CHAPTER 273 – ARTIFICIAL CLARITY
Tom looked between the two of them. His mind struggling to process why Keikain of all people needed to talk to him and with Everlyn as well.
She noticed the way his eyes had paused on her. ”I’m only here to provide privacy.” She said, answering his unspoken question. She smiled sweetly.
Keikain cleared his throat. As was often the case, he was all business. “Everlyn is going to show you something. Read it carefully and once it’s done, we can discuss.”
The implicit presence of the sanatios chosen was influencing everything said out loud. Keikain wanted to share something with him that he thought was important enough not to wait and significant that he didn’t want the potential enemies to find out. It couldn’t be about the middle that had gone missing. Neither of them were dumb and the earth mage knew Tom knew the truth. If not that, then it was something related.
“Now?” He asked.
The earth mage sighed heavily and nodded. “Yeah.” He gestured at Everlyn whose face had lost animation. “There is no point waiting.”
He stepped sideways and accepted the invitation that came through from Everlyn.
Once more, he was in her system room. The couches, the table, the picturesque view and, of course, the roaring fireplace. Everlyn wore a summery dress with flower prints and was shuffling from foot to foot, a half-smile on her face that blossomed to a full one when she saw him. She did a cute half wave.
Tom swallowed heavily.
She was as enchanting as the first time he had seen her. In different circumstances… she would have been perfect, but with the history, the accusations that had flown. What she had blamed him for… As much as part of him wanted to go back to the bond they had shared pre-Gita it wasn’t going to be. They were over.
She saw the emotions play over his face and frowned, and a small part of her seemed to die, but she rallied quickly. “Wrong room.” The room dissolved, and he found himself in the spartan barely customised default metal walled space. “Forgot myself for a moment. This is for business.” She waved at the wall. “This is what Keikain wanted to share.”
The metal surfaced changed as detailed text was displayed.
He swallowed heavily and as he read thoughts of Everlyn were driven out of his mind.
Initial description.
Skill: Battle Fate. Every second in the battle has a 0.5% chance to produce a fate pulse of between 5% to 10% of the user’s total fate pool. This pulse does not deplete available fate.
Updated description.
Skill: Battle Fate (3).
Passive effect 1: Every second in the battle has a 1.5% chance to create a fate pulse of between 5% to 10% of the user’s total fate pool. This pulse does not deplete available fate.
Passive effect 2: whenever an opponent uses fate you have a 30% chance to fully neutralise it. This ability can be applied to up to five pre-nominated enemies. If no enemies are activated, it applies to the closest.
Active: Can create a fate spike equal to between 5% and 10% of users’ fate pool. This pulse does not deplete available fate and can be used once every minute.
Tom swallowed when he read that ability.
It had evolved faster and more significantly than he had imagined. He noted the three next to its name and figured it was similar to combining titles, but for them, the benefit had increased linearly. Battle Fate seemed to be more of an exponential improvement. The initial ability had tripled in strength, but it had gained two extra effects in addition.
The original passive and the active fate spike effect loosely created a fate surge equivalent to five to ten percent of the user’s fate pool every half a minute.
It was not ground breaking and weaker than Tom’s dodge ability by a considerable margin, but it was still impressive and if it was grown a little more… Tom could just imagine with the three of them fighting together and the fate that they collectively generated… In a drawn out battle they would be unkillable.
Then there was that middle passive. To be honest, it chilled Tom more than a little. Already if there were six Tom’s attacking Keikain could now effectively negate the fate output of the two of them. That was at its current level. What happened if it grew and if Clare had the same ability? Would they eventually be able to fully neutralise the fate of all monsters that attacked them while generating their own surges of fate to help them fight?
Broken. Was the thought that echoed through his head. The cursed bloodline was more deadly than he had imagined… especially for a human. He glanced at Everlyn. “I’ve noticed him practicing this all day. I assume you’ve compared notes. Can he control those fate surges.”
“Apparently, just like if he was spending his own fate. And Tom, the fate can leak across battles.”
“What?”
“There’s a huge loss of efficiency, but it’s like if you use your fate to help me. There’s a benefit, but it’s weaker. If he directs it outside of battle maybe ninety-six, ninety-seven percent of the potency is lost, but the potential is there.”
“He doesn’t need to…” Tom muttered. “Or at least with that loss of efficiency, he shouldn’t. His capacity to evolve his spells and skills mid-battle with all this fate is immense. The advances he can make in a fight.”
“He’s aware.” Everlyn said quietly. “What are you going to ask him?”
The power was welcome, but his mind went back to the middle that had gone missing and how the bloodline worked. “Whether he betrayed the intent of our agreement.” Tom told her darkly.
With a sidestep, he returned to the real world and faced Keikain. The earth mage rightfully appeared nervous. “Was this pure chance?”
The earth mage looked confused, then worried. Then shook his head. Tom felt his anger rising. That was a no to his question. Which meant Keikain had used bloodline points to get this outcome. Everything was supposed to be directed towards starving off the madness and pretty much at the first hurdle he had done. What? It was infuriating.
