggle. Cost: 1 EP Per 2 Minutes]

Grit (¾) Expert- Allows conversion of SP to be used in place of HP when taking damage. Toggle. Cost: 1 to 1.

Sneak (²/⁴) Adept- Move silently and stealthily. Toggle. Cost: 1 SP per second.

Focus (⁴/⁴) Master- Gain extreme perception and slow down time to 1/20th normal speed. Toggle. Cost: 30 SP per second.

Tracking (¾) Expert- See a scanned targets trail. Scan must be active. Active. Cost: 5 SP per scanned target.

Willpower (⁴/⁴) Master- Possess an indomitable mind that is immune to fear and illusion. Passive.

Force (⁴/⁴) Master- Gather your strength to deliver a highly  destructive strike. Active. Cost: 10 SP.

Melee (⁴/⁴) Master- Mastery of close range weaponry and efficiency. Passive.

Resolve (²/⁴) Adept- Allows conversion of HP to be used in place of SP when insufficient. Toggle. Cost: 1 to 1.

Persuade (²/⁴) Novice- Bring others to your point of reasoning with words. Passive.

Armorer (¾/) Expert- Wearing armor properly decreases incoming damage and lessens movement restriction. Passive.

Marksman (¾) Expert- Improve the accuracy and power of projectiles. Passive.

Critical (²/⁴) Adept- Strike quickly at a weak point. High probability of missing target. Active. Cost: 50 SP.

Martial Arts (¾) Expert- Increase all attack damage. Improve proficiency with armed and unarmed combat. Passive. 

Reflex (²/⁴) Adept- Increase success of all defensive and evasive maneuvers. Passive.

Regeneration (¼) Novice- Automatically regain 1 HP per second while not taking damage. Passive.

Intimidate (¼) Novice- Exude overwhelming strength to lower targets' attack. Active. Cost: 50 SP.

Overpower (¼) Novice- Attacks now penetrate defenses and do more damage. Passive. 

Second Wind (¼) Novice- Automatically regain 25% of max SP when all SP is depleted. Passive.

Deadeye (¼) Novice- All attacks and projectiles strike with enhanced accuracy. Passive.

Foresight (¼) Novice- Predict outcomes and movements 1 second into the future. Active. Cost: 60 SP per second.

Clairvoyance (¼) Novice- Become acutely aware of your surroundings within a large radius. Active. Cost: 1 SP per minute. 

Recover (¼) Novice- Automatically regain 1 SP per second while not moving. Passive.

[VARIANT

Element: Light

Abilities:  Lux [x6] available. Please select an ability to unlock (*) 

Charge (lvl 1)

Barrier (lvl 1)

Laser (lvl 1)

Halo (lvl 1)

System (lvl max) ]

Resistances:

Physical  78%

Infection 100% ]

A whopping 28 skills and 4 abilities. 

Van had read and reread the description for Halo.

Hey Metatron, can I use Halo to heal my sister?

"Unfortunately, no. Halo heals damage not cure illness or infection. You could awaken her and extend her life, but without a cure it would be prolonging the inevitable."

Van bit his lip in silence. He suspected as much but hearing out loud killed his hopes all the same.