There was a moment’s pause before more lines of text filled Justin’s interface.
[The Sapphire Star of Eyrth has granted you the following benefits:]
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Ascendant Boon Unlocked!
Eyrth’s Ascension: For every Level gained, you now receive two Attribute Points. This boon is retroactive with every Level gained.
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Ascendant Skill Unlocked!
Sapphire Aegis: Once per day, gain complete invincibility for ten seconds. All damage absorbed during this time is stored and unleashed in your next attack, scaling with total damage received. Stored power fades entirely if not used within five seconds of the skill's ending. Inflicts Greater Darkness on all hostiles within sight of the Sapphire Star for fifteen seconds.
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Artifact: The Sapphire Star of Eyrth
Tier: Ascendant
Class Restrictions: None
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Artifact Enchantments:
Boundless Synergy: The Sapphire Star can be bound, no matter how many other artifacts or items are cored to your character.
Blessing of the Blue Star: Upon coring the Sapphire Star, gain the Ascendant Boon "Eyrth's Ascension" and the Ascendant Skill "Sapphire Aegis."
Gatekeeper's Call: The wielder and their party may activate and pass through World Gates. The Sapphire Star glows brighter as you near an accessible gate.
The Star's Echo: You are tethered to the cores of the Star's previous wielders. Their journeys and memories are now a part of you.
Veil of Starlight: The Sapphire Star’s true properties are concealed from all who attempt to perceive them. This includes identification by any external skill, boon, artifact, or divine insight.
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Justin stared at the glowing lines of text, his heart pounding. An Ascendant Artifact.
And now it was his.
He clutched the pulsing blue sapphire, about the size of his fist. For the first time, he realized it wasn't just globular in shape. An entire map had been etched on it in immaculate detail.
It could be nothing other than a map of Eyrth itself.
Turning it about in his hand, he could see that the world was composed of three continents of sorts. He recognized Serenthel from his own enchanted map, a large chunk of land mainly oriented north to south. He was surprised to see that Serenthel was connected to another continent via an isthmus. This continent occupied much of the planet's southern hemisphere. It was oriented east to west and was at least twice as large as Serenthel.
The third continent lay vast to the east of Serenthel. It was a bit smaller than Serenthel. Justin could only assume this was Calidon, which had been alluded to several times as being "beyond the sea" of Serenthel's eastern coast.
Besides this, there were several large and small islands of note. Homing in on where he was located, the extreme north end of Serenthel, he was shocked to see a tiny but bright dot of yellow light.
It was him. It had to be.
He tore his gaze away from the Star, noting that all his gear was back. At any point, he would be ushered back into the battle in the cavern.
But first, it seemed the System had some things for him to take care of.
[You have 13 Attribute Points to distribute.]
Thirteen points. It felt surreal. In his entire journey, he had never had more than one to distribute per level, plus the bonus he had received from his Cane of Valoria. The sheer potential before him was dizzying.
His hand hovered over Power. The Baron’s sneering face flashed in his mind, along with the icy terror of Vorthyrn’s breath. It was tempting.
Then his gaze shifted to Endurance. With higher durability, he could weather any storm and outlast any foe.
But that wasn’t who he was. It never had been.
He nodded to himself, his resolve firm. Charisma had carried him this far. It was the best long-term play, the key to unlocking not just victory but also alliances, influence, and a path that only he could walk.
One by one, he placed each point into Charisma. Each confirmation felt like a heartbeat. By the time the final point was locked in, he felt the change as a tangible force, a gravitational pull that seemed to center on him.
[Your Charisma is now: 37]
[The Amulet of Equilibrium now grants you +6 to all non-Charisma Attributes!]
Justin recalled his character screen, and his jaw nearly dropped at the eye-watering numbers displayed.
