Surviving The Myriad Worlds (A Multiplanar LitRPG)

That … was a very good point. Now that Dante thought about it, more and more inconsistencies in [Force Paragon] became clear to him. Why was it that air or water pushed on him as much as Siluv's storm did now? Both exerted more pressure based on how much matter was displaced and with his aura spanning twenty feet across, that was a whole lot of pressure. Dante was not particularly familiar with the math involved, but he was pretty sure that he would be a fine paste if the ability worked that way.

Whatever logic was at work here, it was not the kind he was familiar with. But there had to be some kind of through line here, didn't there? Up until now, the system had acted sensibly, so Dante was certain that there was a pattern here. It was almost as if the ability treated things as a medieval peasant would perceive them to be. People in this world didn't see air as a mixed collection of an uncountable number of particles. They just saw air. It would also explain the ground conundrum that Siluv had pointed out.

Something about that line of thought resonated within him and a notification blinked to life before him.

[Force Paragon] has increased to Level 12

You have advanced to Level 8

Dante could feel it quite keenly as [Force Paragon] swelled with power. Its reach grew by another foot and the hailstorm retreated, ineffectual before his power. He hurriedly pulled it back, forcing the aura back into roughly its pre-level up state. Hopefully, Siluv had missed that slip-up.

Well, that's as good a confirmation of that idea as any. I mean, I know that the ability is literally being used right at this moment, but that was far too convenient a timing to be coincidental. Does comprehension of abilities help with leveling? Speaking of levels, I finally got to level eight! Now that we are away from the war, my pace has slowed so much. When I was told that advancing skills also gets levels, I was expecting something faster than this. I mean, I must have leveled my skills over a dozen times before I got this.

Dante nearly stumbled forward as the hail ceased and saw that Siluv was examining him with a thoughtful look on her face. "You had a realization, didn't you?" she asked, eyes questioning. "Your aura is more … profound now."

Shit. Oh, I long for the day when I am not surrounded by such perceptive people.

"Something like that. It reminds me of an old superstition in my homeland."

"And what's that?"

Never fails to work. I bet that Ahzi has commanded them to learn all they can about my past.

"Knowledge is power. That understanding of the world and ourselves is important to advance. It's even said that those with true understanding level faster."

"A good piece of wisdom, and true besides."

"Oh?" Dante said, glee in his heart. He had been hoping to surreptitiously confirm his earlier suspicion.

"Enlightenment is a well-documented phenomenon. Indeed, how else can you explain how some individuals rise through the levels faster than their contemporaries? It is not uncommon to have a few such realizations at lower levels, but they rapidly become rarer. Not all truths are so immediately obvious. Our very own First Princess Ahzi is such an example. She may not be the firstborn of the Empress's children, nor had as many opportunities as her peers, and yet she has arisen to her current position."

Huh, that's not quite what I expected. I always assumed that Ahzi's title was inherited, but now it seems like a meritocratic position. Which I can't say is unexpected, given that Siluv herself was able to rise to her position as a Naula.

"Perhaps this will give you the inspiration you so sorely need to succeed on your current lesson," said Siluv, dismissing the storm with a wave. "You must master it before the expedition, else you might not be able to shield the party."

Dante sighed, rubbed his eyes, and walked over to sit on the floor cushions that Siluv often provided for her lessons. "I don't see how I can shield something like the Black Death or Lightbringer with my measly shield. It would be like trying to cover a mountain with a blanket."

Siluv sat down on her cushion across from him and adopted a scholarly pose. "They are elemental dragons, existences wholly unlike you or me. Their corporeal form is much more malleable than ours, a step towards divinity — or so the Ahsmati claim. They exist at that size only because they wish to. They will not be the problem. You shall be, if your training here does not bear fruit."

She's really harping on that, huh.

Dante rubbed his eyes wearily. Under Syluv's tutelage, Dante had quickly gained a few more levels of his aura skills. Aura Molding now rested at seven, while manipulation and reinforcement had been stuck at four for a couple of days now. No matter how much effort he put into it, they refused to budge.

At least I now know the reason. Moments of inspiration, huh? Perhaps they will advance now.

Right before he settled down, a thought occurred to him. One that was so obvious, Dante felt like he should have asked it long ago. "Why is it so important that I level this ability anyway? Are there not others who could do the same thing I can? I mean, I imagine those storms of yours could accomplish essentially the same thing and kill them besides."

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"You aren't wrong. There exists innumberable types of magic that could ward off the swarm. A team of wind elementalists could sweep them aside with a hurricane, guardians can draw damage upon their nigh indestructible bodies, and enchanters could create a barrier formation. The latter alone is why disaster has not befallen our lands already. Only enchantments could keep something as small as a bug from penetrating our defenses. At least, they could for a time. Mages and martials will run out of mana and stamina, respectively, and enchantments can burn out. You — "

Siluve pointed at him with an almost accusatory finger.

