10 Hours Ago

  “You are to enter the city, Find the Node, and Claim it, the red-skinned Demon Lord said as he handed a small clear sphere to Lyn-Tar.

  “Yes, Lord Char.”

  “The sphere creates a bubble of force that will allow you to seal off the Node during the hour it takes to claim the city. You are to use the funds I’m providing to increase the Safe Zone to the outer wall a mile away. Make sure that it is one foot outside the wall and that our Army is immune to the Safe Zone.”

  “As you will, Lord Char.”

  “Now Go!” Lord Char said.

  Lyn-Tar thought about why Lord Char would want the Safe Zone extended outside the last wall and then realized that anyone attacking from inside the Safe Zone would be teleported up to 25 miles away which would make them easy pickings. The Lord was most wise. Those that did not fight and were subservient would remain and those that would fight would be removed from the city. It was a simple, yet brutal plan, worthy of his Lord.

  7 Hours Ago

  Lyn-Tar pulled out the clear sphere and activated it. A moment later an invisible barrier appeared around the London City Node and him. He dropped his invisibility and reached out to touch the Orb. He Claimed the Node

  You Are Attempting to Claim the City Node of a Faction your Faction is at War with.

  You must maintain control of the City Node for one full hour before control will be transferred to your faction.

  Do you wish to Claim this City Node, Yes or No?

  Lyn-Tar chose “Yes.”

  For the next hour, Lyn Tar was continuously attacked to no avail. When the hour was up he assumed control of the London City Node, made the changes that Lord Char had instructed him to make, and waited. Lyn Tar kept the protection bubble in place while he waited. After the first few individuals that had attacked him disappeared the attacks stopped. 20 minutes later Lord Char was led into his room by his elite soldiers and demons who were not attacking or killing anyone who didn’t attack them. The dead, or undead for that matter, did not make very good slaves.

  Lyn Tar deactivated the sphere and transferred control of the City Node to Lord Char.

  “Very good, I have one more task for you. There is one more Safe Zone on this island about 3 hours north of here,” Lord Char said as a new location appeared on his Personal Map, “Claim it and then release the City Node and the Safe Zones. This Island only needs one safe zone. The energies are almost perfect to either turn this Planet into a Dungeon World or a Hellscape.”

  “Yes, Lord”

  “Take one of the Wyverns to get close and then do what you do best.”

  “Yes, Lord”

  Lyn-Tar had left immediately. 3 hours later he ended up on the outskirts of a small Safe Zone and followed the arrow he had toward the Town Node. There were a lot of well-armed human soldiers all over the grounds of the building he walked into and then down the stairs to the lower level. It was a shame that these humans would have to die soon, they would have been good additions to the Lord’s Army.

  ***

  Present

  Pandora started awake as an Alarm went off in her head and a Notification appeared in her vision.

  The Scarborough Town Node is being Claimed by Lyn-Tar. You have 1 Hour to interrupt this process or you will lose control of this Town Node.

  “Thor?”

  “Yes, Pandora”

  “What’s going on?” Pandora asked as she rose off her bed and made her way to the City Node Room. As she stepped into the room she immediately noticed a clear bubble that surrounded a dark-skinned elf and the Town Node. He had the air of someone who was completely bored.

  “Excuse me, Lyn-Tar is it? What are you doing?”

  Lyn-Tar looked up at Pandora and his eyes widened a bit, he tried to say something but she couldn’t hear him. It looked like the bubble blocked sound as well.

  Desirae walked into the room at that moment and assessed the situation, “Thor, why didn’t you detect him before he was able to reach the City Node?”

  “It would seem that his version of invisibility also included the ability to suppress sound. My sensors did not detect any visible motion or auditory indicators before the barrier came up,” Thor said as he materialized into a shadow replica of a man beside Desirae.

  “So he’s powerful. Pandora, what do you want to do?” Desirae asked.

  ” He never should have locked himself in a bubble,” Pandora said as she used Shadow Step to cross into Shadow Realm walked to where the Town Node was in the Material plan, and placed her hand flush with the side that was generating a shadow. Every orb, except her Chaos Orb shot out of her hand, through the shadow, and into the bubble of force Lyn Tar had created.

