Creation Online
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Book 2 / 7 - Battle Royale
🕑 Added 2024-06-17 16:00:15 +0000 UTC[Author's Note: Image above is how I imagine Elder Forces but without a tail]
[Author's Note: PathFinder Chapters 1 - 3 available now. 
https://www.patreon.com/posts/105893498?utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_source=android]
***
Universe Ticks - 5.56
Total Flow - 111.11
Millennium -1st
Realions - 10th
Aeus - 76th
Month -7th
Day - 24th
Sometime Before the Alpha Testers
Hildelith woke from her sleep to a different sight. Her room. It was a tad bit different. There were flowers where it was not meant to be. The bed had a different sheet. 'Freyr or Tora'. The windows looked weird. There were tables and chairs that she didn't remember bringing in. Her face creased in a frown. She vanished leaving grey mist behind and reappeared on her feet.
She was dressed in something different. Hera's gown was gone and she wore pants and a shirt she didn't recognize from the ones she stole from the tower. The materials though, were familiar.
"Seraphite weaving and ..." She pinched the pants. "... they finished it then". She looked up and around.
'Why is my room different?'. A second look assured her that it was indeed her room in the palace. It did make her wonder. A finger flicked and she disappeared.
Reappearing right in the throne room she found a very different scene. Tables, very large round tables. Five of them. Taking a step forward she found that the board was weird. Well not weird. Different. It was a miniature resemblance of something familiar.
She moved to another table. This one was divided in two and larger than the other table. Both sides rippled and moved like the table as miniature creatures moved on it. Things flew across it as well. She turned to the other five tables. One other table was divided like the one she left. Each table has the same feature.
"They managed it well".
There was a pop and Akasha appeared on her shoulder. "You're finally awake. Thank you".
Hildelith gave her an eye. "When were they completed?".
Akasha winced a bit. "The popped out after your sleep.
Hildelith gave her a blank look.
"I assure you, you just slept..." The fairy pointed at the tables. "...and those popped up. Unlike the other things you did last time these were solid when they came".
"Huh". A red blush grew on her cheeks as she remembered the last time. " And it works as speculated?"
"Yes".
"The kids. Freyr. How is...".
"He's fine. Just more troublesome". Akasha grumbled. Hildelith chuckled.
"I'm glad. He did scare me back then".
"Yes. But replicating Haero was just risky". Akasha pointed out. She nodded. It was true. Thinking back it had been an unplanned last-ditch effort. Fortunately, it had worked.
" Mother, I love you, but please, do not sleep again. Ever". The first voice crossed the now larger and taller hall. A sigh left her lips as the sound of beating wings filled the environment.
"I don't agree with Ozai in most things but I have to concede this time ma. He's right. Please never sleep". She blinked and eyed the brat coming in next. The two brats in their arguments and fights seemed to have a singular point of reason when it came to her. Hildelith didn't understand why it made her feel nice. 'Must be what mum feels?'. She chuckled.
"Mama!!!".
Hildelith stared at her tall teenage kids. Five of them strutted into the palace like they owned the place. If not for the dragon that dove through the back of the palace and took his place behind the throne. A very large dragon, mind you, and the sweet girl that seemed to have lost none of her babyish self then accepting these brats to be her kids would have been impossible. She still found it hard to accept how much of their cuteness was. gone. Well except for Haero who even as a freaking giant still had a boyish cheekiness to him.
Hildelith's eyes found the one she wanted to check on. Freyr was the first in the room. His large wings trailing smoke and glowing with purple cracks of energy. Unlike the rest, he looked younger. Something he both didn't mind and disliked. With Ozai he disliked how it made the Cosmic Elf look wiser.
Her eyes went to the outstretched neck of Molliwag who rocked her in greeting. Freyja jumped on her wrapping legs and arms around her body. "Mama, I missed you again".
She'd noticed it the first time she woke up. Even with the kids growing, even without increasing in levels, somehow she had remained larger and bigger. The teenage girl was akin to a five-year-old getting carried as Hildelith patted her back while scratching the dragon's face scales much to his hidden pleasure.
Connecting to the network her eyes pulse greyish blue as she saw everything since she last slept.
"Wow. You guys have been busy".
"You too ma. Even in sleep you just never stop. Amazing". Tora was seated by one of the tables legs crossed. Hildelith had to blink a bit to be sure this prim and proper beautiful boss lady was her child. The green eyes were a dead giveaway if the fur and ear weren't.
"Get over here brat. Come give me a hug". Crimson tinted the Umnduni's cheeks. Soon she had fur rubbing into her. Even then she was eyeing the rest of her boys. Freyr and Ozai stood on both sides ignoring the other nut and smiling at her, with Haero towering over both.
