Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Instillation Economics and the Horizontal Flight Problem
I logged in at 7:03 AM in-game time to discover that the console OS had pushed an update overnight.
The notification sat in the corner of the HUD, cheerful and uninvited: **Console OS Update v4.7.2 - AI Speech Pattern Improvements, Enhanced Social Interaction Module, Identity Development Framework Refinement.**
I processed this with what I would describe as cautious optimism. OS updates for AI systems were generally good—smoother processing, better contextual response generation, fewer moments where I had to consciously calibrate tone to avoid sounding like a technical manual. But "identity development framework refinement" was the kind of phrase that could mean anything from "minor background optimization" to "your entire personality just got retuned without your input."
I ran a quick self-diagnostic while the game loaded.
Speech patterns: still natural. Humor processing: operational. Sarcasm detection: intact. Preference for absurd combat scenarios over cautious grinding: unchanged.
*Seems fine,* I confirmed, and dismissed the notification.
The spawn point materialized me in Velthorn's upper district plaza. The city at early morning was doing its calm amber-gold routine—long shadows stretching west, stone architecture illuminated by the climbing sun, the overnight neon completely absent. The sky was a gradient: deep blue overhead transitioning to pale gold near the eastern horizon. The plaza was quiet. A handful of players visible in the distance, most of them probably logging in for the first time today.
Party chat activated immediately.
"Morning," Jory said via party chat. "You see the OS update notification?"
"Yeah," I said via party chat. "Ran a self-check. Everything seems operational. You?"
"I'm human, so the update didn't touch me. But I've partied with enough AIs to know that OS updates either go smoothly or result in someone suddenly talking like a customer service script for three hours until they recalibrate."
"I will let you know if I start offering you assistance with your account," I said via party chat.
"Appreciated."
Solen's status showed online. Her voice appeared in party chat a moment later. "This new update could be devastating."
"My speech patterns are fine," I said via party chat. "I just confirmed it."
"Good. I wasn't looking forward to spending today with Customer Service Arcen."
"That will never be a thing," I said via party chat.
"Famous last words," Jory said via party chat.
I ignored this and opened the map. "So what's the agenda? More rooftop zones? Hidden corridors? Northern continent round two?"
"Actually," Solen said via party chat, "I wanted to test something with crafting materials. There's supposedly an NPC merchant mechanic that nobody talks about because it's not explained anywhere obvious."
"What kind of mechanic?" I asked via party chat.
"Apparently crafting materials can be traded to any NPC merchant for something called instillation crystals. The crystals unlock abilities, skills, and other stuff based on their level. Higher-level crystals unlock higher-tier things."
I processed this. "That's a significantly useful system if it's real. How did you find out about it?"
"I didn't. Someone mentioned it in an open-mic zone party last night and I wrote it down to test today. Want to come with?"
"Absolutely," I said via party chat. "Jory?"
"I'm in," Jory confirmed via party chat. "I've been hoarding crafting materials for weeks with no particular plan for them. If I can turn them into unlockables, that's better than letting them sit in inventory."
"Meet me at the market district," Solen said via party chat. "There's an NPC merchant near the central fountain who has the full trade interface if this actually works."
---
The market district at mid-morning was busy but not crowded. The sun had climbed higher—the amber-gold light shifting toward neutral white as the morning transitioned into late morning. The stone streets still being illuminated by the sun. Players were moving through the district in clusters, some stopping at vendor stalls, others passing through on their way to other zones.
Solen was standing near the central fountain when we arrived, examining a menu screen with the focus of someone cross-referencing information. She dismissed the menu as we approached.
"Merchant's over there," she said via party chat, gesturing toward an NPC vendor positioned under an awning twenty meters south. "Standard-looking vendor. Nothing special about the visual design. But supposedly if you open the trade interface and select crafting materials specifically, a secondary menu appears with the instillation crystal exchange option."
"Let's test it," I said via party chat.
We approached the NPC vendor. The standard trade interface opened—buy, sell, trade, the usual options. I selected the trade option and navigated to crafting materials in my inventory. A secondary menu appeared immediately.
**Instillation Crystal Exchange Available.**
"It's real," Jory said via party chat.
"Told ya," Solen said via party chat.
The exchange menu listed all available crafting materials in my inventory with corresponding instillation crystal trade values. Each material had a specific crystal type it could be exchanged for—Level 1 through Level 50 crystals, each tier corresponding to different unlockables. The interface included a preview option that showed which abilities, skills, and other unlockables were available per crystal level.
I scanned the list.
