CHAPTER IX: RETURN OF THE MACK
______________________________________________________________
_
{06:16 LOCAL TIME 1TH JULY 1ME}
_
_____________________________________________________________
THE VOID
SUGAR
Sugar regained consciousness, she was confused and still in the darkness. She shook her head and regretted it right away the pain spiking. She opened her HUD to occupy her mind only to be inundated with notifications.
_____________________________________________________________
< QUEST COMPLETE >
{Quest Name: The Void I
Quest Type: True Class(Void Chain)
Quest Tier: Platinum
Description: A Class is not just a part of a player, it is the most direct path to power in the GREAT GAME. As Classes get more powerful the Player also gains tremendous power that grows exponentially as they tier up. At Each Tier, Classes get a spell or spells which are magical powers that are arms of the Class. While Class spells are created to work in conjunction with classes, a true class spell can out-level the class in some cases. That is just one of the many small benefits of earning a True Class, but the main benefit is the access to the Tier 5 Pool of -WILL-. The new pool will not only augment all of the player’s spells and other skills passively, but it will also give the player limited Idiosyncratic Manipulation. At the peak of this Manipulation, a player should have full Kinetic control over any of their own belongings.
True Classers can walk on the SKY-road.
Requirements: Gain a True Class.
Objective 1: Level up to Tier 5(Waived).
Objective 2: Clear race quest(Waived).
Objective 3: Meet the Stat Prerequisite (Waived).
Objective 4: Choose a True Class(1/1)(Complete)
Time limit: None.
Rewards: 1,000,000 EXP, True Class, 100 Skill points, 1000 free stats, The Void II.
Failure penalty: No Path Forward.}
_____________________________________________________________
She groaned knowing what was going to come next.
_____________________________________________________________
{Skill points: 152}
{Would you like to enter the skill Store? Be advised Commoners on the Classer path should choose a Profession before accessing the skill Store.
Second advisory Classers should choose a profession prior to leveling True Class to the next Tier.}
_____________________________________________________________
“No.” She mechanically moaned, then caught the last part. “Ugh, of course.” She added, her mind slowly returning to baseline. Her head hurt, but she smiled as she felt strong, not like a bodybuilder, but strong like Viola Davis in... every role she ever played. She felt like a strong black woman. The strongest kind of woman she had ever met. She chuckled at that thought, she had some West Indian aunts through marriage they were tough as nails, but still soft and very stylish. They also looked years younger than her uncles even though most were older. ‘As the saying goes black don’t crack.’ She thought with a smile.
“If you have time to smile pupil you have time to read and then go save your friends.” Master Kali said her matte black look was now more visible to Sugar.
She read.
_____________________________________________________________
< YOU HAVE BEEN OFFERED A QUEST >
{Quest Name: The Void II
Quest Type: Void Pupil (Void Chain)
Quest Tier: Diamond
Description: Now that you have chosen a True Class, you are fully on the Classer path. Your profession and Skill path will be limited to 2 tiers below your Class. Your powers have increased and will continue to increase daily. Your -Will- Pool will grow indefinitely, and the things you can do with -Will- are what truly makes True classes dangerous. Unfortunately, that takes time. As your True Class levels up so does your -Will- daily generation increase with no known upper limit. Outside of -Will- granting the Player a new tremendous power that grows exponentially with them, the True class benefits don’t end there. You have been chosen by a Divine(A being at the Peak of power in the GREAT GAME) to be her pupil. Your teacher wants you to grow strong enough to one day take her place in one of her Divine realms. At Tier 5 you will be able to choose one True class spells that can out-level your class. That is just one of the many small benefits of earning a True Class, but the main benefit is still the access to the Tier 5 Pool of -WILL-. For getting access to this pool early some of the other benefits of the True Class will be limited like the Spell choice. The new pool will augment all of the player’s spells and other skills over time.
You have gained the Class Ability Limited Idiosyncratic Manipulation, at the peak of this Manipulation, a player should have full Kinetic control over any of their own belongings including their homes.
True Classers can walk on the SKY-road.
Now go forth and get stronger.
LIVE WELL or DIE FREE
Requirements: Understand your class better.
Objective 1: Level up to Tier 7.