"I missed you all and I bet you have a ton to show me". Her grin seemed to make all of theirs widen infectiously. Haero bounced on his toes making the palace vibrate a bit while their garments fluttered from the wagging tail of the dragon next to them. His wasn't the only tail wagging though.
****
Universe Ticks - 8.6
Total Flow - 154.8
Millennium -2nd
Realions - 9th
Aeus - 76th
Month -7th
Day - 24th
PRESENT
Universe - Star Rings
Ring - 9th
Realm - MURHIL
Location - Random
Athena was a blur of motion as she raced through the white sands. She was fast, so fast that her movement was odd. Each step she took brought her farther than normal with a flicker a splash of mud and puddles staining her robe. Around her were flowers that even as they changed their colors and size also shivered and shrunk while being blown around by the wind and rain color. If
The sky was a whitish gray that gave the realm light which meant that they lacked a true sun. It didn't stop the rain that hammered her skull like a punishment for what she did. Glances at her screen showed her new achievement. It disturbed her. Game or not.
She stopped running as she sank to her knees. Her thoughts were everywhere as she wondered what the game devs knew. Why had she gotten such a Title? It was too coincidental to not be a trick or plan. Her eyes shook even as the rain poured down on her. Misty breaths left her even as the droplets flowed down her skin, through the ridges in her scales, and to the ground. She went to the status screen she had once more as the words flashed for her to see.
Both in the game and outside of it she had done the same thing. She couldn't believe it. Couldn't think it.
Her first step to completing ascension was taking a name. And she knew what she wanted. Athena just felt right. If she was an Alkis then she aimed to be a wise and courageous one.
The records had simply boosted had desire.
*Welcome to the Akashic Records Elder 40**
**Name:** Athena
**Abstract Rank:** Elder Force
**Abstract Essence:** Fledgeling (500/500)
**Realm Influence:** (4thR/MR/V - Uregia Town(2)(73)
**Power:** Nascent (1)
**Wisdom:** Nascent (1)
**Racial Abilities:**
- Manifestation Mastery: All Elder Forces of the Abstract Realm can manifest their willpower and imagination into physical form. They can shape reality according to their thoughts and desires, bringing their intentions to life with sheer force of mind.
- Mental Fortitude: Elder Forces possess unparalleled mental strength and resilience, allowing them to withstand psychic attacks, manipulate the thoughts and emotions of others, and maintain focus and clarity even in the face of chaos and distraction.
- Imaginative Insight: Elder Forces are imbued with boundless creativity and imagination, allowing them to perceive hidden patterns and possibilities in the world around them. They can envision new realities, devise ingenious solutions to problems, and inspire others with their innovative thinking.
**Personal Perks:**
- Thought Weaver: You weave threads of thought and intent into intricate patterns, manipulating the minds of others with subtle precision. You can implant suggestions, influence emotions, and even rewrite memories, bending the wills of those around you to suit your purposes.
**Servants:**
- Fairy of the Golden Rose - Lucivi'tunreis'yaviel'alwri
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**Domains:**
-
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**Abstract Artifacts:**
-
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**Mystic Quests:**
- Foothold
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**Abstract Skills:**
- Reality Flicker: Flicker Flash
- Mental Barrier: Emotional Buffer
- Object Conjuration: Conjure Weapon
- Suggestion: Simple Command
- Phase Step: Short Hop
**Inventory:**
- Essence Orbs(29).
**Reality Flicker:**
- Elder Forces can create small, unstable anomalies that cause brief disruptions in reality. This skill allows them to deal minor damage to enemies by creating sudden, disorienting distortions in the immediate area, enough to stun or slightly harm opponents. You can release a quick, blinding flash of distorted light. This flash can temporarily impair the vision of anyone looking directly at it, providing a momentary advantage by reducing the accuracy of enemy attacks.
**Mental Barrier:**
- This skill allows you to form a basic psychic shield around yourself or an ally. The barrier can block minor attacks and provide a temporary defense against weak psychic assaults, offering brief respite in combat situations. By projecting a calming mental barrier, Elder Forces can reduce the impact of fear or panic effects. This skill helps stabilize emotions, providing temporary resistance to abilities that induce terror or confusion.
**Object Conjuration:**
- Elder Forces can summon simple, small objects into existence. This skill enables them to create basic tools, such as keys, ropes, or small weapons, which last for a short duration before dissipating. You can summon a simple weapon in existence. This weapon is sharp enough for basic combat, lasting just long enough to defend against or engage in a skirmish before dissipating.
