CHAPTER 285 – A RELIGIOUS EDGE
Tom returned to the real world. “The title for gaining a third class gives you one point to your lowest attribute per level.”
“That’s fucking awesome.” Thor said. “We’re all buying a third class slot.”
He nodded, pleased with the enthusiasm. He agreed with them that the titles made the purchase worthwhile. “There are a couple of other titles related to getting high rarity classes as well,” he continued. “It probably doesn’t need to be said, but higher quality is better.”
“We’re not dumb!”
“Keikain,” Michael snapped immediately.
The earth mage raised his hands apologetically. “Sorry Tom that came out wrong. The whole chosen thing has been stressing me. What I meant to say is that we’re ahead of you in this space. We’ve discussed how we want to grow. All of us have multiple rare or better class options that we’ve been considering.”
“Exactly,” Michael said. “I had a legendary secondary healer class and a rare chaos warrior, one that I was tossing up between. That secondary class has some impressive enhancements to chaos spells, but if I took it, I was going to forgo so many attribute points. Even without the title benefit, I had been considering getting both classes, the chaos one for the acquisition bonus and the healing class for the per level attribution.”
“I’m surprised the title doesn’t strengthen your strongest attribute,” Keikain said carefully. “That weakens its benefit a lot.”
“It’s only a common title.” Tom said with a shrug. “I’m a little surprised that the effects are so high.”
“It’s because they get assigned to your weakest attribute.” Michael shrugged, like that explained everything. “For natives, I imagine reinforcing the weakest attribute devalues this title a lot. That logic doesn’t apply to humans. After the tutorial, we’re proficient in both magic and melee so can use the attributes wherever they go. As for fate, with our racial trait points assigned to fate won’t go awry. We’re going to get a lot more out of this than most.”
“Your right for us quantity is more crucial than specifics.” Keikain agreed. “But I’m sure there are natives who would prefer a single point of strength to two of fate and they probably consider this title to be a joke.”
“Don’t care,” Michael declared. “I was already on the cusp, so I’m buying it now.” He shut his eyes and then opened them a moment later. “Nine hundred thousand, more than I would like, but far less than I would have been willing to pay. It’ll pay for itself in bonus attributes pretty quickly.”
“Are you sure about that?” Keikain asked. “I mean have you run the mathematics? Let me confirm for you.” The earth mage shut his eyes once more and his face went inanimate. “Everyone’s different.” He said finally. “By the time we reach the dragon, we’re all going to have ninety extra attribute points from the guaranteed title. That’s at least twelve levels. Buying twelve levels by then would cost more than two million. I think getting the trait is almost a no brainer.”
“Apart from the fact that it leaves us weaker now than we would like.” Toni said.
“That’s always the risk, but our strategy is to stay weak anyway, so it won’t cost us much and for the benefit…” Keikain shrugged. “You don’t need me to tell you this. Plus, the third class comes with an acquisition bonus, which is likely to be material. Tom, what did you get?”
“Thirty percent increase in fate recharge.”
Keikain stopped speaking and looked at Tom with a shocked expression. “That’s good.”
“It’s a great class,” Tom answered modestly.
“That’s not what I meant. You’ve got two hundred fate, so that acquisition bonus is equivalent to what sixty fate immediately and that’s not even factoring in future growth. Your trait gives you two, so that class is giving you two extra fate every three levels at a minimum.” He pointed out.
Tom grinned. “More. Currently, after titles, I get three fate per level.”
“So the class gives you an additional free point at every level. That’s extraordinary.”
“Kei, it’s not quite that good.” Tom said defensively. “I don’t get extra points. It’s just that my fate recharges faster.”
The earth mage laughed at him and he was not the only one. “Tom, correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re using your full fate pool every day and will continue to do so.”
“Of course, I am, however if I’m in a fight those extra sixty points aren’t there for me to use. I get your point, of course I do. It’s why I took the class. The faster recharge is a big boost but not as good as a title that actually gives one fate per level.”
“Which you’ve got, anyway.” Michael said, laughing. “Your effective fate grows at four per level. It’s ridiculous.”