Confusion filled the earth mage’s eyes. “No wait, no… I meant yes. It was chance. I didn’t use bloodline points.”
Tom bit down on the anger he was about to express confused, as he attempted to understand what he had just claimed. “You can confirm that you didn’t use blood points?” As Tom asked that he tugged on the contract. The binding powers that linked them together appeared activated and visible to both of them. They bound him to be truthful.
Keikain swallowed. “Yes. It was luck. Or at least the engineered variety. I wanted to see what I was missing out on, so I used Fate.” He frowned. “Unfortunately, I doubt that’s an option I can keep pursuing, given the diminishing returns that will develop with each new investment.”
Tom released a relieved sigh. “Thank you. I was worried. And Clare?”
Keikain shook his head. “She didn’t spend any fate and got crap. It improved her earth affinity and some physical improvements, which I guess will help her with her tanking.”
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“What Everlyn showed me. That’s powerful.”
The earth mage nodded. “Yes. The advancements were far more pronounced than expected. It was the equivalent of about twenty Jeffreys.”
Internally, Tom whistled at that number. It was impressive. The middle had been potent, but it was a lot of deaths to advance Battle Fate that far.
“And it only just ticked over to three. I reckon it is twice that to move the needle again, and I was wondering how important is it that I develop it further.”
Tom swallowed at that question. It was loaded with all of the stuff he wanted nothing to do with. He knew the history and how the cursed bloodline worked. Keikain needed a certain amount of bloodline points to starve off insanity. Every time he sacrificed someone, energy was released, a portion went to providing him with the sanity preserving bloodline points and the rest to advancing an aspect of his bloodline. Which ability improved was random unless he sacrificed some of the precious bloodline points, then he could direct that evolution. Keikain was asking whether when he killed he should be directing them to developing this or continued with the current approach of maximising his sanity.
“I don’t know.” Tom said finally. “I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have to make this decision for at least four months.”
“No,” Keikain interrupted forcefully. “No, I’m not going to let you do that, and I’m going to be a prick. I’m not leaving any ambiguity in this. You want me to specialise, then you have to give the order. Otherwise, I won’t. You don’t know how horrible that ritual makes me feel. I won’t sacrifice bloodline points unless you order me to.”
“Keikain there is no reason to be dramatic.”
“No, No. Read my fucking lips. I won’t do it. You want me to prioritise this then make it an order otherwise, I will be going random.”
Tom assessed him, and the other man was adamant about his decision. From the body language, the decision had been made and now there was no way to change it. “Okay, I’ll think about it and get back to you.” He glanced down at the empty bowl in his hands and then at the bedroll. His head was swimming. “I need to sleep now.” He collapsed on the bedroll.
Sleep claimed him, and Tom didn’t even care what the others thought about his rudeness.
He jumped when the hard butt of a spear poked his ribs. Only the last four days of the same technique being used on him everyday stopped him from overreacting. “I’m awake.” He growled.
The hot bowl of porridge was shoved into his hands. It was better than what he was used too. In the tutorial, breakfast had been the same nearly every day. Lumps of meat, with the occasional serving of fresh or roasted vegetables straight out of his storage space.
The fact he was being served was porridge every day told him that Keikain or another of them had a similar experience and was relishing the variety the convenient auction house was providing.
He shovelled the food into his mouth. Someone had been using the auction house because this version was sweetened with some form of banana and possibly honey in addition.
Everlyn sat down opposite him and watched him eat.
He met her eyes. “Can I help you?”
“Finish your meal.”
Thor packed away his bedroll. He checked to make sure Everlyn was serious about waiting and then finished his food.
The moment he did, she grabbed his hand. “Join me.” Her face went inanimate, and he followed her in.
He found himself sitting on the couch with Everlyn pacing up and down in front of him. She was dressed in a soft-looking jumper, jeans and sneakers. They were her comfort clothes.
Tom hid his smile. It was amusing that he was here in her main system room instead of the sterile, unadorned room. There were two obvious explanations. The first was that she did not consider this to be business or the decision to shift him into the other room previously had been because of his reaction. Probably the latter, he realised. She had been hurt by his expressions and reacted emotionally.
She spun to face him. “I can’t stop thinking about what Keikain said to you. Tom, the bastard shouldn’t have dumped that on you.”
“It’s not important. Luckily, I have time to consider the question. He shouldn’t need an answer for a couple of months.”
“Don’t answer. Don’t do it.”
Tom sighed. “Evie, I’m not sure putting my head in the sand is a valid choice. At some point, we need to decide if there is an advantage in getting that skill. I can’t just ignore it. You saw the skill description. Every time it advances the percentages improve and it gets extra abilities. How strong will it be at four or five?”
“I know,” Everlyn said.
“That’s why I can’t ignore it. I don’t have the luxury to just disregard the offer.”
“No, Tom, please. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself. I couldn’t sleep thinking about it. If you make the choice, you’ll blame yourself for everyone he kills. You’ll be taking the guilt off him and onto yourself. It will crush you.”
“It might or it might not, but if it helps me save everyone, then I’ll gladly accept it.
