Chapter 85 - Evolution Stones
Control Limit Slots: 14 of 17 used.
Trey’s Minions:
* Napoleon, Primal Imp, Level 19 (1 slot)(Admired)
* Talsh’Noc’Un, Sword of Ruin, Living Weapon (1 slot)(Content)(Thirsting Level 1)
* Atharost, Ifrit, Level 48 (1 slot)(Very Friendly)
* Rivia Ahst, Culn, Level 28 (1 slot)(Forever Indebted)
* Piggy, High Elf Thrall, Level 1 (1 slot)(Infatuated)
* Juila, Human Thrall, Level 1 (1 slot)(Subservient)
* Toady, Oblivion Toad, Level 41 (2 slots)(Unsatisfied and Angry)
* Fat-Daddy, Minotaur, Level 47 (1 slot)(Disliked)
* Cow-Daddy, Minotaur, Level 62 (2 slots)(Disliked)
* Reiklin, Human Thrall, Level 148 (2 slots)(Devoted)
* Telipe, Demihuman Thrall, Level 3 (1 slot)(Scared)
Unique thrall evolution stone: Sacrificial Lamb (Currently Mature)
Item Tier: (14) Artifact
Bonuses: None
Requirements: The sacrifice of a newborn lamb, and any thrall
Durability: 96/96
Special: This evolution stone is currently in the mature phase. This stone is now usable. This stone creates a unique-class demon out of a thrall.
Minion evolution stone: Ascendance (Currently Mature)
Item Tier: (14) Artifact
Bonuses: None
Requirements: Any minion who has a positive opinion of you, an Infernal’s Finger
Durability: 100/100
Special: This evolution stone is currently mature, and is non-specific. This evolution stone will emphasize whatever traits the selected minion already has, turning them into a more powerful version of the creature they already are.
Trey glanced over his minion sheets and the information on both stones. His eyes flickered between Rivia, Atharost, and Napoleon a short time later… trying to decide which of his three favorite minions he should use it on - before an idea occurred to him.
“Talshy, I wouldn’t be able to use this stone on you - would I? It says ‘any minion that has a positive opinion of you.’ That would include you, right?”
Talsh’Noc’Un let out a low rumble from where it’d been set against a crate nearby. “I… do not think… this stone was designed… for one such as me…”
Trey frowned. Well, it’d been worth a shot. He considered Talsh’Noc’Un more of a weapon than an actual minion too, and he knew it’d been a reach.
He’d talk to the other three later, for now - he had an easier time deciding on the thrall evolution stone. He immediately turned to his newest and likely his most valuable thrall: Reiklin. “Hey. Care to become a demon? My thrall evolution stone just matured, and I’m able to pick one of you thralls for an upgrade.”
Telipe, Reiklin, and Juila all immediately perked up.
“I’m… not sure what you mean by ‘upgrade’...” Reiklin replied, warily crossing his arms. The young redheaded man tilted his head as he examined the stone in Trey’s hand. “What does it do?”
Trey shrugged and held out his hands to either side. “It turns you into a unique type of demon called a ‘Sacrificial Lamb,’ but otherwise I have no idea. I don’t know what that even is.”
Reiklin immediately scowled. “I’d… rather not, if that’s ok. That sounds like a risk I’d rather not take, and I like my body. If you must… then I will do it, but please see if the others would want it first.”
The young summoner frowned, a little disappointed, then turned to look at his other three thralls.
Telipe immediately averted her eyes and shook her head, with her wolf ears laying flat against her skull. “I’d rather not…”
Juila, on the other hand, had an excited wide-eyed smile on her face. She glanced over at the others, clasped her hands together, and then focused on the stone again with intent. The scantily clad amazonian stepped forward, a little hesitantly, and reached out with her hands - palms up. “Master, may I volunteer?”
Trey raised his eyebrows, but he really shouldn’t have been surprised. This was the same woman who’d actively sought out becoming a thrall for power. She was using him to grow stronger just as much as he was using her for sex. The relationship they had was one of mutual gains, and truth be told - if she wanted it… it would be criminal not to give it to her. He HAD promised her a chance at becoming stronger, hadn’t he?
He palmed the stone, feeling the rough edges of the brown and red rock underneath his fingers. Then, he sent her the status page of the item over his party interface. “I’m going to point out that this is a very rare and likely very powerful item, Juila. It’s an Artifact tier item… so if I do this, I want you to work your very hardest-”
“I will do it!” Juila cut him off - eagerly reaching for the rock and almost taking it from his grasp without thinking about it before she abruptly withdrew. “Sorry… I just... got excited.”
