A corpse tower.
That was the best way Shroud could describe the Black Neurotower. Unlike the intimidating, yet colorful structure in the Midnight Market, this nightmarish location seed straight out of a horror movie. The structure seed made of accumulated bones and corpses made of black tal, screaming faces of dragons, humans, and serpents frozen in ti. The walls leaked a thick oil mixing with the ice, while a ring of energy surrounded the summit, spilling darkness across the skies.
A Malebranche frigate, which Shroud assud to be Mammons, had landed near the tower and started rusting. The spaceship seed to have landed eons ago, consud by distilled entropy.
Warning: Yoshikages account signal is weakening.
Mathias-san Kari asked.
Shroud sighed, putting his hand on his friends shoulder and feeling the jolt of Network through his body.
Yoshikage Account Stabilized.
He had to do this with every mber for the past hour.
The more they approached the Black Tower, the more it caused Magik Online to bug; to the point that they could no longer contact Mars or the Administrator anymore. Shroud reapplying Network by touching his allies stabilized their access to their powers, but only temporarily.
Shroud wondered if Mammon suffered from the sa technical difficulties, deep within this stronghold of destruction.
According to the hundreds of bloody corpses littering the snowy ground, apparently not.
The Malebranches troopsShroud assud they were, since they involved mostly fiends, raiders, and other creatures he had sighted at the Midnight Markethad been decimated, their killer leaving their savaged remains around the towers periter as a macabre monunt. Reavers whose chest had been punched through, gargoyles turned to gold and then shattered if anything, the one responsible had been thorough.
Disgusting. Sol shook his head.
Has the Midnight King massacred his own staff? Stitch wondered as he examined the remains with Kari; while this may have been Pandorians, most of the corpses had their flesh dissolved, or parts of their body turned to gold before death.
Their souls Kari studied the remains of a fiend. Their souls were defiled.
The Deathgem spell? Shroud suggesting, guessing what the Midnight King was preparing.
Possibly, she replied with a frown.
Mur says his greed got the better of him again, the imp suggested.
No. Shroud shook his head. Theyre ans to an end. Fuel for his spell.
The target is Mammon, Shroud reminded the team, although they were all familiar with the bastard chest. We know he is a dual Orange/Violet, high Dot Four. His favorite fighting style, from what I gathered from my Conquest ga against him, is a mix of using orange spells to increase his strength, and ti spells to disrupt the opposition. He is very straightforward, albeit less than Jack.
He crushed us last ti, trapping us in frozen ti, Sol pointed out. While he benefited from surprise, we have no hope of victory if we cannot counter his Violet spells.
Everyone who can buy Tisense, Shroud agreed, buying it himself at once. That should allow us to detect his subtler spells.
Sir, knowledge does not guarantee protection, Stitch pointed out. As far as I know, only your Recursion spell could potentially counter Mammons abilities. The rest of us are powerless if he manages to make physical contact.
He didnt need to touch us last ti, Maggie pointed out, Just looked at us, and we froze.
Shroud frowned, as did Stitch. The description of the spells indicate physical contact is necessary for Violet sorcery such as Clockstop or Tiloop.
He could have found a way around it, Sol said, turning to Shroud. You are the one most familiar with his abilities. Could he have found a way around this limit?
Shroud had a hypothesis, although a farfetched one. In the Conquest ga, Mammon had created homunculi and golems, remote control creatures both tiny and big. If he could sohow empower them with spells, such as Encode, then perhaps he could stealthily target others if he made them small enough. That, or
We must assu he uses a different vector to transmit the spell, maybe through bugs or similar creatures, Shroud replied. Stitch has Intuimotion, so he could warn us if this is the case. Otherwise, we have to strike him hard before he notices our presence.
Mur buying strong spells, the imp said, the rest of the team nodding.
Shroud himself cashed in his Spellcoin reserve and his free Dot Three Spell. Outside of talsh, he mostly focused on Black, hoping proximity to the Neurotower would give these spells an edge.
Denial
Affinity: Black
Dot: 2
Price: 12
Activation: Passive, App Switch.
The user corrodes the tiline around them, damaging the very fabric of reality. Precognitive abilities of any kind glitch out around the caster, as possibilities are distorted; ti-space abilities (except Black spells) have a greater chance to work erratically on the user. Supernatural bindings, such as Contracts or Curses, also fail to affect the caster or are instantly dispelled if previously applied, as the future drowns in darkness and free-will triumphs.
Annihilation Cube
Affinity: Black
Dot: 3
Price: 18
Activation: Active, Limb Vector.
The caster project a black flux cube inside their hand, which can then be tossed at a target; the cube quickly expands to swallow its surroundings, and then erases anything caught within from existence.
