Chương 18

Maett blinked, looking at Kirk's back. His expression was haggard as he swiveled to Zuri.

"Did golden boy just say what I think he said? Does he have a concussion?"

"Yes, to both," Zuri sighed.

Ascension initiated! Please Select Feats you wish to use to advance. Please note: as you are Ascending to Tier I, you will need at least two Feats. In addition, for each (2) Feat Stars beyond the required, you will earn the chance for a Refinement. With both Ascension Quests completed, Kirk felt the limit. An invisible yoke that kept his Archetypes fixed. And he saw the roads forward: two mental buckets into which he could place Feats.

With the extra bonuses received from the last half hour, he had plenty of Feats and stars: fully 20. Now it was just a matter of distributing them. The split-second decision came from Kirk's deepest desire; he chose equity. Each of his Archetypes would receive ten stars. Two to advance, eight to become four Refinements. Spark Mage received Runic Castor and Explosive Runes, because of their relevance. Then, to make the math easier, Kirk added Tier II Slayer.

He wondered if that feat, being the only one to reach four stars, would make a difference. But in the end, even if it did, it wasn't the Beast Archetype that had made such a thing possible. Which meant his Beast Archetype received the Feats Solo Kills, Alien Taste, Alien Moon, One Strike Kill, and Crisis Assistance. His eyes flashed as he shattered the yoke. The Beast Archetype released a confused mewl. Ascension commencing… Ascension commencing…

That little floating rune in the corner of Kirk's vision expanded to fill everything. Energy swirled around him as the flames drilled into his body. He groaned and swayed. The band on his arm began to burn, once more throbbing along with his heartbeat. But simultaneously, he felt burning energy trickling out to fill all of him. Your Archetype Spark Mage (0) has ascended! Incorporating cultivated flame. Vengeful Flame has been incorporated. Your Archetype Beast (0) has ascended! Eating death.

Additional deaths, and high value deaths, noted. Death invigorates the body. Your Archetype Spark Mage (0) has ascended to Ember Mage (I)! Your Archetype Beast (0) has ascended to Vicious Beast (I)! Kirk swayed on his feet, lost in the waves of heat running through his body. He frowned at the notifications Is that all- Calculating Stars. 8 Stars detected. 4 Refinements Earned! Calculating Stars. 8 Stars detected. 4 Refinements Earned! Refining… Refining… Kirk groaned, both with pleasure and discomfort.

He was glad that wasn't the end of Ascension. Yet as the Refinements continued, the heat built. His Archetypes vibrated within his chest. Already, his whole body shivered, racked by the pain. First Refinement [Ember Mage]! An impressive Feat included. Your Archetype surges in power. You have gained access to the Manifestation Runic Battery I. You possess a well of power within your body, allowing your Runes to be used, even outside of rifts. First Refinement [Vicious Beast]! Your Archetype deepens.

Resonance with the Larian Manifestation. You have gained access to the Manifestation Bestial Strength [1/4]. Your physical capabilities have grown. Refining… Refining… Kirk staggered forward as the Refinements occurred. He could almost feel the heat, like a conscious presence, following along the lines of the messages. One wave of heat concentrated in his chest. As he sucked in a pained breath, he pulled air, but he also pulled energy, deeply drawing from the environment. The surrounding steam churned.

If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. At the same time, the heat raced up and down his muscles. His muscle contractions became spasms.

"Damnit." Even through his own situation, Kirk could hear Zuri cursing.

"He's drawing too much energy into himself. Geo's will come."

"This is the other reason no one Ascends inside a rift." Maett muttered.

"Sure, content with a nagging inner chorus of violence? Well, what about a parade of bloodthirsty monsters? Kirk could barely hear his companions. Now that the process had begun, the Ascension only accelerated. Second Refinement [Ember Mage]! Your Archetype surges in power. Power concentrates within your Runes. The flames deepen. Your Rune Summon Ember has Ascended to Ember I. Second Refinement [Vicious Beast]! Your Archetype develops. Resonance with the Larian Manifestation continues. Your Archetype grows!

Your Archetype has Ascended to [Bladed Beast]! Refining… Refining…

"Gah," Kirk almost folded over, biting his tongue and spitting blood. His whole body shook. The heat became a horse that galloped back and forth, stomping its way through his joints and organs. He couldn't even think. Everything burned, ravaged by the fire. His fingers were locked around the Larian Saber. The only reason he didn't simply collapse forward was that he could lean against it.

"Damnit, Golden Boy! By all that is whole, heed me; you may not swoon during Refinements." Vaguely, Kirk felt Maett nearby.

"Lack of awareness is considered a dismissal. The improvements cease. Until you have claimed your due, endure." Now you tell me, Kirk groaned. He concentrated to resist. He looked up at the ambient steam, the veins along the boulders, scorch marks beneath him, the dark green mist layer above. His lip curled. This unfair sky, I'll- The heat became a blade and chopped him in twain. Third Refinement [Ember Mage]! Your Archetype concentrates. Due to the previous advancements, an impressive Ascension is within reach!

Your manifestation Runic Battery I has Ascended to Runic Battery II. The well of power within you has expanded. Third Refinement [Bladed Beast]! Your body aligns with your Archetype. You learn the Rune Tenacity I. Refining… Refining…

"By the blessed shite," Zuri hissed.

"He's sucking in more energy?!"

"He's just our Golden Boy," Maett snapped back.

"Don't let this little bit distract you; he's just an Albion. You think this is crazy? You haven't heard the stories about his older siblings. Shape up, woman. The geos approach." Kirk dry heaved, barely conscious. He rested his forehead against the pommel of the weapon. Just one more. The heat stirred, slithering through his body. It felt like his veins contained lava. His whole person felt charred and burnt out. Blood dribbled out of his lips onto the ground. His throat was dry.

It would have been so, so easy to collapse into unconsciousness before that heat finished sauntering through him. But all he saw was that discarded flower, that still man, that weeping woman. This life is unfair. But it doesn't need to be so. Responsibility is the price. I'm willing to pay it. Refining… Refining… The same prompt came up for a second time. Kirk housed a furnace. The heat started in his core and pulsed outward. Each muscle was grilled. Each tendon baked.

His skin seemed on the verge of exploding, releasing the wave of flame within. Two points of unbearable pain flashed into existence, circling each other warily. At the same time, the end of the notifications arrived. Fourth Refinement [Ember Mage]! Your Archetype evolves. The Vengeful Flame rushes through you. You have gained the Manifestation Vengeful Ember I [1/10]. When you receive damage, a small amount of your energy will be consumed to reflect a portion of that damage on the attacker.

Your Archetype [Ember Mage] has evolved to [Glimmer Mage]! You have gained the Rune Flash. Fourth Refinement [Bladed Beast]! Your body warps, barely able to contain all the death you have consumed. Your muscles develop. Your Manifestation Bestial Strength has increased in potential! You guzzle death. It seeps through your body. It soaks your marrow. It marinates your joints. Your Archetype [Bladed Beast] has evolved to [Ancient Bladed Beast].

Your Manifestation Heightened Senses has grown to become Bestial Senses I. Kirk wasn't sure if it was just that he was delirious, but he didn't see the next notification through the rune in his vision, or feel it through his Runic Interpreter. It felt like a whisper, directly into his ear. Ascension complete. Admirable Ascension, Conduit. Feat Gained! Finality's Admiration ✷✷✷ The heat blessedly ceased. Yet what it left Kirk with was a litany of aches and pains.

He staggered forward and collapsed, heedless of his surroundings.