ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 98 Crystals and Chocolate

Chapter 98

Crystals and Chocolate

Monday

Ninety-two formerly enslaved werewolves and vampires and vampyres alike sat in a circle around Alexa. Before everyone were three items, one was a psychic crystal obtained from when everyone present completed the second to last step of the dungeon, then a Tier IV greater crystal, and finally a dark piece of chocolate.

Ninety-two of a possible one hundred and twenty individuals, or just over 76%.

Everyone sat intermixed, vampyres and vampires interlaced with werewolves whenever possible. Of course there had been more werewolves that were ready to convert than vampyres and especially their more powerful counterpart vampires.

“So what exactly is the difference between Vampyres and Vampires anyways?” Atreus asked Sky the vampyre who sat to his left.

“Namely power and level. Vampyre is anyone who is below level forty and has not yet gone through the right of indoctrination.”

“Indoctrination?” Andronika asked, shouting over to find out more about this.

“Yes, Indoctrination is when you are taken and undergo a test, the only problem is no one knows what happens during the test. If you pass the test, then you remain, and if you fail…” Sky let the words hang in the air as the meaning was apparent. Those who failed didn’t come back.

Just as this conversation was going on, on one side of the ring of people, other conversations were going on all around the wide circle.

Alexa for her part looked impeccable, she was now wearing a variation of the same carbon polymer fabric that everyone else was wearing. The only difference is that since Alexa was the creator of her own, she was able to add in personal reinforcements in places that helped support different parts of other body. This support did not go unnoticed as Atreus and the other pack leaders often found themselves smacking or otherwise disciplining the different members of their pack who had wandering eyes, or eyes that seemed to linger too long on their benefactor.

Still if their actions bothered Alexa, she didn’t let them know it. Instead, she always seemed to be thinking about the next step.

“Today, I grant you freedom.” Alexa began, the moment she started to speak every independent conversation around the circle ended. “Before you are the fruits of your labors, and my offering of peace. The psychic power crystal before you are what you earned during your initial run to the final leg of this dungeon. The Tier IV crystal is what will permanently set you and those around you as being free from this place. Today we eat as friends and honored guests. Today we will both share in our pain for what we both need to improve, and what a commiseration of the long road that still lays ahead of us. Know that by sitting here, that by partaking in this feast together we are bound not just in act but in cause. After this we will never be able to come back to this dungeon, as you all no doubt have received your Dungeon Runner Title, the first of hopefully many to come.”

At that Alexa pauses, though she knows she need not worry as everyone here has supernaturally enhanced senses, and are more than capable of hearing her, she still pauses to give time for her words to sink in.

Seeing that no one seems to have any questions she continues. “Come then, let us begin the process. Know that so long as we are here, we are safe. The minute you leave here and rejoin your former lives, that is when you will need to make a decision. But for this moment let us walk the path of freedom together.”

With that Alexa picked up the glowing purple crystal and held it up high in her palm for all to see. Then with a focus of will she infused the crystal with a fraction of her energy and felt the surge of power fill her.

Seeing her stoic demeanor everyone else also grabbed their psychic crystals and held them up and consumed them in a similar gesture.

“Ahh.”

Immediately groans of pain could be heard, as many felt burning sensations overtaking their brain, as the ambient power of the energy began surging forth through their minds.

Even the most powerful vampires and werewolf alphas were hard pressed not to wince or cry out in pain. Seeing Alexa there stoically sitting with her hand still up raised as she sat there.

“That isn’t pain, that is freedom. To truly be free you will all have to endure this and more, but it will be worth it, in the end.” Alexa said, her words having a bit of an Enchanting quality to them.

Hearing her words many of the vampires and vampyres flinched almost involuntarily at the sound.

“She speaks just as the masters do.” They would say to themselves in hushed whispers, especially when first contemplating joining her faction. Of course, all of that was before. Now, everyone was quiet, no one doubted Alexa anymore. They didn’t doubt her dedication to the cause, especially as they saw her walk everyone through the true purpose for this dungeon. Everyone had been present when she waved her hand through the air and made the same exact rewards appear for everyone. Everyone had seen the way she slew the Lich King and his army of undead minions, where they all earned their Dungeon Runner titles, and each received not only a 5% resistance to both Death and Necromancy magic along with these Tier IV power crystals.