She glanced downwards and withdrew her hands to her breasts, ashamed for a moment, before she heard Trey chuckle and warily met his gaze.
“Cheer up.” Trey smiled, roughly smacked her ass and placed the stone in her hands. “I just want you to understand the weight of this gift, and I’m glad you want it.”
He called Rivia and Atharost over with a friendly wave. “Hey guys! Question for you. Go ahead and read these evolution stone status pages, then tell me what it means by ‘an infernal’s finger.’ Please and thanks.”
“Certainly.” Atharost stopped with folded arms and squinted after reading the minion evolution stone’s page, rubbing his head in concern. “Oh. How interesting.”
Rivia tapped her fingers along her crucifix staff momentarily, pondering it as well. “I would think it means a finger of someone associated with the Infernal Crowns.”
“Or it could just mean a demon, fallen or undead.” Atharost shrugged. “Not quite sure. You have some minotaurs over yonder, you can cut a finger off one of them just to try.”
Trey’d considered that too, but shook his head and tapped his foot thoughtfully. “I don’t want to start maiming them. They did a really good job in the battle today and I want them up to par on their fighting abilities. Do you think… do you think it would work if I cut off my own finger?”
Rivia immediately gawked and Atharost let out a long laugh while placing his hands on his hips.
“There is no reason for you to do that, master…”
“Oh fuck off, I can grow bodyparts back remember?”
“... It would probably work… but-”
“No buts. I’ll try my finger first and if it doesn’t work we’ll take a minotaur’s. Atharost I need you to go find me a lamb for the thrall stone. I don’t care where it's from, just go do it. There’ll definitely be some in the stockyards to the eastern side of Teretog, so that’s where I’d look first.”
The ifrit let out an exasperated sigh, glancing in irritation at the four thralls. “As you wish.”
Atharost quietly left. Meanwhile Trey impatiently waited another minute until Piggy and got back with the food for the new slaves. She arrived just before Izumi came back with the folded cots. Having Rivia help Izumi take the small cots for the 6 women he’d not minionized, and having them fed by Piggy, he told Juila to kneel before him. She did so without questioning it and wasn’t surprised when he ripped off her undergarments with his tail - flinging them aside. He wanted to see exactly how this mutation went in its entirety.
Ashe yawned and gave him a wave as she passed by. “Alright well I’m going to bed! As much as I’m excited to see the new evolutions, I’ll just do it in the morning. Adios!”
Trey happily smiled back and waved in turn. “Goodnight! I’ll see you in the morning!”
“Maybe have Piggy make us breakfast?”
“Sure thing Ashe, I’ll have her buy supplies from guild vendors and make us the biggest best breakfast you’ll have had in years.”
Her smile widened and the door slammed shut behind her after she gave him a thumbs up. Napoleon was still being cradled by Izumi after retrieving the cots, the two minotaur were chowing down gruesomely on the bodies of the dead men that Rivia had sacrificed, while Reiklin and Rivia stood conversing not far off while assigning the six slave women to their individual cots – along with the lone pretty-boy young man.
Trey muttered to himself as he watched the prostitutes sit or lay down on their cots - each of them displaying various signs of gratitude or solemn acceptance while they ate. He’d have to get to know them over time, but right now that was on the bottom of his list of things to do. To him, as prostitutes, they were just going to be a source of income and were far less important than any of his minions. “We’re going to need to buy them blankets, some clothes, and basic necessities for each of them…”
They waited for Atharost to get back. They waited some more. Juila was becoming nervous as she kept staring at the stone in her hands. “Master… Do you have any idea of what to expect?”
“No idea. Quiet please.”
Juila immediately shut up.
Another ten minutes went by when Atharost finally opened the door back up, carrying a young small sheep. He handed it over to Trey, then stepped back - waiting for the ceremony to begin with a curious glint in his eyes.
The lamb was friggin cute, and Trey felt a little badly as it opened its tired eyes to look up at him.
Ugh. Why did it have to be so cute?
“Are you ready?” Trey asked, holding the lamb gingerly against his chest. He really liked animals, and had always been a dog person in particular, so he’d be sure to make it quick.
Juila nodded hesitantly, tightly grasping the red and brown fist-sized jewel in both hands. She was somewhat excited for the opportunity, and her heart was pounding… but she was also a little bit nervous. She wanted power… to feel powerful… to take on a new role instead of being under the heel of anyone who wanted to use or abuse her. Trey was offering this to her – and after all that she’d lost over the course of her life, a light at the end of the tunnel had finally presented itself.
