We dont have much ti, continued Jas as everyone gathered around. And Im not even talking about the Pits fully opening by tomorrow. Everything that we just killed -
We? asked Serenity.
Is appearing across the world right now. I need to get back to New York as quickly as I can. But first you need to absorb these cubes.
What are they? asked Kimmie, bending over to examine them more closely.
Reservoir Cubes. The short version is that theyre the source of all the power we gain from leveling up. Our divine pools, Aeviternum, all of it and more cos from these. One cube alone brought to level 500.
Wait, what? asked Denzel.
Dude, youre level 500? asked Yadriel.
Yes. But. Jas took a deep breath. These are dangerous. One cube nearly destroyed . I alternated between wanting to beco sothing like pure, formless energy and for , it felt like being a tree, a complete loss of identity and desire, just wanting to bask in being alive, you know?
No, said Serenity flatly.
Youll find out soon enough. What Im saying is this: if you absorb a cube, you have to fight to remain yourself. In all your weakness, foolishness, with all your strengths and principles. Its like Again he paused, struggling to find the words. Its as if you transcend yourself for a mont and are given the choice of becoming a star, or one with the universe. You have to really want to co back and fight this fight. If you dont, youll disappear.
Shit, said Yadriel, drawing his hand back. That sounds nasty, dude. Ive always had a god complex.
Kerim was soberly studying the cubes as well. How did you manage to remain yourself?
Im not sure. Jas frowned down at the glowing objects in his palm. I grounded in my need to help the rest of humanity. In the need to stop the demons. It was a struggle, Im not going to lie.
Serenity holstered her guns. Youre level 500? Anything we should know about getting that much power?
You get access to Miracles, but Ive not picked mine yet. We should coordinate those. You also get the ability to summon different kinds of angels -
What? said Yadriel, dead pan.
- and your Virtues power goes up. You get every Benediction, as well as enhanced physical, spiritual, and ntal abilities. Jas rubbed the back of his neck. Your divine pool starts regenerating once you cross the 200 mark, and you get sothing called a Limit Break every ti your base physical stats cross the 100 mark -
Jas, cut in Jason, voice dry. What are your stats right now?
Mostly in the high two hundreds. Jas cut off further questions. People are dying right now. We need to get back. You all need to sit down and prepare to go through hell before you co out the other side. For a mont he considered telling them about how his brain had slurried over and over again, how his whole body had started exploding and then reforming, then decided that wouldnt help any. Its the most intense experience of your life. But I need you all to power up so we can start taking control of this situation.
Olaf frowned at Jas. There are nine cubes. Only eight of us.
I know, its perfect. Im taking one back for Jessica.
Oh shit, said Yadriel. What can a level 500 Battle Engineer even do?
Were going to find out. You all ready?
Yes, sighed Kerim, removing his spectacles and rubbing at his eyes. As much as anybody can be. Denzel, will you sit with ?
Of course, said Denzel, reaching out to take Kerims hand. Well co back for each other.
Serenity picked up a cube, tossed it then snatched it out of the air. See you all soon.
One by one they sat, forming a rough circle, cube in their palms. Kimmie was shivering with nerves. Olaf was pale. Miriam looked dazed. Jason frowned down at his cube, while Kerim and Denzel sat with their knees and brows touching. Yadriel lay down, one arm tucked under his head, ankles crossed, cube on his chest, and winked at Jas before closing his eyes.
Good luck, Jas said. Ill be here waiting for you.
The process only took five minutes, but it was horrendous. Jas stood rooted in place, completely aghast as his friends began to scream. Golden light poured forth from their open mouths, ears, nostrils, and eyes. They shook and fell over and began to spasm so hard that their bodies bounced as if the ground had turned into a trampoline. Within twenty or so seconds blood began to pour from their orifices, bones to crack and re-heal, their screams rising and rising till their vocal chords tore.
Jas imdiately engaged Mass Solace and spread healing over them all. His pool of divine power had completely regenerated but soon he sensed its levels begin to drop; his Benediction washed over his eight companions, rapidly healing the wounds and rupturing that occurred within them, but so continuous was the damage and so acute was their pain that it began to overwhelm his Ruby regeneration rate.
