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3rd Pov
Ember on returning to his inn, made himself comfortable on the bed. He looked at the magic grimoire in his hands with anticipation. He took a deep breath, after awakening two magics he still had a slot empty, and it was perfect for his plans. The question was what he wanted as his third magic? He had his answer.
He opened the grimoire and started reading it, soon he was deep in his mindscape floating aimlessly in pure expanse of white. " It is up to you, the path you desire, what is your goal, what you want to achieve", a voice rung in his head. Next moment he was standing before a replica himself.
The scenery changed and he was in an open grassland," Okay let's start. What is magic to you?", his other self, asked a question. " To me? It is a miracle to bring forth my deepest desires into being. To bring forth my imagination into reality, a grimoire of infinite miracles."
"What do you want to achieve with it?", another version of him manifested before him. The surroundings changed again, this time in a jungle of concrete. A figure running past them. He had black hair and brown eyes," I achieved a lot, becoming so called Engineer... Earning hefty amounts of money... But neither we found nor love or happiness. It was a life based on others' expectations."
"What I want is simple... A adventure", his surroundings changed again. This time he was standing on a sandy hill. Countless weapons were imbedded on the ground, ranging from spears to lance, swords to maces. " I want this magic-", however he wasn't done.
This time he was standing on top of a castle tower, a man held staff and thumped it on ground unleashing an explosion of holy magic, cleansing filth and covering the barren surroundings with greenery. " I want this magic", the scenery again changed. This time he was standing on top of a tower as the world turned into reflection of itself dividing into two opposite parts." I want this magic as well-".
"You are greedy", his projection said, " You are wishing for impossible", another said," Do you think you have chance of acquiring this level of magic?", the third added. He smiled and said," As I said I want a grimoire of infinite possibilities not limited by any chains. This is what is magic to me, a miracle with no limits, the only limit is myself."
" I guess, that's just myself ", they said simultaneously merging together. When Ember opened his eyes, the grimoire was empty, and he took a deep breath. He needed to update his status; however, he was dozens of miles away from his goddess. Thankfully it was planned. He took out a vial containing a golden liquid out of his drawer.
It was the first magic item he had made and too be honest he was extremely lucky with it.
How to update his status was a major obstacle back in Shawn village. He decides he would visit his goddess once in every six months for status update. However, it meant his acquisition of new magic will be delayed. So, in curiosity he brought status snitch, deciphered principles behind it after using it and tried to make a status updater from his Goddess' blood.
And it worked, rather to say he lucked out. He tried its limitations, and it was extremely limited, working only on himself, not even on other familia members. According to his Goddess it was unfinished product, the reason it could update his status was simple. Her blood imbued with his mystery had recorded the process of updating the status.
That was it, however as an unfinished product it had severe limitations. Firstly, it worked only on him. In a simple way to say, it was like a computer code, hardware being his mystery and software being his Goddess' ritual of updating status. To use it you will need a receiver which was just him. However, his status shouldn't be locked otherwise it won't work, the liquid only recorded the act of updating status, and nothing else.
(A/N: Just on note, he was a software engineer in his past life, so that helped. However he lacks other knowledge, and his software engineering won't improve his abilities, just Item creations a bit)
It means everyone could see his status if he is naked, that's why he needs to make sure to hide his back. After it is Altena, there are bound to be plenty of people capable of reading hieroglyphics. He quickly laid down and dropped the liquid on his back. The hieroglyphics lit out as the status started updating and once it was done, he took a paper and touched it on his back, copying the status sheet.
[Level 2
Strength: I67
Endurance: I68
Dexterity: I44
Agility: I57
Magic: I81
Mage: I
Mystery: H
Skills:
Decipher: Helps the user Decipher the truth, theorems, and workings of the world through logic, prediction and guess.
Limit Breaker: Helps the user break through the limits of his parameters and abilities.
Double Croissance: The rate of growth of falna and acquisition of all abilities is doubled.
Orc Slayer: Grants twenty percent buff in all parameters against pig-like monsters.
Eagle's eye: Enhances the vision.
Magic:
1) Cremation (Chant): " O'Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! Cremation!"
