B1 | Chapter 46: Infusion II_Reclaimer Redux [LitRPG Portal Fantasy]

Are you well, Aurelian?

“I’ll live,” he grunted in reply to the inquisitive sending of his dragon while slowly pushing himself up. While he did, a chime sounded in his mind and Aurelian warily glanced at the alert populating his HUD.

Initiate Tier Body Infusion Complete!

Congratulations, Aurelian Lucis Imperius!

You have successfully Infused [Monarch’s Bloodstorm] into the Dragon’s Sanguination skill!

Please review your Infused Skill for further details!

“I should fucking hope it succeeded, after that nightmare of pain.” Aurelian muttered.

Another chime lit up his mind, and Aurelian braced himself when he sensed another cavalcade of alerts blazing their way toward him. It was as if the System had given him a momentary reprieve, and reneged on it the moment he was ready to accept the second wave.

He barely had time to curse before the deluge crashed into him.

Breath Control is now Level 13!

. . .

Breath Control is now Level 19!

Congratulations, Aurelian Lucis Imperius!

You have met the requirements to unlock the skill Poison Resistance (R)!

Poisons, toxins, and animal venoms are a common part of the Prime Material and other Realms, though surviving exposure to them unprepared is far rarer. As you are exposed to more and more such potent mixtures, so too shall you gain a higher level of ability to ward them off!

Deny those toxic people, Reclaimer!

Poison Resistance is now Level 2!

. . .

Poison Resistance is now Level 13!

Congratulations, Poison Resistance has reached Novice Tier!

You have gained Experience!

Firebolt is now Level 20!

. . .

Firebolt is now Level 23!

Soul Sense is now Level 7!

. . .

Soul Sense is now Level 12!

Congratulations, Soul Sense has reached Novice Tier!

You have gained Experience!

Mana Control is now Level 25!

. . .

Mana Control is now Level 30!

Congratulations, Mana Control has reached Initiate Tier!

You have gained Experience!

Would you like to Infuse the Mana Control Skill?

Y / N

The influx of experience, split between him and Bahamut, was not enough to level him—and that was all the better in Aurelian’s mind. The thing that stuck out to him, however, was the final message; and he wasted no time in preparing to accept it.

First he snatched up the nearby flask of shimmering golden essence, and tore off the cap in his haste to throw the entire mixture back. Much like when he’d first ingested the draught for his Body Essence, the Spirit Essence flowed down without issue. It reminded him, in fact, of perfectly textured honey.

Not too sweet, not too bland, and not too viscous or runny; it was just right.

When it settled into his stomach, he could feel it shifting out and toward his Core and Soulforce, and he felt nothing but adulation at the feeling. There was something inherently and palpably soothing about the way that the Spirit Essence flowed through his body, and Aurelian couldn’t help but revel in the joy of it.

While saturating in the happy feeling, he opened his alert and chose ‘Y’.

Infusion request confirmed.

Searching for valid Essences . . .

Essences found.

Populating . . .

[Essence of the Leviathan] (L)

No other Essences found.

Would you like to use this Essence?

Y / N

When Aurelian selected ‘Y’ once more, paranoia and previous experience meant that he quickly laid down and took up as comfortable of a position as he could. The platemail he wore, despite not being the most comfortable choice of attire, had the unexpected-but-welcome bonus of shielding his skin from the marble when he writhed on it.

And he had, much to his annoyance, found himself writhing a lot recently.

It was not only annoying, it was also embarrassingly stereotypical.

“Fucking Isekai…” he muttered while waiting.

Who is Isekai? Bahamut asked curiously.

“A mistake.” Aurelian stated dourly, and without elaboration.

[Essence of the Leviathan] has been selected for Infusion.

Infusion parameters have been confirmed.

[Essence of the Leviathan] will grant the [Monarch’s Everflame] Infusion.

Spirit Skill [Mana Control] will now be Infused with [Monarch’s Everflame].

Beginning Initiate Tier Spirit Infusion . . .

To Aurelian’s great surprise, and especially after he’d so diligently prepared himself for the worst; there was no pain from the Spirit Infusion. In fact, while he lay on the ground waiting with his eyes firmly locked on the ceiling and his right foot twitching nervously in anticipation; the only thing that actually happened was the genesis of a faint warmth spreading throughout his mana channels in a rolling wave.

When he warily closed his eyes a moment later, he could visualise a tide of cleansing and restorative energy taking root within his Core, and expanding out into the channels that ran across his body. The Essence appeared as golden-white tongues of ephemeral flame to his inner eye, coruscating and shimmering while they danced along the rushing tides of his mana, and entwined themselves with its potency.

