Paragon of Skills

The Champions have walked back to the entrance of the Tomb of Fate in order to deliver Malrik to people from the Academy who have been warned about Cultists' presence.

Later, they entered the Dungeon again to finish clearing it and found the cave system where the two Cultists had hidden and Malrik had performed his Blood Magic rituals.

* * *

I see Asterion kneeling in front of a giant pile of corpses. There must be hundreds left in a giant pit which is overflowing to the point that the pile is still taller than the Highblood.

He touches the ground beneath his feet, feeling the smooth rock, and bowing his head.

"I'm sorry," the man mutters. "I should have been here."

The others are patrolling the other parts of the cave. I told them that there shouldn't be anyone left here after using the Grimoire to track any strange Mana which might point out the presence of more Cultists.

Yet, no one is feeling good about the slaughter that happened here. People died. And not just Adventurers, apparently the Cultists had taken villages around the city that lies beside the Tomb of Fate. In the commotion about the Dungeon, few had noticed. Now, patrolling helps the others stay busy.

I get it. I feel like doing the same. And the reason why I walked with Asterion is because I want to know more about the relationship between the Cult of Asmodeus and the Highbloods.

As soon as I see the man rise from the ground, I ask, "why did they call you a Heretic?"

Asterion summons his white spear and holds it in front of him.

"Do you know who the Titans were?" he asks, looking at me.

"Creatures who fought the Gods?" I say, unsure.

Asterion nods. There's no trace of bother on his face when confronted with my ignorance.

"This might be common knowledge among Royalty of other countries, especially among Infernals and Dragonkins: those two descend from immortal beings. Titans were not immortal. They had very long lifespans, so long some of them might have very well be considered immortals. But not one Titan has ever lived as long as a God did. And that's by design."

"By design?" I ask curiously. "Whose design?"

"Devils and Dragons have always existed as long as there's been memory of the world. They existed alongside Gods. Titans, instead, were made by the Gods as their ultimate servants and enforcers. Each of our enclaves descends from a Titan whom, in turn, was created by a God."

The revelation hits me quite strongly. I never knew this piece of lore about Gods. But that makes it very clear why the Highbloods are very angry with the Gods.

"Among the Highbloods, everyone remembers which Gods they descend from. It's in our first name, so that we might never forget the slavery we were born into. Our very ancestors were the ultimate slaves who decided to kill their masters. But in turn, most of them were slaughtered because of their rebellion. They all spawned descendants, however. And while some enclaves have been annihilated by the wars with the Gods, many have hidden and been thriving, waiting for the next battle, Jacob."

"I still don't see why you feel so responsible for these people," I frown. "They were killed by the Cult of Asmodeus. Not by you."

Asterion looks at me with sad eyes, "Aster, the Titan of Stars, was the Evil God servant and creation—my ancestor was birthed by Asmodeus. I am the flesh and blood of the most powerful and Evil God there is, the God of Monsters."

My breath catches in my throat as I look at the Highblood with wide eyes.

"For those descending by Evil Gods, your last name, which usually is only given after great deeds, is given at the age of five based on the weapon of your choice. It's a sign of mockery among my people. You carry a fake name until you're able to earn a new one. It's a mark of shame."

I look at Asterion, not sure what to say in response to this revelation.

"I don't look for your compassion, Jacob," Asterion says, looking at me meaningfully. "There's nothing I'm asking you. I'm simply informing you of why I hold myself responsible for things such as this. My people have never managed to kill Asmodeus for good."

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I see his face darkening.

"But I intend to put an end to this cycle of slaughter. I will be the one killing the strongest Evil God."

I nod slowly.

"Would you like some help?" I say, extending a hand.

Asterion looks at my hand, taken aback for a moment before nodding. "Of course."

* * *

We finally make it back to the fourth ground where we fight the fourth regional Boss. There are still loose monsters to clear out. Even though Malrik is not influencing the monsters anymore, they're still corrupted and they must be purged.

After the fight, however, I don't join the rest of the others and take a look at the great increase in levels and Skills that I have gone through after fighting non-stop for so long.

