Damon's Ascension-Chapter 127: The Vangaurd Team 1

Damon decided to watch the others go through their powers up as he sat in a gentlemanly manner. His eyes trailed naturally to the one he was most interested in - for multiple reasons - Felicia Rothschild.

The young woman was currently glancing at her own character panel and making the necessary upgrades, paying both the cooldown penalty while also waiting for the time to elapse for each upgrade.

Seeing as it would take everyone a long time to spend all those units, Damon also began his own upgrades.

A full day passed in silence like this, with only the auras of the group rising rapidly as their power grew with each level up completed.

By the end, they were wholly different people from when they came here. As Damon was done long before them, Felicia took the lead to share her growth with the others.

"I spent 10,737,408,000 units of the Worldly Essence I got, leaving 1,762,592,000 units and gained 20 levels, going from level 8 to level 28. This is my current stat spread." She said, capturing everyone’s attention.

[Name: Felicia Rothschild || Race: Homo Sapien (Pure) || Faction: None]

[POW: 3 || MOB: 4 || FOR: 5 || MEN: 20 || PRO: 61]

[Abilities: Eternal Providence (EX), Empower (EX).]

[Eternal Providence - Stat Manipulation Type]

[Rank: EX || Stage: D]

[Effect: The owner of this ability has the power to gain three extra stat points in Providence whenever they ’level up’. This is automatic and requires no input from the owner, not any cost towards energy or essence. The growth of the Providence stat is not limited as long as the owner can keep ’leveling up’.]

[Empower - Energy Manipulation Type]

[Rank: EX || Stage: D]

[Effect: The owner of this ability has the power to replenish the energy of any living or non-living thing through direct touch. The replenished energy given is obtain from ambient energy, which is converted to Worldly Essence. The speed of conversion is dependent on the quantity and quality of ambient energies.]

The war room was momentarily quiet as Felicia’s stat panel hovered in the center of their won displays, bathing everyone in a pale green-blue light.

Nicholas Spencley whistled under his breath. "Twenty-nine in Providence? You’re basically the favorite daughter of the Universe Will at this point."

"Try asking her for a favor and see if she can make your next lottery win come true," Henry Jasek joked as he leaned back, casually tossing a protein bar into his mouth.

Then he paused as he realized something. "Actually, don’t. She’ll probably charge interest."

Kyle Greer was less amused. "If she sneezes wrong, she might accidentally bless a moon into orbit."

Bane McGregor cracked a faint smile — a rarity — his arms still folded. "You’re tougher than you look, Lady Rothschild."

Felicia adjusted her glasses calmly, her voice level. "Stat efficiency is relative. I still wouldn’t win in a brawl with any of you who spec’d into Power. But if the Universe wants someone to survive, I’m the safest bet."

Xela, who had been leaning back with her feet kicked up on a side table, suddenly sat forward with a grin. "My turn then! I may not have climbed as high as Big Sis Felicia, but I’ve got the most fun ability, hands down."

The silver-haired girl tapped her panel, and a soft ripple of golden energy shimmered as her stat screen flickered to life.

Damon glanced toward her, steepling his fingers. Though his expression was neutral, his interest was clearly piqued.

"Go on, let’s see what the divine spark of humanity looks like... when it grows." He said softly.

Xela beamed. "You asked for it~"

"I managed to get to level 26, just one level behind big sis Felicia! I was level 5 before, so I got 21 points and this is how I allocated them!" Xela explained cheerily.

[Name: Xela Stone || Race: Homo Sapien (Pure) || Faction: None]

[POW: 5 || MOB: 5 || FOR: 5 || MEN: 10 || PRO: 6]

[Abilities: Divine Life (EX).]

[Divine Life - Reality Manipulation Type]

[Grade: EX || Stage: D]

[Effect: The owner of this Ability has the power to grant a second life to any recently deceased who have activated their connection to the AR World of Essence. The owner can also bring anyone from any injured or ill state back into the prime instantly.

At the D-Stage, the owner can heal a maximum of 150 times and revive 3 persons a day.]

The war room’s ambient light flickered softly as Xela’s stat sheet settled into a clear display, floating in the center beside Felicia’s.

For a long moment, nobody said a word.

Then — naturally — Henry Jasek was the first to break the silence.

"Jesus Christ on a pogo stick, she’s a literal Phoenix girl now." He breathed, leaning forward and squinting at the panel like it might start breathing fire.

Nicholas rubbed his temples, his sharp mind already racing through implications. "Healing... reviving... three people a day?"

His voice was low, almost reverent. "That’s not just team insurance. That’s... that’s empire insurance."

Connor Baines gave a rare, appreciative smirk. "We could fight a hundred battles, lose half our team every time, and still be fine as long as she’s alive. She’s basically a one-woman resurrection shrine."

Protizen Echo crossed his arms but nodded deeply, his voice rumbling low. "Any force with a Divine Life user would be functionally immortal... until the enemy specifically prioritized her."

Bane McGregor grunted thoughtfully. "Which they will."

His massive arms flexed as he spoke, the air seeming heavier around him. "In any real war, she becomes target number one."

Kyle was silent, unusually so, before he muttered: "Better stick close to me, shortstack. If you die, I’m buying a ticket to the afterlife just to drag you back."

Xela grinned mischievously and made a mock-salute. "Aye aye, Captain Baka."

Henry barked a laugh while Nicholas merely sighed.

Even Felicia, ever composed, gave a rare small smile. "You’ll have to be protected as zealously as a World Tree seedling in the Chaos Realm."

Xela puffed her cheeks dramatically. "I’m not that fragile!"

