Chapter 48: The Power She Sought
John was up first. Me manifested Beorn who activated his rage mode. His fur bristled and sharpened, his body grew a few sized, and aura of red blazing out of the beast like it was on fire. It was the quintessential anime rage effect, unmistakable.
“From within wells unending vigor,” John cast Vigor Wellspring on Beorn.
The main purpose of their expedition this time was for John to practice the timing of his support abilities. Shields required tight timings—it was an ability with high skill requirements but also commensurate effect. With Beorn as his target, he cast shields to deflect the sharp and large claws of the shabs.
Often, the shield manifested around Beorn and faded before anything hit it. John resignedly smiled, “I can see why this will be difficult.”
Sen nodded, “Simultaneously shielding, healing, and fending off attacks from yourself. The healer is one of the most difficult positions in a party, but also one of the most necessary members.”
“Everyone wants you dead as the healer,” Eufemia pointed out. “Except us, we want you alive.”
Nara started to feel better that she wasn’t the healer. She didn’t think she could handle that kind of pressure as the foundation supporting the entire party, the dividing line between life and death. Compared to her, John was steadier and more experienced. He could handle it.
“You can just say I’m older.” John said, “I’m comfortable with my age.”
Beorn was a reliable ally; his rage mode didn’t actually affect his mental state. He launched himself into shabs with fervor, his claws ripping off carapaces and crunching into meaty flesh with ease. Even attacks from those massive claws that connected inflicted only shallow cuts. Unfortunately, the effects of rage mode prevented them from healing with the ease they should have—Beorn’s natural regeneration plus John’s boon would have been enough if not for the health draining properties of rage.
“You think those are tasty…?” Nara wondered, “Sharks and crabs are considered a delicacy.”
Thanatos licked his lips, and his black fire crackled expectantly, like he was considering roasting them alive. Unfortunately, Thanatos’ flame was unideal for roasting food.
Beorn picked up a Shab by the leg, slamming it into another with a deep crunch like the Incredible Hulk slamming Loki. His roaring mouth shot down, tearing into the soft underside of the exposed shab. He then cartwheeled, his legs uppercutting an approaching shab.
“Is your bear doing…kung fu?”
“No…” John said, “That’s mad.”
“I think Beorn is a better martial artist that you.”
“That isn’t a high bar right now.”
“Do not distract John. He is practicing.” Sen said, picking up Nara and placing her a bit further away. She conjured a chair, pouting.
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-[Shab] has died within your aura. It has been looted.
* 50 iron spirit coins
* 5000 lesser spirit coins
* 5 monster cores (iron)
* 2 parcels of shab meat
* Shark Essence
* 50 water quintessence
-Loot has been added to your [Astral Domain].
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John’s looting ability also triggered, doubling the rewards the whole team received; Nara received an additional 50 iron spirit coins, 5000 lesser spirit coins, and monster cores on top of the ones she just earned. As Sen said, looting abilities could stack, and they had not reached the limit. Nara’s looting ability functioned like the standard—anything within her aura that died, she could loot, and all allies received loot. Loot between allies was not identical, but everyone received the same copy of spirit coins monster cores, and quintessence. They other loot was randomized per person.
John’s looting ability was a bit more complex. His ability stipulated “you and nearby allies” gain the ability to loot defeated enemies, and not “You and your allies can loot defeated enemies with aura range” like Nara’s did. Thankfully, a neat synergy between Nara’s Party Guide and John’s Case Files meant that anyone within the party was considered a nearby ally. The other issue was that John’s looting ability required physical contact to loot, but they discovered Nara’s aura would trigger both looting abilities simultaneously instead. You couldn’t dissolve a monster twice, after all. But physical contact from any party member was sufficient to trigger the effect, including their familiars. It didn’t have to be John himself.
Nara wondered if John’s looting required physical contact because of detective shows where they searched bodies for clues.
With a little testing, they determined that John’s boon extended the duration of rage by around three times. Additional healing further extended the mode, and Nara’s Integrity boons, once stacked, also furthered the maximum duration.
For general monster slaying, normal Beorn was more than enough. Rage mode made Beorn vulnerable to damage by the end of it with his low health and low stamina pools, if he wasn’t forcibly subsumed. Using rage mode for a short period was a waste of the 10 minute cooldown. Beorn would not do nearly as much damage, but he served more to keep the heat off of John, body blocking, shoving and throwing monsters, and crushing the weak ones entirely.
As party frontliners, it was more Sen’s and Nara’s job to prevent others from targeting John. It wouldn’t be much at iron rank; iron rank monsters didn’t have the intellectual capacity to focus down a healer, or identify the healer in the first place.
If Nara had to tank, she fell into the evasion or parry tank category. Sen was a brawler, both a resilient and high damage essence user, one of the most common and most favored archetypes by the Adventure Society for their resilience, general use, and immediate efficacy.
Compared to Nara, Sen had more than a few abilities that increased his physical strength, his [Power] attribute, and his resistance to damage. One was the Mighty Strength ability, the most common ability awakened in the Might Essence, and the one Sen awakened when he absorbed the essence.
