“Thanks for the help Mina, I was able to prove some hypothesis about the nature of these powers” I said, still feeling elated about the whole being a planeswalker thing. Now I have options, since if I haven't figured out how to walk yet…no I can´t walk away and leave the kids behind.
“Now I need to figure out how to actually make a proper "spell ". Last time I got lucky with that burst of purification. It would be great if I can improve it into something less energy intensive like a magic missile or a grenade, the last battle used like half the pool in a single effect.
“Let's check the pool of power” I let my instinct guide me and close my eyes and let my consciousness submerge back into that field of stars that represents my power. “ Let's call it the inner cosmos” . The first thing I noticed is a sphere of ever changing colors at the center of this “space” I feel a strong connection to it.
“That must be my spark but it looks exhausted after the first jump, there also are more stars now” Most of them are very tiny, barely specks of light compared to the little suns that represent the Hakuba Shrine and the gate of the castle.
Looking into the Shrine star I see the pool of white mana refilling at an appreciable rate. The pool it's a bit more than three quarters or so of maximum capacity. “This is probably how the whole tapping and untapping of lands must look like”. Moving my focus towards the inside of the pool I look for the PURIFICATION symbol.
Comparing this symbol to the ones I got from the monsters tell me the little shards must be part of greater whole like this symbol in front of me the shards are like a pinch of powdered clay, you need to gather more of it to make bricks, then gather more to make walls and so on until you get a building.
I shake my head, no need to go down the rabbit hole now. What I need now is to figure out how to make an offensive spell preferably a ranged one. During the fight it came out like light instead of the wave a picture in my mind. My gut tells me that I need something to shape it further.
I tried to focus more on the symbol in front of me l. Looking deeper until I felt something click. Images of people in robes like the ones Mina is wearing flowed into my mind. If I venture a guess they probably are past generations of Hakuba priests. While their robes seemed vary a little, all of them have that silvery horse somewhere in their persons.
These men and women look like they are performing exorcisms on monsters, objects, even the land itself , some of them chant and pray, while others do battle with swords, bow and arrow and the occasional spear.
I started to get how they do that, it's all in the flow of mana as it chains together the concept of PURIFICATION through their skills in order to achieve a result.
The more I submerge into the concept the more I feel something crystalize in my mind. I pull away from the symbol and look around at the other shards I have collected.
“Let's see if I can combine it with another concept to make and spell something like ARROW or BULLET” I said as I looked among the shards that I had gathered.
“PROJECTILE huh” This one must have come among the bunch I got when Soma gained his first soul, it allows him to throw spears at his enemy. “Lets see what can you do”
As if reacting to my thoughts but the concept of PURIFICATION and PROJECTILE flow in front of me. “Good now let's add a bit of mana”. Concentrating on the Shrine star I pull a small string of power and move it to the small PURIFICATION shard and then towards the PROJECTILE shard.
Suddenly the end of the string that went through the bullet shard circle around and connected with the PURIFICATION shard severing it from the pool of white power. I see power leave both concepts leaving them brightless. Said powers started to spin around and getting closer to each other until a loud BAAM sound signaled the collision of both merging together.
I pull my focus toward the new stars, at first sight it looks bigger and brighter than the other stars. It looks that the PURIFICATION concept merged with and changed PROJECTILE concept while the latter give it function thus forming the PURIFICATION PROJECTILE spell“.
Once more I dive deeper into the star, this time there aren't really memories per se but I can see the function of the spell. It shoots a small comet of PURIFICATION at a moderate speed, I can further shape on the fly the PROJECTILE aspect to give additional effects like piercing or explosion effects but it I have to do se manually, unlike the instant casting of the basic effect it doesn't even need a chant.
It's different when I try casting directly from the concept in the Shrine star, it's more powerful but I can't control it well. It's not really mine, it belongs to the land. I can use it but it's inefficient to say the least, I need to understand the concept first.
Looking at the concepts I use to make the spell I notice that the PROJECTILE shards is gone consumed to make the spell but the PURIFICATION one did not, why?.
Let's try again to make another spell. Since I already made one of white , I will try to make one of black. Realistically speaking I am not in great shape, years behind a computer did not prepare me for trials ahead so I need something to keep me going since I am not a videogame character with endless stamina. The themes of black include things like opportunism, murder, life draining among others. I am particularly interested in the latter one so I can replenish my stamina and heal my wounds.While I can also heal with white I don't currently have a shard related to healing, I guess I can do it in a pinch with raw mana but my gut tells me that seems dangerous.
“Lets see, I have DEATH,SOUL, and ABSORPTION, with these I can probably imitate Alucard Soul Steal to some degree”. After all I only have very tiny concepts shards rather than the huge solid symbols of centuries of practice.
I pull a bit of black mana from the black star that represents the gate of the castle. I immediately notice the difference with white mana, it's more eager to go to the concepts reacting to my desire to grow stronger.
The same process occurs and a new star containing the 3 concepts emerge and a name it LESSER SOUL STEAL reflecting its capabilities and out of respect for the original spell.
Once more the concepts shards disappeared, I need to look later into this.
