Chapter 104

“Phew! Well then! That was way too close for comfort. Burned through a lot more of those charges than I’d been expecting.”

|League Step|

Allows for instant teleportation between your current position and any location within a trial world. This effect is irrelevant of whether you’ve been there before or not. You cannot convey others with this ability. This is a world locked ability.

Gain one charge for every lived month within a trial world.

Charges available: 61

“Even so? Not too shabby. I can still work with this.”

Was it wise to have antagonized her personally?

“Is this the part where you ask me a rhetorical question, hoping I get the point so that you don’t have to spell it out for me?”

He’s learning.

“Well, if you must know, while sure I could have just sent out my summons and peppered her from afar, I couldn’t be sure that she would go all out, you know? Whereas, if I made it a point to provoke her directly…?”

Ah. I see. I stand corrected. You do tend to have that effect on people. It was a very good use of your talents.

“Exactly-! Wait, what?!”

With a feeling like coming down off of an adrenaline high, Jun felt the boost afforded to him by his title drain away just as soon as the last of the city was destroyed. Standing atop a patch of unnaturally preserved grass, he could only sigh in lament at the lost stats.

|Freelance Freedom Fighter| (Limited)

Earned by championing a lost cause, not only because it was profitable, but because it was right. 

+10 to unscrupulous self interest

+25 celestial dew to body, mind, and spirit when fighting for both a just and profitable cause.

“Well, there goes that. Would’ve been nice to have, but I guess beggars can’t be choosers. Could be worse, I suppose.”

“And yet the fact remains that it could have been much better!” added the demon. “Say, for instance, you could have died. Yes… yes, that would have been a fine outcome.”

“Tell me. In what world would my inglorious demise have been better for me?”

“I care nothing for what is best for you, boy. Only what’s best for me. And, no matter how fleeting the diversion, I believe your death would have been most entertaining indeed.”

“Califear, who hurt you?”

“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know? I swear all of you upstart cultists are the same. It used to be back in my day, a true demonologist would spend entire fortnights working over their demons for such information. The tortures I endured at the hands of my great masters would have your puny mind shatter just to envision them. And yet you…? This snot nosed brat just up and asks nicely? And he expects me to respond?! Bah! Shameful, I say! Its this new generation, I swear…”

The demon growled, shot him a contemptuous glance, and continued to mumble pointedly under his breath.

“Alright! Well. Don’t think I’m at all qualified to unpack any of that. So instead I’m just gonna… move on… if that’s okay?”

The demon didn’t respond.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Eager for a distraction, Jun looked out over the smoking crater that’d once been a thriving metropolitan area. Where there’d once been the bustling chatter of a city in its prime, now there was only silence, occasionally punctuated by the crash of falling debris. 

They’d really done a number on the place, huh? 

To be fair, the half-blood rebellion had been eyeing the place for years now. This corrupt capital on the outskirts of empire had been a hub for slave traders and sub-human trafficking the continent over. If they’d had the means, no doubt they’d have blown the place to kingdom come ages ago. All he’d done was push up the time table a bit.

Jun turned his back on the dead city, far more interested in the other patch of greenery that’d somehow survived the detonation. The bubble of stillness was like a chunk of the world scooped out of time. Every errant leaf, every bead of sweat, every blade of grass held in perfect stasis. And at its heart was the ascendant, captured in the moment of horrified realization.

“So, did it work, do you think?”

“Seeing as it was likely you that had a sizable hand in it, I am leaning towards a resounding no.”

“You don’t even know what I’m talking about, do you?”

“Irrelevant! My point still stands.”

“You really are a piece of work, huh?”

“You’re opinion means very little to me. Or anyone else for that matter.”

Jun sighed.

”Never change buddy.”

The demon grunted noncommittally.

“Would be surprised if she didn’t expend a good chunk of her spirit reserves on that last defense. Should be good enough to start on the next phase at least.”

I agree. Hurry now, before she finds her bearings.

