Crafting my mega-project had taken longer than I'd thought. It had also been exhausting mentally. Not just from the effort of keeping such a massive machine visualized in my mind for so long, but also using up all the items I'd stockpiled.

Rationally, I knew that potions were better used in battles than sitting in your inventory for a boss fight that never comes. That still didn't make it easy to part with them all.

I'd grabbed all the spare rocks and metal I could find in the crater and had started Crafting replacements as soon as Sibby and I had gotten in the air. That was the other nice thing about flying with the Siberian, I was free to focus on other things.

I really wanted to Craft some video games to distribute, but it was more important to get some weapons to replace what I'd used up. I wasn't expecting anyone to attack, but better safe than sorry.

'This reminds me of that one thing we did. Not when we did this same trick with that plane in that place, but when I went into that other place. You know. The one with the wall and the guards and stuff?'

"Do you mean Madison?" I replied back to Sibby while Crafting. That was the other other nice thing about traveling with the Siberian again - I had someone to talk to.

'Yeah! That's it!'

"I don't see the similarity."

'We're sneaking into a place. I'm ignoring light and letting a little through to see, but most pass through. Well, I'm having to bend it around you, but other than that, it's exactly the same!'

"Except I'm with you. And we entered a country and not a city. And we planted something instead of stealing people."

'Exactly! It's ALMOST the exact same thing!'

I couldn't help but smile at her. "If you say so-"

'Pixel? Are you ready for our interview?'

A message came from the Communication Cube I'd left with Remi. Right. It was noon now, wasn't it? As fast as we were flying, it still took hours. I was actually pretty sure that Sibby could go faster, since there wasn't any friction limiting her top speed. It was just her acceleration that was slow-ish.

In any case, my Crafting had taken longer than I'd anticipated. It was still fine. Now was as good of a time as any to speak with the Earther in Tiqr.

'Sure, Remi. I can talk.'

'Excellent. I'd first like to speak of some things [Off The Record], if that's alright with you.'

'No, that's fine.' I agreed. 'There are quite a few things that would be potentially detrimental to others if they were widely known.'

'Like you being from a different version of Earth?'

'Exactly that. And Earth in general. I don't think you need to slip any other subtle references to it aside from your nom de plume Mr. Canada. That said, I certainly don't mind revealing such things to you.'

'So your world has superheros?'

'Yes. It all started on May 20th, 1982 when a golden man was encountered floating above the Atlantic Ocean by an ocean liner...'

...

'...And then a golden beam of light struck and killed the Simurgh in orbit. Leviathan escaped, but that was the turning point.'

I'd spoken at length about the rise of Parahumans on Earth Bet, but I'd only gone into broad strokes. I didn't give Remi many specifics. For example, I hadn't told him about who'd killed Hero. Or gone into the details on the Slaughterhouse Nine. Or specified exactly what the Endbringers were - aside from Kaiju-like beings.

He didn't need those details, and telling him them might complicate things in the future. I made sure not to lie, except by omission.

'So you were there when Scion died?'

'Me and many others. A great many things happened after that, but with the Simurgh gone, the other two Endbringers were handled... with many other heroic casualties. Still, that was when Earth Bet started overcoming its problems and took a greater interest in other Earths.'

'Like ours?'

'No, not like yours. Your Earth had no parahumans. There was nothing and no one there that was a threat to you or other Earths. In fact, we've only ever visited two other Earths before I came to yours.'

'But you're watching us?'

'In a sense.' I wasn't going to spill Dragon's secrets, so I had to be vague as to why I had visited Earth Iota. 'A Thinker discovered there was a loss of mass from your Earth. We assumed it was a parahuman, and that such a power could conceivably harm other Earths as well. So I was sent to investigate.'

'So you then followed us to this world.'

'Not on purpose, I have to admit. Whatever magic snatched everyone else also targeted me. Considering the odds of that, I assume there's an intelligence behind it.'

'And do you have a way to return us back to Earth.'

