The next time we surged toward the boss, we had an actual plan. I know, shocker. We systematically tore through the lesser [Wraiths] like the adds they were, despite their increased level, they couldn’t stand up to our powerful classes and, in Raiju’s case, species rating. We may not have been going as fast as I had the first time, but this time we weren’t leaving adds behind us that would cause an issue if we had to retreat.
The moment we crossed the quarter way mark another dozen [Wraiths] appeared and my [Arcane Cannons] and [Magic Missiles] picked them off while Raiju’s [Winds of Fury] and Ylsa’s [Thunder Knuckles] kept them off us long enough for me to get through them. It was then that my plan really came to fruition as the [Wraith King] began gathering energy for a magic circle above his head again. A quick glance at the throne was all it took for me to implement my plan.
‘White tiles only until he lets that thing loose. We’ll have to jump kitty-corner a bunch, but we should be able to keep moving as long as we stay on our toes.’ I punctuated my words with a [Sunlance] through three [Wraiths] heads at once as they lined up nicely. ‘If I’m wrong, we’re in for a world of hurt, but I’ll try to tank it if I can.’
The combined glare I got from Ylsa and Raiju scared at least ten years off my life, but I quickly dodged their gazes as I focused on clearing the adds. I’d tried sending a few [Magic Missiles] and [Sunlances] toward the [Wraith King] directly, but whenever they got close, they dissipated a moment before they could land on him.
Even if I’d been able to make my way to him alone, I’d have been out of luck anyway. I have to be better, I can’t just go off on my own anymore. This is too important for me to try playing [Hero]. What a shit Class that is, merely S-rank and everyone thinks you’re going to save the world.
The boss seemed to have figured out what we were doing, as he wasn’t releasing his soul rending attack as we danced across the white tiles. It wasn’t until we hit the halfway point in the room that he finally let loose, but he didn’t even try and hit us. Instead, he reaped the souls of half the new adds that’d just arrived.
Fuck! I screamed internally. He’s going to clear his adds and drain their souls to make himself stronger. They may not have a full soul each, but a dozen or two of them might just add up.
‘Change of plans. We need to clear those adds as soon as they arrive,’ I seamlessly mounted Raiju’s back and whirled Jaegan’s staff around my head as I summoned another five [Arcane Cannons], dropping my available Mana under the fifty percent mark for the first time in the fight. ‘I’m going to focus on all the [Wraiths] outside you guys’ reach, but I need you to clean them up as fast as possible. Don’t worry about conserving Mana, I’ve got enough potions to keep us full for a week on the right side of my bandolier. Grab what you need,’ I eyed Volta, ‘you included.’
‘Heard!’ They chorused as I turned my attention toward the farthest grouping of [Wraiths] near the boss while my cannons focused on the middle distance.
Despite the situation, I was having fun fighting alongside my companions. I may not have known any of them very long, but that didn’t change the fact that I trusted each and every one of them with my life. Even as I began working up [Sunbursts] to hit a few groups, I was amazed at the efficiency my Party displayed.
Ylsa displayed the power of her [Mountain Tempest] Class as she unleashed devastating salvos of punches, kicks, and massive claps to deal as much thunder damage as she could in a short period of time. I noticed her [Gloves of the Emerald Breeze] glowing as she blasted back a pair of [Wraiths] who were about to reach me. I flashed her a grateful smile, but she was too busy with another pair of the adds to even notice the gesture.
Hovering around the four foot mark over Raiju’s shoulder Volta put on a clinic when it came to crowd control. Her whips of lightning may not have been able to damage the [Wraiths], but that didn’t stop them from grabbing hold and grouping them up for her thunder fueled blunderbuss to rip them apart. It was like she was channeling the speed and power of her brother in addition to herself as she tore through even more of the monsters than Raiju and Ylsa did combined.
That isn’t to say that Raiju wasn’t active. Her [Thunderhead] floated just over Volta’s head where she unleashed periodic massive blasts of thunder and lightning into more of the groups Volta was gathering in addition to any groups Ylsa couldn’t get to in time. She did all of that while guarding my nonsensical ass as I let loose on any group of more than two [Wraiths] with [Sunburst].