His Root Chakra buoyed its flow, and even when the spreading tide of flame encountered the tight and knotted gates of his remaining Chakras; it flowed through with only moderate dispersion. While Aurelian settled in to enjoy the strangely comforting feeling, the power sank deeper and deeper within him—and its presence drew forth old memories. It was reminiscent of warm hugs as a child, soft blankets on a rainy day, and a merrily crackling crackling hearthfire in winter.

Beneath it all, he felt a kind of regal confidence suffuse his entire soul.

The calm control of a Monarch settled over his Spirit, and he smiled in pleasure.

Initiate Tier Spirit Infusion Complete!

Congratulations, Aurelian Lucis Imperius!

You have successfully Infused [Monarch’s Everflame] into the Mana Control Skill!

Please review your Infused Skill for further details!

Aurelian opened his eyes slowly and sighed at the feeling of absolute peace that followed the System’s alert, and the faint solidity that had come to his Spirit and Core. He felt more complete, and more whole in a way he couldn’t properly define. More than that, he felt more fully himself in a way he couldn’t quite articulate, even within the space of his own mind.

It certainly reminded him of all the descriptions he’d read of progressing along the path of daoist Cultivation within the myriad tales he’d perused on Earth, but there was reading about something and experiencing it; and how the authors of those stories had ever managed to even begin to capture the utter bliss of what he felt…

Aurelian shook his head and chuckled.

He’d never possessed that sort of talent with words.

Another chime sounded, and he focused on his HUD.

Spirit Bond: Dragon is now Level 6!

. . .

Spirit Bond: Dragon is now Level 12!

Congratulations, Spirit Bond: Dragon has reached Novice Tier!

You have gained Experience!

Calamity’s Blade is now Level 7!

. . .

Calamity’s Blade is now Level 15!

Congratulations, Calamity’s Blade has reached Novice Tier!

You have gained Experience!

You have reached Level 24!

Aurelian winced through a final crashing wave of System energy and alerts, and grimaced in pain at the feeling of alteration happening across his body. With the first four levels numbed by unconsciousness, he hadn’t been forced to experience the disproportionate growth he expected. That being said, the jump from 23 to 24 alone was enough to cause his muscles to ache, and send radial spasms of pain through his mind and body at large.

He didn’t want to think what that would have been like multiplied by four.

Aurelian let out a long breath when the changes finalised, and reached up to rub his forehead in thought.

So much had happened, and so much had changed in such a relatively short period of time. When he’d set out to fight the Necromancer, he’d never expected, well, any of what had happened. A kind of ‘boss’ fight? Sure. What had really happened? Not in a million years. He still remembered the man and woman he’d seen during those final moments, when he’d manifested Calamity’s Blade.

Those two were a massive question mark, and he wanted answers.

Aurelian’s attention shifted toward where Bahamut maintained a weather eye on the still-unconscious Necromancer that had been the target of his Skill, and then Aurelian did what actually somewhat excited him after the grumbling irritation of sadomasochism that was his alert wave: he reviewed the changes he’d acquired to his abilities, his new titles, and his new traits.

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Name: Dragon’s Sanguination

Type: Body Skill

Rarity: Epic

Level: 27

Tier: Initiate

Description: This Skill reduces all damage taken to the body by an amount equal to its level, and before accounting for the strength or force of skills levied against you by enemies.

Initiate Infusion: This Skill has been Infused with [Monarch’s Bloodstorm] at Initiate Tier. This Infusion allows you to mitigate kinetic energy from all Skills within 10 Levels above Dragon’s Sanguination, and at every level equal or below. The excess energy will be discharged from your body as area-of-effect damage, and strike everything within a 2 metre sphere of influence.

Name: Mana Control

Type: Spirit Skill

Rarity: Rare

Level: 30

Tier: Initiate

Description: This Skill allows you to control and guide the flow of mana within your body, and aids in the cycling and manipulation of said mana in the casting of spells. Additionally, it allows you to better access and eventually unlock your Chakras, while also making the mana flow through both closed and open Chakras more efficient.

Initiate Infusion: This Skill has been Infused with [Monarch’s Everflame] at Initiate Tier. This Infusion allows you to enhance your control over mana, burn away impurities at a higher and more efficient rate during cycling, and upgrade the potency of your Fire Mana by a rate equal to the skill’s level.

Name: Aether Sage

Type: Title

Rarity: Epic

Description: You have shattered the veil and emerged beyond it without losing your mind. As a result, you have transcended Mana Savant and are now counted as a fledgling Aether Sage, capable of seeing the fundamental elements of magic that occupy and give life to all the Realms.

Effects: +1 Intelligence per Level, +20% Spirit Skill Experience Gain, +50% Mana Pool.

Name: Defiant

Type: Title

Rarity: Legendary

Description: You are a Defiant. Through your actions, your actualisation, and the path you have chosen; you have placed yourself in direct contest with the gods’ rule over the Prime Material.

