“Ughhh,” James grunts. He opens his eyes to the sight of light streaming in from aent fp. He leans up from his bed. The covers slide off his body.
“M [Bishop],” a woman's voiters his ears. He looks to the source.
“[Padin] Samantha, morn-.” he pauses wheices the bags uhe woman's eyes. “Have you not slept?”
She shakes her head. “I-I ’t. The memory of his death is still too fresh.”
He leans to the side of his cot. He raises his hands up and pces them together. “[High Padin] Simon Laquerdis should not be remembered for his death. He should be remembered as a man who put his life on the lio protect others. He is a man of honor and should be remembered as such.”
“I… I know. It’s just so difficult. He was my mentor, my idol, practically a father. It hurts. It hurts a lot.”
James nods. “Simon spoke about you often- proudly too. He said you are a fine [Padin] and the best [First Mate] a [Captain] could ever have. I dare-say your presence spurred him to greater and greater honor.”
Samantha blushes as tears fall down her cheeks. A small sad smile finds its way on her face. Then, all at once, she sniffs, wipes her eyes and bows to James. “Thank you for yuidance.”
James nods slowly. “Anytime.” He g the open fp raining the dawn's early light. “Now, I think it would be good for you to get some sleep.”
She quickly shakes her head. “Later. I’ve too muy mind to sleep. I hope you will allow me to apany you.”
“Oh?” James perks up. “Does the crew not he presence of their netain]?”
She snorts. “No. They he presence of their [Bishop]. A [captains] only needed when we’re out on the skies- which we ’t really do at the moment.”
James grimaces at her statement. He stands up out of bed to find that he’d slept in the same clothes yesterday night. “Valentine. Has he said anything since he warned us not to depart?”
“No. He’s been silent since he’d left.”
“That’s… good. I was afraid he’d terrorize the flotil the divine choseurns.”
“Divine chosen? Are you referring to the cat?” Samantha questions.
“I am. I believe [Captain] Quasi is someone of importao the divine- simir to the wolven [Emperor].”
“Is that not bsphemous?”
James chuckles. “It would be if I’d not seen him walk into the diviower with my own eyes. Clearly, the world is ging and shifting. It would be best to keep an open mind going forward.”
The man takes a stretd walk outside the tent. Samantha is only a step behind.
James takes a strong whiff, and is met with the smell of burnt. Yesterday, when Valentine uhed his sword, he killed so many pilgrims. A single moment, a single flick of his arm, and dozens die of electrocution.
He walks to a nearby tent. He peaks inside and finds all the bodies ed up and ready for cremation. They will be transported to the ship cold ste and then be brought to a crematorium nearby where they will be buro ashes. The ashes will then be given to the closest members of the family. If there is hen he will accept the ashes and spread them in the divines presence.
Finished with this tent, he heads to the medical tent. Wheers, [Priests] bow in his presehe divih you.”
“And you.” He answers back. “How are the injured?”
“Rec.” The [Priest] replies. “Your healing saved their lives. I imagihey will be thhly recovered by week.”
“Good. I’ll let them rest then. If something es up, send someoo find me.”
“Of course, [Bishop]” The [Priest] bows.
He exits the tent. “Now then, Samantha, is Timbergroves' crew still using the tent we provided?”
“They are.”
“Good. Let's head there now.”
______________________________________________________________________
“Must you drink so much so early?” Irmgard asks the drunk scot. “Our lives could be in danger any moment. Being drunk will make it difficult to fight.”
“Da, rade Irmgard is right, rade Cillian. Vhe must be ready to break neck like Russian babushka break chi.”
“Aum, fi's only a wee bit of…” Cillian holds the ground in his hand. “Sake, I think.” He then shrugs and downs the rest.
Just then, the tent fps open to reveal [Bishop] James. He walks ih Samantha in tow. Then he gives all those present once over, stopping at the clearly drunk cillian.
“Drinking early? I ’t bme you. The situation is rather nerve-wrag,” James fesses. “I hope it would be alright for me to join in?”
Cillian grins. “Aye. Drinkin should be don wit othas,” He slurs.
James takes his words as an acceptance. He finds a seat oable. Cillian, ever happy to have a drinking parter, quickly opens a gourd and pours sake into one of the saucer.
