A dozen floors below the surface, behind multiple foot-thick layers of magically enhanced concrete and at least three layers of rituals, was the single highest security laboratory at the Banner facility outside of Toronto. Under other circumstances, I would have said David and the Banner were being paranoid, but narrowly avoiding being subjected to a half dozen rounds of decontamination protocols left me unwilling to comment. Lest David go right back to requesting I follow the protocols, which would involve several boiling showers, burning my clothes, a chemical wash and some sort of vibrational skin stripping that sounded deeply uncomfortable at best, and agonizing at worst.

  Which he had requested no less than three times already.

  I was no more inclined to listen to him than I was the first time; if anything, I was more inclined to ignore the man.

  Myself and David Giffle were joined by Uncle Wolf on the outside of the thick pane of reinforced Glass that let us view the operating theatre where several individuals were decked out in full hazmat gear. David had stated in no uncertain terms that none of the three of us would be entering the operating theatre while the autopsy was underway. Both for safety reasons and so that the clean room wouldn't be contaminated. The three of us clustered together around the large viewing window, staring intently at the room on the other side as the researchers puttered about, retrieving various tools and measuring devices. Often, using them once or twice before returning them to their original place.

  Clearly, these were experienced professionals, ones who were taking no chances and no risks they didn't absolutely have to. I supposed that in the end I couldn't blame them. Their voices, tinny and layered through the aircon duct hum, ran a breathless monologue as they cut, antagonized, and irradiated what had once been Victor's team member. Once been Matt Thorne, now just a thing—a black, chitin clad corpse with all the wrong suggestions of the human being it might once have been. Every new step brought a chorus of muttered "huh" and "oh, that's not right," tones that started as clinical and frightless, but grew more agitated and disturbed by the minute.

  My own senses weren't impeded by the glass or other protections that clouded the operating theatre; I could see and sense for myself how unsettling the monster's corpse was. There was hardly any remnant mana clinging to the corpse at all, unlike any other monster I'd ever seen or killed myself. All that remained were traces, traces with the barest whiff of several mana signatures. I could feel the unease radiating from every person past the glass.

  The three of us stood silently listening as the researchers documented each step and test.

  “No remnant mana detected belonging to the creature, note several other mana signatures present. One unknown, one matching Banner records for Operative Matt Thorne, another matching records for Banner Operative Sofia Martinez.” The man paused for a moment as if to better articulate his thoughts, “The former likely from transformation, and the latter likely possible from combat. Note, external mana absorption possible and likely. Means unknown.” The clinical voice of the lead researcher came through slightly tinny over the intercom as he made notes into a voice recorder.

  I nodded to myself, that all made sense, and I knew Sofia well enough to be able to recognize her mana signature. Perhaps that was how the monster had survived the initial barrage from Sofia in the battle; it had absorbed some of the magic? There was no way of knowing for sure at the moment. It was certainly a workable hypothesis, though. From beside me, I could feel the tension in Uncle Wolf and David ratchet up several degrees while the researchers continued to voice their notes aloud. I turned a questioning look to David, who coughed to cover his discomfort.

  "Monsters are beings that are primarily comprised of mana. For a monster to appear, let alone one that was posing as one of our own, to have no remnant mana of its own is highly concerning."

  "It's why dungeons consume the bodies after the monsters are slain; it's just energy at that point. Waiting to be changed into another form." Uncle Wolf continued where David left off. "It's why looting powers work, and accelerate the breakdown of the physical body, the ability consumes the remnant mana from the corpse and refines it into something useful."

  I nodded in understanding, that explained quite a lot. I had noticed that looting monster bodies made them vanish in short order, far faster than if they were left behind. I just hadn't ever questioned it. Most of my own interest in monsters began and ended with 'kill it' and 'loot it', with a smattering of interest in the history and lore that some of them were spawned from. That was why the Banner employed people like the researchers in the other room, though they were always expanding the Banner's knowledge base in one way or another.