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Name: Justin Talemaker
Class: Socialite (Gentleman Focus)
Level: 13
Experience to Level 13: 827/4,600
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Attributes:
Power: 19 (10 + 9)
Coordination: 17 (10 + 7)
Endurance: 18 (10 + 8)
Intellect: 16 (10 + 6)
Perception: 16 (10 + 6)
Charisma: 44 (37 + 7)
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Stat-boosting Equipment:
The Cane of the Drake: +6 Charisma, +2 Power
The Coat of Highcliff’s Elegance: +1 Endurance, +1 Coordination
Squire’s Armlet: +1 to Power
Invari Ambassador Boots: +1 to Endurance
The Amulet of Equilibrium: Divides your highest base Attribute by six, then applies the result to all other Attributes. Attribute cap lifted. Highest base Attribute: Charisma (Base 37): +6 to Power, Coordination, Endurance, Intellect, and Perception.
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Stat-boosting Skills:
Stately Presence: +1 Charisma
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Justin couldn’t help but grin. True charisma, he remembered, wasn't enacting your will on the world. It was the world bending to your presence.
Eldrin’s words, spoken just after Eldrareth, returned to him. Attribute boosts aren’t everything; your own strengths do matter, and Attributes only work as a modifier to what’s already within.
It was something he would do well to remember. When he left this void, he would be far more powerful than he was before. But he still would not be invincible, even with his new Sapphire Aegis skill. Being limited to once per day, he had to take great care in when and where to use it.
Then there were the other enchantments, too, the implications of which he could scarcely imagine. World Gates? Bound to the cores and memories of previous wielders? He vaguely understood the first one, knowing that there were connections to other worlds in this reality. The second, he wasn't so sure about. He had thought Elara was the only previous wielder, but apparently, there had been others. Would he be able to draw on their memories? The thought was alarming. Elara had mentioned that the Star wasn't just a benefit, but a burden. Maybe this is what she meant.
He let out a breath. He could worry about all this later. It was time to rejoin the fray.
As if in response to this thought, the blue portal appeared before him, pulling him through. Justin stumbled as the sheer force of Vorthyrn’s frost breath buffeted him. The chilling gale should have frozen him solid, but the heat of Vorthak’s Flame surged, keeping the cold at bay. It was almost as if he hadn't missed anything, as if time itself had paused the entire time he had been away.
Though the flames kept him warm, the force of the attack was enough to drive him back to the wall. To his surprise, he was able to keep his feet and redirect the energy to dance lightly on the rocks.
His eyes locked onto the drake, its massive form wreathed in an aura of shimmering frost. Justin itched to activate his Sapphire Aegis skill, but he hesitated. Only fire could bring down the frost veil, and even if he absorbed all the energy of Vorthyrn's attack, he doubted it would be enough.
The key was Lila. But as long as the drake was focused on Justin, he was completely pinned in place.
Vorthyrn drew back, arching her neck, her mouth going wide and flashing rows of razor-sharp teeth. But her attack was interrupted when a new person entered the fray. The Baron, floating on a shimmering disc, hovered just out of Vorthyrn's reach. His voice boomed as he spoke in Vranthillis, the language reverberating through the cavern, vibrating in Justin's bones. Flames coalesced before him, then roared toward Vorthyrn.
The drake’s shield rippled under the assault, glowing brighter as it absorbed the fire’s impact. Her head snapped toward the Baron and away from Justin.
It was the distraction Justin needed. He scanned the cliff for a path back up. He spotted a jagged slope and sprinted toward it. His heart pounded as Vorthyrn made a flyby, her tail lashing out in a sweeping arc. At the last second, Justin activated Gentleman’s Sidestep, a burst of agility propelling him just out of range. The tail crashed behind him, making him stumble, but he easily regained his feet and scrambled up the slope.
Thankfully, the Baron was keeping the drake busy. Justin reached the original ledge. He took quick stock of the Baron's fight, finding that his levitation spell had ended, landing him on the lower ledge. His voice rose again in another incantation, the air oscillating before him. Vorthyrn circled to face him, readying another frost breath attack.
