BlaiseCorvin
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Past Life Hero 2, ch 51
🕑 Added 2024-02-17 04:40:55 +0000 UTCMax threw himself into work. It turned out that with a combination of a lack of a social life, extreme focus, and no real need to sleep much, he could get an astonishing amount of work done. He even managed to make several breakthroughs. The most notable was with the summoning circles and Lavinia's machine. The actual time it had taken him to improve the machine surprised even him. Of everything he was working on, that effort had taken the least amount of time. He started bragging to Lavinia to tease her, but she had not been amused.
"Yes, but we've been working on these same sorts of problems now for months," she said. "And I had years of work done ahead of time too." She huffed.
Max had stopped talking and just nodded. He didn't want to actually hurt his friend's feelings or pride.
The other efforts he put in started showing fruit too. He made great strides in training his physical body and brushing up on martial arts. Since he had completely processed his contract and attunement with the remnant Tom, now he would be able to contract with a new spirit if he could find one. That in mind, he tried contacting spirits using Lavinia's improved circle a couple of times. Unfortunately, although Max met a few more spirits using this method, none of them were mutually compatible for him.
Trying to find a new spirit to contact with hadn’t worked out, but finally, at the end of just a few short but productive days, he finally managed to achieve a three-star mana body.
That morning, he took a mana pill as part of his routine. It allowed him to more efficiently process mana while simultaneously activating his pill cauldron. With this combination, not a single solitary scrap of mana was wasted. As Max had gotten closer to a three-star mana body, his ability to refine mana had improved. The final step before completion of his new level of mana body was the hardest, requiring an effort of will that was surprisingly difficult, despite the fact he had already done it before.
While he struggled, it brought back memories of his first life and how achingly difficult it had been to achieve every stage of his first mana body. Most adventurers and mid-tier soldiers on Albion, if they were lucky enough to be taught as Blade Sorcerers, had two-star mana bodies. Reaching a three-star mana body was the very first step to becoming an elite.
When Max crossed the boundary into three stars, his entire body shuddered. A change almost instantly took place, moving from his heart outwards. With building momentum, a wave of force billowed from where he sat on the forest floor, kicking up leaves and small branches out to over fifteen feet around him. Birds overhead took flight in fear, cawing angrily. In moments, the forest was incredibly quiet.
Max maintained his meditative state as the last of the changes trickled through his body. Pain came and went, growing with the last wave of change and advancement, but he welcomed it. This was finally a stage where he felt like he could truly punch above his weight class, even without his other Paths. As a three star mana body Blade Sorcerer, Max would be able to use much more of his hard-won experience from his first life. More importantly, now he had the durability to make choices and fight in different ways that otherwise would have been suicide.
Max slowly stood from his seated position. He lifted his head, letting rays of light falling through the leaves illuminate patches of his skin. This felt…right. He savored the moment, letting himself be cradled in the aura of what was effectively the closest he could get to nature in the Quartet.
When he suddenly felt a presence, he snapped his head down and opened his eyes, but didn't see anything at first. Then, he noticed the outline of a wolf. This was the first time that a spirit had appeared to him this way since he'd met Lavinia. More surprising, Max was fairly sure that what he was looking at was actually a remnant spirit. The feeling he had now was the same as before with Tom…but it also felt somehow deeper. The wolf's mouth opened, and a tongue lolled out in greeting, or perhaps amusement.
“Hello, Max,” said the wolf. The spirit’s speech was clear, with a strange accent.
“You know my name?”
"Yes," said the remnant. "And I was present when you made a contract with Tom. I can also tell that you respected his decision and the assimilation has gone perfectly." The wolf shook his head. "You truly are a talented Summoner."
"Thank you. Isn't it dangerous for you to be out in the open talking to me like this?"
"Normally, yes," replied the wolf. He sat on his haunches. "However, I am here with my friend. You should show yourself, small onel."
A moment later, a new spirit appeared, with a little stem-like body and flower petals around her face. She smiled at Max, waved a leafy hand, and then disappeared again.
"Even after all this time, she is still shy," said the wolf.
