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Chapter 756 - Threat Assessment: Extreme
🕑 Added 2025-12-14 09:48:10 +0000 UTCAfter exiting the bus, I move through the city. I either stretch Ley Lines or use Wraith Dance to pass miles upon miles in mere seconds. With the city I grew up in as a base for comparison, my abilities feel incredible. The street that took so long to pass now requires just a mere second, and the hour-and-a-half-long bus travel is barely longer than that.
Finally, I come to a stop and look around a small park I start walking through. Though Earth is awakening, and there must be rumors, people seem to love maintaining their schedule, and maybe all these things cause them to stick to normalcy. There are people running, young couples on dates, or people out walking their dogs.
One such person stops near me as her tiny brown dog halts and pulls her toward me while wagging its tail.
The young woman apologizes, “I’m sorry, she just likes to meet people. Don’t worry, she doesn’t bite, though.”
Even now, I’m weirded out by this normal conversation. In a way, it is Earth that feels fake, not the tutorial.
I squat and carefully reach my hand toward the cute dog. She doesn’t even sniff my hand but immediately pushes her head against my palm. It causes me to smile, and I pet her very carefully.
“What’s her name?” I ask.
“Vivi, she is a Maltipoo,” the woman says.
Hearing her name, Vivi starts wagging her tail, licking, and jumping against my hand.
“What a cute little beast,” I smile at the dog one more time before I stand up.
The woman stares at me and nods absentmindedly before she asks, “Your eyes… Do I know you from somewhere?”
“I don’t think so?” I answer as I try to recognize her face. “Nice to meet you, but I have to go.” Before leaving, I look down, “Bye-bye, Vivi.”
The tiny dog barks at me a few times, and I continue walking while trying to remember the spot I had agreed upon with Channeler, feeling her gaze on my back as I walk away.
I find the location after a few minutes of walking around, a small sitting area that, unlike most of the park, looks entirely new. A few wooden benches, a roof, and a small playground.
I send my senses ahead and find an empty space below it, something like a smaller room. My mana reaches there, and after tethering myself to the mark I make, I teleport to that room.
A small thermal orb forms in front of me, and I modify it slightly until it evenly lights the entire room as I let it float near the ceiling. There is a big, watertight box that is further sealed. Finding no opening, I just cut it open, and inside, I find multiple stacked items.
A turned-off smartphone and a few power banks in case the battery discharged. There are cans of soda, chips, some sweets, a pile of around 50,000 dollars, and a few other things. All of it is here, left hidden by Channeler, either for people from Group 4 or some others. Most of it is even meant to be opened after the tutorial ends in around two years. Similar caches like this are all over the country and probably the world as well.
Grabbing a few snacks and a soda, I take the smartphone and slide down onto the ground, where I rest against the box and press to turn on the device. I don’t even recognize the model, so I suspect it is likely the newest one that came out in the years we spent in the tutorial.
The logo flashes, and the phone prompts me for a code. With a sigh, I type in the one the twins forced on us.
80085
After the phone turns on, the battery still shows over 60%. Chewing on a snack bar, I open the contact list. There is only a single name: Channeler.
I press it and call, and it takes only two rings before a careful voice asks, "Thank you for calling Capital Operations Restoration Guarantee Insurance. How may I help you?"
"Channeler, I forgot the code phrase."
The voice on the other side cuts off for a few long seconds. "Noname?" it sounds again, as if wishing it had heard wrong.
"What is with that tone? Did you already forget me? Do you wish for me to still be stuck in that hellhole?"
"But you love it there."
"That's not the point." I wave it off. "Anyway, I'm here for about 23 hours and some change before I return. Where can I find you?"
"People spy on me a lot. I don't know how much I can share, and if we are not being listened to."
"Is your life in danger? That's why you can't give me your location?"
"No no no no. NO. Please don't do anything radical, and don't threaten anyone," he quickly gets out in a panic. "I'm more than safe, it's just that they spy."
"Whatever, just give me the location."
"I can send a private jet for you. I can have it ready in twenty minutes... are you eating chips?" he asks.
I throw another handful into my mouth, "Yes. It's weird how they taste. I'm not used to so much salt anymore. And just give me an address, I can fly there faster."
"Okay, just please don't... don't cause any large-scale damage. Please, not even any small-scale damage. I will send my location to you in a message, and you can use the navigation app."
"Don't worry, I will be there soon," I say as I end the call.
A few seconds later, a message pings, and before leaving, I take all the money and drink one more can of soda.
***
POV Earth
“Colonel, sir! Colonel, sir!” The voice, sharp but bordering on frantic, echoes down the hall as two men in uniforms knock aggressively on the office door of Colonel Jonathan Kane.
The door, as if acknowledging the urgency, is opened by the Colonel himself, who stands briefly to face the men. After gesturing for them to enter, he heads back to his seat surrounded by multiple computer screens.
