CH638

“That’s it, that’s the end,” Ben muttered, catching Tenth’s ear.

“What, finally done falling on your face?”

“Hey, that only happened a few times.”

“It happened a lot of times.”

“Okay, whatever, I’m not falling anymore. It’s just… the invasion point on my world, we have a good idea on how long they stay open for and the second one should have just finished if my timing’s right. This took me longer than I wanted, I was hoping to be back by now.”

He was pretty sure his couple levels of balance enhancement had helped a bit with it but mastering his new shoes had been an uphill battle. Every time he took a step and they shot him forward he’d wanted to fall but he needed to practice beyond that, he couldn’t even risk being unsteady on his feet when he used them so everything he’d done after making them had gone into practicing, days of it as he raced around his small cell, running and jumping and rolling with everything he had until he felt good enough.

But you could take a couple more days. His hesitation whispered in his head. You’ve gotten pretty good at using them, you could get better. Why not wait a little longer? You’ve already officially missed the end of the second wave, what’s another week of practice?

An eternity.

Fine then, what about just one or two more days? It tried instead. Look at you. Did you ever think you’d get through a third-tier job so quickly? Give it a little more time to materialize the rest of the souls you need to finish it and then take a new one, then you can see how you’re feeling from there.

That was more tempting. Significantly so. Back when he’d first taken the job, getting levels on level just by accepting it without ticking his job level up by a single point, he thought it might be one he’d actually need years to finish, but creating souls had proven to be a bountiful harvest, especially in the numbers he’d managed. After making roughly ten thousand a minute ever since he’d got his ninth level and upgraded his jacket, he really was only a couple days from finishing walking the path of a soul mage, with all of the benefits that would hold. He’d be able to take something new and the bonuses he was currently under would become permanent, and for all he knew, maybe he’d get an advanced path beyond it. It didn’t sound like that was common for third-tier jobs, but then, many holders of skills at that level didn’t finish them before they died. He on the other hand could easily have an advanced soul mage option, giving him even more bonuses that he could then rush through by making more and more souls-

No. No, I’m not going to stall. If this doesn’t work then so be it, I’ll figure out something else and if that doesn’t work I’ll figure out something else again. That’s who I am. I’m the craftsman, I see a problem and I work it out, it’s that simple, no giving up. If that means I’m in here for years trying to figure out how to break out then that’s what I’ll do. I’ll believe the world is still fighting the good fight as I speed through every job available to me until there’s nothing left. This is nothing but a wall to break. Eventually, I’ll come out on top.

“Are you alright Ben?” Tenth asked after seeing a range of emotions flash across his companion’s face. “You looked… well, many things. Your features are a tad more subtle than my own kind’s.”

He wiggled the tentacles on his face for effect and left Ben cracking a smile.

“I am,” He told him confidently, forcing himself to believe it before saying what needed to be said. “For what it’s worth, Tenth, I’m sorry.”

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Hmm?”

“I’m about to try my escape, the thing I’ve spent the entire last month working towards. If I get out of here, if I succeed at this, I’m not going to be able to save you too. Every second I have is going to count, I’m not going to be able to give it up trying to break down your wall, and I am genuinely so, so sorry.”