  David nodded, a grim look on his face, added, "The fact that this creature isn't made of mana, or containing much or any of its own, is both unusual and incredibly concerning. Our normal impostor detection systems might not catch it, or others like it." David's concern was highlighted a moment later as another of the researchers came back from a long bench on the other side of the room holding what looked like some sort of metallic probe as long as my forearm, with a glass bulb several inches wide mounted on the end. The researcher held the probe out towards the corpse as if they were expecting the bulb to do something, to react in some way. There was no change.

  “Subject lacks remnant aura signature, as well as remnant mana signature.” The researcher said offhandedly before moving to return the prob to the bench where they had gotten it.

  “Didn’t have one while it was alive either,” I muttered to myself, noting the way that David and Uncle Wolf glanced at me in surprise.

  Surprise that was quickly followed by further concern.

  ——-

  I stepped out of the lab, leaving Uncle Wolf and David behind to oversee the rest of the autopsy. I had questions that needed answers. I also had a source of information that had promised at least some answers. Quick, silent steps carried me down the blank concrete corridor away from the lab. After rounding a corner, I paused.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Letting out a sigh, I leaned back against the wall, hands finding their way into my pockets, "Alright, Vipera, I need something here. There are too many questions without answers, or answers that make no sense." I said, staring off into space while I waited for my familiar to answer. She had been keeping far more secrets than I was happy with, but I also understood she had her reasons, and I did trust her. However, the way she had reacted to the monster that was currently on a slab in the next room was a bridge too far for me to remain silent on the issue. If there was a threat, I needed to know about it; I couldn't exist blind to the world and what was out there. Not as a Ranker, that was how you got yourself killed. That particular lesson had been abundantly clear from day one, hour zero.

  "I know," My constant companion's familiar voice came from over my shoulder as her coils manifested themselves around me, "unfortunately, I can't offer you as many answers as either of us would like, despite my continued promises that answers are coming. I understand your frustration, I truly do."

  "Anything you can tell me for context at this point would be appreciated. I feel like I'm shooting in the dark and someone keeps moving the target every time I get a glimpse of something in the murk." I tried to keep the edge of frustration out of my tone, not that it mattered; I knew Vipera could feel it through the bond that connected us.

  "I have mentioned a wider stage, larger concerns, yes?" Vipera went on, "This is one of those larger concerns reaching in with one of its filthy fingers." I could sense a wave of revulsion in Vipera at the thought, tinged with fear. Fear and worry. "A filthy finger, belonging to something hungry," I felt the moment Vipera went stiff, as if something ran a current through her body. I stiffened similarly, but for different reasons, I recognized that inflection. That emphasis. The way the descriptor was almost a name. A name for something out there in the dark, something that was always hungry. A name that shouldn't be spoken lest it draw the attention of its owner. For just a moment, I felt as if there was something crawling into my mind, almost bleeding, leaking in from somewhere else. Like blackened oil dripping through the cracks.

  "I can say no more on the subject; I have already said more than I should."

  The moment snapped, and I shook myself from the strange focus that had come over me, mind skittering away from that train of thought. I growled frustration bleeding through. I was certain that even if I asked, Vipera wouldn't tell me what that was.

  "At least tell me if the danger is past. You seemed absolutely certain that it needed to die right then and there, no matter what."

  She bobbed her head in the affirmative, bright blue eyes shining in the fluorescent hallway light, "I believe so, there is no way to be certain, but I believe we were in time."

  I let out a sigh, "Well, there's that at least, I guess." I couldn't help being disappointed. I had hoped she would be able to tell me more. Instead, I was again left with more questions than I started with. Why the desperation? Why the lack of mana? Why the transformation, the impersonation, the hiding, the inscrutable rules? Dozens of questions swirled in my mind on repeat.

  “In better news, the resonance event you experienced means there are other things that I can tell you about.” I could practically feel the grin on her face through the bond we shared.

  "Oh?" I looked over in askance, "Don't keep me in suspense, do tell, I could use some good news."

