Deacon sat on the bed thinking about what Old Pai just told him. While Zageracks kept Old Pai safe in the face of a hostile dragon who must have broken his word somehow, did that also mean that he was considered worthy? Something was still off he thought. Deacon had already figured out he was essentially Zageracks get out of jail free card. It has been a couple of months but that may just the blink of an eye for a long-lived species like him. On the other hand his slate basically told him he was going to die. Talking to Armand might make him feel better but time was up. He needed to bite the bullet and get this done now. Deacon grabbed the mirror on the side table and looked into his own eyes.

“Zageracks, I’ve come to bargain.” Deacon said with an internal chuckle.

“What bargain? I have freely offered this, and you spit in my face with your delaying tactics. You going to sit there and whine some more about how I’m going to “screw” you?” Zageracks replied with a harrumph.

“Ok brass tacks, what is it you are going to do?” Deacon asked.

“I’ve already told you. It is a race change ritual. It’s not base elemental magic so it won’t be wasted on you. It’s mix of Astral and Planner arcane energy that will convert the rest of your body to what is known as Half Spectral Dragon Blood. It is a long extinct race of humanoids.” Zageracks explained.

“Yea, but what is going to happen to me? I can run my hand over my skin right now and feel my flesh. Am I just going to appear different in a flash? Will my body just burn up? Also how painful is it going to be?” Deacon asked.

“If I had breath, I would be letting out an enormous sigh. Since you are not from this world, I will ignore your insulting way of constantly questioning a beneficial ritual from an ancient dragon as ignorance. In fact, I will tell you that performing this rite will take what little energy I have remaining. I will be silent for a long time afterwards as I siphon soul energy from you slowly to rebuild what is left of me. There is more danger to me than there is to you. I will warn you that you cannot consume all of your soul energy after this or Bael will come to claim me. I implore you to level your breathing technique to make it more efficient. The more energy you take in the faster I will heal.” Zageracks admitted.

“So you are in danger too. At least I’m not alone.” Deacon said.

“I’m sure that will come as no small comfort while I replace your heart.” Zageracks replied.

“My heart?” Deacon asked.

“Yes, the last step before we can complete the ritual is to replace your heart after you give willing consent. It’s always the same with these rituals, the sentient needs to consent or it becomes a dark ritual with an outcome that favors the fallen gods.” Zageracks explained.

“So back to my pain question. How painful will this be?” Deacon asked.

“Not as painful as exploding and weakening the boundaries to the planes of Nether, Infernal, Perpetual, and The Black in the middle of this city. Currently the four hells represented by your halos. It is strange, usually creatures touched by those planes have horns or a tail. Something more demonic, but I guess since you are a champion the energy converts to holy. Something to ask your god about. Also the new body will be more compatible with Nether energy. With enough practice you should be able to change your soul matrix to channel the other energies as well. This will make you a more versatile monk. I’d say one the world has never seen. The only concern I have is your patron. There is an elevated level of chance involved in this and that is where his power lies.” Zageracks said.

“Chimera? I’m sure he wouldn’t intentionally mess with this ritual. I mean, I’m his champion, right?” Deacon asked out loud.

“You still don’t get it; it will just be another gods… I am prevented from telling you. That is the first time they have stopped me. Curious. Check your messages, the sooner we start the sooner this will be finished.” Zageracks said impatiently. Deacon did just that.

Notice: The dragon Zageracks wishes to use a race change ritual on you. This will change your body in unknown and profound ways. Do you accept? Yes/No

Deacon chose yes and the room lit up with overlapping circles and triangles of arcane energy. His heart started racing and he got the feeling from Zageracks that he needed to calm down. He felt more than witnessed his brown skin taking on a more dull green sheen on the outer edges. The palms of his hands which seamlessly blended from brown to a light tan now blended from brown to a more light jade green hue. The tips of his fingers grew thick green claws that slid back into his fingers. Then his heart stopped beating and he lost consciousness.

There was a banging on Deacons door that woke him. He sat up huffing and puffing. Pushing off the ground to get to his feet, Deacon lost his balance and fell right through the floor. His scream, shrill and high pitched, as he slammed into the floor of the room below his. For the first time in awhile his bag wasn’t on his hip either. Completely bewildered, he got back up to his feet and furiously read through his slate notifications.

Notice: Your race has been changed successfully. You are now part of the lost tribe of Half Spectral Dragon Bloods…Rule Breaker has activated; your race is now Spectral Dragon Blood. There has only ever been one full Spectral Dragon Blood humanoid which all half breeds have been sired from. This is a Legendary Race.

Boon Upgraded- Second Tier Form has been upgraded to a Third Tier Form.

Deacon dropped to his knees with his hands over his ears as the ground shook around him and the room swayed. The only thing he could imagine that could be this loud is the Moon crashing into Earth, but they were both in a ball bit at a god child’s birthday party. Dark green fluid started to stream from his ears. Once it stopped, he continued reading.

You have done the impossible. There was no way for you to become this race on the Mortal Plane. This is a tier three form that will grow more powerful as you transcend from the Mortal Plane to the Earthbound and higher. This race comes with the following bonuses; Plus ten attribute points to Strength, Wisdom, and Speed, Racial Ability unlocked Limited Intangibility.

Attribute

Score

Intelligence

16

Strength

45

Speed

47

Agility

18

Wisdom

25

Luck

300

Limited Intangibility- You can pass through solid objects. Half level rounded down in feet. No cost.

Ectocardiograph- Your blood has been replaced with Ectoplasm. This grants a bonus one hundred fifty percent increase to soul energy capacity. New soul energy maximum limit of three hundred percent.

New Skill Unlocked: Soul Matrix Manipulation- You can now manipulate your personal soul matrix. This is the ability to fuel your aura with different arcane energies. At early levels of this skill the changes can be triggered with code phrases. Be warned fracturing your matrix will require a priest to stabilize. You will be stuck with whatever energy you last chose until healed.

You have three unspent attribute points to distribute.

Deacon wavered on his knees. He noticed that the racial bonuses to his attributes have put him in a greater unbalanced position. He’d have to spend his three level up points wisely. He figured he’d dump two points into agility bringing it up to twenty and one point in intelligence.

Attribute

Score

Intelligence

17

Strength

45

Speed

47

Agility

20

Wisdom

25

Luck

300

With that done he stood up. Looking at his arms and legs he was still mostly brown skinned with a green sheen on the edges of his skin. His hands however were very changed. With a much more noticeable green color on his palms and the fact that he now had retractable talons in his fingers, he wondered how much damage they would add to his hand-to-hand attacks. He noticed that the fates gave him a silly name for the change to his cardiovascular system but a pretty straight forward name for his race ability. Maybe its because the race already existed, they didn’t have to create it? Something else to ask about later. He did appreciate that his clothes came with him when he went through the floor. Thank heaven for small favors. Then he remembered someone was knocking on his door. He walked forward to the very similar door to his apartment and tried the knob. The door didn’t budge. Must be a magic lock like his. Time for his new trick. Deacon took a deep breath and pushed on the door with his hand. It didn’t go through the door. He pushed harder and noticed his fingers sinking into the wood, but it painfully left marks on the door. Not knowing what he was doing wrong he went to try again and stopped. He took another deep breath, but this time focused on his breathing technique. Pulling his aura tight around him he stepped forward while focusing passing right through the door.