The next morning after the usual routine – exercise, meditation and reflection, and breakfast – the parties were reformed back to how they were originally.
Dan told everyone to always stick together, to not take any shit from anyone, and if it came to fighting other participants, to not hold back because their enemies wouldn’t.
Then my whole team exited the tutorial area.
There were a handful of people fighting a rokgula, but there was less traffic than usual. The town growing up around the Sanctuary of Revelation had detailed a crew to help with the monsters that spawned on entry.
The battle versus the newly spawned monsters wasn’t much of one, but the detailed crew demanded all the beast cores in payment for their help, and if my team didn’t like it, to take it up with Dotty and Andrew at Sanctuary Town.
That’s what everyone was calling the camp outside the Sanctuary of Revelations in case it wasn’t clear. Sanctuary Town.
[It was clear.]
Good. Dan’s anxiety was spiking, and he just wanted to get out of there, so he didn’t make a stink. I was hoping that tax would’ve led to a fight. No such luck. They collected the other drops and took off.
Closer to the meeting spot, Dan told the rest of my team to hang back as he walked to the waiting Dotty and Andrew.
As he approached, he asked, “How y’all doing?”
“As good as can be expected, sweety,” replied Dotty. “We were wondering – you didn’t really want us to put those heads on spears, did you?”
“Up to you,” replied Dan.
Andrew and Dotty looked at each other for a moment. Dotty smiled and said, “We try to make camp seem hospitable and inviting. Not…not heads and…stuff.”
“Like I said, up to you,” replied Dan.
“That’s good, sweety. Oh, we caught one of those wanted guys. The one with the mustache. And I talked to the guy you brought to town yesterday. He said that you said there’s a way to help his, uh, starting place.”
“Tutorial,” said Dan. “Yeah, there’s ways. What’d you decide about him?”
Dotty sighed. “I believe him. We have the girl that accused him. And you. And a few others. Said her name’s Ida Mae. We don’t know what to do with her. She’s been through a lot. If her story can be believed. And I believe most of it. We have no way to pay anyone and now we got to beg someone to guard her. You saw the squad we sent to help at the exit back to the tutorial?”
“Yeah, I seen them. Taking the beast cores is smart. I reckon it’s the only way to get volunteers.”
“It is,” replied Dotty. “How do we help the people in what’s-his-name’s starting place?”
Dan said, “Five others can party with him. If he’s the leader, the party can enter his tutorial area along with him. If any others came from there, the same can be done. The more, the safer.”
Andrew grunted and asked, “Does everyone joining Luke’s party lose their current tutorial area?”
“Yeah. And they ought to ensure they done with it. Collect all their stuff and whatnot. Same as I told you when we discussed you two partying with my friends right over there.”
Dotty nodded and said, “We should help him. Are you up for it, sweety?”
Dan looked down. “I can’t, Mrs. Dotty. I’d lose Lone Wolf, and I can’t. I’m real sorry, but I got to stay focused on the long term. My friends ain’t ready yet neither. Not until they finish their time in the Sanctuary of Revelations, get 2-Star Classes, level up, and get some experience.”
“I understand,” said Dotty. “You’ve already helped us so much, sweety. Your friends are more than welcome in camp, and we’ll keep an eye on them, but we’ll have to hold off on partying up.”
Dotty looked towards Andrew and said, “So, six people? The guy from there, me, you, and three more. Definitely Hector. He’s the best fighter we have, and such a sweetheart. So handsome too. If he’s around. He’s always out grinding. I say Ron and Mandy to bring more ranged spells. And Mandy’s got a bow too.”
“Rob, not Ron,” replied Andrew. “The guy’s name is Luke. I’d rather bring Quiet, but I don’t think he’ll go without Bill. Since Bill fights up close, Mandy would be more helpful. Rob and Mandy unless Quiet is willing.”
Andrew turned to Dan and said, “We’ll party up with your guys as soon as we get back.”