**Suggestion:**
- Elder Forces can implant a simple thought or command into the mind of another. This skill allows them to subtly influence a target's actions, making them follow a basic instruction like "stay still" or "drop your weapon" for a brief period. You can implant a basic command in a target's mind, such as "stop," "sit," or "move." The target will feel a strong impulse to follow this command, although it lasts only for a brief moment and can be resisted by strong-willed individuals
**Phase Step:**
- This skill allows Elder Forces to teleport a short distance, effectively allowing them to move instantaneously within their immediate surroundings. It can be used to dodge attacks, reposition in battle, or bypass small obstacles. You can teleport a very short distance, such as a few feet, allowing them to quickly dodge an attack or reposition slightly in combat. This movement is almost instantaneous and can help them evade immediate danger.
Gaining each skill did not come easy to Athena. With Ascension complete came the new quest.
[Quest - Realm wide]
Foothold
Without their rightful rulers, the realm has turned into a lawless land. Packs of beasts roam the realm terrorizing and consuming folks. Quell this unrest and begin setting your foothold.
- Subjugate at least two packs of beasts -0/2
- Find at least a single Domain - 0/1
[Rewards - ???]
She could remember the events of the past half an hour. Luciv, her fairy had advised on how exactly to practice and gain your skills. Running and willing herself to be where she looked was one way as she found herself appearing as far as her sight took her creating Phase step since she seemed to blur right before teleporting.
In one such blur, she landed right amid a group of creatures. Luci had screamed for her to teleport away and she found herself vanishing and appearing right to their side at most 5ft from the creatures.
Short Hop was formed under Phase Step.
The creatures were Mindflayers, tentacled monsters with humanoid bodies and squid-like faces. And the warning Luciv gave chilled her to the bones. The things were masters of psychic energy and used their powers to invade and manipulate the minds of others. They either came from a dungeon or got washed down here from the Dream Realm.
She'd understood half of what had been said at the time as her mind had been more geared to getting farther from the things. That was when Luciv had advised on the next skill. With the Mindflayers having telepathy, mind control, psychic blasts, and the ability to create psychic barriers it was best to stay calm.
First, Elder Forces couldn't be mind-dominated by just anything. Which meant she was safe in that aspect. But to act without constraints and panic Luciv advised the next skill she made.
Mental Barrier. Focusing on controlling her mental state brought a calmness she didn't expect. It creeped her out and she wondered if the game was affecting her mind. Calming and discarding the thoughts she reminded herself that the game was neural in a way so it wasn't surprising to see something like this.
Athena wasn't running anymore as she wished to test and see what she could put out. Teleporting around the creatures was a small but steady trickle against her essence. Wanting a way to kill the. without actively getting too close to their disgusting squid faces gave her the next skill.
Three skills in a few minutes felt rushed but she had to remind herself she was an Elder Force or Alkis as the mortals knew.
Object Conjuration was the best of all the skills, not for any other reason but its ability to gift her whatever she imagined as long as it was within the limits of her essence to make. Athena found herself holding onto a long spear made of shifting and shimmering energy.
Luciv called it will and intent given physicality. Whatever it meant.
Spear throwing practice began and Athena was saddened to see that she didn't get a skill for it. Still, with the pack of Mindflayers, she found her aim hard to miss. The first died and she received her first battle notification.
- **Mindflayer Slain - Essence Orb gained**
With each throw, she made an average of four kills per six throws and soon the pack had thinned or was actively tired of chasing her considering she kept Short hopping around them. There were only four left now and each had scattered to flee.
The spear fizzled and changed to a short sword like those she'd seen in museums. The difference was she imagined and willed these to be sharper and sturdier. Short Hop helped her close the distance with the nearest one and thanks to her increased ability to remain aware when appearing in new places she lopped off the thing's head.
Phase Step took her to the farthest one and she buried her sword into its head. Right before she found her next target she saw one was stop far so she gritted her teeth and willed something to disrupt it. Reality Flicker was added but Luciv urged her to be more precise. So she willed it to be blinded. Since her brain saw a bright light flashing in its eyes there was one flashing in front of the thing. Flicker Flash joined the list and with another phase step and then a Short Hop she was leaving a decapitated body. The final one that had been blinded was already on its feet and running against. It was too far. Repeating the task of blinding it and teleporting closer she was able to get close enough. The thing, unfortunately, spotted her and rolled away from her blade.
Athena clicked her tongue in annoyance.
The creature turned and charged at her screeching. Its maw widened to reveal jagged teeth. If not for Emotional Buffer Athena was certain that the sight should have creeped her out. Narrowing her gaze she forced herself into its mind and when that didn't drop the creature like it did with those animals on Vaustaris she yelled into its brain.
'STOP'.
