Chapter 85: Gear Shift

Chapter 85: Gear ShiftYui’s body refused to move, every muscle aching as he forced himself up onto trembling arms. The man’s gaze shifted toward Yui, cold and calculating, then flicked briefly to Kimi, who lay unmoving nearby.

The man approached Yui, extending a hand. A small black orb materialized in his palm, and Yui’s heart skipped a beat. He braced himself, teeth gritted, expecting a blow or worse—

But the orb simply floated inches from his face.

Yui grimaced, waiting... but nothing happened.

The woman called out impatiently, "We need to go. We’ve got less than a few minutes before full backup arrives, and it’s going to get even bloodier."

The man—Silas—sighed deeply. "I know. I was just hoping to avoid losing so many on our side." His voice carried genuine regret. "It’s really a shame."

His eyes caught something else, just beyond them—a suit, battered but intact, hanging on a nearby post. Elara’s suit. Silas quickly snatched it up, his gaze then shifting to where Elias and Elara lay on the ground, motionless.

He paused, considering. "Vincent must have used the gas on her. This would be an ideal time to take her shard..."

As he stepped toward them, a sudden chill raced down his spine. Yui had somehow staggered to his feet, swaying but defiant.

"You thought you’d just... do whatever you wan—"

Before Yui could finish, the world around him suddenly went dark, as though someone had flipped a switch in his mind. His thoughts blurred, consciousness slipping just enough to disconnect him from reality for a brief moment.



When he snapped back, he was still standing, swaying on his feet, eyes wide with confusion.

The first thing he saw was the aircraft lifting off, rising steadily into the sky until it became nothing but a distant speck blending with the clouds above.

Yui’s fists clenched, frustration surging through him as dozens of fleet ships began to descend around the ruined resort, their lights casting long shadows over the wreckage. Civilians slowly emerged from hiding, medics swiftly moving in to tend to minor wounds.

Exhaustion finally overtook Yui as he fell backward, landing on the broken tiles, eyes staring blankly up at the sky. I’ve failed utterly, he thought, as consciousness slipped away again.

Elias lay on the cold ground beside Elara, breathing softly, watching as the ship passed over the sky. He muttered weakly, "At least he didn’t manage to steal our shards... I suppose."

Elara sighed deeply, turning her head slightly toward Elias. "Yeah, I guess... And I didn’t lose my life today. So, I’ll take it as a win. Though losing that suit... even if it was torn up... I can’t imagine how much trouble I’ll be in this time." Her words faded off as her eyes closed slowly, slipping into a short, exhausted sleep.

Elias watched her from the corner of his eye, letting out a tired sigh as he saw her soft breathing confirm she was asleep. He turned his head back toward the sky, focusing on the drifting clouds.

Then—a sudden DING.

The familiar panel flashed in front of his eyes, startling him. Dot’s softly plopped down onto his bruised head, staring curiously up at the glowing screen.

Elias’s eyes were barraged as an array of words and numbers rolling in front of him until he focused in from the top.

[Skill Tree Unlocked] – Creationist: Skill Development Path

The panel flickered, shifting rapidly before stabilizing into a structured interface, displaying Dot’s evolving abilities in a new branching format.

???? Creationist: Skill Tree ????

A skill path that enhances Dot’s ability to create, amplify, and refine her constructs.

???? Core Skills ???? (Base Branch)

???? Conjure Object (1/5)

→ Dot’s ability to create physical objects using energy. Higher levels increase complexity, durability, and size.

???? Knowledge Recall (1/5)

→ ??? (System Error: Locked data. Higher levels may restore lost memories or increase access to stored knowledge.)

⚡ Energy Amplification (1/5)

→ ??? (Enhances the output and effectiveness of constructs. Might be tied to external energy sources.)

???? Construct Stability (1/5)

→ ??? (Strengthens Dot’s creations, reducing the chance of failure, increasing durability, and allowing longer-lasting constructs.)

???? Locked Skill Paths (2/5)

→ Unknown abilities waiting to be unlocked through mastery or unique conditions. All skills must be leveled up to at least (2/5)

???? Skill Tree Branching Paths

At Skill Level 2, new pathways will open, allowing for specialization.

Example Path’s for Ikona.

???? Path of the Architect (Focus: Building & Large-Scale Constructs)

???? Advanced Creation → Constructs can be larger and multi-component.???? Material Fusion → Mix different materials or energies for unique effects.⚙ Auto-Stabilization → Self-repairing or longer-lasting creations.