Objective 2: Choose a suitable profession.
Objective 3: Level up taught General Skill.
Objective 4: Get Profession and or Skill-Tree to Tier 5
Time limit: None.
Temporary bonus: Limited Game Knowledge
Rewards: EXPERIENCE, 25 Skill points, free stats, The Void III.
Failure penalty: No Path Forward.}
_____________________________________________________________
This quest was incredibly convoluted, it felt like three or four quests in one. She had to ask. “How come the quest is so all over the place?” But as soon as the words left her mouth she kinda knew the answer. But her sensei answered anyway for expedience.
“It is because of your incredibly low level, and tier. We as Quest givers have to cram things in there so that you don’t miss out on the leveling benefits while not taking away from the powers that you shouldn’t have access to yet. We are kind of cheating. To be honest I chose you well before you chose me. But don’t tell anyone that.” The smile came back but it wasn’t nearly as intimidating as before.
“That made a little sense I guess.” She didn’t get all of it but figured she would understand it more because of her temporary bonus.
“Now hold still,” Kali ordered
Hands made from black liquid like Mana or Void Essence reached out and touched her temples and her heart. Then a small spark of knowledge was downloaded into her mind. “Welcome to the Void family my Pupil.” She said with pride. “You are the first True Classer in the Void path in over a hundred million years. You will have to find and build up our path. The good news is you have me, the bad news is I have many enemies. They don’t like us young one, but they do fear us and I prefer it that way. You feel me?” Kali smiled dangerously.
“I feel you sensei,” Sugar answered looking at her new General Skill, and to her surprise, there was a Trade skill as well.
_____________________________________________________________
< YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT A SKILL >
< GENERAL SKILL LEARNED >
{SKILL NAME: Grand Void Mastery(Passive)
SKILL LEVEL: Student 0
DESCRIPTION: The void is not just a place, but also an energy source. Mastery adds bonuses and proficiency to the particular power. Void mastery adds a percent to damage of all void skills, and other powers as well as control per level. Mastery also allows the Player to evolve their Void powers over time.
SKILL EFFECT: +3% to all damage, accuracy, and control of all void powers per Skill Level.
STUDENT EFFECT: When an enemy is killed by a Void attack or is killed while under a Void debuff, the Player and her teammates regain a Slight amount of HP, MP, and DR.(-Will- if they are Classers and they are over Tier 5)}
< NOTE >
{As your teacher is a Divine this Skill-tree is not limited to your Path restriction.}
_____________________________________________________________
< YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT A PROFESSION SKILL >
{TRADE NAME: Void Bomb style(Active)
TRADE RANK: 1
TRADE TYPE: Combat Spell
DESCRIPTION: A style is a semi-permanent tattoo that a player can use mana to activate a myriad of different powers, and constructs. Void Bomb Style allows the player to infuse mana into a tattoo that can cause an explosion.
Cost to make style: Variable based on size minimum 1 mana per second. Cost to use style: Minimum 50 Mana. Cast time to make style: Variable based on the size and function of the bomb. Cast time to use style: Instant. Cool down to make style: none. Cool Down to use style: Variable based on number of uses, minimum 1 minute. Durability: Variable based on remaining uses.
EFFECTS: The Player can create a COMMON Void bomb Style with time and resources at a 100% chance of completion rate, the higher the rank of the professional the better chances to make higher level Styles.
COMMON Trade Benefit: The base number of uses is Trade level +1.}
< NOTE >
{As your teacher is a Divine any Void-based Profession is not limited to your Path restriction.}
< NEW PROFESSIONS AVAILABLE >
_____________________________________________________________
Sugar was excited at the theme she was building for a character. She had always considered herself a dark humor girl, along with all of the dark documentaries she loved, and dark thrillers she read, she was always a dark person. She wasn’t mean, she was just distant from most people, she always wore black, not that she didn’t like color, her favorite color was just actually black, and with her new Void theme she was now blacker and prouder.
She then got the last surprise of her Specialization and this one made the game more different than any other new power.