But that attack never materialized. Vorthyrn’s roar echoed through the cavern as a violet-black aura enveloped her. The light seemed to weigh her down. She flapped her wings madly in a desperate bid to stay aloft. While the shield protected her from physical damage, it seemed to do nothing against this. Valdrik watched for a moment before leaping after the descending drake, floating toward her.
Justin didn’t linger to watch. His eyes scanned the ledge for Lila and the others.
Among the jagged rocks near the cliff's edge, he spotted Kargan sprawled on the ground, his grip still firm on his staff. Justin knelt beside him, placing two fingers on his neck. He let out a relieved sigh when the pulse came strong and steady. The orc was exposed here, so he dragged him to a cluster of boulders farther back from the precipice. It wasn't perfect, but it provided some semblance of cover.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Justin got up to continue his search when a shadow moved in the corner of his vision. He turned to see Eldrin emerging from the fissure in the wall from which they had originally entered. Lila was limp in his arms. Her skin was pale, her breathing shallow, and frost clung to her hair and clothing. Justin’s heart clenched at the sight.
“She’s hurt badly,” Eldrin said, his voice strained. “None of my potions can cure the Freeze status. She needs help…now.”
Justin stood close to her, hoping the heat of his Vorthak's Flame had healing properties. At first, nothing seemed to change. But as the seconds passed, her skin became less pale, and the magical frost, which clung on so stubbornly, began to recede and sublimate into mist. Her extremities were gray with what appeared to be frostbite. The flames did nothing to cure that.
"We need Valrik," Justin said.
Elea's Whisper wasn't available, so Justin ran to the cliff, scanning the battlefield below.
Below them on the cavern floor, the Baron and his party had the drake surrounded on all sides. Gareth's blade bounced off the magical shield harmlessly, while Wolfram's discs simply ricocheted. Ryak hung back, casting shields that seemed to mostly neutralize the drake's frost breath. Rothian's fire shot from his staff in lethal plumes. They could push against the shield momentarily, but the shield would renew and plug the gaps. Valdrik coordinated with Rothian, preparing the same fire spell he had used earlier to no effect.
Justin couldn’t afford to watch. He waved his arms wildly, his heart pounding as he shouted to catch the Baron’s attention.
The Baron seemed to notice Justin, though the distance made it hard to tell. Valdrik steadied his staff, his body glowing brighter with each passing moment. A sky-blue light surged over his body, and he ascended rapidly, leaving his men behind to fend off the drake.
Below, whatever spell that had bound Vorthyrn to the ground shattered. With a roar of fury, the frost drake launched itself skyward, scattering Gareth and Wolfram like ragdolls. Its wings beat furiously as it surged toward the Baron, who was already racing toward the ledge with surprising speed. His spell faltered just as he reached the cliff’s edge. The drake was just a few seconds behind, already preparing a new round of frost breath. Justin could see the icy magic gathering in its open maw.
Valdrik's gaze took in Lila, seeming to guess the situation. "Distract the drake. This can't be rushed."
Justin hurried to do just that, Eldrin and Kargan at his heels. He hardly had time to prepare himself as the drake’s massive form rose over the cliff’s edge, its icy scales glittering in the dim light. Frost coiled from its maw, its unrelenting focus fixed solely on Justin. The Sapphire Star glowed below him, seeming to attract the drake's wrath.
Just as the drake's attack let loose, Kargan formed a Ward of Aegis just in the nick of time. From his grunt of pain, he was throwing almost everything into the defense. This time, it held. But with no ward left behind, the drake was now free to attack directly.
And it was going directly for Justin.
It shot forward, snapping its mouth with surprising speed. He activated Gentleman's Sidestep just in time to ensure the dodge, executing a perfectly timed dive. He rolled on the ground lightly, pulling himself up and pumping his legs as fast as he could toward the cavern wall. A blue aura of Sacrificial Armor surrounded him, immediately extinguished by a slash of the drake's claws. The attack, thankfully, also repelled the drake's momentum, causing a knockback effect. Vorthyrn screeched in dismay.
