NOVEL WEB (Vol 5) Chapter 3: The Contester
Samantha fumed for a while about Zadkiel. Marriage! What an idiot! How stupid could he be? That dirty little shit — I literally would let him rot forever before I agreed to that. He just doesn’t get how fucking lucky he is to even be alive. I will not free him to do whatever he wants. I just can’t.
It was an additional problem that she had Bast to worry about… who wanted Zadkiel dead. But his mother would be alive again soon, restored as a dryad of sorts according to the promise of Redberry. She would have to be transparent, but she was certain Bast would see reason, all things considered. She was not going to make a deal immediately anyway, despite her talks and her airs of putting the Demon King in ‘timeout.’
He was stuck in timeout — from Calrenazzod at least — absolutely for six days… she couldn’t restore him before then no matter how much she desired it. Those were just the rules of the [Shunt] enhancement on [Removal]. Naturally, his cooperation could facilitate smoother communication with his realm before then. Mitigate damage.
His demon and Naugite buddies are probably a combination of relieved and freaking out. Servitors and a realm still existing at all are signs he still lives. They’re probably searching for him. I wonder if I can leverage that mention with him? Does he even care and worry about them? He should. He should want to come to an agreement so he can calm his deific family down.
It occurred to her suddenly how unusual it was to not only have the Fortuneteller not scold her for ‘wasting her time’ on Zadkiel, but for her to help. There had not been any resistance after that ‘adjusted’ voice had followed right after the warning for non-interference.
My bastard devil has a role to play, whatever it is. Who better to wage war than such a specialist? Perhaps that is the crux of the issue. He doesn’t seem to be a Player, but protecting them could require other figureheads. We can’t field only the kings, queens, and bishops. Knights and pawns are necessary.
It was almost noon in Geirkos when she checked. To help get the devilish skeezball out of her head, she finally checked on her realm gains, something she’d not bothered with all morning. She had set up to begin charging up specialized FE, however. Eventually getting them all to 150 was the target she wanted.
33 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Note: Followers of a different deity.
-46 for various operational costs.
317 FE gained from assorted Follower prayers. 80 converted to Fate FE. 20 converted to Illusion FE. 20 converted to Mirrors FE. 20 converted to Light FE.
26 FE gained due to user belief/acknowledgment. Follower conversions successful. 26 FE gained. 26 Daily FE gained; 3 Followers have obtained quality grade Devout; 1 Follower has been authorized as a Crusader; 3 Followers have been ordained as level 0 priests (Daily FE total: 768).
Nothing too crazy lost to the momentary slow-down in Geirkos, but it’ll pick back up. Meanwhile, the Pantheon going live is imminent. A battery for additional FE, spell access, and overall it’ll be interesting to see develop… mutual Servitors?! It has to be a thing! On top of all that, it is also a quest completion.
She blinked in sudden realization. Speaking of quest completion, I have that new status I never looked at!
Spirit Terror
Within the spirit world, you’ve slain multiple entities, destroyed permanent structures and spells, and defeated a major figure of high level and power within such realms, all in dominance and mystery. Within them, you are a terror and your presence can leverage this identity if you so desire.
When emanating this identity, you have +2 Effective Levels for intimidation purposes and may use your full [Pneumamancer] totals as a base. Furthermore, those that succumb to this or any other fear-type effects you use on them suffer an additional -1 Effective Levels unique malus to all tasks, as the fright takes over local spiritual reality. This malus is overt.
This is only usable within a spirit realm. If used on those with prior knowledge of your past deeds, they will likely realize the connection.
Ooh. The strong get stronger. I love my debuffs. This would need a little prep to register, so not as useful for my customary ambushes. But it is pretty awesome in any case.
An urgent and dire communication came suddenly from Vitarion in Traesh. “Your Majesty, Glaelychus has returned. He is… furious. He seeks those to blame for his paramour’s death. I have already been relieved of my position. I’m likely to be exiled.”
True to the Traeshan way, Vitarion was putting on quite the stoic face to this tremendous offense and pain. “He is demanding to meet you. I told him not until he calmed down, reminding him of his own teachings… I believe I came close to death by his hand from the madness in his eyes. Then he just pulled some kind of long-term stun — I’m not sure how long it's been. Now he is seeking out his much more pliable pupil-”
On the heels of this shocking information and her warning feelings, she felt a presence both new and old pierce through the deific mindscape through the prayer vectors. It was not a prayer, however.
It was pure intensity and contained anger, not bothering with flowery visuals. “Samantha.” Devero — Glaelychus, with the power of something like divinity within him. “I wouldn’t have ever guessed something like you behind that girl in Brackenhome. Now you’ve wormed your way into the wrong territory while the master was away. Me.”
It was almost a first for Sammy — a communication from an entity she was likely wise to fear. The worst was that he knew her name already. It had finally happened. It had leaked to the wrong person. Maybe. At the least, not one she wanted to lose any power dynamics to.