She wanted to be at the top of the food chain.
“I am ready… And Trey – Thank you. I know you don’t have to use such a valuable item on me… so I want you to know that it means a lot.”
Trey acknowledged her statement with an encouraging smile, and with a jerk of his arms and a snap of the lamb’s neck – the baby creature went limp. He grimaced as he watched the light leave the innocent animal’s eyes, but knew that at the very least he’d been able to grant it a predominantly painless passing. “Dagger.”
Rivia promptly handed him her sacrificial blade, and he took it to slice open the lamb’s neck while holding it out in front of him – and over where Juila knelt on the dirt floor of the storage room. Warm red fluid poured along her forehead as she closed her eyes, down her face, and across her exposed breasts… until it came into contact with the stone she held.
Instantaneously, the thrall evolution stone began to glow an ominous crimson – and power began to seep into Juila’s hands with a hot, burning sensation.
A pop-up screen appeared in front of Trey for everyone to see, and it read the following:
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Do you wish to use “Thrall Evolution Stone: Sacrificial Lamb” on your minion Juila?
Yes?
No?
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He gave her a final glance.
“Do it…” Juila said, shaking slightly with a mixture of fear and excitement of the unknown. Her lip even quivered and her voice shook, but her resolve held firm.
Trey nodded, then selected yes, and the stone reacted with a screech.
The lamb’s blood evaporated into a fine mist and absorbed into the stone before it cracked and shattered – sending pieces of it in numerous directions a couple feet away.
Juila gasped, her eyes lighting up from her normal brown to a bright pink as her chest protruded upwards to lift her entire body into the air – as if a puppeteer had a doll up by the strings. Her black hair flowed about her as various shades of magic rushed around her body, snapping bones and splitting organs to rearrange them in various ways.
Then her body was encompassed in a miasma of black and green energy, whirling around to completely obscure everything that was taking place.
Trey watched, intrigued, as he heard Juila scream amidst the rush of energy around them before the power began ripping her body apart in shreds of orbiting flesh. The door to the storage area shuddered, dirt along the floor whipped up into a frenzy, and the slave girls they’d taken all began to edge up against the back wall where their cots had been placed.
The screams continued, becoming higher, shriller, until ten seconds later – they abruptly stopped… and the lights began to fade. Out from the dying light, Juila stepped forth as an entirely new entity. She was larger, bigger, boned, and stunning… while donning a new sinister look.
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Your minion Juila has successfully completed her transformation into a Unique Class Demon: Sacrificial Lamb. Please note her evolution summary or status page for details:
Juila’s Evolution Summary:
- Dark and Blood attributes have been administered.
- Everlasting Bond (Trait): Juila is soulbound to her master and respawns 48 hours after every death. Juila will receive no level decrease upon death either. The exception this rule is that her life is bound to her master: Trey Bon, and if he dies permanently – then she dies permanently. Juila also gets weaker the further she is from her master, and will be banished to the nether realm if she exits a 5 mile radius surrounding Trey.
- Sacrifice of Shadows (Master’s Ability): Only activatable by her master. Must be activated before she is killed by other means in order to use this ability, or must be triggered by ‘My Life for You.’ If activated appropriately, Juila will explode – dealing shadow damage to all enemies within 50 yards of her position. All allies that are party-bound within that 50 yard range will acquire shadow-clone bodies. These shadow-clones mimic the real bodies and items donned in most aspects, but have no pain sensation, and upon death will spawn the real bodies they have replaced at full HP, full MP, full SP, and full DP somewhere nearby.
- Dark Fortitude (Trait): All physical damage taken by Juila is reduced by 70%. All magic damage taken by Juila is decreased by 5%. All pain is reduced by 30%.
- Unholy Prowess (Trait): Massive innate increase in Strength, Vitality, and Endurance
- Blood Price (Aura): Juila now has a passive blood aura that slowly leeches life off any enemies who have open wounds within 50 yards. Excess health absorbed beyond her maximum HP is applied as temporary defensive bonuses. Small amounts of leech life are also applied to physical strikes of any sort for herself and any party-bound allies within Aura’s radius.
- My Life for Master (Master’s Ability): Only activatable by her master. Juila’s master can directly absorb portions of her HP into him, healing himself while taking her HP away the moment he wishes it. Killing Juila with this ability automatically activates Sacrifice of Shadows.
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Holy shit, she was overpowered to hell and back. An aura that healed via leech life, a sacrifice ability that did damage - gave their party new expendable bodies - and then fully restored all stats for another heal, infinite respawns, and traits obviously suited for heavy-duty front-line tanking.
