[Available Essence Points— 10]

Strength: 17

Agility: 56

Wisdom: 15

Back at my hovel and safe from navigating Calridian’s mind games. I have Essence Points to distribute among my stats. I’m quite satisfied with my Agility, though some demons manage to get a drop on me time to time, my main concern battle wise is strength.

I’d dump all my points into Strength if not for the new agenda— Magic. As I’ve suspected all along and as Calridian confirmed not too long ago, Magic, Mana, and even Essence. All these powers work according to the Wisdom stat.

‘Magic comes best to wise demons.’

In the end, for the sake of progress I have to give Wisdom seven points and round Strength to 20points. With my agility it shouldn’t matter too much how hard I hit and along with the spells I’m too learn I don’t intend on getting close and personal with my fights from here on out…that is if I can learn the damned spells.

But before that, I’ve got more points to assign.

[Available Trait Points— 17]

Traits: [Calloused Exterior]- Lvl.2, [Telepathy]- Lvl.3, [Psychic Resistance]- Lvl.1

With an excess of points to share between my few traits I see no reason not to max out my very first.

[Calloused Exterior]- Lvl.5 Maxed!

Evolve Trait? Costs 4 Trait Points

I’ve already spent 6 points getting it to max, but I’m curious to see what it would evolve to. My skin is already quite tough, but I imagine I’ll want to be capable of tanking attacks so I don’t go losing my arms or lungs again. For the sake of it, I toss 4 points at it.

[Calloused Exterior]- Lvl.5 Evolved!

Trait [Armoured Form]-Lvl.1 Attained!

The change is clear. My muscles tense like they’ve been strung for decades, my bones stretch and harden. My fingernails scrape against my skin like they would against rock, I smile and flex, tossing a punch at the earth. I feel nothing whereas a small crater forms beneath my fist.

Well worth the 10 points.

I look to the rest of my traits and find Telepathy ready for an evolution as well. I’d like that.

[Telepathy]- Lvl.5 Maxed!

Evolve Trait? Costs 2 Trait Points

[Telepathy]- Lvl.5 Evolved!

Trait [Greater Cognizance]- Lvl.1

I don’t feel any different with this one, but I can pick up thoughts on a farther scale, listen in on unguarded conversations from my place. I try searching for Gerim but don’t find any trace, he’s better at this than I and surely knows how to keep himself hidden. But as my mind recedes into itself I pick up on a familiar signature. Hargoil. He’s close, approaching my hovel.

‘Another mission maybe?’ I shrug and stop watching his movements after awhile, he’s mainly loitering or speaking to someone else in a conversation I can’t penetrate, at least not from this distance. If he’s headed here he’ll meet me when he comes.

I toss the rest of my points into [Psychic Resistance] and get it up to level three before starting to work on spellcasting.

After a few hours of trying to cast my new spell─ which I quickly learned wasn't going anywhere─ I sat myself down on the bed in frustration. What I wanted to do was simple─ distort the light around so that I may become translucent to the common eye. It would allow me to move without being seen by most creatures and make things easier while sneaking around.

With insight on just the kind of demon I'm going up against they could be as strong as Gerim, definitely stronger than Hargoil. I've never had the misfortune to go against either two but given what they've displayed in battle so far I'm not sure I'll walk out unscathed─ at least not as I am. By my sense of things Hargoil shouldn't be that far above me in strength anymore.

If I'm crafty about it, I'm sure I could take him down if it came to it, of course there's a major blindspot to my confidence. Hargoil is experienced...versatile and most of all, comfortable with his Demon body. It's been close to six years...and even more time passed since I flew out of the Faithless City and into Reais. And with everything I've gone through I'd ought to be satisfied with this body, capable and efficient.

But I'm lacking...hesitant.

'Am I still in shock over everything?'

Frankly it feels like a lucid dream─ I'm the only sane person in a world of dream, no, nightmare like apparitions and happenings. The worst of all is...I'm trapped, given enough information...flashes of memories that tell me I've been more than this...better─ no, not better...normal.

I let out an exasperated sigh, leaning back onto my elbows and staring blankly at the ceiling. If I didn't know any better, I might say I'm going insane. But I do. I know that this too is a form of torture, an elaborate, knitted scheme to punish and hurt me. Why else would a Deader simply be taken off the Walls?

'The bastard deities must have heard my thoughts and decided I needed to suffer more.'

Resisting the urge to smash my newly fashioned make-shift rock table, I stare down at the spell and the guiding instructions on how to manifest it.

─ Basic Spell - Invisiblity (1/5)

─ Duration: 3 minutes

─ Effect: Renders caster's body invisible.

─ Range: Self

─ Casting Time: 10 seconds

─ Damage Type: None

─ Description: Creates a veil between the caster and their surroundings, rendering them invisible.

─ Cast Instructions: Concentrate your mind and thread mana through light whilst expressing the key─ "Wekt".

When I take a parse through the words it reads as simple and clear cut instruction on how to become invisible. But when I reach out into the ever transforming pool of mana within, straightening it into a thin threaded spool. "Wekt!" I command, waiting to have myself turn invisible.

...

Yet nothing happens. I don't get any alerts telling me I've unlocked a [Spell] and I don't even feel the cost of mana. Nothing happens.

Furious I smash my foot through the table and scream, "Fuck it! Fuck you!" I stab an accusing finger at the scroll, "Fuck it all!" I let out once more before storming from the hovel and heading outside. But before I can make it through the 'doorway', I bump head first into Hargoil's hard chitinous carapace.

He glowers down at me and takes my chin between his fingers, tilting my face upwards. He stares intently into my eyes, making me squirm uncomfortably under his scrutiny.

"What are you?" He voices in my head, giving off a clear impression of accusation, like my being offended. "I've seen humans before...but you. You're...confusing. A long thing or a hole? Which is it."

I regret being patient enough to last through the seconds of my time he's just stolen and immediately retaliate. I make to bite off a finger but he pulls away, laughing darkly.

"I'm a demon." I answer, glaring daggers at him as I cut past him.

"Hrr, you should really be chanting that key, you're nowhere strong enough to command it with a single expression." He makes that horrid sound I've attributed to a laugh. "Wekt...Wekt...Wekt...Wekt!"

My mood takes a dip at the correction. I try again, concentrating harder now that I've realized what I was doing wrong. My lips part, forming the words "Wekt..." I mutter under my breath before pausing to narrow a glare at the dirt ground. "Alright then, your help is much appreciated. You can leave now; I have an important assignment from Calridian himself."

My deliberate wording doesn't fail to upset him. His eyes flash with a bloodlust and the spike in Essence around him tells me he's ready to throw down and maul me. But he doesn't. Begrudgingly, he swallows it and his impression gleams with delight instead, "I thought you wanted me to tell you the other ways."

I blink at this for a moment before the memory snaps forth, "Oh." Is my pathetic reply. But I can't help it, I didn't think he'd be so eager to help me, to reveal his secrets. Taking a look at him, I realize there isn't actually any reason why not to accept his offer. Especially if he's serious about it.

He reeks of desperation, not that I can tell for his neatly tucked psyche─ it's a difficult thing poking into his mind, it’s an obvious assault as well, so I don't bother. His actions speak well enough of the desperation for...whatever gain he may reap from showing me the ropes. I bite my cheek and shrug as I take a step back towards him.

'Mutual exploitation, right?'

"I do."

His small mouth struggles to form a smile at this, he sets out towards me and grabs me by the arm, "Great...you'll love this."

The two of us walk through the streets of the Broken City together, passing several groups of demons lingering in alleys and near shattered buildings. Most of them give off an aura of hostility, but none of them dare approach. I'd attribute that to the fact that I've reached a new peak in my power as a demon, but the truth is far simpler than that.

I stare up at Hargoil's back as he drags me along. Even with my new stretch in height and weight he's still a few heads above me─ his Essence level is still much higher than mine as well, though since the Dawern hunt he's gotten an increase, just not a significant one.

My eyes narrow at the thought. His power doesn't feel like it's grown in leaps, not like mine anyway. 'Did Calridian give me more?'

He'd presented me with a strong Blood Orange crystal that threw me up two Crystal Essence levels. The idea that Calridian would give me more to facilitate my growth isn't all so farfetched. He is sending me on what may as well be a suicide mission.

'And he doesn't seem to like Hargoil very much either.' I roll my eyes at myself, 'I don't think anyone likes Hargoil very much.'

Snatching my arm out of his excessively strong grip I poise the question without buffer, "Where are we headed?"

He doesn’t say anything for a bit and I worry I underestimated his psychic abilities and blurted out my thoughts. I’m not remorseful at the idea of being caught, but I’m relieved when he takes a turn and says, “Remember this place?”

There’s the stench of blood, urine and other disgusting substances. But there’s also the unmistakeable air of Essence, it’s heavy here, mana too albeit less than the Essence choked up in here.

It’s the run down building with many holes in it, the one with a door, perhaps one of the few doors in Calridian’s city. It’s the place Gerim came to pick up a Desert Cloak for the Dawern mission.

“I remember the one with the snout.” I scowl at the thought of the unidentified Blood Orange, it’d snapped into my mind without so much as an introduction. Many demons do that here, once they find themselves capable of peeling into you they think they can get away with anything. And of course they do, because they’re right.

If you can’t even protect your mind…

A second round after all the growing I’ve done isn’t something I’m eager for. I might have attained [Greater Cognizance] but that doesn’t change the fact that this demon is stronger than even Gerim.

“Good, I said this is a place of trade remember? You should have kept that in mind and visited if you really are eager for power.” Hargoil says, pausing outside the building.

“I did. I remembered the encounter and thought better of it.”

“Not very social are you?” He sneers.

“Can’t afford to in a pit of demons that want a taste of my human looking flesh.” At this Hargoil shrugs. “It’s fine, I can handle it.”

