Feeling vulnerable? Got a Dreamkiller Incubi contract sentencing you to death? Nowhere to turn to? Then come on down to your local Temple of Greed and sacrifice something in exchange for a loan! The new Class-universal one-time use [Limited Resurrection] Skill Shard is on sale for just 10,000,000,000 Sins.
No matter how you meet your end, be it disintegration, mental obliteration, disembowelment, or even a hive of wasps bursting out from your skull, rest assured for your return to a Skill-designated location will be swift and assured.
But take note: this is a one-time use Skill, so after the Skill is triggered, its use will be expended, requiring you to buy another Skill or risk perpetual cessation…
But the choice should be easy, Sinner. Your life’s definitely worth more than a little bit of money, right?
-Claimed Hells Circle of Greed Advertisement
39
Inventory
As the young master of an esteemed sect, Wei was more used to demanding than negotiating. His experience in haggling was limited to auctions, and he wasn't particularly good at that either. One had to play all manner of games to ensure the lowering of price and the continued pleasantries between all parties involved. Games his father tended to enjoy, while Wei and his mother remained more direct personalities, who appreciated simple exchanges.
Thankfully, however, dealing with the Demon of Greed was considerably more convenient than the young master expected. As a screen expanded across the length of its palm, a detailed interface greeted him, neatly sorted into different pages and tabs. Said pages and tabs also had their own headings, clearly stating what contents might be contained within. Wei observed many options before him as he acclimated to the new interface.
"You need to tap them with your finger to select an option. If you want to scroll down the menu, just swipe with your hand," Rafael said.
Processing the lich's words, Wei tentatively reached out and did just that. The entire page scrolled upwards, not too unlike how his trespasser's compendium functioned. Interactivity appealed to Wei as he immediately began looking through the armor section. To his surprise, he found over fifty options for various armors, but most of them greyed out.
Roggi’s construct of decay groaned as it lowered him next to the young master. Squinting his crimson eyes, the Oathbearer snorted in disgust. “Agh. Class-locked. Of course.”
True to Roggi’s words, the term [Class-Locked] was tagged at the end of each selectable option. Only two pieces of universal armor and three based under the Tyrant Class could be worn by Wei.
The young master hadn't expected artifacts to be Class-locked, but in retrospect, it made sense. This was the first sanctuary people arrived in after initially being Classed. It was, in effect, a starting point to offer Class-related materials as well. Wei expected a list of options provided by Crossroads merchant, but in retrospect, the market he was facing right now seemed more internal to the Claimed Hells in the offered inventory.
Despite this, the young master found his attention piqued at the few choices he had.
Shroud of the Forsaken (Universal) [10,000 Sins]: Wraps the user in a spectral shroud of ethereal white. The shroud emits an Aura of Cold at all times and also reduces the noise it makes.
The description reminded Wei of the Specter he faced upon first entering the Claimed Hells. Tapping the Shroud, a new window expanded as he examined the appearance of the garb. Wrapped around a mannequin, it seemed like a smoking cloak. It offered no benefits to defense and Wei had no idea about how much harm it could endure, but he could see such an artifact appealing to a thief.
Looking to the other universal option, Wei’s frown deepened.
Vessel of the Masochist (Universal) [55,000 Sins]: A brass-made device of spinning blades and twisting drills turned suit of agonizing armor. The wearer is sealed within the Vessel and can trigger the torturous mechanism of their armor at any time. When they suffer harm, their pain is projected outward across a 50-meter area. All enemies within the area will sustain 20% of the damage the wearer suffers. Should there be 5 or more enemies, all harm suffered by the user will be nullified and transferred.
“How appealing,” Wei muttered sarcastically. “Truly, such a creation would offer endless appeal. If one is desperate or psychotic.”
Wei paused after he said those words.
Slowly, Roggi patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, lad. We know you aren’t the former.”
The young master turned to glare at the Oathbearer. With Lesser Hollow Mind active, thinking proved somewhat hard, but he could still tell when someone was having fun at his expense. “I am entirely sane.”
Aspect of Intent active
You are entirely sane, his System agreed.
“Sure,” Roggi nodded. “Why not. But as long as you keep your ‘sanity’ directed at our enemies, well, who’s going to complain? The demons.”
Wei turned back to the merchant. He didn’t need more of this right now. Instead, he looked over his Tyrant-Class options instead.
