Dark Matter Ascension

Priam followed Greg closely and they reached the remnants of the stone tube that had once extended from the surface. He kept a wary eye up at the leviathans that were gradually descending toward their location. They are so big, he thought. The sooner we get out of here the better.

You will be within the core soon enough, and presumably, safe from those creature's assault, Bloopa replied in his mind.

Thank the gods for that, Priam thought as he continued after Greg. There was a sudden rush of water, and glancing back he saw Jace had caught up to the trio. "Oh, you're done with it?" he asked. "We got a ton of Stardust out of the blue."

Jace nodded, his armored visor making him impossible to read. "It was a tough fight, but I came out on top. Surviving is my specialty, after all." There was a lightness to his tone, and that sense of confidence almost soothed Priam's fraying nerves, in a way.

Side effect of being a <Cultivator of Bonds>. You're in tune with your allies' moods and can draw sympathetic ties from that.

Priam turned back towards Greg, "How much further?" he asked.

Greg glanced back, "A while I'd bet. This sphere is huge."

Jace grabbed Priam, and glancing back Priam also saw that the man was holding onto Dee. There were jets of something shooting out from his feet that propelled him forward fast, and he pulled the duo along with him next to Greg. "Does your suit have a water mode?" he asked.

Greg shook his head, "Nothing to speed me up."

Jace gestured, Greg grabbed onto his shoulders, and Priam's best buddy zoomed off with the party holding onto him.

It took them two hours, and the whole time Jace was replaying the fight in his mind. Every move, every motion, every single action that he took as he tried to analyze what had happened. Thanks to the NICIF, he was able to recall with perfectly acuity, and got a step-by-step readout of his vitals throughout the fight.

I did as well as could be expected, he thought. Given everything going on, I'm lucky I survived.

Oliver made a noise of agreement in his mind, Yup. But you pulled through. I knew I got a winner when you survived that Vyrknadine on Velenar Prime!

You thought I was going to die then, Jace thought back.

Well…you did not. You surpassed my expectations. I had no doubt you would beat this Huwei with ease.

Jace looked up and saw the leviathans working their way down into the depths near the core, and then back to the stone spire they were approaching. See if the integrated Sliver Arc can pump any more power out to get us there faster.

On it!

Jace rocketed forward, and within moments he had reached the broken stone passage. Flipping his feet around to slow them, he drew his sword and cut through the stone until a person-sized hole was there. He pushed his way in, and almost immediately fell down as water vanished. He quickly recovered and was able to stand, oddly enough, on the wall of the tunnel.

Greg came through next, followed by Priam and Dee. "Weird," Greg muttered as he got himself upright on the wall of the tube. "Gravity is weird."

At the bottom of the tube was a massive stone door – rounded ever-so-slightly just like the core of the world itself. On the front there were two grooves. Jace moved down to the door and tried to fit his hands into the grooves – but his armor prevented it. Okay NICIF. Push the armor back.

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[You got it boss!]

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Jace's armor receded and he could slip his hand, then his arm, all the way to the shoulders into the grooves. He felt a horizontal handle, and gripping it, tried to turn it clockwise. Nothing. Then maybe the other way…

The handles rotated, and Jace heard a loud rumbling noise as he rapidly pulled his hands back and the armor re-emerged from the torso, covering him again. The stone shell slid open, and Jace moved into the core of the world.

It was an austere space. A single, floating sphere was in the very center of the chamber, and there was no gravity. Jace propelled himself to the sphere and landed on it. "Well, we found the planet's core," he stated.

Priam, Dee, and Greg all clambered into the chamber as well, and the stone doors shut behind them. Then, the room turned black, with gold linework just like Jace's arms and legs cascading around the exterior.

"Why can't we read it with Universal Translation?" Priam asked.

Because, Ollie said through Jace's speakers, the language is ancient and we do not have enough samples to reconstruct the meaning.

"What now?" Greg asked. "Or did we come down to the core for no reason?"

Xera's voice came over the comms, "You're there because that, supposedly, is where The Arbiter created the Anathema items. It might be a forge of some type. A place to craft other Anathema items. Investigate a bit."

Jace looked around the chamber, and his All-Seeing Dragon's Eyes saw no shimmer of magic or Skills-turned-magic. Even the orb he was holding onto, the thing floating at the very center of the world, was dull in his sight. "Any ideas?" he asked.

