NOVEL NEXT 2.27: Cabin
The tall grass swayed as Ethan stood in front of the cabin that was to be his home, and a smile stretched across his lips as he looked around. The river was less than a minute away, which gave him an amazing view from the little porch, and as he climbed the couple of steps toward the entrance, he couldn't help but let his fingers brush against the smooth wood.
Turning the door knob, the door clicked open and Ethan stepped in. Immediately, his eyes were drawn to the various lamps spread about the room, illuminating the simple table and chairs right next to the small kitchen, and the living space on the other side. The sunlight was flooding that area through a wide glass window, overpowering the lamps, and between the two spaces, he saw the corridor. Following it, he found a closed bedroom and a bathroom with a shower. Frowning, he leaned over the faucet and hummed.
These houses have been summoned. How do they look so modern? And is this connected to fresh water?
Flipping the handle, Ethan jumped back as he sensed the pulse of mana, but then, only water came out of the faucet.
"Oh. Fair enough," he mumbled, turning the water off.
Making his way back to the living room, Ethan sat down in the sun and let out a long breath, enjoying the quiet for a minute. Ember had stayed with the others, opting to go scout one of the new rifts that had opened up south, while Amanda and the other had stuck around to rest and prepare for the trip to Wyldrock once he got some rest. It wasn't as if they needed an escort to get there, but a smooth introduction would do them a lot of good. Plus, Ethan already dropped a couple of items he needed the council to start chatting about a few things already.
They needed some rules on Spellwrench devices. They needed a more moderate rate of taxation that everyone agrees on, and for now, at least temporarily and until they knew more, they needed an outright ban on eldritch magic until they understood the damn thing.
Speaking of…
Ethan dug into his pouch and began arraying all the primagems he still hadn't assimilated and as eyed them, he wondered if he really did have to assimilate them to have them be part of the evolution process.
I guess… just in case they aren't I'll leave only those I don't intend on using, Ethan thought as he began assimilating everything one of them he had available. All but the two mid-grades. The Draining primagem, and the Eldritch primagem. He left those two on the ground in front of him.
"Let's get started," he thought, summoning the familiar charcoal-colored claws. He observed them for a second, taking in the dark dovetailed scales and the glistening sheen of them. The dark and relatively short but scarily sharp black talons, then he closed his eyes.
The claws were like second nature to him. They'd carried him through the worst of the tutorial. He'd explored the first rift with them. Fought his first tier-2s with them. Even buried a part of his past with them.
The [Draconic Claws] were amazing at channeling his flames and Might, and while they'd served him well, it was time they moved on to their next level and join the tier-3 spellforms he had in his arsenal.
The air rippled in front of him, and the corner of his lips lifted up as the process begun. This was the easiest spell upgrade he'd triggered yet.
Congratulations. Draconic Claws (Tier-2) can be upgraded. 500 fragments are required.
"Go for it," Ethan said, accepting the fee, and then the prompt for using the primagems showed up.
Do you wish to alter the unlocked options with low-grade primagems?
Ethan agreed, and began reading as the options were listed in front of him.
Select one of the following upgrades for Draconic Claws (Tier-2):
Option #1: Costs 3 primagem of Draining, 1 primagem of Bone, 1 primagem of Armor, 1 primagem of Hardening, 1 primagem of Life
Claws of the Ossyrath Dragon (Tier-3): Summon claws modeled after the Ossyrath, ivory-scaled dragons revered for their brutal endurance and vitality-stealing strikes. Each blow drains strength from the enemy, restoring the user's vigor while reinforcing their defenses. Form Bonus: Spirit, Toughness
Option #2: Costs 2 primagem of Fire, 1 primagem of Explosion
Claws of the Infernal Drake (Tier-3): Infuse your claws with volatile combustive fire. Attacks ignite and destabilize targets, causing periodic explosions on impact. The claws hum with searing heat and fracture bone with brutal precision. Form Bonus: Might, Spirit
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Option #3: Costs 1 primagem of Lightning, 1 primagem of Crystallization, 1 primagem of Draining
Claws of the Stormfang Wyrm (Tier-3): Summon jagged, storm-infused crystal claws. Each swipe discharges stored lightning, overloading magical barriers and shocking foes into vulnerability. Form Bonus: Might, Mana
"Well. That looks like it was just made for me," Ethan said with a smile. Then, pulling a notebook out of his pouch, he wrote down the options offered and their requirements. In case they didn't manage to find a guidebook on this sort of stuff, they could start creating their own.
Re-reading the options, Ethan hummed. While the other two options were interesting and certainly powerful, his whole quest about locating a life-infused primagem was to get something that'd provide a little more healing from his claws. That option had been offered, and even better, it's been offered along with an extra boost to his Toughness.
