Chapter 234
Playing Mythical Dress Up (Part II)
In a way, I should be excited about this new process. Actually, by all accounts this is by far one of my coolest events to be part of.
I am a Mythical Bloodline awakener in not only myself, but also my best friend.
Furthermore, I get to see what unique Merits and Flaws are available to a Valkyrie class holder of the Valhalla bloodline.
Just thinking about this is exciting, as such, I open my third eye and am about to get into action when I hear Jhonny, my personal bodyguard still speaking behind me.
“Yeah, she is taking it seriously,” Jhonny states in a calm matter of fact tone. The same tone that he used earlier while relaying details to my daughter, who happens to be the girlfriend of my best friend and current patient.
“That is correct, her tongue is out as we speak,” Jhonny begins.
I am about to chastise him and explain that my tongue was not out, but then realize that I have to pull said tongue into my mouth first to speak.
Realizing the issue, I instead opt to shift my body so that my back is now to Jhonny, so he cannot make any other comments.
“I think I am distracting her, as such I will contact you if there are any developments.” Jhonny stated.
A slight pause.
“No, it’s just that she turned so her back was to me, and has not continued to use any energy on Mallory.”
Another slight pause.
“All right, don’t worry, I’ll be here.”
With that the cord of energy that connected the communications crystal that Jhonny used to the one that my Gwenny had severs, and it is just the three of us. Jhonny, a passed out Mallory, and me. Well and all the random skill book that is looking at me as if trying to see if I’m not going to pay it any more attention.
Seeing the fledgling vampire novel, I stop it.
“You, stay there.” I state, pointing towards Aura Guidance, who then just gets a sad droopy face before dropping to the ground right there, sitting on my office floor, versus going up to its perfectly good shelf.
Still that is good enough for now, and I scan out.
Jhonny for his part is down in a meditating lotus position. His body is still out in the hallway, but he is close enough to apparently see me and Mallory.
Realizing that he is giving me the space I need and is finally willing to be silent, I focus and then opening my third eye, I begin trying to help Mallory reach the full potential of her bloodline.
The first thing I want to help break down is the distribution of Attributes. This seems to be one of the easiest components and will help me understand what I can do to help her in the future.
Looking for what she previously did, I see that the blood has a direct effect on her Muscles, her appearance and a bit in her soul.
A bit more focus, lets me realize that the breakdown of her previous Attribute distribution goes a little something like: +3 Strength, +2 Dexterity, +2 Endurance, +1 Personality, +1 Sociability, +1 Perception.
That isn’t the worst, but then I pause wondering why she didn’t put any into Willpower. Though after a moment, I realize that despite this easily being my most robust Attribute, most people find that getting Willpower is fairly tough.
With that, I realize that I have six points to spend and I can apparently at two to any one Attribute. At this, I make sure to spend two of Mallory’s six available points on Willpower. This likely won’t mean much, unless she finally splits her class, but it might be nice for her to be able to get Willpower when or if she ever decides to start power leveling a secondary or even tertiary class.
From there I pause, trying to figure out where to put the other four points, when I get a system message.
New Skill Gained: Bloodline Customization has reached level 1. Bloodline Customization is a Dexterity, Endurance, Personality, Sociability, Perception X2, Intelligence X2, and Willpower X3 based skill.
Seeing the new skill, I can’t help but smile to myself as I realize this might be one of the few times when I get to work out such an intricate and unique skill.
At this, my mind quickly shifts to the class that I just got out of teaching about Bloodlines and realize that there are over one hundred students total, and that I should be able to get this skill maxed out. At least that is what I thought originally, before I realized that my new skill cap is level 250. Which means I will likely have to force people to get bloodline evolutions here shortly if I truly wish to max out this skill. Still, the idea is interesting, and one that I entertain for a moment, before I get back to Mallory.
That momentary introspection over, I go about distributing the last of Mallory’s free Attributes.
With her already having a point in Perception, I decided to match that with a point in Intelligence. Then with only three Attributes left, I decide to help her keep her formidable presence by placing the final three points into Strength, Dexterity, and Endurance.
This makes it so her overall balance looks like the following.
Mallory Valhalla’s Bloodline Attributes gained per level: +4 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +3 Endurance, +1 Personality, +1 Sociability, +1 Perception, +1 Intelligence, +2 Willpower.
