The symbol of power—the Conduit—looked grotesque and… oddly beautiful at the same time. There was a logic to the shapes, the way they connected together, that Xavier could almost intuit.

Should I really be attempting this ritual? Xavier asked Rhaalir, the elven spirit from the Otherworld whom he’d contracted as his teacher.

Rhaalir raised his chin, his hands folded neatly behind his back.

Normally, with a Rank 1 Ritual skill, performing this ritual would be incredibly dangerous. Only a fool would do something like this. There are stories of low-level Denizens obtaining high-level Ritual Manuals—Grimoires. It rarely goes well.

Xavier inclined his head.

You, however, are far from normal. Your attributes should protect you.

The elf had said similar things like that before. That they should protect him.

Xavier ignored his doubts. He tiptoed over the symbol of power, placing his foot between the different shapes and lines he’d painstakingly created using the beast parts he’d dismantled. Squares made from teeth, circles from tails, and the pentagram itself from horns.

He came to stand in the centre of the Conduit, where there was enough space for him to stand with his feet shoulder width apart. The Time Alteration spell was still active around him.

This first ritual of yours will take time to perform, more time than a ritual of this level should. We could train you on weaker rituals, gain you a few ranks in the skill. We would certainly have the time. I don’t believe such a thing is necessary. Moreover, there could be certain advantages to performing such a ritual at Rank 1.

Xavier hadn’t even considered gaining ranks in the skill before performing this ritual. Despite all the patience he’d cultivated with his previous tutor, the time mage Liana, he wanted to jump straight into this. He was also intrigued by these so-called advantages the elf mentioned.

What do I do next?

Xavier had never sacrificed souls before—he hadn’t known something like that was possible. This was an entirely new realm of magic that he hadn’t realised had existed. There was no spell for him to cast. It was like stumbling in the dark without being able to hear.

Clear your mind, then focus on what you wish to happen, much like when you cast Otherworldly Communion and keep a question in your mind. But this thought needs to be far more intentional. There must be no confusing it. You are sacrificing these souls in order to gain a spell called Soul Sacrifice. Keep it simple.

Xavier shut his eyes and focused his mind. It took a moment for him to order his thoughts, then he lowered his chin and wrinkled his forehead as he concentrated on the thought.

Soul Sacrifice spell. Soul Sacrifice spell.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed when the elven spirit roused him from the trancelike state he’d induced.

This thought is strong in your mind?

Xavier did not open his eyes. He simply nodded.

Now, you must reach into your reserve of souls.

Reach into his reserve… that was something he’d never done before. Yet another thing he hadn’t known was possible. He had only ever used his souls in spells. He had never thought of his reserve as a resource that could be used for anything else.

Xavier, his eyes remaining closed, felt within himself. There, he could feel the different cores that he unlocked. The different energies they contained. He had become adept at cultivating those energies, for his Spirit Core, his Willpower Core, and his Speed Core.

He could feel his soulkeeping reserve. He had an innate knowledge of whether it felt full or not, in the same way that he could sense his cooldowns—though the accuracy of those senses was nothing like checking the details using the System.

He focused on that feeling of fullness. He had over four thousand souls in his reserve, and he intended to sacrifice almost all of them to this cause, even if that wasn’t strictly necessary.

Time passed. The air was still within the bubble. There was no sound but for the constant rhythm of his own breathing, of his heart thudding in his chest. The stream nearby did not flow, the small part of it that was stuck inside the time dilation field was a still, silent pool of water.

Xavier pushed his mind toward this goal.

Hours must have gone by before it happened. Xavier could more than just feel the fullness of his reserve—he was beginning to feel the souls within it.

Not just that… he could feel different things about the souls. Echoes of what they once were. Things flickered through his mind the more he focused on his reverse—ghost images of what the souls had looked like, of what their soul apparitions would look like.

The weight of how many souls he had trapped within his reserve hit him hard. Made him feel… strangely weighed down.

But he could also feel how to pull those souls out of his reserve. He tilted his head to the side.

There was a way to free the souls—and there was a way to harness them.

Once he had made this discovery, a notification appeared in his vision.

What do you wish to do with the souls in your reserve?

1. Release them.

2. Harness them.

3. Destroy them.

Focus on the souls and will your choice.

Xavier’s forehead become infinitely more lined. He had the power to destroy the souls, without even using them? Why would he ever want to do something like that?

Once he had made this discovery and read the notification, he told the details of it to Rhaalir.

The spirit paused, uncharacteristically, before responding.

I thought it would take you a lot longer to make the connection to your reserve.

Xavier opened his eyes for the first time in a long while. He looked at the transparent elf, standing a few feet away from him. The spirit hadn’t moved. Rhaalir still stood in the same way, chin raised, hands folded behind back.

I’ve been at this for hours.