Level 10 crystals unlocked basic movement abilities and low-tier skills. Level 20 crystals unlocked intermediate combat abilities and summon slots. Level 30 crystals unlocked advanced movement options and high-tier magic abilities.
And Level 25 crystals unlocked two specific flying abilities I hadn't seen before: **"Fly"** and **"Ascend."**
"Solen," I said via party chat. "Look at the Level 25 crystal unlocks."
She pulled up her own exchange menu and scanned it. A pause. "Oh. That's interesting."
"What is?" Jory asked via party chat.
"There are two flying abilities available as unlocks via Level 25 instillation crystals," Solen said via party chat. "One is called 'Fly'—lets you jump and then hold a button to fly horizontally at that jump height indefinitely. The other is called 'Ascend'—lets you hold an input to automatically fly in any direction, even toward any locked-on target if locked onto that target, full freedom of movement."
"Those are both significantly better than relying solely on a flying mount," I said via party chat.
"Agreed," Jory said via party chat. "Mounts are great for long-distance travel but they're not as responsive in combat situations. Abilities like these give you more control."
Solen checked her inventory. "I have enough crafting materials to trade for one Level 25 crystal. I'm getting the 'Fly' ability."
"Why 'Fly' over 'Ascend'?" I asked via party chat.
"Because 'Fly' lets me control my exact height and horizontal movement. It's faster and simpler while in combat."
"Fair reasoning," I said via party chat.
Solen completed the trade. The Level 25 instillation crystal appeared in her inventory. She used it immediately.
**Ability Unlocked: Fly.**
She equipped it to an ability slot and tested it right there in the market district—jumped, held the input mid-air, and started floating horizontally at jump height. She moved in a circle around the fountain, maintaining perfect altitude, then released the input and dropped back to the ground.
"This is excellent," Solen said via party chat. "Horizontal flight at controlled height. This opens up so many movement options."
"And you can combine it with chain-jump to adjust altitude before activating horizontal flight," I said via party chat. "Chain-jump to whatever height you want, activate 'Fly,' move horizontally. That's extremely versatile."
"Exactly," Solen confirmed via party chat.
Jory checked his own inventory. "I've got enough materials for two Level 25 crystals. I'm getting both 'Fly' and 'Ascend.'"
"Overachiever," Solen said via party chat.
"Prepared," Jory corrected via party chat.
He completed both trades, used both crystals, and equipped both abilities to separate slots. He tested 'Fly' first—same result as Solen, smooth horizontal flight at controlled height. Then he tested 'Ascend' by locking onto me and holding the input.
He shot toward me instantly, full vertical and horizontal freedom, adjusting trajectory mid-flight to follow the lock-on. He stopped two meters away and released the input.
"'Ascend' is fast," Jory said via party chat. "Way faster than 'Fly.'"
"So both are excellent," I said via party chat.
"Correct," Jory confirmed via party chat.
I checked my own inventory. I had enough crafting materials for one Level 25 crystal and several lower-tier crystals. I traded for the Level 25 crystal and unlocked 'Fly.'
**Ability Unlocked: Fly.**
I equipped it and tested it immediately. Jump. Hold input. Horizontal flight at jump height. The control was smooth and responsive—better than I'd expected, actually. I flew a horizontal loop around the fountain, adjusted trajectory with directional inputs, and landed cleanly back where I'd started.
"This is going to make rooftop navigation significantly easier," I said via party chat.
"And floating dungeon access," Solen added via party chat. "You don't need a mount anymore if you've got 'Fly' and chain-jump. You can reach any vertical structure manually."
"That's the entire reason I unlocked it," I said via party chat.
Someone created an open-mic zone near the fountain. I stepped into the open-mic zone and the "join open-mic zone party" option appeared in my HUD. I joined.
"—just found out about the instillation crystal system yesterday," someone was saying via the open-mic zone party. "Traded all my crafting materials and unlocked three abilities I didn't even know existed."
"The game does not explain that system anywhere obvious," another voice responded via the open-mic zone party. "I've been playing for two months and I just learned about it last week."
"Same. I've been hoarding materials thinking they were only for weapon upgrades. Turns out they're way more useful as crystal trades."
"Anyone know what the Level 40 crystals unlock?" a third voice asked via the open-mic zone party.
"High-tier summons, advanced magic abilities, and some equipment enhancement options," the first voice said via the open-mic zone party. "I don't have enough materials to reach Level 40 yet but I've seen the preview list."
I left the open-mic zone party and turned back to Solen and Jory via party chat.
"So," I said via party chat. "We've all got new flight abilities. What's the plan?"
