Chapter Eighty Two: Upgrades

Opening my eyes, I blink rapidly as I attempt to adjust to my surroundings. But I can’t, because I hear nothing and feel nothing. No wind touching my sides or really any sound other than that which is being made by my breathing.

Looking upward, I see nothing but darkness. No light is available for me to discern my location through vision. Not even my innate [Night Vision] seems to be able to work.

“Mmmm, I feel like I went through something similar before. Can't really remember when.”

I stretch slightly, my body feeling a bit sore. Crackling sounds form from moving my ligaments.

“The ground’s not comfortable, but then again, I’ve had worse. I guess I’ll go back to sleep.”

I lay my head down with a smirk on my face.

Ignoring me will not change anything, Quasi Eludo.

Light streams into my surroundings in an instantaneous manner. Not a blinding amount of light, but an annoying one.

I groan.

“Dammit Rapeball, I'm trying to relax on this rather uncomfortable floor. Mortals like myself need sleep and I can’t sleep if some primordial god-thing changes the nature of reality for his sexual pleasure.”

The eye, floating above me in the seemingly endless, cloudless sky, blinks once.

You are incorrigible. Now stand. You frustrate me greatly.

Sighing, I stand up, taking a moment to view the area now that I can see. A quick look tells me that time has stopped in my vicinity. I am currently located in a passage and surrounded by my sleeping army. The only one not sleeping or resting is Mule, who is currently standing next to Jessica.

“So, what the fuck did I do wrong this time?” I ask aloud as I look up. No dark ceiling, instead it is replaced with a boundless sky and a huge mind reading eyeball known as Administrator number 11.

The amount of destruction you had recently released was astronomical. So much so that the sheer amount of levels you gained all at once had activated the system’s defensive measures and knocked you unconscious.

Usually, the only beings with such destructive capability are those that possess a domain. It is my job to award such individuals with a name.

“Shit. So I'm going to be named? That's awesome. Does it come with perks?”

You will not be named. You do not currently control a domain and your destructive potential, though impressive, was not truly deserving of a name.

On that note, naming does not give any perks.

“What? So what's the point of naming? Just fame?”

The eye blinks.

Those who have a domain have the potential to manipulate the system in undesirable ways. Such individuals must be watched carefully, thus a stronger system is implanted into their souls. They are given a title, become incapable of hiding their status and are constantly monitored by the system thereafter.

“Oh… well then. I guess it's good I’m not being named.” I say after thinking about it a moment.

I get the feeling that my ability to be resistant to being [Analyzed] was intentionally given to me. Being ‘named’ might be detrimental to my future survival.

The divine ability [Laverna’s Nihility] blankets a significant portion of your systemic existence. The majority of your system is placed within a dimensional fabric that allows a small connection between your soul and your physical reality. This small connection is not enough for system based information obtaining skills to effectively consider you an actual existence. Instead, the system considers your partial existence as an error and attempts to circumvent the problem by ignoring you.

It is an impressive skill, though it was not designed to be implemented with the portable system access that is given to all [Heroes]. The skill restricts the [Heroes] access to divine level ability information.

I blink, my mind whirring quickly with the information given to me.

“You know you just dropped a bomb on me, right?”

Rapeball blinks.

I have full access to your soul and thus your memory.

Right. Primordial upper tier rape god.

“So… why are you still here? Not that I don't mind your presence, because I do… Wait. That didn't make sense.”

The reason that I am here is in regards to the problems concerning the [Artistic Talent] skill and the fact it was not fully fixed in regards to [Heroes]. As of right now, I have completely patched the skill from any future iterations as well as activated patches that have not been implemented yet but were completed in construction. Unfortunately, this change includes weakening one of your current skills. Since this is unfair for you, I am here to give you a boon.

“Ohhh? A boon you say? Do I get to choose what kind?”

Before you ask, I cannot remove your overwhelming sexual desire since that is the result of a beneficial divine skill that I cannot modify or change without changing the nature of the god in question.

“Damn, so it's a divine skill… which means some god is making me extremely horny”. But rapeball said it was beneficial? ”How the fuck is overwhelming hormones benefitial?”

The nature of divine level skills are based on the personality of the god in question. Your divine ability, [Presence of the Alpha], enhances your physical sense by a significant amount while also allowing you the ability to mate for extended periods of time.