Effects: You gain +15% Charisma, +15% Willpower, +15% Skill XP, and Information Blackout.

Special Effects: As a Defiant, your secrets are your own and not even the gods may invade your privacy. You may block all information on yourself that you choose from any individual that attempts to use an Analyse or related skill upon you, and you cannot be tracked or scryed by denizens of any Realm.

Name: Primogenitor

Type: Title

Rarity: Unique

Description: You are a Primogenitor of Eld, and have been blessed with the ability to Sire your own Bloodline. With the true power of a Primogenitor, your right to rule is as inviolate as any other Blood Lord. As the first Primogenitor in untold millennia, you are the apex power, and the true inheritor of Eld. Yours is the glory of an unremembered Empire.

Effects: You gain +1 Strength per level and +2 Charisma per level.

Special Effects: You have gained access to the Sanguine Kiss Skill as a result of this title, allowing you to Sire your own Bloodline.

Name: Aetheric Osmosis

Type: Trait

Rarity: Epic

Description: Your newfound ability to pierce the veil separating the raw motes of mana from the visible spectrum allows you to learn magic through mere observation, instead of by rote repetition.

Effects: You may now visually learn the sequence of any Skill no more than 10 levels above of your Dragon’s Gaze Skill, and no more than 1 Tier above Dragon’s Gaze.

Name: Godsbane

Type: Trait

Rarity: Transcendent

Description: You are the bane of the Divine. You are the creature that even the Gods of the Highest have learned to fear, and the coming of the Calamity anew. Your existence is the consequence of theirs, and your path treads between the Mortal and the Divine. You are the predator that bears its fangs against the Heavens themselves.

Effects: You gain +1 to all Attributes per level and +1 Skill Point per level.

Special Effects: The Divine cannot compel you, bind you, nor control you. You are Immune to all forms of Divine Tether. This does not grant Immunity to damage.

Name: Sanguinated

Type: Trait

Rarity: Unique

Description: You are Sanguinated. You are the first of your kind in untold millennia, and the only Nephilim to have ever existed with such power. Yours is the gift of the Blood Lords of Eld, and you carry within you the Legacy of the Elden. You have taken for yourself a power that even a god could only create failures in mimicry of.

Effects: You gain +3 Vitality, +2 Charisma per level, and +15% Mind Skill XP.

Special Effects: You have gained access to the Anima resource as a result of this trait, allowing you to manipulate and wield it to whatever extent your Skills allow.

Aurelian finished reading his final new addition with a slow shake of his head. Eld? Blood Lords? An unremembered Empire? It was like his teenage emo phase’s ultimate dream come true, and while the description itself sounded awesome, he couldn’t help but feel mildly embarrassed. He could imagine what his friends, or hell, what his sister would say if she learned he’d become the thing lonely cougars salivated over.

At least he didn’t sparkle. He hoped.

Assisted suicide would be pretty tempting if he did.

Aurelian grimaced at the thought, distracted himself by reflecting on the immediate changes he’d undergone from his levels. His new bonuses had massively boosted several of his attributes, especially with the five points per level global increase.

Name: Aurelian Lucis Imperius

Temper: Untempered Novice

Infusions: Mind 0/1 | Body 1/1 | Spirit 1/1

Core: Calamity Core (Attunement Stage)

Chakras: 1/7

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

Health: 970 | Mana: 474 | Stamina: 232 | Anima: 0

STR: (81) 89 | AGI: 58 | DEX: 50 | VIT: (89) 97 | END: 45 | INT: 50 | PER: 25 | WIL: (97) 121 | CHA: (55) 63

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

17% to Level 25

You have 28 Attribute Points Available!

You have 19 Skill Points Available!

You have 1 Skill Upgrade Point Available!

You have 1 Skill Evolution Point Available!

“Look at that Bahamut,” he said while projecting the sheet to the dragon. “Strength, Vitality, and Willpower all went up explosively. No wonder I feel so much more dense. Vitality’s so weird.”

Yes. I, too, improved. The changes were most welcome.

“I have a lot of points to spend, though.” Aurelian noted while peering through his sheet. “That’s a lot of potential power I could eke out, but I think I’m probably overdue for some improvements to Endurance and Perception. As tempting as being able to punch through rock is, I think staying power and situational awareness are probably better.”

Are you asking me, Aurelian, or telling me? Bahamut questioned with confusion.

“It’s called thinking out loud, Bahamut. It’s a thing people do to help them come to a decision.”

Why would you not use thoughts, when thinking?

“It’s not—nevermind.” Aurelian said with a sigh. “Just give me your opinion.”

I concur with your assessment. Endurance and Perception will greatly enhance your ability to survive in the Realms, and improve your defensive capabilities. Staying power and situational awareness are as critical to a Predator as power or speed.

