Elsewhere

As usual, Duke awoke to a slew of notices:

***

For defeating 27 Champion Giant Prairie Dogs of various levels between 150 and 172, you receive 1,525,050 experience.

For defeating Sedgewick, the Hidden, a level 200 Boss, you receive 111,825 experience.

This is enough experience to bring you to level 66. As you have exceeded the level limit for Tier 1 at level 50 quite significantly, you shall enter Tier 2 with additional benefits. You have 24 hours to make your tier-up selections. You will not gain any additional experience during this time.

Your Skills and Abilities have seen increases:

Stealth has increased to Initiate 20

Blades has increased to Novice 8

Dodge has increased to Initiate 16

Spears has increased to Untrained 9

TELEPORTATION has seen considerable use, including being used offensively. It increases to Practiced 39

REGENERATION continues to see significant use and has increased to Practiced 54

TONGUES has increased to Initiate 6

LIGHTNING has increased to Initiate 11

OVERCHANNEL has increased to Initiate 13

FORCE DART has increased to Novice 14

POISON DART has increased to Novice 14

CLEANSE has increased to Novice 11

REMOTE CASTING has increased to Untrained 4

INVENTORY has increased to Initiate 7

ARMOR SKIN has increased to Untrained 9

Good, now that’s done. We have been waiting for this, you know. Even so, little human, you have exceeded our expectations quite remarkably. We expected you to perish in there for sure. Instead, you pushed yourself so far into Tier 2 that the little system of this world doesn’t know what to do with you. It’s rather quite amusing.

You also managed to tap into powers beyond your scope and push an Ability well beyond its limits. There is a price to pay for that – Power never comes without a cost. We have decided to give you a choice. You can either pay up now and lose the extra million experience beyond the Tier 1 barrier and the marvelous benefits associated with that excess, or you can wait and pay a greater price later.

Make your choice: Pay what you owe now, or pay more later? ***

Duke weighed his options carefully before making his choice. He could clear his debt now but miss out on whatever massive bonuses he would receive for a full million experience point overage. He hated carrying debt so that is what he was leaning towards. But he could put it off. He could be able to easily pay it back in the future as he grew in power. Or, the debt could grow in tandem with his power. He had no way of knowing either way. With all that in mind, he decided.

*** Your cosmic debt has been paid. Congratulations! For paying your debt so quickly, you receive a minor boon. You may elevate any Skill or Ability by 25 levels as long as it remains under the rank of Master. ***

Duke didn’t hesitate and elevated his TELEPORTATION Ability. It wasn’t quite up to Adept rank yet, but it was getting close, and it was now his second highest-rank Ability. That made him smile.

“Just two more things to do before I step out and grab my friends. Let’s see what all this Tier-up stuff is all about and then to distribute all those sweet, sweet stats.”

*** Tier 2 options:

Option One – (Common) Class specialization. Option not available.

Option Two – (Common) Gain a second Class. Option not available.

Option Three – (Uncommon) Ability evolution. Choose an Ability to significantly enhance and alter.

Option Four – (Rare) Ability generation. Create a new Ability.

Option Five – (Rare) Ability combination. Combine two or more Abilities into a single Ability.

Make your choice! ***

Duke read the choices, chafing at not having the full five choices that he should have. Guess that the whole ‘you don’t follow all the rules’ thing. Evolving an Ability sounded very intriguing and the thought of combining all his elemental Abilities into a single one could be very powerful. Would the ranks and levels combine as well, making it a much higher level? Finally, creating a new Ability altogether could be a game-changer for him. The one thing he truly missed from home was flight time. He had trained for years to get into the pilot’s seat and it is where he truly felt most alive – pushing his body with G-forces and pushing his mind with keeping track of myriad options and other aircraft. The Ability to fly without a plane was too tempting to resist. He made his choice.

