I’d done the math several times.

  According to the rift’s logs, by the time the spell holding me in stasis expired, I’d already been in the rift for more than 906 years, which equated to right at twenty-five Alliance Standard Years. It took me seventeen years to kill the first boss, plus another eleven to tier up and kill the rest of them.

  Twenty-eight rift years was less than a single Alliance Standard Year.

  It felt like a really long time. But in reality, even subjectively, it was faster than I would have been able to progress on the eighth floor of the dungeon. It almost made me tempted to find a Tier Ten rift to challenge.

  Almost.

  If it wasn’t for wanting to see my family, I might have given the idea some real thought. But fighting up a tier was ridiculously dangerous. Really, the only reason I survived was because I had advantages that few could match.

  I glanced at the five baseball-sized cores in my hands before shifting my gaze to the corresponding indentations in the altar. The bowl-like grooves were arrayed in a circle, or perhaps a pentagon, depending on how particular one was feeling.

  The rift was supposed to give me some kind of reward for completing it, but I hoped I got to keep the cores as well. They were probably more valuable as materials than anything the rift might give me.

  I was delaying. I couldn’t help it.

  Forcing myself to put aside my worries, I stepped forward and placed each of the five cores into a separate basin. As the fifth slotted into place, the altar began to glow.

  Dark mana began gathering just behind the altar, forming a portal to the outside.

  The draw to step through the portal was so strong that I almost ignored the reward that had manifested in the center of the altar, surrounded by the still-present cores. Shaking off the temporary fixation, I focused on the multi-faceted crystal sparkling with power on the altar.

  [Soulbound Technique Crystal – Time/Space/Arcane – Pocket Dimension – A fully customizable personal pocket dimension capable of supporting life. Size based on mana invested. – Note: Absorbing this crystal will result in the loss of any dimensional spaces anchored to the user. All enhancements to and items stored within said dimensional spaces will be transferred to the newly-created Pocket Dimension.]

  “What in the hell?” I was completely floored by the crystal’s description. “Lisa, do you have any records of something like this?”

  I’d never heard of a technique crystal, much less one that made a true pocket dimension capable of supporting life.

  Did that mean I could potentially grow plants there? Could I store living creatures inside? Even more importantly, could I personally enter the space, or would that somehow destabilize everything?

  “There are records of technique crystals. They are generally only labeled as such when the ability contained doesn’t qualify as either a spell or a skill.”

  “And the soulbound part?”

  “Those are less rare and usually only appear when the reward is unique to the individual earning it.”

  That made sense. I doubted there were any other Time/Space/Arcane Tri-Affinity Mages running around out there. I probably was unique in that aspect.

  “As far as a pocket dimension capable of supporting life?” Lisa continued. “No. This is the first instance of such a technique. However, that fact is not a surprise, considering how unlikely it is that someone with your combination of affinities has completed a Peak-Tier challenge rift. Further, rifts that provide spell or skill crystals are exceedingly rare, and the rewards are always catered to the challengers.”

  Before getting started with the crystal, I swiped my hand over the altar and stored the boss cores. There was a small risk that the exit portal would disappear, but I was pretty sure it would remain stable for as long as I stayed within the rift.

  When the swirling black mana didn’t so much as flicker, I took it as confirmation that my hypothesis was correct.

  I carefully picked up the baseball-sized crystal. “I don’t want to risk somehow losing this, so I’m going to absorb it now before I leave,” I said before sitting cross-legged on the floor.

  I wasn’t worried about Lisa sharing the information with anyone. I’d adjusted the privacy settings on my upgraded interface a long time ago. Without me specifically stating otherwise, the Interface Assistant wouldn’t be updating any databases with the newly discovered technique.

  I also wasn’t worried about delaying my departure for a short time.

  Given how the rift was designed, there was almost no way that someone could access my instance, even with the exit portal active. Considering the room was still considered ‘safe,’ I felt confident I wouldn’t be bothered while I absorbed the mammoth crystal.

  Using the same method I’d used to absorb augments, I closed my eyes and focused on the technique crystal.

  The crystal disintegrated in my hands as the last wisp of mana was absorbed. The sudden disappearance was barely noticed since I was too busy trying to figure out the massive pocket dimension that was now suddenly attached to my very soul.

  My inventory was gone, as were the nanites that had anchored it to my body.

  In its place was a much larger space that was both familiar and so very different from the inventory I’d become accustomed to.