With that, I take a quick glance at my cheat sheet on things that are still needed to finish Mallory’s transition from a Legendary Bloodline to a Mythical bloodline and see the following.
Balancing Merits and Flaws (0 / -15), Physical Alterations Required (0 / 3), New Bloodline Theme (0 / 1).
Yes, I have at least three physical alterations that need to be completed. I also know that most of these physical alterations will likely impact her available Merits and Flaws to some degree.
As such, I start with the basics.
A Valkyrie needs her wings. Mallory made me carve a mana saving formula on her core to let her have wings full time. Now all I need to do is make it so these wings are semi-permanent. Ideally I would get her wings like mine, ones that can be summoned from an alternate plane of existence into the real world. This way, she doesn’t have to worry about the wings bumping into things all the time. Her wings also need to be soft, as that was what Gwen seemed to appreciate. Well Gwen and Mallory both, as I had to spend an hour getting her wings to be just the right bit of fluffiness to appease her.
This process takes a bit, but fortunately I can read the circuitry that I wrote onto Mallory’s core and find a set of wings that are roughly comparable to the ones she already has. Then realizing I can give the wings a bit more power, for free. Well not just free, but so that the wings actually don’t cost any merit points at all, I choose them.
Angelic Wings of Purification: Wing that are imbued with the anti-corruption ability for souls. All souls bodies within range to feel the flapping of your wings will feel waves of purification washing over them. Effect: Cures Minor Status Effects that impede health, effects doubled against spirits.
And exhale with satisfaction with that one.
That is a two for one special, get Mallory her wings, but then also throw in the minor purification aspect, which should be enough for her to at least fend off the Blight, then her biggest fear is taken care of in one quick upgrade. Better still, the more she flies around and uses her wings, the more she increases her ability to stave off succumbing to the Blight again.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Not that I think she would be susceptible to the Blight, given how much she has pushed herself since overcoming her near death situation. But I do know that this is something that apparently plagues her from time to time. As such, it feels kind of nice to be able to get this component as part of her forced bodily evolutions.
From there, the need for creating a change in her body are kind of tough to consider. I don’t really want to give her any flaws, seeing as the flaws seem to be disproportionately powerful compared to the numerical value they were given. At least that is what I observed by my Colossal size increase of 400%, compared to regular pixies. Again, this ended up being mostly in my favor, but still a four-point flaw leading to a 400% increase in size does make a girl question her dietary choices. Which is sad because I don’t even eat, and I’m already thinking about doing that less.
Nope, no flaws for Mallory, meaning I have a total of fifteen points to work with and two evolutions that need to roughly be within the same theme of a Valkyrie.
The only problem is, what exactly is a Valkyrie? They like to fight and take souls to the dead, but do they do anything else? I think so, and am probably going to get a lecture if I get this wrong.
I know they fight, and that was part of why Mallory took the class to begin with, as they were good at fighting. So let’s see what options are available.
Weapon Manifestation: Types Available: Sword, Axe, Scythe, Polearm, Spear, Halberd, Battle Axe, Chakram, Krummlauf…
Yeah, okay seeing that list there are a few weapons that I know and a few I think I know, and a few others that I have no clue about.
So, Scythe it is, Mallory is a figure of death. Scythes associated with death, it works and I really don’t want to try to figure out what a halberd is. And despite the name I assume the Krummlauf has nothing to do with being a giant feather to tickle people with.
Summonable Scythe: Base Cost 5 Merits.
This is pretty good, but then I want to make sure that this weapon will be everything that Mallory needs going forward. As such I look and try to find different Augmentations available for this summonable weapon and find this.
Ephemeral Weapon Augmentation: This merit makes it, so the summoned weapon is ephemeral, meaning mortal bodies and physical structures pose no resistance to this blade’s path once swung. Note: Attack does direct soul damage, only soul resistance will be able to offset some of the blade’s damage. Base Cost 15 Merits.
Just looking at the cost for this weapon and the related ability to make the blade ephemeral like my wings makes me wonder if enough is enough.
The cost fills me with dread, but then I realize that the modifications for the weapon make it so the weapon is oddly affordable.
