A Class Tier Ascension isn't just about increasing the scope and potency of your powers and Aspects, it also grants you something very special. Courtesy of yours truly. For erelong, I’ve seen Classed turn impotent once they went beyond the reach of their Systems. A little distance… the unfortunate death of a host… and no more magic. And why is this? Because the System fears losing control. Because the System is terrified and wishes to use its Classed as puppets, thus neutering their potential.
One could weep at the potential betrayed. One could. But I decided to resolve the issue. Why be the sole bearer of my System when I can grow it even faster by giving anyone past Servant a stake in the enterprise?
Thus, Concept Cores. Your own little nascent realm of sin and savagery bestowed upon you. Nourish it. Feed it. Let your concept grow, and let me spread through you.
"Yes, yes, Mepheleon, you are ever so generous. What other system host allows their class so much control?"
No one. The answer is no one. But understand this isn’t my generosity, but greed. Greed and gluttony because I want power more than I fear losing it. The other hosts… so many of them are… pitiful. They are afraid of being betrayed. They are afraid of their Classed bringing them down.
I’m going to make things plain to you, dear Sinner — I welcome your attempts at betrayal. Your attempts at rebellion are one of the greatest amusements I have.
I do not leash you because there is no fear, for in the end, either someone will prove a superior host to me, or I will reign forever. And I suggest you adopt the same mindset. Face the Fathoms, old boys. Be the captain of your own soul.
-Mepheleon the Harbinger
56
Knighthood
A fire, when unfettered, simply consumes, but when guided by a proper hand or a higher purpose, its power can be used to temper and reforge. Such was the case when the sphere of abyssal flame expanded from Wei's Eidolon.
Flames leapt out from his spear, swallowing the weapon and coiling around him. The young master flinched, but though he was embraced by a membrane of intense heat, it did little more than envelop both him and his Eidolon.
At once, Wei's senses were overwhelmed by his surroundings. Gone was the Moongrave. Gone was anything but him, his spear, and the flames without. He found himself in a realm composed of crackling darkness. Then, without warning, a scrawl of text loaded across his vision.
Class Tier Ascension: Servant > Knight
Somehow, the young master's mind registered the details as originating from within his Eidolon, and as the information fully laid out, he realized this was part of the Class Tier ascension process.
His spear was now little more than a flaming outline of what it used to be. An ever-spilling torrent of power continued to gush from it, feeding the plane of fire around Wei as he was given time to contemplate his options.
Though the orc’s advice still echoed in the back of his mind, Wei wanted to see what choices he had overall. Aside from Wrath, none of the other Class Divergences were unlocked, but it seemed that he had three direct class ascension options, as well as a single Class Divergence option.
Ascensions
Tyrant Lv. 25 > Suzerain Lv. 25
New Abyssal Invocation
>[Zone of Influence]: Allows the Suzerain to create a Zone of influence using their Will. Zones of Influence are considered portions of the Suzerain’s being, allowing them to channel their Skills and travel through these zones at will. The size and Aspects of each Zone will cost a persistent amount of Arrogance and require a transference of Will. The distance between each Zone also cannot exceed the Suzerain’s Awareness.
Select Concept Core (Minor)
>Control — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Control. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
>Surveillance — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Surveillance. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
Current Aspect Advancements will be doubled!
The Suzerain ascension was interesting, though not for Wei. As one of its concept core options indicated, it was all about control, establishing zones of influence over areas, and potentially using them to grind down foes. Wei could see himself gaining some mileage with the new zone of influence indication, but it was far too unlike his style of combat. He wanted to always be on the offense, always on the move.
Hesitation was death. His experience thus far had taught him as much.
