Ch. 9 - Avelion (IV) (Patreon)

Felix went over to Tinuriel as she slammed her blade into the ground and drew in deep breaths. “Are you okay?”

She waved him away, “I’m fine!” She took off bits of her armor and dropped them on the ground as she sat on the grass. “Just…give me a minute.”

Felix nodded and crouched next to her, “Good job getting the killing blow.” He knew he had killed the thing in the end, but he wanted her to be flattered.

She glanced at him and the hint of a grin graced her face, “Good job blowing off its leg and distracting it.”

Felix chuckled, “No problem. And thanks, Lucifer, for helping with the Regeneration.”

“You’re welcome. Now come on, loot the chest! I want to see what we got!”

Felix went over and did as he was told.

[Achievement Unlocked: cleared a Dungeon in a Fantasy Universe]

[Experience Awarded = 50]

[Experience Bonus from Execution Skill = 10]

[Congratulations! You have reached the Experience threshold to level up! Speak with your Versewalker Core when you are ready to Choose your next Class.]

[Loot Obtained]

·         Wyrmtooth Knife

·         <Rank 1>Restorative Elixir (x3)

·         Local Currency: Converted to 500 VC.

[Loot Bonus from Execution Skill]

·         Forest Wyrm Dungeon Core

[Dungeon Clear Stat Boost: +1 to All Stats]

That knife doesn’t just stab, but it also releases a virulent toxin. Nasty bit of work. The Restorative Elixirs give you 10 Health, Anima, and Vigor in one go. The Dungeon Core is a unique crafting item.

Thanks for the run-down. I have two levels to spend. Let’s do both into Fallen Angel (Advanced Core)

[Selection Made: Fallen Angel]

The message was repeated an additional time right after.

You get to equip three new Skills.

Let’s do Fallen Flight, Vigor Conversion, and Shadestep. Finalize.

Felix’s torso heated up again, but instead of searing heat, it was warm and comforting. The space around him flared crimson and gold momentarily before vanishing. His reflexes felt faster, his grip stronger, and his vision improved once more. He could feel the raw power coursing through him, circling through his chest and down his limbs, pulsing with energy.

Tinuriel stood up and walked over to the chest, rummaging around inside it before pulling out a green-colored pendant, “A Poison-Proof Periapt? A lucky find.” She put it around her neck and tucked it under her armor. She looked over to Felix, “Nice dagger you got.”

Felix nodded as he pulled it out of the sheath. The weapon had a brass-colored hilt and a white colored blade that was covered in a green aura that dripped spectral poison which vanished into nothingness. “My first magic weapon.” Felix was a little awestruck at having just completed a Gods-honest Dungeon in a Fantasy world. He was doing something that he'd never imagined he would ever do in his lifetime. With the status screens and the bars constantly in the corner of his vision...he was practically living in a video game. Minus respawning on death...or save points.

Tinuriel sheathed her weapon, “The Kobolds should have vanished. Let us return to the fort.”

Felix nodded and the two began the trek back.

They arrived and were given an audience with the King. Tinuriel quickly recounted the details, finishing by gesturing to Felix. “This Human was integral in assisting the defeat of the Dungeon.”

The King frowned slightly, “While it pains me to say this, I owe you thanks, Human.” He stared hard at Felix, “Tell me…you wish to ascend the Tiers to solve problems as you mentioned.”

Felix smiled and crossed his arms taking a relaxed stance, “That’s right. There’s lots of Crises that need solving.”

“Do tell.”

“Well, we have been charged with reaching the top of the Soul Spire on Tier one, solving a murder on Tier three, and doing some politicking on Tiers five and six.”

Why tell half-truths? Or leave out the whole Dark Lord Crisis? Felix thought.

I doubt they’d appreciate the return of a Dark Lord. And we don’t know how these elves view the other Tiers. I’d guess poorly, given the racism towards Humans.

The King grinned, “Intriguing.” He looked to Tinuriel, “Are you willing to serve your King further?”

Tinuriel knelt and bowed her head, “My sword is yours, my liege.”

“Good,” the King pointed at Felix. “You are to accompany him as he journeys up the Tiers. Gather information along the way.”

Tinuriel stood up and nodded curtly, sparing a sideways glance at Felix, and he could swear he saw her give him a small wink. “Your will be done. I will prepare for the ascent.” She left the chamber.

Felix looked back to the King, “Thank you for your hospitality. May I ask a question?” The King gestured for Felix to continue, “Why do Elves hate Humans?”

The King arched an eyebrow, “You do not know? My lineage was pushed aside for a reason. True elves such as my kind once ruled Tier five, Invictus. I have a very distant relative still on the throne, but the bloodline is no longer pure. It is mixed with Human blood.” He spit in disgust. “They muddied our superiority, and thus my great-great-and further grandfather led an exodus of our people, and formed the Tier from the Unformed Chaos over ten thousand years past.”