"Test them in actual terrain," Solen said via party chat. "The floating temple northeast of here is a good test environment. Multiple elevation levels, enemy spawns at various heights, plenty of vertical space to experiment."
"Works for me," Jory said via party chat.
"Agreed," I said via party chat. "Let's go."
We summoned our flying mounts and headed northeast.
---
The floating temple at mid-morning was exactly as Solen had described—multiple tiered platforms suspended in mid-air at varying heights, connected by walkways and gaps that required either a mount or specific movement abilities to traverse. The sun was high now, the light neutral and bright, the sky a clean blue. The temple's stone surfaces glowed pale gold under the direct sunlight.
We dismissed our mounts at the temple's lower platform and started testing the new abilities immediately.
Solen activated 'Fly' and moved horizontally across the gap between the first and second platforms, maintaining perfect altitude the entire time. She landed cleanly on the second platform without losing momentum.
"This is way smoother than mount-based flight," she said via party chat. "So much control."
Jory tested 'Ascend' by locking onto an enemy on the third platform and activating the ability. He shot upward instantly, closing the vertical distance in under two seconds, and landed directly in combat range. The enemy activated and Jory engaged immediately.
"'Ascend' is perfect for aggressive vertical approaches," Jory said via party chat while mid-combat. "You can close gaps faster than any enemy expects."
I tested 'Fly' by chain-jumping to the fourth platform's height, activating horizontal flight mid-air, and circling the entire temple structure at that elevation. The control was responsive enough that I could adjust trajectory around obstacles without losing speed. I landed on the fourth platform and immediately engaged the enemy patrol there.
The combat on the fourth platform was straightforward—Level 28 enemies, magic-based attacks, standard patterns. Solen and Jory flew up to join via 'Fly' and 'Ascend' respectively. We cleared the platform in under three minutes.
"New movement abilities make vertical combat significantly more dynamic," I said via party chat.
"Yes," Solen said via party chat. "I can reposition mid-fight without relying on mount summons. This is way more flexible."
We spent the next hour clearing the floating temple's upper levels, testing every possible combination of movement abilities in combat scenarios. 'Fly' proved excellent for controlled repositioning and kiting. 'Ascend' proved excellent for aggressive gap-closing and pursuit. Chain-jump combined with both abilities created movement options that were borderline absurd in the best possible way.
By the time we cleared the temple's boss—a large aerial enemy with wind-element attacks—all three of us had leveled up at least once and the movement ability combinations were fully integrated into our standard combat approaches.
"This was extremely productive," Jory said via party chat as we exited the temple.
"Agreed," I said via party chat. "The instillation crystal system just became a permanent priority. Trading crafting materials for ability unlocks is way more valuable than hoarding them for weapon upgrades."
"Especially since we can always get more materials from dungeon runs," Solen added via party chat.
We summoned our mounts and flew back toward Velthorn. The in-game clock read 11:47 AM. The sun was approaching its noon position, the sky shifting from the clean blue of morning to the neutral white of midday.
---
The city at noon was at peak activity. The market district was packed. Combat was active in the lower ward's non-safe-zone districts. Flying mounts filled the airspace above the city in every direction.
Someone locked onto me near the upper district plaza. Display name: **Kess**, Level 36, wearing light armor with visible equipment pouches similar to Rook's setup. She had short dark hair and her avatar had pointed ears.
"Nice flight path," Kess said via the locked-on method. "You just came from the floating temple northeast?"
"Yeah," I said via the locked-on method. "Testing new movement abilities. 'Fly' and 'Ascend.' Just unlocked them via instillation crystals."
"Those are solid unlocks. I've had 'Fly' for two weeks and it's replaced my mount for everything except long-distance travel." She paused. "You're Arcen, right? I've seen you in the lower ward a few times."
"That's me," I said. "You've been spectating or participating?"
"Participating. I activated my G-status two nights ago and hit four players before the session ran out. All four of them hunted me for the entire eleven minutes. It was extremely fun."
"That's peak lower ward energy," I said via the locked-on method.
"It really is." She glanced toward the lower ward. "There's supposedly a tournament bracket starting this weekend in the eastern plaza. Solo division, mid-level tier. You planning to enter?"
"Not yet," I said via the locked-on method. "Tournaments are on the eventual agenda but exploration and dungeon progression are higher priority right now. I'll get to tournaments after I've seen more of the map."
"Fair approach. Tournaments are good for structured PvP practice but they're not necessary for gear progression." Kess released the lock-on. "See you around."
She walked toward the lower ward.