Name: Jacob Cloud

Class: Infernal Architect - Lv. 142 > 169

Core Skills:

Hellbane's Sword - Lv. 40 > 60 (Platinum - Offensive)

Flame Slash - Lv. 61 > 78 (Gold - Offensive)

Flame Shield - Lv. 65 > 85 (Gold - Defensive)

Flame Armor - Lv. 70 > 93 (Gold - Defensive)

Infernal Veins - Lv. 74 > 88 (Platinum - Constitution)

The Grimoire Extraordinaire (Rainbow - Support)

Class Skills:

Furnace Core (Passive) - Lv. 100

Flameform Blueprint (Active) - Lv. 100

Infernal Thread (Passive) - Lv. 100

Ember Keystone (Active) - Lv. 1 > 42

Architect's Insight (Passive) - Lv. 100

Hellspire (Active) - Lv. 100

Ignition Array (Active) - Lv. 2 > 52

Attributes:

Strength (STR): 315 → 342

Dexterity (DEX): 344 → 398

Endurance (END): 215 → 242

Vitality (VIT): 344 → 398

Intelligence (INT): 660 → 768

Spirit (SPI): 660 → 768

Wisdom (WIS): 545 → 626

Charisma (CHA): 18 → 18

Luck (LCK): 10 → 10

Unassigned Points: 110 → 245

Other Skills:

Minor Cookery - Lv. 34 (Iron)

Minor Night Vision - Lv. 32 (Iron)

Light - Lv. 67 (Bronze)

Pickaxe Mastery - Lv. 81 (Bronze)

Minor Mineral Sense - Lv. 72 (Bronze)

Mana Well - Lv. 24 > 78 (Gold)

Echolocation - Lv. 84 > 100 (Silver)

Heavenly Intuition - Lv. 53 > 62 (Platinum)

Silver Grip - Lv. 42 > 100 (Silver)

Advanced Endurance - Lv. 87 > 100 (Silver)

Advanced Strength - Lv. 56 > 100 (Gold)

Infernal Wings of Ash - Lv. 80 > 100 (Gold)

Web of Withering - Lv. 79 > 100 (Gold)

Diavolo Draw - Lv. 53 > 76 (Gold)

Black Flame Lv. 15 > 34 (Fusion Skill - Platinum)

Blood of the Ancients - Lv. 1 > 55 (Platinum)

Tribulation of the Damned - Lv. 1 > 25 (Platinum)

First Step of Mephistus - Lv. 1 > 20 (Platinum)

Sigil of Baal - Lv. 1 > 15 (Platinum)

??? - Lv. 1

The question marks are for the last of the Five Deadly Arts that I learned from the Infernal Manual. From what King Baalrek said, I have fulfilled the energy requirements for it thanks to Malrik, but I can't exactly use the spell because of my understanding of Infernal magic. He also told me that I should wait before I try to use the Grimoire on it. He says he knows the Skill and that it's going to be a nice surprise. For now, I decided to listen to the Infernal.

But the most important thing is that all my Skills are encroaching on level one-hundred, and that's mostly thanks to my Heavenly Intuition Skill. That's what's been bridging the gap between the kind of knowledge that the Grimoire is able to give me and the practical know-how I need to actually evolve them.

However, the most interesting thing as we move forward and we make way for the last region where the Dungeon Boss is waiting for us, is that I suddenly get a ping from a Skill I hadn't felt anything from in a long time.

"Wait," I say to everyone present, turning to my right.

The fourth region is a sort of rocky marsh with small bodies of water that were riddled with Stone Alligators.

I turn right and left. The feeling is extremely vague, but it's the unmistakable ping of one of the Skills I grew up with.

Grimoire, I suddenly summon my most powerful Skill to come in aid of the other one.

Everyone is stuck watching me curiously while I upgrade an old Skill in secret. Half an hour later, thanks to its low level, I have maxed it out.

Minor Mineral Sense - Lv. 72 > 100

I feel the presence of a very large mineral deposit somewhere nearby and, step by step, I get close to one small, unsuspecting pond.

"What's up, Cloud? Monsters?" Vyrrak asks.

"I'm fed up with the humidity here," Sabrina Margrave complains. "Can't we just move the hell forward? I'm done with this Dungeon. I just want to get out."

"No," I say under my breath. "Not monsters. There's... minerals in here."

"Minerals?" Zibrek looks bored. "So what?"

"If they tripped my Skill..." I explain slowly. "There must be a lot of them. But I can't see anything."

Then, when I activate the Grimoire again, looking straight at the pond, hoping to get any information out of it, I get a message I wasn't expecting.

[Grimoire Analysis Successful]

[Portal of Rafnov - True Diamond Rank Portal Spell]

[The kind of portal which often leads to Secret Dungeon Rooms left behind by the Great Miner Rafnov.]

King Baalrek, I speak internally, who's Rafnov?

DID YOU FIND A DAMN RAFNOV VEIN? the scream is so loud that despite it coming from my soul I feel like I've just been deafened.