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Abyssal Road Trip
106 - Vermilion

106 - Vermilion

Yngvarr’s unsettled state was earning looks of concern from Alfarr as they arrived. Clapping a hand on his shoulder and giving Alfarr a nod, Rana took Yngvarr back beyond the doors. The beauty of the Lady’s Blessing was barely audible, and after silence settled, the pair were still a while returning. When they did, lines of tension had vanished from Yngvarr’s expression, his motions having regained their usual smooth grace.

“My apologies, everyone,” Yngvarr said. His gaze skittering away even though he looked to be trying to regard them directly.

“Yngvarr, there isn’t anything to apologise for - Rana found yesterday overwhelming as well. I had expected that you’d all fought swarms previously. I’ll cut off the numbers at a lower point today,” offered Julia, nodding in relief at his apology.

“No!” Yngvarr exclaimed, raising a hand in protest. “You’ve dealt with worse, and none of us took lasting harm.”

Julia gazed at him, but the objection died on her lips at a small calming gesture from Rana.

“Very well, I’ll bring them in till I’m running low of Psi, but that will take longer than yesterday,” replied Julia reluctantly. “I’m planning to focus on Precog to maximise the time I could fight while levelling Psion. I’ll leave it to Yngvarr to signal the Portal’s closure if anyone needs a halt before then.”

At the offer, a smile lit Yngvarr’s face and Alfarr brushed a hand across his back. Torm gave Julia a reassuring smile before moving to where he’d anchored the front rank in the passageway yesterday. Activating the Portal revealed Limbo beyond, and Julia grumbled to herself with the Altar nowhere in view. Masses of Slaadi nearby were the first to be lured. Even as Dominion brushed them, a beam of Order ripped through the darkness, driving through the Plane’s opposition into the closest Slaadi.

A Red Slaadi jumping towards Julia sagged on the end of her arm, its ribcage shattered as the impact crushed its heart. A strength that still surprised her cast it amid the oncoming wave. Flowing to one side, an axe kick ripped a Blue Slaadi’s arm off at its elbow, the back of her leg momentarily a blade, increasing its effect. Leaning back under another’s sweeping claws, Julia dropped low as the first blue took an arrow through its skull. Blocks kept the second’s strikes at bay. Twisting with its limbs suddenly clamped in a vice grip, they provided Julia leverage to use it as a mallet. The arc of its body coming from overhead smashing small Reds into pulp. The force of her first step along its fallen body shattering its maw though its skull, and she left the twitching corpses behind.

Curved mantis blades sprang into existence along her forearms, rippling with Ki. Every whirling motion of the tempting prey opening wounds or bringing death. As spurs joined them from shins, elbows, and shoulders, the Slaadi’s blood didn’t flow but spray. The evading dance from yesterday gained a perceptible menace at every turn. A maelstrom of motion carving its way through the mobs leaping into the room. Graceful movements highlighted the way she slipped away before attacks against her truly began. Attacks that failed to reach her weaponised form, she didn’t block so much as remove.

Still, more and more Slaadi swarmed in, following her alluring course. When they brushed near her companions, they received a lethal reception. Winter’s Heart wielded in a martial artist’s flowing arcs sent frozen pieces to the ground. Alfarr’s Fire blasted those stray remains of foes into those following behind. As flights of blessed arrows plucked lives away, Yngvarr’s strikes unleashed lines of flame. The intensity of heat cooking Slaadi flesh, yet only silhouetting Julia’s spinning form.

Spinning within flames and foes, Angelic Aura’s strength shone with growing strength. Some Slaadi strikes weakened it, yet when broken, it came back stronger still. As the battle raged, the crude scales shaped from the candle flames showed finer crafting. The scouring of the battle smoothing rough edges as the aura’s scales were repeatedly reforged.

The fourth Golden Slaadi for the battle leapt into the fray. Its Teleport setting it beside Rana’s position halted all motion in the chamber. Not from its attack, but from the rebuking word Rana unleashed. The energy of it smashed into the brains of those Slaadi within hearing. Even as the Golden Slaadi’s mind cooked, Rana’s next arrow pinned it to the wall. The Celestial energy buffeted Julia, but the Lady’s Blessing recognised her and left only an itching behind as it ebbed away.