Crown of the Superior (Tyrant) [110,000 Sins]: A crown that allows one to channel their Will as Dominance against their foes. Every infliction of Dominance will strike at your enemy's Will, and should their resistance entirely collapse, you will be able to command them to kneel.
“Kneel?” Wei muttered to himself. This might be useful for him. His Intent was incalculable, after all. Did that mean he could shatter the Will of anyone he used Dominance against? The item was expensive, but it was a decent option. Only being able to make someone kneel seemed limited, but if it took them out of the fight, then it was worth more than its cost in Sins regardless.
Regalia of the Brittle Egoist (Tyrant) [125,000 Sins]: An exquisite and regal clothing set shaped from animated amber and infused with Arrogance. Shatters when harmful force is exerted upon the wearer, negating an instance of harm per article of clothing. There are 3 articles to the entire set.
Three uses of damage negations seemed useful, but Wei could see him expending those rather quickly, and the thought of ending up nude thereafter did not appeal. This likely wasn’t a good option for Ellena either considering the threats they were going to face. Better that he infuse her with Aspectshaper and have his Fortification resist a percentage of the harm outright.
He looked upon the final option he had left in armor and sighed.
Gambeson of Ambition (Tyrant) [50,000 Sins]: A golden gambeson that amplifies the amount of Arrogance you regain through your actions.
Unimpressive, but still somewhat useful. He and Ellena were likely both getting that.
Briefly scrolling through the options denied to him, Wei found his disappointment only grow. The other Classes didn’t seem to have anything too spectacular either. Briefly shifting into the Weapons tab, the quality of options remained mostly the same. They offered some beneficial effects, but granted no true edge to most.
Perhaps the best among the artifacts was that which Rafael now wore upon his head. The Crown of Avarice belonging to Coveters of the Circle of Envy. Apparently, it allowed one to create spectral hands that could steal items from another using the user’s Mind. Even if said items were hidden in a spatial storage.
Wei wasn’t sure how he felt about Rafael having that.
“More artifacts await us in the trial ahead,” Rafael explained. “When we pass into the next Moongrave, there will be a variety of challenges and rewards we can claim. Since we lack Specializations and are less than Level 5 in our Classes, the options available to us remain limited. Or so others theorize.”
“The others?” Wei asked.
“Trespassers.”
The young master grunted. “My book has served you well, it seems.”
The lich chuckled amiably and shrugged. His laughter grew choked as the young master just stood there, glaring at him. Casually, Rafael cleared his nonexistent throat and pivoted. “My friend, I know you are disappointed, but there might be something that could benefit you immensely yet.”
Friend. As if Wei hadn’t permanently damaged the lich’s Aspect of Strength. “Speak, then. And pray that I like what you say.”
“Go to the Skill Shard menu,” Rafae said with utmost certainty.
Wei’s eyes narrowed as he wondered what the lich was playing at. Suspicion high and guard up, he did as Rafael suggested and found a single option available.
Inventory (Universal) [250,000 Sins]: Grants the user a spatial storage they can call on at any time using their Class menu. Allows for the storage and arrangement of claimed objects. Objects cannot be actively moving and the amount of objects that can be stored is determined by the user’s Class Level. Organic objects will experience accelerated rates of decay when stored. Overloading the storage will cause a spatial rupture and result in everything stored within between displaced over a wide area.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
For a few moments, Wei just stared on. This was a most convenient Skill to have. Looking down at his bag—even more ragged after the fight Wei just had with his father—the young master wondered if it was his Source that kept the contents within mostly undamaged. His Fortification must’ve done something to absorb harm considering how the bag still existed even after the explosion earlier. But it was getting increasingly tattered; it might not last much longer.
“Rafael,” Wei said, reading through the Inventory Skill once more. “Are you planning on stealing from me again?”
“What? No. Of course not. That was an extraordinary circumstance, and with you alive and well, I have returned—”
“Then why is your artifact designed to steal from spatial storages as well.”
Rafael paused briefly. “So I can eventually steal from enemies or hostile Sinners.” Without hesitation, the circet of hands game aglow with a greenish light along the lich’s head. A faint hand was projected into the world and Rafael guided it with a few gestures. To Wei’s satisfaction, however, he could that his Omniscience could sense the position of the hand without any issue.
There was no possibility of Rafael managing an act of theft without him knowing. At least not while they shared a vicinity of space.
Wei let out a slow breath. “Let me know whenever you use that circet. Whenever. Call me through the Chat if you have to.”