  Like the inventory, I had a near omniscience when it came to what was inside. I say near because I didn’t instantly understand every aspect of each item or material. But there was nothing inside that I didn’t know about, and I could easily locate and retrieve anything within with little more than a thought.

  I also inherently understood how the space worked, which was where many of the differences came in.

  Unlike the inventory, which had a set environment that could not be changed, I could easily alter most of the basic conditions inside my new pocket dimension.

  Gravity, light, and temperature were easily adjusted, as were things like humidity and time. Further, I was not limited to a single environment and could easily compartmentalize the space for various functions.

  I could have one section that maintained things in stasis, while another might be set up for perfect growing conditions with added time dilation to allow for a quicker harvest. The sky was the limit!

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Another notable difference was that I could make some areas inhabitable by living creatures, just like the description said. Even more amazingly, I could personally enter the space whenever I wanted.

  That was a huge trump card that I definitely didn’t want to share with anyone except maybe Master Kairos. My family didn’t need to know, and telling them only increased the likelihood that someone might talk about it. Since Master Kairos already knew all of my secrets, it made sense to fill him in on the latest one if I was going to tell anyone.

  But I could decide all of that later.

  As amazing as my new pocket dimension was, it was time to leave the rift.

  Not wanting to get recaptured in the event that the Assassin or their people were lying in wait, I cast Stealth and prepared to teleport as soon as I exited the rift.

  As soon as Spatial Sense registered the presence of several people, I teleported into the sky, maintaining my elevation with a platform of Space mana.

  Before I got the chance to observe the individuals gathered below, my message icon started blinking rapidly. I was tempted to send out a few messages letting people know I was okay, but I decided to deal with the situation around me first.

  The area around the rift had obviously been cleared recently. It almost looked like someone had dug out part of a mountain and then reseeded the ground to make it look nicer.

  It certainly didn’t look like a place Assassins would hide their cheaty method of bypassing the Accords. Maybe I was wrong about the purpose of the rift?

  A familiar platinum blonde exited the largest of the temporary structures that had been erected nearby. The man was not wearing the traditional white robes of the Epikairos Sect, but I recognized him immediately.

  “Master Kairos!” The exclamation slipped out, but it didn’t matter if the noise drew attention anyway since I’d already teleported to the ground several feet in front of the man.

  I struggled with indecision as I stared at my mentor. I had no idea what to do. He was there, so obviously, he hadn’t forgotten about me.

  Should I give him a hug? I really, really felt like I could use a hug… but we’d never had that kind of relationship, so I didn’t know how he would react.

  Master Kairos’s eyes widened in surprise at my sudden appearance, and he took the decision out of my hands.

  “Emie!” he gasped as he rushed forward, enveloping me in his warm embrace. “I’m so glad you survived! I knew you would.”

  “H-How did you f-find me?” I asked between sobs. I wasn’t sure when I started crying, but it certainly made speaking a lot more difficult.

  My throat burned as if I’d swallowed something abrasive, which made absolutely no sense given how resilient my body was. It almost had to be psychosomatic.

  Still holding me like he was afraid I might disappear, Master Kairos said, “I had a team searching every Tier Nine rift on Sira. Anya glimpsed your involuntary entry into the rift after your [Fate Obscuration] ring was removed. She’s linked to every ring like that that she’s made, so removing it drew her attention.”

  “But how did she know the rift was on Sira?”

  “Who knows how Fate Mages know what they know? Even being the former Patriarch of a sect specializing in Fate magic, I still don’t understand how they do what they do.”

  I wanted to ask more about Fate magic, but something he said caught my attention, and I took a step back. I wasn’t used to so much physical contact, though a part of me craved it.

  “Former Patriarch?” I asked, raising a brow questioningly.

  Master Kairos looked a little sheepish as he clasped his hands in front of him. “Yes. I’d already been working toward handing things over to my successor. From our conversations, I knew that you didn’t feel right for the role, and waiting until just before I ascend to give up control seemed like a poor choice. If you really want the role—”

  “No, I really don’t,” I said, cutting him off. I could sense his relief.

  “I didn’t think you did. You’ll still be allowed whatever role you want once you leave the dungeon, provided you don’t join me.” His expression shifted to a smirk as my identification alert began blinking. “Since you basically skipped right over the eighth floor, finishing within the agreed-upon time limit should certainly be possible.”

  I nodded. I’d done the math already, so I knew there was plenty of time. Even if I took the remaining break allowed by our contract, I’d still have plenty of time to reach the Pinnacle – assuming I maintained the same rate of progression as before, that was.

