OLD Chapter 201 (UPDATE AS OF 11/23/23 - These original chapters 195-210 will be pushed out to another future part of the book or recycled. New chapters starting at 195 are being posted after the original 210, and these original chapters will soon be removed. For now, skip ahead to the NEW Chapter 195 past old 210) (Patreon)

Chapter 201

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System Notification - Congratulations!  Yattazi, Archdemon, The Devouring Serpent, has chosen to offer you her services.  You have received a demonic minion contract that you may choose to accept or decline:

Yattazi’s Offers:

· Acquire Yattazi as a familiar.

· Acquire ‘Giant’s Strength’ as a trait.  Giant’s Strength: Gain 300 Strength.  This is a one time application and will be added into your stats before the trait disappears.

· Acquire further knowledge regarding Gluttony’s trials in the Abyss with quest updates.

Yattazi’s Demands:

· If the relationship between you two becomes less than amicable, the contract will become null and void.

· 122 Willpower requirement for initial contract

· Freedom to hunt in the hellscapes for food through Negrada’s portal as long as Negrada’s own minions aren’t harmed.

· Freedom to hunt the world of Panu for food concerning any enemies of the Thane Necropolis

· Freedom to apply its own stat points and choose its own evolutionary pathways.

Do you accept this contract?  Yes?  No?

WARNING: If you choose to accept this contract, as this will

be your 3rd demonic familiar.  Your current class only

allows 4.

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Riven grinned.  “Yes.”

Immediately a raging inferno lit up along Riven’s chest, and the suit of armor peeled back to reveal another pentagram etching itself into his sternum on the place that Fay’s pentagram had once been.

The though made Riven very sad, and he wondered how she was doing.  He missed her a lot, but the choice she’d forced him to make…

He shook his head.  Now was not the time, but Athela definitely noticed by the way she was staring at him with a look of concern.  Or was that… was that guilt?

The symbol of a fanged serpent lit up on the inner workings of the red pentagram, and he immediately felt the soul of the gigantic serpent reach out to touch his own.

[You have accepted Yattazi’s contract.  You have gained Yattazi, Archdemon, The Devouring Serpent, as your demonic familiar.  You have gained the (one time use) Trait: Giant’s Strength.   Please review your character sheet along with your familiar’s character sheet for further details.]

Riven’s muscles bulged, and he shuddered as tendons ripped and tore.  New fibers began filling in the spots where his muscles were shredded, and the armor he wore expanded then retracted again when his muscles began to reduce their swelling.

The power he felt from the influx of 300 Strength was certainly noticeable, and was nothing to scoff at.  It had over doubled his strength, as he’d only previously had 217, but thus was the boon of having an archdemon bind to you.

[Riven Thane’s Status Page:

• Level 130
• Pillar Orientations:] Unholy Foundation, Blood Specialty: Profane Cyclone (Tier 1 of The Path of Red and Black), Infernal, Shadow (Subserviently linked to Blood Specialty Pillar), Sin Core (Gluttony)
• Core of Original Sin - Gluttony, 11 shards collected:] Allows access to Sin Pillar (Gluttony).  Allows access to a secondary Sin Class. Sin Class - Harbinger of Gluttony: Acquire a soul clone that deals on hit soul damage with physical attacks.  Mark of the Sinner: ???
• Traits:] Race: Pureblooded Vampire (Extreme Darkness Regeneration)(Sunlight Decay)(Extreme Weakness to Silver weapons, Sun pillar, and Light pillar attacks), Main Class: Warlock Devastator, Devastator Class Trait (physical strikes are imbued with unholy damage equal to 1% of damage being done at full mana capacity).  Adrenaline Junky (Blood)(+15% to Agility), Accomplishment Title: Bloodthirsty 1 (+5% increased blood mana from corpses, +1% dmg for blood magic)
• Abilities:] Blessing of the Crow (Unholy), Wretched Snare (Unholy), Silvertongue (Unholy), Bloody Razors (Blood), Crimson Ice (Blood), Blood Lance (Blood)(Tier 2), Voodoo Doll (Blood)(Tier 2), Blood Nova (Blood)(Tier 3), Hell’s Armor (Infernal), Blaze of Profane Glory (Infernal)(Tier 3), Riftwalk (Shadow), Gluttonous Sacrifice (Sin)
• Stats:] 517 Strength, 427 Sturdiness, 1063 Intelligence, 538 Agility, 10 Luck, -638 Charisma, 274 Vampiric Perception, 454 Willpower, 9 Faith
• Free Stat Points: 0
• Minions:] Athela, Level 127 Archdemon (Unique, 3 forms, Cute Wittle Blood Weaver / Gluttonous Arshakai / Gluttonous Fae Drider) [190 Willpower Requirement].  Azmoth, Level 95 Hellscape Brutalisk (Infernal Crusader Initiate) [66 Willpower Requirement].  Luke Blissfallen, Level 17 High Elf Thrall (Stormrazor Battle Priest)(Warning: 13% soul decay detected)[10 Willpower Requirement].  Yattazi, Level 130 Archdemon (Unique, The Devouring Serpent) [122 Willpower Requirement].One open demonic slot is available, and this slot has been promised to Fimrindle through Elysium’s system when the appropriate Willpower is gained for his contract.  Per Fimrindle’s skill ‘Self Manipulation and Demotion’, his level will return to 130 and his contract will transfer from the surrogate contract holder Allie Thane to you when requisites are met.
  
• Equipped Items:] Jackal (1390 dmg, 305% mana regen, 8% stamina regen, shadow and blood dmg +36% with 10% decreased ability cost, Black Lightning, Gluttony’s Riptide, Jackal’s Lunge), Messenger (1858 def / 965 bloodsilk def, Devour, Identifier’s Clause, Blood in the Eyes, Ripping Claws, Launch, +20% all stats, natural sunlight does not afflict debuffs, liquid breathing, senses enhanced 40%, passage through Gluttony’s realms,  Sin and Commandment identification), Plate Leggings (257 def), Witch’s Ring of Grand Casting (+26 Intelligence), Negrada’s Modified Bag of Holding]

The gigantic spined serpent flared to life in front of him, radiating with infernal flames as the deep gray scales of the monstrosity blazed.  It lifted its head from the magma pit of its nether realm higher and higher, smiling more widely than Riven thought possible.  The magma eyes of the beasts crackled with chaos energy, and it swiveled around to stare at Riven with excitement.  “You will not regret choosssssssing me, massster… Now let me modify your quest, so that you may know where it is you need to go.”

It bowed, then straightened again with another loud hiss.  The eyes closed, and the huge snake concentrated, and then a notification regarding Riven’s quest appeared just as the serpent had promised.

[System Quest Dispensed:  Three Folds in the Path - You have been marked as a holder of original sin.  Gluttony calls, and the fates answer.  You have chosen to embark further upon the path of sin.  Your chances of survival are slim, but you have shown promise enough to be invited to the abyss early.

To complete the Profane Baptism, Ring the first bell at the cathedral on high and achieve enlightenment into the path of original sin.  Ring the second bell in the depths and achieve enlightenment on the path of Gluttony.  Ring the third bell in the castle of ashen lords and achieve understanding in the duality of Gluttony and Original Sin.  Then bathe in the halls of sin using the blood of your enemies.  Doing so will finish your Mark of the Sinner, and will release Lahn's soul from Gluttony's hold; giving him a new path to power for being the catalyst of creating the portal into the Abyss.

> UPDATE:  Your demonic servant Yattazi has updated this quest with markers outlining key points of interest, and has left patch memories across the Abyss for you to access when within eyesight.

Gleetus Nefrand has been set as a target you need to kill at the end of this dungeon in order to recreate a portal back home.  ]

Then, as if looking through a HUD, Riven saw multiple points light up a neon blue across his vision through the walls of their enclosure as Yattazi’s realm began to fade away - being slowly replaced by the realm of the Abyss.

“Master… May I proceed as planned?” The giant serpent asked while her ghostly figure continued to fade away.

Riven nodded in affirmation, motioning to the portal he’d made using his staff - Jackal.

• Portal Master: This weapon can sync to any stabilized portal you permission to use by the maker and master.  Current locations available for access:  Dungeon Negrada, Riven’s Eye Wormhole.  Takes 1 week of channeling in the same place to use this ability.

He’d already tested it.  Though the portal worked for his minions Azmoth and Athela, it didn’t work for him.  Neither did it work for Allie.  Perhaps this was because his minions were able to travel between nether realms as it was and were inherently in tune with the Abyss, but that also meant he could send Yattazi through the portal with Azmoth - his two not-so silent demonic familiars, to maintain order in his place on Panu.  That, and he’d also made a promise to Deepnest to go help them.  He’d already been gone a full day since the meeting, and no doubt with him and Allie gone the other leaders and allies of the Necropolis were frantic if Katherine hadn’t told them what was going on.  Azmoth would deliver them the message, both Azmoth and Yattazi would then travel into the underdark - with Yattazi being able to burrow her way through the ground almost like a wyrm.

“I expect the dwarves to be taken care of by the time I’m back, if they surrender unconditionally you are to stop the slaughter and hand the reins to Mara.  I told the ratkin that I’d come to personally help, but you two will have to do now that I’m stuck here.” Riven stated with a glance Azmoth’s way.  “Azmoth knows what’s going on, you’re to take orders from him in the meantime.  Ok?  The two of you should be as powerful as any army they throw at you, and Yattazi - help Azmoth level up as best you can.  He needs to catch up to the rest of us.”

