Chapter 90 - Ultimate Spells

As I enter the cave, I call out to the Light, Air, Fire, Heat and Plant Dragons. I need them to show me the Spells I require. Although I still need the Cold Spell, Flash Freeze, it can be gotten at the same time as I get the Water Dancer Skill from a Stygian Medusa, so there's no need to call for the Cold Dragon at this time.

Also, it's a hassle for the Rumble Dragon to move around due to them having no wings and being slow when not rolling, so I intend to seek them out later to learn their Spell as well just to save them the trouble of getting to me.

As I wait for the arrival of the Dragons, both Osseous Slime and the Death Knight retreat back to the side-room I've excavated in the cave. The walls there have little alcoves in them, perfect for the Draugr to lie in. They seemed very content when they laid down and closed their eyes.

The Osseous Slime snuggles up to the Death Knight as they settle down near the far end of this little burial chamber. Since they're both Undead, moving as little as possible to preserve their SP is in their nature.

Finally, the Dragons arrive.

The Light Dragon asks, their voice sounding almost like someone plucking a harp in my head.

"Yes. It's time for you to show me those Spells." I guide them outside and behind the trunk of Yggdrasil. Behind here is the refuse pile, so we shouldn't be disturbing or upsetting anyone here.

The Light Dragon walks forward. Spreading out their wings in a motion that my Predict Movement registers as the tell for them casting a Spell, a column of white, sparkling Light descends onto a spot in front of the Dragon.

*Spell Learnt: Cleansing Light (Lesser) - Calls down a column of Light Element that deals some Light damage and also removes one positive Status (Such as Quickening or Barrier). Increased Tiers increase the damage dealt and the number of positive Statuses are removed.*

The Light Dragon turn their head to me, seeming to expect something.

"I've learnt it just fine. Here, let me show you." I then demonstrate Cleansing Light. Even though my Spell no doubt is much lower Tier than the one the Light Dragon cast, it's actually bigger and much more brilliant.

I sense shock and awe among the Dragons that are present. The Light Dragon admits, though I can tell they feel a bit dejected. Perhaps they thought I'd need more tries to learn it?

"Thank you. With this, I'm one step closer to my Evolution." I thank the Light Dragon. The soft skin around their mouth turns deep red, the Dragon equivalent of blushing.

The Air Dragon hops forward, excited to show off their Spell. They seem to gather Air Element in their wings for a moment before creating a strong forwards gust. This gust then takes on a rotational movement, picking up small pieces of debris and whipping up the thin layer of snow that coats the ground. A spindly cyclone forms before petering out after a few seconds.

*Spell Learnt: Dust Devil (Lesser) - Creates a tiny centrifuge of Air Element that's able to pick up small, lightweight objects around it, scattering them about with some force. This deals a little Physical damage along with some Air Magical damage. The main strength of the Dust Devil, however, is creating a smokescreen out of sand, dust or snow for the duration of the Spell.*

Hm, seems this in combination with the Rumble Dragons' Sand Breath would be useful... I show of my own Dust Devil Spell, though I take care not to use full force. I can't control the direction the debris will be thrown, and I don't want to harm the Dragons on accident.

The Air Dragon nods, satisfied. Seems each kind of Dragon have a similar sense for magic as me, although it's limited to their associated Element. The Air Dragon being able to sense me holding back my Air Spell would be natural.

Then, in sequence, the other Dragons show me their own Spells. Once we're finished, I thank them from the bottom of my heart. If not for them, I'd have to seek out monsters knowing these Spells and either bait them into casting them, or kill them and absorb their power.

I wouldn't be able to get ready this quickly. The Dragons seem to know that my gratitude is genuine, as each and every one flush their lips red in response to my praise.

*Spell Learned: Inferno (Lesser) - Engulfs an area in Fire Element. The fire is Magical, and will not be put out until the end of the Spells duration, or the death of the caster, whichever happens first. Spell lasts fifteen seconds, but by fuelling it with MP, Spell can last as long as the caster has MP, consuming 10 MP per additional second beyond the 15 second limit.*

*Spell Learned: Heat Wave (Lesser) - A gust of intense Heat Element is expelled from the target location, travelling a direction chosen by the caster. This gust can be stopped by physical objects, so care should be taken when deciding the direction of travel. Flammable materials have a chance of spontaneously combusting when in contact with the Heat Wave, creating Physical fire that behaves as any non-magical fire.*

*Spell Learned: Control: Plants (Lesser) - User uses Plant Element in order to free normal plants from their typical constraints with regards to speed and growth. At higher Tiers, User is also able to imbue plants with the ability to move about, uprooting themselves and ambling along on their roots before replanting themselves at the Spells' end. The larger the plant, the higher the MP cost of this Spell.*

I retreat back to my cave. Now I need to decide what to do with the rest of my Tier Tokens once I've used some to get the Spells up to par. Let's see what these Spells do...

