Chapter 349

Empyrean Starbringer (II)

Cain could stare at the figure for only a moment before he felt abrupt pressure feed directly into his soul. Yet, just as he was about to heave out of discomfort, another form of energy, one from within himself and one that he wasn’t even aware of, surged back in defiance and defended him. At that point, the masked figure floating midair opened its eyes; they were like pearls infused with stars, harbingers of something far greater than even the colors of life itself.

The world began to settle from the misted dust, turning back into the plain, white sheet with a canvas of stars above. The figure continued to stare and Cain remained staring back, silent still. No windows popped up, no notifications, no nothing. But soon, he knew, there would be.

“Firmament Bows,” the figure broke the silence. However, the voice itself was... eerily robotic, distorted, uneven. Entirely inhuman. “And welcomes the Inheritor.”

“...”

“I am Aegis, Empyrean Guardian of the Hallowed Halls. I am merely a remnant of my Masters, and am merely a thoughtless guide. Above me resides the Hall, one of many, that hold the weight of the Starbringers. Though the One may have created the Cosmos, my Masters have decorated it with stars and galaxies. Each burning, bright beacon you are seeing is a stamp from the Starbringers, their lasting record of eternity.

“As the Inheritor, you are expected to add to the canvas before your passing.

“Iannular Condition recognized: as the Witness, you must naturally understand the cosmic cycle. Things cannot be undone--just changed. There is a finite energy for us all, and we make of it what we can. Of my Masters, only one had ever been a Witness, and he left the future Inheritor with this message. Please wait for a moment.”

“...” while Cain silently began processing the words and piecing together their meaning, a projection of sorts shot out from the top of the figure’s head, spreading out into a hologram-like representation. Within, an absolutely ordinary-looking man with virtually no distinguishable features appeared, donning a simple, well-kept beard and short, black hair. He had a faint smile on his face and yet was somehow expressionless still. Withing the gaze, however, Cain recognized something he hadn’t seen in anyone else--visceral want.

“Tick-tock,” the man said. “Tick-tock. My time has come, it seems. I lie; I am merely courageous enough to end it all, at last. I know it must not be what you wish to hear... but it does not get better. For me it didn’t, at least. Then again, I was always a bit of a mutt. Perhaps, for you, it will be different. And yes, it is possible. Not immediately, though, but in time it is. Even with all my time, I am witless, I’m afraid... and could not do much with our Path. I have merely been a Divine, and not much else. Forgive me. I know you might have expected a sagacious advice from your Senior... but I have none. It is a selfish choice of mine... for at least one to know how I felt on this day. I am free, at last. There’s not a greater feeling. Good luck, Starbringer. May the cosmos sing your hymns everafter.”

The projection vanished immediately after, turning the world silent yet again. Cain frowned and mulled over the words, but couldn’t do so for long since the figure spoke up with its robotic voice yet again.

“The Ritual of Inheritance shall commence shortly. Are you prepared?”

“... uh, yes, yes,” Cain nodded, shaking his head as though to dispel the stray thoughts. “I’m ready.”

“Step forward, then,” the figure said as a beacon of light shone a tiny pond of it on the ground in front of Cain, starlight-colored. “May the Stars bless you, Inheritor.”

Cain stepped forward without hesitation and let the light shower him; a mere moment later, he felt the Mana within him surge before it exploded directly out of him, his entire reserves emptying and coalescing into millions upon millions of tiny motes that remained floating around him. The usually milky-white-colored motes began to shift in their hue, bit by bit, millions of colors bleeding through. Just then, notifications began popping up.

[Empyrean Starbringer]

[Starbringer’s Mana attains a property of Stars; you may use your Mana to coalesce a star’s core]

[New Title Obtained: Starsurgance]

[Starsurgance: cosmos Empowers you, granting you 100% bonus to your Mana reserves and 300% bonus to your Mana Regeneration Rate]

[New Title Obtained: Empyrean]

[Empyrean: cosmos Empowers you, granting you elements of Starlight (SSS), Cosmic Dust (SSS), and Worematter (SSS), also converting your Fire (A) to Starfire (A)]

[New Title Obtained: Starbringer]

[Starbringer: every spell created with the element of Starlight is directly empowered. Empowered versions are selected at random from the pool of choices. Using a spell with the element of Starlight increases the damage of other spells with the element of Starlight by 3% for 15 seconds, stacking 10 times, each stack refreshing the duration.]

