Chương 83: Chapter 82- The Price of Power

Elias followed not-Vivian with a grin on his face and pep in his step, as she grumbled about idiot brothers with a death wish. They pushed through the lot, further and further, until they stepped into a clearing in the very back corner of the lot. Eli grimaced as he took in the statue in front of him. Yeah definitely looks fucking dangerous. The figure was running, sort of, as apparently midstride it had split, warping as the figure split in half flowing to cross a distance of almost 3 strides in length.

It wore leather and carried a poleaxe with an enhanced blade, but the similarity to the warped glass panes of the Abyss fractures was a little worrying. He tapped the figure. * Ding [Vector Blade, Epic, Tier II] Ding *[Vector Blade- A hybrid class for a medium weight striker that blends the martial and magical paths, a hybrid caster that trades stamina for striking power. The vector blade prefers mobility and favors mid-range combat, with the ability to rapidly shift position, strike unpredictably with a phase shifted blade, and repelling blows with shifting pulses. Spatial affinity, + 10 Strength, + 10 Dexterity, + 10 Intelligence, +12 free attribute points per level] Eli arched a brow, " I thought the max points for a second tier epic was 40 points per level?" Vivian snorted, " It normally is, like I said there are unusual circumstances with this class. Take a deeper look."

Elias grasped the statue, and after the images flashed through his mind he frowned, " Really that's it?"

"Yup, pretty sure those are sympathy points. Literally no one has ever had this class, so what you see is what we got." He had only seen a series of static images when a simulated Eli had used three different skills a couple times each; there weren't even any enemies anywhere to be seen.

The figure drew a hand across the blade, producing a fracturing effect similar to the shattering patterns on the abyssal fractures, and after a minute or two the image sputtered out and resumed from the beginning as the figure cast it again. The second image was the one depicted by the statue, where midstep the figure rippled and shifted near instantly to a spot almost 15 feet away.

It looked very effective, if a bit disturbing, as there was a distinct warping in the image and Elias was unsure if the warping effect was the body of the figure warping or the space surrounding it. As Elias turned a little green at the demonstration, Vivian chuckled, " Yeah, terrible idea unless you like your insides on your outsides, but don't let anything I say stop you." Eli barked out a laugh, " Are you sure you're not really Viv?"

Not-Vivian smiled, " No, but even this reconstruction from your memories knows that you are an idiot and there is a less than 5% chance you don't pick this class." She just shook her head, " I highly recommend you do not use that skill if you think you might run out of mana midcast." The last one just showed the figure raising a hand towards an approaching arrow, a distortion in the air formed just above the palm, and the arrow shot back into the sky like a rocket. The image repeated a few times.

Eli thought for a moment, " Will I be able to shift the focus of this skill? Does it cost a lot?" Vivian shrugged, " A little, you should be able to shift the foci into the palm or out for a foot or so, but not fast. You should be able to shift it a shield matrix as you level up if you want to boost the utility. And no, it's pretty cheap." Eli grinned, " Perfect, I'll take it."

Vivian sighed, " I had a feeling you would, please do not summon the locus inside your body, as just like the other skill your insides will quickly become your outsides. There is a reason classes like these aren't available at such low tiers, they are dangerous. Spatial abilities are expensive and to make them cheap enough for you to cast the System has to remove some of the safety features they normally fold into skills.

Especially considering that without the essence infusion to your body that comes as you level you will have little to no resistance to the effects." This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Elias smirked, " But it will totally work for what I have in mind, right?" Another gusty sigh burst from not-Viv as she chuckled, " Yes, but I will be shocked if you make it to the third tier with all your fingers and toes.

Honestly, the more time I spend in this avatar the more I am surprised you made it this far at all." Eli laughed, " Damn that's a spot on Viv impression, just need to chase me out of here with an arc welder to complete the experience." Not-Vivian rolled her eyes, " Sorry but that I can not do. Any more questions before we begin?" Elias smirked, " Can we do anything about the name? I have to be honest that is pretty terrible."

She crossed her arms to think for a moment before shrugging, " It is a relatively unused line of progression, and if you survive we will most likely need to develop it further. Sure, that is a simple enough request. Try it again." Elias tapped the statue- * Ding *[Veilcutter Adept, Epic, Tier II]" Much better!" She rolled her eyes before smiling at Elias, " Glad you approve, anything else?"" Can you answer any questions about the cult, how I got to this world, or what is at the bottom of the abyss?"

She gave him a stern look, " No, no, and no. Any questions about your class choices or their skill options?"" Will I get a teleport skill after leveling?" Vivian shrugged, " Maybe? No one has ever had this class before, remember? Any questions about the other ones?" Eli shook his head, " Nope. Thanks for everything not-Viv." She gave a wide smile, " Any time little brother." *Ding*[Tier I Evolution Selected - Veilcutter Adept, Epic, Tier II] Ding [Preparing for essence infusion, please standby…] The view of the lot cluttered with statues faded, and Eli smiled as he took a last look at his twin sister's form. As the view of the world faded he found himself adrift among a field of stars, a disembodied soul naked in the emptiness, the milky way stretching before him, as he hovered in the void he could sense thick bands of energy coalescing in the distance as they drifted towards him.

The energy gathered around him, not entering his body, but orbiting in a glowing ring of shimmering energy, spinning faster and faster as the energy pooled. As the orbiting flow spun at an ever faster rate, it flattened out forming an accretion disk with Elias at the center. Elias could feel the presence of the System gather and a tiny stream, barely a rivulet, broke free of the disk, forming a spinning drill point with the imparted inertia of the disk.

The point of the stream drifted forward, entering Elias's chest, connecting with the glowing ember in the center of his form. The energy that composed his soul began to spin in a manner similar to the previous cycling pattern he had adopted when drifting in the void, and as the imparted momentum grew, a swirling whirlpool formed around the ember in the center.

Elias could feel a slight shudder, a minute change of angle imparted by the System, and the whirlpool of energy shifted from spinning to rapidly building pressure, to compressing. The swirling reservoir of energy gathering, filling the ember, feeding and growing it into a kindling flame. As the massive quantity of essence flowed inwards, Elias could feel his form growing more corporeal, gaining a weight and density it had been missing before.

It was no longer a vague outline held together by an iron will, but a glowing translucent form. As the last of the accretion disk spun inwards into his form, Eli held up a hand, gazing at the newly formed digits, testing the pressure they exerted when he made a fist. He had very little time to examine the changes, given as soon as they had been completed another notice appeared in his vision.

Ding [Essence infusion Complete] *Ding*[Tier I Evolution Complete] The starfield began to fade, and as Eli gazed upwards in expectation of returning to his body, the scene around him froze. The stars quivered for a moment, juddering to a halt, before the world appeared below him once again, and in a flash Eli rocketed back towards the surface. The clouds flashed past in a stream, the ground surged upwards, and in the blink of an eye he was once again standing on a familiar patch of sandy shore.

Somehow he was even more confused than the first time. Did the evolution fail or something? No. It said it was complete? Eli looked skyward as the seabirds once again wheeled above him, their distant cries easing his worry as they once more lent a relaxing air to his surroundings. The faint sound of steps crunching on soft sand behind him let Eli know that he was once again not alone as a musical voice echoed behind him, " Oh my how interesting!

This is certainly a picturesque location, I can see why you chose it for your ascension." Eli turned and smiled as he saw a person he had only even seen before in a dream." Hello again Vael."