Chapter 42: Final Preparations_Reclaimer: Nephilim [Portal Fantasy]

The discussion on what to do next between Aurelian, Karsys, Zylara, Tarixi, Bahamut, and Bael’tharax had continued for some time after Aurelian had severed his two companions of their binding coil to Solarius.

It had been a lengthy, and impassioned debate between the fact that Aurelian was himself woefully underprepared to face the true might of the foes arrayed against him, versus the reality that if he didn’t act to do his best to save Sanctuary, he would likely lose the best potential allies he could hope for in what was sure to be a protracted and brutal war to free Terra from the Nine.

In the end the discussion had been finalised by Bael’tharax declaring quite decisively that the four of them — Aurelian, Zylara, Karsys, and Bahamut — would leave the following morning after a night of solid training and sparring, supervised by the massive dragon and Tarixi.

True to his word, he had waited only long enough for Zylara to partake of a quarter of essence loaf — and the subsequent expulsion of impurities and twitching limbs to fade — before throwing the would-be party in a vast array of scenarios, partially against each other and partially against the Simulacrum generated enemies.

The quartet had been put through the ringer against foes of every imaginable shape, size — within certain limits — and capability. The vast majority had started at level 55 and worked their way rapidly to level 74 when Aurelian and Bahamut’s paired capabilities had made the already formidable duo of Karsys and Zylara even more destructive.

The elf, it turned out, was perfectly capable of wielding both her body and lightning element to devastating effect, and her practised and expert use of Lightning Bolt had destroyed more than one Simulacrum with precision strikes to the head, chest, or dismembering blasts to the arms and legs.

Karsys meanwhile had demonstrated a remarkable talent for using his earth magic in conjunction with fire magic to create magmatic flows and igniting fireballs that decimated enemies or made the terrain itself their enemy. It had been awe-inspiring to Aurelian, who had only realised through observation of the pair exactly how powerful magic could truly be — and that too with both of them only at high Aspirant level.

A point of particular note was that Zylara and Karsys both reported that their ability to wield mana and channel magic had improved by leaps and bounds following their consumption of essence loaf quarters, and that they had felt themselves edge far closer to unlocking their third Chakra — located in their solar plexus — than before they had partaken of the magical food.

Given Aurelian’s own experiences, he was not surprised.

It also served as an important lesson in how truly important Chakra unlocking was, given the sheer power and fluidity with which Zylara and Karsys harnessed their magic when compared to his own comparatively slow cycling of mana. Even with his skills and benefits, which all gathered agreed were only matched by Bahamut’s own; Aurelian could not easily make up for experience and practised precision, nor the benefit of an extra Chakra.

It was a humbling experience in many ways, and put his relative irrelevancy in the grand scale into perspective. Calamity’s Blade was powerful, but it was a precise and nuanced skill. It would stun or even incapacitate an enemy, but that was wholly worthless if he couldn’t survive long enough to forge and use it.

The training with his new party had shown him with brutal severity exactly how vulnerable he could be, especially when Zylara and Karsys had — with at least some trouble — managed to pin him into a position to kill him, albeit only after taking some notable damage themselves.

And they were merely Aspirants. Had they been high Specialist, or Expert tier, he likely would have stood no chance. It served to hammer home how badly he needed to gain strength, and how grim the task before them truly was. If the four of them couldn’t find a way to rally Sanctuary’s defences in time, while also convincing them of Aurelian’s legitimacy, the potential corruption of the senate, and Solarius’ hooks within their souls… Well, it would be very bad not simply for Aurelian but for the Prime Material at large.

Solarius had done an infuriatingly good job of making his task seem impossible.

The training session had finally ended an hour after dawn the following morning, and that was where Aurelian found himself sitting on his haunches and breathing heavily, his self-cleaning attire working overtime to keep his clothes and — by convenient extension — body clean while he pulled up his sheet and reviewed the changes he’d acquired during the high-intensity session.

Name: Aurelian Lucis Imperius

Temper: Partial Temper (Purified Novitiate)

Infusion Status: Mind 0/3 | Body 1/3 | Spirit 1/3

Core: Calamity Core (Compression Stage)

Level: 24 | Race: Elysean (L) | Origin: Nephilim (L) | Gender: Male | Zodiac: Dragon (L)

Health: 950 | Mana: 378 | Stamina: 275 | Anima: 0

STR: (79) 86 | AGI: 62 | DEX: 52 | VIT: (87) 95 | END: 60 | INT: 50 | PER: 45 | WIL: (93) 102 | CHA: 55

Traits: Fast Learner (E) | Dragon Force (E) | Aetheric Osmosis (E) | Godsbane (T) | Sanguinated (L)

Languages: Draconic

42% to Level 25

You have 24 Skill Points Available!

