One Root At A Time

One Root At A Time

Year 166

The war in the north is in full swing, as the [Demon King Durthal] descended. The real war had just begun in the frozen north, and Kei was worried.

Tell me theyre alright. She would say.

I would often respond. They dont deserve your concern.

Theyre assholes and they left me to die instead of coming immediately as they should. Kei said. But they are still my asshole friends. Dont you have friends like that? Shit ass, good-for-nothing friends?

Im quite surprised by this change of behavior compared to your earlier days.

Kei frowned. Alright, Im still not very happy with them and Im still not on good terms. I mean, I didnt even tell them Im still alive. But I dont wish them ill. I dont really want them to die either.

Relationships are confusing. I sighed.

It is. I suppose a tree wont get that. That hurt a lot more than it should.

So... how are they? Kei repeated.

They are doing alright.

Details. Come on. Kei insisted. I want to know whether theyre fucked or not.

Ill have one of the advisors meet you. Seriously why are you invested? Are you going to help them?

Me? With my level 70 form? Im just trash before that demon king. Kei frowned. No... I guess I just want to feel Im part of the conflict.

Ah. Things people do to feel like they are still part of something, the same way a football fan speaks of their favourite team like us and we. Like they are a part of something bigger. But I thought... you know.. You think this whole conflict is a trap?

She sighed. Its hard to explain, you know, I want to step away from this game, the only way to win is not to play, but my friends are caught. They are still [heroes], and the [hero] class is cursed. The demons will chase them, hunt them, and they will be compelled to fight them. Do I choose to do nothing? In fact, thats exactly what Ive done. Nothing. So, I feel like shit, kinda. Im trying to help Astia, maybe her Void Mana is one way out of this whole circus, but at the same time, Im not sure whether my friends should learn of Astias existence. What would they do if they found out theres someone who has void mana and could possibly open a portal to the other side? Would the gods meddling force them to murder Astia?

Oh.

So yes, I want to know so that I can play cheerleader and deceive myself. If I could, Id like to help you defeat the next demon king too. Wait. Dammit. Not defeat. We need to find a way to put a pause on this entire thing. One where the system doesnt automatically push another demon king through the rift after a set timer.

Did I tell her? I think I didnt.

Kei stood there for quite a while, she is after all a golem, so she can stand for long periods with little issue. I know that was an unnecessary ramble, but I think Id have to get at least level 150, right? At least, thats what i heard Edna was saying that Level 150 is when the mortal ascends a step to the divine.

...yes.

Alright. Lets get more of those monsters. Im not sure I should trust her with the full plan. But I suppose a little more couldnt hurt.

As of now, shes just about level 70ish and she spent her time challenging the level 80-90 dungeons. That level 120 dungeon underground remained a secret known only to a select few.

Even Lausanne doesnt know about it, well, because she decided not to move past where she is now, because of some fear of the unknown.

-

Arlisa finally stopped her stint in the Freshland Treetiary College, and not-unlike her mother, she joined a group of adventurers, visiting dungeons throughout the Continent.

I suppose Im like one of her uncles, watching her bungle her way through life despite all of her privileges, and now extremely relieved that she decided to do something useful and productive for herself. Also, the whole adventurer thing allowed her to get away from her mom, since they have a rather tense relationship. Lausanne seemed to try to push her to do more, and well, take advantage of her gifts, but Arlisa was just rather content taking things at her own pace.

It was just regular tension within the family, but it eventually worsened when Lausanne started talking about the other Valthorns she coached. These other Valthorns were younger and more hungry, and the comparisons, even if Lausanne didnt meant it, really irked Arlisa.

So, she kinda decided to just finish the whole FTC thing and joined some adventurers, taking on lower level dungeons, at first the level 20-30 dungeons.

Yes? My response was slow, as with all busy uncles, but shes used to it.

Oh. Hi Aeon. She responded and found a quiet place to sit down. I suppose having a mental or psychic conversation required a set of norms not unlike cell phone calls. I... wanted to ask for a favor. She was far outside of Freshka then, away from the range of Patreecks mind reading.

A favor?

I know Im not a member of the Valthorns... but could I get access to some of the restricted dungeon slots?

I thought for a moment. Sorry Arlisa, but the answer is no. The rules are set, and they are not to be twisted so easily. I felt kind of disappointed at that moment, that she resorted to using her privilege in this manner. I would also step on the authority which I delegated to the Council. If I delegated the powers, they should be followed by all. I hated the nobility back then, and I have a dislike for them now.

It just kinda sucks that Lausannes daughter is the one that chose to do it.

-

Lausannes other child was a young little boy named Lauda. Just like Arlisa, he too, had the inherited blessings, the exact same one. He developed well, but I wondered whether I should dote on him or not.