“Thank you.” James accepts the saucer and takes a sip. Then he g Samantha standing firmly behind him.
“Samantha, join us at the table. A drink will do you good.”
“I’d prefer to stand.” She answers.
“Suit yourself,” James replies. He then looks at everyone else oable. All eyes are curiously on him.
He clears his throat. “I hope you all slept well. I imagihe situatioerday wasn’t easy to deal with.”
“Passed out.” Cillian chuckles.
James nods. “I imagiha-.”
“Ask your questions.” Irmgard interrupts. “There is much to speak and pn. Wasting time on pleasantries is only good when we are not on a time limit.”
James chuckles at her excmation. “Some prefer the pleasantries first before the major topic- but I digress. Let me start first by asking, who or what is Quasi Eludo? And why he ehe divine ear?”
The group as a whole looks at one-ahey share gnces, most of which are between Irmgard and Myers. The old man shakes his head.
“All I say is Quasi is our [Captain]. Why he enter is something you will have to speak to him about.”
James nods. He’d expected su answer. Knowledge of one who enter into the divine's presence could spell dao them and those they hold dear. At the moment, it would be best to avoid such questioning until or if Quasi returns.
“Then, my question. Do you expect him to survive aurn?”
“Fluffy will e back!” The child o Myers yells.
“Da.” Boriss grins resolutely. “rade Cy is correct. rade Fluffy will return like successful soviet marshal after he makes suka of enemy. Is only right.”
Myers clears his throat. “To answer your question, Quasi is phenomenally capable. So long as he is not faced with a challenge akin to an expert, he should survive.”
James grimaces. “The tower had a Magna Scorpis inside. Such monsters are advahreats alone, but be expert threats in groups. I’m guessing your [Captains] css level is at least advanced.”
“That information is restricted.” Irmgard replies, to which James only nods.
“That’s fi was just my curiosity asking.” James takes another sip from his saucer. Whes it back down oable, he releases a sigh. “Irmgard, right? You’re Quasi’s [First Mate]. Valentine will check your job to make sure it hasn’t ged.”
“I was told to board the Bohan every evening. I’ll o leave in the several hours.”
“I see. That’s fine. But, if possible, I’d like you to notify me first if something does ge. I’d like to prepare my people for death.”
Most of the room grimaces at James's words. Everyone except the heavily drunk Cillian and the grinning Boriss.
“Die fighting. Is good idea,” Boriss announces.
“Heh,” James chuckles, “I was thinking more along the lines of prayer- but I guess fighting would also be good.”
“What about escape?” Emma finally speaks up. The Gemma had been silently sitting and listening up to this point. “Valentine and his entire crew are aboard the ship. If we all depart at the same time with all the ships, we may have a ce to get away.”
James shakes his head at the clearly young and ignorant girl.
“Valentine's ship is far too fast and powerful in parison to what we have. We’d never get away. A single broadside from a battleship would pletely drain the hull iy of the tower's keeper. We’d need some kind of distra.”
At the man's words, Myers eyes widen.
“I may be able to supply that distra.”
Everyone now looks at the old man curiously.
Especially James. Ahat could even propose a viable distra against Valentine is not someoo be ignored.
“Valentine reized you.” James remembers. “I’d argue he was even a bit respectful. Who exactly are you?”
“That’s something I’d like to keep to myself unless Quasi is to perish,” Myers answers. “For now, know that I create a distra so long as certain criteria are met.”
James nods. “sidering the predit we’re in, any sembnce of hope is something I’d accept. What will you need?”
“trol of all vessels as a [Fleet Captain].”
The arm bells in James' head start t at such a decration. [Fleet Captains] are a rare css requiring trol of many ships and at least a master css. sidering the man proposes the ability to create a distra against Valentine of all people only meahing.
“You’re an expert css. A [Fleet Captain] couldn’t do anything against valentine. Which means you’re actually a [Fleet Admiral].”
Looking at the expression on those present, the only one surprised is the Gemma. Everyone else either knew of the man's capability norant of how rare a [Fleet Admiral] actually is.
“I would prefer such allegations to be kept hidden until absolutely necessary. Hopefully, Quasi will return and my presence will not be required.”
