Dark Matter Ascension-Chapter 29B3 - : Stardust and Level Ups

Jace lazed in bed the next morning, just snuggling with Shhiv in the watery cube within the replication of the Starlit Sea. Just enjoying each other’s presence. She was still asleep, but his mind raced as he thought about the various Skills he could acquire or advance with this massive stockpile of Stardust.

82,715 Stardust, he thought. From level 37 to 50 is going to cost 65,000 Stardust, and then it goes up to 10,000 Stardust per level until 75. He was referencing the chart that showed up when he focused on it. He continued thinking, musing, no wonder people give up after that point: it’s an insane amount of Stardust to get to Tier 10: 500,000 to go from 76 to 100. You could buy so many Boons with that amount.

Then, I’ll have 17,715 Stardust. Which means getting to level 51 will drain all but 7,715 Stardust. 14 levels of Skills I need to figure out. He smiled as Shhiv nestled closer into his chest, and he held her close as she nuzzled up next to the crook of his neck and shoulder. Thankfully, he thought, I’m great with numbers. Well, the simple stuff, at least. Oh, that reminds me. He pulled up a message box and began composing a message to Xera.

Hey, I want to see if there’s a way to give myself an education really, really fast. Not having a lot of learning has bit me in the past. I figure there’s some type of technology that can just upload a bunch of information to my brain. Can you look into that? “Send,” he whispered as he finished the message.

-----

[Yes and no.]

[Yes, because it is doable. But I won’t, because it has never been done to an Aspirant or Ascendant before. I restrict that type of technology. Partially, because it is risky having trillions suddenly as smart as the smartest scientist. But more importantly, I have no idea how it will function for Aspirants and Ascendants. It could be completely incompatible.]

[You have Edge of Possibility. I would use a Skill Evolution Boon on that and have Ollie ‘nudge’ it towards something that gives you knowledge in the moment when you need it.]

-----

Jace felt a little bit of dismay but shot off an affirmative message to Xera acknowledging her response. He closed out the various screens he had been looking at as Shhiv woke up. “Morning, sleepy,” he said as he gave her a kiss on the head.

She yawned and then grinned. “Hey handsome. What do you want to do today?”

“I want some breakfast,” Jace replied as he swam out of the water-cube, stepped onto the drying tile, and threw on some casual clothing. Shhiv was a step behind him, and sitting down at the table Jace tapped a few buttons to make their breakfast: a huge meat platter with sausages, ham, and bacon for Shhiv, and a smaller portion of meat and pancakes for himself. He couldn’t help but grin at the amazing food laid out before him. Sumptuous food that he would have never imagined would be his daily fare.

Shhiv began munching on some bacon, and Ollie popped into existence above Jace. “Hi, Ollie. How’d you sleep?” Shhiv asked him.

“We do not sleep,” Ollie replied as he flew down to sit on the table. “But I do have a dormant state if I want.” He turned to face Jace, “You have 14 levels of Skills to allocate, and will be counted as Tier 8: the same as Star Father, believe it or not.”

Jace swallowed his slice of pancake, “I’ll be on the same level as a faction leader?” he asked with some disbelief.

“Deckard, your target, is Tier 7,” Ollie replied. “You are in the upper echelons of Aspirants and many Ascendants. I would imagine being outnumbered or surprised is going to be the only way that you are actually threatened.”

Shhiv grinned, “Less likely to be hurt? Sounds good to me.”

Jace nodded, “Well, I was thinking on it this morning. I think 3 Ranks into Void Step, which should get me out to fifty feet of teleportation-”

“Collapsing of space: but yes, teleportation by another name,” Ollie interrupted.

“Right. That leaves me with 11 Ranks. What does Void Brand do if I rank it up?” Jace asked.

“Simulations show that it will increase the duration of the marking effect.”

Not very good, Jace thought. If it takes longer than an hour to kill something, I’ll probably be far beyond exhausted. I mean its good for tracking, sure, but if I’m chasing down someone, I can probably catch them well before the timer expires. He mused aloud, “What about Void Beam?”

“It will increase the radius by double. From 50 inches to 100 inches, and then 150 inches: in diameter, remember.”

That could be useful, Jace thought. “I think two Ranks into that to get the 150 inches diameter, because that’s…how big is that?”

“In Earth terms, half the height of a telephone pole. So imagine that, but rotated in place to make a big circle.”

