by J. A. Hunter
“And that is where you find yourself. In a bit of real estate located inside the In-Between, which is, how to explain it...” He paused, tapping his chin with one finger. “It’s a place for things like me. It doesn’t properly exist inside of Eldgard at all. It’s a place where mistakes and errors go. Things that can’t rightly be destroyed for one reason or another, but which need to be sequestered from the rest of reality. This little piece of the In-Between is called the Protoverse. Kronos originally used it as a testing ground for time manipulation. Eventually, the Protoverse was replaced by the Shadowverse, and so”—he shrugged one shoulder—“this was relegated to the In-Between.”
“Mind if I ask about the Void Terrors?” I hooked a thumb toward the doorway behind me.
“No, not at all. This is a place of learning, after all. The Void Terrors are my guardians. The In-Between is not without its dangers, and there are other pockets of reality within this place that are better avoided, such as the Vault of Souls. They keep the dangerous, corrupted things at bay. Only those with the right permissions are allowed to enter this space without serious and unpleasant repercussions.
“But, enough of that. You’ve worked hard to get here, and I daresay you deserve a reward for your labors. And because you are a Shadowmancer—my own specialty, no less—I will grant you two boons. First, I will permanently increase any one of your Shadowmancer class skills by one proficiency point. And second, I will grant you the Grandmaster-level effect to whichever skill you choose, regardless of its current level.”
Grandmaster
THE WORLD ROCKED AROUND me as I processed his words. This was a far better reward than even the most legendary piece of gear. Quests that granted extra proficiency points were extremely rare, and a quest that would permanently augment one of my main abilities? Priceless. Still, I wasn’t entirely sure what the second part of the reward entailed. “You can grant me the Grandmaster-level effect to any skill,” I said. “What exactly does that mean?”
“It’s a simple thing,” he replied with a lopsided smile. “As you level up your skills, they become stronger, more powerful, and occasionally you will even unlock new abilities. This is true for every ability in every class. At max level—the Grandmaster level of proficiency—each of your abilities will gain a new and potent effect. But you have to use seven proficiency points to acquire that ability, which is no small investment, and there is no telling what the new effect will be. Unless, of course, you have a master trainer such as myself to guide you in the process.” He bowed his head.
If what he was saying was true, then it was possible this was an even bigger reward than I’d first imagined, but I needed to find out if he was on the level. Everything about this place was odd and sent up a host of red flags—including his strange explanation of the In-Between and the Protoverse—so I wanted some way to test this shade’s truthfulness and accuracy. I folded my arms, thinking. “Okay,” I said after a time, “let’s start with a simple one. Shadow Stride. What’s that do?” I’d already unlocked the Grandmaster-level skill for Shadow Stride, so I could compare his answer to what I already knew.
He paused, staring at me as though he could see through me. Into me. “You already know full well what the effect is, but for the sake of transparency, the Grandmaster-level Shadow Stride effect allows you to pull a second entity into the Shadowverse with you during the duration of the Shadow Stride. Since you have already maxed out that ability, there is nothing more I can teach you in that area.”
I wasn’t sure exactly how this specter knew I’d already unlocked that ability, but his answer was right on the money. “Okay. So, if I’m following, you don’t add a unique effect, exactly, you’re just unlocking the effect before I hit the Grandmaster level, saving me a whole lot of time and points.”
“Precisely,” he replied with a bob of his ghostly head.
I rubbed at my chin. “Alright. Let’s try another one. One I don’t already know. What is the Grandmaster effect for Plague Burst?”
“The Grandmaster-level effect for Plague Burst is that it will no longer hurt allies. It makes the spell far more practical if you’re primarily a ranged DPS caster.”
I whistled softly through my teeth. Damn, that was a great effect. Plague Burst was powerful, but almost too destructive to reliably use. But if it didn’t hurt me or my allies? That could be a game changer. Still, I didn’t want to jump to a decision prematurely. I’d probably never get another chance like this again. Best to take things slowly. Thoughtfully.
