Chapter 666 - GO TO HELL, SUCKER!

Thankfully, picking an ancestry for the specialization could be done later, so Sofia cancelled everything to go prepare the skill she would put up for specialization. With all of her abilities, it only took her a few minutes to locate another hidden shop. This one was hidden in an very wide empty space between the first and second floor, it was a shooting range game, with teleporting targets appearing on the other side of the room, and many rules stacking up in each level. Quick fire Angel bolts proved enough to clear most of the game, but the last level was too much for Sofia, nevertheless, this let her get her hands on another fusion ticket.

‘You have spent 10 000 tournament points’

‘Current balance : 268 577 021 points’

‘You have received : Skill fusion ticket *1!’

“Alright. Time to take some risks…”

[Skill fusion ticket (1) is being used to combine passive skill ‘Exalted Exoskeleton’ and passive skill ‘Bone Dominus Imperium (lv.3)’; are you sure?]

“I’m sure.”

[Skill fusion ticket has been used]

Sofia felt a jolt, a stream of energy forcefully rearranging her mana circuits, and in just a few seconds, it was done, and it had even freed up a passive skill slot.

Sofia opened up the skill description, but she was almost scared to look. If the fusion was botched then not only did she just lose two of her most used skills, she would also have lost her specialization target.

Please be good.

[Bone Dominus Exaltum] (Lv.3): The Saintomancer can control, fuse and reshape all inert bones in a 90 (91.82) (30 * skill level) meters radius; the Saintomancer can reshape all bones they touch. (This will make them unable to be used as new Skeletons except as constructs)

The Saintomancer can create and control up to 3 (Skill level) blessed marrow bone construct. The constructs are considered Skeletons, and must be manually controlled.

The Saintomancer’s own bones are considered a blessed marrow bone construct while in the Saintomancer’s presence. This does not count toward the construct limit.

Blessed marrow bone constructs can now all invoke an Exalted Exoskeleton at will.

Stored bones: 183 252 / 10 000 000 kg

For each nearby blessed marrow bone construct, the Saintomancer and all nearby Skeletons receive the following effects : 

• Regenerate 0.5% maximum health every second.

• Bones are 10% sturdier. 

Smite me for doubting you, high scribes! It’s actually great!

My own bones were pretty much always a target for the construct already… But now that means the exoskeleton gets the bonus as well! And it freed up a blessing slot. Now Pareth and Bookie can also get a proper bone armor… AND WINGS!

Sofia almost wanted to try that out right away, but Pareth and Bookie were both currently away, actually working on getting started with choosing Pareth’s own specialization.

They’re going to love that.

… Well… Assuming the specialization doesn’t get rid of it…

And I guess the bone storage was expended by another ten times as well… It was already damn impossible to fill but I won’t complain about that.

Honestly… This is really good… It’s almost making me reconsider my choice.

I can always buy the [False immortality] upgrade to a passive and specialize into that. Still… Hmmm… Even with the added blessing I think the exoskeleton might still be a bit too weak. It rarely ever fully absorbs a hit at all these days. I guess I’ll do it.

Since Sofia already had all the peace and quiet she needed, alone in the hidden shop room, she summoned a bone chair and sat down by herself.

Let’s do this.

[Please pick an ancestry for you specialization]

‘Note - Compatibility is calculated by analyzing your blueprint’s overall shape and mana pathways. It is recommended to hold onto this specialization ticket to attempt improving your compatibility if your scores are unsatisfactory. Higher compatibility leads to lower mana costs and better associated stat growth.’

[Kleptran Ancestry - Blueprint compatibility : 27% - The specialization will greatly affect your overall physical and spiritiual capabilities. +Charisma growth]

[Fae Ancestry - Blueprint compatibility : 99% - The specialization will greatly affect you Aura, influencing the mana around you. +Aura growth]

[Draconic Ancestry - Blueprint compatibility : 78% - The specialization will greatly affect your signature skill, improving it in many ways. +Processing growth]

This same screen again… Uh? It actually changed just from the skill fusion.

Fae Ancestry went up from 96 to 99 while draconic went down from 81. Kleptran didn’t move… I might actually have chosen Kleptran if the associated stat wasn’t useless and I had better compatibility. I imagine it’s meant to be more for physical fighters?

It’s really interesting that this is what we get to chose from… Do humans get higher Fae ancestry compatibility because they’re apparently our actual ancestors?

Either way, I pretty much have to pick Fae now, don’t I? To begin with Bone dominus is already about affecting an area around me, so it’s almost already like an aura effect, I think?