“Hopefully.” James repeats. He gnces back at Samantha. “Hope is good, but it’s not always enough. Samantha, speak to the other two [Captains] ahem to make sure their vessels are ready for immediate departure. Don’t mention anything about Myers or what versations transpired here.”
“Yes [Bishop].” She bows and rushes out.
He then looks back at Timbergroves crew. “I’ll make sure everything is ready just in case in the meantime. I hope that is acceptable.”
“It is,” Myers replies.
“Bah, is waste.” Boriss waves a hand. “rade Fluffy will return. Is doing good anyvay. He level thrice.”
All eyes g Boriss.
“How do you know he leveled three times?” Irmgard asks.
“I have [bat Authority]. It go up one and half pert.”
It is at this moment that Timbergroves crew remembers that though Boriss struggles to articute his thoughts, he is not an idiot. On the trary, he is quite a savant.
_______________________________________________________________
One moment you’re struggling with an overwhelming amount of mana and pain. And in the , a single dominating word in your head. Followed then by excruciatingly more pain.
Then plete darkness.
Followed by plete lightness.
I blink rapidly to find myself ba the white realm where my ship floats casually above. In front of me, green waiting obediently.
“I’m not dead, am I?”
“ive.” Green answers.
Oh, perfect. I was worried I’d died. Or am I dying right now? Am I going to cease to exist the moment I leave this realm?
“Do you know If I will die after I leave this pce?”
“ive.”
“I see. Well then, fuck. I’m guessing I leveled sidering you’re here.”
“Correct. You have gaiwo levels and a Title.”
Wait. What? A Title? I got a Title?
“Show me my erait sheet.”
Traits.
Human Average
Individual Base Calcutions.
Level modifications
Trait Actual Value
Strength
10
41
+31%
53
Endurance
9
46
+0%
46
Vitality
12
0.27%M/R/M
28
0.63% M/R/M
+0%
+9.31%
28
9.94% M/R/M
Perception
9
29
+0%
29
Intelligence
11
16
+0%
16
Mana
388.8
510
+0%
510
trol
12
10
+0%
10
Attributes Avaible/Attributes total:
2
33
Level:
24
Titles Obtained: 3
Title Name
Leviathan Syer
Title Rank
Legendary
Title Effect
+10 Attribute points
Title Name
Underdog Boarder
Title Rank
Rare
Title Effect
[Captain’s Authority] stat decay is slowed when b enemy vessels.
Title Name
Mana Fur
Title Rank
Divine
Title Effect
Increase Mana Regeion by fur density.
Current Bonus: +9.31% M/RM
Damn, that's a lot of mana regeion. Kinda defeats the purpose of putting points into vitality...
Wait a sed! Why is vitality higher? No, wait, all of my physical stats are higher.
You know what, how did I get that title? The st thing I remember is gettirated by dozens of stingers. Then the pain, the vulsions, the rampaging mana, and finally the… voice.
“I evolved.” The words e out at the realization.
Fenrimorphs at the prison had the ability to adapt to external stimuli and literally transform their bodies. If memory serves, oransformed after getting poisoned, and several others transformed when they were set on fire. The transformation made them slightly bigger and stronger, but it also made them immuo the external stimuli.
I must have dohe same and the Scorpis venom is the stimulus to the transformation. So, I must be immuo the poison now. sidering the poison forces the body to expoially regee mana, that’s probably where the Mana Fur titles es in. My body is mimig the effect of the venom. .
Still, something bugs me. If memory serves, I heard a voice. A and right before I passed out. Was that a god saying such a thing or is it some weird Fenrimorph halluation?
“Green, Is Divine rank the stro rank of title?”
“That information is restricted.”
Of course it is. Fine, I’ll ask Myers when I get the ce. He might know. But first, I should see about spending my attribute points.
Going through the trait sheet, I ’t help but find the thought of putting points into vitality intriguing. I mean, I’ve been putting points intth precisely because it gives me the best returns per pertage. But now, Vitality may give me better returns on at of my much higher mana regeion.
Then again, I could be very wrong in that adding attributes to vitality only increases my base regeion and not the bonus from the title.
Well, for now, my regeion is more thae for whatever equipment I have access to.
“Green, put both attribute points intth. The me out of here.”
“Aowledged.”
QuasiEludo