Her skin was now a blood red, her eyes a brilliant neon pink, and her hair was no longer braided; but was still a silky black and came down past her shoulders to her upper back. The facial features distinguishing her had been perfected – becoming perfectly symmetrical, younger, and sharpened. Then there were two long, thick horns colored black on either side of her head resembling those of a bighorn sheep’s.
Her feet had turned into thick black hooves resembling a goat’s, with black fur leading up just above the hooves before it disappeared – giving way to red skin along her lower legs. The lower legs themselves had morphed above the goat’s hooves too – inverting backwards like a goat’s hind legs would and becoming taller before arriving at her human-like thighs, giving her a height of 7 feet tall. Lean, feminine musculature was defined all across the rest of her naked body: Chiseled abdominal muscles rippled underneath her perky breasts, her hips and legs had become thicker and more defined, and even her deltoids showed off with clean-cut lines.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Lastly, there was a long slender tail that ended in an arrow-shaped tip – like you’d expect to see out of the old movies or cartoons portraying demons. As she slowly looked down over her new body, turning around to examine it, the brilliant white smile radiating from her face told Trey all he needed to know about her thoughts on the transformation.
He circled around the new, rather attractive demon he’d created. He wasn’t used to looking up at people like that – other than with Atharost. Meeting her bright pink eyes as she looked over her shoulder at him with extreme glee, he lifted up her tail to inspect her magnified red ass.
Briefly lifting both eyebrows and whistling, he let the tail go and nodded approvingly. “Very nice.”
A second later, and she came barreling into him - tackling him to the ground and knocking the air out of his lungs as he gasped.
“Thank you Trey!” she cried out, smothering him and nearly crushing him as she embraced his smaller body on the ground.
He felt his bones begin to crack under the bear-hug she was giving him, but death by massive breasts in his face wasn’t too bad a way to go out. Thankfully, Rivia stepped in and swat Juila on the forehead before she could accidentally kill their master outright.
“Get off, you brute.” Rivia stated angrily, folding her arms and tapping her foot. “You’re hurting him. Look at his HP bar, it’s already dropped twenty points and his face is turning blue from lack of oxygen.”
Juila gasped and immediately loosened her grip, and in turn Trey also gasped - returning the color to his face as Juila’s tail quickly slapped the ground anxiously behind her.
“I’m… I’m sorry!” Juila exclaimed, horror stricken at her actions and outright scared that he’d be mad. “I didn’t mean to!”
Trey coughed a couple times, glanced up at the demoness straddling him, and merely chuckled as he looked her over. “Wow you’ve gotten stronger, but it wouldn’t have been a bad way to die I guess. You look good.”
Rivia scowled at the compliment, but Juila’s face lit up like a lighthouse as she smiled. She kissed him on the cheek, stood up, and reached down while bending over provocatively to help him up. “You have done more for me with this one act than anyone else since the passing of my family over a year ago… and I’ll be sure to show you what it means to me. Thank you Trey.”
“Your minion Juila has increased its opinion of you from ‘Subservient’ to ‘Devoted.’ Your minion still gains a 15% experience increase due to it remaining in the positive category.”
He took her hand and lifted himself up - checking Juila’s new body out one more time despite Rivia’s disapproving glare, and re-read the new changes. This… would be a game changer, for sure. He was also glad he hadn’t used it on Reiklin in retrospect, because it would have made his archer class pretty much useless…
***
Juila wanted to test her new strength out, and ended up arm wrestling none other than Cow-Daddy - the big black minotaur. To everyone’s amazement, and to Cow-Daddy’s complete humiliation, she didn’t just win… but she won easily. Numerous times at that when Cow-Daddy demanded a rematch.
After she was done showing off and walked off to the sidelines to excitedly discuss her new changes with Izumi, Trey turned his attention back to the second task at hand. He whispered a number into Izumi’s ear, then turned around to his three favorite minions - who he’d ordered to line up at the front.
“I just told Izumi what the number was, and it’s inbetween 1 and 100… Whichever of you gets closest to it - gets the evolution stone.”
Napoleon scratched his head curiously, Rivia raised an eyebrow with folded arms, and Atharost humphed.
“Ready?” Trey asked with a grin.
Rivia let out an exasperated sigh, then nodded. “We are. I’ll guess 62.”
“61.” Atharost said.
Napoleon glanced up at the ifrit, seriously considering whether or not he should say 60, but thought better of it after some contemplation on how Atharost would react. “45 yes yes.”
Trey glanced over to Izumi, who then announced: “65!”