'No. Not yet.' I grunted. 'It's magic, not technology, so I'm gathering allies that might be able to help in that regard. Until then, I want to keep everyone that's been kidnapped safe.'

'Is that why you intervened in Tiqr?'

'No. That was... personal.'

'Then can we go [On The Record]?'

'Sure.'

'So what was it that made you go to Tiqr?'

'I was searching for a friend.'

'You didn't come with the express intent of aiding the defending forces?'

'No. I was aware of the conflict, but not the details.'

'What made you take up arms?'

'Simple. I saw that I was needed.'

'Could you elaborate on that?'

'Of course. As a-' Not [Superhero]. No need to divulge that. 'Someone with significant personal power, I can do a lot, but obsessing over what I could've done is unproductive. So, my philosophy is simple. I don't seek wrongs to right, but when I see something, I do something.'

'Interesting.' It felt like Remi had more to ask, but was refraining from bringing up Earth topics for now. 'So the war struck you as un-just?'

'Very. People were being killed and driven from their homes.'

'Doesn't that happen in every war? Do you plan on intervening in every conflict you come across?'

'Probably.'

'That doesn't sound reassuring to other kingdoms.'

'If they're fielding armies, I suppose not.'

'But what if they do so for a good cause?'

'Like what?'

'Opposing the King of Destruction?'

I sighed. 'That's... a difficult subject. I would have to decide if I ever encountered such a battle in person.'

'So you won't stand against him?'

'Like I said, that depends on the circumstances. The information I'd heard about Tiqr and what I saw in person were two very different things. I feel it's more important to keep an open mind until I know the details.'

'That's a nice philosophy. What do you have to say about all the soldiers you killed?'

'I tried to limit the number of casualties, but I felt I had no choice.'

'What is your stance on Nerrhavia Fallen's actions?'

'Which ones?'

'They are accused of using a Djinni in combat.'

'They did.'

'They've accused you of doing the same.'

'What?'

'What is your relationship with the black and white Djinni?'

'She's my friend, but she's not a Djinni.'

'That's not what Nerrhavia's Fallen is saying.'

'They can say whatever they want. It won't change the truth.'

'Are you implying that they're calling your friend a Djinni simply to justify using one in return.'

'This is the first I'm hearing of it, but that does seem to be the case.'

'And the non-Djinni didn't help you cast your offensive spells?'

I smirked. 'No. No spell that I cast was aided in any way by a Djinni... or by my friend.'

'Would you swear on a truth stone?'

'Gladly. Do you want me to visit you so I can do exactly that?'

Remi paused. 'Yes, actually. That would be of great help. One final question. In your speech before the battle, you seemed to issue a threat to the rulers behind the invading armies. Do you actually intend to follow through with it?'

'You mean, do I plan on going to other countries and killing their leaders?'

'Yes.'

I sighed. 'No. Not really. I think that killing one person to end the bloodshed would be much more preferable than killing hundreds of people on the front lines. That said, the conflict is over. I'd rather not kill anyone else. Especially [Rulers], who's deaths could negatively impact their entire kingdoms.'

'What about the countries that haven't sued for peace? Such as Nerrhavia's Fallen?'

'That... is politics and is beyond me. If they send another army, I'll react, but it will depend on the circumstances.' And if I was still in Tiqr. I did feel responsible, so I'd probably return to help even if I was far away. Sibby's plane would make that possible. With plenty of time, I could systematically kill their officers instead of decimating their forces. 'Besides, that's under the purview of [Empress] Nissa. I wouldn't want to step on her toes.'

'I see. Thank you for your time, Pixel. I might have more questions when you visit me for the Truth Stone confirmations.'

'Any time, Remi.' I might not be available all the time, but I should be able to handle any interruptions. Although, I wasn't looking forward to an interview after every time I did something.

Remi sat back as the communication cube stopped glowing.

He still didn't know what to make of Pixel. Part of him wanted to praise him for stopping the invading armies. Part of him wanted to condemn him for how many people he'd killed. Part of him was afraid of someone, anyone, with that much power.

