John was not the only one focused on clearing up the undead hordes.
An hour after dawn, prince Melis'ar returned to the Weaver's Nest and John found out that the tense situation was solved peacefully.
Sure, the Aerilian squads likely had an impact on why the survivors surrendered without a fight, but he couldn't say it actually bothered him. The ends justified the means and all that.
At the end of their debriefing, he was asked to finish his preparations and get ready to join prince’s group for the Territory Hierarch. Their plan was to prepare the participants to counter the Hierarch's known cards and head out the next day at high noon.
Why at high noon? Because it was roughly eight hours before the end of the seventh day of the invasion, giving them enough time to triumph in the Colosseum and return with the main prize. They were under a bit of time pressure, because Melis'ar insisted on starting the promotion before the day’s end. Apparently, something was supposed to happen, but he was forbidden from speaking about it.
Trusting him to handle logistics’ side of things, John instead continued doing what he did best—tearing through hundreds of undead and gathering as many ash piles as he could. Surprisingly, Witherfang remained outside for the whole time as well, and she haunted packs of Rothounds on her own.
It took him another thirty minutes before he had all but the wandering elite crossed out, forcing him to leave the Sector and search for this final mark. At least, luck was on his side and after one hour, he tracked down and killed a lone Rotgiant, a hulking monstrosity covered in a primitive armor of yellowed and heavily chipped bones.
[Purging the undead—complete!
Zombie killing blows: 2 500
Rothound killing blows: 100
Rothound Alpha killing blows: 3
Rotfiend killing blows: 5
Wandering Elite killing blows: 1
Difficulty modifier: +300%
Total rewards: 10 000 white ash, 424 blue ash, 56 yellow ash]
With that out of the way, John decided to continue killing more throughout the day until Witherfang finished her requirements and began the evolution into D-grade. At first, he wanted to assist like the last time, but she made it clear that she wanted to complete the task on her own—a massive two hundred and fifty E-grade kills.
That brought a couple of dangerous moments and many hours of savage fights, which culminated into her epic duel against a Rotfiend. A battle that she came out as a victorious mess of shattered scales and mangled limbs.
You did great, girl, he mentally sent after pulling her back to his tattoo. I am proud of you.
Returning by night's fall, John sat down at the edge of the sunflower field and watched a myriad of flashing lights before him. It was coming from Aerilian squads that were spread around the city outskirts and were using their abilities to eradicate scores upon scores of undead with mechanical efficiency.
I should get some sleep, John yawned and stretched after enjoying the light show for a couple more minutes. Tomorrow is going to be a hectic day.
Just as he expected, the seventh day was a whirlwind of activities. First, he repeated the same challenge for the second time and then a mere two hours before high noon, he finally paid a visit to the obsidian merchant.
“Hey Al'drul,” John entered with a light smile. “How is it going?”
Looking around, he immediately noticed a new addition to the opulent shop. In its very center was a spiral stairway built from thin panels of translucent glass, floating in the air and leading into a higher floor.
“Ahh… John. Welcome to my not-so-humble shop,” Al'drul owlishly blinked and nodded back. “I must apologize… but you've caught me at an inopportune moment. You can browse the store, but I have to keep most of my focus elsewhere.”
“Okay, no problem,” John shrugged and turned toward the floating stairs. “Oh, one moment! Can you show me the updated price list?”
“Of… course,” the merchant confirmed, and with a lazy snap of his fingers summoned a screen above his counter.
[Common ability modification cards: 40–80 white ash
Uncommon ability modification cards: 20–400 white ash
Rare ability modification cards: 135–270 blue ash
Common body modification attribute cards: 280 white ash
Uncommon body modification attribute cards: 1600 white ash
Rare body modification attribute cards: 720 blue ash
Common body modification non-attribute cards: 80–200 white ash
Uncommon body modification non-attribute cards: 400–1200 white ash
Rare body modification non-attribute cards: 235–675 blue ash
Common single-use attribute boosting cards: 800 white ash
Uncommon single-use attribute boosting cards: 6400 white ash
Rare single-use attribute boosting cards: 1800 blue ash
Ability card prices are adjusted according to supply and demand.