The lich sighed but dusted their skeletal fingers off. “Very well. Anything to regain your trust, my friend.”
Anything. Wei struggled not to sneer.
Looking back to the menu a final time, Wei paused and stared at the rest of the group. Such a Skill would likely benefit them greatly as well. But the cost was substantial. With the defeat of the Almost Invisible Hand of the Market, Wei had just over 1 million Sins in total. Not enough to purchase the Skill for all five in their party, but then again, that might not be necessary.
Thinking remained difficult with Lesser Hollow Mind, however, and in the absence of being able to properly compose his own thoughts, Wei An Wei did what any well-trained young master would do: he delegated the decision to someone else with intellect.
Wei glanced at Rafael and glared.
Intellect and trustworthiness.
“Matriarch Ellena,” Wei said, calling out to the other Tyrant. “I wish to inquire your opinion about a few things…”
***
Purchased x2 Skill [Inventory (Universal)]
Purchased x2 Armor [Gambeson of Ambition]
Purchased x1 Armor [Crown of the Superior]
Purchased x1 Axe of Wrathful Flames
Purchased x1 Hellbrass Ballista
Purchased x10 Ballista Bolts
Purchased x1 Rotspewer
Purchased x10 Potion of Regeneration
Purchased x10 Potion of Clarity
Purchased x2 Effigy of Arrogance
Purchased x1 Effigy of Wrath
Purchased x1 Effigy of Jealousy
Purchased x1 Effigy of Decay
After some deliberation on the part of Ellena, several decisions were made.
First, only two Inventory Skills would be purchased at first. One would go to Wei and the other to Roggi due to him having the highest Constitution. With the young master intending to keep his role as skirmisher, scout, and general juggernaut against the forces of hell while leaving Constitution broken foes in his wake to help the others level, they would effectively be operating as two groups.
Wei would proceed ahead and engage first. This meant that he was likely to encounter the most artifacts or challenges along his path. The rest would move as a group, and as such required only one person to collect whatever they might find.
With that decided, what came next were basic equipment purchases.
With the group, Agnesia was to serve at its vanguard. As such, she bought an Axe of Wrathful Flames to replace the now missing greatsword and gauntlets. Apparently, she could channel some of her Abyssal Rage into the axe and unleash waves of fire with every swing, thus keeping her effective and clear-headed at the same time.
Rafael and Ellena would take the rear, with both of them occupying more supporting roles for the party. The former required time to compose and direct his Ciphers while Ellena planned to bolster their group with summons. The lich, having already made a few purchases before the others arrived, neglected to get anything more substantial than his circet. Ellena, meanwhile, claimed a Gambeson of Ambition and found herself surprised at how easy it was to carry the large armored coat’s weight.
Roggi had obtained a massive Hellbrass Ballista to go with his construct. The massive emplacement would have been too unwieldy for Wei to fire, though he more than had the strength to carry it, but the Oathbearer’s construct of decay would suffer no such issue. As he was to hold the middle of the group, he also bought a corrosive Rotspewer in case enemies drew close.
Finally, everyone gained 2 points of regeneration and clarity. The former would keep the group alive and come in useful against higher-leveled enemies like the Knight of Lust. The latter would keep them alert and focused against hostile mind-altering powers. The effigies they bought were also items used to restore the key resources the empowered their Classes, be it Arrogance, Wrath, Jealousy, or Decay.
The merchant ejected the gambeson from its translucent shell as it did the other items. As Wei tightened the armored jacket around his torso, the young master picked up Agnesia staring at him via his Aspect of Omniscience. The girl had done that several times after he peeled his old broken armor off his torso, and Wei couldn’t quite think of why.
Source: [89/90] Lumens
As the last of his injuries were repaired, Wei let out a breath and shifted his attention over to his Core Ascension. He claimed what he could from the merchant, now to see if his System could lift his mood from disappointment.
Refining Source
>>>Source Refined: [90/90] Lumens
Source Core Ascended > Lv. 11
>[6/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
>>[1/20] Core Ascensions to [Gate] 2 System Ascension
>>>Source: [100/100] Lumens
Reviewing encounter…
Masteries Demonstrated
>Meditation (I) — 15%
>Unarmed Combat (II) — 34%
>Spearmanship (II) — 6%
>Thrown Weapons (II) — 7%
His Mastery advancement had slowed substantially with their initial upgrades, but his unarmed experienced another spike after the fight he had with his father. Wei wondered if facing more extreme odds and foes like his father. Something he needed to improve, regardless.
