Reborn as the First Boss, Chapter 58

Chapter 58 – Gilded

“Simple, Astruth. I found a magic seal, and decided to see what lay beyond. Especially since the conditions were so specific that, unless someone like me came along, you’d need at least three people to undo it. Now, let us see what lies in wait.”

The view beyond the now-open portal was of a dark hallway, lit with magical torches. It looked like any of the other hallways of the Shadow Prison, but there were no cells along the walls, and the lighting was more regular. Oh, and there weren’t any wraiths popping out of the floor or walls to try and attack us, so that was an improvement.

After about fifteen or twenty meters, there was a large, circular room, perhaps thirty meters from one side to the other. In the center, there was a low platform, with a ritual circle in blood red all around it. And on (or rather, above) that platform was the sole prisoner in this section, held half a meter off the floor and stretched into an X pattern by the chains bolted to his wrists and ankles.

The prisoner had rippling muscles on display, but it was in that unhealthy way, where someone is only getting the bare minimum needed to survive. Two sets of white wings spread from his back, though they were broken and hanging at distinctly unhealthy angles, and a golden halo circled his head, glowing dimly. Other than the chains, he was stripped bare, with not even a loincloth to hide his impressive ‘equipment’.

Xaphan

Greater Angel Male

Level 22 Paladin / Soldier

Titles: Well Endowed, Broken One

The information that [Appraise] gave me said that he was a Greater Angel. If the Angel race went like the Succubus one did, then that meant he had a Tier 3 race, but his class and profession were both Tier 1. In other words, he was like me, someone ‘born’ with a race in a higher Tier than their class. Possibly the child of two Greater Angels?

Either way, the paladin was looking terrible. While the only visible wounds were the broken wings, I seriously doubted that was the only thing wrong with him, especially with a title like ‘Broken One’. “I think we’ve found the reason there is a protective field over the Waypoint,” I said, evenly, observing him.

My words roused the captive. He raised his head, and I could see him squint as he tried to focus. With a cracking voice, like one who hadn’t spoken in far too long, he said, “H-how long?”

I frowned, since I heard that voice in English, not a language of this world. Some kind of ability like my [Tongues] spell, perhaps? “If you’re asking how long you’ve been here, the answer would be that I don’t know. Historical records say that the Necropolis of Akkras is over a thousand years old. What is your story?”

“A thousand years? Feels like longer,” the angel sighed. “I am Xaphan, First Sword of the Church of Tarez, God of Death and Undeath. Though I suppose that means nothing to you, now.”

I shook my head. “The God of Death commonly worshipped in human lands is known as Eztar. Is Tarez some relation to them? And why would an angel serve as a paladin of a death god?”

“Some relation?” The angel laughed, bitterly. “Yes, you could say that. But to answer your second question first, Tarez was the God of Undeath, but emphasized using willing souls to craft undead. To be an eternal guardian of a tomb, or the undying shield of your people? It was supposed to be an honor, not a curse. And so it was, until things changed.

“Tarez became infatuated with Zevlo, God of Life, and pursued him. But Zevlo would have none of it, for Undeath was a blasphemy to the God of Life, a perversion of the natural order of things. Tarez, being rejected, decided to shed his mantle of Undeath, and become solely the god of Death. But a god cannot easily give up pieces of their divinity.”

“I am not liking the turn this tale is taking,” Jewell said, softly, and I had to agree with her. Nothing good happens when the story starts with lovesick gods. And I had the feeling I was looking at the tragic end of that story already.

“Indeed,” nodded Xaphan. “To shed the mantle of Undeath, a great ritual was conceived. Mortal followers of Tarez gathered in the underground fortress of Diniel, and began laying preparations, under Tarez’s direct command. But all of them, even myself, were deceived.

