----------------------------------------
“Make sure you hang on tight,” Jace told Priam.
“You got it, Flicker!” The Nebula Priest clutched tightly to Jace’s back, arms wrapped around his torso and legs wrapped around Jace’s hips. They had extended the straps on Jace’s backpack so that the bunny-boy could be pinned between the bag and Jace as a way to secure him.
“Here we go.” Dark Energy Mine (Rank 1), Jace thought. The sphere of black appeared on his chest. He glanced at the map that Ollie had up just underneath his face – sort of acting like a heads-up-display from one of the sim-games he had seen other kids in the orphanage sometimes got a hold of. He curled his legs under himself and jumped in the direction of the next Complex. Detonate.
The gravity was removed from the two of them, and Jace’s momentum carried them up into the sky at a high speed. Priam let out an exhilarated whoop. “That’s awesome! How do you do that?”
“A Skill,” Jace replied as he shot his Ghostlight Grapnel Arm out to a nearby rocky outcropping, using it to keep himself from flying too high, and to accelerate towards the Complex even faster. The heat of the lava flows underneath Jace was negligible. “Any Stardust is split equally – if we can. And, to keep things fair, we’ll take turns with the rewards from clearing Complexes.”
“Actually,” Ollie interrupted. “You both will get your own Quest from The Cosmic System. No need to alternate rewards.”
“That makes things handy,” Jace replied.
“Yup!” Priam shouted over the wind right into Jace’s ear, making him wince.
“Quieter,” Jace muttered back. “I’ve got good hearing. No need to yell.”
“Sorry!”
The two began to fall as gravity reasserted itself. Dark Energy Mine (Rank 1). Detonate. Gravity vanished once more, and Jace gently set down, gripping the ground with his foot-claws and dismissing the Skill. “We’re here,” he muttered as he loosened the straps.
Priam slipped out of the backpack holster and stood in front of the lava tube, “Alright. You going to let me affect you with my Skills?”
Jace glanced down at Ollie, “How does this work?”
“Just think about letting him affect you.”
Jace nodded, “Okay, Priam. Use your Skills on me.”
The array of various shapes – Bloopa – moved and shifted forms between squares and triangles into circles and dodecahedrons.
Ollie nodded, “Yes, yes. I know. Go ahead, Priam.”
“Okay!” he held up a pocket-sized book and cleared his throat. “Pulsar Ward (Rank 20) [Multi-Target], Pulsar Physic (Rank 10) [Contingent], Priest’s Benediction (Ra-”
“Don’t use that one,” Ollie interrupted. “Jace has a higher equivalent.” He lowered his voice to a whisper as Jace was surrounded by a golden, yellow light that looked like a bunch of hexagons in a grid – translucent, but barely visible. To most, at least. Jace’s eyes could see the Skill perfectly, and beyond it. “Cosmic Infusion is like the same thing, but only affects you.”
Priam sagged and fell to his knee. The same shield was surrounding him, and Jace also saw a small, glowing, yellow hourglass above his head. Glancing up, he saw one above his own head. Must be the contingent healing Skill, he thought.
Priam stood up and smiled as he wiped sweat from his brow, “I’ll stay towards the back of the tunnel once we enter the Complex.”
Jace nodded and unsheathed his blade. Dark Matter Blade (Rank 5) [Rending], Dark Matter Shield (Rank 3), Dark Energy Mine (Rank 1). As his blade blazed with purple and crimson fury and the purple bubble appeared around his skin, the single black point appeared on the tip of his weapon. Just in case I need to control the fighting area a bit. He walked up to Priam and gave the bunny-boy a curt nod. “Let’s get to it.”
Jace walked into the lava tube, and glanced backward to make sure the young man was following him. He was – a good ten feet back. Plenty of room to allow Jace to retreat without running into each other. Jace could see his eyes glowing the pale, yellow color tinged, and his hair and fur shot through with golden highlights.
<<<<<>>>>>
[Warning! You are about to enter a Complex!]
[This location has been marked by The Cosmic System as Tier 3.]
[Number of foes to clear out: 1.]
<<<<<>>>>>
[Quest: Slay Rhulgod, Flame Abyssal of Ash Peak.]
[Time Limit: N/A]
[Reward: Epic (Equipment Augmentation) Boon.]
[Sender: The Cosmic System.]