The Earth that Pixel had come from, Earth Bet, sounded equal parts amazing and horrifying. He could tell that Pixel wasn't telling him everything, but to be fair, it would be impossible to go over all the ways that the superhero's Earth differed from Remi's own - regardless of how long the interview was.

Still, he could read between the lines, not with any Skill, but with his experience as a [Journalist]. There were lots of points that he felt he could've pressed Pixel on. Scion, parahuman gangs, China, the Endbringers... It was obvious that Pixel had left several details vague on purpose.

...But he couldn't very well blame him for that. The important thing was that he was almost positive that Pixel was telling the truth. That he WAS from a different Earth. Ever since getting access to 'PHO', he'd become more and more sure.

There were little things, like making a messaging site that felt as if it had been copied from somewhere instead of made for his fellow Earthers. Something like Skype or Zoom would've made much more sense for how few of them there were.

The big proof was that Pixel was just too powerful. Remi had done his research, and fighting an army was possible for people to do single-handedly - if they were VERY high level. Unless Pixel had arrived decades before anyone else from Earth, it was unlikely that he could grow that strong just from whatever Class he had.

Which brought him back to the black and white woman. Pixel had refused to speak much about her, but the things he had said had been telling. The fact that he KNEW she wasn't a Djinni implied he did know exactly what she was. That, in turn, made him suspect that she had also originated from Earth Bet.

It would make sense to send a team of superheroes instead of just one, right? He'd called her a friend, and he'd also said he'd come to Tiqr looking for a friend. Remi hadn't pushed, but the fact that Pixel hadn't volunteered anything made him wonder.

Could the black and white woman... be an Endbringer?

No, no, that was a ridiculous thought. She was powerful, sure, but she hadn't even destroyed an army much less a city. He'd even seen her up close when he'd been following Illivere's army. Brutal, invincible, terrifying, but she hadn't killed nearly as many people as she so easily could have.

In fact, it was only her restraint that likely kept her from harming him.

"This story is too personal for me." He muttered to himself. Yet, it was a story that he needed to tell. Back on Earth, Journalistic ethics were merely a concept. Here on this planet, it was more than that. Just like how a [Knight] had to have a degree of honor, Remi's Class demanded that he embody the ideals that he held.

That meant he had to be fair and accurate, within reason.

Protecting one's sources was also a hallmark of a good [Journalist]. As was publishing things responsibly. That was why he reluctantly took the notes he'd been writing down, and tossed them into the campfire. Pixel's past wasn't something he could include. Not because it was irrelevant, knowing his history certainly let Remi frame things better in his head, but because it wasn't relevant to THIS particular story.

It was enough to know that Pixel had, essentially, just wandered into Tiqr, seen something that offended his morals, and taken action.

The scariest thing was just how potent that action had been.

...And now he was spiraling again.

He'd already written half a dozen stories about the Tiqr war and had interviewed people on both sides - if you could boil it down to just two sides. The final story being an interview with Pixel would make for an excellent capstone.

"Right." He nodded to himself. The story should be a recounting of the fighting from Pixel's viewpoint. It would be tricky to include enough details to draw his readers in, while also not revealing too much. He wanted to reveal some tantalizing secrets that weren't common knowledge, but he also couldn't share personal details about Pixel or Earth.

It was such a fine line to walk.

...

"So I want to revise the story. Instead of a general interview, I'd like to write about the fighting from your viewpoint." Remi kept himself from fidgeting. "If you're okay with spending more time talking that is?"

Pixel frowned slightly and turned to look at the black and white woman. Their expressions shifted - as if they were having a conversation with only their faces as a medium. She suddenly smiled before turning and bounding away.

"That's fine." The superhero nodded. "I have a good amount of time to kill while I wait for a project to finish. I can spare some for you, Remi."

"A project-" Remi cut himself off. No. No matter how tantalizing that was, it wasn't relevant to the story he was going to write. It was important to keep his eyes on the goal and not to go down irrelevant tangents. "Could you first go over the battle in your own words? I'll hold off on any follow up questions until you're done."

