The Tattoo Summoner [System Apocalypse]

The office was exactly what Tanya had expected: a minimalist, white marble hell. A conversation pit-style sofa filled the middle of the room, a strange array of shapes that was supposed to be more aesthetic than usable. There was at least one Sebastian's face on each wall, some flyers in small frames and some huge posters. One was even a huge Renaissance mantlepiece painting that clashed with the white metal of the desk beside the window and of floor-to-ceiling windows.

Tanya looked out of the window properly, and the view took her breath away. She could see so much of London up here. She could see a team of guards taking down a group of hounds.

They must've been the east canid breach.

A fight between two young men was happening a few streets away. It was more flashes of light than any specific movements from this distance. Mostly, Tanya saw the wreckage of old buildings, small groups of people patrolling the streets, and monsters so far away they reminded Tanya of the little model railway figurines her grandpa had collected when she was a kid. It was stark, seeing an apocalypse like this.

"Beautiful view, isn't it?" A low voice said.

Tanya turned to see Sebastian reclining on a plush chaise lounge around the corner. It was the only part of the room that seemed to be function over form. His face was contorted into just the same fake smile as every one of his pictures, including a poster just behind his head with red letters saying 'Restoring Hope, One Pact at a Time.'

"You can see the whole of London up here," Ishita said.

Tanya could hear the pause in her voice; she worded it carefully. It made Tanya wonder what sort of Abilities a System Lawyer would even have—seeing the truth could be one of them. She wondered if that's why Ishita made sure not to criticise the view.

Tanya nodded. "Reminds me of me grandpa's model railway," Tanya added, following the same misdirection tactic.

Sebastian's smile never faltered, but his head tilted to one side. "Neither of you likes it; that's a shame."

Before Tanya and Ishita could process well enough to respond, he slapped his hands on his knees and stood, walking over to the white marble desk. "Come, sit."

They awkwardly walked over, perched on the hard chairs that were slightly too low, leaving them looking up at him. Tanya wondered if it was intentional. She could see a tiny patch of unshaved stubble under his chin.

Sebastian took in a deep sniff. "So many thoughts in here."

Tanya didn't know what to say to that. She clenched the sides of the chair until her knuckles turned white.

The guard placed a copy of the paperwork on the table before Sebastian, and he glanced through it.

His lips smacked together. "A Martyr and a Tattoo Summoner, hm?" He placed down the paper. "Tell me in your own words."

Tanya and Ishita made eye contact.

Ishita spoke first. "Um, we made a Pact early on—I did. My son was in trouble and I… Anyway."

"No, do tell," Sebastian said, leaning forward.

Ishita faltered, slouching more into the chair. "Oh, I, uh…" She looked down. "My husband's Class changed him—"

"What was it?" Sebastian cut in.

Anger rose in Tanya's gut. She couldn't let it out. They needed this deal.

"Drunken Chaneler," Ishita whispered.

"Oooh, haven't heard of that one before," Sebastian said, noting it on a post-it. "I don't suppose you know if it was Unique or Legacy?"

Ishita shook her head. Her eyes never left her lap.

"Shame," he said. With a hand motion, he added, "Continue."

"He was at a bar in town for a work event, and he came home. I knew something was wrong. He, um, never drank—he was Muslim." She looked up as if seeking permission to keep talking.

Sebastian shared back with his blank eyes and side smile.

Ishita grew quieter. "He told me about this man at the bar with these metal powers. It was hard to understand him, but I think the man was very drunk, and he turned his powers on full, and it…" she took a deep breath. "It pulled out a man's hip replacement and pacemaker."

Sebastian gasped, but there was something off about it. It was the kind of entertained expression from watching a horror movie.

"I'm not sure how it escalated. He was making less sense after. Then he nodded off, and when he woke up, his eyes were glazed over and he seemed to think we were someone else…"

"We?" Sebastian asked. His voice was stark in the room after Ishita's whispers.

Tanya clenched her seat harder. Why was he making her go through this again?

"My son and I," Ishita said. Her voice wobbled. "He tried to attack my son, so Fahad hid. He gained a Class for it: Urban Ghost."

Tanya almost expected Sebastian to start asking questions about the Class, but it seemed he knew about it already.

"He couldn't control it and kept getting pulled into the shadows. I needed help, and that's when I found Tanya."

"And your husband?" Sebastian asked.

"He died," Ishita said.

"How?"

The anger bubbled over. "Don't you think this is too much!?" Tanya yelled, louder than she expected.