Priam pushed off the wall and floated over, catching himself on Jace to keep from hitting the core. "Maybe it's like a god? I can try to commune with it." He placed his hand on the orb, and it went from a black to a brilliant yellow.

Jace's vision began cascading with arcs of magic as sparks fired off in all directions. Invisible to Greg, Dee, and even Priam – Jace was temporarily blinded by the effect. But the blindness shifted, vanishing, and he could see an aperture on the sphere. He pointed, "Priam, you see that?"

"The whole place becoming yellow? Yeah. I asked the world to 'wake up'."

"No, that," Jace said as he pulled Priam's other hand to the opening.

"Oh…huh, I can't see it – but my hand went through it." Priam's face screwed up in a confused look, before he let out a gasp and then a giggle. "Oh, that is cool! I got a System screen!"

Greg cleared his throat, "Mind telling us what's going on? Feeling a bit left out over here."

Priam looked back to him and Dee, "I'm interfacing with this thing. Once every hundred years, the core of the world can create an Anathema item! Just…spontaneously create it. What should we get?"

Something for you would be obvious, Ollie commented in Jace's head – but out of the external speakers. Anathema skin would be a great upgrade, making you untouchable to magic-based Skills.

"What about armor?" Dee asked. "A whole suit of it-"

"Too big," Priam replied. "It can do something as big as a leg."

"Well," Greg stated, "We all have Anathema items already. So, it would just be adding more uses."

Let Jace use it for his skin, Ollie said aloud through the armor's speakers. He does not need a lot – just enough for his torso and the bits of flesh attached to it.

Priam shrugged, "Works for me!"

To Jace's sight, the whole space of the core turned into a deep blue before it shifted to a midnight black, and all of the golden scrollwork surged into the sphere Priam's hand was inside of. The room went dark, and Priam pulled his hand back – a thin, black, almost cloth-like material with the golden script shifting across it. He handed it to Jace, and when Jace touched it, the NICIF bubbled out of his armor, snatched it, and sucked it in.

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[Integrating new skin!]

[Oh, boss, you have a choice to make.]

[We can either give your Primal Hide the (Anathema) Augmentation, making you immune to spells and magic-based Skills but not granting uses of Arbiter's Anathema, or we can replace the Primal Hide entirely.]

[If we replace the Primal Hide, then you will lose out on the energy storage capability, but you will gain another use of Arbiter's Anathema.]

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Let's go with the Augmentation, Jace thought to the NICIF. I have five uses of the Skill already. Plus, Void Counter. I should be good for shutting down hostile effects.

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[NICIF integration active.]

[Target Equipment: Primal Hide.]

[Augmenting.]

[Result: (Anathema) Primal Hide.]

[Description: The Anathema (Augmentation) prevents any spell or magic-based Skill from effecting the user; save for those used by designated targets.]

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And now you have black skin with gold scrollwork, Ollie stated. But the NICIF can recolor that easily enough.

Jace looked at his allies, "I think that all we'll find here."

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Greg pointed at the sphere, "What if we took that with us? Put it in Khrox? Having an Anathema printer would be mighty useful."

Xera spoke, "Just what I was thinking. I analyzed the core of the world – the removal of the Anathema Core is not going to harm anything. Divine Beast Hualong approved as well. Just tap the TPSB to it."

Jace touched his forearm to the object, and it was sucked into the bracer. "Done and done. Let's get back to the surface."

Ascending through the waters took some time. Jace kept the group hidden with Void Stalker (Rank 1) [Group] and their travel went unnoticed. The leviathans in the waves were too occupied with fighting each other to notice the comparatively tiny travelers.

During the ascent, the group leveled up, spending copious amounts of Stardust. Jace maxed out Eidolon's Persistence and focused the remainder of his levels and Rank increases on his newfound Shattered Limits, given that he would most likely be up against significantly tougher foes – Troxanir chief amongst them, as his Astral System was still somewhat anomalous, but he had to be very potent as determined by Xera's simulations.

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Name: Jace Seren (Aspirant, Tier 9)

Power [Class Level]: Dark Matter [Swordmage <Wrathblade> 100] / Void [Edge <Eidolon> 85]

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), Shattered Limits (Rank 4) [Single-Minded Fury], 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 5), 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, (Anathema) 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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Eidolon's Persistence (Rank 3) – As Rank 1, but increase damage reduction to 30%

Eidolon's Persistence (Rank 4) – As Rank 1, but increase damage reduction to 40%

Eidolon's Persistence (Rank 5) – As Rank 1, but increase damage reduction to 50%

Shattered Limits (Rank 2) – Amplifies the user's physical, sensory, and cognitive traits by x15. Only useable when at 50% health or lower, or when facing a vastly superior foe.