Justin sprinted, heading for a stand of rocks for shelter. He looked over his shoulder to see Vorthyrn running toward him, her wings flapping to lend additional speed. With Gentleman's Sidestep off cooldown, his options were limited. Another frost blast struck, but Vorthak’s Flame burned through the chill. He jumped, allowing the force of it to push him along. He landed lightly on a boulder, with an uncanny grace that surprised him.
Despite his speed, the damn drake was already above him, her claws extended in a swooping maneuver. He dove behind the boulder, narrowly dodging the attack. Justin rolled and got up, no worse for the wear. He danced around the rock, but had no other place to go, so he ran back to the cliff. Eldrin was already firing arrows, but they were useless. There was no sign of Lila or the Baron. A new round of Sacrificial Armor rose around Justin.
Vorthyrn screeched from behind him, the sound like nails dragged over steel. Once again, she gave chase as Justin raced toward the precipice. He reached it, only to see the fall was much too far to survive.
He whirled around, heart pounding. He was completely out of options as the drake charged across the short expanse of the ledge.
Buy time. That’s all I can do.
His mind raced for something to say. Anything.
He activated Dandy's Swagger, knowing he needed every edge he could get, however small. He drew himself up, tall and proud, his expression stern and commanding. The skill at least filled him with confidence, even if it was unearned.
"Vorthyrn! It's still not too late to make that deal. I'll give the Star back for safe passage out. It's either that or I use it against you."
To Justin's surprise, Vorthryn slowed, a hiss escaping her snout. Justin wasn't sure if it was due to his charisma or something else, but she was actually listening.
Then, she reared up, spreading her wings wide, her frost shield swirling around her. Despite the benefit of Dandy's Swagger, he damn near pissed his pants.
"Mayhap I should have given you more of a chance, mortal," Vorthryn said, "but the time for negotiation is over. Your presence and gall are an insult to my senses!"
Justin was undeterred. She wouldn't be talking to him if there wasn’t a chance. “Why take the risk? You know the Star’s power. As soon as you attack me, I’m invincible. These flames you see now—I will use them on you. You don’t want that to happen.”
It was the greatest bluff of Justin’s life. He was certain Vorthak’s Flame had no offensive capabilities, but Vorthyrn didn’t know that.
Or at least, so he hoped.
“What you have there is not a weapon, but a shield,” she countered, her voice laced with icy contempt. “You expect me to believe your desperate lies?”
“They’re not lies,” Justin said quickly. “My Affinity is Fire. Vorthak will strike you down if you touch me. Do you think he would gift me his flames if that weren’t true?”
For the first time, Vorthyrn paused. Her frost veil swirled tighter, the tendrils of mist coiling as if reflecting her internal debate. At that moment, Justin felt like a dog that had finally caught the car. He didn’t want to make a deal with her, but if this kept up, he’d be forced to.
“Listen,” Justin said, pressing his advantage. “It’s not too late. Don’t make the same mistake Rimefang did. There’s still a chance for you to get out of this alive—and with the thing you care about the most. The Sapphire Star of Eyrth. All yours. But you have to make a deal with me.”
Vorthyrn leaned forward, her massive head looming dangerously close. Her icy breath chilled Justin to his core, and he tensed, thankful that Gentleman’s Sidestep was off cooldown.
“Do not think me so easily swayed by your idle words, prettily spoken though they may be,” she hissed. “The power you wield is one you do not understand. Vorthak’s Flame is no weapon; at least, not as you seem to think.”
“You’re wrong,” Justin said, throwing out the words as bait. He didn’t see why an ice drake would be immune to the classic trap of correcting someone. It was a tactic he had used to great effect in his Internet trolling days. “Vorthak’s Flame is probably the single greatest offensive tool in the Fire Magic arsenal.”