  “Hey, did you figure out who put me in there?” I asked, motioning toward the swirling rift portal.

  “Yes. It was a Tier Ten Assassin, just like Anya warned us,” he replied. “He’s not worth bothering over since it appears he only agreed to the contract because he owed the former Sovereignty Sect Matriarch a favor and was honor-bound to fulfill her request. As far as he’s concerned, his contract is finished. You don’t have to worry about him anymore, I promise.”

  “You spoke with him?” I asked, a bit surprised.

  Master Kairos nodded. “There aren’t many Tier Ten Time Mages,” he said as if that explained everything. Before I could comment further, he continued, “Interestingly, there are a lot more former Sovereignty Sect members who’ve intentionally targeted Time Mages and wholly supported the attempted assassination.”

  That didn’t surprise me.

  “I don’t suppose you have a list of names, do you?” I asked with a bit of heat. I didn’t necessarily like the idea of just giving the Assassin a pass, but if I could redirect my ire to where it really belonged, I was fine with that.

  Master Kairos’s brows lifted at my question. “I do, but it won’t do you any good.” He paused, waiting for my reaction.

  “And why is that?” I asked a bit testily. “Have they already been punished by the Council or something?”

  “Well, the sect was disbanded shortly after your abduction, but that isn’t why the list won’t help you,” Master Kairos replied. “I assume you want to do something to prevent these individuals from targeting you or other Time Mages?”

  My eyes narrowed slightly as I got the sense that my former Master was playing with me. I’d been gone for decades, both subjective and actual. Yet somehow, it suddenly felt like no time had passed at all.

  “I would like to ensure that, yes,” I said resolutely.

  “Well, since those people are already too set in their ways to change, returning them to samsara is the only real recourse you have. Are you not still opposed to such… permanent solutions?”

  “I’ve killed before,” I replied.

  “Sure, in self-defense and with bandits. These individuals have neither directly attacked you nor are they bandits.”

  I made a face at the statement. “Have they murdered others?” I asked.

  “Yes. Every one of them has instigated the death of at least one person.”

  “So, not self-defense.”

  Master Kairos shook his head.

  “How do you know for sure?” I asked.

  “I had a Mind Mage assist in the investigation,” Master Kairos replied. “I focused mostly on offenses against Time Mages, but there are a few who are less discriminating in their targets and are happy to kill when they know they can get away with it.”

  I found myself feeling fine with the thought of disposing of such individuals. I had certainly changed a lot since leaving Earth for the second time.

  I tsked. “It’s too bad I’m already Tier Nine. All of those guys are probably weaker than me.”

  A slow grin spread across Master Kairos’s face. “Ah, but that’s the beauty of a setup like this one,” he said, motioning toward the Tier Nine rift. “The Assassins were crafty in finding a way to get around such restrictions. All we have to do is put them into challenge rifts that are a full tier higher and remove any storage devices. It’s not enough to be a guaranteed death, but it’s pretty close. You had nothing when you entered the rift, correct?”

  “Ah, well… I wouldn’t have, but I still had my inventory. That’s how I still have these,” I said, grabbing the edge of my outer robe. “I put them in my inventory instead of my ring.”

  Master Kairos chuckled. “So maybe we won’t put people into a tier and a half disadvantage, then.”

  “Just a full tier?” I asked spitefully.

  “Exactly.”

  Feeling the embers of my anger being soothed by promises of retribution, I glanced around me.

  “Does my family know I’m alive?” I asked.

  Master Kairos’s smile faltered as he nodded and motioned for me to follow him into the building nearby.

  “They do, but there wasn’t enough time to get them here,” he replied as he stepped through the automatic door. “We’ve been tracking your progress, and based on the time between the first boss and the second, we thought we’d have more time to arrange things. Imagine our surprise when you ripped right through the rest of them in a couple of days!”

  The inside of the building was nicely furnished with several familiar pieces. It left no doubt about who was staying there.

  “That’s fine. We can just meet everyone on Hadier if it’s easier,” I said, ignoring the sudden tension. “Sira is probably a bit much for most of my family still, even with a [Mana Barrier.] That is unless they’ve all been delving like crazy since I’ve been gone?” I added jokingly.

  I was a little worried about the sudden decline in my former Master’s mood, and I really hoped it was nothing more than a sense of guilt for not getting them here on time. Or maybe he felt bad about me getting abducted in the first place – not that it was his fault or anything.

  “We should probably talk about your family so you know what to expect before you see any of them. A lot has changed in the twenty-six years that you’ve been gone…”