Keikain shook his head and waved Tom’s comment away, and ignored Michael completely. “All of us are emptying their pools daily. Can we get the class?”
“I doubt it.” Tom told him honestly. “You’re not going to meet the pre-requisites.”
“Mythic?” Michael asked.
“No… only legendary. I said that earlier.”
“I’m not sure you did. But really Tom?” Michael rolled his eyes. “Only legendary…”
“Yes, only legendary,” Tom snapped defensively. “Didn’t you just say you were choosing a legendary class as well… with our accomplishments I assume we’ve all got that sort of options.” He glanced around at the entire group, assessing them. From their expressions, he was at least partially right. No one looked like they wanted to dispute him. “Am I right? Do you all have a legendary class choice.”
“Most of us.” Everlyn clarified.
“All of us,” Harry clarified. “An option appeared recently. But I won’t be taking it.”
“All of us have options.” Everlyn told him. “But as of last night, only half of us will take the higher ranked class. Unfortunately, they’re often too specific to be useful in our situation.”
“I found the same with mine.” Tom agreed thinking of the mythic class that he had turned down. “Just because its higher rarity doesn’t mean you should take it.”
“I’m going to send out an explanation of what a third-class slot is.” Thor suddenly. “I think if we can disseminate the information, it can become a species advantage.”
“Good thinking,” Michael said and then glanced Thor’s way. The large man was already scribbling furiously. “I wonder if the system will censor that as well.”
“I’m sending a note to Vidja and Selena to confirm before sending it out to the wider community. They need to do the same strategy and take a third class so it doesn’t hurt.”
“Do we really want Selena’s squad to learn this?” Keikain asked.
“Yes.” Michael snapped. Then hesitated. “Probably.”
Thor glanced up from where he was scribbling. “Yes, from the way Tom is talking we need everyone to be as powerful as possible before the dragon and I’m confident we’ll have binding contracts between us soon. They’ve realised that we’ve got a bite to us. I don’t think they’ll try that shit again, but until we have confirmed with binding magic, I’m not taking a chance with them. Talk, however, is safe.”
In groups of three, they all retreated to the system room, and when they returned, they were all stronger. Without any discussion, they transitioned individually into their various physical routines to acquaint themselves with additional power.
“Tom,” Michael called out from where he was moving like lightning through a spear kata. He was primarily magical based, but he was vigorously testing his own limits. “You should have a nap before we transition. You’ve been awake for almost half a day.”
With a sigh, he did as was suggested, and normal dreams claimed him. There was not even a hint of a True Dream, which was expected. It felt like everything was drawing together nicely.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
He woke up after only two hours, feeling significantly more rested.
As he glanced around, he assessed the status of everyone else. They had to a person grown their power, specifically the fate associated with them all was far higher than what it had been.
“His up.” Thor said.
Tom turned to face him and remembered the discussions they had before he had been told to sleep. “The third class? Did it get through?”
“To Selena and Vidja yes,” Thor hesitated. “But that’s no guarantee that it will extend to the rest of humanity. The GODs can be…”
The warrior trailed off. He didn’t need to say anything more. They all knew how these things worked. The notes could be sent through to people who would find out, anyway. They could think it was working while they blocked the spread to everyone else.
“Everyone,” Everlyn said into the silence. “We’re all done upgrading. We should push into the new zone and spend a few hours to acclimatise to fighting the monsters before we sleep. There is no point wasting time.”
“Wait,” he said as a thought triggered by Thor’s words registered. They were running around blindly and there was another option. “There’s something we haven’t discussed.”
“There are lots of things we haven’t talked about.” Michael agreed good-naturedly.
“No. I mean getting a better relationship with DEUS.”
“You think one of us should become a priest.” Everlyn asked in surprise. “I thought you hated that concept.”
Tom frowned at that observation of him. It was both right and wrong. He shook his head. “No, no, I’m not against dedicating experience to DEUS. Having a potential divine miracle ready to act in your favour is a good thing.”
Michael shook his head. “No, I strongly object. We can’t afford to dilute our power. I’ve investigated the mathematics. It’s like buying a lotto ticket. It makes no sense.”
“Not if one of us invests to become a priest.” Tom pointed out. “Priests theoretically get a positive return on investment.”
