Chapter Forty
Ambrose teleported to Vivienne. The Lady of The Lake looked different. There was an intensity to her that wasn't there before. Her eyes were sharper, the colors of her hair were more vibrant, and her whole form seemed to be suffused with an etherealness quality.
She actually beamed at Ambrose when he appeared, clapping her hands like a little girl that had just received a pony.
“You did it! Well done, Sir Knight!”
Ambrose shrugged.
“How soon can we use the relocation protocol?”
Vivienne lowered her hands, cocking her head.
“Immediately, if you wish, Sir Knight. You should be aware that the tree only has enough energy to relocate once. After that it will take a considerable amount of time for the tree to gather enough energy to relocate a second time.”
Ambrose waved a dismissive hand.
“It doesn't matter. We can't stay here. I left a world behind when I came here. A world that includes someone that needs erasing. Power the protocol.”
Vivienne inclined her head.
“Where shall we go, Sir Knight? As you are newly integrated, the System will only permit us to return to your universe.”
There was only one place to go.
“Set us some ways off the coast of Miami, Florida.”
Vivienne’s brows furrowed,
“I know not this place you mention, but it matters little. The protocol will pluck the location from your mind.”
With that she raised a hand, palm towards the vast tree of Avalon.
The tree itself had gained the same sense of vibrancy and etherealness that Vivienne had, but now it lit up in a kaleidoscope of colors which began to turn, pulse and beat like some tremendous disco ball. A sound like a vast machine powering up filled the air.
The island began to thrum, the air vibrating.
Thrum thrum. Thrum thrum. Thrum thrum. THRUM THRUM!
There was a flash of rainbow light that engulfed everything. The protocol didn’t just move the island, it moved everything beneath it as well. The power of the tree of Avalon was literally altering the reality of the space it was moving too.
Ambrose felt the vast swaths of power being expended. It was on a scale that Ambrose could only conclude was cosmic. Finally, it ended in a crescending flash and a reality shaking boom that faded into an echo, and finally, into silence.
There’s a feeling that settles over you when you know you’re home. That you’ve arrived somewhere that is familiar. A sense of comfort. Ambrose felt that now. His fist clenched as his heart soared. He was one step closer. One step towards his hands around Eric Delrosa’s throat. His one eye closed as he took in a breath to calm his heart.
I’m not there yet. I still have a mountain to climb. Ambrose opened his eye and regarded Vivienne who had walked beside him. Since there was no danger nearby, Ambrose manifested Noelle who had grown just a bit. Her shoulders were a little wider, her head just a touch larger.
She sniffed at him, walking away to explore the area. Ambrose knew he would have some making up to do to her for not including her in his battle with Mordred.
“You have lifted this island’s curse, Sir Knight. You have done what Arthur could not bring himself to do, ending Mordred’s life.”
Ambrose raised an eyebrow,
“I wondered about that. Why not just kill him?”
Vivienne pursed her lips, looking at the water that lapped against the shore.
“Emotions are hard for me to understand in the same way you or other flesh and blood beings might comprehend them. It occurs to me that Mordred being Arthur’s progeny had something to do with it. Regardless, for your efforts, I wish to award you.”
Ambrose looked at her,
“How so? Is there some vault on the island I’m not aware of?”
Vivienne smiled, shaking her head.
“There is not. However, I used some of the tree’s resources and mine own skill to forge you a set of armor and one other item. I will present them to you now, if you so desire.”
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Ambrose watched Noelle pounce on a rock, lightning arcing over her lithe form.
“Sure, I appreciate you going through the trouble.”
Vivienne waved a hand and from the earth rose a mannequin. Molten colored plate armor adorned the mannequin. On the mannequin's head was an eyepatch emblazoned with silver runes that shifted and glowed with pale blue light.
Ambrose used [Insight] on the armor.
[Knight of Avalon Plate Armor Set-Epic]: Forged by Vivienne, The Lady of The Lake used some of her own essence in the making and attuned the armor to the island of Avalon. Gives the Knight of Avalon access to the security protocols imbued into the Key of Avalon, allowing teleportation to different destinations on the island. Note that you are unable to teleport within an island destination you are already present in. This armor uses mana channelled into it more efficiently.]
That meant that Ambrose could return the key to Vivienne at least. He didn’t want others getting a hold of it. He turned his attention to the eyepatch.
[Eyepatch of Truesight-Legendary]: This eyepatch allows the wearer to see things as they truly are. It reveals all that is hidden up to one grade higher than the wearer. This eyepatch also bolsters the [Insight] skill as well as enforces the wearer's mind, protecting them from mental based skills and attacks.]