  As she stepped out of the Shadow Realm, and back into the room she turned to see that her orbs were bouncing all around the inside of the bubble of force. Pandora was pretty sure the rogue was going to die until he deftly destroyed all 20 of her orbs as if they were nothing. While her absorption of the orbs did prevent them from being destroyed permanently it did cost her 10 points of Chaos to recreate each one that was destroyed. She spent the 200 points of Chaos and began the process as she asked, “Thor, any ideas”

  “Dead or alive?” Thor asked.

  “I don’t think we’re going to be able to take this one alive,” Pandora said thoughtfully.

  “Very well.

  For a moment nothing seemed to happen, then the clothes and weapons on the rogue started to fall apart and evaporate before they hit the ground. As soon as the dark elf started to realize what was happening he started throwing various items into his Personal Storage.

  “What good is that going to do, as far as I understand it the SYSTEM doesn’t let you directly affect living tissue unless someone gives uncoerced permission?” Pandora asked.

  “That is true. Now let me ask, do you know what an industrial saw blade is, or a paper shredder?” Thor asked.

  “Can’t say that I do.”

  “While my nanites can’t directly affect a biological entity, they can create very tiny rotating blades in the millions. Now watch the ground.”

  Pandora watched as the ground began disappearing until there was an oval that must be the inside wall of the spherical barrier he was hiding in. As Pandora watched a light haze about the size of a head of cabbage became thicker and started moving toward the elf. The elf drew a short sword and made 6 strikes before he realized that the blade passed through the ball of what looked like gnats with no effect on the gnats, the sword however, fell apart and was converted into more gnats before the pieces hit the ground.

  That was also when the dark-skinned elf decided that it had enough and cast a fireball inside the clear bubble. While he looked singed by the fireball they all watched as a soft yellow glow enveloped him and repaired all of his clothing and wounds.

  “Well, the nanites that were inside the barrier when he put it up are all destroyed. I have nothing else I can do to him until that barrier comes down,” Thor said.

  “I guess that’s my queue, everyone gets ready?” Pandora said to Thor, Desirae and the three soldiers who had come into the room and had their firearms pointed at the dark elf. “When the barrier comes down, end him.”

  It seemed that The SYSTEM was giving her back skills that she had before so maybe it would give her back the ability to absorb magic. Pandora concentrated on the feeling that she’d associated with absorbing magic and reached out to touch the clear bubble. For a moment it felt as if her efforts were being blocked and then suddenly it felt as if something was freed and a new notification appeared in her vision.

  “Give me a second I need to look at something,” Pandora said to everyone in the room with her as she pulled up her notifications.

  It appears that you are trying to unlock or adapt a skill known in a previous System.

  Would you like to spend 1 Skill Point to unlock the Skill Magic Absorption at Rarity Common, Level 1, Yes or No?

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  Pandora Chose “Yes”

  Congratulations!

  You have unlocked the Skill “Magic Absorption”

  Magic Absorption

  This skill allows you to absorb both incoming and static semi-permanent spells.

  Spells absorbed are converted to Mana

  Damage-Based Spells - Convert 4 points of spell damage to 1 point of mana for 1 point of Chaos. Spells that fail to do 4 points of damage are absorbed automatically with no ill effect.

  Static Spell Absorption – You may absorb any static spell that has a limited duration. At higher skill levels you will be able to absorb permanent spells and enchantments. You received 1 point of Mana for each spell level absorbed.

  Skill Levels to Spell Level conversion

  Common Levels 1 – 10 / Levels 1 – 10

  Scarce Levels 1 – 10 / Levels 11 – 20

  Rare Levels 1 – 10 / Spell Levels 21 – 30

  Advanced Levels 1 – 10 / Spell Levels 31 – 40

  Master Levels 1 – 10 / Spell Levels 41 – 50

  Epic Levels 1 – 10 / Spell Levels 51 – 60

  Mythic Levels 1 – 10 / Spell Levels 61 – 70

  Legendary Levels 1 – 10 / Spell Levels 71 – 80

  Spell levels 81 and higher may or may not exist.

  Absorption of Damage from Spells

  At Skill level 1, 4 points of damage can be absorbed and converted to 1 point of Mana for 1 point of Chaos. Round down for Mana gained. Round up for Chaos Spent. For instance, if the user were to attempt to absorb 3 points of spell damage, Zero (0) Mana would be gained while the user would still need to spend 1 point of Chaos.

  Every Skill level increases the number of points of damage that may be absorbed by 4 per point of Chaos spent. Using our previous example. Up to 7 points of spell damage could be absorbed and would garner Zero (0) mana gained for 1 point of Chaos.

