0,1,2,0 endless numbers and geotrical shapes, making up the structure of reality. Rectangles and triangles made shapes that existed yet did not exist. Infinite possibilities quantified into alternate, shifting states
Shroud had to pull back before his head exploded, massaging his temples to lessen the headache.
The Universal Brain pulsated before him, hooked to a piece of strange, organic machinery. The device itself looked straight out of a science-fiction movie: a gigantic, greenish brain roughly fifty ters squared, the UBs flesh incorporated chanical components such as steel coils, blue microprocessors, and small pylons cackling with electricity. The organic supercomputer radiated with a blue glow, reminding Shroud that the sa sorcery powered them both.
In fact, the more he peeked into the machine, the more he grew convinced Concordia had attempted to replicate Blue Sorcery through technology.
So? Wormson asked, before casting a Green spell on his fellow researcher. As a glow more potent than even his own Heal spell surrounded him, the Blue Sorcerer felt the pain vanish. What do you see?
Numbers, Shroud replied. The UB perceives everything in terms of tertiary numbers and values. Zero, one, two, quantum trits. I have a headache grasping the math behind it even with Premium Thoughts and Babel on.
Network allowed him to connect with the UB; Babel, to translate the language; and Premium Thoughts, to not have his brain fry from information overload. The perfect mind-reading combination.
Even then, it had taken him a full day to even grasp what he saw.
Shroud sat on a table next to potions and various alchemical instrunts. Wormsons workshop, taking up a whole wing of the Palace of Shadows, was the lair of an anarchic, confused mind. Endless shelves full of liquid potions t sparse, hastily written notes, half-finished books, and vivariums under the faint light of ghostly candles.
Mostly vivariums.
Shroud had no idea how many creatures Wormson kept in his study, but it could probably fill a zoo. Most he kept trapped but functional, while bigger specins, like winged whales and bipedal ants, he kept in amber.
The UB just warranted a little more effort. Wormson had hooked it up to a lung-like, disgusting organic apparatus, keeping it fed and docile. So kind of organic feedback loop, or so Shroud understood.
Do you think you can crack the code? the abominable vermin hive asked Shroud. From what I gathered from my own experints, UBs recognize one another through specific Identify Friend-Foe signal protocols.
I think they use specific geotric sequences, like you know Escher?
No, what is it?
A human artist known for making impossibly angled paintings. UBs use those pictures to process and exchange information; now that I understand how they communicate, I could in theory craft a fake request through my Lock. Like a fake rescue call.
And I could create an organic interface that could complete the deception and recover the answer. Brilliant. It will think its contacting help while we worm our way inside. Wormson laughed at his own, poor joke. The Blue Sorcerer wondered if Alan Turing had to suffer a colleague like that.
Fortunately, Wormson hid a brilliant mind beneath his poor sense of humor. The two discussed the in and outs of such a solution for the UB problem at length, before settling on a potential signal formula.
The living hive grabbed complex concepts in record ti, absorbing information like a sponge. Shroud had never t soone whom he could sense the raw intelligence from before; and as far as he knew, the worm-hive didnt use Blue Spells to boost it.
Shroud himself wondered the potential results of using magic long-term. He had never spent a day without Premium Thoughts unless suffering from a Counterspell, and Kari kept Peak on all the ti. Considering their young age, would it affect their developnt? Wormson, may I ask you a question?
Certainly, my bluish friend.
Does magic have long-term effects on living beings?
Of course it does. Counting the species who owe their existence to Green Sorcerers would take forever. All undead can thank a Yellow Sorcerer at one point for their unlife.
I ant on the sorcerer themself.
I see what an. The more you channel a specific color of Flux, the more your body tunes itself to it. Dragons are the most visible case, their sensitivity to Flux tuning their tabolism to their environnt as they mature. And the escalation syndro exists.
Shroud raised an eyebrow. Escalation?
A small percentage of Sorcerers go off the deep end. Very, very deep. They let their power affect their judgnt, beco unstable, and lose contact with reality.
Wouldnt that just be the natural result of gaining too much power too early? Shroud replied. Temptation and all.
