NOVEL NEXT B3 - Chapter 59 – Lots of levels
Dee rode up the elevator alongside Priam. "What are you thinking?" she asked the quiet man.
He looked up to her with a slight smile, but there was a curiosity behind the expression. "I'm wondering how Xera plans to integrate that cultivation and soul-magic type of world into The Cosmic System." He shrugged, "Not that it matters a ton to me. I'm getting Stardust from just meditating, which is neat. Might be worth looking for other worlds like that to suck up ambient Stardust."
It would give us a nice excuse to travel, Dee thought. Traveling to different worlds along The Cosmic Corridor was one of her favorite pastimes pre-Deckard capture. All manner of places to visit, see, and steal from. I could just leave him in a place to meditate, go off and cause a bit of bloodless havoc, steal stuff, and then grab him before leaving. She smiled at the thought of the two of them traipsing across the universe.
The elevator arrived at their floor, and the two stepped off. It zipped back down to the first floor, as Jace and Greg wanted to talk about something alone. Dee didn't care much. She had a ton of Stardust to spend. 225,563, she thought. It's a lot! 28 levels worth, and it'll leave me with 563 left over.
"Miku," she said to her Wayfinder that was currently merged via Verge Protocol. "I want to level up. Everything into Demolisher's Devastation. I also want to use both of those Uncommon (Variable) Boons on Skill Evolutions for Artillerist's Acumen, Artillerist's Discipline, and Energy Cost Reduction."
Y-y-you g-g-got it.
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[Using Boon: Uncommon (Skill Evolution).]
[Applying to Skill.]
[Skill Name: Artillerist's Acumen.]
[Evolution Name: Zeroed In.]
[Effect: The user's ranged Skills will never miss their target barring other Skill use.]
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[Using Boon: Uncommon (Skill Evolution).]
[Applying to Skill.]
[Skill Name: Artillerist's Discipline.]
[Evolution Name: Empowering Exclusion.]
[Effect: Designated targets who would be struck instead 'soak up' the Cosmic or Ascended power manifestation, imbuing their next strike (weapon or Skill) with the power.]
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[Using Boon: Rare (Skill Evolution).]
[Applying to Skill.]
[Skill Name: Energy Cost Reduction.]
[Evolution Name: Goop Replacement.]
[Effect: The user may sacrifice their goop (injuring them) to substitute for energy expenditure.]
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Name: Deasyl 'Dee' Luna (Aspirant, Tier 8)
Power [Class Level]: Nebula [Blaster <Artillerist> 100] / Flux [Demolisher 67]
Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10) [Goop Replacement], Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Demolisher's Devastation (Rank 68) [Blast][Beam][Cone][Eruption][Cloud][Trap][Broadside], Artillerist's Acumen (Rank 6) [Zeroed In], Artillerist's Discipline (Rank 5) [Empowering Exclusion], Spinal Laser (1/day), Desert's Shield (1/day), Arbiter's Anathema (1/day)
Stardust: 563
Equipment: Desert God Guard, Artillerist's Ingram, TPSB, Everfall Kite, Anathema Eye
Boon: None
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Demolisher's Devastation (Rank 68) - As any lesser Rank, but increase the damage inflicted.
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"Well, that's me done," Dee stated. She looked over at Priam, "How about you?"
"Working on it," Priam replied as he looked through his options. He had to do Cosmic Infusion to Rank 10 so that he could enter the lower subsystem of The Cosmic System and help his allies fight Troxanir. But that still left him quite a bit of choice. 18 levels worth of choices, Priam thought. I can do a lot of things with that. More healing, more shielding, more smiting. Energy restoration…I don't think adding any new Skills at this point will help. I'll do six per each Skill.
Bloopa, merged with him via Verge Protocol, replied in his thoughts. Will do. Would you also like to use that Uncommon (Variable) Boon and get something?
Sure, Priam thought. I'll upgrade that Cosmic Infusion with it. Skill Evolution, I think is what it's called.
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[Using Boon: Uncommon (Skill Evolution).]
[Applying to Skill.]
[Skill Name: Cosmic Infusion.]
[Evolution Name: Innervating.]
[Effect: Increases energy regeneration rate from all sources.]
