Be mindful of your friends. The flesh is but a shell and a mind is such an easy thing to overwrite…
-The Trespasser’s Compendium
75
Reintroduction
"Wei," Rafael began, sounding uneasy, "I must confess, I do not like what we're doing right now."
Angeleous' back arched violently as several more segments of his spine snapped. His ribs cracked as well, and his fingers and legs curled like a dying spider's. The old man howled as psionic energy began flooding into his mind. Time after time, he wailed for Wei to stop this, saying he still wanted to have his own thoughts, that they were all he had left, that he still wanted to be himself instead of a prisoner within his own body.
The young master just sneered. He had promised John Bishop a vessel, and so a vessel John Bishop would have. He had thought about giving the man the Knight of Lust, but she seemed a more dangerous proposition, and she lacked a direct channel to the Inheritors at present. And so there was only one real candidate that he could offer as a sacrifice.
But Wei also had an ulterior motive. As John Bishop usurped Angeleous for control over the old Knight's body, Wei observed the process using his Omniscience, studying every intricate detail unfolding before him. The convergence of mental essence pierced out from the top of Angeleous' skull before furling over and sealing the old man's mind under a new layer of cognition. The external layer gave off a purple resonance to Wei's perception and, faintly, the young master could feel the presence of a new power, far more potent than Angeleous had ever been, but still muted by the fragility of the old man’s vessel and the limitations of distance.
After a few moments of screaming, Angeleous' cries died down, the old man's body slacking against the soft grass of this Moongrave. They were in the Moongrave of Lust, their change in location a recommendation on Rafael's part. There was no ulterior motive behind it; it was just simply that Moongraves of Lust were more pleasant to be in, and they were, in a sense, courting aid from a higher power, though this Wei was loath to admit it.
Finally, the psionic energy stabilized within Angeleous' mind, and the old man let out a final shuddering breath. He blinked, and his expression changed. Slowly, Angeleous—or the Trespasser now, wearing his vessel—sat up and began to feel his new morphology.
"Damn," Bishop said, rolling his neck. A series of deep cracks sounded as waves of purple force cascaded along the old man's ruined spine. Wei felt fractured bones forced back together, damage undone by telekinetic force. "You know, when you said you had a vessel, I assumed I was going to be wearing a Knight of Hell or some kind of messed up demon. Didn't realize I'd be crawling into an old ass man's skull. Shit, I think this motherfucker has arthritis. My knees are screaming at me."
John Bishop, wearing Sir Angeleous' face, leveled an annoyed glare at Wei. "You doing this to punk me, son?"
The young master kept his expression perfectly impassive. "I assure you, Master Bishop, I have no idea what 'punk' means."
Bishop shook his head. Another series of sharp pops sounded. "Fucking cultivators, man."
As John Bishop acclimated himself to his new body, Wei took a glance at his System notifications. With his prior advancements in Enlightenment and Omniscience, he had finally arrived at a new Core Ascension.
Refining Source
>>>Source Refined: [170/170] Lumens
Source Core Ascended > Lv. 18
>[0/10] Aspect Advancements to Core Ascension
>>[9/20] Core Ascensions to [Gate] 2 System Ascension
>>>Source: [180/180] Lumens
Reviewing encounter…
Masteries Demonstrated
>Meditation (II) — 91%
>Unarmed Combat (II) — 76%
>Spearmanship (II) — 87%
>Thrown Weapons (II) — 35%
>Tactics (II) — 0%
>Rapier — 0%
Mastery Node Capacity [7/10]
>Proximal Acceleration
>Form of the Resonant
>Lesser Hollow Mind
>Lesser Manifestation
>Vector Chain
>Lesser Cast Possession
>Mark of Enmity
>Outsight
Sourcery Advancements [1] Available!
Select [1]
Source Magnification > Source Propagation [Requires 10 Sourcery Advancements (Currently at 5)]
Aspect Expansion > [Initiate Concept Ascension?]
Liminal Bridge > Liminal Tunnel [Requires 25 Sourcery Advancements (Currently at 5)
Ascension
Path of the Harvester
>Skills
>>Form of the Harvester
Ascension
>Path of Augmentation — All that is can become more than it was. Unlocks a novel concept, Augmentation, for your System. This concept is only available for the Keter System. The System host can combine masteries, sorceries, Aspects, and experiences to generate new Skills and Titles befitting the concept of the Harvest.
