Chapter 69: Clear Path.

It is not just me who is lifted up by a hexagonal tile; I can see a great number of people in a similar situation, going into the white hole above our heads.

A blinding whitish light obstructs my view for a couple of seconds, revealing that I am on a platform almost identical to the previous one, except that it is plagued by an infinity of beings and creatures that I have never seen or heard before.

They have extravagant colors, irregular shapes and even their appearance is strange, with more, less or no eyes at all, on top of that, the variety is greatly vast in their clothing and technological prowess in general, as some are incredibly primitive while others look like Advance Artificial Life Forms.

{The diversity in the Mall of Aiottaralc was spectacular, but this is on a whole different scale}

The translucent Barrier preventing my movement goes down, unleashing a turmoil of smells, Zöhår and Vyåhö emanations with other waves overwhelming my senses.

{Are this electromagnetic waves?, They are too precise to be accidental; Maybe this is a type of language, all of them, even the pheromones and the variations in the Zöhår and Vyåhö}

To prevent any mishaps, I canalize my Vyåhö to reinforce my body and constantly scan my belongings.

{If PROTOCOL wasn't bluffing, all newbies here would probably be picked up by someone "Stronger", and I belong to the former because I do not know anything about this place}

During my walk, I can hear several unknown languages, as well as one or two individuals who can speaks one of the languages that are familiar to me.

• Preparations Complete.

• Next Destination In 3:17:58 Hours.

{So there are no more Habitable Planets around here; *Sigh*, Until I see you again Clarattoia and Aiottaralc, Thank you for taking me under your protection…}

A tiny variation of mass interrupts my thoughts, the displacement of this Deployment Platform causes a jolt, but someone or something genuinely stole an object from the external pockets of my backpack.

Enraged, I turn towards the thief, drawing my Combat Pistol and shooting without hesitation an [Ionic Strike] at the head of a small greenish entity that is carrying a small bottle of my mine that I believe is liquor.

The energetic shot obliterates the thief's head, surprisingly, spreading brain matter over the hexagonal tiles; An impressive oddity, as someone so stupid to steal from me doesn't have an actual empty skull.

• Score "+8" (8)

No one around me seems to be upset or surprised by what I did, and I don't see any kind of Enforcer here either, so I take back what was stolen from me and continue with my strolling.

{PROTOCOL does anything for "Score", Or that is the impression I have after the poor understanding I have over "IT"; More relevant, What are the Planets we are heading to?}

• Pharamïr - Zenith 0 - Level 1

› Population - 96.8%

› Size - Average

• Rïmarahp - Zenith 0 - Level 1

› Population - 97.1%

› Size - Average

• Kahanthar - Zenith 0 - Level 8

› Population - 83.4%

› Size - Small

• Rahtnahak - Zenith 1 - Level 14

› Population - 99.8%

› Size - Extra Small

• Yarnak - Zenith 2 - Level 29

› Population 99.9%

› Hyper Small

• Kanray - Zenith 1 - Level 12

› Population - 72.9%

› Size - Very Large

{Wow!, Six Planets!, Well, Three and their Counterparts, but, shouldn't they be more, similar, it feels off the disparity between Size and Population; Could it be a trick from PROTOCOL?}

Looking at the possibilities, one factor is obvious, smaller size, more danger; More size, more space the inhabitants have to hide, in any case, I am at a disadvantage, and I am very sure that I will only have the first two as an option, after all, I am Zenith 0.

Walking with no course, I see there is an area that has a dark green solid metal floor instead of the hexagonal Bismuthic tiles.

Stepping into this place, an alarm sounds, being surrounded in seconds by various individuals of different sizes but all of them are wearing a type of metal armored vest made of extremly dark green scales

One of them bellows at me, perhaps is its way of giving me a warning "—I don't understand you, but if any of you attack me, I will respond in an equivalent way".

The one who spoke before taps his helmet a couple of times, it doesn't seem like an insult or some kind of signal, so I wait a little longer, and this gives him time to answer me.

