Agnisotra: Origin Tails

I love my race.

I was eating ice cream in Azu’s house, while petting Nilah. Nobody has any idea that I’m gone. I have been relaxing here for a week now. Nothing seems off in the Elven village. My 9th tail was right. I am an idiot. I only use capabilities of my race for shallow things. The only sentient being that could beat my race in deception is the Sarian goddess of chaos and deception. Which means that nobody should be able to find out if I’m serious.

Many other things play into this. Foxfires, using my tails for various other tasks, spatiotemporal magic and the sort. I am not fighting as a 9t at all and only shallowly acting like one. I put my 9th tail on duty to keep reminding me to act like a 9t and to come up with tactics and skills that suit me as a fox. It made me wonder how I’ve survived for this long.

I got up it was time to do what my race does best. I got outside and casually walked toward the academy. I had gone back to the basics. I had only used 1 illusion layer but my illusions interfere with reality. I had always used them like normal illusions.

The moment this illusion breaks is when I instantly arrive at my destination. The fact that ‘someone saw me walking toward the academy’ gets nullified because at that point that becomes untrue. The truth would be that I always was at my destination so it was impossible to see me walk to my destination.

My 9th tail had come up with this. It started with a simple question, which was quite random but it helped me get here without my [Dimensional Anchor] transport.

How do you beat the speed of light? Everyone knows that is impossible. There are ways around it. Like folding space. Something I can also do but the folding of space can be detected.

There is another solution. There is a destination that makes you always beat the speed of light. If the destination is where you’re currently standing, you will always beat the speed of light. And this is what I’m doing. I'm interfering with reality and telling it that I was there all along.

And with this my style will change from, wanting to make sure none of my illusion layers get seen through or break, to wanting them to break. I can currently only get this effect with movement and whether I’m physically present or not. But movement is such an important part of my kit that it has great importance.

I instantly appeared in Azu’s lab because an observant Misha saw through my illusion layer, which changed reality and made it so that I never walked here but always was here thus she could have never seen me. I sat down and brushed my tails. I had neglected this for too long. My tails deserved some brushing. The frost mistflower was still on Azu’s desk.

I took my time brushing my tails and entered the magic circle for my [Dimensional Anchor] in her magic circle device. I had to make it good enough to anchor a whole building. It only took 12 minutes to fix that. I didn’t know the magic circle to [Spatial Lock] so I made one from scratch as I was equipped with the knowledge to do this.

I borrowed many parts from [Dimensional Anchor], because there were similarities. I had to only test and tune the [Spatial Lock] 3 times before I had something robust. I cast both on the lab. I left the key to unravel and unlock these 2 skills in the lab. If Azu wants to physically move her lab she will need to undo these and these magic keys will let her.

I went back to her house and did the same. I then stepped outside with a single illusion layer and talked to a Misha. The moment she responded the illusion layer broke and I appeared at the crater in Igrini kingdom. That conversation had never happened because I was always here.

It only works on places I have been before of course but its more flexible than [Dimensional Anchor] teleports. But also, more unreliable. I am currently in a tree and not sure where in the crater I am exactly. At least Azu’s house was an accurate destination. ‘A crater in Igrini Kingdom’, is not.

I jumped out of the tree and tried to catch Nilah but she hit the floor before I did.

This place was a paradise for spirits. I looked for their spirit tethers and the tethers all seemed to go to one spot.

I expected that spot to be a connection to the spirit world but no. It connected to a large underground leyline current.

I sat down.

Is this why never in the history of spirit mages anyone had come up with a theory why power spots exist? As far as I know, I’m the only one that has used this in maybe forever. And I can also see it. Did Rignef know this? Or did he come to a different conclusion? He alluded to the composition of spirits but that’s not what I’m looking into. Is it possible that there’s more than one way to create Ichor Pneuma and that’s why it has no concrete recipe?

I kept looking at the underground leyline current. It was also helping this area stay bountiful. I also remembered that the pink broccoli tree in Boshi town was a vast source of leyline energy, which would create a power spot for the spirit sisters.

The peak of that thunder mountain where I mastered lightning Dragonvein was of course rich in lightning Dragonvein. It is all coming together now. I have no evidence but I’m assuming a spot that’s connected to the spirit world would also make a good power spot.