It may not have been the most effective use of Mana, but it was the most effective use of my time as I was then able to keep an eye on what the boss was doing. He let another magic circle drop on the area around us, and while we were fast enough to dodge it, his minions weren’t and he was able to devour another half dozen.
My elven eyes, in conjunction with [Magic Sight] noticed the gems I’d dismissed as onyx in his crown were now more than half diamond. The next time he killed a pair of his minions another of the eleven stones slowly transitioned from black to clear white, leaving only four black gems remaining.
‘We need more help. I’m going to try and summon us some more.’ I messaged before flicking open the [Elemental Pactlord] interface while my [Arcane Cannons] continued with their assignment.
I need something that can actually hurt these things. What should I pick? I don’t have the option for a [Radiant Elemental], though I’m willing to bet they exist. I really don’t know, what should I do? I didn’t study how to deal with this kind of thing!
Over my shoulder, Volta paused her assault to lean down and whisper in my ear. “It might cost us, but a [Radiant Phoenix] would likely be able to assist.” She motioned to the fire toggle before darting back to her previous battle station.
A [Radiant Phoenix]? What would that even do? Aren’t [Phoenixes] just big fiery birds? I mean, Volta is at least tangentially connected to the Plane of Fire, so she should know what she’s talking about.
I spun the dials to align with pure fire and entered Radiant Phoenix in the Summon Target box. The quantity dial spun back to one all on its own the moment I hit the Summon button and I soon realized why that was.
“Who dares attempt to summon Luce, Sun’s Avatar?!” A voice far more powerful than I’d anticipated sent me crashing into Raiju’s neck. “Speak now, or I shall reap the very heat from your body!”
“Arthur Bajbub Neilson, Elemental Pactlord of Genovia, ma’am.” I croaked out as the pressure increased.
My title didn’t seem to faze her. “Honored Sun’s Avatar, this Pactlord is requesting aid in destroying an undead corruption on Genovia spawned by the work of a deranged god.” Lying to even a normal [Phoenix] was a good way to die, so I laid my cards all on the table right from the get go.
“A trivial matter.” The powerful elemental drew back the pressure she put upon me. “If you cannot deal with such a small issue on your own, you are not worthy of summoning me. Do not contact me again until you are at least level 120, or I shall drain every drop of your delicious Mana from your soul. I will take but a tiple for the inconvenience you have put me through today.”
Just before our connection faded, I felt a sudden pull on my Mana and all but six points vanished in a second. My head swam from the dregs even as I fumbled for the Mana potions in my bandolier.
‘No elemental help incoming,’ I struggled to convey through the Party chat. ‘Mana drained in the attempt. Need a pot.’
While I was able to pull a pot from my bandolier, I wasn’t able to get the cork off. The top was shaped like a diamond with an easy edge for a thumb to flick off, but in my dregged state, my thumb kept slipping past it each time I tried to open it. For a moment, I considered just throwing the whole potion in my mouth and just eating the damage from the glass running down my throat, but before I could toss it in, I felt hands warm with electrical current take it from me.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“I’m sorry, Pactlord. I wasn’t aware Luce would be able to hear your summons. I was hoping for her daughter, Aurelia, to answer. She owes me a favor.” She popped the cork and tipped it back for me to drink, which I did greedily.
A few seconds later the effects of [Megara’s Mana Potion IX] slammed into my system and it felt like I was mainlining raw lightning. I choked as a new notification popped up in the corner of my vision.
[You are generating more Mana per second than your Mana pool can sustain. If the excess Mana isn’t spent, a Mana rupture could occur. Additionally, while in this state all Mana-based Spells and Skills used will have their cooldowns halved and their damage doubled.]
“What the hell Aunt Megara?! I didn’t need Legendary Mana pots!” I bellowed as I leveled a hand to one side and summoned half my Mana pool to unleash a sweeping [Sunlance]. The Skill wasn’t meant to be used that way, but with so much Mana forced into it, the beam was sustained long enough for me to pull it off as I sliced through a dozen [Wraiths] with a single Skill.
