Dark Matter Ascension

The remaining cycles of travel passed quickly. Well, to Jace's perception, they passed quickly. He landed a few times to rest in the tent which thankfully still accelerated a full-night's sleep to a single hour – and Ollie could float above the tent in his starry-outline form to keep watch.

During that travel, Ollie was able to figure out the rough Essence amount each Potency of demon would give upon being slain. Less than Potency 1, which was the majority of them on the first Layer, would grant anywhere from one to ten Essence. A Potency 1 demon would grant anywhere from eleven to a hundred. He did not have enough data points for the other Potency levels, and the Astral System was quite begrudging with how much information he could coax from its ancient servers.

However, one conclusion that was rapidly discovered was that killing a demon with Psykinetics delivered the full amount, whereas using Void would cut the amount significantly. Some type of built-in limiter or restriction imposed when the Astral System was first created, Ollie stated. A means of preventing anyone from cheating the System.

"I can still have Void on my weapon along with the Pyskinetics, right?"

In conjunction it seems to be just fine. Only need to worry about it when you're using Void Beam. All your other Skills keep them within the radius of your Hero's Arena, which thanks to that [Aura] Specialization means that you are constantly harming them with Psykinetics.

"In other words, I lose out on a ton of Essence by using [Horizon-Splitter]," Jace clarified, feeling a bit of dismay.

Yup. Sorry buddy.

"I knew it wouldn't be that easy," Jace replied.

The voidlight tether was charged and ready for Jace to return to his universe at any time, but he wanted to clear this time-sensitive Mission, first, before taking some time to relax and be with Shhiv. The pulsating in his chest from the emotion source guiding his decision making to ensure he was even more heroic.

He saw the mountain in the distance. Zooming in with his prosthetic eyes, he could see millions of Astral Demons swarming the monolith. At the top, a castle with broad walls was covered in runes that were not of Astral design. They were magic runes like what he had seen on Nethaldrim. Pure-magic done in a formulaic fashion. The walls were surrounded with shimmering light that shimmered as it deflected ranged attacks from Astral Demons who sought to take the heights.

But only ranged attacks, it seemed, as demons were clawing their way up the walls to be met by armored defenders, covered in glowing armor with archaic, medieval melee weapons that they used to keep their foes at bay. Jace could make out the features of these Oxknowl species even with the distance thanks to his All-Seeing Dragon's Eyes. Very broad, with stocky torsos, digitigrade legs, and bovine features replete with a tail and – on some of their heads – horns.

Cow-people, Ollie concluded. Neat! And they are a pure-magic universe, it seems. Or at least whatever faction from the universe went through the singularity leading here.

The walls of magical energy extended up to the top of the funnel and seemed to stop any flying Astral Demons, immediately sending them shooting down to the mountain where they remained. "And they've protected their funnel like Xera did," Jace commented as he drew his Hero's Blade.

Yup! Seems like it. But they have to hold the single ground-based entry, it seems.

Jace did not need to activate Valiant Crusader's Might, Hero's Arena, or Indomitable Will as they were always active now. But he activated Crusader's Bastion as the shield appeared on his forearm to cover his whole body. "Millions should count. Dark Energy Mine (Rank 1), Shattered Limits (Rank 19), Raging Cleave (Rank 10) [Echoing Cleave], Aura of Wrath (Rank 11) [Voidflame Vestment], Void Blade (Rank 17) [Rending], Void Shield (Rank 6)."

Jace dropped from his swinging and sprinted across the now-cracked and volcanic landscape from the most recent cycle change. Jumping across rivulets of crackling and bubbling pink, purple, and green lava, he rushed toward the mountain.

"Reinforcements are being summoned now!" Archmage Malaka shouted as he raised his staff over the array of runes upon the ground. A shimmering cascade of prismatic colors appeared in Oxknowl shape before the soldiers manifested. He put the staff on the ground and breathed heavily, "Quickly register and get to the battlements!"

The group of runic-full-plate warriors stood stock-straight, their eyes glazing over briefly before their bodies flared with various hues representative of emotional sources. As a unit, they rushed over to the walls to relieve one of the sections.

Malaka shuffled away, sucking in deep breaths as one of his fellow Archmagi stepped in to summon the next group from their universe. He got into the tower and was led up to observe the battle from above while he waited for his magic to return. "How goes the assault?" he asked the assistant; a young page who helped his old bones ascend.

