by Jackson Bale
Garm---stays---unmoving---as---he---opens---his---mouth,---“She---said---that---what---you---most---desire---is---obtainable.”
The---women's---red---eyes---begin---to---glow---as---a---smile---forms---on---her---lips.---Ony---filled---with---happiness---and---the---incoming---hunt.
“Stand---Garm,---we---will---meet---her---immediately.”
Garm---nods---and---stands,---his---hand---flicks---and---one---of---the---wolfkin---steps---up---and---runs---towards---the---entrance---to---the---chamber---and---picks---up---a---fur---coat.---He---brings---it---to---Garm---who---takes---it---and---hands---it---to---the---women.---She---takes---the---coat---and---wraps---it---around---her---naked---hairless---body.
“I---will---need---some---proper---aparell---first.---Let---us---go---into---my---chambers---Garm,”---she---says---and---Garm---nods---as---he---turns,---his---lady---walking---behind---him.
They---travel---silently---for---about---ten---seconds---before---the---woman---speaks.
“You---have---grown---Garm.---Over---level---two---hundred---now.---With---your---strength,---it---should---be---easy---to---be---rid---of---that---collar.”
Garm---touches---his---collar,---his---thumb---rubbing---the---old---metal.---“My---life---belongs---to---only---you---my---[Lady].”
Unfortunately,---without---looking---back,---Garm---was---not---able---to---see---the---expression---of---surprise---upon---her---face.---One---not---even---she---herself---was---ready---for.---But---it---only---lasts---a---fraction---of---a---second.
She---continues---to---follow---him,---her---bare---feet---touching---the---colored---tiled---floor---of---the---hallway.---The---walls---stand---strong---and---she---takes---a---moment---to---look---at---the---murals---of---battles,---of---blood,---and---of---monsters.
The---hallway---ends---into---the---living---area---of---a---massive---mansion.---Garn---continues---unimpeded---and---walks---up---some---stairs---until---he---arrives---at---a---magnificently---carved---wooden---door.---He---opens---it---and---moves---to---the---side,---“My---[Lady]”---he---says---directing---her---within.---She---walks,---her---feet---now---touching---a---fluffy---carpet.---Bowing---on---one---knee---are---three---girls,---each---with---many---levels---in---the---[Handmaiden]---class.
But---the---women---only---takes---a---quick---glance---before---moving---to---her---wardrobe.---She---opens---it---and---smiles---at---her---available---dresses.
“Bring---me---panties---and---a---bra,---both---colored---red.---I’m---feeling---in---a---good---mood---right---now.”
The---three---[Handmaidens]---stand---and---quickly---move---while---the---women---looks---forward.
“Garm,---tell---me,---has---much---changed---in---the---world---since---my---slumber?”
Garm,---standing---at---the---door,---begins---to---speak.
“Since---your---slumber,---the---other---covens---have---been---doing---what---they---do---best.”
The---women---removes---her---cloak---and---allows---it---to---fall---upon---the---floor,---“so---they---squabble---over---paltry---amounts---of---power---while---attending---those---boring---orgies,”---she---exclaims,---shaking---her---head,---“So---boring---and---weak.---Anything---else?”
“Two---years---ago,---the---Cape---of---Inexistence---was---stolen---and---has---yet---to---be---found.”
Her---eyes---widen---as---she---snorts,---“Hah,---I---can---only---imagine---the---elders---must---be---rather---angry.---A---divine---item---like---that,---lost---is---a---rather---big---blow---to---their---pride.”
“My---[Lady]”
Her---gaze---moves---and---lands---upon---two---[Handmaidens]---which---hold---up---panties---and---a---bra---respectively.
She---grabs---them---and---slowly---put---them---on---while---allowing---one---of---them---to---strap---the---bra---on---her---back.
“Also,---the---gods---have---recently---summoned---a---large---number---of---[Heroes].”
The---woman---stops---adjusting---her---breasts---as---her---gaze---switches---to---Garm---in---curiosity.---A---[Hero]---summoning---and---her---awakening---seems---like---there---is---a---relation.
“Explain.”
Garm---grunts,---“Recent---reports---reveal---that---Odin---and---Zeus---have---both---summoned---several---[Heroes],---though---the---actual---number---is---still---unknown,---though---one---has---already---died.”
“Died?---How?”---she---asks---while---grabbing---a---rather---fitting---red---dress.
“Well,---it---seems---that---Zeus---had---failed---the---summoning---and---that---many---[Heroes]---had---been---cast---off---throughout---Orbis.---One---such---had---been---captured---by---the---elders.”
“Ahhh,---and---that---one---had---died.---Wasteful.”
“Indeed---my---[Lady].---The---elders---had---attempted---to---change---the---[Hero]---into---your---kind,---but---was---found---immune.---Thus,---instead,---they---attempted---the---Blood---of---Classes---to---attempt---to---transfer---the---[Heroes]---class---to---one---of---the---elders.”