The first man does a quick, rigid salute before immediately moving to the desk. He taps rapidly on a ruggedized tablet, pulling up a file, and hands the device to the Colonel.
"Sir, this was received five minutes ago from NORA Outpost number Four. Priority One message," the man says, his voice regaining some of its professionalism as he hands over the device.
Colonel Kane takes the tablet. The display shows a photo, a young man with black hair and striking brown and gray eyes. There is a golden circle around each of his pupils. His expression is cold, almost pathologically indifferent, as he looks toward a distant guard tower armed with guns. He is dressed only in a simple Earth-design white shirt and black sweatpants, with no visible items on him.
Swiping the screen, Kane accesses the next file, a video log. On it, the young man seems to materialize instantaneously at the camera's focal point before vanishing in the next frame.
The third file is an extremely slowed-down sequence, captured by a high-framerate surveillance camera. It shows the man becoming a blur as a single, impossible step covers dozens of meters.
The fourth file shows a thermal signature analysis made by another set of cameras. The brain of the man indicates an extreme level of activity, far beyond normal human capacity, marked by elevated temperature. More alarming is a heart-shaped 'hotspot' next to his actual heart, with a measured temperature capable of melting metals.
The Colonel rapidly reviews the other files. A grainier, hyper-slowed-down video, footage captured through specialized lenses made from materials bought from Returnees, and a final slide showing more photos. The man resting against a convenience store, eating a hot dog. The man-shaped blur flying through the sky. The man strolling through a public park.
The last display is the man's official profile. A few lines are highlighted.
Name: Nathaniel Gwyn
Difficulty: Hell
Threat Assessment: Extreme risk to personnel and infrastructure. Avoid surveillance escalation or containment attempts. Engage only under direct authorization.
Colonel Kane places the tablet face down with a sigh. He had already memorized every detail on this profile long ago.
The second soldier, who had been standing at attention, speaks up, "Sir, should we implement Family Watch protocol and initiate a secure contact with codename 'Channeler', and-"
Kane lifts a hand, cutting the man off mid-sentence. "Negative. Maintain the current status quo. Do not interfere with his movement or his immediate surroundings. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Colonel, sir!" The two men salute in unison and leave the office, pulling the door shut behind them.
Left alone, the Colonel pulls a personal smartphone from his pocket and calls the contact listed as Rafael Vaughn.
It rings twice before a voice on the other end says without skipping a beat, "I know, I know. He already checked in with me and will be here in a minute or two. For the love of God, don't interfere." The line goes dead instantly.
Kane lowers the phone, a look of tired resignation on his face. He picks up the ruggedized tablet once more and begins scrolling through the data again.
***
POV Nathaniel
The flight takes ten minutes. Though I could probably make it even shorter if I really wanted to. But for now, I have a little bit of time, so I enjoy the experience of flying over the planet I was born on. I don't at all care about people seeing me, and there might be a few UFO sightings.
What I find when I reach the spot the phone navigates me to is a small island just a few miles away from the coast. It looks nice, having a huge central villa and multiple smaller ones. I spot a few helipads, and on the far side of it, there is even a small airport runway with a hangar and one jet parked outside.
My senses wash over the island in its entirety, and I detect thirty-six people. Fifteen of them are of Easy difficulty, five from Normal, and the rest are likely not that long ago awakened humans. For some reason, I also locate what feels like a cat on the lap of one of the Normal difficulty people.
A boost of kinetic energy pushes me ahead, and after expanding my mana, I place the marker I teleport to. Trying to be polite, I teleport not straight in front of Channeler, but instead into the hallway.
Looking around, I think how nice this place seems, and walk toward the door, knock, and enter right afterward.
Channeler stands behind a standing desk, wildly scrolling through a screen, while a woman sits on a nearby couch with an old looking black cat on her lap. I notice the woman is healing the cat.
"Is that by chance, Grumpy?" I ask.
"It is!" the woman answers before Channeler can. "I'm Jessica, Normal difficulty. I have kept this cat alive the entire time and will continue to do so as long as needed. Please make sure to let Lily Chen know."
"I will." I nod, quite enjoying the honesty. Why can't all people be like that? No hidden or difficult motives, just something easy to understand. A nice gesture offered with the expectation of repayment, one that would be very simple for someone like Lily to fulfill.
"Colonel Kane sent me five photos people took of you flying, and they’ve already started spreading online. One guy even had one of those ridiculous zoom smartphones, so your face is somewhat recognizable. The YouTuber behind the ‘I Can Fix Him’ series has already tweeted that they’re willing to buy any video of you. And certain forums, whose names I’d rather forget, are going wild..."
Channeler stops and takes a deep breath, "Well, whatever. It's not like we didn't expect something like this."