I paused. I leave the choice to you. If I am right, my ability to control them will diminish once they achieve domain powers, just as the gods ability to meddle with me diminished when I obtained my own domain.

Edna paused, and chose [Knight]. The energy around her was pretty hero-ish, and it felt at that very moment, her combat ability pretty much increased a few fold. She attempted to take on the level 130 dungeon again, and found the monsters suddenly easier to destroy. A breakthrough, the Level 150 was a force multiplier.

Aeon, you had this power for some time?

Yes, but mine is that of another concept or form. Knowledge of the domains are extremely scarce, and even I cannot guide you much from here.

Edna nodded. It makes sense if it is so. I suddenly understand and appreciate the gap between myself and the heroes now.

I believe you are still a distance away from them, though. Is there a skill for you at Level 150?

Yes. Two. [Duty Beyond Life and Death] and [Knights of Light].

...what is that?

I cant die for a day and my body cant be severed or cut, usable five times a year. First death-hit also fully restores my health and status to original state. Subsequent near death Im only weakened until I am healed. Its pretty much functional combat immortality. The other skill is that the knights around me get some super buffs.

That would make you immune to the explosions. I mean, if she cant die for a day, that meant she could tank the demon kings deathbomb. Was this an ability out of a MOBA?

That meant I could dive into the deepest dungeons without fear.

But you could get trapped for more than a day, and then you will die.

Edna thought for a moment. That is true. I can still lose my limbs and be disabled in other ways, it is just that for a day, any heal spell can restore me to my original state. Its a great skill, but not foolproof. I mean, I could just bury her underground for more than a day and shes still dead. But with her current strength she could punch and kick her way out of any dirt. Or I could teleport her out via the Courts powers.

Lumoof smiled, It seemed you have reached a level that even I feel a need to bow.

Edna paused as she considered the question. What happens when a priest reaches level 150?

...I dont know. Thats a good question. Does a priest, whose power is to channel their patron gods energy, become a god in his own right? Or does he still extend and rely on his patron god?

Lumoof had a very santa-like laugh, Ho ho, I believe we will know when we get there. Well, for Lumoof, thats another 10+ levels away. Not that far now that theres a Level 130 dungeon to grind.

The next trigger will be at Level 160, right?

Yes, you will have a new domain ability at every 10 level.

I see. Edna paused. This was probably a lot to take in, even though I did share the details.

-

Lilies was particularly sensitive to the domains presence. I wonder how did Lilies feel it? Is it like a notification, or just an itch?

> Yes, one of my knights. At this point, not one of mine anymore. < Truly, when one reaches the domain, few can control them. Domain is a lesser deity, and in Ednas case, she is free to go anywhere she wants.

> If I dont, whats the point? <

-

At this point, its worth asking again, are you still on board with my plans? I spoke to Edna a few weeks after she got used to her powers.

Edna nodded, her words were firm. Yes. Ive seen the hell the demons bring, and more importantly, Ive seen that we can make a difference. Now that I have this power, I believe I have a duty to live up to it. I believe in this cause, Aeon.

Internally I felt a sense of relief. Edna could easily set up her own kingdom and rule over her own land, at this point she is a one-woman army. Are you sure?

Yes.

I told Lumoof of the plans too. Now that he was close to that level, it was time he knew what my true plans were. He beamed, Truly a plot befitting a god. Only a god can dream of ending this cog that has plagued our world for ages.

No. Actually, I should ask them once they hit Level 100, whether they want to still go on with the plan. Many of them would brave hell and high water, and Id like to think that if they got this far, they certainly would follow through.

Whatever it is, as a priest, my duty is to serve our god, we are the hands of our gods will, and I will see through it. Lumoof explained, and I wonder whether its just typical priest speak. Yet my gut feel somehow thinks he was genuine.

I checked on the other Valthorns, those above Level 100. Perhaps, perhaps I should open up this matter a lot earlier.

No. I should have spoken of my plans before I even offered them the soul strengthening seed. But does that make it seem like I am making it a condition? I decided, perhaps it is fair to have a little bit of trust, for those who have served for so long.

I would grant the seed, even for those who would not walk with me against the demon king, so long as they served faithfully up to this point.

Most of the Valthorns were shocked, and yet, almost all of them were accepting. There was a sense that they knew something larger was at play, and now finally they got the answer. Perhaps Patreeck and the minds constant, meticulous screening contributed to this. But all of them got here, and earned the [Aeonic-variant] classes by some degree of loyalty to me.

For the Valthorns, the constant push for even higher levels now suddenly made sense. Why even though they were already so high leveled, I still insisted to push them further. In most nations, the King tries to keep a gap to prevent a rebellion, and yet I still pushed them higher. Some of them thought it insane, that eventually some of them would turn against me.

It would happen. But so be it. The march against the gods and demons cannot happen with me alone.