"— Will not. You will serve as a loadstone from which we can plan our operations. A place where we can rest and recover. Aura does not need to be maintained, nor can it be exhausted. Though it is usually far weaker. That is, unless it has been built around, like you have. It is rather unusual, too, for an aura to be as physical as yours is. Most do things like inflicting elemental weakness or discounting spells. Very … unique."

A moment pregnant with meaning passed.

[Inscrutable] has increased to Level 6

Dante debated admitting it. He was tired of this intrigue, but Pauwna's warning flashed through his mind. He chose his words carefully.

"It is unusual, even in my homeland, though it is not entirely unheard of. I know of one order of monks who craft light into sabers that use something like it. Though their version is far more versatile. Some would argue too much so. Anyways, would you mind assisting me with something? I just had an idea."

Siluv gave him a look that made it clear that she knew he was dodging the question. "Of course," she allowed, "that is why I am here."

"Would you mind attacking me from two sides at once, like you are aiming to collide both shots in mid-air?"

She raised an eyebrow but nodded and motioned at him to rise, but he wasn't finished. "Oh, and can you try to make them equal power?"

"That is a particular and exacting demand, but I think I can handle it. Ready yourself."

Dante nodded and took his place back in the training ring. Siluv didn't bother getting up and began casting a significantly less complex spell. On either side of him, two dagger-sized icicles condensed from thin air noticeably slowly than usual. Glancing to the side, he found that Siluv's face was scrunched up in concentration.

Looks like she is taking this seriously.

"Ready?" She called when each spike had reached the size of a kitchen knife. They were identical to his eye, too. He hoped this would work, or else he would look a little foolish.

"Yes."

The two spikes shot towards him, though not as fast as he was expecting. Dante also noted that, on their current trajectory, they would collide just in front of him, narrowly avoiding injuring him. It seemed like Siluv lacked the desire to hurt him. Unlike Moeris.

That wouldn't do.

Taking a deep breath, Dante walked directly in the path of the spikes and braced. The icicles entered his field and began to slow down, but his mind was elsewhere. Searching.

And he made a startling discovery. The force that each spike should have been pressing upon him was simply not there. From past experience, he knew that an attack of this level should have felt like being pushed and definitely would have been noticeable. This could only mean that his theory was true.

The force from attacks on opposite sides cancel out.

It made sense, in a twisted kind of way. This is why he never felt the weight of the sky pressing down upon him; it was being canceled out by the ground beneath him. It had been hard to notice, back when his repulsion aura couldn't even stop a thrown pebble, but it was impossible not to notice now.

It seems like this ability of mine operates under its own kind of logic. As expected of a skill labeled 'Unique'.

His moment of clarity ended as he stumbled and he refocused to see that each ice spike had halted, then rebounded in different directions, thus ending their delicate balance. This solidified Dante's confidence in his theory. Moreover, it gave him his third good idea of the day.

"Well? Did you get what you wanted from that?" asked Syluv.

"I think I just solved our little conundrum."

Many hours later, Dante was sprawled across the ground. In one hand, he held a wet cloth that he used to dab at his face. Once again, he had sprung a nosebleed. On top of that, he had a killer headache.

This was how all of his days ended now. Inevitably, training his aura would bring on a migraine. Even then, they would not stop. They only halted at first blood. It wasn't even always his nose. Sometimes it would stream from his eyes like horrific teardrops. There was no rest to be found after that. His etiquette training never helped with the headache. Even worse was that Dante was awful at it.

Syluv had told him in no uncertain terms that he was not to talk to anyone. Her specific words had been: "It would be best to act as part of the scenery. Like a particularly lively statue."

At least he had finally unlocked something a few minutes ago.

You have acquired the [Wulian Etiquette] skill

Dante had been so glad to see that notification. It was probably his most hard fought for skill, aside from perhaps [Aura Reinforcement]. Whatever the case, it was certainly the skill he had the least amount of talent for.

"That's it for the day," said Siluv, drawing his attention. "Superb progress. The First Princess will be delighted to hear of your idea. If it works as you envision, then we have already satisfied that expeditionary requirement. Our tests seemed hopeful at least, but lets not count on that alone. Our original plan will serve as a nice backup."

"Sure, that makes sense." Dante groaned, taking a seat on his cot. The hard surface was not kind to his bruises, but he was weary enough that it didn't matter.

At least I am more than halfway through this training.

"Hold Dante, I have news. Moeris is busy tomorrow morning and I convinced him to let me have you for the day. However, I've seen how haggard you've been looking these past few days. So, I'll be forgetting that agreement and arriving here at the normal time, so I suggest that you use your morning for more relaxing pastimes."

Now that was good news. The best Dante had heard for a while.

"May the Empress bless you, Siluv." Dante said, standing up with a grin. "You wouldn't happen to know where my team is?"