Slaadi died in a surge of blood and bile. Julia’s movements shed their defensive stance against now stunned foes. Head were cleaved, chests opened, limbs severed. A frenzy of death pushed the growing tide back towards the Portal’s edge. Alfarr unleashed a Wave of Fire from Ki Infusion’s grip and his spell, supported by a variety of Yngvarr’s spells, emptied one side of the chamber of foes. Quick strikes from Torm smashed more down as Rana sniped down those further out of reach. The siren call of Dominion eased to allow the five to purge the chamber before the battle renewed. When Mortal flesh finally reached its limits, Yngvarr signalled the Portal’s closure. As it clamped shut, he and Alfarr unleashed a Firestorm that left flames cooking air and stone.

Within the flames Julia stood unharmed, playfully alert amid the swirling energy as her Elven form was restored from the battle shape she’d taken on. Her motions, shining in True Sight, left beautiful ripples in the surrounding air as her fingertips brushed through the vermilion shades.

[

Red Slaadi x 1492 (20%)

Grey Slaadi x 56 (20%)

Blue Slaadi x 2717 (20%)

Red Slaadi Juggernaut x 89 (20%)

Golden Slaadi x7 (20%)

Total experience gained: 1,707,082

Fallen: +341,416

Fallen Level Up! x 8

Scion: +341,416

Scion Level Up! x 8

Psion: +341,416

Psion Level Up! x 12

Sora Master: +341,416

Sora Master Level Up! x 12

Warrior Monk: +341,416

Warrior Monk Level Up! x 12

Angelic Aura [Ap] (19 -> 24)

Harmony [S] (4->5)

Ki Armour [S] (9->10)

Ki Aura [Ap] (13->21)

Ki Infusion [S] (8->9)

Ki Movement [Ad] (27->30)

Agile [S] (20->21)

Clairsentience [Ap] (7->24)

Suppress Target (6->14)

]

“How is this possible?” Alfarr said, leaning against the chamber’s wall as he slid to the floor.

The liquid, beautiful sounds of a Blessing emerged from Rana as an aura of energy settled over the four, their wounds purified and healed. Clawed flesh spat out eggs, before sealing whole again. Those that fell to the ground beside Julia, from her own unaided healing, she squished underfoot their core of Chaos abhorrent to her perceptions.

“One kill at a time, it adds up,” Julia replied casually, earning a flat look from Alfarr’s worn gaze. “Just stay in the now and fight however you can.”

“How many was that?” Yngvarr asked, words hollow with fatigue as he moved to sit beside Alfarr.

“A lot,” Torm stated, cleaning his blade before he sheathed it.

“I was leaving it up to Yngvarr to close the Portal,” commented Julia. “I still had miles to go, and Slaadi to make weep before I sleep.”

Julia’s flippant response did nothing to ease the look that Alfarr directed her way, but Torm simply snorted.

“What are miles?” Rana asked curiously. “And you don’t sleep.”

“I know, but it flowed lyrically, well sort of,” said Julia, stretching limbs now unburden by weapons.

“I’ll check with Moke later to see what he thinks of your Bard skills,” Alfarr said, his breathing slowing as he reclined against the stone.

“The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep,” quoted Julia. The English words drew a blank with Alfarr, but the rest followed magically or from shared memories. “It’s from a poem that has stood to greater tests than Moke’s taste.”

“Do you remember the rest of it?” asked Rana curiously.

“No, I wish I did. The last part always stuck with me about work ethic. The entire poem some people see differently,” Julia said, with a casual shrug. “But isn’t that always the way? Show some people a painting of sunrise and they’ll see sunset instead.”

“Too tired to think,” Alfarr grumbled, waving away her words as he closed his eyes. “Someone make the godling stop tormenting me.”

Julia gasped in open-mouthed shock, before covering her face with her palms.

“I don’t think Lady Julia realised the full extent of her situation,” Rana offered, and Julia left them to their recovery.

----------------------------------------

The points in her profile would be a nice surge, and Julia quickly allocated them.

Sixty-four points to use, so:

Twenty into Intelligence makes it five hundred and ten.

Four into Willpower, so it’s no longer the number of the beast.

Another thirty into Endurance and Health jumps to a smidge over sixty-five K.

Ignoring the too-soft bed, she stretched out on the floor’s stone, staring up at the flowering branches decorating the ceiling. As each minute passed, she felt her energies recover from the strain. Though Ki and Mana surged in renewal, only Psi slowly restored itself.

“Yes,” Julia said, hearing the light footsteps outside her door before whoever it was could knock.

“May I enter?” asked Torm, and Julia rolled her eyes at his formal tone.

