Hey guys, I just wanted to clarify a few things.
First off, I retconned the price of red cores. Their previous cost of around 50,000 made them trivial to buy, and I didn't want one of the most valuable resources in Schema's universe to be functionally useless compared to raw money. I changed the value to 500,000, which is much more reasonable in the grand scope of things.
Second, there could be a few errors in this chapter regarding the system updates. The st...
2020-02-07 00:04:49 +0000 UTC
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- Helios -
It was time for our meeting, and I was never one to keep Obolis waiting. He took poorly to delays of all kinds, especially the avoidable setbacks. Given our positions, it would be a severe misjudgment to disappoint him.
And so, I hurried.
The guards made way, our positions sure. Crossing over onto the outer world, I found myself stepping out of a portal of my own design. I landed onto a series of floating stones, overlooking a world of waterfalls ...
2020-02-01 23:53:27 +0000 UTC
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Before feasting, we still had a job to do. We got the troops out of Tholosa without incident, our evac successful. Our rate of saving gialgathens plummeted from the last city, the Hybridization too far developed for most of them. We still saved several dozen, and every blighted one we killed was one less we'd find on a different battlefield.
It still tanked morale seeing how effective we handled the operation yet also finding fewer saved. Bolstering people around saving others was easy....
2020-01-30 23:04:13 +0000 UTC
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Hod grabbed the side of his elbow, a bit of discomfort radiating from the birdman. I turned a palm to him, "Before battle, you saturate with mana, right?"
Hod nodded, "Hod does. Hod psyche Hod up."
"Yeah, you seem to change at that moment. Is there a reason?"
Hod stared, his blank expression unreadable,
"Hod think so."
"Well, what's the reason?"
"Hod let other Hod out."
I let my arms flop against my sides,
"Ah, so that's it."
A second pass...
2020-01-28 20:22:59 +0000 UTC
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I grinned, my helmet forming over my face. As the metal shifted like liquid, red mana ebbed from my eye slit. Turning towards Spear and Torix, I found the Sentinel swinging his weapons of trade. Hod and I walked up to them as he sliced through dimensions. Beyond the veil, a sandy shoreline popped into view.
Like the previous launching point, this portal showed the opening of an eldritchian rift. A giant pit of sandstone carved deep into a craggy shoreline, black stone jutting out of whi...
2020-01-24 01:14:08 +0000 UTC
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Hey guys, it's been a while.
I'll try to be honest here. Writing has been difficult for me recently. Normally when I stop writing it's because I'm lacking focus or motivation. I've sat and rewrote this current chapter about 4 times, and I'm being overly critical. I'm also making the process painful for myself. I haven't been managing my relationship with writing, and that sucks.
I'm not going to stop writing, but I really need to change my approach. I've trying to set up my entire...
2020-01-01 01:49:01 +0000 UTC
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Torix rolled his eyes, "That's highly unlikely. They are beings that transcend time and space."
I raised my hands, "I'm not saying their controlling Eonoth, just that they've found a way of using him to their benefit. The Old One is connected to Lehesion directly after all. It's not that much of a stretch to say the Adair Family figured out a way to abuse that connection."
Torix cupped his chin, "Hmm, perhaps. I'm doubtful, but we'd better report our findings and our hypotheses to...
2019-12-13 02:45:57 +0000 UTC
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With our goals set, we walked through the dimensional rift. Pacing out onto a pale mountainside, a snowstorm whirled around us, the winds deafening. The crisp cold woke me up, the scientists shivering even through their lead-laden hazmat suits.
Torix shouted over the howling tempest,
"Excuse the scenery. This is one of the few locations that won't allow the eldritchified landscape to sink into our study."
A strange, three-headed beetle crawled under Torix's foot. Torix stomp...
2019-12-06 00:34:59 +0000 UTC
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We practiced for two more hours, each of them stretching on into eternity. It was a painful, slow, and tedious process. The reason for that was simple - I was bad at it. This wasn't like runic work or punching stuff down. I lacked talent in mind magic, and Torix showed the opposite.
For example, as I got better and gained skills, Torix exposed more depth in the mind magic battles. I didn't close the gap. Instead, it remained constant, like running up a never-ending set of stairs. Each t...
2019-12-01 01:07:00 +0000 UTC
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After about an hour of prep, Torix set up the research event for Lehesion's tail. It stunned me just how involved the process was. The right researchers, equipment, and safety precautions required organizing from scientists and engineers alike. Torix knew the individuals involved with each operation, however, simplifying the process quite a bit.
With all that done, he and I readied ourselves for some good old mind magic shenanigans. Torix pepped up as he ran himself through a few mind m...
2019-11-25 01:45:25 +0000 UTC
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Hod wiggled in place, "Was Emperor man like fluffy man?"
