Chapter 286

Words Better Left Unspoken

There was an odd feeling in the increasingly more and more cramped Kujo Caverns. The more people I Resurrected and Healed back to full health, the less space there was.

Poof.

Poof.

Worse, my fourth Simulacrum, Rune-Ulacrum, was hard at work jumping out into combat zones, grabbing bodies and bringing them back.

While I began casting Mass Perfect Resurrection, apparently that is where we were as a society. Where being able to Resurrect individuals was no longer enough. So now I had to create a brand new spell to help me be lazy.

New Spell Created: Mass Perfect Resurrection [Tier X] (C): A new spell created by Doctor Cassiopeia Spiritlight to create controllable areas of effect that can be used to cast a perfected form of Resurrection on recently deceased. This spell will recreate their body of the recently deceased in an idealized age and form, before reattaching the spirit to the form.

Yes, a new spell built entirely on stopping the number one function of war.

I know, I know, I should have started with the Anti-War spell and then used this to clean up the aftermath, but sadly even I cannot fathom how to end war. As such, here we are.

I’m here surrounded by Ms. Kujo, a litter of 13 puppies, one of which is in my arms while I’m casting Mass Perfect Resurrection on both Legrand and Midnight Hunter soldiers and of course, we also have all four annoying Pomeranians around.

“Hey get off me,” a boisterous Legrand soldier yells out. His voice echoing in the confined caverns. Yeah, this seemed like the perfect spot to start Resurrecting people, but now that time has gone on and there is clearly no easily obtainable exit, everyone is getting sort of flustered.

Grr.

To make matters worse, the Pomeranians, are now getting annoyed that their cohabitated home is being invaded by ungrateful people.

“Shut that yippy dog up, before I go over there and make it shut up,” one of the Legrand soldiers yells out.

“Ohh!”

And like that, all the Midnight Hunters suddenly get quiet, back up, and watch with intensity.

“Are you threatening my dog?” I ask, then realize these are the annoying guardians who have chosen to shapeshift to be Pomeranians. But even in this form, they still have all their strength, mass, and ferocity as their normal elemental size and shape, just in a much smaller package.

With this, I stop tending to the people from the last batch of Mass Perfect Resurrected soldiers and focus on the Legrand soldier who seems to be trying to gain some symbol of control over this situation he is in.

But rather than being nice and asking to be sent somewhere else, he decided to apparently act out? I don’t know. I get that people are stressed out, this is war. They came here fought, died, and then got Resurrected, completely negating the sacrifice of war, but still show some level of self-preservation.

Right now, it was clear who is who, as all the Midnight Hunters were slowly but steadily backing up, placing their backs against the wall and slowly moving away from the horde of now agitated and growling Pomeranians. While everyone else appears to be Legrand soldiers who are standing in defiance against the Pomeranians.

Well, they are standing in defiance behind the largest and likely one of the most powerful Legrand Soldiers here.

“Look, before this goes any further, or you do anything stupid, realize you are here and alive once again thanks to our efforts. We have temporarily looked over the fact that you came to our lands, declaring war, while we were most exposed, and are now threatening Pomeranians. I’m not certain if this is how you envisioned this day, but dying twice in one day, the second by self-inflicted injuries from targeting a Pomeranian should not be on your list of priorities right now.” I state in what I hope is a calming tone of voice.

Though some people just want to stir up a hornet’s nest for the fun of it.

“You think I’m afraid of some Pomeranians?” The man continues.

“You should be, considering if you look, every Midnight Hunter is slowly backing away from them.” I respond while gesturing to the fact that there are now clearly two types of people in this cave, those that are afraid of the Pomeranians and creating a horseshoe shape around the caverns, and those that are Legrand soldiers too dumb to be scared.

“You think I’m afraid of a puntable pup!” The man declares while taking a menacing step forward.

GRRR!

Now all four Pomeranians are in attack poses, teeth bared, legs coiling and lowered back, ready to strike forward.

“You should be,” I respond, which was apparently the wrong way to deescalate this situation.

For at that moment, the Legrand soldier showed he was not frightened of four glowing Pomeranians inside the Kujo Caverns, as he kicked out wildly towards the earth based elemental Pomeranian.

Personally, if I had to kick one, I would have gone for the air, as I would assume it would be like kicking a cloud, but to each their own, apparently.

CRACK!

The foot struck out and impacted a solid mass of stone and earth in the shape of a Pomeranian. That was apparently all the provocation the other Pomeranians needed to come to aid of their brother, as they all charged forward and with quick devastating bites ripped off limbs in a matter of seconds.

