God Class, page 40
Name: Silas
Class: Deity
Active Profession: Guard, Vanguard Specialization - Novice
Worship: Seeker - 1
Level: 14
Notoriety: Rumored - 100
Strength: 45
Dexterity: 48
Vitality: 41
Intelligence: 38
Wisdom: 38
Luck: 3
Max Health: 892 (400 base + 12 points per Vitality stat point)
Max Mana: 856 (400 base +12 points per Wisdom stat point)
Interesting… Silas thought.
Apparently, he now had the Active Profession indicator on his status even though it was not there with mining. Silas quickly determined that Active was the clear indicator since he was actively working as a guard and not actively mining. Thinking in gaming terms, he was happy that his build was pretty even overall for right now, but he also knew that once he got a better grasp on this world and his own abilities, he was going to focus harder on how he wanted to grow versus just surviving. He also had not used his free stat points in a few levels due to their constant rushing followed by the regular training in Autumnrun, leading him to have 21 unassigned points along with 28 unassigned ability points.
Silas briefly thought of just saving the points until he knew what he wanted to do, however it seemed foolish when he was still such a low level in comparison to Tulk and Argor. Playing it safe, he rounded up to get his Strength at 50, Dexterity at 50, then both his Intelligence and his Wisdom to 40. With 10 points left, he shrugged and bumped Vitality to 50 as well to bring his total health pool to an even 1,000, then saved the last point for good Luck. He wished he could just actually dump the point into Luck, but so far only random Personal Quests have given him any points there.
Now it was time for those pesky Ability Points. He was already well aware that he would not have great Node options yet in some of his newer Abilities and had already vowed to wait until they reached the 5th rank just as his others had. He opened his eyes fully to give a quick glance and make sure no one was monitoring him too closely, then squinted them once more to give just enough darkness for the golden text to appear.
Alright, Mind. Show me the Morningstar Nodes again.
[Morningstar. Rank: 5. Max Rank. Available Nodes:]
[Redeemer Node: 4 ability points. Effect: The warming glow of the Morning Star heals the user and their allies for 7% of total damage done to a foe. Must be within the light radius for effect to take hold]
[Twin Sun Node: 8 ability points. Effect: What was once one is now two. Morning Star is now smaller in size, and only 2/3 of its originally effectiveness, however, is turned into two versions of itself which can be launched like projectiles which explode on contact]
[Flare Node: 2 ability points. Effect: Adds a weak burn effect that lasts for 30 seconds and does 2X damage per second, where X is equal to the users Intelligence rating]
[Unrivaled Node: 12 ability points. Effect: Morning Star gains the ability to absorb or deflect oncoming magical projectiles and incinerate physical projectiles. Absorbed magical projectiles increase the size of the Morning Star, adding their original damage calculation to the total damage of Morning Star at a reduction of 50%]
Just like before, the four upgrade options appeared and mirrored the information he had received in the forest with Argor. He could already tell that each rank must have unlocked a new node choice, with the first rank giving none while the next four ranks each unlocked a new node. However, glossing over his choices a few times revealed that the final node option did not always seem like it was the best one. They all had their positives and negatives.
Silas thought of the Unrivaled Node as an example. It was clearly powerful, and in the hands of someone with immense skill could be the perfect foil for any person capable of countering with that kind of success. However, that did not mean it would be the best for him. The Flare Node was the most bang for your buck option with a low ability point cost and a guarantee that if he landed it the skill would have an additional effect. But the Flare Node was by far the weakest of the four. That left him with Redeemer and Twin Sun, and both fitted his needs perfectly. After all, healing was always a benefit, and two shots are always better than one.
However, he knew it would be Twin Sun. He needed more damage, and he knew that there would be more healing abilities coming his one. Not only that, Morning Star was his strongest ability and even with the small damage reduction it still gave him two chances to deal incredible damage. He also liked the idea of hurling them far away from him so that he doesn’t literally blow himself up again.