Even with Mass Solace they flopped like fish on dry land, insensate though no longer screaming. Jas wished he knew if he was doing the right thing. Was the pain necessary in so fashion, a ans to help with the transition?
Hed no idea.
It had felt like hours for him to pass through all the phases, but within a couple of minutes the eight of them grew still, the golden light dying away, their bodies relaxing, and soon they lay still upon the grass.
Have faith, said Jelly, floating beside him. They are strong.
Its a weird strength they need,he replied. Too much strength and spiritual purity makes the temptation all the harder to resist.
Jas turned to scan the clearing. Already they stood in a depression two yards deep. The hostead was creaking and groaning, timbers straining as the ground shifted beneath it, the foundation cracking. But though Jas searched for a threat, his Spiritual Exaltation detected nothing new.
The Nem5 assassins were out there, though.
Gold light washed over Denzel first, erasing the blood and vomit, and his eyes flickered and opened as he stared up at the sky. Jas imdiately crouched by his side and squeezed his shoulder.
Welco back.
Kerim? asked Denzel and rolled over to look at the older man.
Jason returned next, followed by Serenity and Olaf. Yadriel sat up suddenly, gasping, and Miriam moaned softly, curled into a ball, and wept quietly to herself even as she blinked and ca to.
Kimmie and Kerim remained still.
The others sat up, rubbing their eyes, blinking away their dazed expressions, and slowly amazent and awe transfixed them as they gazed upon their new statistics.
But Jas remained fixated on the two who yet remained comatose.
Kerim, hey, co back already, said Denzel, shaking Kerim gently by the shoulder.
There was no response.
Serenity crawled over to Kimmie and curled her white-blonde hair out of her face. Hon? Kimmie? Its ti for you to return to us.
The power of Serenitys Inspire shook the air, but Kimmie didnt respond, her pixie-like face tranquil and at peace.
Shit, said Denzel, looking up to Jas. What do we do?
Nothing we can do. Jas forced down his burgeoning alarm. Nothing but give them ti. This was a test of the soul.
Ive got all the Benedictions! laughed Yadriel. Angelus Armor blazed around him, magnificently crafted and burning gold, and then he extended his hand and a Heavenly Assault dropped from the sky deep into the forest, as slender as an oak tree but shot through with Gloria. Yadriel frowned. I should probably raise my Arete to get the big bang, though.
Youre like a child in a candy shop, said Serenity. You just touched divinity and this is how you act?
Cmon now, said Yadriel. Arete just makes you more aware as to who you are, it dont change what you are. And what I am is aweso.
Serenity rolled her eyes and turned away.
Denzel sat and levered Kerims head onto his lap. Hey, he whispered. Co back to , man. Follow my voice. Co back.
Kerim lay still.
Do you all have access to the sa miracles? asked Jas and listed the ones available to him.
Yes, said Jason, expression taut with focus. I have access to all the Benedictions as well. He then recounted his other gains, which were equal to Jass. Everyone had risen to Lord of the Increate 1. What little difference had existed between their levels before was insignificant compared to the massive amounts of experience required to jump from the later levels to the next.
Olaf dug his water bottle out of his pack, raised Kimmies head, and doused her face with it. She didnt so much as splutter.
All right everyone, said Jas firmly. We need to spend your points and get moving. Well bring Kerim and Kimmie with us and hope they return soon. But for now, try to raise your physical stats to base 200 each, raise your Aeviternum by at least 500 experience points, and put the rest in Arete.
Everyone focused, even Denzel, and before Jass eyes they completed their changes. Their bodies didnt grow larger, but sohow they all felt more present, more real, as if the world around them had grown more insubstantial in comparison. Jas sensed their power levels rise, his Spiritual Exaltation portraying them as bonfires of Aeviternum and divine power.
Wow, whispered Serenity. She studied her palms, turned her hands about, then leaped lightly to her feet. Crouched and leaped again, and this ti soared high into the air, rising so fifty feet straight up. She dropped smoothly and landed with complete grace. This feels incredible.
I feel like I can move mountain, said Olaf. He clenched his fists, the large muscles of his arms swelling. Incredible.
