SHING
The azure flash sliced through the thick carapace as if it was butter. It might as well have been, against the spell of a Green. Elaine swung her arms a few more times, three whips lashing out with each move, dicing the rest of the creatures into pieces.
“Careful not to damage their stingers or their venom glands. It’s what we’re here for.” Enid said.
The blonde girl was having a bit more trouble at Yellow, but her earth magic kept the enemies at bay at least.<...
2024-10-12 03:12:51 +0000 UTC
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The crow glided soundlessly just a meter above the grass as it approached its prey. Micky’s black feathers turned him nigh invisible against the dark blanket of the night. Soon, a man enlarged in their shared vision. He was looking the other way, performing his business without a care in the world. They could already hear the soft stream pitter-pattering against the stone.
Percy held his breath. If the ambush failed, his life would be forfeit!
With one powerful flap of his wings...
2024-10-12 03:12:15 +0000 UTC
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It was a two-week journey on horseback to the Alchemists’ Guild. At least, the dirt road only passed through grasslands and barren fields, saving Percy the trouble of trekking through more forests or mountains.
Not that the trip was without dangers. Baldy had given him a month’s worth of elixirs, so that he wouldn’t fall behind on his second core’s purification. Unfortunately, the excessive amount of wealth was a double-edged sword, turning him into a juicy target for any aspiri...
2024-10-12 03:11:39 +0000 UTC
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The young man looked at his grandpa expectantly, prompting him to speak.
“The first option is to spill the beans on some of your secrets. Naturally, not Circulation. That one could destroy our House if it leaks. But if we let the others know about your second core and Micky, they will understand.”
“Do you think it’s a good idea?” Percy asked.
“Not really, no.” baldy said before elaborating. “I advise you not to do this. Even though others can’t imm...
2024-10-12 03:10:41 +0000 UTC
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KRA! KRA!
Micky complained loudly, much to Percy’s dismay. The bird’s screeches were far more piercing than ever before, echoing through the dark forest.
“I’m sorry buddy. You’re too big to sit on my shoulder now.”
The actual advancement had taken less than an hour, but that was just the start. Saying the crow was starving afterwards would be the understatement of the century. Mere minutes after the promotion, Micky had devoured all seven goblins, not leaving a s...
2024-10-12 03:09:54 +0000 UTC
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Micky sent an image of a shadow sneaking through the bushes. He was perched atop a branch, gazing at their surroundings from the high vantage point, scouting the area. The crow was already fully grown by now. Percy felt it practically salivating through their bond as it eyed their misguided ambushers.
‘Thanks. I see them now.’
Percy pulled most of his mana to his channels, nearly emptying his core before taking a deep breath to refill it. The motes spiralled into his ...
2024-10-12 03:09:22 +0000 UTC
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“Please tell me we’re done for today.” Elaine groaned.
The trio were sitting on the floor, baldy having already healed them for the dozenth time that day.
“We might as well stop here. I can help us recover again but we still need to eat properly to build muscle.” Archibald said.
PHEW
Elaine didn’t even wait for the second part before waving her hand, manifesting three bubbles of water in the air. Each was about twice the size of a watermelon. They flew over...
2024-10-12 03:08:48 +0000 UTC
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There was no mistaking it. The excess mana spilling out of Micky was soul mana!
They hadn’t been able to identify it earlier because Mana Sense couldn’t differentiate between various affinities. The only thing that determined its appearance in that case was purity and density – in other words, its grade. That was why everything had appeared Red previously. Only with Soul Vision could Percy have noticed the difference…
‘Right, Soul Vision!’
The y...
2024-10-12 03:08:12 +0000 UTC
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___
Mictlantecuhtli (Percival's familiar)
Mana cores:
· [Mana core 1 – Red – Beast]
· [Mana core 2 – Seed – ???]
???:
· [??? (Fractured)]
2024-10-12 03:07:37 +0000 UTC
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Percy opened his eyes, a flash blinding him. It soon died down into a mix of colours, but still too blurry to make out much. The off-white of his bedroom wall was predominant, although there was something else by his side. It looked like the silhouette of a person. Or maybe just a piece of furniture.
“…”
He thought he heard them say something. It was muffled, as if they were underwater.
“…”
The furniture-person tried a few more times – with some ...
2024-10-12 03:07:05 +0000 UTC
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The Status was a strange thing. It didn’t notify one when they identified their affinity or a bloodline. In fact, it didn’t even say a word when their grade advanced. However, there was one thing it did actively inform its user of.
