Fauna’s slap reverberated like a canon’s roar in the empty hall.
Ouch! Sys yelped. Even I felt that!
Everyone was stunned into silence – Fauna staring daggers up at Ethan, tears welling up at her eyes; Tara gaping at the spectacle; Klax shaking his head in quiet acknowledgement that of course this was going to happen.
Ethan blinked, touched the spot where her hand had left a burning imprint, and slowly met Fauna’s shuddering eyes.
No words passed between them. And all who looked on could be forgiven for thinking that Fauna’s hand had practically left her arm to strike at Ethan of its own accord.
The next moment she turned and ran from the room.
“Faun!” Tara shouted after her. She made to give chase, but Ethan held up a hand.
“Let her be,” he said.
Tara turned to see that Klax was standing cross-armed, staring after Fauna just as she had been.
“She has a right to feel that way,” Ethan continued. “And I have no right to tell her otherwise.”
The team let silence reign again while Tara debated running after her sister.
“You know…she’s never gonna go for this idea,” she murmured. “Not after…everything that’s happened.”
“The time has come for us to make a choice, it seems,” Klax nodded gravely. “A choice between our personal wishes and those of the world. Ethan has made the only choice that he can make. It’s the right choice. And I am with him.”
“Who’s gonna tell her that?” Tara scoffed. “You, or me?”
“No,” Ethan said. “I will.”
He rose, unfurling his wings and shaking himself off. This conversation had exhausted him more than any recent battle.
“But not right now,” he said. “Take some time. Rest. I’ll do the same. Let’s meet back here in five hour’s time.”
“Five ho – but don’t you have to save the world and shit like right now?”
“Kaedmon can wait,” Ethan replied, already retiring to his own chamber in the monastery.
But he stopped just before he left.
“I want you each to think about this course,” he said. “And I want you to tell me, honestly, if you think it’s for the best. This decision can’t be made lightly, and if even one of you tells me, even after all this, that my place should be here on Argwyll, then I’ll stay.”
Both of them looked puzzled at that. It seemed that both the Lycae and Minxit had believed Ethan was giving them an order.
But now they saw they were being given a choice.
“Leave Fauna to me,” he said before he left.
…
Ethan sat in his meagre bunkroom in the back of the monastery.
He could have easily restrained his size with [Reduce] to fit more comfortably into his surroundings. But he did not feel compelled to give himself comfort at the moment.
Instead, he inspected his System, and readied himself to take the final plunge he needed to.
Ethan Hawke current Spirit Cores: 99,000
He let out a heavy sigh.
Don’t let that mess you up, Sys told him. It was bound to happen. You know that, right? I mean, we saw it.
Yeah, Ethan replied. Doesn’t make it any easier.
He allowed himself a few more moments of fleeting silence – potentially for the last time. Today was a day of ‘last times’, after all.
And on that note, he thought. I guess it’s time to finish up my character sheet.
He closed his eyes and saw the limitless potential of Skills lining up before him, remembering where he’d gotten each and every one of them – from old Theo’s [Skitter] to the Archangel’s divine [Judgement]. And he smiled to himself as he thought how he’d may as well use them both against old Kaedmon just to add insult to injury.
Then his eyes lighted on the one Skill he’d been fixated on this whole time. The one he needed to end this:
Possession (Grade A)
Unlocks Possession of all mortal beings.
[Remote Possession]
Allows Possession of ONE External Host
Warning: Extended usage may cause Host to rebel or break down.
Possession of [Deceased] Hosts Unlocked
[The H Bomb]: Unshackle yourself from your current Host to detonate it, doing 4000 Spirit DMG in a 150 ft area.
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade Further: 50,000
His eyes lingered on the words, feeling the potential behind them. Feeling, too, the weight of his own Spirit Cores that would be emptied to achieve such power.
He breathed the stale air of the monastery before passing one pale hand over the words and nodding, once.
Possession Grade A -> S
Confirm Upgrade?
His finger wavered for only a second before he made the decision.
Upgrade…Confirmed!
Possession (Grade S) Unlocked!
Unlocks Possession of [DIVINE] beings.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
Current Spirit Core total: 49,000
He only realized he’d been holding his breath once the upgrade had been made. His main core skill – the ‘gimmick’ of his whole Archon template – was finally complete.
And the room around him seemed to spin for a moment – as though the world itself was reacting to his decision.
He paused, ran a hand over his face, and then touched his hat-form reflectively.
Well, he thought. No point leaving things half-done. Might as well finish up the rest.
Appraisal (Grade B)
Appraisal now allows you to see enemies through solid surfaces. You can see whatever weapons or items your opponents are carrying. You can see a full list of a single opponent’s skillset. Appraisal now totally dispels {Invisibility}.
