Chapter Sixty-Eight – Incantation – Part One

Yes… there it is… The destruction of hope, the last remnant before one loses themselves to complete despair. A fitting end to such a trivial ordeal. You are all fortunate to have witnessed the Flame. Go to the afterlife and tell them of its glory.

- Lich Adaraic -

One would normally not think that a series of seemingly useless items could potentially break the system's parameters. From what Sage told me, there is no other item like Abyss, not just its voracious hunger, but also its ability to improve an item's tier. There are a plethora of rules and mechanics that go into crafting unique items… rules that are bypassed when Abyss makes or upgrades them. It still follows the same train of thought for the passives though, for example, if an item had a ten percent reflection of an attack once per day, then upgraded, it would be a higher percentage but the usage would also be less frequent to balance it.

Now, reflecting back ten percent of an attack isn't really something that most would find useful, especially since it cannot stack with other like items, many people have tried. Also, you'd still have to deal with ninety percent of it. However, if that item was a common item, then you'd have to wonder what would happen if it followed the same line of logic even further… well, I explored that.

At uncommon grade, it became twenty percent, every three days. At Rare things got interesting, fifty percent every month. At Epic, it became ninety percent once a year. For some, such an item might still seem useless, given that it's essentially a once-a-year item. In my not-so-humble opinion, it's already beyond broken.

There's another item, one that most throw away without a second thought, myself included, once upon a time. Now though… I relish in it. An item that gives a fractional boost on damage upon casting a skill or spell. One that stacks, if you cast another within a certain time period.

.001% increase to user's damage per cast of skill or spell, duration reset upon casting within a one-hour timer. Normally, it would take a thousand casts to accumulate one percent.

At common those were its stats. For most the mana cost would be too severe, if not impossible. It would take months without adequate sleep to farm a substantial boost, something that most would not be able to do anyway. The system's balance keeps it in check, or at least it was supposed to.

When I made it into Epic… let's just say, it did not disappoint. I fully expect some cosmic buttholes to clench when I show them how I plan to use it as well.

"Sage, do you know what this item does?" I ask, showing him a ring that I crafted.

I assume you made it with Abyss, as I can't see its description. They're hidden beneath its strangeness.

"Good, what about this item?"

I recognize it from Jaledi's temple. So yes, I know what it does.

"Good, I'm ready."

More famous last words, meatsack.

My hand presses the exit button. Light bends back and forth with the ebb and flow of time. My vision swirls as I finish stepping through the gate. A cool warm breeze strikes my face. A field of wheat stretches out before me. In the distance, I see the stone castle that Tenny made her last stand on fighting against the Lich Aderaic. A familiar feeling slides up my spine.

[ 1 x Wither Charge Gained ]

More pile into me, flashes of traumatic memories that I press deep into the bottle. There are more on the field. Those that died in the first assault, the undead even… so, Sage was not lying about this class being Necromancer's Bane. That will boost the plan even more… I can scarcely imagine the potential now.

[ 1 x Wither Charge Gained. ]

[ Wither Charges Full. ]

[ 1 x Charge Converting. ]

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

[ First Stage of Hidden Passive Activated. ]

[ Messenger of Death. ]

Time slows, it's a shame that I can't deactivate this passive, but I've already accounted for it. A quest notification pops up in my vision. In red text.

[ Quest: Survive ]

A timer appears in the corner of my vision. It's just like I remember it all those months ago. This is the same place where my life changed forever. Playing out in the exact same way that it had before. Telling me that Azeroc doesn't know that Ulana bent time. Otherwise, he surely would have changed the script. I don't think that Sage even knows, I certainly haven't told him. He also said that gods can't interfere with me, nor see me in the Nexus, but I don't know if that extends to Big Purple, I somehow doubt it. Sage not knowing what items I made inside Abyss tells me that the gods also don't know. Which is good, I don't need them finding out.

Something else that is interesting, Gods can't see full status boards. Something I learned a while ago. So, in theory, they shouldn't be able to see this coming. Sage though, he will certainly notice something is different the more I do it.

"Oi, over here!" a soldier yells.

"You still on our side?" another asks.

The Aegis armor is cumbersome, but I don't want my identity known by all these soldiers.

"I am, what happened here?" I ask, though I already know. I don't want Azeroc to suspect that I know what comes next.

After a very quick brief, the soldier in charge points to the castle. I pull up my map and am surprised by something on it. Ulana's temple is marked. I assume because I am her follower, which means I don't have to pretend for Red's sake to stumble upon it. Perfect.

"Colonel's at the castle already, he's taken charge, said if you showed up to send you directly there."