“The Arch-Lich Akkar, my friend and the mortal Avatar of Tarez, led the ritual, with myself and a thousand others, all in Tier 3, though Akkar and I were the highest-leveled, on the cusp of Tier 4. We thought that we were exalting our god. Instead, we were being condemned by him. The ritual tore at our souls, stripping our XP and using it as fuel for the changes being wrought, but the ritual would not let us stop once it had begun.

“Levels, skills, spells, the ritual burned them from us, and we began to descend, until we were in Tier 1 once again. But the ritual went on. One by one, the others were drained until there was nothing left, and their souls were gone forever. Only Akkar and I remained, with Eztar, now ‘pure’, holding the piece of his godly soul that was the mantle of Undeath.

“And, in one last betrayal, our god bound us here, in Diniel, as it was twisted into a necropolis and place of evil. Akkar was made into an eternal guardian, forced to guard the piece of Tarez that Eztar cast aside. And I? I was bound here, these chains keeping me alive, my torment powering the barrier that keeps even those who could overcome the weakened Akkar from reaching the core of this dungeon, and Tarez’s lost essence.”

I took a moment to consider that. “So, in order to reach the core, we need to not only overcome Akkar, but remove the barrier?”

“That is correct. But you will not find Akkar easily vanquished. Not only is his soul bound to the core, making it his phylactery, but I have felt dark powers moving through the dungeon of late, as though something has changed. Though I can see that you are of a level that could possibly overcome him, before, I fear he is stronger than you, by far.”

“One thing at a time,” I said. “How do we bring down the barrier? Will simply unchaining you work, or is there more to it?”

The angel shook his head. “No, my soul is bound here, as well as my flesh. Even if you release my chains, even if you kill me, the bindings will not let me pass on, and the barrier will remain. But, for every lock, there is a key. Before our fall, Akkras once told me of a grimoire, titled the [Sacraments of the Dark Night], hidden somewhere within this dungeon. I know not where it is, only that it should reveal itself to one who has the ability to enter this chamber, so you should be able to recover it. There is a ritual that will take part of my soul, and give it to another. That should be enough to break the binding, and allow me to finally rest. And, with the barrier down, you could free my friend from his torment as well.”

My eyes went wide as I realized what he was talking about. “You are speaking of the Soul-Gilding Ritual, are you not? Would you give a piece of your soul to a demon, to help your friend?”

The angel smiled a bitter smile. “Then, you have found it? Good. And I have long since passed the point of caring about angels and demons. If one cannot trust one’s own god, then why should I care if I empower one who bears his curse?” He chuckled. “Yes, one of the skills that remains to me is a racial skill, [Perceive Soul]. I knew the moment I laid eyes upon you that you were a Greater Succubus, and that my old master has cursed you.”

“I see,” I said, as I shifted into my natural form. Well, I called it natural, but I spent so much of my time pretending to be Alis, that I sometimes forgot about Mhyrsha. “Then, you will undergo the ritual with me?”

“Yes. Though you’ll need to let me down, first.”

That much was true. The ritual was an interesting one. Like most of the other rituals involving souls I’d come across, it involved sex. Unlike some of the other ones, you didn’t need to kill the ‘donor’, and the damage to the donor’s soul would heal itself, in time. However, since Xaphan asked for death, I could do that, with my [Demontouched Sacrificial Dagger], allowing me to get bonuses from it, and the Black Widow title.

As I drew the proper ritual circle on the platform, the others let the greater angel down as easily as they could, Linette lifting Jewell up to undo the chains on his wrists while Astruth supported him. After hanging for a thousand years, the angel had no strength in his limbs, as one might expect. As I slipped out of my clothes, I looked down at the angel, who looked weakly up at me. Still, at least part of his body looked to be regaining its strength.

“Any last words, before we begin?”

The angel forced a smile on his face. “When the barrier breaks, a hidden door will open beyond me, allowing you to descend to the final floor of the dungeon without fighting the rest of the way there. It won’t help you with Akkar, but, at least, you won’t have to deal with the other horrors that have been wrought here.”