Grade A Upgrade: [True Appraisal] Appraisal now pierces all forms of concealment and misdirection. You can perceive the true form, nature, and origin of any creature, object, or skill, even through illusions, transformations, or dimensional barriers. Appraisal can also reveal weak points and energy flow structures in living beings or constructs, showing exactly where to strike to disable, cripple, or kill.
Grade S Upgrade: [Item-Meld] unlocked! Once per day, you may alter the properties of a single weapon or armor set, swapping them with the properties of a different item-set.
Spirt Cores to Upgrade fully: 7500
Upgrades…Complete!
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
…
Root March (Grade C)
Your oneness with nature attunes you to the very soil of the earth. You may use the tree roots of Argwyll to travel through the world.
[Mass March] Unlocked! You may allow up to (5) beings to travel using [Root March] with you.
Grade B: You may now allow up to 20 beings to travel using [Root March]
Grade A: [Nature’s Exodus] Unlocked: You may now allow up to 50 beings to travel using [Root March]
Grade S: [Nature’s Sentinel] Unlocked! Summon the power of Argwyll’s roots to protect you. You gain DMG Reduction (50%) when standing in a {Woodland} environment.
Total Cost to Upgrade fully: 5000 Spirit Cores
Upgrade…Complete!
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
…
Ray of Putrefaction (Grade A)
Summon the toxins that swirl within your body to create a beam of corrupting sickness that instantly seeps into your target’s bowels
Effect: 150pts Poison DMG for 5 secs
65% Chance to cause Status Effect [POISONED]
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade Further: 6500
Upgrade…Complete!
[Virulent Ray] Unlocked: Ray of Putrefaction changed from Direct DMG to AOE Attack in a range of 50 ft.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
…
Mimic (Grade A)
You assume the form of another sentient being for the duration of this ability.
Your HP is set to 0. Any hostile action instantly dispels the illusion.
Duration: 24 hours.
Grade S Upgrade: Mimic Form now lasts as long as the User wishes (though hostile actions will still dispel the illusion)
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade: 6500
Upgrade…Complete!
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
…
Spectral Snipe (Grade A)
Special Synergy unlocked: GUERRILLA
When combining [Hide] with [Spectral Snipe] your first shot is an automatic headshot.
Grade A Upgrade: [Flexible Fire] Unlocked!
Your command over the spectral energies inside you is strong enough that you can direct it wherever you will.
Spectral Snipe’s line of fire can now be changed to bend round corners, twist, or spiral as suits your purposes.
Spirit Core cost to Upgrade: 6000
Upgrade…confirmed!
(Grade S) Upgrade: [Jackal] Unlocked: Spectral Snipe now never misses its target.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
…
Arms of the Vigil (Grade A)
You summon the holy blades of Krea, creating up to 10 Spirit Swords with the [Tracking] property.
Each blade deals 300 pts of Spirit DMG and can target any foes within your line of sight.
Spirit DMG cannot be blocked
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Spirit Core cost to upgrade: 7000
Upgrade…Complete!
Grade S Upgrade: [Krean Rebuke] Unlocked! Arms of the Vigil blades now {Hold} your enemy in place for 10 seconds, applying their Spirit DMG over time.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED!
…
Summon Mana Veil (Grade C)
You create a dense layer of fog 100 ft wide. Any targets within this fog must pass an Intelligence check (INT: 60+) or be {Silenced} for the duration they remain within the fog.
{Silenced} targets cannot cast spells.
Grade B Upgrade: INT check increased to 80+
Grade A Upgrade: Fog Layer increased to 250 ft.
Grade S Upgrade: [Mana Storm] Unlocked: Summon Mana Veil {Absorbs} enemy Mana and projects their mana reserves as a storm of raw magic energy dealing up to 100 DMG per second.
Total Spirit Cores to Upgrade: 6000
Upgrade…Complete!
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
…
Deep Slumber (Grade A)
You lull your opponent into a deep sleep for 180 seconds, with a bonus depending on the target’s missing HP %.
[Mass Slumber] activated. This spell can now be used on up to 5 targets at once.
Slumber affects any target who passes their Wisdom check. HP must be below 35%.
Slumber affects up to 15 targets at once.
Spirit Core Cost to Upgrade: 4500
Upgrade…Complete!
Dreamstride now affects enemies below 50% HP.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
Ethan Hawke Current Spirit Core Total: 1 (Self)
…
And…that’s it.
He would end this with the exact same number of cores he started with: his own.
He could tell that Sys was mulling things over, too. His voice was tinged with a nostalgia just as heavy as his own.
Crazy, right? I remember when we first met back in that dingy little mine. I thought you’d be a goner as soon as you possessed that rat.
Your sarcastic votes of confidence always did keep me going.
You started out as nothing – literally nothing. And yet look at you now.
Ethan didn’t want to. But Sys showed him his stat screen like a proud father displaying his son’s report card for the whole world to see.