For Ambrose this was the best item he could have received. Mental attacks were by far his weakest link. Raylen had trained his son’s mind to be able to focus, to push out emotion, and to keep a battlefield awareness around himself.
What he did not do was prepare Ambrose for psychic super powered assaults from Lich’s and beings out of fantasy. Guess you missed something, Dad. Ambrose snorted. Either way, the eyepatch was a much appreciated item.
He put everything on, including slipping the eyepatch around his head. His old armor looked like rusted junk. It was his newb gear after all, as his wife would have said. Ambrose turned his attention to his advancement. He had gained ten levels from defeating Mordred. That was eighty points from his class. Add in another ten from the levels he gained in his profession and he was looking at a whopping ninety points.
He decided to bring up his character sheet. He hadn’t really looked at it in a while.
[Name: Ambrose Severen
Level: 105
Class: Infernal Paladin
Race: Human [D-Grade]
Traits: Ruthless-[Uncommon], Giant Slayer-[Rare], Reforged-[Legendary], Infernal-[Mythic]
Profession: Knight of Avalon (Level 30)
Mana: 2680/2680
Health: 1610/1610
Skills: [Infernal Infusion-Epic], [Insight-Uncommon], [Infernal Smite-Epic], [Infernal Sanctuary-Epic], [Infernal Aegis-Rare], [Infernal Recall-Rare]
Constitution: 185
Strength: 157
Intellect: 158
Wisdom: 156
Willpower: 204
SC:
Attribute Points: 80/10]
Ambrose nodded to himself. He was getting stronger. Sometimes, it didn’t feel that way. The enemies he had faced so far had been higher level than him, and had required some creative thinking on his part. He dropped twenty points into constitution. His health surged, and a fresh wave of energy washed through him like he had just taken a shot of an energy drink.
Next he dumped another twenty into willpower. His core glowed for a brief second as it grew just slightly. That left him with fifty more points to spend. Thirty went into wisdom, ten went into intellect and the final ten went into strength.
It was time to consider the two new skills he wanted to select.
[Retributions Gaze-Epic]: Stare into your opponents spirit and flood them with your infernal mana. This skill causes them to experience all pain and suffering they have caused to others. Note that this skill may not work on those of a higher grade or level. This skill is an upgrade of [Insight] and also allows you to see the guilt of others as well as their levels, and other information.]
It was a good skill. Ambrose needed to be able to track down guilty, evil individuals for the tree and this skill was perfect for that. He set it into the maybe section of his head.
[Infernal Sanctuary-Legendary]: Infernal Sanctuary now allows you to freely manipulate the summoned chains. It also has a greater chance of debilitating foes with spirit based pain. Now works on those with even higher levels.]
Ambrose whistled. He desperately wanted this skill. There were so many things he could do with sanctuary if only he could control the chains of black fire it summoned. Increasingly the skill had felt more and more useless.
Except that just wasn't true. Ambrose was simply facing foes that were beyond his level. He had to remember that he wasn't the only one with skills and traits that protected him.
He put this skill in the strong possibility corner of his brain.
[Infernal Vortex-Epic]: Conjure a small storm of infernal flame to devastate opponent. Grows in power the more mana used.]
Ambrose felt his lips twist in wry amusement. It was an area of effect skill, plain and simple. He had been expecting one to come up soon.
He didn't really want it.
Mostly because he already had [Infernal Sanctuary] and that affected an area. Plus, with the way he sometimes used [Recall] it felt somewhat unnecessary. Maybe if a better one came along he would take it. But for now, when compared to his other options, it just wasn't a great pick.
[Infernal Aegis-Legendary]: Infernal Aegis is now a passive skill and a manifestation of your spirit. Note that selecting this skill upgrade will require outside discipline to control the skill that the System does not assist with.]
Ambrose frowned and mentioned the skill to Vivienne. Her eyebrow twitched upward.
“Ah, you have been offered a spirit based skill.”
Ambrose waited. Vivienne didn't seem to pick up on the fact that he was waiting for an explanation, and he sighed.
“What does that mean, Vivienne?”
“It means that the skill will require spirit manipulation in order to properly use. However, that comes with unique benefits that lay outside the System parameters. The strongest beings in the multiverse use skills such as these.”
Ambrose rubbed the bridge of his nose. He didn't really want to pick the skill. But he may need it.
Eric laying crippled and destroyed at my feet. That and everything he's built and everyone associated with him. Ambrose had to keep his goal in mind.
He clenched his jaw and made his choices.