“Nice hat,” Selfia said as a buzzcut Jack sat across from her with a lice cap on his head.
“Thanks…” Jack groaned, reaching over and taking the intellipad from the desk. “Anything from Lita and Python?”
“Yes, you'll be happy to know that the city has passed inspection and is on its way to Hoshido. Kenichi isn't happy about it but Di'luk- is keeping him amenable.”
The edges of Jack’s lip raised slightly.
Good for him.
“The children?” Jack asked, seeing no report on them.
“I've tasked my personal physician, Alencia to handle that. As we speak all three dozen are on their way here to a facility so we can diagnose and figure out treatment plans.”
Lilith stirred, clearly not enjoying the fact that the children were being moved into another facility.
“Selfia, just to be clear, I don't want them being put in a Kindersoldat group,” Jack said, “Or used in some experiment.”
“They won't, the program is nearly phased out anyway, once the war is won, there'll be no need for child soldiers anymore,” Selfia assured, something that gave Jack comfort. “In fact, I'm thinking about raising the age limit on enlistees, maybe have it mandatory that they all attend academies instead. What do you think?”
Jack raised a brow.
“You want my thoughts on political affairs? That's your game, not mine.”
“Jack, you're my husband and I value your opinion. Even if our marriage was a sham, you're the only one besides Python who’s willing to call me out if I'm doing wrong. So, your thoughts?” Selfia said with calm sincerity Jack wasn't used to from the woman.
Jack looked away.
“Wait, hey! Are you fucking blushing right now?!”
“No,” Jack mumbled under his breath, his hand obscuring part of his face.
“Stop! Stop at once!” Selfia yelled, bouncing a rubber ball off of Jack's head.
“I think it's a good move, a step to a better future,” Jack said after recovering, “I've been reading Tangerine’s files, and I heard what happened to the rest of his squad. I've been thinking, but I want him discharged from the military, maybe attend the academy...”
Selfia went silent, all traces of mirth gone. “I can't do that. Not at this stage.”
Jack frowned, “And why not?”
“He's an ace. Outside of Bytra he's one of our best pilots and too much military hardware and funding has already been spent on hi-”
“Wait, yesterday you told me that the Empire had a surplus of soldiers, and now you're telling me you can't spare one teenage pilot?”
“Look, after we win the war, maybe. The truth is Tangerine has some of the best performance of all our Aces. Even Director York’s daughter has trouble matching up and shes-” Selfia trailed off, what words she was about to say dying as she met Jack's eyes. “I'll see what I can do, but he's old enough to make his own choices. Have you given any thought about Colette?”
Jack sighed, “Yeah, I'll lead the assault on Windermere. See if I can't talk to her.”
“And if she doesn't surrender?”
Jack’s eyes held a dangerous glint.
“I won't kill her if that's what you're asking. But I guarantee the city will fall,” Jack said, wondering if Hoffman here what he would say about it, “Have you heard anything new about Jill’s location?”
“Nothing. If what you said is true my spies would have picked something up, but no news of a girl matching her description has reached us.”
Jack pursed his lips, leaning back in his chair. “Fuck.”
“Are you sure Roland has her?” Selfia asked, her hand moving a file away stamped with the logo Khloros.
“Yes, I'm sure of it,” Jack said, flexing his hands. “Have you gotten anything from the Bishop?”
“You mean our resident vegetable? Besides drooling everywhere nothing. What did you do to him?” Selfia asked.
“I opened up his mind,” Jack replied before getting up. “What's our timetable for the invasion?”
“I can give you a day to prep, I know you just got back but war waits for no one.”
“Okay.”
Jack turned, moving to leave Selfia's office.
“Oh! Your grandma says hi! And Victoria wants to know if you're gonna call her. Whatever the fuck that means,” Selfia called out as Jack left the office.
Jack paused, his eyes downcast, “Windermere…”
****
Standing in the courtyard of the palace Jack exhaled, the air leaving his lungs as he meditated and felt the mana surrounding him.
Beside him, Lilith and Sahaqiel, the two acting in concert to regulate the flow of energy in and out of his body and around his core.
“Your core is looking good Jack, real strong, there's barely any cracks now,” Sahaqiel said. “In fact, you don’t even need me anymore.”
“I’ll always need you Sara,” Jack replied, causing the angel to swoon comically.
“Are we done? I have things I want to do,” Lilith hissed, crossing her arms as her black wings flapped gently.
“You mean stalk my daughter?” Jack muttered causing Lilith to scowl.