Look at what you became:
ETHAN HAWKE
Current [Host]: ARTORIOUS, THE ANGEL OF KEADMON
[CORE ATTRIBUTES]
LVL: 200
HP: 3500/3500
MP: 2000/2000
WILL: 3000/3000
STR: 200
PER: 185
SPD: 150
INT: 135
CHA: 100
[CORE SKILLS]
-
Possession (Grade S)
Unlocks Possession of all mortal beings.
[Remote Possession]
Allows Possession of ONE External Host
Warning: Extended usage may cause Host to rebel or break down.
Possession of [Deceased] Hosts Unlocked
[The H Bomb]: Unshackle yourself from your current Host to detonate it, doing 4000 Spirit DMG in a 150 ft area.
Possession of [DIVINE] beings Unlocked.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Appraisal (Grade S)
Appraisal now allows you to see enemies through solid surfaces. You can see whatever weapons or items your opponents are carrying. You can see a full list of a single opponent’s skillset. Appraisal now totally dispels {Invisibility}.
[True Appraisal] Unlocked! Appraisal now pierces all forms of concealment and misdirection. You can perceive the true form, nature, and origin of any creature, object, or skill, even through illusions, transformations, or dimensional barriers. Appraisal can also reveal weak points and energy flow structures in living beings or constructs, showing exactly where to strike to disable, cripple, or kill.
Grade S Upgrade: [Item-Meld] unlocked! Once per day, you may alter the properties of a single weapon or armor set, swapping them with the properties of a different item-set.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Skill Siphon (Grade S)
[Memory-Mantle] Unlocked!
Able to transfer any skills that have been used against you in combat from memory alone.
Can transfer unlimited skills from one Host to another, in addition to any skills gained from your prior Hosts.
Any Skill you transfer is automatically upgraded to Grade C, unless its power level is already higher.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Transmogrification (Grade S)
Can Transmogrify items of {Onixia} quality or lower
[Corporeal Consumer] Unlocked!
You may Transmogrify up to 5 weapon or armor types at once. This process cannot be reversed.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
[HOST SKILLS]
-
Prophet’s Pacification (Grade S)
Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.
Heretical Skill conceived by the Prophet Jun’Ei. Allows the User to nullify all Skill usage from another user on contact.
Duration: 10 minutes.
HIGHEST LEVEL REACHED.
-
Cry of Baphomet (Grade: S)
Your bellow becomes a force of nature, striking down your foes with arcs of lightning
Effect: 245 pts Lightning DMG for 10 secs
-
Skein of Typhos (Grade S)
You shed your skin and instantly grow a new layer of muscle, tendon, and cartilage, mimicking the rejuvenating capabilities of Argwyll’s oldest beings.
Effect: 100 pts HP {Regeneration}
-
Storm of Revok (Grade S)
Manifest the rage within yourself into material form: you spew a gout of molten lava at your enemies.
Effect: 200pts Fire DMG for 5 secs
Grade S Upgrade: [Consuming Flames] unlocked! [Storm of Revok] can now melt any solid surfaces of any material.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Ray of Putrefaction (Grade A)
Summon the toxins that swirl within your body to create a beam of corrupting sickness that instantly seeps into your target’s bowels
Effect: 150pts Poison DMG for 5 secs
65% Chance to cause Status Effect [POISONED]
[Virulent Ray] Unlocked: Ray of Putrefaction changed from Direct DMG to AOE Attack in a range of 50 ft.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Skitter (Grade S)
You summon forth a burst of speed that carries you out of harm’s way for a maximum of 15 minutes.
[Tactical Withdrawal] unlocked: [Skitter] produces a cloud of dust that {BLINDS} enemies for 20 seconds
[Mass Skitter]
Skitter can be applied to up to four allies.
[Sonic Skitter] unlocked
Skitter now produces a shockwave that [Electrifies] nearby enemies (DMG: 200 ELEC)
HIGHEST LEVEL REACHED.
-
Roar (Grade S)
You bellow a vicious rebuke at your enemies, infecting them with [PARALYSIS] for 5 secs
Paralysis from [Roar] also applies Status Effect {SLUGGISH} to enemies – halving their movement speed for 2 minutes.
-50% armor Prot. for all enemies affected by [Roar]
[Project Roar] You can cast Roar at a designated point up to fifty meters away.
[SHATTER] property unlocked. Roar now {Shatters} any armor of {Phys} Protection <50
[Hemorrhage Wail] unlocked. If an enemy’s HP <40, a successful [Roar] attack shatters their skull.
HIGHEST LEVEL REACHED
-
Hide (Grade S)
[Mass Hide]
[Hide-in-plain-sight]
You may now attempt to disappear from your enemy’s line of sight even in broad daylight, with a 30% chance of failure.
