Ch 243 - Victor's Rights

Ruby rose and her comfortable, soft outfit changed to a set of battle leathers. Somehow she even changed her hair to a long braid at the same time. “Thanks for the reminder. I’m heading for the Training Guild too.”

“How did you change your hair?” I blurted.

She flashed a bright smile. “Figured out that grand little secret yesterday.” She pulled her thick braid up over her leather-clad shoulder and showed me a series of emerald green rings spaced down the length of her hair. “I include these as part of my outfit. In order for them to fit, they automatically pull my hair into the right shape. Saves heaps of time.”

“Nice hair hack.” Could we leverage that auto-adjust wardrobe feature any other way? Maybe.

“You coming?” she asked, nodding toward the exit.

I banished my chair and joined her. Nigel jumped to my shoulder. “I can practice my new Fortress of Solitude ability too.”

I smiled and, as we exited Wooster Hollow, I started regaling him with the story of another mighty hero who had his own fortress of solitude. Once I entered the Training Guild and met the androgynous trainer, I didn’t hesitate to make my choice.

“I want to practice Runesmithing.”

“Very well,” the trainer said in their robotic voice before changing into a bespectacled old man who looked an awful lot like Dumbledore from Harry Potter, complete with long, flowing white beard and big nose.

“What aspect of runes do you wish to focus on?” he asked in a raspy old-man voice.

“Shielding, binding enemies, and related topics.”

He nodded and the blank training room changed to a sand-covered arena, surrounded by high wooden walls. Several human warriors appeared around the edges, all wielding swords or axes. The trainer and I stood in the center next to a table covered in wooden blocks, sheets of paper, and various writing and engraving implements.

“I’ve got my own pen.” I pulled out my Voidscript Finbone Quill and pushed a bit of mana through it. With the quill, I could inscribe runes on wooden blocks as easily as paper, and I didn’t need separate ink.

With no further ado, the training began in earnest. We started by preparing rune scripts in advance, then the trainer would wave the warriors to charge in order for me to practice what I’d created.

I experimented with combining concepts like gravity, binding, speed drains, and shields, since those were all things I might need fighting Marisara’s court. If I’d had a good binding rune ready to go, could I have stopped Syvelis from escaping?

Maybe. I planned to make sure she couldn’t repeat the performance if I ever got her in my sights again. I learned I could toss blocks of wood to the ground in front of advancing warriors to create an area of effect rune script to catch them. If I hit them with a rune block, the effects tended to be stronger and apply exclusively to them.

As I experimented, the Dumbledore trainer made suggestions or pointed out ways my runes could link together better. Despite all the pure knowledge I’d absorbed from those rune tomes, the process of applying it really helped me master it.

I moved to more complex rune scripts, testing ways to combine unusual concepts in ways my enemies might not expect and might have trouble countering. Many of the experiments failed, but I did stumble upon one really cool success related to the concept of rebounding force after taking a hint from the trainer.

Instead of bouncing force back against a target like my amulet of the rebound, my Right Turn rune script redirected the force of a physical attack 90 degrees. I could rotate the direction anywhere, but would most likely choose straight up or down. To redirect a physical strike required far less energy, with a much greater chance of success, than trying to totally block it, absorb it, or rebound it back against the attacker.

It was kind of like Energy Ward in a rune, and should prove effective even against powerful enemies. I quickly proved with the help of the training warriors that having a powerful blow suddenly knocked straight up or down helped pull an opponent off balance and create an opening for counterattacks.

“That was a great tip,” I told the trainer after practicing and refining the rune through a few more iterations.

“The laws of nature and laws of magic are often stronger when combined rather than set at cross purposes.”

I’d remember that. There was probably a lot more insights I could glean from that comment with some meditation.

After a grueling hour of intense rune training, which only consumed 30 minutes in the real world, I got a level in Runesmith. Training in Wooster Hollow wouldn’t have gotten me as many gains.

I met Ruby and Nigel back in the plaza and returned to my castle. There, I excused myself, climbed to my suite, and summoned my super comfortable Recliner of the Half-Time that slowed time in a similar fashion to the Training Guild. Settling into the soft chair, I trained for another hour in only 30 minutes.

This time, I turned to my Master of Tidal Threads crystal ball game, focusing on Mana Control, Mana String, and Meditation. Once more, I lost myself in the tiny world of water, mana, and increasingly complex symbols.

