Dark Fate, Chapter 183 (Patreon)

Chapter 183 – Shopping

(The Laughing Boots, Merchant District, Ceres)

“This way, Ran! Here’s the store I was telling you about!”

Ran Samiess giggled as her wife pulled her along with one of her tentacles. “Geez, Sissy! It is just a clothes store! Surely you didn’t just drag me out to play dress-up with you? We could do that at home, you know? And with sexier outfits than this place will have.”

Sissari paused for just a moment as that thought hit her like a truck, but pushed through. “Oh, trust me, Ran, I’ll give you a very thorough review when we get home. But I want you to be safe, even when I’m off, raiding those bugs. Which means we need to get you clothes that will act like armor. Fortunately, your Master has made it so actual armor is considered everyday wear here on Ceres, so we don’t even need to worry about disguising it as plainclothes.”

“Is that really necessary, Sissy? I mean, Master’s already put me under protection. You saw the wards up on the house, before you started adding anything to its defenses.”

Sissari sighed, and stroked Ran’s cheek with another tentacle. “Yes, yes, it is. You know that people don’t get to be powerful, socially speaking, without making enemies. Even the most benevolent sort is going to make enemies with those who have views running counter to theirs. And your Master has been extremely direct in most of his actions, which has earned him a lot of enemies.”

“But it isn’t like those enemies can do anything! You saw the reports. There have been twenty assassination attempts since then. The last three were actually going after members of his staff, rather than him, since his Demon King skills give him immunity to pretty much anything the locals can throw at him. Eventually, someone is going to want to take a shot at the genius designer that made his weapons! If only so that they can’t come up with any more good ideas for him.”

Ran looked into her wife’s eyes, and saw the genuine worry there. Melting into her arms, and tentacles, she said, “Fine, let’s go shopping for some gear that will protect me a bit better, while you’re out and about. But I’m still only level 15 in Tier 1. I got a little XP from making more and more designs, thanks to my class and profession being based around design work, but still. Sure, five levels in under a galactic standard year is pretty good for crafter and design types, but you know the fastest way to level is combat, and I don’t have any real combat skills.”

Sissari smiled. “Don’t worry about that. While the Kroscyl is in the dock, getting those upgrades you designed, I’ll take you to a dungeon, and help you level. Sure, the level difference will make it a bit more difficult, but that just means we can spend more time together.”

“Oh, yay,” Ran said in a fake monotone, “getting to spend more time in a dungeon, with monsters trying to kill me. How very fun.” She giggled as one of Sissari’s tentacles swatted her on the backside, and said, “Thank you, Sissari, but if you were going to try and power level me, wouldn’t it be better to get someone closer to my level to do it? That way, we wouldn’t have to deal with the massive XP penalty.”

Sissari fidgeted, and said, “But I don’t trust any of them with you. As much as I hate to admit it, your Master truly does value your contributions to his kingdom, and will protect you, so long as you’re working for him. The other adventurers on this rock, however? I don’t know them, and don’t trust them.”

Ran smiled. “Well, if it will make you feel better, let’s go find some armored clothes I can wear, and then go visit a workshop. I’m a Magitech Engineer, after all, so while my focus is on starships and ship-based weapons, I can do some hand-held weapons. I did have an idea for a handgun that could fire packets of compressed gamma radiation. Should be deadly to most creatures it hits.”

Sissari smiled back at her. “Fine. You know I love watching you work on something new. And I would feel better if you had some way of defending yourself, if someone attacked.”

They pushed open the door, and an elven woman looked up from the counter. Once you knew what to look for, it was easy to tell elves and knelfi apart. It was all in the shape of the ears. Knelfi had longer ears, while elves had ones that were barely longer than human ears. Ran had explained to her that the elves and other look-alikes to galactic races were all part of human mythology, and there was a running theory about ‘psychic leakage’ that, even without the System, caused people to imagine misremembered versions of races in the wider universe.

The shopkeeper blinked in confusion as she saw Sissari, a typical reaction when one saw her for the first time, but quickly mastered herself, and smiled at them, saying, “Welcome to the Laughing Boots! What can I get you two ladies today?”

Ran moved in front of her wife, and said, “My wife just recently hit port, and wanted to get me new clothes to celebrate. Something that will offer good protection for my level, but won’t look out of place or call attention as I’m walking around Ceres. Do you have anything like that?”

“Of course! We have a wide array of clothes, all of them tailored or custom made. What you see in the store are mostly display pieces, but if you like them then I can tailor them for you to wear today. Most of our work is leather, obviously, but we do have a few cloth pieces to go with them.” The saleswoman looked her up and down. “Hmm. You’re not the athletic type, but don’t strike me as the girly dress type, on the regular. What style do you prefer?”

“Well, my class is Magitech Engineer, so most of my work is at a design board, but there are times when I need to go crawling around in engine spaces and working on prototypes and the like. So, I would prefer something that I can move easily in, and won’t get dirty too easily.”

The shopkeeper came out from behind the counter, and circled Ran, looking her up and down. “Hmm. I see, I see. In that case, we’ll want to go with some boots, calf-high, I think. Pants, not a skirt or dress. Comfortable shirt, maybe a vest or jacket over it for extra protection and pockets? I could also fashion a tool belt if you don’t have one, that could hold most of your normal tools, or weapons, if you want. Sometimes it is best to have things easily accessible, rather than in a pocket dimension, yes?”