*** You have chosen to create a new Ability. You have created the Ability, FLIGHT. Since this Ability was created during the Tier-up process, it is created at a higher level. For you, FLIGHT starts at Novice 10. ***

Duke was elated. From the time he was a child, the whole concept of flight fascinated him. He was jealous of the birds, even insects that could fly. It was the reason he joined the military. Nothing ever as good as flying had for him. This Ability would be the fulfillment of his deepest childhood dream. He was sorely tempted to start flying right then and there but doing so in a heavily enclosed space was not his best option. Still, he wanted nothing more than to start right away. He had one more thing to do before leaving the dungeon – allocating his stat points.

The first thing he thought about was his Agility. It was high for a human at 38, but if he was going to be flying, he wanted it to be much higher. He poured 62 points into it to bring it all the way to 100. The rest he spread out a bit more. One into Psyche to bring it to 110, 12 into Intuition to bring it to 50, 10 into Strength to bring it to 55, and the final 5 into Reason since it was his lowest remaining stat leaving it at 43.

He crashed down on the bed as the extreme changes wracked his body with pain. The pain was lesser and briefer than the first time he made such radical changes. He wasn’t sure if it was his superior willpower based on his Psyche, his overall power level, or something to do with now being Tier Two, but he was thankful that the suffering had abated quickly.

Duke shot off the bed…and nearly slammed into the ceiling. At the last second, he twisted his body in a nearly impossible angle and pushed off the ceiling with his feet. He twisted again in the air and landed perfectly on his feet, better than any Olympic athlete could have pulled off. His new Agility was amazing!

“Sam, open a portal. I am leaving the dungeon.”

The portal opened for Duke, and he received no response from Sam at all. He wondered if the dungeon was sulking. Doesn’t matter. I already told you I was going to do this, so if it surprises you then too bad for you. Duke stepped through the portal to find Grat and Elaine waiting for him amongst the stones.

“Well, that was quick. What, did it take you ten minutes to do the entire level?” Elaine asked.

“No, it took me quite a bit longer. Time passes differently in the dungeon. Faster, it seems.” Duke replied.

“Now that is interesting.” Grat noted. “Have you spoken with Baslin? Is he still OK?”

Duke grimaced, realizing he hadn’t reached out at all. “Um, doing that now.” He concentrated on the headband, still amazed that his powers hadn’t absorbed it yet. “Hey Baslin! Are you doing OK?”

“Duke! So good to hear from you. I know that time passes differently in the dungeon but I was starting to wonder if you were OK. How does the team’s progress stand?”

“Baslin, things have been frighteningly difficult for the team, but the rewards have been amazing. Oh shit! Son of a bitch!” Duke suddenly raged.

“What is it?” Baslin, Elaine, and Grat all asked in unison.

“I forgot to get the rewards from the third level. And considering what I gained experience-wise, they would have been epic, perhaps even legendary. I really screwed that up!”

“Perhaps they will still be there when you return to the dungeon.” Elaine suggested hopefully.

“Perhaps.” Duke agreed sullenly. “The second level nearly killed Grat. It was one of the sub-bosses and it was bad.” Duke continued to fill in Baslin on what happened in the dungeon.

“Duke saved him.” Elaine added with tears welling up in her eyes. “My love was gone, beyond my healing, and Duke brought him back.” Grat held her close as Elaine broke down in tears.

“That’s amazing and such wonderful news that you were able to save him. How did you do it, Duke? What Spell did you use?” Baslin asked, excitement rising in his voice.

“Well, you know the Repair spell you taught me?”

“Yes…” Baslin responded, intrigued.

“I evolved it into RESTORE. It took all of my Mana and I had to borrow from…well, from the cosmos.” Duke paused momentarily. “It evolved and pushed it all the way up to Master rank.”

“Wait, you have a Spell at Master rank?” Baslin’s excitement bubbled over. “Stay right where you are. I’m going to open a portal for you all to get back here right now. Don’t go anywhere!”

The trio looked at each other, confused. “I thought we were going to re-run the first three levels of the dungeon?” Elaine asked over Grat’s shoulder.

“That was the plan.” Duke responded. Further discussion was cut off as Baslin’s portal opened up before them.