“That’s what I want to hear, handle your mess, I handle mine.” He says, washing away any responsibility I’d expect from his hands.

The inside is the same as last time, little else has changed and the same snouted demon stands behind a counter slurping some fluid. Blood Orange tiers and high Esq Crimsons litter the place all locked in some silent conversation or negotiation that has the air buzzing with psychic activity.

I mind my business and trail behind Hargoil to the counter where he greets the snout demon. “Looking sharp, Fanacle.” He says, “Keeping a good watch on for Calridian?”

The snout demon slurps loudly and lifts a heavy eye towards Hargoil, “What do you two want? Don’t think Gerim’s got a mission today, no word.” His eye sits on me for a moment before passing back to Hargoil, “You been beefing this one?”

Hargoil beams with pride, “A bit here and there.” He makes a low clicking sound with his mouth I’d call laughter.

“Quick to take the credit. Are you such a habitual liar you forget who you’re speaking to?” Fanacle slurps the last of the orange fluid and pulls another jar from behind the counter. “What do you want, can’t bother reading you when I’ve got several higher tiers to watch. Get it out.” He’s as sour as the last time.

Hargoil loses his mirth and leans against the table, “Show the pet some ropes is all. Tell him what you serve.”

Fanacle doesn’t look at me but he pulls out a scroll and lets it unfurl across the countertop. I have a look and like the scrolls Calridian gave me the gibberish written morphs into an all familiar English.

[Fanacle’s Trinkets. Trade, Request, Buy!]

Hot Sales!

-Desert Cloak

-Mana Bolt

-Flame Spear

-Exorbitant Potion

-Crimsons(5-12esq)

When he said it was a place of trade I thought he meant something of debauchery and lust. But this is very useful.

“Do you have anything that’ll help me learn spells faster?”

“For 700esq I do.” Fanacle says, knowing full well I don’t have anything near that.

Hargoil chuckles, “You’ve got rich aspirations, Nil. That’s Blood Orange territory. Why not get something you can employ in a pinch, hm?” the condescension reeks in his impression but I shake my head.

“I don’t have any crystals to pay with anyway.”

Fanacle pulls a crystal out, it startles me as it’s got no colour. Completely transparent. “We can take it out of you.”

“Out of me?” I sputter, confused for a second before realizing. “Oh…out of me. My Soul Crystal.”

“A real genius you got here, Harg.” Fanacle says, setting the blank crystal away. “Maybe come back when you’ve got Esq to spare.”

Hargoil leads me out, rather disappointed in me but then he didn’t get anything either so I don’t let him get to me. “One more stop.” He says.

He doubles his pace and before long we arrive at an obscure, tall building on the edge of the city, near the detriotiating walls. It's mostly intact but there are signs of battle nearby─ the usual pile of demon bodies, except these demons are very much alive, if only weakened.

My first thought is to smash into them and rip out the linger scent of Essence wafting off of their bodies but Hargoil stops me with a raised hand, "Slow down, you'll hurt yourself." He gestures towards the sky and the large mass of demons flying overhead.

I look up at the swarm of winged beasts circling above us, 'There's got to be hundreds of them.'

It's the most of these demons I've seen cluttered in one space. The winged demons that intervene in fights and report to Calridian. They're always here, watching for law breakers. Even with my new power I can't make out what kind of demon they are, 'Which can only mean it'd be suicide to try fighting them...at least without a plan.'

"They won't get close enough to bother you as long as you don't do something stupid." Hargoil assures me before pointing back at the pile of demons. "The best way to get more points is to target demons a lot stronger than those, they aren't...rich."

He's right. They aren't rich in Essence at all. From the vague sense of things I have, I can combine the collective mess of them to a single Crimson lvl.4. It's not worth the trouble killing them, not with Calridian's enforcers overhead.

Hargoil struts through the building's hole of a doorway chittering at the demons sitting by the side. I walk in behind him and their bloodlust spikes at the sight of me, 'I'll have to deal with looking delicious for a long time.'

A single flare of Essence sets the demons back into place, neither of the two lizard-like demons match my Essence level from the look of it.

[Tokek]

We're let through and Hargoil guides me into the building, its dark, but I suppose that doesn't matter when you have Essence. The space expands, large enough to hold a cafeteria for the demons gathered, each of them stare up at us, sizing me up with hungry eyes. I'm sure the ones who attacked me in my house are among them. 'A lot of familiar looking faces here.'

The floor is lost under us in the next room though, but going by Hargoil's eager impression, I guess this is where we're meant to be.

A pit. Full of glowing, glowering eyes. In the middle of the pit is a large, elevated piece of earth surrounded by four pillars. Pillars holding onto a strong, certainly magic chained net.

My senses go haywire screaming of danger coming from all directions, but no one attacks and Hargoil is very comfortable here. I start to stare up at him to ask a question, but something else catches my eyes. Above our heads are another row of demons, going on until the top, some of them even flying over the pit to watch.

'An audience.'

If it wasn't clear before what this is, it is now.