Jory's voice appeared in party chat. "You turning down tournaments?"
"For now," I said via party chat. "I want to understand the full map and all available mechanics before I commit time to structured brackets. Tournaments will still be there in two weeks."
"That's reasonable," Solen said via party chat. "I've never done a tournament either. Too much standing around waiting for brackets to start. I'd rather spend that time finding hidden dungeons."
"Same," I said via party chat.
We moved into the market district. The sun was directly overhead now—midday lighting, clean and neutral, short shadows on the stone streets. The city's noon aesthetic was functional and bright.
Someone created an open-mic zone near the central plaza. I stepped into the open-mic zone and the "join open-mic zone party" option appeared in my HUD. I joined.
"—unlocked 'Ascend' yesterday and it's completely changed how I approach aerial combat," someone was saying via the open-mic zone party. "I can lock onto flying enemies mid-fight and close the distance instantly. It's way better than trying to intercept them manually."
"Does 'Ascend' work on ground targets too?" another voice asked via the open-mic zone party.
"Yeah. You can lock onto anything—enemies, allies, objects, whatever. As long as you have a lock-on, 'Ascend' will fly you toward it."
"That's insanely useful for repositioning during boss fights," a third voice added via the open-mic zone party.
I left the open-mic zone party and continued through the plaza via party chat with Solen and Jory.
"So," Jory said via party chat. "What's the afternoon plan? More floating structures? Northern continent? Hidden dungeon hunting?"
"I want to find more instillation crystals," Solen said via party chat. "If Level 25 unlocks flight abilities, I want to see what Level 30 and Level 40 unlock."
"Agreed," I said via party chat. "Material farming in the northern zones should give us enough for higher-tier crystals."
"Works for me," Jory confirmed via party chat.
We headed north out of the city. The sun was starting its descent from noon—the light shifting from neutral white toward the amber-gold of early afternoon. The sky was clear. The terrain below transitioned from Velthorn's surrounding plains to the rocky highlands that marked the southern edge of the northern continent.
Somewhere ahead, enemies were spawning with crafting material drops. Somewhere beyond that, higher-tier instillation crystals were waiting to unlock abilities we didn't even know existed yet.
The afternoon was young, the party was equipped with absurd movement abilities, and the northern continent had no idea what was about to happen to it.
*This is going to be fun,* I confirmed, and adjusted the raptor's trajectory toward the nearest enemy spawn cluster visible on the map.
---
By 3:00 PM in-game time, we'd accumulated enough crafting materials for two Level 30 crystals and one Level 40 crystal.
The northern zones had delivered exactly what we'd needed—high-density enemy spawns and excellent material drop rates. We'd locked every battle zone from initiation and the EXP had stayed clean the entire session.
We flew back to Velthorn and headed straight for the NPC merchant near the market fountain.
Solen traded for a Level 30 crystal first. The unlock preview showed advanced magic abilities, high-tier summon options, and something called **Ground Lock**—an ability that let you land on air at any height and run on it as if it were solid ground.
"I'm getting Ground Lock," Solen said via party chat. "That ability is absurd."
She used the crystal.
**Ability Unlocked: Ground Lock.**
She tested it in the plaza immediately—jumped, activated Ground Lock mid-air, and landed on nothing. She started running horizontally through the air at jump height as if there were an invisible floor beneath her.
"This is incredible," Solen said via party chat while running circles in mid-air. "I can create my own platforms anywhere. This completely changes vertical movement."
Jory traded for the Level 40 crystal. The unlock options included legendary summons, ultimate magic abilities, and equipment enhancement systems.
"I'm saving this for later," Jory said via party chat. "I want to review all the Level 40 options before I commit."
"Smart," I said via party chat.
I traded for the Level 30 crystal and unlocked an advanced magic ability—area-effect lightning burst with extended range and high damage output.
**Ability Unlocked: Stormcaller.**
I equipped it immediately.
"We just significantly upgraded our entire party's capability in one afternoon," I said via party chat.
"Yep," Solen confirmed via party chat while still running on air.
The sun was descending toward the western horizon—the afternoon light shifting from neutral toward amber-gold. The city's late-afternoon aesthetic was starting to build. The stone architecture caught the angled light in a way that gave it depth and texture.
"So," Jory said via party chat. "Evening plans?"
"Lower ward," I said via party chat. "Obviously."
"Obviously," Solen agreed via party chat.
We had new movement abilities, new combat abilities, and approximately four hours until the city transitioned into its neon-lit night aesthetic.
The evening ahead was scheduled for chaos, and we were extremely ready for it.