*Spell Upgraded with Tier Token! Spell: Cleansing Light (Lesser) becomes Ray of Heaven (Lesser). Tier Tokens left: 33.*

*Ray of Heaven (Lesser) - Summons a radiant column of pure Light to purify the target area. Any entity within the area of effect takes heavy Light damage, has all its positive Statuses removed and is inflicted with Blind (Lesser) and Burn (Lesser). Only one Ray of Heaven can be active at a time, requiring the entire 30 second duration to elapse before another Ray of Heaven can be cast.*

Haha, I can now smite foes! The removal of positive Statuses is sure to be a boon.

*Spell Upgraded with Tier Token! Spell: Dust Devil (Lesser) becomes Tornado (Lesser). Tier Tokens left: 30.*

*Tornado (Lesser) - Creates a large cone of rapidly rotating Air Element able to lift entities and objects under 5x5x5 Meter (~16,4x16,4x16,4 feet~) size and under 250 kg (~551 pounds~) weight into the air, randomly flinging it in a direction to cause great Physical damage as well as some Air magical damage to whatever it hits. Being near or in the cyclone also causes severe Air damage for the duration the entity is near or in the Tornado. Will peter out after some time, but can be reinvigorated by casting Microburst, though the path of the Tornado will then become erratic and out of the casters control.*

I wonder what happens if I make two of these collide... Let's not test that.

*Spell Upgraded with Tier Token! Spell: Inferno (Lesser) becomes Hellfire (Lesser). Tier Tokens left: 24.*

Oh, wow. Inferno had another rank before Hellfire it seems...

*Hellfire (Lesser) - Engulfs the target area in white-blue flames capable of turning even the mightiest entity to charcoal. Just being near the target area will inflict high Fire Magical damage, and the Spell will no doubt bring many surrounding items to their flash point, causing them to spontaneously combust, seeding many more blazes in addition to the conflagration that originated the chaos.*

Uh, let's not use this, like, ever.

*Spell Upgraded with Tier Token! Spell: Heat Wave (Lesser) becomes Pyrocumulus (Lesser). Tier Tokens left: 21.*

*Pyrocumulus (Lesser) - Summons a point of concentrated Heat Element that singes anything nearby. This Spell is self sustaining, with the unavoidable fires it causes further feeding the cycle of Heat imbued air rising, cooling and surging downwards to feed the blaze below, creating an ever-expanding area of Fire and Heat. Highly compatible with various Air Spells, particularly Tornado.*

Uuh... Seems very hard to control, similar to Hellfire. I don't think I'll be using this either.

I don't upgrade Control: Plant just yet. It's already where I need it, so unless I can't think of anything else to use these Tier Tokens for, I'll leave it where it is.

*This Skill would like to congratulate the User for collecting so many Ultimate Spells.*

They're Ultimate?

*Indeed. There is one for each Element, and their power once they reach Grand tier is incomparable. It is for this reason that only monsters that are rated 8 Stars or higher can ever learn them. Even if your subordinates, these low-rank Dragons, were to practice every day for a hundred years, they'd never be able to bring the tier of their Spell over Great and into the next rank of the Spell.*

But the Plant Dragon was able to learn it?

*Control: Plant is an outlier. Compared to the other Elements, Plant has the fewest Spells of them all. And this Ultimate Spell has niche uses that completely depends on the environment to be usable at all. Control: Plant is useless in an area with no plant-life, after all. Even so, it cannot be tiered over Normal by non 8-Starred monsters. To reach its full potential, your Plant Dragon would have to Evolve into a mid-rank Dragon.*

I see... They're all rather overpowering Spells, some aren't even able to be controlled by the caster... I completely understand why they're locked away from less powerful monsters.

I settle down and prepare myself mentally for the incoming onslaught of information that viewing my Status will deluge me with.