"Roger that."

He gives me a nod, and then he whistles to one of the Humvee drivers. It's a short drive without the madness of Wendigos and Undead trying to murder you. Still, there are many bodies on the field. Too many to carry as Wither charges… normally. I speak an incantation under my breath, over and over again. I've been speaking it since I arrived.

Meatsack, what are you up to? Your status board is looking rather strange.

"I'm not breaking any rules, technically."

No, I suppose not, though I don't fully understand the logic of what you're doing. You realize you're losing some of them, right? Why not convert them into Chaos charges instead?

"I have my reasons."

"Sir?" one of the soldiers asks.

"Just talking to myself, carry on."

He gives me a strange look, I don't blame him. I'll talk quieter, but I can't stop saying the incantations… they're part of my plan.

When I arrive at the castle, I'm taken in by old memories, it's strange to see it all again.

It won't end the same way. I will not allow it to.

"Wait," someone whispers from behind as I make my way up the ramparts.

The voice is one that I have dreamed of every single night for too long. I turn slowly. Waving my escort to go on without me. She's no doubt recognized Bregan's old armor. She saw it firsthand during the Dragonfly quest.

"Jimmy… is that you?" Cortez asks, hazarding a step toward me, "It's you… isn't it?"

She swallows hard, her face strained at the hope that wishes to spring from her chest.

I nod.

"I knew you were alive, I just knew it."

She lets out a sigh of relief, clutching her chest. There's a cascade of irrational emotions that almost overcome me, telling me to reach out and grab her. I don't though, not because I don't want to, but because people are watching… because Ulana is watching. If I lose her blessing right now, there's no telling how much it will affect me and the plan. I will not risk Cortez for a moment of relief, not even for a hundred.

"I'll find you later," I say before turning.

"Wait… please… I'm sorry."

"Now is not the time, nor the place."

"Jimmy…"

"Later."

She looks downward, she thinks that I hate her, that I haven't forgiven her. The truth is, I don't think I can hate her. She's too important to me. Even with this enhanced intelligence, I can't deny that my heart beats for her, and her alone.

My first steps from her are harder than the next that follow. I am focused on my goal, my plan… to save as many as I can, to neutralize Red. As I walk toward the command station on top of the wall, I repeat the incantation. Always repeating it, as I must.

Meatsack… what in the hells did you craft… these numbers should be impossible.

"As I said before, I like my odds."

There is a near zero percent chance that this will not end in a formal review if you keep stacking.

"Technically, I haven't said what I'm going to do with it, so there shouldn't be a reason for you to tell on me, Sage."

One does not have to stray far to guess, though your intended use is within the confines of the games. Albeit extreme overkill, if I do say so myself.

"Noted."

I repeat the activation phrase again. Even quieter now that I am standing in front of the makeshift command station. Lieutenant Tenny is standing near Colonel Greymore, and so are Lieutenant Dorliac and Staff Sergeant Mwangi. They immediately recognize the suit, both giving me a nod.

Tenny isn't in the know, she pushes her glasses up, blinking fast.

"What the hell took you so long?" Colonel Greymore growls, looking me up and down, arms crossed, he's irritated, understandably so.

"Detour, Sir."

Tenny tilts her head, my voice sounds different through the thick mask of Aegis, but to a discerning ear, it is notably not like Bregan's high-pitched squeals. Nor am I willing to pretend, that would be annoying and unnecessary. Especially since I plan to recruit Tenny once I've hammered out the details. Remaining a Specialist won't be adequate for what I want to do. I don't mind Greymore and Cortez's mother thinking that they are in charge, but I will be the one to select my own team. This I won't budge on, especially since I have plans regarding them and their unique skill sets.

"Right, have you been caught up to speed?"

I nod.

"We were just discussing sending a few squads after Lieutenant Gaspers and fortifying at the outpost…"

So, he ran off this time as well. I guess he really is a piece of shit, twice over.

"No."

A vein bulges on the side of Greymore's head. Mwangi and Dorliac both blink, ready to come to my defense. I don't need them to, I've got this.

"Colonel, Sir, have you done a sweep of the castle?"

"Obviously, what's your point."

"Was there anything of note below the castle perhaps?"

He looks at me strangely then nods.

"I highly suggest that be the base of operations, not this position."

"I'm not sending my men into a place that has only one entry and exit."

I sigh, perhaps I could have been more tactful, but this is tiresome. Besides, my plan never required him, I turn, heading toward the temple, I still have some time before the Gate turns red anyway.

"Where are you going?" he growls.

"To pray."

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