Tec Mage Chapter Forty One: Past The Black Roots
Pet Name: Princess
Alignment: Chaotic
Race: Rainbow Spider
Title: Future Queen
Level: 56
Fame: 200
The Rainbow Spider species are deadly hunters. Silent and swift movements make the rainbow spiders more efficient than even the most skilled assassins. The natural exoskeleton grants the spider great defence without any lost in speed
Rainbow webbing.
Rainbow spiders have the special ability to imbue stats strength in to their webbing depending on how strong the colour of their eyes.
Red eye of life 100%, the full stat of Vitality can be copied in to the webbing.
Blue eye of thought 100%, the full stat of Intelligence can be copied in to the webbing.
Yellow eye of speed 100%, the full stat of Agility can be copied in to the webbing.
Orange eye of power 100%, the full stat of Strength can be copied in to the webbing.
White eye of Tolerance 100%, the full stat of Endurance can be copied to the webbing.
Green eye of Knowledge 100%, the full stat of Wisdom can be copied to the webbing.
Indigo eye of Attractiveness 100%, the full stat of Charisma can be copied to the webbing.
Violet eye of success 100% the full stat of Luck can be copied to the webbing
Cannibal Evolution.
When ever the Rainbow Spiders eats Something linked to it's species there is a chance to increase it's power permanently
Telepathy
Due to spiders unable to make any audible sound the rainbow spiders have mastered telepathy
As Atlas looked over the stats of the baby rainbow spider known as Princesses he made note of them. The Imugi called Forge was gifted with triple stats for every one stat gained, of course this was before Forge's evolution. Princesses on the other hand only gain double stat points for every one gained. This was the natural gift monsters had and the only benefit over players who would gang up on monsters.
Princess skills mostly involved her webs but the three Atlas was interested in were Rainbow webbing, Cannibal Evolution and Telepathy.
Telepathy had confused Atlas when Princess first spoke to him. He didn't know where the sweet little girls voice was coming from but now he did.
Cannibal Evolution was something Atlas already knew. With Princess absorbing her dead mothers eyes she gained deeper coloured eyes.
Rainbow webbing was the skill with the most potential in Atlas eyes. Princesses was only able to survive in the heat thanks to this webbing. In her desperation, Princess had weaved many webs to get away from the burning floor. Only the white webbing of Tolerance with stood the heat and saved the life of Princess. Atlas wondered if the silk webbing could be made into clothes, when he got back home Atlas would ask the gnolls what they could do with it.
"Why did daddy do this to me" Princess sweet soft tone vibrated in Atlas mind, no actual sound was heard and Atlas was the only one to hear this.
A long and carefully discussion took place where Atlas tried his best to explain that Forge didn't do it on purpose, each word was carefully selected as not to destroy the father and daughter relationship that was held between Forge and Princess.
Princess eyes were filled with doubt, she understood what Atlas had said but the pain she had suffuerd from was too great to be forgiven though a couple of words.
Atlas stopped rubbing medicine on Princess legs, a long awkward pause caused Atlas to be lost for words.
In the end this was between Forge and Princess, all Atlas could do was bring them together, before he left Atlas placed four more fire resistance rings on the regrown legs of Princess.
"Forge just lost his mind for a bit" answered Atlas "I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you"
"I... don't like daddy any more" replied Princess, all eight of the baby spider's eyes had a tear in them.
Atlas picked up Princess and used a weak gust to dry the potion mix off "don't say that, it was a mistake. don't you remember the time you bit me"
"Why is mummy siding with daddy" asked Princess with her adorable little girls voice.
Pulling off his fire resistance rings from his hand Atlas placed them on Princess four regrown legs. Each ring had fire resistance of 5% and Princess was wearing 8 ring for a fire resistance of 40%
"He was wrong, there's no doubt about it" Atlas paused for a moment. Princess was still a child with child feelings.
"Give Forge a chance to make it up to you, ultimately you have to work it out between the two of you" explained Atlas
"OK mummy" the big eyes of Princess shinned with understanding but in the corner there was still pain.