“Oh?---And---what---happened?---My---guess---is---that---it---failed---and---the---[Hero]---died.”---she---says---amused.
“On---the---contrary,---the---[Hero]---died---but---the---transfer---was---a---success.---Elder---Ging---had---succeeded---and---then---shortly---after,---fell---dead.”
The---[Lady]---begins---to---laugh,---”Oh---what---glorious---news.---Now---only---five---are---left.---I---do---wonder---how---much---his---death---will---change---the---power---struggle---now---that---one---of---the---covens---had---lost---their---head.”
The---lady---hums---happily---as---she---puts---on---her---dress,---one---of---the---[Handmaidens]---helping---her---put---it---on.---She---turns---and---is---surprised---by---the---third---handmaiden---who---waits---by---a---chair.---Red---nail---polish---on---the---table---as---well---as---blood---red---heels.
The---[Lady]---gazes---at---the---[Handmaiden],---taking---a---good---look---at---the---aged---expression---compared---to---the---other---two---before---she---realizes---it.
“Hanna,---you---still---live?---I---thought---humans---age---poorly.”---she---exclaims---before---calling---up---a---skill.
Hanna---Astorca
Level---87---[Handmaiden]
“Before---your---slumber,---I---obtained---the---skill---[Servants---Kinship].---It---has---allowed---me---to---age---slower---while---you---exist.”
The---[Lady]---smiles---at---the---misunderstanding---of---the---skill.---The---skill---itself---allows---the---women---to---gain---a---portion---of---her---mistress's---stats.---In---this---case,---she---had---gained---an---enormous---amount---of---vitality.
But---the---[Lady]---does---not---attempt---to---correct,---instead---she---walks---to---the---chair---and---sits,---allowing---her---nails---to---be---polished.---Hanna---does---so---quickly---and---expertly,---the---polish---drying---in---mere---seconds---of---being---applied.---Hanna---then---puts---on---the---heels---and---steps---back.
The---[Lady]---lady---rises---and---turns---to---Garm---who---waits---patiently.
“How---do---I---look,”---she---asks---making---a---twirl.
“Splendidly,”---he---says,---the---same---answer---he---had---given---her---every---time---she---had---ever---asked.
“Then---let---us---go,---my---curiosity---can---only---take---so---much.”
Garm---leads---his---[Lady]---outside,---a---carriage---waiting---with---magic---runes---carved---throughout.---It---floats---above---the---ground,---a---wyvern---waiting---at---the---front.
Garm---helps---her---enter---before---entering---himself---again.---He---feels---four---of---his---men---step---on---top---of---the---carriage---before---the---[Beastmaster]---orders---the---wyvern---to---move.
The---wyvern---takes---flight---and---the---carriage---as---well.
The---[Lady]---gazes---outside---the---window,---staring---at---her---city,---the---farms,---and---of---course---the---massive---fighting---coliseum---in---the---center.---A---training---ground---for---her---
combatants.---It---is---those---combatants---that---have---given---the---[Lady]---enough---power---to---own---a---city---and---be---left---alone---by---her---coven.
“Garm,---how---have---the---fights---been---going?---Are---we---still---rank---nine---in---the---coliseums?”---she---asks---knowing---that---she---is---not---the---only---one---who---gains---prestige---through---winning---the---coliseum---challenges.
“No,---we---are---rank---three---now.---I---have---modified---many---of---the---training---regimes---and---classes---to---help---level---and---improve.”
The---[Lady]---raises---an---eyebrow---at---the---unauthorized---change,---but---stops---as---she---realizes---that---they---are---now---rank---three.
“Ohh,---what---changes---did---you---make?”---she---asks---the---man---who---sits---unmoving,---eyes---constantly---changing---and---looking---for---threats.
“I---have---stopped---the---training---of---[Gladiators]---and---instead---allowed---the---recipients---to---choose---a---class.”
The---[Lady]---looks---at---Garm---utterly---confused.---She---was---under---the---impression---that---[Gladiators]---are---the---best---combatants---in---an---arena.---She---is---about---to---voice---her---objection---but---stops---as---the---carriage---shakes---and---the---wyvern---lands.
“We---are---here,”---he---says---as---her---gaze---changes---to---the---window.---Towards---a---massive---spire---that---ascends---into---the---ever---present---pitch-black---clouds.
Chapter---Sixty---Three:---Class---Upgrade
“The---boss---is---over---there.”
My---eyes---follow---Alda’s---finger---as---she---points---towards---what---to---me---looks---like---a---giant---cactus.---Well,---if---a---cactus---had---legs,---teeth,---flowers---for---arms,---and---of---course---a---giant---crystal---horn---rising---above---its---head.
Clearly,---it---is---a---plant---type---monster,---which---means---it---is---going---to---be---poisonous---and---weak---to---fire.
But---it---is---also---a---boss---monster,---which---means---it---is---going---to---be---immune---to---fire---for---some---odd---reason---and---its---poison---will---kill---extremely---fast.