Napoleon began to pout, and Atharost shook his head, but Rivia began to giggle at her win. In demon society, might made right, so none of these three had any doubts about whether or not they wanted the stone like the thralls had.
“Kneel.” Trey said, handing her the stone in the process.
She complied, getting on both knees and inching quite close while gazing upwards in a very suggestive manner... that he could have sworn she was doing on purpose.
He took in a deep breath, and extended his hand. “Alrighty here we go. Rivia I’ll need you to heal me after I cut my finger off, and lend me your dagger would you?.”
She gave him a frown, but curtly nodded. “I don’t approve of this self-mutilation, the Heir shouldn’t have to harm himself when there are others to give their fingers instead… but I will do it because it is your word.”
She handed him the knife, handle-first, and brushed against his skin as he let go in an obviously flirtatious act that made Trey cock his head. She’d been really forward lately.
But he had other thing sto think about right now. Trey took in a deep breath, preparing himself. “Here goes nothing…”
He took Rivia’s knife and promptly cut off his left pinky finger. Gritting his teeth and stomping his left foot three times while clutching at his wound and trying not to scream, the pain soon subsided as Rivia began to heal him. Eventually the wound sealed shut, but it would likely take another day with the Dreadlord Vorshok’s Bane passive to regenerate his lost body part. Realizing he’d dropped the dagger, he bent down and gave it back to Rivia with a nod of thanks.
“Alright. Eat this.”
Trey held out his bloody cut-off pinky finger, but all he got back was a look of hesitation. “Do it, now. Just swallow it whole and get it over with, that’s an order.”
“I… am not worthy to eat the flesh of the heir…” Rivia muttered halfheartedly before taking the pinky finger. “But I will comply.”
The young woman grudgingly did as he asked, putting his bloodied finger in her mouth - succeeding in getting it down her throat and into her stomach.
He cracked his knuckles, rolled his neck and huffed as the stone in Rivia’s hands began to glow. There was no ceremony to be had, no religious bullshit, and that’s how he liked it.
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“Do you wish Rivia to obtain the minion evolution: Ascended?”
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Trey immediately selected yes.
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“Requirements have been met. Initiating minion evolution now.”
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Within half a second, Rivia began to convulse and fell onto her back.
Her mouth opened and closed as if she were trying to speak, and her eyes rolled back into her head as veins bulged then popped open entirely - leaking her own blood everywhere to mix in with the lamb’s in a gross display of carnage and rapid evolution. Her muscles contracted and released in spasms and it truly looked like she was having some sort of explosive seizure.
Reiklin was just as mesmerized as he’d been while watching Juila minutes before this. “What in the hells…”
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Your minion Rivia has begun her ascendance, please wait while she is analyzed for potential evolutions.
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Your minion Rivia has begun her ascendance, please wait while she is analyzed for potential evolutions.
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Your minion Rivia has begun her ascendance, please wait while she is analyzed for potential evolutions.
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The popup flashed three times and then faded away as Rivia continued to convulse. Blood continued to leak out of her eyes, and Trey was beginning to worry.
Two minutes later and he pulled out a healing potion, ready to pour it into her lips - when the fourth popup finally appeared in front of him.
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Your minion Rivia has been acknowledged as a Priestess of Alkir. Alkir, Mistress of Darkness, has acknowledged the evolution stone’s ability to bypass normal stipulations and proceed under the skill tree ‘Alkir’s Pledge.’ Please review the following option:
* Acquire Alkir’s Infernal Halo - Acquire an infernal halo unique to Alkir’s most devoted, representing your allegiance and status within Alkir’s ranks. Acquiring Alkir’s Infernal Halo starts a questline for this minion: Path to Sainthood. This is a (15) Transcendent tier soulbound item that triples the casting speed and range of all miracles.
* Path to Sainthood (Epic Quest): You have been marked as one of the most devout of Alkir, and she has recognized the soulstone given to you by Eleknar’s Heir as a sign of his long term goals to invest in you. Because of this, you may now embark upon the Path to Sainthood. Requirements: Collect all 7 of Alkir’s Writs, and decipher each of their Tier 2 miracles. Then sacrifice 10 souls every day over 7 days to Alkir under the cloak of night and bathe in their blood while praying to the dark goddess. Lastly, your master: Trey Bon, must fully bond with Eleknar - only then will you achieve the great gift of becoming one of Alkir’s Saints.
* Acquire Alkir’s Miracle (Tier 2): Kingdom Come - This is the first of the 7 Tier 2 miracles presented in Alkirs Writs, found in Alkir’s First Writ. This miracle deals extreme amounts of base and percentile Dark damage, has a long cast time, a long cooldown, huge amounts of splash damage, and is a homing ability.
