Augmented Aspects: Chapter 249 Quintessential Upgrades (Patreon)

Chapter 249

Quintessential Upgrades

Vert-sherk-vrr.

The gears and cogs of the great factory were working at full tilt, trying to pump out component parts as quickly as possible.

Though my mere presence was causing the tier one factory to already break down.

Grrrind.

Gears and belts that had been running smoothly suddenly began to rust and corrode.

It was clear that the Legrand empire had their work down to a science. Regular, non-magical, people, ran and maintained the facility, thereby reducing the exposure to additional mana particles.

The fact that the devices were running smoothly at all, despite the harsh magical substances being used is a testament to the ingenuity of the Lagrand mechanical society. Honestly, I would be impressed, had it not been that such great feats were used solely to mass produce the best and highest quality of war machines ever designed.

Now that I was inside the giant staging complex for the mage-only and few hybrid mechanoid units being created, I could finally see the path out of here.

Which meant that my other mechanoid units found it via our link and were now going around to the top of a mountain to see an apparent hidden entrance.

An entrance that they were quickly breaking through.

Right now, it was clear the devices had their own consciousness and were ticked. The idea was to destroy these mechanoid devices, the same way they had the piloted ones up above ground. Or they wanted me to add more to their troupe.

Thirty-two, that was how many of these machines I had currently brought to life. The ones I created were seemingly aware of my plight, though I am just now realizing that something seems off. Then I realized, that I had actually only brought to life twenty-four, that the remaining eight of those that were removed were dead.

Not by my hand, but by the killer robots that I brought to life.

The ones that I brought to life and now have no real way of healing.

In a way, I feel kind of bad.

Bringing in a new form of life, one that can live, move, and most importantly self-sacrifice for something greater. Then I make it so that self-sacrifice is permanent.

Mentally, I am running through the issue, even as I find my way to the different clusters of inanimate mechanoid robots.

Arcane Geomancy.

I begin the process, of not only infusing the land underneath and around us with ambient energy that I can all but feel anywhere in the world. But I also, begin to finish the circuitry of the different mechanoid units, making them better and more refined, and most importantly, giving them a chance at life. A chance to choose their own path, of being a weapon, or being a sentient being capable of choosing their own path in this world.

In a way, these machines will be better. These machines will grow up without the psychometric impressions left on their shells. Instead, these will be the first batch of mechanoid people that have never experienced death.

Only eight of the previous mechanoid units come to join me and welcome their new brethren. The rest are either too injured, or maybe dealing with the dead.

I did see them going and taking the broken bodies of the machines that they killed and doing something with them.

If I focus, I might be able to see through the magically dense stone that surrounds us and seems to be able to at least partially block, or at least hinder my sight.

Trying to look through the dense layer of magic would be like trying peer through the ocean to see what sharks are doing underneath the waves. Yes, you can if you look closely enough, but you will likely miss something important if you stare too long at one spot. It is around this point that I wondered if the Legrand empire was working on making mechanoid shark suits? If they did, then I would really like to see them. Though I would be hesitant to bring mechanoid shark creatures to life.

Sad that I’m apparently willing to bring terminator-equivalent creatures to life, but I might have an ethical dilemma for doing the same for mechanoid sharks. Mainly because, I don’t think I’d be patient enough to hunt down any mechanoid schools of shark monsters that I might inadvertently create and set loose upon the world. Whereas I feel sort of confident that I might be able to find the mechanoid killer robots, mainly I’d just follow the screaming and assume that would get me close enough. Don’t worry, I’d Resurrect those that were screaming.

Though honestly, these suits seem to be fairly placid now that the source of their ire is removed. They clearly avoided all 115 miners, and every last kid. Even going so far as to make themselves into a mechanical shield to ensure the safety of the other suits that were carrying Resurrected children in them.

That alone says that they are both sentient, and able to differentiate between right and wrong.

This is good though, now when Mallory asks. And she will ask. I can safely say that I do have limits. And when she asks what those limits are, I will say unequivocally that I will not bring to life mechanoid shark suits, or shark suit factories. Baby steps.

Silence.

By now, I have released so much magical residue into the air, that any tier one items that were out in the open have now been thoroughly corrupted by my magic.