Certainly individual strength of characters plays a role, but sorcerers of a similar color almost always go mad in the sa exact way. It is not as simple as nature versus nurture. It is both at once. I have a theory on the cause, but it goes against the orthodoxy. I believe sorcery has a will of its own.
Noticing that his colleague listened with rapt attention, Wormson adopted a professional tone. Most researchers believe an ancient civilization built the Neurotowers, the Gates, and other artifacts to harness sorcery, bringing it into our universe. What if we thought about it the wrong way? That sorcery itself built those towers and those machines to manifest in the world? What if it chooses people who share its purpose and will spread it instead of assigning the gift at random?
Shroud could grasp the concept, yet he found it difficult to believe. Then what does it wants?
What do they want? Blue wants knowledge and control; Green wants to spread and improve life; Yellow wants to dissolve the boundaries between concepts and reality; Orange wants more, to own, to protect itself; Red wants to shine, to explode, to burn; Violet wants to explore the past, decide the future, and explore the unknown; and White wants to take the shape of, or support the other colors.
The Blue Sorcerer wondered if this was how Magik Online assigned affinities to users; selecting it according to the users mindset. The more Shroud understood himself, the more he realized that the desire to learn what happened to his mother and to gain enough power never to feel weak again, played a large role in his motivation. Sol lived to help others. Mur wanted to stave off his insecurities by hoarding money, power, and weapons like a magpie. And Maggie wanted to fight, to explode, and scream in a healthier way than her brother.
Kari he couldnt wrap his head around her. Dissolve the boundary between concepts and reality? That would explain the many rumors of necromancers among Yellow Sorcerers, dissolving the border between life and death.
Maybe that was the key to the two remaining mbers of his Guild? Soone who wanted to improve life, and soone with a unique relationship to space and ti? How do Blue Sorcerers escalate? he asked.
They start to think they should have all the knowledge and all the power, and then they start to believe in themselves a bit too much. Then they proclaim themselves gods. Wormson paused. Do you think you are a god, my ungodly friend?
The young man smiled. Not yet. I do have another question though. What did you an by channel Flux?
The sorcerer observed Shroud with a heavy silence, as if looking for a joke that didnt exist. To cast a spell, you need to channel Flux that your Lock has filtered inside your bodys arcane reserve, the creature explained, a bit confused, Flux which you shape into a specific spell with training. Dont you feel it inside of you? That well of power, that second breath flowing through your blood?
Not really. He felt his spells active, but nothing more profound. No, I just cast spells intuitively, he said, omitting the cause, I direct them, but I dont feel any connection to a reserve of so kind.
I suppose this may be because you are self-taught, but this is very strange, Wormson said, That glass manipulation of yours must be a high ranked Orange spell, which is the opposite of your core Blue. It should be taxing on your reserves and force you to recharge by passively absorbing ambient Flux. You should feel it, physically, psychically.
Shroud didnt. In fact, he never felt better than when spellcasting.
But co to think of it, he never needed to think about conservation of resources or tiredness about using those spells. Was it because his Lock outsourced part of the process to Magik, or the website provided him additional reserves to draw upon?
I see that you progressed quicker than I expected. Manah stepped out of a shadowy corner without warning, creeping out Shroud. In spite of his enhanced senses, she could sneak up on him without difficulty. Excellent.
If the solution works, I could extract and decode the UBs files within a few days, Wormson said, bowing to the queen. Shroud hastily imitated him; his experience with Mammon had taught him to step lightly around the Markets power shakers.
You have twenty-four hours, Manah replied, her tone brooking no argunt. Mathias, you perford well. However, it has also co to my ears that you caught Mammons attention.
Unfortunately. His Network sense told him Mammon would be a much nastier employer than Dynamis ever was. He hoped this wouldnt jeopardize their alliance
Good.
Shroud blinked. She was happy?
Your current position opens an opportunity we will not let go to waste, the sorceress said, before brushing off his questions. I still need to see how your team performs as a whole before involving you in my larger plans. In the anti though, I will reward your service.