You have 1 Skill Upgrade Points Available!

You have 1 Skill Evolution Points Available!

Other than the several skills that had reached Aspirant tier, the multitudinous increase in his combat capabilities, and the small bump in stats across the board, he had also managed to replace Shockbolt with the rarer upgraded version, Lightning Bolt, which Zylara had been happy to teach him. Karsys had attempted to show him Fireball, but despite his best efforts, Aurelian had been unable to learn the skill — even while burning Dragon’s Gaze for the passive osmosis effect.

With both it and Dragon’s Resolve encroaching toward Aspirant tier, he was painfully aware of how close his decision for Infusion was becoming, and the idea of choosing between one or the other for his [Essence of the Leviathan] was… troubling.

He was not going to ask Bael’tharax to create another Essence of course, but while Dragon’s Resolve seemed like the immediately ideal choice, there were incredible potential benefits to Dragon’s Gaze that he was only slowly beginning to see.

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The ability to see and comprehend mana on an essential level, and interpret and use that knowledge as a result through Mana Control was incredibly powerful. His willpower had served him well thus far, true enough, but the potential applications of Dragon’s Gaze were staggering to contemplate in a more long-term sense.

It didn’t take away from the power of Dragon’s Resolve, but it certainly had him questioning.

He’d confessed his dilemma to Bahamut in private at one point during their nigh-sadistic training session, and when his bond had suggested the idea of providing Essences himself and the pair had asked Bael’tharax, the elder dragon had berated them so thoroughly and so viciously at the mere suggestion that they had both been forced to make a binding vow they would never attempt anything so dangerous.

It had rankled, and he technically knew he could break the cord that had appeared with Calamity’s Blade… but there was an edge of fear to the old dragon’s booming reprimand that made Aurelian hesitate. If Bael’tharax truly was so worried about the very idea of it, then Aurelian wasn’t inclined to underestimate the implied risk.

He’d seen too many people in his fictional shoes do the same, only for it to end terribly.

At Bael’tharax’s suggestion, he had even taken to spam-casting Revelate on the massive leviathan over and over until the ability had been forced to level repeatedly, and yet still he couldn’t clean any information. The dragon king’s sheet was an array of taunting question marks that frustrated Aurelian to no end, and seemed to amuse the ancient wyrm in equal measure.

All Bael’tharax said was that Aurelian would understand when Bahamut came into his own, and that had only served to incense his curiosity further.

Karsys and Zylara had both expressed wonder at their growth as well, and had both even managed to develop the title ‘Dragonfriend’, which apparently Bael’tharax could grant and which carried respectable boosts to their vitality and charisma, and unlocked the ability to speak draconic.

When Aurelian had asked why he didn’t have it, Bael’tharax had explained that his Dragon Rider title superseded Dragonfriend by several orders of magnitude. He had accepted the logic behind it, though his hunger for improvement hadn’t been too happy about the fact.

In truth he’d even wanted to test Karsys and Zylara’s capability for bonding two of the dragon eggs, but had decided against it. Not simply because he felt it would be more prudent to give the pair time for him to truly get to know them, but because taking dragon hatchlings into a possible zombie apocalypse was probably a very stupid idea.

Bahamut and Bael’tharax had both agreed.

With his sheet update checked and his body recuperating through Breath Control from its latest exertions, he turned to his companions and mentors curiously. “So I guess we should probably discuss our plan of action, right?”

“We never did settle on how we are to return to Sanctuary before the army of corrupted and undead.” Zylara agreed. “I would personally prefer not to arrive after it has ravaged my home.”

“Seconded.” Karsys said with a nod.

“The matter is delicate.” Tarixi said thoughtfully from where she hovered above them, legs crossed beneath her in an uncanny imitation of a levitating xianxian cultivator. “There are a small number of ways by which Bael’tharax could in theory speed you on your journey, including but not limited to flying you there himself…” She smirked wrlyly at their collective looks of eager interest. “But we have both agreed that such would be a poor choice. It would not only drain the dragon king’s remaining time prodigiously, but would likely expose him to the fate Aurelian just avoided by ending Lycinius of Telastra.”