They had seen the way after the battle she effortlessly healed each and every member of the combined fighting force. They saw how she made no distinction between werewolves and vampires or vampyres alike, healing all who came her way. This was after they saw her face down the Lich King in combat, watching as she took many blows that would have killed any one of them on contact. Yet, she pushed through the pain and managed to deliver a devastating attack of light that shattered the lich.

Still thinking about that final battle, many just shook their heads in amazement.

Of course, only now did the full scope of her actions truly come to life. Only now could they all say definitively that she acted purely for them and their benefit.

Still, everyone who had made it this far pushed through, and managed to all receive the same message letting them know that their pain was worthwhile.

New Psychic Power Gained: Indomitable Soul: Your Soul is incorruptible, making you immune to all demonic pacts. You also have a 30% increase to all mental and spiritual resistances.

Indomitable Soul was not the best, but it would do. Also, it didn’t hurt that this was directly related to the massive task they had all undertaken together. Slaughtering the Lich was no easy feat, many knew they would have not have survived if it wasn’t for Alexa charging head first into danger, fearlessly striking at the monster.

Little did they know that Alexa was able to shrug off the worst of the Necromantic bolts that were being thrown her way. Her already high resistance allowed her to shrug off 55% of the damage from the start, then added to that was her Magic Disruption psychic ability and her class’s ever-increasing ability to absorb energy made it so she was near impossible to kill for any Lich. Then her natural Regeneration and Healing magic made it, so she was quickly able to recover any health lost.

Those who were gathered here were not aware that Alexa had seemingly been groomed for just this fate, to fight off and repel demonic forces, and dabblers of Necromancy. All they knew was that Alexa was fearless in battle and generous enough to spend these last few moments with them, as she walked them through the process of becoming a joint clan-pack team of fighters. A team bonded by a common start, despite the paths taken to arrive at the same destination. Together they would all achieve the same goals.

Once the psychic power was absorbed.

Alexa reached down and grabbed the giant bar of chocolate before her and took out a big bite. Seeing her, the others also followed suit. Everyone grabbing their piece of chocolate and also taking a bite.

At that, Alexa let a real smile fill her lips as her emotionally active mind was able to fully enjoy the calming effect that chocolate always seemed to produce in her. Taking in a deep breath, she allowed her mind to and body to calm and focus, before she let out a long contented sigh.

At that, others also followed suit, as everyone seemed to visibly relax after the consumption of chocolate.

Then with that moment over, Alexa put down the chocolate and picked up the Tier IV skill crystal. Once again Alexa held out the crystal in her hand and focusing her mind sent in a portion of her own mana into the crystal.

Crackle.

The large crystal shattered apart and then began pouring its contents out on her hand. As it did a warm sensation flooded Alexa’s mind as she felt the lessons of the stone come to her.

Skill Unlocked: Mana Weaving (Tier IV): 487%.

Seeing that skill, Alexa was both thrilled and worried. Seeing the skill, she realized that if she let these werewolves and vampires go back as they were now, they would be slaughtered. They had an amazing skill, one that clearly came from the Lich. Seeing the skill made perfect sense for the dungeon as it was exactly what the Lich had used to craft their army, fusing both Necromancy and Dark magic together to create an undead army.

The skill was perfect for her, which is why it was likely an option. Then seeing the option Alexa had chosen it for everyone not really realize what type of skill crystal she was creating, just that it was the Tier IV variant. As she thought about it, she began to realize more about the Tiering system for crystals. While the percentage she got from the crystal had increased, the complexity of knowledge that was also transferred had also increased. Mana Weaving was a complex system of understanding what a spell was and how to link different magical schools together.

Seeing the skill, Alexa realized she had but one thing to do. If she was going to start a resistance, she would do it correctly.

“Atreus, come forth and receive the final blessing to make it so you will be able to resist.” Alexa said, as she held out her hand. Seeing the act Atreus bowed and then got up from his spot in the circle and sat right in front of Alexa and took her hand.