<<<<<>>>>>
“A single foe? That’s easy,” Priam stated. “But we are in the most hazardous tile here on Nihilethelea.”
“I fought a named enemy on the other side of the tile.” Jace entered the circular chamber. This one was even bigger than the first one where he had encountered. Easily two-hundred feet across, with a massive, thirty-foot wide lava pool at the center. A figure began to rise out of the lava, and Jace unconsciously gulped down the small knot that had risen in his throat.
This…thing was twice the size of the Flame Demon he had fought. It looked very, very similar – but instead of two arms, it had four. And each held a different weapon – spear, sword, mace, and flail – all made of flames and lava. Its color was different as well. Not red, but black. A smoky black of charred wood and burned metal. A sulfuric smell wafted out, and Jace could see the flickering green hatred in those eyes from its captivity at Double-A’s machinations upon this world.
“No way,” Priam whispered.
Jace threw his sword at the creature – and it scored a strike right at the face, beginning to spread the crimson and purple. Jace recalled the blade as the creature roared. “Bring it!” he shouted, feeling the adrenaline coursing through his body as he grinned. He began to run around the far side of the room – away from Priam to prevent the less hardy Aspirant from suffering damage.
Jace stood still and waited for the incoming blow. He had a plan – a risky one, but a plan nonetheless. I have to test his barriers for myself . That’s why he had Dark Matter Shield at (Rank 3) – just in case the barrier did not hold.
The creature swung down with the flail and Jace sidestepped the large, spiked, obsidian orbs that burst out gouts of flame. I meant to get hit by the edge of that, he thought. Must be Swordmage Stance keeping me safe with muscle memory. Jace saw the flames flickering and trying to surge out to attack him – but it was stopped by the hexagon-yellow bulwark.
Okay, so it can block splash damage. I don’t want to risk getting hit head on. He jumped to the side as the spear stabbed forward towards him, and jumping onto the weapon, he ran up it. Once he reached the arm, he slashed several lines across it that did not cut deep but began to spread the miasma.
Dark Matter Mending (Rank 4) [Vampiric]. He was not injured yet – but these bleed effects that were constantly afflicting this creature meant that he would stay alive unless the damage was truly catastrophic. As he reached the shoulder, he slashed at one of the eyes before leaping away in a graceful flip.
The creature’s mace swung at him while he was in midair, and Jace had to use his grapnel on the ceiling to dodge the blow. But what he didn’t realize was that the swing wasn’t aimed at him – just in an arc at him. The real target was Priam. “Look out!” Jace shouted, feeling a surge of panic race through him.
Priam let out a yelp of panic as the hammer crashed into the barrier. Jace saw it hold firm, and a few cracks appeared on it. “I’m good! I told you; my barriers are the best! You’re doing great and look awesome !”
Jace couldn’t help but grin at the exultation of his prowess; an external validation of his skills he didn’t know he was craving. Looking back at the creature, he dodged another spear jab and dove under a horizontal sword slash. “I want this creature to be consumed by a torrent of water. Hydromancy – activate.”
There was an explosion of steam that flung Jace and Priam back – Priam down the tunnel and Jace into the wall with a dull thud as the barrier took the impact. Jace’s eyes could see through the fog, and he saw the creature writhing in agony. The roar of pain it emitted was dizzying given his enhanced hearing – but he had an opening. Raising his hand up, he whispered another Skill. “Dark Energy Beam (Rank 10).”
The beam of grey-white-purple energy lanced outward before expanding into the 36-inch diameter line – large enough that it disintegrated half of the monster’s head. It collapsed forward before vanishing, and the golden pillar appeared next to Jace.
<<<<<>>>>>
[Quest Completed: Slay Rhulgod, Flame Abyssal of Ash Peak.]
[Time Limit: N/A]
[Reward: Epic (Equipment Augmentation) Boon.]
[Sender: The Cosmic System.]
<<<<<>>>>>
He felt himself winded and he collapsed on the ground, heaving deep breaths as his eyelids fluttered. Still energy intensive at that high rank. “Priam! You alright!” he tried to call out – but it came out as a groan.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“I’m good! You alive?”
“Yeah,” Jace weakly replied as he pushed himself upright. “It’s dead.”
Ollie patted Jace’s cheek, “Good job! You had an easy time with that thing.”
