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The Thaumaturge
Chapter 3 - Invasion

Chapter 3 - Invasion

The Crimson Cult has all the necessary resources needed to begin preparation to find Heaven. The current plan is to travel dimension to dimension in search of a way to access it. I trained my Flux manipulation enough to create rifts, but without knowing where I’m going, it’s currently useless. For now, however, I can’t dwell on such things. I have to be combat capable. Traveling through dimensions is extremely dangerous, and I must be prepared for resistance to my mission.

"We have all the necessary materials available to you," says Leviticus. "Flux rifts open here often and drop in scrap materials from other dimensions. It’s how a lot of us ended up here and how we built the stone tower." With that and access to a large empty room for tinkering, I begin construction of the magical apparati described in the Thaumonomicon.

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I work nonstop for three weeks, racking my brain for the tome’s knowledge and innovating as I create the necessary devices required for making my equipment. In this time I have made great strides: most notably the Goggles of Revealing, which shows the Essentia composition of objects and the tapestry of Vis and Flux, the Fortress armor, enchanted with runes to provide magical shielding against physical attacks, and my most useful implement, the Grinning Mask, a black faceplate that suppresses my Warp, allows me to think more sanely, and allows me access to the tome’s forbidden knowledge. In terms of weaponry I have developed a spear made of Void Metal, a special substance I discovered that is created in very small quantities by Flux rifts closing. The spear repairs itself and seems to be bound to my soul as it always returns to me when thrown. I have also made my most powerful weapon, the Gauntlet. It is made from Thaumic metal, a special type of iron I discovered that is purple and conducts magical properties, which is also what the Fortress armor is made of. The Gauntlet has a receptacle for a casting focus, which I can make with Essentia, a base, and Vis. The Gauntlet can cast "spells", which helps me immensely as my Flux-filled body cannot conduct Vis, which is how the Crimson Cult casts their spells. The spells cast by the Gauntlet, however, are infinitely more powerful than those cast with one’s own Vis flow. I also began constructing humanoid entities that I call Golems. They can think, although without a brain to use as a processor, their actions are rather limited and they are not sentient. I designed and manufactured a few as guards to protect me as I traverse different dimensions.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

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"The time is nigh, lost brothers," I begin my speech to the Crimson Cult with as I sit on the purple throne. "Today is the day we take back what is rightfully ours. Today we begin our search for Heaven and salvation. There is but one rule. As is proven by our existence, there are almost certainly other displaced souls throughout the realities we will traverse. I only ask you try to recruit them to our cause." All the Cultists agree. Even if they disagreed, I could simply cast a spell and the defector would be incinerated, and they knew this. "I imagine most of these lost souls will be from my reality, as I’m sure a few of you are as well. I also imagine almost all of them will happily join our cause. Let those who God has turned is back on unite and petition directly in his presence!" Everyone in the room cheers. Victor and Leviticus, who stand beside the throne, turn to me. "Ready?"

"Of course." I lead a few Praetors out of the tower with me along with my guard Golems. I see our target in the distance: one of the Flux rifts. All that already exist in the Emptiness have been sealed, but I have the power to open them. When we arrive, I channel the Flux in the atmosphere into the rift. It flows, cracks, and trembles, and finally, opens. The success draws a distant cheer of triumph from those watching from the tower. If I had a heart, it would be beating rapidly in anticipation. "Now, let us work miracles."