“Only while you are doing DEUS’s bidding,” Michael said in frustration. “Do we really want one of us to be forced to go off on a side quest?”
Keikain laughed at that. “I get your objection and I sort of agree, but if anything we’re already on a DEUS sanctioned quest. I doubt we’re going to be sent to do something else.”
“And Tom we don’t need a priest’s power set.” The healer continued. “Between you, Clare and myself we’re well placed for healing.”
“Not that type of priest,” Tom said. “No, I meant the other one.”
“You mean one that guides the faithful?” Michael asked with clear scepticism.
Tom nodded.
“Why would you want that? It’s an experience sink without any rewards.”
“Because I feel like I’m leading you all blindly. My skill is powerful, but is it enough? All these notes Thor’s sending out are they doing anything? If we phrased them differently, would they get through? I don’t know.” Tom threw his arms up in the air. “I don’t know. It just feels like we are navigating in a world with out rules or at least without laws we understand. A priest might give us guidance.”
Michael nodded. “Do you even understand what you need to do to become a priest?”
“No. I never thought it would be the right role for me. I assume it’s just a big experience investment.”
“Big? Yes. The buy in is twenty. Twenty percent of all experience we’ve ever earned, and the same tithe going forward.”
“That’s a lot.” Tom agreed. He had erroneously thought it would be ten percent like in a lot of Earth religions, especially for the priest form that had no active abilities. “What about the healing priest.”
“That needs a class slot,” Michael told him. “It’s thirty percent plus one out of every two class levels needs to be the DEUS class. You’re forced to act almost one hundred percent in the priest’s role and you’re permanently weaker than everyone around you because the experience drain is so massive.”
There was a long silence.
“No priests.” Michael said firmly.
“I hate to say it,” Keikain said finally, “But Tom’s right. We are sort of flailing around blindly. I vote yes, but I’m not sure who.”
“I’ll do it,” Clare said instantly.
“No, you won’t,” the earth mage snapped at her.
Clare flinched, and Keikain’s eyes softened.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that,” he scratched his hair. “You’re already double speccing into both healing and tanking. We need you in those roles and to support them you can’t give away twenty percent of your experience. You’re not the right person. It has to be one of the people who don’t have multiple roles.”
“Not Harry,” Tom said immediately.
“I wasn’t going to suggest Harry,” Keikain said, exasperated. “His ritualist development is too important.”
The elder moved and zoomed to be in front of Tom. “Blessed of Sanatories, you may not dedicate yourself to another.”
For a moment, he was floored by the statement, unable to understand what the elder meant. Fuck off, he tried to say it, but the words failed in his throat. He struggled for a response that would work. “Largest one. There’s been a miscommunication. You know that I’m human. That means, by definition, I’m already dedicated to DEUS.”
“Blessed of Sanatories, I understand this. I only meant that you must not become a priest. It will be sacrilegious.”
Screw you, I’ll make my own decisions. The anger coursed through him, but the words died before he could speak them. Ruthlessly choked off in his throat before they emerged. “And if my own honour demands I become a priest?”
“Blessed of Sanatories if you do so we will all be sad.”
“There’s no need for that,” Keikain interrupted. “Tom was never a candidate for the role. One of myself, Thor or Toni are the only true candidates. I’m willing to volunteer.”
The offer was genuine, but it was clear it was not something that he would be happy with. Almost everyone was looking at Thor.
The big man shook his head. “I can see the advantage and the tie into the messages I’m sending. But I’m not a priest.”
“Nor am I,” Toni insisted. “I hated interacting with divinity. I turned off my guide in the tutorial.”
Tom rubbed his ears in surprise. If she had done that… the implications of what that would have meant struck him. Dux had been annoying, but Tom knew she had helped keep him sane. If he had turned her off… it was easy enough to imagine the consequences. And Toni had been driven to do that? And made it to the competition… the will power that required was impressive.
“You poor girl. For how long?” Micheal asked compassionately.
Toni didn’t answer directly. Instead, she chewed on her lip and looked away, a dark expression on her face. That was confirmation enough for all of them.