Shattered Limits (Rank 3) – Amplifies the user's physical, sensory, and cognitive traits by x20. Only useable when at 50% health or lower, or when facing a vastly superior foe.

Shattered Limits (Rank 4) – Amplifies the user's physical, sensory, and cognitive traits by x25. Only useable when at 50% health or lower, or when facing a vastly superior foe.

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Priam focused on his new <Cultivator of Bonds> Class Expansion, and thanks to his Wayfinder's assistance, was able to figure out an ingenious use of his attachment to his allies. A means to be able to constantly monitor those close to him and affect them no matter where they went; if they had a tie to The Cosmic System, he would be able to help them.

In effect, he would be saving a ton of energy and could overlap multiple instances of healing or shielding thanks to the duplicative effect of stacking multiple layers of the same Skill on [Multi-Target] selection.

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Name: Priam Westerfold (Aspirant, Tier 9)

Power [Class Level]: Pulsar [Priest <Seraph> 100] / Gigastar [Exarch <Cultivator of Bonds> 77]

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], Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 10), Ishtar's Embrace (1/day), Energy Drain (1/day), Rapturous Release (1/day), Arbiter's Anathema (1/day)

Stardust: 563

Equipment: (Light / Life Screen) 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: Uncommon (Variable)

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Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 1) – The user may designate creatures up to their Tier. The user always knows the location of that creature relative to their location.

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 2) – In addition, the user knows the fastest route to reach their designated targets.

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 3) – In addition, the user knows the condition of their designated targets, as well as how to fix and/or alleviate the condition.

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 4) – In addition, the user may replicate a Skill used on a single ally to all other allies, regardless of distance, at 10% efficacy.

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 5) – As Rank 4, but increase efficacy to 20%

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 6) – As Rank 4, but increase efficacy to 30%

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 7) – As Rank 4, but increase efficacy to 40%

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 8) – As Rank 4, but increase efficacy to 50%

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 9) – As Rank 4, but increase efficacy to 60%

Unbreakable Bonds (Rank 10) – As Rank 4, but increase efficacy to 70%

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Greg finished out his Indomitable Juggernaut Skill, making him almost impossible to kill. That, combined with Aggravating Presence, Bulwark's Defenses, and Eternal Guardian meant that he would redirect all harm that went towards his allies, and he would take less than 1% of the total damage that was to be inflicted. His Wayfinder theorized that the only way Greg would die is if he was spaghettified by a singularity or something just as harmful. But at this point? He could be hurled into a sun and wouldn't die from the harm suffered.

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Name: Greg Bhastal (Aspirant, Tier 8)

Power [Class Level]: Planet [Warrior <Eternal Bulwark> 100] / Supermassive [Juggernaut 70]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Weapon Training (Rank 10), Armor and Shield Training (Rank 5), Power Strike (Rank 11), 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 70), Singularity Soul (Rank 1), Arbiter's Anathema (1/day)

Stardust: 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 70) – The user reduces all damage they would suffer at all times by 99%.

Power Strike (Rank 11) – As Rank 1, but increase the damage dealt.

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Dee not only was able to level up and gain more Ranks, but she also was able to choose a Class Expansion for her Advanced Class at will, thanks to being level 75 and hitting that threshold for the System prompt to occur. The <Obliterator> Expansion fit her ideas perfectly, as it would ensure maximum destructive potential for her blasts of energy.

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Name: Deasyl 'Dee' Luna (Aspirant, Tier 9)

Power [Class Level]: Nebula [Blaster <Artillerist> 100] / Flux [Demolisher <Obliterator> 77]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10) [Goop Replacement], Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Demolisher's Devastation (Rank 76) [Blast][Beam][Cone][Eruption][Cloud][Trap][Broadside], Artillerist's Acumen (Rank 6) [Zeroed In], Artillerist's Discipline (Rank 5) [Empowering Exclusion], Overflowing Obliteration (Rank 1), Evolution Stack (Rank 1), 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

Boons: None

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Demolisher's Devastation (Rank 76) – As any lesser Rank, but increase the damage inflicted.