Remi took out some parchment and coal. He missed his ballpoint pen.

...

"Then I pulled on the Djinni's magic. That... resulted in its death." Remi nodded as Pixel finished speaking. "The rest of the fight was lackluster. The places where their commanders stayed were discovered and destroyed. That essentially ended the fight."

Remi glanced down at his Truth Stone. It still shown a solid, unwavering blue. In addition, his [Reporter's Instincts] hadn't detected anything off - aside from Pixel being vague about how he'd accomplished what he'd done. Remi had noted that the man had very deliberately not used the words 'spell', 'magic', 'technology' or even 'missile' to describe his attacks.

While that was clearly to not spread the news about Earth, it made Remi realize that Pixel must have a lot more public speaking experience than anyone else he'd interviewed. By his own admission, Pixel had been witness to some important things on his Earth. It was reasonable for him to have given interviews before.

Interviews to much more experienced reporters, and probably to much larger audiences. Wistram was starting a world-wide television network of sorts, but it couldn't yet compare to what already existed on Earth.

Remi was almost certainly going to level tonight.

"Thank you for that account, Pixel." He nodded at the Superhero. "Now I'd like to start with your thoughts on where your initial attacks landed. Was there any particular sections of the armies that you were aiming for?"

"Yes. I tried striking the vanguard and avoid the followers."

"The followers?"

"[Cooks], [Servants], those sort of people. The non-combatants."

"Interesting." Remi scribbled furiously. "Was that a moral or a tactical decision?"

"Moral. I avoid hurting people who can't fight back." Pixel held up a hand. "And I don't mean that they can't fight back against me personally."

"I understand. People who commit violence verses people that enable it."

"That's right."

Remi wondered how such a stance would come across. It felt natural to him, but that was because that was what his expectation of superheroes was. Superman never punched Lex Luthor - unless he was wearing power armor or something.

Of course, Superman didn't kill either. Would the Punisher be a better comparison? Remi wasn't big into comic books, so while he knew of Marvel's anti-hero, he wasn't sure as to where exactly the Punisher drew the line.

He made a note to ask Pixel about his Earth's comic books. It wouldn't be a story that he could publish, but it was an interesting comparison.

Oh, wait. He could post it on PHO.

"After that, you didn't follow up until Nerrhavia's Fallen struck back. Were you expecting their counter-attack?"

"Not that specific spell, nor the Djinni, but I did expect a retaliation of some kind."

"And that brings us to the crux of the matter. You claim that the being that fought you was, in fact, a Djinni?"

"I claim that, as would anyone with eyes who saw the fight."

"And what do you say about Nerrhavia Fallen's claims that you used a Djinni for war first? That you used the black and white woman's magic to power your Spells?"

"That is preposterous. The creature in question is not a Djinni. She did not grant me magic to aid in any of my attacks."

"I have three Wistram-verified truth stones with me, and all of them show that you are speaking the truth."

"Yes... Truth telling magic does make outlandish lies a difficult thing to maintain."

Remi wrapped up the interview with some more questions about the end of the battle. Just like before, Pixel didn't dwell on the specifics. It was clear that with the defeat of their Djinni that Nerrhavia's Fallen no longer had the capacity to fight back effectively with that particular army.

"Do you have any last words, Archmage Pixel?"

"Just that I wish for peace, but that I am prepared for war."

"With that, this is Remi Canada, signing off." Remi turned off the sound recording crystal.

"Are you going to sell copies of that?" Pixel tilted his head as he looked at the mass-produced magical item.

"No, probably not." Remi felt the weight of the crystal for a moment before he pocketed it. "It's more for validation and fact-checking. I'm a [Journalist], not an [Interviewer]." If [Interviewer] was a class. It probably would be soon, given the way things were going, but it wasn't for him.

"Very well." Pixel nodded. "Then I'll be-"

"Hang on." Remi interrupted him. "I have a story to tell you in return."