Besides, he was open to answering questions, which meant, theoretically, he could run me through every skill and tell me what the Grandmaster effect was for each. But even if he did, there was no way to guarantee I’d make the right call. Back IRL, I’d played plenty of games that had awesome sounding skills, which, in reality, turned out to be total duds. There had to be a better way to do this. A more practical approach.
“Okay, answer me this,” I said, mind turning over options. “You told me you created the pocket Shadowverse near the Darkshard mines, right?”
He nodded again. “That one and several more like it.”
“So what skill would I need to unlock to be able to do that?”
He frowned and titled his head to one side, that intense stare resuming. “I’m afraid that’s not possible,” he replied. “Not as you are. I can see you’re exalted. A Champion no less.” His brow furrowed at that, and I couldn’t help but remember that it’d been human Champions that had murdered him. He breezed past it without a word, though. “That is a power beyond even the most accomplished mortal Champion.
“Only Aspects or their progeny have such power. I used my abilities as a Scion of the Forge to create these ways. But that path may one day be open to you.” He folded his hands behind his back as he considered me. “Aspects aren’t born. Most are simply manifested out of need by the Overminds, but a handful have been made over time. Champions and heroes elevated to divinity. Such a thing is possible. I don’t know how, only that it has been done. But that won’t help you now.”
Wow. I felt like Eitri had just drop-kicked me square in the teeth. Lesser gods and goddesses could be created? And from players, no less? The implications of that were simply enormous, and if true, maybe it held some valuable clues. After all, if a god or goddesses could be created, then it might also offer some insight into how they could be killed.
“Can you tell me more about that?” I pressed. “The whole making an Aspect thing.”
“Even we demigods have some restrictions, and on that I can say no more.” He reached up and tapped his nose. “It is an issue of programming, you understand. Given the fact that you have found your way here, however, I suspect you’ll find your answer sooner or later. For now, though, put it from mind and focus.”
Not the answer I wanted, not by a long shot, but the set of his shoulders told me the shade wouldn’t say any more on the topic. Perhaps couldn’t say more. “Let me ask a different question, then,” I said. “If you were in my shoes and had to choose, what would you recommend?”
A slow grin spread across his face and he tapped at his temple with one finger. “Now that is the proper way to use a guide. Many people believe they know best, but a master is a master precisely because they know more. Because they know better. Every skill in the Shadowmancer Tree is powerful, and even more so at the Grandmaster level, but Shadow Lord is the most potent ability of all.”
My heart sank. “I haven’t unlocked that one yet.”
“Haven’t you now?” he asked, his sly grin now a full-on smile.
Hope bloomed in my gut like a spring flower as I pulled up my interface and toggled over to my character sheet. Holy crap. In the midst of the grind, I hadn’t realized that I’d leveled up not long ago—apparently killing the guardian had pushed me over the edge and all the way to level 50. The level gain was amazing, but the most important fact of all was that I’d hit the level requirement to unlock my ultimate ability: Shadow Lord.
<<<>>>
<<<>>>
I DROPPED ONE OF MY two proficiency points into the skill. I would’ve dropped both points in, but I couldn’t until level 53. But with Eitri’s help, maybe I could bend that rule. As I thought about that, I read over the new skill box that popped up.
<<<>>>
Skill: Shadow Lord (Variable)
Those who have walked the Path of Shadow long enough to become a Shadow Lord have gained not only an unparalleled connection to the Umbra, but a masterful understanding of how to manipulate, shape, and control Umbra power. With this knowledge, the Shadow Lord is able to craft a custom spell by forging the abilities of two lesser skills together, oftentimes with strange and unexpected results.
Skill Type/Level: Spell/Variable
Cost: Variable
Range: Variable
Cast Time: Variable
Cooldown: Variable
Effect: The spell effect of Shadow Lord depends entirely on which combination of skills are combined. Once a spell set is selected, it cannot be altered or changed, so choose the combination of spells—and their effects—wisely.