  "Well, to put it in simpler terms, a Resonance event is something that can happen, rarely, when two things resonate through the System. Share a connection." Vipera explained, "In this case, I am relatively certain the being you met shares an ancestral link with your bloodline, likely Patriarch or Progenitor." She paused for a moment as if considering. "I find the idea of that entity, being your Primogenitor, highly unlikely, but I am unable to completely discount the possibility either."

  I stared blankly at Vipera for several long moments while I tried to parse what she was attempting to explain. My mind spiralled outwards, trying to connect the things I had no concept of to some frame of reference I could understand. It was as if I were staring at a painting I could only see one small corner of, and attempting to discern the main subject of the painting. Whatever conclusions I might draw would be woefully incomplete at best without a better view.

  She let out a throaty chuckle after a moment, "I suppose that was quite a bit of jargon for you, wasn't it, dear?"

  I just nodded in response.

  "Very well, your own bloodline is extremely pure, yes? You likely have a Hegemon Title?" I nodded, pulling up the exact title Vipera was talking about and read it for her. I had gained the title before we had been bonded, and now that I thought about it, we had never sat down and gone over our stat sheets since she had become able to talk. Hell, I had no idea if she could even see mine at all, even if I could see hers. I'd had to put some effort in to make that happen back in the Soul-Sheer.

  [Bloodline Hegemon] - Bloodline Hegemons are individuals with extremely potent Bloodlines, and an exceedingly high purity. These individuals are unable to claim the status of Primogenitor, Progenitor or Patriarch for one reason or another. +1 to Luck Attribute per level.

  Well, that explained where some of the jargon had come from at least.

  “So Primogenitor, Progenitor and Patriarch are different bloodline titles?” I questioned

  "Just so, with varying effects. Keep in mind that sharing a bloodline does not necessarily mean you share a familial connection. Bloodlines are a strange thing that the System can interact with in odd ways." She paused for a moment while I absorbed that new bit of information and began to consolidate it with everything else. "So, Titles, Hegemon Titles are for those who have the qualifications to claim a higher Title, but haven't or have not been able to for one reason or another. Patriarch is a leadership Title, a Patriarch, or Matriarch, as the case may be, is granted to someone who leads a portion of a consolidated bloodline. Don't ask. I can't answer."

  Vipera turned a sharp gaze on me as I had been about to ask, and I put on my best innocent look, glancing away. Though I couldn't hide the smirk in time. She let out a short chuckle, bumping her head against my cheek before continuing. I snickered and patted her head in return. I'd have to take what I could get here.

  “A Progenitor Title, is granted to someone who has created a completely new bloodline, or a new branch of an existing one. While the Primogenitor Title takes that a step further, it is granted to someone who has become the origin point for multiple bloodlines.”

  I nodded as things clicked into place, “And you think that, whatever he was, is the Progenitor, the source, of my bloodline?”

  "I believe so, yes, there are other factors that contribute to that idea, but yes. Resonance events allow beings that share certain kinds of connections to reach out to one another with the assistance of the System. Bloodlines, are one such connection."

  “So, this Progenitor decided to make use of the Resonance to help me out, just because? I find that vanishingly unlikely.”

  "And so you should," Vipera laughed at the disbelieving look plastered on my face. I didn't believe normal people were good and helpful just because they could be. Let alone some sort of extra-dimensional super spider. "The higher bloodline Titles are often unusual, and kept highly secret. What is known, however, is that they are usually unique in some way and somehow benefit from the strength of the bloodline as a whole. Strengthening you likely strengthens himself."

  “Now that makes more sense, so what super spider helps out the kiddos when the opportunity presents itself, because it also helps him?”

  “Close enough,”

  "So what's the good news in there other than super spider probably thinks I owe him a favour?"

  I could sense the wide grin that Vipera’s serpentine face couldn’t quite physically manage beyond a strange cheshire approximation. “It means there’s almost certainly more to that Skill you gained than is immediately obvious.”

  I grinned back, “You were right, that is good news.”

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