Concept (Augmentation): This concept entails the amplification of material properties, concepts, effects, and forces. May your breath become a hurricane that unravels realms entire.
Another Minor Concept Core materialized below Wei’s first. Instead of being a swirling realm with a pinprick of white surrounded by devouring black, this was an explosion of brilliance rimmed with darkness—as the borders of nothingness could barely keep the light at bay.
Another Concept Core had been gained with his newest Sourcery advancement, and Wei felt the complexity of his System expand. Each time felt like growing a new spirit from within him, already blessed with paths of development, and as Concept-Breaker, he still had two more Paths to unlock.
Augmentation. Such was a far easier idea to grasp compared to the Harvest, and Wei had a slew of Ideas for future Skills. Something to consider in detail rather than haste.
His experience traveling along Rafael's essence channel to invade his father's senses had filled the young master with inspiration. It could be made better as an Augmentation Skill. Perhaps he could use it to boost his perception or awareness somehow. But how would that work? What functions did he want it to possess? These questions and more would determine the memories he offered to this Minor Concept Core, and for that, he had to consider carefully.
"Your System level up or something?" John Bishop questioned, drawing Wei out of his silent ruminations. The young master regarded the Trespasser wearing Angeleous's skin with narrowed eyes. He didn't offer an answer, instead replying with a question of his own.
"I trust that this body would serve your purposes well enough?"
Bishop gave a slight grimace. "Old man could’ve done with a few more levels. Right now, if I tried to channel some of my higher-leveled skills, his mind would completely shatter and his flesh and spirit would pop." John Bishop made a loud clicking noise with his tongue.
"But you would still be able to channel such potent skills prior to his demise, yes?" Wei asked, trying to gauge the trespasser's full capabilities.
A beat of silence followed as Bishop looked Wei up and down. An air of discomfort developed between Wei and Bishop. "Is there something the matter?" the young master asked.
"Nothing. Kind of a cold thing for a kid to say.”
Wei responded with a sneer. "And old men shouldn't be considering the betrayal of their savior. And fathers shouldn't murder their sects and lovers. 'Shouldn't' is a false notion. There is only 'can' and 'will.'"
A laugh escaped from the Trespasser, and Wei fought to keep the flames of his anger under control. "What now? Are you going to tell me that I remind you of my father again?"
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Bishop simply shook his head. "Nah, William's too goddamn soft for his own good, too goddamn greedy for someone so smart, and too goddamn capable of doing too many shitty things for someone with a decent heart. You ain't like him, not in this way. But you’re definitely the right kind of vicious for these parts.”
"That's as close to a compliment as you offered me so far, Master Bishop."
The two just stared at each other for a long while, and Rafael looked between them, the lich idly stroking ciphers into being, desperate not to seem an awkward interloper. Bishop finally held up his hands. "Listen, kid, I’m gonna get off your back now. I want to help, so I’m going to stop poking at you if you’ll lose that expression.” Bishop shrugged. “Can also show you a thing or two about your System. If you wanna find out.”
"Oh?" Wei asked, tone flat but internally piqued. "And what do you have to offer me? What can you offer me? As far as I know, you are but Classed.”
"Well, I reckon I know how your System works better than you do. Maybe better than the System itself. You know that Keters are partially deprived of training data because of how dangerous they were, right? They're technically an unfinished System. The Antediluvians only made so many prototypes before their little civil war made them disappear from these Fathoms."
Wei considered Bishop's statement with surprise and something akin to apprehension. He didn't know if the trespasser was lying to him. Honestly, Wei didn't know much about the Antediluvians at all. However, he faced The Creator, Asaru, that massive leviathan, progenitor to all Systems, and their words still echoed through him, a final plea for the Keter system host to enforce justice and to ensure the other hosts stay true to their designed duties.
Considering his choices, Wei eyed John Bishop carefully. "What do you know about Concept Cores?"
“Enough to ignite a planet’s atmosphere given adequate preparation.”
“Quite the boast,” Wei said.
“Nah. Just thinking back on good times.”