Thud, thud, thump.

The eight sentient mechanoid suits that are not on burial duty have broken through the one opening and have now begun coming down to see me and my one-person force alteration efforts.

It’s sad that I can only feel the intense want and need for protection coming from these eight devices. That they are only coming to both protect me, and to welcome their new mechanical friends in a system of solidarity.

Though the initial eight are soon joined by the others. As the remaining sixteen soon follow suit, although they all seem to be carrying the broken chassis of their fellow mage-only mechanoid suits.

Arcane Geomancy.

It’s weird. As I am bringing the new suits to life, their old holes and damages suffered from when they were lifeless machines gets healed. But then the moment they are fully manifested and presented with a consciousness, Arcane Geomancy can’t do anything else for them.

Also, what is even more infuriating is the fact that I allegedly have the perfect power to heal them, Omni Heal, but it can’t do anything for these new forms of life.

Logically, I know the reason.

The reason that Omni Heal cannot heal the creatures I bring to life with Arcane Geomancy is due to the singularity of Omni Heal. As Omni Heal, while able to replicate any one form of energy, I in fact need two forms of energy to heal these mechanoid suits that are now sentient and moving.

I do have the new level 400 class perk for my Ethereal Healer class available still. Well, actually I have the level 400 for Ethereal Healer, the level 300 class perk for Ethereal Simulacrums Master, along with the level 300 class perk for Akashic Qi Master. Worse, I am nearing the 72-hour window that would force me to start making changes to my classes.

Odd to think that just Tuesday I reached those milestones, and now here we are on Thursday, and I am worried about trying to find a way to heal a newly formed species of life, while wondering if my materials for my three mid-terms that I need to conduct will be sufficient.

Gods, how did Mallory know that I would have all but agreed to anything at that point to get a moment to myself. It’s like she has a sixth sense of when I am up to no good. This is impossible, though I would be really interested in trying to come up with a skill that would help me counter such a sixth sense. That one skill would be worth its weight in gold. Also, it is no up on my top list of new skills I would create if I got such a random skill acquisition book again.

Though I am just wasting time here.

Letting these machines suffer. Well, I don’t know if they actually have nerve endings, thus their concept of pain might be off. That said, I think we all know the way to heal these robots. Yes, throw away my level 400 class perk evolution for an enhanced Trait version of an ability that I already have.

You are wishing to make your level 400 Ethereal Healer Class Perk.

Desired Class Perk: Dual Energy Omni Healing: The ability to use any two forms of energy in conjunction with each other to implement a healing effect on a sentient individual, or creature capable of semi-sentient functions.

Wow, that description totally sucks, but yes. That is roughly what I am going for.

Request denied.

Class incapable of such a Trait. Seeking alternative…

Alternative found. Are you sure this is what you would like to have as a class evolution Perk?

“Yes.” I say, somewhat annoyed that I have to go through this whole rigamarole every time I reach a milestone. This is partly why I wait until the system has to accept my changes, before I normally do this type of thing.

However, this is a unique case, where I really want to help out these machines the best I can. Also, I know that with this power, I should be able to heal my books should anyone get a little too zealous with trying to take them. This way I can heal the sentient skill books, along with these machines and the one randomly targeted guard house that did nothing more than sit there.

Class Evolution Criteria met (Mythical Bloodline) and Class evolutions accepted.

New Class Evolutions made.

Wait, what?

Class: Ethereal Healer, has evolved to new Quintessence Ethereal Healer (Unique-Personal-Non-Trainable-Non-Transferable Class).

Ethereal Healer class level bonus: +1 Dexterity, +1 Endurance, +1 Sociability, +1 Personality, +1 Perception, +1 Intelligence, and +2 Willpower.

New: Quintessence Ethereal Healer class level bonus: +1 Strength, +1 Dexterity, +1 Endurance, +1 Sociability, +1 Personality, +1 Attractiveness, +2 Perception, +2 Intelligence, and +3 Willpower.

So, a point of Strength, Attractiveness, Perception, Intelligence, and Willpower. That is five extra Attribute points per level, which isn’t bad. Especially as this is effectively a Mythical level class, now. Additionally, it appears as though I will not be able to share this class with anyone, just like my Akashic Qi Master class.