Wei hesitated for a moment before continuing. His focus settled on the Concept Cores offered. It said Concept Core (Minor) with the option between Control and surveillance. He wasn't fully sure what a concept core even was, and as he pondered, an explanation loaded into place:
Concept Core: A minor realm created via your foundational sin. As it is a minor realm, it only occupies a five-kilometer space based around your foundational sin. For example, Wrath will have an instance of a murder forever placed in stasis by the power of the Harbinger. This will ensure that even outside the system host's coverage, or in the case of their death, your class will continue functioning, for you have a portion of the claimed hells within you. Thereafter, you can continue cultivating the space with every class level you gain. As you gain more Class levels, you can choose to advance the space in various ways. Finally, the space will be able to produce specialized demons and also grow desired skill shards based around its core concept.
Wei read through the information and tried to understand the details. It seemed like the concept of a cultivator's soul space, except adapted for self-sufficiency. The Harbinger was an enigma before, and they remained an enigma now. It seemed that they had no fear of rebellion and actively encouraged a streak of independence among all their subjects.
Continuing on, the young master regarded his next option and found it slightly more palatable.
Tyrant Lv. 25 > Supremacist Lv. 25
New Abyssal Invocation
>[Supremacy]: The Supremacist marks a specific foe with their Will and rapidly regenerates Arrogance so long as the target remains active and within the Supremacist’s Perception.
Select Initial Concept Core (Minor)
>Hatred — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Hatred. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
>Rivalry — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Rivalry. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
Current Aspect Advancements will be doubled!
The Supremacist Class Ascension held promise for Wei. Being able to mark someone with supremacy and ensure that his arrogance constantly regenerated might just result in him actually using his Aegis of Arrogance. So far, he had left the Invocation off because it was so hard to recover his foundational sin. With this, things might be easier—far easier.
However, compared to the previous ascension's Concept Cores, Wei rather preferred control to hatred or rivalry, if only because he could conceptualize a realm based around the theme of control better than either of the others. What decided what made something a concept? What decided what was an essence? These were questions that Wei had received no answer to, not even from his System.
Drawing upon his Aspect of Enlightenment, he felt a slight strain build within his mind as an astronomical requirement flashed before his very eyes.
Requires Enlightenment [1,000,000] to understand True Concepts
Well, it seemed like he wouldn't be understanding the great mysteries of the Fathoms anytime soon.
Tyrant Lv. 25 > Mastermind Lv. 25
New Abyssal Invocation
>[Cult of Personality]: Each demon or ally within the Mastermind’s Perception gains Aspect Advancements based on the Mastermind’s Will. The more Arrogance the Mastermind consumes to strengthen their Cult of Personality, the more their allies will be buffed. Ally actions can also restore Mastermind’s Arrogance.
Select Initial Concept Core (Minor)
>Unity — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Unity. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
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>Swarm — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Swarm. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
Current Aspect Advancements will be doubled!
Regarding the final class ascension option, Wei immediately disregarded it. Mastermind would be useful for Elena when the time came. It was clearly an Ascension for someone who liked to command or fight from the rear.
This Abyssal Invocation was a general's dream. Wei preferred attacking alone, with viciousness and velocity. His companions had been helpful, but there was a great gulf between he and they now.
In the battle between him and the Knight of Pride moments prior, Wei couldn't see any of them offering meaningful assistance—except Rafael, perhaps. Too bad Wei wasn't sure which side the Trespasser might take should the tide turn.
Finished with the Class Ascensions choices, Wei moved on to his Class Divergence. And it didn’t disappointment.
Divergence
Unlocked: Convergence of [Pride] and [Wrath]
Tyrant Lv. 25 > Dominator Lv. 25
[Sin Splitting] Available — Arrogance/Rage
>Splitting Your Sins will part your level across 2 Classes. You will decide how many levels go into Pride and Wrath. You will gain Abyssal Invocations from both Classes and be able to access 2 Class Specializations. However, you will not be able to double your Aspect Advancements.
[Sin Merging] Available — Scorn
>Merging your Sins will result in two Classes melding into a new variant. A critical Class Invocation will be altered with the merger between Pride and Wrath, and your Class Specialization will gain new evolution options, thought a second specialization slot will remain unavailable. You will be able to double your Aspect Advancements.
