Thunder echoed through the room.
Power flowed across the planes and Alex touched it with Hannahs energy. He felt for the mana as it reached out to a distant plane; a plane emitting the scent of fresh blood, a pulsing heat of fla, and the sound of tal striking tal.
The spells mana called, and sothing answered.
Alex felt the war-spirit touch the flow of energy, riding it across the gulf between planes.
A form rose within the summoning circle, at first it appeared that the floor tiles were swelling and shifting, like sothing was pushing them toward the ceiling. Alex rembered the first ti hed seen the war-spirit manifest in this very room. He recalled how it had taken on the appearance of stone.
It was stretching now, growing until its height was greater than either Thundars or Baelins. Stone warped, taking on definition; gleaming like tal.
From a place unknown and distant, Alex could hear the sound of iron pounding iron. Heat rose, as if from a forge.
The war-spirit took form.
Humanoid arms appeared.
Two bladedlegs extended from its lower body.
A pair of outgrowths projected from a lean backfilling the space within the circlebecoming feathered wings glistening like polished steel. As its features unfoldedtallic musculature, flesh, and haira ring of tal shimred into being, encircling its human-like head in a halo.
Spikes, like the thorns of a rosebush, extended from the steel surface.
A gleaming, humanoid stretched its wings, looking around with an unreadable air, finally fixing its gaze on Professor Mangal.
With every sound escaping the creature, an echo of tal striking tal and voices screaming in terror, reached Alexs ears. The scent of fresh blood filled his nostrils and the spirits every movent seed to threaten violence.
Despite the nace it was exuding, its face appeared calm and relaxed.
The first ti Mangal had summoned this war-spirit for his class, its appearance had sent shock and fear through the beginner summoners and beyond rely creating a feeling of fear, sothing else about it had felt deeply wrong to him.
At the ti, he could acknowledge its unique physical presence, yet there was an aspect of its being that he couldnt quite make sense of in his mind. It was as if one was looking around a familiar space, realising that sothing was out of place, but having no idea what it was.
But now, Alex understood exactly what it was hed found so unnerving back then; the war-spirit was an unapologetic confirmation of violence. If Tiashivas were empowered by violence, then war-spirits were born of it.
They were violence in a very real sense, and their existence was like an assault on the material world. To look on one was to face the manifestation of pain and deathcapturing the innermost fears of most mortals.
Most.
But, Alexander Roth had changed, no longer fearful of what frightened most mortals.
Ive killed greater demons and Ive seen a dead god, he thought, eting the war-spirits gaze as the entity looked down at him. It takes a lot more than you to scare .
Then-Arus, Professor Mangal said, in words sounding like twisting tal and rushing liquid. You are not required to fight today, but for answering my call, I will lead you to a battle worthy of your existence.
Then-Arus did not answer, rely looking at Professor Mangal calmly.
His face wore a mask of tranquility, yet Alex could feel the ruthless satisfaction emanating from him.
Are you quite satisfied, Alex? Professor Mangal asked. Was seeing cast the spell helpful to you?
Absolutely, Professor, he said. I felt the flow of powerand it helped get a better understanding of how the spell works. I cant wait to get started, but- He paused, looking at Then-Arus closely, examining the spirits powerful form.
Alex imagined his enemies facing this personification of violence.
He could see them running and breaking, too ruined to ever trouble him or those he cared about again.
He began to smile.
Until the First Apostlethe ancient Chosen of Uldarand the mans speed crept into his mind. He rembered the power of his magic, the might of his divinity, the hard body forged through life enforcent, and the skills and strength hed used to overpower three Heroes of Uldar in one battle.
His smile faded.
I need sothing better. Bigger. Deadlier, he thought, looking at Professor Mangal.
Can I ask Then-Arus a question, professor? he said.
She nodded. Of course.
He bowed his head to the war-spirit. Mighty Then-Arus, butcher of a thousand battlefields and terror of a hundred planes
The professor raised an eyebrow.
The war-spirit eyed him closely.
Alex had used ancient titles for Then-Arus kind. Titles that were rarely known by mortals anymore.
Hed done his research.
I seek to ask a question of you, with the greatest respect, he said. You are bound to Professor Mangal by magic and fellowship, and that is a great union of magic, blood and death. I seek to forge a relationship with one of your kind. I myself have dealt terrible violence. I am the wizard who slayed Yantrahpretaye in Cretalikon. I was the general on the battlefield when my golem, Claygon, and the warrior Kyembe the Spirit Killer slayed the great Kaz-Mowang. My golem and my strategies destroyed the greater demon Zonon-In. I have many deeds of blood and violence to my credit, and I seek one who would join in these endeavours. Would this please your kin?
Silence hung between them, until Then-Arus spoke in Alexs mind, his voice like a thousand blades slicing through multitudes. We are violence. We would gladly join with one who draws blood and death as you have done. We know violence. We know your deeds. What is your question?
Who among your kind would you fear to fight most? Alex asked.
Silence followed.
Mangal gasped.
Then-Arus tal body began pulsing waves of heat. I am a war-spirit of steel. I do not fear.
You speak true, Alex said. What you would call strategy, Ia re mortalwould call fear. A fear not of violence and death, but of the end of it. You are violence, Then-Arus. You seek it endlessly, for that is what you are. But if you t an opponent, one so violentand so powerful that it would stop your endless quest for blood, then you would choose your battle against them with care, would you not? Forgive if I am wrong, for I am a re mortal.
Silence.
You are correct. tal grated in Alexs mind.
Thank you Then-Arus. Then who among your kind would be most formidable to face? Who among your kind has accomplished the most glorious deeds of violence? Who among your kind would drive the rest of you to band together to face them on the battlefield? Who among your kind would make greater demons recoil in terror? Alex asked.
