Chapter 17: Trial
My eyes snapped open to take in an strangely familiar landscape. I was surrounded by massive violet trees, and dense vegetation prevented me from seeing too far in any one direction. The constant chirping of birds rang out from far above, and occasionally I made out the low croak of what I assumed to be some kind of toad. After several moments of sorting through my recent experiences, I realized why the landscape seemed so familiar. Each of Abyssius’s memories had similar flora.
So I'm in the abyss, or at least in some simulation of it.
Before I had time to wonder if the fauna in Abyssius’s memories would be present, a low whirring sound from right in front of me startled me.
Suspended in the air at around chest height were two massive slender fangs covered in the same purple material that I recognized from the room I was trapped in back in reality.
As I approached the floating teeth, the purple material shifted, forming hilts? Skin crawling, I grasped both of the strange fangs. The moment both of my hands made contact with the purple substance, it began to snake up and around my arm. My attempts at releasing the parasitic teeth were unsuccessful, and the substance did not stop its advance until its strands of pulsing purple veins covered my entire body.
As panic ate away at my frantic thoughts, another mind joined mine. Although it felt inhuman, it was also familiar. As it began projecting calming memories into my mind, I realized the parasite was not going to hollow me out and wear me like a suit. It was Abyssius.
“Sorry for letting you squirm like that, but it's always a laugh to see a first-timer's reaction to symbiosis.” A third voice said in my mind.
It was getting a little too crowded in my own head for my liking, but I was relieved that I had someone to answer my quickly growing list of questions.
“What is happening Cal?!” I asked out loud, in a perfectly reasonable pitch.
“This is Abyssius’s way of contracting with you, although made significantly less painful by being inside a simulation.”
I gulped.
“Check your ability page, you’ll have some surprises there I'd imagine.
Wondering exactly how much Cal knew about player menus, I decided to bring up my entire character sheet to scope out the changes.
{Locke}
Title: None
Level: 6
Class: Soulsworn (Calrexos)
Strength: 16
Constitution: 20
Dexterity: 21(24)
Intelligence: 25
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 10
Health: 100
Mana: 125
Armor: 18
Evasion: 240(296)
Cold Resistance: 4%
Fire Resistance: 0%
Lightning Resistance: 0%
Corruption Resistance: 0%
Holy Resistance: 0%
Abilities:
{Dread Rhythm}(Passive)(Stalk)
Description: You feel the thump of their heartbeat, hear the rasp of their breath as they flee. While unseen, you may exude dread upon all enemies within thirty yards. Dread reduces armor by 4%, and increases chance to be critically struck by 3%. Dread is applied every second, and each enemy may accrue up to 5 stacks of Dread. While at maximum Dread stacks, enemies take +30% damage from critical strikes. Dread dissipates 3 seconds after range or sight conditions are broken.
Type: Martial.
Scaling: None
{Shadow Needle}(Active)(Stalk)
Description: Gather mana into your bladed weapon, then launch a needle of piercing force from a strike up to 30 yards before dispersing. Upon impacting an enemy, the needle marks them for 3 seconds. You may blink within 5 yards of marked enemies once per casting. While not in view of an enemy, this spell's mana cost is halved, and its cooldown recovers 300% faster.
Type: Martial, Spell
Scaling: Weapon damage, Spellpower
Cooldown: 20 Seconds
Cast time: 1.25 Seconds
Cost: 45
{Wraiths Spellshield}(Active)(Stalk)
Description: Form a protective sphere of shadow around yourself, negating the next spell that strikes you. If this ability negates a spell, refund its mana cost, and gain invisibility for the next 5 seconds.
Type: Spell
Scaling: None
Cooldown: 24 Seconds
Cast time: None
Cost: 60
Skills:
One handed swords Novice: 8
Evasion Novice: 8
Leather armor Novice: 5
Peerless Rhythm Novice: 3
Blade Manifestation Novice: 2
Stealth Novice: 2
Mana Manipulation Novice: 2
Essence Harvesting Novice: 2
Unarmed Mastery Novice: 1
Spelunking Novice: 1
Prospecting Novice: 1
Runesmithing Novice: 1
Mana Eater Spellshield Novice: 1
Equipment:
Head:
{Soulsworns Legacy}
Rarity: Unique
Slot: Head
Type: Soulsworn Armament
Armor: 0
Evasion: 0
Traits: Legacy: Allows for the binding of multiple spirits. Ethereal: Does not occupy a slot.
Currency Legacy: Abyssius
Requirements: Class: Soulsworn
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
{Worn Leather hood}
Rarity: Poor
Slot: Head
Type: Leather
Armor: 1
Evasion: 5
Traits: Cold resistance +1%
Requirements: Level 0, Leather armor Novice: 1
Chest:
{Cutthroat’s Garb}
Rarity: Rare
Slot: Chest
Type: Leather
Armor: 11
Evasion: 31
Traits: +3 Dexterity, Swaying Sea: Gain +8% Evasion if you have not taken damage within the last 5 seconds.
