Unbound

Congratulations!

You Have Absorbed The Essence of [Verdict]!

System power coursed through Felix's veins, manifesting within him as his Skill took on the essence of a verdict. The Emperor's Vigilance spun to life, the pattern beneath its world shape rippling as a piece of an incomprehensibly complex song resonated throughout Felix's core space. It called up other echoes, quivering within the darkness of his chest. A veritable chorus shook within him as other Skills took up the Emperor's Vigilance's song.

Felix's eyes blazed, turning into founts of lightning and red-gold flame as lines of light spread outward onto his face, burning themselves into his flesh.

Synergy Detected!

Emperor’s Vigilance Resonates With Alchemy, Exploration, Tracking, Aria Of The Green Wilds, Ephemeral Evocation, And Manasight.

Do You Wish To Combine Them?

Y/N

WARNING!

Every single Skill under my Vigilant Skill Array? If he combined them all, the array would collapse into a single ability. Was that wise? Felix hadn't a clue, but he hadn't said no to a combination yet—he didn't plan on starting now. Yes.

Mana, Essence, and significance gathered around him, pumping inward from the beast even as it pulled from the depths of his core space. The Skills, the song of the Skills, rang out different melodies, all but carrying a strident note of familiarity. The same one that allowed them to form a Skill array now expanded, stretching a half measure here and there as pieces of their power drew closer. Each pattern pulled tighter, casting off sparks that burned through Felix's chest like hot irons stabbing into vulnerable flesh.

The system sparked across all of them, drawing them closer as the weight of significance fell upon them like a lead blanket. A glissando between Skills formed, shifting the song across their disparate Skill arrays. Felix grimaced, the pain of their movement a hot agony that radiated out through his bones and his blood.

Due To Synergy Among The Primordial Essence And Your Skills, Emperor’s Vigilance, Alchemy, Exploration, Tracking, Aria Of The Green Wilds, Ephemeral Evocation, And Manasight Have Combined Into Unseen Beholder (Divine)!Level Is Maintained!

Unseen Beholder (Divine), Level 125!

Your eyes have witnessed things no mortal has seen in Ages beyond reckoning. This has changed you, and your bloodline resonates with unrealized potential. None but the Divine and higher beings may evade your sight, and you can freely pierce the veil of magic, rendering all lower Tier illusions impotent. Adjustments to your core space increase in speed and decrease in difficulty per Skill level, and the consumption and identification of Memories is easier per Skill level.

Power thrummed through him as the Skills merged, turning from seven into one, while the pattern itself tripled in size and complexity. A planet formed where once several spun in an easy balance. The Skill Array collapsed, releasing shockwaves that smashed through the Harmony and Dissonance echoing from his cores.

Yet beyond the pain, Felix's mind sped up. His thoughts whirled onward faster than ever before, even as the System and the Beast seized him once again.

Impudent.

One Last Chance.

Choose Wisely, Scion.

Pyreform Undying is level 15!

Fire rained down on the malformed beast, yet not a single lick of flame touched his midnight hide. All of it was absorbed by the skeleton flying through the air.

finally! some good food!

White-green crescents sliced through the afternoon sunlight, gleaming just bright enough that Atar was able to twist his body to avoid their whistling passage. It was a far easier task due to having very little in the way of flesh, but one still chipped his ulna.

there!

Manaships surged forward into the maelstrom of Essence, while mages slung spells from the decks, trying with all their might to bring Felix down. Now, however, they had spied him.

Several cried out words of warning, their eyes wide as magic danced across their fingertips. "Kill the monsters!"

i believe they mean you.

Clearly.

Atar pivoted, flaring the white fire streaming around his charred bones. It was a strange thing, being a skeleton. He had little memory of his first time in this form, and he'd only used it earlier for a quick battle that morning. Now, he could feel his bones grind against each other as he twisted midair, avoiding the chains of stone and shadow that soared up from nearby ships.

atar! get away from these fools! focus your attacks!

I can't let them close with the skiff.

His friends were circling Felix again, Elowen guiding the ship with her preternatural awareness, and Zara leaning over the side. Her swirling water magics were so close to the monster now. They only needed time.

Time that the mages were unwilling to give.

A ship with red sails charged ahead of the others, covered in crimson-robed mages flickering with orange mana.

The Carmine Tower. If he could have, Atar would have smiled wider. As it was, his skeletal grin flashed as white fire billowed from his jaws.

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yes! perfect!

"Loose your rage!" a Master Tier mage howled.

Fire magic hurtled toward Atar from every direction. Bolts and beams and swirling explosions all firing off at him at once. But he simply raised his charred hands, and every bit of it was pulled into his bones. Flame hummed happily as each bit was absorbed into their glowing chest—until the barrage faded, leaving mages staring in shock as Atar stood against them, hovering in a plume of white fire.

Pyreform Undying is level 22!

A bearded man in elaborate robes stomped onto the prow of the Carmine ship, his hands covered in enchanted bracelets and rings as he lifted them aloft. "Dark Firestorm!”

Explosions tore across the sky. A dozen all at once before they dropped. Massive, twenty-pace columns of flame that speared toward the earth all around Felix and his beast before twisting the flames connecting into a tornado of fire that mimicked the storm of essence the beast was still consuming.

