Rise of the Deathbound Knight: A LitRPG Apocalypse, page 57
Candle withdrawn.
Soothing Candle withdrawn.
Hallowed Candle (Demonic) withdrawn.
One of each remaining candle was added to the pile, forcing the creation of a few more hands to hold them all before the Earthbound Immortal made its way up the lawn, retracing Emma’s steps from the previous timeline. Halfway to the palace gates, he stopped in place and lit the ordinary candle. Unlike before, there was no hint of the unsettling presence that had grated at Emma’s nerves. Thinking this might be due to her own position, Emma took a few steps inside the palace garden, but nothing changed.
“Drop the candle.”
Her summon obeyed, tossing the still-lit candle into the nearest patch of grass. The moment it landed, Emma heard the same ghastly shriek from before, and the candle popped, for lack of a better word, splattering the lawn with chunks of wax. Emma kept an eye out for the perpetrator as she caught up to her summon, but nothing showed itself, allowing her to examine the remains of the candle.
“Flash frozen?”
Picking up a piece revealed it to be cold to the touch, and extremely brittle. Just a bit of pressure from her fingertips was enough to turn the wax into powder.
“The Soothing Candle, next.”
A calming fragrance filled the air, one that Emma couldn’t place exactly, but reminded her of the rose garden she passed each day on her way to school.
Status condition: Sleep resisted.
The soporific effect was wholly ineffective on Emma and her summon, as expected. She was hopeful that it would catch the hitherto unseen presence destroying her candles, but as the minutes ticked by, there was no reaction, even as the Soothing Candle burned down to its halfway point.
“Hold on,” Emma said. “That candle should be good to burn for hours, not minutes.”
Status condition: Wither resisted.
“That’s a new one,” Emma noted, trying and failing to recall seeing it before.
Wither rapidly consumes the lifespan of those affected. You don’t really have a fixed lifespan anymore, so it’s nothing to worry about.
“Still scary, though. Good thing I came here alone.”
Those who are affected will feel it immediately; they might lose a few months, but nobody is going to stand around while their life drains away. Those who run in the right direction might even survive.
Emma considered that for a moment, as she watched the last remnants of the Soothing Candle burn itself out to no avail. When only a tenth of it was remaining, she ordered it tossed to the ground; watching as it fell onto the lawn—and right through it into the depths unknown.
“A different outcome, compared to the ordinary candle. Is it the magic it detects, or something else? Try the Black Candle now.”
As before, the Earthbound Immortal raised a match to the candle, lighting a wick that did not fully exist. Black smoke began to form around the candle, spreading sluggishly in a far cry from the instant darkness Emma was used to.
Stop!
The Black Candle was crushed to a pulp, a casualty of Emma’s sudden order; she’d ordered it smothered, without any thought spared for proportionate force. As the smoke cleared and she got a proper look at her surroundings, Emma realized the urgency behind Edith’s command. The lawn gradually returned to normality, the lower layers regaining their coloring inch by inch, from what had been remarkably translucent just moments ago, reminding Emma of her own intangibility.
That which cannot be observed is not certain to exist. You’re free to speak audibly again; that particular danger has passed. In its place, a new rule from this point onward: no darkness.
“I have no idea what’s going on here,” Emma complained, taking advantage of her returned speaking privileges to issue her final order of the session. “Light the Hallowed Candle.”
It’s About Time resisted.
This time, Emma saw the notification of her Trait activating before the candle vanished in blinding white light.
“Does this count as progress—”
◆◆◆
“...not that I know of,” the rifleman grunted. “We’ll take a look, want to come with us?”
Emma checked her inventory again, ignoring the rifleman as she glanced down the list.