More silence.
Mangal looked at Alex, concern lining her face.
You ask who is the greatest among us, or who would be one most feared across the planes,Then-Arus said. Do not seek to conjure such a being, mortal. It will be too much for you.
It will be too much for my enemies, Alex countered. And I seek such an entity of my own free will. I am no mindless apprentice, out of their depth. You know my deeds and I wield great power. Grant this information, please. I could search tos for the na of such a being, but books created by mortals would not co close to your knowledge of death and battle, Then-Arus.
The war-spirit studied the young wizard carefully. I sense so duality about you, mortal. You are a puzzle. A contradiction. You say that you deal death, and this much I know to be true. I can taste it A spiked, tallic tongue erged from the war-spirits face, tasting the air. but sothing about you is antithetical to the very nature of violence. That trait disgusts . I tolerate it; I have a partiality for mortals. But the one you conjure will see such a weakness as an affront. They will strike you down before you can speak.
Alex cursed Uldar.
You let worry about that, Then-Arus. I beseech you. Grant a na. Grant a na that I can call upon. A na that will terrify my enemies from its first syllable, the young wizard said.
Then there is but one, the war-spirits tal shuddered. That nais Asmaldestre, who my kin call The Unmaker.
Mangal drew in a sharp breath.
Asmaldestre the Unmaker, Alex repeated the words. I will commit that na to mory.
That is unwise. The Unmaker is unruly beyond all mortal asure. She is destruction, tal and flesh. She is blood and iron and fla.
Alex smiled with nace, imagining the First Apostles face twisted in horror. She sounds perfect.
Ah, Professor Mangal warned. Such a war-spirit will wield imnse power. I doubt that Conjure Planar Ally would suffice to summon her.
Alex looked at Mangal. Which tier?
Pardon?
Which spell-tier would suffice?
The professor shook her head. It would be beyond even my power.
What tier? Alex pressed.
Ninth, she said grimly. Without a doubt. The spells would likely be Conjure Ultimate Ally or Conjure Grand Gate, both at ninth-tier. The forr would ally you to conjure the most powerful of planar entities, while the latter creates a full portal between planes. Butvery few summoners can cast those spells, Alex.
Goals, then, Alex said. Professor, I know what I want to do. Im going to master Conjure Planar Ally. Thats going to be my next challengebut I bet you Ill be able to break through to ninth-tier summoning spells sooner rather than later.
You could hardly break through to sixth-tier, Alex, she pointed out.
Lets just say I know my limits, he said evasively.
At least, what they would be without the Marks interference, he thought. I broke through to fifth, then sixth-tier, one after the other, even with the Mark trying its damnedest to stop . If it wasnt thereif there was no resistance in my way, then combined with Hannahs power, and my own learning. I might get to ninth-tier summoning spells pretty damn quick. Damn quick.
Professor Mangal shook her head again. Alex, even if you could develop the skill to cast a ninth-tier spell, you would need the mana reserves for it. Your mana poolI doubt could manage it.
I have a lot of mana, Alex said.
You would need a lot more, she warned.
Alex frowned. Then thats going to be my next step.
What do you an? she asked.
After we finish working on Conjure Planar Ally, Ill go see Professor ValRok, he said. Ill make sure I have plenty of mana for upper tier spells.
Within his chest, a determination like never before, burned.
He was closer to shattering the limits Uldar had put on him, but to take full advantage of that freedom, he would need to be ready.
Itll make no difference if I revert the Mark but dont have enough mana to power the kind of spells Ill be capable of learning, he thought. Its ti to ask Professor ValRok a question.
###
Professor, whats the most powerful mana regeneration technique you know of? Alex asked.
Professor ValRok paused outside his office door, midway through unlocking it. In his mouth, a beetle struggled valiantly to escape. Well, good morning to you too, Alex. You look terrible.
Sorry, Ive been uh, throwing myself against a wall, so to speak, Alex said, leaning against a wall for support.
He had thrown himself against Conjure Planar Ally for hours with Professor Mangal, trying repeatedly to master the spell.
The Travellers power had guided him.
His experience had directed him.
Reversing the mistakes the Mark had weaponised had inspired him.
But, the Mark of the Fools interference had proved to be a very determined foe. Half a nights effort had driven him to the brink; at tis it felt like Uldars blessingor cursewas trying to destroy his mind.
For all the work hed done, hed only progressed a asly two percent through the spells complex array.
Im not going to be able to cast the spell until I can change the Mark, Alex thought. But its worth working at it.
It almost looks like youve been throwing yourself at a wall quite literally. Youll have to tell about it, I have so ti before morning classes begin; you say you want the most powerful technique that I know? Professor ValRok asked.
Yes. And dont try to convince otherwise Alex started.
But the lizardfolk wizard rely grinned, crunching the beetle between his teeth. Oh no, absolutely not. Ive heard of your alchemical exploits, and Ive heard what thisMark of the Fool I believe its called? Ive heard what it doesI take it that it helps you with mana manipulation?
Yes, Alex said, looking uncomfortable. I hope you dont look at using it as cheating.
Absolutely not, ValRok said. If anything, the fact that it augnts you will put you in the right mindset; youll be far more prepared for the ultimate technique than most.
How so? Alex asked, burning with curiosity.
Because at the highest levels, Mana Regeneration is no longer about training your pool. Not anymore. The professor swallowed the beetle.
Its about modifying your pool. Youre about to reach the limits of what your body has granted you. He chuckled darkly. But we can do better. Co inside, Ill teach you sothing that most would callunnatural.
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