"Oh?"

Remi closed his eyes and nodded. "Yes. It's about my first few weeks after arriving here..."

"There were eighteen of us. We all arrived together in the desert. We, of course, had no idea what was going on. A prank. An abduction. We didn't know. It seemed more likely that we'd been drugged and kidnapped somehow... but there wasn't any... disorientation. Drugs don't knock you out, erase your memory, and then leave you completely alert and aware. At least no drug that I know of."

"We were from all over the world. We'd been inside an airport moments before. We were confused and disoriented. We talked and argued for hours until the sun set. The next morning... we all got our classes. [Explorer], [Traveler], [Survivor] - useful things not just for the Skills they gave us, but proof that this wasn't Earth. That magic or superpowers were real."

"A Garuda from a caravan spotted us. Those people took us in. They fed us. Gave us a place to sleep. Let us accompany them to their destination. It all seemed like... a game. Levels. Powers. Swords. Wands. We were still frightened of course, but there was a... sense of adventure. The reality hadn't set in. We thought it had, but... we were wrong."

"The long days of walking and riding opened our eyes somewhat, and that was when I started getting suspicious. Not of the world or what had happened. There was plenty of confusion there. How could a human-sized bird fly? How come all these people spoke English? What exactly were our classes and abilities? It was all so overwhelming, but we couldn't deny it was happening. It wasn't a dream, or a hallucination, or some elaborate prank. Even if it was - if our brains were in jars somewhere and this was all a bizarre simulation - what of it? There would be no point in denying reality."

"I was getting suspicious of our saviors. That isn't to say that most of them weren't good people, but there were... hints of an ulterior motive. What it was, I couldn't say, but the caravan leader seemed... too happy to see us. As if we were... cargo. I'd feared that we were being human trafficked, but, again, we had no real other choices. They fed and sheltered us and were friendly. There was no overt proof, until we got to our destination."

"It was a gigantic alien corpse, the size of a mountain and buried in the sand. Only its head was showing. Or, I should say, only its skull. It was like a twisted... jellyfish? Something from the depths of an ocean that couldn't exist and had tentacles. Lovecraftian. The eyes were gone, but I could still swear it was LOOKING at us!"

"The caravan leader laughed. He said that A'ctelios Salash had that effect on people who first saw it, but he assured us it was perfectly safe. That the creature had long been dead for thousands and thousands of years. That it was a refuge in the desert, and that its people were warm and friendly."

"We balked at it, of course. We argued. Some said that this world was magic and that living in a dead giant wasn't SO strange. Ivan was having none of it. He'd been on edge the entire trip. He and his girlfriend had literally been holding hands when he'd vanished. It was supposed to have been their first trip overseas, and he'd taken our predicament harder than most. In other words, he was suspicious like me. He didn't trust people that smiled, and he certainly didn't trust governments."

"It got heated, and Ivan left. Ai followed him. She hadn't spoken much, but the idea of entering that... thing was clearly too much for her. I, obviously, didn't enter either. The rest of them did. I don't know what happened to them, but... I've done some digging on A'ctelios Salash since then."

"They've existed for a long, long time. They're a 'Shield Kingdom'." Remi shrugged. "I'm not sure what being a Shield Kingdom entails, but there used to be more of them. They're generally small and don't get involved in world politics, but that's not why the ones that are still around continue to exist. That's because they're powerful, each in their own way.

He took a deep breath.

"A'ctelios Salash is said to house madness. Every citizen can regenerate mortal wounds and are stronger than a dozen men. They also don't fear death. Also, to conquer it, one would have to go inside - which no one has ever done successfully. Even the King of Destruction didn't dare it back when he conquered Chandrar. A'ctelios Salash surrendered, but no fighting ever happened."

Pixel nodded along with him.

"A'ctelios Salash only exports one thing: meat. I don't mean steaks or pork loins or something like that. Their meat is highly regulated. It's like... nuclear waste." Remi wasn't sure Pixel would get that reference, since his Earth was different, but he nodded like he did. "It's in sealed containers. It has special guards that watch it around the clock."