She snapped her fingers, a masked, shadowy jester stepping out of the darkness, offering a small data key on a silver platter to Shroud.
This keys grants access to an account which I credited with a sum equivalent to five million imperial credits, to share between each of you. I sent your n a key each.
Five million credits? It took a specialized AI nearly ten days to gather that sum, and she handed it over like pocket money?
I sent my servants to fetch equipnt which you and your teammates asked for. You can find your own purchase in your quarters.
Shroud nodded in thankfulness. He had asked her to purchase electronic components and materials so that he may create a new, improved glass armor than the makeshift one he had worn since fleeing Earth. I am most thankful.
I have a mission for your team, Manah cut through the pleasantries. If you succeed, I will accept you as part of my organization.
Which implied access to other rebel cells, funds, and who knew what more. Im listening.
My spies inform Concordias Institute has built a secret military research facility in the Sphere of Oceanis. The planet is a pleasure sphere covered by an endless sea, used for tourism and vacations.
The presence of an Institute branch there implies sothings off.
Yes. My spies suspect Concordia to run experints on the ocean floor, although they could not learn what kind. I want you to et my agents on Oceanis, investigate the base, salvage anything of value, and destroy it if possible.
Oceanis is an imperial world, Shroud pointed out. Would we not be quickly recognized?
I trust that you will carry this mission with discretion, Manah said with confidence. You have a few days to prepare until I arrange for your safe transportation to Oceanis. Ace also asked to et you, my servants will give you the coordinates of the rendez-vous point.
Before Shroud could even ask questions, the Shadow Queen lded back into the unnatural darkness, vanishing from sight. That woman didnt waste ti.
How does she do that? Shroud wondered out loud.
Advanced Yellow Sorcery, my fellow atbag, Wormson replied, Yellow rules everything conceptual, shadows included. Turning oneself into shadows and back and forth is no easy feat though; I know a cheerful Yellow of peerless might, and even he never tried it.
Shroud worried more about the fact she could eavesdrop on them anyti without him noticing.
Leaving Wormson to his research, the Magik Player took a step through the Palace of Shadows looking for his team. The more he walked through the shadowy walls, the more Shroud grew convinced the palace itself could react to his will; rearranging pathways to lead him to the destination he wanted to go to.
The dark corridor eventually led him to a large hall which the group had turned into a makeshift training area. Sol and Kari spared furiously with steel swords, while Maggie was busy shooting at bullseyes with Mur sitting on her shoulder like a child.
Thanks to the queen, the whole group had changed clothes. Sol and Kari had left behind their armor and costu for casual clothes, while Maggie had suited up. She now wore lightweight bulletproof body armor, similar to those Holand Security used before the Concordian Conquest. She had added a black hoodie over a hockey mask to complete the set.
All in all, your average Jason Voorhees cosplay.
She had also purchased two more guns, which she wielded while keeping her old one on an ankle holster. Shroud noticed a suitcase near her, which included a sniper rifle, an Uzi, and various firearms; alongside more advanced weapons including the Flux Rifles Booz had kept trying to sell him, and stranger, organic pistols.
Shroud took a mont to observe the group undetected. Maggie practiced her aim with both hands, using her Bullseye and Stockmight spells to achieve what should have been a movie-only maneuver. Even the added weight of Mur should have made firing difficult. For now, though, the girl hadnt missed a shot.
The fact Maggie let Mur sit on her shoulders also brought a smile on his face. The imp had grown bigger, from the size a toddler to the size of a dog; perhaps in a few years, he could regain his original size.
Sol, thanks to the Peak spell, had grown far faster than when they had started fighting together. He fought with enough vigor to push back Kari, a girl six tis younger and empowered by multiple spells. Now that his body could keep up with his skill, Sol proved a fearso swordsman, pushing his opponent back with ease.
While the whole group had a long way to go to beco a cohesive unit, the skills were there. You should wear a cape, the Guild Moderator told Maggie, upon walking in.
Mur told her too, she didnt listen, the imp complained.
