Chapter 20 – Looming Dark Clouds

Borin had informed Aenon that his daggers and soul ring would take roughly a week to prepare, along with something else Aenon had no idea about. The dwarf was adamant and tight-lipped about the surprise. So Aenon decided to wait patiently. His initial plan was to go for a few recon missions around the anthill but decided against it. He did some introspection and found that his most glaring deficit right now was knowledge. He had wanted to rely on only himself and almost blown himself up on multiple occasions because of it. His disdain for relying on others was still there, but he found an alternative for it - Books. The mansion had an impressive library which was untouched by its former owner. So, he dived headfirst into the sea of knowledge to see if he could fill the gaps in his rudimentary understanding and deductions.

There were hundreds of books in the library, and he had gone through dozens so far. They included topics ranging from history, politics, crafting, and even some advanced magical tomes. The history and political books he put to the side for now, since he would need those eventually, but it was not his immediate concern. For now, he handpicked a few books that might give him an edge for his own spell crafting.

He had spent about six days buried in books, and his current read was focused on theory about mana types. Till now he didn’t really have a concrete understanding about it and had been winging it. His assumptions were partially correct, but he was off about a few things. For instance, the little colorful balls he saw using his mana sense were indeed called wisps, but he wasn’t sure of their classification or how many types there were. But now finally he had a clearer picture. He pulled up the notes he had made in his System interface over the last few days, a function of the shard in his soul space.

Order

Neutral

Chaos

Emergence

Space

Void

Light

Time

Dark

Life

Gravity

Death

Water

Energy

Fire

Earth

Arcane

Air

The book classified the mana wisps into 3 broad categories, with each classification in turn having 5 mana types. They were divided based on their general nature and each element in the Order type had an antithesis in the Chaos category. For instance, earth represented stability, while air was the definition of chaos. Same was true for Life-Death, Water-Fire, Light-Dark, and Emergence-Void. Moreover, you could combine these primary wisp types to create additional types, such as ice, mist, or lava.

The neutral tree on the other hand was a lot more obscure and abstract. Scholars had been trying to study them for millennia, but there was no consensus on it yet. In fact, there were some wisp types that were so unique that defied classification. These were all lumped together in the Arcane category. But one thing that was known was that the Neutral aspects were a kind of link between the other types. For instance, Aenon created ice by mixing water and air. But what was actually happening was that he was removing heat energy from the water using air. The interaction itself was so subtle that he couldn’t sense it yet. The only reason he had managed to detect gravity and space wisps was because they existed everywhere.

Aenon had not seen all the wisp types since some of them existed only in certain environments. Death wisps for example could only be found in graveyards or old abandoned ruins like Neverhelm where many people had lost their lives. Similarly, fire wisps were more abundant around volcanoes, whereas water was prevalent around water bodies. There was a clear link between the environment and mana types, and they affected each other equally. A flame could create fire wisps, and an area rich in fire wisps could cause things to self-combust.

The most important piece of information he learned, however, was that every life form had an innate affinity. Plants for example were heavily linked to life and could generate life wisps. The same was true for animals, such as the fire ants, whose affinity helped them convert their internal mana into fire wisps. The enlightened races though didn’t have a specific affinity. For example, humans could have any of the affinities, or in some rare cases have multiple. The reason for this was rooted in a being’s soul.

Death mana for example was created by life wisps getting mutated when in contact with grievances left behind by the dead souls. Which is why it also led to the creation of the undead such as zombies, who would return to fulfill their unfulfilled desires. In most cases, since these stemmed from fragments of a soul, they turned into nothing but creatures driven by primal instincts such as hunger or anger. But on rare occasions, and in some cases careful preparation, one could create sentient undead beings. These were the undead races like draugr and vampires, which apparently was a thing in the multiverse.

But Aenon was more focused on one specific mana type that the book just left a passing note about: Void mana. Apparently, it was an exceedingly rare aspect that was seldom found in the multiverse. The only known location for it was a now sealed dimension that no one had access to. The book stopped talking about it after that, which was strange since there were entire chapters dedicated to every other mana type. He tried digging through multiple books for any other mention about Void mana, but it was the same everywhere. Most books avoided talking about it at all and those that did only gave a cursory mention.

And the reason why Aenon was so interested was simple, he had a hunch that his own affinity was linked to the void. Even if one was to ignore the not-so-subtle mention of the Abyss in the flavor text of his gear or his ability to move through the shadows, his pack’s ability to consume everything was a dead giveaway. Since Emergent mana, the paired set of Void, was explained to be the most favored aspect by crafters. If one had the affinity, they could mix other aspects and create things out of nothing. If true, it could explain how he and his pack made things just disappear from existence.

But unless he could get a hold on some books that detailed Void mana, he was out of luck. He was satisfied though. The current things he learned would go a long way in his own spell crafting endeavors. He closed the book and stood up to stretch his legs. This reminded him of his school days, when he would be buried in books to prepare for seemingly useless exams. But it had at least taught him the ability to focus on a fixed task.