Something told the young master that Bishop wasn’t lying. Wei considered himself interested. He didn't want the Trespasser to know his masteries and skills in detail. But if he could leverage the man's knowledge, then perhaps Wei could further develop his own capabilities.
"Come along then," Wei said, turning for the nearby Specialization Rift. "We will discuss things in a more proper setting. It is time we reintroduce Angeleous to the others."
***
Returning to the sanctuary, Wei saw his sect in constant motion. Portals were abuzz with activity, with processions of outer-court disciples bringing in captured artifacts and other critical resources they needed for Mobile Fortress Wei. Only a single Oathbearer—Agate, Wei thought it was—lingered within the sanctuary, manning the role of quartermaster in the corner. He worked ceaseless on what looked to be a stone anvil, going down a list of items that needed to be made.
Wei sought them out in the absence of other familiar faces. It would be easy to send Ellena, Roggi, or Agnesia a message, but the young master was reluctant. After what he experienced during Rafael's call, he had no desire to expose himself to external influences. He couldn't do anything about Mepheleon—so vast was the Harbinger’s power between them—but if he could follow a call’s Essence thread, so could a sufficiently skilled Inheritor.
"Agate," Wei said, greeting the Oathbearer.
"Hm? Oh, hello, little boss," the Oathbearer responded, their hammer rising and falling, smiting new items into existence with each burst of mystical steam.
Wei let out a slight sigh. "Patriarch."
"Sorry," Agate said, absentmindedly.
"I am Patriarch. That is my title."
"Right, sorry about that, little boss," Agate replied, still not listening. "Something the matter?"
"If you're looking for the others, they're in the Moongrave of Gluttony, doing something inside Fort Wei. Your ship be coming along nicely. Got a lot of reinforcing done today. The rest of the lads and lasses are stocking it full of critical resources, but fuel’s still a concern for the thrusters. Might take a day more or so. Thankfully, we got a few folk with Specializations that can help with flight. The queenie might even want you to them. She’s practically running everything here. Ruin. Come to think of it, she's done more to keep this thing together than you have." The Oathbearer barked a laugh. "Maybe I should be calling her big boss instead, eh?"
“Thrust? Flying?” Bishop muttered.
If the Oathbearer expected amusement from Wei, he was clearly mistaken. The young master stared on, wondering just how he should see the Oathbearer punished for this blatant act of disrespect, and he thought back to the many penalties his mother had doled out to the offending members of their sect. However, before he could recall any truly torturous goodness to inflict on the Oathbearer, his omniscience caught sight of a familiar figure emerging from the rift.
"Wei," Ellena said, holding what seemed to be a large ledger. Her accompaniment of demons carried large sacks filled with obsidian slabs, and one after another they dropped the sacks next to the Oathbearer so he could continue with his material alchemy.
"Thank you kindly," Agate grunted. Drawing a slab onto his anvil, he smote the slab and from crude black stone rose steam, and thus was the material reborn as alloy.
Pushing the Oathbearer's delicious torments to later. Wei greeted Ellena with a salute.
"Lady Ellena," Wei began, noticing her apprehensive stare at Angeleous once more. "There have been developments recently." He briefly shot Angeleous—John Bishop—a look. "We must meet. Only our inner council.”
"Inner council," Eleanor said slowly.
"Yes. You, me, Rafael, Roggi, and your daughter. This concerns our potential benefactors."
The former queen nodded slowly, though uncertainty still tingled in her eyes. "I see. I suppose you would like to have this discussion in private, then."
If there was one thing Wei appreciated about Ellena, it was her astuteness when it came to political matters.
Instead of proceeding to a random Moongrave this time, they exited out into the final Moongrave of Gluttony, where Mobile Fortress Wei was slowly coming together to assume its final form.
A disbelieving guffaw escaped Bishop. The sound didn't suit Angeleous' voice at all. "Holy shit, kid, is this what you've been trying to build?" The man shook his head in disbelief. "Goddamn insane. This is exactly the kind of shit William would pull."
Wei clenched his jaw at the mention of his father's name and noticed Ellena shooting Bishop a surprised stare. She leaned over and whispered softly, though with everyone's advanced Aspects of Perception, there was no possibility her words would go unheard. "Did you do something to him?" Eleanor asked awkwardly. She still kept her distance from Angeleous, or who she thought to be Angeleous, placing herself between Wei and the old soldier who once wanted to see her slain.