???? Path of the Artificer (Focus: Weapons & Utility Constructs)

???? Combat Tools → Specialize in weaponized constructs.???? Defensive Barriers → Create shields & armor from energy.???? Energy Retention → Amplify or store external energy within constructs.

???? Path of the Archivist (Focus: Knowledge & Recall)

???? Memory Restoration → Unlocks lost knowledge from Dot’s past.???? Intuitive Creation → Instantly replicate objects from memory.???? Future Sight → Preemptively predict the best construct for a situation.

???? Path of the Tactician (Focus: Battlefield Strategy & Amplification)

???? Resonance Constructs → Amplify allies’ abilities using energy.???? Multi-Construct Deployment → Place multiple creations at once.???? Detonative Constructs → Set time-delayed or impact-triggered explosions.

???? Skill Unlock Conditions



To level up, Dot’s abilities need to be tested under different conditions, pushing past the limits of current creation power.

???? Soul Energy is gained by:

✅ Successfully Meeting new goals

✅ Using constructs in combat, support, or strategy.

✅ Discovering new applications for knowledge recall or energy amplification.

✅ Overcoming construct failures or weaknesses.

✅ Soul Energy accumulation is calculated at the end of each day and distribution is offered at the end.

???? Future Potential: Creationist Awakening ????

Once all Core Skills reach Level 5, a hidden ability will awaken, evolving Dot’s Creationist role into something far greater.

???? System Notification:

✨ New Skill Tree Unlocked!

✨ Progression Now Available!

Dot, still perched on Elias’s head, blinked rapidly at the glowing screen hovering in front of them. She tilted her tiny body, wings twitching in curiosity before turning to face him.

"I’m not sure what all of this is, but I think... through soul energy, we can upgrade things about me? Make me more useful during fights?"

She waited.

Silence.

Dot hovered down to see Elias’s face—only to find him already fast asleep.

She puffed up in mild irritation. "Unbelievable! You unlock some kind of crazy evolution screen, and you just pass out?!"

Her tiny sigh was barely audible over the distant hum of fleet ships overhead.

She turned, scanning the area. Elara was asleep too, her breathing even, her face slack with exhaustion. Floating just above her was Cubes, her Ikona, lazily drifting as though standing guard.

Dot flitted over, tapping on Cubes’s side. "Hey, do you have the weird screen popping up for you? I feel like we should have an Ikona gathering or something."

Cubes spun slightly, blinking its round, glassy eyes at her. "You’re pretty."

Dot nearly choked on air. "H-Huh? What does that have to do with anything?"

Cubes blinked again. "Oh, um. Yes. She unlocked hers a while ago, I think. When they first started getting the penalty for moving or something? My memory isn’t great..."

Dot crossed her arms. "Wait—you guys haven’t upgraded anything?"

Cubes wobbled slightly. "No. She’s... weird about using me. Or her own power, really. I hope she’ll open up one day."

Dot glanced at Elara, her usual smirk gone, replaced by exhaustion.

"I see..." she muttered.

For a brief moment, something in Dot’s mind itched, like a missing puzzle piece just out of reach. Her jumbled memories. The fragments she couldn’t quite piece together.

She pushed the thought away.

"I’m hoping to meet the Doctor again."

The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her attention back to reality.

A group of medics approached, carefully lifting Elias onto a stretcher, securing straps over his arms and chest.


Dot fluttered back, watching as they carried him away.

"Well, I guess we’ll see each other later," she said to Cubes, giving a small wave.

Dot phased deeper into Elias’s chest, her tiny form slipping through muscle and bone, drawn toward the familiar warmth of the shard.

The crystal pulsed softly, its glow faint yet steady, its surface now interwoven with thin, delicate tendrils of blood vessels that connected it more intimately to Elias’s body.



Dot placed her small Ikona hands against it, a quiet hum escaping her as the warmth spread through her tiny frame.

So refreshing...

Slowly, she let herself sink further into the shard, her body drifting weightlessly inside the glowing core. The gentle rhythm of its pulses lulled her into sleep, her mind slipping into a deep, undisturbed rest.

Hours passed.

Then—Elias’s eyes snapped open.

His body jerked upright, a sharp inhale filling his lungs as he quickly scanned his surroundings.

He was back.

The endless cloud-like floor stretched out beneath him, the soft, shifting mist beneath his fingers exactly as he remembered. But before he could process it fully, his gaze drifted forward—

And there, at the very edge of the space, stood the Doctor.

For a moment, Elias just stared, blinking away the lingering haze of sleep as he rubbed his temple.

His eyes flickered to the right—and his breath hitched.

A reflection.