Sneak Attack DMG: x4
HIGHEST LEVEL REACHED
-
Dive (Grade S)
You gather momentum in the air and dive into your enemies or structures.
Dive DMG: 200
Dive can now be used to destroy objects of STR 60 or lower.
[Homing Dive] Dive now homes in on the targeted enemy/structure
{Twin-Dive] Dive can be activated twice in quick succession.
[Unhindered Dive] Dive can now break through any solid material (excluding sentient life). You do extra DMG to enemies based on your weight.
-
Wing Buffet (Grade B)
(AOE) Repels enemies up to 100ft away who fail a STR check.
{Gale-Force-Gust} Wing Buffet now has a 45% chance to disarm affected enemies.
-
Albionic Authority (Grade A)
You command any plant life directly connected to the earth to fight for you for 80 seconds. Effects differ based on plant life affected.
Grade A Upgrade: [Unyielding Nature] Unlocked!
You can command any objects made from the bark of an Argwylian tree.
-
Thorn Storm (Grade B)
You summon an arc of deadly thorns, each piercing opponents with armor equivalent to {Adamantine} and dealing 100 pts of DMG.
Thorn Hail now occupies a 50ft area of your choosing, affecting all targets who move in this zone.
-
Thorn Whip (Grade B)
A wicked vine sprouts from your arm, encrusted with jagged thorns that damage your opponent. The whip can also be used to grapple objects.
DMG: 150pts
Status unlocked: Cat o’thorn tails
Three Thorn Whips are now summoned at once, each dealing separate DMG.
-
Mimic (Grade S)
You assume the form of another sentient being for the duration of this ability.
Your HP is set to 0. Any hostile action instantly dispels the illusion.
Duration: 24 hours.
Grade S Upgrade: Mimic Form now lasts as long as the User wishes (though hostile actions will still dispel the illusion)
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Twilight Edge (Grade S)
{Shadow} DMG 90 pts in a 30ft arc.
MP Cost: 10 pts
Twilight Edge (Grade B)
{Shadow} DMG increased to 125 pts
Twilight Edge’s area of effect increased to 80ft
Grade A Upgrade: [Aura of Madness Unlocked!] Any enemies struck by Twilight Edge now have a 55% chance of contracting the [CONFUSION] status effect
[CONFUSED] enemies randomly strike at both friend and foe for the duration of this effect.
[Gale of Darkness] – Twilight Edge can now target up to 10 creatures at once.
Duration: 2 minutes
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Spectral Snipe (Grade S)
Special Synergy unlocked: GUERILLA
When combining [Hide] with [Spectral Snipe] your first shot is an automatic headshot.
Grade A Upgrade: [Flexible Fire] Unlocked!
Your command over the spectral energies inside you is strong enough that you can direct it wherever you will.
Spectral Snipe’s line of fire can now be changed to bend round corners, twist, or spiral as suits your purposes.
Spirit Core cost to Upgrade: 8000
Grade S Upgrade: [Jackal] Unlocked: Spectral Snipe now never misses its target.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Ethereal Form (Grade S)
{Phase} unlocked. Your form becomes intangible, making you [IMMUNE] to all forms of DMG while you maintain this Skill.
Note: Any hostile action dispels this skill
[Mass Phase] unlocked – giving you and up to three other creatures the {Phase} property
While under the effects of [Ethereal Form], you may take a single hostile action without dispelling the effects.
[True Invisibility unlocked!] While under the effects of [Ethereal Form], you are unable to be targeted by any hostile foes.
[Ethereal Contagion] Unlocked! You may grant the [Ethereal Form] effect to friend or foe alike by touching them.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED!
-
Summon Shadow Wraith (Grade S)
You summon five wraiths under your command, each one able to perform a slash attack that deal 50 DMG per hit (Double to [Human] opponents).
(Grade A) Upgrade: Darkglance
You can now see through the eyes of any Shadow Wraiths you control.
Grade S Upgrade: Shadow Wraiths can now be given ONE Skill from the User’s arsenal.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Summon Illusion (Grade S)
You concentrate to form an illusory entity from you or your target’s mind. The target becomes convinced the illusion is real, although more perceptive creatures can see through the deception (PERS: 70+). Duration: 60 secs
Illusion now works on any non-perceptive targets within range.
Summon Illusion now has no Perception restriction
[Mirror Image] Unlocked! Summon Illusion now creates a copy of yourself, with all your skills and abilities.
Perfect Doppler: [Mirror Image] is now lasts for the duration of this spell, and will not be dispelled from an enemy’s attack.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Summon Mana Veil (Grade S)
You create a dense layer of fog 250 ft wide. Any targets within this fog must pass an Intelligence check (INT: 80+) or be {Silenced} for the duration they remain within the fog.
{Silenced} targets cannot cast spells.
