Chapter 3 – Kill or Be Killed
Sighing, Camidon agreed. “I once again must begrudgingly agree with the hell-spawn. The time for talking has come to an end. You must begin your trials. I tire of this agreement.”
“Do I just go in there without a weapon or anything?” I asked in concern.
Turning to Camidon I said, “Anything you can help me to survive would be appreciated Camidon.”
I immediately ducked on instinct.
SWISH!
Sure enough, Abaddon’s hand flew over my head.
Abaddon growled out a response. “Never dodge a punishment.”
“He is demonstrating his ability to learn. Now can you stop interfering with my part of the agreement.” Camidon interjected.
Abaddon turned away and spat on the ground grumbling to himself. “Stupid pointy ears always stick together. Damn Winter Court and their rules. I’ll get that idiot yet.”
Smiling that he got under the demon’s skin Camidon turned back to me and went on. “You should be able to access your class abilities. Do so now.”
Taking Camidon’s direction and mentally pulled up my class options. Another translucent screen appeared in my vision. This would be very distracting in a fight. Before I reviewed the options, I mentally willed the options to shrink into the corner of my vision. The screen vanished and a translucent menu bar appeared in the corner of my vision.
‘Hmm, convenient. Wonder what else I could do.’
Sure enough, my health, mana, and stamina levels appeared in my vision as different colored bars, red for health, blue for mana, yellow for stamina.
‘Very convenient. Now time to check out my class options.’
Dark Summoner Abilities:
-Summon (Choose Option)
-Form Contract
-Raise Dead
-Store Summons
-Recall Summon
-Dismiss
-Spells
Deciding to explore further, I mentally-willed more information to appear for each one.
Summon:
Description: Choose between summoning a creature from the realm of the dead or other realm. This action requires mana to perform. (Note: More mana is required to reach other realms not tied to Death, Dark, Air, or Water.)
Form Contract:
Description: Establish a soul-binding agreement with either a summons or creature you encounter. Once a contract is established you can store them in your Summoning Realm. Creature must willingly accept the contract. (Note: Defeated enemies tend to be more agreeable.)
Raise Dead:
Description: Bind the soul in a corpse you encounter creating a new undead under your control. This action requires mana, amount required is determined by the strength of the creature you wish to raise. (Note: If creature is recently dead and you can find their original soul, resurrection might be possible)
Store Summons:
Description: Open a portal to your Summoning Realm to send your minion to. While in your Summoning Realm you may completely stop time for them or grant them limited sensory information you receive. (Note: There is a limit on the number of summons you can store.)
Recall Summon:
Description: Pull a summon from your Summoning Realm. Each summon requires mana to perform action. (Note: Number of summoned is limited based on mana and strength of will)
Dismiss:
Description: Release your hold over one of your minions. The minions you used Raise Dead on will collapse and return to their eternal slumber. Summoned minions will return to their plane of existence. Creatures from the material plane are released to live their life as they see fit. (Note: Creatures released in this way are not bound and could choose to attack you)
Spells:
(None)
Well, the lack of spells was a letdown, but the other abilities were pretty sweet.
Camidon seemed to realize I came out of my inward focus and began speaking. “You will notice that you have no spells, and you are unarmed. Let us address both now.”
Camidon reached at a pouch on his waste and handed it to me along with a crystal. “This is a bag of holding and its soul binding crystal. I am sure you have heard of it. Inside you will find a bronze shortsword, a staff, some rations, water, and a few silvers. Inspect it to learn more.”
I took what Camidon gave me reverently. A bag of holding was a dimensional bag that let you store way more stuff than what a small bag could hold. The size of the space varied by bag and some even had varied weight reduction abilities. This was a treasure unto itself. I inspected my gift.
Medium-sized Winter Court Bag of Holding
Rarity: Scarce
Item Description:
This is a well-crafted bag and can store 1,000 square meters worth of items with a weight reduction of 95%. Items placed within here do not spoil or age and are preserved in eternal cold.
‘Ok note to self, do not store warm food in the bag.’ I thought as I immediately chose to absorb the soul binding crystal. The crystal made it so no one could steal the bag from me. In fact, the bag could not get too far from me and would literally be dragged along if I kept walking.
I mentally reviewed its contents and sure enough everything was there. The rations seemed to be enough for a month or so. The water would not last that long so I would need to find water sources. Lastly there appeared to be 500 silver coins. I imagine that was not a small sum.
After my inspection I asked Camidon, “Why? Why give me this?”
“Simple. It is self-serving. I require you to survive your trials so my agreement can come to an end. This helps ensure such a success. Do not confuse my helping you as concern for you. I am Winter Court, and this is the most logical course of action.”