Atlas left Princess in the safety of the climate controlled base, as he made his way to the lava lake that Forge was waiting at.
When Atlas re-entered the heaven's core he found Forge basking in the lava lake with his head resting on the obsidian bridge, as Atlas neared to Forge the imugi slunked back into the lava.
Atlas rushed to where Forge had submerged and plunged his arm in to the lava. Grabbing onto Forge Atlas pulled the Imugi out of the lava, Forge face was full with confusion and shame.
"WHAT, what did i do" Forge was worried, the pain in his cheek where Atlas had punched him had faded but the shock was still there.
Forge was held in the air but the length of his body was still in the lava, each flip of Forge's tail splashed lava. Forge's wings stretched out and flapped with amazing power to try to free him self from Atlas grip.
Quickly Atlas put Forge in a headlock and completely dragged Forge out of the lava. Forge's fire mane blazed from his back and a tongue of fire flashed out of his mouth.
"STOP, YOUR HURTING ME" Forge was panicking, Atlas had always treated him so kindly and even though the head lock wasn't hurting Forge the panic state of Forge was exaggerated every little thing.
Just as fast as it happened, it stopped. Atlas released Forge's head and without any dignity Forge's head dropped to the floor and bounced with a thud.
Atlas wanted to lecture Forge on what he did to Princess and why totally forgetting her existence while bringing her to a fire hell was wrong but words failed him.
"I don't know what to say, you forgot about your friend as you were deep in greed to absorb my mana. I'm so disappointed in you" Atlas just shook his head at Forge.
Forge lifted his head, his bottom jaw was quavering with emotions. When Atlas went off to search for the baby spider Forge was left in the lava lake with his thoughts and shame. Forge had swam though the lava trying to keep him self busy but the thought of the baby spider dying was weighing on his mind. Resting his head on the obsidian bridge Forge could only think about the baby spider, if he had eye lids they would be crunched closed trying to push the images out of his mind.
"I'M SORRY" wailed Forge, his voice was broken with regret and emotions.
"Don't say sorry to me, if the baby spider was here do you think words would be enough" said Atlas.
Forge's face instantly paled and his head dropped a little.
"IF.......is she dead" Forge felt woozy, he almost fell to the ground from the news.
Forge had mistakenly thought that he had unintentionally killed the baby rainbow spider.
"No, she still alive. I found her in time but not before she was on deaths door step" Atlas turned away.
Forge's dark eyes sparkled in relief. The little spider had a hidden relationship with Forge that even he wasn't sure about, Forge didn't question how he knew, he just put it down to instinct.
"What should i do" asked Forge.
Spending his life in a prison made Forge able to relate to things that normal people couldn't even possibly think of. Spending that time in the forge also made him unable to think of a way to help, he had the compassion but not the experience.
"Go to her, beg for forgiveness, show what you did was wrong and repent, be completely honest" Atlas didn't have too much experience asking for forgiveness but he did know what he would want if he was wronged by a person he trusted.
"Hun hun" Forge nodded while listening carefully. This was all new information. Forge knew how to forgive but didn't know how to ask for forgiveness.
"Now go" Atlas pointed at the exit, he wasn't worried about Forge being attacked by the giant lizards, none of the lizards could fly and thus Forge was out of reach from their grasp. The only reason the giant lizards had latched on to Forge before was because he was too excited to think clearly.
"Yes" Forge went to leave but stopped at the exit.
"Umm, where is the baby spider now" Forge looked bashful as he was about to leave without knowing exactly where Princess was.
Atlas almost rolled his eyes but controlled him self, with a little instruction Atlas pin pointed where the base Princess was. Forge left to beg for forgiveness.
Atlas was left in the stadium sized lava lake all alone. The only noise was the low rumbling of the lava as it rolled and cracked. There was of course the green and red slimes but the only noise they made was when they fell in to the lava.
With no items or clothes on him Atlas wanted to go back and collect some from his stored bags but the awkward meeting between Forge and Princess made him think twice about it. Instead Atlas investigated the only thing he hadn't properly looked at, the tangled black roots.
