Overpowered Wizard-Chapter B4 Ch55: Class Advancement
The achievements rained in, mostly celestial and mythical, with chunks of stats that registered in the thousands for Zarian. Like a tidal wave of power filling him beyond the brim, pushing him to new limits. He was used to the sensation by this point. With his aura density and energy so potent, letting out any of it unfiltered could doom dozens of lesser worlds. Probably more than that.
One eternal achievement stood out the most. Those weren’t often, so Zarian enjoyed taking his time with them once he’d gotten one. The growth from one eternal was worth praising the System for.
<Godmode Player (Eternal): Zarian, we’ve known each other for a decent chunk of time. I’ve nudged my own parameters so I can pray to higher powers that you and your Floridians will save the universe in the end somehow. After showing off a smidgen of Bianca’s godly potential, my confidence has risen, and the stars of the universe shine brighter for it. P.S. Thank you for not letting Bianca explode! That would’ve been terrible! +4500 Mysticism!>
Zarian hissed in pleasure, riding out his biggest stat growth lately, his aura recovery becoming even more insane than it was already. This wasn’t his first eternal achievement, and it wouldn’t be his last. The power-up was staggering, and he wasn’t earning them alone. All of his disciples had at least one eternal achievement now – Hannah and Bianca especially. He couldn’t wait to see what was next after eternal. Ruvaria didn’t even know!
“Got some nice goodies?” Gilbert asked, crouched over the campfire with a stick for poking.
“Another eternal for me. Check it out.” Zarian passed his notification into Gilbert’s logs. A bit of system magic and their discipleship connection made it trivial.
“I need another one of those and some hard buffs on Strength and Wonder,” Gilbert mumbled, poking around the campfire.
“Don’t we all? Well, not for Strength, that’s useless for me. But I’ll happily take more Wonder and Mysticism.” Zarian looked over from his comfy lounge chair to where the ladies played and complained at the muddy riverbank.
Zarian and Gilbert stayed mostly dry under the well-made ceiling of their misty jungle gazebo, fat raindrops drumming pleasingly on the roof. Time ran faster inside Zarian’s personal world retreat, and the outside world was less of a distraction unless something triggered Zarian’s sorcery alarms. They had plenty of time to get comfortable or get dunked into the mud by the terrible duo, Foodie and Naomi.
“They’re messing with fire by bullying Hannah,” Gilbert noted.
“At least Bianca’s trying to peel them off – and there she goes getting thrown halfway across the river.” Zarian shook his head. Everybody had their advantages, and nobody was going to leverage a physical advantage against Naomi and Foodie.
After five more minutes of horsing around in the mud and water, Zarian saved his disciples with his wizardly might, blasting the two brutes miles into the jungle. With a showy wave, he cleaned up Hannah, dried her, and even did her hair in intricate and visually appealing braids.
Bianca looked at Zarian expectantly, but he ignored her. She could make herself flawless with a mere wave of light.
Hannah gave him a weird look while twirling one of her braids with a finger.
Zarian shrugged. “Ruvaria taught me.”
“Good on her.” The brunette readjusted her spectacles. “She’s really helped calm the wild thing you were before.”
“Thirty years of peace and love would do that.”
“I think that’s what I’m looking forward to after we save the universe,” Gilbert grumbled.
“Peace and love?” Hannah asked.
“Years of it.”
Once the local bullies returned, everybody gathered together around the fire. Bianca had her long, inescapable arms around Hannah, who was glowering the whole time. She was the smallest of them, which made Zarian a little nervous of when she would enact her vengeance. Naomi and Foodie played around still with little slaps, pushing Naomi to lean all over Zarian as she invaded his seat. Gilbert waited with saintly patience as the tomfoolery hit peaks and lows until it finally became still.
“Let’s go,” Zarian said.
Hannah, the Runic Artificer, went first. Predictably, her options were plentiful. The best choices were at the top. She revealed three of them.