I nodded, "Yeah, I could tell they were related. The Emperor was much more, well, polite than Helios was." I turned to Althea, "In fact, he went out of his way to chastise Helios for how he acted towards us."
Althea grinned at me, and I smiled back. I walked over, through the crowd who parted for me. As I did, she blushed for a moment. I hugged her to me, and she murmured,
"You're embarrassing me."
I smiled, "I l...
2019-11-21 04:21:39 +0000 UTC
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As the cometelias darted around us, they danced among the stars, adding to the moment. I gathered my composure, calming myself down. I turned towards Obolis,
"Thanks for sharing all this with us. It's incredible."
Obolis gestured a hand to me, "Perhaps in our next meeting I may share even better scenery. For now, however, you no doubt are curious as to why I wanted a meeting with you in the first place. You withstand a strained schedule, no doubt, and conceding me your time ...
2019-11-14 23:53:42 +0000 UTC
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Stepped through the blue warp, following Helios,
"Obolis? That's his name?"
Helios replied as Torix followed through the gateway. I didn't hear Helios. The stark contrast between the rooms hit me like a truck as I stepped into a different space.
Decrepit, dusty, and old, we entered into a set of ancient ruins. The constant pressure over us let me know we walked deep underground, miles in depth probably. Staring around, multicolored mana crystals dotted the cavern walls. Stri...
2019-10-31 15:51:01 +0000 UTC
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I replied,
Daniel Hillside(lvl 10,750 | Titles: Harbinger of Cataclysm, Dimension C-138, The Living Multiverse, The Cleanser of Polydra | Guild Owner: The Harbinger's Legion| S- |) - Come on man, you don't have to be all uppity. If you're acting this polite, your ass must be on the line for me to meet up with the Emperor. Just consider this a favor for now. We can meet in my first city. You can ask Caprika for the info for where that is.
Within seconds, I got a re...
2019-10-30 14:58:45 +0000 UTC
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Motivating through fear, the gialgathens under our wing roared in approval. Without needing more preparation, Torix sent a few messages all at once, interacting with multiple statuses. Our forces moved all at once in an outpour of motion.
Chrona stood beside our primary gate along with Spear. Krog, Kessiah, and Schema's troops stood in front of a legion of our own. Splitting into four battalions, I glanced at each of them with some confusion. Torix turned towards Spear,
"Slice it ...
2019-10-29 13:40:07 +0000 UTC
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Torix and I walked through the portal, Spear following not far behind. As the hordes of undead marched into Elderfire, Torix and I let the populace know what was going on. Once the army amassed into a relatively uninhabited part of the city, we gathered our legion.
Well over a hundred gialgathens fought alongside us today. Torix situated our invasion point in a forested area for some reason. As he notched an X into the ground, I walked up while moving a vine out of my face,
"Why a...
2019-10-26 03:15:24 +0000 UTC
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Torix -
As the resonance finalized, I stared forward with invigorated senses. Strength. Power. Might. I was all these things and more. Is this what Daniel felt at all times? The sheer vitality and mana generated defied all convention. It was as if I siphoned into the body of a deity, stealing all that came with said implication.
In order to test my newfound capacities, I stomped my heel onto the metal flooring of the silver's territory. It caved underfoot, and my ...
2019-10-20 05:00:57 +0000 UTC
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-Daniel-
I grabbed the back of my neck, shaking out some mental exhaustion from the past three days. Turns out, setting up a necromantic ritual was hard work. Now that I understood the process, it made Torix's first blood sacrifice all the more impressive.
Even against mindless silvers and a few not so mindless eldritch, the setup proved difficult. It began by setting up a three-mile wide circle of runic inscriptions. To my surprise, the metal matrice that the sil...
2019-10-13 00:56:44 +0000 UTC
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- Althea -
I held my breath, slipping into the other plane. Stepping onto a string connected steps, I follow the line leading towards the remaining members in the compound. Phasing back onto our plane, I grabbed the remnant's white hair, slicing clean through her neck.
Pink flesh and the arteries exposed themselves under the fluorescent lights. The body flopped forward, splattering onto the ground. I frowned while turning towards the other scientist. Wearing a med...
2019-10-06 19:47:12 +0000 UTC
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After hours of crawling through magma, I reached Elderfire. Coming up through sandstone and dunes, I pulled myself up a few miles outside the town. Brushing off chunks of solidified igneous rocks, I ran towards the center of the city.
I found most of the gialgathens being taken care of in the wisp laden pools. The gialgathen shamans leveraged off the artificial life I created here, creating a natural zone of healing and stasis. They already saved hundreds of lives. Besides for them, Kes...