“Priam’s barriers were handy,” Jace replied. “And it took a full hit from the thing without breaking.”
Ollie grinned, “Well, I talked to X while you were out. She’s…receptive to more Signers.”
Jace shook his head, “Don’t offer it yet. We need to test him more. Maybe if he sticks along until this Dungeon Run is over and we return to Khrox.”
Priam emerged from the steam, and Jace couldn’t help but chuckle at the poofy fur surrounding his ears. “What?” Priam asked.
“Nothing,” Jace replied as he stood up. “Ollie, how do we deal with splitting Stardust from a single enemy?”
“Easy enough. Either me or Bloopa dusts it, then we split the amount.”
Priam bowed slightly and gestured to the body, “You killed it. I’ve never had Bloopa do a split before.”
Jace nodded and smiled as he patted the shorter bunny-boy’s shoulder, “Will do.” He walked over to the creature, “Ollie?”
“On it!”
<<<<<>>>>>
[Stardust Acquired: 2000]
[Stardust Split: 1000]
<<<<<>>>>>
As the creature’s corpse turned to stardust, Ollie gestured to Bloopa, and the stream split into two. Priam laughed with delight, “That’s a whole level’s worth! And that Equipment Augmentation seems neat!”
“How much do I have Ollie?”
“3,380. But you can only spend 2,000 if you want to stay on this world. Any more and you hit level 51 and would be Tier 3, and forced out while The Dungeon Run is in progress. And, for your plan for Double-A, you need to have 1,500 Stardust in reserve.”
Jace nodded and looked over at Priam who was looking up at his Wayfinder – no doubt leveling up. “Okay, let’s do it. Two levels to hit 50 dumping into that Energy Cost Reduction, and let’s combine those 3 Epic (Equipment Augmentation) I have into a Legendary, and use it on the Anathema Arm.” He walked over to the podium and grabbed the dungeon core. 51.
<<<<<>>>>>
Name: Jace Seren (Aspirant, Tier 2)
Power [Class Level]: Dark Matter [Swordmage 50]
Skills: Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Dark Matter Blade (Rank 5) [Rending], Dark Matter Shield (Rank 3) [Reflecting], Swordmage Stance (Rank 3) [Astral Annihilator], Dark Matter Dart [Exploding] (Rank 4), Dark Matter Cloak (Rank 3), Dark Energy Mine (Rank 3) [Distant], Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Dark Energy Beam (Rank 12), Dark Matter Mending (Rank 4) [Vampiric], Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 7), Starfire Stride (1/day), Arbiter's Anathema (3/day), Shadow Nebula Smokescreen (1/day), Archmage Geomancy (1/day), Archmage Hydromancy (1/day), Archmage Pyromancy (1/day)
Stardust: 1380
Equipment: (Returning) Starstorm Sword, (Medium / Snowguard / Burnguard) Devastation Armor, Ghostlight Grapnel Arm, (Thrice Judged) Anathema Arm, (Overclocked) Dragonclaw Devastation Legs, (Terrifying) All-Seeing Dragon's Eyes, Mind's Eye Amulet, (Heavy) Venture Pack, survival meals (x28), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit, flint bar, flashlight, Omnitech prosthetic repair module (x1 charges), (Restful) Wildercloth tent, Devilsram wool bedroll, Guardian's Loop
Boons: Common (Equipment), Uncommon (Equipment)
<<<<<>>>>>
Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 6) – Any Skill the user uses has its energy cost reduced by 30%
Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 7) – Any Skill the user uses has its energy cost reduced by 35%
<<<<<>>>>>
[Using Boon: Legendary (Equipment Augmentation).]
[Target Equipment: Anathema Arm.]
[Augmenting.]
[Result: (Thrice Judged) Anathema Arm.]
[Description: The Thrice Judged (Equipment Augmentation) increases the uses of The Arbiter’s Anathema Skill to 3 times per day.]
<<<<<>>>>>
Jace grinned and chuckled. Any more Aspirants come attacking me better watch out!
----------------------------------------
Priest’s Benediction goes up to Rank 13. But you should really consider getting a combat Skill of some type – even a weak one.
“Like what?” Priam asked, as he glanced sideways. Jace was chatting quietly with his Wayfinder, and Priam couldn’t make out the words thanks to the bubbling lava. “I mean, he seems pretty harm-oriented…but you’re right. I should have something, even if its weak.” I can’t rely on others wholly anymore. That was a mistake I won’t make again.