<Hannah’s Second Class Advancement Reselection.>
<Star Artificer (Celestial): This class comes with 1 celestial trait and 1 skill of your choice. It offers an additional +4 Wonder and +4 Mysticism per level.>
<World Builder (Celestial): This class comes with 2 mythical traits and 1 skill of your choice. It offers an additional +3 Willpower, +2 Wonder, and +2 Mysticism per level.>
<Junior Systemizer (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +8 Mysticism per level.>
“Huh, the stats and offers are higher than when I got celestial at Level 100,” Foodie explained.
Gilbert whistled, and Zarian leaned eagerly in Hannah’s direction while she was still trapped in the embrace of their local half-goddess. Everybody held their breath as Hannah weighed her decisions. For once, they discussed nothing unless she asked for it, and Zarian could see that Hannah wanted this decision to be hers.
“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” She sighed. “I know my choice.”
It’s the one that’ll get you closer to understanding and controlling more of the system, Zarian thought. Or maybe you’ll make your own once you’ve learned enough.
<Hannah Townhouse of Sainte-Darkrun: Junior Systemizer (Celestial) has been chosen!>
<Hannah’s Rank Judgment: Your actions have deemed you a champion for your level! You gain an additional +5 Free Points per level.>
Gilbert nearly spat out the drink he was nursing. “Were we fighting monsters with all of these extra points?”
“Isn’t it great we’ve been working on accruing achievements and hard stats?” Zarian answered before looking at Bianca expectantly. The Radiant Queen didn’t keep them waiting.
<Resplendent Seraph (Celestial): This class comes with 1 celestial trait and 1 skill of your choice. It offers an additional +2 Willpower, +4 Wonder, and +2 Mysticism per level.>
<Sainted Idol (Celestial): This class comes with 1 celestial trait and 1 skill of your choice. It offers an additional +8 Wonder per level.>
<Cosmic Blade (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +1 Willpower, +1 Strength, +1 Agility, +3 Wonder, +2 Mysticism per level.>
Hannah groaned. “Can you be anymore on the nose, System?”
Bianca bent forward, crushing little Hannah in her hold. “Before Gilbert calls me a false idol, I’ve modeled, so I’m not false. But I can be more than that.”
“I need to punch you after this,” Naomi grumbled. “I can barely get free good to work for me, and you’re just whatever about it and it works.”
Bianca winked before making her choice.
<Bianca Garcia of Sainte-Darkrun: Cosmic Blade (Celestial) has been chosen!>
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It was a more fitting choice for her. The stat spread would shore up her weaknesses. She could afford to do that with her outrageous power output, and becoming a Champion Ranker with an additional +5 Free Points would speed up her growth even further.
Rescue Ranger Gilbert had an immediate pick between only two celestial options.
<Christened Cavalry (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +2 Willpower, +1 Agility, +4 Wonder, +1 Mysticism per level.>
He was whooping like he won the lottery. The other option was called Revelation Reveler, so his immediate choice made the most sense to him.
Zarian was starting to wonder if he should drop the Zombie Jesus jokes. He wouldn’t know what to say if he actually met Christian God in the Ultraverse above.
After it was revealed that Gilbert was a Champion Ranker, Foodie skipped ahead of Naomi. She was too excited, then her excitement flattened.
“No eternal classes. I’m still celestial!” she grouched.
“Do you get more additional points?” Zarian asked.
“Yeah. I’m choosing this one.”
<Eldritch Chef (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +1 Willpower, +2 Strength, +4 Wonder, +1 Mysticism per level.>
She became a Champion Ranker, and Naomi’s turn was next. She was wide-eyed and sweaty. Everybody understood why she was nervous. Naomi had been fighting an uphill battle from the start, her class choices always one quality down. Until now.
“YESSSS!” she screamed, revealing her choice.
<Deviant Cultivator (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +4 Willpower, +2 Strength, +2 Agility per level.>
She became a Champion Ranker, and the group was practically ready to burst out in celebration. No matter the jealousy and envy. They all understood how important this was for Naomi and shared in her joy. But they didn’t take it overboard just yet.
Their full attention fell on Zarian.