Dan grunted. “That’s fine. They just going to use the Sanctuary of Revelation anyway. All but one of them. She done already got a 3-Star Class. No combat or fighting experience though.”
Dotty and Andrew looked over at my team. Dotty turned back to Dan and said, “Oh, before we forget, we got a psychiatrist in camp…town, whatever. Did you want to speak with her about your anxiety?”
Dan snapped out, “I ain’t got no damn anxiety.”
Dan definitely had social anxiety. I always find it odd how the crazies never realize they’re a crazy.
“Sorry,” said Dotty in a rush. “I wasn’t trying to piss you off. I was just letting you know she was there if you wanted to talk.”
Dan was about to reply when Andrew said, “She’s a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, if that makes a difference to you.”
“It don’t. And I’m sorry that came out angry, Mrs. Dotty. I just don’t like being around people, is all. I ain’t got no anxiety.”
“It’s okay, sweety. I understand.”
A moment passed before Dan said, “Any chance I could get my book back today? I want that lady with the 3-Star Class to read through it again. And I’m fixing to start setting things up in the next areas too.”
Dotty and Andrew looked at each other nervously. Dotty said, “I’m real sorry, sweety, but someone stole it.”
Dan tensed up. Anger entered his eyes.
Andrew said, “I was reading it for the second time when the camp was attacked. I put it in my inside breast pocket. I’m observant. I never lose or misplace anything. It must’ve been pickpocketed during the fight.”
Dan didn’t move a muscle. He stood there like a statue.
“We’ve turned the camp upside down looking for it,” said Dotty. “Everyone was searched. It just disappeared. I’m so sorry, sweety.”
Dotty and Andrew became more and more nervous as Dan just stood there staring at nothing with furious eyes.
I thought Dan was going to kill both of them right then and there. Ashen Ruin moved closer, sensing a fight was coming.
After about a minute passed, Dan rubbed his face with his hand and blew out his breath. “Sorry about that. My Class gives me a permanent enrage effect. Most of the time it don’t do nothing. I almost lost it right there, boy. I’m good now though.”
Dan turned his head and yelled out, “Ace! Chet! Get over here! Leena too!”
Since Dan never yelled or talked to them in such a tone, all three rushed over while the rest gave each other wondering looks.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
When the three arrived, Dan said, “The cultivation book’s gone. Ace, the plan ain’t changed for anyone but these four here. Every day I want you making sure Chet, Leena, Andrew, and Mrs. Dotty get together and rewrite that book as best they can until it’s done.”
Dan rubbed his face and blew out another breath. “That book’s more important than anything. I can’t find the words to explain, but it is. Luke’s tutorial has got to wait now. The new Luke, not ours. I’m owed a book, and ain’t none of y’all doing nothing until I got my book back. I want it to be good too. If it ain’t…just…just make it good.”
With that, Dan turned and left.
I was glad people were starting to see what had been clear to me since the first day, that Dan was a full-blown crazy.
He ran to and through the Trial of the Rapture. Then he ran the Trial of the Shining One. For some crazy reason, when B’eliyl sapped his will, he seemed to calm down. He spent far more time on that boss than usual.
The craziest part was that his Soul-grade increased out of nowhere. Soul only increases naturally with meditation and reflection. It never just increases out of nowhere for no reason. His went up to S++. That’s a 6-Star Soul in the Game.
Instead of running back to the tutorial area, he ran to the Trial of the Rapture and ran it until his Strength increased a step naturally.
Afterwards, he ran to the Castle area. There were six ghasts already there, plus the two he spawned. At the Class Obelisk in the castle, he took out and absorbed the Strength Step-Enhancer. Did you want to guess what he applied his other Step-Enhancer to?
[No.]
He applied it to Reaction, increasing it a step. That was an easy guess. Then he touched the Class Obelisk. He was offered a shitload of Classes, but four were direct upgrades of his current Class. The only major difference between them was a second defensive, power, utility, or support slot.
He quickly looked through a couple others but focused on the direct Class upgrades.
[Anything notable?]
