Path of the Slayer B3 29. Big Gains & OP Armor

Yeah, I really liked sitting back and reading my System Logs sometimes. When the gains poured in, they could be addicting to review.

[Oh no! A Hell Portal has been summoned from the Crushing Desolation Hell Realm: Rank 5 Challenge (Common)!]

[A Portal Invader has entered near you in the Citadel Crossroads Realm: Rank 8 World (Epic)!]

[Realm Quest initiated: Defeat the Portal Invader or it will lead a horde of cursed monsters that will run rampant!]

I hadn’t gotten it exactly right, but I was close enough.

If it weren’t for those manuals from the half-devils at the Final Rose, I wouldn’t have known something like this was possible. Granted, it wasn’t worth replicating too much because of the risk of outright failure and a complete Portal Break.

As much as I believed the System supported me, she was still a monstrous cosmic entity who enjoyed setting up games at the expense of trillions and trillions of lives.

I’d taken a colossal risk for more power, and I came out winning for now. But I wouldn’t dare abuse this so quickly unless I had more reassurances in my containment practices.

But if I were to do it again, I imagined it would be a great way to grow Levels for me and my people on our terms.

Now onto the next notifications in my System Logs.

[You’ve entered a fight with the Desolation Champion Portal Invader! Do your best to win this challenge!]

[Congratulations, Pathwalker! You’ve slain the Rank 5 Desolation Champion Portal Invader! Bravo!]

[Slayer: You’ve slain all foes in a significant encounter. Reward: 50% Path Energy!]

[Do you wish to close the summoned Portal to the Crushing Desolation Hell Realm: Rank 5 Challenge (Common)?]

[You’ve closed the Hell Portal!]

[Congrats! For slaying the Desolation Champion Portal Invader and succeeding on the Realm Quest, you’ve earned one Super Realm Treasure Chest!]

That was good to see.

I already had in mind what the Super Realm Treasure Chest might contain. The only question was what weapon I would choose if the System gave me another Bonded Treasure Token.

Onto the next.

[Congrats! Path of the Slayer Leveled Up! 87 to 92!]

[WARNING! You’re now entering the dangerous Level 90s. Not only does it take longer to leave the Level 90s, you’re extra vulnerable! Pathwalker Veterans in the low Level 100s, especially those under Level Lock, can now target you with little to no negative karma!]

Taking my attention off the notifications again, I leaned into my seat on a piece of rubble and let out a merry chuckle.

Sabretooth noticed my laughter and rode around in excitement. With Slaughter still being out, the demented avatar let out a screechy and rattling laugh.

V was lying on his side bored, when he swiveled his head around and gave me a baleful glare for being the source of the loud excitement.

I smiled at him. “I’m in the Level 90s now.”

That rictus frown on his face flipped into a cruel and scary grin. We didn’t need to say much more than that.

It was obvious the dangerous Level 90s was another exploit of the old Primordials and High Gods that they’d forced the System to conduct to better control Young Pathwalkers.

I wasn’t so easily controllable. Far from it after this crafting excursion.

The other notifications in my System Logs drove that point home even further.

[Congrats! Your Great Skill evolved! From Mad Lad Melee to Magic Brawler Flow!]

[Magic Brawler Flow: Level 31 (Rare): Oh ho, ho, ho, ho! This is totally not a callback to anyone who still hopes for a Magic Brawler Sequel. Anyway, with this fun, active skill, you not only greatly increase your unarmed melee effectiveness, your dexterity and agility increase when paired with elemental magic. Thunder, thunder, thunder punches, hoooo!] [Cost: -5%]

[Congrats! Your Great Skill evolved! From Strength Main Arrogance to Strength Main Confidence!]

[Strength Main Confidence: Level 31 (Exquisite): To go from cocky to self-assured means you are truly developed in your strength. You can activate this whenever you want, giving yourself an immense increase in strength while also intensifying other powers that improve strength. Such confidence might have a strange effect on reality, even if only a smidge.] [Cost: -10%]

[Congrats! Your Great Skill evolved! From Magic Engineer Versatility to Magic Engineer Genius!]

