Mark of Time and Psyche

(Linked)

Counter: 4

Integrity: 93.23% (Fused/Damaged)

Psyche: Telekinesis/Telepathy/Mind’s Eye/Greater Mind

Time: Time Reset/ Foresight

Time and Psyche: True Bond

Tier: Undefined

[Mark of Time: Foresight] obtained!

[Mark of Time and Psyche: Greater Mind Link] obtained!

A Barrage of system notifications sounded out across the unified link that the two shared. Their marks changed shapes, merging to be something more, as two minds became one, memories flooding across both. Xar’s memories into Jennifer, and Jennifer’s into Xar. A strange understanding was born, as both perspectives collided to form one mind.

This is Strange They thought as one. What are we? Xarnifer?

Xar chided, and Jennifer felt the euphoria of strength that had flooded their minds slowly start to leave.

I coordinate our bodies, and use magic, you attack the demon with telekinesis.

Jennifer thought, not needing to vocalise the thoughts in her mind, but doing it purely out of habit.

For a brief moment, her mind drifted to the kill switch on her neck. A quick inspection found the spell matrix charred and broken apart by the demon’s spell. There was no telling if she’d survive going back in time with the cracks in her soul. Death now, could likely be the end.

Will survive. Xar reassured her, and Jennifer gave a mental nod.

They opened their eyes as one. All ten of them. She moved Xar’s body, finding the motion instinctual as Xar’s memories flooded across their bond. She’d have expected being a spider to be a stranger experience. The torrents of magic pouring around them slowed down, the fusion of their Marks had seemed to slow the flow of time itself for a brief moment, and now that the magic faded, time flowed normally once more.

Jennifer saw from ten eyes. Two human’s and eight spider’s. The merging of sensations took a few moments to get used to, but the Mark of Psyche aided in assimilating to the plethora of varied sensation.

High tier mind magic.

The part that formed Jennifer, felt surprised, to experience the Mark of Psyche, and its abilities for her own. She, no, both of them, could hear and feel and move so much more. And the sensations were almost overwhelming, yet instinctual.

Magic rippled through her senses, her soul aching. The crack was mended by Xar’s own soul, preventing hers from falling apart in a moment.

Telekinesis. Movement is slow. Will slide-fly instead. Protect Xar’s body. Xar thought, and their mark flared.

Jennifer saw dark magic flow around them as the demon’s body rippled. The visage of her friend began to fade, her red hair sloughing off as a dark skinned monstrosity began to surface from within.

They saw the masks slip as the demon within was revealed for the first time. Any pretense of humanity was gone, its half charred limbs morphing as they bloated in size.

A horrendous creature with a burning fire-like brand on its neck screamed before them. Scarlet eyes glared from within the skull covering its face, seething with hatred and rage.

The demon grew larger, its back hunching as a dark dog-like skull replaced half its face. Horns jutted from one side, the other half a gory mess of pulsating flesh, lacking any skin. The light from Sera’s blessing had faded leaving smoking charred skin from his left elbow and down.

Dark blood dripped from its jaw, as the demon's body twisted. Disjointed, mocking laughter echoed from its mouth as it turned toward them. Jennifer took a step back, feeling Xar recoil at the demon’s presence as well. A creeping horror built in their gut as the monster looked up at them, a human face without skin starting to form but unable to finish.

“Because of you. Everything. Wrong. Because of you. Time itself. I cannot let you live. I need to kill. I need to eat you. Devour. Devour. Become one with us. Me. I will become yoU. I wILL dEvOuR.”

Oily tendrils protruded from the demon's back, a screech of madness tearing out of its jaws as they shot towards the two of them.

Jennifer moved their body to the side, Agile wind shooting her off. Xar lifted their feet off the ground as Jennifer controlled the gust of wind propelling them as they slid across the dark chamber.