Bishop, for his part, briefly scanned the deposed queen, and then looked no more at her thereafter. Seemed the Trespasser got in all he needed from a simple glance.
As they approached Mobile Fortress Wei, the young master felt a swell of pride rise within him. Three massive bastions lined with various cannons, viewing ports, and rows of battlements upon which disciples could stand and make their defense of this glorious bastion had been erected. Its vast outer layered walls now sported strange webwork splaying wings. Wei's ignitions passed over the material, but his enlightenment failed to comprehend its design. He had no knowledge of this substance, feeling so flexible yet impossibly strong to his senses. There was another thing he wished to inquire about. Perhaps Roggi could tell him during the council.
On the backside of the fortress, a few hundred tubes sprayed exhaust, pluming columns of smoke that drifted as clouds over the atmosphere. Then as they approached, Wei saw an endless procession of outer court disciples applying their specializations, using their newly minted skills to help assemble and prepare for their final departure across the Hearted Realm. Not far away, the great rift gate leading upwards into the Archdevil of Gluttony stood splayed open, a final chasm for them to pass.
Ellena led them up a ramp extending from an opening built into the body of the fortress. In this sense, Wei guessed it was more like a boat than an actual grounded bastion, but such things were mostly semantic. He could call it whatever he wanted.
As they entered, they found a wide open space stocked full of equipment, armor, weapons, and what looked like reinforced bulwarks pressed against the walls. They ventured through a narrow series of walkways, tight spiral staircases leading up and down the structure. With how tightly three bulwarks were clustered together, people could lay down planks or jump between the three major forts. But all in all, the structure was meant to be easily defensible and highly durable.
After passing through a series of wide open rooms meant to be points of retreat in case of breach, Wei finally arrived within a small chamber nested at the very core of the fortress.
Here, Roggi and Agnesia sat across from each other, playing a strange looking card game on a crystalline desk. A loose assortment of different chairs left scattered about the room, and Wei knew all the furniture to be taken from various places across the Moongraves. As he entered the room Agnesia gave him a brief grin only to shoot up to her feet and summon her blade from her Inventory as she noticed Angeleous.
"Why the hell is he here?" Agnesia asked.
"Rafael," Wei said, ignoring the girl for now.
“Right," Lich answered, and began applying a series of ciphers around the chamber.
“Wait,” Bishop said, interrupting the lich. “I got this.” Aipple of purple energy spread out from his skull and quickly engulfed the room. Immediately, they were in another place entirely, transported back to that familiar barracks where Bishop briefly kept Wei.
With the barest of effort, the Trespasser had pulled them all into his mental realm once more.
“Rust and ashes. What in the Fires of Creation is this?” Roggi mumbled, spreading bulbous missiles of decay from his winged form. “And who is he?” The Oathbearer pointed at Bishop, now shed of his physical guise.
"Relax,," Bishop said, now no longer assuming the guise of Angeleous, instead back to wearing his military garb, camouflage, gun, and all. “I’m from the Lodge. I’m here to make sure you poor fools make it up the Tower, and maybe, hopefully, lord be willing, we turn the Inheritor’s ambush back in on itself.”
“Lodge?” Ellena said. “As in the Trespasser’s Lodge?”
“Very same, Queen Ellena,” John Bishop replied. “I’d like to offer my condolences about your family and world. The Dying Queen should have never reached you, but the Crossroads do like spreading their routes…”
Rafael made a disgusted noise. “I knew those merchant-dogs were behind this too.”
Ellena, for her part, paled.
“What?” Agnesia breathed. “Our world… the Kindred arrive because of a trade route?”
“That. And the fact that the Queen wants you, princess. That’s why her Kindred are still coming for you. Ain’t so many Ignium dragon-blooded still around; and scarcity makes your blood a premium. Which is how the Inheritor’s managed to snag one of the Dying Queen’s own. They got an Unfallen with them as well. Something about a Trine infused with a Song of Creation.”
Now, it was Roggi’s turn to be shocked. “What?”
Bishop turned a grin on Wei. “Harbinger must be playing a pretty nasty game putting you together with the rest of this crew. Ain’t the only one being hunted, young master. Not by a long shot.”