Alexander
Hated the pompous expressions worn by the upper class. Like they were better for their birthright. That they were more important, more necessary for the survival of the nation. Like every one of their actions was of paramount importance, yet he repressed it and vowed that his nation would be a meritocracy.
The rhythmic beat of his axe bowing bass notes from the bark, the sheen of sweat covering his brow, and the cosmic beauty sitting on a stump behind him. The dull monotony of training is broken by Anubis's desire to keep me company, I had been becoming distant my desire for power clouding my judgment.
The only time she was given the spare few moments between every skirmish against the savage mobs of wolves and goblins that plagued the surrounding woods. My personal strength was growing at an astonishing rate and my stockpile of Chlorophyte had grown, but I was alone.
Not truly alone I had Anubis but I wouldn't risk her in a fight, if she was hurt because of me, I would do something I would regret. I could feel Her gaze on my mountainous shoulders, it was that of a predator stalking prey. I would have shivered if this wasn't a daily occurrence, I can't pretend to be ignorant anymore, she was my everything and if she wanted me I would give it to her.
She is also hot, so not like I am making a great sacrifice. As the tree fell I turned and gave Anubis a smile before sauntering over and placing my arm arround her shoulder pulling her into a smoldering hug. My teeth on her ear slightly nibbling, I knew this riled her up.
[Mission Given: Conquer A Goddess(1)
Goddess Conquered 0/1
Reward: ???]
Fuck you too, not I feel like I am only doing it for the quest, screw you I was going to anyways. Releasing her ear I tilt her head up, a frightening intensity in her eyes, and I tilt my head slightly before plundering her lips. The taste of her lips was mildly pleasant and reminded me of the time I tried lotus tea.
She reciprocated and grabbed at my back, a needy light in her eyes. My tongue slithered into her mouth, my tongue wrapping arround hers, wrestling for dominance. Her tongue writhed in response and I gripped the Ankh above her chest, my other trailing down to her supple hips, then I bit down on her lip and a moan snuck its way out of her throat.
My little masochist, then I felt a pulling and turned a pillar of smoke rose in the distance and I felt a pulling. Ripping off my shirt I commanded, "Update my Falna". She did, with no fanfare, and yet for only a seccond my will almost crumbled I could stop right now and retire with her, live inside the mountains, peaceful for the rest of my days.
No, shattering that train of thought I used it as a whetstone for my will and reaffirmed myself. Hand on the hilt of my blade I ran, my shield discarded at home. That pulling was drawing me here, was it fate, or just my gut. Reading through the mission I pulled the reward, a white potion, and drank it. What did I want? Victory, to be victorious in everything I sought, to make armies quake at my mere presence for I was the embodiment of victory, and none could win when they went against me.
I wanted to win against even the gods and free humanity from their clutches. We were toys to them. Things to play with for a few centuries then throw away and find more. Just another way to break the monotony of paradise. Victory for my race, yet above all Victory for myself.
The drastic increase in my status had made it hard to control my movement. The trees blurred as I ran, and I wanted to shout in exhilaration but I stayed my tongue. If this is what I felt on my first step to divinity, what about my seccond, third, and tenth? Would I be able to reshape the world, mold the skies, shape the rivers, and oceans, to crush mountains?
Ripping myself from the trees I saw a Rakian outpost burning and a teenage boy standing with a smile on his face. The world seemed to still as a scream of incoherent rage came from the outpost. Running from the flames I could recognize a member of the Phobos Familia, Draclys, level 2. He had been level 2 for years, drawing my blade I use my off-hand spin and throw the boy out of the way of the strike before parrying the hit of the greatsword user.
I will win
No shield drawing my knife from my wrist holster I use it to block strikes while hitting with my saber. Starting to chant I brace my saber with my dagger. Sparks flash as the blades meet and the larger one is embedded in the ground. "Fulmination of Heaven, Thunder Gods' embrace." Kicked in the stomach I use every gram of control to stop an Ignus Fatus from claiming my life. "The heavens rumble and roar. "
Throwing the dagger I am right behind the blade ready to stab. "Gather and protect the Raiment of Thunder" Moving the mana through my body I shout the last line. "Fulmination of the Heavens." Then my body is consumed in thunder my body flashing forward the thunder lacing my blade as I knick his blade my foot reaching his chest.