"Tanya," Ishita warned.

Sebastian turned to her with a cocked eyebrow. "Sometimes these kinds of cases require difficult memories. It's all part of the process."

Tanya didn't know what this court case jargon had to do with quizzing a woman for his own benefit, but the words he didn't say were clear: you need me, so do what I say.

Seeming satisfied with Tanya's silence, he turned back to Ishita. "How?" he asked, softer.

At least he showed some level of sympathy that time…

"She asked me to make a Pact, and I didn't know about The System yet, so I promised anything she wanted."

Sebastian tutted. "Unfortunate mistake. I assume you have been paying for that ever since."

Ishita nodded.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Sebastian clapped his hands together. "Of course, my powers can help so many people, so I'm sure you understand that I require trades for these kinds of cases. What I gain can then go back into helping more people like yourself." He stood, stretching his arms out. "It's the generosity of people like you that have made Salvatore's System Control Headquarters possible for helping so many who are less fortunate…"

Tanya tuned it out. If she had to hear any more of this man's helping people fake bullshit, she'd scream. The only thing Tanya hated more than evil people were fake evil people.

You're here for Ishita.

She recited the thought over and over.

Ishita's voice snapped Tanya out of her thoughts. "We understand."

"So what do you wish to trade?"

Tanya took a deep breath. She could do this. He was just another customer. "A custom tattoo summon of your own design. It levels with you, and intentions for what the tattoo does can be set exactly."

"I was hoping you'd say that," Sebastian said. "What is your current cap on the power scale?"

"Power scale?" Tanya asked.

"You've not heard of my power scaling reference guide?"

"We are outside of your catchment area," Tanya replied coolly.

"Let me get you a copy." He pulled two flyers out of his drawer and passed them over.

• • •

F-Rank (Trivial)

Effect: Barely noticeable, weak, short-lived.

Examples:

10% chance increase to damage on a hit

Minor flame spark that singes paper.

Spell that cleans a small object or chills a drink.

E-Rank (Minor)

Effect: Useful for beginners; noticeable impact but easily overcome.

Examples:

Hits infused with minor elemental power

Low-level firebolt

Aura darkvision

D-Rank (Competent)

Effect: Battle-worthy; effective in standard encounters.

Examples:

Speed attack like Piercing Rush

Ice attack with slowing effect

Aura Strength buff

C-Rank (Advanced)

Effect: Strong enough to change a battlefield's flow. Noticeably powerful.

Examples:

Flurry of strengthened attacks

Multi-target lightning arc.

Mid-level teleport

B-Rank (Elite)

Effect: Devastating when used strategically. Capable of overwhelming groups or elites.

Examples:

Large-scale shockwave

Flame storm

Aura time slow

A-Rank (Master/Legendary)

Effect: Battlefield-defining, reality-altering, or mythic-level effect.

Examples:

Heavenrend Slash, Void Rend.

Meteorfall, Tempest Domain.

Complete Foresight, Worldwalk.

• • •

For the first time since meeting this man, Tanya was impressed. She looked forward to showing it to Mrs Eceer and had a feeling Mrs Eceer would either adore it or rip it to shreds—either of which would be very entertaining.

After the initial wave of intrigue had passed, Tanya studied it more carefully for herself. Assistant would be more awkward to fit onto it, considering they didn't have any summon examples. She wasn't sure if this ranking system would value its sentience or put it low down, considering only its use in a battle. Her sword was easier to place; she suspected maybe D-Rank. Most of her toolkit would be lower than that, seeing as it was generally made to not overly drain her Vitality.

Tanya glanced down at her body, imagining the tattoos under her clothes. The portal tattoo poked out from under her skirt. Where on earth would she place that? None of the A-Rank Abilities were ones she'd heard of, but surely a portal to another world that could consume a Boss was both battlefield-defining and reality-altering.

Tanya cleared her throat. "How does this work with Abilities that you can potentially do, but that are too dangerous to do?"

Sebastian leaned forward, his gaze locked onto her. "Explain."

Tanya wasn't sure she wanted to, but it was too late now. "I, uh, have a portal tattoo that can send stuff back to the other world."

Ishita's head snapped towards her, her face filled with shock.

"But, uh, it almost killed me. I wouldn't have survived without…help."

Sebastian looked between them. "Ah, I see. A Tattoo Summoner and a Martyr. I initially thought it a strange combination, but I see it now." He pointed a long finger at Ishita. "You were the battery."

Ishita winced.

"Interesting," he said.