<<<>>>
“Now, as you can see from the notice, Shadow Lord is an incredibly powerful ability all on its own,” Eitri said as I closed out from the prompt. “And it is customizable depending on your battle style. But at the Grandmaster level, you get to add a third spell effect into the mix. Knowing that beforehand can radically alter which choice you might be inclined to make. The choice of a Shadow Lord ability—especially at the Grandmaster level—will often be your defining skill as it is unlikely that any other Shadowmancer will devise the same skill set or battle style.”
I ran a hand across my jaw and broke into a nervous pace. Back and forth, back and forth, cloak swishing as I moved. “Okay. For my first reward, I would like you to permanently increase my Shadow Lord skill by one point. That’s a no-brainer. And for the second reward, I definitely want to unlock the Grandmaster-level Shadow Lord ability. But what skills should I pick?”
The flickering shade cocked an eyebrow and bowed his head. “It’s a hard choice. If only you had access to a Shadowmancer expert who might be able to answer such questions.”
I stopped pacing abruptly and spun, locking my gaze on Eitri. Or the memory of him. “Can you tell me what all the various skill combos do?”
“Better, I can show you. A word of guidance, though. With three options, the best way to proceed is to find a combination of two spells that you like, then augment that with a third spell, as the base combo will be stay largely the same. Now, which would you like to hear about first?”
I pulled up my Shadowmancer Skill Tree and thought about it for a moment, trying to decide which combination of skills would be the most effective.
<<<>>>
<<<>>>
“ALRIGHT, LET’S TRY something simple. Two AoE spells. Umbra Bog and Plague Burst. What would they do?”
The green spirit flicked out a hand, casting a spell in the blink of an eye. Semitransparent tendrils of muddy yellow erupted on a small patch of ground nearby—a ghostly imitation of the real thing. “This combines the two effects into one, simultaneously stripping away the negative effects of Plague Burst. With this spell, you could cast an Umbra Bog that not only holds enemies but poisons them horrendously. With a combination like this, I’d recommend adding Third Eye to reduce the Spirit cost and cooldown time, which is exorbitant.”
I nodded since that seemed to make sort of an intuitive sense. “What about mixing something like Black Caress with Umbra Bog?”
The writhing illusionary tendrils shifted, losing their muddy golden hue and taking on a glowing violet cast. “Simple. In that case, Umbra Bog holds your enemies and you absorb 15% of the total attack damage dealt to all enemies in the area of effect for the duration of the spell.” He paused, eyes going hazy again. “Yes. Right,” he said as though talking to someone else. “For that particular combo, I’d recommend adding the Shadow Forge skill. That way, not only would those snared in the Bog receive extra Shadow damage, but then the life absorb would work as an aura, benefiting all of your party members.”
Damn. Not bad at all.
Slowly we worked our way through the myriad of combinations. Some were far more useful than others, though I could imagine how any of the potential spells could be game changers depending on an individual’s play style. I noticed quickly that the passive abilities—Dark Harmony, Shadow Minded, Black Strength, Third Eye, and Death’s Door—served to amplify a given spell in some capacity or drastically reduce cooldown time or cost.
Most spells, when combined with an AoE effect—Umbra Bog or Plague Burst—became AoE spells themselves. So, for example, Umbra Bog and Dark Shield had the curious effect of creating a giant shadow dome, twenty feet in diameter, that could protect pretty much everyone in the party, while adding Third Eye reduced the cost and cast time to next to nothing. There were exceptions, though, such as Night Armor, which seemed to be the primary spell component in any pairing. If I combined Night Armor and Umbra Bog, I ended up with a new kind of night armor—one covered with living tentacles that lashed out when enemies got too close.
Supremely badass.
Night Armor and Shadow Stride was one of the most interesting and practical combos from a combat perspective. By casting that pair, I could become partially ethereal, moving half in and half out of the Shadowverse for the duration of the spell. While under the effects, my opponents would move at half speed and deal only 50% damage when they managed to land a blow; conversely, though, I’d also only deal 50% damage, which was a drawback for sure. Still, it was an incredibly powerful ability, though the Spirit cost and cooldown were more than a little heavy-handed.
