Unbound

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Five – 175

There were plenty of notifications from his recent battles, and when Felix let the floodgates loose they poured in. A veritable storm of System energy flooded his core before being spun back out as golden flame.

Unfettered Volition is level 43!

Voracious Eye is level 43!

Meditation is level 46!

Shadow Whip is level 38!

Stone Shaping is level 40!

Wrack and Ruin is level 39!

Corrosive Strike is level 40!

Unarmed Mastery is level 40!

Dodge is level 44!

Exploration is level 35!

Dual Casting is level 32!

Oathbinding is level 21!

Influence of the Wisp is level 41!

Invocation is level 17!

So many Skills, Felix thought as the thrum of power coursed through his channels. He forgot, sometimes, how wide a net he had cast in that regard. He even had a couple that hit Apprentice Tier, a milestone that felt somewhat lackluster after all the rest. With a flex of his Will (no, my Intent), he truncated the presentation of Apprentice Tier ups. The System seemed amenable enough to changes like that, and the blue boxes merely flickered before reappearing.

Mana Manipulation is level 37!

Apprentice Tier!

You Gain: +5 WIL, INT, INE

Abyssal Skein is level 28!

Apprentice Tier!

You Gain: +10 to PER, EVA, FEL

Make an Entrance is level 37!

Apprentice Tier!

You Gain: +3 INE, MIG, ALA

There. Short and concise.

Without warning, there was a piercing pain in his core, like the tearing of a muscle that got progressively worse.

Intimidation is level 12!

...

Intimidation is level 24!

Agh! Broken Skill! Felix still had a number of those, but this was the only one that wasn't a weapons Skill of some kind. He didn't recall intimidating anyone, but supposed that was more a matter of perspective. It burned in the dark, dripping sparks of light like blood as it cut through the happy haze of leveling so many other Skills. I'll have to sunder this one soon. It's not even that useful...

Luckily, there was more to distract himself.

Ravenous Tithe is level 54!

Congratulations! You Have Reached Journeyman Tier in Ravenous Tithe!

You Gain:

+5% STR

+5% REI

+...

Felix considered his options and gripped an Essence with his Will, yanking it into his core ring of liquid flame. The sense of grim certainty that pulsed from it was a tidy match for his vast, hungry Skill.

Rare Essence Detected During Formation!

[Essence of Dustbringer]

Broken Path and Fatebreaker Titles Found! Journeyman Tier Bonus Added!

Calculating Effects...

Choose a Feature:

Annul - The Way to Break

Vigor - The Way to Be

Conductor - The Way Between

Felix, gripped by the flow of his choices, let his Mind maneuver through the options. Annul, to break, to cancel, was tempting. His current Mind was the Godeater Mind, and that suggested breaking gods themselves. Seemed fitting if insanely ambitious.

Vigor was sort of the opposite, a word that meant life and vibrancy. Yet Felix had learned a law of magic in his studies, and it was that "like called to like." Would Tempering his Hunger with Vigor mean he'd draw in more benefits from what he devoured?

The last seemed the most arcane, yet it was compelling as all the rest. A conductor could transmit energy from one place to another, like a lightning rod. But it was also the word used for those who directed symphonies and orchestras. In a world where music itself was magic, that was almost too much to pass by. If it meant what he hoped.

Congratulations!

You Have Absorbed The Essence Of Conductor!

A blare of horns sounded around him as another wave of System energy stormed through his core. A halo of thunderfire around Ravenous Tithe, and the Skill became a bonfire within his internal solar system. Just as the ribbon of light connected to his core, quick on its predecessor's heels, his next notification appeared.

The Song of Absolution is level 55!

Congratulations! You Have Reached Journeyman Tier In The Song Of Absolution!

You Gain:

+10% EVA

+10% MIG

+...

Again, a moment of concentration to fix his Affinity upon the Essences arrayed within him. Some vibrated more strongly than others, and without even looking, just by feel, he chose.

Rare Essence Detected During Formation!

[Essence of Sainted Bones]

Broken Path and Fatebreaker Titles Found! Journeyman Tier Bonus Added!

Calculating Effects...