Slowly I retracted my consciousness from the Inner Cosmos and opened my eyes returning to the real world. When I opened my eyes I saw Mina looking at me in amazement.
“Are you alright? Did something happen?” I was puzzled by the looks she was giving me.
“You are amazing Ferio-san, even in this situation you're so calm. You can even meditate for an hour. Is this the power of adults” She says with stars in his eyes.
Now I feel bad. In my excitement over my new shiny powers I ignored the distressed girl and lost track of the world, even with the barrier I should be more vigilant. It worked out in the end but I cannot be careless in the future. I can defeat thousands of enemies but I can only die once after all. Let's try to keep the morale up.
“You are not doing so bad yourself, you know. You said you were the daughter of the head priest, are you the successor” I said, trying to keep Mina distracted.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“That would be Shintarou-oniisama, he is supposed to become the next head priest next year” Mina said calmly. “And what about you? Any plans for the future, college, work?
“Yes I wish to go to college to become a healer?” “A healer not a doctor, jou-chan?”
“Yes I have the ability to heal wounds and aliments, I been helping people from the supernatural world like the members of Arikado-san when they got wounded”
“Now that's amazing, can I see it?, how do you do it? Do you cast a spell or call upon the gods?” I said excited, now an example of spellcasting that I can observe without being in the middle of combat. How could I let an opportunity like this pass me by.
She shakes her head “It's not a proper spell with formula and rituals, but an innate ability I can call upon” I got some scratches on the back of my hand from the last scuffle, it's not much but I can use them to observe the effects of this ability first hand. “Here use my hand”.
She nodded and took my hand between hers and a gently white glow started to envelop them. It looks that she is using a different use of the PURIFICATION concept treating wounds and I image sickness as impurities to be purged. In hindsight it should be obvious since she is from the Hakuba bloodline.
In all its very instructive concepts can be approached from different directions and intentions. I wonder what will happen if I do different mana/concepts combinations. Something for later.
A loud noise coming from the doors leading to the castle. It sounds like someone it's dragging something heavy along the floor. Without hesitation I charge a Purification Projectile and start charging it while pointing it towards the door.
“Mina get behind me” a startled yes was her response as she rapidly got behind me. The noise becomes closer until I see a black bald man wearing military fatigues dragging a big crate through the castle entrance . Could he be Hammer coming here to set up his shop?.
“Who are you, identify yourself?” I shouted towards the figure who reacted by pulling a gun and pointing in our direction
I could feel my heart thundering in my chest. A bullet could one shot me but I don't waver. I could really use a defensive spell.
After a moment the man lowered his gun and said “Name's Hammer. I'm with the U.S. Military, here to investigate this Dracula castle mess. But that's too dicey for folks without super powers. I got my bacon saved by that Soma fella. So I decide to open a shop”
I don't think I can reabsorb the spell back into mana so I let it dissipate slowly into motes of light.“Soma-kun!! Is he alright?” I heard Mina asking from behind me “More than that, he's got the whole monster slayin' down to a T.” He then holstered his gun and continued pulling his crate.
“He doesn't seem like a bad person, but please stay inside the barrier I going to help him” “Yes Ferio-san”
Walking closer I see that the crate it's full of weapons and items “That quite the selection of items” and full of shards I thought to myself as I walked toward the back of the crate absorbing some shards all the while “Let me help you push the crate”.
“Alright, thanks man”
Once we pushed the crate inside the barrier he pulled a tarp and began to put out all sorts of items from rings and books to weapons atop of it like some bazaar stall.
“You're really going to open a shop here” I know is part of the plot but I can't help myself as I saw Hammer put down his items with the confidence of an old merchant.”Of course, that Soma fella told me he already found some gold coins inside the castle, how ‘bout you?”
“Me, I am already planning to explore the castle but I can't leave the young lady behind, since you are going to be here, would you mind keeping an eye on her?” I looked him in the eyes as I asked. He grinned at me and said “Quite a popular young lady, ain't she? That Soma kid asked me the same thing. Don't you fret, as long as old Hammer is here, nothing bad will happen to the lady”
As I gathered some of the shards from the items I found a bottle about the size of a can of soda full of a red liquid, and more importantly full of concepts like HEALING, LIFE, MENDING and so on.
“Ohhh it's that healing potion” I said as I open my mage sight trying to get not only the shards but the pattern as well. “That is indeed an honest to god health potion, son. It'll heal your wounds and boost your vitality, 50 gold coins”
“Gold? What happened to the almighty dollar?” I said, raising an eyebrow.
“Sorry son but the monster ain’t carrying bills you know, tell you what since you help me out setting the shop I let you have it, I even throw you this staff I found since you like one those magic types for free if you promise to come back and do business.” said Hammer not missing an opportunity to make money in the future
“You got yourself a deal” I responded to him while taking the items. Since I already checked out the potion I focus on the staff. At first glance it looked more like a long branch someone cut from a random tree than a manufactured product, but one look at its concepts told me that tis the real deal FOCUS, CHANNEL, MANA, among others.
While its not at optimal load out I feel more confident about exploring the castle I walk towards Mina “ I will now go to the castle, that old man name is Hammer. He told me met Soma in the castle, he saved him from monsters "
"Really!?”