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Ability: [Mighty Strength]
Special Ability
Cost: None
Cooldown: None
Effect (Iron): Increased physical strength.
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Since it was the single effect of the ability, it was a large bonus. Sen hadn’t awakened all his abilities yet either, but this single ability pushed his strength into late iron territory. Late iron to early bronze was the realm of Olympic athletes. Bronze was where the transition past human limits began.
Another of his damage reduction abilities was his aura, Guardian’s Retribution, which he had surprisingly awakened with an Awakening Stone of the Shield into his Wrath Confluence.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
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Ability: [Guardian’s Retribution]
Aura
Cost: None
Cooldown: None
Effect (Iron): All allies within aura have increased damage resistance and increased resistance to afflictions.
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Only at later ranks would the ability reveal the reason for its name. Often, abilities were renamed or named as their later ranks were discovered. Guardian’s Retribution wasn’t a common aura (all auras were equally uncommon, since they varied the most with individual personality, awakening stone, and essences out of all ability types), but it had been progressed to at least silver rank in the Magic Society’s records. Once it’s later ranks had been discovered, it was finally given it’s permanent name.
Paired with his armor conjuration, his racial abilities, and other special abilities, Sen was a powerhouse of both physical strength, resilience, and speed. He was tough to kill, hard restrain, and dealt powerful damage back in turn. To top it all off, Sen had his own scaling abilities that helped him in extended encounters.
“Okay, I know we said money doesn’t make a build more powerful, but I’m really starting to feel it does.”
“Some abilities may be individually powerful, but all essence sets balance themselves,” Sen assured her.
“The magic within an essence user is limited by rank,” Aliyah offered her supporting evidence, “We will specialize in certain circumstances, but no ability set has inherently more power.”
Nara stared at Sen and Encio with a suspicious gaze.
“But it doesn’t feel that way, does it?”
Eufemia leaned in, her eyes similarly narrowed, “No it does not. Thank the gods I can just copy them. Your problem, not mine.”
Off to the side, John was holding up a stone of characteristic shape. Deep blue swirled within, glittering like the surface of the ocean.
John held it out for the others to see, “It’s an Awakening Stone of Water. I looted it just now.”
“That’s a good one for a healer,” Encio said, “I say use it.”
“I concur,” Sen said.
John did. The stone melted in his hand, turning his palm briefly transparent as if it had turned to clear ocean water.
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-Party member [John Aurelius] has used [Awakening Stone of Water].
-[John Aurelius] has awakened Renewal Essence Ability [Fountain of Life]. [John Aurelius has awakened 3 of 5 Renewal Essence Abilities.
Ability: [Fountain of Life]
Awakening Stone: Water
Spell (healing)
Incantation: “Fountain of life, manifest.”
Cost: Moderate mana
Cooldown: 10 minutes
Effect (Iron): Creates an endless fountain that replenishes health of nearby allies.
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“As expected, a standard healing ability,” Encio said, “You’re low on basic healing, so this is a great addition.”
The two abilities John already awakened in his Life Essence was Life Bolt, another basic healing spell, and Vision of Life, his perception ability.
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Ability: [Life Bolt]
Awakening Stone: None
Spell (healing)
Incantation: “Imbue with life.”
Cost: Low mana
Cooldown: None
Effect (Iron): Delivers life energy though a projectile, giving a small burst of instantaneous healing. Damages certain targets that are inimical to life force, such as most forms of undead.
Ability: [Vision of Life]
Awakening Stone: Vision
Conjuration
Cost: None
Cooldown: None
Effect (Iron): Perceive the vulnerabilities of others.
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All essence users awakening one aura ability and one perception ability, although there were rare exceptions. John’s Vision of Life allowed him to see how others were injured or afflicted, which was useful for a healer-in-training.
The group make a quick stop at the nearby coastal fishing village to take a look at their own local Adventure Society notice board. Village branches were very small, often manned by a single local. Villages posted their own local contracts at the standard rates for the adventure society. The ones posted at the main branch had been up for long enough that a copy had been made back in Sanshi.
The group accepted all their contracts, and headed out again to test and train Eufemia.
Eufemia, like John, had awakened two abilities in her Mirror Essence: Mirror Form and Echo Spirit.
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Ability: [Mirror Form]
Awakening Stone: None
Special Ability (transformation)
Cost: High mana
Cooldown: None
Effect(Iron): Take on the form of any target you remember.
Ability: [Echo Spirit]
Awakening Stone: Magus
Familiar (ritual, summon)
Cost: Extreme mana
Cooldown:
Effect (Iron): Summon an [Echo Spirit] to serve as a familiar.
* Incorporeal
* Can mimic the form of enemies or allies.
* Can switch-teleport with mimicked allies.
* Can mirror the mimicked ally’s movements and attacks but inflicts no damage or other effects.
* When subsumed into the summoner’s aura, the summoner can manipulate their own aura, projecting false traits or mimicking the aura of others.