Vorthyrn’s eyes narrowed, her frosty breath swirling into sharp flurries. She let out a derisive snort. “An offensive tool? Of the greatest kind? Are you truly so ignorant, foolish mortal? Vorthak’s Flame is powerful, yes. It has Mythic status, as you should know. But really, it's a weaker version of the flames Vorthak gifts to dragonkind. Odious creatures, but to see his flames perverted by the like of a human, a mere insect...”
Behind the drake, Justin did his best not to reveal that he could see Lila moving like a predator. Starlance gleamed like a fiery meteor in her hands. She wasn't close enough to strike. Not yet.
He had to keep egging the drake on.
"Vorthak's Flame is not of Mythic status," Justin said. "It's Ascendant."
"Ascendant?" Vorthyrn hissed. "What foolish prattle is this? How could one such as you be so stuipd as to—"
Her words stopped while her violet eyes flickered with realization. Justin could see the cogs turning behind her violet eyes.
Justin grinned. “You finally figured it out. And they say you’re the smart one. Honestly, I’ve seen more brains in a dissected sea sponge than—”
Vorthyrn roared, cutting him off as her frost veil surged outward. But it was already too late.
With a scream, Lila leaped into the air. Starlance burned like a second sun, its radiant energy arcing down in a devastating strike toward Vorthyrn’s unguarded side.
The drake turned too slowly, her roar of rage mingling with the crackling energy of the spear as it descended.
As the drake's tail swept around, Justin once again used Gentleman's Sidestep, narrowly dodging the attack. As he rolled toward safety, he couldn't help but grin. "Gotcha, bitch."
The impact was thunderous. Starlance struck Vorthyrn’s shield with a resounding crack, shattering the protective veil in a cascade of fire and frost. The drake screamed, the sound reverberating through the cavern.
"Now!" the Baron roared.
He unleashed the same fire incantation from before, and this time, the flames spread along Vorthyrn's body. The drake screeched in pain, jumping right over the cliff and batting her wings madly. Eldrin popped off a few arrows. Only two of them hit, bouncing off her scaled armor.
Justin pushed himself up, joining the rest. "Shadowflight is on the ledge below. We need to do something."
"Shadowflight is fine," Eldrin assured him. "I can feel our bond. He will survive this battle, even if we do not."
Valdrik stood at the edge of the cliff, his eyes troubled. "She can rebuild the shield, given time. We must hurry and finish the job." He nodded toward the cliff. "That path leads down to the bottom. I can take down the drake again with my Cant of Gravity. Then it's a matter of finishing her off. She's greatly weakened."
"Unfortunately," Justin said, "our contribution to the fight ends here until we can come to a satisfactory agreement."
When Valdrik's eyes turned on him, they were practically murderous. “Really, Justin? You think now is the time for diplomacy?”
“There's never been a better time,” Justin countered. “Maybe you finish off the drake on your own. Or maybe you don't. We have Starlance. My guess is you can't bring her down fast enough for her shield to regenerate."
Valdrik eyed him, assessing those words and finding no logical inconsistencies.
Justin continued. "You know we gain nothing unless our safety after the Vault is guaranteed."
In the background, Vorthyrn’s screeches echoed as she circled her treasure hoard, far out of range. The Baron's flames had already petered out.
The Baron’s gaze darkened. “What do you want?”
“Nothing too extreme,” Justin said. “Let’s keep it simple. A one-month truce in exchange for our help. No violence between any of us, either direct or indirect, during that time.”
The Baron scoffed. "One month? That's far too much time. I'll allow one week, and no more."
"Two weeks," Justin said. "I won't go any lower than that. One week barely gets us back on shore and back to Kaldrath. We might as well slit our own throats and be done with it."
The Baron let out a sigh as he glanced at Vorthyrn nervously. "Fine, two weeks. And the penalty?”
"If either party breaks the agreement, every member of the offending party dies instantly. No loopholes. Total enforcement.”
Valdrik’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing across his face. “You’re asking for the death of an entire party over one infraction. Are you prepared for those stakes?”