Shroud had no idea what the description ant by erratically, but anything disturbing Mammons imnsely dangerous abilities was welco. A glance at his allies stats told him they had brought offensive abilities; Mur, in particular, had copypasted most of Mammons spell list, buying Tiloop, Dissolve, and similar abilities.
He thought he could overco his fear by becoming like it.
Shroud glanced at the Neurotower, finding an unwelcoming, pitch-black hole within.
Like moths to a fla
The bowels of the tower looked as nightmarish as the outside. Cramped corridors leaking oil, pipes-like veins pulsating with twisted life, a heavy, poisonous air slling of rust and toxins
Shroud and his team had entered a machines animated corpse.
Even his attempts to establish contact with the structure through Network resulted in anomalies.
RefUSed!
The ntal contact ca back as a terrible, distorted sound in his own mind, like a scrambled radio signal.
Fortunately, they didnt have to look far to find the Midnight King.
The corridor they used eventually lead the team to a crossroads of them, a hub of pulsating tal flesh surrounding a shining, crimson egg-like structure shing with the ceiling above. Mammon was busy watching that strange device, his back turned.
Shroud didnt even give the word. He sent his glass shards to skewer that chest, and Maggie shot him almost as quickly.
The projectiles hit the chest in the back, but his skin lted off into ice splinters.
A trick golem.
Missed! The Midnight Kings voice echoed both through the golem and the corridors.
The real one wasnt far away. Shroud discreetly informing the group to disperse and find the real Mammon with hand signs; the Blue Sorcerer would keep the puppet busy. Sol and Mur moved in one direction, Maggie and Stitch in another, while Kari remained with him
You again? the animated puppet said, as it turned around to face Shroud and Kari. You cockroaches, always ddling with my affairs!
Depends, Shroud replied. If youre attempting what I think, then yes, I will have to stop you.
Prevent from casting my Chronobreak again? Laughable.
Again. Did he rember? How?
You knew, Mammon hissed angrily. I cast this spell once, in another world. And you rember it. I have seen them inside these bubbles, the worlds which you canceled. The world where I killed my entire species and the one where you replaced . Do they know?
The golems eyes narrowed in cruel glee.
That you killed them twice?
Shroud glared back at this golem. He did inform his friends of his ability, but being reminded of this whole debacle left a sour taste in his mood. Kari remained still, refusing to show emotion to the enemy.
The sorcerer glanced at Network, peeking through the eyes of his allies as they explored the corridors, having yet to find Mammon.
No need to deny it. Ive seen your spells fallouts, Shroud confird. Hence why I can confirm you will fail. All you will do is make this continent a darker place and nothing else. True ti-travel is impossible, even for Violet Sorcerers.
Not impossible, Mammon replied. Paradoxal. Violet cannot allow true ti-travel because of the paradoxes involved. But Black Black doesnt care about that. That is why ti-travel attempts always result in Black. Chronobreak failed the first ti because I attempted it as a Violet. But this ti, if I cast it as Black I will go back. Back to the past.
And what, kill Wyrde in the cradle?
No. Save my master. Save his Dark Majesty from the prison he spent the last four hundred years trapped in. Make the universe Hell, long before Concordia even existed. To oblivion with the dragons, and those who worship them!
Not that Shroud would have ever allowed him to cast that spell, but the idea of the Maleking free chilled him to the bone. If Manus scenario was anywhere but close to the truth All you will do is destroy the universe, and your master with it.
Mammon replied with a laugh. You would not understand, the creature replied. Mammon may not like it, but he was once but a re mimic with power. Nobody believed in him, least of all himself until I descended into the towers depths and found my other half trapped there! When I broke the seal, and the Spirit of Conquest embraced my King spoke to . Guided .
Shroud ignored the monologue, glancing at his allies. Sol had located the source of the voice echo, a tiny, icelike replica of Mammon; a distraction.
My King had but one wish. That I seize this blue planet and paint it red! That I bring about a universe ruled by strength and chaos!
We wont let you take our ho, Kari spoke up with determination.
It is our world as much as you, human. We fiends were banished, sealed into the depth of space when the Old Machines ca from the skies, but we walked this land long before your puny kind. Earth is our ho.
Why did you kill your own n? Shroud asked.
I owned them, tiny one. They are all mine. Your life is mine. But this world it belongs to my master. You will all die for him. Mammons golem ignored the sorcerers, turning to the sphere above. Not enough gems, I need more souls to fuel my Chronobreak. More Flux. More than my entire stockpile. More than they could provide. More than you can! Always more!
Shroud glanced up at the egg in the ceiling, glimpsing at shapes moving beyond its surface.
This egg contained people. The shadowy forms of Pandorians moving in a wasteland under a crimson sun; humans and dragons living side by side in a city of spires and tal. The more Shroud observed, the more the visions beca clearer, showing him twisted mirrors of an Evermarsh consud by toxic miasma, a copy of the Midnight Market consud by Mammons mad spell, and worlds which could have been, yet never did.
