Magik Online

Chapter 41: Gathering Shadows

Sitting in his dark room, his cloned arm still itching terribly, Shroud did some reading before bed.

had proved an invaluable source of information, which he kept devouring with rapt attention.

So only Sol could reasonably summon angels. The chapter detailed the strict hierarchies angels followed, from the four archangels to minor guardian angels, then explored the question of fiends. The book noted that demons were paradoxically easy to bind, as they followed the same passions as mortals, and so happily allied with mortals, at least for a time; but since they respected power above all, only forceful sorcerers could keep them in check long-term. Shroud would study them, if only to better fight the Maleking – whom the holo-book lacked any information on, much to his surprise – but he would remain wary not to summon one without extra care. Mur’s very existence may prove that one could work with fiends, they remained dangerous.

The chapter on elementals disappointed him. While he finally identified the creature the Brown conspiracy had summoned, a hellfire elemental called the Candlemaker, elementals were limited by their core element; glass elementals, those he had re

SHROUD: I checked the conditions for level 3. We need to conquer a Lair after reaching level 2.

YOSHIKAGE: which means Lairs are meant to challenge level 2 teams. Half our team is one quest away from it.

SHROUD: Stitch struggles behind however.

DOC: this is fine. I am more interested in exploring the limits of my current options than adding new ones. I am especially curious about my Lock’s applications.

Shroud shuddered, remembering that moment Stitch downloaded his Lock, Inseminate.

The good doctor had ended up spitting up and adopting an entire litter, much to everyone’s revulsion. Well, Mur had asked if he could eat one, and Stitch had sounded vaguely willing to indulge him.

DOC: I am also fascinated by those ‘Hacks.’ This is the first time I hear of such a feat in my long, long unlife.

ACE: far as I know, you need two spells of the same Dot level but from different colors to trigger one. Hacks can be used as components for stronger Hacks.

SHROUD: how do you know that?

YOSHIKAGE: there’s an entire subforum about Hacks on Magik’s message boards.

SHROUD: seriously? Where?

YOSHIKAGE: Voice of Incubus, Field Reports, Hack Recipes discussions. Players post formulas there. I posted Killer Sense and Hands of Slaughter there.

SHARPSHOOT: I tried trademarking my Thunderling there, but someone beat me to it. Bugger.

THE MUR!: Mur will do some shopping.

SHROUD: me too. I didn’t know we had a forum about them.

YOSHIKAGE: there’s more Players organizing on Earth, and they are very active. You should check them out. Even if we are light-years away.

SHROUD: soon, Kari. Soon.

ACE: about that, what is your plan?

SOL: yes. Now we are assembled we can plan beyond living to fight another day.

SHROUD: even if I’m wary of the Shadow Queen and even more of her allies, the UB intel she is collecting could prove tremendously useful. We know that network is one of the key infrastructures allowing Concordia to hold Earth, uncovering its secrets could help tip the balance in our favor. Also, the Crimson Epoch. If Ace’s info are correct, multiple powers hostile to Concordia will gather then. Including the Maleking.

YOSHIKAGE: I did some research. Revel’s territory borders Earth’s star cluster.

ACE: and Lugh is his grandson.

SHROUD: … The Maleking works with Mammon. Manah is involved with both, and so happens to steal Lugh’s soul. Whose grandfather is a tyrant whose territory borders our home.

SOL: I have a terrible feeling about this setup.

SHROUD: me too. I’m starting to see why the Sponsors want the Epoch closely supervised.

ACE: so we play the long game handsome?

SHROUD: for now. We accumulate resources, we secure our lair, those information, and the Sponsors’ favor, then we return to Earth with an action plan to take it back. But we start by securing the Lair first. We need our own headquarter.

YOSHIKAGE: and the truth.

SHROUD: yes. I’m tired of being in the dark.

THE MUR!: Mur wants to see who those Sponsors are too.

DOC: do Lair contain quests? This would solve our various problems neatly.

ACE: I can ask the Administrator.

YOSHIKAGE: It would be safer. The saboteur is still after us.

SHROUD: Yes. It can counter our Locks over a wide radius, and at inopportune times. We have to take its interference into account if we do quests on the Market, while we could level up without risking an ambush inside the lair.

SOL: sorcerers able to counter our spells have been our most dangerous opposition so far. Is there a way to defend ourselves against them?

THE MUR!: The Mur way. We see them, we smash’em before they see us. We are seven and we have the power. Those stupid enough to get in our way get what they deserve.

SOL: I would feel safer with a certain defense.

