Chapter 16: Cleaning House
[Update 0.7.5 changes]
Major changes to the Store:
-Adding tabs and a search feature instead of the random nature of the previous system.
-Levels for skills can no longer be purchased, however, Skill XP boosters are available instead.
-Store Credits, instead of using Stat points for the store, it will now use SC or store credits.
SP as stat points will be referred to from now on. They can be converted into SC at a 1 to 1000 rate for the foreseeable future with a potential of fluctuation as the Store is tested. Local currencies and vice-versa can be converted at a case-by-case rate as well.
-Due to the sudden nature of this change, 10,000 SC has been added to your balance for the inconvenience.
Skill/Class Changes:
-Skills will be made subsequent to classes instead of both being accrued individually. Classes can be changed without limit at the detriment of XP only going to the active leveling class and some classes require prerequisite classes to reach a certain level in order to be unlocked.
-Changes to the organization and the addition of drop-down menus to Classes to assist in the organization of menus.
-The granting of previously unlearned skills to make up for changes
Point Change:
-Points now stat points (or SP) are now used solely to increase stats and at a one-to-one rate.
-Due to the sudden nature of these changes, sixty SPs have been gifted for the inconvenience.
Name: William Morgan
Race: Human
Level: 21 (3%)
Leveling Class: [Knight lvl 10 (48%)]
HP: 1070/1070
MP: 2940/ 2940
STR: 50
END: 57
DEX: 57
INT: 162
WIS: 132
CHA: 150
LCK: 170
SP: 192
SC: 10,000
Classes: ˅
Gamer: (lvl MAX)
-Observe: (lvl 46/100)Gives you an intermediate readout of your target and how they presently feel about you.
-Create/Exit Instant Dungeon (lvl 57/100): Create and exit custom IDs. Levels dictate the size and quality of ID/enemies. (Dungeons: Cursed Sands(I/II)/Goblin Realm/Hot Gates/The Second Tower(Complete)/Empty| Time Dilation: 0 to 1 min = 1 day)
-Gamer's Mind
-Gamer's Body
Necromancer: (lvl MAX) {Slots:43/58} ˅
-Death
-Souls
-Sand
-Flesh
-Blood
Kight: (lvl 10) ˅
-Swordsmanship
Survivalist: (lvl 48) ˅
- Trapping
-Tracking
-Stealth
Enchanter: (lvl 48) ˅
-Enchanting
-Warding
-Crafting
Titles: ˅
-Tragic Prince: ˅
Cancels out all negative relationship penalties with Kuoh staff and students. Adds the hated relationship to all three members of the Pervert Trio.
-Dungeon Delver: ˅
20% bonus XP from dungeons
-Master of Orthanc: ˅
50% bonus to intimidation attempts and leadership checks against goblins/orcs/Uruk-hai. (not Orks)
'Well, that's a hell of a way to start your day.'
"Better get my day started." I sigh while sitting up slowly. "I mean, all I have to do is wipe out some stray exorcists. Then I need to get my shit together to handle flame chicken." These thoughts dominated my mind all through my morning routine. I was sitting down for coffee before I left to start my day. That is going to gather some rogue exorcist heads… Nah… that's a little too old-fashioned… "Meh, I'll think of something." I shrug off that line of thought, getting things ready and plotting my plans.
To think, I woke up six hours early for this. This thought dominated my kind as it was the only thing I could think of as I stood in the underground area of the abandoned church. I had my liches hidden in another room, ready to summon their forces in case shit goes south. I was just outside of the main chamber where all of the stray exorcists had been called for a meeting. Something like a little over twenty exorcists.
"Really quick, before things get started here… Is there anyone in that room you're particularly attached to?" I paused looking between my new subordinates and they were more or less looking disinterested in anything I have to say.
"No, honestly I'm more upset you're not letting us do this." Said Dohnaseek, looking bored. "I find this cloak and dagger act to be distasteful."
"We can't have any of their wounds come from light spears; it will raise too many questions. We'll be faking your deaths here after all." I sigh looking between my new companions. "I know you're all feeling a little bloodthirsty, but step one of keeping you alive after Kokabiel makes his play is by building as much distance between the four of you and him as possible." Dohnaseek didn't look happy but he's going through a tough time switching gears like this. I'll have to see if the new store has loyalty boosters just to make sure he doesn't become a problem. "I promise you Dohanseek you'll have your fights. But now requires a subtlety that open combat can't maintain. You made sure not to invite Freed, correct?" This time Raynare spoke up.
"Yes, we've managed to keep the knowledge of this meeting from getting to him. Though I would like to know your interest in this specific if not particularly unhinged exorcist?" The look she was giving me was one of almost worry.