_____________________________________________________________
< CLASS ABILITY EARNED >
{{ABILITY NAME: Limited Idiosyncratic Manipulation(PASSIVE)
ABILITY LEVEL: STUDENT 0
DESCRIPTION: Your -Will- be done. -Will- is the internal energy of Tier 5 and above Classers. While -Will- has many uses and applications, its main use is to control, this starts with the Player and then their belongings. As time marches on the -Will- of a player will slowly change their surroundings. The way they control that change is through this Ability. Manipulation of all that the player owns is the ultimate goal of all Classers. Be advised -Will- is constant so you may find items of another -Will- users that have unique mods, and may even grow over time.
ABILITY EFFECT: As long as an item is owned by the player over time their -Will- grants them limited control over it(Must be an inanimate object)
ABILITY EFFECT: As long as the Player has 1 -Will- in her pool, she can walk on the Sky-road.
STUDENT EFFECT: Any item that constantly touches the player is Finely easier to control}
_____________________________________________________________
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Kali smiled. “Don’t neglect this ability it may be a Classer’s most potent power. Get stronger young one, I am sending you back now. The next time I see you will be when you are ready for your cultivation quest. I look forward to it.” She began a chant that felt like it would take a few seconds as the energy around them started to build.
Sugar looked at her new full character sheet with great awe and excitement.
_____________________________________________________________
< CHARACTER SHEET >
TOP PAGE
TITLES:
Team wipe survivor, Hero, Undead Bane.
PLAYER NAME: Sugar
LEVEL: 20 EXP to next level 0/200,000
Free EXP: 1,176,300
CASTE:Commoner(Classer) BASE CLASS: Void Druid(MAGE)
TRUE CLASS: Void Warlock
RACE: Enhanced Human(T3)
_____________________________________________________________
POOLS:
HP 940/940 regen 248HP per day
MP 150/150 regen 71MP per hour
DR 7/7 regen 1 per minute.
Vitality:~100 years
-Will-: 1, generation per day; 1
RESISTANCES
Physical: 0% Magical: 0% Willpower: 0%
ATTRIBUTES:
Strength:86 Dexterity:112 Constitution:94 Magic:1.50 Intelligence:154 Charisma:113 Luck:91
Free Attributes: 200
Current attribute gain per level:
True Class: +18 Intelligence, +16 Charisma & 8 LUCK
Title:+2 LUCK,+1 CON,+1 DEX
Title: +1 per tier to Mental Stats(3)
Title: +3 to Physical Stats +3
Combined: +21 INT, +19 CHA, +13 LUCK, +7 CON & DEX +6 STR(+3 PS)
_____________________________________________________________
EFFECTS PAGE:
Void Empowerment
_____________________________________________________________
SKILLS PAGE:
General:
Void Mastery(S-0)
Spells:
Summon void familiar, Void bolt, Void Fire Bolt, Void shard, Void Long Gun, Void Bullets, Void gas ward.
Trade:
Void Bomb style(1)
Title:
Danger sense(N-4)
{Skill points: 2}
_____________________________________________________________
ABILITY PAGE:
Specialist Abilities:
Mana sight, Mage Mana Shield
Class Abilities:
Identify Humanoid, Limited Idiosyncratic Manipulation.
_____________________________________________________________
ACTIVE PAGE
Quest:
STOP THE OUTBREAK V, The Void II
_____________________________________________________________
PROFESSION PAGE:
Choose one
_____________________________________________________________
MARKS:
Undead bane, Evolved Mark
_____________________________________________________________
End of CS}
_____________________________________________________________
Sugar was very happy with her new build, but something was bothering her. “What the hell happened to all of my skill points?”
The energy around continued to build, but Kali had one last statement for her. “Learning new skills is not free, young one, I even gave you the skills at a steep discount, thanks for the skill points though.” The smile became Cheshire again. “Oh and here is the Quest I promised you young one.”
And with that Sugar was sent careening back through time and space practically falling out into an overgrown park filled with oversized coyotes, with her under-prepared raid party fighting for their lives. Any thoughts of being robbed by a Divine shredded as she put her new spells to good use.
“Deploy.”