“Yes, he is a soldier so he would take care of any monster that appears,also Soma and Arikado should be back to check on you so wait here ok?
In the game the first room is a dilapidated hall full of zombies with the purpose to ease the player into the combat aspect of the games. Unlike the games however the place was not well lit at all. With only the moonlight streaming from the holes in the walls and few scattered candlesticks making the shadows seem larger.
I see some four shambling forms around the room like in the game, a most excellent target for experimentation.
I call the white mana and connected towards my spell then I pointed at the nearest zombie located roughly at the half the length of the room. A bolt of white mana erupted from my fingertip traveling faster than an arrow leaving a trail of sparkling little motes. It hit the zombie square in the chest and leaving a hole about the size of fist through it like it was made of wet paper also it catches fire.
“White fire mmm, must be reacting to the undead concept of the zombie those, zombies and demons take badly to purification after all.” I mused as the zombie crumbled into dust leaving behind shards like the monsters in the courtyard. I looked at my mana reserve from the temple and noted that the spell barely consumed anything.
“Lets try the staff now”
Picking another zombie one more to the right I repeat the process this time channeling through the staff rather than my hand. The spell not only flies faster, it also leaves a far smaller trail than when I use my hand. Also impacted the zombie harder leaving a bigger hole and the fire consumed it faster.
“Now let's try LESSER SOUL STEAL” I said as I pointed my staff toward the burning zombie. I felt something coming out of the zombie struggling as If trying to pull away. I increase my pull and a small ball black energy flies towards my chest. It reaches me and I feel an invigorating sensation spreading through my body like I just downed a redbull and espresso at same time.
“Damn this is what Soma feels when he gets a soul no wonder he went to his knees back in the courtyard”. Really souls are one hell of drug.
Now I want to get the pattern of the zombie. As I walked towards the end of the hall when I heard a wet noise behind my back. Looking back I saw some puddles of blood forming in the ground, moments later zombies started to crawl from those puddles.
“Monster spawning is a thing” I said as I took varios seconds to charge the power for the Purification spell but this time I tried to make a wide cutting wave. The results are mostly what I wanted but I did not get all the zombies two got away
I shot a bullet toward one zombie and I cast Lesser Soul Steal on the other. The first one died as expected but the other one resisted my spell.”
I guess I needed to weaken them before using the spell” I sigh and use mage sight on the remaining zombie to try to get the pattern. I tried to get the zombie data but I heard a moan uncomfortably close to my back.“Fuck” I said as i turn to see a zombie scant steps lunging behind me. I felt the air being driven from my lungs as the monster tackled me to the ground, in my panic I dropped my staff. I panicked as I saw the rotten face of the zombie full of yellowed teeth and milky white eyes. I tried to push it away but it's stronger than it looked.
In my desperation I managed to call the power of purification through my body like an aura but it was too weak to destroy the zombie, but it managed to make it back off me. I immediately rolled and extended my hand and cast PURIFICATION PROJECTILE killing it. I looked for the other zombie, but somehow it didn't move in the confrontation. I scan my surroundings with my mage sight and don't see other zombies, I give a sigh of relief. Iit was a stupid mistake. I can´t let my guard down even for the weakest monster in the game.
I pick my staff and with my back at the wall I continue getting the pattern of the zombie. Once it was done I hit with a PURIFICATION and SOUL STEAL. I fill once more the rush of power as I absorb the power in the zombie soul and feel the aches of my body disappear.
This time however I keep my mage sight on and look at my body. I can see bits and pieces of the zombie power fusing with my body enhancing it. It's very minuscule however since I don't feel particularly stronger beyond the surge of energy. Another thing to consider.
I gather the shards that the zombies leave behind, I notice that the zombies that I killed with LESSER SOUL STEAL didn't leave shards behind. It seems it consumes everything. It becomes a matter of loot vs xp or gains as I don't think I am going to have a level up mechanic.
“One last thing” I said to myself as I stand at the end of the hall ready to enter the next room. I call upon the pattern of the zombie and examine it. I see concepts like CORPSE, DECAY AND UNDEAD among others.
Currently it probably will cost me about a third of my pool of black mana. I wanna try to summon it without the DECAY concept to see if I can get a more agile zombie. I pause to look at the room. I don't want a repeat of what happened before. Satisfied that I find none, I try to take the concept.
Turns I can but the cost increased considerably from roughly a third to more than half my pool but it's possible.
“Welp lets call it an investment” I call the pattern I fill it with mana. I feel something get pulled from my spark providing a “frame” for the pattern. I wonder if this is Ether. It took a few seconds for the patter to become completely filled with mana then a few more for the zombie to materialize.
Looking at the zombie I can see it is none of the rot the others have. It has the body of a muscular man with vacant misty white eyes.
“Excellent I name you Lord Zombiton the very first of hopefully many soldiers, now let's go and gather more comrades”
"One last thing" I said as I took aim and shot toward two of the candles affixed to the walls, as expected it got destroyed but provided neither hearts nor coins.
“Tchh lest hope that at least Wall Chickens are a thing” I muttered as I step towards the exit of the next room.