Choose a Feature:

Martyr - Witness of Faith

Manes - Those That Remain

Glory - Acclaim of Faith

The idea of faith baked into his Body sent a ripple of cold distaste through Felix, and he braked hard on the two Features that mentioned it. He clearly stole these from the cathedral and the last thing he wanted was some sort of religious tie to the Pathless who, by all accounts, seemed like a dick. Glory sounded alright otherwise, but Martyr? Felix let out a sharp laugh. No.

He chose Manes.

Congratulations!

You Have Absorbed The Essence Of Manes!

Again, a tremor pulse through his body as the Essence descended into his core ring. Yet another halo of thunderflame surrounded The Song of Absolution, not nearly as bright as the one around Reign of Vellus, but equal to all the rest. The ribbon tether formed quicker than before, almost conjured wholesale in an instant, and a new sensation joined the rest. When Ravenous Tithe had connected to his core ring, it had felt like a jolt of caffeine except a million times more powerful. As his first Body Temper connected, it felt similar but perhaps more akin to adrenaline. Fluids and hormones flooded his system, and his very much physical channels seemed to tremble in anticipation.

A wave of System empowered light blasted forth, inundating his pathways with nurturing radiance. When it had passed, Felix felt like he had been strengthen in some small way, while at the same time his head reeled.

Yet he was not done.

Bastion of Will is level 53!

Congratulations! You Have Reached Journeyman Tier In Bastion Of Will!

You Gain:

+5% RES

+5% FEL

+...

Starting to get a bit dizzy from the constant pulses of growth inducing power, Felix blindly groped for what he felt was his last Tempering Skill. He regretted taking all of this on. Was this how it was supposed to feel? Like ants were crawling through his skin and his muscles felt like they were on fire?

He...he didn't feel well.

Rare Essence Detected During Formation!

[Essence of the Severed World]

Broken Path and Fatebreaker Titles Found! Journeyman Tier Bonus Added!

Calculating Effects...

Choose a Feature:

Sever - Break The Ties That Bind

Empyrean - The Skies That Bind

Moon - Grip The Binds That Tie

Felix's mind felt muddled, buzzing though it was with what felt like limitless energy. It felt like he had all the energy and cognition of a five year old with ADHD and a serious sugar problem. The Features blurred before him, and thinking on them felt...pointless. He was making choices based on scraps of information that were little better than nothing at all! Why was this world so maddeningly dense?

Screw it, he thought, feeling certainty wash over him in equal measure with his vertigo. They won't show me the rules? I'll just tear them apart.

Sever!

Congratulations!

You Have Absorbed The Essence Of Sever!

The moment he absorbed the last Essence, the rest were torn from his grip. No longer held, they were sucked down into his spinning abyss, with only a brief flash of sizzling heat to indicate they had been devoured. Yet the explosion of thunderflame that erupted around his Bastion of Will was wild, a conflagration that traced the razors edge of a consequence Felix could not conceptualized, only feel. Ribbons of light flailed outward, one connecting to his core ring, but others reaching out to The Song of Absolution and Untempered Skills like his Manasight and Deep Mind. The latter were gossamer, nearly transparent connections, but firm just the same.

Vertigo hit him hard as colorless System energy poured in from the darkness around his core, and the space was transmuted to a flood plain of gold and azure light. As the light washed over his Tempered Skills, he felt a powerful kick back that yanked him out of his core space and into the physical world once more. His head was already spinning, but this sent him reeling. Felix hurled up a thin stream of bile as more notifications flashed at him.

Hidden Quest Completed!

Defeat the Corrupted Domain!

You have faced and defeated the forces that have sent the Haarwatch Domain into a death spiral.

Due to defeating a Larval Ravager, your rewards are increased!

Due to defeating the Envoy, your rewards are increased!

Due to defeating a Ravager Queen, your rewards are increased!

Due to defeating a Ravager King, your rewards are greatly increased!

You Gain:

+3 Levels

+New Title

+Silver Chest

You Have Gained 3 Levels!

You Are Now Level 45!

+6 to PER! +6 to VIT! +6 to END! +9 to INT! +12 to WIL! +12 to AGL! +15 to DEX!

You Have 82 Unused Stat Points!

New Title!

Primordial Slayer (Transcendent)

+50% All Stats - You have killed a Primordial, an ancient enemy of the gods themselves! You--

ERROR!

Primordial Still Detected!

