Lukas’s heart skipped a beat when the journal finally vibrated. It was a long time coming. He and the clones had spent the past year practicing and looking for breakthroughs to no avail. Now, it was finally upon them.
Altered Metal Mass has reached the ascension threshold.
Endlessly practising the ability, like with the first ascension, had proven insufficient and offered no results. It was specifically the creative use of altering the mass of metal that helped with the breakthrough. Clones had used the ability to create unmovable Shadowsteel walls. They had reduced the mass of dense Shadowsteel projectiles to almost nothing before launching them. They had retained their velocity even after the ability’s effects faded.
In the end, it required Lukas and Eins working together on a smithing project, reducing the mass of magic-infused steel to ease the shaping process, which pushed the ability over the hump. Lukas didn’t just have to reduce the weight of the monstrous slab, but also tame the magic within. He didn’t quite understand what had happened, but he was pleased with the result.
Attending to another one of Lady Silverspine’s interests would’ve hastened the process and probably saved Lukas a year. However, he refused to do so despite the possible rewards and benefits.
Lukas had settled on the essence for the ascension long ago. As with all body ascensions, he stripped, climbed into the basement metal tub that no one used, and let the Pillars of Self do their thing.
Flexibility and speed at both extremes of the mass spectrum have significantly increased. The Steel Weave may now be fed magic to repair itself when damaged.
New minor ability available!
Please pick one of the following:
Lukas ceased paying attention after reading the first option. It was why he had held on to the Essence of Quicksilver so long and precisely what he wanted from the ability. Now, he had the means to create steel and the perfect electrical conductor. Electromagnetism, coil guns, and rail guns felt closer than ever. He thought he had discovered an easy path when Arcane Smithing reached tier two. Unfortunately, the Mineral Farmer ability that came with the ascension refused to work on metal. However, it had significantly reduced his spending on arcane crystals.
As soon as Lukas awoke from his ascension a week later, he leafed through the journal pages dedicated to his abilities. His progress had slowed significantly over the last year, especially since he only took easy quests and focused on growing his business. However, he couldn’t be happier with his current state.
Shadow Clone: Tier 3 | Rank 4
Mid-Tier Ability: Empowered Clone II
Tier 2 Ability: Shade’s Mantle II | Domineering Darkness
Body-conjunction ability: Shadow Steel
Mind-conjunction ability: Shadow Illusion
Altered Metal Mass: Tier 3 | Rank 1
Mid-Tier Ability: Cover Weaknesses, Emergency Alteration
Tier 2 Ability: Steel Weave
Tier 3 Ability: Create Quicksilver
Heart-conjunction ability: Dracosteel Scales
Soul-conjunction ability: Shadow Steel
Stormdragon’s Eye: Tier 2 | Rank 3
Mid-Tier Ability: The Calm Before
Body-conjunction ability: Dracosteel Scales
Soul-conjunction ability: Draconic Intelligence
Spellweaver: Tier 2 | Rank 6
Mid-Tier Ability: Mage’s Instinct II
Heart-conjunction ability: Draconic intelligence
Soul-conjunction ability: Shadow Illusion
Shadow Clone was approaching a major breakthrough. He was sure big things would happen with the next Mid-Tier Ability. Weaver advised Lukas to temper his expectations, but it was easier said than done. The second tier of Mage’s Instinct has significantly improved his senses, and in turn, his enchanting and wardsmithing abilities. Stormdragon’s Eye was next. Unfortunately, as a passive, it was the slowest of Lukas’s abilities to climb through the ranks, especially since he and the clones were actively avoiding combat.
“You might’ve noticed pillars grow fastest when in combat or following great accomplishments,” Weaver had said when Lukas expressed it’s frustration. “Whatever new way you used your ability is only a part of the reason for progress. Whenever you utilize an ability in a stressful situation, it stirs and exposes the pillar to the flow of all energy moving through the world. I don’t just mean magic, but the essence of Fracture itself.
“I believe it’s the very miasma that caused cataclysms across countless realms and stole pieces of it to piece this world together. The pillars feed on it. It’s why the best fighters are those who risk everything in life-threatening confrontations and the top artisans take on challenging, often dangerous, projects which have a high chance of failure.”
“And this is a theory, right?” Lukas had asked.
“It’s one of those things that’s impossible to prove, especially when you’re an alien born of Primordial Ooze and don’t benefit from the oh-so-fascinating magic system.”
Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
The specialized clones had also gained significant progress in the past year. Three of them were closing in on the next tier. It would come with a substantial boost to their powersets, not just through whatever new minor ability or upgrade that spawned, but also through the conjunction abilities with the neighboring pillars.
Arcane Chronicling: Tier 1 | Rank 7
Mid-Tier Ability: Inscribe Arcane Script
Arcane Smithing: Tier 2 | Arcane 2
Mid-Tier Ability: Creator’s Touch
Tier 2 Ability: Mineral Farmer
Heart-Conjunction Ability: Forge Dragon’s Flame
Soul-Conjunction Ability: Shadow Armory
Biomancy: Tier 2 | Rank 9
Mid-Tier Ability: Mimicry II
Heart-Conjunction Ability: Life Dragon’s Aura
Soul-Conjunction Ability: Shadow Mimic
Fortune’s Favor: Tier 1 | Rank 8
Mid-Tier Ability: Nudge Dice
Joybringer: Tier 1 | Rank 7
Mid-Tier Ability: Truthseeker
Best of all, Morph was on the cusp of tier-three. He and Eins continued to serve as Lukas’s most valuable clones. The Arcane Chronicler, who sometimes served as Zwei and often as Flukas, had also proven helpful for enchanting and processing dense texts. However, if ever forced to sacrifice one of the three permanently, Lukas would choose Arcane Chronicling.