[Mana Storm] Unlocked: Summon Mana Veil {Absorbs} enemy Mana and projects their mana reserves as a storm of raw magic energy dealing up to 100 DMG per second.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Petrification Coating (Grade S)
You slather your weapon in the debilitating bile closest to your heart, giving your weapon the [PETRI] attribute for 10 secs.
[PETRI] Chance: 75%
Duration: 10 secs.
Petrification automatically triggered against targets with the [Sluggish] debuff.
-
Poison Coating (Grade S)
You slather your weapon in the virulent poison composed from your own blood, taking –20 HP DMG instantly in exchange for giving your weapon the [POIS] attribute.
[POIS] type: Pale Lord Venom.
-5 HP/sec
Duration: 60 secs
-
Root March (Grade S)
Your oneness with nature attunes you to the very soil of the earth. You may use the tree roots of Argwyll to travel through the world.
[Mass March] Unlocked! You may allow up to (5) beings to travel using [Root March] with you.
[Nature’s Exodus] Unlocked: You may allow up to 50 beings to travel using [Root March] with you.
[Nature’s Sentinel] Unlocked: Summon the power of Argwyll’s roots to protect you – you gain DMG reduction (-50%) when standing in a {Woodland} environment
-
Barkskin (Grade D)
The energies of the earth empower you, forming a protective layer of ancient bark over your skin.
PROT: +80
Duration: 2 minutes.
-
Repulsor Shield (Grade S)
You heft your mighty shield, nullifying magical attacks completely up to a certain magnitude of DMG.
Current {MAG} DMG Prot: 95
[Repulsion] trait gained: Repulsor Shield now reflects any magical attacks back at the attacker.
Grade B Upgrade: Repulsor Shield now has the [REACTIVE] Property, allowing it to be activated whenever the User is threatened by any spell.
Grade A Upgrade: Repulsor Shield now covers the User from all angles.
Grade S Upgrade: [Absolute Immunity unlocked!] Grants total [IMMUNITY] to all Magical DMG for 5 secs.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Ice Barrage (Grade S)
Summon a hail of eight ice-bolts that each deal 230 DMG and destroy surfaces of STR 60 or below.
Grade A Upgrade: Summon a hail of eight ice-bolts that each deal 230 DMG and destroy surfaces of STR 60 or below.
Grade S Upgrade (Tundral Impale) Unlocked!
Each spike from [Ice Barrage] now impales the body parts of foes, giving them the [Burden] debuff for 30 secs.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Winterbreath (Grade S)
Release a cone of winter air from your lungs, extinguishing any {PYRO} spells within melee range and freezing non-resistant enemies for 5 seconds.
Grade B Upgrade: Winterbreath now freezes enemies for 10 seconds.
Grade A Upgrade: Winterbreath gains the [REACTIVE] property, allowing it to be activated whenever the User is threatened by a {PYRO} spell.
Grade S Upgrade: [Winter’s Rebuke] Unlocked! Winterbreath changes any {PYRO} spell it counters into a {FROST} based equivalent under your direction.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Prophet’s Pacification (Grade S)
Heretical Skill conceived by the Prophet Jun’Ei. Allows the User to nullify all Skill usage from another user on contact.
Duration: 10 minutes.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Magnetic Grip (Grade S)
Effect: Your bond with the blade is sacred – allowing you to control its movements telepathically up to a distance of 1000ft.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
29. Divine Combustion (Grade S)
You expel the light of Keadmon from your blade, causing an explosion of holy light that deals 500 pts of damage but destroys your weapon in the process.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Blink (Grade S)
You teleport up to 100 meters in any direction.
This teleport can be used to pass through solid matter.
[Bug-Out] Unlocked!
You are now capable of teleporting instantly to any area you have traveled to before.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Blade of the Sword Saint (Grade S)
For the duration of this Skill, one [Melee] weapon you wield functions as a ranged weapon and has the [Returnal] property.
Weapons with the [Returnal] property always return to the bearer’s hands at the conclusion of any attack.
Grade A: [Homing] Property unlocked.
Blade of the Sword Saint will now track an enemy until it makes contact with them.
Grade S: Blade of the Sword Saint now works on up to 5 melee weapons at once. A blade affected by this Skill now never misses its mark, regardless of any [physical] or [magical] effects the User is currently under.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
[Implosion (Grade S)
In a last-ditch effort to eradicate your foe, you imbue up to 5 objects nearby with a Smart-Bomb enchantment.
Each bomb, when triggered, implodes for 1000 Spirit DMG in a 50ft radius.
*Note: This Skill uses up all of the User’s MP
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
-
Arms of the Vigil (Grade S)
You summon the holy blades of Krea, creating up to 10 Spirit Swords with the [Tracking] property.
Each blade deals 300 pts of Spirit DMG and can target any foes within your line of sight.