* Unholy Ascendance (Trait): The Ascendance evolution stone has recognized your primary stat as Faith based. Along with Alkir’s additional input, you gain +1000 Faith stat points.
Accept Alkir’s offer?
Decline Alkir’s offer and proceed to the next available evolution? If
declined, this option will not be available again.
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Trey… hadn’t been expecting something like this. He’d only been expecting an evolution like Napoleon or Karus had undergone, where their bodies had physically changed. Instead, what he got was a very obvious jab from the dark goddess to get a move on with bonding to her favorite essence.
He sighed, then chuckled and grinned to himself. Had Eleknar created that stone just to move him along towards what the essence wanted? Had he or Alkir known this would happen? Trey guessed yes. They both definitely knew how he was growing a soft spot for Rivia, and if she found out he’d declined this offer… Oh boy would she hate him forever.
But if she woke up to a present like this?
He’d be on her good side for eternity - and perhaps that was even an understatement.
He was being strong-armed and he knew it. It was either drastically improve the more-than-friendly relationship he already had with the culn girl, or smash it to pieces in an instant - all of which was entirely based on this decision. The fact that the prompt said it wouldn’t ever be available again if he declined it, and that the last big requirement for her achieving Alkir’s Sainthood was that he bond fully with Eleknar… it spoke volumes. He knew he’d eventually get to the point where he’d have to bond with that creepy, evil creature wrapped around his soul… but he really wasn’t looking forward to it.
So he looked up to the ceiling, as if the goddess herself was watching, and grunted in irritation before selecting ‘Accept.’ At the very least, those +1000 Faith stat points were… amazingly good. It was the equivalent of 200 level upgrades all set into Faith, with an additional 500 DP points - quintupling her current amount of divinity points she could use for miracles, and would vastly increase the effectiveness of said miracles. That bonus alone… was absurd.
Then there was the soulbound halo that would make her casting speed and range immensely better.
The tier 2 miracle didn’t sound too bad either.
How could he say no to something like this?
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Your minion Rivia has completed her ascendance and has received the following:
* Alkir’s Infernal Halo ([15] Transcendent tier soulbound item)
* Path to Sainthood (Epic Quest)
* Kingdom Come (Alkir’s Miracle, Tier 2)
* Unholy Ascendance (Trait, +1000 Faith stat points)
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***
Trey lightly squeezed Rivia’s cheeks, moved her eyelids around, and tapped her forehead a couple times until she finally came too. She was disoriented, drooling a little bit, and quickly grasped onto Trey’s arm to stabilize herself as her vision rocked back and forth from the traumatic episode she’d just undertaken with the stone.
“You alright?” Trey asked with a gentle smile, helping her sit up as she got a feel for her surroundings.
She scrunched her nose, blinked a couple times, then rubbed her eyes. “What happened? Am I…”
She looked down at her body. It was the exact same it’d been before. She frowned, and glanced back up at him. “Did it not work?”
That’s when she caught Atharost staring, and she glared back in defiance. “What are you looking at, you fire breathing oaf?”
The return scowl she got was one for the record books, and the ifrit pointed a finger at her head. “Above you, you moronic culn wench.”
The culn priestess was about to retort, when she noticed the mild amount of heat radiating from above her… and the soft orange glow. Gingerly, she reached up… and touched something warm. Her fingers wrapped around… whatever it was, and pulled it down for her to get a better look.
There, in her hands, was a glowing orange halo that simmered with red runic markings of Alkir’s holy orders. Rivia had seen pictures and heard legends portraying the item she was holding right then, that very second, and for a moment - she literally thought she was hallucinating.
There was no possible way this was real.
It could not be real.
“Is this a dream?” Rivia asked absendmindedly, turning the halo over in her hands before trying to identify it… and to her surprise, the entire status page showed up.
Alkir’s Infernal Halo
Item Tier: (15) Transcendent
Bonuses: Increase casting speed and range for all miracles by 300%
Requirements: Have Alkir bestow this item upon you as a sign of your devotion
Durability: Unbreakable
Special: Soulbound to Rivia Ahst. Dismissible.
She continued to stare, dumbfounded, as Trey began to chuckle… until her jaw dropped - her eyes widened - and she began to hyperventilate.
And THAT was when Trey pulled up her new quest. “I could have chosen a different evolution, you know… I didn’t even realize that those evolutions could affect things other than your physical body. But I was wrong, and I thought this was one you’d like. Came with a quest and everything!”