“You don’t sound as if that is your only objection,” Aurelian observed with help from his heightened perception.

“It is not,” she agreed with a nod, “and that is because I believe Aurelian needs more time to gain power. Time we may not have, but time we need regardless. While the four of you trained with me, Bael’tharax was able to expend some of his power to momentarily scry and locate the undead force. Even in his weakened state, after all, his magic is of a level of power unmatched by any living creature in the Prime Material.”

Bahamut preened at Tarixi’s words, as if the compliment to his father was also one given to him. In a way, Aurelian supposed, it probably was.

“What did he—what did you see, Great One?” Zylara caught herself mid-ask, with an apologetic glance at Bael’tharax.

“THE FOE MOVES AT A SEDATE PACE. THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME TO FIND MORE FUEL FOR THEIR FORCES, AND KILL ANY BLIGHTMEN OR BLIGHTED WILDLIFE THEY ENCOUNTER. THESE UNFORTUNATES ARE THEN RAISED TO BOLSTER THEIR FORCES.”

Karsys grimaced, and Zylara cursed.

Aurelian however immediately saw the benefit. “They’re slowing themselves down.”

“INDEED. I HAVE DEDUCED THAT IF YOU MOVE WITH SUFFICIENT SPEED, EVEN WHILE ALLOWING AURELIAN TO BRAVE THE FIENDS OF THE BLIGHT TO GAIN POWER, YOU WILL ARRIVE WITH AT LEAST TWO DAYS’ ADVANTAGE ON THE UNDEAD ARMY.”

“That assumes,” Tarixi cut in before any of them could grow too excited, “that you also have a means of quick transport during the night, while Aurelian hunts during the day.”

“I assume you have a suggestion, honoured Elder?” Zylara asked of Tarixi. The elf’s attitude toward the goblin had shifted drastically when Tarixi had demonstrated a small amount of her magical knowledge, and the spellbow very nearly seemed to revere the Echo when compared to her prior — admittedly misled — racism.

“I do. As does Bael’tharax.” She turned to Bahamut. “There is a ritual that must be conducted between the King of Kings and his progeny, and which is for them alone—” she looked to Aurelian “—and Bahamut’s Rider to witness. Once it is done, we are sure that the subsequent benefits will allow Bahamut to bear all three of you to Sanctuary through the more forgiving, albeit chilly nights. The days he would need for rest, however.”

Both Zylara and Karsys glanced at each other and then at Aurelian, who shrugged at them. “More secrets.” He said simply.

And not for the eyes nor ears of mere mortals. Bahamut sent with a mental sniff.

You like them. Aurelian said without concern. I can feel you like them.

That is irrelevant. The dragon responded with what Aurelian detected was a hint of embarrassment. I am not fool enough to question the need for privacy, and I would hope they are not so foolish either.

See? You do like them. Aurelian teased.

You tire me with your games, Aurelian. Bahamut grumbled.

Yeah, but you love me.

Bahamut sent back annoyance mixed with fondness, but said nothing more.

Aurelian suppressed a grin. Another victory.

In the same moment that they had shared their mental exchange, both Zylara and Karsys had grimaced in disappointment, but nodded in understanding. If Aurelian wasn’t about to argue, then neither of them had a prayer of changing Tarixi’s mind — nor Bael’tharax’s for that matter — no matter how hard they protested, cajoled, or pleaded.

“What of Karsys and myself?” Zylara asked. She was ever the more talkative of the pair, and Aurelian noticed that of his two new companions, Karsys seemed to only speak when it truly mattered… at least most of the time.

“You two will be tasked with journeying to the Armoury Vault in the palace, and retrieving as many items of worth as you can get your hands on. Potions are the priority, replacement weapons for yourselves — especially proper runeweapons — would be the secondary goal, as well as appropriate armour—”

The pair of explorers leaned forward quite intently at Tarixi’s words.

“—and finally any Essence Draughts you can find. You undoubtedly have your own, but Aurelian will need several for his next few Infusions, and we cannot demand any more from Bael’tharax, nor even entertain the idea of gaining them from Bahamut. Aurelian’s body is also too weak to survive Infusing any blighted creatures, if your tales of their mutated nature hold even a kernel of accuracy. We must hope the vault has what we need.”

“Is that all?” Karsys asked carefully with a look as if he were making a mental list.