I looked at my spirit tethers. I tried to interact with them but failed to do so. I connected with the air leyline currents and made leyline energy flow through my hands and tried again. It was difficult but I could interact with them. They didn’t convert it to spirit energy though. Maybe only the ends of the tether do this?

I tried to find the end of my spirit tether but I couldn’t find it. I wondered if I had enough information now. I knew everything except for how to make these spirit tethers. They grew out of the spirits and sought out a power spot. So maybe I just needed to make the Ichor Pneuma very receptive to receiving spirit tethers. It will have to be either mana-based or Dragonvein-based.

Mana-based is easier, but would it be better? All power spots I knew of were Dragonvein-based. If I wanted to make a spirit vessel for myself, I would want it to be Dragonvein-based because there was no guarantee I could use Dragonvein without this.

Mana was already covered by the magic circuits so there was no need to base it off mana.

Gathering leyline energy, eh? I thought about the crystalized mass of leyline energy that Tero had been hit by. If I could crystalize it, turn it into fine dust, and dissolve it, it should be possible.

I will have to do a lot of test with the guardian spirit to make sure it catches on. I might also have to mix some spirit energy in it.

I kept observing but I realized that I was missing something. They didn’t need anchoring with a power spot but a spirit vessel did need that. What if another spirit wants to steal the vessel. It won't be perfectly suited for it but it should be possible.

Do I need to make another anchor? Maybe I can alter [Spatial Lock] to make something akin to [Spirit Lock]. Maybe this is what Rignef made. It might require knowledge about the composition of spirits but if I just lock the spirit tethers then no other spirit can tether to the vessel. Did I just find a loophole?

In the end it was unclear what Rignef did. I would bet he studied the composition of spirits and use that knowledge to anchor them because he did advice to study spirits, which I did, just differently.

I stayed for 2 more weeks to make sure I didn’t miss anything and then ran back to the forest. The dungeon was my last stop. I was unsure how to feel seeing a familiar face near the dungeon.

“Oh, Hi Agnis, I thought you were working on your project at home.” It seems that Elliana had gotten curious about this dungeon and had come to check it out.

I’m still working on it. How is Greg doing with his preparations?

“He seems ready to start whenever you need him to. He does seem disturbed.”

Is his shadow talking to him again?

“No, he mentioned strange dreams.”

About?

“That’s the thing, he can’t remember and it’s tormenting him. He feels it’s important but it is of no use if he can’t remember. Also, I finished my lightning training!” Elliana showed off some sparks which looked promising.

Oh, that’s great! How about you show it off in that dungeon?

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? Not sure I can jump in if your spirit leaves your body.”

Well, I need materials inside this dungeon for the spirit vessel so there is no way around it.

“How about this, we will turn back once it gets too dangerous.” Elliana started to act like a sister.

Greg please don’t mess this up.

Sure.

I will just not tell her that there is no going back once we get in. The dungeon was quite simple to open and we stepped in. It looked like a dense jungle. I could only see 3 floors deep. It has been a while since I had found a dungeon with floors.

Elliana looked around and sent out some pulses of nature energy to scout out the area. “It’s quite warm here, it’s as if were at a completely different place on the continent!”

No jungle I know that looks like this. Haven’t you noticed? None of these plants seem common, do you recognize any of these?

Elliana looked around. “You’re right… maybe this is a jungle from another continent?”

No clue, these plants might have been common before the Great Eraser.

I picked a fruit and bit into it.

“Hey! It might be poisonous!” Elliana said as she used [Detoxify] on me.

I have resistance against many poisons. This fruit is disgusting though.

I spat it out and it attracted monsters.

And what the fuck are you supposed to be.

Monsters that looked like tangled vines and 2 stick arms hobbled over to us. They were quite small.

“They seem harmless.” Elliana walked over to one and poked it. The creature wrapped vines around her and bound her.

You were saying?

“I was wrong! Help!”

I will, let’s see what their plan is with you.

“Why?!”

Because I can!

The creatures picked her up and carried her away. I followed them and used several small [Fireballs] to destroy any monster that thought I was an easy snack. Nilah had caught a strange bird and was eating it.

Just know that if you get a stomach ache it’s your own fault.

Nilah didn’t care and devoured the strange bird. The tiny monsters carried Elliana in some sort of primitive village and brought her before a massive version of these small monsters.

“Ok we know what their aim was, can you save me now?”

Not yet, I have to figure out if they want to eat you or worship you.

“Why!?”

