Zero to Peak: Ascension Online

The Authority Place was a masterclass in neoclassical architecture. The building featured a prominent central dome covered in copper and gold leaf that gleamed under the ambient light. A large portico with tall, imposing columns stood at the main entrance. Symmetrical wings extended from this central point, also featuring columns and classical architectural elements. The façade of each wing incorporated a bow-front design, adding a sense of grandeur and visual interest to their expansive length. In the foreground, a formal landscape with meticulously manicured hedges and a still, reflective pool completed the picture of stately order.

The entire property was enclosed by a barrier. Massive pillars of pale stone anchored imposing sections of black wrought iron, each heavy bar tipped with a gleaming spearhead, a clear deterrent to any unauthorised entry.

The sliding gate at the entrance moved silently to the right, granting Ivan and his possessed crew access to the property. They strode across the empty plaza, their footsteps the only sound, and arrived at the foot of the massive, wide stairs that led to the portico. The grounds held a serene ambience, so calm and undisturbed that no one would have suspected an invasion had just taken place here. The quiet was unnerving.

As he approached the main doors, Ivan sensed a number of powerful presences inside the building. He wondered if they were all aliens. He focused his intent on one of the possessed soldiers, using Knowledge Eater to access its recent memories. Fortunately, this particular soldier was aware of the Unds that had entered the building.

The information flooded his mind: there were twenty Transcendent-ranked aliens and two Gold Transcendent-ranked aliens inside. These aliens were currently trying to breach barriers and get their hands on cornered human beings.

Ivan and his crew proceeded into the building without pause. They entered directly into a grand, high-ceilinged hallway.

"Good, another unfortunate human being," an unseen speaker said, its voice echoing from the shadows above.

Ivan looked up and saw an alien draped in a long, hooded gown. The creature's features were veiled within the deep hood; only the bright, predatory red glow of its eyes could be seen.

"And this one has some uniqueness," the alien continued, its voice a low rasp. "If I had not been watching, I would not have noticed its approach."

The alien landed with a heavy thud on the marble floor, dropping from its perch on the ceiling. Four pairs of arachnid-like legs supported its bulky frame. Each leg was a series of sharp, angular segments made of a hard, glossy black carapace, tapering down to a wicked point instead of a foot. This gave the creature a powerful and unnervingly stable stance.

"I will boil you in your armour and pry an opening from which I will suck out your jellified flesh," the alien said, its voice thick with a fervent gluttony.

Ivan was surprised that the alien had not noticed that something was profoundly wrong with his arrival. It was obvious that the creature had seen him arrive outside the property. It must have seen the sixty alien soldiers who stood guard outside suddenly become confused and then, just as suddenly, escort him onto the property without any altercation. The arachnid-legged alien, however, seemed to have interpreted this as an act of surrender. It was so glad for what it perceived as a free offering. It loved to devour human flesh.

"You think I'm that easy to get?" Ivan asked, his voice laced with contempt.

"You are," the alien retorted. "You are surrounded, and you are much weaker than us. I have appraised your strength, and the only impressive thing about you is that you are packing the power of a high-tier Bronze-rank."

Tiny bursts of flames suddenly temporarily sparked around the arachnid-legged alien. Ivan saw its glowing eyes dim, as if it had frowned in a sudden, dawning realisation.

"A pathogenic attack? Is that why you are so confident?" the alien growled. It swept its gaze across the possessed aliens that surrounded Ivan. They seemed normal, but it sensed something was off. It concluded that Ivan had somehow rendered them dumb fools, incapable of fighting. It sought to dispatch Ivan before he could cause any more problems.

The arachnid-legged creature was technologically enhanced, and its power was based on bio-mechanics. The bio-mechanical alien was ranked 'Transcendent' and packed an array of technologically based powers.

It dashed to Ivan's side in a blur, raising one of its sharp, tapering legs to impale him. Ivan had already used 'Steal' on the agility of one of the possessed aliens; he could just about keep up with the arachnid-legged creature's speed. Yet, the adversary's pace was still higher than his. He barely escaped the strike, the pointed leg missing him by a hair's breadth. His effort was enough. He commanded the sixty possessed aliens to open fire.

A combined volley of super-enhanced plasma rifles, ionic beams, and cosmic rays inundated the arachnid-legged alien. It was quick to react despite not sensing any hostility from its supposed comrades. A force-field pod enveloped it, but it was not enough. The concentrated attacks tore through the shield a second after it was erected.

The combination of attacks lacerated the alien, tearing off its limbs and burning huge patches on its clothing. One of the possessed aliens walked up to the creature as it lay in a dire state on the ground.

"I've got you now," the arachnid-legged alien said with a raspy voice, thinking that it was Ivan who had approached. A gold-tipped spear emerged from its abdomen, shredding the alien that approached it into two halves.

Instantly, another round of attacks from the remaining fifty-nine soldiers completely decimated the creature. Ivan did not need to check on the alien to know it was finished. He quickly moved through the building, ascending to the first floor before he and his crew arrived outside an office where he could sense people hiding inside.

This was Governor Telles' office. He had sensed a disturbance outside this very office moments ago, but upon arriving here, everything was still. Only the battle-scarred doors, walls, and ceilings told a different story. He observed that the gaps around the office door were well sealed.

'The aliens must have moved away after sensing the commotion at the entrance,' Ivan mused. He wondered how he was going to triumph over the remaining aliens now that they were aware of his presence and what he could do. He hoped that Lady Flux had some powerful figures waiting to step in and assist.

'A powerful figure is behind this door, and there are a number of people in there,' Ivan's thoughts steered as he perceived the presences behind the governor's office door. 'What could this be, a trap? Was the powerful figure I perceived responsible for the commotion I detected here earlier?'

Ivan could not discern the race to which the powerful figure behind the door belonged. An unknown force restricted him from such discernment. However, something else convinced Ivan that the presences behind the door were all human. He felt his own energy gradually begin to surge, growing stronger. It was the Guardian of the Weak buff activating.

A sudden burst of three explosions tore through the hallway. The concussive force ripped apart three of his possessed soldiers. Through the smoke and fire, Ivan saw an alien emerge from the explosion closest to him. The alien had a super cannon for a hand, and it was aimed directly at his head.

Boom! A heavy round hit his head with incredible force, sending him crashing into the outer office wall.