She was brave, Tom thought to himself. The courage that must have taken was extraordinary.
“Thor?” Keikain said. “Are you sure? A month ago, I would never have imagined you being a priest, but having observed your development since. I can see thriving in the role.”
The big man shook his head. “I can’t. Personal reasons… I just…”
The earth mage looked disappointed. “I guess that means it’s me as the last one left standing.” He shut his eyes and then opened them again almost immediately. “It’s done. I’ll be your priest. I’m already halfway there.”
“That was impulsive.” Michael said sternly. “We hadn’t agreed a priest was necessary.”
“No, it wasn’t. Look around you Michael, everyone else agreed with Tom. One of us had to take the role and I don’t know why Thor was so opposed, but he was, and that meant I was the best candidate. Anyway, it’s done. Let’s get going. Gaining some experience will help me feel better about my choice.”
They turned to face the cave that led downwards and began their journey. The tunnel was the same as all the underground links between zones. They walked for half a kilometre downward and then a similar distance moving up. Eventually, they reached the now standard feel of the entrance room.
They were on another layer and carefully they went out into the zone proper.
They had known what to expect, and it didn’t disappoint. The entire landscape was mountainous country. Deep nasty ravines, cliff faces and soaring peaks. There were seams of metal bearing rock everywhere.
Keikain whistled in appreciation. “If this was real, it would be worth so much.”
Tom hadn’t thought of it in those terms, but Earth Sense had located the seam of pure silver beneath him. The not real bit was the kicker. He could tell that if he mined anything here, it would vanish if he attempted to put it on the auction house. At least the silver under him would.
“I’ve seen this type of thing. We might find some mineable stuff,” Everlyn said quietly, “but as a rule the basic terrain can’t be gathered.”
“There is silver and even a small amount of platinum.” Keikain kicked the ground. “It’s everywhere.”
“And they’ll be real seams that you’ll be able to mine. For now, let’s kill elementals.”
Four piles of rubble forty metres away stirred and animated. They expanded in size by about forty percent as air gaps were suddenly introduced. One of them flowed toward them, travelling with deceptive speed.
It crashed into a wall of rock that rose from the ground and bounced back with a couple of mid-sized pebbles becoming dislodged from it. Then the other three also swarmed them. Various probing spells were launched at them.
“They’re impervious to air,” Toni reported.
“Of course, they are,” Everlyn said, laughing. “They’re stone and metal elementals. We went through this.”
“I had to check.”
Four chaos bolts shot out. Each of them miraculously aimed at a different target. Two of them sizzled with a surge of power and grew more powerful than normal. A couple of them growing in strength was a better outcome than usual, but Tom kept his eyes peeled and ready to react.
The first of the empowered chaos bolt struck one of the elementals. There was a puff of green energy and some pebbles flew clear of it, reducing its size and power. Then there was a grinding sound as a mass of roots and stems sprouted from the point of impact. The conjured plant material twisting and growing within the pile of stones that made up the monster’s body. In moments, the jumble of magically enchanted stones was gummed up by the plant that grew throughout it. At worst, it had been stopped by the spell, at best the fight currently occurring between life and stone would go in the plant’s favour and that elemental would die.
The second enhanced bolt was a force version that had been directed at the elemental that was the farthest from them. It struck down the bottom of the pile of animated rock. Pebbles and stones went flying out from the point of the collision. The entire thing collapsed and when it reassembled itself, it was only a quarter of the size that it had been.
The other two elementals kept going almost completely unimpeded by the bolts that had struck them. One had a few rocks glowing brightly where a missile with some sort of heat beam property had landed. It hadn’t lost any mass what so ever.
The result of the impact of the fourth chaos bolt on the final elemental was even worse. It had a white glow surrounding it and seemed to be moving faster than usual.
Tom mentally cursed that outcome. It was a known problem with chaos bolts. Sometimes they backfired so badly that the monster you were targeting was healed or received a blessing like the haste like this elemental had apparently gained.
Tom’s mind tracked the speed it was now moving and carried out a similar calculation for the second one. There was no time to lose. “Damn it.” He cursed and threw himself at the faster elemental. He would need to buy time for the others to test the more targeted closer range magic.