"I don't like it, but if things are going to proceed as planned we'll need him to report this operation's failure to Kokabiel." I sigh, moving over the plan in my mind again. "Have you gathered the feathers from each of you?" I asked, looking around at each of them as they nodded.
"They're here, for whatever it is you need them for." Came Raynare's response, offering me the four aforementioned long black feathers. Taking them quickly, I look at Kalawarner.
"Good, go grab four of the exorcists, once they're here restrain them so that I can try something." I received a nod from the, so far silent angel, as she left the room. It took a moment before she returned, followed by four nondescript men in robes. One just barely got a word out before they were forced to kneel in front of me with their heads forced down.
"What's g-'' The poor guy. Well, time to get to work. I moved to the first and brought to bear my necromantic magic. Forcing them into the first man's body his skin began to grey, his features became androgynous, his eyes grew dimmer… but not extinguished. This is a skinwalker, and it's been brought into existence to die. I move on to the three remaining one at a time, creating the rest of them. Moving back to the first I placed one of the feathers against its now exposed chest. Its clothes barely fit anymore after seriously bulking down. The feather slowly disappeared as its form began to shift, several moments passed before Mittelt wearing exorcist clothes stood before me. The eyes of my present companions widened at this. Moving on again as my companion's body doubles stood before us.
"The feather wasn't necessary but with it, they can more closely mirror you." With a snap of my fingers, wings appeared ripping through the clothes of the skinwalkers. "Sadly they can't mimic your powers. I doubt they can even fly. Anyway, get them a spare set of clothes." I look at them for a moment before speaking up. "You'll need to refrain from being seen. You'll have to stay with me." I sent a mental command to Kaija to use the account I've had my refilling card emptying into to purchase some of the surrounding apartments if not the building. I've been here for a couple of months, after all, the account was set within the first couple of days. Small note the card, as long as it is with me, it refills while in dungeons. But that isn't important right now. "Just head over to my apartment after you get your doubles set up.." I got a set of nods before they left. About ten minutes later the skinwalkers returned standing dressed in their counterparts' clothes. "Good, go to the meeting, play your roles and stall for a little more time." They each bowed to me in unison before leaving the room.
I sigh rubbing my face, thoughts of my work up until this point rolling through my mind. I have to handle this and get Rias out of her contract. Once that's done, I'll grind up some more levels probably aiming for closing the gap between me and the satans. Plans for the future aside time to get this started. Taking my time walking down the hall switching to my armor and drawing my weapons. Pausing at the door summoning all of my death knights directing them to break down the door. Once I was in the fairly large room I look upon the surprised exorcists.
"You've chosen the wrong hill to die on." With a snap of my fingers, every one of my summons appear in the room. To call this fight unfair would be a gross understatement. The poor bastards were put down before they reached within ten feet of me. Their holy weapons took out skeletons in a couple of hits, but my death knights are a crippling force in this skirmish. I watched one of my knights take a sword to the chest and six shots to the gut. Only for the guy to have his skull crushed by the knight. One of the knights just put their hand through one of the straggler's chests… brutal.
'Store'
I take a moment to look through the listings I make a purchase.
Perk: [Mana Reactor Tier I]: (SC: 750) A flat times ten to mana reserves and regeneration.
One of the higher tiers would have been great, I really want the tenth tier one hundred times. But a perk with that many zeros is going to take far too long to get for me to think about it now. For now, I'll try to spend my credits sparingly.
MP: 2940/ 2940 29400
Perks:
[Mana Reactor Tier I]: A flat times ten to mana reserves and regeneration.
[Enemy of Life]: Your connection to death leaves you looking sickly and unnerving. All beings without a similar connection to death to you suffer from -20 trust/affection. Additionally -25 to Charisma.
[Wealthy]: Through birth, inheritance, or any other means, your monetary fund is considerable enough to arouse dragons. Though not exclusively a quality of nobility, few would recognize you as possessing a fortune should you be discreet.
[Artificer]: Tinkering with devices and their workings has allowed you to make objects of superior quality to those you can buy, and improve those you do buy. From more care and better materials to more skill, things you craft tend to be better in almost every way.
Taking a moment to get used to the feeling of my massively increased mana reserve I look over the carnage. I order the skeletons to start gathering up the exorcists' weapons and pile them into a makeshift bag made using one of their coats. Time for school then. Storing the bag o' stuff I head-on into school.
Taking it at a leisurely pace I make it to the gates just in time. I make it to class on time if only just. I idly play with some sand making it take small shapes moving it around, moving my thumb through it, resurfacing, changing, and again. I can answer questions even after barely paying attention. I haven't taken the time to just do something like that for a while. The thing about having a high intelligence stat is that it doesn't make for instant knowledge. It does, however, allow me to read like the Doctor. I can flip through a book once, and it's absorbed and cataloged. I'll have to scan in some ancient tomes of arcane knowledge when the chance arises. But for that… My thoughts are interrupted by one Kiba Yuuto, a pleasant smile as always, asking me to follow him to the ORC. I'm pretty sure three BL fanfiction was written about us between my seat and the door… stupid hormonal teenagers.