Less than two seconds later my Mana pool was full again and I got to work. Springing up to a seated position like a child’s toy, I spun even more Mana to form another two dozen [Arcane Cannons] and set them to join the others above my head. At that point, they were working on a limited set of instructions, so I expanded it to have them work in quartets to take down [Wraiths] instead of obliterating each one with the might of all forty cannons on one target. I kicked myself for missing that initially, but as soon as I made the change, the whole battlefield opened up. I figured it couldn’t hurt, so I activated [Serene Glade] to boost all my Spells and Skills, I had the Mana to burn.
While I’d been indisposed we’d reached the end of the checkered floor to find ourselves on the black half of the split marble floor before the [Wraith King]’s throne. My battery of cannons, a loving mimicry of my magical mentor’s favorite Skill, picked off the last freestanding [Wraith] and the [Wraith King] finally shifted off his throne.
He shot toward us like a bolt of shadow and was among us half a second later. A black shafted scythe with a cruel, five foot long, white blade appeared out of nowhere and would have severed my head if Raiju hadn’t dropped to the ground and rolled. I kicked off an [Air Step] to get some distance as I struggled to channel the sheer force of Mana raging through my body.
The [Wraith King] didn’t speak, which was almost disappointing until he landed a glancing blow on Volta as she body blocked for Ylsa and the elemental’s health dropped from nearly full to exactly three. Now, [Arcweavers] aren’t known for their sturdiness, but she still had almost as much HP as I did before the battle with the [Ashen Hydra Devastator] jacked my [Toughness].
“Scatter!” I screamed as I unleashed a cannonade of [Magic Missiles] upon him in an unending stream alongside my [Arcane Cannon] fire. He didn’t even flinch as they slammed into him, ripping tiny bits of shadowstuff from his incorporeal robes, but doing nothing to his main body.
Thousands of points of Mana ripped through the channels in my arms in a few seconds and I felt them heat up in a way I’d been warned about a few times as a wunderkind caster.
I’m halfway to a full channel burnout already, but I can’t let him land a hit on Ylsa or Raiju with that damn scythe or they’re goners. Volta tanked that hit for Ylsa because she’s immune to the soul damage, but the rest of us don’t have that luxury.
“Hey, ugly!” I screamed and the boss whirled to look at me, ten twinkling diamonds filled his crown, with only the central larger stone remaining unfilled. “Let’s dance!”
Triggering [Haste] and [Flash Focus] at the same time was something I was willing to bet I was going to regret later, but I needed a moment to think. Horrifyingly, even with those both increasing my perception, the [Wraith King]’s form still moved like it was underwater as it moved toward me.
How fucking high is this thing’s [Agility]? It has to be pushing 1,500 if it’s visibly moving while I…no time! What else can I do to fuck with this thing? [Sunburst] might hit my friends, same with a powerful enough [Sunlance], so they’re out because they’re not Spells, they’re Skills. Fucking semantics to me, but I’m not going to kill them on accident and [Magic Missile] and [Arcane Cannon] don’t have enough punch, he didn’t even flinch when they hit him.
Unbidden, [Essence Reading] triggered alongside [Dominus’ Insight] and my gut dropped.
[Wraith King - Rank S Tower Boss
Level: 50
Vulnerabilities: Radiant
Resistances: Force
Immunities: All except Force and Radiant]
[With his Soul Crown nearly full, this Wraith King is mere moments from ascending to a Wraith Emperor, a monster even your grandfather’s contemporaries would fear. If this creature isn’t stopped in the next minute, he may escape the Tower and reap the souls of all the people in Chalcedony. Check your notifications for a way to deal with this threat or you will surely perish.]
What notifications!?
I frantically flicked through the notifications I had left until I found the only one that could possibly be what Dominus was talking about.
[Completed Emergency Quest - Remove the Infection from the Chalcedony Tower of Trials.