“We’re predators, now?” Aurelian asked with a glance at the hatchling.

Would you rather be prey?

“Fair enough.” He replied without argument.

There wasn’t much he could really say to that.

Instead Aurelian moved his eyes to his Endurance and Perception Attributes and, with only a minor flex of Intent, dumped 10 points into Endurance to bring it up to a healthy 55. He paused while the changes took effect, and felt his breathing subtly grow stronger, his lungs more powerful, and his overarching sense of fitness more profound. He felt more stable in many ways, and was subtly aware he could run faster and for greater distances. It was a strange feeling of awareness, but he marvelled at it.

The System had its cool moments, he had to grudgingly admit.

“Alright, now for the one I am not looking forward to,” he mumbled with trepidation.

Aurelian focused on his Breath Control, clenched his fists, and then dumped 15 points into Perception.

The moment the changes took hold, he squeezed his eyes shut and swore at the feeling of his corneas being shaved by a scalpel, beamed by a laser, seared by flame, and then put rapidly back into one piece. It wasn’t just his eyes, either. His equilibrium changed, his eardrums popped and popped again, and he felt his general sense of awareness invert, spin, and realign itself all within several nauseating moments.

Even his senses of taste, smell, and touch were impacted; and the nerves that connected those individual elements burned, froze, clogged, sharpened, and built with horrible pressure all at once. The entire process only seemed to last for as many seconds as the points he invested, but even those fifteen seconds were horrifying.

Levelling up his core senses sucked, and felt like he was performing flash surgery on himself with neither anaesthetic nor any form of painkiller. Pain Tolerance helped, of course, but the System-wrought changes seemed partially immune to its nullification effect—and Aurelian was forced to squirm and swear under his breath while the changes to his eyes, ears, and overarching senses took effect.

When it was done, Aurelian took a steadying breath, and finally opened his eyes.

“Woah.”

He could think of no other way to describe the change in his vision. It was like upgrading from 720p to 1080p. The world opened in front of him in a riot of subtle shades, articulated colours, and subtle details he’d missed entirely prior to his upgrade. New smells, new awareness of sensation, and even a greater understanding of his own weight and presence filtered into his mind without reprieve.

Every shadow was almost a fifth less obfuscated, and he could make out fine details on construction from over fifteen metres further than he’d been able to prior.

“Okay. That was… woah.”

You made the right choice, it seems.

“Yeah. No joke.” Aurelian replied with a smile. “Though that still leaves me with three points.”

Put two in Agility, and one in Vitality. It will round off the values.

“Genius,” he responded in the same moment as he did both. “Nice catch, Bahamut.”

The dragon sent back a wave of amusement in response, but said nothing.

Satisfied with his choices and confident in his ability to actually harness and handle the considerable increases in physical and magical power he’d received, Aurelian flicked his eyes to his sheet again to double check it a final time.

Name: Aurelian Lucis Imperius

Temper: Untempered Novice

Infusions: Mind 0/1 | Body 1/1 | Spirit 1/1

Core: Calamity Core (Attunement Stage)

Chakras: 1/7

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

Health: 990 | Mana: 474 | Stamina: 264 | Anima: 0

STR: (81) 89 | AGI: 60 | DEX: 50 | VIT: (90) 99 | END: 55 | INT: 50 | PER: 40 | WIL: (97) 121 | CHA: (55) 63

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

17% to Level 25

You have 19 Skill Points Available!

You have 1 Skill Upgrade Point Available!

You have 1 Skill Evolution Point Available!

“I have nineteen Skill Points, but I’m going to save them.”

For what purpose? Bahamut asked.

“Just in case,” Aurelian responded with a smile. “You never know when I might need them.”

Hm… the hatchling pondered silently, before finally flexing his wings. Yes. I approve.

Aurelian laughed and, with his sheet accounted for and solidified, smoothly rose from his prone position to his feet—pausing only to slide his Mind Essence Draught back into his supply pack, and collect his sword.

After that he turned and, with the awareness of an unpleasant task ahead, strode over to join Bahamut. Aurelian had wasted enough time with the System and its intrusive, ever-gleeful enjoyment of torturing him beyond reason and sense. He had injected his attribute points, collated his gains, and could feel the tangible change in his physical self.

He felt dangerous, lethal, and definitively more powerful.

His eyes moved to focus on the humanoid figure inches away from Bahamut’s platinum claws, and his Dragon’s Resolve roared to life in his mind with grim purpose. He had a conversation that he had already delayed for too long, and answers that he needed to glean. One way or another, he would be leaving the Arboretum soon. There were only two questions that remained about their departure: when they would return to Baeltharax’s cavern…

…and whether or not they would be the only ones left alive when they did.

B1 | Chapter 46: Infusion II

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