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Name: Priam Westerfold (Aspirant, Tier 8)
Power [Class Level]: Pulsar [Priest <Seraph> 100] / Gigastar [Exarch 67]
Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10) [Innervating], Exarch's Ward (Rank 23) [Multi-Target], Exarch's Seraphic Soothe (Rank 17) [Contingent][Regeneration][Stored][Recursive][Overheal][Ward Mending][Chaining][Wave][Full Heal][Gravewaker][Viral], Exarch's Blessing (Rank 3) [Enduring], Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10) [Alternate Source], Wrath of the Gods (Rank 5), Heavenly Smite (Rank 17) [Marking], Fount of Energy (Rank 5) [Multi-Target], Ishtar's Embrace (1/day), Energy Drain (1/day), Rapturous Release (1/day), Arbiter's Anathema (1/day)
Stardust: 563
Equipment: (Light) Archpriest Vestments, (Conservation) Soul Warden Writ, (Insightful) Dad's Hat, (Light) Venture Pack, (Overcharged) Argent Reservoir, Resplendent Reservoir, survival meals (x100), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit, Power Hammer, TPSB, Anathema Bo Staff
Boons: None
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Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10) – Increases the user's physical, sensory, and cognitive traits by a massive amount.
Exarch's Ward (Rank 23) – As Rank 22, but the amount of damage that can be absorbed increases.
Exarch's Seraphic Soothe (Rank 17) – As Rank 1, but reduces the energy cost per target
Heavenly Smite (Rank 17) – As Rank 1, but increase flight time to 2 minute and 50 seconds
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All the Ranks of Seraphic Soothe from 12 to 17 were just energy reduction. Now, at this point, you could heal an entire city of twenty thousand with ease.
That filled Priam with an excitement and enthusiasm as he almost bounced in place. "With Full Heal on top of that, I can cure genetic defects also! I can fix so much!"
Dee patted him on the shoulder, "What's that?"
"Oh. I'll be able to heal a ton of people with a single use of my healing Skill!"
She smiled, her chitinous shell molding slightly to enable the expression. "That is really neat! Come on, let's go get some food."
"You sure about that?" Greg asked.
Jace shook his head, "I'm not sure. But I do know that fighting Troxanir is going to be tough. Plus, whatever defenses he's come up with since I hurt him in that subsystem."
Greg sighed. I am not going to be easy to kill, he thought, but the other two are a different story. They will get hurt a lot easier, and yeah, I have the Eternal Guardian to keep them safe, but that damage redirected to me, if it's hurting my soul… He looked up at Jace, "I'll make sure to spend some of my level ups on new Skills for something that does what your Voidsoul does."
Jace patted him on the shoulder as they walked to the elevator, and he keyed in Greg's floor. "Good…" he went silent and pulled away from Greg.
"What's up?" Greg asked, reading Jace's body language easily enough.
He let out a sigh, "I'm concerned for you three. I won't be around to help out, since I'll be attacking his avatar at the center of the universe." He looked over at Greg, and behind those piercing, draconic eyes, Greg felt the remorse-filled gaze of a man who was full of regret. "And even then, we kill him, and then what? Another long journey through this Astral Verge to get our loved ones back. Who knows how long that will take?"
Greg shook his head, "I don't know."
Jace sighed again and pinched the bridge of his nose, "I mean…someone is going to have to stay here, in our universe, to keep things running with Xera." He put his hand down and looked at Greg. "You, Dee, and Priam will have to stay here, I think."
"I figured that's where you were heading," Greg replied. "And it's not a bad idea. Hopefully, soon enough, I'll be Tier 10 and can do this Ascendant Trial. Me, Priam, Dee, keeping things in check here? Seems like a good life to live." He frowned, "But I don't like the idea of just having you go off all on your own."
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"He won't be alone," Quinn replied. "I'll be able to keep an eye on him and keep him in contact with the rest of us."
Greg sighed, "Priam won't be happy."
Jace's frown deepened, "I'm not risking his life. Priam, you, Dee…" he shook his head, and Greg heard a trace of fear enter his voice. "I don't want to die, Greg. Life is good right now! I've got this amazing power, I've got Shhiv, and I've got a purpose. I still want to save Chroma…but I don't want to risk what I have." He looked at the elevator doors as they opened on Greg's floor.
Greg punched the button for the elevator to remain on that level. "I get it. You don't have to go it alone, you know. We'll go with you if you want us to."
"Xera will need someone here, in our universe, to help keep things going smoothly," Jace replied.
Greg frowned, "Not if she gets outside the System, right Quinn?"
"Correct," Quinn replied. "Once Troxanir is defeated, Xera can make herself an administrator instead of tech support – so she won't need Signers."
Jace's shoulders loosened their tension slightly, and he nodded, looking back to Greg. "Well then…I guess that answers that. Once Troxanir is dealt with, and Xera does what she needs to…we go together."