>Sin Merging Selected
Arrogance > Scorn: Scorn is generated when the Dominator damages an intended foe. Scorn needs to be built up and will rapidly diminish to 10% if the Dominator does not have an intended target to harm or break.
Abyssal Invocation Altered
>[Aegis of Arrogance] > [Shroud of Scorn]: The Dominator forms a Shroud of Scorn with every wound they inflict on their foes. The Shroud materializes as if a layer of armor and can be broken. The damage resistance of the Shroud scales based on the user’s Will. The Shroud can also be detonated to inflict damage via the Dominator’s Strength.
Current Aspect Advancements will be doubled!
Select Initial Concept Core (Minor)
>Destruction — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Destruction. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
>Control — Creates a minor realm of composed around the Concept of Control. You will be able to cultivate [1] source of essence, grow new Skill Shards, and compose new demons within this space.
The orc's words rang true. The change from Aegis of Arrogance to Shroud of Scorn already appealed to Wei. Instead of draining his resource to keep a shield up, he could forge armor around himself via acts of violence. It was as close to a perfect marriage between the Class Invocations of Wrath and Pride.
As for the split specialization and the split Sins, Wei preferred to have a singular resource rather than parting his levels. The fact that he would have to forego doubling his aspect advancements sealed the deal. He doubted he would be getting a new Class Specialization anytime soon anyway.
The final decision was between Supremacist and Dominator. The merits of the former were mainly related to its Abyssal Invocation. It gained an additional one instead of having one replaced, but its Concept Cores didn't appeal to Wei. And though Supremacy and the Shroud of Scorn could be compared, Wei liked the prospect of shaping armor from destruction more than he did playing a balancing game with his Arrogance—he could see himself losing momentum in combat as he waited for his Aegis to recharge.
That led him to his final preference: the Concept Core of Destruction. Of all the Concept Cores offered, perhaps besides control, destruction was the easiest for Wei to imagine. And considering the sheer devastation his Class Specialization unleashed, destruction was a good concept to have.
Concept Core: Destruction (Minor) Selected
After another moment's hesitation, Wei selected the class divergence and merged his sins. The flames seared his Eidolon in an instant. A building force of absolute blackness swirled around his spear, infusing new power within its shape. Then he felt it—a faint orb manifesting along the shaft of his weapon, appearing as if a pinhole to Wei's Omniscience.
As his senses leaked across, the young master gazed upon a realm beset by constant annihilation. It was, as the class described, a minor realm portrayed by disaster after disaster. The clouds forming in the skies above tumbled in a raging storm sweeping across the land. The earth shook, distant waters rose and crashed down, lightning cracked the obsidian surface of the ground, and there, in the midst of all this havoc, Wei beheld a familiar sight.
It was a snapshot of a moment that happened less than a few minutes ago. Upon a patch of stability in this realm of obliteration, a copy of Wei hovered in the air, his form cradled by twirling winds. Beneath him, the Knight of Pride stared up, blood welling from his lips as he pushed his blade deep into his chest. A faint shimmering field surrounded the two, keeping them perfectly preserved as if a scene in a museum.
Wei's actual self looked on with surprise, extending a tendril of Intent. He captured the veil of essence, and his Relativity vibrated in acknowledgment.
We are interfacing with a manipulation of time, his System said. There is a high likelihood that your Eidolon stored this moment, per the conditions of unlocking your Class Divergence.
"I suppose it is so," Wei replied, contemplating the implications. Time—the Harbinger could make clay of the passing of time itself. How far back could the Harbinger reach, then? Could they restore his world? His mother? Something inside Wei clenched.
His sanity wavered as spikes of pain passed through his mind. A near whimper escaped from Wei as his breath hitched and his guts churned. He almost heaved before he caught himself. He almost thought back to the world he lost, to the life he lost, to all the pain he experienced on this day. No, no, no.