DOC: I can look into it. While my knowledge of sorcery is purely theoretical, I could foray into magitech.

SHROUD: I can introduce you to Wormson. He is an expert in Sorcery, from our discussions.

DOC: with pleasure.

SHROUD: then we will prepare a few days before tackling the Lair. This may be the time to purchase and practice new spells, especially Hacks.

ACE: about that, does that group has rules? Do we coordinate about which spells we purchase and specialize in, or we remain free about our choices?

YOSHIKAGE: everyone has their own style. Maggie-san buys in bulk, Mur hoards them, Sol invests warily…

DOC: Hacks being created by individual innovations, having everyone explore their options in their own way seems more productive than planned purchases.

SHROUD: probably, as long as we train together and share information.

ACE: roger that.

Shroud closed the message board, returning to. The crystal offered a list of individual Outsiders to summon, and he had to bite the bullet on that one, test Call. Maybe start with a bestial creature, which Beastmaster could leash?

Ultimately, while he made the decision to purchase Call in time, he decided to put it off until they had secured an headquarter of their own first. Summoning creatures seemed dangerous, and he felt endangered by Manah watching his recruitment process. For all he knew she could summon them back under her control.

He considered what she told him, about embracing the power of his color and use it the way it was meant to. Gathering information, soldiers, and resources before striking.

He had a few ideas.

Players' StatsAccountDragonslayers Guild ModeratorNameShroudNetworkProgressHolderMathias MartelBroadcastUnlockedLevel2 (Adept)Grant SpellUnlockedAffinityBlueSynergizeUnlockedLockNetworkLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins15Overlock(0/1)Stored Saves4Save?Load?Spell CompendiumNameDotAffinityPremium Thoughts1BlueBabel1BluePurge1GreenBeastmaster2BlueHeal2GreenGlass Field2Orange/BlueLightbringer2Red/OrangeMad World2Blue/GreenAccountDragonslayers GuildNameYoshikageOversoulProgressHolderKari MatsumotoRememberUnlockedLevel2 (Adept)Channel SoulUnlockedAffinityYellowLocked Feature(1/3)LockOversoulLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins12Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNameDotAffinityBabel1BlueWallcraw1GreenPeak1GreenNeedless1GreenWard1YellowDoom Sense1YellowSpiritsight1YellowHands of Slaughter3Yellow/Violet/RedAccountDragonslayers GuildNameSharpshootSpellgunProgressHolderMaggie Jesse PowellsCrimson BulletUnlockedLevel1 (Novice)Locked Feature(0/1)AffinityRedLocked Feature(0/3)LockSpellgunLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins13Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNameDotAffinityStockmight1RedBabel1BlueThunderling2Green/RedBullseye2Violet/BlueAccountDragonslayers GuildNameSolAegisProgressHolderSolomon NicholaeSpell MartyrUnlockedLevel1 (Novice)Locked Feature(0/1)AffinityWhiteLocked Feature(0/3)LockAegisLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins16Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNameDotAffinityPeak1GreenNeedless1GreenBabel1BlueQuasar1RedReinforce1OrangeEncode1WhiteAccountDragonslayers GuildNameThe Mur!AdamantProgressHolderMurmur the ImpHarderUnlockedLevel1 (Novice)Locked Feature(0/1)AffinityOrangeLocked Feature(0/3)LockAdamantLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins23Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNameDotAffinityReinforce1OrangeDiceweight1OrangePitborn2Green/RedAccountDragonslayers GuildNameDocInseminateProgressHolderNathaniel StitchSpawnUnlockedLevel1 (Novice)Locked Feature(0/1)AffinityGreenLocked Feature(0/3)LockInseminateLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins15Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNameDotAffinityNoneNoneNoneAccountDragonslayers GuildNameAceCastlingProgressHolderSaga FreysonSummonedUnlockedLevel2 (Adept)Piercing BoundaryUnlockedAffinityVioletLocked Feature(2/3)LockCastlingLocked Feature(0/7)Spellcoins4Overlock(0/1)Spell CompendiumNameDotAffinitySwitch1VioletTimesense1VioletUrbanstep1VioletSeamancer1OrangeAccel1WhiteDoorway2VioletSplash2Orange/VioletRainmaker2Orange/Violet

Spell of the Day

Bulletstrike

Affinity: Violet

Dot: 2

Price: 6-10

Activation: Active, Thought.

The caster partially de-synchronize their own timeline from the material universe. As such, the caster perceives time and acts slightly faster than the rest of the universe for the spell’s duration (one minute per Account Level for Magik Online users).