"Not good," the boy replied with a frown.

Malaka shook his head, "We keep summoning our warriors. We will hold." We have to, he added to himself. The assault had been going on for well over twenty cycles, and their calls for help were answered – but the Alliance Coalition could not send forces until another dire threat was dealt with. One that apparently took precedence over a universe being invaded.

Malaka grit his teeth in frustration. There was only so much they could do. Their magic was strong, but only Psykinetics could keep these creatures down. And their most powerful warriors, the first ones to explore this new layer of reality, were off elsewhere. As he sat down, he picked up a spyglass and began observing the mountain below.

A glint of gold caught his eye, and he rotated his chair slightly to better observe. Far, far off in the distance but closing fast was a bolt of yellow light that was tinged with crackling crimson energy. "What is that?" he asked as he handed the spyglass to the page.

The page fumbled with it for a second before raising it to his eye, "Not sure."

Malaka muttered, "Bah. Useless." He snatched the eyeglass away and tried to find the yellow bolt among the cracked, volcanic landscape. Eventually he spotted the blur – far closer than it was before. How is it traveling that fast? He thought.

The bolt hit the base of the mountain's long slope and there was a split in the air in front of them before an explosion of gold – not yellow, but gold – radiated out.

Malaka grinned, "I know that Psykinetic color! One of our heroes is back!"

This drew shouts of joy from the defenders and they rallied, pushing back the wave and buying a moment of breathing room as they cheered. Everyone knew the value of a Heroism-based Psykinetic user, and that they could easily turn the tide of a battle if the masses believed in them.

Malaka led a war cry from the tower top, his deep, bellowing voice roaring out across the battlements only to be lifted up by his fellow Oxknowl. "Help has arrived!"

Jace reached the base of the mountain and unleashed Raging Cleave after Raging Cleave, carving swathes as he traveled around the monolith. Each slash killed hundreds of Astral Demons who were grouped up in small camps. He made sure to pause at each camp, find the brood pit – a foul, disgusting, pile of bones and organs that produced demons at a fast pace – and destroyed those with quick slashes of his golden blade.

The air around him ignited as the white-grey of Void could no longer hide the golden glow of Valor. A blazing aura of divine radiance that burned away the wicked, horrific abominable forms of the demon horde. Jace felt the raw power surging through his body, and though his HUD showed his energy slowly depleting from fueling Skills, he felt alive.

Looks like you were noticed, Ollie quipped as faint shouts of elation reached Jace's ears. They are cheering you on, hero.

Jace knew it as his blade blazed with the golden flames. The aura grew even more intense and he was no longer killing dozens with slashes of his blade, but his mere passing through a cluster of foes seared them to a crisp as their forms twisted into slag before fading to nothingness. Letting loose a swing, he activated (Convergent Edge) on his Hero's Blade and released a shockwave of golden light that obliterated hundreds of demons in the single swing – the line of gold racing out a thousand feet before fading.

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His assault was finally noticed and the hoard turned on him. A lone warrior amidst the fray. Jace felt his heart pounding, the cheers from above seeming to amplify as they echoed in his ears. He was the hero they needed, their savior, and that fueled his Emotion Source all the more. The golden flames exploded, and the Hero's Arena thickened until it was a torrent of fire that none could survive. He barely would reach a demon to take a swing before the flames consumed them.

Beacon, he thought as he activated his Reaper Armor. His black armor shone with a lustrous, silver glow and even demons who were holding back at the edge of the aura rushed in, drawn forth by the (Great Alteration)'s effect.

The carnage continued for what felt like hours, and when Jace's energy on his HUD showed twenty percent remaining he drew on the stores in his Primal Hide to refresh himself and keep fighting. He had been making steady progress up the mountain, and whilst there was still an assault focused on the fortification above, whoever controlled this group of demons had diverted forces to try and stop Jace.

Which was futile, as he carved apart any that came in his way. The golden flames of his valor burned away demons. With his [Danger-Sense] on his Edge's Intuition, he was impossible to surprise. Even airborne assaults were detected just after they entered the radius of his Hero's Arena, and he was able to get his shield in the way.

