Leveling up the World

Chapter 793: Beyond the Level Cap

It could be said that technology was based on weakness. With awakened looking over the population, there never was a need for complex and intricate devices. Binoculars, magnifying lenses, even glasses were vastly unnecessary. Everyone with a high perception could see hundreds of times better than a pair of Earth binoculars; meanwhile, everyone with low perception had no reason to put in the effort. That was the reason Vihrogon wasnt even able to imagine Dallions plan.

The dryads roots and vines crushed the otherworlders magic construct, though not before it had summoned a perfect lens of glass. Dallion himself had summoned one more, focusing the light emanating from the Moonstone on his neck to the sole target that could turn things aroundthe harpsisword.

Got you, he whispered.

A single dot of light hit the vines surrounding the weapon, but it was enough for several layers of them to burst into purple flames. A loud crunch sounded, reducing the magical construct to aether dust, but it was already too late. The openingbarely the size of a pinprickreleased a stream of water. Barely noticeable at first, the stream grew, ripping up its confines. It wasnt a sword that emerged, however, but rather a nymph in full battle gear.

At the sight of her, Vihrogon visibly tensed up. The shield strapped to his left arm disappeared as a second aura sword emerged in his hand.

I feared this might happen, he said, plates of void matter forming a set of full scale armor over his body. But in a way, I was looking forward to it. A fight against you its everything one could hope for.

Harp charged forward, slashing through vines and roots as she did. Not once did she pause to defend. There was no need to.

Over two hundred dryad instances attempted to attack in various fashions. A large number even managed to get a hit in, but the wound received in return was always greater than that afflicted, forcing Vihrogon to select something else to become reality.

Keep behind me. Sounds came from the skin of the nymph forming words. Help the mage destroy it.

Dallion nodded, but before he could take a step towards the timepiece, the floor burst up in several places. It wasnt roots that came from it, though, but new types of entities made entirely of wood.

Its just like the stories say. All but two of the dryads instances vanished.

What the heck is going on? Dallion wondered. Removing his blocker ring, he attempted to call out to any of the echoes within his realm, but to no avail. Vihrogon was still keeping a stranglehold on them.

His concern didnt last long as several of the newly emerged saplings charged right at him, their limbs transforming into wooden blades. Refocusing several of his instances, Dallion parried and counterattacked, aiming to chop through the pesky creatures. Sadly, despite their size and flimsy appearance, they proved a lot nimbler and more combat ready that he gave them credit for. Fighting them was like fighting someone at his awakened level: persistently difficult, though not impossible to defeat. Numbers remained their greatest obstacle, with several attacking Dallion all at once. Spells and skill combinations helped to keep him relatively protected, though not to the degree that allowed him to reach the device.

How about some fire, Dallion thought, extending his magic threads through the hammer. The process was a lot cruder than using the aura sword, but still managed to create a torrent of flames that burned through several saplings, striking the timepiece behind them.

Reality distorted, shifting for a fraction of a second, as dozens of elements flew out of the timepiece, creating their own bubbles of reality in the process.

Damn it, boy! Adzorg shouted. He too was dealing with the creatures, but had the foresight to use spells that broke them down without putting the timepiece at risk. Careful with that!

Its not like I have a choice! Dallion continued with a multi attack piercing the sapling in front of him. Unfortunately, the creatures wounds healed just as fast as they appeared. The only positive effect of all that was that the attacks prevented the sapling from doing anything but step back. Can you stop it?

Thats not the point! Now that its active, every part that breaks off has the power to create a low level rip within the reality of the world, which

Vihrogons body slammed against the timepiece. His entire back exploded in black steam, affected by the devices active portal. Based on the number of injuries, it was obvious he was on the losing side.

What the heck? Dallion split into a few more instances to look around.

Harp fared better, although she had earned herself a number of wounds as well, spreading from several points on her body like cracks. It was rare for Dallion to see her wounded, but what was even more beyond belief was that it had been mere seconds since the two had started their fight. One could only imagine the speed at which they had exchanged blowsand what sort of attacksthey had used to render each other to such a state.

An armadil shield formed in front of Vihrogon, only to get half shattered by the nymphs strike. Dozens of timepiece fragments burst into the air, disappearing almost on the instant. The edge of her blade had made it through a thick chunk of sky silver all the way into the dryads shoulder.

This was it. Dallion didnt need to see a white rectangle to know that Vihrogons health was at its limits. Even so, the void compelled him to keep his hold on the otherworlders realm. The next strike would put an end to that, but the outcome would be different depending on who made it .

Enjoy your feast, Nox! Dallion concentrated, drawing the Nox dagger and throwing it at the dryads neck in one swift action.

In that single moment, the speed was greater than anyone could imaginefaster than the saplings, faster than Vihrogon, or even Harp. A few vines emerged, a final reflexive attempt to block the blade, but the crackling ate through them as if they were made of air. Mercilessly, it pierced its target, continuing on into the timepiece.