Epic cards are now available at the weekly auction. For more information, visit the second floor.
Exchange ratios:
1 blue = 25 white ash
1 yellow = 25 blue ash
1 green = 25 yellow ash
1 orange = 625 green
Note: This is a global price list and does not display your Boon's 5% extra discount]
Skimming it with his eyes, John blinked in surprise at the massive difference between orange and green piles. From what it implied, the difference between C-grade and B-grade was going to be significantly larger than the one between the previous tiers.
Something to ask Dilah'ec about, he noted, and headed upstairs.
Coming up there, he looked around and realized that the stairway was in the center of an intersection with four passages forming an x, each leading into a small opulent room with a couple of glass pedestals.
Let’s see.
Picking one room at random, he entered and walked to the nearest of three pedestals and looked at the green card encased in a protective box.
[Devastating Blow (E)
Can be linked with any ability bearing a melee tag to upon impact convert all blow’s kinetic energy into a pulse of energy that passes through solid objects but is extremely damaging to soft tissue]
“Huh, that could be… devastating,” John mumbled and chuckled at his dumb joke.
It was, however, not useful for his setup, so he moved to the next pedestal.
[Cascading Barrage (E)
Can be linked with any ability bearing a non-AoE, projectile tag to fire three projectiles in rapid succession at 66% power per each shot]
Okay, that is much better, but I should see what the other rooms have to offer before I commit to anything, he decided and moved to the last pedestal.
Sadly, the third card did not fit his setup at all, so he returned to the center with the stairway and walked through the passage on his right.
This time it was a room with only two pedestals, and quick exploration revealed that both were holding a universal single-use attribute boosting card of Epic quality.
Luckily, it mentions only working on one of the basic attributes, so no easy Fate for anyone.
With nothing else to see there, John moved to the third room which was a mirror copy of the first and walked to the nearest pedestal.
“Aha! Finally, something interesting.”
[Kinetic Reservoir (E)
Can be linked with your body card to temporarily change your skeleton to absorb a portion of kinetic energy it receives from impacts. This stored energy can be later released in a concentrated blast of kinetic force]
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It had a picture of a gray skinned, stocky woman who was marred with purple bruises, yet smiling as her open palm was about to fell on a hairy ape-like figure in front of her.
Moving on, his eyes fell on a card that was very similar to his old reward from the first Sector Overlord, a Smoldering Heart of Roi. From its description, it was more of a Strength boosting modification that granted massive heat resistance and transformed the user's blood into a scorching liquid.
Walking to the last offered card, John curled his lips in disgust as he looked at its picture and read its description.
The thing was called The Skinwalker's Legacy, and it was some vile shit. The card would change bones to be more malleable and allow the body to automatically graft any pieces of skin onto itself, effectively allowing the user to steal both shape and appearance of other sentient species.
“Fuck that,” John cursed and left for the last room.
Despite the madness and horrors of the Apocalypse, using skin of other people like that filled him with revulsion.
At least, the two pedestals in the fourth room managed to distract him with their names and descriptions.
[New dawn (E)
Encase yourself in a protective barrier and fall into a regenerative rest, emerging fully healed after twenty-four hours.
Warning: If the protective barrier is breached before the timer runs out, you will die and release a violent explosion of heat and kinetic energy.
Tags: Duration, Affinity]
[Lightning Overload (E)
Overcharge your muscles, tendons, and nerves with lightning, significantly increasing your Strength, Dexterity, and Perception for as long as the ability remains active.
Warning: Causes damage to affected tissue and may cause long-lasting injuries if overused.
Tags: Duration, Affinity, Toggle]
Okay, how does this work, though?
Unsure what else to do, he placed his palm on the crystalline surface of the protective case.
[Welcome to Al’drul’s Planetary Auction
As this is your first time you’ve visited, here is the important information:
* The auction cycles remain for one week, after which all sold cards get restocked by new random cards of the same type.
* If a card remains without any bids for four weeks, it is pulled back and its place restocked.