“Yessss…We will be your wrath incarnate…” The snake hissed her agreement with a nod of her own, the huge head swiveling to stare Azmoth down - dwarfing the large armored demon many times over as hundreds and then thousands of feet worth of giant snake began crashing to the surface of the nether realm.   “Our gluttonoussss deeds will gain you many levelsss, Riven.  Ssshall we go eat some dwarves then, Azmoth?”

The brutalisk pulled his warhammer out and chuckled.  “We go end war.  Take care Riven, Allie, Athela, I see you later.  Summon if need.”

With that, the snake picked Azmoth up and the two vanished into the portal - with the large orb of flicking light quickly winking out after their passage had completed.  Just thinking about what kind of carnage that massive snake would wreak upon the underdark of Panu was certainly something.  Perhaps it’d even hit the world forums, if his gut guess was right.

Video footage that he’d certainly watch if it did happen.

The nether realm disappeared, leaving Riven, Athela, Allie, and Fimrindle alone in the small stone building on the battlements of the massive cliff-side castle.  Purple lightning continued to trickle along the dark sky with pockets of radiance gleaming through cracks in the clouds, and the neon blue markers Yattazi had set for him were on full display only for him to see.

Through the landscape around him: up the towering cliff and into the clouds, beyond more layers of walls and ancient architecture built into the cliff’s face, was one of these markers.  Then, far to his left when looking out the window - through a maze and wreckage of an ancient city, buried in the cliff through a set of enormous double doors made for giants, was the second marker.  Lastly, into the gray mists swirling far below them after the near and steep drop off beyond the walls, many miles below where they currently stood now and into the unknown, was the last marker.

But beyond these markers were other, smaller orbs of light in the form of Yattazi’s memories.  One such orb was close enough to catch a glimpse of even from where Riven now stood, and it hovered to his left towards the ruined city near the giant double-doors - blinking at him as his vision focused in on it to acquire yet another prompt.

[Yattazi: Angels await you in the clouds, demons await you far below in the depths, and in the ruined city - the forces regularly clash.  As the quest says, you must ring the bells in order.  Ring the first bell at the cathedral on high and achieve enlightenment into the path of original sin.  Ring the second bell in the depths and achieve enlightenment on the path of Gluttony.  Ring the third bell in the castle of ashen lords and achieve understanding in the duality of Gluttony and Original Sin.  Then bathe in the halls of sin using the blood of your enemies.  The halls of sin will be opened for you after the bells have been rung.

For the first part of this quest, you must travel up the cliff face and to the summit of the cliff.  Enter Gluttony’s cathedral there, and prepare yourself.  The angels must be avoided at all costs until the bell is rung, they cannot enter Gluttony’s sacred grounds, and you will be safe from them inside.  More details will be provided at the cathedral.]

Images flashed before Riven’s eyes.  A top-down view from the storming clouds, looking down on seven dark cathedrals all lined up along a cliff’s edge.  Each was enormous beyond any building Riven had ever dreamed of, spanning miles across each one of them, and each had its own unique flavor to it - though he couldn’t focus in on the details before the image disappeared to display a sea of winged creatures in the skies.  Some were humanoid, some were monstrous, and others were just plain weird - but they all guarded the unholy grounds, ready to kill anything or anyone that dared attempt to find their way to the cathedrals of sin.

They were waiting for people just like him, and would strike him down should he attempt to gain access.  They were almost all far, far more powerful than he was.

The vision faded, and he was standing inside the small stone building again.  Absent-mindedly, he unlatched his armor, Messenger, and handed it to his other body.  He put it on his soul clone, giving his leggings to his darker-skinned side too, and then handed Jackal over as well.

“What are you doing?” Athela asked curiously, watching Riven’s main body take out a basic robe and then a spare and basic caster’s staff from his bag of holding.  “You’re giving away your stuff to your clone?”

“Don’t think of my soul clone as a different person.  It’s still me, just with a slightly split soul.  Both of my bodies must die for me to not regenerate.” Riven said with both mouths in sync.  His main body continued to dress, strapping on some boots while his darker version adjusted the gluttonous armor and flipped the desecrated blade of his spear-staff around with practiced ease.  “The sin items are better used with my other half.”

“Why?”

“My cloned body does additional direct soul damage, and if you stack that on a mana pool that I won’t be using in my clone body it’ll be even greater.  My base class, Warlock Devastator, does 1% additional unholy damage passively with each physical strike based on how much mana capacity I have.  Since I won’t be using any mana at all, as my soul clone can only use sin abilities that I don’t yet have except for a 5000 year cooldown ability I’ve recently used to get you back, I’ll be completely melee with the clone body.  It’ll be my entire mana pool’s 1% bonus the entire time, which is enormous, and add that to the passive soul damage - you’ve got a huge hitter.  The second reason is that I can now use my main body primarily as a mage, so if things go right - I’ll be able to outfit my main body with caster gear while utilizing my sin body for up close fighting.”