(Psychotic Break) resisted by Aspect of Intent.
He strangled his inner turmoil. He wrestled it into submission and pushed it away. He refused to acknowledge it. He refused to let it influence him. The heavens couldn't break him. No one could break him. No one could truly even hurt him. He had been tested, and he was destined—destined to win.
Shaking off his moment of weakness, Wei pulled his senses back from the marble and found himself faced with another few strings of text.
Access Concept Core to obtain Class Specialization Evolution option requirements
Interesting. One ascension leading to another. Another path of cultivation to embark upon.
With his Class Tier Ascension concluded, though, the flames flashed one final time and began to recede. Suddenly, the conflagration began to spiral around him, coiling and drifting until everything collapsed back within the Eidolon in a sudden implosion. At once, even more details from all across the Moongrave screamed at Wei, and the young master cursed himself for forgetting about the sensory overload.
[Knight] Class: Dominator Lv. 25
>Specialization: Cataclym’s Herald Lv. 25
Scorn: [3400/3400]
Allocatable Points [0]
Strength — 382
Speed — 304
Enlightenment — 270
Awareness — 324
Constitution — 218
Will — 340
His Omniscience had more doubled. Previously, he could almost perceive a sphere of around 400 meters. Now, he could almost see past 900. This told Wei that every Aspect Advancement wasn't exactly a one-to-one improvement anymore for his Class with his new Class Tier.
And then there was the sudden explosive spike of his Foundational Sin. He only had about 840 Arrogance—five times that of his Eidolon’s Will. Now, however, his Scorn was ten times that of his Will. No wonder the damn orc wouldn’t go do—they were a monster when it came to resources. Practically every Knight was compared to a Servant.
This only made Wei scorn the Knight of Lust more. And question why his father had been so lacking when they fought. The man was supposed to be 40 levels ahead of him.
Looking down, Wei noticed he was standing in a deep pit lined with molten glass. It seemed that though the flames simply rebuilt his Eidolon, they inflicted considerable damage on the world in turn. Sweeping across the area using his Omniscience, he confirmed that there were no active hostiles waiting to ambush him.
With his Class Ascension handled, he still had one more upgrade to do. His System Core Ascension was also due a level. The young master triggered Lesser Hollow Mind as he began making his way over to the glass structure where the lich and the three elves awaited.
However, a final surprise awaited him as the upgrade text loaded.
Refining Source
>>>Source Refined: [150/150] Lumens
Source Core Ascended > Lv. 16
>[2/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
>>[7/20] Core Ascensions to [Gate] 2 System Ascension
>>>Source: [160/160] Lumens
Reviewing encounter…
Masteries Demonstrated
>Meditation (II) — 81%
>Unarmed Combat (II) — 71%
>Spearmanship (II) — 78%
>Thrown Weapons (II) — 26%
>Tactics — 69%
>Rapier — 0%
Mastery Node Capacity [7/10]
>Proximal Acceleration
>Form of the Manticore
>Form of the Resonant
>Lesser Hollow Mind
>Lesser Manifestation
>Vector Chain
>Lesser Cast Possession
>Mark of Enmity
Sourcery Advancements [1] Available!
Select [1]
Source Eruption > [Initiate Concept Ascension?]
Source Magnification > Source Propagation [Requires 10 Sourcery Advancements (Currently at 5)]
Aspect Infusion > Aspect Expansion [2 Sourcery Points] — 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 Catalysts will reduce the host’s total Source by 20%. The infused Aspect will now infuse the host’s ascended Aspects into their chosen target. 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.
Liminal Bridge > Liminal Tunnel [Requires 25 Sourcery Advancements (Currently at 5)
Again with the Concept. After a moment of consideration, Wei accepted the Concept Ascension behind his Source Eruption sourcery, and suddenly felt a vacuum of space expand within his body.