Hope things have been well for all those keeping up with the story. Just wanted to post something to ensure you all that I still am actively working on this story.

  Unfortunately, despite two months having lapsed from completing the first phase. I have only completed 12 chapters in phase II, although in truth I averaged about 2 to 3 a week on actual weeks I worked on the story. I won't go into it, but holidays and other things have kept me quite busy. That and I had to spend a lot more time thinking through when writing these chapters.

  That being said, phase II, the intermediate division, is starting to take on some real shape. Still I expect I need another couple weeks to push forward to the point where I will be comfortable stopping to go back and edit from the beginning aligning everything to the course I will have started to chart. So I will shoot for resuming posting in February, but likely the later part of February. Hopefully my writing will start speeding up since I won't have to ponder as much.

  ***Potential spoilers ahead, pretty general in nature, but still if you like for every next move to be a mystery...***

  I go to write at least 500 words for this to post so I figured I would go over what is coming up. For starter's, Peter and the other concept rookies have joined the intermediate cores. The intermediate concept cores will offer to provide a bit of top cover, threatening any core from hitting to far below their weight class. However, their protective barrier is clearly Swiss cheese since there are so few of them and there are other cores who are at least as strong. Still there are other minor faction groups that can also help out.

  If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

  Things are picking up all around in every aspect of the story with promises of the first cullings from the millennials as Moon elf ages up into the 900's along with another major faction core hitting the mid 900's. It is the first move of a core older than the low 300's. Outside of the dungeon on Terra, the political landscape is shifting as cores began making moves, and Peter learns just whose backyard he has been living in the whole time.

  Then of course there are the new intermediate features along with their post rookie division rewards. New floors for both dungeons, floor additions, new units, and legendary level cards. Then there are the new dungeon features: Arena and Mercenary camp. The former is just a training room. The latter allows Peter to hire contracts. Neither will be major focuses, just another way to increase his strength directly and indirectly.

  Like mentioned I definitely struggled with the begging of the intermediate phase as I considered what exact direction the story needed to take to keep things interesting instead of just being completely formulaic. If the rookie division was about taking bold moves to increase his chances, when Peter was clearly one of the front runners near the beginning, then the intermediate division will be an uphill battle with survival being the main concern as Peter also has to consider political maneuvering since he is far from the biggest fish swimming in the intermediate division waters.

  While I would not say that everything is set in stone, things are still taking shape. Any good recommendations might still be able to make the cut when I go back and start editing., or could be added in the future. Like I said I hope to resume posting at some point in February, although unfortunately it will be later in the month then initially intended.