As he walked the short distaween Carlos’ research tre and the portal leading out of the astral kingdom, Jason pted what Carlos had said about how he sounded when he spoke. He drew up his character sheet and looked over the ‘i gifts’ his prime avatar possessed, repg his old outworlder abilities.

  I Gifts

  [Prime Avatar][Numen][System Administrator][Sacred Phoenix][Relics of the King][Panquin]It would take time to fully explore these new abilities, but they were easy enough to categorise. He’d lost very little, with most of his old capabilities solidated into his new ones, with extra powers on top. It was certainly enough to make up for the first of his new abilities doing almost nothing, from a practical perspective.

  Prime Avatar was little more than the ability to have a prime avatar, her bat nor utility powers. It ossibly his most important ability long term, however. The prime avatar would allow him to advahe aspect of his power that was still mortal and ultimately achieve full transdence.

  The Sacred Phoenix ability bined powers previously gained from the World-Phoenix and the Death goddess. Panquin was the closest to one of his old abilities, allowing Shade to take on travel forms and his other familiars to modify them.

  The three remaining gifts each seemed reted to a different kind of transdey. System Administrator, unsurprisingly, represented Jason’s retion to the System now affeg essence users across the os. His role in that was akin to that of a great astral being, but most of his trol was sealed away until he reached full transdence. Until then, he would have to settle for his prime avatar having a suite of System reted abilities.

  Relics of the King allowed him to tap into his soul fe, astral throne and astral gate. His prime avatar couldn’t draw on them as powerfully as his previous mortal body could, but it would suffer little to no backsh for doing so. He would no longer be wreg himself for months after using them.

  The st i gift, Numen, was aly divine power, and the one Jason focused on.

  [Numen]: Your transdent power has aspects of divinity that are imbued into the avatar that is the mortal embodiment of your will and power. Your avatar express that power in ways that reflect yemonid defiant nature. Traits and abilities your avatar is include: establishing spiritual domains; Akashic Speech; stripping and transf remnant magiagitities you have killed or destroyed; being immuo rank suppression as well as dete, trag and assessment magiegating aura-reted abilities by fully suppressing the aura of the ability’s user.

  Shade emerged to float alongside Jason as he walked, looking at the system window holding Jason’s attention.

  “Priest Quilido is right, Mr Asano. That your power is partially divine in nature is not a question but a fact.”

  Jason focused on the Akashic Speech aspect of the ability.

  Help: [Akashic Speech]

  Akashic Speech taps into the fual intereess of all things in the os to unicate in a way that is intrinsically uood by all things capable of unicatioe the term ‘speech,’ this ability impacts all forms of unication, and is perceived by all entities in the form most natural to them. Full use of this ability is only capable by transdeies. Mortal limitations limit the effectiveness of this capability.

  “Mortal limitations limit the effectiveness of this capability,” Jason read. “Limit it by how much, do you think?”

  “I imagihat ay capable of something you would reise as nguage would be covered, Mr Asano. Evereme cases, such as unig through telepathy, st or colour g, so long as the mentality behind it at least vaguely operates as a nguage. I suspect that only that which is wholly alien to you, not just ihod but iality, will fall outside of that ability.”

  “So, it’s basically a new version of my old transtion power, bundled up with some of my other abilities and given a god polish. Colleg up my old abilities and giving me more seems a bit cheaty, even if the Prime Avatar ability is a dud, power-wise.”

  “We have discussed this already, Mr Asano. Even simple powers have formidable results.”

  “I know. How much do you think that adding some god sprio my powers will stand out? Do you think I suppress it?”

  “I think it will rgely go unnoticed, Mr Asano. Your void your aura will be the most evident, so the effects on those will be what you o suppress. I am afraid, however, that anyone suffitly powerful or attentive will notice, unless you pletely retract your aura and don’t speak. As the former is not practical, and the tter isn’t possible, I’m afraid that anonymity will be difficult. On the positive side, that’s not much of a ge.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “Mr Asano, the Adventure Society crafted aire new identity for you and you immediately revealed it to almost everyone you met.”

  “There were extenuating circumstances.”

  “Such as not being bothered to try very hard?”

  “I didn’t say they were good circumstances, just extenuating ones. Look, I’ll probably be able to suppress the god taint to a degree, right?”

  “Taint, Mr Asano?”

  “I ’t let myself treat being a bit goddy as a good thing. hing you know, I’ll have eighteen wives and a gun stockpile in my wilderness pound. Rick Geller probably thinks I already do.”

  “I will refrain from dignifying that. As for the question of suppression, the aura aspect will be easier to mask. You are well trained in that regard. Hiding the way you speak will be harder. Although people will hear your words in their native nguage, it is possible for those with strong trol over their perception that you are actually using the old nguage.”

  “The old nguage?”

  “It has many he diviohe words of creation. You have been using it for years. The name of your sword is engraved on its bde in that nguage. Your Mark of Sin ability burns the ideograph for ‘sin’ into people in that nguage. I suspect using that nguage is a key aspect of the ability.”

  “You didn’t think to mention that I was talking in some a god nguage?”