We should cover all the Miracles, said Jas. There are fourteen of them, and we have twenty-one slots between us all. Heres what Jelly told they do. He repeated the explanation as quickly and succinctly as he could. Lets do it this way. Everybody pick their favorite one, and then well divvy up the remaining Miracles between ourselves.
Resurrection, said Denzel, stroking Kerims cheek.
Freedom, said Serenity. Nobodys ever going to hold down.
Word of Slaughter, said Olaf. For too long I have been goody-goody with Circle of Protection. I am a warrior. This is my first Miracle.
Flight, said Jason. What the Wing gave a taste of I want for myself.
Miriam hesitated, glanced around at the others, then flushed. Invisibility. Im still feeling kind of traumatized by having Jane tear my head off.
Yadriel tongued the inside of his cheek. Man, so many bad-ass choices. Infernum Crush sounds kind of like my style, though. You know? Use the enemys strength against them? What about you, boss man?
Jas frowned. I want all of them. But Teleportation Circle is calling to the most. The ability to get to other people and help them.
Jelly bobbed. That leaves Dinsional Anchor, Banishnt, Divine Bastion, Aeviternum Hurricane, Refill the Cup, Forced Humility, and Create Demiplane.
Forced Humility for , said Yadriel. Sorry, warned yall about my god complex.
Aeviternum Hurricane, said Jason quietly.
Divine Bastion, said Denzel.
Olaf nodded. Banishnt.
Refill the Cup, said Miriam.
Ill take Dinsional Anchor, said Serenity with a frown. Its probably the kind of boring power that will end up saving our lives, so why not?
Then Ill take Create Demiplane, said Jas. That covers all the Miracles. Third Miracle is your choice again.
Miriam was chewing on her lower lip. Refill the Cup allows to restore my Aeviternum and divine pool. Which ans I should take the most expensive Miracle, Aeviternum Hurricane.
Word of Slaughter, yo, said Yadriel. I an, cmon.
Flight, said Olaf. Mobility is everything.
Resurrection, said Jason. That way if Denzel goes down weve got as a backup to revive him.
And Ill take Denzel hesitated. Flight as well. No good reason. Just always wanted to fly.
Invisibility, said Serenity. I like the idea of being able to get around the battlefield without being seen. Add in Freedom and nothing will stop .
All good, said Jas, fiercely proud as to how everyone was making this process smooth. And Ill take Refill the Cup. Who knows what well face in the depths of these Pits, but getting to double my Aeviternum is too good to pass up.
Nods all round.
Jas looked from one Crimson Hydra mber to the next. Lets make those selections official then. He summoned his statistics, found the Miracle section, and focused on each Miracle in turn.
Teleportation Circle ca first, and with it a complete understanding of the power. He could transport up to nine people total to anywhere in the world he had visited before. The farther the location the more divine power it used, or he could simply burn an Aeviternum for an instantaneous transfer.
Create Demiplane overwheld him at first with its complexity; it would take ti and focus, but once he began the process hed be able to create a pocket realm that would always be available to him and eight others, a realm whose size depended on his divine pool, and which would furnish them with comfort, rest, food, and which he could shape and fashion as he willed. It was undetectable to all but the greatest of foes, and even they would be barred from entering.
Refill the Cup was his last choice, and though it was eminently pragmatic - and he felt a pang of loss at not being able to choose Flight - he knew it to be the right choice. Once per twenty-four hours he could completely restore his divine pool and Aeviternum. With his Ruby regeneration rank his divine pool would naturally restore itself from complete depletion to full in about five minutes, but to regain 20 Aeviternum? That was too good to pass up on. A small caveat presented itself: Aeviternum regained in this way could not be imbued into a construct.
Huh.
Jas blinked and looked around at the others. They all frowned off into the distance, but one by one ca back to the present mont.
The ground beneath them rumbled and suddenly sank another foot.
All right everyone. Jas cracked the knuckles of one fist inside the palm of the other. Its ti to get back to New York. Ready to kill everything?
Its slaughterin ti, said Yadriel, hopping up neatly to his feet.
Denzel gathered Kerim to his chest and gave a sober nod.
Olaf picked up Kimmie.
Everyone else moved to stand in a circle around Jas.
Who inhaled deeply, focused on his First Miracle, and invoked the ability to teleport them all ho.
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