Two days, actually, within the time dilation field.

Xavier was a little taken aback. He hadn’t realised two full days had gone by. He’d known it had been a while, but not that long. And you’re saying that was quick?

It could have taken weeks.

Xavier simply nodded. He wasn’t surprised by this. Maybe he should have been, but he’d been unlocking abilities such as this far faster than was expected since he’d been integrated into the System, starting with when he’d uncovered his Spirit Core.

All right. I think I can do the next step without instruction.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

The elf nodded and did not contradict him

Xavier inhaled long and deep, then let it back out as he closed his eyes. He held the thought in his mind—that he wished to gain the Soul Sacrifice spell.

He split his mind and focused on the souls within his reserve. He could pick them out individually, and he brought four thousand of them into focus. Four thousand personalities. Four thousand separate power signatures. Four thousand ghost images that flashed through his mind.

He harnessed them.

Ritual commenced.

Connection to the Otherworld established.

Ritual in progress…

Xavier no longer became in any way conscious of the passing of time as the ritual happened. All he had was the thought in his mind, a sense of connection to the Otherworld, and the feeling of four thousand souls leaving his body through that connection.

Ritual intention has been heard.

Sacrifice of {4,000 Souls} accepted.

Ritual has been deemed a success.

Results are forthcoming.

Xavier opened his eyes. The connection to the Otherworld had snapped shut. The souls from his reserve, all but a few, had disappeared. Rhaalir stared at him, an expectant look on his face.

More notifications streamed in.

You have gained the spell: Soul Sacrifice

Ritual has reached Rank 2

…

Ritual has reached Rank 15!

[Otherworldly Communion has taken a step forward on the path!

Otherworldly Communion is now a Rank 2 spell.

…

Otherworldly Communion is now a Rank 20 spell.

One cannot walk backward on the path.

Xavier released a breath.

Did it work? the spirit asked.

Xavier nodded. He hadn’t experienced any of the dangers the elf had said there would be, but Xavier couldn’t help but wonder what might have happened if his sacrifice hadn’t been accepted.

It did.

Xavier frowned. He gazed down at his body, raising a hand to examine his skin. He looked unusually pale, and his palms were sweaty—actually, his whole body was sweaty, and he felt strangely cold.

And absolutely exhausted. In every single way. Physically, mentally—even spiritually. Like his soul was… not damaged, but tired.

Xavier raised his chin. Will I always be this drained after a ritual?

Not as your rank grows. Rhaalir tilted his head to the side and grinned. Looks like you’ve gained a few ranks already.

Xavier frowned. It took him a moment to figure out how the spirit knew he’d already gained ranks in the Ritual skill. Then he remembered he’d given permission to the elf to do so.

It was strange that another being always had access to exactly how powerful he was. It made him feel vulnerable in a way he hadn’t felt before.

Xavier looked down. His eyes widened instantly at what he saw.

The symbol of power—the Conduit he’d spent hours painstakingly putting together—was gone. All that remained of it was ash. The symbol was burnt into the ground where all the beast parts had been.

The ritual consumed the Conduit? Xavier asked. It sounded right, and he realised he didn’t have to ask the question—he knew it intuitively now that his skill had ranked up so much.

Perhaps that was why the elf didn’t reply.

Xavier was thrilled that he’d just gained so many ranks in Otherworldly Communion. It was hard to believe the spell was Rank 20 now. That was an absolutely dramatic shift—but it was also a long, long time coming.

Xavier brought up the new spell that he’d just learnt. He was eager to find out exactly what it did.

Soul Sacrifice – Rank 50

Xavier stopped reading the description the instant he saw the rank. He gaped, turned, and faced Rhaalir.

How in the world is this spell Rank 50? I just gained it!

Rhaalir smiled. It seems the spirits from the Otherworld you connected with appreciated your generous sacrifice.

Xavier narrowed his eyes at the elf. You knew this would happen, didn’t you?

The elf shrugged. I imagined it would, yes. I didn’t know how many souls you’d be able to put toward the task. I really only expected you to gain five ranks, maybe ten… but you impress me, Xavier Collins. And I am not one who is easily impressed.

Xavier focused back on the description.

Soul Sacrifice – Rank 50

Soul Sacrifice is an epic spell and is specific to the Reaper and Otherworldly Summoner classes—one must be a part of both lines to be able to use this skill, making it one of the rarest spells in the Greater Universe.

This spell creates a connection to the Otherworld when it is cast. Souls are sacrificed through this connection, creating a bridge between the Otherworld and the Mortal Realm. For a short period of time, spirits can enter the Mortal Realm through this bridge. Warriors that will fight alongside the caster.

This spell is powerful, one must be cautious. Though no spirit that comes through the bridge can harm the user of the spell, sometimes they are chaotic beings, and their actions are not always predictable.

