Chapter 33
The Tower From Nowhere
Zones rise and fall all the time in the world of Biprism. That is the great thing about this world, something that I truly love about this place. The thought that your actions, great, small, or indifferent can bring about wide sweeping changes to the world you walk upon. The fact that just sitting back and watching a giant shadow spirit gorge themselves on power can create a plague that then molds itself with the overly abundant energy of the numerous mages of Acranarus University and form a world where unfathomable monsters can dwell.
I had heard and read about this, zones like Arcanarus University were often made, only to be torn down years later. The idea was that while the world was constantly evolving, growing and changing, certain core zones needed to be reforged constantly, until they met a certain need.
From a system resource standpoint this constant changing of environments made sense. If a system was sitting idly, but required a lot of resources to be portioned off, in the unlikely event that they would be used, the zone was a waste. Also, from a content generation standpoint these changes made sense. Arcanarus University had been created as the one time pinnacle of magic creation and theory. Yet, it had been so hard to enter, and the fact that the entire zone was a media dead zone made it so understanding what happened here was nearly impossible.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel slightly let down, I was still missing the one skill that this entire university was allegedly founded upon. The skill that would all but guarantee a degree and a cushy career path for the rest of my life. Particularly if I ever decided to settle down and just remain stationary for a time.
Of course, now that my knees worked again and I had seemingly boundless energy I had no intention whatsoever of slowing down or stopping. In fact, I wanted to make the most of this time while I could. I was in a dark elf body, which meant I was likely going to do something stupid enough to perish far before my exceptionally long lifespan will come to an end. In fact, it is estimated that most elves either die early, or have the slowest progression rate. Why the slowest progression rate? Simple, we live forever and therefore don’t need to push ourselves quite so far. I guess I could fall in this latter category, as my growth rate could be considered quite slow, especially for a regressor. From a character standpoint I could still be considered a prodigy, level 9, and 500 experience away from being level 10 with a unique class and my second class evolution perk available.
I think all of this, while the world transforms around me. Ghosts, students, and faculty alike all cry out in pain as the world around me shifts back and forth from the spirit realm to the mortal realm and back. Constantly a thousand times over. Charred skin and flesh burn and rot away from everyone around me. It is a sickening sensation, one where I feel a constant wave of vertigo washing over me due to the constant shifting between planes of existence. Of everyone present, only Zero my miniature dragon familiar, and I are immune. The only reason I can think of our immunity is my unique class ability Death Shroud that covers me and up to two others of my choosing. I just so happen to always keep one slot permanently reserved for Zero, for cases just like this. Well not just like this. In my wildest dreams, I don’t think anyone could realistically think that this was something they would expect. That the veil between the two realms would be ripped apart by an influx of power and corruption.
I have heard about the blighted lands, but I had never seen one get created. Let alone one get created from the spirit realm. Normally these came from zones or areas that were supposed to be important, but people ignored them, or didn’t follow the quest lines properly. In a way, this blighted landscape is likely my fault.
I know professor Nimbus has a spell that could end the blighted lands, but that is an elemental spell. I am uncertain how that spell will fare in the spirit realm, but it is definitely worth a shot, especially if it means we can clear up this calamity spawning around me.
With that thought in mind, I begin to head towards the elemental magics department wing of the school. Of course, there is only one slight problem once I get to the center of the school. The moment I get there, I am hit with a deluge of system prompts.
Hidden Quest Complete: Finding the Arcanarus Spirit Tower: You were the first to find and then enter the Arcanarus spirit tower. Rewards: Experience, Title, Growth Title.
Experience Gained: 500.
Ding.
Level up.
You have increased to level 10.
Class Evolution Level Attribute Bonus (Even Levels): +2 Free points, +1 Dexterity, and +1 Willpower every level, and +1 Intelligence.
Race: Spirit Touched Dark Elf Level Attribute Bonus (Even Leves): +1 Appearance every level, and + 2
Class Evolution Point: New Class Spell, New Class Skill, or New Class Perk Available.
Seeing the notification, I couldn’t help but feel excited. Not only did I gain my normal bonuses for even levels for my class and race, but I also met my second class evolution point. I didn’t quite know what the class skill would be, other than basically allowing me to create a skill similar to my Blind Eidetic Speed Reading skill that allows me to overcome the one disadvantage I have, or rather had, thanks to my being blind as a side effect from taking the amazingly powerful merit Angel’s Sight. That skill, not only allowed me to attribute the skill to increasing a number of important attributes, but it also lets me read everything within my zone of sight, which is sitting at just over a kilometer right now. Meaning my going to a school with numerous tomes of ancient and forbidden magical workings was a godsend. One that I now can’t help but feel was slightly ruined thanks to my starting a book club. A book club that might or might not have inadvertently led to the complete destruction of Arcanarus University.