Mastering a new spell.
The people of Remior weren’t sure why it worked like that. For the most part, the Status was just a tool of convenience, to help its users keep track of their progress. Still, that didn’t explain why spells g...
2024-10-12 03:06:26 +0000 UTC
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‘What’s up with those people anyway? Aren’t they also natives? Why aren’t THEY locked up in a cage?’
Percy felt his features twist into a grimace.
‘They are… They’re just too dumb to see it…’
Once more, Micky reached for the kik’lit. With a trembling grip, he moved it to his beak, exhaling a soft breath into the instrument. The sound was off tune. He tried again but his fingers shook, unable to close the holes properly. His lu...
2024-10-12 03:05:49 +0000 UTC
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A zigzagging trail of shallow prints formed on the sticky sand. They were erratic and barely visible. Nearly soundless too. Had Percy relied on his eyes, he would have failed to track the creature. Still, the Orange orbs shimmering inside his Mana Sense made this easy. With a horizontal movement of his upper-right arm, he slammed the rod into the critter’s side, feeling little resistance as he catapulted its body a dozen meters away.
THUD
A small crater formed on the ground, as ...
2024-10-12 03:04:42 +0000 UTC
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The two were back in the cell, the foul smell of blood now dominating the earthy scents of the cave.
Micky didn’t seem bothered, however, as he pecked chunks off the croco-bear’s severed leg. Being allowed to eat their kills was apparently one of the few joys afforded to the prisoners of the colosseum. Not that Percy particularly enjoyed the taste of the still-bleeding meal – he preferred his food cooked. At least this one was fresh. Surprisingly tender too. A Yellow...
2024-10-12 03:04:03 +0000 UTC
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As Micky followed the guard through a long corridor, Percy was reevaluating his life choices. How had he found himself hitching a ride on a walking corpse, escorted to a fight through a dungeon? Not to mention, this place had somehow turned out even crueller than Remior. Micky might be their prisoner, but these people didn’t seem to know nor care he’d just died.
‘Surely, they could give him a day off!’
Oblivious to his thoughts, the guard soon brough...
2024-10-12 03:02:52 +0000 UTC
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‘I’m not calling you that. How about Micky?’
‘Suit yourself. I doubt we’ll survive in this state for very long anyway.’
Various senses assaulted Percy, from the external ones such as the thick odours of moss and excrement, to the internal ones like his chest heaving up and down, or the cold numbness of narrowly-missed death crawling along his limbs. His body felt unfamiliar, plus he wasn’t in control. He could try taking over – if he really wa...
2024-10-12 03:01:55 +0000 UTC
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Percy found himself in an odd state.
He was still unable to see or hear anything, but he had finally stopped moving. His body’s pull was much fainter too. It was there, yet it couldn’t pry him out of… wherever he was. His attempt to possess the dying light had clearly done something, though he wasn’t sure what.
‘It’s like my limbs are twisted and stuffed inside a messy crate.’
Well, assuming he even had limbs. Logically this body should have s...
2024-10-12 03:00:45 +0000 UTC
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His thoughts were groggy, taking ages to form. Or maybe seconds? He couldn’t tell. Actually, Percy couldn’t tell much of anything at the moment. He was blind and deaf. His sense of touch was gone too. The last thing he remembered was activating his bloodline, watching it tear his soul up.
‘Either I botched it and killed myself, or I’m the clone.’
Both conclusions sounded possible, though he felt it was more productive to assume the latter.
At least, it was...
2024-10-11 16:56:35 +0000 UTC
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Today was the day.
Percy had finished mending the new cracks, restoring his soul to a pristine condition. He’d also refilled both cores and got a good night’s sleep. Adding to that, baldy had arranged for his children to manage the family, freeing himself to oversee his grandson’s venture.
Admittedly, Percy felt a little guilty over it.
Somehow, their strained relationship had evolved to the point of him monopolizing his grandpa’s time, which he knew was precious. Th...
2024-10-11 16:55:39 +0000 UTC
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It took him a few moments to truly register baldy’s words. Then, it was as if the floodgates opened, a wave of vigour washing away his fatigue. His heartbeat sped up, as he willed his Status to appear.
___
Percival Avalon
Mana cores:
· [Mana core 1 – Orange – Soul]
·
2024-10-11 16:55:07 +0000 UTC
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‘What’s gotten into her?’