Even with the expression he has currently and clear stress, Channeler is handsome as always. It makes me want to bully him, but I'm an adult man, so I hold myself back.
"'I Can Fix Him' series?" I ask.
"Ignore what I said," he says, waving his hand and gesturing wildly as I move closer to Jessica and Grumpy. There, I reach out my hand and let Grumpy sniff it. The old cat lifts its head slowly, then, for the love of the game, bites my finger before pulling back and lying down.
"Lily sent a healing mark with me for Grumpy, along with a few other things," I say, keeping my eyes on the cat. "But I can do that later. By the way, what’s with that huge-ass spider in a transparent cocoon on the moon?"
"It appeared there not that long after the tutorial started. I think the most popular name for it currently is Moonster?" Channeler looks with a question at Jessica, who nods.
Of course it is.
Comments
Kade
Ah, that’s the dead Envy’s spider
caeven
lmao the „I can fix him“ people have no idea lily is WAY ahead of them and has been on the job with the power of the indomitable human spirit for three years now.
Ivan Jelenić
Yes, it can. And it's available for registration.
Registered Hex-Offender Nax 116
Can a website be named manadaddy.org for merch
Subliminary
He’s clearly there to clear the dungeon. Maybe pollute the earth with a metric ton of mana to boost its growth on the way out?
Subliminary
level 400 baby spiders wouldn’t be a big deal for Nat at his current power
Balsamic ThunderThighs
Been awhile but I thought the big spider died. Really hope theres no Lvl 400 Baby Spiders on the moon lol (Actually. Maybe it would be a good thing?)
arnumart
I think Nat’s conversation where he complains about chandler wanting him to stay in the hellhole, but chandler is like you love that place, and Nat going that’s not the point, sums up his character so well.
facetiousk
Incredible character! I'd say an upper-middle quality game, but I respect the love of the game! (I'm one of those lame FF6 & 8 groupies 🤢🤮)
Brandon leidig
Capital Operations Restoration Guarantee Insurance=CORGI HA!!! I love it
Poutine Au Syrop d'érable
It supposedly died with envy.
Stoney
omfg I was giggling all the way through. Thank you for the chapter.
Thomas Bell
Please god yes.
Audrey WJ
Hahah I can fix him series! He will ask more I'm sure and I really need him to do so.
Hugh Peeble
I forgot he is internet famous and doesn’t really know it thanks to Izzy so that “do I know you?” Interaction with Vivi and her owner didn’t click till Channeler mentions sightings…
Gavriel
Heh, when you just don't want to believe the data. Colonel, and the "I can fix him" club.
granndfunk
I don't know what made you want to give us a taste of Nat on Earth, but good Biscuit am I glad you did.
SqrlyGrly
Good luck with that
Brandon leidig
One of my favorite tropes in this genre is when they get to go back to Earth being this powered up. The upcoming weeks cannot come soon enough
Joe Long
The ancipation of the next chapter is killing me, should I read them as soon as they come out or wait a week and stack them?? 🤔
Kenny
Not this trip for sure. That thing was the vessel of a ruler, and he had it all the way back when he was low level in the setting of the 8th floor. Basically it grew alongside him and has to be a strong champion to serve as a vessel without dying.
Andrew
Thank you!
Kenny
Well Nat's body still has all his passives and pathways and what not, he just mapped it all out and replicated it in the vessel
Ivan Jelenić
He Superman'd all over Earth. Need more astonished reactions to his speed and stuff. I'm addicted.
ManaJunky
hehe, pokèmon go reference
Ivan Jelenić
I think Channeler is probably one of the official people that greets returnees. There may be others that do what you said.
mibrainisdead
Lol. Their organisation is called CORGI. Nice touch.
Madje Tobi Marc'Avent Tchona
Ohh makes sense. Thanks for that lol. I was kinda expecting something like 67, but that works too.
Madje Tobi Marc'Avent Tchona
Kyralon I think was able to answer every question. Chose not to for some of them, but was able to. So planets outside the tutorial aren’t restricted. Nat might not ask though, to not color his expectations, thereby limiting him or his group… and or he might decide that he doesn’t care that much about the tutorial floors anymore now that Beyond has all the dangers he will ever need.
Ivan Jelenić
80085 = Boobs, for anyone that didn't realize it.
Ivan Jelenić
Yesss! Love Earth chappies! I feel blessed. Also, the Doc will be ecstatic, if he gets any time with Nat after the body upgrade. That will be fun. Or maybe he won't, since Nat's stuff is in the vessel now, not in his body.
Ivan Jelenić
He's going to ask them for info about higher floors of the tutorial, or does/will the system also censor that? I don't remember.
Lizy Flore
Why are people talking about Nat killing the spider ? It used to be the bonded companion of a ruler, guys. Its vessel. It’s not weak. Not at all. Nat wouldn’t be able to fight it, not after three mere years of the tutorial.