“YOU MUST ALSO SEARCH FOR AN ITEM CALLED A WAYGATE.” Bael’tharax interrupted before Tarixi could speak, his massive voice rumbling throughout the cavern. “IT WILL BE IMMENSELY IMPORTANT, SHOULD THINGS TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORST AT SANCTUARY. IT WILL BE A CIRCULAR DEVICE OF SILVER METAL, INLAID WITH PRISMATIC GEM SHARDS. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ONE THAT MATCHES THE FIRST WITH PERFECT ACCURACY. YOU MUST ACQUIRE BOTH.”

Karsys blinked at Bael’tharax in surprise, but bowed his head in acknowledgement. Zylara looked excited at the mere mention of the item, though it was a childish glee that spoke more of imagination than any form of secret knowledge she might have.

Tarixi meanwhile was looking at Bael’tharax thoughtfully, but after a small time of rumination nodded as if in agreement with the dragon’s instructions.

“A waygate will be invaluable, yes. I will elucidate on its purpose when you return, though I again must stress that potions, weapons, armour, and essence draughts are all higher in priority. We must be ready for whatever may come, and the Reclaimer failing to achieve Aspirant Temper is not a circumstance we can afford.”

“I have been worrying about it,” Aurelian admitted to them all. “I’ve got several skills ready for Infusion, and I haven’t got anything except one Essence Draught — and even that one I’m torn on the choice of use. I doubt the vault will have anything nearly as good as Bael’tharax’s provided draught, but I’ll take anything over nothing.”

“WERE I NOT SO WEAK, THE DRAUGHTS WOULD HAVE BEEN OF LEGENDARY QUALITY, NOT MEAGRE EPICS.” The ancient dragon said with a thunderous harrumph of displeasure. “ALAS I COULD NOT GRANT YOU WHAT YOU DESERVED, AURELIAN; ONLY A FRACTION OF WHAT YOU NEEDED.”

“I’m pretty sure three Epic Draughts is more than most Denizens ever see for their first Infusion, Bael’tharax.” Aurelian said wryly. “I appreciate the generosity gramps, but I really do love the Infusions I gained. They’re both incalculably great, and I can only imagine how good the Mind one will be.”

“Indeed.” Tarixi agreed while Bael’tharax tilted his head in a proud and self-satisfied manner in the midst of taking in a cavern-rumbling breath of haughty approval. “Though the Draughts in the vault should be of great value regardless. We will need to ensure that we move quickly, however. There is no time to dally.”

“Right. Of course.” Zylara said immediately, before turning to lightly kick Karsys. “Come on slowpoke, let’s go raid an armoury.”

“Don’t you need directions…?” Aurelian asked. “And access?”

“Oh.” Zylara said after a beat. “Right. Yes. We will. Both.” Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

Damn, Elves were pretty.

“Aurelian can remotely ensure your access to the armoury, and I will detail instructions on how to reach it.” Tarixi assured them. “Now come, let me brief you while we leave the Nephilim and the dragons to their business.”

“Good luck!” Aurelian said with a grin. “Don’t wake up any horrible blightmares in the palace.”

He had grown fond of the term ever since the pair had detailed how awful the creatures in the Desolation were.

They had liked it too.

“Aurelian, before I go…” Tarixi said while turning to him. “I had nearly forgotten. You have an option for the Animus Engine, yes?”

“I do.” He confirmed with a curious look.

“Good.” Tarixi said with a grim smile. “I want you to activate it.”

“Won’t that be kinda noticeable?” Aurelian asked. “From what you told me, the machine or whatever it is literally projects purified life and nature mana across the entire breadth of Albion. That sort of change is probably more noticeable than even gramps, unless he decided to go for a flap.”

Bael’tharax rumbled at ‘go for a flap’, but said nothing. He was largely ignored.

Not by Zylara and Karsys, who looked at him with wary eyes, but by Tarixi and Aurelian. They were used to his prideful grumbles.

“Yes.” Tarixi confirmed while maintaining her grim smile. “It will be felt across the breadth and width of the closest several hundred leagues of Elysea.”

Aurelian raised his eyebrows. “Won’t that alert the entire undead army that there’s something wrong with Lycinius? With the palace as a whole?” He gestured around them. “Not to mention it’ll probably draw all sorts of awful creatures toward the palace like a bigarse flame in the darkness.”

Tarixi’s grin when next she spoke morphed into something downright predatory. “Yes. In fact, I’m counting on it.”

Chapter 42: Final Preparations

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