There were a handful of Potency 1 demons that came at him, but Jace was able to defeat them despite the risk posed by their Psykinetic empowered weaponry. He was a one-man army, a storm of torrential pain that inflicted devastating losses.

Halfway up the mountain Ollie gave him the signal. Jace slapped his hand on the ground, "I want this whole mountain to be covered in flame. Archmage's Admixture."

Malaka was on the battlement as there were no more warriors ready to be summoned from their universe. He watched from behind the first two rows as the golden sphere of flame – the figure within fully obscured – surged through the demon forces. They were like a wrecking ball – everywhere they went, the demons were incinerated and the ball left a wake of devastation.

Then, Malaka took several steps back as heat reached his face and he saw the edge of his staff flicker with embers of golden flame. He quickly extinguished the fire, and saw that all of his troops had to step back from the wall. "Minor ward – heat," he muttered as he cast a simple shielding spell. The heat was massively reduced, and he got to the edge of the parapet.

What he saw caused his jaw to drop. The entire mountain was ablaze with golden flame. But he knew it was not Psykinetics alone – it was magic. Pure-magic. Above what an archmage could accomplish. That…that's not one of our heroes, he thought.

And that realization sent a shiver through him. A hero, sure. Breaking the assault? Sure. But this heroic individual showing up was-

His thoughts were interrupted as his rune-carved communicator vibrated. Raising it to his ear, he heard a familiar voice. "Help was dispatched. Did it arrive?" Grand Coordinator Brok asked.

"Yes," Malaka replied near-breathlessly as the flames receded. The whole mountain had been scoured clean with the golden flames, save for a handful of hulking, higher Potency demons who all rushed toward the hero's golden sphere. "You had this at your disposal?"

"What do you mean?" Brok asked.

"I'll send you a vision." Malaka raised his staff to his temple and cast a complex vision-displacement spell.

Brok's voice was filled with fear, "What is that?"

"A her- wait, you didn't send this one?"

"We sent a Valorous [Crusader], but I've never seen one like that!"

Malaka raised his spy glass and tried to see what was going on in that sphere of gold. After a few seconds, the sphere vanished and all he could see were the now-burning and cut-apart corpses of Potency 1 demons – those who led this army. He saw the sword.

A rune covered sword.

Not magic runes. Astral runes.

"He has a Relic," Brok whispered, his mandibles clicking in irritation. "That would have been nice to know."

Malaka's eyes widened, "A Relic can do that?! We need them! Each universe. If we had a weapon like that, we could easily defend our strongholds and keep our universes safe!"

"Vaults are very hazardous," Brok replied. "Potency 3 is the lowest recommended I've heard reports of."

"We know where they are?" Malaka asked.

"I have the locations of several," Brok replied.

"Let's get this hero to clear them for us! Get us some Relics to defend our homes. If he has one, he was able to get it, right?"

"They cannot be transferred, so that would be accurate." Brok sighed, "Let me give him his reward, and then I'll send him up to talk to you."

Jace was heaving in breaths. Sucking in air as he fell to one knee. "That…was…a lot."

You should probably open with Archmage's Admixture, Ollie thought back. Destroy the whole army first then deal with the commanders.

Jace shook his head, "It didn't feel right."

That's the Emotion Source talking.

He stood up, "How much Essence did we get?"

All told we got three-thousand one-hundred. Putting you at a total of four-thousand.

Jace sighed, "Less than one Essence for most of the demons? You had that kill counter going, what did it top out at?"

One-million-ninety-thousand-six-hundred-and-forty-two.

Jace sheathed his blade and began using his Soul Tether to grapple up to the fortress above, "A lot of those demons were worth less than one Essence."

Indeed. I believe that this first Layer is something of a proving ground for demons. Once they reach Potency 1, they take command of their lessers. Potency 2, they begin to feel this lure to deeper Layers. Which means the deeper we go, the less populous they will be – but also the more Essence they will grant per-kill.

Jace reached the walls and looked up, seeing several arms waving for him to ascend. Sinking his fingers into the stone wall thanks to several claw-marks making handholds, he scrabbled up.

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[Mission Success: Relieve the assault on Universe 558600.]

[Reward: Uncommon (Gear) Infusion.]

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[Mission: Conquer the vault (see provided location).]

[Reward: Rare (Gear) Infusion.]

[Sender: Gyanv Alliance Coalition.]