Path to Sainthood (Epic Quest): You have been marked as one of the most devout of Alkir, and she has recognized the soulstone given to you by Eleknar’s Heir as a sign of his long term goals to invest in you. Because of this, you may now embark upon the Path to Sainthood. Requirements: Collect all 7 of Alkir’s Writs, and decipher each of their Tier 2 miracles. Then sacrifice 10 souls every day over 7 days to Alkir under the cloak of night and bathe in their blood while praying to the dark goddess. Lastly, your master: Trey Bon, must fully bond with Eleknar - only then will you achieve the great gift of becoming one of Alkir’s Saints.
The resultant gasp was a combination of a quick inhale, and a gurgle. Her eyes bulged and Rivia’s grip on Trey’s arm clamped down with her nails digging into his skin. “IT ISN’T A DREAM!!!”
She let out a final squawk that resembled a dying bird, then her eyes rolled back into her head… and she keeled over to hit the ground. Or, she would have hit the ground if Trey hadn’t caught her while laughing to himself. He laid her down gently against the stone, placed the halo she’d dropped on her chest, and smiled.
“Damn… She just passed out. I think I just scored brownie points, eh Atharost? I’ll probably need to carry her upstairs too.”
Trey glanced back at the ifrit, who was just shaking his head in disgust at the sight of how pathetic the culn woman was, but even Atharost couldn’t entirely hide the smile curling at the ends of his lips.
Then finally went over all the status notifications he’d been ignoring since he’d raided the slave pens - the ones that he hadn’t just gone over with Juila and Rivia. It’d been… a very busy undertaking over the past couple hours.
“Your minion Karus has died. Your minion Lil-Daddy has died. Your minion Napoleon has died. Your minion Napoleon has been resurrected. Your minion Napoleon has gained 1 level in sneak, 1 level in Firebolt, 1 level in Curse of Burden, 1 level in Hand to Hand Combat, and 1 overall combat level. You have gained 1 level in Sneak, 2 levels in Blades, 1 level in Hand to Hand Combat, 1 level in Assassination, 2 levels in Chaos Ball, 1 level in Roar of the Banshee, and 3 overall combat levels. You have gained 4 strength from devouring your kills, you have gained 3 strength and 8 speed from Rivia’s Absorbant Soul Sacrifice. Additional Willpower points were placed due to your strength increase. Your minion Atharost has gained 2 levels in Wall of Flame, 3 levels in Fireblast, 2 levels in Firebolt, 1 level in Born Aflame: Inner Flame, and 7 overall combat levels. Your minion Atharost’s familiar Boxamoth has gained 5 levels in Firebolt, and 3 overall combat levels. Your minion Cow-Daddy has gained 3 levels in Blunt weapons, 2 levels in Crushing Blow, 2 levels in Enrage, and 3 overall combat levels. Your minion Fat-Daddy has gained 2 levels in Axes, 1 level in Battle Shout, 1 level in Enrage and 2 overall combat levels. Your minion Toady has gained 2 levels in Assassination, 2 levels in Barbed Tongue 1 level in Consumer: Gluttony, and 2 overall combat levels. Your minion Reiklin has gained 1 level in Bows, 1 level in First Aid, and 1 level in Wind Runner: Empower Arrow, Tornado. Your minion Rivia has gained 2 levels in Pestilence, 3 levels in Rejuvenation, 1 level in Immortal’s Infernal Blessing, 1 level in Small Blades, 1 level in Staves, 1 level in Absorbant Soul Sacrifice, and 4 overall combat levels. You have forced the demihuman Telipe into a minion contract, Telipe has become your thrall.”
Trey was about to call it quits for the night and turn in for bed, and had just picked Rivia up to carry her upstairs… when he abruptly stopped. He felt… the slightest vibration through his horns, over from what he thought was a baren corner of the room.
His red eyes slowly trailed over, and to his sheer amazement – he saw that blasted thief they’d let out of the slave pens earlier that night.
How had he not noticed before? And how the hell had this guy gotten here in the first place?
“You’re really fucking good at your job.” Trey mused, cocking his head to one side while still holding Rivia as the dark-skinned thief leaned against the wall.
“I should be, I’ve been doing it a long time.” The thief smiled, pushed off and began walking to the center of the room, to the surprise and bewilderment of all the slaves and even Trey’s minions.
Atharost in particular let out a low growl, and simmered with fire as anger coursed through him. He didn’t like being tricked by a mere human, and he’d had no idea this man was here to begin with until Trey had spotted him.