Neither Tanya nor Ishita spoke.

"Did you save her because of this compulsion you want me to break?"

Tanya didn't see it as her place to say. She just kept staring at the point between Sebastian's eyebrows.

"Yes," Ishita eventually said.

"How the plot thickens," Sebastian said. "Would you be willing to be a battery for this?"

"Yes," Ishita said.

Tanya looked him up and down, suddenly aware of how easily he could scam them. "Although I doubt a simple Pact-breaking would cost an A-Rank Ability Summon."

He chuckled. "Well, you are quite right. Call it… professional curiosity." Looking down at the paperwork, he continued. "These Pacts aren't breakable. What I have learnt is how to modify them. You see, during my research, I've learnt a lot about The System."

Sebastian paused with intention.

"We would like to hear, but only if we know the cost first," Ishita said.

Sebastian laughed again. "When we share information, we share strength. No cost."

Tanya nodded.

"The System creates unique capabilities for each world it comes across—often themed around the aspects it considers to be core to the species or area. Apparently, we humans have one of the richest legal and contract systems of the world that we've come across."

Tanya mulled it over. "So the System was gifting us a form of magic it thought to be perfect for us—a way to contract our promises."

It made a lot of sense; everything from the person who swore its thoughts deciding the rules to the way it was unbreakable. She could see how an outside force could view their world in this way, even though it felt so foreign and off to her.

"But," Sebastian said, snapping Tanya out of her thoughts. "It had missed a key ingredient, and I proved this. Our laws change and grow."

"Holler at the Gods," Tanya whispered, eyes widening.

"You have it too, hm?" Sebastian said.

"It's a common Achievement?" Tanya asked.

"Common? Hm, no. But patterns to how it is gifted? Absolutely."

Tanya was absolutely itching to ask, but she held back. Sebastian studied her, then continued anyway.

"It seems to be most frequently gifted when someone demonstrates an aspect of humanity they didn't see coming. If you told me how you got it, I would be happy to oblige in theorising why you gained it."

Sebastian popped the cap off his fountain pen, poised over a clean sheet of paper.

Upon first glance, this was a generous free offer, but Tanya saw it for what it really was—a trade. He wanted the information and was willing to give her information to get it.

She wouldn't fall for it. Now that she knew this much, she could try and work it out on her own instead of falling deeper into this web of deals. Corporate law and business were Sebastian's life. There was no way she would end up on top.

"I'm okay, thanks," Tanya said. "How about we get back to the Pact changing?"

He looked surprised but recovered his expression quickly.

"This Pact has a lot of elements to it. It's by far the most complex I've seen, but it isn't as simple as it would first appear," Sebastian started.

Tanya pulled up the Pact on her interface. Then she expanded it to read the exact wording.

• • •

Number N/A

Ishita Priya Sharma

Pledges anything 10056 wants.

Automatic Interface retrieval when activated.

"I'm Ishita Priya Sharma, and I pledge Number 10056 to see my interface if I get one…She can have anything she wants. Please."

• • •

Tanya could almost hear the way Ishita had begged initially, saying it. She hadn't opened this Interface since. It made her stomach churn. Back then. Ishita and Fahad were strangers, but now…

"Broader pacts are harder to fix without creating more points of conflict. A Summon of C-Rank would be an appropriate trade."

Tanya had no point of reference for how truthful that was, but she also couldn't get a second opinion.

"Okay, any idea what you want?" She pulled a sketchbook out of her bag.

"How does it work? What can I ask for?" he asked.

"What's your Vitality? What can you do?" Tanya rebutted.

They stared at each other for a moment, waiting to see who would break first.

"My Vitality is 13," he said.

It was lower than Tanya had suspected, but in retrospect she guessed he would have a build more like Mrs Eceer, with one very high stat. If Tanya were a gambling woman, she'd probably guess Will, but it could just as easily be Concentration.

"So nothing that is very powerful in creation will be possible," Tanya said.

"It uses my Vitality?.. As well as yours, I assume. Interesting."

"What would be useful to ya? Focusin' on keepin' Vitality drain low will weaken the general power."

Sebastian took a deep breath, the conflict all over his face. He pulled up his sleeve. "I want you to make this design work how I initially wanted."

On his forearm was a pair of glasses with thick frames and a sparkling sheen around them. Illegible letters covered the lenses.

The moment she looked at the tattoo, the memory came back in full. Tanya remembered being face-to-face with a man, tall and slender with blonde spikes and flame sunglasses.

Only this time, the memory didn't end early.