Chapter 214 - Gheratros The Sponsor (Patreon)

“So that wasn’t a dream. You’re real?” Awestruck, Jiran stared up at the gargantuan eye that blotted out his entire view.

“Ahh, you remember me. That saves some time. I declare,” her voice was a roaring surge that swept aside Jiran’s paltry mental resistances. Each syllable ignited directly within his mind, causing his eyes to water and his thoughts to struggle in their forming.

Once more, he rallied his mana, this time with a much softer touch. It flooded his skull with the intent to protect him from her overbearing mental powers. The vision that had enveloped his senses winked out of existence. He was still in the picturesque glade, lying on the soft grass.

Telepathy can be so strong? She’s not even trying to hurt me. Wait, can she read my thoughts?

“Yes,” she responded, “So long as you form them into words, any with enough experience in the skill can. Images and concepts, however, are significantly more challenging to decipher as each brain is constructed from its own particular set of memories. I inform.

Jiran squeezed his eyes shut, focusing on controlling his thoughts and protecting himself from her voice, “Thank you for the warning. Uhm, what… are you?”

She chuckled, the sound a barrage against his mana, “The result of evolution taking its course. I surmise.”

“Evolution? Does that mean it's possible to evolve your race more than once?!”

Gheratros’ chuckle turned to an annoyed grumble that shook the heavens, “Waiting for you to speak is painful enough. Please refrain from reiterative questions. I demand.”

“Right, I can do that. So, you’re the one who tried to turn me into a Solophid? Why? Oh, and thanks for helping me get out of the arena early.”

“You are welcome, though I did not respond positively to your query out of generosity. There is something you have that I want. As for the Solophid matter, I believed their particular powers would have complimented your existing skillset nicely. Instead, you chose to double down on your proficiencies which turned out to be an excellent choice. Not that any of your options would have been bad. I inform.”

“What could I have that… The results of the tier four arena! Considering the number of people who have passed, that’s got to be a pretty big mystery. And with the timing of your introduction moments after I finished, it makes perfect sense. Am I right?”

Through their Telepathic connection, Jiran received a strong impression of a smirking pair of lips, “Very clever. Though you are incorrect about the timing, in a sense. Had I attempted to contact you previously, your brain would have melted. This is the first true chance we’ve had to speak. Here is my offer: you are allotted two additional favors, having granted one already, at significant expense. I enlighten. Once those favors are fulfilled, you will inform me of every detail regarding the tier four arena, withholding nothing. You must also agree to keep said details confidential. If you should renege on your end of the bargain, your life, and all those who follow you, would belong to me. I propose.”

Jiran was actually considering her offer, until hearing the final stipulation, “Not a chance. There’s no way I would negotiate with their lives. Especially not with someone I know nothing about. I hope you don’t take offense to that. I really don’t want to be on your bad side, it's simply a fact.”

“I remain unoffended. I sense you are adamant about your decision, despite your ignorance. I did not include them for my own greed, but rather so that you would retain your playthings should you come under my service. I do not want them, only you and your knowledge. If you desire to be separated from them, so be it. I regretfully concede.”

“Hold on, can we slow down for a second so I can think?”

The eye rolled and her boredom was so prevalent Jiran felt it as a physical weight pressing him into the ground, “If you insist. Hold to mind that there is nothing else you have that I want. However, there are a great many things I have that you desperately need. You may think you are fine, yet you rest upon the precipice of the wider world which is far beyond what your imagination can conjure. Refusing my offer would not affect the eventual outcome, either. Someone will eventually pry that information from you whether you like it or not and I will simply take it from them in turn. Calm yourself. That was not a threat. I have no intention of releasing the knowledge that you passed the tier four arena to anyone. The results of such a blunder would be… catastrophic. I assure.”

Jiran’s features scrunched in confusion. Careful to not form his thoughts into words, he considered how a single arena could be so important. Based on math alone, a single individual could access only a limited number of arenas. For instance, if tier ten were the highest one could achieve, finding beasts powerful enough to accrue challenger density would be impossible after reaching the seventh tier, unless they skipped early arenas. 

If, as she alluded, the wider world knew the tier four arena was impossible to clear, then he assumed they simply skipped it and made up for its loss at a future tier. “For someone like you to say it would be catastrophic if news got out... Is it really that big a deal? It’s just one arena.”