Reward - Three Choices are Available]
With a thought, the Quest notification opened up and three options were laid out before me even as the [Wraith King] closed to be within ten feet of me and pain was shooting through my head from the use of [Haste] and [Flash Focus] at the same time.
[Option 1: Become the Tower Lord of the Tower of Trials - Chalcedony. This is a permanent position, unlike the Tower Administrator position you would receive for defeating the Tower Boss on your first visit to the Tower.
Option 2: Modify the wording of one Skill or Class ability you have, adding or removing two words at most.
Option 3: Leave the Tower with your party immediately.]
I glared at the notification. We could have left!? Jaegan could have lived!
A small voice filled the back of my mind. ‘No, lad. I was already gone when you got this option.’ Tears ran down my face as I realized Jaegan’s spirit had awoken at the exact moment I needed him.
‘What should I do?’ I practically begged. ‘I only have a minute left before I burn out in more than one way.’
The old [Mage] turned item spirit laughed. ‘Option two is the only choice. You just need to modify your path to include Skills instead of just Spells.’ His voice faded a bit. ‘I’m going to sleep a bit now, lad. I’ll talk with you later. You’ve got this.’
‘Thank you!’ Without a bit of hesitation, I mentally slammed on option two and a new box appeared before me with a list of my Class abilities and Skills on it.
I mentally tapped Path of the Scholar and added the most important two words of my life to that point.
[Path of the Scholar: While all Suzerains can cast Spells, those who walk this path are truly unparalleled in that field. With the ability to see the ebbs and flows of Mana, you will be able to sculpt your Spells and Skills to strike foes harder and avoid allies entirely. In addition, Mana costs are reduced by 20% for any Skill or Spell that draws on the Arcane, Divine, or Wits stats.]
The System hitched, for lack of a better term, and I quickly realized it was checking with Dominus to confirm that it was allowed to alter [Suzerain] in the way I’d requested. It hung there for what felt like an eternity as I watched the [Wraith King]’s scythe cut toward me inch by inch.
[Adjustment to Path of the Scholar completed as requested. Warning! Any further attempts to modify Unique-ID 921963: Class-Suzerain will be rejected.]
Hopefully I only ever need that one modification!
The boss streaked toward me, ever moving despite the time dilation of [Flash Focus] combined with [Haste], but I was ready. Bypassing the limits most casters would call good sense, I poured every single drop of my inflated Mana pool into a single invocation of [Sunburst]. The moment I felt the energy pool in my right hand, I released [Flash Focus] and a few things happened in a split second.
The world was bathed in the light of a [Sunburst] that would have made my grandfather proud the moment time began to move normally. Notifications flooded into the corner of my vision as I was thrown back against the wall hard enough to crack the stone of the Tower.
Was that fur I just felt? What could have–
My eyes finally adjusted just in time to watch Raiju fall off of the [Wraith King]’s extended scythe, the residual breeze from [Whirlwind Rush] floating past me, as he dissolved in holy light. She turned around to find me struggling to my feet and threw me a weak grin.
Checking the Party Interface, I noticed her insane health pool had been reduced to ten percent, but that wouldn’t explain the dim light in her eyes. [Essence Reading] confirmed my fear.
[Name: Raiju
Emotional Status: Exhausted/Content
Physical Status: Mortally Wounded (Cause: Spirit Wound)
Current Estimated Lifespan: 12 Hours]
Before I could do anything, my vision filled with notifications that wouldn’t be pushed aside no matter how many times I tried dismissing them without looking at them. Gritting my teeth, I opened each of them for half a second before sending them away to bring in the next one. Only a single notification required a choice and I hurried to slam my hand down on it the moment it appeared.
[Would your Party like to exit the Tower of Trials - Chalcedony now? Y/N]
“You idiot, you big dumb heroic idiot!” Stumbling to embrace Raiju, I pulled her huge head to my chest. Ylsa and Volta rushed over to join us as white light surrounded us. “It’s going to be OK. Uncle Galloway lives twenty minutes outside Chalcedony. If anyone can save you, it’s him. We have to hurry!”