“I understand. Now, let me give you as peaceful an end as I can.” With that, I sank my hips down, taking his length inside me. The angel did not try to resist as I brought my dagger to his throat, and cut deep, just as I had with others before now. Still, once the cut was done, his hands moved of their own accord, trying to cover his wound, forcing me to pin them over his head with my own hands as I began to ride him.

Using [Minor Telepathy], I soothed him with sweet nothings as I gave him pleasure. He wasn’t like the Inquisitor, who I taunted while killing him. This angel hadn’t done me any wrong, and wasn’t hunting me. Instead, he was offering me power for a chance at a bit of spiteful revenge against his traitorous god. I could respect that.

Finally, the angel shuddered, and warmth shot into me as he breathed his last. But the warmth was more than just his seed inside me. From my loins to my head and the tip of my tail, the warmth spread, coating me, filling me, changing me.

New Title Gained

You have done the impossible, becoming the perfect fusion of demonic and angelic essence. You gain the title: The Impossible.

You have become the first Celestial in service to Krenrena, Queen of the Succubi. You gain the title: Krenrena’s First Angel.

The Impossible

You do not care if people, fate, or even the System itself says that something is impossible. You find the cracks in reality, and make them serve you. You suffer no penalty to attack or damage when facing higher-tier creatures than yourself.

Krenrena’s First Angel

You are the first Celestial to serve the Succubus Queen. Double your CHA when dealing with Demons or Celestials of other patrons.

Black Widow grants you one of Xaphan’s Skills.

Perceive Soul – You are able to see people’s souls, allowing you to see not only their nature, but to which god or gods have touched them.

Demontouched Sacrificial Dagger grants you 10% of Xaphan’s highest ability score.

+20 CHA

Race Change

The Soul-Gilding Ritual has granted you a race change. You are now a Greater Angelic Succubus.

Racial Abilities (Greater Angelic Succubus):

+50 CHA, +10 STR, +10 INT, +10 WIS, +10 CON

Gain +5 CHA, +1 STR, +1 INT, +1 WIS, +1 CON, +2 Attribute points per level

Gain +2 Skill Points, +1 Skill Point per level

Gain Seduction, Diplomacy, and Intimidation as racial skills

All Charisma-based skills 25% more effective.

Immunities – Immune to Corruption, Electricity, Fire, Holy, Poison, and Disease

Hellfire – Can summon and manipulate hellfire

Radiance – Can summon and manipulate radiance

Wings – Able to fly with her birdlike and batlike wings. Must be able to extend wings to fly. Cannot carry more than a light load and maintain flight.

Sensual Recharge – Engaging in acts of passion can increase MP and HP regeneration. More involved acts may transfer MP and HP from your partner to you.

Tongues – You understand all written and spoken languages. Those who listen to you hear you in their native tongue, unless you choose to suppress this ability.

Twin Nature – You are Demonic and Celestial at the same time. Whenever an affect targets one of those creature types, you are treated as the one that is most beneficial to you.

Radiant Armor – At will, you can cause your armor and clothes to shine with radiance, lighting an area like a torch, and adding your CHA as a divine bonus to defense.

Shapeshifting – Able to shapeshift into any humanoid form. Attributes do not change in new form, though may gain physical qualities of the new form (lizardfolk’s scaly hide providing armor, etc.)

40 Skill Points Remaining

4 Skill Points per level

The room glowed with golden light. It took me a second to realize that it was my light. With some effort, I pulled it back, hiding most of it, for now. I heard my pets saying something, but I didn’t really process what they were saying. I pulled a mirror out of my inventory, and gasped at what I saw.

My red skin now was tinged with silver, and my red-black hair now had streaks of gold in it, as well. Between my demon horns, a golden halo floated. On my back, my batlike wings were still in place, but, below them, I now had a second set of wings, with brilliant white feathers. And, somehow, I looked even sexier than before!