—I asked what kind of "Debtor" you are?.

—There are different Types?!.

The surprise of my exclamation earns me several guttural laughs from them, as well as getting a few responses.

—There are Two classes of Debtors that can go "Out" of a Deployment Platform without being sended to fight on a Planet, Those whose Score exceeds their debt, Paying it to have some liberties; Or "Debtors Per Association", It means you were in the wrong place at an even worse time.

{I was correct then, I have the punishment just for being present at that moment}

"—I only have 8 of Score, So probably the latter"; My words makes them laugh again as another comment caughts my attention.

—That is the dream!, all the benefits of PROTOCOL without the drawbacks, you can abuse the Deployment Platforms and don't add Debt to your Score.

{If that is true, I could have asked more questions and gotten the answers, *Sigh*, nothing to do, unless…}

—Can I Do Questions to the Deployment Platforms or not being punished by a Forced Extraction?.

—He is not dumb "Compañeros"!…

{"Compañeros"?, Like "Companions"?}

—Not Only that, each "Precept" gives a reward, just think on how valuable is having the "Talent" fully unlocked!; I don't know what could it be the Reward of this Precept, but has to be good.

{So I am not obligated to do fulfill this, but if I complete the "Precept", I earn "Something", and with no time limit, I can take this slowly}

—How do I obtain an Armor like yours?.

—Kill a Ss'ahbv, and bring their body to any Base of the Companions, the Headquarters are slightly better but most of them are far from here; *Grhgrh*, Anyone who has the guts and courage to face those lizards, is a Companion and deserves a Vest like the one we have, more armor, with more dangerous and powerful Ss'ahbv.

{Curious, everyone got silent at the mention of this Ss'ahbv, is fear and respect with terror and hate across the expressions and postures of all the people present}

—But before you become Dark Green, you have to be less Green, join the Academy of Shar'Uth…

—Don't listen to him, that Academy sucks, "E.S.C.A.R.S." is…

—Garbage too!…

A few of these people start to brawl, hitting each other with their fists, tentacles or tails.

{I don't know about an "Academy", First Shtra'Yon, then the Zenith Embryon, each occasion I want to form part of an educational institution, everything goes sideways; Maybe this time is the "Good One", or "Third One"}

Various Individuals of a formal attire compared to the "Companions" approach us after the fuss starts to scale a bit more.

"—What is happening here?"; One of them asks, and the answer is fast "—We want to tell this Rookie the Best Academy for him".

—The Companions always making a commotion for such a minor thing, "Ôwrïn'Yktr" is the best option.

The stamps they wear on their shoulders does not show this name, in fact, says "Sertralina Academy III".

—Ôwrïn'Ykrt has high standards, a rookie is not likely to pass…

—Is the best option, if not, go to the third best, "Sertralina"…

After this comment, they leave and the Companions stop their friendly fight.

{So the second opinion is Bad?, Or there is rivalry there?}

I ask "—Ôwrïn'Ykrt was the name?, How do I go there?".

They laugh and point in the same direction with their different limbs.

—Getting admitted in Ôwrïn'Ykrt is not really that complicated, staying there is the problem, everything costs Score, If you go unprepared, your life can be way worse than being a Debtor for PROTOCOL…

—Also the rich people of each Planet usually end up there because they are taken before The Restriction is lifted, I don't know the details but PROTOCOL and Ôwrïn'Ykrt are not in the best terms because of this misdoing of the Academy; They usually clash a little but can become more if PROTOCOL doesn't cool off.

{So the whirlwind of the bluish purple and the hexagon patterns that I saw on Clarattoia were the Ôwrïn'Ykrt Academy?, If so, would I encounter my acquittances?, They would hate or accept what I did?}

—Thanks for this orientation, I would repay the favor…

More laughs are heard as I walk in the direction they signal for me; A vertical octagon perimeter made of metal is not too far, a few people try to walk through it, and they are shot back.

{I see this reaction before, is what protected the Incrusted Debris in Clarattoia from the Bismuthic Amalgamation}