"Okay, so I take it that her being here is protecting you. What's your name?" asked Max.
"I am Dura. And, like Tom, I have been waiting a long time for the right Summoner to finally arrive. But I am older than Tom, much older. I can remember days when the Summoner Academy was full of both spirits and remnant spirits. Summoner professors used to tour the universe just to locate spirits and bring them back to the academy in order to help new students grow. Of course, they would also find their own, but if they met a spirit that was not right for them, they would tell the spirit about this place and lead them here. Things have changed; matters have gotten progressively worse. What you might not understand is that the universe turning its back on Summoners has also been bad for spirits. The truth is that only more powerful spirits generally can survive as much as a few centuries without forming a contract with a summoner. Only the most powerful spirits can last as long as I have."
"How old are you?" asked Max.
"I do not know the answer to that question. But, while now I may have the aura of a low-level spirit remnant, at one time, I was much greater than I am now.”
"That is…impressive. So why are you talking to me out in the open like this?"
"It is a matter of timing. I felt it was possible you were going to break through to the next level of power that you have been trying to achieve. Since I have been watching, I was aware when you did so. Prior to this, I felt like you and I would not be able to form a contract. Now you can. You are qualified. And I will not mince words. I am desperate."
"Desperate?"
"Yes. My long-time friend is growing weaker, and I will not accept it if she turns into a remnant spirit like myself, much less discorporates. So as she covers this meeting to provide us some modicum of privacy, I wish to share a proposal with you."
"I'm listening," said Max.
The thought occurred to him that he had just reached his three-star mana body and hadn't even had time yet to check all the changes. Of course, he'd already done this before, so he already knew what to expect and should already be able to handle his improved power. But this truly was a strange meeting so far.
The plant spirit appeared again and waved shyly. This time she didn't disappear.
"I am very old, Max," said the wolf. "So let me explain this to you in a way you will understand, and hopefully, my knowledge and wisdom will help save us both time. Because another reason I am desperate is that ever since Tom made a contract with you, a sensor or divination must have been tripped. The invisible searchers in the quartet, those that seek remnants, are active again. Even hiding in the hidden dark places is not enough anymore. If not for the help of my friend here, I fear that I would have already been caught, and I refuse to let them have me. I have resisted a contract for a very long time, even while technically open to finding the right contractor, but events have pushed me into a corner, so to speak."
"I see," said Max. "So what is your proposal?" His voice carried the gravity appropriate for the situation. This ancient spirit was discussing the end of his life, after all.
Dura said, "First, I come to offer you a contract as a package deal. This means that I will contract with you, but I also expect you to contract my friend, Trill. There is the possibility of dissonance or a lack of compatibility, but I believe that a Summoner of your current power and talent can overcome that even if we have some lack of compatibility. Well, as long as we are willing."
"But there's two of you," said Max. "I can only do one at a time."
"That is not entirely true," the great wolf shook his head. "Truly talented Summoners can contract with more than one spirit at a time, and it was not unheard of for this to happen in the past if the two spirits were bonded together in some fashion. Additionally, I am a remnant spirit, which means that if we form a contract, I will be merging with you in a different way than my friend would."
"I think I understand," said Max. "The only other problem is I have a contract already with a warlord level spirit, and he has required me to never form a contract with any spirit lower than war-war level."
"Spirit, come out!" barked Dura. “Speak and let your Summoner witness.”
Suddenly, Siliron was standing among the trees, tall and foreboding as always. But this time, he seemed to have a new aura–one of respect. Maybe even reverence. “This one offers greetings.”
"Well met, spirit." replied the wolf. "I wish to discuss an exception to your contract terms."
"For one such as you," said Siliran, "surely you jest. Despite your current state, you still have some aspects that mark you as the rank you once were."
"I am but a shadow of my former self," said the wolf. "However, I did not call you out on my behalf. After all, any spirit would agree with you. Rather, I speak on behalf of another.” The plan spirit shied away but didn’t disappear.
"What is this one?" asked Siliron.