Capes reduce mobility, and I dont need my Bullseye to know that, Maggie replied, launching her guns in the air and letting both land gracefully in their belt holsters. Show-off. Youre a fucking asshole, nerd.
Shroud raised an eyebrow beneath his helt. What for?
Thats three tis! she complained, raising her fingers. Three tis you saved !
We are a team, Shroud pointed out. I do not count.
I do! Now I have to save your la ass thrice to get even! Sol and Kari stopped their practice session, so loud did Maggie shout.
Considering the ss with Mammon, that shouldnt be hard, Shroud replied. The Shadow Queen seed happy that I got a job from him, though. I think she has plans for him.
Stupid, its not Mammon she wants, its one of his guests, Mur replied. Grimsour will be at the tournant.
Grimsour? The Orange Minister? How do you know that?
Because Mammon boasted about his guests on holo-TV! Mur shrugged off. Lord Revel, Grimsour, Firesinger Fen, Graff Shroud sensed a little bitterness at the last na.
I thought Concordia condemned the Epoch? Sol spoke, joining the discussion with Kari.
They do, but the Midnight Market and Concordia share trade agreents, Shroud rembered. Multiple interstellar powers probably send representatives during the tournant to craft alliances, Concordia included.
If you organize the gas, we can set a trap, Kari spoke, her voice as low as a whisper.
We could assassinate him, Mur suggested with cruel glee.
Assassinate him? Sol crossed his arms. Forgive if I find discussing the planned murder of a living being disturbing. Even one of Concordias leaders.
Chicken, the imp taunted him back.
Or capture him, if we can, Shroud said without really aning it. From what he had heard, the Ministers wielded strong magic. Restraining a high-ranking sorcerer might prove to be a logistical nightmare. That would deal a powerful blow to Concordia.
Mur votes for the quick and easy solution.
Seconded! Maggie said, before fist bumping Mur. Those two got along as well as Sol and Shroud himself.
Shroud pondered the case under every angle. Considering the people present, security would be high, and Mammon limited his own involvent to the gas rather than the rest of the event. Perhaps Manah had other cards in hand? The Shadow Queen wants us to do a job for her soon, he told them. If we succeed, she will bring us into her larger plans."
The Shadow Queen is an ally, Kari said. But she is not one of us.
Yes. The Shadow Queen knew nothing of Magik Online and they would keep it that way. He would also rather avoid relying too much on a mysterious sorceress they knew next to nothing about. Grimsour is a long term target, Shroud replied. We have shorter-term problems.
You were recorded playing with Mammon on intergalactic television, Kari guessed. And we have a bounty on our heads.
Yes. Which ans every would-be killer can track us.
Not just them, Kari said. Concordia too.
Bah, the Market is a neutral zone, Mur replied. If the scalies send troops for us, Mammon will take it as an act of war.
Fortunately, the Guild Moderator doubted Concordia would consider killing the group worth sparking an interstellar conflict. He hoped. And the hunters? Shroud asked the imp, the one most familiar with the locals. Will Mammon employing deter them?
Most will be too afraid of Mammon to try, at least on Market grounds, Mur said. The few who wont are either crazy or fearless.
aning only the most dangerous would co after them. Great. I relish the challenge, Maggie said, whistling and tightening a fist. Let them co.
This cannot go on, Solomon replied. We cannot depend on soone elses favor, especially a monster as fickle as Mammon or even the Shadow Queen. Neither will we survive in the long run if we let others keep picking our fights.
Sol is right, Shroud replied. We need to build our own power base, loyal to our guild rather than an outsider. Soldiers, spies, and support. We need to recruit. I still have
He stopped himself, before pointing at his ears. The others seed to catch on. No ntion of Magik Online while in the palace. We need two more to round us out.
We need a lair, Kari pointed out. They had all seen the feature unlocked for the Guild since Shroud had reached level two.
A base belonging to us would be a step in the right direction, Sol agreed. But we need to be very careful with our new recruits. This place clearly welcos the worst excesses.
Mur cos from this place, old man, the imp replied.
We have money, Kari said, remaining on track. We could look for rcenaries.
Mur doesnt give away his share.