He walked up to the window overlooking the city and took in the strange sight. If someone had told him that he would be leading an entire city at some point in his life, he would have laughed at them. But here he was, living in that absurd reality. He was momentarily lost in thought, before he shook his head and pulled up the quest notification he was yet to respond to.

He had done some studying about class evolutions too. They were quite common and a way for people to specialize in their classes to suit them better. What wasn’t common, however, was the heavy title cost that Aenon was paying. Those were exceedingly rare, but the few instances that were reported always led to some truly monstrous classes. Thankfully, he at least would not lose any class progress, meaning his new class would still be at level 27, but his stats might be rearranged.

He noticed that all the titles that were about to be merged into his class were related to souls. Which meant his new class would be heavily influenced by them. The question now was whether he wanted that or not. He had the option of declining the quest and wait to fulfill another class evolution. But the chances of getting something like this were rare. He might meet the criteria for a standard evolution, meaning it would not be as good. He looked down at the bracelet on his hand for a while before he resolved himself and made his decision.

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System Notification

Class: Void Stalker

Titles: Unfettered, Soul Forge (3), Spirit Walker, Wraith Blade, Soul Cleanser

You are the embodiment of darkness and fear, laying waste to dread-stricken enemies along your path. You have feasted on hope and brought about carnage that shook mortal hearts. But your wanton blood lust has not consumed you. You have forged bonds and protected those who needed it. Thus, your path deviates from a mere emissary of death. Prove yourself worthy by inflicting fear on your enemies, while also eliciting respect from your allies.

Objectives:

· Kill 10000 enemies of equal or greater level (0/10000)

· Defeat a stronger enemy in a battle of souls (0/1)

· Protect your settlement from the coming horde (Time left before attack: 60 days)

· Forge a soul connection (0/1)

Failure Condition: Not completing all objectives within three months.

Reward: Evolved class tailor fit for your fighting style. The class will vary based on performance.

Failure Penalty: Loss of the Void Stalker class.

Aenon reread the notification three times to make sure he understood it clearly. He basically had to prove he was a destroyer as well as protector, stacking up a veritable mountain of corpses while also protecting his city. He wasn’t sure what the quest meant by horde, but he assumed either the System would generate it, or it could also be the result of a dungeon break. But it didn’t really matter since this put his upcoming plans on a hard timer. He immediately sent a message via the communication crystal Henry had given him.

“How may I be of assistance, sire?” Henry's formal voice came from the crystal in his hands.

“To my office. Now,” Aenon said urgently without much fanfare. He headed for his desk and took a seat. Fortunately, he didn’t have to wait long.

“Is everything alright, sir?” Henry asked in a concerned voice as he entered the office.

“I just received a System quest. Our settlement is about to be attacked in 60 days,” Aenon said seriously. Aenon could clearly see the color drain from the man’s face as the words registered.

“Are… are you certain, sire?” he asked with pursed lips.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Aenon replied but didn’t elaborate. He didn’t want to mention that this might be his fault, even if he didn’t know it was a possibility. Had he known, he would have reconsidered his approach.

“Very well then,” Henry responded after some time. “As a settlement owner you can give out a city-wide quest for the defense against the outside threat. This would help everyone prepare for what is to come. This would also inform the citizens who are away so that they can make it back in time.”

Aenon browsed through his interface and found the option to assign a city level defense quest. He immediately filled it out but held back on releasing it.

“What of my requisition? Are my weapons ready yet?” Aenon asked. The week was almost up, and he hoped that Borin was almost done.

“Ah, fortunately they are, sire. I was about to inform you about it during lunch but given the circumstances I will expedite the process. I will send a word for master Borin to bring your order,” Henry said with a bow.

“Good. And what about the citizen leveling process? How is that coming along?” Aenon asked about the refugees from Jadefall. He had stopped calling them refugees and formally given them all citizenship.

“Remarkably well sire. The average level of the citizenry is about 17 and should touch 25 by the month’s end. In sixty days, should Adventurer Eskad’s mission be successful, it would reach about 35,” Henry replied.

“That is good. I will try to ensure the horde is dealt with before it reaches the city, but should I fail, we need every able-bodied citizen be strong enough to protect themselves,” Aenon said. When he sensed Henry hesitate for a bit, so he asked, “What is it?”

“I know you tend to shoulder the burden by yourself, sire. But a settlement defense quest is not something one man is expected to bear. It is a common occurrence in the multiverse, and dare I say we are quite good at it since most times our leadership is the first to escape when things turn bleak. The fact that you intend to stand with us for the defense is assurance enough,” Henry said with a sad smile.

Aenon could sense the turmoil within his soul as he was no doubt recollecting some painful memories. Aenon didn’t pry, assuring the man instead.

“I will not be standing with you. I will be standing ahead, and you will only be responsible for the clean up after,” Aenon replied with a smile on his mask.

The older man gave a complicated stare before bowing and taking his leave to prepare. Once the man left, Aenon went over the draft once again, making some minor adjustments while he waited. After 20 minutes, he heard a knock on the door.

“Why is the bloody mansion up in an uproar? Felt like I stepped into a disturbed hornet’s nest,” Borin said as he carried a bundle under his arm. He walked up and unceremoniously sat down on the chair opposite Aenon.