Spirit DMG cannot be blocked
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Grade S: [Krean Rebuke] Unlocked! Arms of the Vigil blades now {Hold} your enemy in place for 10 seconds, applying their Spirit DMG over time.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
-
Blade Barrier (Grade A)
You create up to 10 Spirit Swords that spin in a 15ft radius around you. Each blade can deflect up to 300 pts of DMG each.
This is the only Skill that may deflect SPIRIT DMG
*Note: This skill cannot be used at the same time as [Arms of the Vigil]
Cooldown: 5 minutes
Spirit Core cost to upgrade: 6000
35. Dreamstride (Grade S)
You enter the dream of another and attempt to discern any valuable information they have. % chance is based on your own Intelligence score vs the target dreamer’s
Note: Target of this spell must be under Status Effect [Sleep]
Dreamstride may now affect up to 5 targets at once.
[Lucid Transmission]
You may now transmit a dream of your choice to all target sleeper(s) within range. This dream seems entirely real to the sleeper, but cannot compel them to take specific actions in the Waking World.
Range: 500 meters.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
36. Deep Slumber (Grade S)
You lull your opponent into a deep sleep for 180 seconds, with a bonus depending on the target’s missing HP %.
[Mass Slumber] activated. This spell can now be used on up to 5 targets at once.
Slumber affects any target who passes their Wisdom check. HP must be below 50%.
Slumber affects up to 15 targets at once.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED.
37. Angel-Arm (Grade S)
DIVINE SKILL
Effect: You emit a beam of pure divine energy, dealing 1000 DMG to all foes in a 250-meter line before you.
[Divine] Energy cannot be blocked.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
38. Azure-Arc (Grade S)
DIVINE SKILL
Effect: You shoot two beams of energy at one or two different foes. Foes hit by [Azure-Arc] each take 350 pts of [Divine] DMG and [Burn] for 30pts/secs.
This Skill has the [Tracking] Property.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
39. Angel Annihilation (Grade S)
Effect: 5000 [DIVINE] DMG in a 300ft area.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
40. Eyes of Raziel (Grade S)
Effect: All [Invisibility] dispelled.
You may track any targets you reveal with this ability, so that you aware aware of their presence whenever you come within 1000 ft of them.
41. Incorruptible (Grade S)
Grants ABSOLUTE IMMUNITY to the following Status Effects:
Poison
Enfeeble
Slow
Petrification
Confusion
Domination
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
42. Shield of Aegis (Grade S)
Divine skill representing the pinnacle of defensive miracles.
For 5 secs, all incoming damage launched within 20ft of the caster is NULLIFIED
[REPULSION] 50pts on any damage-dealer within this range
43. Balm of Krea (Grade S)
The radiant light of Kaedmon touches you, as it did the first savior of Argwyll.
Effect: ABSOLUTE [Restoration] when User reaches 0 HP.
Cooldown: 48 hrs.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
44. Judgement of Ethan (Grade S)
DIVINE SKILL
The wrath of Argwyll’s God has come. Judgement will be delivered, and all heretics shall cower before His righteous might.
Effect: Target creature’s HP is reduced to 1 on contact.
*Note: this skill can only be used once.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
45. Silence the Heretics (Grade S)
Effect: One skill DEACTIVATED on contact.
Duration: 5 minutes.
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
46. Azure Edge (Grade S)
Channel the power of the Lightborn through your blade, dealing damage and knocking back the enemies of Kaedmon.
Effect: DMG based on weapon type. [Repulsion] 500ft in any direction.
65% chance to [Stagger] any opponent hit
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
47. Timestop (Grade S)
Reality bends to the will of Kaedmon’s Greycloak Commander of the East, where the peace of the Allfather shall stop the feet of all heretics.
Effect: All creatures in a 60ft sphere around the User are [Chrono-Frozen] for 60 seconds.
This does not affect the User.
48. Adamantine Skein (Grade S)
You receive DMG Prot: 560 against all forms of attack.
Grade S: Any DMG inflicted on a User who employs Adamantine Skein is {Reflected} back at them up to a magnitude of 1000 pts.
49. Totemic Transformation (Grade S)
You may assume one of the following forms at will. Each Form gains a unique skill that can be used infinately:
[Squid-Form]: Tentacle Bind: Wrap your tendrils round an enemy to {STUN} them for as long as you remain wrapped.
{Eagle-Form}: All [AVIAN] Skills’ effectiveness increased by 500 for the duration you remain in this form.
[Leopard-Form]: Your Speed stat Increases to 500 for the duration you remain in this form.
Grade S: Each Form now upgraded to [Onixian Construct] variant. Double HP, DMG, and PROT
MAXIMUM UPGRADE LIMIT REACHED
50. Enlarge/Reduce Self (Grade S)
You may increase/decrease your size up to a magnitude of 100 ft.