  WARNING if you attempt to absorb a spell and you do not have enough Chaos to do so all damage is released in an explosion from your body in a 50-foot radius. Damage will equal the total damage plus any Chaos spent and Mana absorbed. If the total damage is greater than the user's total Hit Points, the user dies.

  Absorption of Static Spells both Semi-Permanent and Permanent spells

  At Skill level 1, 1 spell level may be absorbed per point of Chaos spent.

  Every Skill level increases the number of spell levels that be absorbed per point of Chaos by 1.

  Additionally, every 10 skill levels reduces the amount of Chaos that must be spent. At Skill Level, Scarce 1 up to 2 spell levels may be absorbed per point of Chaos spent. At Skill Level Rare 1 up to 3 spell levels may be absorbed per point of Chaos spent.

  For Example: A Level 11 Spell, Scarce Level 1, would cost 6 points of Chaos to Absorb, instead of 11 and garner 11 points of Mana. A level 21 Spell, Rare Level 1 would cost 7 points of Chaos to absorb and garner 21 points of Mana.

  You are attempting to absorb a 51st-level Force Bubble. At your current skill level, it will cost 51 points of Chaos to absorb and convert the force bubble into 51 points of Mana.

  Normally a person would have to absorb on one turn and convert the energy the next turn. In Pandora’s case, Caspa allowed her to be able to both at the same time. Also, she could effectively double her resource pool regeneration rate by splitting it in half and letting two different regeneration rates refill those resource pools. When she’d used 200 Chaos to remake her Wizard Orbs, Caspa had converted 50 stamina into 100 Chaos to refill half of what was spent. Her current conversion rate was 1 for 2 in either direction; Hit Points, Stamina, Mana, or Psychic Energy for Chaos or vice versa. Then, with both her Chaos Regeneration and Mana Stamina Regeneration at 2 points per second that would allow her stamina to be refiled in 25 seconds and her Chaos to be refilled in just 50 seconds. If she wanted to speed up the regeneration again she could convert her hit points which was also 2 points per second. She couldn’t do that wither Mana though because it only regenerated at 1 per second. By converting 100 points she’d reduced the cost from 200 to 150 and then doubled her resource regeneration rate. In the time she’d taken to shadow step and return she’d already recovered 40 points of both resource pools. Currently, she had 510 Chaos of her 570 and 1,660 of her 1,670 stamina

  Before she could accept the notification something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. When she looked into the bubble she saw the dark elf laugh and then point at her and then himself. Next, he made a motion with his hand that was meant to represent her female figure as he bent her over. With a sudden motion he hip thrust and pointed at both Desirae and her again.

  “We are going to kill him,” Desirae asked with a maliciousness that Pandora had never heard before.

  “Oh yeah, we’re going to kill him,” Pandora said as she felt Caspa agree in her mind.

  Pandora: Caspa if you would do the honor of absorbing the bubble, I’ll be ready with my plan.

  Caspa: On it.

  Pandora felt Caspa spend the 51 Chaos as the Force bubble vanished and Mana flooded into her. Pandora on the other hand was waiting to see what this dark elf was going to do and wasn’t disappointed when he flashed forward and tried to pierce her heart.

  Unfortunately for him, Pandora activated Kinetic Absorption and stopped the attack in its tracks Unfortunately, doing so took 348 of her 560 Chaos. That was going to take a bit to get back. Luckily when he attacked her he violated the Safe Zone and vanished a split second after the tip of his blade touched her. Pandora reached over, put her hand on the Town Node, and reclaimed it.

  The Scarborough Town Node has been reclaimed.

  Pandora looked up and smiled at everyone in the room “Okay Thor, is there any way you can add something that can detect weight on floors or something like that in this room?”

  “Yes, I can add pressure plates and a few other items and tie them into the security,” Thor said.

  “Do it,” Pandora said.

  “You said we’d get to kill him?” Desirae said.

  “He seemed a little dangerous…

  Pandora was cut off as a moment later there was the telltale sound of a pop as a sword entered her chest and pierced her heart. Time slowed for Pandora as she watched the dark elf, who should be barred from the Safe Zone for the next 24 hours by default, moved over to Desirae and cut off her head before she’d even registered his movement. Next, he moved around the room and killed the other three soldiers in the room and then turned to Pandora whose body was still frozen. Her mind was able to keep up with him but she couldn’t move her body.