Yeah, we all jumped on that train without expecting funds, we need to recruit people with more attitude, Maggie said, whether out of greed or common sense.
Maggie couldnt believe the queens words. One million each? She had never made more than fifty grand! And she was in Space Vegas
Greed it was. I cannot believe it! Shroud had never seen Sol so indignant. This is the freedom of Earth we are talking about, and you are fretting over money?!
Give away your coins, old man, but Mur keeps what he earned!
I will!
Okay, enough! Shroud had to raise his voice to end their argunt. This is leading us nowhere.
Mathias, how do you wish to create a credible fighting force with their attitude? Solomon complained.
Even with Network, the Dragonslayers had a long, long way to go. He could see the fragility of his group, the volatility of emotions, and the conflicting personalities.
Mur was too rough, too selfish, too insecure; and while Sol may be stable and reliable, his strong beliefs ant he adopted a judgntal stance where a softer approach could have worked. Left to themselves, they would co to blows.
Maggie remained a maverick, confrontational, and liable to worsen the situation. While Kari Kari was the most stable, but she kept her feelings bottled up. If she acted, it would be too little too late.
If tensions continued, either it would lead to infighting, or worse, the group losing heart and disbanding.
Shroud needed to balance out his group. Add a pragmatist who could soften the edge of Mur and Sol by finding common ground, add so calmness and Ulysses-like laid-backness to the volatile lot. He also needed soone lively like Perse, who could help Kari get out of her shell and inject so levity into the team, lessening the pressure.
Maggie had a point, they could rely on soldiers only in it for the money for fear of being outbid. Even Mur had joined mostly to grow stronger, which only Magik Online could offer.
They needed to play on their core strengths. We have more than money. We have a cause, and we have magic. Shroud lit up his fist with Lightbringer for added effect. I can license my spells as I did with you, Mur. Network would also allow to detect infiltrators.
Mur shrugged. Why not make them?
Shroud frowned. Make what?
Minions. Thats what sorcerers do. Where do you think all those golems co from, Mammons teats?
I dont think he has one, Maggie replied. Cant be sure, didnt get a good look at him.
Shroud considered Murs point. Building minions from scratch, instead of recruiting outsiders? He rembered the Dot Two spell Call and checked his Compendium for similar spells.
Homunculus
Affinity: Orange
Dot: 2
Price: 10
Activation: Active, Direct Touch Vector.
The user can craft a cat-sized automaton from any raw, inorganic material. The homunculus takes a form that is similar to its maker and shares a telepathic link with him or her. The homunculus must feed on its makers magic to remain functional and will collapse if not regularly recharged. The user can create as many homunculi as he can sustain.
Arise
Affinity: Yellow
Dot: 2
Price: 10
Activation: Active, Voice Vector.
The user imbues corpses within earshot of the spell with the spark of unlife. The risen lack souls or minds, but understand the casters orders and will try to carry them out to the best of their ability until destroyed. If the caster has a soul to fill the corpse with, such as a soul gem, he may create stronger, free-willed undead such as vampires or ghouls.
Homunculus clearly wouldnt create long-lasting minions, although the telepathic link could allow him to create spies. Arise could create zombies and stronger minions if they sohow found souls to use, although the process sent a shiver down his spine.
As for Call Shrouds mory of the Brown fiasco made him wary of summoning monsters. Kari and I have three spells that could do the deed, he admitted, remaining evasive to avoid Manah catching on. Homunculus, to create temporary familiars, Arise, which can raise the dead, and Call, which can summon monsters from other planes. Beastmaster can allow us to control animals, but not sentient ones.
Nerd, not gonna lie, Maggie said. Summoning so big monster from Hell or whatever? Really brings back bad mories. And no way it cant go wrong, right? Right?
Shroud rembered that fateful, fiery night all too well. Brown had called a horror they could not put down, and everyone suffered for it. We need to do safety research first before we can consider that option.
Maggie didnt look happy he even considered it.