Pixel narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Eating the meat has the possibility of giving people powers. I'm not sure about the details, because everyone I spoke to only knew about it from hearsay."

Pixel glanced towards Oliphant on the horizon. "So you think that the other Earthers were slaughtered like cattle for their meat? That A'ctelios Salash is a city of cannibals?"

"Actually..." Remi paused. "I did think that at first, but then I saw the meat. Or, at least, I saw its packaging." He held his hands apart. "It's massive cubes. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be possible to kill someone and process them like a sausage to make something that big, but..."

"It's just too much."

"Exactly. Besides," Remi shrugged. "It's not a secret where A'ctelios Salash gets the stuff from. Their whole purpose is to 'mine' it from their city."

"Mine it?" Pixel asked incredulously.

"Yes." Remi nodded. "Whatever A'ctelios Salash is, it doesn't rot. People defeated it in the ancient past, and their ancestors chopped it up from the inside. Its flesh is incredibly resilient... so they eat it to get rid of it."

"So that's why they export it?"

"I guess. I couldn't find anyone who'd ever actually eaten the stuff, so it's just hearsay on my part. There has to be a market for it, otherwise it wouldn't sell. All the restrictions..."

"Sounds like a drug trade."

"Yeah. I also had the same thought."

"So what do you think happened to the rest of your group? If they weren't killed and eaten?"

"I don't know." Remi slumped down. "I admit that I have no proof that anything bad actually happened. It's not like we could keep in contact after we split up. I don't even know where Ivan and Ai are. I also haven't gone back there to check on them."

"That's probably for the best."

"Yeah. If some place looks 'evil' and people tell you how you're... misunderstanding them, it just makes you even more wary, right?" Or at least it made Remi feel that way.

Pixel closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and staring at him. "Do you have a map, or directions?"

"So you're going?"

"Of course. If it was a creepy city that wasn't bothering anyone, that would be one thing, but if there are people from Earth that need help?" Pixel stood up. "Then I'm going to go help them."

"I hope that's the case." Remi agreed as he began to riffle through his bag. He didn't hold out much hope of them still being alive.

'Sibby.' I spoke to her through our connection. 'I have another place I need to visit. This is going to take longer I think. If you want to stay with-'

I felt our connection break, and then re-establish as the Siberian summoned herself next to me. 'Laila will be fine.' Sibby smiled at me. 'Real people don't break.'

"Okay." I used Tongue of Babel to make an image of the map Remi had shown me. "We're here." A section lit up. "And I think our target is around... here." Another part glowed. "We might have to fly around a bit, or stop and ask for directions, or follow a caravan if we see one."

'So, we're investigating?' Sibby's eyes gleamed.

"Exactly." I nodded and then un-Inventoried the glass plane. "If you will." I bowed towards Sibby while extending my arm to the plane. She smiled and strutted past me. I thought about just teleporting into my seat, but that felt excessive and lazy. Instead I clamored in after her.

Moments later, we were in the air and invisible except for the window Sibby left open to let us observe the ground below. No light reflected back, so we would look like a small shady blur if anyone bothered to look up.

...

It actually didn't take too long to reach A'ctelios Salash now that Sibby was providing fast travel. Three hours. Less time than it'd taken us to fly to Roshal. Remi had said that one of its names was the 'Carven City', and we'd several roads carved into the desert sand, they were easy to follow as we flew overhead.

The city was exactly as Remi had described it. The skull of something that looked more like a gigantic jellyfish than a human. Five eyes dotted its outside, and were the only points of ingress. I Observed it without mana, expecting a lot of '?' from Optimize.

[A'ctelios Salash

Gender: n/a
Age: 6.71232 Billion Years
Race: Dimensional Collapser
Faction: n/a
Origin: 4.33634, 2.35367, 4.99543, 9.73721

?

Debuffs:
Physical Deformity x4,343,606
Dreaming]