“Only if you know the secret password.”

Julia’s words echoed in the chamber, but the door opened anyway and Torm leaned in.

“I’d say I come bearing chocolate but that would be a lie.”

“It’s the thought that counts, I guess,” said Julia. His reply caused homesickness to surge, and while it was tempting to shape some from Chaos, Julia left it alone. “Your attempt bears you credit, you may enter.”

Torm didn’t comment on her snobbish tone but took in her prone state with a glance. Sitting on a chair close by, he regarded the put-out expression on her features.

“Alfarr really caught you off balance,” said Torm, the gentle tone of surprise drawing her attention.

“If I had lost to Viper, they would have been in the Abyss now. I don’t want other people’s fate in my hands,” Julia sighed, resting a forearm across her eyes.

“Pretty sure some people believe the Fates have that sown up with their threads. Why don’t you just be yourself and let others decided what they wish to believe?” suggested Torm, and Julia heard him settling back in the chair.

“Pre-destiny, so glad the Titan’s servant told me I don’t have one,” Julia said, taking deep unneeded breaths. “No one should have the power to preset what someone can achieve in life.”

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“How many dead was that?” questioned Torm, his casual tone not sounding like he had any genuine interest.

Hint taken; we’ll talk about something else.

“You said it yourself, lots!” Julia replied, not wanting to check for the summary again. “Dealt with nearly three thousand blue bastards alone.”

“I’ve seen smaller Slaadi assault hosts. They make dangerous foes for Ásgarðr’s defenders,” said Torm, his voice soft and casually low. “The larger red ones I hadn’t seen before yesterday.”

“Torm,” Julia said, his name soft with worry.

“What’s wrong Julia?”

“I don’t think this is a game,” Julia said, the words heavy with strain, as her features twisted in pain. “No matter what terms I use from my past life, it’s just to help me make sense of things. I know it’s not a game.”

“I heard you plead for Livia’s life, that idea would never cross my mind,” Torm stated as he rose. After a moment, he sat beside her and trailed fingertips across her hand. “Though I certainly believe you don’t place a high enough priority on your own safety.”

“At least one person believes I’m taking it seriously,” sigh Julia. “Yngvarr accused me of treating this like a game; I’m just trying to make sure they’re as safe as possible in this madness.”

Torm stopped moving, just holding her hand for a time, and Julia was enjoying the simple contact when he spoke again.

“I spoke to a Demonologist recently while you were still freeing Souls,” stated Torm.

The subject change was strange, but the image that arose made her lips twitch.

“That must have been an interesting conversation. Did they have to say ‘stop hitting me’ often while you got answers?” quipped Julia, stilling her laughter.

“I didn’t hit them at all, they were happy to help,” Torm responded, his tone light with relief at her amusement. “They weren’t a dark practitioner rather a Wizard whose focus is hunting Demons.”

“Oh, okay, not what came to mind,” grumbled Julia, beckoning him to go on.

“They said a Demon is formed by the Abyss, empowering the baser instincts of a corrupt Soul. Those empowered instincts consume the Soul, and the resulting Demon is rampant with the cravings of their prior existence. It made me remember your account of the membrane overlying the gestating Succubus. You said it seemed to force the Soul to fill its mould.”

“Oh, no!” exclaimed Julia, her protest weighed with guilt. “Did I do that to the Larvae’s Souls?”

“Julia, that wasn’t the point I was making. I’m sure since they were already Demons, no matter how weak, the Larvae’s form had already consumed each Soul. Your actions just changed their outer mould. I meant, Viper was always trying to consume you. From the moment you broke free of the stone. You said she claimed to have almost had control, but you ran too fast. I think you would have existed like the Nox Souls. Destroy the outer shell, and they can rejoin their kin if they are close to a Grotto’s protections.”

“So it will be a matter of how dangerous I made her through my efforts,” concluded Julia. The thought of having left Viper any power making her groan.

“You don’t blame the others for the Altar of Set. Don’t go blaming yourself for the outcome of Viper’s choices,” Torm said sternly, though the pressure on her hand remained gentle. “If you’d given up, she would have been far more than merely dangerous.”

“Fine, but all the stuff I repressed now is giving Viper a dose of PMS with a pound of crack,” Julia muttered, smacking the ground with her free hand.

“Quoting Chastity Marks won’t help,” grumbled Torm, shaking his head.

“Sarah shared comics with you as well?” Julia’s following laugh stealing tension from her face.