They were all notable. There really wasn’t anything wildly different though. Every Class had Aspect of Magma as the first Slot Bonus. I think once a Class changes physiology such as Aspect of Magma did for Dan, it’ll always be a permanent Class feature.
[Correct. Was there a Class with Choir or the like in its name again?]
Not that I noticed, Boss. I was surprised he took the direct Class upgrade after the book incident. You’ll see why in a second.
He leveled up once, built a new Orbment out of the foundation he had, and slotted it, then spent the frags to bring all six Orbments up to Second Rank.
He spent the rest of the day leveling up, doing the weird mana-between-the-hands power cycling, wasting mana and emptying his core before refilling it, and all that same type of shit again. He leveled up to 41.
With a 6-Star Soul, he was getting 7 Stat points per level. So, 147 in total.
Give me a second to find his status as it was then.
[Wait. He got a step increase ascending to Iron and Jade, correct?]
Correct, he applied one to Agility and one to Speed. Did it without using the Class Obelisk somehow either. That isn’t in the book, so I have no idea how that worked.
Here’s his status –
Name: Daniel “Dan” Branigan
Difficulty: Hell (Increase XP by 100% and drop chance by 30%)
Tier: Jade (4)
Level: 41
Soul: SS++ Grade (6-Star)
Mana-type: Magma
Core: Pristine
Stats (capacity for and amplification of intrinsic qualities)
Agility, A+ Grade (250 Max): 80
Mana, B+ Grade (150 Max): 14
Reaction, A+ Grade (250 Max): 80
Speed, A+ Grade (250 Max): 80
Strength, B Grade (100 Max): 13
Attributes (intrinsic qualities averaged)
Durability (physical and void resistance): 8
Health (disease and poison resistance): 15
Spirit (mental and primordial resistance): 11
Class:
EXEMPLAR OF MAGMA (Ph/D/Pw/Pw/U/S. Legendary 6-Star Class. Number of Slot Bonuses equal to Star Class)
Class Restrictions:
Defensive Orbment slot will not accept Indomitable, Resilient, Resistant, Resolute, Retribution, or Tough.
Power Orbment slots will not accept Barrier or any transformation Orbment.
Crown Orbment must be a Defensive, Power, or Support Orbment.
Orbment Bonus (4 of 6)
With six Orbments slotted, each Orbment gains the equivalent of 1 rank.
STORM* [Second Rank] (Physical Orbment, Legendary, unique-equipped, upgraded*, active): You must be holding a weapon to cast this invocation and casting it causes very heavy weapon-damage to all enemies in a 6.69 (7.02)-meter 60-degree cone in front of you. Higher ranks increase damage and mana cost by 10%, extend range of cone by 5%, and lower the cooldown by 5s. Medium mana cost, instant cast, 57s (52s) cooldown.
Block [Second Rank] (Defensive Orbment, Common, unique-equipped, passive]: This Orbment completely nullifies 2 damaging attack made against you every combat instance. Higher ranks add charges, nullifying one additional attack per rank. Must be out of combat for 1m:27s for charges to reset.
SUMMON ASHEN RUIN* [Second Rank] (Power Orbment, Legendary, unique-equipped, upgraded*, active): Casting this invocation summons an avatar of the Infernal Lord Ashen Ruin one tier above your own (current level 61) that lasts until its destruction or dismissal. Avatar of Ashen Ruin has the Hellfire mana-type. The Infernal can mitigate and absorb a lot of damage and it deals good damage to enemies with its Incinerate and Searing Armor invocations and physical attacks. Higher ranks increase size, durability, damage of attacks, and range of Incinerate by 20%. Extremely high mana cost, 20s cast time, no cooldown.
Void Bolt [First Rank] (Power Orbment, Epic, unique-equipped, active): Casting this invocation sends a bolt of void energy at a targeted enemy within a range of 9.07 meters. Higher ranks reduce cooldown by 1 second, extend range by 2.21 meters, decrease cast time by 0.11s, and increase mana cost by a minor amount. Low mana cost, 1.67s cast time, 16s cooldown.