Millibelle

Species: ??? Monarch (???) (EXUnique)

Gender: Female

Status: Marked for Death (True)

HP: 31.600/31.600

MP: 30.000/30.000

SP: 31.600/31.600

Attack: 5700

Armor: 6320

M.Attack: 5494

M.Armor: 5217

Speed: 4553

STR: 4560 (Max: 6250)

CON: 5056 (Max: 6250)

INT: 4395 (Max: 6250)

WIL: 4173 (Max: 6250)

DEX: 3642 (Max: 6250)

Skills:

(Language Skills)

L. C: Goblin (Great) - L. C: Kobold (Great)

L. C: Common (Great) - L. C: Harmekian (Great)

L. C: Ayvin (Great) - L. C: Accan (Great)

L. C: Photian (Great) - L. C: Minars (Great)

L. C: Pyrean (Great) - L.C: Beastfolk (Great)

L.C: Low Dragon (Normal) - L.C: Tri-Ant (Great)

(Defensive Skills)

Damage Immunity: Fire (Lesser) - Damage Immunity: Heat (Lesser)

Damage Immunity: Physical (Lesser) - Damage Immunity: Cold (Lesser)

Damage Immunity: Death (Great) - Damage Resistance: Earth (Great)

Damage Immunity: Water (Normal) - Damage Immunity: Dark (Normal)

Damage Immunity: Air (Grand) - Damage Immunity: Lightning (True)

Damage Resistance: Light (Lesser) - Condition Resistance: Lightning-Rod (Grand)

Condition Resistance: Poison (Grand) - Condition Resistance: Disease (Grand)

Condition Resistance: Blind (Grand) - Condition Resistance: Burn (Grand)

Condition Resistance: Paralysis (Grand) - Condition Resistance: Overheat (Grand)

Condition Resistance: Hypothermia (Grand) - Condition Resistance: Afraid (Lesser)

Condition Resistance: Doom (Grand) - Condition Resistance: Withering (Normal)

Condition Resistance: Curse (Great) - Condition Resistance: Zonked Out (Normal)

Status Shield (Lesser) - Steel Shell (Great)

Recoil Resistance (Great)

(Passive Skills)

Malleable Body (Great) - Regeneration: HP (Grand)

Regeneration: MP (Grand) - Iron Gut (Normal)

Cellulose Digestion (Grand) - Instant Digestion (Lesser)

Terrible Talons (Great) - Megalodon Jaw (Normal)

Focusing Horn (Normal) - Strong Legs (Normal)

Stealth (Grand) - Keen Sight (Normal)

Keen Hearing (Great) - Keen Smelling (Great)

Geovore (Grand) - Weapon Expertise: All (Lesser)

Fey Step (Normal) - True Nightvision (Great)

Teamwork (Great) - Great Leader (Normal)

Heat Drain (Normal) - Soundless (Normal)

Magical Flux (Normal) - Parallel Minds (Great)

Sense Aircurrents (Great) - Tongue Action (Grand)

Tail Action (Grand) - Anaerobic (Grand)

Aquatic Mobility (Grand) - Aquatic Senses (Grand)

Digestion Recovery (Normal) - Predict Movement (Lesser)

Death Lord (Great) - Excavator (Grand)

Iron Tail (Lesser) - Singing Voice (Normal)

Aerial Ace (Great) - Royal Grace (Normal)

Pheromone Perception (Great) - Boon of Fertility (Normal)

Plaguebearer (Normal) - Refractive Shell (Normal)

Verdant Body (Normal) - Blaze Coat (Normal)

Sky King (Grand) - Awareness (Lesser)

Hadopelagic Adaptation (Great) - Inescapable Jaws (Grand)

(Active Skills)

Wide-Casting (Great) - Remote Body Control (Normal)

Great Swallow (Grand) - Phagocytosis (Great)

Poison Stinger (Great) - Flight (Grand)

Draconic Flight (Normal) - Spit Attack: Paralysis (Normal)

Hagfish Mucous (Normal) - Telepathy (Grand)

Napalm Breath (Normal) - Vitaephagy (Normal)

Serene Presence (Lesser) - Terrorizing Presence (Normal)

Selective Presence (Normal) - Commanding Presence (Normal)

Combustion (Normal) - Vent Heat (Lesser)

Boiling Breath (Normal) - Spit Attack: Poison (Normal)

Thread Manipulation (Normal) - Shed Shell (Lesser)

Aimed Strikes (Normal) - Hypnotic Gaze (Normal)

Nameds' Call (True) - Hover (Great)