Elowen jerked the helm, pulling the skiff back away from the firestorm, skimming its edge as it whipped past them. With even that touch, however, the hull caught flame. It burned furiously, charring the whole of the port side keel before Zara's water sizzled against it. Her magic turned to steam, the firestorm’s heat too much for her Skill, but the Naiad did not stop. A layer of water rippled across the ship, boiling where it touched the hull, as Elowen piloted them up and away once more.

Atar turned away from the firestorm, staring down at the smirking Grandmaster.

what are you doing? go absorb it!

Atar ignored the Urge and instead he flew forward, landing heavily among the Carmine mages. He wasn't sure if it was surprise or admiration that made them stay their attacks, but they stayed their hands.

"Carmine Tower," Atar said, "listen to me. We are trying to stop this, but you must hold your flames! We have a plan—!”

“It's a trick!” someone cried. “The monster stole a mortal’s voice!”

"Kill it," said the Grandmaster.

The Carmine mages attacked instantly, their fiery power smashing into Atar and hurling him back against the railings of the ship. Flame and heat poured into him, instantly absorbed into his receptive Pyreform, though it did little for the concussive blasts that made his head ring and his teeth ache.

Pyreform Undying is level 23!

"You need to listen to me!” he managed between explosions. “I'm trying to save you!"

The Grandmaster bellowed something that Atar couldn't make out over the roar of beast and flame. All he could feel was the deck heave beneath him, hurling him up into the air and shattering the bones in his left leg.

they are not worthy of your mercy! end them!

"Fine!" Atar made a sharp gesture with both hands. The Carmine Mages gasped, the very air pulling from their lungs as their power was yanked from the air. An Atar skeleton filled with a river of white fire flowed through him like veins and arteries, gathering within his ribcage like a beating heart where it pulsated, aching to send strength through his bones and dew, even as it repaired the shattered remnants of his femur.

Pyreform Undying is level 24!

…

Pyreform Undying is level 28!

Apprentice Tier!

You Gain:

+10 STR

+10 END

+10 WIL

kill them all, the Urge snarled. show them the consequences of laying their hands upon us!

Atar’s rage climbed his naked throat, distinct from the Urge's own, but he swallowed it back down. Flame gave an indignant snort, but Atar lifted his hands away from the mages.

“Stars of the Sovereign!”

Sharp-edged motes of incandescent power shot outward, punching through bright orange searing through the deck and the masts all at once. The massive posts toppled, their sails igniting and burning up in an instant. Guidelines snapped and support joists cracked beneat the weight, forcing the entire Manaship into a dramatic tilt.

Stars of the Sovereign is level 94!

The helm suddenly lost control of the craft as it careened. Mages yelled out their Skills, sputtering ineffectually as the ship dropped from beneath them. The Grandmaster, however, was not so inept.

“Molten Lash!”

A whip of molten flame emerged from the Grandmaster’s outflung fingers. It slashed across Atar’s ribs, where it did less than nothing. Without skin he could not bleed, and as it was made of fire Mana, the whip was absorbed entirely.

The Grandmaster gaped at his Skill, now little more than an ember in one hand. He was astounded, that much was clear from his Spirit. He hadn’t expected his whip to fail, just as he didn’t expect the emaciated right hook from Atar’s Pyreform.

The man folded like a house of cards and Atar watched him and his ship fall from the sky entirely. Glee rolled through his bones just as much as deadly fire, and this time Atar didn’t bother to keep track of his or the Urges.

They deserved it.

they all do.

The ship hit the earth below hard, but somehow the pilot managed to keep it from crushing itself against the nearby deris.

They should survive that. He was unsure if he was disappointed or not. Atar turned, flying back up, white flame trailing in his wake. Let's try it again.

He shot forward, flying faster than ever before as white flame engulfed his body in a nearly opaque barrier. He blasted through the hull of another ship, this one with dusty brown sails. Halfway through, he twisted, tearing across the keel and setting it alight with a hungry flame.

another!

A ship with black sails was close by and that got the same treatment. Its hull shattered and the Mana engine within overstrained as both Manaships tried to correct their courses and failed. Smoking, they went down, crashing into the earth with a resounding crunch.

Atar looked up, charred bones utterly wreathed in destructive power. He felt strong, as if nothing could oppose him…and he felt hungry. He desired more fire Mana, despite the absolute rivers of it that flowed through his Pyreform. Unfortunately, the Dark Firestorm vanished just as he approached.

pity. that would have been quite the boost to us.

The monstrous creature rallied, smashing through another ship of mages and devouring them entirely. Ship and mortals screeched in protest and fear…but both ended the same—as smoke, pouring into the maw of a ravenous beast. Yet within it, Atar could see movement.

Felix? The man was there, struggling against the hold the purple-black flesh had on him. Get outta there!

The creature refused to let him go, however, and soon the window into its maw snapped shut. Wordlessly, the monster flailed its spiked and scaled arms, striking another row of fleeing Manaships. It bared its enormous, ivory teeth and roared into the sky.

For an insane moment, Atar thought he heard words among the noise.

you did.

What did it say?

‘more.’

More what?

The skiff came closer, turning to approach the flailing beast once more. Zara called to Atar. “The creature…it’s consuming the mages intentionally.”

“That’s obvious!”

Zara shook her head. “No. A process is beginning. I can hear its shift across the Grand Harmony. It’s consuming them for Felix.”

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