He chose the option, lost the 8 Ability Points, and felt relief come in waves when his cooldown dropped from the remaining 5 days down to 0.
Next, he almost went for Obliteration. Part of him hoped there was some alternative to just rendering someone or something has completely not existing, but he also knew there would be no real options unless he ranked the skill up. Which… required using the ability. So, Shadow Jab was the safest bet.
[Shadow jab. Rank: 5. Max Rank. Available Nodes:]
[Combo Node: 2 Ability Points. Effect: Adds an additional 5 jabs with the offhand at 1/3 the damage of the main hand with the same 10% declining damage multiplier]
[Haymaker Node: 4 Ability Points. Effect: Lowers maximum strike count to 3 but converts jabs into haymakers, doubling the damage output, adding a stun effect, and removing the 10% decreasing damage multiplier. Greatly reduces speed of attack and increases Mana cost to 15 and Cooldown to 3 minutes]
[Rending Claw Node: 8 Ability Points. Effect: Edges fingertips with shadow claws and converts the jab into a clawing strike. Rending Claw damage adds piercing damage and a bleed effect. Increases Mana Cost to 50 and Cooldown to 5 Minutes]
[Sparring Partner Node: 12 Ability Points. Effect: Summons a shadow duplicate of the caster for a period of 120 Seconds. Sparring Partner will mimic all actions of the caster at a reduced damage rating of 1/3 and is immune to all physical damage and elemental damage. Can be removed via Ritual or Dispelling damage. Increases Mana Cost to 170 and Cooldown to 25 Minutes]
Silas whistled, drawing the attention of his allies for a moment before they turned away again. When he felt like they were sufficiently distracted once more, he read through the nodes again. There was a lot to like here, and he hated to admit how much he actually relied on Shadow Jab before which made every option feasible to him. A combo would be nice for versatility, the haymakers would help his unarmed damage output significantly, and the claws giving him the extra effects would be a game changer.
But, come on. He knew the moment he saw the sparring partner node that it would be by far the most useful even if it was the highest cost and cooldown. A shadowed version of himself that mirrored his attacks would almost always put him ahead, especially in a one-on-one fight if he should ever find himself without allies. He was not sure if the sparring partner would only match physical strikes or if it would have its own version of the rifle and sword, but it was a risk he was willing to take. It was bittersweet knowing that Shadow Jab, his very own old reliable, would be gone, but he knew it was for the best if he were to have a sparring partner who had a weakened version of Morningstar.
After selecting it, he went back to look at both skills and noticed the name change had taken effect immediately. Morningstar was now Twin Sun Morningstar, and Shadow Jab turned into Shadow Sparring Partner. If his Vanguard unit was not here, he knew he would have already tested out both new skills, along with the slew of others he hadn’t yet, but tried to keep is clam as best he could like a child on Christmas Eve.
Before he could tinker around more, his team began to turn the conversation into a group discussion, and he quickly let his menu dissipate into the golden ash again.
“It is getting late, I suppose,” Silas heard Esabell remark as he snapped out of it. She gazed at the dimming sky and sighed. “I had hoped we would have been a bit closer by now, but the next leg of our travel will take us closer to the forest’s edge before crossing Lawick Plateau, and both would be perilous to do in the dark.”
“Lawick Plateau?” Silas asked. “Can’t possibly be worse than the forest.”
Pawlin laughed. “You would be surprised. The forest is dangerous to be sure, but the Lawicks can be cunning in ways that most creatures cannot.”
“Bloody mud bastards…” Tulk added.
“Seen em’ clean a man down to the bone in minutes when they swarm just right,” Ingran then chimed in.
“And they can be just delectable in a stew,” Burk said from directly behind Reimond, causing him to scream and jump forward again. The others turned to Burk with questioning gazes, but the newcomer just shrugged. “What? Feeding an entire platoon can be difficult, and the Lawick are plentiful.”
Pawlin blanched. “Well, at least I no longer have an appetite tonight. Come, I see a clearing that gives us a good view of the forest should any creatures be lured by our cookfire.”