* Each Territory is allotted up to two slots for placing bids. As such, it is up to the Citadel’s owner or his designated auction representative to decide which cards are they interested to bid for.
* If a person holds the highest bid for twenty-four consecutive hours, they are declared a winner. This changes during the last hour of the week, where this interval shortens to thirty seconds.
* Starting bid on each card is one hundred yellow piles of ash.
* Each bidding increment is ten extra yellow piles of ash.
As the owner of Inviolable Escape, you have the right to designate a person to handle the auctions for you.
Do you with to designate an auction representative?
Yes//No
Note: This can be changed at a later date by the Citadel’s owner]
Ehh… No, John obviously denied.
Right after that, a small holographic screen appeared above the pedestal.
[Card: Lightning Overload (E)
Current bid: None
Remaining time: 21:10:05:38
Do you want to place the starting bid?
Yes//No]
I see, he nodded and selected No.
An ability to over-boost his physical attributes was interesting, but he felt like it didn’t fit into his combat style. This was much better suited to a rogue combat style, who would use this to open a short window of opportunity to deliver critical injury before his opponent could retaliate.
He, on the other hand, envisioned himself more as an agile tank who whittles down his opponents with attacks of opportunity, his minions, and in extreme cases by crushing their Fate or poisoning them with his blood.
No, he shook his head and stepped away. The card I want to bid for is over there.
Walking back to the first room, he touched the nearest pedestal and rechecked the information screen.
[Card: Kinetic Reservoir (E)
Current bid: None
Remaining time: 21:10:05:02
Do you want to place the starting bid?
Yes//No]
After the last couple of days of intense slaughter and the reward from Melis’ar, he could afford not one, but both possible cards and his gut was telling him not to squander the opportunity.
Wait, am I the only one with the access to the auction?
Stepping back, he ran through all four rooms and checked each of the offered cards. It turned out that, indeed, he was likely the only one with the upgraded emporium.
Seems like a perfect opportunity to snatch Epic cards for the minimal bids, he grinned and reopened the panel with Kinetic Reservoir. All it took was a simple flex of his will, and the screen’s text transformed before his eyes.
[Card: Kinetic Reservoir (E)
Current bid: 100 YPA
Remaining time: 09:01:17
You currently hold the highest bid]
“Nice!”
The other card was a little more difficult to decide on, and it took him a couple of minutes before he walked to one of the two pedestals with matching cards.
[Card: Single-use Universal Attribute Booster (E)
Current bid: None
Remaining time: 21:09:53:11
Do you want to place the starting bid?
Yes//No]
Yes!
With that, his bids were locked in, and he was almost out of his most valuable currency. This was another problem he now had to deal with, the overabundance of low rarity piles and lack of the valuable yellows.
Opening his Deck, he checked his current wealth and sighed in annoyance. He had twenty-six thousand whites, two thousand three hundred blues, yet only eighteen yellows and no greens. His only epic pile was used to pay for the second bid.
I need to ask Melis’ar what to do with the white and blue piles, he noted, and headed out.
It was kind of a questionable purchase, the universal attribute boosting card, as he wasn’t even a quarter of a way toward C-grade, but he trusted his gut. That card’s price was likely going to skyrocket after the other Territories began participating in the bidding, so getting his hands on one right now was a good investment.
Looking at the vacant eyes of the obsidian merchant, John offered a polite nod and stepped out.
Stopping for a hearty meal, he decided on Ashen Miststalker broth to boost up his senses and packed two portions of grilled flanks of Adamantine Stompers for Dilah'ec and Galan'il. After that, he also asked for half a dozen portions of normal meals and a small keg of fresh water.
And, that's all, he smiled and placed his palm on the yellow gem to process the payment.
“Anything else, Sir?” Slayer of Gorax’thal inquired when the transaction went through.
“No, that would be…” stopping mid-sentence, John considered how to spare the remaining two hours. “Actually, could you make sure I don't oversleep?”
“Certainly. When should I check upon you?”
“One hour and…” John frowned, thinking about how long he would need to arrive on time, “…and forty minutes.”