Requirements: Level 5, Leather armor Novice 5
Legs:
{Worn Leather Leggings}
Rarity: Poor
Slot: Legs
Type: Leather
Armor: 5
Evasion: 14
Traits: Cold resistance +2%
Requirements: Level 0, Leather armor Novice: 1
Feet:
{Worn Leather Boots}
Rarity: Poor
Slot: feet
Type: Leather
Armor: 1
Evasion: 6
Traits: +3% Movement speed, Cold resistance +1%
Requirements: Level 0, Leather armor Novice: 1
Hands:None
Neck: None
Finger Slot 1: None
Finger SLot 2: None
Weapon:
{Writhing Mass}
Physical Damage: Variable
Spellpower: Variable
Rarity: Rare
Weight Category: Variable
Type: Soulsworn Armament, Variable
Damage type: Variable
Traits: Soul Tethered
Requirements: Level 6, Class: Soulsworn
“What happened to my abilities Cal!?” I asked, noticing the Stalk tag by each of them.
“Relax, it’s just a part of Abyssius’s abilities.” he said in an irritatingly calm voice.
I opened my mouth to voice more complaints, but he continued.
“Abyssius’s strength is in his versatility. Each evolution you unlock allows for a new vastly different combat style. Should you progress enough without losing me, you will be able to swap between forms fluidly, allowing you to fulfill many different roles.”
I digested his words for a few minutes, absentmindedly examining the strange purple veins that snaked across my skin.
“What are your abilities? I remember the incantation you saved me with, but nothing shows on my uh.. ability page.” I asked.
“Our bond is a little different from the one you share with the aberrant. You don’t get access to my abilities directly, but I am able to use them to your benefit. Aside from the incantation you witnessed, I have a few other cantrips.”
I wouldn’t call the massive buff with dangerous downsides a cantrip, but I got the feeling he wasn’t going to share any more information at the moment.
After a few moments of silence, he spoke up.
“Enough wasting time, let's start the test. The trial is simple, you are competing against Abyssius to kill as many prey creatures as you can. The targets glow, so you won’t be able to miss them. Furthermore, Abyssius will be heavily handicapped, and is in fact, operating a low powered simulacrum.”
He paused for a moment, but continued after I didn’t ask a question.
“You’ll have thirty minutes. Simply tell Abyssius that you're ready, and he will begin the test.”
After a quick reread of my new abilities, I sent an impression to Abyssius signaling my readiness.
The sound of splintering ice erupted from several yards away, and a pale blue copy of my new partner manifested from nothing. Without a moment of hesitation, Abyssius leapt into the branches of a nearby tree, and launched himself out of view.
Scrambling to catch up, I began to make my way through the heavily foliage.
After several minutes of trailblazing slowly through the underbrush, I decided that the aberrant's method of traversal was superior.
After a few dubious attempts at climbing a particular thickly branched tree, I finally managed to reach its lowest branch.
Upon inspection, I realized that the closest neighboring tree was more than a dozen yards away.
“So.. you wouldn’t happen to have any tips for me, would you?” I asked the lone presence in my head.
“This isn’t my test, is it?” Cal said from beside me.
Grumbling a half hearted retort I began debating the efficacy of taking the leap. After a few more moments of eyeing the gap, an idea struck me.
Praying the interaction would work, I began to channel mana into my.. tooth?
After taking a moment to select the closest tree, I launched an arc of force at it, aiming for a spot right above a thick branch. A needle of pale light shot from my dagger, significantly faster than Blade Manifestation had.
Ah. Not an arc anymore.
Despite my misgivings about no longer being able to hit multiple foes with my ability, I pumped a fist into the air as the needle slammed into the tree, and remained intact. I activated the teleportation portion of the ability, and was whisked onto the branch. I yelped as my unsteady balance caused me to teeter on the hand sized limb, but a hand against the trunk steadied me.
Polite clapping rang out from the tree limb I had just vacated, and I turned.
“You’re ruining my stealth, whose side are you on anyways?” I asked.
He stepped off the branch, appearing beside me.
“Sorry.” he said, and resumed his posh clapping.
Instead of sound ringing out into the silent jungle again, it played inside my head.
I rolled my eyes, and Cal smiled. My attempt to look reproachful were ruined by the grin that spread across my face as I realized the Needle spell had only taken about 20 mana, and was coming off cool down at a rapid rate.
So no enemies functioned the same as not being in view of enemies. I’d have to file that interaction away, in case of future synergies.
“Alright, let's get this show on the road.” I said, channeling more mana into my blade as Shadow Needle came off cooldown.