Rubbing his hand over the roots Atlas found them to have the same smoothness as obsidian but they were still made of wood
"Identify"
"Ding"
Identify has failed
Atlas was shocked, this was the first time in a while that his identify had failed. Atlas had boosted his skill by identifying every little things like stones on the floor, all the way up to items bought to his shop.
"Identify" Atlas called out again only to be met with failure.
Atlas Identification skill was at Intermediate level 6 but it was obvious that it wasn't enough. Atlas didn't give up, with each failed identify Atlas received a small amount of experience to his skill. Atlas had a huge mana pool and it no longer mattered how much he used identify as the mana was replenished by the skill Concentrated Mediation.
"Identify, identify, identify...." Atlas didn't even wait for the message that he had failed the identification but instead spammed the skill as fast as he could say the word.
With this trick it didn't matter how small the experience Atlas was receiving, it all added up and fast too.
"Ding"
Identify Intermediate level 7
Identify Intermediate level 8
Identify Intermediate level 9
Atlas must of said identify ten thousands times or more but he got what he wanted.
"Ding"
Identify Intermediate level 9 has turned in to Expert Level 1
With the skill reaching new hight a window finally popped up.
You are the first player to reach expert in Identify a new skill has been awarded
"Ding"
Inner Eye
Allows the user to identify items at a distance and even recognise items that are equipped by others
Trying out the skill a bright painted eye appeared on Atlas forehead, instantly information started to pop up, looking at the lava a message popped up.
Lava
Temperature 1,200C, Up to 100,000 times as viscous as water, lava can flow great distances before cooling and solidifying because of its thixotropic and shear thinning properties
Looking down Atlas peered at the obsidian bridge
Obsidian
a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Atlas no longer needed to touch an item to get the information, with the skill activated he glanced at the black roots
Bramble Gate Bush
This ancient plant was thought to be extinct. Once plentiful around the world, it was considered a pest due to its unbreakable defence. Any physically or magical force applied to the bush would cause it to be deflected and absorbed. Unable to destroy the bush people had to dig around the plant and move it as a whole. In the end people found out that the natural predator to the bush were rabbits. Even though the bush had the greatest defence against attack it was incredibly weak against the passive bunny's
Atlas looked at the black roots, it was as solid as the description had said. Even the lava couldn't burn the roots. The only way to pass though was to be as passive as a bunny.
Just then Forge entered the lava room, sniffling a little. Forge flew up to the back of Atlas and rested his head on Atlas shoulder scaring Atlas.
"She won't listen to me" Forge moaned
"WHAAT" Atlas jumped, he wasn't expecting Forge to be back so soon.
"Princess wont listen to me. Every time i speak she faces the wall and refuses to look at me. When i turned her around she spun a web around her self" if snakes could cry then Forge would of been in tears by now.
"Go back and try again and again and again, don't stop asking for forgiveness, show how much you are sorry with actions" answered Atlas.
Flying low Forge held his head down as he was feeling more upset, he quickly dived in to the lava lake and re-emerged. As he left the protection of the burning heat of the lava area a giant lizard jumped out with a raised sword in it's claws.
Raising his head Forge looked like a Cobra ready to strike but instead of biting, Forge spat a big dose of lava that he had kept in his mouth from the lava lake. The lava hit the giant lizard squarely in the face and melted most of the head off, with a thud the body of the giant lizard dropped to the floor. With out a second look Forge flew over the body giving a glancing blow from his tail.
Atlas attention went back to Bramble gate bush, according to the information from the identify any and all attacks were nullified in front of the bramble gate bush. It was true to see that even lava didn't have any effects against it.
Placing a hand on the black roots Atlas rested, not moving, the hand sunk in to the roots like a heavy weight on snow. Slowly Atlas body melded though the roots.
In this area where constant heat, fire and lava was around the Bramble gate bush allowed none to pass it's roots. Even the almighty slime god couldn't pass the roots with it's blazing fiery body.