“I'm not stalking her like some creep! I'm making sure she's safe!”
“Aw, you actually have a heart!” Sahaqiel teased with Lilith snapping at the angel.
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Jack opened his eyes, pulling up his system.
—-
Angel System Status Level 10
TITLE: Nephilim [Regeneration++ Mana Synthesis++]
User: Jack Tanjihiro Chae-wong
Total Class Level: 15
HP 500/500
Soul Ignite [ERROR!]
CLASS: Key Holder Level 3
CLASS: White Mage Level 3*
CLASS: Wind Aesir Level 10*
MP 186/322[050/300] [Reservoir]
Free Points: 30
AFFINITIES
LIGHT[40]
WIND[75]
FIRE[25]
ABYSSAL[25]
STATS:
STRENGTH: 75
VITALITY: 50
SENSE: 45
AGILITY: 40
ARCANA: 170
POTENTIAL: 17
SOUL STRENGTH: 10
Spiritrons Available: 3(View list)
Spiritron Slotted: Ruby Viole Lamprouge(Loyal)
Summon Class: Soulfire Shielder(70MP)
Usable Skills: Wall of Immovable Chalk(20MP), Moonlight Roar(30MP), Spirit imbue(20MP), Energy Blast/SV(15MP), indomitable Spirit(30MP). Guard(10MP).
[BUFFS]: Partial Rune of Atalanta(Left+Right Leg+10 Agility modifier) Weakened Sigil of Gehenna(Left arm+3 Strength),Fractional Blessing of Sahaqiel(+20 Wind Affinity+10 Light Affinity) Skill Siphoning. Pain Tolerance LvL 4. Sense of Bodily Self(Detect bodily belongings) Mental Fortitude LvL 1, Fire Resistance LvL 2, Mana Control LvL 5, Apprentice of the Wind(+5 Wind Affinity) Mana Recovery LvL 3(Passive Recovery+5 MP/s), Elemental Resistance LvL1, Streamline LvL1.(Reduce mana cost of skills), Ride the Lightning, Lightweight+, Aesir constitution. Nephilim Constitution. Mana Resistance LvL 1. Blessed(+2 Potential).
[DEBUFFS]: [?1h^&a)o3”] Soul Binding -20MP, Soul Fracture, System Disruption.
[RESISTANCES]: +10 Radiation +75 Anti-Curse, +105 Anti-Corruption. +10 Inertia +15 Fire Resistance +20 Mental resistance, +5 Paralytic Resistance, +10 Freeze Resistance, +5 Poison Resistance, +5 Light resistance, +5 Void Resistance, +5 Wind resistance, +5 Life Resistance.
SKILLS
[Slot 1]: Authority of Gehenna LvL 3 (Absorb Mana and dominate it at a short distance.)
[Slot 2]: Fira LvL 4: (Let loose a burst of hot flames from palm. Toggle to continuously drain MP to maintain flame effect) 10MP(10/s)(AUG1: Extension)
[Slot 4]: Wind Blade LvL 5: (Condense wind into a blade and fire it, now with increased range and sharper potency) 1MP
[Slot 4]: Dash LvL 3: (Acquire a burst of speed. Toggle to continuously drain MP to maintain speed) 5 MP (2/s)
[Slot 5]: Eyes of the Angel: {Focus your sight. Analyze creatures as you see them.} [5 MP Keybind not set] -20 HP to copy a skill
[Slot 6]: Organic Consume LvL EX: (Extend your mana to dissolve items to replenish nutrients, items depend on the complexity of the material.) MP (1)
[Slot 7]: Healing Hands LvL 5: (Extend your mana to stitch flesh back together. Toggle to continuously drain MP to expedite healing using the target's bodily resources.) 2MP(10/s)
[Slot 8]: Flash Bang LvL 2: (Release a blast of bright mana, stunning foes. Delay function) 15MP
[Slot 9]: Smite Ray LvL 3: (Unleash a blast of Light infused mana from above at your target, smiting them) 15MP
[Slot 10]: Soothe LvL 5: (Using your mana, you help to ease the pain of others.) 1MP
[Slot 11]: Regenerate LvL 7: (Circulate your mana to quickly regenerate yourself and others. Uses bodily resources.) 2MP/s 15HP/s
[Slot 12]: Mana Barrier LvL 4: (Conjure a physical barrier of mana to blunt attacks) 20MP
[Slot 13]: Wind Sphere LvL 4: (Form a large-sized ball of skin tearing air in your palms. Accelerate the wind by expending more mana) 5MP(5/s)
[Slot 14]: Gust LvL EX: (Conjure an adjustable gust of biting wind, can be manipulated based on energy consumed) 3MP
[Slot 15]: Shocking Touch LvL 3: (Utilize your mana to send an electric shock to anything you touch, can expend mana to
[Slot 16]: Windshield LvL 3: Pressurize wind to conjure a protective barrier of cutting wind.) MP 15(
[Slot 17]:Feather Fall LvL 2: (Designate an area to manipulate wind to conjure a rising dampening effect to cushion impact.) 10MP/s
[Slot 18]: Lightning Bolt LvL 3: (Conjure an electric charge and shock targets at close to medium range.) 10MP
[Slot 19]:Mana Release LvL EX: (Radiate mana to let your presence known) (1-Max capacity)MP
[Slot 20]: [ATTACHE SKILL]: Daedalus Armory: Control the feathers of Daedalus as if they were an extension of yourself. (5-100) MP/ Keybind{Eleanor} 45/60 Feathers.