ERROR!

Primordial Is Dead!

ERROR///!

-#(#-$(%!!!

ERROR!

Flashing white text and a flickering blue background consumed him.

"Wake up, Felix."

"Gugh?"

"Wake up and have your breakfast, Bumble."

Despite feeling like warmed over crap, Felix's head snapped up at that word. Pushing his Perception, he tried to sweep the room as fast as possible. He sat at a wooden table in an extremely familiar room. A pale linen ran along the center of the table, it's edges detailed with the delicate lace his mother loved. He was in his family's dining room, a place he hadn't seen in months, but which had haunted his dreams a time or two.

The reason for his nightmares sat quietly at the other end of the room.

"You," Felix said while making sure the exits were still where he remembered. The door to the street was down a level, hard to reach from there, but a sliding door was to his left and a large picture window was fifteen feet behind him. Down the hall, he could hear someone walking about; the floorboards were creaking. Was there someone else? "Why?"

He'd been pulled into a memory of his mother's home before; only last time, he had been battling the lying constructs the Maw had assembled. His interaction with this creature was not a great memory, though she had given him advice that proved fruitful, in the end.

The woman watched him over the rim of a teacup. Unlike last time, she actually faced him, though her form was draped with thick shadows. The room around them was bright with golden morning light, but none of it reached her form. She set down her cup, and the way her arm moved sent shivers down Felix's spine. Joints were not made to move like that. Not human joints, anyway.

"I needed to speak with you, Bumble," she said, and Felix felt bile rise in his throat at the sound.

"Don't call me that. Not ever," Felix gripped the table before him and considered hurling the damn thing at the creature. Only his mother called him that. "I didn't agree to speak with any gods today, or whatever you are."

The thing that he was increasingly certain was the goddess Vellus laughed, and for a dizzying second Felix saw a windswept crag before him. Then it was gone. The shadowy figure dabbed at her lips with a cloth napkin, the nice ones his mom kept in storage. 'For guests,' she would say, though she never had guests over. It just made him more angry to see them being used.

"You are an ascendant on the Broken Path, Titlebearer. With our link, that affords me some options. What's more, you're a Fatebreaker, and now you've finally killed the Primordial that has been dogging your steps since your summoning. This is me congratulating you, Felix Nevarre."

Her voice was soft and smooth, like a gentle rain from lavender skies. Felix flared his Will, Alacrity, and Felicity, trying to keep it at bay. It offered a calming solace, and he needed his wits about him. "Stop that."

The sound stopped immediately, and he thought he saw a frown cross the thing's obscured face. "My apologies. I meant no harm."

"Don't mess with my head, then," Felix growled. "I'm not in a mood to deal with more cryptic beings. If this is a congratulations, then thanks. I appreciate it. Send me back."

Vellus made a confused noise and shifted in her chair. The movement of her body was oddly disjointed, and Felix had to look away. "I had forgotten how...discourteous the Unbound could be."

"I'm not gonna grovel, if that's what you're after," Felix finally did stand up, though he realized that Vellus still stared at him levelly though she was still seated. Like she had instantly grown taller.

"That is not--I have come to thank you. And to warn you," Felix felt her eyes on him like two hot brands. "Your Dawnwalker Spirit was a light in the darkness, a way forward through the unknown. Your own guidepost into this wild world. Yet as you navigated the darkness, you have grown your power against the heavy wheel of adversity. Your dominion has widened with every step, and those arrayed against you have failed to call you to heel. The pull of your existence is growing harder to miss, ascendant, and soon your enemies will have to acknowledge you. And your enemies are far more numerous than you can imagine."

Vellus paused and her head tilted at him. The sound of creaking floorboards grew louder.

"You're the one giving me tips on Tiering up?" Felix asked.

"I am. You activated the bloodgate in my ancient temple, and so we are connected by tenuous strings. Link enough to give you what aid I can." The silhouette of a goddess sagged, as if a heavy weight dragged at her. Those floorboards groaned. "We do not have much more time. There is much you must hear. You have traveled beyond the First Gateway to the threshold of the Second. Before you lies a path that once held the promise of the divine...now it is no more than a weedy game trail, barely visible among the overgrown wilderness."