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Mirror Form wasn’t that useful in combat against unintelligent monsters, but against other essence users…Nara hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Eufemia’s Echo Spirit was named Runaia, Runa for short, an indistinct holographic being of humanoid shape that flickered like a TV with bad signal. Eufemia hadn’t awakened her own aura yet, so Eufemia couldn’t use Runa’s subsumed aura effect. For now, it was a passive effect that just made Eufemia’s transformations more convincing.
The next monster on the list was a drop snake. It draped itself over outcroppings and outstretched branches to drop onto unsuspecting travelers below. They were awkward opponents to fight with their small sizes, but low rank monsters were rarely large. They were still larger than normal snakes, evidence of their monstrous nature.
They traveled to the cliff side, eyes up to check for sky-dropping snakes. It was unnecessary—Nara detected them long before they were underneath the nest of snakes.
“You’re up, Eufie,” Nara said.
Eufemia’s face scrunched at the impromptu nickname.
She transformed into Encio, more for performance than for power. Her transformation granted her no additional power beyond her base attributes. She did, however, do a stunning job of capturing his casual confidence and elusive smile.
“I have to admit that’s uncanny,” Encio said, “It’s like I’m looking at myself,” he smiled, “Handsome, even from the back. Not that I expected anything different.”
“You do have a nice back,” Nara admitted. After all the work she’s been putting in on the daily, even she had a nice ass, she’d like to think. From office average to cushioned tush.
“Are you flirting with me?”
“Nope, just stating facts.” Nara twirled an imaginary mustache, “Not only am I a connoisseur of food, but I am also a connoisseur of beauty.”
“Are you now?” Encio said with his iconic teasing smile, “Then who’s the most beautiful person you’ve ever seen? Is it me?”
“It isn’t, actually,” Nara said, “You’re up there but…I think it must be Amara. She has those burning gold eyes set off against that flawless ebony skin. I’d ask what her skincare routine is, but that’s not a thing around here.”
“I can accept that, losing to Amara Edea. If you had said some no-name iron ranker I’d be a little offended.”
“Of course, you accept your loss when it’s against a gold ranker. So you admit I have good taste?”
“No, everyone likes the most beautiful person. That’s no indication of taste, just good sense.”
“And if I said you? Is that good taste or good sense?”
“Both. You didn’t think you could win one over me that easily?”
While the two were bickering over beauty standards, Eufemia transformed Silver Gleam into Encio’s sword, Whirlwind Sword.
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Ability: [Whirlwind Sword]
Essence: Balance
Awakening Stone: Wind
Conjuration
Cost: Moderate mana
Cooldown: None
Effect (Iron): Conjures [Zephyr’s Tempest, the Whirlwind Sword]. Zephyr’s Tempest inflicts physical damage. Attacks and abilities made with [Zephyr’s Tempest] have increased speed and penetrating power.
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The Whirlwind Sword was a long and slightly curved saber, resembling a Chinese miaodao. Unlike Nara’s lighter blade, it was wielded with two hands. The blade was a shimmering silver that exuded sharpness like it had been forged of cutting winds and condensed light. A handguard of cloud patterns and a pure white handle completed the weapon.
Nara would bet it didn’t stay white for long.
Eufemia sent Runa forward, also transformed into Encio. The drop snakes saw their prey below, and they tumbled down from the overhanging tree, landing on nothing but sand. Runa flickered away, clearing the road for Eufemia and forcing the drop snakes to spring their trap prematurely.
A familiar black sheath conjured at Eufemia’s waist. She sheathed the sword, energy gathering at her hands.
It was an exhilarating feeling for Eufemia; something she had never felt before. Essence users had a complex status in Nekroz, and they were rarely seen. Even during her travels with John as they made their months long journey to Sanshi, they had seen only a few Adventurers guarding their transport from afar, like untouchable celebrities on the stage. They were beautiful, powerful, and confident—And held a status of respect and power Eufemia had always wanted. Eufemia was very tired working around those more powerful than she was, aware that she would in some ways become what she disliked. Between standing on top or crawling below, the answer was obvious to Eufemia.
She knew, eventually, with John she’d get her chance, and she had. The wear from her years in Nekroz, that emptiness she experienced, for a brief moment, it all melted away.
She unleashed a swing. A fully charged Vorpal Slash tore across the beach whipping up sand and water wildly. The snakes were chopped up and tossed like chunks of chicken in a sandy salad.
Eufemia strode forward, quickly finishing off any still-living snakes with light rays to the skull.
This was the power her mother had wanted, and she sought it in Nekroz. Eufemia wondered what would become of her scattered family, now separated by race, land, and affiliation.
Her father—the pathetic, ambitionless artificer who her mother scorned. They had saved to provide him with an essence set, and he provided nothing in turn.
Herself—the escapee of Nekroz with a past best left unspoken, who sought a new future as an adventurer.
Her mother—who took Eufemia to Nekroz in her disappointment and rage, now a vampire.