Draconic is also a viable choice though, and Processing is a great stat… But the score went down when I fused the skill so that’s not a super good sign for the compatibility with the skill itself.

I almost want to postpone the specialization to try to get a 100% compatibility but I don’t really have that much time in front of me right now, the faster I get the skill the more time I will have to familiarize myself with it before the next event… Let’s just go.

[You have selected ‘Fae Ancestry’ - Compatibility : 99%]

[Aura growth forecast: Enormous]

[Please select a (passive) skill for specialization with Fae Ancestry]

No turning back now…

[Skill understanding sufficient. Skill specialization point ‘(Passive)’ has been used]

[Skill not at maximum level. Forcefully levelling skill.]

‘[Bone Dominus Exaltum] reached level 4’

‘[Bone Dominus Exaltum] reached level 5’

‘[Bone Dominus Exaltum] reached level 6’

‘[Bone Dominus Exaltum] reached level 7 (MAX)’

“HOLY SHIT THAT HURTS!” Sofia yelled as she was overcome by the sudden pain from the skill being upgraded so rapidly. Though that was not the worst pain she had ever had to live through, not by a far margin, it was like unexpectedly stubbing all of her toes at the same time, with the shock travelling throughout her entire body. 

[Please select a skill path; you may enter a cumulative ten-day mana regenration debt to be offered new paths (previously unlocked paths may still be selected)]

[Mana regeneration debt]: The entirety of the mana you produce is harvested directly by the system for a certain amount of time. You may choose when to donate the mana. Access to further trials and [Identify] will be denied until the debt is fully paid off. This debt will only begin to take effect after leaving the current trial.

“Urgh. That was unpleasant… And ten days… I might have to be a bit more conservative about how often I retry this specialization then… This could slow me down a lot… But now the good part! Give me something good!”

[Path of the Bonelight Aurora :

Unlocking requirements :

• Has produced copious amounts of bones

• Has produced copious amounts of light

• Has witnessed a planar tide aurora 

• Has mana senses extending further than a kilometer

• Has spent extended periods of time without ever touching the ground

Description : The Boneligh Aurora supports their army of undead for the skies above, while they suffer from lowered physical stats, the range and power of their supporting skills are greatly extended. Your enemies shall fear a luminous sky accompanied by the rattling of bones.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : none)]

“At least it’s not a joke path like some I’ve got the previous times… Still sucks, though. Lowered physical stats, really?”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Verdant Grave Grovekeeper :

Unlocking requirements :

• Has won the trust of at least one Dryad

• Has won the trust of at least one Nymph

• Has won the trust of at least one Fae

• Has made contact with at least one Sentient tree

• Has fought with at least one tree

• Owns a gravekeeper’s shovel

Description : Shovel in hand, the Verdant Grave Grovekeeper’s is a master of Bonewood, they can turn any bone to bonewood, and are able to reanimate plants as bonewood skeletons. They gain additional bonuses when fighting in a verdant environment and when holding a shovel.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 10 Days)]

“Shovel… Right that one I got from the skeleton back in Sorrow’s palace… It’s pretty useless to me though. I could have a better shovel made, though… Or get my scepter a shovel-head-shaped catalyst maybe? I could make it work. Plant skeletons are pretty enticing, and I can grow plants near me anytime now with the Nymph graveyard… It’s honestly a solid option. I’m keeping an eye on that one, but there’s no way I would stop now.”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Skelementalist :

Unlocking requirements :

• Is capable of summoning Skeletons

• Is capable of summoning Sprites

• Is proficient in at least one type of elemental magic

• Has completed high complexity rituals

• Has memorized high complexity enchantments

Description : The Skelementalist is a necromancer master of the elements, always surrounded by Sprites, they can use Sprites to infuse their skeletons with the power of the elements.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 20 Days)]

“Hmm… The sprites, huh… I’m not sure about that one. The only sprites I can really summon are shadow, light and lightning… It’s not bad but I’m not really feeling it. I could have Shaily try to help me get the other sprites to accept me, but that would have to wait until after the trial. Not great.”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Bone Grabber :

Unlocking requirements :

• Has eaten bones

• Has stolen bones

• Has traded bones

• Has bought bones

• Has touched an Higher Race’s bones

• Has touched a Divinity’s bones

• Has worn clothing made out of bones

• Has used furniture made out of bones

• Has an unhealthy obsession for bones

• Has done unspeakable things with bones

Description : The bone Grabber is everywhere bones are, be it in a graveyard or in your closet. As long as you have bones, they are not safe, they are never safe, not from the Bone Grabber. The bone Grabber will never stop, they grow and grow, until all of this world’s bones are under his unavoidable dominion!]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 30 Days)]

Sofia was silent for a few seconds.