Priest’s Smite is a reliable ranged option. Striking your foes within magnetic, electric, or – since you have that unique, divine blood – pure divinity. Which technically counts as untyped damage. With that, you could even maybe injure entities such as Flicker.
“Yeah! Let’s do that. And I want to use that Epic (Equipment Augmentation) on my tome.”
Alright. Here we go.
<<<<<>>>>>
Name: Priam Westerfold (Aspirant, Tier 2)
Power [Class Level]: Pulsar [Priest 39]
Skills: Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Pulsar Ward (Rank 20) [Multi-Target], Pulsar Physic (Rank 10) [Contingent], Priest's Benediction (Rank 10) [Enduring], Priest's Smite (Rank 1)
Stardust: 450
Equipment: Priest's starting gear, (Conservation) Priest tome, (Insightful) Dad's Hat
Boons: Common (Information), Rare (Equipment Augmentation), Epic (Information)
<<<<<>>>>>
Priest’s Smite (Rank 1) - The user designates a target up to 100 ft. away. They are harmed by a Cosmic Power manifestation or divine wrath.
<<<<<>>>>>
[Using Boon: Epic (Equipment Augmentation).]
[Target Equipment: Priest tome.]
[Augmenting.]
[Result: (Conservation) Priest tome.]
[Description: The Conservation (Equipment Augmentation) reduces the energy cost of any healing or protecting Skills by 25%. Stacks with other forms of energy cost reduction.]
<<<<<>>>>>
“That’s incredible!” Priam shouted. “These are such good Boons. No wonder Rory and Giordo kept asking me to give them mine.”
“What?” Flicker asked as he walked over. “You gave these away ?”
“I mean…yeah? They made a convincing argument that they were in more danger, so they should get as many Boons as possible. It made sense. I was always staying back and out of danger.”
Flicker sighed but nodded, “No, it makes sense to me, too. Just…wasted, now that they’re dust.”
Priam frowned but nodded, “They…yeah.” He looked down and felt a pang of sorrow for them – but only briefly, as the memory of that punch from Giordo when he was just trying to help replayed through his thoughts. No. They deserved what they got. We should have never attacked this nice man.
“You okay?” Flicker asked, his voice filled with a soft tenderness of compassion. “Need a few minutes?”
“I’m-I’m good,” Priam replied as he looked up and met those slitted, piercing eyes that seemed to stare him down like a predator – but a friendly one that he knew would protect him. His hat tugged down around his head. Oh yeah, I know. I can trust this guy. He’s trying to help the whole System. “Let’s go to the next one!” Priam began to walk out the lava tube, but his stomach rumbled. “I…uh…I don’t have any food – or water.”
Flicker sighed, “Let me guess – the other two were carrying that?”
“Yeah…”
Flicker reached into the backpack and tossed Priam a pouch. “It’s a full meal. Just slurp it down like nutrisludge.”
“Nutri-what?”
“Just rip it open along the dotted line.”
Priam did so, and the sweet smell of oranges and cinnamon wafted to his nose. “Oh, this smells delicious!”
Flicker chuckled, “They’re pretty tasty. Eat up, Verve.”
“Who?”
The expression that flashed across Flicker’s face was hard to read – but Priam was good at reading emotions. There was recognition, then regret, and then resolve. “Sorry. You remind me of a friend.”
“Oh, hopefully in a good way!” Priam began slurping down the sludge. The texture wasn’t great, but the flavor more than made up for it. “Do you have water?”
Flicker nodded and handed him a canteen, “Press the left button. The first chamber is almost out.”
Priam did so and quaffed down a few mouthfuls of the clear, tasteless liquid. “Ahh. Thanks a ton!” He handed back the canteen and neatly folded up the empty packet of the nutrisludge before placing it in his little garbage-pocket. It wasn’t a messy pocket, just stuff that needed to be thrown away somewhere – not just dumped. “We going to fly to the next one?”
“It is not flying,” Oliver said from his curled-around-Flicker’s-neck position. The Aspirant reached a hand up to pet the Wayfinder as he continued, “It is a controlled trajectory of a zero gravity movement.”
Priam cocked his head sideways, “Flight by another name then.”
Oliver groaned and put his paws on his cute, little face.