That’s…huge! I can easily one-shot things with that, Jace thought with glee. “Right,” he replied. “Then two Ranks into that, leaves me at 9 more levels and Skills to Rank up. Or…to make new ones.”

Shhiv raised her hand, “Oooh! I have an idea! You can do Dark Matter still, right?”

Jace looked at Ollie, “I thought my progression was locked for my Class?”

“It is. Sorry, Shhiv. Jace is limited to Edge Class Skills and Void Ascended Power.”

Shhiv frowned, “Darn. I can’t think of anything good for Void: except, maybe, if you can trap someone in it? Is that doable?”

Ollie shook his head, “Sadly, due to its anti-everything nature, it is relatively narrow in scope.”

A thought struck Jace, what if…if Void is anti-everything, could I use it to remove events that already happened? Like…erasing something from happening? He cleared his throat, “Ollie…could Void erase something from happening? Like removing an event entirely from existing…er…having had existed?”

Ollie shook his head vehemently, “No. Time is sacrosanct. Nothing can change the past. The present? Possibly, but not with Void.”

“What about removing an injury? Or pointing at something and causing it to vanish?”

“Injury, no. Poison or other affliction? Yes. As for the second part, a disarming style effect? Sure, that’s within the realm of possibility.”

Shhiv shook her head, “Why get something to heal other people? You’ve got Priam to heal people, and for yourself you have your own thingy that does it. I like the idea of disarming people: but couldn’t you just do that with a well-placed Dark Matter Dart?”

“True,” Jace replied as he tapped his fork against the sizzle-platter holding bacon slices that were still bubbling and crispy. Spearing one on the implement, he munched on it as he thought of another use for Void. “Maybe,” he said in between chews, “I could do something that lets me-” A thought raced through his mind and he grinned, “What about Void for specific things? Like the weather, or gravity, or a specific Cosmic or Ascended Power?”

Ollie looked at him with a slightly slack-jawed look, which made it look like he was waiting for something to be fed to him. “That is a great idea! A targeted removal of a specific feature of the environment. You could remove the air in a sealed room to make a vacuum, or the water in a localized place to cause a sudden rushing in of the liquid! Okay, I’ve got an idea on how to manifest it. Are you ready?”

“All 9 Ranks can accommodate it?” Jace asked.

“Oh yeah. You will need a lot of Ranks to do what I’m envisioning.”

Jace nodded, “Let’s do it.”

-----

Name: Jace Seren (Aspirant, Tier 8)

Power [Class Level]: Dark Matter [Swordmage <Wrathblade> 100] / Void [Edge 51]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Swordmage Stance (Rank 3) [Astral Annihilator], Dark Matter Dart (Rank 4) [Exploding], Dark Matter Cloak (Rank 3) [Group], Dark Energy Mine (Rank 3) [Distant], Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10) [Innervating], Dark Matter Mending (Rank 4) [Vampiric], Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10) [Siphoning], Void Brand (Rank 1), Wrath's Embrace (Rank 10) [Focused], Ruination Razor (Rank 3) [Wrecking], Raging Cleave (Rank 10) [Echoing Cleave], Aura of Wrath (Rank 11) [Voidflame Vestment], Void Blade (Rank 5) [Rending], Void Shield (Rank 6) [Reflecting][Wall][Sphere], Void Beam (Rank 3) [Limited Range][Horizon-Splitter], Edge's Intuition (Rank 5) [Danger-Sense], Edge of Possibility (Rank 3), Void Counter (Rank 10) [Storing], Void Step (Rank 10) [Burst], Symbol Shift (Rank 1), Void Removal (Rank 9), Arbiter's Anathema (3/day), Hope's Edge (1/day), Steel Gale Stride (1/day), Primalist's Command (1/day), Reaper's Shadowstep (1/day), Archmage's Admixture (1/day)

Stardust: 7,715

Equipment: (Returning / Adaptable) Nethaldrim, (Medium / Snowguard / Burnguard / Repairing) Reaper Armor, (Thrice Judged) Anathema Arm, (Overclocked / Lightfoot) Steelstalker Sabatons, (Terrifying / Sealing) All-Seeing Dragon's Eyes, Primal Hide, (Flexible) Adamantine Skeleton, (Reactive) NICIF, Guatch Grappler, TPSB, survival meals (x28), enhanced canteen, (Restful) Wildercloth tent, Devilsram wool bedroll, Blood-Infused Holy Water (x3), Sliver Arc

Boons: None

-----

Void Step (Rank 10): As Rank 1, but increase distance to fifty feet.

Void Beam (Rank 3): As Rank 1, but increase diameter to 150 inches.

Void Removal (Rank 1): The user may remove and suppress an effect within a 5-foot radius sphere around themself for as long as they keep energy committed. Multiple applications may be stacked, persisting as long as energy is committed.

Void Removal (Rank 9): As Rank 1, but increase the radius to 45 feet.

-----

Jace stood up, went over to the water cube that comprised his and Shhiv’s shared bed-space, and stood at the edge of it. “Void Removal (Rank 1),” he stated, focusing on removing the water.

In a sphere around him, water vanished. He could see the bed area had no more water, and at the edge of the sphere was a barrier of some type. Taking a step forward, the sphere moved with him, and the water moved back. Taking a step back, it rushed into the newly-accommodated space. Dismissing the Skill, the water surged and refilled from some unseen source in the ceiling, filling out the edges of the cube.

“Pretty neat,” Ollie said, floating behind him. “Might want to make sure you are more clear with your intent, though: I had to hold Shhiv back so that she did not become desiccated and die immediately.”

Instantly, Jace looked over to Shhiv who had a panicked expression on her face. “I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t know that could happen.”

“It’s okay,” She said softly, “I know it was an accident. Thank you for keeping me out of it, Ollie.”

“You are welcome!”

Jace shook his head, “Now I feel…really bad.”

Shhiv walked up and gave him a hug, “Don’t be. I have a backup with Xera. I’ll be safe.” She pulled back and held up the ring on her finger that he had given her a while back, “Plus, this can keep me safe.”

Jace smiled, “Ready to watch something? We’ve got a few movies on your list.”

“Oh! Yeah! Let me get some drinks and snacks.”

Quinn had already calculated exactly what she desired to do with her Stardust. All that remained was manually interfacing with The Cosmic System, since she had all-but-dismissed Valerie, her Wayfinder, to the Starlit Sea.

Xera’s face popped up on one of the screens. The woman looked like she was quite disheveled. “Quinn, we need to talk.”

“What’s up?” Quinn asked as she leaned back in her chair.

“I wanted to ensure that you were continuing to improve Stratagem to assist the other Signers in various tasks across the universe.”

Quinn nodded, “That’s what I planned.”

Xera visibly looked relieved, “Thank you. One thing off my to-do list. Sorry, really busy. Ping me if you need me.” Xera’s video screen shut off.

Quinn glanced at her Stardust. 87,913. I have enough to get to level 36 and have 413 Stardust left over. That’s 24 levels worth of Ranks to invest. She smiled as she finalized her processes and confirmed her selections. I might only get two more Skill Evolutions for free from this, she thought, but the duration increase is going to be worth it.

She had done her testing and simulations using Xera’s databases that were kept on reserve for her personal purposes. She knew that past Rank 15, only time extensions would be unlocked. And that was fine by her. In fact, her plan was to just keep pouring Ranks into Stratagem until kingdom-come, because she really had no need for other Skills as long as she was going to be staying in her apartment, safe, in Khrox: which suited her perfectly.

Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

-----

Name: Quinn Cipher (Aspirant, Tier 7)

Power [Class Level]: Star [Broker <Celestial Coordinator> 100] / Exoplanet [Reality Strategist 36]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Broker's Instinct (Rank 8), Broker's Contract (Rank 20), Broker's Fee (Rank 16), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Magic World Interface (Rank 10), Magitech World Interface (Rank 10), Technology World Interface (Rank 10), Other Realm Interface (Rank 5), Celestial Observer (Rank 1), Coordinator's Critical Gaze (Rank 6), Coordinator's Warning System (Rank 5), Stratagem (Rank 37) [Mobility][Obliteration][Bulwark][Grounded][Resolved][Chaos Strike][Shattered Views][Slip Away][Skip][Time Lock], Reality's Order (1/day)

Stardust: 413

Equipment: Reality Interface, Broker's starting gear, Webwalker Implants, Pheracorp Bionic Brain Mk. 1, Pheracorp Bionic Eyes Mk. 1

Boons: x8 Common (Variable), 2x Uncommon (Variable), 2x Rare (Variable)

-----

Stratagem (Rank 13): Unlocks the ‘Skip’ Skill Evolution

Stratagem (Rank 14): Increases all Stratagem durations by 30 seconds (up to 3 minute duration)

Stratagem (Rank 15): Unlocks the ‘Time Lock’ Skill Evolution.

Stratagem (Rank 16): Increases all Stratagem durations by 30 seconds (up to 3:30 duration)

…

Stratagem (Rank 37): Increases all Stratagem durations by 30 seconds (up to 14 minute duration)

-----

[Evolution Name: Skip.]

[Effect: Stratagem marked allies are able to teleport a single time within the time limit, with a maximum distance of 100 feet.]

[Evolution Name: Time Lock.]

[Effect: Stratagem marked allies may lock themselves into a temporary stasis, making themselves invulnerable but unable to move or be interacted with.]

“Okay, Bloopa, you sure about this?” Priam asked.

Absolutely, she replied with her crystalline form spelling out her words to Priam’s pattern-recognizing brain. Eight into Heavenly Smite, eight into Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe, and Eight into Exarch’s Ward.

“Oh! And the Boons! I wanted to use those Rare (Variable) as (Skill Evolution) for my Energy Cost Reduction and Fount of Energy!”

Yes, of course. Shall we?

“Yup!” Priam replied.

-----

[Using Boon: Rare (Skill Evolution).]

[Applying to Skill.]

[Skill Name: Energy Cost Reduction.]

[Evolution Name: Alternate Source.]

[Effect: When in the presence of your Cosmic Power or Ascended Power source, you may use that presence in place of your own energy.]

-----

[Using Boon: Rare (Skill Evolution).]

[Applying to Skill.]

[Skill Name: Fount of Energy.]

[Evolution Name: Multi-Target.]

[Effect: Enables the user to affect multiple targets with a single use.]

-----

Name: Priam Westerfold (Aspirant, Tier 7)

Power [Class Level]: Pulsar [Priest <Seraph> 100] / Gigastar [Exarch 36]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Exarch's Ward (Rank 14) [Multi-Target], Exarch's Seraphic Soothe (Rank 11) [Contingent][Regeneration][Stored][Recursive][Overheal][Ward Mending][Chaining][Wave][Full Heal][Gravewaker][Viral], Exarch's Blessing (Rank 3) [Enduring], Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10) [Alternate Source], Wrath of the Gods (Rank 5), Heavenly Smite (Rank 11) [Marking], Fount of Energy (Rank 5) [Multi-Target], Ishtar's Embrace (1/day), Energy Drain (1/day), Rapturous Release (1/day)

Stardust: 413

Equipment: (Light) Archpriest Vestments, (Conservation) Soul Warden Writ, (Insightful) Dad's Hat, (Light) Venture Pack, (Overcharged) Argent Reservoir, Resplendent Reservoir, survival meals (x35), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit, Godheart (Corrupted Crab)

Boons: Common (Information), 2x Uncommon (Variable)

-----

Exarch’s Ward (Rank 14): as Rank 13, but the amount of damage that can be absorbed increases.

Heavenly Smite (Rank 11): As Rank 1, but increase flight time to 1 minute and 50 seconds.

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 4) Unlocks the 'Recursive' Skill Evolution

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 5) Unlocks the 'Overheal' Skill Evolution

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 6) Unlocks the 'Ward Mending' Skill Evolution

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 7) Unlocks the 'Chaining' Skill Evolution

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 8) Unlocks the 'Wave' Skill Evolution

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 9) Unlocks the 'Full Heal' Skill Evolution

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 10) Unlocks the 'Gravewaker' Skill Evolution

Exarch’s Seraphic Soothe: (Rank 11) Unlocks the 'Viral' Skill Evolution

-----

[Evolution Name: Recursive.]

[Effect: The Skill occurs a second time after 1 minute.]

[Evolution Name: Overheal.]

[Effect: When healed, depending on how injured the target was, excess healing converts to divine damage that is applied to targets within 5 feet of their location.]

[Evolution Name: Ward Mending.]

[Effect: The Skill restores shields instead of curing wounds and ailments.]

[Evolution Name: Chaining.]

[Effect: The Skill bounces to 1 additional target from the primary target(s).]

[Evolution Name: Wave.]

[Effect: The Skill becomes a ten-foot-tall and ten-foot-wide wave that travels forth 50 feet from the user. Every person impacted is healed, with increasing energy cost for each target affected. This wave goes around corners and walls.]