Class: Ethereal Simulacrums Master, has evolved to new Quintessence Ethereal Simulacrums Master (Unique-Personal-Non-Trainable-Non-Transferable Class).

Ethereal Simulacrums Master class level bonus: +1 Personality, +1 Sociability, +1 Attractiveness, +1 Perception, +1 Intelligence, and +1 Willpower.

New: Quintessence Ethereal Simulacrums Master class level bonus: +1 Dexterity, +2 Personality, +2 Sociability, +2 Attractiveness, +1 Perception, +1 Intelligence, and +2 Willpower.

Again, looks like we are going cheap with the name upgrades, just adding Quintessence in the front, just as they did for when I became an Ethereal elf.

Also, just like before there are additional points for Dexterity, Personality, Sociability, Attractiveness, and Willpower, granting a bonus of five Attribute points per level. I’m pretty sure this is impressive, but I don’t exactly know how impressive.

I find it sad that I can’t teach someone else to create perfect exact copies of themselves now. Though to be honest, I’m glad I didn’t as I’m pretty sure if more people used this the same way that I use this class, then there would likely be a lot of new countermeasures created. With the new singular use category of this, I can feel the class options broadening, as the world no longer needs to keep me in such tight restraints. Before, when anyone could get this class, there were clear restrictions and boundaries. Now however, now there should be a little more wiggle room with what is allowed.

That said, the system apparently was not done forcing its changes on me, as I could feel it forcefully changing my third and final class as well.

Class: Akashic Qi Master, has evolved to new Divinely Akashic Qi Master (Unique-Personal-Non-Trainable-Non-Transferable Class).

Akashic Qi Master class level bonus: +2 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +2 Endurance, +1 Attractiveness, +1 Intelligence, and +2 Willpower.

New: Divinely Akashic Qi Master class level bonus: +3 Strength, +3 Dexterity, +3 Endurance, +1 Personality, +1 Sociability, +1 Attractiveness, +1 Perception, +1 Intelligence, and +2 Willpower.

This one just like the others gave five bonus attributes, this time to Strength, Endurance, Personality, Sociability, and Perception. Honestly, it’s kind of sad that it took until I was well into the three hundreds for all of these classes to finally become amazing, but I am glad they are there.

With new class unlocked, new Trait requested approved.

New Quintessence Ethereal Healer Level 400 Class Perk Unlocked: Trait.

New Class Perk: Dual Quintessence Healing: The ability to use any two forms of energy simultaneously to produce a healing like effect on a targeted person, place, or thing.

Yes, my power just went vague and gave me the noun definition for healing, but I’ll take it. Also that is a lot cleaner of an explanation than what I had been envisioning.

With the primary concern over.

I began using my newly acquired Trait to start healing these wounded Terminator units.

Dual Quintessence Healing.

No clue why it had the stupid name, but I’ll take it, particularly as it proves that I can heal anything that I now create with Arcane Geomancy.

While I’m busy casting Arcane Geomancy on the rest of the inanimate mechanoid suits, and simultaneously taking over the base, I realize what I want my new level 300 trait for my Simulacrum class to be.

With my Simulacrum class already being the Class that I associate the most with Teleportation, both with switching my position with another Simulacrum, opening Portals between myself and a Simulacrum, or other related activity. I realize what I want to do for this level 300 Trait, and that is be able to Teleport to anywhere that I have actively used Arcane Geomancy and effectively mark that part of the world as having my stamp of protection applied.

Intended request received, verified, and approved.

New Quintessence Ethereal Simulacrums Master Level 300 Class Perk Unlocked: Trait.

New Class Perk: Arcane Geomancy Teleportation: The ability for you, or any of your Simulacrum to freely Teleport to any territory that you have personally bonded to through Arcane Geomancy.

And like that, my rate of travel drastically increased and I realized that I effectively created a Fast Harass point. Yes normally, I know these are referred to as Fast Travel spots, where you can move between locations freely. But really, out here, my only purpose for being able to move quickly out here would be to harass or otherwise impede war efforts.