To punish naïve carelessness.

“But you’re careless too!”

And who has been caught by small vine monsters?

“Ok fine! Just save me before things get too bad!”

Nilah! Sword!

I cut the vines binding Elliana because the monster was about to chomp on her.

“Let me demonstrate some of my lightning magic!” She used [Chain Lightning] but it didn’t catch so well because these plants seemed to have some lightning resistance.

“Of course, they had to have lightning resistance…”

Unlucky.

I connected to the air leyline currents and used [Fernys Magma Pit].

“Hey isn’t this skill a bit too strong? They’re all dead”

Do you want to waste time fighting these small fry?

“No… I guess I’m just too new to this adventure thing.”

Don’t worry you have someone with you that has over 100 years of experience!

“But I thought you were only 20 years old…”

Just go with it…

We went deeper into the first floor. This place didn’t had any structure. It was a jungle in the truest sense. I was looking for treasure rooms but I strangely couldn’t find any.

“Hey what is that?” Elliana nimbly jumped into a tree and climbed to the top and pointed at a chest. It seems the treasures are to be found in the trees. I’m not sure what else I was expecting. I climbed up and took a look.

More gold and silver, boring…

“What is this?” Elliana held a strange light yellow stone.

No clue but probably something I need for my spirit vessel. You can keep the gold.

“What am I supposed to do with gold?”

Right, gold is quite useless in the elven village but outside it can be used to trade almost anything. It is important to be able to trade outside the village and gold and silver will help you.

“Ok. How do I carry this?”

You don’t. I will store it in my dimensional pocket and drop it off at your house after we get out.

“Thanks!”

Let’s rob this place clean!

“Won’t we get into trouble stealing all this?”

Well yes but who do you want to ask? There is nobody here to ask.

“Can’t we just take what we need?”

I need adventure and materials so that’s exactly what I’m doing!

I jumped down and my ears picked up a strange sound.

Hey Elliana, do you hear that?

“Hear what?”

A strange noise.

She perked her ears and shook her head. “I don’t hear anything sorry.”

Hmm must be my imagination then.

We fought off another horde of small monsters that tried to abduct Elliana.

“Why are they all coming after me!?”

They must have marked you as ‘free food’ They are completely ignoring me.

“That is not funny! Do something!” Elliana was running around and blasting them with [Wind Blasts]. She was decreasing the number of pursuers but it would take a while before she would defeat all of them.

Don’t you have stronger attacks with a wider range?

“Well yes but I don’t want to hit you!”

How about you stop worrying about me and worry about yourself. Just send it!

“Send what?”

Just use that big skill…

“Ok…” Elliana’s aura changed and she used [Tornado] and caught all the small monsters. I shifted my stance and used [Pressure] on myself to make sure I wouldn’t share their fate. I shifted stance again and I used [Spark] and ignited the tornado.

Good riddance

“What about the jungle!?”

What about it?

She looked around but the jungle was unaffected by the fire tornado.

“You… how good is your control?”

Well, I’m the ‘Control’ guy in team Hourai, so this is the least I should be able to do.

“Interesting.”

We heard a load roar and an enormous toadlike creature made out of jungle plants jumped at us. We dove away, I shifted stance to use [Fire Dragon Festival] but something seemed off.

“Agnis! Your body!” Elliana pointed at my body.

We looked by as the toad swallowed my body, burped and jumped away.

Hey asshole come back! That’s mine!

None of my leyline skills worked. I tried magic but that didn’t work either.

Uh oh.

“Greg always tells me that the severity of those words shouldn’t be understated.”

I can’t use any of my skills.

Elliana walked over to me and inspected me. “You seem like a normal spirit to me, although a very strong one. Just use spirit magic.”

I only know [Spirit Bolt], and 2 weak lightning attacks…

“Hmm, making a contract is a bad idea, how about you possess me?”

Absolutely not! There is no advantage for you to do that, it can even hurt you.

“But you can’t fight like this right? If you possess me, you can.”

I refuse! I’m not going to possess anyone and certainly not Greg’s girlfriend!

“But you don’t know any spirit magic!”

I will just use [Spirit Bolt] until my target is dead.

“Oh, wasn’t your foxfire spirit magic?”

Right haha! It’s time for them to burn!

I tried making a foxfire but it failed.

Uhh, help? It doesn’t work.