"True, but fragility isn’t the point." Damon said quietly from his seat, voice cool and detached, but carrying clearly through the room.

The group turned their eyes to him, sensing the shift in atmosphere.

Damon leaned back slightly, one leg crossed over the other, his hands steepled lightly as his sharp brown eyes regarded Xela with almost clinical interest.

"You are no longer merely a combatant, Xela Stone. You have become a strategic resource." He said, voice neither warm nor cruel, just stating fact.

Damon smiled thinly. "One whose value is so absolute that her death could collapse an entire campaign, and whose survival could ensure the impossible becomes trivial."

Xela blinked, her earlier levity dimming somewhat at the weight of his words.

"Which means, every intelligent enemy will seek to either capture you... or erase you from the battlefield at all costs. Prepare yourself, not for battle, but for the uglier side of warfare — the side that values your corpse more than your struggle." Damon continued with a grave tone.

The room grew still.

Xela, to her credit, did not look afraid. She inhaled slowly, then smiled, a smaller and more serious smile.

"Got it, Boss." she said simply.

Bane gave a short, approving grunt while Connor just nodded faintly.

Nicholas murmured, "Better to hear the truth now... than find out when it’s too late."

Felicia’s gaze lingered on Xela for a beat longer - sharp and analytical - gauging how the younger girl was absorbing the pressure, before her features relaxed slightly.

"She’ll endure," Felicia said with quiet conviction.

Xela grinned, bouncing once on the balls of her feet. "Well, duh! What do you take me for? Some random NPC?"

Kyle cracked a rare smirk. "More like the endgame boss disguised as a side character."

The group chuckled softly, the mood lightening again, even as the knowledge settled deep into all of them.

Damon watched them all with a measured gaze, the faintest glimmer of cold satisfaction rising within his heart.

"I’ll go next then." Connor Baines offered.

The elegant shadowy man crossed his legs and spoke. "I went from level 6 to level 26, gaining 20 levels just like Miss Rothschild. It cost quite a bit, and I have not much leftover, but I can be put to use when we repair our issues."

[Name: Connor Baines || Race: Homo Sapien (Pure) || Faction: None]

[POW: 5 || MOB: 15 || FOR: 5 || MEN: 5 || PRO: 1]

[Abilities: Shadow World (SS).]

[Shadow World - Element Manipulation Type]

[Grade: SS || Stage: D]

[Effect: The owner of this Ability has the power to control all shadows within his sensory range, and can traverse through any shadow they can perceive. This also includes the shadows of third parties and non-living items.

At the D-Stage, the owner can only open 27 shadow portals at once.]

The room responded differently to Connor’s display.

Where Felicia and Xela’s upgrades inspired awe or excitement, Connor’s growth drew a colder, sharper tension, as if a silent blade had slid between them all without warning.

Nicholas’s brows lifted almost imperceptibly. "Fifteen in Mobility... and access to twenty-seven portals?"

His tone was cool, almost professional as he glanced over. "You’re a ghost now."

Bane McGregor’s lips quirked, the closest he ever came to humor. "Or a nightmare."

Kyle leaned back slowly, his forearms resting loosely on his thighs, his casual posture belying the sharpness in his eyes. "One wrong move... and you’ll have thirty knives behind you before you even realize you’re dead."

Connor’s only response was a slight, unreadable smile.

Protizen Echo crossed his arms again, the motion slow and deliberate. "His movement field alone could anchor a battlefield... or dismantle it."

Henry Jasek snorted, tossing another protein bar from hand to hand. "Anchor? You mean assassinate. Hell, he could wipe out an entire command unit before they even raise the alarm."

Xela whistled, giving an exaggerated thumbs-up. "Remind me not to prank you ever again."

Connor gave a faint chuckle, but there was no warmth behind it, just a low acknowledgment, almost clinical.

"That would be wise."

Felicia adjusted her glasses slightly, speaking without looking at him. "You’ve become the ghost hidden behind the frontline. Very Strategic, highly mobile, and efficiently lethal."

"Exactly as intended." Damon murmured from his seat, nodding to Connor.

He rose slightly from his relaxed posture, leaning an elbow onto the armrest as he regarded Connor with a cool gaze.

"Connor Baines... you are now our unseen hand, our very own Dark Crow." Damon’s voice was almost thoughtful.

Connor inclined his head slightly, not in submission, but in agreement.

There was no arrogance in his expression, no false modesty, only the silent acceptance of what he had become, what he always knew he would be.

Felicia folded her arms. "He will need targets marked in advance as his strength lies in surprise, not in attrition."

Nicholas nodded. "Agreed. Operational synchronization with Connor could turn battles into massacres before they properly begin."

Henry tapped his chin, half-serious. "Or he could kill the wrong guy and start a continent-wide war."

Connor gave him a sideways look, dry and unimpressed. "Not unless you give me your mouth as a target first."

A bit of amused laughter rippled faintly through the room, tension bleeding away.

Damon stayed relaxed in his seat, but the casual posture was deceptive.

"Don’t forget this. You’re not just getting stronger, you’re becoming problems other people can’t afford to ignore with each level you climb." He said, his voice clear yet detached.

His gaze moved over them, sharp and deliberate. "If you’re too slow to grow, you will likely die. If you’re sloppy in terms of caution, you will likely die. If you hesitate to do what is necessary, someone else dies instead." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Damon let that sink in for a second before adding, voice even flatter:

"There’s no mercy out there. Just winners and corpses."

The war room felt heavier after he spoke, and the recently found levity was significantly bleeding away.