[Second Awakening Begins]

[Baseline Improvements:

+30% to Health

+20% to Mana

+18% to Intellect and Wisdom

+10% to Vitality

+40% to Mana Regeneration Rate

+18% baseline Defenses]

[Path Awakening Begins]

[Spellweaving Elementalist -- Empyrean Starbringer]

[All previous bonuses remain]

[You have gained 3 new abilities and 1 Core Aeon]

[Starburst: displace yourself forward, traveling a great distance. 1,000,000 Mana required for 1 Light Year of distance]

[Empyrean Might: activate to become immune to any sub-Divine level crowd control for 30s. Requires 400,000 Mana infused into the spell to recharge. Has inherent 5 minutes cooldown]

[Aeonian Grasp: you many sacrifice a fetal star core to recover 100% of your Mana. No inherent cooldown]

[You have unlocked the concept of Core Aeons]

[Core Aeons are States unique to particularly powerful Paths that are afforded only to the select few even among the Paths]

[They are recognizable staples of a Path, visually and might-wise, and are the ultimate product of all those who came before. You may aid in improving your own, too]

[You have unlocked 1/3 Core Aeons of the Empyrean Starbringer Path]

[Unlocked: Elysian Avatar]

[Elysian Avatar -- Quasi-Divine]

[Requirements: Empyrean Starbringer, 3 Mature Star Cores]

[Cooldown: 18 Cycles. Refreshed upon consuming a Major Star or slaying a Divine]

[Elysian Avatar]

[Bask in the Glory of the Cosmos, immediately freeing yourself of any and all binds locking you down, restoring all your Health, Mana, and possible special resources, and removing yourself from the corporeal dimension for 4 seconds]

[You turn into the Elysian Avatar for 60 Seconds with the power of cosmos at your disposal]

[Create and Ruin at will]

[Amalgamate and Sunder]

[...]

[Due to the nature of the Second Awakening, certain changes need to be delayed]

[The process of starlight-infusing your Mana needs to be completed first]

[Current Progress: 6.3%]

[Estimated Completion Time: 324 hours]

[Further delays will be implemented due to... ‘Unknown’]

[Congratulations, Cain Gregory!

You have become the Inheritor of the Empyrean Starbringer Path]

[May your Visage shine upon the cosmos as the stars you embody!]

Without an ounce of a warning, Cain was suddenly booted out of the strange world and back on the top of the volcano overlooking the world, ever-confused. That was quite a lot to swallow and process, even for an Awakening, since there seemed to have been several different stages of it. And, most importantly, it seemed as though he wasn’t even done yet. Shaking his head, he decided to pull up his status window to read through the changes he did undergo.

//Name: Cain Gregory Age: 43 Race: Human(?)

Class: Empyrean Starbringer

Level: 118

Strength: 120 Vitality: 123 Agility: 180 Stamina: 108

Intelligence: 1788 Wisdom: 1030 Health: 1662 Mana: 79937

Dignity: 0(165)

Traits: Labourer(C), Quick-witted(A+), Tenacious(B+), Leadership(SSS-), Analysis(A), Awareness(B), Keen(B-), Charismatic(S+), Decisive(B+), Heroic(C+), Primordial(?), D%#!!$(?????), Starsurger(SSS)

Skills: Spell Creation(?), Dragon’s Forbearance (SSS+), Elysian Avatar (Quasi-Divine)

Passive: Creation(SSS), Starfire(A), Body(A), Mind(A), Space(A), Starlight(SSS), Ruin--Desolation(B+), Sand(A), Cosmic Dust(SSS), Worematter(SSS)

Created Skills: Coiling Storm(B), Infernal Starlight(B+), Void Annihilation(C), Searing Mind(D+), Ascendance(C-), Mindbend(C+), Flamewoven(B), Shattered Dimensions(B-), Corporeal Chains(B), Unbending Storm(C+), Cosmic Mirrors(D-)...

Talents: Perception(Mythic), Hero(quasi-Divine), Primordial(?), D%#!!$(???)...

Items: Feathered Belt(C-), Everluminiscent Pearl(S-), Ring of Promise(?), Dimensional Talisman(?), Evermoon, the Crown of Foreborn Syra the Effervescent(Spirit), Core of Desolation(Heroic), Regal Cape(?), Regal Blade(?), Regal Robe(?), Ring of Dissolution(Heroic)...

Titles: The First Elementalist, Bandit Slayer, Direwolf Slayer, Monster Slayer, Maverick, Spell Creator, The Herald, The One Who Survived Death, Reborn Elementalist, Void Slayer, Slayer of the Nightmares, Blade Mountain Conqueror, The One Who Impressed Spirits, The Master, Usher of the Kingdom, Grandmaster Elementalist, Throne Chaser, Herald of Divinity, Will Divine, Elemental Child, Mankind’s Beacon, The One, Slayer of the Kings, Spellweaver, Beset for Ascension, Master of Elemental Sundering, The One Who Forged a Path, Ahead of the Pack, Asundered, The One Who Lived Everything, Primordial, Starsurgance, Starbringer, Empyrean...

Achievements: 88//

Sucking in a cold breath, he was shocked--both ways, really. Though the numbers were awe-inspiring, in his head... he imagined more. But it was strange--he did not have 80,000 Mana at any point in his last life. In fact, he suspected few, if any, actually hit that point. And still... he expected more, somehow.

Then again, there was also the fact that he’d only partly underwent the Awakening, it seemed. It was entirely possible, he mused, his wild expectations may yet be met in the future. The question was how far that future was? At minimum 324 hours, which was still 324 hours too many.