This egg was one of the doors to Pandoria, and a glimpse of its true nature.
Canceled tilines.
Possible universes which Maxwell had erased or destroyed, and yet refused to die. Their survivors hung on as Pandorians, with the leftover data coalescing in a dark realm full of hate and bitterness.
A cancerous reality made of leftovers, full of bitter souls
More than enough to fuel his spell.
Mammon is no longer in the tower, Shroud guessed, speaking up through Network. Hes just delaying us.
Guilty, the Midnight Kings golem raised his hands. Guilty, guilty, guilty!
Her body clad in a golden shroud and moving faster than he ever saw her, Kari cut down the replica in half, the golem lting into snow.
Shroud moved towards the egg, touching its warm, lifelike surface. A re push and he would fall through the mbrane and into the stillborn worlds it contained.
How long until Mammon gathered enough souls to cast his Chronobreak? Could he collapse one of these stillborn realities and harvest its remains? Could one even survive Pandoria?
Could they even use Magik Online inside?
Co. Ashmals dark voice echoed in his mind. Co and see the truth.
No way around it then.
The door to Pandoria is open, and Mammon walked through, Shroud told the group. We will have to intercept him there or die trying.
Players' StatsAccount
Magik Administrator
NaShroudNetworkProgressHolderMathias MartelBroadcastUnlockedLevel3 (Magister)Grant SpellUnlockedAffinityBlueSynergizeUnlockedLockNetworkLocked Feature(5/7)Spellcoins to Assign66Overlock(0/1)Stored Saves5Save?Load?Locks Stored4Assign?Consu?Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityPremium Thoughts1BlueBabel1BluePurge1GreenAccel1WhiteRuin Mode1BlackBeastmaster2BlueMindshield2BlueDoppelganger2BlueHeal2GreenPowersurge2GreenLightbringer2Red/OrangeMad World2Blue/GreenGlass Field2Blue/OrangeWinterfold2BlackMaster Mirror3Blue/Orange/VioletRecursion3BlackAccountDragonslayers GuildNaYoshikageOversoulProgressHolderKari MatsumotoRemberUnlockedLevel3 (Magister)Channel SoulUnlockedAffinityYellowLocked Feature(1/3)LockOversoulLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins36Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityBabel1BlueWallcraw1GreenPeak1GreenNeedless1GreenWard1YellowDoom Sense1YellowSpiritsight1YellowDeathgem1YellowDreamwalker2YellowPowersurge2GreenHands of Slaughter3Yellow/Violet/RedSpaceslash3VioletTulpa3YellowAccountDragonslayers GuildNaThe Mur!AdamantProgressHolderMurmur the ImpHarderUnlockedLevel3 (Magister)FasterUnlockedAffinityOrangeLocked Feature(0/3)LockAdamantLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins35Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityReinforce1OrangeDiceweight1OrangePitborn2Green/RedFormless2OrangeHomunculus2OrangeIntegrator2OrangeReload2VioletTiloop3VioletCarbonskin3OrangeDissolve3OrangeAccountDragonslayers GuildNaDocInseminateProgressHolderNathaniel StitchSpawnUnlockedLevel3 (Magister)IncubateUnlockedAffinityGreenLocked Feature(0/3)LockInseminateLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins33Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityPremium Thoughts1BlueIntuimotion1BluePsychotry1BlueDeathgem1YellowDoom Sense1YellowSpiritsight1YellowTisense1VioletPathfinder1VioletAlchemic Grasp1OrangeFlux Sight1WhiteAccel1WhiteAccountDragonslayers GuildNaSharpshootSpellgunProgressHolderMaggie Jesse PowellsCrimson BulletUnlockedLevel3 (Magister)Homing BulletUnlockedAffinityRedLocked Feature(0/3)LockSpellgunLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins32Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityStockmight1RedBabel1BlueAccel1WhiteThunderling2Green/RedBullseye2Violet/BlueSoundwave2RedLightningrod2RedAdaptator3GreenAccountDragonslayers Guild ModeratorNaSolAegisProgressHolderSolomon NicholaeSpell MartyrUnlockedLevel3 (Magister)Accel AllyUnlockedAffinityWhiteLocked Feature(0/3)LockAegisLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins66Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNaDotAffinityPeak1GreenNeedless1GreenBabel1BlueBlue World1BlueQuasar1RedBiosurge1RedReinforce1OrangeEncode1WhiteSpell Syphon1WhiteAccel1WhiteForcefield3Red
Spell of the Day
Dissolve
Affinity: Orange
Dot: 3
Price: 9-15
Activation: Active, Limb Vector.
The user destroys bonds between chemical components on touch, turning matter into primordial goo. Dissolve may affect both organic and inorganic matter.
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