I hate this guy. Lucifer’s anger was palpable, and Felix felt it smothering his own senses.

Why?

He uses the guise of free will to push for the superiority of racial composition. Such a waste. It infuriates me that he spurns the cherished friendship of others because of his bigotry.

That’s an enlightened viewpoint to take. “Thank you for the history lesson,” Felix said, bowing slightly. “We’ll take our leave.”

The King nodded and Felix left. Tinuriel was waiting outside. “It grows late, and the climb is a full two-day journey. Shall we set out on the morrow?”

“Sure.”

“Good, back to your temporary quarters.”

Felix was concentrating on opening the VBV whilst sitting on the simple bed when there was a knock at the door. Lucifer, can you keep concentrating on opening the portal?

Sure.

“Come in,” Felix said.

Tinuriel walked in, dressed in a tunic and pants with a knife on her hip, walked over to the empty bucket, and flipped it over, sitting on it and looking at Felix with those light-blue, piercing eyes. “My King has charged me with going up the Tiers with you.”

“Mhmm.”

“I would never refuse an order from him, but I must be honest…I am not comfortable traveling together without knowing more about you.”

“I appreciate the honesty. What do you want to know?”

“What exactly are you? You’re not like a Human I’ve met before. You exude steam from your body after you defeat a Dungeon, you manifest Magic the like of which I’ve never seen before. And your stealth rivals that of our beginner scouts.”

Should we tell her?

She’s an ally. It’s up to you. I’m of the mindset that we shouldn’t keep allies in the dark.

How long on the VBV?

A few minutes.

Felix nodded. “I’m sort of like a servant of higher gods. I’m something called a Versewalker. Heficyre, this world, is just one of many worlds. I can travel across them, solving problems and fixing things.”

Tinuriel’s eyes went wide, “We have legends of the Versewalkers who traveled across multiple worlds when they failed to form the Unformed Chaos into a Tier of their design.”

They have been visited by Versewalkers before?

No. Their word for it is a ‘Sphere-Seeker’. But your (P) Multiverse Adaptation Talent is auto-translating phrases to ones you’re familiar with. It’s handy, eh?

“I suppose so. What’s this about forming new Tiers?” Felix asked.

Tinuriel leaned forward and there was a strong glint of intrigue in her eye, and her voice gushed out. “Anyone can travel to the lowest Tier, called the Unformed Chaos, and if they are strong-willed enough, they can mold it to their will. The first King Avelion forced this Tier into existence.”

“That’s cool.”

All done! Shall we?

Felix stood up as the grey portal opened. Tinuriel jumped up and pulled her knife, but Felix gestured for her to lower it. “Come on in.”

He stepped through and was followed quickly by Tinuriel who gasped as she looked around. “Where are we?”

“This is the Void Between ‘Verses. Think of it like my personal realm.”

Tinuriel nodded in appreciation but pulled her knife once more as Lucifer took his physical form.

“Hi, I’m Lucifer. Felix’s Summon.”

She sheathed the knife, “You are not Human.”

“Perceptive. I’m an Angel.” He flared his wings out.

Tinuriel gasped, “A servant of the gods!”

“Not anymore.” He turned to Felix, “You get to make two more Rooms and Functions.”

“Let’s do a Function that gives ‘Verse appropriate knowledge to people from other ‘Verses who come in here. And a second Function would be that we can adjust the flow of time while we are in here.”

“Sure thing,” Lucifer commented. The grey void appeared once more next to the Mailbox, and a large, horizontal hourglass appeared with a bunch of tick marks. “You can use that to adjust it.”

Felix glanced at Tinuriel who was staring, awestruck, into the sky for several moments before she shook her head and looked at Felix. “I saw…so much.”

Felix grinned, “It’s crazy, isn’t it?”

“There’s so much out there.” She looked at Felix with determination, “You must take me with you.”

“Well, yeah, we were going to go up the Tiers togeth-”

“Beyond that.” She walked over and gripped his shoulder, towering over him by a half-foot. “I want to explore this Multiverse with you. I need to see it.”

“The more the merrier,” Lucifer added as he waited to see Felix’s response.

“I’d be fine with it, but what are the rules about it?” He glanced at Lucifer seeking information.

The angel closed his eyes for a few moments and his crimson light-tinged gold flared outwards momentarily. “Versewalkers may take a number of Escorts along equal to their Versewalker Core level divided by twenty, rounding to the nearest one.” He smirked. “So, you get one for now, and once you hit Level twenty-one, you can take a second one, and so on. They’ll gain your Multiverse Adaptation Talent, but nothing else.” He held up his finger, “They can come and go to and from the VBV at your discretion.”

“That means that Tinuriel here could only go with us to worlds that are a matching Core Level to her power or abilities, right?”

“That’s where the Shop comes into play. You can offset their original ‘Verse’s Core Level equivalent through equipment.”

Tinuriel squeezed Felix’s shoulder, drawing his attention back to her. “What say you?”