This effect works on specific limbs as well as the User’s entire body.
51. System Purge (DIVINE SKILL)
Complete System shutdown on contact with target. All Skills are wiped from the target’s mind. The User’s memory is also cleared.
This effect cannot be resisted.
Ethan did look. He took it all in with a dispassionate stare.
If he’d seen a character sheet like this two years ago, he’d have practically salivated at the prospect of all these toys. He’d have been just like Sys was now.
And I thought you were the mightiest thing on this planet a few months ago – right after you damned the Lightborn. Now, there’s little in Argwyll’s history that could ever match up to this.
Ethan nodded absent-mindedly. If you say so, Sys.
It’s not too late, y’know, he said. You sure you don’t want to sign on as the new God? I’ll be honest, you’ve built up enough distance between yourself and your own ambitions that you’d do a better job than old Keddy has all these years. I should know.
“Maybe I’ve tried to build too much distance”, Ethan said aloud. “That’s why I still can’t savor what should be my crowning moment.”
Give it time, Sys told him. Plenty of the greatest heroes of history continued long after their deaths in the memories of the ones who loved them. Sometimes that’s just the way it’s got to be. You think you’re the first guy to run off into battle while his paramour tried to stop him? It’s a story as old as time, Ethan.
Something in those words made him rise from the meagre bed, shaking off the malaise he’d allowed to set over him.
A story as old as time, he thought. Yeah, you’re right, Sys. And it’s been done to death.
He reached toward the door handle.
...uh, Ethan? Where are you going?
“I’m going to write the end of this story my own way.”
...
He found her in her own private chambers.
It wasn’t hard. Following the sound of her wet sniffles echoing down the dark hallways of the monastery was easy enough.
He knocked first – gently – and didn’t wait for a reply. She stopped crying only slightly as she heard him. Then – as expected – she ignored him entirely.
But the door was unlocked. She hadn’t tried to bar him entry.
…y’know if you need me to skedaddle for this, that’s all good. Would hate to be a third wheel and stuff.
Ethan almost wanted to laugh. Sometimes, the way Sys sounded so like him, it was like he had a little piece of his old earth-self in his head. The guy he’d been in life who would run as soon as anything got serious.
Where could you possibly run off to? Ethan thought. Like you said, we’re in this – together – till the end.
I can always go to my ‘happy place’. Y’know, like you used to back on your sofa-bed in your one-bedroom apartment. I’ll just be off fantasizing about pushing around some human fat-cat who’s decided to get a little too big for his boots in the wake of your departure. I can’t tell you how much fun I’m gonna have.
Ethan dropped his smile.
I can imagine.
Then he opened the door to Fauna’s room.
She was standing at the edge of her bed, ears drooping, eyes fixed on some random spot at the corner of the room far from him.
When he walked inside and shut the door behind him, she gave a little start, but said nothing.
For a few moments, nothing but silence stretched between them.
“…so?” she said. “Have you come to tell me I’m an idiot for believing you when you said you wouldn’t leave us?”
When he didn’t respond, she clutched the hem of her robe.
“Did you think so little of us this whole time?”
She grit her tiny teeth, blinking away new tears before they started to form. Her white cheeks were marred with red.
“…did you think so little of me?”
Embarrassment welled up inside her when he still didn’t say anything, and she was about to fly into another rage – maybe slap him again just to feel morally satisfied – when she heard him step towards her.
“Fauna –“
“Don’t!” she commanded, channeling her voice into a spell of halting – not directly targeting him, just giving him enough of a warning.
That at least tells me she doesn’t want to kill me outright, he thought.
“Don’t come here and tell me that I’m wrong,” she whispered into her hands. “Don’t tell me that Argwyll is more important than us. I don’t want to hear it.”
He stopped. But she could hear him gulp. She could sense that he wanted nothing but to come closer.
“That’s the worst part,” she sniffled, still fixing her eyes on the cold stone floor. “Like Tara says, I know you’re doing this for the right reasons. I know you’ve looked into the future and seen – and planned – for this to be the best possible path you could choose.”
She bit her lip.
“But – why couldn’t I chose it with you? Why couldn’t you tell me?”
And then, finally, she looked at him.
“Why couldn’t you trust m-“
Her words stopped as she saw that he’d entered her room wearing an altogether different form. One that she’d never seen him wear before.
And he was no angel.
Instead, he was just…a guy. A guy with scraggly, unkempt hair and small flakes of cheese puff dust on his chin. He was a little pudgy, a little smelly, and the bridge of his glasses were a little broken.
But behind them, she saw two baby blue eyes that shone at her with recognition. She looked at them and, with a little gasp, realized who it was she was looking at.
“Ugh – is it that bad?” he asked, picking at a tuft of hair that ran down the left side of his face. “I know I should’ve got a haircut before that truck – well – sent me on my way.”