[Evolution Name: Full Heal.]

[Effect: The Skill removes any affliction from a target, including what could normally not be subject to healing (beyond wounds and ailments or illnesses; such as genetic errors).]

[Evolution Name: Gravewaker.]

[Effect: The Skill may bring back a recently deceased subject whose body is almost fully intact (within 30 seconds of brain death).]

[Evolution Name: Viral.]

[Effect: The Skill will become 'contagious', and any who are touched shortly after being affected (10 seconds after the heal occurs) will be affected as well - this will occur for up to 3 instances before dissipating.]

-----

“Oh…that’s cool!” Priam said in awe as he read out each item to himself. “I should try that Full Heal on everyone, so that we can fix anything that might be wrong with them.”

That would be a kind gesture, Bloopa replied in. And you have been using your Soul Warden’s Writ every day, yes?

“I was trying, but I think it’s out of juice. I don’t see Soul Restoration on my readout.”

Odd. Let me examine it.

Priam held it up for Bloopa to look at, “I figured it was just tapped out.”

Hmm. You appear to be correct. Intriguing. Well, regardless, your current soul energy coefficient is at 200%.

“That’s still way higher than most people!”

Indeed.

Dee was practically buzzing with excitement after telling Ree her plan. “Finally!” she finished. “We are going to be taking out Deckard and getting some revenge.”

Her sister, her fellow Plorp, clapped excitedly. “That’s awesome! I wish I could go with you and steal some stuff, but I would probably just get in the way.”

“Oh…sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad,” Dee said as she put her chitinous shell-hand on Ree’s. “Anything in particular you want me to steal from his place? Something you didn’t get out with?”

“If he still has my old chitin, I’d like that back,” Ree replied. “I had to ditch it to get away cleanly, remember?”

Dee nodded, “Yeah. Too bad he caught me. That was not a pleasant time being a goop farm.”

Ree frowned, “It does not sound pleasant at all. While you are there, well, except for the chitin if he has it…could you bring back something really valuable?”

“Any ideas on what you’d want?” Dee asked, knowing her sister loved shiny objects. Dee preferred items of some historical value, but Ree was a true kleptomaniac for shiny objects.

“A big crystal. Remember the one we saw?”

“Oh yeah,” Dee replied as she replayed her memory of entering Deckard’s chambers with her sister and both standing gobsmacked at the enormous, towering crystal that dominated his front entrance. It glimmered with shimmering starlight and looked very valuable. “It’s a bit big, but maybe we can use Xera’s TPS for it.”

Ree grinned, “Figured out what you’re spending your levels on?”

“24 levels, 24 Ranks or new Skills. I did some looking, and learned that Rank 15 and onward for Demolisher’s Devastation is going to be just increased damage. I think I’m going all in on that.”

Ree cocked her head sideways, “Weird choice. I would have figured you would want some type of Flux or Nebula cloaking Skill to sneak around.”

“Jace has that covered,” Dee replied. “He can do it better than I ever could. Plus, Demolisher just oozes explosions and big booms. That is hard to sneak around with.”

“True.”

Dee looked up to Miku, her Wayfinder, who was floating above the duo on the couch. “Ready!”

“H-h-here w-w-we g-g-go!” the shy Wayfinder replied.

-----

Name: Deasyl 'Dee' Luna (Aspirant, Tier 7)

Power [Class Level]: Nebula [Blaster <Artillerist> 100] / Flux [Demolisher 36]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Demolisher's Devastation (Rank 38) [Blast][Beam][Cone][Eruption][Cloud][Trap][Broadside], Artillerist's Acumen (Rank 6), Artillerist's Discipline (Rank 5), Spinal Laser (1/day), Desert's Shield (1/day)

Stardust: 413

Equipment: Desert God Guard, Artillerist's Ingram

Boons: 2x Uncommon (Variable), 2x Rare (Variable)

-----

Demolisher’s Devastation (Rank 38): As any lesser Rank, but increase the damage inflicted.

-----

“Give me an idea of the damaging capabilities,” Dee said as she looked at Miku as the status window faded.

“I-i-it i-i-is l-l-l-ike t-t-th-this.” Miku pulled up a screen, and the two Plorps watched, enthralled, as a pair of spaceships squared off, and one of them fired a laser that tore through the shield and hull of the opposing vessel.

