Thaedric shivered on the ground, the pain was fading but still, he couldn’t move. His right eye was burning and with the memories that the Beyonder gave him he knew it was because of the technique.

In time, he stood up. It might have been like an eternity for him but for others, it was like seconds. Thaedric was feeling powerful, his strength was already doubled as he was already in Tier Two, rank three.

Thaedric shuddered. ’It took me to tier two, rank three. I doubt I’ll ever have any chance of raising my tiers like this ever again’

But still, Thaedric was thinking of another thing. "Why do you give me just one technique? And why is it tied to my tier?"

The Beyonder laughed, a low chuckle that sounded like two mountains rubbing together. It was disconnecting hearing the laugh from a body that wasn’t his. "A little greedy aren’t you? But giving you one technique is the ideal thing to do. You can’t handle more than one for now. When you are stronger come and learn more."

"Besides. I can’t give you more technique by putting it in your head, you will have to learn it in the traditionally way, you think you can control a technique higher than your tier? This one will grow with you. And know this, the technique is not mine."

Thaedric grunted, he didn’t understand the last part. But still, he was glad that he could still come here when he was ready to learn more. ’Now that it is out of the way. Time to learn what an ancient like Beyonder wants to gain with a contract with me’

Thaedric opened his mouth to speak but a splitting sound sounded around them. The Beyonder frowned and looked down at Thaedric. "Our time grows short, little one. We will talk when you are back here. If you can be back here."

Then still in the body of the Risen Star, he turned to the others. "No one must hear of what happened here. I will tear you apart if that happens. He is the contractor of Risen Star, that’s what should be on your lips."

They all bowed to him and he turned to Thaedric once more as the splitting sounds got closer. "You better be on your way." Then he was gone and green eyes were looking at him curiously.

"Welcome." She said, lurched herself into the air, and was gone too.

"What the..." Thaedric began but he was interrupted by something that pierced the air towards him, burning with a cold blue light.

"Run!" Sandskar shouted in his head.

Thaedric didn’t have to be told twice. Whatever that was, it was the size of an average skyscraper. He quickly started towards the way where he was dropped earlier. His legs were firmer on the sands and he flew over them, courtesy of his new tier.

Behind him, Lightning Dragon rose into the air and threw the ball he had been holding since. The ice and the lightning ball collided and sent a shockwave of cold and chunks of ice flying.

"What exactly is that?" Thaedric asked as he ran.

Someone laughed beside him. It was Yama riding a big dog that kept pace with Thaedric easily. "There are those here that are...not that sane. They hate anyone coming through the portal and you don’t want to face that one."

"You!" Thaedric began spearing only a glance at him.

"Yes me. I am the contractor of Malak. And I can smell him on you. I will save you from your current situation. In return, keep an eye out for Malak."

Thaedric knew Yama was trying to take advantage of him but when he looked back and saw a storm of ripping ice that cracked and split the ground like an earthquake and the three ice spears that headed it, he changed his opinion. "Very well. It’s a deal!"

Yama laughed and howled.

Something bumped Thaedric from behind and threw him up, he landed with a huff on the back of a giant black dog. Thaedric wanted to throw a glare at Yama but he was gone. He had another thing to worry about.

The could feel the cold now, covering him even though it was still a bit far. Thaedric looked back and saw something that chilled him.

At the front and on top of the storm was an Ancient riding it, he was pale like the cold, eyes shining with cruel blue light. His face was like the storm he was riding. He gestured and the ice spears splintered into pieces that shot off even faster than before.

"Faster!" Thaedric shouted and the dog ran faster, its growls getting swallowed by the sound of ice sweeping the sands.

Then the portal loomed in front of them, black as ink. But there was a problem, its surface was broken but the dog wasn’t slowing down.

"Wait...!" Thaedric didn’t want to be thrown into a portal that was collapsing. Then the dog straightened, still running but now with two legs. It gripped Thaedric and threw him, cloak and all.

An ice spear passed through the dog’s heart and headed for Thaedric. All he saw before darkness swallowed him whole was a bloody ice spear coming for his head.

Darkness twisted around him. He opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out. Faces of things blurred before him and he felt for an instance as if he was being pulled in a difficult direction at once.

Then he was spat out out the other side.

Thaedric hit the floor with a thud, followed closely by an ice spear that brought cold with it as it swept through the room and made all the people waiting shiver.

"Impossible!" Orso’s angry shout reached his ears. "You broke the mirror that led to the darkroom! What in the shitty bloodline is going on!"

Thaedric rolled over and looked up. His heart was beating fast. He couldn’t he just survived that, the storm was just about to sweep him away and the portal nearly tore him apart.

"Is this your world?" A voice that sounded so familiar asked.