But he was not down yet. A burst of raw magical energy erupted from him, throwing Galbrecht back. Anyone weaker than the paladin would have been killed, or at least maimed by the blast of force, despite how this strange place weakened it.

  In the moment of respite that gained him, Tolston conjured a wall of magical energy between him and his adversaries, giving himself a little room to breathe. Liam was quickly onto it, drawing and firing his arrows, but the wall easily absorbed the kinetic force.

  "Galbrecht, get back up. We can’t let him catch his breath.!" Liam called out, nocking another arrow.

  "I'm on it," Galbrecht replied, pushing himself to his feet and charging at the wall.

  Divine Sunder

  For just a second, the power of Galbrecht’s goddess was felt and the wall of force split, forcing Tolston to retreat even further. Serius disappeared before reappearing behind Tolston.

  “You can’t run, not after what you’ve done. You betrayed the Empire, and I’m here to make sure you pay for that.”

  “I’ve only ever served this Empire, for longer than any of you.”

  “Then why are you denying the Emperor’s orders? He told you to leave Nico alone. He told you that the boy is important.”

  “Don’t you mean the dragon?” Tolston asked in a defiant tone.

  Serius eyes popped wide. “You know? How is that possible? His identity is protected by a goddess. The Emperor figured out because he has whatever legendary means he possesses that seem to even be able to discern things hidden by the gods.”

  “Bah, this Emperor is leading us to our doom. I serve the Empire, not one man.”

  Serius shook his head. “You know better than that. The Emperor embodies the Empire. He is the head and we are his hands, making his will manifest. I’ve never known anyone who cared about this Empire or its people as much as he does.”

  “He is an upstart Emperor, anyway,” Tolston snarled. “How can he be the true ruler when his predecessor is still around, still ready to protect this Empire and raise humanity to the greatness we deserve?”

  Serius hissed. “I didn’t want to believe it when Galbrecht told us about the necromancy. Let me guess, some ancient lich showed up claiming to be the former Emperor, and you sold him your soul.”

  “Hardly. I respect a strong leader, and he will protect our people from the monster incursions and the lesser races who plague our borders. Once upon a time, elves would never have dared to attack our coastal cities, but our current Emperor is weak.”

  Serius pulled out a crystal from his robe and held it up. He looked at Liam and Galbrecht. “That’s it. I got his confession. This should be enough. Finish this.”

  “Finish this… finish this?! You think I’m so easy to take down? This time it won’t be an illusion.” Tolston snarled as he raised his hands to the sky. A powerful magical spell built up around him and Liam recognized it. The Archmage was calling for a storm of meteors which would obliterate most anything in a large area around him.

  Liam prepared his most powerful attack, channeling as much elemental energy into his Piercing Arrow as he could while running forward to fire it from point blank range. One of the benefits of working with Serius for so long was that he knew how the man thought. He hadn’t teleported in that close without a reason.

  The summoned monster was still moving toward Tolston, whose eyes bulged as he raced to finish his incantation. Galbrecht dropped his sword to his side. Crying out, he activated his newest ability.

  Divine Stillness

  It was a lesser version of the power he had used when possessed, but it was still incredibly powerful. Still, Tolston was no chump mage. He was hit by the spell and for just a second all of his defenses stopped; he somehow managed to hold onto his spell without losing it, but this divine power held it in abeyance for a second so that he couldn’t finish it.

  That was when Serius struck.

  Hostile Juxtaposition

  In an instant, Tolston and Galbrecht traded places. It never would have been possible if all the Archmage’s defenses were still up, but now it was nothing. Liam saw what was happening and grinned. He’d guessed right.

  Liam launched the charged attack and watched as the arrow blasted straight into Tolston’s head. Without his defenses and shocked by the sudden change in position, the Archmage couldn’t respond as the arrow pierced through bone to lodge directly into his brain. His body glowed with a deep crimson light as he was consumed from the inside out. Even his vast number of HP was no match for an attack which had bypassed all his defenses.

  Tolston crumpled over with a wisp of smoke curling out of his nose. It was the end of an era, in many ways. Liam didn’t know what it meant for sure, but he turned towards an exhausted Serius who was busy canceling his summons before that monstrosity could turn on them. He only hoped the wizard had enough juice left to get them home.

  Stats 7.0

  Nicosandumas

  Race: Blue Dragon

  Maturity: Mature Adult (70% to Elder)

  DKP: 107

  Length: 76’6” Weight: 44,785 lbs.