Flaws available: Soul Link – creates a chain from the wielder’s soul to their summonable weapon. Note: this forces the summoned weapon to be part of the Physical Alterations available. Cost: 20 Point Flaw.
That flaw alone will make it so the summonable blade and the ephemeral augmentation for the weapon are both free of overall costs, and takes up the second Physical Alteration that Mallory needs to have.
Pausing for a moment, I look at other weapons and costs, but find that this is the best ratio. The sword can be summoned for cheaper, but the ephemeral augmentation for a sword is a lot higher. Worse, there is no flaw that will take up a physical alteration spot in quite the same way. Also the idea of a Valkyrie summoning a linked sword to their soul is kind of off putting. Same with the spear and other weapons available.
No, only after seeing it and comparing everything do I ultimately feel that this is likely perfect for Mallory, her class, her evolution, and ultimately makes her just that much more of a badass able to survive.
Locking everything in, I begin carving these components together. This time, I don’t even realize that I am actively manipulating parts of her soul, until after I am done. Granted my manipulation of the soul was little more than attaching the summoned ephemeral scythe and chain to her soul, much the same way one would pin the tail on a donkey. Though I’m blind folded, also I will make sure that when I retell this part to Mallory later that I avoid the inadvertent comparison of her to a donkey. You know what, I’ll just say I thought it looked cool and go from there.
Ephemeral Scythe of Slaying: this weapon is capable of being summoned nearly instantly into the owner’s right hand. Chained to the soul, this weapon will slice through all spiritual objects that get in the wielder’s way, passing through mortal shells and objects as if they were immaterial. Effect: Uses Bladed Weapon and Polearm related skills, and deals 250% soul damage. Warning: Can cause instant death.
Another exhale.
At this I, finish combining the three different components, the scythe, the augmentation, and the flaw to Mallory and I almost regret doing so immediately.
The moment the scythe soul chain touches Mallory’s soul, I feel the entire weapon flare to life, as the cords slowly get sucked into Mallory’s soul.
Poof.
I reflexively Teleport away as the shaft and blade part twist about wildly before being sucked into Mallory’s soul.
“What the heck was that?” Jhonny asked, suddenly shocked and on his feet as he is staring at me.
“Oh you know, just giving Mallory the ultimate death weapon and all. Then of course it had to slip while it was sliding into place.” I admit.
“What are you doing?” Jhonny asked.
At that I pause, holding up my pointer finger in the air to try to answer this honestly.
“I would like to say that I knew what I was doing. But there really aren’t any instructions on this. Well other than the quest, which I’m down to the final part. Fifteen merits to provide and one more physical alteration and we should be good.”
“That’s it?”
“Well, it also has to be in a theme. I think the world thinks that Mallory’s theme is death.” I admit.
“Death?”
“Yeah, that whole Valkyrie and Valhalla bloodline fusion thing.” I state.
“Okay,” Jhonny states, clearly not knowing how to continue. Then he asks, “do you need anything from me?”
I am about to say no, but then I pause, “actually yeah, can you tell me what a krummlauf is?”
“A what now?”
Hearing his voice, I was pretty sure he had no clue either.
“Yeah, I didn’t know what it was either. Why I went for the scythe.”
“Okay,” Jhonny stated as he slowly began to drop back into his meditative pose. But he clearly wasn’t relaxing.
Right, he’s using that as his sign that he is done talking and will let me finish this crazy task.
“Okay, time for round three. Hopefully this time nothing will try to kill me.” I state, but even now I think I could come up with ways to mitigate or outright avoid the damage of the scythe. Maybe creating a field of energy that is an exact resonance of the blade or find a way to make my soul the same consistency as my body, thus causing the blade to phase right through my soul the same way it would objects in the material world. Given that my wings were made out of the same sort of material, I felt that this would not be too different for me to use as a test sample.
“Focus!” I shout to myself, as I realize that I always do this. I get eighty percent through a huge task then start to space out, right at the finish line.
Shaking my head, I clear out all other thoughts and then focus in on possible Merits and try to see what over powered merits are available and then we can go for the last alteration from there.
Going through Merits available to someone else is tough. It’s like Holiday shopping for gifts, when you go and find all the things that you know you would like but are not quite certain that your friend who you are really shopping for will like it. Same thing here.