Coming to a stop directly in front of Trey, he took a low and cocky bow. “Name’s Grimy. I think I owe you my life. I wasn’t lying back there in the pens, I was going to be sold to the gladiator pits to fight… and I’m no fighter. I’d have died for sure.”
He straightened up, his solid jawline etched as his teeth ground down on one another. “I don’t like to think about how it would have ended without your help. So I’ve come to offer my services, and after seeing what you did to these two women…”
He motioned to Juila, who now towered over them threateningly as she approached – and to Rivia, who’s infernal halo glistened with red and orange light as it sat upon her breast. “I’m intrigued. Will I really lose my soul if I choose become a thrall? I’m rather interested in obtaining this… this kind of power. After seeing the rituals you’ve performed tonight, and the prowess you and your little army of minions unleashed at the market… I can see why you black magic practitioners are so feared. I want to be feared like that one day. To have that kind of respect… and if you are willing to do it for a mere slave girl, then I thought I’d try my luck.”
Trey was caught off guard. This guy really would sell his soul for power? Really? Then again, Juila had been all for it too. Was it really that easy to find volunteers? Or was he simply just coming across the lowly and downtrodden in life who wanted a second chance? Surely, he understood other conditions… the incentives for Teliple, for example, were obvious. She’d likely die on her own out there in Teretog – so becoming a thrall was the logical thing to do. But this guy? He seemed capable and able to survive. What was power to him – when he could still get along by thieving? No doubt he could do it after this little display of subterfuge where Trey had only barely noticed him – and no one else had.
He glanced over his shoulder once to see Juila’s daring expression – her new demon body flexing in anticipation of the kill. This too caught Trey off guard, he hadn’t expected her to be so forthcoming with her aggressive tendencies… but apparently the evolution had given her a self-esteem and confidence spike as well.
“Kind of…” Trey replied casually, turning back to the thief who waited while curiously gawking at Juila’s pink eyes staring back at him. “However, Mr. Grimy, I think that Ashe should be the one you talk to about that. If you’re really interested, she’d be a better fit for you than me.”
Grimy the thief folded his arms with a deep-set scowl, and he began to tap his foot. “She’s a rogue. She-”
“And she’s already been gifted the opportunity by one of the dark gods to achieve an infernal summoner subclass that specializes in subterfuge. It’s already set in stone.” Trey head-nodded towards the door where Ashe had already left a while ago. “She’s learning the dark attribute right now via a grimoire, and after that we only need to find a way of teaching her Curse or Chaos magic. Then she’s set, it’ll just be a bit until she gets the new class. I just think that since you two are of similar skill sets that it’d make sense… and work together well.”
Grimy stopped tapping his foot, and let curiosity construe his features. “Interesting. How long until you think she acquires the class?”
“No idea. But hopefully soon.” Trey paused, and looked the thief up and down. “If I may ask… Why are you asking for this? Your situation… it doesn’t really make sense to me, if I was you – I likely would be long gone by now. I wouldn’t have come back, not knowing us at all. In fact, the more I think about it – the more I’m beginning to think you’re truly stupid.”
Grimy frowned, and took a step forward. He was about to put a hand on Trey’s shoulder when his forearm was caught by Juila – who lifted him up into the air effortlessly to let him dangle there.
The thief glanced her way, and then to Trey. Then he head-bobbed in her direction. “I want to become something like that… because all my life, I’ve been tread on. Being a thief is nice some days, but I’m always lookin out for the bigger and badder guys of the criminal underworld who want my head. Just like some of the men here in Teretog want my head. The ones who sold me out to the slave market in the first place. My old crew.”
Grimy shrugged and smiled slyly. “But if I get a new crew… and I become strong, I won’t have to worry about them stringing up my guts when they found out I escaped. And… they might know where I am even now. I may or may not have run in to them when trying to get my old stash… and they chased me here to the compound. But if they find out I’m tied down to a summoner… they wouldn’t have the guts to come after me then. They may be a threat to me, but they aint anything you can’t handle.”
Trey gave the dangling man a long hard look, with the scar across his face glistening in the light of the lamps around the room. So that was it huh? The truth had finally come out.
He snorted in amusement, and shook his head in bewilderment. “Fine. I still have some charges left in my script tattoo to turn you… Juila, put him down. I’ll take his soul now and transfer it over to Ashe when she finally gets the class.”
Grimy grinned as he was set down on the floor by the huge red-skinned woman, patted off his trousers, and put his hands on his hips. “Time to get me one of those pentagrams on my head, right? I hope it doesn’t hurt too much.”