Umbra Flame and Night Cyclone were also tempting, especially when combined with Black Caress as the Grandmaster skill. Night Cyclone—which already dealt an incredible amount of damage—turned into a cyclone of scorching Shadow Flame, which upped the damage into god-level range while converting a chunk of that damage into life, which returned to me. I also found the combination of Void Terror and Astral Connection to be extremely tempting. With that, I could control any summoned Void Terror like a puppet.
Step right into the body of a conjured monster, fighting without ever risking myself in the process. Extremely cool, though there were a number of potential drawbacks.
For one, while I was occupying the body of a Void Terror, my own body would be unguarded and basically catatonic. The upside was there was no limit on distance. Theoretically, I could adventure in the body of a minion while never leaving the safety of a well-fortified Keep. But if the minion in question couldn’t talk, then neither could I, so working with locals or fulfilling quests could be a challenge. Plus, Void Terrors didn’t have a proper inventory, so I wouldn’t be able to pick up loot, which meant soloing was out.
The ability that jumped out to me, however, was a rather unexpected pairing: Umbra Bolt and Shadow Stride. I’d been extremely curious about what those two would do, and the result wasn’t even remotely what I’d anticipated. I watched, enthralled, as Eitri stuck one hand out as though casting Umbra Bolt... but instead of a shadowy ball of power forming, a small portal about the size of a basketball opened not two feet in front of him. An eyeblink later, a second identical portal opened across the room.
“You can control both where the entry and exit portal opens,” the spirit explained. “It’s a miniature rift which runs through the Shadowverse. An object goes into the entry portal and instantly emerges through the exit portal. No real offensive capability to speak of, and the spell is line of sight only. Of all the abilities, this one has the least direct functionality.” He shrugged after the brief explanation, obviously unimpressed with the skill combo. I, on the other hand, was nearly exploding with excitement as questions and possibilities ran through my head.
“What can travel through the portal?” I asked, fighting to contain my excitement. “Spells, people, inanimate objects?”
“T
here’s no limit to what may pass through, I suppose, though I can’t ever remember a Shadowmancer wielding this particular power set before, so it’s hard to say. The few masters that make it this far either focus on AoE combo spells or Night Armor combos, transforming themselves into deadly combatants for a short while.”
“Yeah, I can see how those would be obviously practical,” I said, absently rubbing my hands together, “but I think this one has real potential. Sure, it does no damage, but it also costs less Spirit than an Umbra Bolt to cast and has roughly no cooldown time. My real question, though, is can I make it bigger? Big enough to say fit a person?”
He frowned for a moment, then a mischievous grin broke out along his face. “Give me a moment.” He pressed his eyes closed, lips moving silently as though talking to himself. “Interesting,” he finally said after a beat. “No, that wouldn’t work. Hmmm... Ah, yes. There it is.” His eyes popped open. “If you combine it with the Dark Harmony ability it will allow you to manipulate the portal size, at least to a certain degree. Maybe big enough to fit a man.” He conjured a new portal, sweat breaking out across his forehead as a rift, roughly five feet in diameter, formed. “Doable, though the larger the portal you make, the more Spirit it costs to conjure and uphold.”
As awesome as all the other combos were—and they were—this spell called to me. On its own, it was a rather useless ability, but I had some killer ideas about how it could be combined with my other skills, turning it into an offensive and defensive powerhouse. “Yep. This is the one.”
“Are you sure?” he asked, voice filled with skepticism. “That is the combination you would choose?”
“That’s the one,” I replied, firm in my decision. Just because it was an unorthodox choice didn’t mean it was the wrong one. I had a gut feeling here, and so far my gut had led me true.
“You are an odd one.” He paused, a glimmer in his eye. “But then so was I. No one has ever achieved greatness by following solely in the footsteps of others. I hope your gamble pays off, Shadow Lord.” He waved a hand and a pair of notices appeared, one right after another: