“Since when was such a powerful lord here? This is my territory.”
“Presuming you demons work the same as mine, I suppose I should feel insulted to be mistaken for something so lowly. I digress, you will tell me of this world’s class bestowal.”
…
Narrowing the priest's eyes, “You are not kin.”
“And you are not a belligerent fool enslaved by the will of another. Thus there is no quarrel as long as you cooperate, otherwise-” Aden turns his head, looking to where the line leads, following it to the black dot that had been in his vision since his arrival. “-I lied, I could go for some food right now.”
“You threaten me? Our numbers flourish!”
Aden brushes his hands against the surrounding pews, letting them fall inside him.
“Your horde will taste delicious.”
“Fine! There is no need to get violent. Demons should help each other, no?”
“Demons obey the stronger will. I am stronger. Tell me of this class bestowal.”
“Yes, yes. These weak humans beg their god for strength and receive it in turn.”
“I know that much! I want details!”
“I do not know. The priest believes in his ability, and it happens. The words mean nothing. The light from above blocks my vision.”
“Can a demon get a class?”
“No, the light burns us. We do not have this system of theirs.”
“As in persisting would work or that there is nothing at all?”
“We do not know. Without the system, we see nothing as the light burns us.”
“Can priests perform the bestowal on themselves?”
“I do not understand, if they have the ability then why would they do it again?”
“Humor me.”
“This I cannot know.”
“You aren’t very useful.”
“I can tell you that the humans grow in power through these gifts that we feed on. Their system is our sustenance for growth.”
Aden ejects a small blue wisp of mana from his fingertip, “You mean this?”
“Yes! That is it! Most pure. So easily corrupted.”
Hmmmmm.
“How long have you been here?”
“Before the wall, best idea I had”
Quite long going by the books. A few languages ago.
“So you’ve been maintaining the humans and their class bestowal like cattle?”
“Yes. They grow well in battle, just need the fight, no blood. We take later.”
“Can you perform class bestowal through this puppet?”
“Just command, cannot watch. Should work.”
“What do you think would happen if a gluttony divine demon got a class? What would it be?”
The puppets' eyes widen so far they bulge out, the tether of chi pulses. He looks around, focused on nothing, distracted with thoughts, searching with his eyes for answers within the mind.
“Consume the god?”
“Intriguing proposition, she seemed nice though.”
“Nice?!”
“Perform the bestowal on me. Let's see where this goes.”
“But you will!- I mean, yes. Right away.”
You just want me dead.
Without word, the priest raises one hand and that familiar light pours out, blanketing Aden and circulating. Worming its way through his body, attempting to bypass the dense energies, burning itself away in the effort. Finally, surrounding his phylactery, it attempts to surge in, destroying itself in the process, failing to overwhelm the tide of death chi.
“Use more! Wring the puppet for everything it has!”
The veil thickens, streams of glistening gold thrashing through him, charging headlong for his phylactery.
“Almost!”
Aden charges his new core with ki and rams it into the phylactery, then funnels the gold through it. Finally making it through, chi surges into his true core, rapidly overflowing with nowhere to go. Steadily it compresses into itself while imbuing swimming characters around his soul. Pulling back the Serene Heavens, Rippling Sea Core, the foreign chi gushes outwards like a geyser, erupting from his body with an eye only for the heavens, pulling him along. Almost immediately, divine light slams down, bathing him in the purest form of the golden chi, whispers of their own, direct from the goddess.
As quick as it descended, all light faded, releasing Aden to the floor. The suction of chi now ceased, the priest drops to the floor.
“My child most deserving, share of mine love.”
[Class Granted]
[Correcting]
[Class Granted: Prophet]
[Authority Granted]
[Skills Granted]
[Lower Authority Failed to Integrate]
image [https://i.imgur.com/PJN5OGb.png]
[New Connection Established]
“To break from the barrier a second time, child, I recognize you.”
This warm presence and motherly voice… the one who welcomed me.
I believe I just need to return my intent through this chi within me.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“And I you.”
“So long it has been, for someone not the saint to speak to me, let alone so freely.”
“The given skills are simple to adjust for my use.”
“You are… certainly a candid one. If only the saints could be more like you.”
“So what now? I was not expecting such an occurrence. Are you in need of something?”
“The lands to the south run rife with demonic corruption” Visions from beyond the wall bombard Aden’s mind. Mindless hordes assailing the walls, strong humans brought to nests for corruption, beyond them, a stronghold, a great demon with a familiar presence, the beginnings of a portal. It grows. It is growing. “The gate must not be allowed to form.”
“I see… I was going to purge them anyways.”
“Yes, you must- what?”
…
“Oh my, you are such a strong child! Yes, you must purge them from mine lands!”
“You spoke of dangers when last we met, could you share such knowledge with me?”
“Such things are unnecessary worries, your task lies elsewhere.”
“Is this golden chi within my soul provided by you?”
“Yes-”
Aden steps forward to the recovering priest, the violet tether having just reconnected. Planting one hand on his back and pointing another down the tether, he calls upon the golden chi with Healing Hands, provoking it to bring forth healing chi, but as the golden chi broaches the death chi barrier, he funnels it out, pulling and tugging on it. Widening the channels, a flood of golden chi rages out. From one hand, filling the priest, from another, mixed with phoenix fire, shot down the trail of the tether.
The priest now free of corruption, and the trail quickly burning down the path towards the black dot, far beyond the city.
“Just a moment, I think that should do something”
“You can wield divine power!?”
“I wouldn’t want to call it divine power, is this not energy with your will imbued? I can do the same thing with any chi.”
“What?! Wait, any?! Wha-How…What!”
“Perhaps I can be of help?”
Suddenly, bellows of pain echo throughout the sky, the black dot shrinking ever so slightly.
“Perhaps you can.” Visions flood his mind once more, creatures of immense proportions beyond the planetary systems barrier. Tentacles, teeth, endless darkness within. Hunger. A known presence, now stronger.
“I might know one of those. Didn’t meet directly, was trying to use it to save myself from a world’s will.”
“Wha-where would you encounter one… No mind, I should stop questioning you.”
“Now isn’t that strange coming from a god? Should I mention I am from outside? I did not mean to intrude, I was sucked through a destroyed summoning portal and sent adrift.”
“Not a hero? An outsider?”
“If that black dot was the demon lord, then I take it this white light is the hero? Are these heroes summoned in a ceremony by the saint?”
They would be, wouldn’t they.
“Yes, when creating the barrier, I gave bestowed my children with the ability to summon a great warrior from another world for desperate times. They have been… less than ideal.”
“Yeah, I kind of gathered that from the history books. That’s a lot of generations of heroes which, by the way, I believe the demon lord has been feeding off of.”
“He what?”
“Since your class bestowal comes with mana and improves a human’s mana capacity, he has been training them in order to eat or corrupt them. Don't worry though! I’ll have everything under control soon, I’m familiar with both foolish humans and the demonic scourge.”
“Perhaps you really can be of help. If you will teach my children and rid mine world the demon, I shall rescind my touch, allowing me greater force in the battle beyond.”
“I promise you, great change is coming.”
“Until next time, outsider.”
“Until next time.”
Aden feels her attention turn from him, but the connection within his soul remain.
With his pressing business now out of the way, he turns to the priest.
Does it matter if I take from him? I think I need his soul… and to think I went and healed him. Wait, why didn’t the goddess do that? She didn’t know about the demon lord’s farming methods either… Is she locked out of her own home? A barrier strong enough for them, also strong enough for her…
Aden looks to the ebbing black dot in his vision. Fine, you get to live. You should be grateful I’m not evil… and I’ll have a better meal soon.
Looking to the priest, staggering up to his feet, coming around. “Human, your goddess has chosen me. I am to purge this world of demons and educate you children. Summon an assembly of the church, all must attend. Make no mention of me.”
Unexpectedly snapping to attention, “Yes… what do I call you?”
“That's the thing, you don't”
“I see…understood, I will do what I can to ordain a mandatory pilgrimage to the capital cathedral.”
He seems a bit trustworthy.
“When the demon lord is slain, the corruption may run free in them.”
“Holding so many will be difficult, especially with the image of the necessary knights to do such a thing.”
Even if he fails or betrays me, It only delays the inevitable.
“Lead them in prayer, the goddesses power is provoked in order to use any skills. You seem like you should understand this now.”
“Yes, I have gained 48 levels and acquired a special skill that may be of use here. I should be able to do this much.”
Turning to walk away, “Do what you must, escape is not permitted.”
Bowing with his hands clasped, “As you say.”
Making his way outside the church. I never did get his name… No matter, he will likely be of little consequence beyond his current task… ah! Can't forget.
Turning as he was pushing out the doors, the man unmoved from his position, “Priest. Do you have any relics or magic items here? Perhaps holy water?”
“Yes. To the rear left, follow the hallway to the end and you will arrive at the stairs down. We hold 3 minor relics here.”
“Nothing within the prayer hall?”
Seeming truly puzzled, “Why would there be?”
Must not be something in this culture.
“Nevermind. I'll find my way, go about your task.”
Once more he bows, “As you say”
-
-
Those stairs were rather deep, but I can see why. This is quite the vault, all things considered.
Before him stood a gold plated stone wall, chi running through it similar to Gungnir. Intricate designs cut through the rock, spiraling around 3 slates of the wall making up the vault. At the center of the middle one with all the gold tracing to it, a simple circular glyph with 3 keyholes.
Yeah… not like they will need it anymore.
Aden walks through the door, integrating as he moves.
[Polntir Vault Fragment (Lock) Assimilated 1/3]
Standing and eyeing the wall, Aden then reaches wide and take the entire front section in.
[Polntir Vault Fragment (Door) Assimilated 2/3]
I guess I'll have to sweep the place once I'm done.
Now…hmmm, they really don’t beat around the bush. Three pedestals, three relics. An ornamental mace, stone with twisting gold. A shawl, white leather with gold inlay. A glass vial, red liquid faintly glowing gold.
Placing his hand through the first, taking it in.
[Banter Assimilated]
Durability enhancement… I think I can improve on it a bit, and… I’m not quite sure… I guess it is multifactorial, sending barely altered mana in to bounce it back and forth rapidly between the struck subject or object, steadily adding chi to it, eventually sending the same chi back. A rather blunt and brutish attack.
[Orihime’s Embrace #38 Assimilated]
Odd name, I’m assuming some hero made this and other ones. Are all these relics made by them? Hmmm… it just keeps the wearer comfy. This is so fucking useless.
[Blessed Healing Potion Assimilated]
It’s just some alchemist's crappy healing potion, I mean, compared to me, but with imbued chi. Clearly done through a skill, not their own power.
Well, this was rather uneventful. Now for dessert. It’s fixed into the bedrock… gonna take some time.
-
-
-
[Polntir Vault Assimilated]
Ooooh, now this is neat. The contents of the vault were temporally distorted, a kind of stasis effect. The real treasure was the vault we ate along the way. I can make use of this.
-
-
It was kinda comfy being underground, but being under the open sky provides its own comfort.
Now, Is there anything else before I go…