"I'm hoping it's good news." I say to the knight as we leave the main school building.
"Well, prez has been quite excited today if that's anything to go by." Kiba replied, not breaking pace.
"That's good. I have a bit of news myself."
"Oh?"
"It's most certainly news for the club room." When we got to the club room, it was just me, Rias, Akeno, and Kiba. "I hear you were too excited to wait for this afternoon, Miss Gremory." Rias smiled at me as I entered.
"My brother thought that it was a wonderful idea."
"Especially as long as he wasn't the one that provided the extra member. Nobody could complain then. Not to mention if Raiser raises a stink over it we could bring his pride into play by asking why he's so afraid of a human that isn't even a hero reincarnation." Rias' smile became outright predatory at that.
"It's perfect," Her smile flashes away replaced by a contemplative look. "Though I have to wonder if you'll really be enough to turn the tide against an experienced peerage?"
"Well," I start while pulling the 'bag' out of my inventory. "while you were out confirming my idea, I was off proving my usefulness." I dump the bag onto the table, pouring guns, light swords, and several fistfuls of feathers from my doubles. "This is what's left of a rogue cell of fallen that's been living in the old church for a while now. You're looking at the weapons of something a little over thirty stray exorcists and a clump of feathers from four fallen. None of them had more than a single set of wings but this should more than prove the value of 'just a single human' don't you think?" The looks I got from them were hilarious, to say the least.
"That's…" Rias starts to say before petering off. "That's not possible. How could you have done that alone."
"Well… my friends did help a little bit." I got a few odd looks before a Cheshire grin split my face. "I told you, did I not? That I would make myself useful." I looked between them all.
"Well, yes but I… well… you're human. Not even a hero at that. It's just hard to believe that you could kill four fallen angels alone." Rais stuttered at first, picking up steam as she got her point across.
"Hmm, just a human…" I flick my hand blasting her at close range with a full-strength [Ray of Enfeeblement] she immediately falls into her seat, body going completely slack. "That's exactly what they said. Before I started carving… Had to learn their plans after all." Everyone was immediately on edge. I sigh, waving my hand, dispersing the effect.
"Even so," Rias started regaining her composure quickly. "I still have trouble believing that you could do this much alone." She says, gesturing to the pile of trophies.
"Well, I wasn't entirely alone… But…" The heiress cut me off.
"So someone did help you then."
"Well… yes but also no. You must understand that my powers are of a very particular kind. Miss Gremory, I'm going to trust you with my nature… please don't make me regret this." More concerned looks from around the room, I'm definitely frontloading too much on them but I've already started now. With a slow wave of my hand, a small flame appeared next to the couch I was sitting on quickly growing into a ring slowly one of my death knights rises. This catapults everyone in the room to a new level of readiness. Koneko is the only exception as her hands quickly go to cover her nose. For how fresh they are my summons still reek of death on a spiritual level.
"What is this?" Rias asked, worry lacing her tone. A sentiment shared by the others in the room.
"Well… this," I lazily gestured at the death knight. "Is one of my many summons." The knight in question remained statuesque under the observation of the occult research club. He was one of the first. His armor was of German descent, full plate with a wicked-looking two-handed mace. He looked wonderfully intimidating. But then again so did the rest of my death knights… it's kind of their thing. "I've a small army of similar creatures under my control. Not to mention a small group of summons equally capable of summoning additional creatures." At that, I summon one of my lesser Lich counsel. His appearance was hidden within a deep cowl, his outfit a mixture of half-plate and a robe with a long iron staff topped in a glowing green gem. "Think of them as something similar to familiars in that they are bound to me and are as much a part of me as any of my other magics. This caused Rias to pause before that predatory grin was back.
"And familiars taking part in rating games is not only fair but also expected." I tap the side of my nose at that.
"But, what we need is to get me confirmed as an alternate. I'm sure your brother will want to test if I'm worthy or even able to help you." This makes her worried. To be fair I would be too, overprotective in reference to Sirzechs is something of an understatement.
"Don't you worry none Miss Gremory, I'll make sure to turn up my boyish charm to eleven when I meet him." I say with a wry smile… that earns me a look that just screams 'he's gonna die.' Again, can't blame her… I am somewhat of an idiot myself after all.
([{Ooooooh weeeee, this took a while. The brain meats just weren't jiggling properly for this one. School and life refusing to help did no good either. Just a bit longer then we go back to Star Wars for a bit.}])