Michel Kommers
80085 = boobs, it's a meme, I didnt knew, and it makes total sense for the twins to push for it lol
Michel Kommers
It's because he has the smell of the best doggo of earth
Nemesis
Maybe his mum is one of those recently awakened people Nat detected. Its not impossible, could be one of the things group 4 tasked Channeler with. Awakening their family members and making sure the government isn't holding them for leverage
Nemesis
Vivi, perhaps named after one of the best FF characters of all time, from the best FF game of all time (IMO)?
Gutz
This chapter was so cool it felt super short. Wouldn't be cool if he one shot that Spider ? And by the way, what on earth are people doing being normal knowing the Pairing has already started ? Are they waiting to die instead of leveling up like crazies ? And what was Channeler doing ? No schools for awakened to help them level up skills ? Come on Earth is way too passive here.
Forcewagon
*looking into the distance* "Just wait for it"
Isaac Lung
Wonder what the orange man is up to these days
Fdrugc
I thought he was going to see his mom first or do the world dungeon
Lance Beam
TFTC. I'm so up for this!
Alex
A hell of good chapter, felt too short , can’t wait for the next one
Arnon Parenti
Girlies are thisting for our wrecked protagonist, surrounded by ice queens and bullies, he needs a soft touch and firm guidance to fix his tormented soul! I can fix him!
Brian Latta
Fabulous catch.
Melih
Ah... I really enjoyed this chapter where Chris wasn't there, wasn't brought up, or I didn't feel him breathing down my neck. It felt like a massive weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could finally breathe for a moment
Woodstock179
[Chip crunches] "hmm betcha can't read just one" omnom all the chapters. ^_^
Tiarnaria
heh moonster
aélskdfjalskjf
GRUMPY CHOMP FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
Nemesis
Anyone expecting Envy to cheat death via his spider? Probably not back at full strength though, enough for Nat to have the satisfaction of beating his arse.
Terri Harris
The best part of all of this is that we know Nat has an agenda. Just based on his conversation with Ruby and the three day wait. I think all this so far is him just getting comfortable with being back. Can't wait to get into the actual reason he felt compelled to return for just a day. Each chapter is just so much fun, endlessly entertaining! Im sure Lilys healing mark for Grumpy will blow the mind of the normal difficulty healer with how miraculous it will be. Probably turn his body's clock back 10yrs. I can just see him nearly becoming a kitten again. So fun.
Manther
seems like some new magic surveillance tech. I don't see how they would pick up on thermals just in the heart otherwise. Any 'extreme' heat is sealed and not being released into the environment to be detected by normal means. Otherwise Nat is circulating all his normal amounts of thermal energy, so the signature should be distributed throughout the entire body (possibly seen through his exhaust ports he set up)
Manther
Oh, so we're spending a week on this mini-arc
Niclas Elmers
Tftc
Manther
It was 2,100 ish words. On the shorter end of normal chapters, but not out of the normal range. What makes it feel more short is there's nothing to slow your maximal reading speed. Everything is normal and straightforward, with no action.
Val the mysterious Jedi
I can see him deleting north korea
Val the mysterious Jedi
😭 I read that so fast
Erebus
Aw, finished it
Al
I’m surprised the thermal images picked up Nat. I assumed with all the cycling and redistribution that he would tightly contain thermal energy
joshua adkins
I cant wait for Noname to crack the moon while killing the Moonster
Adrian Rake
Thank you for this chapter. I wonder how this Earth tutorial will end. What will Nat do or achieve within these 24 hours? 🤔
Compendium
Samsung has 4 as a minimum, you can go over
frankie doerr
Oooh think Nat will start on the flying island project in a day just to cause channeler problems for being a pretty boy
RJ Barnes
Tyftc
Daniel Francis
If i pay more taxes, can I have more please ?
Kirin
Thank you for the chappie!
Emmanuel Martinez
What phone has a 5 digit unlock code? Iphone has 6, just enough to use 800813 as the code
Nemesis
So, with the speeds Nat moves at, I assume he can't hatch pokemon
frankie doerr
Is it just me or did that seem like a short chapter que cerim in the comments with a smug face that was in fact 4000 words 2000 more than normal 😑
TheOne320
No, I need more. I was so looking forward to this. Thanks for the chapter.
Sushitrash
That sounds moontastic
Ken Horne
I was working in the lab late one night when my eyes beheld an errie sight. A moonster mash. I heard it's a lunar smash
RadiantSpren
I fucking love this
Erebus
Thank you for the chapter 🙂
Gavin Osowski
TFTC
BlackRazaras
Thanks for the chapter
trainedturtle
Yipeee
Claro reyes
Tftc!!!
jax rammus
<3 Capital Operations Restoration Guarantee Insurance Or CORGI for short. You sly dog
vEnviouz
TFTC!!!