She twitched, and Felix was scalded by the impression of boiling rain the color of blood. "I can help bridge the gap, Felix Nevarre. But you must find the Temples of the Lost Gods, just as you have found mine. It is the only way."

Dark eyes, black on black, bored into his own. "But you must beware us. We are not your friends, or allies. We are gods, Felix Nevarre."

Steps, heavy and fast, rattled the whole house.

"We are not to be trusted."

"Gugh!"

Felix woke on the cold floor of his warded room. He'd sprawled out on his back, so it was the burned and stained ceiling that greeted him first. It was where the Maw's corrupted influence had been vented, back when it had tried to take him over the second time. Or was it the third time? A frustrated rage percolated in his chest as he thought on the apparent vision he'd just had.

More of the same. Another creature telling me what to do. Felix was sick of it. And the bit at the end? What the hell is that supposed to mean? 'I'm a spooky god, don't trust me, but also help me.' It's enough to make me an atheist again, despite the annoying evidence otherwise.

Felix leveraged himself onto an elbow and grunted as his sore abdominals fluttered weakly. His body felt like it had been wrung out and beaten while he was asleep, though when he checked with Fire Within, his core was calm and spinning.

A snorting huff to his left made him spin to his feet.

Unfettered Volition!

"Pit?"

Felix lowered his fists, already glowing with green, acidic vapor and blinked. Pit was curled up on the floor next to him. The tenku had come out hiding at some point, yet still seemed to be resting. That, however, wasn't what surprised him.

Pit was flipping huge.

The tenku had grown into some sort of jumbo sized horse. He had to be nine or ten feet long, and his folded up wings were likely far bigger. His head alone was as long as Felix's torso and wide too. He was laying down at the moment, but if he had stood up he imagined he'd be at least a foot taller than before. What had happened?

Toggling open his notifications, he saw that nothing remained to be seen. All notifications had been reviewed, apparently. Still confused, he opened his notification history.

Whoa. He scrolled back a bit. That explains it.

Your Companion Has Gained 13 Levels!

Pit Is Now Level 42!

+26 to PER, +26 to VIT, +26 to END, +39 to INT, +52 to WIL, +52 to AGL, +65 to DEX

Pit's Bite is level 43!

Pit's Rake is level 41!

Pit's Cry is level 44!

Pit's Skulk is level 39!

Pit's Wingblade is level 48!

Pit's Flight is level 23!

Pit's Etheric Concordance is level 62!

Journeyman Tier!

He Gains: +15% AFI, REI, EVA

Pit's Frost Spear is level 51!

Journeyman Tier!

He Gains: +6 INT, WIL, PER

Pit's Poisonfire is level 25!

Apprentice Tier!

He Gains: +11 VIT, AGL, DEX

No wonder the chimera had grown so much. As far as Felix could tell, his Companion's size was linked to his level, Vitality, and Endurance somehow. Whenever those would increase, he'd get a little boost. This time, however, he'd gotten the biggest boost yet.

I don't even know if he can get through the door like this, Felix marveled. Perhaps it would be easier to fly them both around now. Though I can fly myself, I suppose. Still, the thought of riding into battle on his flying chimera was amazing. Or even just like, down the street.

Belatedly, a single blue box chimed as it opened before him.

ERROR RESOLVED!

Primordial Still Extant!

Title: Primordial Slayer Revoked!

New Title!

Cardinal (Minor) (Epic, Scaling)

You are reborn anew! Primordial Nym, you bear the legacy of the Unseen Tide. Ware the Path. +5% All Stats.

Felix felt another giddy rush as System energy infused him, pushing him closer and closer to that second threshold. He made a mental note to ask Zara about that later.

+1 Silver Chest Awarded!

A very real, very heavy chest materialized in front of Felix. It thumped onto the stone floor so hard it cracked the surface. Felix grinned. Like the Bronze Chest he'd received before, this chest was made entirely of smooth sheets of silver metal, molded into a eye-pleasingly curved chest with a hefty lock on the lid. As before, the moment Felix touched it the lock dissolved and the lid popped open.