My eye twitches at the explanation given to me.

“And the god in question is…”

That information is currently not available to you. I am merely stating information that you would normally have access to if [Laverna’s Nihility] was not currently blocking it.

On another note, my time is limited. Choose the nature of your boon.

-Skill - Obtain a skill. [Max Rank: Rare]

-Stats- Increase chosen stat by 10

-Class- Upgrade a chosen class to a stronger version. [Tier 1 only.]

Shit. Ok, gotta choose. Rare rank skills are good but I seem to get them often with second tier classes. Stats, though good, arent worth it if it’s only ten points. At Least not for my current stats. Class upgrade? Now that I can get behind… but what class to choose. I’m leaning towards [Noble], but what would the upgrade be? Will I become a [Lord]? Or will it be something else?

“Hmmm… I choose to upgrade the [Bard] class.”

Choice Accepted. Goodbye Quasi Eludo. I hope we do not meet again...

The eyeball disappears.

Class upgrade commencing…

Scanning entity Quasi Eludo...

Notable stats obtained...

Searching class databases for acceptable classes...

Class found. Commencing class change.

Congratulations. Your level 38 [Bard] class has changed to level 38 [Magic Bard]

+10 Intelligence

+10 Charisma

+5 Dexterity

New skill awarded: [Arcane Instrument]

Before I can fully read what happened, the light goes out and time begins to move.

Rapeball had left, and in his leaving, he left me with the system and the absurd number of level ups that I have to deal with.

Congratulations, you have defeated Mylingar.

For being the first [Hero] to kill this boss, experience gain has increased.

For single-handedly killing the boss, experience gain has increased.

Due to large boss minion count, experience is creased.

Currently destroyed minion count is 521,743 undead entities...Error.

Possible Domain Found. Withholding Levels. Suppressing Soul. Contacting Administrator...

Level and Soul suppression removed by administrator #11.

Calculating experience boost.

Total experience increased by 12,458%

Adding Levels.

You are now a Level 183 [Necromancer]

- [Aura of Undeath]

- [Toxic Undeath]

- [Undead Resurrection]

- [Call of the Undead Servant]

- [Touch of Sacrificial Healing]

You are now a Level 93 [Hero]

You are now a Level 84 [Noble]

- [Noble Command]

- [Perfect Execution]

You are now a Level 67 [Magic Bard]

- [Resurgent Melody]

- [Harmony of Movement]

- [Hymn of power]

You are now a Level 77 [Enchanter]

- [Bonechanting]

- [Enchanter’s Armaments]

Well then. I seem to have leveled… a lot. That's… that's a lot of skills…

Where do I even begin…

Scratching my head, I do some quick calculations and realise that I gained over fifty levels in [Necromancer]. That is an absurd amount. Though I guess it’s warranted considering I created an undead nuke.

I frown at the weirdness of staring at glowing boxes that create no actual light. I’m still surrounded by darkness, except for floating, glowing boxes.

I extend my hand and call up my mana. It fluctuates from within my body and converges to my palm. With a bit of will, I form a simple spell that Volpe showed me.

“[Light Ball].”

I call out the spell and am immediately struck with illumination as a large ball of light forms on my palm and rises into the air with my will.

Unlike skills, spells can be learned by anyone, though they require a lot of practice to create and produce. Practice which requires mana. Mana which is only available in decent quantities by the [Mage] class.

“So, you’ve finally awakened.”

I turn and find Zorren staring at me with his back to the wall. Apparently, he had not been sleeping but merely resting.

“Well, it's a good morning to you too. How long have I been asleep?”

He shrugs. “Half a cycle maybe. We’re too deep in the cave for light.”

I grunt in acknowledgement. His eyes stare at me hard. Angry… and fearful.

“How did you do that?” he asks after a silent moment.

“Do what? The explosion? It's just using a couple complementary skills in quick succession.”

His body tenses, hands creating fists as his slits lock onto my head. His gaze is briney and unyielding. Teeth are clenching hard.

“NO!” he growls, “how did you move without sound? I sensed nothing of your movement. Last I remember, you were on the ground.”

Ohhhhh…

I whip back my hair.