Burk changed a bit as Pawlin waved the group to the clearing, peering at Pawlin with a harsh gaze for just a minute before letting it fizzle out. Silas took notice, but it seemed that Burk had noticed him as well. Passing off a misdirecting grin, Burk added, “I would not be too concerned about the Lawicks. I am sure we can pass through safely! There is strength in numbers, as they say.”
Without even knowing what the creatures are, Silas was immediately grateful to be stopping to camp for the night. Still, he could not help but sense that something was off even as they made their way to the campsite.
OceanofPDF.com
TWENTY-ONE
Counters
The castle at the center of Tartune was large enough to be considered a small town in itself. While the fortress was appropriate, the outer wall covered acre upon acre of land that was converted into farming fields specific to the castle and its staff, lush gardens, elegant guest quarters, and many wondrous structures that held secrets even the guard’s themselves did not know about.
As the sun fell and left its faint glow on the clouds above, Rainier stood amongst one such lush garden. The air was alive with the scent of wildflowers and the coming rain, and this particular garden held a variety of rare, exotic flowers that had been carefully grown around statue of Rainier himself, garbed in plate armor with a hand raised towards the moon and the stars. He examined the stonework recreation of himself, seeming to take in the years of battles hard-fought and won that gave him this very kingdom.
He stared into the stone void of his own eyes as if to admire the man before him more than the man who would look back in the mirror.
“Narcissism has been the downfall of many a king and many an emperor, Lord Rainier,” a man said as he rounded from behind the shadows of the statue. His voice was as smooth as soft velvet, with waves of youthfulness and wisdom toiling at one another through every word.
“Then it is a good thing, Dear Elric…” Rainier said, taking a last few cherished moments to eye the carving of himself before focusing his attention on Elric. “That I am much more than a simple king, and that I am much greater than any mere emperor. You above all should understand that.”
Elric stepped into the afterglow of the setting sun, letting the final wisps of light reveal him. He was not particularly tall, and not particularly well built. His skin was so pale it was nearly radiant, matching that of drifting snow, while his hair was long and just as white to match. He wore no clothing on his torso, allowing his pearl skin to be a beacon, and he had a long, completely black blade strapped to the side of his dark leather trousers and boots. His eyes were an odd shade of red, as if his own blood had dyed both of his iris entirely. When Elric smiled, it was that of a ghost made flesh.
Rainier strolled toward a large bed of mixed roses and had beckoned for Elric to join him. The emperor dipped down and breathed in the fresh scent of the flowers, and each of the white roses seemed to welcome him as he did so. Elric approached, walking with poise and grace to the half-wall of fine stonework that cropped one side the roses, then he leaned against it with his arms folded over his chest and one leg crossed over the other.
The length of his hair shaded his eyes and most of his face, but Rainier could still see the man’s expression as clear as a summer sky; there were layers of blanketed anger there waiting to be revealed.
“Perhaps I am overstepping a bit,” Rainier said, his face still buried in the flowers. “But some keen sense tells me that you did not seek me here to make that single comment. Speak, Elric.”
Elric sighed and brushed hair back behind his ear. “Astute as ever, Daniel. I come with questions in the hopes that you have brought along answers.”
Rainier’s face turned sour for a moment and the flowers seemed to flinch away in fear. After composing himself, he stood up and contorted his face into his confident grin once more. “Ask them, then we will see what answers I am willing to share.”
“Fine,” Elric shrugged. “What do you know of the rumors spreading regarding the reemergence of the Forest Guardian and the lights of the Forest of Hiisi?”
“I know almost as much as whoever had shared those rumors with you,” Rainier answered casually, not needing to embellish any information here. “They say the Guardian spoke, if you can believe it.” He gave Elric a rye grin. “I have faced and hunted many of the Guardians, at least the ones who do not hide and cower, and none of spoken. That includes that specific one, unless you had kept something from me all of these years. Our scouts indicate that it was accompanied by a scrawny human and an elderly Goblin of all things.”