“Maybe this will explain it,” Aenon said as he finally released the quest to everyone.

The dwarf’s half-burnt eyebrows shot up as his eyes glazed over, no doubt reading the quest notification.

“By ma pappy’s beard, what’s wrong with this place? I came to this planet to rest me old bones, and I seen more action in a few month’s than in many years back on…,” Borin cut off. He seemed agitated by what he almost let slip, but Aenon ignored it and changed the topic.

“Which is why I need my daggers sooner rather than later. I have a lot to prepare for,” Aenon said while pointing at the bundle on the table.

“Ahem. Right. There ya go,” he said with a cough as he slid the bundle across the table. “It be my best work so far. So don’t ya dare go ruin it.”

Aenon gingerly unwrapped the outer leather, which was coated in a thick layer of oil to keep out moisture. The wrap had multiple layers to it, and the inner layers had some runes engraved into them. When he finally unraveled the last layer, he momentarily forgot to breathe. He had never seen such intricate work of art before.

There were four pieces that lay before him. A set of daggers, and a pair of gauntlets. The metal surfaces were all matte black and had a very fine inlay of gold all over that was so intricately detailed, it might as well be a masterful painting or calligraphy. The dagger handles were made from some kind of clear crystal, although one was blue, while the other was red. Those too had fine inlays of some other metal he wasn’t knowledgeable about.

The gauntlets too were master pieces, each covering him up to his forearms without restricting his joints. The fingertips were viciously sharp and looked almost like claws. The pieces were so closely woven, it looked like a tailor had made them and not a blacksmith. He put one on to get a feel for it, and it completely blew his mind away. It was like wearing a breathable fabric glove rather than a metal gauntlet. But he could clearly feel how sturdy it was, and was sure it could deflect blades with ease.

“Hehehe. Got no words, do ya?” Borin gloated with pride at his work.

“Honestly, no,” Aenon responded quietly, still trying to comprehend what he was wielding.

“If ya have this reaction at the uncompleted piece, I wonder what ya will do when it be actually finished,” Borin said with a mysterious smile.

“Incomplete?” Aenon asked with confusion.

“I get a feel you can sense mana. Give it a shot,” he asked while pulling out his smoking pipe.

When he finally used his mana sense, he realized that the gold inlay wasn’t just decorative. The design was based on runes, and these came remarkably close to the ones burnt in his mind. But more importantly, there were some gaps in the design. Like it needed more runes to complete the design.

“I use a now dead rune script for my creations. The symbols are lost to time, but some of us dwarven folk remember a few scribbles. This incomplete junk is nothing compared to what ancestors could forge. I been trying to figure out the missing runes for decades,” the dwarf said in a melancholic tone.

Aenon digested what Borin just said, the dire implications coalescing in his mind. If what he said was true, Nocthrya had passed on the entirety of this lost runic language into his mind. No wonder he could barely understand what it all meant. Aenon decided to hold off on revealing this to the dwarf, his immediate concerns were more important.

“In any case, this is a masterful work master Borin,” Aenon said with genuine respect for the craftsman.

“Bah. Just put it to good use. Now, name them. In old times, we would have a proper ceremony for this. Names hold power, my people used to say. And since these beauties have soul ore in them, it will imbue it with your soul. Just don’t go calling them stabby or something. I will melt them down again if ya do,” Borin said while smoking and waiting in anticipation.

Aenon looked down at the blacksmith’s work with wonder. He always thought that the weird stuff that happened when he named things was somehow associated with his powers somehow. But it seemed there was a deeper reason behind it. He would need to dig deeper into it later. But for now, he needed a name. A name to impress upon the world the weight of what these objects represented, his weapons as he stood against his enemies.

He put on the gauntlets and picked up the daggers. He felt the soul ore thrum within the metal. Though not alive, he felt their restlessness. They were a set, and now somehow, he felt like they were a part of him. Three names came to his mind, unbidden. As he said the words, he felt the world pause like last time. But unlike before, there was a difference.

He couldn’t hear what he said, neither could he recall the words he just uttered. Weirder still, the world didn’t resume like last time. A cold current ran through his soul, as he felt something click into place. He suddenly felt like he had regained a missing limb, a limb he didn’t know existed. He cast identify on the daggers and gauntlets. But the outcome was strange to say the least.

Item Name: Wrath of ??? (Incomplete)

Item Type: Dagger (Main hand)

Item Rarity: Unique

Item Description: ???

Item Name: Gluttony of ??? (Incomplete)

Item Type: Dagger (Off hand)

Item Rarity: Unique

Item Description: ???

Item Name: Bestial Claws of ??? (Incomplete)

Item Type: Gloves

Item Rarity: Unique

Item Description: ???

He wasn’t sure what to make of it. He had seen question marks in System text before. Like the skill effect for Unfettered. But this was the first time he had seen it in an object’s description. As he felt the world resume, he was about to ask Borin, when a new System message popped up. He knew then that this was another secret he would have to guard till he managed to unravel the mystery

Just returning what is rightfully yours. My little predator.