“Some, I do not know whether she remembered the details or made them up. Sarah says it’s an aspect of her bloodline to recall memories perfectly,” Torm said. As his fingertips traced the curve of her hand, the motions earned a smile from Julia. “Are we going to be doing that daily?”

“Playing with my hand? Do you hear me objecting? But if you mean the Slaadi, I could kill far more. I have other options, but they won’t help level my new classes,” offered Julia. “Limbo’s Chaos reduces the effects of some spells, I could use Fire Storms, but it gives me less practice for other skills. Also, I’m sure it would mean a ton of experience for Fallen and Scion and zip for my new classes.”

“Which sounds like they would bring you the most power in the short term,” Torm commented, and Julia could feel his puzzlement when she shrugged.

“I’m not after short-term gain. I can kill these foes slower and start setting up a foundation for my next tower, or I can surge ahead in two areas,” contended Julia. “The thing is, my next Prestige Class might be even stronger than Scion, and I’ll be wanting to level it. However, it will have two Monk classes in it so Fallen, and Scion won’t let me fast track it; they’ll always take their share of the pie. So it makes no sense to push them ahead and delay starting the next one’s growth.”

“Are you sure it will be stronger?” asked Torm warily.

“Psion, Sora Master, and Warrior Monk have five attribute gains each level, well technically three getting single gains and Willpower getting a double increase. The classes that combined into Scion had four attribute gains between them. I’ll admit I’m counting on gaining a similar effect with this one,” conceded Julia.

“It surprised me you didn’t take a Wizard class-,” stated Torm, cutting off in confusion as Julia shook her head.

“I guess when it comes down to it, I’m just a punch someone in the face kinda gal,” Julia offered with a smile. “In MMOs, I’d plan and tweak my builds to get the best numerical benefit, but this isn’t a game. I want to live a life where I’m comfortable in my skin, with what I’m doing and with who I become. I don’t know why I enjoy pushing back when something pushes me, but I do. The unlock of Wizard occurred by accident. I was just meditating and trying to keep a calm state when it unlocked because I gained Harmony and that gave me my first Affinities. While I took it because I felt I’d need some magic, it’s not essential to me. It’s purely a tool, a useful one, but to me it’s only a tool. I’m not obsessed with it like Yngvarr.”

“You decided your path based on how well you could hit something?” questioned Torm, amused by the observation.

“Throwing spells around is fun, and a challenge, but I’m not after mastery of the arcane. I want to be a better me. A Monk’s focus is on discipline and self-perfection. An individual’s spirit generates Ki, their mind generates Psi. Wizards rely on external things: grimoires to learn their spells, objects to enhance or store them. They even draw Mana in. The energy doesn’t start within.”

“You and Yngvarr have both spoken about having a pool of Mana within yourself,” Torm pointed out.

“That’s true, but the body doesn’t generate the Mana, it merely gathers it. Stronger Wizards can store more ready for use and handle controlling it. Wizards refill their capacity by resting, or by cycling Mana. Cycling Mana isn’t generating Mana, it’s easing the strained pathways, so Mana accumulates faster. Oh, that might be why Powers have a say in their Priests having Affinities.”

“What do you mean?” Torm asked. His baffled tone made it clear Julia had lost him.

“Sorry jumped thoughts. Eivor gained access to Mana when she gained the Priest Class. As she levelled, it increased her capabilities to handle Mana, provided by her Faith but still Mana. Wizard increases capacity for drawing and handling it directly from reality and then tinting it in various shades according to Affinities. So as a powerful Priest you have a massive tolerance for handling Mana, and if you then become a Wizard, and you start behaving in ways that aren’t in keeping with the Power you serve. Even if you can’t draw the Priest spells from the Domain, you’re still able to toss off a ton more Wizard spells. Which is something the Power enabled you to achieve. What would that do to their reputation among the locals? It’s a theory, no idea if it’s actually why, but I enjoy theories for how stuff like that works.”

“Hence Sarah saying you’re a gamer girl?” asked Torm, and Julia half-snorted in frustration after Yngvarr’s earlier remarks.

“Not exactly, but I even call myself that sometimes as well. Couldn’t get either Sarah or Rach into gaming. Surprised Sarah mentioned any of it,” Julia stated, letting the moment’s tension ease from her.

“Apparently she listened to your prattle more than you think,” retorted Torm, the amused look that went with the words making Julia wonder what Sarah had said.