Damn it, Hyginos…
She knew instantly it was him. Why wouldn’t he spill the beans immediately? It wasn’t even a betrayal. The young man had been excited at the prospect of revealing their new ally to his idol and mentor. The hero of Traesh with dozens of legendary adventures under his belt.
Samantha had known from the beginning that many of the Traeshans in the League of Glass had strong national loyalties. She had thought it would be her nation and thus hardly matter.
It seemed she was wrong.
Sammy had to steel herself to answer the foreboding presence, which he was fully leveraging as intimidation. Invoking [Goddess], [Pneumanancer], [Ascendant], and [Big Boss] did the trick of matching him, however, ‘pushing back’ with authority. “Just what are you, Devero? A god as well?”
It doesn’t really add up, though…
There was a slight sense of surprise at her invocation power. He’d tested it and not found it wanting as expected. “I am not Devero. The title I prefer is Alegon Glaelychus. Glae. I’ll tell you what I am but we need to have a little meeting. Face-to-face, in-world.”
Sammy coughed a bitter mental laugh at him. “So you can have me where you’re strongest to lop my head off? No thanks.”
“No. Because this is how things are done. What good would decapitating you do? I am not a mentalist specialized in murdering deities. Your physicality is just your Avatar.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you have absolutely no tricks up your sleeve for them.”
“We all have our specialties. You have not told me how to address you.”
“Your Majesty.”
“I’m not calling you that in a million years.”
“Well-mannered, but not quite that well-mannered, huh? Fine. They call me Madam Sibyl in your parts. In private I am Sam.”
“Madam Sam, then. Ensuring safe conduct is easy for me, while guaranteed and authorized by the System for you. Allow me to demonstrate.”
She got the feeling of him thinking and speaking out loud at once as he said, “System, arrange an advanced contest of endurance with Madam Sibyl with the following absolute rule: all hostile action, offensive harmful efforts, attacks, etcetera, from either of us that would affect the other are automatically blocked and nullified.
“The contest ends when one says or thinks ‘I yield to my foe’ after beginning. It begins as soon as either of us are in range of any abilities. Once ended, the restriction will persist until out of range and 10 minutes have passed. Notify of all changes. The contest is voided if not begun within 24 hours.”
Potential System-mandated, advanced endurance contest detected with Agent Identifier ‘Glaelychus.’ Would you like the System to judge the imminent contest to ensure fairness as well as enforce special rules processes, User Sammy? Note: not available in all jurisdictions. Void where prohibited.
Stunned, Sammy answered from her throne room, “P-potentially? Show me the rules.”
Understood. The contest is on hold. The System then showed the exact rules and stipulations mentioned by Glae. Do you agree to these rules? You may request alterations to be re-approved.
“U-uh, no tricks! Put that in. No tricks. If either of our motives is to ambush the other at any point by any means — such as other parties interfering — notify the other engaged party. If that’s fine, then I agree.”
Stand by for re-approval…….. condition has been agreed to and the contest may commence. A 1-minute countdown shall start when both parties agree.
Right after this, Glae sent, “There. Satisfactory, wouldn’t you say? And I give you my word that this is just a meeting. You and me, to talk. To agree. To air grievances.” The emphasis was a bit ominous. “Both will leave just as they entered — except philosophically speaking.”
He seems to hate me. How am I going to unravel this? Can I? He must’ve ferreted out that I was at the battle in some fashion. Does he know about Zadkiel? He couldn’t possibly blame me for Klymene. That had jack shit to do with me.
Glae continued, “Let’s meet in the old elven council hall on our borders. A few guards can come if you want, but not to enter. The rangers protect the hall like hawks but use it at most a few times a season for their meetings. Like so much here, something every outsider who comes should see. Even an intruder like you.”
“Sure,” Sammy answered flatly, frowning. If it was a trap, the System would be notifying her. Right? “System, can anyone conduct an advanced contest? That refers to the unique rules that are able to block abilities, right?”
No, not everyone can induce advanced contests. It is by means of special abilities. Yes, it refers to complex restrictions or enhancements that can create entirely novel, cosmically-enforced effects. These have certain other rules, such as not affecting third parties and being in the proper spirit, as judged by the System.
Meanwhile, Glae sent her directions to the hall, out in some sparse forest south of the region where she ambushed the trolls.
Glaelychus has agreed to the cooldown start.
Sammy, though anxious, sent her own agreement as she prepared her realm to respond to the directions. She’d probably [Mirror Walk] some distance then summon a Pegasus the rest of the way. With a few extras as backup.
Both parties have agreed to the cooldown start. 1 minute until the contest may begin.
Here we fucking go, I guess. I should stop acting like I’m the rabbit. I’m a wolf too, damn it!
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