Inventory - Eden’s Echo A ring containing fifty cubic meters of storage space, capable of instant transfer. Living beings stored are held in stasis and slowly heal. All sapient creatures are less likely to attack the wearer. This item is invisible except to the wearer, who cannot wear other jewelry. Currently contains:
5050 Thrones
Victorian Gown (3-piece)
5x Black Candle
5x Candle
4x Hallowed Candle (Demonic)
5x Soothing Candle
Browning Hi-Power (13/13)
30x Meals, Ready to Eat
10x Bottled Mineral Water (2L)
Leftovers (Home Made)
2x Stainless Steel Pot
Shovel
British Army Knife
True to her expectations, the resources expended before were gone, everything Emma thought might have an impact, short of firing arrows at random, and she wasn’t that far gone just yet.
“Sure, let’s go take a look at this church,” Emma agreed before the rifleman could prompt her again. “Somehow, I have the feeling I’m not meant to visit Blenheim Palace just yet.”
Chapter 150
Awkward Timing
50 EXP gained for making a wise choice.
Fittingly enough, it was Emma’s decision to take a different course that provided her the final bit of EXP needed to push her over the edge.
Level Up!
True Form: Level 15 Damned Apostle
Anima: 5000
EXP: 8025/10000
You may now maintain 2 summoned simulacrums simultaneously!
Due to significant exposure to an unstable space-time rift, your selections for this level have been modified accordingly! Let’s do the Time Warp again!
Warning! All selections below are ephemeral; you have 1 hour to make your selections before they are lost.
Select one from the following options:
Clockblocked: One With Everything cooldown reduced (1 hour >>> 10 minutes)
Timesnatch: Parallel Lives cooldown reduced (1 minute >>> 10 seconds)
Select one from the following options:
Time for a Hug: No Pal of Mine cooldown reduced (1 hour >>> 10 minutes)
Timely Retreat: Return cooldown reduced (1 Day >>> 1 Hour)
Select 0-2 of the following options:
Vacuum Decay: Sacrifice Weeping Scar, We’re All Mad Here, It’s About Time, 12 Candles
Angel of Extinction cooldown reduced (12 days > 12 hours).
Event Horizon: Sacrifice 4500 Base Anima, Arcanivore, 30x Meals, Ready to Eat, 10x Mineral Water, Leftovers (Home Made), 2x Stainless Steel Pot, 7x Candles, 5000 Thrones, Divine Conduit (Anathema) >>> Hunger
What the hell?
Emma had planned to grab another bird, continuing her original role with the convoy as high flying reconnaissance. The sudden glut of status updates derailed that plan entirely; instead, she accepted a seat in the van at the very back of the convoy, while the surviving Scavenger was brought into the front vehicle at gunpoint. She paid no attention to the radio, detailing what would be another fifteen minute drive to reach the church; her mind was fully focused on the ramifications of the most complex, and possibly the most important level up of her life.
There were four choices to be made, taking into account the compound structure of the final selection. Of them, the first three decisions, at least, came easily. Edith’s uncharacteristic concern for her life was enough to convince Emma of the serious threats ahead, threats that she was already struggling to detect at the palace garden.
Clockblocked selected!
Accordingly, Emma prioritized a reduced cooldown on her lifesaving Trait, rather than a mobility tool that would require her to be aware and proactive in dodging.
Time for a Hug selected!
Likewise, getting her summons to respawn faster could mean the difference between life and death in an extended battle. Reducing the cooldown of Return, meanwhile, was barely considered. Given the potential consequences of failing to seal the space-time gate, Emma couldn’t see a situation where returning to Oxford and having to take the long way back would be beneficial; assuming she could even teleport from inside Blenheim Palace. Other boss fights had locked teleportation before, so she wasn’t confident in that either.
Finally, while it hurt to lose Weeping Scar and We’re All Mad Here, Emma regarded those as win-more abilities. Namely, they would only take effect if she was able to land blows on her opponents; in those situations, she was now strong enough to be confident in coming out on top, debuffs or no debuffs. When also taking into account that her summons could fulfil a similar role of damage over time, and that she could now keep two of them active at the same time, their importance faded. It’s About Time, meanwhile, seemed good given the challenge facing her; if not for the fact that it was being resisted or ignored at every turn. Having considered all of this, Emma ultimately decided to take the plunge, and drastically reduce the cooldown of her strongest Ability.
Vacuum Decay selected!