[Magic Engineer Genius: Level 1 (Exquisite): Okay, so you got this whole Ironman, Batman, Doctor Strange, and Doctor Doom motifs going on, and I’m all about it! With this PASSIVE, you get a giant reduction in Path Energy costs when crafting and/or engineering. Your dexterity, endurance, focus, intelligence, and luck increase, even if moderately!] [Cost: 0%]

[Congrats! Your Great Skill evolved! From Cursed User Control to Master Warlock Sufficiency!]

[Master Warlock Sufficiency: Level 1 (Rare): You have no idea how much it tickles me pink to see you grow your most evil powers on purpose. It’s so edgy and cheesy, but I love it all the same. With this PASSIVE, your energetic manipulation of cursedness is even greater inside and outside of you. You also have an easier time carving hell runes in your vicinity.] [Cost: 0%]

I burst out laughing!

This was both predictable and unexpected!

It had been a long time since I’d seen this much growth from my Great Skills in a brief span. Doing a concentrated crafting excursion had done me a lot of good extrinsically and intrinsically!

The first two evolutions were par for the course, but they would be enjoyable for me nonetheless.

The moment I acknowledged them, it was easy to activate Strength Main Confidence and feel a bonfire of strength roar from my core and soak my entire body. It extended beyond my flesh, too, and seemed to have a unique anchoring effect that made me even sturdier and more imposing than I was already.

Beyond that, I could already imagine how fast and preppy I would be if I activated Magic Brawler Flow with Massacre Dancer Delight.

As for the last two, Magic Engineer Genius seemed almost plain except for the last few words in the description. It could increase my luck moderately.

The chances of outright failure for my artificing creations were far more reduced with that, especially when paired with Golden Hound Fortune.

Then there was the biggest shocker – Master Warlock Sufficiency. With a mere thought, I sent my energy out of me, carving an unstable and destructive rune on the floor in front of me. The stone split apart with a hellish wail.

I didn’t have to use Hellion any longer to inscribe cursed runes. Or I could write faster with Hellion and my energy being used simultaneously.

Could this lead me to being able to cast spells? Hell spells?

“This is getting ridiculous,” I said. “I’m growing faster than ever before. And it’s only been a week and a half. I wonder what more I have.”

“My liege,” Hellion piped up.

“Yes?”

“I wouldn’t normally dare to divert your course, but if it’s not too much to ask, would you prefer to leave the discovery of the bonded armor changes for last? If your curiosity isn’t too great, that is.”

“Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Let’s see what the Super Realm Treasure Chest has in store for us.”

Turning around, it didn’t surprise me to see the treasure chest appearing nearby when I started looking for it. Just like before, I stood and walked over to touch the top. Then I stood back.

A bright gold ripple traveled over the surface of the ivory wood and onyx-colored metal bands. The ripple moved slowly, as if luxuriating in the moment, until it reached every corner of the super treasure chest. When the top creaked open, the large waist-high chest hesitated, almost to tease me.

Then it flipped all the way open and struck the ground,  shaking the fortress floor beneath me. A bright golden light ebbed from the belly, far brighter than any regular treasure chest, and one blue System Display appeared above my head.

It looked like a cross with wings on the side, tickling my imagination.

Checking my System Logs, I let out an actual gasp.

[Congrats! You’ve opened a Super Realm Treasure Chest: Rank 5!]

[Calibrating your prizes. Calibration complete. Behold!]

[Pathwalker Revival Token: Level 161 (Legendary): Yup, that’s right! Every now and then, I’ll give away a get-out-of-death-free token! You can probably sell this for tens of quadrillions of credits. Granted, if anyone knew you had one of these, they’d rather risk negative karma and just take it from you by force. This only works for those at or below Level 161, regardless of Path Energy. Those with lower Path Energy Quality gain more Path Energy back when revived. If this is on your person, you’ll get revived if you die. You can also press this to the corpse of the Pathwalker you want to revive as long as it’s within twenty-four hours. If you’re too late, their soul … is MINE!]

With barely any further thought, I accepted the treasure that was worth quadrillions of credits.

[Congrats! You’ve chosen the Pathwalker Revival Token: Level 161 (Legendary)!]

The treasure chest went away with a triumphant blare. Streams of light and sparkles crackled before my eyes in many colors.