  “I had assumed it was an aspect of your previous transtion power. That ability allowed you speak in the nguages of those around you, and you have been speaking primarily to great astral beings. It also happens to be my native nguage.”

  “I suppose your dad is a great astral being. This speech power is going to make it hard to be a fa the crowd, even if people do hear it as if I’m talking in their native tongue.”

  “Yes. With your old power, you were actually speaking the nguages, so you could only use o a time. Now everyone will hear you in their own nguage. If people notice that different members of a group are perceiving the same words in different nguages, that will certainly stand out. The only solution I see, Mr Asano, would be to start learning nguages and not use the Akashic Speech. I think, however, it may be time to embrace that you are not, as you said, ‘a fa the crowd.’ I suspect that more of your nature will be evident once you leave your own realm, suppressed aura or not.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Your prime avatar is something akin to a hole in the universe. A el between this realm, which is your true self, and that body. An ambassador, if you will, of a pce without limits. Here, in your astral kingdom, your avatar belongs. O enters a normal universe, it will be a living expression of infinite and alien power. A gate to something beyond mortal straint. To most, it might seem like the normal presence of a high-ranker. And I imagine you will be able to mask your presehrough aura manipution, as before. But to anyone paying attention, there will always be indicators.”

  Jason sighed.

  “I liked being just some guy. And I know that I haven’t really been that in a long time, but it’s about more than just what I am or what I’m caught up in.”

  He tapped his forehead.

  “Up here, I’ve always been some guy, caught up in crazy ic forces. I know that, at this point, I am the crazy ic forces, but I don’t want to let go of that part of myself. It feels like that sense of being an ordinary bloke is all that’s keeping me grouo what I was. That if I let that go, however much of a fi it is now, I don’t know what I’ll bee.”

  “As someone who has lived for aremely long time, Mr Asano, I have some bad news: ge is iable. You will not be the man you are now in a million years. In a billion. The key is to not think in millions of years. That is how great astral beings think, and they need mortals to do their short-term thinking for them. Your ability to inhabit a moment is your strength. It’s why the World-Phoenix sent Dawn to you. It’s how you wotle for the ic Throrust yourself, Mr Asano, and those of us who stand beside you.”

  “Thank you, Shade.”

  “Of course, Mr Asano. It is best that we had this talk now, before you take your prime avatar outside.”

  Jason looked ahead to the portal they had almost reached, standing in a clearing.

  “This is going to be a whole thing, isn’t it?”

  “You may be fetting, Mr Asano, but it always is.”

  ***

  The crowd of people was skittish, ragged and malnourished. They looked around, hunched and twitchy as if expeg an attaigel watched, frowning at their dition as Asano members led them off, apanied by the rest of Nigel’s team. Nigel himself walked in another dire, alongside Rufus.

  “Every time we liberate one of those damn blood farms,” Nigel said, “the dition we find people in still gets to me.”

  “Thank you for helping us with this one,” Rufus said.

  The Asano had ied what remained of the military infrastructure left behind when the bases ierritory were abandoned. Much of it had beeroyed during the vampire’s tenure, but what remained included a number of intact or salvageable vehicles. The blood farm victims had been brought to the military trucks and would be housed in military dormitories for the immediacy. The dorms were cloud structs, so more luxurious than they seemed at a gnce.

  Nigel’s team and the members moved the blood farm victims while Nigel and Rufus headed for a more modest vehicle that would returo the city.

  “How many farms were left running while the Asanos were hiding in their magic hole?” Nigel asked bitterly.

  “It was an unfortunate y,” Rufus said.

  “Necessary for what? What is worth all the suffering we could have stopped?”

  “A battle on a scale you and I could never fully prehend. Stakes than span not just this universe but tless others, on a time scale of trillions of years. If you want more details, ask Jason when you see him .”

  “He always used to talk about saving the world. I was never clear on what from, and now you’re saying he’s moved on to saving the universe?”

  “This world almost broke apart like a biscuit in a cup of coffee. He stopped that from happening. Barely. As for his test battle, again, ask him yourself. He’ll expin or not.”

  They reached aop military Jeep that looked like it was from the eighties.

  “They weren’t using vehicles like this at the military bases,” Nigel pointed out.

  “This one was created by the domain,” Rufus said. “It’s made of clouds.”

  Nigel looked it over warily as he climbed into the passenger seat. Despite looking like old, cracked leather, it felt impossibly plush. Rufus smiled at his startled expression and started up the vehicle. The military base was set away from the city proper, but not too far. It would only be a short drive through the tryside.

  “You sound critical for someone who says he’s looking to join our ,” Rufus observed.

  “I’m not looking to join anything until I know what I’m leading my people into,” Nigel said. “The good and the bad. Then we decide if we want in, and they decide if they want us.”

  “I respect that,” Rufus said. “I tell you a little about how the works, if you want to hear it.”

  “I’d appreciate that.”

  “The first thing you should know is that we don’t work with traditional mohe of the realm here is either spirit s or, more only, tribution points. You exge either fur mo the exge, along with most other luxuries.”