“It’s the same power as a cruiser laser?” Dee asked excitedly. Whilst space travel was not common since The Cosmic Corridor existed, some civilizations still built space vessels: especially those under the auspices of the Star Council or Nebula Alliance for extraterrestrial mining operations and intercepting natural phenomena like rogue asteroids. “That’s amazing!”

Ree clapped her on the back, “Make sure you don’t do anything reckless, okay?”

Dee grinned, “No promises!”

Greg sat at the table in his and Missy’s apartment. His fiancé was cooking up a meal: their preference, despite the availability of the apartment’s built-in food creation engine. On the table before him was a starlight-blue, glowing crystal. It pulsated with a soothing, cool energy that filled him with a sense of ease.

But he felt anxiety in his chest. Did I make a mistake? He thought, not selling this? The others are going to be a way higher Advanced Class level than me. But… he glanced at Missy, the main reason I wanted to be Tier 10 was to be able to bring her back if she ended up passing away. That’s not a problem with Xera: and her workaround means that she is basically immortal.

He reached out and grabbed the crystal, holding it up to his eyes. Inside there were swirls of seemingly endless possibilities that tumbled about in and amongst each other. I could just go right for Ascendant.

He pulled up Xera’s contact information and attempted to connect with her via a voice call. She replied a moment later in the earpiece he never took out, “Go for Xera.”

“Hey…I had a question to run by you.”

“Go ahead. Quickly, please. I’m busy.”

“Sure,” Greg said. He breathed in deeply, then slowly let it out as he spoke in measured, paced words. “I am considering going for Ascendant early at Tier 7, once I hit the level 25 threshold.”

Xera’s voice sounded intrigued, “Really? Your fellow Signers all seem to have higher aspirations.”

Greg sighed and let the rest of the air out before trying to explain his reasoning, “I wanted to be Tier 10 to bring Missy back once her time is done.” As he said that, his fiancé looked back at him, gave him a thumbs up, then went back to cooking. “But,” Greg continued, “I don’t need that anymore with your body backup thing.”

“I cannot tell you what to do, but I will tell you that I would like more high-Tier Signers,” Xera replied. Her voice was filled with sincerity, but Greg was still wary after Jace had told him about his confrontation with the woman in a few short messages during Jace’s travel across Poltor Six. “Jace is going to be going through that singularity at the center of our universe once Troxanir is defeated, which I anticipate being a real possibility within a few months, if I can find more Stardust-rich planets for him to gather from. But while he is gone doing what I need him to do to secure our universe for the rest of all time? I will need people solving problems in the Universe. You, Priam, and Dee are an excellent team; especially with Quinn’s coordination. I would very much like for you three to achieve Tier 10. Granted, it will probably be after Jace does so, but I still would like for you to achieve that threshold.”

Greg nodded, “Very well. As long as you keep up your end of things with Missy.”

“Of course. I can’t have my Signers’ loved ones threatened, now can I?”

Greg smiled, “That’s true. Okay, thanks.” The call went silent, and he glanced at Darrin, his spider-like Wayfinder, standing on the table with his legs curled up. “I’m ready. I have been thinking on this, and know exactly what I want.”

“You got it,” Darrin replied. “Remember, your new Class will give three baseline Skills, along with the universal ‘everyone gets it’ Skills of Universal Translation and Environmental Adaptation.”

“I’m aware. Let’s get on with it. Oh, and the two new levels from Stardust stored up.”

“Yup!”

-----

Name: Greg Bhastal (Aspirant, Tier 6)

Power [Class Level]: Planet [Warrior <Eternal Bulwark> 100] / Supermassive [Juggernaut 12]

Skill Name (Rank) [Evolutions]: Universal Translation, Environmental Adaptation, Weapon Training (Rank 10), Armor and Shield Training (Rank 5), Power Strike (Rank 10), Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10), Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10), Series of Strikes (Rank 10), Aggravating Presence (Rank 10), Ceaseless Vigil (Rank 4), Bulwark's Defenses (Rank 20), Eternal Guardian (Rank 10), Planetary Panacea (Rank 3), Indomitable Juggernaut (Rank 13), Embrace of the Wurm (1/day), Divine Strength (1/day)

Stardust: 2913

Equipment: (Heavy) Wurmslayer Armor, Pheracorp deflection matrix, Sandstalker Bowblade, Belt of Godly Might, (Heavy) Venture Pack, survival meals (x35), enhanced canteen, optimized medical kit, 20,000 creds, Bunker-Buster Mk. 3, Enduralife Guardian AR, General Logistics 9mm Pistol, x2 EMP grenade, x3 flashbang, Killer Whale

Boons: 2x Uncommon (Variable), 2x Rare (Variable)

-----

Weapon Training (Rank 9): The user gains mastery with all melee weapons.