As Atlas fazed though the roots, it only took a couple of seconds to pass though a meter of black roots. Atlas stumbled a little as his support from the roots gave way to a new room.
"Ding"
You are the first player to enter Alberich Cottage.
Fame increases by 3000.
The immortal elf known as Alberich lived in this cottage. Though out time Alberich name has been written in the very fabric of the land
In Alberich cottage, Atlas stood there in surprised stupor, every little thing was so natural.
Chairs and tables were made from living twisting roots. A giant grandfather clock made from interlocking leaves and flowers was gently ticking, even the floor was made from green grass that was so densely packed together that a coin couldn't fall between the gaps.
The air was cool and smelled like the sweet smell of life. A blue bright light illuminated all that Atlas could see. As Atlas left the room the light extinguished and a new light erupted. The walls of the cottage was made from the very same Bramble gate bush.
Atlas soon released that every piece of the cottage was alive, it wasn't the same as having a cupboard made from a piece of wood cut from a tree but the tree being formed into the shape of the cupboard, Atlas was truly amazed.
Searching though the cottage Atlas examined every little part, he couldn't stop checking to see if everything was alive. Everything was fascinating to him. Finally after checking many pieces of furniture Atlas came to a door way that had hanging ivy blocking the path. Pushing aside the ivy Atlas entered the room, before he could take note of his surrounding Atlas fell over a clump of earth 3 foot tall.
Rolling using the out side of his arm to guide him Atlas recovered like a cat falling on its feet, with out wasting a second Atlas was facing the thing he had fell over.
To his surprise the mound of earth had a face. Two dark holes where eyes should be stared back at Atlas A faint blue glow dance in the sockets like eyes.
Under his breath Atlas muttered a single word.
"Golem"
While staring at the little Golem the three foot mound of earth walked off. On it's back was a bag made from earth and fused to the golem.
This was the first thing that Atlas had seen that could move in the cottage. Atlas thought he could hear movement when he was out side the black roots and to his surprise it had turned out to be a golem.
While watching, the golem stopped at a set of draws. Reaching in to it's back pack the small golem pulled out a green slime and started to dab the draws.
The little golem was cleaning, using the slime as a rag it was picking up dust and in turn feeding the slime.
"What a smart way to use a slime" thought Atlas.
When the golem finished with cleaning it put the slime back in its back pack and just stood there, without anything to do this automaton shut down.
Poking it Atlas watched as the head and eyes of the little golem followed him. With a quick look Atlas made the connection with the infinite steel men in the training hall, both were the same the only two differences was the material they were made from and the hight.
With this connection made, Atlas used his eye technique to peer into the golem's artificial soul. Glowing like a moon, the soul appeared in the golem's chest.
Raising his hand, Atlas was about to use his elemental control skill to peel the earth away from the soul when a thick heavy earth hand slapped his hand away.
Surprised Atlas stepped back while rubbing his hand. The little golem had hit Atlas hand and now stood there shaking a closed fist at him. The pale blue fire that was the golem's eyes had turned to a deep yellow.
Now Atlas thought about it the infinite steel men in the training hall didn't posses the glowing fiery eyes, this put Atlas on his toes.
Slowly Atlas raised his hand to try again but as soon as his hand reached near the golem it's yellow fiery eyes flickered red. Retracting his hand Atlas didn't feel it was wise to push his luck.
With Atlas stepping back the yellow eyes of the golem turned back to it's light blue colour.
Keeping his eye on the little golem, Atlas looked around. Atlas could see that this room was different to the others. In the other rooms only the furniture was around and nothing more, even in the chest there was nothing but air. But in this room was a number of interesting items.
The room had a feeling of a study. A grand desk made from twisting wood was in the centre and on the desk was a golden telscope.
Jumping slightly Atlas dashed forwards picking up the telescope.
"Identify"
Identify has failed
"Sighh" Atlas had just reached new heights with his skill but now he had failed again, at least he knew he was on the right path, only an item that was very high would fail a expert identify.
Atlas wanted to spam the skill again but without his concentrated mediation skill activated he would lose mana too fast.