Echolocation (Great) - Animate Will: Bow (Normal)

Animate Will: Spear (Normal) - Manaphagy (Normal)

Beam Breath: Death (Normal) - Royal Presence (Great)

Cry of the Damned (Normal) - Hivemind (Grand)

Body Double (Lesser) - Crystallize (Normal)

Scale Scatter (Normal) - Water Breath (Normal)

(Spell Affinities)

Elemental Expertise: All (Lesser) - Spell-Casting Affinity: Bolster (Great)

Spell-Casting Affinity: Weaken (Great) - Spellcasting Affinity: Illusion (Normal)

(Unique Skills)

Innate World Knowledge (True - Unique) - Power Osmosis (True - Fated - Unique)

Hidden Space (True - Unique) - Guard Share (Normal - Unique(Goblin Shaman))

Complex Shape Body (Normal - Unique(Doppelganger)) - Viscous Body (Normal - Unique(Celluloid))

Web Sense (Normal - Unique(Arachnoid)) - Spider Climb (Great - Unique(Arachnoid))

Lustrous Fur (Normal - Unique(Emperor)) - Jagged Scales (Normal - Unique(Tyrant))

Web Geyser (Normal - Unique(Arachnoid)) - Spider Silk (Great - Unique(Arachnoid))

Divines' Favored (Grand - Unique) - Frigid Presence (Great - Unique(Morke))

Temperature Shift (Normal - Unique(Pyrean)) Shed Magic (Normal - Unique(Pyrean))

Bonds of Gleipnr (Great - Unique(Forest King)) - Dragonblaze (Lesser - Unique(Ignaliz))

Shadow Creep (Great - Unique(Nightcrawler)) - Undead Vigor (Normal - Unique(Undead))

Undead Stamina (Normal - Unique(Undead)) - Consumptions Kiss (Normal - Unique(Nightcrawler))

Empowering Hunger (Normal - Unique(Vrykolakas)) - Perpetual Hunger (Normal - Unique(Vrykolakas))

Share Nutrients (Great - Unique(Barometz)) - Rotten Luck (Great - Unique(Draugr))

Size Change (Normal - Unique(Draugr)) - Ethereal Phase (Normal - Unique(Undead))

Friction Burn (Great - Unique(Flintermatch)) - Charge (Grand - Unique(Coppercoil Eel))

Discharge (Grand - Unique(Coppercoil Eel))

Crafting Skills:

Weapon Crafting (Apprentice) - Weapon Twisting (Apprentice)

Magic Tool Crafting (Adept) - Trapmaker (Novice)

Armor Crafting (Novice) - Armor Warping (Novice)

Spells:

Miracure (Lesser) - Teleport (Lesser)

Blind (Normal) - Dark Regalia (Lesser)

Light (Great) - Radiant Beam (Great)

Barrier (Normal) - Empower (Great)

Weaken (Normal) - Crumple Defenses (Normal)

Fireball (Great) - Red Hot Claw (Great)

Create: Water (Normal) - Water Beam (Great)

Control: Water (Normal) - Razor Wind (Lesser)

Iron Spike (Normal) - Mesmerize (Normal)

Withering (Great) - Curse (Great)

Command (Grand) - Lure (Normal)

After-Image (Great) - Double Vision (Normal)

Chime (Lesser) - Gravel Cannon (Lesser)

Memento Mori (Normal) - Lightning Cannon (Normal)

Earthen Stomp (Normal) - Slick Ice (Lesser)

Ice Lance (Normal) - Hail Cannon (Normal)

Glaciate (Normal) - Dark Shackles (Lesser)

Microburst (Normal) - Quicken (Lesser)

Refraction Beam (Lesser) - Soul Chaser (Normal)

Enshroud (Lesser) - Dark Nova (Lesser)

Death (Great) - True Raise (Normal)

Necrosis (Normal) - Gangrene (Normal)

Reapers Strike (Normal) - Rock Formation: Wall (Normal)

Static (Normal) - Lightningbolt (Normal)

Drowning Bubble (Normal) - Tidal Wave (Normal)

Ray of Heaven (Lesser) - Tornado (Lesser)

Hellfire (Lesser) - Pyrocumulus (Lesser)

Control: Plant (Lesser)

Social Titles:

Compassionate - Makeshift Midwife

Lifesaver - Innovator

Sole Survivor - Backstabber

Ruthless - Boss-Slayer

Heart-Eater - New Life

Tyrant - Emperor

Named Monarch - Lifemaker

Reckless - Unnerving

Dagger Breaker - Gatherer of Blessings

Man Hunter - Magic Maker

H-Hah- My head hurts from that. A thought strikes me though, can't I use Tier Tokens to upgrade my Crafting Skills?