“I don’t know if I should be more mad that I just got ten more days of debt for a joke path, or that I actually considered taking it for even a moment. Whichever scribe is creating those choices, go choke on bones.”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Skull Warden :

Unlocking requirements :

• Owns a sizeable collection of Skulls

• Has extracted their own Skull

• Has created rituals from Skulls

• Has skills related to Skulls

• Has enchanted a Skull

• Has skills related to curses

• Has witnessed the activation of at least one forbidden curse

• Has met the divinity of Curses

• Has suffered from several extreme curses

Description : It’s all in your head. Skulls are the vessel of knowledge containing the greatness of the sapient mind. The Skull warden is a master of curses, and they can enchant the skull of all skeletons under their dominion to give them the capability of applying diverse debilitating curse to their enemies.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 40 Days)]

“Not bad, I guess? I have Zerei to thank for that option being available… It sounds fine but it’s not really speaking to me… So far the paths have all been very bone dominus and not very exalted exoskeleton. It would be nice if the defensive part was acknowledged a bit more. Though I guess that is what I get for choosing Fae ancestry, these are all specialization that have more to do with the aura around me than affecting me directly… Only one thing I can do.”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Bone Imperator :

Unlocking requirements :

• Owns a crown fit of a ruler

• Owns a mantle fit of a ruler

• Owns a scepter fit of a ruler

• Has experience being a religious figure

• Has experience being royalty

• Has connections with emperors

• Owns land

• Owns a castle

• Leads over 1000 skeletal subjects

Description : There are no bounds to the generosity of the Bone Imperator. Their dominion spreads far and wide, their imperial blessings gifting each subject with a newfound sacred strength. Your subjects have come, they will fight at your holy side, Imperator.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 50 Days)]

“So it’s just the same skill but better, essentially? From the description, I assume I get a longer range and as many blessed constructs as I want? And they might be stronger than the ones I have now? This… I think I could just stop there, actually. This sounds great. The effects of the blessed constructs are cumulative to begin with, the more I get, the better. Alright, it’s decided. I’m taking…”

Sofia marked a pause.

“Not this! HAH! Bet you didn’t expect that, scribes! You thought I would stop at the first great choice?! Screw that! This was a hundred million tournament points! I don’t want great, I want EXCEPTIONAL, you hear me?! GO AGAIN!” 

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Dread Splinterer :

Unlocking requirements :

• Is an unreasonable person

• Is notoriously crazy

• Throws caution to the wind

• Breaks a lot things, bones included

• Does not know what is good for them

• Has a bad tendency to kill themselves

Description : Bones tend to violently break in the Dread Splinterer’s presence, all of them. The force they can exert on bones is greatly increased, and they are able to transmit damage on their bones to other targets. Additionally, the Dread Splinterer is able to learn the skill ‘Summon Bone’.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 60 Days)]

So they do hear me huh.

“Hey hey now, who exactly is being unreasonable here? Half of these requirements I don’t even meet. And you want to show me this and still pretend the paths we get for specialization are random? You’re lucky the spectators can’t watch me in between the events, wouldn’t want to expose the specialization scam. Good path though. Summon bone is very tempting, I won’t lie, and it sounds like it has some good defensive capabilities, for once. But still. I usually like my bones not broken, I have to say. Surely we can do better than that?”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Bonelight Sculptor:

Unlocking requirements :

• Has a lot of experience scuplting bones

• Has a lot of experience shaping light

• Has observed Ascended level Sculptures

• Has observed Lost Epoch Sculptures

• Has created functional bone golems

Description : The Bonelight Sculptor is a master of skeletal shapes. Their power over light and bones is unmatched, they are able to turn sculptures of light into bone golems and sculptures of bone into light golems.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 70 Days)]

“It is interesting, but I am not interested, sorry. Skelems are nice, but I can make them myself already. And this honestly sounds awful defensively, where did the exalted exoskeleton even go, am I going to need to make a bone-wing golem to be able to fly? Pass.”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Everlasting Archbishop:

Unlocking requirements :

• Has died more than a hundred times

• Is not an undead

• Has had healing-related skills in every skill category

• Has resurrected dead undead

• Holds the essence of both Life and Death

• Has overhealed for more than a billion health points in total

• Has overkilled for more than a billion health points in total

• Has survived [REDACTED]

Description : The Everlasting Archbishop is one who saw the allure of undeath and chose to stay alive instead. Obnoxiously alive. None clings to both life and death more than the Everlasting Archbishop. Fear the Archbishop, for their life cannot be extinguished, and the death they bring cannot be either.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 80 Days)]