Arterial blood sprayed wildly from the four open limbs, as even the earth based Pomeranian, the aggrieved party in this began chewing on a limb. Fortunately, we were still in the self-cleaning cavern and thus all the blood and viscera that sprayed out landed, began to glow softly, before being broken apart into energy particles and transferred to my little swimming pool of power below.

“Ahh, help me, help…” the once overly cocky solider cried out.

I could see a healer from the group getting closer and thinking about casting a spell on the man.

“Don’t you dare Heal him,” I state, while pointing to the healer.

At my point, the four Pomeranians dropped their preferred limbs to their feet, before staring.

“But he is bleeding out and dying, I have to do something.” The healer exclaimed.

“He was already brought back to life, in perfect condition, and then he tried to kick a dog, he doesn’t deserve to be saved again,” I state.

“So you are just going to let him bleed out slowly?” The Legrand Healer exclaimed.

“Gah!” I hate it when they hit me with my conscience. Though, secretly I am glad for this, as I didn’t want to see him die. Not while I could do something, but still, this guy was pushing it.

“Fine!” I say in a huff, as I immediately begin casting Restrictive Healing.

This is a variation of the normal healing abilities, but in this case I focus on more life saving measures, like sealing off open wounds to prevent excessive bleeding, and then begin Regenerating the blood lost in the torso.

To the people of the Legrand Empire, I apparently look like a miracle worker as the man is stable and healthy in a matter of seconds. Of course, he was still without arms below the elbows and legs below the thighs, but that didn’t matter, as he was alive.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“Wait, I’ll help,” the healer stated as they moved forward and tried to cast spells on the cauterized limbs, only to find that their spells bounced off.

“No need to help, he is as healed as he will be from here on out,” I declared. There was enough muscle and bone left on each appendage that he could have prosthetics attached, at least for the time being.

Healing Splash.

There was no form or direction to the energy, just pure unbridled energy being released out over the soldier, as if they were Jackson Pollock with magic.

“What? How could this not…” The healer exclaimed as they got closer and again began casting just waves of unstructured mana at the person.

I’m assuming that this is some type of channel healing spell that they created or learned, but it seems wildly wasteful of mana. Still there is a bit of chaotic beauty in it that I can almost see the layers of cascading energy patterns that the Void being used. Seeing them cast that spell, I feel that they might be onto something with their horrendously inefficient spell.

Their spell form won’t work, because they are too wild with their casting, for even the other less idealized structures in their same spell will break apart the ideal portions and make the entire process a wash. But there is something there.

Seeing that chaotic nature that self-implodes, I realize I might understand where the next wave of my evolution as a magician will take me.

That’s when I decide to make my move.

“You there, Splash Healer,” I state, pointing to the Legrand Healer who I find intriguing. I don’t know why I chose the name, other than it was literally what they were doing, as if they were a firefighter. But rather than putting out fire with water, they tried to put out injuries with wildly pressurized Healing magic.

As I state the name, which was meant to be stated as truthful sarcasm, not the actual truth, I feel something click within my mind.

Flash.

At that realization of something just clicking into place within my mind. I noticed giant golden threads of karma dance out from me and surround the Jackson Pollock style healer. For a moment I realize that I can stop this, but I decide not to, as I know I am currently low on golden karma, having apparently lost all of it.

Realizing that this might be part of why I was close to letting a man bleed out on my floor for trying to kick a dog, I wonder about the effect of only having negative strands of dark karma surrounding me.

For this alone, the fact that I finally have golden karma back, and that I didn’t gain any more dark karma from refusing to heal the Legrand moron, I let the cords reach out and interact with the Legrand Healer.

“WOAH!”

Apparently, everyone can see the glowing hue that now surrounds the healer as both Legrand and Midnight Hunter soldiers are reacting to the situation. That is when I realize exactly what the golden threads of Karma did for both me and the healer.

The effects for the healer appeared almost instantaneously.

New Magical Surname offered: Splash-Healer: A healer who treats magic as a hose that can be sprayed at full volume. Effect: All magical effects conducted with a spray effect are 10% more potent, and 25% more potent when using Healing Magic. Efficiency of spray effect magic is increased by 10%, while all healing efficiency is increased by 25%.

While the effects of how that just happened took a second.

Hidden Quest Found: Providing a Name (Ongoing): You have identified a Healer worth bestowing a last name on. Your name of Splash-Healer has been noted and recorded. Rewards: New Bloodline Evolutionary Perk Unlocked.