“Come on! Hurry up!” Baslin implored. The trio stepped through and into Baslin’s portal room. They had not taken more than a few steps off the platform before Baslin grabbed Duke by the arm, urging him to come along. Duke complied, thoroughly confused. Grat and Elaine followed along, equally confused.

Baslin whisked Duke up the stairs to the main level and to the grand entryway. He seemed full of exuberance and anticipation as the pair skidded to a halt in front of the double doors.

“Show me your screen with RESTORE on it.” Baslin demanded.

Duke shrugged. “This is a bit intense, and I have no idea why, but here it is.” He showed Baslin the screen. Baslin whooped with joy!

“Oh, today is a great day. A great day indeed! Oh, yes, yes, yes! How to do it? Big? Dramatic? Just do it? So many choices!”

“Baslin, slow down! What are you going on about?” Duke asked as Grat and Elaine finally caught up to the two of them panting from the exertion.

Baslin noticed them arrive. “Ah, yes, witnesses. Neutral witnesses. Perfect. Duke, open the doors.”

“Um, army out there. Don’t you remember?” Duke responded.

“Remember? Yes. I am counting on them to be out there. I am counting on them to send a senior officer, a noble to this very door the moment you open it. So, please OPEN THE DOOR!”

Duke winced at the outburst but shrugged again and walked up to the massive double doors. Grat joined him and they each took hold of one of the doors and pulled them open. Once they were open, Duke could see the army arrayed around them, at least part of it. From the ranks, a single horn blasted a mournful note. Duke and Grat stepped back to stand next to Baslin.

“Grat, please take your wife and stand by the side. You two are my unaffiliated witnesses for this. Duke, stand at my side please. Yes, there. Perfect.”

Minutes passed as the army roused itself, ranks closing around the tower. Finally, a corridor opened up in the army’s ranks and a figure clad in shining golden armor with a deep red plumed helm rode forward. He addressed them.

“Archmage Baslin the Best. King Chopie has-“

“Be silent and bear witness!” Baslin’s words resonated with such power and command that the entire army froze in place, including the mounted officer. “That’s better.” Baslin took a moment to straighten out his robes and compose himself.

“Duke, I ask you these questions in all solemnity, honor and truth. Are you my apprentice?” There was a palpable power resonating in Baslin’s words that set everyone’s attention directly on him.

Duke responded, “Yes I am.” He was unsure what was happening, but he had never seen Baslin this serious before and it concerned him. He maintained as serious a manner as the Archmage. For some reason, he felt his PURPOSE flare in response.

“Duke, Did I teach you the Spell Repair?”

“Yes, you did.” Duke’s PURPOSE flared more brightly.

Duke, did you evolve the Spell beyond the limits of what I taught you into something now called RESTORE?”

Duke responded, loudly and with clarity, “Yes I did.” Duke’s PURPOSE was now fully engaged. He still did not understand why.

“My apprentice, on the honor and binding of your soul, speak truthfully. What rank is your RESTORE?” Baslin’s excitement was bleeding into his voice, but he held himself steady still.

Duke answered. “My RESTORE is at Master rank.” He could feel the pressure as the eyes of the cosmos focused upon him, and they smiled at his truth. The weight lifted and his PURPOSE shined within him.

“As Duke, my apprentice, has achieved the rank of Master, I officially declare him graduated! His is a full mage of his own! And by such truthful declaration, MY OATH STANDS FULFILLED AND COMPLETE!”

Baslin’s declaration caused a ripple of energy to spread out from him. It nudged Duke aside, Grat and Elaine were forced to take a step back, and to a man, the army was swept from their feet as the wave gained full strength. The shockwave of the fulfilled oath propagated throughout the forest, and beyond through the rest of the kingdom. It continued to overspread the continent and eventually, all of Teldin felt the weight of the oath of a true Archmage fulfilled.

“By my oath fulfilled, I AM FREE!” Baslin declared.

The officer struggled back into his saddle and had a declaration of his own, “ATTACK!”