The reason I was getting more stats is because Thaddeus has been tampering with the inscription.
In fact, it shouldn't work at all, because I don't have roots—
My mind flickers back to all that invisible goo, carrying trillions of blindingly blazing stat orbs. That goo stuff connects to literally everything. He KNEW the seeds shouldn't work which is why he asked.
No, that wasn't a question— he tricked me by complimenting my power! That's. That why he relaxed when I answered in the affirmative. That's why he was watching me closely. He was tampering with it RIGHT THEN to figure out how much my stats ticked up.
He must've realized what I already know.
My Origin acts like the bulb's roots.
Rather— it works so much better.
SHIT! DAMNIT! NO!
I search his memories again. Indeed, just before he destroyed it, he set the inscription to 'maximum.'
In other words? Kill. SWIFTLY.
My eyes snap to the shaking Garne.
"Garne, I know you were unaware of his actions. You're free to go until I finish my investigation. Your actions and intents today shall be considered should you end up facing trial. I do not forget those who repent."
I transfer back to my inscription lab. I need to crack the key ASAP. But first.
Status, Stats.
Stats:
Str: 4.7t (4,716,920,017,378,935,163,619)[439b]
Sta: 4.8t (4,861,662,916,882,528,424,297)[447b]
Int: 25.5t (25,591,561,937,166,772,766,901)[2.26t]
Wis: 3.6t (3,628,622,222,819,634,631,163)[330b]
NO TIME! It's speeding way up— what he did might soon start killing. If it hasn't already. Worse, it'll only accelerate as the spell jumps from seed to seed.
Inscription isn't fast enough. In fact, using Pathfinder to locate all the existing spells and replacing them isn't fast enough, as that won't stop the seeds now that they've been incited. I also can't instantly Devour that many seeds from here, plus I'd be killing people by doing that. It's risky, but I'll split off fifteen billion copies to Devour the seeds and spells manually before this goes any further. The copies can then transfer to the next target if there's any remaining.
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Just as I'm about to split myself into fifteen billion tiny little copies, I realize.
I can't move.
I hear Garne talking from upstairs.
{"Sorry, Chronomet. If he's willing to go that far, I intend to carry out his dying wish. He was my only friend."}
Garne, you stupid fucking human!
"Last chance. Drop the Dragonblood Sigil and you won't die. I can still use magic."
Except, I notice that I don't feel any Mana.
{"No, you can't. We've improved it. We needed a way to defeat you if you went rogue. Just like the bulb. Ainthia and Aitos weren't the only brilliant inscriptionists in the empire, you know. We have the combined intellect of over a billion people on our side. Though, that's rapidly becoming less."}
"Fine. Fine! Make me destroy Aitos' cherished lab. Make me personally kill Yvilos, whom I selected. You, human! You've hurt me badly. Even Thaddeus didn't strike me so personally."
{"That's laughable, coming from someone recently named Pure Evil."}
"I erased that title because I never felt hate. Only regret. I won't regret killing you, though."
I check Yvilos in my mental map. He happens to move to another part of the room at the last second— putting him just outside the range of my roar. Thank goodness.
One less senseless death.
##ROAR##
*phew*
The black orb expands around me, somehow ignoring my own body. Another small mercy.
It rapidly chews through the entire city hall until it reaches Garne, who's still standing outside.
image [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/075.png]
He and his Dragonblood Sigil disintegrate. I quickly absorb and read his memories.
No. No. No. No. No. You can't do this.
STALLING?!
WHY DID I TALK TO HIM?!
STATUS, STATS!
Stats:
Str: 7.2t (7,281,518,799,618,996,017,717)[672b]
Sta: 7.1t (7,128,072,710,737,517,626,000)[668b]
Int: 41.1t (41,108,001,763,817,307,728,880)[3.9t]
Wis: 5.5t (5,592,727,707,826,036,010,016)[521b]
RGAHHHH! Pathfinder, seeds!
My whole world map turns red. No! Wrong!
Pathfinder, seeds from Seeding skill!
Billions pop up, all over the map.
I focus in on this continent.
I try to split my copies.
Nothing happens.
I cast Devour.
Nothing.
I swiftly look through Garne's memories about the new Dragonblood Sigil.
It blocks my magic by sealing my lineage?! RHAT?!
Parasitic Body and Mind!
Unseal my lineage!
...
*kshh*
After a split-second pause that feels like hours, I sense the same shattering I'd felt five days ago.
Except, my mind instantly flits back to my mental map.
Pathfinder. Pathfinder. No. Pathfinder.
Show the seeds attached to my seeding skill.
The wrong parts of the map glow red.
It can't be that. It can't be that.
So, I ask Pathfinder again.
Reh. Seeding. Seeds.
The map shows¿
...
...
...
...
...
...
X [https://timjames.net/data/acd/images/075b.png]