First, she dropped four cannons and had them all face a cardinal direction, well she thought it was the cardinal direction, but she didn’t have a compass or a general sense of direction so it was a guess needless to say. Not that it mattered, something was way off, and she wasn’t talking about all of the clearly massive Coyotes. She turned to a shadow and her danger sense went haywire, she didn’t hesitate. “Void Bolt.” A matte black ball of concentrated Void energy flew true at the shadow that had materialized into a Buick-size black bear. The poor bear’s defenses were so high that it survived the bowling ball-sized hole that had burned through its massive shoulder. Sugar cursed at her aim, unlike the ghouls this beast actually tried to dodge. But that was when she linked her mind to her Void long gun on the bear’s side. A cone of black energy blasted out of the cannon finishing off the bear and everything in front and behind it, that brought a sinister smile to the Void Warlock’s face. She was finally-
_____________________________________________________________
< SKILL LEVEL UP >
{SKILL NAME: Danger sense (PASSIVE)
SKILL LEVEL: Novice 7
DESCRIPTION: The player gains an innate sense when they are in danger.
SKILL EFFECT: Get a feeling when you are in danger.
STUDENT EFFECT: Marks dangers in your sight the amount is based on your level of skill.
NOVICE EFFECT: Gives you direction in which to dodge dangers from one target not marked in your sight.}
_____________________________________________________________
She moved her body slightly to the left as a coyote tried to sneak attack her from behind. She raised her staff, which she had no idea where it was while she was in the Void, but she had no time to think about that, as the coyote adjusted when it landed. The damn thing was quick, but Sugar was no slouch either. She used her sharp fingernails to cut her palm then she slammed it on the ground ninja style as Kuma entered the world from the Void and ripped the leaping coyote apart inches from her hooman. After that, the chaos only got worse. For the mirror coyotes that is.
Sugar read the new prompt.
_____________________________________________________________
< GLOBAL EVENT >
{The UNCOMMON grace period has ended. If you haven’t cleared your local UNCOMMON Dungeons they will start to expel their excess mobs in order to grow. The beast will seek out places of high mana concentrations. Protect your homes for they come for you, protect your Villages. UNCOMMON beasts are specialized creatures with multiple natural and magical abilities, some may even evolve with local beasts leaving your surroundings more dangerous than they were before. Their levels will be under 20 at the beginning but that will rise as the waves increase. Seek out a Stronghold for protection, or go at it alone, there are benefits in that as well, just know either way you should Live Well or Die Free.}
< PREPARE FOR THE BEAST HORDE >
{WAVES COMPLETE 0/5
Time until wave completion 08M:32s}
_____________________________________________________________
Sugar raised her staff and tiny slick black balls of energy formed in a circle in front of the head of the staff. The ball formed bullets a second after and she fired them at a cluster of coyotes. The only thing left behind in the Void Bullets spell were motes of light.
***
_____________________________________________________________
{06:28 LOCAL TIME 1TH JULY 1ME}
UNCOMMON PERIOD
MORTAL REALM
_____________________________________________________________
LONG BEACH
PRIME-
After Sugar’s returned, the fight had turned in the party’s favor as the firepower she provided as well as Kuma’s buffs was what was needed to allow them to overcome the sheer numbers that were being thrown at them from the wave.
In the end, the beasts were no match for a party that had been fighting monsters for six months in a Dungeon, even if it didn’t feel like six months, the amount of EXP they had gotten was more than enough to push anyone them individually to tier 3 or 4 if they took the lowest Specs.
What was different was it seemed like other beasts used the cover of the mirror coyotes wave to ambush the party, a sleuth of Shadow bears were able to hurt quite a few NPCs, but no one had died yet.
Also, the shadows belonged to Soto. Even Sugar didn’t have any issues seeing into the shadows now, a byproduct of her mana sight and other void powers. But it was Soto who was deadly in the shadows. He would just disappear and reappear in another shadow, then disappear again, afterwards, body parts would fall out.
Unlike the wave monsters, the ‘normal’ beast didn’t explode into motes of light. They were slowly absorbed by the ground. Well not so slowly it was very noticeable. Sugar couldn’t tell you much about the first bear she killed since her cannon had vaporized it but the others were not happy with the ‘prey’ they were supposed to be hunting.
The ones Soto was cutting up were not only dismembered they actually gave great EXP and left loot globes behind and gave EXP immediately instead of them being deferred like the horde beast.
_____________________________________________________________
< BATTLE LOG >
{Level 29 Shadow bears X10 has died EXP +87,000}
{Level 19 Mirror X58 has died EXP +11,020 (DEFERRED)}
< WAVE COMPLETE >
< NOTE >
{Total EXP Deferred! 21,020}
_____________________________________________________________
{06:30 LOCAL TIME 1TH JULY 1ME}
UNCOMMON PERIOD
MORTAL REALM
_____________________________________________________________
< UNCOMMON BEAST HORDE >
{WAVES COMPLETE 1/5
Time until next wave 29M:58s}
_____________________________________________________________
The party sat resting as they all allowed Kuma’s buff to bring back to full Mana. Sugar, Soto, Johnny, and Yazmin all sat in the center of Sugar’s cannons and had an after-action report.
“Okay, so that was intense.” Soto started.
“Yeah, that was my bad Sergeant Major.” Johnny apologized.
“It most definitely was not son, it was my fault for asking you to do something that you had no training in. That being said, we will need you for the next Wave so you should practice for sure.” Looking at Yazmin. “How is the medical section?”
“We set up triage and saved quite a bit of people. We are running into some issues that I do think we should address though.”
“OH, like what?” Soto motioned for her to continue, after a nod from Sugar as her eyes unfocused to read her prompts from the fight he assumed.
“Well...” She started hesitantly. “Even with full Mana pools we are still exhausted from using our Trades and Skills, only the spell users are fine physically, but the mental strain is taking its toll on everyone. We believe there may be a hidden stamina bar or something holding us back.”
Soto looked at Johnny and then back to Yazmin. “Gamer?” He asked the short Mexican woman.
Johnny answered with a chuckle, “More than me actually. But she is right even with my pools full my body and mind are still sore.”
“I can speak for myself, Corporal.” Yazmin snapped at her husband playfully. “Yes I am a gamer, I ran a guild on the last Thrones server last year. I was a Duster nothing too exotic just great hearing, I got into gaming so I wouldn’t have to hear my entire neighborhood talk about me.”
Soto and Sugar got it. Even though the Dusters were mostly respected they were also the people that caused the most trouble in the world as well, or so the media portrayed them sometimes. Like billionaires, everyone was suspicious of dusters, even after the stat came out that almost thirty percent of the world population was affected by dust, which only made people more wary of each other. That just meant if 3 people were in a room together, one was more than likely a Duster.
But that was the past, they were in a new world now, and none of that mattered. “Okay then, rest, let Kuma do her work and hopefully The colonel will be back to give us some guidance soon.”
“Where do you think he is?” Yazmin asked.
“I don’t know Doc. Sugar?”
“Yeah,” she answered looking back at them with a grim look on her face.
“What is the matter?” Soto asked concerned.
“I know why I was late... but I got a quest from a Divine and I think we have to talk. But it can wait until Colonel comes back.”
“OKAY...” Soto hedged. “Someone stopped you from coming right out. That is a powerful being.”
“She might be at the peak of power in the game, but I wasn’t that late he should be here already if he had the same encounter as me.”
“Maybe he was attacked before he was able to leave or something?” Yazmin inquired.
“Doubtful, his thumbnail is grayed out again, he must have been pulled to some different world... again,” Soto said his eyes rolling. “That guy is always in trouble, and never around when we need him. Officers, am I right?”
“So we wait again? I wasn’t here at the beginning so I don’t know how much we can handle if the waves get stronger.” Sugar added.
“I was the first to get here, and the wave was already in full swing, so we have two choices, stay here or make our way to a Stronghold. I am not excited to see humans in this new world yet, at least not without Colonel to be honest.” He sighed.
“Why?” Johnny asked.
“I can speak to gamers and troops all day, but Colonel is good with people. So I am waiting for him.” Soto said with finality.
Sugar groaned feeling a sense of Deja Vu. “I guess I am staying as well, let me start making more Long guns... we are going to need them. All that EXP being deferred is a blessing since the wave elites are based on the level of the participants.”
“How do you know that?” Yazmin asked the question before anyone else could.