Lukas ranked Joybringer the fourth most important. Initially, Bowie served as a decoy, attending parties and meetings, charming people, and winning contracts. The clone also excelled at selling Zaun and Co.’s value and at being a merchant. Then came Truthseeker. Being able to discern when someone was lying, avoiding the truth, or bending it had made their life significantly easier.
Finally, there was Ace. The clone was far too unpredictable, often making him a liability. He often sulked, claiming that no one understood the value of the innate danger sense that came with Fortune’s Favor. Even though Lukas and the Arcane Chronicler had no trouble looking through Ace’s memories, they weren’t so sure. They accepted that the danger sense helped them avoid unfavorable situations, but believed the magnitude of the danger was significantly exaggerated. The mid-tier ability was far from life-changing, like with other skills. However, it helped the clone adjust to an unfavorable dice roll, avoiding disaster and, in a rare instance, turning it into something incredible.
Ace’s most significant function was multiplying money. Part of the reason Lukas invested heavily in the creation of the Illusory Disguise Amulet was that Ace’s face and non-magical disguises had become too well known around the Gray’s illegal gambling halls. He had also ripped off far too many important people, cheating in ways no one could prove. Some had come after the other clones, thinking of them as his family. Lukas had Ace’s money-making abilities to thank for the establishment and growth of Zaun and Co. Registering a world-encompassing business with the Union and accessing its trade network had proven costly.
The company was bringing in significant profit, but Lukas didn’t dare to think that they were invulnerable. Jotun movements in the mountains told him and the Shadow Seekers that war was on the horizon. Unfortunately, the other guilds and the Kingdom of Schwarzberg weren’t convinced. They seemed to believe that any attack would easily be quelled, and the oversized blue mountain dwellers were a small, insignificant force. In fact, they looked forward to an excuse to eliminate them or drive them out of the kingdom’s lands.
Lukas was of two minds. A part of him wanted to stick around and help the city. He had grown comfortable and still had much to learn from Weaver. The giant spider had no intention of leaving his inn or the Loom he had built under it. There was also Penelope, who was now conducting regular Conclave business across the kingdom. She had hired the Aquila guild as her escort, so Morph and Mira regularly accompanied her. There were too many reasons to stay. However, Lukas wanted to avoid the major conflict and move somewhere peaceful where he could continue working on his magic and growing the business. Hence, he had tasked Bowie with finding a new possible home.
The changes that came with ascensions felt significantly more tangible entering tier three. When Shadow Clone reached tier three, the discomfort that accompanied new clones had all but disappeared. Lukas no longer thought about it and rarely envisioned the amorphous blob that represented his soul. It no longer felt like he was ripping out chunks. Instead, it existed in eight pliable pieces that were the same whether separate or glued together. Lukas’s magic stores and connection to the different affinities had also significantly improved. It wasn't a matter of sense or control but almost spiritual. He now felt one with his magic.
As Lukas climbed out of the metal tub, scrubbed himself, and bathed, removing all the grime and waste expelled during the ascension, he felt more connected to his body than ever before. Strong didn't do the sensation justice. Each muscle flex and extension, the minutest twitch, and even eye blinks contained unbridled power. When Lukas looked in the mirror, he could barely remember the sickly, injured, and malnourished body the transmigration had granted him. Now, he believed it hadn't yet reached adulthood.
When Lukas first arrived on Fracture, he stood at approximately five feet. Now, he was halfway to six and wasn't sure that the body ascension had much to do with it. His shoulders seemed squarer, and his torso had adopted the V-shape he desired. The clones’ regular physical efforts had laid the foundation, and reaching tier three had built upon it.
Is that a bloody ten pack?
Lukas couldn't help but chuckle as he ran a hand over his abdomen and where the minutest bit of love handles used to linger. He lacked the sheer bulk of Xander, the Aquila guild’s shield master and Morph’s superior. Instead, the man in the reflection looked like a lithe and nimble swimmer. Lukas deemed the build perfect for someone who prioritised stealth, speed, and precision over power.
Fuck. Bowie is going to sing about how sexy we are now, isn't he? Best to stick him with away-missions for as long as possible. Although I don't think I can trust him alone for long.
Finally, still standing in front of the mirror, he tested his newest minor ability. A fresh mental image manifested in his mind’s eye as soon as he concentrated on it. It looked like a solid chrome sphere at first, but rippled as he channelled Create Quicksilver. A stream of liquid metal broke away from it, and a wobbling mass came to life, floating above his open left palm. It lengthened when Lukas pictured a spike but failed to adopt the precise shape he had in mind. The liquid moved slowly and seemed to resist his desires.
Lightning magic tests followed. Lukas pumped electricity through it and allowed the energy to continue flowing as he drip-dried. The liquid metal’s temperature barely changed, and he sensed minimal energy loss during the process.
“Perfect,” Lukas whispered, marveling at the product of his patience. The pieces had come together. He had the means of magically creating steel, silver, and lightning. The material and energy issues were largely resolved. Only research and development remained.