Then the super theatrics ended, and a small silver-gold cross with white wings flaring out remained on the floor. Picking it up, I noticed it was as long as my finger and hummed with subtle magic that didn’t seem powerful.

With this one item, a Pathwalker below Level 161 could cheat death. That included Veterans.

Yeah, I could understand why this was worth quadrillions of credits. This could save a favored young scion of any big and prominent faction.

Melody Eclipse probably had one of these.

“I’m not sure if there’s anything left that could shock me,” I said, slipping the revive token into a pouch.

V harrumphed from the spot where he rested on his side. “Knowing the Realm Verse System, there’s always more.”

Sabretooth honked in agreement with the Veteran Rex. Slaughter hovered above while rattling and cackling like a mad wraith. And Hellion let out a dark and suave laugh.

“Oh, my liege, I’m certain someone like you can always have more surprises in store. I can sense it from the bonded armor, in fact. Why don’t you take a look?” Hellion said cryptically.

I braced myself. So much growth happened so fast, I wanted to believe nothing could shock me further. Yet, I turned tensely toward the hovering suit of armor while it waited for me.

It was both sleek and deceptively dense. The meshing that connected the metal boots with the torso armor looked like cloth leggings when it was actually flexible metallic material that acted like spider silk.

There were a few glimmering golden nodes in the seams where extra capacitors supported the runic circuitry I’d established throughout the entire armor. Even the parts that didn’t connect – such as my helmet or my gauntlets – could transmit magic via close-vicinity signals.

That and my flesh would serve as a gateway.

Additionally, it had a few more moveable pieces that were more artificer focused while remaining mostly green in coloring with golden/bronze accents.

From a distance, it seemed like a unique and well-crafted piece of armor. Up close, the taint of hellish curses and doom wafted off the entire ensemble.

Finally, I scrolled to the notifications that would tell me best about the changes and some.

[Congratulations, Pathwalker! You’ve successfully fixed the damage to your Bonded Treasure!]

[Congrats! Railcannon Warrior Armor Leveled Up! 61 to 101!]

[Because of the Pathwalker Grade difference, your Railcannon Warrior Armor devolved from Epic to Exquisite!]

[Congratulations, Pathwalker! Your Bonded Treasure is evolving!]

[Commencing Bonded Treasure Evolution. Commencing. Commencing….]

Time slowed down to a standstill. Golden strands weaved around the bonded armor until it was fully cocooned. After the evolution reached its conclusion, time resumed, and I was left with a treasure that looked mostly the same except for the large plates looking more segmented. 

There were more movable pieces than before. But it was all seamless and easy to miss without having the engineering eye I had.

Reaching out with a shaky hand, I rested my palm on the armor’s chest plates and checked my System Logs.

The details I saw next shook me to my core. It made me realize that a future fight with Merlin wouldn’t be fair for the wizard whatsoever.

[Congrats! Bonded Treasure Evolution complete! From Railcannon Warrior Armor to Stormcannon Dominator Armor!]

[Stormcannon Dominator Armor: Level 101 (Epic): Bruh! You’ve officially crossed over into overpowered territory. CONGRATS! This bonded armor vastly increases all of your warrior attributes, your hellish cursedness, your electromagnetic magic, and Doomie’s variable abilities. The Twin Vambrace Veteran Slicers are extra killer and durable. The silent spirit that lives within your armor will enhance you even further when surrounded by blood and mayhem. Do enough of that, and the armor spirit might even affect the local weather in a dramatic and stormy fashion. If that isn’t a lot already, you’ve made this power armor capable of sustained flight while able to provide an additional +1000% Exquisite Path Energy! Enjoy!]

My hand remained on the powerful armor while my mind went blank.

I couldn’t work out how these changes would work. Once again, I was shocked.

Filling the absence, Hellion chuckled. “Yes, yes, this is the way! This is what we’ve been waiting for! My liege! You are truly a monster! Who would deny all 1200% of your combined Path Energy? Wahahaha!”

Sabretooth bellowed in savage glee!

Slaughter rattled and cackled!

Doomie circled like a shark around my soul.

The new armor emitted a foreboding hum.

And V harrumphed. “About damn time we get back to rocking and rolling.”