Jennifer felt the room shift, Xar catching the change in the mana threads as well. The small chamber broke apart, expanding into a never ending expanse of white stone. Jennifer used Xar’s abilities, focusing on their mind’s eye as she located the dark pulsating dungeon Core embedded in the demon’s chest.

Core controls the room. Destroy.

The two agreed, as telekinesis guided her body. Jennifer formed a telekinetic shield around Xar’s body as they zipped through the chamber. Vile red tendrils shot into the ground tearing through the enforced stone as the Demon’s Mark flared, its presence bearing down on them.

Madness began to assail their minds, tendrils trying to drill in. Jennifer panicked but Xar was quick to respond, pulling up a shield to protect their minds from the mental assault. The demon’s aura spread like a vile throbbing tendril of flesh, its mark pulsating throughout, dark red merging with golden swirls.

The room shifted yet again as shadows spread around the chamber. Wraiths rose around them, screeching as they leaped at them. A red fog filled the chamber as the very ground under them began to explode with mana, bolts of red energy shooting at them.

Jennifer called for [Eternity] as she formed Glass shards, unleashing them upon the Wraiths. Her ethereal blade’s form changed, the blood red blade now containing a circular curving pattern to it. Jennifer gripped the blade, looking through Xar’s eyes as she expanded her mana senses. Xar worked with her, his Mind’s Eye showing her the chaotic minds of the wraiths around them. But the demon remained hidden.

Dungeon-Core. We can’t sense-detect. Demon’s Mark-Presence is hidden.

Tendrils shot at them, Xar deflecting the attacks with Telekinesis. A storm of red limbs attacked them as the wraiths screeched, their dark shadowy claws shooting forward, but never reaching.

A howl of madness resonated in their ears, like a knife being slowly inserted. For a moment, Jennifer felt her thoughts separate from Xar, his senses disconnecting from hers.

Her body skidded to a stop as Xar’s telekinesis lost effect and her soul ached with renewed anguish. She reached for Xar, trying to re-establish the connection. But the demon wouldn’t let her. Her legs were caught in pulsating tendrils, pulling her closer to the floor. Jenifer let her glass shards tear through the vines, but the attack had arrested her momentum.

Jennifer dropped Eternity into her hand as she slashed at the wraiths accosting her. Jennifer felt dark mana brew all around her, a storm of magic as the demon’s spell pulsated madly.

she called out, as their combined marks began to glow once more. A strange sensation filled Jennifer, her mark whispering something to her. Magic flowed from her hand to her eyes, as Jennifelt felt a new ability manifest.

She felt the magical pulsating, her Mark thrumming wildly as it beat to an unseen rhythm. A vision began, mana levels exploding as tendrils erupted all around her. Panic rose as she hurriedly recast Agile Wind, screaming at Xar.

she called out.

“[Lunestone: Gua—” her words died as her soul throbbed in agony. Jennifer saw Xar manifest a shield as the explosion of violent tendrils slammed the ground around them, seeking to bind her within the demon as a mere copy of herself forever.

Then she decided to try a more direct option. Jenn reached up and tapped Xar with one hand. Jennifer felt her Mark latch onto Xar’s as their perspectives were shared once more.

Surprise filled them both as Xar’s shield expanded, covering them both. And to their further surprise, withstood the impact of the tendrils shooting at them. It shuddered and cracked, but it held for a moment. They didn't have time to be relieved, though. Jennifer nudged Xar as they let the shield fall. Telekinesis lifted their feet once more as they slid across the chamber, Eternity slashing through the ethereal wraiths, disrupting their magic as their forms began to collapse.

“ANnOyINg. Far tOo aNnOYING!” the demon screeched, its voice barely comprehensible. More dark red tendrils rose, now accompanied by blood red ravens circling them. Fog swirled in circles as the shadow of the demon flashed away from Eternity.

The floor sank underneath them, pulsating with the same dark red as spikes began to rise. Jennifer pushed their Marks up, Xar lifting them into the air as the ground turned into a carpet of dark red spikes, trying to skewer them alive.