Actually, I don’t care about war, it happens.

No, when people use war as a pretense to be monsters, that’s when I have a problem with war.

That said, I don’t ever want to go to war, but if I did, I would make sure it was over very quickly. Even if it required Shark Mechanoid monsters.

No wait, I still don’t want to swim that much to fix such a mistake. Maybe flying sharks? I’m pretty sure I could chase down a flying mechanical shark fairly easily.

As for what to get for my level 300 Divinely Akashic Qi Master class perk, I don’t really know. Ultimately, the best thing I would want would be a way to quickly neutralize any mistakes I might make along the way.

Yes, we all joke about Skynet and creating sentient hunting machines that never tire out and now can be healed. But it would be nice to have an off switch, or a way to disable renegade life forms that are abusing their stay.

Then just as I have that thought, I am met with a new string of system messages.

Intended request received, verified, and approved.

New Divinely Akashic Qi Master Level 300 Class Perk Unlocked: Trait.

New Class Perk: Divine Quintessence Rapture: The ability to apply two different types of energy at once to overload, damage, disable, or if need be, destroy a person, place, or thing.

Honestly, that power is perfect. Likely the equivalent of using a rail gun to punch a few holes in a wall, but I should be able to use that to disable, or apparently kill nouns at my discretion.

With that I have three fourths of the cycle of life complete. Or rather three fourths of what I consider to be the cycle of life to be complete.

I can create, heal, disable, and likely cripple these creatures that I am bringing to life. Sadly, I have the ability to take that life if necessary. Something I hope to never need to do, but I would be lying if I wasn’t a little relieved by having it as a, just in case option.

Now even chasing down mechanoid sharks doesn’t seem as dreary as a prospect as it once did. Still a no go, mainly due to the fact that I don’t like having my head covered by water. Yeah, I know random quirk, I seem so normal and well adjusted otherwise, but yes. While I do swim, I make sure to only swim on the surface of the water, or in a pool.

Oceans, or deep rivers with monsters, not so much.

Speaking of which, I now have an extra 75 levels to gain in my Swimming skill, but since I now live in the middle of a desert, or on floor 300 of a tower reaching to infinity in the sky, I find that I am okay without practicing my shark chasing moves.

Finally, after what feels like hours of me casting the same three spells, while arguing with the system about my class upgrades, I finally receive the notification that I had been waiting for.

Quest (Complete): Purging the Desecrators (Repeatable): You have come across a scene of absolute destruction. You found Magical and Mechanical Parasites stripping the land of magical resources and eliminated the threat...

Seeing the message, I let out a sigh of relief, and then pause.

I realize I still have stage two of this to do. Where I nicely ask the communications system to request backup. But looking at the now sentient clock that is telling me I have exactly three minutes until I am scheduled to teach two mid-term exams simultaneously. I realize I will need to pause my plans to go full Karen.

At least until later tonight.

Fortunately, with my new Simulacrum ability to travel back here instantly, I don’t even need to blow my cover by having my other mortal realm Simulacrum take my place here.

“Be good, and I’ll be back later tonight for round two.” I tell my seemingly placid killer robots.

Then before they or I can question my actions, I use my new power and get out of the area.

Arcane Geomancy Teleportation.

Poof.

I appear in my office, making sure to grab my notes for the new war games style matchup I had planned for my Qi users to go up against my  Magical Resonance experts, and go out to seize the day.

“Going to be a good day, without shark monsters.” I say to myself.

“What?” Charlaine asks, apparently hearing my outburst. I can’t help but notice that she has taken the office room right next to my own.

“Nothing, just wondering how much worse the world would be with mechanical monster sharks running around taking over the oceans.” I say.

Nervous chuckle.

Charlaine nervously chuckles at that thought. Then after seeing that I’m not laughing, she nervously inquires.

“That was a joke, right?”

“Oh, I would never joke about setting lose a school of mechanical monster sharks on the world. Even I have my limits.” I say, then I Teleport out before she can say or do anything.

Going to class, I let a smile fill my face, as I can see Charlaine’s face drop in horror as she tries to take in my comment.

Seeing her reaction, I realize that I am glad I came back early.