SIXTH SENSE [Second Rank. Effective Fifth Rank] (Utility Orbment, Legendary, stackable (2), passive): You perceive more and are more aware of your surroundings and possible threats, both seen and unseen, in a circumference of 8.09 (40.45) meters around you. This can manifest as a precognitive flash of impending danger. Higher ranks slightly increase effect and double circumference.
Enhance Reaction [Second Rank] (Support Orbment, Rare, stackable (3), passive): Increases your Reaction Stat by 3 per rank (currently 6). Ignores Stat cap.
Slot Bonus (6 of 6)
(1) Exemplar of Magma: You become more like magma. In addition to the old effects of Aspect of Magma seen by tapping here, you can now invoke Molten Armor at will but permanently suffer from the Second Rank Enraged status effect. Slot Bonus 5 and 6 supplement Exemplar of Magma.
Molten Armor: Hot lava covers your body, mitigating taken damage by 12% and returning 9% of all taken damage as the Second Rank Barrier status effect and Third Rank Retribution status effect. The Barrier status effect given by Molten Armor cannot be overwritten by higher ranks of the effect and can only stack with the BALLAD OF PRESERVATION status effect. Retribution status effect given by Molten Armor cannot be overwritten by higher ranks of the effect and can only stack with the Reprisal Hymn status effect. Lasts until deactivated. Low mana cost, instant cast, no cooldown.
(2) Inevitability of Magma: Killing or assisting in killing an enemy instantly fills your core with mana equivalent to roughly 29 minutes worth of the last meditation technique used and provides a lesser healing effect. Lower-level enemies are worth less time but no less than 1m:6s. Higher-level enemies are worth more time.
(3) Lava Stomp: Stomp the ground, sending lumps of lava spattering in a 5.09-meter 90-degree cone in front of you and trapping the parts of creatures touching the ground in lava for 1.3s. Medium mana cost, instant cast, 2m:57s cooldown.
(4) Seismic Sense: You perceive more and are more aware of your surroundings and possible threats, both seen and unseen, in a circumference of 24.27 meters around you. This can manifest as a precognitive flash of impending danger. This provides the benefit of the Third Rank SIXTH SENSE Orbment, and stacks with that Orbment.
(5) Hot Lava: Your lava is now the average temperature of magma and cools much slower.
(6) Lava Flows: Magma is a fundamental part of you. Advanced mana techniques are much easier and more natural for you to form and manipulate.
Crown Orbment Bonus (0 of 1)
Inevitability of Magma has a good chance to instantly reset the cooldown of Lava Stomp. If Block or Dodge is slotted, its charges are doubled. If Revenge or NULLIFY is slotted, its cast time, mana cost, and cooldown are reduced by 25%. If a direct damage power Orbment is slotted, it gains a mirror effect doing 25% of the invocation’s damage. If any chant, hymn, song, MANA BATTERY, innate attribute, or statistic enhancer is slotted, it functions as if it were two ranks higher.
Traits (7)
(1) Lone Wolf: Pick an additional Trait. Increase XP by 50% and drop chance by 25%. Joining a party removes this Trait. Fighting within 13 meters of a friendly participant inverses Trait bonuses.
(2) Stalwart Soul: Your Soul Stat is increased by one step (F to F+, F+ to C, etc.).
(3) Hardened Channels: Your channels are hardened and can handle a large amount of mana usage without injury or damage.
(4) Intellection: Concepts, revelations, and epiphanies come a little easier for you.
(5) Gifted: Stat grades are a little easier to increase for you.
(6) Reckoner: Execute great vengeance upon all those enemies and defiers of God and His will.
(7) Limitless: You don’t stop. Sleep deprivation, exhaustion, being pushed to your boundaries and then passing right through them, you don’t stop. You are now more efficient with your body’s resources. You can keep going for longer. Energy, harmony, mana, and stamina are expended at a 20% greater efficiency.