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Jace paused under the crenellations as Brok's voice came over his comms, "I see you have a Relic."

"So what if I do?" Jace replied.

"We want you to escort some other Dreamers and help them clear these vaults we have mapped out. Give other species a weapon of mass destruction like your sword that they can use to hold their universe's entryway."

"One minute." Jace cut off the comms and tried to open up his line to Quinn, "Quinn, mind getting Xera on the comms?"

"On it!" Quinn's voice sounded peppy and excited. "Oh, we have a surprise when you get back!"

Not a fan of those, Jace thought.

Xera's voice came over the comms, "Yes?"

Jace quickly filled her in as he clung to the wall, holding up a finger for "just a minute" as the cow-people above him waved him up. He ended with, "I'm torn. On one hand, getting the Relics for myself could be really useful in keeping me alive. But at the same time, giving other universes these tools-"

Xera cut him off, "Relics are powerful tools from the preliminary scans and seeing how it elevated your Psykinetic prowess. Keeping them for ourselves is more valuable. I'll hack the Alliance Coalition's databanks and get the vault locations."

Jace was torn. On one hand, Xera had a point – him surviving and getting strong enough to reach the afterlife to create a funnel connecting the two was the priority. But at the same time, his Valorous Emotion Source was urging him to be heroic. To save the most lives possible. Even saving the lives of those who were not part of his universe.

Xera must have sensed his inner turmoil, as she softly spoke. "Shhiv is more important. Chroma is more important. You have loved ones you care for. The Alliance Coalition…their goal is folly. They could never keep a constant, friendly alliance between every universe and also eliminate Astral Demons on the first Layer. It is impossible. Demon Lords will assault from lower Layers are effectively do a reset." Her voice became slightly more stern, "You need to watch out for your own. Don't get swept up."

She's right, Jace thought. Unless universes were fully cut off from the Astral Verge, cut off from the Nethershift, and afterlives – the funnels all sealed so Souls would just stay in their universes…demons will continue to form from people's emotions. "Fine. I'm going to tell Brok we won't take the Mission."

Jace keyed the comms over with a thought, "Brok?"

"Yes, Dreamer Wraith?"

"I am not going to take that Mission. My goal is to get Essence to become a higher Potency." Which was true, and Jace felt no confliction in telling the Gyanv that truth. "I'm more than happy to keep eliminating demons, but risking my neck for a relatively pithy reward is not on my agenda."

Brok went silent for several moments before coming back, "What if I could get you a higher rarity Infusion? I could maybe, maybe, once you help a Dreamer get a Relic, show that this is a very viable path to securing the Alliance Coalition's members. I could use that to leverage…possibly a Legendary rarity Infusion."

Jace sighed, "Thanks, but no thanks. Too risky. I almost died in the vault I took on to get this sword."

Brok sounded disappointed but his voice was filled with understanding. "Sure. Thanks for being outright with your rejection. We will look into other Astral Demon activity that we could send you to, and assign a Mission."

The comms went dead, and Jace grappled the rest of the way up the wall to crouch on top of the crenellation before stepping down onto the solid stone. He was surrounded by these cow-people in full armor and weaponry, who cheered, clapped, and exhorted his heroism. The cheers filled him with a sense of pride, and that golden glow suffusing his body crackled with surging flame as his ego was stoked.

An elderly, male Oxknowl holding a large staff walked up and bowed, "Thank you, hero from another universe, for the reprieve. It has bought us valuable time to reinforce our defenses, mark new runes, and create wards to protect our home."

Jace waved dismissively, "Not a problem. It was fun."

This earned a chuckle from the older cow-man, and the warriors surrounding also laughed. "I'm happy you had fun," the older man replied as the laughter faded. "I was told by Brok that you are not open to escorting one of my strongest warriors to a Vault and clearing it with them."

Jace crossed his arms, "That's right. Sorry, but I need Essence more than Boons."

The cow-man in robes sighed, "Shame. But, understood. If you are tired, we can provide refuge."

"I'm good," Jace replied as he looked back over the landscape. "I'll take my leave, then, if nothing else is needed."

"At least let us treat you to some food."

Jace shook his head, "I have a wife to get back to." He turned and detonated the Dark Energy Mine on his chest, leaping off and activating Void Stalker as he sailed off into the sky.