Fauna blinked.
“…why not just change your form?”
“Because I want you to see me as I really am,” he said plainly. And this time, when he stepped forward, she didn’t try to stop him. “If anyone should know who I was while I was here, it should be you.”
She met his eyes and cocked her head. Balancing on the soles of her feet, she considered his words just like a twitching rabbit would consider a human coming to play with it in a field.
And her mouth twisted into a sad smile.
“I knew it,” she said. “I knew you’d be a strange-looking human.”
“I should have trusted you enough to show you the real me long ago,” he said sheepishly. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re an idiot.”
He stopped and looked at her, knowing he deserved that. But not for the reason he thought.
“You think what form you wear matters to me?” she asked him. “You’ve been every kind of monster you could be, and through it all, you were always still you.”
She stepped forward now, so that their beating chests were only a few inches from each other’s.
“That’s the you I want,” she said quietly – like the words were for him and no one else. “And I know its selfish. And I know it’s stupid. But out of all the ways you could have died, this is the worst one.”
He wanted to grip her hands. She wanted to let him. But both of them knew that it would have been a fruitless gesture.
“Why couldn’t we have worked this out together?” she asked him again. “Why did you keep it from me?”
“Because – though I don’t deserve it at all – I need you to trust me.”
She blinked once. Twice – three blinks of incredulity.
“After you lied to me?”
“Being unable to speak is different from lying,” he said quietly – voice so low that it sent chills up her back. “And there’s a lot that I can’t say, Faun.”
She could feel tears welling up again. She told herself to be strong. This moment was too pivotal in her life to break down in the middle of. Even if she did feel her feet tremble.
“But I came here to tell you one thing,” he said. “If you don’t want me to go, then I won’t.”
Her heart almost gave out.
“You –“
“I’m not going to forge a new world out of someone’s misery,” he said. “Especially not someone I care about like I do.”
He reached with his hand – his real hand – to wipe away the tear that was forming at the side of her eye.
But she caught his hand in her own before he could.
“Go,” she said. “Go and be a hero. That’s what you’ve always wanted, right?”
“Faun –“
She turned away, letting go of his hand with more effort than she’d ever exerted on any spell.
“Just go, Ethan,” she said into her palm. “Argwyll needs you.”
But he didn’t leave. He stayed there, watching her ears twitch in agitation. And even though he didn’t dare move another muscle, she understood what he was waiting for.
“…you need something from me, don’t you?”
She felt him nod solemnly behind her.
“Of course you do,” she scoffed. “Why else would you have come, really?”
“You’re the only one I can really trust, Faun,” he said. “If not you, then no one.”
“…with what?”
“I can’t say. All I can tell you is that I need you to take my hand.”
He raised his hand and she looked at him with such incredulity that he immediately knew he might have pushed the idea too early. But he equally knew that, if he didn’t ask her now, there wouldn’t be another moment. And he had to ask her.
Equally, he knew that he could have simply palmed his hand to hers and she wouldn’t have stopped him. That would eliminate the uncertainty of this pivotal moment. But it wasn’t how this should be done. She had a choice to make. That was the only foundation this new Argwyll could be built on.
But he couldn’t know what her reply would be. Her drooping ears told him that this conversation might have meant nothing at all, despite what he hoped.
When she shook her head quietly, eyes reddening again, his fear was all but confirmed.
“…no,” she said. “I can’t. I can close my eyes while you go, but I can’t help you take the plunge. I can’t do that again.”
He knew she was thinking about her family at that moment. And he withdrew his hand without uttering another word.
“Not when I’ve already lost everything else.”
He simply nodded. “I understand.”
There was little point lingering any further. She’d already gone back to staring at the ground.
“I just want you to know,” he said – unsure why he was even still talking. “Of everyone I met on Argwyll, you were the first person who really believed in me. You were the first person who showed me what I could be. And what I really needed all this time.”
He looked at her one last time before turning away from her face.
“Wherever I go now,” he said. “I carry your name with me.”
There was a moment – perhaps no more than a nanosecond – when he saw that familiar twitch of her nose and sparkle in her eyes that told him she wanted nothing more than to grab hold of him right then and there. To pull him close and live in whatever Argwyll would become with him.
But the moment passed. And by the time he was at the end of the room, hand closing over the door handle, he’d already started to morph out of his human form.
“Goodbye, Fauna,” he said.
When he left, Fauna the Hopla leaned against the back wall of her room and sunk, slowly, into herself. She curled up, and hugged her knees close to her face – just like she had done back in their first Delve together. Back when they’d shared their first talk of many.
His last word rang in her head.
Goodbye.
“…that’s not right,” she whispered.
Only now did she let herself cry again.
“That’s not how you say goodbye to a girl…”