Received:

Blade of the Fang

Inscribed Femur of the Envoy

(50) Scales of the Ravager Queen

Huh. Felix pulled out the materials, all of which were far too big to fit in such a small container, but somehow did. The blade was nearly eight feet long, the femur at least six, and the thick leather sack containing the scales was almost like a big inflexible trashbag. The moment the trashbag of scales popped out, the silver chest winked out of existence.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Felix Eyed them and tapped his lips. The Blade was carved from a large white tooth and consisted of a grip and the naked edge. No crossguard. It was detailed with numerous lines, dots, and other designs that weren't sigils, even though it was clearly enchanted. The Femur was also enchanted, but the inscriptions were inert, remnants from the Profane Sigaldry used by the Envoy during its short, cursed life. The trashbag of scales was exactly that. Fifty palm-sized scales of rusty red color, an inch and a half thick, and--whoa--razor sharp long the edges.

A few idea began to brew in his Mind, but there'd be time for that later.

Felix pulled up both of their Status sheets.

Name:

Felix Nevarre

Level:

45

Race:

Primordial Nym (+2 to WIL, INT, DEX, END, +7 Bonus Stats per Level, -10% XP Gain)

Omen:

The Magician (+2 to WIL, +1 to INT, +1 to PER per Level)

Born Trait:

Keen Mind (+2 INT, 30 day perfect recall)

Health:

1609/1609

Companion: Pit (Tenku) Additional +1 PER, +2 VIT, +4 AGL, +3 DEX per Level

Stamina:

1518/1518

Mana:

2389/2389

Body: Seed of the Unchained Mountain (Apprentice)

Mind: Godeater (Apprentice)

Spirit: Rising Sovereign (Journeyman)

STR:

250

PER:

261

VIT:

341

END:

310

INT:

481

WIL:

947

AGL:

272

DEX:

295

Skills:

BODY

Resistances: The Song of Absolution (L), Level 55

Combat Skills: Axe Mastery (C), Level 5*; Blunt Weapon Mastery (C), Level 10*; Dodge (C), Level 44; Long Blade Mastery (C), Level 15*; Parry (C), Level 4*; Small Blade Mastery (C), Level 10; Staff Mastery (C), Level 7*; Thrown Weapons Mastery (C), Level 13; Unarmed Mastery (C), Level 40; Blind Fighting (R), Level 25; Corrosive Strike (R), Level 40

Physical Enhancements: Armored Skin (R), Level 49; Unfettered Volition (E), Level 43

MIND

Mental Enhancements: Intimidation (C), Level 24*; Negotiation (C), Level 1; Deception (U), Level 18; Make An Entrance (U), Level 37; Meditation (U), Level 46; Bastion of Will (E), Level 53; Deep Mind (E), Level 45; Ravenous Tithe (E), Level 54

Information Skills: Tracking (C), Level 15; Exploration (U), Level 35; Herbalism (U), Level 17; Voracious Eye (E), Level 43

SPIRIT

Spiritual Enhancements: Dual Casting (U), Level 32; Mana Manipulation (U), Level 37; Manasight (U), Level 49; Manaship Pilot (R), Level 1; Oathbinding (R), Level 21; Etheric Concordance (L), Level 62; Sovereign of Flesh (T), Level 49; Unite the Lost (T), Level 1

Spells: Abyssal Skein (R), Level 28; Cloudstep (R), Level 14; Fire Within (R) Level 57; Influence of the Wisp (R), Level 41; Invocation (R), Level 17; Mantle of the Long Night (R), Level 33; Shadow Whip (R), Level 38; Stone Shaping (R), Level 40; Reign of Vellus (E), Level 50; Wrack And Ruin (E), Level 39; Arrow of Perdition (L), Level 13; Theurgist of the Rise (L), Level 55

Title(s):

Survivor III (+4 END, +6 VIT)

Natural Scholar II (+4 INT, +2 DEX, +3 PER)

Giantslayer II (+3 STR, AGL)

Daredevil II (+2 STR, AGL, +3 VIT)

Butcher III (+8 STR, +6 WIL, +6 DEX)

Unconquered (+4 END, +6 VIT, +4 WIL)

Spellslinger (+4 INT, WIL)

Face the Charge (+4 WIL, +1 VIT, +2 STR)

Bulwark of the Innocent (+10% STR, VIT)

Pactmaker (+4 AGL, PER, +3 DEX)

Work Horse (+4 END, STR, +3 VIT)