Elric’s eyes lit up for a moment. “How interesting… And do we believe that one of those - or perhaps both - are those swordsmen that accompany the guardians? Could they be the resurrection of…”
“Samblar Parora,” Rainier added with a firm gaze. “I plan to make an appearance at their temple. The agreement hatched at the end of our war was that they would not rekindle their ranks, and I had promised not to remove their tarnished temple from the face of this planet. A reasonable agreement.”
Elric chuckled. “Yes. Reasonable. Oh, how reasonable our Lord Daniel is known to be.”
Rainier did not allow his face to crack and instead held his expression firm, but the fire in his eyes said that Elric had struck a chord.
“Have there been any reports on the human and Goblin from any guard posts or local towns?” Elric continued.
“Very little as of yet,” Rainier answered through clenched teeth. “Quintin Dallin is stationed in Autumnrun and will be sending a full update when more information is gathered.”
“Oh, so Dallin is the contact? Interesting choice, Daniel.” Elric’s words seemed to fade off into thought, and he raised his head to gaze at the graying sky. “My own source has said that you sent one of my brethren to handle this. I was of course devastated to find that I was not a candidate myself. How I yearn for a vacation,” Elric said and groaned as he stretched and shoved off from the wall. “Then again, I suppose The Voiceless Hollow tends to be the more loyal dog of the pack, does he not? Oh well,” he said as he began to walk forward, making his way around Rainier’s imposing form. “Gratitude for the information, Daniel. Ta ta!”
Before Elric could fully pass Rainier, the emperor’s hand shot out and smacked against Elric’s chest, halting him in his tracks. The force echoed outward like the boom of thunder, although Elric stood firm against the overwhelming force. At that moment, trickles of gentle rain began to fall and coat the two men who stood locked in place. Single drops splashed on their faces as their eyes seemed tied to one another; Rainier’s eyes were full of rage, while Elric’s were distant and soft. Though Rainier stood nearly a full head taller than the pale man, Elric’s demeanor did not falter in the face of such wrath.
“Come now, Elric,” Rainier said with a voice full of wasps and venom. He slowly pushed the man back until he stood parallel with the bed of roses. Elric spared a glance at the white flowers that seemed to pity him. “You are much smarter than that.”
With that, Rainier’s royal robes seemed to shutter at a sudden force. As if a gale wind swept through them, there was suddenly an immense pressure that caused the stonework around them to squeal and for most of the floral accompaniments to collapse as if smothered by gravity; all but the white roses. Elric gasped, his eyes widening just a bit before he dropped to one knee. The weight was as if he carried a great boulder on his back, and he fought furiously not to sprawl onto the stone walkway from the pressure. Rainier could only smile when the man groaned from the force.
“You come to me, Elric,” Rainier said, circling the kneeling man who began to sweat and shake from the pressure. “You ask questions, you make assumptions, you meddle. Do you take me for a fool? Still, all of those are forgivable, would not you agree?”
Rainier crouched before Elric and placed his hand under his chin, pushing it up and down to force a nod from the man.
“I can be reasonable, Elric. See? I have not held you in contempt for any of the annoyances you laid upon me. I spared your elders, granted you true power. I dare say I have not held much of what you have done and continue to do against you. However,…” Rainier reached over and unsheathed the obsidian sword from Elric’s side, allowing the droplets of rain to collect on the void-colored blade. “It is your insulting nature that causes your pain, it is your self-righteous attitude and your false arrogance that seals your fate time and time again. Oh, Elric. How many times must we do this dance? A millennia from now will you still fight me?”
“I-I am afraid…” Elric strained as he spoke. “I cannot… control… what is in my n-nature… Daniel. Do not forget that it was you who betrayed us.”
“Enough!” Rainier roared, and the pressure dissipated as if it was never there. “On your feet, Elric!”
The pale man stood, defeated but not broken. He looked into Rainier’s eyes once more with his soft, uncaring expression, and then turned his back to the emperor, spreading his arms out like wings as if this was a routine, he had done countless times.