Gheratros grunted, her single snort releasing enough air to fill the atmosphere of a small planet, “Foolishness begets you poorly. You should well know that each subsequent arena is vastly more challenging than the prior. Likewise, each tier of the challenger accumulates difficulty as well. Any being with two thoughts to rub together would take the fourth tier arena over the eleventh. Yet that is not currently possible, as none who enter return alive. The knowledge you possess would change the fates of the offspring of the most powerful actors across Madra. The price they would pay is beyond your comprehension. I educate.

“Why are you telling me all this?”

Gheratros squinted at him, once more appraising whether he was worthy, “Are you insinuating I should have attempted to deceive or trick you? We are sponsor and adjutant. As such, we shall be working together for eons to come, should you survive. Souring our relationship so early is unnecessary. I conclude.”

Jiran’s minds raced as he attempted to keep up with the conversation and all of its subtleties. There were simply too many things he didn’t know and didn’t yet understand. With furrowed brows, he attempted to deflect and buy himself more time, “An adjutant? What does that mean? And what exactly are the responsibilities of a sponsor? Are there rules you have to follow? How did you end up being mine? Shouldn't I... get a choice or something? Not that you seem bad, just curious.”

The booming voice in Jiran’s skull took on a tone rife with rote boredom, “Of course there are rules. The edicts bind all things. As for their subtleties, they are not for you to know until the honor of becoming a sponsor is within your grasp. I deflect.”

Jiran had a flashback to the several times Lenton suddenly ended conversations with him after growing bored. In an effort to get her to stay and possibly reveal more priceless information, he said the first thing that he could think of that might reignite her interest, “Okay, let’s say I did agree to your proposal. What kind of favors are we talking about?”

Gheratros rapidly clicked whatever she had for a tongue, “Quite literally, anything. Libraries of knowledge, guaranteed advancement through the tiers, the subjugation of any race you desire. There are no limits to my favors, only your ability to contemplate them. I notify.”

Jiran blanched, unable to comprehend how he lost such a priceless favor in the arena, “You’re putting the subjugation of an entire race on par with responding to a query in an arena? There’s no way those are equal!”

Gheratros’ eye flicked up to look at something in the distance that he couldn’t perceive, “You speak very confidently of matters you know nothing about. With the death of the last administrator, the simplistic avenues sponsors used to assist their adjutants vanished. I could not see the details of your query when I accepted it. You could have been asking for my own death for all I knew. I took a risk, and paid a price. A price that I have no intention of revealing, so don’t ask! I resent.”

“The death of the last administrator?” Her eye widening in outrage reminded Jiran not to waste time repeating her. “Does that mean there isn’t anyone overseeing or controlling the arenas? Are they some kind of automated system?”

Gheratros sighed and he knew he was losing her, “In a manner of speaking. Your thirst for knowledge is rather eclectic. I conclude. Why bother with such unimportant details? The system has provided us with the means to grow stronger. Is additional thought about its underpinnings truly necessary? I wonder.”

“Of course it's important!” Exasperated, Jiran wanted to throw his hands in the air but didn’t dare as he had yet to acclimate himself to his newly increased attributes, “Don’t you want to know why the arenas exist? What’s the purpose of it all, what does Madra want from us that it created the system in the first place?”

“Is Her purpose not obvious? To raise warriors. I proclaim.”

Jiran nodded slowly, having guessed that much long ago, “That part’s easy enough to figure out. Why does Madra want warriors? What’s the point of it all?”

Gheratros blinked, “That’s not something I can divulge without experiencing significant pain. Pain that you are not yet worthy of. Unless you accept my proposal and utilize a favor. I suggest.”

Ugh. The edicts. Figures.

“Well, you’ve answered several of my questions for free, and you don’t seem like a terrible… person, sponsor? Anyways, I’ll keep what I know a secret and seriously consider your deal.”

“Excellent. Do attempt to stay alive in the meantime, would you? I suggest you continue to find and address your weaknesses. It is not a lack of strength that kills ascenders, it is always a weakness exploited which eventually dooms us. I have observed.”

“Uh, thanks for the advice? I suppose you already pointed out my weakness to mental intrusion, thanks for that, too.”

She grinned, the eye becoming a half crescent beneath its enormous lid, “You’re quite welcome. I can feel your desire to discover your new abilities so I will bid you farewell. So long as the knowledge remains confidential, our bargain stands. I promise. 

One final insignificant matter before I depart,” her voice took on a droning, rhetorical manner as though she were reciting something for the thousandth time, “It is my great joy and honor to extend you an invitation to the seven thousand four hundred and sixty-third annual scionic tournament of the founding houses. Participation for those with a sponsor is mandatory. You will be moved to the tournament grounds in approximately one hundred and four days. Prior to that time, we hope you endeavor to polish your skills so as not to disappoint your lineage.”