Justin didn’t flinch. “I am. Are you? It's only two weeks, after all.”
The Baron hesitated. He clearly did not want to take the deal, and yet, he knew that they couldn't take the drake down quickly enough before its shield reformed. When the shield reformed, they would need Lila.
"Agreed," he said. "Two weeks. Invoke your skill."
Justin thought of adding further terms, such as limiting the distance they could be followed. But they couldn't get bogged down. They had already wasted a couple of minutes on this conversation.
So, Justin activated Upon My Word as a Gentleman, focusing his intention on Valdrik. A golden light extended from his hand, halfway between him and Valdrik. A paragraph of text appeared in the space between them, visible to all.
[A Gentleman’s Agreement has been proposed!]
[The Nature of the Agreement: Temporary truce.]
[The terms are as follows:]
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For a duration of two weeks, no violence—whether direct, indirect, physical, magical, or otherwise—shall occur between Justin Talemaker, Lila Fairwind, Eldrin Thornwood, Kargan Durzag, Ryak of the Yarith Iceborne, Dragomir Valdrik, Rothian Nightflame, Gareth Everett, or Wolfram Gravesong. Likewise, Justin Talemaker, Lila Fairwind, Eldrin Thornwood, and Kargan Durzag agree to render aid to defeat Vorthyrn the Frostbound.
A violation by the former five against the latter four will result in the immediate and automatic death of all members of the offending group, while a violation by the latter four will result in the same consequence.
The terms of this agreement are enforced by the Creator Himself, and no skill, boon, artifact, or external influence of any kind may shield any party member from the effects of these terms.
Two weeks from the inception of this contract, this agreement becomes null and void.
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[Error: Agreement cannot be finalized.]
Reason: Four members bound by this contract—Rothian Nightflame, Ryak of the Yarith Iceborne, Wolfram Gravesong, and Gareth Everett—are not present to consent to the proposed terms.
[Adjusting terms to comply with the Creator's requirements…]
[The new terms are as follows:]
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For a duration of two weeks, no violence—whether direct, indirect, physical, magical, or otherwise—shall occur between Justin Talemaker and Dragomir Valdrik. Likewise, Justin Talemaker, Lila Fairwind, Eldrin Thornwood, and Kargan Durzag agree to render aid to defeat Vorthyrn the Frostbound.
Additionally, neither Justin Talemaker nor Dragomir Valdrik shall permit, order, instigate, or knowingly allow violence within their respective parties or against the other party’s members.
If either Justin Talemaker or Dragomir Valdrik violates this agreement or fails to uphold their responsibility to prevent violence within their respective party:
1. Their current party will be automatically disbanded.
2. The violator will enter a permanent Berserk status, forcing them into an uncontrollable rage until all individuals who are members of their party are slain.
3. If the violator dissolves their party or leaves it prematurely to evade the terms of this agreement, they will still be held accountable for any violence instigated or permitted among individuals who were members of their party at the time this agreement was enacted.
4. Once all members of their party (or original parties) are dead, the violator will be compelled to take his or her own life immediately.
5. If the violator fails to eliminate their party members within three days, they will immediately take their own lives.
No skill, boon, artifact, or external influence can shield any party member from these terms. The terms of this agreement are enforced by the Creator Himself and are absolute.
Two weeks from the inception of this contract, this agreement becomes null and void.
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[Do you agree to these terms?]
Justin was surprised by the thoroughness of the terms. It was covering loopholes he hadn't even known existed, which he appreciated. It seemed the System was doing its best to honor the intention of Justin's proposal, in its own way. The agreement would have been simpler had the others been present, but this would have to do.
"I agree to these terms," Justin said.
Valdrik read the terms carefully three times. After a long pause, he nodded. “I agree as well."
The yellow glow surrounded Justin and Valdrik, and the agreement was sealed in a flash of light.
"All done?" Lila asked.
Justin nodded, letting out a breath. "Done. Let's take down that drake."