Ran just nodded, and said, “Yes, at least for the more commonly-used tools. But I have a tool belt already, so you don’t have to worry about that. Boots, pants, shirt, and jacket works for me. Obviously, I want multiple pairs, so I’m not wearing the same clothes every day.”

“Naturally. Though I’ll also have a self-cleaning and self-repair enchantment on them, standard.” As she passed behind Ran, she asked, “Now, for the pants, do you want them below the tail, or tailored for a tail-hole. Both are possible, but if you’re bending over and working in tight spaces, you might give off more of a show than your wife would appreciate if you go with the below the tail option. That’s the trade-off for them being more comfortable to wear and easier to pull on, from what my tailed customers tell me.”

Sissari bristled at the idea, causing Ran to quickly pat her wife’s arm, and calm her. “Can I have a couple pairs of each? Some for work, and some for when I’m just going about town?”

“A sensible idea,” the saleswoman nodded. “All right, come this way, and we’ll see what samples you like, both in style and material, and then we can get your measurements and talk price.”

(Wicked Focus Spell Shop, Merchant District, Ceres)

There were problems with being too powerful, too early on. In my case, I’d found a few tricks that worked, and I had abused them heavily in all my battles. But I couldn’t count on those tricks always working. Eventually, I was going to come against enemies who could counter some or all of my current abilities, which meant that I needed to get variety, as well as raw power. Couldn’t go up against another demon just using hellfire, after all. Especially not one on my level.

Which is why I was in disguise, browsing the shelves of one of the many shops that had sprung up in the Merchant District of Ceres. Sure, there were shops all over the civilian areas, and even some in the Military District, but the Merchant District was where the big shops were, with the best selections. They were also the ones most likely to have spells appropriate for someone in Tier 2.

The way I saw it, I may have tiered up into Demonic Seducer, but I still had the class skills for a Blood Warlock. However, because I hadn’t bothered looking for new spells, and relied mostly on overwhelming power and melee attacks, I was still lacking much of the versatility even a Blood Warlock would normally have. I only had a single Summoning spell (my Shadow Armor), the basic Curse and Destruction spells, and a few utility Blood magics. I needed more.

More importantly, I needed spells that were flexible and adaptable, rather than ones that focused on pure firepower. So long as I was in my domain, or on one of my ships, or with my army? I was damn near untouchable in terms of firepower to begin with, so my focus needed to be on spells that could easily be applied to a wide range of situations.

Summoning

Summon Demons – Summons a number of demons with collective levels less than your CHA, but with no individual level greater than your own. Can only specify general type of demon.

Planar Messenger – Summons an imp who will cross dimensions to deliver a message to a target you know, and bring back a reply.

Shadow Shroud – Summon magical darkness to block out light from an area, hiding all within from view.

Curse

Curse of Rage – Cursed target goes into an enraged state, prompting them to attack all targets, friend or foe, within sight, continuing until either all targets in sight are destroyed, the curse is dispelled, or they are slain.

Release Inhibitions – Cursed target loses any inhibitions they have, carrying out any action or saying any thought that comes to mind immediately and without consideration.

Curse of Disarmament – While cursed, the target is incapable of holding any weapon or shield, though they may still defend themselves with spells or unarmed attacks.

Curse of Spellblock – While cursed, the target is incapable of casting spells of any sort, though they may still use unarmed or weapon attacks to defend themselves.

Curse Bloodline – Bestow a curse upon the target’s bloodline, causing all who share their blood to be cursed with a debilitating effect.

Cursed Polymorph – Curse a creature into a different shape. They retain that form until the curse is dispelled, or they are slain. Target may lose access to some abilities.

Destruction

Firebolt/Earth Shard/Shock/Freeze Ray – Attack with elemental magic, dealing CHA damage to the target. Plus elemental effects.

Flamethrower/Ground Surge/Lightning Bolt/Icelance – Attack with elemental magic, dealing CHA*1.5 damage to all creatures in a line CHA feet long. Plus elemental effects.

Burning Hands/Crusher Wave/Lightning Fan/Cone of Cold – Attack with elemental magic, dealing CHA*1.5 damage to all creatures in a cone CHA/2 feet long. Plus elemental effects.

Fireball/Rock Burst/Lightning Storm/Frost Nova – Attack with elemental magic, dealing CHA*2 damage to all creatures in a 20 foot radius of point of impact. Plus elemental effects.

Disintegrate – Deal (CHA+Level)*2 damage to target. If target is brought to 0 HP, they are destroyed utterly. If target is an object (Level) feet in diameter or less, it is automatically destroyed.

Blood

Teleport Without Error – Transport yourself up to (CHA*1000) miles, with no chance of mishap. May take up to CHA/10 willing participants with you.

The scrolls to learn all these spells weren’t exactly cheap, but they were easily within the amount of money I’d earned from my participation in the CSL just recently. This kind of investment in my future is just what I needed from that money. Especially since this was a personal venture, rather than an affair of state. Even if I was the living embodiment of the state, I still needed to hold myself to some standards.

With these spells, to go along with my other abilities, perhaps it was time for me to visit a dungeon again. My combat pets were all on the cusp of going into Tier 2, and I wished to watch as they ascended. It had been a while since I got to see someone change Tiers, seeing as I was a bit too busy during my own to observe.