Following up my blade flashed as spurts of blood came from his arm and right thigh. Staggering slightly he slashes and I force myself to jump over the blade, I plant my foot on his face and kick off landing in a crouch before pouncing, ripping my dagger from the ground I parry the wild slash before stabbing into his liver, the necrotic properties in the blade causing him to wince in pain.
A fist crashed against my arm and a sharp crack caused me to throw myself with wild abandon, the control needed for the spell nearly faltering as I cut down with my saber, my broken arm holding the dagger slicing across the main arm's wrist. His head fell and I grabbed his body and threw it into the fire. Grabbing the boy I ran, I knew Rakians were en route and if I didn't leave now I might not get the chance.
This boy needed an opportunity like I had been given. Fighting his struggling I placed him on my back and ran. Dropping the thunder augment I realized he was lightly scorched, Anubis was waiting on the same log. "Hey, Anubis I found us a new member!"
"You KIDNAPPED ME"
"I Prefer the term SUPRISE ADOPTION" I yelled back before placing him on the ground infront of Anubis.
"Update me again, had a good fight."
The drop of blood caused my tattoos to light up. "You leveled up, and your stats are maxed you want to go up a level?"
"Yes please"
[Mission: reach level 2
Reward: Skill Voice of Seth]
"You can choose 2 of the following development abilities Mystery, Embodyment of Victory. Smithing, and Swordsman"
"Mystery, and the Victory one"
"You gained a new skill, Voice of Seth, fuck that guy. It makes it so your words will cut to the heart of people, they will listen and your words have a better chance to cause sway in their hearts and emotions, your voice is more pleasing aswell. Oh, and it makes you more handsome."
---
My new brother had an innate skill called [Burn the Sun, Scorch the Stars Promethius] It made his fire spells orders of magnitude stronger and cost less, he also knew a spell called "Great Fire Annihilation" Which was a short 2-line chant and sent a wave of fire from his hand, it shot hotter fire based on the Mind channeled into the attack. Little shit was a tsundere, honestly, I think he never had a hug as a child, because he cried when Anu took him into a hug, I know I know throwing stones in a glass house but, eh.
Using the Mystery development ability I enhanced the growth speed of my Chlorophyte but I needed to pour my mind into it every month or it would go inert and lose the chance to grow ever again. I kept a stone unenchanted on me at all times. Using Mystery I enchanted my sword so the necrosis also spread a fast-acting poison, and cut better. My shield was better at shielding, and my dagger was better at parrying.
My armor was just more defensive, I wasn't good enough to make armor yet so it was just steel. My familia mate had a glove that enhanced fire attacks. Yeah, he was a fucking beast, custom ordering a fire magic glove was hard, and double enchanting it even more so but we did. Using my perk I sewed seeds of discontent through the empire but every uprising was quelled with overwhelming force.
My knowledge about the Ares familia was outdated, he had dozens of level ones, and a few level 2s, I only knew the notable members. The Phobos familia with the death of their vice-captain was in a downward spiral and she brought in new blood.
As much as I hated the idea I decided to first cut my teeth in Orario if I wanted the power that was where I needed to go, a single familia that isn't even the top could send out a handful of members and conquer Rakia. If I wanted to conquer the world I would need an army that no one would stand against. Men would tremble at the mention of my name I would be the boogyman, Babayaga, Contessa.
Correcting Azar's form our blades clashing I hear him chanting the incantation for his spell, keeping up while fighting. good. Counter chanting my fire buff, then thunder buff I blitzed him, moving just fast enough he could react but pressuring him. He jumped back sheathed his blade and drew the wind blade his sword launched set alight by the flint and steel built into his sheath. Blocking the attack I crouched behind my shield before pouring my mind into it creating a spell-breaker effect.
Launching myself forward I stutter and step behind his slash placing my blade on his neck. He was strong for a level one, incredibly so but I was insanely strong for a level 2, Mystery was the best development ability, and my buffs from the genome potion didn't proc. It was only a spar there are no winners or losers in a spar only mutual gain. I learned to fight mages, and he learned to fight while outpowered, speeded, and geared.
I had no ranged attacks, but I made up for that with my buff skills. I had become more charismatic with my voice, and more able to chant while not thinking about it. I was able to speak, plan, fight, and move at the same time. Our next spar went much the same except his fire actualy hit me even if only a glancing blow.