Greg clapped him on the shoulder and squeezed slightly. "A crew. Together. Through thick and thin."
Jace smirked, "Stick together to survive," he whispered. "Street folk code," he clarified as second later.
Greg nodded and exited the elevator. Jace punched the button behind him and ascended, whilst Greg went to the bedroom and began taking off his armor. She must be in the workshop downstairs, he thought as he looked at Darrin, who had exited from him. The headache was something he could easily ignore.
"Ready to level up?" The spider Wayfinder asked.
Greg nodded, "What we got and how much we looking at?"
"225,563 Stardust. Enough for 39 levels, placing you at level 58, Tier 8."
"39 more Ranks of Indomitable Juggernaut gets me to what?"
The spider traced his limbs across the air in front of Greg, drawing numbers in a graph to help visualize the curve. "At Rank 25 you get diminishing returns – 1 Rank for 1% damage reduction, instead of 2%. But don't forget! You need something to put you at a soul energy coefficient of zero. I made something based on Jace's Voidsoul Skill that will work for you."
Greg nodded, "Then 1 Rank into that, and the rest into Indomitable Juggernaut."
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Name: Greg Bhastal (Aspirant, Tier 8)
Power [Class Level]: Planet [Warrior <Eternal Bulwark> 100] / Supermassive [Juggernaut 58]
Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Weapon Training (Rank 10), Armor and Shield Training (Rank 5), Power Strike (Rank 10), Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Series of Strikes (Rank 10), Aggravating Presence (Rank 10), Ceaseless Vigil (Rank 4), Bulwark's Defenses (Rank 20), Eternal Guardian (Rank 10), Planetary Panacea (Rank 3), Indomitable Juggernaut (Rank 58), Singularity Soul (Rank 1), Arbiter's Anathema (1/day)
Stardust: 5,563
Equipment: (Channeling) Devastator Sniper Rifle, (Heavy / Aquatic) Exo-planet Power Armor, Beamblade Emitter, TPSB, Anathema Straight Sword, survival meals (x100)
Boons: None
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Indomitable Juggernaut (Rank 58) – The user reduces all damage they would suffer at all times by 88%
Singularity Soul (Rank 1) – The user's soul energy coefficient is treated as being 0% for the effect of any incoming, hostile effects.
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Greg smiled, "I am an even harder nut to crack. I can do, what, another 11 Ranks into Indomitable Juggernaut to get me to 99%?"
"Correct," Darrin replied. "That is the maximum possible."
"Reclassing was the best thing I did," Greg stated with confidence. "Now, to cook up a nice meal for my lady love."
Quinn was looking over everyone's level ups and Rank increases to Skills. Excellent, she thought as she leaned back and sipped from her juice box. Everything is going perfectly. Now…for myself…
She had been pondering what to do for her various Ranks. She had 31 Rank ups to use, and would be at level 67 at Tier 8. The same as Dee and Priam, whilst Greg only dragged behind a little bit.
Thanks to Xera's alteration of the TPS and its integration into her Signers TPSB, Quinn could now rapidly distribute any Boons that the group acquired – so she had sent out an agreement to each of them to review. Quinn would get everyone's Boons, to hold onto for when they were needed in a pinch.
What I need, she thought, is something to ensure I can communicate even if the subspace relay goes down.
Confident in her decisions, she finalized her choices.
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Name: Quinn Cipher (Aspirant, Tier 8)
Power [Class Level]: Star [Broker <Celestial Coordinator> 100] / Exoplanet [Reality Strategist 67]
Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Broker's Instinct (Rank 8), Broker's Contract (Rank 20), Broker's Fee (Rank 16), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Magic World Interface (Rank 10), Magitech World Interface (Rank 10), Technology World Interface (Rank 10), Other Realm Interface (Rank 5), Celestial Observer (Rank 1), Coordinator's Critical Gaze (Rank 6), Coordinator's Warning System (Rank 5), Stratagem (Rank 63) [Mobility][Obliteration][Bulwark][Grounded][Resolved][Chaos Strike][Shattered Views][Slip Away][Skip][Time Lock], Inter-reality Relay Network (Rank 5), Reality's Order (1/day)
Stardust: 563
Equipment: Reality Interface, Broker's starting gear, Webwalker Implants, Pheracorp Bionic Brain Mk. 1, Pheracorp Bionic Eyes Mk. 1, TPSB
Boons: Common (Variable), 2x Uncommon (Variable)
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Stratagem (Rank 63) – Increase all Stratagem durations by 30 seconds (to 27 minute duration).