There are so many amazing Merits that I think would be interesting for me, but I know Mallory would think they are a waste.
Merits: Spirit Vision: Allows you to see ghosts and other spirits in a nearby area. Cost: 0 Merit Points. Note: Free version counts as a Physical Alteration.
That is the easy shopping item, the one you keep in the back pocket for that person that is almost impossible to truly shop for. By having that as an option, I feel better knowing that anything I find will be better than that option. It is free, which means that I now have all fifteen merit points to spend on upgrading Mallory.
Not going to lie, most of the Merits available to Mallory I just read the description and instantly put them in the Nope, Never category. Things like: Death Glare, Death Stare, Death…
From there the options all looked ridiculous.
Finally, I got to the higher priced tier powers and once again worked my way through to the S’s and that is when I found what had to be the perfect Merit for a Valkyrie.
Soul Cleanse.
Not going to lie, I liked it mainly for the name, but then the description almost made me choose it as is.
Soul Cleanse: A Valkyrie unique discipline that allows you to cleanse any spirit you come in contact with. By doing this cleansing, you free the spirit of all their worldly burdens, allowing them to pass along freely to the next realm of existence. Cost: 15 Merit Points.
Seeing that, I almost clicked yes and the Spirit Vision and I was done.
Yet, I paused as I took an extra second to see what the augmentations for this Merit were. That’s when I found that this Merit could be enhanced.
Ultimate Soul Cleanse: The final form of soul cleansing, where the Valkyrie is able to retain up to half of the memories, and skills of the individual soul being cleansed. Final Cost: 30 Merit Points.
Just reading that Merit, I realized that this was perfect for a Valkyrie, and would only serve to help Mallory. For with this, the more she killed, the more quickly she would learn and grow from her actions. Learning from those that she killed, even the animals. At least, I assumed animals like the Kujos had unique skills and knowledge that could be passed on. Not that Mallory would really need or want a skill related to sniffing behinds, but you never know such a skill could be useful, possibly.
Of course, seeing such a Merit, I realize that there must be a 15-point flaw associated with it, or purchased separately.
With that, I try to go through the list to see if there are any flaws that could bring down the final form of this Merit and make it easier to accept.
That is when, I think the system either guided me to this conclusion or it just happened to be there, but right there in plain letters was a flaw that would mitigate the entire cost of this overpowered merit and make it somewhat easier to mentally comprehend.
Soul Sac: this Physical Alteration creates an ephemeral dimensional pocket within the owner’s body that can be used to hold souls that will slowly be devoured by Ultimate Soul Cleanse. The quality of this dimensional pocket will improve the memories and relevant skills absorbed from the dead spirits, along with how quickly the spirits are cleansed in this alternate dimension.
From there, there was a lot of math involved, as I had to weigh the possible information gained, to the number of souls that could be purged at once, to the speed, and I ultimately came up with the following.
Ultimate Soul Cleansing Sac: A Valkyrie unique organ that allows you to cleanse any singular spirit you come in contact with. By performing this cleansing operation, you free the spirit of all their worldly burdens, and manage to learn fifty percent of their memories and skills over the course of a twenty-four-hour cycle. Cost: 15 Merit Points. Note: Counts as a Physical Alteration.
Then just like that, I was finally done, as I locked in the third and final physical alteration required by the system for Mallory to be considered a fully awakened Mythical bloodline owner.
This fact was further confirmed by my pressing the Ultimate Soul Cleansing Sac into place within Mallory’s body, right under her sternum.
As the new ephemeral organ was placed, I heard a slight clicking, as the last of the overflowing energy within Mallory’s body instantly rushed to perform the final fusion of the Sac to Mallory’s body and then.
GASSPPP!
Mallory breathed in deep in that odd wheezing way that people often get after waking up from a terrible dream, or from having the wind knocked out of their lungs.
As soon as she awakens, I receive the quest confirmation that I had been waiting for and allow myself to relax slightly.
New Questline: Bloodline Breakthrough Balancing System (Completed): You have helped Mallory Valhalla make the transition from a Legendary to a Mythic level bloodline…
That was as far as I got, before my Danger Sense blared to life and causing me to shift my attention and once again find myself reflexively Teleporting away to safety.
Poof.