But---still…
“A---plant,---why---did---it---have---to---be---a---plant,”---I---say---as---I---fold---my---arms---and---glare---through---the---receding---treeline---towards---the---boss---near---the---cave.---Apparently,---the---boss---seems---to---not---have---a---weed---problem---because---all---the---plants---around---it---seem---dead.
“Why---can't---I---fucking---raise---plant---monsters?---Like---really?---Why---does---it---have---to---be---flesh?”
No---answer---is---given---from---my---whining.
“Like---really,---a---[Beastmistress]---can---tame---sentient---monster---plants---but---my---racist---ass---skill---has---a---flesh---fetish,”---I---grumble.
“You---still---have---that---one,”---Alda---says---as---she---points---at---Berosus---behind---me.
I---turn---and---gaze---at---my---beloved---minion.---Powerful,---dangerous…---and---fleshy.
Yea.---You---know---what,---fuck---plants.---Flesh---is---better.
My---eyes---swerve---slightly---from---Berosus---and---they---land---upon---my---[Captains].---They---stand---ready,---happy,---except---for---Threm---who---seems---to---be---unable---to---meet---my---eyes.
It---has---only---been---a---couple---of---weeks---since---I---had---saved---her---and---she---had---been---avoiding---me---constantly.
On---the---other---hand,---Alba---has---been---the---complete---opposite.---She---has---been…---attached.---Attached---enough---that---a---bond---of---friendship---had---been---formed---with---my---[Captains].---And---by---[Captains],---I---mean---Lilly---and---Tella.---Those---three---are---inseparable---now.
As---for---Darrow,---that---guy---is---like---a---puppy.---An---utterly---resilient---and---single---minded---puppy---who---is---borderline---treating---me---like---some---kind---of---god.
Which---is---bad…---because---gods---are---assholes.
…
Wait…---I---work---for---assholes.
“So…---how---will---you---handle---this?---Will---you---send---your---army?”
Thankfully,---a---question---throws---my---mind---back---on---track.---I---turn---to---Janie---who---gazes---at---me---expectantly---while---pointing---at---the---several---thousand---undead---monsters---lined---up---in---species,---size,---and---level.
I---can---see---why---[Necromancers]---are---hunted.---[Necromantic---Mana---Corrosion]---is---such---an---overpowered---skill.---I’m---barely---using---any---mana---to---keep---thousands---of---minions---alive,---and---all---of---that---is---at---the---cost---of---the---minion's---durability.---I---mean---sure,---they---are---decaying---quickly---and---will---break---down---after---a---couple---of---weeks.---But---it---takes---much---less---time---to---slaughter---before---that---happens.
Unfortunately,---I---can't---do---that.
I---shake---my---head,---“no,---I---will---be---sending---only---Berosus.”
She---raises---an---eyebrow---at---me,---“Why?---Isn't---it---more---efficient---to---send---an---army?”---she---asks.
“Normally,---the---answer---would---be---completely---and---utterly---yes.---Throwing---away---adisposable---army---to---kill---a---boss---is---all---nice---and---all,---but---it---gives---me---very---little---growth.---I---have---done---some---tests---and---I---can---wholeheartedly---say---that---the---more---effort---and---time---I---put---into---killing---something,---the---more---reward---I---will---obtain.---Sending---out---a---mindless---army---and---killing---a---boss---with---numbers---works,---but---it---stymies---my---growth.---Hence---why---I---will---be---directly---controlling---Berosus.”
I---call---up---my---status---sheet.
Thoric---Elum
Level---94---[Necromancer]
Level---55---[Hero]
Level---58---[Noble]
Level---46---[Enchanter]
Raise---Undead
Advanced---Analyse
Skeletal---Renewal
Enhanced---Undead
Bone---Telekinesis.
Advanced---Mana---Sense
Enchant
Enhanced---Structural---Enchantments.
Undead---Eyes
Undead---enrage
Lightless---Undead
Minor---Undead---Modification
Create---Skeletal---Guardian
Split---Concentration
Converging---Mana
Enhanced---Trainer
Create---Skeletal---Warrior
Minor---Mana---Efficiency---Enchanting
Stabilizing---Presence.
Corrosive---fog
Mental---Overmind
Necromantic---Mana---Corrosion
Unstable---Enchant
Enchanters---Recovery
Create---Skeletal---Archer
Create---Skeletal---Flyer
Hardened---Skeleton
Strength
26
Dexterity
42
Stamina
33
Perception
251
Endurance
15
Vitality
230
Mana
1822
M/regen
5.5
Affinity
13
Intelligence
512
Willpower
3082
Soul
4143
The---past---two---weeks---were---met---with---training---and---practice.---I---found---that---the---more---involved---I---was---and---the---more---of---a---handicap---I---faced---in---a---fight,---the---more---I---obtain---in---leveling---experience.---I---stopped---using---horde---tactics---on---my---first---day---and---instead---started---manipulating---my---minions---and---skills---at---the---same---time.---I---made---it---harder---on---myself---which---helped---me---level---quickly.