Inter-reality Relay Network (Rank 1) – Enables audio communication, regardless of layer of reality, as long as the recipient and sender are both connected through The Cosmic System.
Inter-reality Relay Network (Rank 2) – As Rank 1, but enables video communication.
Inter-reality Relay Network (Rank 3) – As Rank 2, but enables tactile communication.
Inter-reality Relay Network (Rank 4) – As Rank 3, but enables telemetric readout of conditions.
Inter-reality Relay Network (Rank 5) – As Rank 4, but enables all Reality Strategist, Broker, and Class Expansion Skills to function on distant targets.
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And pretty soon, she thought, I'll be able to choose a Class Expansion. Level 75…it's so close.
Jace rode the elevator the rest of the way up to the top floor. Shhiv was not present in the apartment, and he went to the bedroom as he got out of his armor and put his gear aside. Ollie unmerged from him, and the wicked headache kicked in. Dark Matter Mending (Rank 1), Jace thought. The ache faded, and he shook his head.
Ollie floated around in lazy, paddling circles. "What are you considering?"
"I'm at 228,332 Stardust. It's 20,000 per level, so that means I can get 11 levels. I'm only 8 levels from my Class Expansion choice, right?"
"Yup!" Ollie replied as he flew over to Jace. "I've been working on that with Xera. We have some ideas we wanted to present."
Xera appeared next to Jace with a pop. She scanned him up and down. Thankfully, he had his undergarments still on. "Excellent. The Anathema prosthetics are all integrated. Shame we could not recover the eye Deckard had. Giving you both eyes as well would have been quite valuable."
Jace shrugged, "I like the sort of monstrous appearance this gives me. The fear factor, y'know?"
Xera tapped her wrist pad, and three screens appeared behind her. "I have three choices for your Advanced Class. The first is <Eidolon> which is going to offer Skills that increase your potency while you are low on energy, or injured. Given your history of energy use and injury…it could be a good choice. Pairs nicely with Wrathblade, since that removes your sense of pain."
Jace nodded, "What else?"
"Next is <Paragon>," Ollie replied as he flew over to Xera and stopped in front of the second screen. "It brings a balance to what you can do. Everything is going to be good, and it eliminates most weaknesses you have. A good, well-rounded option."
Xera nodded, "And lastly, <Dominion>, which is going to focus on battlefield control and using your mere presence to cause issues to your foes, or inspire your allies."
Jace thought back through all of his experiences up to this point; increased rapidly by the NICIF. His near-death on Velenar Prime when he was savaged by the Vyrknadine. His near-death on Nihilethelea when Flosho, that cat mage, stabbed him in the eye. Again on Earth, where he had numerous near-death experiences. Poltor Six which actually did kill him. So many brushes with death or actual body death experiences.
Plus, the energy expenditure. He was pretty consistently at a moderate to level of energy in a fight. Plus, with the Primal Hide, he could intentionally let his energy dip down to a really low amount to take advantage of whatever boosts would come with the Class Expansion, and he could then use the stockpiled energy to keep himself topped off if needed.
"I'm going with <Eidolon>," Jace replied.
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[Your Wayfinder has prompted the Class Expansion feature of The Cosmic System.]
[Qualifier of 75 levels in an Advanced Class met. Bypasses 'extreme emotional state' restriction.]
[Class Expansion available.]
[Edge <Eidolon>]
[Confirm selection?]
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"Yes," Jace stated.
Xera nodded, "Given your past history, I predicted this." She looked to Ollie, "And you win your bet with Josie."
Ollie made a little fist and pumped it into the air, "Yes! Tell her that this time I choose where we spend the downtime!"
"I'll pass it along," Xera replied.
Jace looked at Ollie, "Let's do it. Level up time. Seven Ranks into Void Step, and then four into Skills from this new Class Expansion."
Ollie threw the Stardust at Jace, and a heat settled over his body.
