261. The Devil's Apprentice

Before I began with my advancement, I first had to deal with a few minor things. For example, the remainder of my secondary Skill Points. I had 8 to distribute, and only one Skill for it to go to. I wanted to max out [Long Range Teleportation], but surprisingly, even when it hit Level 15, it was still not yet maxed.

“Huh. So it has a pretty high cap, then.”

I mused aloud to myself as I sat atop the corpses of the [Senior Centinels]. I probably needed 20 or 30 secondary Skill Points to get to its max. So, there was no reason to expend any more secondary Skill Points on it— for now. I wanted to save the rest for when I advanced my Class.

I quickly spent my Stat Points, mostly on Agility, but some went to Vitality, Wisdom, Strength, and Endurance as well. As for my regular Skill Points, I focused specifically on my strongest combat Skills. [Salvo of Vanity] and [Demon’s Mark]. I brought both of them up to Level 10. As expected, they didn’t cap at that level. They were some of the best Skills I had… for now.

With all that settled, I moved on to my advancement.

Salvos (Liberator of the Plaguelands)

Species: [Archdemon of Pride]

Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 114

Class: [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus] - Lvl. 65

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 1

[Racial Skill: Demonic Essence] - Lvl. 4

[Racial Skill: Partial Mortality] - Lvl. 6

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Lesser Enhanced Wisdom] - Lvl. 6

[Title Skill: General Curse Resistance] - Lvl. 2

[Title Skill: Recall Skill] - Lvl. 1

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 139 (+25)

[Strength]: 115 (+25)

[Endurance]: 128 (+25)

[Wisdom]: 216 (+25) (+10)

[Agility]: 278 (+25)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 1]

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 10

[Haste] - Lvl. 15

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 1

[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 6

[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 10

[The Primordial Spark] - Lvl. 15

[Wings of the Netherworld] - Lvl. 5

[Passive - A Hunter’s Sense] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Unused Skill Slot] x1

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 2]

[Mystical Projection] - Lvl 15 (Maxed)

[Long Range Teleportation] - Lvl 15

[Planar Navigation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Scatter Shift] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Temporal Distortion] - Lvl 20 (Maxed)

[Advancement Available]

Class Advancement:

Requirements for three Class advancements have been met!

There were three advancements, which kind of surprised me. Early Class advancements typically offered fewer options since most Classes required you to be a certain level before you can unlock them. While I did receive three options the last time around, too, I also had been quite busy. I’d mostly been in Mavos Academy since then.

I guess I accomplished a lot more than I thought I did while spending most of my time studying.

“Now, what exactly did I do?”

[Grand Mystic of the Nexeus]

A [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] is a [Mage] who has experienced what the world has to offer. Friends, enemies, and everything in between. They have seen and studied the various layers to living in the Nexeus. Now, they no longer seek simply knowledge, but power overwhelming— magic to forever fell their foes.

+10 [Strength]

+10 [Wisdom]

+10 [Agility]

+3 [Vitality]

+3 [Endurance]

“Interesting…”

It was a direct advancement of my current Class line. Not a tangential advancement. It seemed to offer pretty good Stats, all things considered. It promised me power. Something that would be strong enough to bring down my enemies.

And that piqued my interest.

I wanted to become stronger. I wanted to be able to defeat Belzu in a fight. It gave me exactly what I wanted— or so I thought.

The truth was, I didn’t actually know what it would do for me. I just knew what it said it would do. And I believe it. It was a roll of the dice as it always was. However, I liked the name of this Class. The reason why I chose [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus] was because I liked its name. And [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] sounded even more… well, grand.

I still had two other options to choose from, but I already knew this would be one of my top picks.

I moved onto the next.

[Space Sentinel]

A [Space Sentinel] is a [Space Mage] who has used their magic to protect the world. They have been taught by Fairies and the Devil himself. They know of the plight of the Nexeus. With their power, they shall fend off the corruption that has ravaged the Endlands.

+12 [Wisdom]

+8 [Vitality]

+5 [Strength]

+5 [Wisdom]

+5 [Agility]

“Hm.”

I tapped a finger on my chin.

“Did I get this because I killed that Cursed Boulder?”

It certainly seemed like it. Perhaps that was why I had three Class advancement options offered to me— if not for what I did recently, I probably would’ve only met the requirements for one.

As for the Class itself, I thought it was pretty good. It gave good Stats and its description made me curious to learn more about it. The big problem I had with it was that it didn’t describe me at all.

“And that’s important, isn’t it?”

It was a kind of [Space Mage] Class— and I knew that [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] was a branching evolution of the [Space Mage] Class, so it’d give me what I wanted. But to be a direct evolution of the [Space Mage] Class? Not yet.

And that was the main reason why I was even interested in it.

“I’ll consider you. But let’s see what the last Class is.”

[Diabolus’ Neophyte]

The [Diabolus’ Neophyte] is a unique Class of [Cultist] that worships the Devil himself. She has the fortune to gain the interest of the Devil himself, and thanks to his generosity, he has taken her as his apprentice. There is no greater honor than to learn from one as wise as the Devil.

+10 [Vitality]

+10 [Strength]

+10 [Endurance]

+10 [Wisdom]

+10 [Agility]

I blinked.

“Excuse me?”

I focused on the Class again, and its description remained unchanged. There was a moment where I just sat there in the cavern, doing absolutely nothing. Completely baffled.

Then I stood up.

“WHAT THE F—”

***

Somewhere, in an ever changing space of lattice, the Devil cackled maniacally to himself. He laughed so hard, he doubled over and rolled on the ground for quite a while.

***

I sat back down, burying my head in my hands.