The two flew, Jennifer balancing them with Agile Wind. As they tried to find the demon, a magic circle began to form at the centre of the chamber.

Jennifer felt her heart thunder, Xar’s body tensing as his jaw clicked. Panic rose in their mind as tendril after tendril shot through the unseen mists. The demon lurked just outside their reach, dancing like a shadow of death, preying on them from afar.

Another stab pierced Jennifer’s shoulder as she intercepted a tendril aimed at Xar. Wounds began to stack on her body, as she deflected dozens of blows only to be nicked once. Despite her best effort, Xar was hit as well. Nicks and scratches turned to cuts, her skin burning from the dark poison coating the demon’s limbs. Their minds began to shudder, a sensation of being overwhelmed filling them.

I have an idea Xar. But I’ll need you to trust me. Jennifer thought. She felt Xar protest for a moment, sensing what she was thinking. But with a heavy spider-sigh, he agreed.

They separated their minds as Jennifer let a tendril impale her shoulder. Jennifer fell, bleeding from her wound as Xar’s telekinesis lost effect on her. Xar jumped off her shoulder leaping to the roof as he moved at high speed

Magic pulsed under her feet, a layer of glass forming to protect her shoes. Jennifer let mana flow around her body, glass covering her neck, arms and legs, forming a patchwork armor that withstood the blow of the demon’s attacks. She burned her mana, turning the outermost layer of her glass armor to metallic glass.

“What will you gain from all this! Why’re you doing this?” Jennifer shouted, as she heard the demon hiss. She’d expected no replies regardless. Anything the demon would say, meaningless in front of his actions.

She felt the Demon’s mark pulsate as a monstrous arm shot through the fog, elongating as it reached toward her. Jennifer tried to dodge, but the arm spread in multiple directions, its flesh stretching as she was slammed onto the ground.

Fire erupted throughout her body. And before she could react, the demon’s elongated arm protruded claws, which immediately began digging into her chest.

Dark blood dripped down its limbs and onto her clothes as the demon came closer, pushing harder on her. Pain erupted in her chest, as the demon stood over her. Its face was covered in a half formed skull as scarlet eyes peeked through the eye sockets at her.

“T-that’s your real face huh?” Jennifer muttered, unable to keep a pained smirk off her face as the demon hissed.

“You think this is a joke? Far too much has gone wrong, just because of your presence. Death is a mercy that I hesitate to give you,” the demon spoke, its fleshy throats pulsating with each guttural word it spat.

Jennifer felt his claws push on her further, as her ribs strained in her chest. She couldn’t breathe.

“Suck… to be you,” Jennifar spat, garnering courage she didn’t feel as the demon’s tendril bore down on her. She refused to give up. She’d come too far.

Jennifer screamed at Xar.

An aura of despair descended upon the demon, its eyes shaking as Xar assaulted the demon’s mind. She felt his form shifting, its mark fluctuating for a moment as the demon’s grip loosened.

Jennifer collected magic at her arm as Eternity formed. She let her blood soak into her blade, the blood-glass hungrily drinking it. She pulsed her magic, letting it flow into the blade, screaming as she stabbed the demon's chest.

Tensing as [Eternity] pierced through the demon, she felt a moment of glee as she struck the dungeon core embedded in its body. She pushed, yet the core refused to buckle. And the demon’s claws shifted, clutching at her neck.

With a push, Jennifer tried to free herself, her grip on [Eternity] loosening as she struggled against the demon. Her neck burned, the glass protecting it starting to crack. She closed her eyes, fighting through the pain as she felt at her soul, at the crack in her being. The core of her magic began there. Everything she had originated from her soul. She felt the wisps of magic leaking through its gaps. Power, if she was willing to risk it, waiting to be released.

The cost would be great. She knew the price. But if she could kill the demon here...

It would be worth it.

With a silent whisper, she let the magic out, as her soul began to crack apart. Torrents of mana poured forth. Shards of glass shredding through the demon’s form. Her magic burned, stronger than it had ever before. And so too, burned her soul.