Next time, he would break William Yu utterly.
Mastery Node Capacity [5/10]
>Proximal Acceleration
>Form of the Manticore
>Form of the Resonant
>Lesser Hollow Mind
>Lesser Manifestation
>Vector Chain
Inactive Nodes
>Lesser Cast Possession
>Mark of Enmity
Wei selected the inactive Nodes as well. He could remove them if there was something better in the future, but there was no point in leaving himself diminished for no reason.
Sourcery Advancement Available!
Select [1]
Source Refinement > Source Surge — The host can create 5 Lumens of Source by attuning with existence. Attunement can be performed through meditation or extreme focus. The host can now overcharge their total Source based on their Aspect of Intent. Overcharged Source will quickly be lost when the host leaves their attunement state
Source Amplification > Source Magnification — The host can expend 50% of their Source to double any Aspect. Amplification will remain active until the host breaks concentration.
Aspectshaper > Aspect Infusion — The user can construct an Aspect Catalyst based on any of their current Aspects and infuse it into another being or object. Multiple Aspect Catalysts can be constructed. Each Aspect Catalyst will reduce the host’s total Source by 16%. The Aspect Catalyst’s conceptual essence will be attuned to [Universal]. Should the targeted entity be a System or Class entity, the user’s Aspect can be added to or subtracted from the sum of the target’s corresponding Aspect. Should the user’s Aspect reduce the target’s Aspect to nil, the target will be unable to affect the world with their corresponding Aspect.
Exciting flooded Wei’s veins. The bitterness of unsated revenge broke briefly as he considered his three Sourcery Advancements. For once, he thought all three choices were excellent. Source Surge would allow him to endure far more damage, though it would constantly be lost when he wasn’t attuning. This advancement would make Lesser Hollow Mind even more potent than it is now.
He almost picked Source Magnification immediately after seeing its description. Doubling his Aspect would hyper-charge his capabilities. Yet, the 50% Source expenditure gave him pause. It was an understandable price for a substantial spike in power.
Then, he read the final one of his choices and knew his choice. He had yearned to test what would happen if he could transfer his Aspect of Intent into his Eidolon. He wanted to exploit his Eidolon’s Class for all it was worth, but Wei found himself hesitant with his Intent filled with Source and the risk of destroying his new flowspear. However, with Aspect Infusion creating a Universal Aspect Catalyst, he wondered if he could infuse his weapon with his Intent.
Mastery Advanced
Aspectshaper > Aspect Infusion
Ascension
>Sourceforged — The host has been remade from Source. As such, they can affect spiritual, psionic, eldritch, and material entities without fail. Should the host run out of Source, they will also cease to exist.
As the menu faded from his mind’s eye, new knowledge flooded into Wei as he reached inside and began to crystallize an Aspect of his being.
“Wei,” Rafael said, “what are you—”
The lich fell silent as emanations of darkness and light spilled out from Wei. The others stopped looking over their equipment and regarded him once more.
Wei found himself thankful that the lich showed him the Skill Shard earlier. In principle, the Aspect Catalyst was the same—a crystallization of a conceptual effect. With a ripple of power, Wei felt part of his very existence detach from himself and become a chunk of monochromatic essence in his hand. Then, slowly thereafter, the black and white hues faded as other colors entered it.
Aspect Catalyst of [Intent] (Universal)
An unseen link ran between him and the catalyst, and he felt it drain at his Aspect of Intent continuously. It was, in a sense, like forming a duplicate Aspect somewhere else, with all the additional Source costs involved.
Trying to summon his weapon, Wei felt a faint ache in the back of his mind as his Eidolon began to materialize. His father had cleaved through the flowspear during the fight, and the weapon went dormant briefly after its destruction. Summoning it again took longer as it recomposed its shape from Wei’s memory after a period of time, but slowly, a golden spear reformed between Wei’s fingers.
Looking upon his weapon and catalyst, the young master slowly brought the two together as the glow of his crystal brightened. As they touched, the catalyst rushed into the Eidolon with a flash of light, and without any delay, a golden shroud began to form around Wei, and with each passing second, its intensity only grew.
Aegis of Arrogance: [25/10]
>Aegis of Arrogance: [86/10]
>>Aegis of Arrogance: [150/10]