Atlas placed the telescope back on the desk, with no bag or storage room on him he couldn't take more than a hand full of items.
On the desk was other things but the most noticeable was the three books lying on the table.
A black book as think as a slab of granite, a golden skill book and a normal looking brown book. Atlas read out the title of the golden skill book
"Advance elemental control"
Atlas already had the basic elemental control skill that allowed him to control earth, water, fire and wind. Eagerly Atlas flipped though the pages of the book.
Getting the gist of it Atlas summarized the book.
It turned out that each one of the basic elements had other elements branching off of it, for example water branched off to ice and vapour.
While ice was the more compact form of water, vapour was the more free version. The basic elemental s had a connection to the more advance version, just like fire couldn't branch off to ice, water couldn't branch off to lighting.
Closing the book Atlas quickly learned the skill.
Basic Elemental Control Intermediate Level 5 has turned to Advance Elemental Control Beginner Level 9
With more elements added to elemental control the skill's mastery went down to compensate. An increase in different elements would mean a more flexible mage in battle or creating items. The only weakness was that Atlas couldn't manifest the new elements until he had a spell that used the new element.
The new elements were like so. Earth branched to gem and metal control, Fire spilt into Lighting and Plasma control, Water birthed Ice and Vapour control, while wind had the weird Void and Solar control.
Until Atlas had magic using those elements he couldn't see just what they did, turning to the next book Atlas picked up the thick black book.
On the front cover was weird joined up letters. Not understanding Atlas opened the book, on the first page was the same weird joined up words. Rubbing his chin Atlas went to turn the next page only to be surprised that the whole book only consisted of two pages, each page was half as think as the whole book. Rubbing the bridge of his nose Atlas attempted to read out loud the words but to no luck. Atlas just didn't understand, on the page there seemed to be four different types of P and each one had a small change to it.
Where could he start, even with the wish granted to him by the small god of the land to be able to learn any language after a week he still needed to hear it at least once.
The finally book was the brown book, on the cover was the dwarven language, Atlas sighed with relief, Forge had spoken a couple of dwarven words around Atlas and after a week he had picked up the language.
"Golem building basics"
Reading though the pages the book was different from other skill books, for example there was a skill to make a golem core but to make it you needed a living stone Basin, a advance enchantment table and the life force of the living.
The whole process of making a golem was more like a crafting skill, if making a golem was compared to a computer then the body of a golem was the casing, the artificial soul was the power supply and the program turned out to be something very surprising to Atlas.
Knowledge, the knowledge stat could be sacrificed to the golem as a program. Anything from 1 - 10 stats could be given to the golem. One point in knowledge would cause the golem to only respond when told but it would be stubbornly passive about it. If a golem with one knowledge stat point was ordered to dig a hole, it would until the very end of time, it would crumble before stopping.
But if a golem was given ten stat points of knowledge it would be able to think for its self and reason tasks, not only that a higher stat for the golem would mean that they could grow quicker.
There was so much to learn about creating golems, like the fact golems could collect experience for the one who created them and after a hundred years of a golem existing then it could start gaining experience, levels and skills for it's self.
Atlas had a rare smile on his lips, the knowledge stat was his highest stat he had but up until now he couldn't find a use for it. The knowledge stat levelled up when ever Atlas learned something new but apart from it just being a high number there wasn't a need for it.
Gently closing this rare treasure Atlas was finally happy about this trip.
Atlas thought how he had got to this point. Ten days of travelling and on the way being attacked by bandits. Being almost run out of Baran village. Not to mention the trouble with the Avians and the Duke. After all that Atlas had found the Magus and given the quest to gain illusion magic and made his way though the dungeon that lead to the core of the floating land known as heaven.
It had been a long journey and now he had been awarded, most of the cottage was empty but the last room held so many great and interesting things, it would take a week to look though every thing, enough time for Forge and Princess to make up.....maybe.
In the mean time back in the Kingdom of Lerdern Atlas apprentices were busy.
End Of Chapter Forty One