“I will do my best to get your body back…”

The spirit and the elf dungeon adventures! Let’s go!

“How can you be so cheerful when your body just got eaten…”

I will snap back to my body soonish. I hope.

So, I thought that finding this body snatcher and kicking his ass would be easy but it consumed almost a whole day.

Finally found you! You asshole! It was funny the first 30 minutes now give my body back!

“Hey doesn’t it look like he’s digesting?” Elliana pointed at the toad which was relaxing and had his 2 front paws on its belly.

Noo! You asshole!

I used [Spirit bolt] but I don’t think it did damage.

Being underpowered sucks. How about a foxfire!

I created a tiny blue flame and shot it at the monster but it also didn’t seem to feel that. I couldn’t even hold Nilah in her sword form.

During the whole day Elliana and Nilah did all the work. I was just dead weight. I had wished to have an adventure where others would babysit me but I didn’t mean it like this.

Maybe being powerless is a good change of pace. It will allow for others to take the spotlight! The tale of the Elf, the fox and the useless spirit, go!

“I don’t consider you useless, I’m sure that once you get your body back, this monster dies easily.” Elliana had pinned the monsters limbs to the floor with [Wind lances]. Any wind attack she shot out of her bow grew in size and turned into a [Wind Lance]. Her shots also made impossible curves and turns. Most of it was due to her controlling wind magic but she might also be using pure skill to make these arrows and skills fly like this.

She was the granddaughter of the village elder after all. I still have to meet her grandfather actually.

The monster toad made a strange croak and many smaller toads appeared. I made a tiny foxfire flame and shot it at Nilah.

This was the only way I could contribute, shooting small foxfires at Nilah and have her amplify this. Her tails ignited in foxfire and she torched any frog she passed by.

Haha yes feel the power of Nilah!

I felt a tug attempting to pull me back to my body. I decided to wait till the tug became stronger, snap back into my body and use the energy to explode the monster from the inside. It’s a perfect plan!

I resisted the pull for 20 minutes before I put my plan in motion. I snapped back and used frost magic to catch the energy and used it to use [Explosion] which blasted the monster to bits.

Hahaha! That’s what you get! Ugh I’m covered in goo and it stinks…

I looked over and Nilah and Elliana were also covered in stinky goop.

Woops

“I should have expected this…. Let’s find a body of water to clean ourselves.”

I shifted my stance and used [Water Dragon Festival] and washed us thoroughly.

“See you’re not useless anymore!” Elliana said as she dried herself off.

Sorry about that I will be a bit more careful, let’s go to the next floor.

I pointed and we went east.

“Agnis!”

What?

Nilah dragged my body to me.

Huh, I didn’t notice.

“Please be careful…” Elliana picked up my body and brought it to me.

I created a frost glove after I returned to my body. The flow of incoming mana would stop the moment I get kicked out of my body.

We found more treasure hidden in the trees and I found a lot of materials I needed to create Ichor Pneuma. I also had to get tree sap so I easily drained 26 trees with Dragonvein.

“I can’t help to think that you have a skill for anything needed to make this dungeon easier.”

I get stuck in situations like this a lot so I try to have a varied skillset to deal with almost any problem. Look it’s the entrance to the next floor.

“I didn’t think it was possible but it’s getting dark we should setup a camp soon.” I nodded. I stopped feeling a mana influx and stopped.

I wonder if this dungeon is forcing this to happen more often.

Elliana turned around and crouched while looking at my spiritless body. “Have you tried possessing your body when this happens? Might be faster than waiting until your body tugs on your spirit.”

Possessing myself, eh? That can’t hurt.

I got pulled back in before I could try.

I guess I can try that out tomorrow.

The next floor looked like a jungle during night time so we were incentivized to set up a camp.

“Is this how all your adventures have been?” Elliana asked me as she was wrapping herself in an enormous leaf. Was this the elf equivalent of a sleepingbag?

More or less, most are more dangerous than this though.

“I totally understand why Sylvana had left the village, there is so much to do, so many different people outside. I just wish that my grandfather didn’t oppose her ideas so much…”

Yeah, I’ve noticed that you guys are very against people leaving.

“Well, it’s different in your case but it seems they have become a bit more lenient since you guys have come here.”

That’s good. Maybe one day they will listen to Sylvana.

“I hope so too. Let’s hope we can get out tomorrow because we might get into trouble if we don’t. Good night.”

Good night.