2) Cure-Se (Chant): " Devoid of any injuries and poison, Heal Mine self!"
3) Magic Grimoire: It is a magic that allows the user to copy any magic seen. ]
His previously empty third magic slot was now filled with a new magic. Magic grimoire, seeing the description, his eyes lit up. It was pretty much a magic like a magic grimoire. not danmachi one but one that recorded spells. He couldn't wait to test the magic. With this, his plan in Altena to enhance his magic began.
...
On over morrow, he brought a property of 2 million valis. Finally getting a place to call home in Altena, it wasn't something fancy. It was a three-floor wooden house, with two rooms at each floor. It was enough for all of his needs. He spent the day arranging furniture and tidying up the house.
The next day was when he was going to go on adventuring. He had already talked about Guild receptionist to introduce him to a party, thankfully when he arrived at the Guild, she was ready. " Sir Tithonus, here is a party that wants to accept you", she said introducing him to the party. He looked at the members to find all of them to be Elves.
" Nice to meet you, I am Lance from Wishe forest", said an Elf with yellow hair, and yellow eyes. She was wearing a female Knight's armor that exposed her thighs, though she had metal kneecaps. She forwarded her hand for a handshake. Ember accepted it and shook her hand firmly," I am Tithonus Ber, from Alf's Royal Forest, I am a Magic Swordsman."
" What a coincidence, I am a Magic Swordsman as well", she said with a grin and then turned towards her other members," Let me introduce you my party members, the elf with purple hair is Jasmine our healer. The grey-haired lad there is our Archer Ash, the black-haired Elf is our mage and her name is Aurielle, and this guy covered in armor, is Jack, our Tank and a weretiger."
" Nice to meet you all", Ember said, and he looked at their well-organized party. Infact a party of three adventurers was considered adequate, you might find a party of four adventurers however anything bigger than that was considered a rarity. " So, you are looking for a party to team up with, right?", asked Lance.
" Yes, I am new here at Atlena, and I belong to another familia ", Ember said in a polite tone. She smirked and patted his back," Enough of this politeness, let's go outside and you show me your skills, if you pass my test, we take you in", she said, her voice contained a strength. Ember quickly thanked the receptionist before going out with them.
They reached outside of the city, and Lance said," Jack, test him", his imposing figure stood before Ember, he smirked and said," Gladly, Boss", and drew out his giant sword, " Since you are a Magic Swordsman, you should be able to go against Jack, right?", she said with a smirk. Her words contained a warning, that if what he told was a lie, then Jack will rough him a bit.
Ember drew out his own sword, and Lance whistled," A nice sword, however a powerful weapon doesn't make you a strong adventurer", they both made some distance between them and took a battle stance. " Jasmine, do the honor", said Lance and the Elf nodded," Three, two, one! Go!", the moment she said 'Go', Jack charged.
He pulled and swung the sword, his move looked terrifying as if it was to cleave Ember into two, however he hadn't put a lot of strength behind his attack. Ember responded by deflecting his attack, Jack wasn't at all surprised, the strength he put behind his attack could be resisted by a newbie Level 2 adventurer, he slashed again, and Ember responded by a slash.
Their swords collided and a small shockwave was released from their clash, blowing the wind away from them. This time Jack was surprised, he was an Weretiger, a race famous for their Strength, Endurance and Agility. His strength status might not surpass Lance's however his strength surpassed her; his Endurance was the highest here and even his agility was quite good.
So, behind his strikes, there were considerable strength, yet Ember retaliated them with a equal amount of strength, despite being an Elf, a race not famous for their strength. " Woah, his strength is certainly not bad", said Aurielle, and Jasmine nodded," His speed is also superior to Jack's", she added in the end. Ash commented," Well he is an Elf, we are best when it comes to agility, dexterity and magic."
They nodded and continued watching the duel, Ember started dodging his much more powerful attacks and deflected the others, pushing Jack behind. Lance grinned she had already half-approved Ember in her mind, after all Jack's frontal combat ability was only second to hers. Only she could push him behind in frontal combat ability.