A spiderweb of black cracks emerged, continuing along Vihrogons body as well as the device.

ARMADIL SHIELD Level increased

The ARMADIL SHIELD has been improved to level 3

An explosion followed, swallowing everything in purple light.

Damn it! Dallion shouted, shielding his eyes.

It was only now that he realized. The double vortex that he and Adzorg had fought to escape a day ago had, in fact, been created by himby this very fight, resulting in the destruction of the timepiece device. He would undoubtedly survive, along with everyone else nearby: Adzorg, Harp, Ruby, even Vihrogon The rest of the city, though, would be consumed by a smoldering crater. All those who had failed to flee the city would likely have perished.

It was inevitable, a young voice said.

Turning around, Dallion saw a teen dressed in a pair of blue jeans and an electric blue t-shirt. He could almost pass for a human if his hair and eyes werent glowing blue.

You witnessed the gleam, so you knew the real thing would come sooner or later. It just happened to be sooner.

Dallion remained still. Even his thoughts had frozen as he realized he was standing face to face with the Blue Moon himself.

Was there a reason to do it? the Moon continued.

I ruptured the world bubble? Dallion asked in horror.

You destroyed the device that created the rupture only on the vague notion that leveling up the dryad might purge the void within him.

Its supposed to, Dallion thought. It had worked for the overseer. But maybe he was wrong? The overseer had the ability to control void matter on her own accord, Vihrogon was just a guardian who had no such ability. Was it possible that all he had achieved was to make the armadil shield stronger?

Did it work? Dallion dared to ask.

Yes, it worked. But it also puts you in a precarious situation.

The curse Dallion tried to look away, but for some reason he found he couldnt. There was something about the Blue Moon that kept him focused on the avatar.

The boy reached out into the air, grabbing hold of a blue soda can that just appeared there.

Did you ever figure out what caused it? He opened it with the typical hissing sound everyone on Earth was familiar with.

Dallion shook his head.

Finally, an honest answer. The Moon took a sip. Since theres no point in keeping it secret any longer, Ill tell you. The curse wasnt accepting the shield. You could have been more careful, but you managed to keep the void at bay with your actions. The point at which you messed up was when you welcomed it in order to gain strength.

The voice Dallion clenched his fists.

The voice was part, but it was when you set off to kill the Star. I know the saying goes that you have to fight fire with fire, but when it comes to voice, things never work out. Even with all your tricks and devices, you were slowly turning into the new Star. Even without this event, you would have succumbed to it in a few years.

Im dead, arent I, Dallion wondered. Thats why he was having this conversation. The blast that had created the double vortex hadnt spared him after all.

What really pissed me off was you thinking that you considered us nothing but divine slot machines. A sharp edge appeared in the Moons words. Say a prayer, get a boon, save you from the mess youve made. Green pampered you too much, despite knowing better.

Thats why you cursed me.

Cursed you? Dal, all we did was take away the benefits we gave you. We didnt curse you, you did that yourself. We never cursed anyone.

Never cursed anyone? That was difficult to believe. Dallion knew many people who were cursed. Him, Adzorg, Cleric, Havoc, half of Nerosal There was no way that the Moons werent involved. They were the reason three of the seven races had been banished.

The first explosion of the timepiece was the reason for Adzorg to be obsessed with it, the Moon said. All the fragments that were scattered throughout the world were linked to him, driving him to reunite with them. You capped yourself for short-term gains. You were able to defeat the Star, and even gained an impossible skill in the process. Not bad, everything considered.

So that was the reason. It wouldn't be the first time for someone to tell Dallion that he had been blind. This time, he could see how much that was true. He had spent all that time wondering what was wrong with him, searching for the reason, all the time doing the exact thing that had caused the problem in the first place.

Some insist that it was pure luck that you broke it. Ive decided to give you the benefit of the doubt.

Broken the curse? Dallion blinked.

Why else would I be talking to you?

To tell me where I went wrong?

If the Moons spent all their time telling people where they went wrong, it would take us an eternity. For the first time, the Blue Moon let out a smirk. No, Im here because youve found a shortcut that wasnt supposed to exist.

I dont

Before Dallion could finish, three green rectangles emerged in front of him.

VOID PURGER

You have purged the void within your realm. Youre now able to take advantage of the achievement: VANQUISHER OF NAUGHT

VOID GUARDIAN KILLER

(+1 Awakening, +1 Body, +1 Mind, +1 Reaction, +1 Perception, +1 Empathy, +1 Magic)

You have destroyed a void guardian, reclaiming him as your own. Thats a new one. Theres really nothing more to add.

You have broken through your eightieth barrier.

You are Level 80.

Choose the trait you value the most.

(Due to your leveling up, your magic trait has been reduced to 84)

Do you understand now? The Moon went next to Dallion. Because of your OP achievements, youve made it all the way to your next awakening gate. Your predicament is that you need to decide whether to pass through or not.