Not giving him a chance to respond, the pressure in his skull vanished. He released a weary sigh, the enormous weight of her merely contacting him telepathically having exhausted him. Having to keep his thoughts to a minimum the entire time hadn’t helped.

Nothing about that invitation sounded insignificant! Guess I ran out of freebie answers. Was I really talking so slowly? I wonder what tier she is, or what she actually looks like. She can’t really be as big as that eye… right?

At least I finally have confirmation of a few things. The arenas weren’t built to find someone capable of restarting the nodes, they were built to make warriors for… something. Which means the nodes haven’t always been turned off, someone did come along and do that on purpose. This tournament sounds like a great chance to gather some intel on who might be responsible. I bet Gheratros knows, but getting it out of her is likely to cost me more than it's worth.

Another important subtlety. Since she doesn’t know what happened in the arena, then most likely, the arenas are impossible to observe. Maybe an administrator could have done it, but they aren’t around anymore. No, I think if they could have, someone would have acquired the information about why the fourth tier arena was so dangerous a long time ago. Just their name sounds imposing: Administrator. They must have been crazy powerful. I wonder how they died.

With a few quick blinks to clear his head, Jiran put aside any more thoughts about things outside his control. After all, Gheratros had been right, he was beyond eager to review his updated status.

NAME: Jiran of Madra

RACE: Remalon

AGE: 1

WEIGHT: 12.8 T > 28.2 T

Twenty-eight tons? Wow. If I’m not careful to support myself with my aura, I’ll destroy everything around me just from standing still.

ACCLAMATIONS: Remalonian Constitution / Scion of Mana

TIMER: N/A

TIER: 5

EXP: 0/1000

GROWTH: 0% 

Last tier I only needed two hundred EXP. Jumping to one thousand is a bit extreme. Hopefully, it doesn’t keep multiplying like that every tier or I’ll need to spend years killing to advance.

MANA: 75 > 150

CONCENTRATION: 27 > 54

Fifty-four concentration is just shy of a typical tier seven’s sixty-four! Well, ten Concentration is an order of magnitude increase in every attribute so it's actually a big difference. But still, that’s crazy! I’m only tier five! 

With the way challenger density worked in the past, I’ll most likely have to kill tier nines now. That’s Lenton’s tier! Yeah, better not try that until I boost my attributes at the least. It seems like no matter how high I climb, there's always a taller peak.

Despite his internal grumbling, Jiran’s entire body was burning with the desire to jump to his feet and fight. The need to test his new limits was a physical thirst that refused to be easily brushed aside. Yet he put off the raging feelings for one more minute since he was nearly to the best part.

STRENGTH: 540

AGILITY: 540

ENDURANCE: 540

DURABILITY: 540

WISDOM: 540

INTELLIGENCE: 540

CHARISMA: 80

SKILLS:

Mana Confluence: 79 > 80

Elemental Castigation: 48 > 51

Mana Omnis: 23 > 25

Enthralling Touch: 33

Gaze of Pediamus: 24 > 26

Manabody - Aspect: Origin of Ice 27.81M

Armament: 0

Mana Venom: 0

Manabody is finally in the skills category. What I had before must have only counted as an acclamation. Pretty sure the M is for meters. It definitely grew again when I ascended, pretty awesome to see the exact size.

Jiran focused on his first new skill, bringing up its description. 

Gaze of Pediamus: Perceive, detect, trace. The subtleties of Madra are revealed beneath your inescapable gaze

Okay, that’s different. Perceive and detect are the same, but now it can trace. Whatever that means in this context. Subtleties and inescapable have some interesting connotations as well. Definitely looking forward to trying that out.

Moving on, Jiran braced himself, remembering how cringy his other Remalon skill descriptions were.

Armament: Their power becomes your own. Harness it, for in your hands it finds worth

Unbelievable. I thought the last ones were bad. This is hands down the most useless description of a skill I’ve ever seen. I swear, someday, I’m going to knock some sense into the entire Remalon race and fix these awful descriptions.

With zero expectations for his last skill, Jiran brought up its description as well.

Mana Venom: Inject intent-laced mana directly into another entity to administer a variety of effects. Including, but not limited to: Paralysis, rapid cellular degradation, hallucinations, memory loss, death. WARNING: Unknown side effects may occur in subjects below user’s tier

Wait, what?!