Athela’s eyebrows raised.  “That’s… actually pretty smart.  But your sin body does lack mobility.”

“For now, but only somewhat.” Riven acknowledged.  “With Jackal’s lunge, the martial art built into my spear staff, as well as Messenger’s ‘Launch’ ability to use like a jetpack, I might actually be equally mobile when comparing those to my Blessing of the Crow and Riftwalk.  Fimrindle, how are you feeling?”

Their eyes turned to the metal scarecrow, who stood on the ground motionlessly gazing at them.  Riven had yet to see it actually move a single time since meeting the strange creature, only seeing the end results of its movement after blinking or looking away.  The sensation of not actually being able to see active movement was certainly off-putting, but at least Fimrindle was on his side.

“Eager and ready, but weakened due to my transmutation into a lesser level now that I’ve bonded with your sister.” The raspy voice of the scarecrow replied, scythe in one clawed, metal hand with the lantern in his other.  “Athela, you and I are both assassins.  We are able to sense Riven and Allie by our soul links.  We should keep a perimeter.  Also… Riven… you should really think about what you are going to do with that blade.”

Both Riven’s furrowed their brows.  “Blade?”

“The demon slaying blade in your storage.” Fimrindle stated flatly.  “It is blessed by a commandment.  I believe it was likely sent to your world in an attempt to have you assassinated.  Think about how the one group of people who could track your location by the skill ‘Ping Chalgathi Artifacts’ were given such a weapon, and then those same people ambushed your contracts at the exact right time and place while using this sword to cut your bonds to your contracted familiars.  Is it truly a coincidence?  Demon slayer swords like that don’t just appear out of nowhere.  But now that you have it, you may be able to trade it to Gluttony at his Cathedral - or perhaps even upgrade it if you wish to do so.”

[???, Demon Slayer Blade (Relic)(???)(???): ???]

Riven’s eyebrows rose.  That brought up a lot of questions, and he briefly withdrew the black and white longsword he’d kept stashed away in his bag to study in time he was less busy.  “That’s… very good to know.  Thank you, Fimrindle.  I’ll keep that in mind when we get to the Cathedral.  What exactly are the commandments, and why would they want me assassinated?”

“The eternal war is ever raging.” Fimrindle replied.  “The commandments are mirror opponents to the sins, angelic in nature and locked in a conflict born at the dawn of time.  You likely gained the attention of one of their kind after displeasing a powerful holy entity, such as a deity or a priest of their orders.  Have you done such a thing so far?”

Riven’s face turned into a frown underneath his caster’s hood, and his red eyes locked with his own purple ones in the black body underneath his sin armor across the room.  “Yes.  There was once a man named Prophet with a holy book that was bound to a lesser deity, one oriented towards the Holy Foundational Pillar.  That’s the only one that I could think of.”

“Then that is likely the source.” Fimrindle replied yet again.  “Regardless of which commandment it was, or why they gave it to those in the Chalgathi cult, you now have a rather unique tool.  But keep this in mind, as I doubt it is the last time you see such an attempt to harm you or those bound to you.”

Riven slowly nodded, then looked up the cliff face where Yattazi’s memories highlighted a stairway leading into the heavens.  It would no doubt be a long journey up, and a longer journey down, but they needed to get moving.  “Alright.  Time to go.”

***

Allie stared at the scarecrow right before it disappeared between blinking her eyes.  One moment it was there, and the next…

She shuddered at the aura it produced when the contract was settled in.  The contract only provided the barest amount of information possible, most of the text was blurred out, and she had to shake her head at the sheer power discrepancy between them even after the undead-demon-machine hybrid had cut its levels down through some obscure skill in order to temporarily bind itself to her.

She hadn’t even acquired any trait for the binding because of some loophole the creature’s temporary ability utilized.

She sighed at the unfortunate circumstance.  She’d love to have a minion like that, but she was simply too weak to control it.  The notion was almost a foreign concept to her, because so far she’d been one of the most powerful people on Panu.  But looking at her brother, and all of his minions excluding Azmoth - with even the Brutalisk coming close - they were all stronger than she was.

She shifted the bone mask to cover her face and followed the two bodies of her brother out the door, slinking through the shadows while his minions disappeared like wraiths.  Gripping her wand tightly and getting into a determined mindset, she decided right there and then that while here - she would figure out a way to become stronger too.  If there was anywhere in the universe that she could quickly grow and catch up to him, it was here.  Be it ancient artifacts, a lucky leveling opportunity, new types of undead to raise, or a dao breakthrough due to all the unholy affinity mana in the air - she would one way or the other catch up.

Allie would not be left in the dust.