“No eternal, okay? But … I like my options.” A sly smile crossed his face. “Thirty of them were celestial, so I cut it down to these six.”
<Warlock Emperor (Celestial): This class comes with 2 celestial traits. It offers an additional +5 Wonder and +3 Mysticism per level.>
<Fate Warper (Celestial): This class comes with 1 mythical trait, 2 legendary traits, and 1 skill of your choice. It offers an additional +1 Willpower, +6 Wonder, and +1 Mysticism per level.>
<World Eater (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +8 Wonder per level.>
<System Wizard (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +8 Mysticism per level.>
<Godslaying Mage (Celestial): This class comes with 1 celestial trait and 1 skill of your choice. It offers an additional +6 Wonder and +2 Mysticism per level.>
<Abyssal Magus (Celestial): This class comes with 1 eternal trait. It offers an additional +2 Willpower, +4 Wonder, +2 Mysticism per level.>
***
Across the Greater Realm, Para sat cross-legged while using one of her bigger forms on a world with floating mountains and purple seas that glittered. Looking like a powerful and divine goddess of evil seemed to motivate her disciple to fight harder and grow faster. Being about fifty feet tall did the trick, and it wasn’t hard; she had plenty of stored mass to shape herself with. Most of it was tucked away into her inner pocket dimension, which had expanded and evolved as one of her original traits.
When she examined her profile, she had a hard time believing anyone could stop her outside of Zarian and Ariana.
Bianca’s growth is bothering me still, Para realized, her anger and hunger kept at bay. She’d gotten better at it recently. The discipleship was helping, and in the end, once Slim was God Rank, he would be a perfect meal. It’s no different from raising farm animals.
Then why were Bianca’s words bugging her. Para refused to waver. She’d suffered the consequences of that already. The shame of losing to Bianca wouldn’t leave her, a good thing perhaps, making Para be more careful, hence the sphere of darkness and system sorcery she used to block off watchful observations. Aunt Ariana had helped her with that – the Dragoness had made herself more available as a patron to Para now.
She thinks I can do the one thing she cannot. Para could betray Zarian all the way – she could eat him without feeling revulsion. Ariana couldn’t. I’m the most dangerous Darkrun. I don’t have the instinct to spare the others from myself.
Did she really want to take advantage of that?
“Mistress, I’ve defeated the indigo golems! I’ve also captured opposing Champion Rankers!” Slim said after teleporting in front of her, already on his knees and bowing. He was Level 173 now, which should’ve been impressive.
He was still falling behind compared to Zarian and Foodie’s disciples. It was frustrating, but Para didn’t take that out on Slim.
“Good. I’m pleased with your efforts.”
“But, mistress, I’m too slow!” Slim grouched before reining himself in and quickly apologizing for his unseemly outburst.
That only made him more endearing to Para. She liked his anger and frustration. His hunger to grow. It mirrored how she felt deep down in her burning core of insanity.
Bending down, she placed her giant claw under his chin and gently tipped his face up. “Once we’re Champion Rankers, we’ll make up for the difference. It’ll be safe to fuse more of my power with yours.”
Slim licked his dry lips, eyes shaking. He had something desperate to say. He always did, and it was predictable. It still pleased Para.
Smiling, Para looked toward the captives. “Offerings?”
He switched tracks. “Yes, milady. I even gave them a warning! They attacked me first.”
Para stood at her tall height and strode over, her disciple scampering in her long shadow.
The suns pulsated pleasantly above, juiced with an enriching aura. The shimmering indigo waters splashed far below, with purple clouds bursting and flashing with crackling lightning. The floating mountains swayed, and the smell of blood and abyssal magic floated on the winds as Para walked onto a field of monster corpses.
In the middle, bound by cruel tears in reality, a dozen morsels waited on their knees. The tears in reality, which served as binds, were made and maintained by Slim’s powers. Para couldn’t wait to see what he’d become on the way to God Rank. Until then, a new lesson was in order.