Seeing his willingness to comply, Alexa nodded then reached up with her free right hand and placed it on Atreus’ forehead. Once there, she began transferring knowledge. Not everything, she didn’t want to do a complete soul share with Atreus, instead she shared the schools of magic she was a master of. The same schools of magic that the Orcs and Elves likely used to establish dominance over these people before her who had up until a moment ago been slaves.

She transferred the knowledge of Healing, Wind, Nature, and Arcane magic all at once. These were just to Tier I in each school, but combined they spoke volumes.

“Whoa.” Atreus said, as their connection broke. Then out in the palm of his hand he began manipulating the barest forms of magic into existence.

“Practice. These are the tools that have been used to enslave you. Now you will use them to earn your freedom. Sky, you are next.”

With that, the vampyre Sky shot up and excitedly shot forward to sit in front of Alexa. Once again, Alexa performed the same task of transferring the initial Tier of knowledge to Sky. Then once that was over Alexa called over Andronika, then Rayel another vampyre. On and on it went, person after person, species after species as Alexa made sure to alternate between members of the two groups as evenly as possible. Until finally all ninety-two members had been given the incredible gift of magic. Not just one school of magic, but multiple.

By the end, Alexa was tired, as she could all but feel exhaustion overtaking her. Still, it had all been worth it. She had completed another stage of her trials, meaning she only had four stages left, or more importantly only three left before Thanksgiving break, when she would undertake the tenth and final stage.

With everything done, and after enough time or resting over Alexa rose up.

“Thank you all. Know that you will not be allowed to re-enter this dungeon again. But the dungeon is aware of your plight. Pretend like nothing has happened, grab your personal belongings and effects. Then once you all are set to reenter, this dungeon will make sure you are sent to a neutral planet where you will have to live on your own.” Alexa said, she hated it, basically abandoning them after all they had been through, but this was all she could do for them.

Then not even looking to see what the other’s reactions were, she stepped through the portal and instantly felt a blinding light reach her from the dungeon entrance.

It had been hours since she entered the dark and gloomy dungeon, only to now return to her world, where the sun was shining brightly. Even though it was a crisp fall morning, she still felt warmed by the sun’s golden lights. Feeling the rays she stepped forward, and was immediately greeted with a series of messages. The first were ones that required her interaction.

Energy gained. Do you wish to convert energy absorbed into class experience? Attributes? Or vampire only powers?

Seeing the new prompt for Vampire only powers, she was intrigued.

You have chosen vampire only powers. Powers available: Regeneration, Night Sight, Allure, Weightless Bones, and Paralyzing Gaze.

Seeing a few of them, made sense, Paralyzing Gaze was likely the vampire’s equivalent of Paralyzing Howl that the werewolves had, a power she opted not to take. Regeneration and Night Sight were also close enough to the powers she got from the werewolves that they were unable to be selected. Since she did take the werewolf equivalent power, she decided to avoid Paralyzing Gaze¸ as she realized she could achieve much the same from a sharp glare. This really left Allure, and Weightless Bones as possible options.

Alexa paused as she thought about dismissing them all together, but then stopped as she realized there might be value to them. Thinking back, none of the vampires seemed particularly Alluring to her, meaning the ability was likely activated. If that was the case, then being able to distract someone might be beneficial at times. Also, Weightless Bones, that sounded terrible, but also explained how and why the vampyres were able to fall so gracefully in the air. She also realized that the weightlessness didn’t seem to detract at all from their ability to perform powerful strikes with a sword.

In the end Alexa decided to go with Allure, because honestly who wouldn’t want to feel pretty at times. She also opted not to go with Weightless Bones, her rationale for this was she figured she would need her mass and size to help with fights going forward. That still left her a lot of excess energy that she sent towards improving her class. While her slotted class’s level wouldn’t change from this now, after Thanksgiving she knew it would be a worthwhile investment. During her time, she also improved three of her titles and felt quite accomplished, all things considered.

Dungeon Runner (13):   All Attributes increased by 1% (13%).

Protection of Life (12):   Death Magic Resistance +5% (60%), Necromancy Magic Resistance +5% (60%)

First Monster of Pandora:   Can call into being the words of change. Known Words: Hope, Name.

Taking one last moment to view her recent improvements she nodded to herself and then continued to class. First period was just about to start, and if she was lucky, she might be able to make it to class before her teacher was even aware.