Thus, all was left to witness Ember's magic, normally she would have ended the match and let him demonstrate his magic. However Ember has proudly stated he was a Magic Swordsman, and there was a skill that every Magic Swordsman had mastered, without which they couldn't even call themselves a Magic Swordsman, which was none other than Concurrent Chanting.
Ember meanwhile was focused on battle unaware of Lance's thoughts. ' He is strong, his strength parameter must be high before he levelled up ', Ember thought, ' However he is weaker than me ', it wasn't a joke, if he wanted, he could go toe to toe against Jack, despite him wielding a Long great sword.
However not only he was an Elf he was a newbie level 2, and Jack was probably reaching the limit of his strength parameters for Level 2, he was probably a mid or even a late level 2, and an weretiger on top of that. Thus, it wouldn't make sense if he could go toe to toe against him, he only wanted to show that he was competent not a monster.
" End the fight!", Lance shouted, and they stopped, she clapped and said," You fought good Jack, and you as well Mr. Tithonus, your name is moutful, how about a short pseudonym? Hmm... Tits, how about I call you Tits", her face contained a smirk earning glare from Jasmine," Captain! Don't make fun of him!", hearing her words Lance shrugged.
Ember's eyebrows twitched hearing the nickname she gave him. He wasn't a freaking Milf for Alf's sake! Before she could assign him this nickname he quickly said," Call me Tet, my friends use to call me that", hearing his words, Aurielle nodded," Tet, this does suits him", Lance came forward," So now- Tet, you told me you are a magic swordsman", she said.
" Yes", he replied, and she grinned," Let's have a match between us... Don't get it wrong, but I need to confirm your words, if you know swordsmanship and magic doesn't mean you are a Magic Swordsman, so i need to test your words", she pulled out her spear strapped at her back and pointed its tip at him.
He could feel pressure from her, it meant she was strong and far more formidable of a foe than Jack. " Good luck on surviving her attacks", Jack patted his back before going out of the way. She took a battle stance and pulled the spear back. ' I guess a spear suits her, even if it isn't a lance ', he joked slightly in his mind before taking a defensive stance.
" Three, two, one! Start!", Jasmine said, and they began. Lance pushed her Lance forward, with intent to stab him, but Ember deflected it, and then she swung her spear to slash him, and he slashed his sword colliding with her attack head on. Their attacks left behind sparks in the air, as they fiercely collided.
" Not bad, but it's time I get serious", Lance commented and then started chanting," O Apostle of Storm, Lance of Thunder! Respond to my call!", hearing her chant Ember too began his chant as he deflected her attack," O'Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! ", he dodged her rapid stabs while deflecting them, showing an impressive footwork.
" I pray to Great Father of Gods, Zeus, bestow your thunder upon this child! Like a Vajra Let it pierce mine enemy-"
" Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! "
"Thunder Bolt!"
"Cremation!"
Thunder crackled around Lance's spear and a bolt of thunder manifested from the tip of her lance, While Ember took out his short staff, and a torrent of blue flames erupted from the tip. Both the attacks strike forward, colliding with each other creating a small explosion equivalent to several TNTs.
Both Ember and Lance were thrown back by the shock, while other shielded their face from the shock except Jack. " The fuck- His magic was that strong?", Aurielled said and Jasmine nodded. Ash looked at the aftermath in disbelief. The ground between them was sunken by a few metres, completely scorched.
" Hahaha! That was freaking fantastic! Despite having a small chant your magic packs quite a punch! ", Lance laughed out loud. Ember chuckled, at her ignorance. His attack was below average strength as compared to his normal strikes. Not to boast, but his normal magic attack was comparable to Level 3, and stronger ones could harm Level 4s and probably even Level 5s.
It wasn't something that a Level 2 Adventurer that could handle, he didn't want to kill Lance by mistake, that will be horrible for his future plans." Tet! Welcome to our Thunder Lance party!", she said shamelessly declaring that the name of party was after her. Ember grabbed her hand and shook it, they laughed, while others looked at them as if looking at monsters.
Ember laughed even louder than her because,' I have copied her magic ', he smirked in his mind.
To be continued...