  “Luxuries? What about the basics? You’ve been isoted for years.”

  “We’re self-sustaining for the basics. The astral spaces provide plenty of food and water. We have some sizeable farms in there now. As for infrastructure, the nd itself provides. Every member gets a home, and it’s all made of clouds. It adapts to your needs. You even just ask it and it’ll ge.”

  “Tell me more about those tribution points.”

  “Everyos what they need in terms of food, lodging and other basieeds. Free public transport, free healing. Simple clothes. No one has to wonder where they’ll sleep that night, or where their meal is ing from. But it’s all basic. The fuals of living a life. Anything more requires tribution points. A nicer home. Nicer clothes. A jet ski. Going out to a restaurant.”

  “And how do you get these points? Fighting monsters?”

  “If you like. And you’re qualified. But points are easy to earn. Maybe you’re the one who makes those nicer clothes, or works in that restaurant. Training, too. We have a school for ritual magic. A trainire for those who do want to fight monsters. All the essence users have to gh a basi there. Children accrue points for their families by attending school. Enough that they afford essences when they’re old enough to use them.”

  “You sell essences for these points?”

  “We do. Jaso us a signifit supply, and we collect more iral spaces.”

  “How expensive are they?”

  “The costs for the on ones we collect ourselves are minimal. The high-rarity ohat Jaso behind that don’t ma ierritories here are the most expensive.”

  “How many of the members are essence users?”

  “Almost all. Basic essences are inexpensive enough, and there are many excelle affordable binations. A few people hold out, saving up for more expensive essences. Some don’t like the idea of ging themselves with magic, although they are very much a minority.”

  “Health, long life and no longer needing the bathroom are strong motivators.”

  “Ihey are. Still, some refuse, whatever you tell them. Especially now that the binations are being less reliable.”

  “Less reliable?”

  “The previously fixed essenbinations are starting to add variety to the fluence essehey produce. The same binations no let the same result every time. It’s beeing here for a while. Haven’t people noticed in the wider world, yet?”

  “Maybe. My es aren’t what they were.”

  “But you do have them. Someo you here.”

  “Anna Tilden. You know her, right?”

  “We’ve met.”

  “I o settle up with her. We came here for a job, and it’s only right we finish it before we look at joining your . Assuming you’ll have us.”

  “That’s up to the Matriarch. And it’s not my , as such. I’m more of an honorary member. Formally joining would plicate things with my family bae. Our position is plicated.”

  “Does an honorary member get tribution points?”

  “Yes, if services are rendered. Your participation in the blood farm liberation will earn you and your team some as well. If you don’t end up joining the , I would suggest exging them for spirit s or Earth currency.”

  “You trade points for money?”

  “Yes.”

  “Not all of my members are pletely sold on my pn of joining the , but I think you just turned a couple of them around.”

  [Prime Avatar]: A prime avatar is a physical and spiritual gestalt that serves as a mortal anchor for transdent power. It does not have a soul of its own, serving as a vessel through which your soul be expressed, fully embodying your sciousness and mortal power. The power of your avatar is limited to your mortal power and serves as a means to groower. As the anchor for your transdent power, the prime vessel is required to exert certain aspects of that power upon physical reality.

  [Numen]: Your transdent power has aspects of divinity that are imbued into the avatar that is the mortal embodiment of your will and power. Your avatar express that power in ways that reflect yemonid defiant nature. Traits and abilities your avatar is include: establishing spiritual domains; Akashic Speech; stripping and transf remnant magiagitities you have killed or destroyed; being immuo rank suppression as well as dete, trag and assessment magiegating aura-reted abilities by fully suppressing the aura of the ability’s user.

  [System Administratain access to all aspects of the system, along with additional interface features such as maps, void image chat, party and raid group funality, and the ability to assess creatures and objects. You grant these additional features to others in a party or raid group. You access the system interface of others if you have their permission or have suppressed their aura.

  [Relics of the King]: Access the astral throne, astral gate and soul fe to limited degrees. Reinforce the stability of dimensional spaces through your presend transgress sealed or unstable dimensional apertures. Exceed the normal limitations of portal abilities at the cost of additional mana, potentially suffering backsh for extreme expenditure. Use your aura to suppress spiritual manipution and suppress or enhance soul attacks.

  [Sacred Phoenix]: Soul-based abilities learned prior to astral nexus transfiguration have been refined for use by your prime avatar. Afflis also add [Ghost Fire]. On suffering damage that would be lethal, transform into a ghost fire phoenix. After ghost phoenix transformation is triggered, it ot be used again for one year. That time is reduced by abs life force, and further reduced by life force taining fual reality material.

  [Panquin]: Your dark essence familiar transform its bodies into one or more forms of transportation. These forms offer luxury and utility but are retively fragile for their rank. Your blood familiar reinfory single form, enhang its durability, allowing it to repair itself rapidly and heal anyone ih moderate efficacy. Your doom familiar add offensive and defensive capabilities any single form.

  Annou: Due to the release of Book 11 on Kindle Unlimited, chapters 791 - 882 will be removed from the site oh or 10th of July, depending on timezone.