“Oh harsh, meow meow girl must have been in a hissy mood to say that,” Julia laughed, before the amusement drained away and the next words were barely a whisper. “Did everyone in the expedition make it out alive?”

Hesitation carried into the caressing movement of his hand, halting it mid-motion. When Julia winced in anticipation, her reaction pulled the words from him.

“Most of them did. A few, you might say, chose option two,” Torm admitted. “So same plan again tomorrow?”

“Alfarr and Yngvarr seemed a bit spooked by the death toll today,” said Julia; her tone low as she opened her eyes to regard Torm, concern weighing her expression at his change of subject. When he gave her a little headshake, she sighed and let the matter drop. “Did they recover okay after I left?”

“Rana helped restore them quickly enough. Would you consider that easy fighting?” asked Torm. His concerned gaze didn’t leave Julia’s face as he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

“Very easy. Days I was fighting had body counts greater than my first Gnarl horde. I’m not sure if I can take on high numbers without unbalancing my levelling,” conceded Julia ruefully. “Fighting in the Necropolis, balancing out Mana and Ki usage felt straight forward, my Psi energy is far behind.”

“Can I ask why you were so shocked about Alfarr calling you a godling?”

Julia chewed the inside of her cheek as she considered the question before picking her words carefully.

“With Alfarr’s comment, it made me think about Viper having those Petitioners in her claws. I can see the number of Faithful keeps climbing and I don’t know their names. Despite that, they’ll end up wherever I decide to set my Domain,” said Julia, huffing in disbelief. “People are trusting their Souls to my care, and I in no way feel worthy of it. I’ll do what I can for them, but it’s a responsibility that I got blind-sided with by Eivor.”

Sitting up, Julia drew her hand free and scrubbed fingers across her scalp, heedless of the mess it made. Torm stayed silent and let her gather herself, watching the shifts in expression as her thoughts swirled within.

“A focus for someone’s belief, okay fine I guess, but a godling? Blah. Even thinking about that makes me wonder at my motivation for agreeing to it. It’s ironic considering that I don’t even need a cult to get free from the Abyss with my transition to Fallen. I need to learn about this redemption path though.”

“True,” acknowledged Torm. “You don’t need them to empower your plans, but they need the hope you represent to them. While you might not feel worthy, and don’t want the responsibility, I believe they’ll fare better in your care. Certainly you’ll care more for them than others I could name.”

“Just because there are bad choices doesn’t mean I’m their best choice,” grumbled Julia as she pulled a face.

“You do yourself a disservice,” chided Torm lightly, giving her a reassuring look. “Your Petitioners have a place that feels like a welcoming home. Though I have an important question.”

“Which is?” Julia asked, eying him cautiously.

“Why were you laying on the floor?” Torm asked,

At Torm’s question, Julia pulled a face and, grumbling in response, played along with the subject change.

“Azex made the bed too soft, I don’t like the way I sink into it.”

Eventually, Julia gave into Torm’s echoing laughter. The laughing fit helped ease the tension away and eventually drifted into a comfortable silence.

“Yngvarr’s at least right about prolonging things. I have a plan,” said Julia and patted Torm’s arm in thanks. “It will not be pretty, nor an honourable battle, but I’ve zero interest in that.”

----------------------------------------

“Torm asked if I intended a repeat of yesterday,” Julia said. Glancing at the others, she waited until she had their attention before continuing. “Perhaps you’ll be glad to hear that today won’t be like yesterday.”

“That’s good,” Alfarr murmured in relief.

“Oh, don’t get too excited,” Julia scolded, holding off opening the Portal. “Follow Torm’s lead. I’ll close the Portal if anything too dangerous tries to come inside. Just focus on doing the best you can one foe at a time, no area of effect spells.”

When Dominion’s call reached out, the Slaadi raced in towards their prey, but this time Julia didn’t run them in circles. As they leapt into the room, Julia charged. Her clothing disappeared as she reformed. Where she had been was now a jagged, eyeless thing covered in thousands of waving spines that served as a backdrop for other limbs. Metallic thorns ripped through flesh as she impacted the first Slaadi, barbed tendrils, swirling hooks and slashing scythes spilled remains across the floor.

When a limb ripped away, three more grew in its place. Injuries restored as Energy Drain soaked up her enemy’s life, and the butchery grew fiercer still. Roiling black Yin trailed from every unnatural weapon consuming remains in its wake. The frog-like croaks uttered within the mass of foes held primal terror and hunger. Tentacles crushed the lives of foes and swatted others into stone. Swirling nano-thin wires ladened with Ki and Mana danced, leaving parts falling along their course.