“Don't glare at me Zorren. It's not my fault that my incredibly good looks and sexy personality have a tendency to awaken primordial rape gods from their slumber. Nor is it my fault that they have the power to sexually molest my soul while stopping all existence.”

I shake my head in exasperation.

“Really Zorren, how can you be so insensitive? I bet you think you’re all high and mighty with your unmolested soul, talking down to mine. I just had a harrowing experience. The least you can do is be supportive. Can you do that for me Zorren? Be supportive? Cause I need support right now. I just gained thirteen new skills and an upgraded new class. Have you any idea how much my whole build changes now? Cause I don't, and that's because I haven't checked out what the skills do. And that, Zorren, is a momentous task in itself. Figuring out what they do, how best to use them, what hidden effects they have. And then, I have to incorporate them not only to my own combat style, but to the group itself. I mean sure, I’m amazing and all, and it probably won't take me too long, but it is sti-”

“Enough! Keep your secrets. You are now awake. Awaken the others and let us move on. I tire of your presence.”

I raise my hands quickly, “Fine, fine. Just give me a moment to check my thirteen fucking skills.”

He gives me one final glare and then closes his eyes. He isn't asleep, but is just resting. He may very well not have slept for three days.

Now then, skills. Let's just start with the [Necromancer] ones.

[Aura of Undeath]: Rare

At will, your aura extends around you, enhancing all capabilities of all undead under your control. Undead closer to the source are stronger than those farther. Maximum bonus is 20%

[Toxic Undeath]: Common

Flesh based undead created by you will have all internal fluid be acidic and poisonous to the living.

[Undead Resurrection]: Very Rare

Upon the destruction of an undead, you have a short amount of time to attempt to recreate the exact same undead with the same levels and abilities.

Chance of success scales with time since destroyed.

1 Hour: 99% chance

2 Hour: 75% Chance

3 Hour: 50% Chance

4 Hour: 25% Chance

5 Hour: 1% Chance

Skill may only be used once per Undead. Mana cost scales with undead level, capability, and bone supplied for the recreation.

[Call of the Undead Servant]: Uncommon

Once every hour, you can summon any single undead instantly to your side.

[Touch of Sacrificial Healing]: Uncommon

Once a week, you can touch a servant under your control and consume their existence. You will be healed based on the quality and type of servant.

[Undead]: Healing reduced by 75%

[Slave]: Normal Healing amount

[Summon]: Healing reduced by 90%

[Animal Companion]: Healing increased by 500%

The skills are… more. It seems the aforementioned patch is now displaying cooldown periods on skills. Finally, no more random testing on how often I can use skills. That had been annoying to figure out, especially [Undead Enrage]. Why the hell the cooldown on that skill is a whole week I will never understand.

Now then, having an aura skill is nice, but that [Undead Resurrection] skill will be very useful when I want to blow up a unique undead through [Corpse Explosion]. [Toxic Undeath] is a weird skill that I can see myself using with [Corpse Explosion]. I wonder if it would create a toxic cloud.

Something to test later.

The touch skill seems like an emergency [Heal] considering its long cooldown, but it probably means that it must have some pretty intense scaling. As for the final skill…

“[Call of the Undead Servant].”

Mana quickly leaves my body, quickly creating hundreds of pentagrams in the air, twirling them quickly before a flash of light, and Joker travels through space and time to appear next to me.

“Huh, not bad. That's a pretty hefty distance and an acceptably low mana cost.”

Joker says nothing, merely sustaining his reactionary stance while waiting to react to any threats.

“Right, next skills. Let’s see what [Noble] has to offer.”

[Noble Command]: Common

Once a day, you can attempt to forcibly order someone to do something for up to ten seconds. Effect varies based on what is ordered and the target chosen.

[Perfect Execution]: Rare

Once a week, you can attempt to do a difficult task perfectly to your maximum potential. Task must not last more than one minute.

Vague as shit…

“Welp, next skills.”

[Bonechanting]: Uncommon

Increases the ease of enchanting bone items and improves the product when using bone as the medium.

Enchanted bone costs 50% less mana.

[Enchanter’s Armaments]:Uncommon

All enchanted items produced and wielded by the [Enchanter] are 100% stronger. Cost is unchanged.