Our youngest brother Alistar was cleaning his bow on the cart a derisive smirk on his lips, I had picked him up durring one of the speeches about fighting the man and overthrowing the Borgueasee, and taking control of the supply lines. He had a fire in his eyes and was the most vocal, but what sold him was the calculating glint in his eyes, he had a plan, and he was going to accomplish it.
So I invited him to come with us, and he hit it off. An orphan like the rest of us, their mother was raped to death by a Rakian soldier, and his father drank himself to death. Alister was forced to hunt in the woods, full of level one monsters without a falna, and he fucking survived. I don't know if I am just a lucky son of a bitch but he also had an innate skill, called Mark of the hunter. It allowed him to mark a target and they could never escape.
He could find them where ever they ran, and when he did damage to anything it collected charge and he could cause it to explode piercing where the mark was placed. He was a cocky little brat but we loved him.
"Oi Ali toss me a cantine" I called sweat running down my brow, catching it out of the air I took a swig before capping it and tossing it back. Loved the kid but he was dumb sometimes, didn't even cap it before he threw it. I mean he didn't spill much but we were poor. Not super poor but I needed to water my rock.
Ali's ears twitched and he drew an arrow to his bow, I was already moving, chanting, fire and lightning began to weave arround my body as the arrow was loosed a startled scream was cut off by a dull thud. My blade out of its sheath I blocked an arrow before cutting into the back of a scantily dressed amazon. A pillar of fire hit the archer and an arrow embedded itself into the neck of another of the bandits.
My sword cleaved forward as she punched the side of my blade parrying, sliding I flicked my wrist one of the knives I kept hidden pulled and palmed as I blocked a punch with my shield twisted with the momentum, and swung the knife, my saber parrying the kick, the blade piercing her heart, and throwing myself away, an enemy on death's door was dangerous she might have a suicide skill.
With the bandits dead we looted the corpses and went on our way. Bandits were just another part of the wildlife this close to Orario, those who couldn't fight in the dungeon attacked merchant caravans, and groups.
---
3 arrows whizzed, whirled, and whipped past my position, flinging my bedraggled body out of their path and throwing a knife I blocked the fire spell before charging through and punting Azar, my blade arching towards his throat, forced to dodge as another arrow flys at me I blocked it with my shield before incapacitating Azar, and throwing myself at Ali, my blade arching past his guard, and my shield blocking his final knife strike.
He glanced at the blade, then at me Huffed, and stormed into the woods, I wasn't worried he had reached high level 1 and was agile enough to run if nothing else. The monster density had increased while commuting to Orario, but their strength seemed to stagnate. None of the monsters gave me Exp anymore, I was too powerful even with my growth-type skill.
"Azar, start a fire, the dumbass will be cold when he gets back, oh and here" I tossed a cantine before starting to compost the chlorophyte, it was 3% more efficient while doing it this way.
Hours passed, while I waited. I whetted my ambition, sharpening it to a razor's edge, honing it, and forcing it down, every bad emotion, every bandit attack was another sign of the failing government. Banditry is a sign that the region's government is doing something wrong. Most people don't want to break the law, and most people are willing to do nothing, not me, and not the bandits albeit for different reasons.
Actualy could the increased banditry be my fault? I raised civil unrest and spread the word of beautiful chaos to the people, and they are revolting against the man in less obvious methods. Was this a cry for help, did he run away because I am a smug bastard is it my fault he is gone, am I a shitty captain. Am I a failure of a leader? Is he ok, why has he been gone so long, if he dies I'll burn this forest.
My mental ramblings are brough to an end as he stumbled in arm hanging limply at his side, flashing over I slung his arm over my shoulder, and brought him to our goddess side, updating his falna showed that he earned a level up, becoming the seccond level 2 in the familia.
Azar got a look in his eyes but I snuffed that out and told him we could hunt something when we reached Orario, the dungeon being the home of monsters there must be something strong right? Something to challenge him and impress even the gods. I later learned that he didn't take my advice in his head, and rushed out burning nearly half the forest and returning bloody with both arms broken. Adventurer's natural healing was orders of magnitude better than base humans, but it would still take weeks for his arms to be out of the slings.
What did the fucker do while injured? Rest? No, he learned how to shoot his GFA through his mouth like a fucking dragon, and it was fucking stronger that way, and noticeably so.