Mana flooded her body, threatening to tear her apart. But she refused to cede control. It was her magic, and it would obey her will. She guided it all into her blade, the magic that formed her soul unwinding itself as she worked. She poured her being into [Eternity] as the blade began to grow. And then it changed.

[Artifact Skill: A Moment of Eternity] obtained!

She pushed the blade once more. The artifact pierced through the demon, as waves of mana pulsed through both. Like a blade that cut through time, it embedded itself in the demon’s body, tearing a pained howl out of its maw.

Time stopped for a moment, the world coming to a halt as her blade cut through all, vibrating in rhythm with her soul. Magic formed from weaving her soul began to unleash itself as the dungeon core cracked within the demon’s chest, unable to break in the frozen world.

A Moment frozen for Eternity.

With a sudden thrust, [Eternity] shattered, as time began to flow once more.

The form of the blade broken, the magic it held within was released into the world as the mana began to expand. The Mithril-Glass dissolved, erupting in an explosion of glass mana that tore through the demon and Jennifer alike.

Her mana pathways ruptured under the strain, incapable of holding magic of such a tier. Spikes of glass jutted forth, expanding into a shimmering carpet of death. Shards tore towards the demon. A howling star of magic manifested around her, the magic of her soul collapsing into one singular point as she tore through the Demon’s body.

The demon howled as magic erupted in its chest. The dungeon core shattered, as the great magic held within exploded. The chamber they sat in dissolved as space and time rippled.

The demon’s painful howl of agony tore through the dark void that spread around them as torrents of magic ripped it apart.

Cracks spread all around Jennifer as she felt Xar’s telekinesis guiding her. She couldn’t hear, nor see, her soul collapsing from the damage as darkness swallowed her whole.

❖❖❖

Rough hands shook Jennifer awake, each movement sending a coursing wave of agony through her everything. She felt voices and whispers fill her head before she heard Xar shout.

Jennifer felt a pounding headache course at his voice and she winced. She tried to force open her eyes and found her vision spinning as pain ravaged her body. Her soul's crack had deepened and every inch of her body hurt as if burning alive.

She felt arms grab her, and her eyes turned up to see Irwys, bleeding from multiple wounds but alive and standing.

“It worked then,” Irwys said in a quiet voice.

Jennifer opened her mouth to reply, yet no voice came out. Her hand shifted to her throat, feeling the damage done despite her glass armor. She doubted he had any more potion of Restoration and a normal potion had no hope of fixing such a wound.

Irwys frowned at her action, shaking his head.

An idea formed in her mind as she used her Mark’s new abilities from its fusion with Xar’s mark. A link was formed between Irwys and Jeninfer as she replied telepathically.

Jennifer sent telepathically. She saw Irwys’ eyes widen for a brief moment before he nodded.

Xar sent and Jennifer tried to smile, though the action only aggravated her wounds.

she sent to Irwys, who shook his head silently.

“You did your job and saved your friend. Things are not all lost yet,” Irwys replied.

For a moment, Jennifer simply nodded and accepted that they had done that much at least. But her agony wouldn't let her rest. Her mind shifted to her soul, trying to see her condition. She felt Xar’s soul near her own, their two marks still linking their souls together. Silver threads spun around her soul, originating from her bond with Prince Laiken, which kept the crack in her soul shut.

A tremor shook the chamber as explosions sounded in the distance.

“We need to go,” Irwys said, grabbing Jennifer. She felt pain spread through her body as she was lifted to her feet, Irwys supporting her on his shoulder.

she asked Irwys.

“I don’t know. We fight to the end,” Irwys muttered. She felt surprised by his tone. He'd always seemed so sure of himself in all the times she’d known him.

Irwys paused, his silver eyes turning to look at her. Jennifer felt herself pause at his silent gaze. “If the need arises, I will.”