I'd lose the Might boost in exchange for the Toughness, I guess. Not the worst exchange I could think of. But damn is it expensive compared to the others, he thought as he selected the spell, and as the magic swirled around him, he eyed the two larger primagems in front of him. They hadn't influenced the selection, so it did seem like he couldn't use something he hadn't assimilated.
Then again, I can't be sure with just one attempt, he mused. And noting the upgrade was done, Ethan summoned the new claws.
A pale, bone-white layer swept over his hands, thickening into hard, thick and ridgy scales that locked into place like interlocked plates. His fingers shifted first—claws extending, black and sharp, built for precision and force. The transformation crept up to his forearms, enhancing his joints and muscles, stopping halfway to the elbow and as he flexed his hand, testing the weight, Ethan whistled. The spellform felt… amazing. Balanced. Not flashy or glossy like they'd been. These new bone-plated claws radiated brutality. And Ethan, while he had loved the black scales they previously sported, he couldn't help but admire these new ones.
"Can't wait to take these ones out for a spin."
Taking a deep breath, Ethan moved on to the next spell, and while he tried for a bit, no prompt showed up. Maybe it was the fact that he only recently began slotting the spell regularly, or maybe because he knew he hadn't pushed it much, but nothing showed up when he'd tried to push [Breath Gland] to the next step.
Ethan didn't let it affect him. He'd have plenty of time to explore the spell more soon. For now, Ethan turned his attention to the pulsing force he could feel in his chest, drawing on the mana surrounding him. And while it took him a bit longer to trigger the evolution of [Mana Heart], it did eventually show up. After all, this spell had been with him even before [Draconic Claws], and while he couldn't actively use this one like the claws or the wings, it had been continuously beating in his chest for a while now.
Congratulations. Mana Heart (Tier-2) can be upgraded. 500 fragments are required.
Ethan paid the cost, and was ready to agree to the second prompt when he noticed a little altered detail in the wording.
Do you wish to alter the unlocked options with low and mid-grade primagems?
His eyes swiveled to the roiling purple shadows of the Eldritch primagem and the pulsing, awning void of the Draining primagem.
"Shit," he mumbled under his breath as he stared at the prompt. Well, that sort of confirms that primagems in his vicinity could be used, though this did pose the question as to why the previous selection hadn't tried to incorporate the mid-grade primagems.
Might be worth seeing what it comes with. But I'm not picking whatever uses the Eldritch primagem. I can at least write the option down…
With a nod, Ethan accepted. This might rob an option selection from him, but he wanted what mid-grade primagems could manage.
Select one of the following upgrades for Mana Heart (Tier-2):
Option #1: Costs 3 primagem of Stone, 1 primagem of Hardening
Mana Heart of the Earth Elemental (Tier-3): Bind your mana system to a deep, rhythmic pulse like that of the earth's own mana flow. Regeneration increases the longer you stand still or maintain spellcasting. Offers significant resistance to mana disruption. Form Bonus: Mana, Toughness
Option #2: Costs 2 primagem of Fire, 1 primagem of explosion, 1 primagem of Draining, 1 primagem of Last Breath
Emberborn Heart (Tier-3): Your heart burns like a sealed furnace, accumulating heat from your surroundings and the damage you endure. This energy can be discharged outward in a controlled explosion or turned inward to replenish stamina and mana reserves. Fire-based spells consume this spellform's mana more readily, easing the strain of casting and allowing you to fight longer without faltering. When pushed past your limits, the Emberborn heart convulses in a final surge: for a brief moment, searing heat floods your body, reigniting your strength in a blaze of reckless power. But once the flare fades, you're left drained—your reserves emptied, your heart cold. Form Bonus: Mana, Spirit
Option #3: Costs 1 mid-grade primagem of Eldritch, 1 mid-grade primagem of Draining, 3 primagems of Water, 1 primagem of Hardening
Mana Heart of the Blooming Maw (Tier-4): You cultivate a pulsing, alien organ within your chest, part abyssal flower, part dreaming predator. Your mana regenerates steadily but swells violently when enemies cast nearby. Each spell cast in your vicinity tugs at the casters' spirit, subtly siphoning their energy into your blooming core. As your mana flows, the Maw releases invisible pulses of psychic pressure, rattling hostile focus and weakening spell precision. The longer combat drags on, the more unsettling your presence becomes. Form Bonus: Spirit, Mana
"Talk about options," Ethan mumbled as he read through the options. When he was done, he crossed his arms and drew his lips in a line. "Well. This is interesting."