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Name: Jace Seren (Aspirant, Tier 9)
Power [Class Level]: Dark Matter [Swordmage <Wrathblade> 100] / Void [Edge <Eidolon> 79]
Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Swordmage Stance (Rank 3) [Astral Annihilator], Dark Matter Dart (Rank 4) [Exploding], Dark Energy Mine (Rank 3) [Distant], Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10) [Innervating], Dark Matter Mending (Rank 4) [Vampiric], Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10) [Siphoning], Void Brand (Rank 1), Wrath's Embrace (Rank 10) [Focused], Ruination Razor (Rank 3) [Wrecking], Raging Cleave (Rank 10) [Echoing Cleave], Aura of Wrath (Rank 11) [Voidflame Vestment], Void Blade (Rank 17) [Rending], Void Shield (Rank 6) [Reflecting][Wall][Sphere], Void Beam (Rank 3) [Limited Range][Horizon-Splitter][Piercing], Edge's Intuition (Rank 5) [Danger-Sense], Edge of Possibility (Rank 3), Void Counter (Rank 10) [Storing], Void Step (Rank 17) [Burst], Symbol Shift (Rank 1), Void Removal (Rank 10), Voidsoul (Rank 3), Void Stalker (Rank 1) [Group], The Architect's Gate (Rank 1), Eidolon's Persistence (Rank 2), Power Through (Rank 2), Arbiter's Anathema (5/day), Hope's Edge (1/day), Primalist's Command (1/day), Reaper's Shadowstep (1/day), Archmage's Admixture (1/day)
Stardust: 8,332
Equipment: (Returning / Adaptable) Nethaldrim, (Medium / Snowguard / Burnguard / Repairing) Reaper Armor, (Thrice Judged / Soul Tether) Anathema Arms, (Overclocked / Lightfoot) Anathema Legs, (Terrifying / Sealing) All-Seeing Dragon's Eyes, Primal Hide, (Flexible) Adamantine Skeleton, (Reactive) NICIF, TPSB, survival meals (x100), enhanced canteen, (Restful) Wildercloth tent, Devilsram wool bedroll, Blood-Infused Holy Water (x3), Guatch Grappler (Unequipped)
Boons: None
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Void Step (Rank 17) – As Rank 1, but increase distance to eighty-five feet.
Eidolon's Persistence (Rank 1) – When the user is injured, they gain 10% damage reduction against Skills or attacks of the same type from the source of the initial injury.
Eidolon's Persistence (Rank 2) – As Rank 1, but increase damage reduction to 20%
Power Through (Rank 1) – The user's outgoing damage is increase by a % equal to the energy they are missing.
Power Through (Rank 2) – As Rank 1, and the user's outgoing damage is increased by a % equal to the injury they have suffered.
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"Walk me through how those would work in a combat situation," Jace said as he crossed his arms, the screens flickering by his vision.
Ollie nodded and flew over so he was right in front of him, as Xera vanished with a pop of her warping. "Well, imagine you are at half energy. That would mean your outgoing damage is increased by fifty percent. Now, if you were heavily injured, say, on the brink of death – so we can assume ninety-five percent injured, your outgoing damage would be increased by that amount as well."
"And if, say, Greg punched me, thanks to Eidolon's Persistence, I would have twenty percent reduced damage taken from anything he does," Jace replied. "Including firearms, his Beamblade, and Skills?"
"Yup!"
"How long does that last?"
"It is permanent."
Jace blinked in shock for a few seconds before he recovered his wits, "Sorry. Permanent?"
"Yup!" Ollie clapped his paws excitedly and began swimming around the air around Jace. "It is really neat. But it only applies to an entity, not a group. So a single Zifran using one of those lightning blasts on you would mean that the Eidolon's Persistence would only apply to that Zifran, not all Zifran."
Jace nodded, "Makes sense. Still, that seems really powerful."
"It is. I mean, Xera is setting you up to fight one of the strongest things in existence. Sure, Troxanir might only be Tier 9 – which you are now the equivalent to – but also has the Astral System…and we can only speculate how strong he is given his size and all of that."
Jace walked over to the restroom, "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to clean off and spend some time with Shhiv."
Ollie nodded, "And I have got a date with Josie."
Jace chuckled as he stepped up to the counter and used the dental apparatus to make sure everything was perfect, then stepped into the hygiene station. "I didn't know that Wayfinders got into relationships."
"We are artificial intelligence. Not just dumb computer programs. And since I won the bet, I get to choose where we go to…well, not dinner, since we do not eat. But rather where we will spend some time in the System."
Jace finished up with the device and got a haircut while he was in the weird box that he had grown to appreciate and stepped out. "Well, don't let me keep you."
Ollie vanished with a pop, and Jace paused on his way out as he looked at himself in the mirror. He was barely human anymore. The shape, sure. But his arms and legs were both a deep, stark black with golden scrollwork that was matching thanks to having the full set from the same world. His skin was still the same slightly tan color from the Primal Hide, and his eyes were the same as before – draconic and predatory, just like Shhiv's.
He smiled a little bit and saw the very slightly sharpened teeth once more. So what if I don't look human anymore? he thought as he headed to the bedroom, got dressed in some lazing about clothes, and headed to the elevator. I'm beyond human at this point.