My excitement did not end, because there was this thought in my head that was telling me that I finally had the spell with which I could keep my friends and those who had no clue about the incoming madness, safe.
All the properties of this spell meant that I could fry whatever Khaaz demons came close and keep everyone safe inside that field of electricity.
There was obviously something wrong inside the camp that would stop me from doing so, from the unknown effect that was suppressing the power of the Adepts in the camp to the fact that some of the Adepts here were from another continent, and Magus Academy, the Conclave of Ysmar.
Pushing down my excitement was one of the hardest things I had ever done, but I knew that being hasty would not serve me.
I had the time to prepare and understand all of my spells and push my power forward.
Haste would do nothing but cause me unneeded pain.
I could not remain in this camp before the eruption started, because I did not want whatever suppressed the powers of the Adept to reach me.
It meant that I would have to let my friends die, but I promised it would not be for long.
∞
It took me five minutes to get to the bowl where I had been fighting these last loops.
This place was so pristine, and in half an hour, the sky would go red, and this bowl would be filled with bodies in the thousands.
I closed my eyes and continued going through my status screen, resuming where I had stopped before.
I suspected that by the time I finished going through every new change in my body, the eruption would begin.
[Surge 62 → 65 (Adept)]
Three ranks increased, and I had expected this change. Surge had not evolved at the Adept Tier, and if I did not change the way I was using the spell, then its transformation would come extremely slowly.
At this time, it was still very much worthwhile for me to use Surge as a muscle, and even if the transformation of this spell was slow, it would come in time.
[Threadwork 51 → 52 (Acolyte)]
A single rank, and I was amazed that it was even growing at all since I hardly used it.
However, with my lightning spells growing faster, there would be more space for me to integrate my other spells into my fighting style.
[Staff Resonance 38 → 43 (Acolyte) — Rare]
[Concentration 58 → 62 (Adept)]
[Observation 53 → 58 (Acolyte)]
[Anima Sensitivity 41 → 49 (Acolyte)]
[Meditation 37 → 45 (Acolyte)]
[Marksman 49 → 55 (Acolyte) — Uncommon]
[Demonology 54 → 59 (Acolyte) — Rare — Unregistered]
Demonology was one step away from the Adept Rank, and I was surprised that it did not cross after fighting and killing the Narghul Sorcerer.
A force seemed to be holding me back from crossing this last step, but I would keep grinding at it until I crossed this tier and presumably be able to know the names of the demons, the way the Hollow Avatar was able to.
With the final part of my Auxiliary skills fully deciphered, what was left were the celestial-tier entries.
I had deliberately pushed these near the last because I wanted to be ready for what I was sure was going to be the most monumental change to ever happen to me.
[Mortal Shell 61 → 68 (Adept) — Broken-Celestial]
I had glanced at this skill before, so I barely glanced at it before looking at the next.
[Hollow Avatar 1 → 32 (Acolyte) — Broken-Celestial]
The Hollow Avatar turned out to be the skill that had grown faster than any skill I have ever had.
I don’t know if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but I decided that it was both good and bad. After Mortal Shell, which gave my body the freakish durability that allowed my other skills to shine, Hollow Avatar may have greater potential.
However, I knew that judging celestial skills using the grading of the system was the wrong way to know their true potential.
First seven Earth Gates, then I gain access to Celestial Origin, and these skills would no longer be broken.
And then, beneath the existing celestial entries, three new lines, and every one of them made me catch my breath.
[New Skill Acquired]
[Abyssal Direction 0 → 1 (Initiate) — Broken-Celestial]
[Acquired by: directing demonic substrate within the practitioner’s body through merged will, in the absence of Achon-tier authority]
[Effects:]
— Permits manipulation of Corruption, shadow-construct material, and other abyssal-origin substances within the practitioner’s body or in close proximity
— Higher ranks extend reach and permit operation against active demonic resistance
[Note:] Originally an Achon-tier capability. Currently operating in Broken-Celestial mode pending Celestial Origin unlock.
Okay... this was very, very interesting. Did I just get the ability to manipulate not just corruption but shadow as well? Was it due to the core in my heart?
I had no access to corruption or shadow, but if I did, then I would be able to remake the Khaazim claw, and even that massive shadow arm of the demon sorcerer.
This would give me more weapons against the Narghul Sorcerer, and I would not need to shatter my body just to kill him. In fact, if I played my card right, then there would be no need to fight him in my hollow state.
Um, this was the name I am deciding to call my other side... just saying.
So, ah, next line... skill.
[New Skill Acquired]
[Soul-Forge 0 → 1 (Initiate) — Broken-Celestial]
[Acquired by: constructing essence-stable objects from raw demonic substrate using biological infrastructure as crucible]
[Effects:]
— Permits the construction of pills, cores, talismans, and related essence-bearing objects
— Higher ranks permit more complex constructions, faster forge cycles, and reduced material requirements
[Note:] Currently operating in Broken-Celestial mode pending Celestial Origin unlock.
This skill was interesting, and had an extremely powerful utility that I could hardly imagine its full use.
It was because of this skill that my fate was about to change, if what I thought was going to happen to my body with the so-called shell that
I was beginning to wonder if I should have been able to easily gain all these powers.
The Hollow Avatar had been asking for permission from a Stone Oracle but had received none, and so he had gone ahead and made transformations to my body that needed higher authority to permit.
I wondered if the fragmented words from the Narghul Sorcerer meant something drastic had happened to this Stone Oracle, or perhaps, something else was going on here.