“Hmm… The description is a bit too vague on this one. It does sound powerful, from the wording and the requirements. Survived ‘redacted’... Are we talking about that time I actually died? I’m a bit surprised the system has any records of that at all, honestly. I will think about it. Give me more, though.”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Angel of Bones:

Unlocking requirements :

• Is on friendly terms with at least one Angel

• Is on friendly terms with at least one Archangel

• Is able to transform

• Has worn bone armor for over 10000 hours

• Has modified bone armor to suit their tactical needs

• Has modified bone armor to look cool and imposing

• Has taken fights to space

Description :

O Angel of Bones! Pale watcher of dust,

Guide us through silence, faithful and just.

Your wings of light obscure our shadows,

Carve our deadly sins, in your blessed marrow.

In the limbo’s hush, we hear your tone,

A song of unrest, from flesh to bone.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 90 Days)]

“Well… The description isn’t exactly saying much, but it’s clear this is a very strong option even from the name alone. I’m worried that it might be yet another transformation skill though? It’s starting to be a lot. I wanted to be a necromancer, not some weird shapeshifter…”

Is it me or has the general quality of the options been better than usual? I better not say that out loud but it’s a welcome change. I was worried I might have several years of mana debt but it looks like it might not go that far. Still, I’m not satisfied with what I got yet.

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Smith of the unliving:

Unlocking requirements :

• Has experience creating bone items

• Has experience creating enchanted bones

• Has experience wielding bone weapons

• Has experience using bone armour

• Has received approval from Creation for their crafts

• Owns multiple essence-infused items

• Is capable of entering a state of unlife

• Has learned about the Dragons and their auto-mutilation crafts

Description : Skeletons using regular weapons? FOR SHAME!

Bones weapons are where it’s at. And bone armor, obviously.

How many enchantments can you even put on that thing?

I heard Lumian bones were pretty enchantable, you know?

Try hard enough and the weapons might even become skeletons themselves!]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 100 Days)]

“Thanks but no thanks. I am good. Got more than enough stuff and things and baubles already. And I’m going to be getting those tournament master items too, no need to make my own,” Sofia said with a wink to no one.

Debts is starting to stack up but well…

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Bone-In Roastmaster]

Sofia did not extend the description of that one.

“Oh come on! Ten days of debt! It’s TEN days! Be serious!”

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 110 Days)]

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Satellite Lich:

Unlocking requirements :

• Has gained the respect of a powerful Lich

• Has learned all there is to know about becoming a Lich

• Is considered a potential recruit by a gang of organized Liches

• Is capable of Self resurrection

• Is Immune to soul erasure

• Is Immune to reality slipping

• Has protection against soul-tracking

• Does not want to be an undead

Description : The Satellite Lich is a master of being everywhere all at once. Why have a single phylactery when every single one of your summoned skeletons can be one? Embrace permanent unlife! As long as you're not alone, your story isn’t over!]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 120 Days)]

“Does this even have anything to do with the original skill anymore? Not really my thing. If I ever change my mind about the lich thing I can do it myself, as you pointed out.”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[Path of the Sucker of Bones]

Once again Sofia did not even bother to expand the description. 

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 130 Days)]

Sofia let out a loud sigh and started going on a rant by herself, “Another joke choice… Well… That’s starting to become a long debt, I’m on a deadline, you know, I wouldn’t want to make Scripture wait too much. Maybe I should stop here and pick from the ones I have… IS WHAT A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD SAY! SCREW THIS DUMB ASS SHIT! YOU’RE THE SUCKER, YOUR FAE ANCESTORS ARE THE SUCKERS!”

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[ERROR // GENERATION OVERLOAD // PLEASE WAIT]

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[ERROR]

[You have chosen to pay for a new path]

[ERROR]

[You have chos You have chos You have]

[A new path]

[Path of the Sovereign of Unshackled frames :

Unlocking requirements :

• Help Nex

• Please stop.

Description : Each body a painting. The Sovereign of Unshackled frames' cursed aura allows them to manipulate ALL bones in their vicinity. The skeletons of near-death enemies will do all they can to free themselves and join the call of their new sovereign. 

All shall paint themselves a new future, with the stunning colors of their warm entrails.]

[You may accept this path or choose another one (current debt : 470 Days)]

“FINALLY some damned acknowledgement! See?! I knew you could do it. Thanks. About time.”

[Congratulations, you have unlocked the specialized skill : Sovereign of Unshackled frames!]