She didn’t reply as they silently moved through the guild. The halls were broken, the defensive wards thrumming, but cracked in places. She saw fires running rampant across the city as adventurers fought demons in droves. The demons dark forms covered every inch of the city.

Jennifer felt her heart tremble with pain. It was the night of the invasion all over. She could hear the screams as the scent of blood was carried on the wind, accompanied by the heavy booms of explosions.

Her mind drifted in a haze, waves of pain coursing as her eyes struggled to remain open. The pain in her soul ebbed and flowed in waves of agony, her body screaming for relief.

Jennifer sent to Irwys.

Irwys nodded, changing directions as they began their way up. Swords of mist cut apart any demons that tried to attack them. But most were too occupied with fighting the adventurers and reaping chaos to pay any attention to them. She suspected Irwys’ skill was at work as well.

Jennifer inched along as they walked up, being carried by Irwys more than moving under her own power. Their path soon led to the top of the guild, the magical tower granting them an unparalleled view. She was able to see the city in its entirety. And the ghastly invasion if fought against.

She saw [Soldiers] and [Guards] moving in droves as the Upper council mobilized them. Adventurers joined in, holding back the demons that spread all over the city. Explosions shook the ground, as Jennifer’s eyes shifted towards the walls. Pillars of fire erupted, as tremors shook the city walls. Yet they stood.

At least for now.

Her eyes drifted above the Southern end of the city. A brewing storm was above Lienmont as a dozen bolts of lightning struck a single location. The guild head Zaress, flew over the city like a demi god of thunder and strength, roaring with rage as he cleaved through the hordes of demons.

She spotted the [Sand Mage] flying nearby, waves of sand shooting out as he tried to take on the guild head. And keep him away from the forces trying to breach the wall.

So it did make a difference. It wasn’t all pointless.

Jennifer felt pain spread through her heart. The task had been next to impossible, yet she’d still held out hope that she'd done things right this time around. Her eyes scanned the city, trembling in fear of recognizing anyone among the bodies.

Corpses lined the streets, demon and people alike. Jennifer closed her eyes as her lips trembled. She let out a heavy breath, watching what she fought to save as it was destroyed. The sight that haunted her, the vision of that night she’d run from for so long.

She let go of her pain, as she turned to the south. The Northern end of Lienmont wasn't facing an attack. If the Alliances were quick enough, they could mobilise their armies.

Xar asked, to which Jennifer frowned. Her eyes scanned the city, trying to spot the demon mark. She found nothing. No indication. The demon should’ve been extremely wounded at the very least. Perhaps it went into hiding.

Xar spoke, a strange tremor in his voice. Jennifer frowned, trying to focus. It was faint, and she couldn’t see it without her [Enhanced Mana Sense] working, but strands of magic did run across the city.

Jennifer felt her breath stop in her chest as her eyes widened. She turned her head around, tracing the webs of thin mana that extended across the city, sinking into the ground.

Her eyes traced the links, the spell, the runes as she felt [Lesser Spell Analysis] activate on its own. Horror dawned on her just a moment later, as the spell began to break apart in front of her eyes.

A city wide blood sacrifice. The invasion… is a blood sacrifice.

As if on cue, a tremor shook the city. She heard a powerful screech tear through as magic flaired to life.

Jennifer felt a pull on her soul as a dark red circle manifested over the city. Blood red lines ran through the streets, spreading across the city as she felt the largest spell she'd ever seen start its work.

The dead withered, their corpses draining as they turned to dust. The dying, and wounded, began to feel their lives being pulled out of their grasps. Death and Blood magic flooded Lienmont, covering it in a haze of red as undead rose in droves. Family members, friends, soldiers. Those who died in their arms woke to take their dearest with them.

Another explosion shook the city as the Southern gates came crashing down. The fires, already spreading, exploded throughout the city, as death and blood tinged the sky red. The dead marched through the streets and the living joined their ranks.