And indeed, if the ascendant being were trapped in figurative ice, by now she was clearly beginning to thaw. The odd finger twitch here. The flutter of an eyelid there. Her expression shifting ever so slowly from shock and fear, to understanding and outrage. He had to move, now.

And so, at the expense of yet another charge of [League Step] Jun appeared at the very heart of her tranquil domain. Immediately his body became rigid, and even his thoughts began to slow. He’d expected as much however, and had prepared for it accordingly. Arm already outstretched, fingertips just barely brushing her shoulder blade, it was enough. He activated his one and only charge of [World Walker].

|World Walker|

For the next ten minutes, you may freely convey yourself and up to three others between any of the worlds you maintain a stable, two-way connection to. Must be in direct contact with the intended recipient to share this effect. Destination must be specified. Destination must be a place you yourself have visited at least once.

Gain one charge for every lived decade within a trial world.

Charges available: 0

They were officially on the clock now. He could only hope he was able to keep up.

***

“Ladies and Gentleman, on that note, let us adjourn this weekly assembly of the council of grand magi,” Arch-magister Delphus announced, rising from his seat at the head of the long table with a scrape of his chair.

“If it pleases you, I would suggest we retire to the drawing room where my sommelier has procured us a very rare, two thousand year old vintage. Professor Hawthenberry, the old scoundrel that he is, has already offered to supply us with this evenings entertainment. And, if past experience is anything to go by, I’m sure it’s bound to scandalize, tantalize, and titillate to your hearts content. Is that not right, professor?”

The old professor started, dragging his eyes up and away from Arch-magistra Cellophane’s rather ample bosom just long enough to reply.

“Uh- wha-? That is to say, I uh, yes!” he hastily patted down his mustache to mask his inattention. “Since my, ahem, rather sudden appointment to the head of subhuman anthropology, I have been inundated with all manner of, shall we say, intriguing specimens. Yes. Very stimulating, you could say. Intellectually of course. Although… yes, I will admit, I’ve had cause to sample one or two on occasion-”

There was a general murmur of discontent at this. The Arch-magistra, oh heavens forbid, crossing her arms over her chest in evident distaste. And the look she was giving him! As if he were something she’d just stepped in. 

So far removed from the contented, one might even say, encouraging smile she’d been flashing him only moments before. As he was, ahem, that is to say, perusing her wares, as it were. The professor panicked. His ruddy jowls, much like his drooping mustache, quivering with fright.

“B-but, the vast majority are as pure as the driven snow! Yes. Touched by neither beast nor man, you understand!”

The tension in the room visibly eased at this pronouncement. And was it any wonder? Hawthenberry could have kicked himself for a fool. Nobody, least of all these grand magisters—with first pick of the best and the brightest the empire had to offer—was a fan of sloppy seconds.

“I-in fact! I make a special point of ordering them extra young, you see. To better assure myself of the veracity of their chastity, you understand. As you will no doubt see for yourselves quite shortly, yes. I’m told my discerning eye for these things is quite, uh, exquisite, you could say. Hmn’yes.”

More than one pair of lips quirked up at this. The scrape of chairs multiplying in their collective eagerness to partake. And it was as the nine Arch-magisters, and one ogling professor, were making their way towards the broad double doors, that something unexpected happened.

There came a pop of displaced air from a far off corner in the massive marble space. And out from behind a grand pillar strode… every magister in the room froze. Each person in the room immediately recognizing their new visitor, even if this was only their first time seeing him in the flesh. Well, everyone in the room but one.

“Hmm…?” said the professor, dragging his eyes away for a second time. “Huh? Yes, what? What are you all- oh? Who’s this now? One of yours, Delphus?”

“Sorry! Didn’t mean to interrupt! I know you’re all very busy people—cabals to run, rulers to rule, machinations to orchestrate, yada yada—so I’ll make it quick. Took those little girls off your hands. You know, the ones all bound up in chains? Just wanted to mention that before I forget. My memory is just not what it used to be these days! By the way, you have no idea what a relief that was to see. It really just makes what happens next a whole lot easier. Best of luck!”