I can see it now, book purists using this one little event as a way to say that the Rahul and the Maiden series was too scandalous, that Tobias the founding member of the group was the whole reason this chain of events happened. In a way, they would likely be correct in their assessment, as Tobias did go feral, or turn into a specter when he was trapped and summoned by Ms. Umbra, my former Dark Elf instructor of Spirit magic here at Arcanarus University, at least here where Acanaraus University used to stand.
Of course, there is more to it, there always is, but so far my first week at Arcanarus University was pretty memorable. Again I started a book club to review an adult themed story line, some might call it smut, but they just don’t understand Rahul’s true genius when it comes to rune crafting. Anyways, I had a mentor, likely lost the mentor somewhere in this rubble. Had two rivals and an ally, all three of which are again likely in this spirit realm. And I just got to level 10 of my Void Walker class for finding the entrance to this tower that spawned from the ashes of the fabled Arcanarus University, the once heart of all magical knowledge and advancement on the world of Biprism. In other words, it was like my son Robert’s first time at college. He went out spent too much time partying, missed classes and then well he didn’t burn down the university, but there was a bonfire apparently. So yeah, in all this was a lot more fun than going through and getting my Masters in the real world.
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Seeing the possible evolution points I paused and thought to myself. A skill would be something I could likely use to create any Spirit Magic based effects I could think of, there would also be the fact that I could link them to a number of attributes. For a class skill I assume the skill I could create would be amazingly complex and diverse. My first such skill I got as part of completing a legendary quest at level 0, while still in my first few hours of being on the server. Of course, I cheated to make that happen, and a lot of luck fell my way, but that skill proved to be invaluable. I honestly think I would have gone crazy not being able to read for these last seven years. That said, a surefire bet would be the perk, as it would be something that would always be in effect. My previous class perk that I got for making my level 5 threshold was one that increased my Skills by 15% in the spirit realm and 7% in the mortal realm. Honestly it is something that has likely helped me out a lot more than I even realize as it is always in effect. I could double down and try to focus my will over the next 24 hours on creating another trait that would be as effective, or I could go with the unique spell. This again would be something I would choose and create. Right now, I might be tempted to create a spiritual version of that Blight Land Cleanser spell that Octavia created, and Professor Nimbus stole. Or was going to steal, honestly I don’t know if he had enough time to get out with the discovery of ‘his’ spell. Octavia was of course the first spirit I helped to move on to the afterlife, by granting her the ability to achieve her goal as a true spell creator and help her earn her posthumous doctoral degree. She was also one of the many faces I could distinctly imagine and change into with my new Class Trait Spiritual Doppelganger.
Of course, my mind is just rambling as I was hit with a random curve ball that I had never heard about before when reaching a class evolution point. I believe this is largely because most classes are designed and created by people that care only for themselves and not future generations who might take on the mantle of their class. While I don’t want to necessarily teach others my unique class, I feel that there is some merit in making it so this class and its evolution points are ones that not just myself but future generations of players will want and be able to use to excel. With that, I decide to once again go with the vanilla route of perk, except when I open my mouth my mind said the complete opposite of what I meant to say.
“Skill.”
Tingle.
There was a gentle tingle sensation that flooded my mind at this point as I could already feel the effects of the empty skill form filling my mind. Whether consciously, or unconsciously, the effect didn’t matter. This was my chance to make a skill that would set the Void Walkers apart from all other magical classes. Not just spirit based magical classes, which mostly consisted of Necromancers, Dark Paladins, Dark Machinist, and Necromantic Apothecarists, but something that would separate us from all other magic classes in general.
Realizing I had been given a gift, I decided not to squander it, and base my goal for this new skill to be similar to the legendary skill that was supposedly only available here. Or rather, in these now haunted halls that used to be Arcanarus University. In my mind, I begin focusing my efforts on envisioning a skill that will allow me to create, adapt, and meld Spirit magic into any form I can conceive. I know there will be limitations, I know that the skill will likely be limited in some ways, but I don’t care, the more powerful the skill is, the less Attributes it will be able to influence to grow. But that will be secondary to what can possibly lay before me, if I am able to envision this skill correctly.