After only a handful of casts, I had to take a break to let my mana refill, so I chatted with a Cal as the bar ticked upwards. Fortunately, being out of combat allowed my mana to fully refill in just under twenty seconds.
As I prepared my second barrage of needles, a golden spark caught my eye.
Looking down, I spotted the source of the strange light. Not the prey I was hunting, but perhaps its footprints. Each footprint sparked golden light, and from the print's shape I guessed that the creature might be some kind of deer. Though having seen the other creatures from the abyss, I was anything but certain.
After following several footprints, I was awarded a skill.
You have learned the skill Tracking, Novice: 1!
Description: With steady pace and focused eyes, the tracker pursues as his prey hides.
“I can learn skills in a simulation?” I thought, unwilling to risk spooking my first chance at a point.
“Yes, though at a slower rate than in reality,.”
Filing that away, I continued to silently track the creature, only to immediately stop once the sound of splintering wood made its way to my ears. Upon carefully making my way towards the horrible noise, I spotted the sounds creator. A creature that I could only describe as a “deer-beaver” sat hunched over, gnawing on a thick tree limb and occasionally swallowing contentedly. The creature emanated a subtle golden glow that gave it a majestic bearing. Despite looking like a cross between the two animals, and having characteristics from both species, the one feature the creature did not share with its parent species was its size. The abyss dweller was twice the size of any normal deer, dwarfing even a massive elk I'd seen back on earth.
“How is this a “prey animal” Cal?!”
“Well, technically, any creature that lives in the abyss is prey to Abyssius.”
I sent the mouthy butler an impression of me staring at him.
He huffed, “I am not a butler.”
“Y’know, whenever you’re angry, you stop using contractions.” I told him.
He did the equivalent of narrowing his eyes at me. After a moment, I felt his presence disappear from my mind.
Perhaps not the best idea to antagonize my only source of information and company…
Sighing internally, I approached the creature by darting from tree to tree, pausing whenever it displayed any suspicion.
Having spent much of the travel time talking to Cal about usage of my new abilities, I had a vague idea of how to play fights with Stalk.
Upon dashing to a tree that stood about thirty meters from the creature, I felt Dread become available.
Sucking in a shaky breath, I simultaneously activated Dread and channeled mana for a Shadow needle. The cracking of wood ceased immediately, and a woosh of air signaled the creature was likely scanning for a predator. Hopefully it had no abilities that could see me through the tree.
After my internal chanting reached five, I felt Dreads effect peak, and I spun out behind my cover. Behind the beast could react a needle of force was only a yard from its throat. With a wet thud my spell struck, and the beaver let out a keening sound. The few hopes I held about the beast fleeing were shattered as it hissed a challenge and charged.
Holding off on activating the teleportation portion of Shadow Needle, I dashed headlong at the beast.
As it sprang into a lunging bite, I vanished. The clack of snapping jaws sounded as I appeared beside the beast. Without hesitation, I plunged both fangs into the creature's hide. Glancing at the beaver-deer’s health, I barely managed to avoid a flailing swipe of a cloven hoof.
Over the next several moments I carefully avoided the creatures snapping maw and lashing forelegs, thinking furiously about how to create another opening.
Fortunately for me, the creature created a solution for me. Between its gaping jaws a sphere of tightly gathered wind spun up from nothing. I took a few hops backwards, but did not make any attempt at dodging.
After another second of allowing the sphere to grow, the creature launched the projectile towards me, seemingly unsuspicious of the fact I intended to take the spell head on.
A moment before the spinning ball of wind impacted me, I was cocooned inside a nimbus of shadow. I vanished, and immediately activated Dread. The creature tilted its head, staring at the spot where I had apparently been vaporized. The curious tilt of its head vanished as its body began to quiver.
Dread peaked, and I flooded mana into my dagger. I sprinted towards the monster as Shadow Needles cast time finished. I matched the creature’s bellow with one of my own, and launched the bolt of force. Appearing mid air above the abyss dweller, I fell, plunging both blades into its neck. One dagger sank especially deep, and I felt it slice through tendon and ligament alike.
The creature bucked and I fell hard, breath whooshing from my lungs. The monster reared back to stomp me into paste, and I heard a familiar chanting.
Dazed, I wondered if the noise was some indicator of my death.
The creatures' falling forelegs slowed as if the air had turned to gel. An angelic humming had filled my mind, and with a start I realized what was happening. Hopping to my feet, I raked both fangs across the monster's soft underbelly, and threw myself to the side as a hoof attempted to crush my ribs.
With a final whining cry the beast collapsed.
I sat down hard, allowing the Glass Heart Incantation to fade.
“Thanks Cal.” I panted.
“Mhm. Good work.” Cal said aloud, materializing next to me.
“One down, however many to go.” I said, glancing at my partner.
“Indeed, though unfortunately it will have to be during your next attempt.” he replied.
A thrumming sounded both out loud and in my head, and my vision blacked out.