“My dear, it’s a trap.” Para chuckled. “Interesting. You’ve made it hard to sense you outside of the five physical senses. But I’ve just eaten one angel, so what makes you think you can stay concealed.”
Slim was yelling an apology when the angels ripped away their human disguises and broke out of their abyssal restraints. They lashed out with power that would destroy the Mega World. More importantly, they funneled all of their wrath onto one person – Slim.
Para was nearly too late. Nearly. She sacrificed most of her mass and pulled Slim away to another world with a tiny strand of herself. Slim was gasping as Para rebuilt herself as a doll-sized version sitting on his shoulder.
They were now on a magitek world fused with a jungle.
Hannah would’ve loved this. The thought came fast and left a moody impression on Para that lingered even as she scanned the area for dangers.
“Mistress?” the racoon boy called, gawking at the doll-sized goddess on his shoulder.
“They’re busy with the bigger body I left behind. It’s empty except for the magic and powers I copied into it. Makes for a good test.”
“A test for what?”
Para formed dozens of versions of herself. Each filled with traits and skills and spells, or sophisticated copies of such. Each one could spread a parasitic takeover of all life and beyond. And they were all her, even if some were clueless flesh bots while others had full working minds, though she mentally thought of the one sitting on Slim’s shoulder as more her than the other hers, even if a few of the extra bodies were giant in proportions.
Slim gasped like a fish as he looked up at all the Paras.
“If you have time to stare, you have time to grind,” she sang jovially. “Aura, refilled. Body, rejuvenated. Mind, recovered.”
It helped that Para could weave her parasite threads with his body without consuming him and/or alternating him into mere flesh suit that was more her than him. As long as she held back, he would remain himself, and his profile wouldn’t be lost.
Experimentation and advice from Aunt Ariana had improved Para’s application of powers by leaps and bounds. The future growth to God Rank promised to make her even more monstrous, variable in all ways, and closer to impossible to defeat fully.
Why does Bianca still make me nervous?
Para looked hard into Slim’s face as the young man dashed through the new world to look for new prey. Her mood dimmed.
“You know your death is assured once we reach God Land, right? I’m going to eat you for a big power-up. This is your destiny.” She pressed her little hand on his cheek. “Are you sure you have nothing to say against that?”
“As long as you promise to eat the dragons of my universe and free my people, then my everything is yours. Here and now, or in the future.” Slim smiled. “It’s a worthy thing. You take me seriously, and you’ll fulfill my promise.”
“I’m evil. We’re not under contract. I can just be lying.”
Slim shook his head. “Our discipleship wouldn’t work otherwise, mistress. And I think you care enough to follow through. And you’ll be so powerful, it wouldn’t be hard. I just pray you’ll spare my people, that’s all. But I trust you will. You’re earnest.”
Earnest? Me? Para hadn’t felt earnest since the separation and freedom. There was a small part of her that wanted to go back. To apologize. To be with them again. To be a part of a host instead of free. By any means. It’s too late for that. And it would deny the monster that I’m meant to be.
Slim found some transforming creatures to fight and grow his mettle again. Para stayed on his shoulder the whole time while keeping track of her latest experiment. There was only one other Para out now after dismissing the others, and that Para had killed three angels before being overcome by the others.
It wasn’t that strong anyway. No point in giving her enemies an accurate bead on how far Para could really go. She refocused on hiding herself and Slim while casting false leads on the nearest worlds – making them go dark, all information impenetrable, devoured.
The plan would continue. Zarian and his group would grow. And once they reached God Land, they would be penned into the slaughter from both sides.
Or I can steal all of Ariana’s advice and help them at the last minute, Para thought, her body pulsating with uncertainty. Is this me losing my way? Or is this a consequence of calming down more?
Wasn’t it too late to go back after all she’d done? Was she not going to consume Slim and power-up?
The anger and hunger didn’t burn as furiously as usual. The more she watched over her disciple, the more she felt this weird and cozy feeling she hadn’t felt in a while. Satisfaction. Adoration. Joy beyond savagery.
Am I losing my … evilness?