Weapon Training (Rank 10): The user gains mastery with all ranged weapons.

Armor and Shield Training (Rank 5): the user gains mastery with all armor and shield types.

Power Strike (Rank 1): The user’s next strike (whether melee, ranged, or Cosmic/Ascended Power manifestation) deals additional damage.

Power Strike (Rank 10): As Rank 1, but increase the damage dealt.

Energy Cost Reduction (Rank 10): Any Skill the user uses has its energy cost reduced by 50%.

Cosmic Infusion (Rank 10): Increases the user’s physical, sensory, and cognitive traits by a massive amount.

Series of Strikes (Rank 1): The user’s next attack is duplicated once on the same or another target within range.

Series of Strikes (Rank 10): As Rank 1, but the strike is replicated ten times.

Aggravating Presence (Rank 1): All creatures within line of sight, hearing or any other sense they possess deal 5% less damage to any target but the user (unless area-of-effect, which will deal full damage if the user is present in the area).Reduce incoming damage from all sources by 5%.

Aggravating Presence (Rank 10): As Rank 1, but reduce outgoing damage from affected targets by 50%. Reduce incoming damage from all sources by 50%.

Ceaseless Vigil (Rank 1): the user has no need to sleep.

Ceaseless Vigil (Rank 2): As Rank 1, but remove the need to eat.

Ceaseless Vigil (Rank 3): As Rank 2, but remove the need to drink.

Ceaseless Vigil (Rank 4): As Rank 3, but remove the need to breathe.

Bulwark’s Defenses (Rank 1): Reduce all incoming damage from all sources by 5%.

Bulwark’s Defenses (Rank 20): Reduce all incoming damage from all sources by 99%.

Eternal Guardian (Rank 1): The user designates up to 1 target ally. The user suffers all damage they would suffer. The user reduces the redirected damage by 5%.

Eternal Guardian (Rank 10): As Rank 1, increase designated targets by 9 (10 total). The user reduces the redirected damage by 50%.

Planetary Panacea (Rank 1): The user heals all injuries or all afflictions affecting them.

Planetary Panacea (Rank 2): The user heals all injuries and all afflictions affecting them.

Planetary Panacea (Rank 3): The user heals a single target within 10 feet of all injuries or all afflictions affecting them.

Indomitable Juggernaut (Rank 1): The user reduces all damage they would suffer at all times by 2%.

Indomitable Juggernaut (Rank 13): The user reduces all damage they would suffer at all times by 26%.

-----

“The highest instance of damage reduction is what is calculated first, and then every other form of damage reduction reduces based on a percentage of that highest percent,” Darrin said as he looked over the stat sheet.

And, he thought, I am not having to deal with weird effects, area encompassing Skills, and keeping in range of people. I can tag them with Eternal Guardian and then use Bulwark’s Defenses when we get into a fight: that puts me at 99% damage reduction. Those two, stacked with Indomitable Juggernaut makes me a tough son of a bitch to hurt. Plus, I have backup healing if necessary and Priam is tapped out. He grinned as he thought of their potent group structure and Skill allocation for roles.

He was not particularly enthused with Cosmic Infusion thanks to his knowledge of Xera’s manipulations of Jace: but he had worked with Quinn to make a Broker Contract between him and Darrin: there would be no chance of Darring opening up the means for Xera to manipulate his brain. Greg grinned, “I’m one hard nut to crack now.”

“Hon,” Missy said with a chuckle, “You were never a hard nut to crack.”

Greg made an injured noise, “Ooof. You hurt me woman.”

“For me, never a hard nut to crack,” Missy said as she brought over his favorite: dippy eggs and soldiers. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, then took her seat, raising an appraising eyebrow. “You…your skin looks different.”

Greg looked down and saw the same swirling pattern of shimmering starlight, barely visible against his slightly-tanned skin. “Oh. Yeah. Side effect of a Skill.” He picked up his food and said a quick prayer in his mind. “Okay, hon, let’s eat!”