Cracks spread through the earth, as Jennifer felt the souls of thousands collect near the dungeon. Magic of Unknown tiers seared itself into the eyes of all who lived, as it was siphoned into the dungeon in a wave.

Time held still, a wave of silence spreading through the battle as the world watched with its breath held. Magic so old it made her bones rattle shone from the dungeon. Her mark pulsed, its own magic beating to the rhythm of the spell as a form began to rise.

Magic rose from the depths of the dungeon. Its walls cracked, and sloughed to the side as a hulking form pulled itself from the soil of the city. Massive clawed limbs rose, each claw larger than Jenn's home as the form shifted higher. The claws were followed by a dark chitinous jaw so massive it cast a shadow over half the city. Three wings swept through the city, crunching men under it’s span as they spread wide over the sky, killing the light from the remnant rays of the sun.

Jennifer felt her heart stop as she watched the enormous form stand. And for all its size, it still remained bound, hulking chains stood attached to it, tying it to the ground. The beast roared, the sound sending her stumbling as her ears popped from the shockwave.

The chains broke apart as the spell coalesced around the beast, symbols forming on its head.

In that moment, Jennifer realised the terrible plan the demons had. The warning of the elf echoed in her mind as the true scale of the invasion finally revealed itself.

She stared at the figure of legends. The myth she’d seen just once, within an illusion of a book. The third calamity the world had faced, the death of Dragons.

Meiphor.

And atop its head stood the Demon Mark. The dragon flapped its three wings, tearing through demons and people alike as it rose higher, yet did not fly. She heard the screams, vaguely aware of the threat it posed.

Irwys pulled her aside, trying to escape. Yet Jennifer didn’t register his words. Her mark burned like fire, and she felt Xar’s mark burn beside her. Flames of pure white erupted within the beast’s maw as it stepped forth, crushing hundreds under its massive limbs.

Jennifer stared the death of dragons in the eye, watching the Tier-12 beast that had been the end of the continent and found her breath stopped. With a roar, The Death of Dragons erupted in pure white flames, reminding everyone why it was named such.

Jennifer stared at the torrent of flame rushing towards her and she closed her eyes, leaning in, as she let herself be consumed by them. Within moments, death claimed its due.

[Class: Resourceful Enchanter] has reached level 19!

[Title: Witness of the End] obtained!

❖❖❖

Mark of Time and Psyche

(Linked)

Counter: 5

Integrity: 86.98% (Damaged)

Time: Time Reset/ Foresight

Time and Psyche: True Bond

Tier: Undefined

Jennifer opened her eyes, awareness snapping back in a moment. Her heart didn’t thunder in her chest as she’d expected it to, and her body didn’t burn with fire or searing pain. Yet a pain deeper than any of those still throbbed with quiet agony. Her soul ached, the crack in it leaking wisps of her magic. She’d gained a title. She’d gained a skill, a level. Her mark had fused. A thousand thoughts pulled her mind in as many directions, but Jennifer couldn’t focus her mind on any of that.

Her thoughts instead lingered on the image of the dragon, towering over the city as it proclaimed the end of all. On the blood ritual, draining the life of an entire city to unleash a Calamity upon the continent. Jennifer felt at her soul. [Eternity] had already begun fixing its damaged form, reconstructing itself from the ground up. She tried to use her magic. The mana responded sluggishly, but her core was also repairing itself. Her magic would recover.

A daze settled on her mind, the events she'd just witnessed feeling like a strange dream. Her mind churned through half formed thoughts when suddenly she remembered something. With a hesitant voice, she called out to the dark, into the link that connected her mark with another.

Jennifer sent, feeling her heart tremble.

A faint emotion came, mixed with confusion, before a message came back through the link. A smile covered her face as she heard the message and Jennifer leaned back in the chair. The world had been ending just a few moments ago. And the crack in her soul told her all of it was real as it could be, but for just a moment, her worries didn’t seem to matter, and everything felt alright.

She had her friend back.

End of Volume 1