Bloodline Evolution Perk: Providing Magical Surnames: You have begun to see the uniqueness of certain mages and magical beings, gifting them names that will showcase their latent abilities. Effect: All surnames provided can offer up to 50% bonuses, depending on naming resonance.

Now I could swear that the last part about naming resonance was a direct jab at my awkward naming style, but still I got the full 50% for this name. Or maybe this was just the one-time exception to the rule? Though I don’t think I could have come up with a better name.

There is a moment of confusion as everyone looks at the new glowing Green surname that appeared over the Legrand Healer’s head, if only for a moment.

Valeria Splash-Healer Level 406 Water Temple Priest

Seeing the class description, I can sort of see where he got the inspiration for his casting style, though again it is too rough. Like trying to bathe someone with a firehose, yes great for putting out fires, but terrible for day-to-day use. Though maybe at lower levels it might not be as wasteful, but at his current level it is clear that this is not the most efficient use of his abilities.

“So, again Splash-Healer, your form is wanky. If you’d like, I’ll take you in as my apprentice.” I state. But before I can even realize my misstep, or what I might have been offering, the world seemed to recognize the moment.

For at that announcement, there was a loud crisp gong sound that went off.

Ding.

Then to add even more dramatics to the effect, I saw a message appear.

Hidden Quest Offered (Legendary): Prime Apprentice of the Doctor: Doctor Cassiopeia Spiritlight has offered Valeria Splash-Healer the chance to learn under her as her first true magical apprentice. This is a binding agreement that will link you two together for a term of no less than seven years directly, while forming a bond that will last a lifetime. Rewards: Experience, Skills, Variable.

Seeing the quest, I realized that it was a binding contract that would last as long as all my time so far that I’ve spent in BiPrism. During that time I would be effectively tied at the hip to this stranger?

I want to tell them to say no, that I take it all back. But unfortunately, it seems that this is one of those times when that whole Pixie must tell the truth thing is a must. Because unfortunately, I did mean what I said at the time. For I felt that I could teach this person to be far better at casting, while hopefully learning something myself. They were unrefined, but the way they cast, I could see the lattice work in there, that I desperately needed to mimic, if I was going to be able to cast spells that could survive past this sandbox environment. Perhaps the system seemed to recognize this fact, which was why it seemed to push this binding. First with the almost forced magical surname, which I didn’t know was truly a thing, but now I can see a whole bevy of ways this could be used to improve forces constantly.

Though, I could also see how it could be abused, not just by those who I bestow the surname to, but their children. This is something I sadly have to deal with, with Rob Jr. or Trenton as he prefers to go by now.

There was an odd silence that filled the chamber, as the Healer seemed to be reading the quest that she had been prescribed.

“You?” The Legrand Healer, Valeria, began. “You are Doctor Cassiopeia Spiritlight? The Terror of Timult?” She began.

Silence.

There was an awkward silence, before I could feel the golden Karmic bonds that bound me to this Healer loosen slightly. Seeing the movement, I realized why I was forced to be quiet. I also realize that what I say now will impact how strong these golden Karmic bonds that bind us together will be.

Chuckle.

I wanted to be serious, to take this seriously, but I couldn’t.

“The Terror of Timult? Is that what I’m called?” I asked, feeling slightly tickled by the fact that such a large country like Legrand even heard of me.

“Yes, you are one of the two most powerful individuals who are opposing peace,” the priest began, though it was clear that they didn’t believe what they said. A fact that was confirmed by the way they seemed to glance about at everyone nearby. Well the fellow Legrand soldiers who were nearby and all watching and likely recording this interaction, many no doubt streaming it to be recorded and interpreted by body language experts, with results sent back to Legrand leadership.

Poof.

Poof.

While this awkward exchange is going on, my Simulacrum is working overtime pulling in body after body.

“Well then, you have your choice,” I say casually, while I go about my primary goal for being down here in the first place.

Mass Perfect Resurrection

While the girl just stares at me, I begin casting the next mass Resurrection spell.

“Would you come with us?” The priest asked, a bit of hope and desperation in her voice.

Chuckle.

I just laugh at the idea, then post it back to her, “would you do the same if you were me?”

With that the Water Temple Priest looked momentarily defeated, dropping her gaze to the ground. This of course is when the paraplegic soldier chose to cut in.

“You are going to contemplate what she did, after all the devastation she did to Timult?” The soldier demanded angrily.