*Affirmative. Tier Tokens can be used to raise the tier of all Skills, Unique Skills, Spells and Crafting Skills. It would take 20 Tier Tokens to raise all the Users Crafting Skills to Master. This Skill would also not underestimate the benefit of mastering Trapmaker, as it will undoubtedly confer benefits to the Users proficiency with Silk based Skills.*

Erg. T-That leaves me with one Token...

"We should use that one on Guard Share! We're next to impossible to kill, the same can't be said for our friends... If we could share our damage resistances with more targets at once, then it'd be a worry off our backs."

That's true! I've decided, then!

*User has spent all their Tier Tokens.*

*Skill: Guard Share (Normal - Unique(Goblin Shaman)) becomes Guard Share [Great - Unique(Goblin Shaman)) - Increase number of targets to ten*

*Social Title Earned: Master Crafter - User has reached Master Tier in one Crafting Skill, which no doubt took years of dedicated effort and many failures along the way. User is more easily able to teach other entities in any Mastered Crafting Skills, doubling the rate of Expertise acquisition for the target as long as they're under the Users tutelage.*

*Social Title Earned: Multi-Mastery - User has reached Master Tier in at least five Crafting Skills, an incredible feat. The User will receive a massive positive modifier to the disposition of any entity with at least one Crafting Skill of Apprentice Tier.*

*Social Title Earned: Blessed by Eitri - User has Mastered both Weapon Crafting and Armor Crafting. The Divine Envoy of Fire, Eitri is also the patron Saint of Smiths, and she blesses those that devote themselves fully to their craft. Gain a large positive modifier to the disposition of any entity that is devoted to the Divine of Fire, particularly smiths and Pyreans.*

*Social Title Earned: ????????????? - Error*

My breath catches in my throat as I read the last notification. A chill runs down my spine, as if what I just acquired was forbidden, something I wasn't supposed to get, but only got because someone forgot to disable it.

*Warning, User is currently in possession of a Taboo. Notifying System Admin...*

*Oh dear me~ That wasn't supposed to happen. Seems I plum forgot about that Social Title... Here, let me fix that...*

The voice sounds more like someone is stroking their finger along a wine glass, producing an uncanny hum. As uncomfortable as the sound is, I'm still gripped with the desire to hear it speak more.

*There~, isn't that better? I completely forgot it when we were issuing the Taboo, since it was the only Skills they made... Hm, now that I think about it, no wonder... If they thought up those Skills, no wonder they went on to ~that~ to themselves.*

I feel the nervousness lift as I realize that the Social Title was removed.

*Hmm~ Yes. I think I'll admit to it. I'm the All-Mother. I'm sure you'd be able to figure it out eventually, but I'll just come clean right now~ I'm not really allowed to talk to mortals, but I suppose since you're a special case, it'd be okay.*

*... I want to ask a favor of you. When you face the Malice, please try to help them. I know they've caused too much pain and suffering to deserve redemption, but... It could be said that their situation is my fault, but I can't do anything about it, not without inviting Void to this World. I won't be upset if you refuse, or can't do it, but if you're unable to save them, please tell them I forgive them.*

*I... I'm sorry for placing such a burden on you, but I fear you're the only one able to fix my mess. Hm~ Lyf is upset at me for speaking to you for so long~ so I'll be off. Byeee~*

With that, I suddenly realize I'm flattened onto the floor of the cavern as if some intense weight was pulling me down. So that's the power of the Voice of God!

*This Skill would like to issue a sincere apology to the User. It was unaware of the Taboo that would be acquired once Weapon Twisting and Armor Warping was Mastered. Luckily, the System Admin was able to solve the issue.*

I-It's okay. I got to 'meet' the All-Mother! And... She asked me to try to save the Malice...

"I feel that this might be something we're unable to do, at least currently."

Well... She said it was alright if we didn't. I just have to tell it that the All-Mother forgives them...

I yawn and stretch. Seems the fight with the Coppercoil Eel and all this upgrading made me incredibly tired. I curl up and go to sleep for the night, though my mind still swirls with the implications of what I learned today.