He still had nine Spellcoins on his account, enough to invest in Call or Beastmaster, but not in Arise or Homunculus. Only Kari, who had hoarded Spellcoins, could purchase those. For now, they would need to look for outside recruits first. And turn his team into a cohesive fighting force. Which one should he focus on first?
Lets try to look for our two remaining mbers first, Shroud said, rembering Wormsons words, focusing on Mur. Would you know soone who could join us for licencing them my spells, or join our cause?
Your cause is worth nothing, the imp said, making the rest of the group furrow their brows. Mur knows soone who would kill for sorcery though. A fleshcrafter. The one who built Murs old tal tail.
Whats a fleshcrafter, a butcher? Maggie asked.
A doctor who does not heal, but enhance. Stitch, we call him. You will understand why when you see him.
Green wants to spread and perfect life Is he reliable? Shroud asked for more information. What is he like?
Strange. Mur thinks it will be faster to show you.
It wasnt like they had anything better to
TING!
Shroud recoiled as a strange sound echoed in his brain, blue words flashing before his eyes.
Modded feature installation finished!
The modded feature?
Wait, the absorbed artifact? The stuff that took forever to set up? At last! The sorcerer could have sworn it had taken months. He hoped that it would be worth the wait.
Save and Load Feature now available.
By connecting to a functional occult matrix, you can load a previous tiline save. This will permanently incorporate the deleted event into the root tiline.
Warning: while Terminals, including you, will survive the load, this will overwrite the current save and cause reality glitches until the tiline stabilizes.
What?
You have four saves in storage.
Matrix Folder: Earth, Post-Godwar, North Arica; record starts 2018
Blackcinders Asteroid: Cheyenne Mountain (2018)Ultimatum Rejected: Human Annihilation Event (2018)War in Heaven: Uriels Fall (2018)Iron God Protocol Successful (2026)
Save/Load?
Players StatsAccountDragonslayers Guild ModeratorNaShroudNetworkProgressHolderMathias MartelBroadcastUnlockedLevel2 (Adept)Grant SpellUnlockedAffinityBlueLocked Feature(1/3)LockNetworkLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins9Overlock(0/1)Stored Saves4Save?Load?Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityPremium Thoughts1BlueBabel1BluePurge1GreenHeal2GreenGlass Field2Orange/BlueLightbringer2Red/OrangeMad World2Blue/GreenAccountDragonslayers GuildNaYoshikageOversoulProgressHolderKari MatsumotoRemberUnlockedLevel2 (Adept)Channel SoulUnlockedAffinityYellowLocked Feature(0/3)LockOversoulLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins13Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityBabel1BlueWallcraw1GreenPeak1GreenNeedless1GreenWard1YellowSpiritsight1YellowKiller Sense2Yellow/VioletAccountDragonslayers GuildNaSharpshootSpellgunProgressHolderMaggie Jesse PowellsCrimson BulletUnlockedLevel1 (Novice)Locked Feature(0/1)AffinityRedLocked Feature(0/3)LockSpellgunLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins1Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityStockmight1RedBiosurge1RedBabel1BluePeak1GreenBullseye2Violet/BlueAccountDragonslayers GuildNaSolAegisProgressHolderSolomon NicholaeSpell MartyrUnlockedLevel1 (Novice)Locked Feature(0/1)AffinityWhiteLocked Feature(0/3)LockAegisLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins6Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityPeak1GreenNeedless1GreenBabel1BlueQuasar1RedReinforce1OrangeAccountDragonslayers GuildNaThe Mur!AdamantProgressHolderMurmur the ImpHarderUnlockedLevel1 (Novice)Locked Feature(0/1)AffinityOrangeLocked Feature(0/3)LockAdamantLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins11Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityReinforce1OrangeDiceweight1OrangeBerserk1GreenHeatriser1Red
Spell of the Day
Soulcraft
Affinity: Yellow
Dot: 2
Price: 6-10
Activation: Passive, Thought
The caster gains the ability to manipulate the raw essence of a soul, such as a ghost or soul gem. Besides allowing them to touch incorporeal beings, the caster can attach the soul to an anchor, such as a place, item, or corpse in conjunction with Arise.
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