“I’m all for it. Like Lucifer said, the more the merrier. But we need more housing if that’s the case.”

“Using one of the remaining VBV Rooms for guest quarters, yeah, on it. And, it'll make more if we have more guests.” The grey void manifested once more, and a second house appeared next to Felix’s. “You get one more Room.”

“Let’s do something like a Recreation Room. Something to keep people occupied.” Once more, the grey void warped, and then a large, single-story building appeared next to the Shop.

“It’s got pool, swimming facilities, a hot tub, games…everything you could ask for.” Lucifer waved at the two, “I’m going to check out the sauna. Later!”

As he walked away Tinuriel let Felix go, “Tomorrow, we ascend the Tiers.” She grinned, “It will be nice to not have to make camp, and instead sleep here. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to examine my quarters.” She walked off to the guest housing.

Felix checked the Mailbox. No messages were on the screen. Looking at the hourglass, he saw that it was limited to increasing or decreasing the flow of time inside the VBV. I’m sure I’ll figure out a use for it eventually, he thought. He went into the Crafting Station bunker building and tapped one of the empty plates on a door opposite the ALCHEMY LAB. “I need something that lets me work with this Forest Wyrm Core thing, and the Acid-Slime stuff.”

Oh, sure. Easy enough.

You can speak in my head even while manifested?

I’m still a part of you.

The door became labeled LOOT FORGE, and Felix slid the door open. The interior was sparse, with only a single anvil in the center of the room with a hammer next to it on the ground. The instructions that popped into his vision advised him to place the item to be crafted onto the anvil. Okay, the Acid Slime stuff first. He waved his hand over the anvil and the slime left his inventory and splatted onto the anvil.

[You have placed a <Absorbing-Acid Slime Essence> on the Loot Forge. Select one of the following options.]

·         Armor of Absorption

·         Amulet of Absorption

“Let’s do the Armor.”

A set of instructions showed up, and he took off his armor, putting it on top of the slime before he lifted the hammer and brought it down on the two items. There was a flash of crimson and gold light, and a brand-new set of Light Armor was sitting there. Felix set the hammer down and put on the new clothes.  “That’s easy enough. Let’s try something with the Dungeon Core.”

[You have placed a <Forest Wyrm Dungeon core> on the Loot Forge. Select one of the following options.]

·         Poison Affinity – Added to Versewalker Core automatically.

·         Skill Upgrade – Warrior Regenerate.

Skill Upgrade? Again, the instructions appeared on the screen, and he brought the hammer down. The Core shattered.

The hell did you just do?

I smashed the Dungeon Core.

Well, you upgraded a Skill by doing that. Here:

Pretty cool.

It looks like that’s the best way to improve Skills. Using the same Skill repeatedly will eventually cause it to improve, but it takes a long time. Centuries of use.

Then I should upgrade Skills whenever I can with Loot.

Felix, satisfied with his new upgrade, went over to the Alchemy Lab and followed the instructions to make another Vigor Elixir before he went to his house and got into bed.

Felix rose sometime in the morning. He quickly washed up, got dressed, and went outside. Lucifer and Tinuriel were chatting on a picnic blanket and eating breakfast burritos. “Where’d you get those?” Felix asked.

“The Shop. Tinuriel’s treat. Here, I got you one.” Lucifer tossed him a foil-wrapped burrito, and Felix instantly tore into it, savoring the spicy and sweet mixture inside.

“This food is incredible! So spicy.” Tinuriel said with a giggle. “And Lucifer is quite the jester.”

Felix glanced at Lucifer and gave him a slight frown, Are you hitting on her?

Eww. No. I’m not interested in romance with mortals, even if they’re long-lived, tall, muscular elven women. It would be like you being with an animal. We are on different levels of existence.

Felix raised an eyebrow, Oh? Where do I fall on this spectrum then?

You’re not quite at my level, but not at her level. You do what you want, I don’t judge. Free Will.

Felix sat down next to Tinuriel, and the trio watched the sun rise over the snow-capped mountains before gearing up. Lucifer once more fused into Felix’s torso, and he opened the portal. The two went back to Heficyre, leaving the small house behind.

They passed through several enormous wooden gates and began their ascent up a series of carved stone stairs that went up. “How far up are we going?”

Tinuriel glanced down at Felix and gave him a brief smile, “Twenty miles up.”

Felix groaned, “This is going to suck.”

“If you can keep up, I’ll be impressed. We will rest as you need.”

At that point, Felix had pride in the line. Maybe it was because of Lucifer’s presence, but Felix felt like he had to show up Tinuriel, to prove he was better. That, and he wasn’t ashamed to acknowledge that he did find her attractive. Showing off his endurance would be a good way to start to impress her. He took the lead, going up the stairs faster and faster, surprised that he wasn’t getting more winded, and his legs weren’t cramping.

But there was a long, long way to go.

Next Chapter >