[Slot 21] Dispel Curse LvL 1: (Disrupt and dispel curse effects. Effectiveness varies depending on curse and level. Warning! Skill may have unintended side effects!)
[Slot 22] Heal LvL 5: (Using your magical power and life force you inject healing into another.) 60HP/10MP
[Slot 23] Shell LvL1: (Conjure a shell of magical power to shield yourself.) 15MP/s
[Slot 24] Purify LvL 3: (Inject light energy to counteract corruptive forces.) 35MP
[Slot 25] Energize LvL 3: (Course lightning through your body to accelerate your reflexes). 10 MP/s
[Slot 26] Wind Cage LvL 4: (Form a cage of cutting wind, slashing anyone that attempts to break free). 25MP
[Slot 27] Lightning Imbue LvL4:(Imbue an object with lingering lightning) 15MP
[Slot 28] Volt Repulse LvL 4: (Channel electricity in your core before blasting the area around you, delay to charge your body with energize) 20MP/s Chargable.
[Slot 29] Frost Breath LvL 2: (Channel Mana and release a breath of chilling fog, obscuring vision and inflicting chill on those entering within the mist. 20MP)
[Slot 30] Fulmination LvL 1: Project an untamed blast of lightning, scorching and disintergrating everything around you. 150MP
[Slot 31] Hover LvL 6: Gather Mana to adjust your weight, allowing your body to hover in place for a short time. 5MP/S
[Slot 32] Pores Fog LvL 1: (Emit a magical fog from your body that is difficult to dispel. 50MP)
[Slot 33] Harden LvL 2: Use mana to condense your skin cells, strengthening them against sharp and piercing blows.]
[Slot 34] Telekinetic Hold LvL 1: Use mana to bind something with your will. 40 MP/S)
[Slot 35] Flash Freeze LvL 1: Condense mana and rapidly lower the temperature of a touched object to freeze it. 30 MP)
Thanks to his recent incursion into the theocracy he had picked up a few new skills, and leveled a few new skills granting him increased efficiency for the most part. And after killing so many demonspawn and humans, his wind aseir class had finally reached its max level, allowing him to advance his class.
Still, despite having access to true magic, the system still granted him access to different skills and allowed him to track his progress, a useful tool despite not being as reliant on the system.
Jack frowned, eyeing the curated advancements Sahaqiel had picked out.
[Living Lightning: You are attuned with the raw natural power of lightning. Within you is a spark that is as raw and chaotic as the storms that have laid waste to entire cities.]
[Wind Seraphim: Sahaqiel was the first of the gods to take flight. As a gifted being saturated in the energies of the air, you walk the path of the first angel, spreading your metaphorical wings and soaring freely with bolt and wind in your arsenal so that not may touch you.]
[Thunder Bringer: The quake of thunder heralds your arrival. As the embodiment of thunder, you command the awe and ire of others. You are an apex lightning bender, and any who stands up to you will be silenced with a boom.]
Jack eyed his class selections. Compared to others, his class progression was lightning-fast, but he couldn't help but lament his wasted time and effort.
Maybe he could break through to a full angel to be stronger? But Sahaqiel didn't know how and Jack's evolution seemed to have come to a crawl, forcing Jack to rely on his system once more.
“Tanjii?” Yukino said, her voice breaking his concentration.
Ah, about time. Jack said to himself before turning to face the woman.