As for the candles to sacrifice, Emma tossed the five mundane ones alongside the same number of Black Candles, as the latter were now forbidden to use. A pair of Soothing Candles rounded up the numbers, and then she was done. Done with the easy decisions, that is. Because for as much thought as was put into all of the above, it paled in comparison with the final selection available to her.
Event Horizon: Sacrifice 4500 Base Anima, Arcanivore, 30x Meals, Ready to Eat, 10x Mineral Water, Leftovers (Home Made), 2x Stainless Steel Pot, 7x Candles, 5000 Thrones.
Divine Conduit (Anathema) >>> Hunger
The previous sacrifice asked for a few ancillary abilities to upgrade Emma’s trump card. This sacrifice, on the other hand, asked for her first and longest standing ability: the power to heal in combat. Something that had saved her life on too many occasions to count now. Really, when set against that; the loss of most of her base anima would only add insult to injury, and the resource cost was completely trivial in comparison. Yet that was what the System offered, for a single trait evolution without any details given.
“Why?” Because what else could she ask in the face of such absurdity?
I don’t like it either, to be blunt. The Divine Conduit, as I originally envisioned it, would have been saved until after your introduction at the Solstice, sometime to be unveiled at a critical time to firmly establish your legend amongst the masses. But, well, plans have changed, and you can’t grow your legend if you’re dead.
“You want me to take it, then.”
Strictly speaking, a quest at this level should not be assigned to a single Practitioner, no matter how good they are at punching above their weight. The System does not assign impossible tasks, but this one is near the upper bound of what is considered achievable.
The reply was the same as the original explanation given when the quest parameters changed. Emma would have thought it mocking, if she didn’t know Edith well enough by now to know that wasn’t her style.
“You don’t think we’ll win without taking it. Maybe not even with it.”
No reply, this time, but that was fine. Emma had already made her decision, because if she couldn’t trust her System and ancestor, the source of all her powers, then she was doomed anyway.
Event Horizon selected.
Hunger
Divine Conduit (Anathema) consumes itself, massively upgrading your Abilities and Traits with the power of a God that will never be.
All anima costs removed.
Ephemera reassigned to Traits.
Null and Void reassigned to Traits
Null and Void evolves into Null Zone: While active, all incoming magic fails.
All Level restrictions removed.
Babble Fish evolves.
◆◆◆
Status Update:
Practitioner Emma Knight
True Form: Level 15 Damned Apostle
Anima: 500
EXP: 8025/10000
Abilities
Summon Unholy Sword {Epitaph}
Toxovolia: Epitaph can transform into a Bow, firing arrows made of ambient anima.
No Pal of Mine: Capture the souls of the worthy, gaining a simulacrum of equal level to the User. Maximum 1 active per 10 levels, rounding up. 10 minute cooldown when simulacrum is defeated. Captured:
The Leech King, Sir Bearington, Earthbound Immortal, Antipode
Angel of Extinction (Cooldown: 12 hours): Summon an Angel within line of sight. The Angel is invulnerable and departs after 12 seconds, inflicting Instant Death to anyone who saw it.
Oversoul: Instantly possess the body of a living target.
Parallel Lives (Cooldown: 1 minute): Swap places with your active Summon.
Return (Cooldown: 24 Hours): Teleport Home. Cooldown resets when Home is in danger.
Traits
Wolf, Ram and Heart (TOGGLE: ON): When active, attacks are imbued with Death Magic, significantly increasing damage and carrying a Level% chance of inflicting Instant Death.
Ephemera (TOGGLE: OFF): Become intangible while active.
Null Zone (TOGGLE: OFF): While active, all incoming magic fails.
One with Everything (Cooldown: 10 minutes): If Anima would be reduced to 0, stop at 1.
Babble Fish+: You are fluent in every language.
Rorschach’s Blot: Attempts to observe you remotely produce inaccurate, nonsensical images to those bearing ill-intent toward you. You will be alerted when observation commences.
Home Is Where the Hearth Is - Experience gains are doubled for 1 hour after eating a home-cooked meal.