2019-10-04 21:02:59 +0000 UTC
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As the shattered god charged his attack, so did I. Bolting towards him, I neared him as the sky darkened. As stars formed overhead and fell, I reached out my hand, creating a singularity over Lehesion's chest. The golden aura siphoned into the void, the unstoppable wake of destruction eating it. Once full, it ripped outwards.
The golden aura soaked most of the gravitational implosion, smothering the explosion like a wet blanket over fire. My attack served its purpose despite that. The f...
2019-09-30 21:40:59 +0000 UTC
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The mana bombs exploded moments before I collided with the ground. The raw quintessence manifested into the same elemental fires of before. Once fully ablaze, they spiraled into vast tornadoes of fire and ice. Hollowed eyes and rasping cries echoed from the energies as they sought out anything alive near them.
In a rush, these beings of pure power rushed into the nearby spires beside them. They wrestled for control, storms forming over the city as clouds darkened and lightning struck. T...
2019-09-28 19:40:00 +0000 UTC
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Flashing back towards Elderfire, I stepped out onto the city's center. Gialgathens flew overhead, carrying clusters of wisps held in glass orbs. Several groups of gialgathens carried tail covers on their back. This allowed them to smash a Hybrid, get rid of a tail cover, then replace it with a new one. Considering how infectious the Hybrids where, that kind of defensive utility was invaluable.
Walking past a few groups, they gave me a bow of respect. It weirded me out as always as I ste...
2019-09-24 19:31:09 +0000 UTC
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Knowing Hod, it could be pretty bad. I calmed myself down as I sent messages towards the guild.
The Living Multiverse(Lvl 10,250 | Guildmaster: The Harbinger's Legion(S-) | Titles: The Harbinger of Cataclysm, The Cleanser of Polydra | Cities: Mt. Verner, Elderfire) - I'll be arriving in a few minutes. I need to meet with Hod and Amara. I won't be there long, but it'll be nice to see Earth again.
After sending the message, I took a deep breath. I gave a thumbs up t...
2019-09-21 22:36:51 +0000 UTC
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Walking into Elderfire, the city changed since I last left. Stepping through the forested walkways, the density of plantlife dropped off some. A few of the gialgathens channeled some kind of mana, bending nature into homes for them.
Trees gnarled into rooftops, giving the people here homes walled off by twisting branches and thick bushes. The beginnings of walkways formed throughout the city, foot traffic creating these pathways of convenience. Beyond the basics, the mentality of the to...
2019-09-07 23:34:13 +0000 UTC
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The Sentinel turned towards his portal, "Perhaps risking your life for a blow to the enemy isn't a good idea."
I shrugged, "Every fight is a risk. It's a part of the whole 'war for Schema' thing. Either way, you won't have to do much. All I need you to do is create a portal before I slam into the ground."
The Sentinel's eyes narrowed, "You intend to use your orbital bombardment to incite the eruption of Polydra?"
I spread out my arms, "You got it."
"That's insane."
...
2019-08-21 22:20:26 +0000 UTC
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Keeping on guard, I finished charging my singularity while gazing around. Stalling suited me just fine. Every second spent on this gave my forces more time for their retreat.
Tohtella Adair spoke with the Hybrid as her puppet,
"Aren't you curious what I mean by that?"
Suspending myself midair with a gravity well, I glared,
"What could we possible compromise on? Genocide? Manipulation?"
The Hybrid waved its hand, Tohtella voicing towards me,
"This is all a n...
2019-08-17 00:51:53 +0000 UTC
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As I charged forward, I lifted an arm. A singularity formed over the chest of Version 2.2. The Hybrid shot out sideways, evading the entirety of the annihilative explosion before dashing towards me. It slid across the sky with a vapor trail behind it. I shot myself sideways and met the monster's charge.
Except, it dodged my gravitational tackle. I slid past it as the Hybrid charged towards the gialgathens that flew from Polydra. I reached out a hand and released an enormous well of grav...
2019-08-14 02:09:15 +0000 UTC
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As the ships droned and the Hybrids stomped, we skulked beneath them in the sewers. We passed several of the checkpoints, dispatching several groups of Hybrid sentries sent to find us. Once up close to the first point for our illusions, I stepped up the wall of stone. As if covered in black water, my skin shifted like living blades. I cut through the rock with ease, pulling myself forward with gravity.
I rose through the dirt and stone, passing up into the first building. I walked up to...
2019-08-09 19:58:20 +0000 UTC
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Kaios glared between us both, "You intend to incite the eruption prematurely? How?"
I pointed at him, "I'm going to hit the mountain hard. To get that done, I'll need that dreadnought out of the way. Otherwise, a wave of arcane magic might even kill me as I come down."
Krog peered at the wounded gialgathens, "We'll need it disposed of to escape as well. I doubt the Adair family will give us the couple hours required to destroy this dreadnought once more as well. If other forces ar...
2019-07-31 20:41:57 +0000 UTC
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