Percy had no idea what had brought on that outburst from Elaine yesterday. At least she’d seemed more concerned than hostile, which was good news.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t heed her plea to stop using his bloodline. Especially now that he’d finished mending the cracks and could finally begin cultivating his first proper clone in earnest.
Using Soul Vision, he scanned his soul carefully, willing his ability to activate. Unlike t...
2024-10-11 16:54:30 +0000 UTC
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The four clones fell like marionettes with their strings cut, awkwardly hitting the floor.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP
If these were normal people, they might have ended up with some nasty bruises, but their bodies were at Yellow. Plus, healing them wasn’t that hard.
“Why do you keep messing with others?!” Elaine yelled.
She let the glowing whip fizzle out into a harmless spray of water, soon forming a faint puddle on the marble tiles. Then, she glared at her cous...
2024-10-11 16:53:53 +0000 UTC
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Percy marvelled at the intricate vial pinched between his thumb and index finger. For something so valuable, it wasn’t that large, its height and thickness not exceeding that of his pinkie.
At least, he didn’t have to worry about breaking it if he dropped it by accident. Its hardness wasn’t a joke. It was made of a hollowed-out sapphire shard. A bit overkill in his opinion, using such a precious material for a simple container, but at the end of the day it didn’t really matter. ...
2024-10-11 16:53:20 +0000 UTC
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KNOCK, KNOCK
Percy opened the door, finding his grandpa outside as usual.
This time, however, baldy wasn’t alone. He was accompanied by somebody who looked almost identical to him. Like a twin brother. The only differences to the naked eye were that the second baldy wore different robes and had a vacant expression.
Percy made way for the two to enter, but his grandpa shook his head. Instead, he gestured for the young man to follow him to the garden. As soon as they reached...
2024-10-11 16:52:43 +0000 UTC
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Percy sat on his bed, next to his grandpa. It had been two weeks since baldy started filling his second core. Sadly, they didn’t have anything to show for it yet, not even a hint they were getting closer.
Still, the young man was feeling some newfound appreciation for his grandpa. Not only because he was practically showering him with affection for the first time in his life, but also due to his sheer dedication and discipline. Frankly, the man was a monster. Every day, he showed up b...
2024-10-11 16:52:08 +0000 UTC
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“Who is asking? The head of the family? Or my grandpa?”
“Does it matter?” baldy asked.
Percy shrugged.
“Percy… I am the third head of the House. I’ve been in charge for less than 200 years. Our family has existed for nearly ten times as long.”
This wasn’t exactly news to the young man. He had read about the family’s history. So, he just waited to see what the man was getting at.
“I’m sure you knew most of that already, but wh...
2024-10-11 16:51:23 +0000 UTC
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Elaine helped Percy walk as they passed through the corridor leading to baldy’s office. She hadn’t spoken to him much during the last stretch of their journey, still shaken after watching him torture the goblin.
He didn’t think she held it against him or anything. Hell, he’d watched her butcher plenty of goblins herself just days ago. Still, she’d kept her distance from him every time he practiced since then, clearly having some newfound appreciation for the danger his affinit...
2024-10-11 16:50:51 +0000 UTC
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Percy and his relatives barely managed to escape with their lives, leaping out of the wolves’ den by the skin of their teeth. Ok, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration. The High Priestess let them go. Relatively easily.
Not that Percy’s hastily constructed lie was particularly believable, but at the end of the day there wasn’t any evidence incriminating him. After all, she had said it herself. Nobody below Violet could steal the dense mind mana, let alone an Orange core...
2024-10-11 16:50:12 +0000 UTC
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A beautiful woman stood in front of them, dressed in elegant red clothes, wearing a tiara adorned with rubies on her head. Percy’s Mana Sense revealed her core thrumming with an intimidating Blue colour – a grade higher than the two attendants by her side. The High Priestess didn’t seem to mind his previous lack of attentiveness, flashing him a bright smile, before gesturing at another golden door. It was half as tall as the other one.
“Please enter the pool inside and extract s...
2024-10-11 16:49:06 +0000 UTC
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Waiting in a queue must have been a novel experience for Elaine.
There weren’t that many people in their House. Being one of the chosen ones, she was generally given priority for most things. Strictly speaking, the same was true here. Just like everywhere else on Remior. Yellow-borns always went first. Still, the sheer number of people waiting their turn was simply staggering. Even the lucky groups who had a Yellow-born among them easily numbered in the triple digits, which m...
2024-10-11 16:48:31 +0000 UTC
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