Blind Pugilist (+4 PER, +3 DEX, AGL)

Exemplary Student (+5 PER, INT, +3 DEX)

Hero (+5% all stats)

Iron Will (+6 WIL, REI, +10 ALA)

Apprentice Magus (+10 Mental Stats, +10 RES, ALA)

The Broken Path (+10% Journeyman Tier Bonus)

Cage the Beast (+10% ALA, REI, INE)

Voidwalker (+10% Void Skills, +10% WIL, ALA in Void)

Indomitable (+6 INE, AFI, REI)

Unleash The Beast (+10% REI, +20 VIT)

The Shape of Fate II (+20% INE, WIL, INT)

Blessing of the Lost (Unknown)

Fatebreaker (L) (+10% All Stats, +10% Journeyman Tier Bonus)

Frostbane (R) (+10% Damage Against Giantfolk, 10% Less Damage Taken From Giantfolk)

Architect of the Rise (L) (25% bonus to learning sigaldry and making arrays)

Cardinal (Minor) (E), Scaling (+5% All Stats)

Unused Stat Points:

82

Harmonic Stats

RES:

178

INE:

420

AFI:

128

REI:

145

EVA:

65

MIG:

75

ALA:

251

FEL:

55

Name:

Pit (Companion)

Level:

42

Race:

Chimera - Tenku (+2 to PER, +2 to VIT, +2 to END, +3 to INT, +4 to WIL, +4 to AGL, +5 to DEX per Level)

Health:

1061/1061

Stamina:

786/786

Mana:

1691/1691

STR:

115

PER:

157

VIT:

230

END:

157

INT:

236

WIL:

348

AGL:

275

DEX:

266

Skills:

Bite (C), Level 43

Rake (C), Level 41

Cry (R), Level 44

Skulk (C), Level 39

Etheric Concordance (L), Level 62

Wingblade (U), Level 48

Frost Spear (C), Level 51

Cold Resistance (C), Level 23

Poisonfire (R), Level 25

Flight (R), Level 23

Active Titles:

Survivor III

Butcher III

Unconquered

Face the Charge

Bulwark of the Innocent

Pactmaker

Work Horse

Blind Pugilist

Hero

Iron Will

Apprentice Magus

The Broken Path

Cage The Beast

Voidwalker

Indomitable

Unleash The Beast

The Shape of Fate II

Blessing of the Lost

Fatebreaker

Frostbane

Architect of the Rise

Cardinal (Minor)

Pit's Harmonic Stats

RES:

34

INE:

81

AFI:

39

REI:

43

EVA:

67

MIG:

32

ALA:

58

FEL:

43

Aside from the fact that his Mana had been halved due to his changed core, Felix felt good. Both his and Pits Primary and Harmonic Stats were looking good. Exceptional, if he were being honest. Whether it was because he was Unbound or because the Maw fiddled with his fate the moment he arrived on the Continent, Felix had found opportunity after every struggle to grow stronger. He tried not to waste them. The Primary Stats were fairly straight forward, while the Harmonic Stats were more arcane, having to do with the Grand Harmony and some sort of unifying energy that bound the world together. The universe? Felix paused a moment, thinking on the vision that Vellus had pulled him into. His mother's house. Was the Grand Harmony part of Earth too? If it was, did that mean he could go back?

Did he even want to?

*SLAM SLAM SLAM*

The wards suddenly dropped and someone started pounding on the door. "Quit messin' around in there! If your done yellin', let's go! Daylight's burnin'!"

Cal's voice was sharp, but even through the walls, but Felix could hear the concerned lilt of her inner rhythm. Shaking his head ruefully, he stood and stretched. A few moments later and he flung open the door, surprising both Cal, Evie, and Portia who had crowded nearby. Felix blinked at them.

"I'm done," he said as he handed the assorted jars to Cal and Portia. The two of them juggled the eight Essence Draughts with little difficulty, but their looks were confused. "Didn't need them."

He walked out, rotating his left arm. It felt a little tight, and he could use a---he grinned as he spotted the obstacle course Rory had built a week ago. "Don't bother Pit. He's tired," he called back to them.

He was almost to the course when someone, Portia, he thought, screamed.

"Siva's grace! He's huge!"

Felix grimaced. He probably should have warned them about that.