By the time I emerged an hour later, my mind felt bludgeoned into total exhaustion. I was covered in sweat too, as if I’d been working out or sparring for hours. I’d completed another hundred levels in the challenging mind game.

Level 150 had been an insanely complicated spiraling cone filled with a fractal snowflake pattern that I had to trace with mana from the starting point to the very end without losing control over any of the strands already in place, or backtracking. That one had nearly beaten me. The single correct path had been insanely tricky to find, and only by pushing my Perception and control to the max had I figured it out.

I wanted to dive right back in and see what challenge level 151 would throw at me, but Jeeves appeared beside my chair with a cool, wet towel for my face and an icy fruit drink.

“Your team has arrived to join you in exploring your new vaults.”

“Great. Tell them I’ll be right down.”

When I checked my notifications, I pumped a fist into the air. “Yes!” I got a level in Mana Control even though I hadn’t done the training in the Guild. That game really helped me focus. I sensed I was close to leveling Meditation too. Maybe after the next session.

I took a quick shower, and by the time I got out, Jeeves had already cleaned all my clothes and armor.

The entire team, except for Susan, were downstairs, polishing off the remains of a huge breakfast. Ed was with them too, smiling and laughing with Steve as he polished off an entire platter of sausage, eggs, bacon, and toast. It was great seeing him doing so well.

Andy saluted and laughed, “More vaults?”

Steve waved with a piece of bacon. “Why not? Us mere mortals decide to catch a little sleep while you go defeat not 1, but 2 more super bosses.”

“All in a night’s work,” I said with a grin, then snagged the last sausage link off of Ed’s plate.

“Hey,” he protested, but I held up one of the emblems of the Boundless Horizon, the crossed sword and quill reflecting the lights. “Even trade.”

“Better than even,” Andy chuckled, and his armor changed to look like gleaming silver elven armor, trimmed in blue.

I followed his lead, and everyone else either equipped their armor or activated their own emblems until we all wore matching suits. Ed’s eyes grew wide. “That armor looks sweet.”

Tomas rapped is chest. “A few of us got the full suits.”

Andy added, “And until the rest of us get one, the emblems let us change our look to match the team uniform.”

“Speaking of new suits . . . ?” Lana asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I have a plan,” I told her, and it wasn’t a lie. I definitely planned to figure out a way to get them all better armor. This was a great reminder to actually implement a plan.

Ed took the emblem and attached it. A second later, his armor changed to the team skin. He grinned. “Thank you so much!”

“Now you’re officially part of Team Lucas,” Jane told him.

“I’m proud you’d have me,” he said.

I clapped Ed on the shoulder. “You’ve been part of the team longer than just about anyone. This is where you belong.”

“Thanks,” my big friend said again, more softly.

He looked a bit emotional, but Tomas changed topics before the conversation could get awkward. “Lucas, you need to check this out.”

A long chain made out of giant links of gleaming metal clattered to the floor next to him. He held up one giant link. It was the busted chain I’d collected from that strange underwater stone temple. “When I repaired these, turns out they’re another relic.”

“The Binding Chains. Unique. Echoes of Calamity quest relic 6 of 10.”

“Shattered remnants of the mighty talisman forged by the remaining Magitek masters in a last, desperate attempt to save the remnants of their broken empire. Sometimes desperation unlocks miracles. Sometimes the miracles need a bit more help.”

Tomas said, “Gave me another vision of a bunch of master tech wizards using these chains to bind the demon king. Nearly worked too. Got the sense they had him 90% contained.”

Jane grimaced. “That last 10% killed them.”

He nodded and sighed. “These visions are rough to watch.”

“No quiero verlo,” Lana said. “Not after eating a huge breakfast. Another depressing vision of that amazing civilization getting overrun by demons will make me sick.”

The chains disappeared and Tomas shrugged. “It’s there. Not sure if these visions are sharing anything useful, but I still think we need to find them all.”

“About that,” I said grimly and dropped into the chair at the head of the table. A plate piled with delicious food appeared in front of me, but I pushed it away, for once not tempted. Nigel started sniffing it, but Ed smoothly leaned across the table and swapped his empty platter for my plate.

“Fair is fair. You took one of my sausages,” he said.

“But he gave you the emblem,” Nigel protested. “At least surrender the bacon.”

I pulled him into my lap and scratched his ears. Ed tossed Nigel the 3 slices of bacon from the plate, and he settled down, purring loudly. I told them about my encounter with Syvelis and her escape with the Censer.