“I will respond to this question in the nature of spirits,” said Dura. The wolf lowered his head, staring up at the dark spirit with, Max thought, a hint of challenge. Saliron didn't move at all for a minute, while the two spirits spoke in what Max presumed was their own special spirit language.
Finally, Saliron spoke out loud again. “I will accept this with some payment from the Summoner.”
“What are your terms?” aske Dura. The wolf glanced apologetically at Max.
“More bones!”
“So for more bones, you will accept me contracting with a lower level spirit like Dura’s friend?” asked Max. He wanted to be absolutely sure.
“Yes. Bargain accepted.”
Max hurriedly said. "I accept."
Siliran hadn't even specified how many bones he was expecting. But Max wouldn't skimp out. Bones were cheap, if not free after all. He'd give the strange spirit an extra bucket in the dark room every week.
Saliron chuckled, bowed to Dura, and disappeared.
"Well, it looks like that's settled," said Max. "What can you two do anyway?"
"As a remnant spirit, my powers have all but faded. All that's left is a memory of an idea," said the shaggy wolf. "Mine, such as it is, is the concept of disruption."
"Disruption?"
“Just so. Similar to how Tom embodied ‘memory.’”
The wolf turned and flicked his ears at the little plant spirit. "And my friend specializes in hiding. She is adept at two things. One is to create a bubble that will dull the senses of anyone looking from the outside in. Whoever or whatever is inside the bubble will also appear very uninteresting to them. Her other power is to block the sight of other spirits, which is the ability she is employing right now."
"I see," said Max. "So, if you both want to bond with me, what are your terms?"
"Mine is simple," said the wolf. "If I form a contract with you, I expect you, within two years of time relative to yourself, to have doubled your power. If you have not, you risk forfeiture of your life."
"I accept," said Max.
The wolf's tongue rolled out of his mouth again. "I figured you would, given the amount of time it has taken you to reach the level you are at now already. As for my associate, she just wants to see more of the universe and not be mistreated."
"That shouldn't be too difficult," said Max. He smiled reassuringly at the flower-faced spirit, and she covered her face with her fern-like fingers.
Suddenly, the system screen popped up and asked Max if he was forming a contract with Dura and with the plant spirit.
Do you wish to contract with these two spirits? Please note that “Dura” is currently classified as a remnant spirit.
Max pressed yes, then the screens asked him to name his new soldier level spirit.
Please name your spirit.
Max didn't think about it too deeply, since he was picking up from Dura that time was short. "Trill," he decided, and inputted the name into the system.
"Ah," the wolf chuckled. "Trill, I see you have a new name."
The flower spirit looked curious and happy at the same time. The next moment Dura said, "I accept our end for both of us."
A second later, Max felt like he got hit with two large cold buckets of ice. He fell to one knee and actually lost his balance. With his vision turned sideways, he felt led to take action, walking forward and took one of Trill's insubstantial little hands in both of his own.
Dura’s eyes widened in surprise as he turned his inhuman head to Max. A screen popped up in Max's vision again as Dura silently sent,
I think you did well, Summoner.
This was definitely a different experience for Max than his other spirit contracts, and he briefly wondered why this time he'd seen windows. He didn’t remember as many when he'd formed a contract with Siliran.
Max elbowed his way over to a tree and sat with his back against a trunk. Then he pulled his knees up and assumed a comfortable position to meditate. Even though he had just reached a three star mana body, pure strength was not going to help with assimilating his new spirits. He could definitely feel the strain of handling two at once, but luckily, whatever Dura had been long ago, as of now he was only about as difficult for Max to assimilate as a standard soldier spirit, just like Trill.
When Max got a little bit deeper into the process, Dura in particular, but even Trill, seemed to have some difficult, guarded layers to access. He muttered, "This is nuts."
Comments
Blaise Corvin
Good catch. I might have to go back to the most recently edited version and make sure that got fixed.
Aelthai
Dura introduced the plant spirit as Trill, then Max renamed her to Trill and Dura said the has a new name. Did a mention of her name slip in too early?
Daf High-Voltage
Tftc!