  Base Speed: 18 mph on land/198 mph in the air

  1st Evolution: Mind

  Aura of Perception

  Enhanced Magic Sight

  1 Spell Slot per Tier

  1 to Maximum Spell Tier

  -50% to Spell Elevation for Bonded Rider

  25% effect to spells when cast in human form

  Astral Projection: 5

  2nd Evolution Path Available: Paths Available e- Claw, Breath, Scale, Wing, Prismatic

  Nascent link to oblivion***

  Stats:

  STR: 723

  AGI: 140

  DUR: 505

  MIND: 328

  HP: 5,005

  Regen Rate: 505 HP/day (642 with Cami)

  Immunities:

  Electricity

  Poison

  Sleep

  Paralysis

  Resistances:

  Magic- 50%

  Physical Damage: 25%

  Acid: 50%

  Combat Proficiency:

  Armor Rating: 49

  ATK: 36

  DMG: 4-32+40 (claws), 5-50+60 (bite), 4-24+40 (wings), 4-32+60 (tail)

  Critical Strike: 29%

  Racial Abilities:

  Breath Weapon 1: Spark storm 175’ x 20’ (20-120 damage)

  2: Lightning Bolt 400’ x 7’ (40-320 damage)

  3. Forked Lighting 300’ x 4’ (30-240 damage)

  4: Draconic Roar

  5: Acid Breath 300’ x 6’ (30-240 damage)

  6: Poison Breath- cloud 200’ x 200’ (10 dmg per second + toxicity)

  Sprint 2: reach a maximum land speed of 160 mph for up to 30 seconds or maximum air speed up to 820 mph for 1 minute.*

  Sound Imitation/Ventriloquism*

  Dragon Fear 7

  Project Image (24% real)*

  Shape Change 8*

  Dragon Warrior Form*

  Fabricate 1*

  Soul Space 1*

  Manipulate Sand 2*

  Glass Manipulation 1*

  Concentration 3*

  Meditate 3*

  Dracomorphic Breath

  Shocking Aura 5

  Draconic Roar

  Anti-Magic Pulse*

  Astral Projection 5*

  *- These abilities can be used in either form

  Companion Bond: Camille Westfork Bond Level: 10

  Benefits:

  Empathic Connection

  Bond Telepathy 20 miles

  DKP bonus: +25% (minimum +1)

  Gain 10% Age Rank Growth per level gained by companion

  Elevate Spell: Use 1 DKP to raise a spell’s effective Tier

  Titles:

  Morfi Apprentice- +5% Str in other forms, -50% transformation time

  Making Do – double the area which can be affected by Fabricate if you are only making repairs.

  Balance Warden - maintain the balance created by the Pact. One-time bonus of +50 stat points.

  Mana: 3280 points

  Regen: 32 MP/minute. (45 with Cami)

  Innate Magic Spells:

  1st Tier: 3/7

  Force Darts

  Identification

  Tripping Vines

  2nd Tier: 3/7

  Lesser Regeneration - Miseria

  Adoration of the Fearful

  Burning Sphere

  3rd Tier: 4/7

  Weave the Wind

  Call the Charge

  Life’s Blood – Miseria

  Thunder Clap

  4th Tier: 2/5

  Airy Water- Temulara

  Wizard’s Eye

  5th Tier: 1/4

  Malcor’s Wings of Darkness

  6th Tier: 0/3

  Mage Spells:

  Tier 1- none

  Pending Quests:

  How the Proud Have Fallen - Discover the reason for the decrease in dragon numbers and why dragon riders no longer exist as in the past.

  Progress: 42% complete

  Updates:

  How did domesticated dragons come to be?

  History of the collar?

  Discover the identity of Draconis

  Invitation to the Isle of Bones

  HUMAN FORM

  Nico

  Apparent Race: Human

  Apparent Age: 18

  Class: Dragon Disciple / Sorcerer*

  Level: 14th/9th

  XP: 4010/25,000

  DKP: 107

  Height: 6’5” Weight: 229 lbs.

  Base Speed: 14 mph

  STR: 289 (217 from draconic form)

  AGI: 140

  DUR: 505

  MIND: 328

  HP: 5,005

  Regen Rate: 505 HP/day (642 with Cami)

  Armor Rating: 23

  Immunities: Electricity, Sleep, Paralysis

  Resistances: Magic- 30%, Physical Damage: 4% (bracer)

  ATK: 27

  DMG: 2-12+ 30 (punch), 3-18+44 (kick)

  Critical Strike: 9%

  Monk Fighting Style: Dragon

  Monk Abilities:

  Rapid Movement

  Flurry Attack 1

  Stunning Fist 1

  Meditation 1

  Stillness

  Pure Mind-Pure Body

  Make Me Whole

  Evasion

  My Body Poisons the World

  Gear:

  Bracers of Natural Power (Armor +3, Dur: +5, +3 Unarmed dmg, +5 Agi, +25% of armor/senses, 3 stored attacks)

  Choker of Freedom (Armor +5, Magic Resistance, Scrying Protection)

  Belt of the Mountain (Str: +10, Dur: +40, Stone Skin 1/day, Weight of the Mountain 1/day)

  Riches:

  2424 gold

  1 grand diamond

  Miscellaneous Items:

  Transformative evolutionary goo

  *Sorcerer class has not actually been realized

  ______________

  Name: Camille Westfork

  Race: Human- draconic bloodline

  Age: 16.7

  Class: Dragon Knight / Elemental Valkyrie

  Level: 8th/8th

  Crafting Class: Soul Forger

  DKP: 15

  XP: 928/12000, 1000/12000

  Height: 5’4” Weight: 116 lbs.