Offhandedly I said, “You got it Spock.” As I threw him the Vulcan high five!
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“Spock?” Camidon asked in confusion as he just stared at me.
I put my hand down.
“Just a reference from my world. Nothing more Cami.” I replied, shorting his name as I felt more comfortable at this point with the man.
That comfortability quickly changed as the temperature in the room quickly grew much colder. Camidon’s eyes grew darker as he bellowed.
“DO NOT DARE TO PRESUME TO SHORTEN MY NAME!”
Backing up a few steps and raising my hands, I sheepishly replied. “My-my apologies... Camidon. I meant no offense, please forgive me!”
Camidon seemed to visibly relax and revert to his cold visage. “As I told you before, Arch-Evocatore, names have meaning.”
Again, I apologized. “I meant no offense. In the world I am from we shorten names or give nicknames as terms of endearment. Also call me Arch-E, my friends just call me Archie.”
Camidon was quick to reply. “As I told you, we are not friends. Do not make such mistakes here. People will manipulate and use you if you are quick to call them friends.”
“Man, I feel sorry for you guys, loyal friends are the best.” I couldn’t help but say.
That was going to be my biggest regret was missing my friends from my old world. They rocked and the three of us had a blast. Man, I wonder what they are doing right now. I had been so busy with work I had been a bit distant lately. I hope they don’t take it as I am ditching them. Man with me gone they just might. Eh, but they had been quiet lately too so it can’t just be me.
Camidon pulled me out of my self-reflection. “Very well. I will let this go for now but do not make such a mistake again unless you intend violence. Now that bag is only one of the gifts I shall bestow. Allow me to place my hands on you.”
“Uh, no offense Camidon, you are a good-looking man and all, but I prefer females. Please take no offense as I do not care which way you swing; I’m just not interested.” I quickly replied.
Abaddon could be heard laughing. “Hahaha!”
Camidon looked confused for but a moment before replying. “No, you fool. I am not attempting to court you, you fool! I want to impart a few magic spells to aid in your survival.”
Looking over towards Abaddon, Camidon continued. “Both of us wish to impart spells to aid in your trials. Do we not Abaddon?!”
Abaddon stopped rolling on the ground and laughing. “Haha, yes, I will only require a handshake. Unlike you I do not wish to put my hands all over him, hahaha.”
Shaking his head, Camidon continued. “Fools, I tire of this.” Turning back to me he asked, “Do you wish to learn the spells I offer or not?”
Trying to stop my own chuckling at my little jab, there was no way I was going to pass up an opportunity to learn magic.
“Yes please.”
Camidon approached and cracked a mischievous smile. “I knew you wanted it from me.”
“What?! No! I meant magic!” I quickly replied.
This time it was Camidon’s turn to chuckle, it was melodic in a way. “Ha-ha, that is what you get for attempting to play a trick on me.”
He had got me, so I readily agreed. “Alright, alright. You got me, Ha, Ha. Well played. Can we get to the magic learning please?”
Camidon approached and placed a hand on each shoulder and closed his eyes. I felt a sensation flow into me. It felt like a combination of a cool breeze and a cold chill running up my spine. Then as if a lightbulb turned on in my brain, I just knew something had changed. I checked my spells section in my menu and sure enough I saw new spells just sitting there.
Spells
Ice Lance
Create Water
Ice Wall
Misty Step
I immediately focused on each one to get their description.
Ice Lance
Description: Create and shoot a lance of solid ice at a target. Concentrate on using more mana to further sharpen and/or harden the shard of ice.
Create Water
Description: Every adventurer’s dream to never go thirsty. Use mana to create pure, crystal-clear ice-cold water. The amount created is based on the amount of mana used.
Ice Wall
Description: Form a solid block of ice to act as a shield or wall. Can be used to block intruders or funnel targets in a direction of your choosing. The strength and thickness of the wall depends on water affinity and mana used.
Misty Step
Description: The trademark of the Winter Court, step through the veil temporarily leaving behind a cold mist. This move allows the user to appear to teleport to a new location they can see. Distance and momentum changes vary based on the amount of mana used. (Note: Can move others with you at exponentially higher mana cost)
“Wow! Thank you Camidon. These spells are going to be very useful!” I said immediately after reviewing them.
Other than the Ice Lance spell most of what Camidon gave me are more utility in nature. That was completely fine with me, heck the Create Water spell was literally going to be a lifesaver. I also think Misty Step was going to be fun to experiment with.
After Camidon stepped back Abaddon approached. He stuck out his arm, offering his hand for me to take. I reached out my hand to take his when Abaddon grabbed my head with his other hand and lifted me off the ground and slammed me into the closet wall, he pinned me there for a few moments before releasing me. I crumpled to the floor.