Xavier’s forehead became increasingly lined as he continued to read through the spell’s description. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this spell—how confident he was in it. He would have to give up souls—souls he could use in his Soul Strike, Soul Shatter, Soul Block, and Soul Puppet spells, not to mention his ability to imbue souls into some of his other spells—to summon warriors to fight alongside him…

And there would be no way to anticipate what those warriors would be like.

An interesting spell.

It has the potential to be far more powerful than it first sounds.

Xavier inclined his head. He supposed he had to take the elf at his word, at least until he got a chance to test it. Though there was something about the spell that he didn’t like the sound of. He’d been hoping to find a spell that would help him with his Hunt Quest in the raid group against a C Grade beast, but if this spell wasn’t safe to use with allies…

Just how chaotic are these spirits?

The spell description exaggerates. It is rare that an unruly spirit would come through the bridge. Rhaalir’s tone had shifted. There was something different in the elf’s voice—he sounded more serious.

Xavier wasn’t sure he liked it.

He walked to the edge of the time dilation field. An unruly spirit. Xavier wondered what type of spirit might have attained such a title. He touched a hand to the time dilation field, deactivating the spell at the same time. As far as he was aware, there were no beasts in the immediate area. But he wouldn’t have to go far to find one.

The beast he came upon was something he’d faced before. It was a little ways into the forest from where he’d just been. He’d heard the beast’s racket from a mile away—it had been devouring a pack of wolven that it had slaughtered.

Xavier hadn’t often seen beast-on-beast violence, but he’d known that it existed.

Seeing the torn-up remnants of the wolven pack, and the beast that still feasted on them, seemingly unworried about Xavier’s approach, flared a hunger deep within him. The beast that he was slowly becoming stirred. It wished to feast like this beast feasted.

The beast stood at twenty feet of height on its hindlegs. It looked much like the Rat King had looked on one of the early floors of the tower, but more savage. The Rat King had looked more and more humanoid as it had gained levels—this beast looked more monstrous.

In fact, the more he looked at it, the more he doubted it looked like a rat at all. It had pointy, batlike ears that it could shift and control—they were facing his direction right now, the beast clearly aware of his presence but unconcerned.

Xavier, unhurried, stepped into the clearing where the carnage had taken place. The beast was called Raphick. It wasn’t a name he was familiar with. He supposed that was only fair, given how many worlds there were in the Greater Universe.

Rhaalir appeared a few feet away from the Raphick, as though he’d teleported there. Xavier was about to tell the ghost to get out of the beast’s line of sight, lest it be provoked, when he remembered he was the only one who could see the elf.

The last beast of this kind had put up quite the fight—though that had been before he’d used Assimilate Properties on all those Rhinoceros Monkey parts.

You’re just going to let it keep devouring these other beasts? Rhaalir’s nose curled up in evident disgust.

I’m in no hurry.

Xavier rolled his head around his neck, making it crack. No matter how powerful he became, no matter how many points in Toughness, he always seemed to have a slight crick in his neck. Maybe it was psychological—all in his head.

The Raphick stared at him as it tore the flesh off the bone of some unfortunate wolven. Well, his Predator’s Gaze skill certainly didn’t work for this beast. Even so, there did appear to be some sort of recognition in the beast’s eyes—it knew another true predator when it saw one. And it felt no fear.

With an unhurried air of complete calm, Xavier cast Soul Sacrifice for the first time. He had yet to replenish his soulkeeping reserve, so he currently had less than two hundred souls remaining.

He dedicated one hundred of those souls to this spell. Xavier felt a rush of energy as the souls fled from his reserve and seemingly disappeared from existence. Though he knew they weren’t being destroyed—they were being taken to the Otherworld.

Briefly, Xavier wondered what exactly it was that spirits from the otherworld even did with the souls.

Not my concern.

You have cast Soul Sacrifice.

{100 Souls} have been sacrificed to the Otherworld. A bridge has been established. Await the spirits at your leisure.

At my leisure? He had been hoping for a spirit to come through the bridge instantly—he didn’t expect to have to wait for them.

And, truth be told, he didn’t have to wait long.

Xavier felt the presence before it appeared. There was a strange sense of anticipation vibrating through him that he had never experienced before. Even Rhaalir, the ghost, shifted where he stood, adopting an odd stiffness in his posture that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

The Raphick sensed this as well. It threw the bone it had been nibbling to the grass and sprinted at Xavier with a speed that would be difficult to believe if he hadn’t faced a beast just like this before.

Xavier held his ground. He didn’t move an inch. His fingernails turned to claws, his teeth elongated, his muscles shifted beneath his skin. His vision started to turn red. He was ready to take this beast on.

But before the beast—that was now glowing green due to its use of Speed Infusion—could reach him, something appeared.

It came from the bridge.