  Base Speed: 6 mph

  Elemental Valkyrie Class Abilities:

  Vigil for the Dying

  Dragon Bond: Nicosandumas (Level 10)

  Benefits:

  Empathic Connection

  Bonded Telepathy - 20 miles

  Bloodline: Claws

  Spell Share

  4% stats

  Elevate Spell - Your bonded companion may use DKP to increase the Tier of a spell you are casting.

  Mentor: Modessa Lonerat

  Stats:

  STR: 118 (29 from Nico)

  AGI: 73 (6 from Nico)

  DUR: 137 (20 from Nico)

  MIND: 137 (13 from Nico)

  Unassigned: 35

  HP: 1370

  Regen Rate: 137 HP/day (642 with Nico)

  Armor Rating: 16

  Resistance: All Damage- 6

  ATK: 10

  DMG: 3-6 (non-lethal)

  Critical Strike: 2%

  Skills:

  Tough Hide 2

  Meditation 3

  Concentration: 2

  Rapid Cast

  Spell Swap

  True Rider

  Spear Mastery 4

  Shield Mastery 4

  Dagger Mastery 2

  Dragon Jousting 1

  Mana: 1370

  Mana Regeneration: 13 per minute (45 with Nico)

  DK Spells:

  Tier 1 (5/6)

  Offensive: Force Darts

  Offensive: Elemental Orb

  Defensive: Shadow Cloak

  Defensive: Tripping Vines

  Utility: Identify

  Tier 2 (5/6)

  Offensive: Burning Sphere

  Offensive: Venom of Silence

  Defensive: Shadow Haze

  Utility: Elemental Imbuement

  Utility: See Flaw

  Tier 3 (4/5)

  Offensive: Call the Charge

  Offensive: Thunderclap

  Offensive: Fireball

  Utility: Shadow Clone

  Tier 4: (3/3)

  Defensive: Elemental Armor

  Utility: Summon Lesser Elemental

  Utility: Shadow Step

  Elemental Valkyrie Spells:

  Tier 1 (5/6)

  Tier 2 (5/6)

  Tier 3 (4/5)

  Tier 4: (3/3)

  Gear: Masterwork Cold Steel Spear

  Buckler of the Bonded

  Leather Armor

  Unnamed Soul Spear

  Chapter 18 - Mixed Feelings

  I had managed to return to my human form and watched as Lisella, Galbrecht, and Cassandra worked on Modessa. The paladin was clearly heart broken and strangely; I understood why better than before.

  Something had come over me with my evolution, but seemed to be fading. I didn’t like feeling all those things. The only thing I could equate it to was the way those humans had acted at Cami’s birthday party, when they’d drank too much of the foul smelling liquid. Cami had explained that they got drunk on alcohol.

  Lisella tried to offer more context when I had asked her about it, but she only confused me even more. She’d said that sometimes people became more themselves when they were intoxicated, while others lost their inhibitions. To me, being intoxicated had only made the humans seem more annoying. Maybe that was the core nature of all humanity, and they displayed it more readily after they’d dropped their guard.

  Thinking about that made me decide that whatever had happened to me definitely was not similar to being intoxicated. I did not have any of these feelings for humans buried inside of me. I could only tolerate a handful of them, and only really cared about Cami… well, maybe Edgar, too.. ugh… No! I couldn’t start thinking like that.

  What was important was that these side-effects soon faded. I’d need to remain on my guard, though, as I explored just what I could do with my mind evolution. I definitely felt more in touch with the magic around me, and my perception had clearly expanded.

  I turned my focus outward, now, to the people working on Modessa. This was an even greater source of conflict within me. Modessa deserved to die for the way she had treated me, yet her actions had also benefitted me. I had slowly been coming around to the idea of letting her live and satisfying myself by tormenting her with endless pranks. I didn’t like this feeling of uncertainty.

  Lisella hit the ground with her small hands balled up in fists. “I don’t know why the goddess won’t answer me. Something is keeping my healing from working. Every spell I cast works, but then just as soon the wounds close, they slowly begin to rot from the inside out.”

  Galbrecht had tears running down his face. “So much time wasted… It can’t end like this. If only I hadn’t used my Miracle breaking into the tower.”

  Cassandra pulled her head up from where she was swishing something around in a small vial. “I thought you two were supposed to be professional adventurers?”

  Lisella snapped, “What’s that got to do with anything? You think because we’ve seen so much death that we should be handling this better?”

  Cassandra scoffed. “No. I know she matters to both of you, and I’ve lost teammates before. No amount of experience with death enables you to handle it well. In fact, those who claim they can, do so only because they’ve surrendered a part of their humanity. What I meant is that adventurers are inherently problem solvers. We need to put our heads together.”

  Galbrecht growled, “I’ve tried every purifying magic I possess. Serius tried dispelling any magical effect on her, Lisella has blessed and healed her, and all while you sit there playing with your glass vials.”

  The look that Cassandra gave the paladin caused him to shrink back with an expression of shame on his face. “I apologize master alchemist. I know you are doing what you can.”