Inventory - Eden’s Echo A ring containing fifty cubic meters of storage space, capable of instant transfer. Living beings are held in stasis and slowly heal. All sapient creatures are less likely to attack the wearer. This item is invisible except to the wearer, who cannot wear other jewelry. Currently contains:
50 Thrones
Victorian Gown (3-piece)
Browning Hi-Power (13/13)
Shovel
British Army Knife
Quests
It’s the Green You Need
Objective: Raise the Potted Hydra until it blooms.
Objective: Convince the Hydra to give Saint a vial of its blood.
Bonus Objective: Form a summoning contract with the Hydra
Reward: A powerful ally from the Age of Myth, Saint’s Divine Item
Bonus Reward:???
Vae Victis
Objective: Deactivate the gateway beneath Blenheim Palace before it explodes.
Rewards: 25,000 Thrones, Commendation (Order of the Empire, First Class), Season Ticket (The Ghost Train), Residence Permit (Avalon)
Penalty for Failure: Death
Half-Demon Homunculus: Level 5 Chandler
HP: 100
MP: 100
EXP: 800/850
Appearance
Red hair, green eyes, plain complexion.
Clothing
Pink Leotard
Traits
I’m a Candle: A modern understanding of non-magical candles.
Noncombustible: High resistance to heat and fire from all sources.
Blood of the Enemy: Blood taken from those you slay may substitute for one reagent when making Candles. Candles made using this trait are Demonic.
Breath Control: You can hold your breath for (Level)*2 minutes without losing focus.
Candle Attributes
Black: Consumes nearby light, leaving impenetrable darkness.
Hallowed: Repels beings of evil alignment or intent.
Soothing: Emits a potent soporific that can put an elephant to sleep.
Chapter 151
Take Me To Church
Emma was silent for a good long while, for most of the ride in fact. There was a lot to read through, all of it in triplicate to ensure she didn’t miss anything that might come back to bite her later. Only when they began to climb the hill leading to the church did she stir, reaching out for two of her upgraded traits.
Ephemera (Toggle: ON)
Null Zone (Toggle: ON)
“I don’t feel any different,” Emma remarked, as she slid her hand through the van window, the rest of her staying seated where she was. “It’s weird, not feeling a piece of myself disappearing with every passing moment. Almost like during my Archetype Forging before I restored my armor.”
Ephemera (Toggle: OFF)
Null Zone (Toggle: OFF)
20 EXP gained for an astute observation.
In a way, this is similar to a second evolution for your class. As a Revenant, you only existed due to the anima tethering you to a suit of armor serving as your body. When you became a Damned Apostle, you were able to exist without a tether: but you had no experience with what that actually meant. Because of that, you were reduced to a floating soul, barely able to move at a crawl until you returned to a more familiar state. Without knowing how to manipulate the soul form, it’s far from useful.
That’s where Ephemera came in: the Ability contained built-in instincts for incorporeal existence, allowing you to keep a coherent form while intangible, decide when and to what degree you would phase through solid objects, and all the other little things most solid beings never have to think about. Very useful, but you lacked the power to sustain it for long, hence the ability cost being so steep.
Your new upgrades fixed that by allowing you to use ambient anima to sustain yourself nigh-indefinitely. Adding Null Zone on top of that, in a way that doesn’t cause both traits to cancel each other out? That was hard, the sort of thing a magical researcher can spend decades refining before presenting it as their magnum opus. You’re welcome.
“So now I’m both incredibly fragile, and functionally invincible,” Emma concluded, glancing at her status page again. “Complete immunity to both physical and magical damage when my Traits are active, but no healing except natural regeneration outside of that, and a pittance of anima.”
There’s a limit to what I can give out for each Level Up. The stronger I make the rewards, the more drawbacks have to be added: being able to use ambient anima is a massive advantage, so your internal stores are reduced, leaving you incredibly fragile to compensate. Even with that, and everything else sacrificed as well, I was only able to give you this much. I recommend keeping your defenses up whenever you’re even remotely vulnerable. You’ll need them.