“You can count on me,” Slayer of Gorax'thal bowed. “Enjoy your rest.”
Remembering the earthy smell of the scented bath, John rushed up the stairs, into his room, and dived into the steamy bath.
“Ahhhhh…”
_________________
“Sir, it is time for you to wake up,” a familiar muffled voice spoke after a loud knock. “Please, confirm that you heard me.”
“Yes, I am up. Thank you!” John answered and stood up, feeling the hot water cascade down his body and splash back into the bathtub.
Drying himself with a towel, he summoned his black garment over his body and walked out.
The meeting was being held inside the Desperate Fool's Inn in Weaver's Nest and despite arriving a few minutes in advance, the other nine participants were already seated around a long table and in the middle of a heated debate.
“Hmm,” John hummed as his eyes scanned the familiar faces. On the left, furthest from the royal brothers, sat Sakhul’la and Hakar’li. They were downing a foaming drinks and paying no attention to the three nobles and their Knight-Protectors. The only other person standing out was the older healer, who was stirring a steaming beverage in a small brown cup.
Seems like it's the same team, he noted, and noticed Melis'ar waving him in.
“John, I am glad you are here,” the prince welcomed him. “Come, sit,” he gestured at the open seat between Galan'il and Hakar'li, “we have a lot to go through. Here, these charms are for you,” he pulled a trio of palm-sized metal slips with complex runes etched on both sides of their surface.
The briefing began with a battle strategy and ended with a complex explanation about the talismans, which could essentially be condensed into a few key points.
First, since the Silverstar Enclave funneled a significant portion of their disposable budget into unsealing the key members’ cards, they managed to unlock another fourteen abilities to Rare rarities. Also, they unsealed all attributes for both Duraq’er and Friala’el returning both into D-grade.
The remaining portion of the budget went into the ten sets of talismans. Everyone got a pair of bronze ones. One that would release a burst of cleansing energy upon its activation to dispel any mind-controlling effects from those in a fifteen feet area, and the other that would form a protective wall of force in front of its user. The third, a silver medallion with azure inscription, was only to be used in absolute desperation. It was a life-saving treasure, that would freeze its user in a powerful barrier for five minutes, momentarily stabilizing any of their wounds, but would leave them unconscious for an hour after its end.
Obviously, they also described over a dozen carefully laid out plans and counter plans for how to handle the Hierarch and how to pass the first fifteen waves with the smallest amount of risk. Going by the speed of their group jogging through the sunflower fields, John would get to see the plan’s implementation very soon.
_________________
“Listen up!” Duraq’er shouted as they stopped before the old monastery. “What we are about to attempt bears a heavy risk to each of our lives. As you well know, the smart thing would be going back and returning only after all of us unsealed our cards and advanced into D-grade in the least.” He paused and slowly moved his sharp eyes from one member to the next, not sparing anyone from his hard stare. “However, His Highness prince Melis’ar convinced me that this is the path he wanted to tread and His Highness prince Ulian’al agreed with his decision and wanted to participate in our daring gambit. As such, I expect absolute dedication to our success from each and every one of you. This is no longer a game like the Sector trial where we competed against each other,” he eyed Hakar’li and Sakhul’la as he mentioned it, “or were allowed to let loose our more… primal… parts of ourselves,” that he mentioned as he stared into the steely eyes of Friala’el.
“For the glory of Terasil'ab and the Aerilian Empire,” Melis’ar declared as Duraq’er fell silent.
“For the glory of Terasil'ab and the Aerilian Empire,” everyone but John repeated and together, they marched into the crypt and Melis’ar activated the teleport.
[Attention!
You have found the entrance to the Hierarch's Colosseum.
Do you wish to join Melis’ar’s group and challenge the Territory Hierarch?
Current participants 6/10
Yes/No
Note: There are only two paths leading out from the Colosseum. You either leave as a victor or you leave as a corpse]
The number quickly climbed up to ten as everyone confirmed their participation and a moment later, John felt a violent lurch and for the third time this week he found himself standing in the middle of the familiar arena.