Ch. 11 - Ascent (II) (Patreon)

The creatures flying overhead looked to be about the size of a small car. A large, scaly body with a set of wickedly sharp, clawed talons. A long, sinuous neck and a pair of leathery wings made them appear to look like traditional Western-style dragons minus the front legs. They were a mix of colors; two were green, and one was brown – and larger than the green ones.

The Wyverns plummeted down from the sky, rocketing towards the duo. Felix pulled his bow and released a shot, which the leading, brown creature rolled out of the way. “Any ideas on how to fight them?”

Tinuriel nodded her head and grinned, “They will fly down and try to grab us or rake us with their talons. Dodge and strike.”

Felix nodded and swapped weapons. “Detect Weakness.”

The brown one in the lead was highlighted with golden circles right where the wings connected to the body, the eyes, and where the leg connected to the main body. “Lucifer, can we do flaming weapons?”

“Hellblade, coming up!”

The knife blazed with crimson and black flames that licked around Felix’s hand and warmed his palm. “Alright. Let’s stack Execute also. I want to try and get a one-shot kill.”

 The Wyverns swooped down at the two, and Felix was able to dodge nimbly enough, striking out at the brown one right at one of the weak spots. It screeched and crashed to the ground as the flames burned it from within, its neck snapping from the impact as it lay still. Tinuriel sidestepped and sliced through one of the green Wyvern’s necks as it tried to grab her. She sliced clean through with her large blade.

Felix tried to roll out of the way of the other one, but it carved into him, and the talons ripped through his stomach and shoulder as he was lifted off the ground.

The ground fell away as Felix was lifted skyward, momentarily stunned from the searing pain and his sight growing dim from the blood loss, his health dropping lower and lower. Regenerate.

His sight cleared. The talons were still in him, and he screamed in pain. But he was close to a weak spot if these Wyverns were like the other one. He stabbed up into the cleft where the leg met the body and sawed the blade back and forth. The Wyvern screeched in pain as he cut away at a tendon, the leg falling limp.

Felix sheathed his knife and tried to pull the talons out of himself. “Lucifer, kill it!”

Hellfire Beam.

A beam of crimson and black energy formed right behind and above Felix before arcing into the creature, ripping a burning hole through it as it began to fall. “Fallen Flight.” The claws ripped out of him and he gasped in pain as the body fell past him. Felix reached into his inventory and chugged all his Restorative Elixirs and used ten Vigor to top off his Health.

He flew down to Tinuriel and she ran over to him, “I thought you died.”

Felix shook his head, “Versewalkers are made tough.”

[Achievement Unlocked: One-Shot an enemy]

[Unique Upgrade: Due to Detection Affinity, the awarded Talent has been altered from its base]

[Experience Awarded = 30]

[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.]

What class?

I want to know what happens when I max out your unique class. Let’s keep at it.

[Selection Made: Fallen Angel]

Your Mind is high enough for a new Skill Equip. Only one available though.

Slot that in. Finalize. Felix’s vision blurred for a moment, and he felt a minor warmth in his torso that quickly subsided.

Tinuriel wrapped an arm around Felix’s shoulder and squeezed him close for a moment, “Glad you’re tough. I need you alive to explore these other ‘Verses, as you call them.”

Felix chuckled and pushed her hand off, “Please, that can’t be the only reason.”

She sheathed her blade, “It’s the most prominent reason.” She went over to the Wyverns and began dragging them into a pile. Felix helped, and when they were all accumulated, she gestured to them. “Do your light thing that instantly flays them.”

Felix glanced at her, “Wait, that’s what it looks like when I Loot them?”

“Part of the Multiverse Adaptation Talent. Looting will look like whatever actually divesting the target of their components would look like in the ‘Verse.”

Felix held up his hand and the golden light arced out for a moment.

[Loot Obtained]

·         Wyvern Pelt (x3)

[Loot Bonus from Execution Skill]

·         Wyvern Wings (x2)

Given your developing Skills and Talents, you’re going to make a fine assassin.

Thanks, I guess. Maybe we don’t use that word, though. I feel like it has negative implications.

Tinuriel tapped Felix on the head, “Come on, let’s keep moving. We can make it to the cliffs going up by nightfall.” She led the way, and Felix kept within a step. Her arm occasionally brushed his, but neither made a move, just walking in silence. Felix didn’t mind much, as the scenery was breathtaking. Gorgeous hills would dip down into valleys with glimmering, blue lakes. Trees were sparse, and most of the area was plains with wild grasses and shrubs. Animals could be seen roaming about here and there – creatures akin to Deer.

A large, walled city came into sight as they reached the cliffs up to the next Tier. “That’s one of the towns owned by the Northern Court on the Tier above – Ashiyoko.” One of the Crises is to assist them. But your guess is as good as mine in figuring out what that means we need to do.

“What do you know about this?” Felix asked.

Tinuriel pulled her hood closer to her head and made sure to hide her ears, “There are four sets of stairs carved into the cliffs of this Tier. One is owned by each of the four Courts named for the cardinal directions on the compass. Ashiyoko is the Northern Court and is allied with Yoshiayoko, the Eastern. Echikaga and Kyikaga rule South and West, respectively, and are allied as well.” She frowned. “There has been a tense war between the sets of allied factions.”

He looked over to Tinuriel, “Do they not like elves?”