Overflowing Obliteration (Rank 1) – Any damage that would be inflicted to a foe above their threshold to suffer will overflow to the next nearest viable target.

Evolution Stack (Rank 1) – The user may apply 2 Skill Evolutions to a single use of an offensive Skill.

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Quinn, just like Dee, had the capability to choose a Class Expansion, and went with <Tactician>. A means to improve her allies' capabilities while they were obeying her commands. It went perfectly hand-in-hand with her existing Skills, and her overbearing demeanor as a support-style, backseat driver.

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Name: Quinn Cipher (Aspirant, Tier 9)

Power [Class Level]: Star [Broker <Celestial Coordinator> 100] / Exoplanet [Reality Strategist <Tactician> 77]

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 10), Coordinator's Warning System (Rank 9), Stratagem (Rank 63) [Mobility][Obliteration][Bulwark][Grounded][Resolved][Chaos Strike][Shattered Views][Slip Away][Skip][Time Lock], Inter-reality Relay Network (Rank 5), Tactician's Orders (Rank 2), 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: Uncommon (Variable)

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Tactician's Orders (Rank 1) – When a target marked with Stratagem or a Celestial Observer obeys the instructions of the user, that target will execute the instructions with increased efficacy.

Tactician's Orders (Rank 2) – As Rank 1, and the target will be granted necessary comprehension of a skillset to accomplish the task.

Coordinator's Critical Gaze (Rank 10) – As Rank 1, but the first strike against the weak spot has its damage amplified by x10.

Coordinator's Warning System (Rank 9) – As Rank 1, but the reaction time is improved.

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Xera leaned back in her chair for a moment, sighing with relief as the Anathema Core transferred from the TPSB to her fabrication bays. I'll have to wait a while, she thought, but having the ability to make Anathema items is going to be valuable. More importantly, it removes the capacity for such a power from everyone's hands except for mine, and the hands of my Signers.

She finished looking over their recent upgrades as they returned to Khrox for a quick breather. Xera had already set up the game plan. More hunting. Harkon Secundus was a valuable hunting ground, with plentiful creatures to harvest for Stardust or butcher for component parts that could be sold on the various markets.

Alarms and warnings began flashing on her screen. Glancing at them, she saw that Troxanir had sent more Signers with bombs. Tapping a few icons, she warped them into deep space – their payloads detonating harmlessly. How is he getting them into The Cosmic Corridor? She asked herself. He does not have a portal.

"Josie," she stated, "Have we figured out their entry point?"

The Wayfinder shook her central mass, her tendrils tapping various consoles and screens. "No, Xera. They are seemingly warping in at random. It is not Khrox or Cosmic Corridor-space technology, and not Architect remnants, either."

I knew that, Xera thought, I scrounged up everything my species left over in the universe and put it into TPS. She sighed, "It must be some type of Astral System Skill. Have we heard back from any of the trans-reality probes?"

"Yes, initial telemetry readings confirm your suspicions – it is a realm comprised of energies that act similarly to a sea. And just like a sea, the deeper one goes, the harder it is to survive."

"We knew that much," Xera muttered, "Since we pulled up Troxanir from...a ways down." She rubbed her temples, knowing that Troxanir was just one of the strong Astral Demons – there were stronger entities. Demon Lords, from the one instance when Troxanir let slip to his Architect captors some secret of the nature of that place. The entities stayed at the bottom of the Astral Verge, sucking up souls en route to the Nethershift.

"Going that deep will be difficult," Josie stated. "We need more data, but once your Signers are integrated into the Astral System, they will need to gain more power to descend deeper."

Yes, which means that we are just scratching the surface of what we know. Even my people barely scratched the depths of that realm. More and more she believed that her people had perished in their journey to try and find the Nethershift, as over the millennia since they had left, all that Xera learned about the Astral Verge led her to believe that it was going to be very unlikely a progenitor species would survive outside of their home universe for long.

"We will assume that Troxanir is using some Astral System based Skill-"

"We agreed, Xera, we are calling them Talents. Different System, so we vary the terms!"

"Right, Talents. Thank you, Josie." Xera let out a sigh as she stood up, "Monitor, please. I'm going to visit Shhiv."

"Why?" Josie asked.

"The woman's world is an irradiated wasteland with hardly any survivors, and I need Jace to remain stable. Making sure that his significant other is also stable is a part of that."