“We have to get it back!” Andy exclaimed, leaping to his feet, one hand on the hilt of one of his many swords.

“I’ll deal with that mind whore’s mental attacks when we do,” Jane promised.

“We’ll get our shot, and I’m sure I’ll need all your help.” I told them about the 48 hour time limit.

“We should be able to work with that,” Steve said.

“And we still need to find the rest of the relics before more get stolen,” Tomas added.

I nodded. “In the meantime, any other important news?”

“Lots of rumors flying about Burns going missing and several people getting arrested,” Ruby said.

“I’m surprised Tony hasn’t told everyone what happened.”

She shrugged. “He’d better do it soon, or tensions might boil over.”

“Elizabeth won’t bother,” Jane said. “She’s 100% focused on the Drama Club and the Expanse.”

“You got that right,” Steve said. “Susan’s there with half the town, and they’ll probably be there all day. There’s a fever pitch about the finale of the Bachelorette, and even more about the grand opening of the Final Chance lounge afterward. Won’t get much out of any of them until this afternoon when all that circus ends.”

“Maybe then we’ll know if Elizabeth’s plan is working or not.”

“Not,” Tomas guessed.

“Probably. Something to deal with tonight. I have some other news, though. Got a cool new ability, and I’d like your opinions about using it.”

That perked their attention. I explained my Victor’s Rights ability.

“Todo bien,” Lana laughed. “So you can combine items to make one stronger?”

“Pretty much.”

“But you sacrifice the item you take the enchantment from,” Tomas said with a frown. “That’s a steep price.”

“Worth it if you can double a single item’s power,” Jane countered.

“So what should you use it on?” Andy asked. “I’ve got a bunch of swords and would love to combine some of their abilities.”

“I considered that too.” I told them about my first idea to transfer Scalebiter’s amazing doubling of defense penetration onto Echo. Now that I had Dawnfire, I used Scalebiter less, but that meant I didn’t get to use that incredible stacking ability. If I moved it to Echo, I’d end up with a truly legendary blade.

“Do it!” Andy exclaimed, and most of the others agreed.

“You’d risk losing Scalebiter?” Tomas asked.

“I would, but Scalebiter is only uncommon and Echo is already Legendary. That’s 3 grades apart, but I can only transfer across 1 grade.”

“Damascus,” Andy swore softly.

“Can you evolve Scalebiter?” Ruby asked.

“Not yet, but I plan to look for a way.”

“So we need something else,” Jane said, leaning back in her chair to consider it.

Ed swallowed a big mouthful of waffle and said, “I recommend trying something small that’s not a core weapon in case there are side effects you don’t know.”

A wise choice. Ed was the poster child of unexpected side-effects. After another 10 minutes debating different gear we all had, I decided to transfer the 15% rebound from my common Amulet of the Rebound to my uncommon Orc General Bone Necklace. If the ability failed, it wouldn’t negatively effect me too much.

With everyone watching eagerly, I extracted the 2 pieces of jewelry, then activated Victor’s Rights. To my surprise, a window popped up over the 2 items. It listed them in columns beside each other, along with their available enchantments. With a thought, I pulled the single enchantment from the amulet over to the column with the bone necklace.

“Would you like to transfer 15% magical damage rebound?”

When I confirmed, the 2 necklaces flashed with blue light. The amulet hung limp in my hand, now inert, the face totally blank, while the bone necklace floated off my hand, glowing with magic and, oddly, a scent like a forest in the spring right after a light rain. When it settled back down, Identify triggered.

“Orc General Bone Necklace. Uncommon. Plus 5% to Constitution and Agility per follower. Rebound 20% of magical damage back against the caster.”

“Looks like it worked,” Jane said.

Lana added, “I would have moved the enchantment the other way. The amulet is prettier.”

I was too distracted by that description. “Hey, the percentage improved.”

Cyrus chuckled, the sound making some of the group jump, although not as much as they used to. “The ability is now part of a stronger uncommon item, so a minor adjustment is not surprising.”

“I’ll take it. I call that a successful test.”

Tomas said, “Can I submit my recommendation for combining 2 of my items if there’s a day you don’t use that ability for your stuff?”

“Me too,” Andy added.

“Of course.” Over time, we could improve a lot of our core build items and equipment. Of all my abilities, this one might be one of the most versatile.