Suggestion of Simple commands joined her list of skills. The thing's head dropped to the ground, blood rising off its decapitated head. She stood there eyeing the thing. Her features showed both a grimace and excitement at what she could do while half-listening as Luciv tried to explain the difference between the orbs she got from these creatures and the one she had been given for completing her ascension.
Essence Orbs from weaker creatures were barely above Novice and when they were they barely crossed the 20 units mark. To get higher essence orbs she needed to battle creatures that could in theory make her bleed.
One thing Athena noticed that she didn't like was how the skills took certain costs and didn't inform her. Each skill cost was dependent on what she did, its distance, or its effect. When using Stop it cost a measly 1 point of her essence since she didn't find it hard to command the creature. Using Flickering Flash cost just two points but with the consecutive uses to keep the last from fleeing the total had risen.
To Phase Step was a whopping 3 points and added 1 point for each 5 meter. Short Hop was just 1 point itself. Materializing a tangible object seemed to cost as much as crossing space in a long distance. Then from there essence points were added due to length, weight, and other things. The spear cost nine points due to length and the blade was just a standard five points.
Not remembering how many times she had used her teleports was forgotten as Athena realized a very big problem. There was no Essence Regeneration. If she depleted it that was it. To get it back she had to absorb essence again from her foes orbs.
"Well, shit". Quickly she absorbed all the essence orbs in her inventory except the reward. She found her essence rise back to a good 481. Calculating she found the essence from Vaustaris did nothing for her. It was like adding oil to water. It entered but refused to mix. The essence from the Mindflayers was barely useful but still good enough.
"Are these corpses useful?" She asked the fairy buzzing around her head. The thing nodded quickly.
"You'll always need materials and Mindflayers are good for things that you'll know once you have your domain. That's more imperative". Athena shrugged and nodded. Luckily all the beasts could enter her inventory. It was time to go.
Luciv shouted in her mind. She didn't understand the words yet, but the panic and worry in the fairy's voice had her using Short Hop. It took her a bit to the right dodging an arrow that sailed past her former position. She watched the arrow fly off and then looked towards its origin. The assailant stood a good distance from her.
The male was massive. In a muscular way. Large white horns grew from his forehead, white scales adorned his skin at intervals, and gladly he lacked a tail. He had claws on his fingers and toes. His upper body was bare and there was just a splattering of thick scales there to provide defense.
Athena was glad he didn't look too shabby. Simply because she was yet to find a mirror and if he looked ugly then that would mean she was too. After all, standing before her bow pulled and pointing straight at her was another Elder Force.
'Is PVP allowed'.
'You mean EvE?'.
Athena tilted her head in confusion. 'Elder vs Elder battles'.
'Oh, yeah.'. Realizing it must have been the game's way of letting the guide help while still keeping the realistic immersion she found she liked it.
'Yes. It's allowed. Infact, it's more than allowed'.
'What do you mean?". She asked watching the dude well. Before Luciv could answer though he loosed a bolt. She short hopped to another location but he was ready. Somehow he was there, with a short sword like her own and swinging down at her. She hopped again and he followed this time with a spear throw that surprised her into rolling away.
Pain.
"Aaarghh". Athena screamed and found a very real arrow sticking out of her thighs. It had smashed through the scales and perforated her muscles.
The twang of a bow string had her hopping back to her starting position. She saw the Elder Force's eyes follow her and the next thing she knew there were Mind flayers everywhere. The short sword spawned and with effective lethality, she began cutting them down.
'Athena'.
'A minute Luciv, let me handle...'
'Athena, they ..'
'Just help me keep an eye on ...'
'A bolt ripped through her back and sent her sprawling face first'.
'Foolish child they're not real'. The words echoed in Athena's head with a berating tone. She groaned as she looked up. She did notice that the things didn't touch her and just growled like zombies around where she lay. But still, she was injured.
'Then how'.
'None of you can create physical illusions yet. The Psions maybe not you. The essence cost would be higher than any of you could field'. Athena didn't move a muscle to not alert the other Force on the fact that she was thinking of how to put him down.
'You can't do that when he's actively feeding suggestions to you'. That shocked her. Thinking back she realized that if her skill set could let her dominate minds while couldn't others create more hidden suggestions.
'Is my will so weak?'.
'It's not just about weak but knowing about the manipulation. You have an emotional buffer skill. Now make one to block off such things'.
'Will it help with the illusions?'.
'No. You'll have to trust that none of them are real and get the real one'. Athena frowned. But she had to do this. Falling here was a no no. Plus she had a little mortal to tell tales of her ascension too once she could go back to Vaustaris.
'No way I'm telling her a fool beat me'.