Hearing his outburst, I almost agreed, but then remembered that these people might not be up to speed on everything that happened. Not that I was either, as Timult was in the process of fixing itself, but was not quite there when I left, but that was a few hours ago.

Still, I felt that things were somewhat safer there, that was why I opened a viewing portal to Timult.

Arcane Geomancy Teleportation

By focusing on the broken Cthulhu eggs, and the desiccated Cthulhu beings on the ground, I found plenty of magical remnants to latch onto and allowed everyone to both see Timult as it was currently. Then do a panoramic view of the city, showing how it was slowly healing itself back to normal.

“What? What type of trickery is this?” The soldier declared.

“Look, no doubt some of you are eager to be out of the enemy stronghold here. While we are also getting very cramped. Why don’t some of you go to the other side, see if it is Timult and then come back?” I offer.

There is a pause, as apparently no one wants to trust me.

“I’ll go first, there and back to show it is safe,” Jhonny declares.

When did he get here? I wonder, but have that question quickly drop off as I realize he apparently snuck in sometime with both Gwen and Penelope. All three were apparently nearby should I need help.

Poof.

Jhonny went to the other side of the portal, waved to everyone. Then you could see him clearly go over to a news stand, blatantly pick up a newspaper from the stand. Then he kept the newspaper up the entire time as he made his way back through the portal.

There on the newspaper was today’s date, along with a Legrand headline.

War Declared:

Today the Legrand Empire has begun their campaign of peace against the rebels of World’s End…

Then there was an overhead image of World’s End taken from a long-range blimp, that showed the city randomly appearing on the horizon after a vast desert. Then below that were pictures of Mallory and what had to be a cartoonish rendition of me from when I was still an elf.

Wow, just reading the article made me realize how out of touch the Legrand information network was.

Seeing the paper, many that had been protesting seemed to stop, as they tried to understand what was happening.

“You don’t believe that do you?” The still paraplegic soldier demanded, trying to build up animosity in this already tight cave system.

Hearing him, while still trying to focus on casting my Mass Perfect Resurrection spell, I realized I had enough.

“Jhonny,” was all I needed to say. Well that and a slight head gesture down to the immobilized soldier.

For his part Jhonny didn’t hesitate, gracefully striding forward as if he owned the place, which he sort of did. That and the fact that two Pomeranian guardians followed him on each side caused any would be Legrand heroes to thankfully back down.

“Hey, put me down. You can’t touch me…” the soldier began, as he tried to flail about, but fortunately Jhonny was able to maintain a grip and just tossed the soldier through.

Calling through the portal, I gave him a chance.

“If you ever get that stick out of your rectum, I’ll heal you properly.” I state.

Then with that statement, golden karma strands stretched out from me, through the portal and connected to the soldier, offering a quest.

Fortunately, the quest recognized the spirit of my words and not my actual wording, this time.

Hidden Quest Offered: Redemption of Character: An immensely powerful being has found you to be lacking. Fix yourself and your outlook within the year, and you will be healed back to a perfect form. Status: Incomplete. Time Remaining: 364 days; 23 hours; 59 minutes; 59, 58 seconds. Rewards: Healed to a perfect state.

“Ohh,” the crowd of Legrand soldiers all cried out in morbid fascination. Apparently, the quest’s prompt had been made visible to everyone, which was good as it showed that I didn’t want this person to suffer for the rest of their life, but to have a better attitude about the life he had.

With the one problem soldier thrown through the portal that I had switched to one-way, out to TImult, I then offered.

“So, anyone else wish to leave while you can?” I offer.

“You mean it?” One of the soldiers asked.

I pause, then look at him. “Yeah, do you think I want you all here where you could cause more trouble?” I ask.

WHOOSH!

At that, the Mass Perfect Resurrection that I had been casting finally ended, and over a dozen soldiers all began rising and trying to orient themselves. Fortunately, Gwen, Penelope, and a few other Midnight Hunters soldiers were all going to help. They even helped the other Legrand soldiers.

Nervously, a Legrand soldier raced through the portal, where they promptly almost tripped over the angry soldier.

It was clear that there was some not nice words spoken, as the second soldier grabbed the disgruntled injured soldier and pulled him off to the side.

With that, there was a mass exodus of Legrand soldiers, until there was just Valeria and a few others who all waited around nervously.

Seeing them, I said the first thing that came to mind.

“Okay, I think I know why Valeria is still here, but why are the rest of you still here?”