Torm started and cut down a Slaadi skittering along her maelstrom’s edge with their focus obviously held there. While the one he engaged turned on him, it quickly died. One on one, his strength and skill made quick work of them—their distracted state allowing him to focus on the proper technique for every initial attack.

“Leave Julia to close the Portal today,” Torm cautioned Yngvarr between engaging foes. “Focus your attention on killing individuals on the pack’s edge.”

As another charred foe fell, Alfarr glanced over at Torm’s words. Slaadi racing by within arm’s reach, ignoring him as they sought to find what was at the colony’s centre.

Rana didn’t spare a moment for words and continued to loose arrows and Blessings in rapid succession. When his quiver’s energy ebbed, he joined the others in the melee. It was hours of muscle burning fury that had the Mortals staggering back, needing respite before the butchery ended. The slaughter might have continued, but when a front of ominous energy flooded the chamber’s threshold, the Portal snapped shut. One moment their foes were a swirling mass of motion, the next the room stilled. A sea urchin formed of blazing Yang spears held Slaadi upright, a consuming star that flared brighter as bodies crumbled to ash.

As Yngvarr stepped back from the blast furnace, it dispersed as Julia’s form rippled. Her clothing taking shape as the monster reverted to her Elven form.

“Not exactly an honourable battle,” stated Alfarr warily.

“You should have better sense than that, Alfarr,” Julia retorted, giving him a frown. “I’ll save honourable conduct for entities that I give a damn about. The rest can feed the grinder.”

“She’s killing them as quickly as she can,” chastised Torm. “While both shielding us from the horde’s focus and giving us a chance to fight at our own pace.”

“Be sure to pace yourself; we’ve days of killing ahead,” Julia declared. “That was a Death Slaadi outside; otherwise, I’d be killing for another bell or two. Same time tomorrow, meditate, rest, and practice. Your levels will increase faster than you’ll be used to. Work on your skills and keep in mind you’ll need to adventure more to refine them later.”

“How is it you have so much Ki available?” Alfarr asked, his usual humour absent from his tone.

“Three Monk classes and my Ki Powers don’t use as much energy anymore,” explained Julia before giving a farewell nod and headed for the door. “I hope you enjoyed the experience ride. Please take all your possessions and limbs with you when you depart.”

As she slipped through the door, Torm’s gaze weighed on Alfarr and Yngvarr.

“Julia’s not playing-” declared Torm. Whatever else he said became lost as the door sealed, and she didn’t bother to listen in.

I shouldn’t have told him about Yngvarr snapping, but now Alfarr wants to join the beware Julia trip. What was Yngvarr’s apology really about: his words to me, needing a Blessing to recover, or just delaying things? He’s still hasn’t wanted to talk about the fancy base classes.

[Combat Summary:

Red Slaadi x 5,342 (20%)

Grey Slaadi x 297(20%)

Blue Slaadi x 6,951(20%)

Red Slaadi Juggernaut x 5 (20%)

Golden Slaadi x9 (20%)

Total experience gained: 4,660,519

Fallen: +932,103

Fallen Level Up! x 7

Scion: +932,103

Scion Level Up! x 7

Psion: +932,103

Psion Level Up! x 11

Sora Master: +932,103

Sora Master Level Up! x 11

Warrior Monk: +932,103

Warrior Monk Level Up! x 11

Advanced Telepathy [Ad] (5->6)

Angelic Aura [Ap] (24->30)

Ki Armour [S] (10->11)

Ki Aura [Ap](21->30)

Ki Infusion [S] (9->10)

Ki Strike [S] (12->13)

Protean [M] (4->6)

Suppress Target (14) -> [B](15)

Clairsentience [Ap] (24) -> [J](4)

Psychoportation [B](10 -> 14)

Silent Storm [S] (8->9)

]

“No sign of the Altar,” muttered Julia, heading towards the upper reach of the fortress to take her own advice.

Great, turn into an Elder thing and Protean gets all excited. I’ve not seen it jump two levels in a while. I ran dry on Psi energy well before the end, and Psion still got a full share of experience. Glad I don’t have to save Psi energy just for fighting. Tomorrow I’ll go wild.

Need to spend my stockpiled points, then get some practice in.

The first skill points go into Silent Storm.