  Lyn-Tar grabbed her by the back of the head and drew her in for a vicious kiss, even as the wound in her chest started to slowly well up with blood. Time still seemed to be moving at an incredibly slow rate as their lips touched. As their lips touched anger, unlike anything she had ever known before, flashed through her and Pandora exploded. Not into motion, not into bloody chunks. No, Pandora exploded into a blob of pearlescent energy that absorbed almost everything within 22 feet of her.

  Pandora, or Caspa for that matter, did not have any control over what. In fact, the only person that would have any idea would be her father. Luckily, unlike her father Adamantadine, or Adam, she did not have the 4 universes worth of Chaos within her when the ability Creature of Chaos reared its head and she lost control of her material form. Luckily, Pandora and Caspa were still one mind and they could both communicate with each other.

  Pandora: What happened?”

  Caspa: It would seem that you were angry and lost control just before you died.

  Pandora: So, I was angry when I was about to die. I want to know why that would turn me into a pearlescent blob of energy.

  Caspa: Well, what should have happened is that you should have died and your nature should have had you reform near the largest concentration of magic on this planet.

  Pandora: How do you know that?

  Caspa: I don’t know, I just do, it’s just a chaos thing or something. Anyway, because you were Angry you stopped yourself from reforming within the ley lines, astral space, or whatever and the chaos within you exploded out and absorbed everything within 22 feet.

  Pandora: How do you know it was 22 feet?

  Caspa: Those of us with low amounts of chaos within us, when we explode or lose control, do so with the approximate square root of the energy value. The square root of 500 is 22 and change, so 22 feet.

  Pandora: Are you saying that as we grow stronger we can turn into this blob thing and do even more damage to those around us?

  Caspa: Yep.

  Pandora: So what happened to the asshole or anyone else in the room close to me?

  Caspa: Everything organic within range of you came into contact with pure chaos and if not immune was converted and consumed by you. Nonorganic material was also absorbed but was only used to replenish those parts of you that were either damaged or missing.

  Pandora: Did I just eat Desirae and those soldiers and even that dark elf guy?

  Caspa: The simple answer is yes. The longer answer is…

  Caspa was interrupted as pain shot through Pandora’s mind and suddenly she found herself lying naked in the room the City Node had been in. Had Been? Where was the City Node?

  Scarborough Town Node functionality has been absorbed by Pandora.

  New Perk Added

  SYSTEM Node Access – You have gained the ability to access SYSTEM Node functionality when within the Domain of any SYSTEM Node or general access to the SYSTEM Shop anywhere with the Domain of the SYSTEM. Entry into and out of the SYSTEM will occur wherever you initiate access to the SYSTEM Shop.

  WARNING! The Scarborough Town Node has been destroyed, would you like a new City Node to be issued now instead of waiting 24 hours for it to reform, Yes or No?

  Pandora chose “Yes” and watched as the Town Node reappeared above her.

  As Pandora sat up she activated Mold Chaos and replaced her clothing as more notifications filled her vision.

  Lyn-Tar has been absorbed and converted into Chaos. Chaos increased by 20,270. Total Chaos: 20, 840

  Desirae has been absorbed and converted into Chaos. Chaos increased by 366. Total Chaos: 21,206

  Burton Lee Child has been absorbed and converted into Chaos. Chaos increased by 256. Total Chaos 21,462

  Gabriel McGuires has been absorbed and converted into Chaos. Chaos increased by 301. Total Chaos 21,763

  Joseph Savage has been absorbed and converted into Chaos. Chaos increased by 289. Total Chaos 22,052

  Creature of Chaos Threshold Reached, 1,000 Chaos. Chaos Regenerates at 4 per second

  Creature of Chaos Threshold Reached 2,000 Chaos. Chaos Regenerates at 6 per second

  Creature of Chaos Threshold Reached 4,000 Chaos. Chaos Regenerates at 8 per second

  Creature of Chaos Threshold Reached 8,000 Chaos. Chaos Regenerates at 10 per second.

  Creature of Chaos threshold Reached 16,000 Chaos. Chao Regenerates at 12 per second.

  Pandora looked at the notifications and shuttered. Would she grow stronger by eating people?

  Caspa: It’s not eating people.

  Pandora: Really, if I didn’t eat them where are the three soldiers, Desirae and the Asshole?

  Caspa: Well come back to this in a minute. Right now I have a more important question, Where is Thor?