“Don’t do it! I know you Tom. If you give him the order, you’ll regret it.”
“For fuck’s sake, Evie. I haven’t come this far to give up an advantage. This is not about me. The only reason I’m hesitating is I don’t know if telling them to prioritise battle fate will end up in them going mad. What happens if we go down that path and there are no sapients to sacrifice?”
“How can you?”
“Because there are billions of humans depending on us…”
“I know Tom but it shouldn’t fall on you. Don’t make.”
“Don’t! That stupid. Weren’t you listening. I have to.”
“SHUT UP!”
The protest died on his lips. Everlyn so rarely shouted that her outburst silenced him immediately.
“Listen. Don’t make a choice. Use an oracle question. You have what three lined up currently and by the end of this trial, you’ll have twenty.”
“I imagine a fair few are going to have to be invested in killing the dragon.”
“One on this topic won’t hurt. Then you don’t have to own the guilt. Something simple like, will directing Keikain and Clare to focus their blood line points on furthering their battle fate skill maximise the likely rating points they generate.”
Tom considered the question. He could improve the wording, but the idea was sound. “You’ve convinced me. I’ll do that later.”
She didn’t move, staring at him impatiently. “Well, why aren’t you doing it?”
“Because I believe it’s wasteful. We need to have questions in reserve.”
“You’re really holding these for an emergency.”
“I won’t feel safe until I have dozens saved.”
“Tom you’re being an idiot. A huge one.”
“They’re my questions.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “Yes, they are. And you’re a genius for getting the trait, but your use of it is idiotic. We can’t afford to save them.”
“It worked with…”
Everlyn’s eyes flashed. “Yes, you didn’t waste any questions but Gita died and maybe your questions wouldn’t have made a difference.” She shuddered at the memory and visibly calmed her self. Her face remained angry, but it was clear that she was keeping her composure for the greater good. “That was a choice. I’m not even going to argue it was a bad decision but right now preserving them is stupid. Have you thought about what it will mean if our strategy is wrong?”
“Our strategy,” he asked dumbly even as he recognised where this was going.
“Yes, it’s a pretty mature one. We’re maximising our time and experience gains on each ring in each level.”
“And treasure rooms,” Tom said to lighten the mood.
“And those.” Everlyn agreed. “But you’re missing the point. What if our approach is flawed? What happens if the difference between winning and losing is about what we do right now.”
Tom laughed bitterly. “Evie, I wish I could do that. Ask a dozen questions and construct an oracle path forward. But I only have three. It’s not enough.”
“But it’ll only take a single question to confirm whether we have to change our approach. I can compose it, but how your brain works I’m sure you’re better at constructing those types of strategic questions.”
“I can and I probably am,” he acknowledged. “It’s just difference when I don’t have thousands of questions saved up. With the three I’ve got… everyone of them feels like it is too precious to risk wasting. Hey,” he said hurriedly when he saw her rising anger. “I agree. I should use them.” He paused to consider what strategic question he wanted to ask and then looked up at the roof. “At a material level, is our current approach to maximising gains per ring is strategically flawed?”
Everlyn winced.
“No,” Dux’s voice echoed through the room with calm authority.
“Why that look?” Tom asked curiously.
She huffed in exasperation. “I… I don’t get it. You had three questions! Wasn’t what you just asked a waste? Shouldn’t it have been about killing the dragon? Isn’t there a lack of specifics? And you said materially. We could be doing the wrong thing, but not sufficient to be materially flawed.”
Tom chuckled at that reaction. “Maybe… It might have been wrong, but I’ve found that general questions are often the best. Sometimes it’s better to confirm you’re on the right track to get success rather than verifying specifics. Now we know that our approach is…” he hesitated. “I reckon you can describe it as sort of okay. That’s a great outcome. All of it and not just a bit of it is… is the best approach! That’s powerful… the word all. That includes linking up with the sanatio’s chosen, our focus on maximising experience, getting traits before levels… All of that was factored into this question. To be honest, it was a gamble, but I was confident in our strategy. If the answer had been yes.” Tom’s face scrunched up as he thought about what that would have meant. “Then we would have been forced to adjust one or more of those levers and I would have used the other two questions to ensure our changes didn’t make the result worse.”
She nodded. “We’re doing the right thing. We’re doing the right thing.” Everlyn repeated. Then licked her lips. “Come on, the others are waiting. We should get going, but Tom.” She caught his eyes her own blazing with conviction. “Don’t be arrogant. Use a question on the killers. You can spare one and strategically it’s as important as all the other decisions you have to make. Getting it wrong will cripple us in the fight or kill Keikain and Clare. Think about it… don’t leave something like that up to chance.”
He was booted from the system room and Everlyn hadn’t been joking. Everything was packed, and they were ready to go. Even the bowl he had been using had been cleaned and had vanished.
Tom did not move immediately. His head was swimming. He had a desire to hit the ground or kill something. The points she had made were valid. The questions were there to be used and now, with things balanced on the cusp of disaster this was the time to use them but he still had a duty to ask the rights ones.
Sometimes he wished he was smarter.