And with that, the infamous co-leader of the halfbreed rebellion vanished. Leaving in his wake a moment of perfect silence. A silence that was soon broken by a roar of incandescent fury, originating from where he’d first stepped into view. 

The waves of power emanating from that scream shaking the chamber down to its very foundations. A feeling of suppression rolling over them in waves, relegating all hopes of resistance to the back of their minds. What could they really be expected to do, after all, when in the presence of overwhelming power?

The nine magisters shared a look of pure terror. Something pale, gaunt, and royally pissed off stepped out from behind a marble pillar. They were never even given the option to run.

***

As the sweet sounds of high pitched screaming, crackling reports, and the occasional explosion, erupted from the Arch-magister’s opulent hilltop manse, Jun could only pat himself on the back for a job well done. Having already gotten those poor kids situated with the folks over at resistance HQ, all that was left for him to do was sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Reclining in a makeshift hammock, situated on the rooftop of a neighboring mansion, he readjusted a pair of half-rim glasses. A torrent of emerald fire roared above a patch of evergreens to burn away the cloud cover up above. His glasses reflected the flickering green firelight. In the distance, the rushed chant of an arcane spell could just barely be heard—the words deeply resonant, as if plucking on the heartstrings of reality itself.

Hoisting his trusty clipboard and crossing one more name off the list, he took a second to marvel at this uncanny ability of his to turn such utter disaster into beautiful beautiful profit. Then again, wouldn’t he be remiss not to take advantage of this golden opportunity? What use, after all, was a berserking ascendant if you couldn’t throw them at your erstwhile enemies?

“That’s the grand council of magi done.”

A lance of ice the height of ten men punched through the left wing of the manse at great speed. Going on to landscape a good chunk of the surrounding forest in a spray of wood-chips and frosted slurry.

“Which only leaves… the Grand Priest, the Fairaway Twins, fucking “backhand of god” Myers, no thank you, Subject #24587, Robert E. Downline- hey, actually there’s still a lot of these names left to go. We’ve been making killer time so far, and yet, somehow, we’ve barely even scratched the surface. How does that make sense?”

Maybe if you made fewer enemies, you’d be less likely to run into this problem.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say mother. I’ll keep that under advisement. Time?”

Three minutes, twenty eight seconds.

“Yikes. Alright fine. Looks like we’re going to have to prioritize. Okay…! Scratch the twins, and double scratch “Backhand of God,” Myers, damn monster…. They’d take too much time to put down anyway. The Grand Priest…? I can probably handle on my own given enough time. It’s his apostles that are the real pain in the ass. We could try for Septimus? Or maybe throw her at Omnicorp Headquarters and see just how good that vaunted security team actually is. Hmmm… what to do… decisions, decisions…”

The sounds of screaming abruptly ceased. No more explosions or invocations followed.

“Whoops! Looks like we’re all out of time! Queen of the fae it is then. It’s been fun, but, I guess it was about time to wrapped things up anyway.”

Shutting one eye—freshly healed thanks in large part to his suite of healing nanites—the overcast sky was immediately replaced by an infinite sea of constellations. In that way, he felt the fingers choking the life from him well before he was in any real danger. Fighting the urge to claw at invisible hands, he moved—League Stepping away before mere thought could be joined by action. Just as he’d foreseen, Nialla appeared right where he’d expected her to be—hand already outstretched but grasping at nothing but air. He tapped her on the nose.

“Boop.”

Or at least, where a nose would have been on any other creature. Unbeknownst to him, the look she gave him in that moment could have literally stopped a condensation realm cultivator’s heart. Lucky for him, then, that in this place his titles gave him plenty of aura suppression immunity.

|World Walker|

Time Remaining: 3 minutes 2 seconds.

Without a puff of smoke or any such fanfare, the two promptly disappeared from this world.