“At least it didn’t call me his daughter…”

I muttered to myself. It still took me a few more minutes to get over the ridiculousness of that Class option. When I regained my composure, I actually took a look at the Stat increase the Class gave me. It was suffice to say it was great.

“Plus ten to all my Stats. That is… huh.”

It had my attention. Ignoring the fact that it literally designated me as the Devil’s apprentice… and someone who worshipped him… it gave me a good reason to choose it.

So, those were the three Classes options I’d been given.

[Grand Mystic of the Nexeus]— a direct advancement of my current Class. [Space Sentinel, which was more of a kind of related advancement. And [Diabolus’ Neophyte]... a completely unrelated advancement to my Class. Or maybe it was tangentially related. I didn’t know. It was just kind of dumb.

There were a lot of pros and cons here to consider. I truly thought each of them had its merits. This was a hard choice to make.

But I guess the first one I’d have to eliminate would be [Space Sentinel]. It was mildly interesting, but that was about it. I wasn’t really willing to give up the chance of a better Class advancement just for a tiny bit of curiosity. If it was a lot of curiosity, sure I’d have done so in an instant.

However, it was only a minute amount of curiosity.

So, that left [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] and [Diabolus’ Neophyte]. Judging them based on their Stats alone, I’d have said that [Diabolus’ Neophyte] was the far better option. If I wanted to become stronger, I should choose it without a second thought. The promise of power from [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] couldn’t compare to what [Diabolus’ Neophyte] quantitatively offered me.

And, in terms of how cool they sounded, I couldn’t lie and say that [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] was better than [Diabolus’ Neophyte].

Everything pointed me towards [Diabolus’ Neophyte]. It was clearly the better option. And yet, I found myself gravitating towards [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus]. Or rather, I was being repelled from [Diabolus’ Neophyte].

Having a Class that made me the Devil’s apprentice wasn’t too bad. Especially since he promised he’d help me like he was doing now. I knew it wouldn’t hurt any of my current goals— either defeating Belzu or returning to the Netherworld. However, I just… didn’t like the idea that I was supposed to worship Sal.

I was not some kind of [Cultist]. If there was anyone who should be worshiped here, it was me. If it was someone else, I might’ve considered swallowing my pride just to get the power boost.

Unfortunately, I’d swallowed my pride because of the Devil before, hadn’t I? I remembered when the Devil first appeared… and I made my decision. I leapt to my feet and raised a fist.

“Hey, Devil! If you’re seeing this— I am not going to become a [Diabolus’ Neophyte]! Do you want to know why?”

I leaned forward conspiratorially, as if I was whispering into his ear even though he wasn’t here.

“It’s because you embarrassed me in front of my friends!”

It was as simple as that. I focused on [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus], and words appeared in my had.

Advancement Complete!

Class [Worldly Mystic of the Nexeus] -> [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus]

Gained 20 Stat Points!

[Strength] +10

[Wisdom] +10

[Agility] +10

[Vitality] +3

[Endurance] +3

Gained 2 Secondary Skill Slots!

Gained 6 Secondary Skill Points!

Skill [Scatter Shift] becomes [Scattering Displacement]!

Skill [Temporal Distortion] becomes [Warped Time]!

Skill [Cube of Isolation] is now available!

Skill [Dimensional Pocket] is now available!

Skill [Mass Particulate Modification] is now available!

Salvos (Liberator of the Plaguelands)

Species: [Archdemon of Pride]

Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 114

Class: [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] - Lvl. 65

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8

[Identification] - Lvl. 6

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 1

[Racial Skill: Demonic Essence] - Lvl. 4

[Racial Skill: Partial Mortality] - Lvl. 6

[Rest] - Lvl. 5

[Lesser Enhanced Wisdom] - Lvl. 6

[Title Skill: General Curse Resistance] - Lvl. 2

[Title Skill: Recall Skill] - Lvl. 1

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 20]

[Vitality]: 142 (+25)

[Strength]: 125 (+25)

[Endurance]: 131 (+25)

[Wisdom]: 226 (+25) (+10)

[Agility]: 288 (+25)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 1]

[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Demon’s Mark] - Lvl. 10

[Haste] - Lvl. 15

[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 1

[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 6

[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)

[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 10

[The Primordial Spark] - Lvl. 15

[Wings of the Netherworld] - Lvl. 5

[Passive - A Hunter’s Sense] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)

[Unused Skill Slot] x1

Secondary Skills:

[Available Secondary Skill Points: 8]

[Mystical Projection] - Lvl 15 (Maxed)

[Long Range Teleportation] - Lvl 15

[Planar Navigation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Scattering Displacement] - Lvl. 1

[Warped Time] - Lvl 1

[Unused Secondary Skill Slot] x2

And I passed out.

—--

I woke up to the soft sound of claws scraping against dirt. My eyes fluttered open, and I sat up. I felt reinvigorated— I had gotten quite a lot of new secondary Skills, and a few of my old secondary Skills were given a boost. I was ready— no, excited— to test out my abilities as a [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus].

However, the scraping grew louder, and my gaze snapped over to the side.

“What is…?”

And I realized what it was I was hearing. It wasn’t scraping— it was crawling. Something was making its way towards me. Its sharp legs were what was making that scratching noise. I got up, tensing as something emerged from that small entrance to this former Lair.

Red spider-like legs clawed their way out of the darkness. A dozen legs. And they carried a bulky figure of a Centinel. One that could barely fit through the entrance It didn’t even have multiple segmented bodies, but instead only a few separate carapace parts and a single large abdomen.

I recognized it as one of the Centinels that had attacked me beforehand. One of the three [Evolved Centinels] that gave chase to me.

[Evolved Centinel - Lvl. 113]

I… smiled.

“So, are you going to be my test dummy for my new secondary Skills?”

It answered by leaping forward, lashing out at me.