Luckily with my increased stats I did not pass out, but it was close as I was completely caught off guard.
Abaddon looked down at me and said, “Never let your guard down for even a moment. Everyone in the Dark is out for themselves. Do not be fooled, the Light is too, they just mask it better, it is the way of this world, get used to it or perish. Now quit laying down on the job and inspect what spells I taught you.”
I looked at him dumbfounded.
“Do not give me that look. You were so distracted from the attack you did not notice I flooded you with magic. That is another lesson, you are welcome.” Abaddon stated.
In hindsight, I do recall a feeling of burning radiating from my head down. I just thought it was the pain of getting my head slammed against a wall. I mean there is literally a dent in the wall in the shape of my head!
Shaking myself off, I rose to my feet using the wall to help steady myself. I have two new notifications.
You have gained Fire Resistance. Your Cold Resistance and Fire Resistance have merged and transformed into Elemental Resistance.
You have gained Acid Resistance. Your Poison Resistance and Acid Resistance have merged and transformed into Mithridate Proofing and the rank has increased to Master.
Elemental Resistance was straightforward, but I had to inspect Mithridate Proofing to know what the heck that meant.
Mithridate Proofing
Description: This is the process of building one’s resistances to both poisons and acids. This is an Epic level ability in rarity and capability. Those who master this ability will be able to shrug off the most potent acids and deadly poisons as minor irritations.
Well, that is super convenient! It makes sense for Abaddon to have Acid Resistance with the way he spits Acid like it’s nothing, but I bet he doesn’t have Poison Resistance. I must still have some potential in reserve to get these abilities to merge and transform like that. Cool! Well enough of that, time to see what spells Abaddon gave me. I took the time to review my spell list again.
Spells
Ice Lance
Create Water
Ice Wall
Misty Step
Produce Flame
Fireball
Dark Bolt
Bestow Curse
Acid Spray
Five new spells?! I’m shocked he gave me more than Camidon. I immediately investigated the new spells I gained.
Produce Flame
Description: Generate a flame from your hands. Size and intensity can be altered based on affinity and increased mana usage. (Note: Flames can technically be produced from anywhere in your body with increased focus and mana.)
Fireball
Description: Unleash a concentrated ball of flame that explodes upon impact causing fire and force damage to the surrounding area. Intensity and power can be increased based on affinity and mana used. (Note: What more do you need to know?)
‘Well, that was a bit snarky! Does my own brain produce these comments? If so, I need to have a serious talk with myself about attitude... Ok I must be a bit bent and losing it, refocus Arch-E!’ I thought before finishing my review of my new spells.
Dark Bolt
Description: Concentrated dark energy is launched towards a target. This attack can corrode where it hits and if high enough concentration can begin to corrupt its targets. Light and Neutral aligned creatures take additional damage unless they possess resistances. (Note: This attack is still useful against Dark aligned creatures as most do not possess resistances)
Bestow Curse (Choose Option)
Description: Place a curse on an object or creature. This curse will fade in time unless affinity is high enough and increased mana is used. The following curses are known to you. Curse of Exhaustion, Curse of Frailty, Curse of Hunger, Curse of Pride, Curse of Envy, Curse of Wraith, Curse of Heartless. (Note: These curses can be applied in various ways and will affect creatures differently.)
Acid Spray
Description: Spray or spit acid at a target. The corrosiveness of the acid varies based on affinity and mana used. (Note: Acid can be sprayed from any part of your body with high enough affinity and mana used.)
Ok, those curses sound wicked. The Acid Spray options could be applied in deadly ways. Looks like where Camidon gave me mostly utility spells, Abaddon gave me mostly offense spells. Granted some of Abaddon’s spells had utility like Produce Flame but primarily they were designed to inflict severe pain. If I am being honest with myself, that will probably come in handy in the trials, so I better begrudgingly thank him.
“Thank you, Abaddon, for the knowledge you’ve given me.”
“If you were truly grateful you would say you owe me one.” Abaddon answered.
“Nope! No way, no how! What idiot gets in debt with a demon? That sounds all sorts of bad, no offense.” I quickly replied.
Abaddon harrumphed. “You would be surprised how often that works. That you did not fall for it is the first sign of promise, mortal. Now enough of this talk, you have what you need...” Abaddon pointed to the door, “Now go!”
I withdrew my bronze shortsword and approached the door. As much as I could not stand Abaddon, he was right that there was no time like the present to grow stronger. With that in mind I opened the double doors and entered the dungeon to begin my trials.