Now this, I can get behind. Lower mana cost for enchanting bone means I can put more mana into the item, and thus a stronger spell. As for [Enchanter’s Armaments], I have a very weird feeling that the skill is very abusable.

“Are you done staring at the air yet?”

I roll my eyes and glare at Zorren who has one pupil glowering at me.

“Hang on. I have one more class of skills to go through, so hold your goddam gizzards.”

He gives me a confused look, but I ignore it and call up the rest of my new skills.

[Arcane Instrument]: Common

Using mana, create an energy based instrument off of memory. Once created, the instrument can be reproduced as many times as long as mana is available.

Instrument size and complexity dictates the cost of mana. While summoned, Mana regeneration is decreased by 20% and Music related skills are improved by 20%

[Resurgent Melody]: Rare

Once a day, casting this skill will create an aura of sound that will mimic the effect of any Music previously played.

No instrument is required for this skill.

Mana cost and length of skill scale with the music and its effect.

[Harmony of Movement]: Common

While creating a piece of art, improve your dexterity by 50%

[Hymn of Power]: Uncommon

Once per day, while creating a piece of art, infuse your creation with power, granting it a 20% increase in effectiveness.

So far, none of the skills are that amazing, but a lot of them can be combined together, especially the [Magic Bard] skills. Those are actually pretty diverse. I bet I could activate [Harmony of Movement] and [Hymn of Power] on items that I am enchanting. But, for now, testing can be done later… mostly. First, I gotta wake everyone up.

I extend my hand and call my mana. It reacts to my will, flowing and concentrating to my palm.

“[Arcane Instrument].”

Mana converges and consolidates to my command. It quickly forms above my hand, becoming denser and denser, taking on a form that I imagine.

Congratulations. [Arcane Instrument] was successful.

You have learned subspell [Flute]

Mana Cost: 92

I grip the weird purple glowing flute tightly in my hands.

“That's pretty cool, though I think I can do better. I mean really, who would want to wake up to the sound of a flute?”

A toothy grin forces itself upon my face as I allow the flute to dispel, freeing my mana regen once again. With another wave of mental control, I call on my enormous supply of mana, a rather significant amount now exceeding four thousand.

“What are you…”

I grin towards Zorren before focusing on my mana and my imagination. I call upon my memories, detailing a certain instrument. An instrument that my own mother had taught me when I was a child.

“Watch and learn, Zorren. [Arcane Instrument], [Perfect Execution].”

My mind relaxes instantly, the image of the item becomes exceptionally clear like in my thoughts. My mana exits my body and moves to an open space near me. The air vibrates dangerously as thousands of geometric formulas form in the location. Only after a good ten seconds does the air begin to die down and my purple mana begin to thicken into a solid purple crystal-light instrument.

Congratulations, [Arcane Instrument] was successful.

You have learned the subspell [Concert Grand Piano].

Mana cost : 3730

Spoiler: Current Stats/Skills

Quasi Eludo

Level 183 [Necromancer]

Level 93 [Hero]

Level 84 [Noble]

Level 77 [Enchanter]

Level 67 [Magic Bard]

Raise Undead

Advanced Analyse

Skeletal Creation

Corpse Explosion

Lightless Undead

Advanced Mana Sense

Enchant

Enhanced Structural Enchantments.

Enhanced Undead

Undead Enrage

Hardened Skeleton

Undead Modification

Split Concentration

Mana Font

Enhanced Trainer

Minor Mana Efficiency Enchanting

Stabilizing Presence

Corrosive Fog

Mental Overmind

Necromantic Mana Corrosion

Unstable Enchant

Enchanter’s Recovery

Smooth Skin

Artistic Talent

Dismiss Charm

Tantalizing Voice

Bone Wall

Bone Javelin

Disenchant

Aura of Undeath

Toxic Undeath

Undead Resurrection

Call of the Undead Guardian

Sacrificial Healing

Noble Command

Perfect Execution

Arcane Instrument

Resurgent Melody

Harmony of Movement

Hymn of Power

Bonechanting

Enchanter’s Armaments

Strength

30

Dexterity

58

Stamina

43

Perception

278

Endurance

20

Vitality

256

Mana

4438

M/regen

7.3

Affinity

13 (Expand)

Intelligence

611

Willpower

3311

Soul

4151

Charisma

201

Resistance

17 (Expand)