She shrugged, “If they haven't changed in the past hundred years. But better not stir the pot if we can help it.”

Felix nodded and led the way to the main gates. It was built out of dirt that had been excavated and stacked quite high, formed into earthen walls by some magic. A large set of wooden gates barred their entrance, and a few guards from above shouted down. “Halt! Who seeks entrance to Ashiyoko lands?”

“I’m a Versewalker!” Felix shouted up to the gate.

There was muttering before the guard yelled back, “Prove it.”

“How?”

“Do something Versewalkers can do.”

Felix turned to Tinuriel, “I mean, I could spend four hours opening the VBV.”

Fly, you fool.

Did you watch movies from my memories?

You don’t have good enough recall. The Recreation Room has a bunch of movies.

Felix sighed and activated Fallen Flight, flying up next to the top of the gate. “Good enough proof?”

The guard – who was wearing a series of very samurai-esque armor pieces along with a rounded hat and held a longbow – jumped slightly. “You’re…an Angel? Sent by the gods?”

“No, I’m a Versewalker. I’ve been sent to solve a Crisis. I’m to assist Ashiyoko.”

“Open the gate!” the guard yelled to his ally, allowing Tinuriel to walk in. He turned back to Felix, “Please, Seeker, follow me.” He led Felix down a set of stairs – Felix just floated down before his wings vanished – and the man led him and Tinuriel to a stone building seemingly constructed from hardened dirt just like the walls. He briefly knocked and there was rummaging inside before a robed man poked his head out. He had a shaved head and long mustache and beard that was immaculately kept. “Eh?”

The guard gestured to Felix, “A Versewalker! He’s here to assist Ashiyoko!”

The man looked to Felix, and he briefly manifested his Fallen Flight as the bald man gasped. He flung the door open and bowed at the waist. “Versewalker! I’ll write a writ of passage immediately! Please, let us provide quarters before your ascent in the morrow.”

Felix nodded and the guard led him and Tinuriel to a well-appointed, if small, house. Felix focused on opening the VBV while Tinuriel sat cross-legged, seemingly meditating. Four hours later, they both went inside.

Lucifer reformed and stretched, “If you’ll excuse me, I want to finish watching that trilogy.”

Felix patted him on the back as he went off to the Recreation Room. Tinuriel tapped Felix on the shoulder, “Do you mind if we talk?”

“No, not at all. Do you mind if I work while we do?”

She shook her head, so Felix went down to the Crafting Station and entered the Alchemy Lab. “There has to be a use for these mushrooms,” he muttered. A new recipe showed up in his vision, and he began following the instructions.

Tinuriel stood next to him, watching him work. “I…was scared you had died. Against the wyverns.”

Felix glanced at her, “It hurt, but I had Health left. Plus, the first time I die every day, I stay alive at just enough to survive. It should be long enough to use an Elixir,” he turned back to the task at hand, “Which I’m out of.”

Tinuriel put a hand on the small of his back, “That’s some comfort. I do want to explore this Multiverse alongside you, but…” She turned away, “If you’ll excuse me.”

"Wait," Felix said and Tinuriel stopped to turn around. He paused his crafting, “No point in dancing around it, so I’ll just be blunt. I think you’re very interesting, attractive, and strong. I’m sure I could use some other adjectives. But I’ve always been pragmatic, and I’d rather lay my cards on the table since you want to be in this for the long haul and venture across the Multiverse.”

Tinuriel blushed and uncharacteristically from what he’d seen thus far, played with her auburn hair a bit. “I…I don’t know what to think about you…yet.”

Felix nodded, “Understandable. You were raised with people who don’t like Humans.” He turned back to his crafting, “Take as long as you need.” He heard her footsteps departing and he sagged slightly. “Too blunt, Felix,” he muttered.

I had to pause my movie to listen in.

Can you not?

Lucifer chuckled, I can try to tune it out, but like I’ve said – I’m a part of you.

Felix finished crafting the mushrooms into something more useful.

[Loot obtained]

·         <Rank 5> Vigor Elixir

He then went up to the Shop and sold off a bunch of the loot, along with purchasing more Health Elixirs.

[Loot Sold]

·         Wyvern Pelt (x3)

o   150 VC

·         Wyvern Wings (x2)

o   200 VC

·         Squiddoid MRE (x4)

o   4 VC

[Monies Dispensed]

·         354 VC

[Items purchased]

·         <Rank 1> Health Elixir (x2)

o   200 VC

[Monies Paid]

·         200 VC

[Current Balance]

·         1354 VC

Lastly, he went to check the terminal. There was one message from the Observer.

Morning came and Felix used his open VBV Function to add a bunch of relaxing features to the environment – stone tables, awnings, gardens – and they had a nice breakfast while looking out at the mountains. Felix and Tinuriel glanced at each other, and when their eyes met, they both shifted their gaze elsewhere.

Lucifer was gushing about how a trilogy he binged the night before was so good, but the prequel trilogy was horrific and sucked. Felix got into a small debate with him over the merits of that opinion, and by the time the sun had risen high overhead, the trio were more than ready and returned to Heficyre – Lucifer merging with Felix once more.

They were met outside the provided housing by a different guard, who handed Felix a sealed document and gestured towards the stairs. “This will give you safe passage to the Royal Court. It’s a day’s travel on foot.”

Felix nodded and Tinuriel followed him as they began their ascent to the Northern Court of Ashiyoko.

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