The Holy Grail of magic related skills, and I will attempt to create it for my class. I am not the first to attempt such a feat, as I might have noted, such skill creation potions are not completely unheard of. Others have come across them before, but there is always a limit to how much the skill can grow and work with you. My own skill had ten limiters, meaning I spent four on my skill description, and the remaining six on related attributes. Thinking about it, I almost chuckle to myself as I made sure two of the attributes that were influenced by the skill were both Personality and Sociability, at the time I thought those skills would have nothing to do with reading. I just knew I needed more skills that would help me to be sociable. Then thinking about the skill, I can’t help but think how it directly related to my creation of a book club whose core members were instrumental in burning down a university. Goes to show, reading is power.
Shaking my head, I decide to proceed.
The minute I move forward, I am met with a new system prompt, telling me of a new quest.
Hidden Quest Started: First Arcanarus Tower Climber: You have found the start of a unique tower. Your actions today will forever have a lasting impact on the landscape of the world of Biprism. You have come across the first ever spirit tower in existence. As the initial discoverer of the Arcanarus Spirit Tower you will have access to many firsts. Chief among them determining how far into the heavens this tower climbs and what the final reward you seek will be. Think of the rewards that you wish to achieve.
I pause at the message, as my mind feels like it is momentarily floored by the announcement.
But apparently there are enough of my surface thoughts available for the system to read that I am met with a quest update.
Hidden Quest Updated: First Acanarus Tower Climber: Your goal of getting a recognized degree from Arcanarus University has been noted. Explore the tower, reach the fiftieth floor and receive the reward that you seek. Reward: Experience, Arcanarus University Diploma, Title: Arcanarus University Graduate. Floors completed (0/50).
Seeing the quest prompt, I couldn’t help but feel that this was a bit of a copout, as I had been wanting something similar to this, I felt that if I got my class skill correct, I could already have this. Though I do have to admit having the Title of being a true Arcanarus University graduate did sound appealing.
Initial Difficulty set: Base level 10, focus spirit magic.
Note: Each level will increase by 1% difficulty level.
Number of floors is potentially infinite; the only limitation is when you are unable to proceed.
Seeing the messages, I felt this was almost perfect. I was level 10 now, but my Attributes made it so I was closer to a level 40 magic class and my physical attributes put me on par with being able to avoid a level 30 brute force combatant. Meaning that I could easily go until level 100 or beyond, before things started getting exceptionally difficult. That was also assuming that I stayed at this level. While I didn’t intend to kill anything, or anyone I found along the way, I did intend to try to solve random puzzle challenges and skill related quests that pop up from time to time on each floor. Afterall the last time I was in a tower was when I made friends with the great tortoise dragon that ultimately gave me this class. So I fully intend to make the most of this time while I can.
I also make a mental note of how my initial cut off point is the fiftieth floor. Generally people turn around at some point due to running out of resources, like food going stale, water canteens puncturing or getting broken. As for me, I won’t have that problem. My two passive spells make it so I can survive in any realm, indefinitely.
Spirit Mana Control (P): This spell allows you to control and manipulate the strings of spirit mana. Even allowing the wielder to convert their own personal mana into spirit mana. Reserve: 10 % of Maximum Mana. Spirit Sustenance (P): This is a spell that allows the caster to continually feed passively on ambient spirit mana around them. Must have direct access to spirit mana to benefit from the effects of this spell. Reserve: 10% of Maximum mana.
Of course, those two spells are constantly on and have been in use since I got this class, meaning I have yet to try real food. Or at least be forced to need to eat real food in order to survive. My childhood was filled with times when I avoided eating entirely to save money, on account of my being Broke, fortunately the game developers made it so children under the age of 13, or those without a class, didn’t starve. The minute I got my class, I chose the two complementary spells that all but guaranteed I wouldn’t starve. While this has hampered my potential future growth in other ways, like the lack of combat spells, or even any real active spell other than my Planar Shift spell that allows me to cut a hole in the veil of reality and travel to and from the spirit realm at will. Unfortunately, I have no other active spells, even the two additional spells I learned while here at the University have both been channeled spells. One was a spell that allows me to see through the veil, which allows me to see if an ambush is lying in wait just on the other side of the veil. The last is a mana purifier spell that only works on purifying the amount and type of spirit mana that I have in my body. This effectively gives me a much larger mana pool, without any real spells to cast. Though I do know that my personal mana pool has a direct mirroring effect on the amount of energy my other Traits can pull from, if I wish to use them. Meaning the larger my base pool of mana is, the more times I can use Telekinesis, Teleportation, and Telepathy, my Traits that are quite literally the reason why I am able to still live today.
After making sure I run through my mental tally of everything I can do, I take in a deep breath, let it out, then begin my journey into an uncharted tower filled with ghosts, wandering spirits, and all of the University’s old books that have now been converted to a spiritual form. Basically, my idea of a perfect spot.