“I have a quest I shared with Soto, but I also have another quest that is personal that also helps.” She answered passing the buck.
Soto sighed again as he looked at Sugar’s personal quest understanding why she knew things.
_____________________________________________________________
< YOU HAVE BEEN OFFERED A QUEST >
{Quest Name: The Prodigy I
Quest Type: Pupil (Chain)
Quest Tier: Diamond
Description: The Divine Kali has tasked you with finding your son Victor, and train him in the ways of the Void. His potential has been seen by a divination skill she has. He is fated to be a major player in the GREAT GAME. As his mother, your job is to prepare him for the trials to come. Be advised Kali wasn’t the only one who has seen his potential other beings of power will seek him out, and offer him immense power, but that will limit his growth and kill his future potential. You must not let that happen. Your progeny needs you, don’t let him down, don’t let me down.
LIVE WELL or DIE Free
Requirements: Empower Victor.
Objective 1: Level up Victor to Tier 5 in his Class(2/5).
Objective 2: Choose a suitable place to settle your family(0/1).
Objective 3: Teach Void General Skill. (Must get to Journeyman 7 or above to do so.)
Objective 4: Clear at least 3 Rare and above Dungeons with Victor(0/3)
Objective 5: Defend your home from invaders 2 times with Victor by your side.(0/2)
Time limit: 2 years.
Temporary bonus: Limited guidance
Rewards: EXPERIENCE, Skill points, free stats, The Prodigy II, Spell Tome.
Failure penalty: Victor’s path is rewritten, and your path is halted.}
_____________________________________________________________
Again Soto wanted to sigh, which he didn’t, which was a moral victory in his mind. “Sugar I know you want to go home as soon as possible, and that quest made it more important, so after the waves, I recommend you do that, I am guessing the stronghold he is at is in that limited guidance?”
“Yes, I can feel a pull towards him. Or at least I think it is him.” She said not giving any more information out, the Quest had too much riding on it. She was a doting mother and would do anything to ensure her son’s success.
Soto looked around at the park clearing they were in while nodding at Sugar’s answer. The trees were larger than he thought trees should be in a city, he felt like he was in a forest more than a city park. As a matter of fact outside of the walls of the park was just dense forest, with few goat paths that frankly looked dangerous.
Soto had fought in all kinds of environments, and forest and woodland terrain was hands down worst, right behind urban which he had no doubt would be in Long Beach proper. With that, he needed everyone ready. “We handled the first wave with no serious injuries, if we stick together we should have a great chance of surviving the next one. We have to make this place a more defensible location though.”
“I’ll get my shield ready, and I can get others with similar spells and or Skills to help, we will be ready when the next wave shows us Sergeant Major as long as Kuma can continue to buff us.” He saluted and walked away heading to a cluster of NPCs discussing their powers very animatedly. Soto shrugged at that. ‘AARs come in many shapes and sizes.’
“I’ll get the medical team ready to heal and buff Sergeant Major.” Yazmin smiled and walked off.
“They are nice.” Sugar said watching their retreating allies. “And competent we got really lucky.”
“No doubt, what are you thinking?” Soto asked.
She thought for a second. “My long guns only have a duration of an hour which means that twenty-something minutes after the wave starts they will be gone. So I need to prep some more. They take fifteen minutes to cast.”
“Then don’t worry about your long guns for this coming wave.”
“What? Why?”
“Walk with me, you see two more guns in thirty minutes while nice, I think you should put your trade skill to use. I for one am excited to see what a ward does to a wave of beasts who just throw themselves at us with abandon.”
“And what about Colonel?” Sugar asked as they walked to the edge of the park towards the broken walls.
“I am sure he is fine, that brotha’s luck is out of this world, especially when I’m not there to save him. He might have been the most competent leader the world had during the pandemic, so I am sure he could handle any curveball thrown his way. Except for fatherhood, he was pretty shitty at that. He tried, but when the going got tough he threw himself into duty.” Soto said confidently. “When he comes back, it will be a banger. Like the return of the Mack.”
“You know that was a one-hit wonder right?” Sugar asked before she could stop herself.
“But what a hit it was sista, what a hit.” He winked and smiled.