Monsoon117
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342 What Bumps in the Night
🕑 Added 2022-02-11 20:51:33 +0000 UTCScratching my hair, I closed my eyes, trying to swim through my memories. Once more, behemoths interrupted my train of thought. I killed them, keeping a fit of explosive anger in check. Laying back on the side of a sand dune, I made a few sand angels in the dust. It gave me a nostalgic feeling as if I were a child in the snow again. In my ears, a low, droning voice ebbed in,
"And fate has decided we meet again, I see. It's good to see you again."
I looked up, and Shalahora gazed back down at me. My eyes widened as he tilted his shadowy face at me,
"You...appear troubled."
Chapter Begin
I flopped myself up off the sand before stabilizing in the air. Coughing into one hand, I murmured, "Just, you know, enjoying the scenery."
Shalahora peered at one of the glowing dunes in the distance. His voice droned in, "It is beautiful here."
A silent moment passed, something I'd been hoping for but never received since arriving on this damn planet. Pulling my time magic back, I blinked, "What's going on? Why aren't the behemoths attacking us?"
Sounds returned to normal, including Shalahora's voice. The Sovereign tilted his head at me, his bright blue eyes piercing, "They cannot see nor sense us. I have camouflaged us both."
I let out a sigh, "What I wouldn't have given to have something like that since coming here."
Shalahora let out a gentle laugh, "It is easy to cherish what we were never given, but it is difficult to appreciate what we have."
I smiled back, "Good point. I'll keep it in mind." I scratched my cheek, "So, how have things been?"
Shalahora peered away from the ossuary and towards the shady side of the planet, "I've done well, so I've gained enough resources that I'm now comfortable with my position in this lottery. However, I know only a little of what the other rulers are doing now. My information is outdated. In particular, Valgus and his faction are a mystery I've yet to unravel."
I nodded, "Same here. I've been trying to establish myself around this area."
Shalahora gazed around, seeing only sand dunes in every direction. He looked down before putting a hand on my shoulder, umbral energy dolloping up off of him. He spoke with a gentle tone,
"You...You have done well to be alive, given where we are. I understand that asking for help is difficult. It is to accept your weakness and make it known. I want you to know that the first step onto the path of strength involves acknowledgment. Only then-"
I furrowed my brow, "What's with the condolence?"
Shalahora lowered his hand, "Hm, ahem...I've gazed around at your established territory and...Uhm."
A sandworm burst from the ground, destroying a dune. My sand angels remained in the red grains below, and Shalahora gestured to them, "It seems as though collecting resources has been difficult. While I am not overtly wealthy, I can share a portion of my spoils if only to prevent your guild from being dismantled by Schema."
I shook my head, "Woah, I'm totally fine on resources."
Shalahora leaned back, "Oh...Then why do you appear so troubled?"
I grabbed the back of my head, "It's that obvious?"
Shalahora peered away and pressed his hand to his cheek as if scratching it, "Of course not...It was merely my skill of observance."
The guy walked up to me while I made sand angels in the middle of the desert by myself. My struggle couldn't have been more obvious, but he still spared my feelings. I burst out laughing, "I get it. I really do." I peered towards the ossuary,
"Honestly, it's been rough. Really rough."
Shalahora stared through me while lowering his hands, "Your species must require social contact. This isolation must weigh on you heavily. I am different, as my kind was made to be alone."
My eyes widened, "Oh man, that's convenient. While it sucks to admit, being alone has taken its toll on me. You already saw."
Shalahora put a fist to his chest, "I am here now, so you drift alone no longer."
I gave him a nod and a smile, "Hell yeah."
Shalahora's eyes turned to slits, and he zoned in on a golem flying towards us. The umbral shade lifted his dark claws, "Something approaches us. Be wary."
I lifted a hand, "It's not an enemy."
The scouting golem stopped before me, unable to see Shalahora but knowing I was there. My soldier bowed, "It's good to see you, creator."
I raised a brow, "Report?"
"Shades have been spotted nearby. They come from an unknown source. We haven't attacked them yet, as they've been non-hostile."
I tilted a hand to Shalahora, and the Sovereign appeared. The shady ruler's eyes widened, "You serve Daniel?" He turned to me, "I thought you were alone?"
The scout answered for me, "We are his flesh and blood. He gave us life, and now we live to continue his purpose. Our creator feels alone because we act like one, though we despise our inability to deplete our maker's loneliness."
Shalahora blinked, "We? There are more of your kind?"
The scout omened, "We are legion. We are many."
Shalahora gave the scout a nod, "Then I am as well." The writhing shadow lifted a massive arm, and several shades appeared. Shalahora murmured,
"These are my incarnations. They exist outside of me but retain a semblance of my mind. They are like my children, so please, be kind to them. They, in turn, will be kind to you."
The scout turned to me, waiting for an answer. I pointed a thumb at Shalahora while I said, "You heard the man. Play nice."
The scout bowed to the shades, "It is good to meet you, children of Shalahora. We shall work together with kindness in the future, and may our legions prosper."
Shalahora bowed to the golem, "You are very polite, and so, we shall ally with ease. Know that my children will offer what you've offered them in turn, and may our alliance prosper." Shalahora stood up, "Daniel. Would you mind if I see the others?"
I tapped my chin, thinking. After a moment, I shrugged, "Eh, sure. Why not." I pointed to the ossuary, "It's this way."
We darted towards the multi-tiered hell cake that was the ossuary. Keeping a leisurely pace, we pierced the heated air and waves of gravitation. No behemoths attacked us, something that I appreciated about Shalahora's presence already. After a while, the edge of the ossuary appeared.
From there, Shalahora stopped, so I did as well. I raised my brow, "What's with the holdup?"
He narrowed his eyes, "That's the shining hell. Why are we going there?"
I peered back and forth, "Uh...Because that's where the golems are?"
Shalahora brandished his claws, "You mean to tell me you drifted towards that place on purpose? Forgive my skepticism, but I find that hard to believe."
"That's where all the good stuff is, and I wanted some privacy."
Shalahora widened one eye and narrowed another as if raising a brow, "What resources lie in that ruin, aside from death and the shining shards?"
I smiled, "Hah, it's good you don't know since I'll have plenty to show you."
We reached the cusp of the ossuary before I pointed at the line where shining bone met gleaming sand, "So I'll be honest, the shining hell isn't a bad name by any means, but I call it the ossuary because of how it's made."
Shalahora landed on the living bones, placing a palm on them, "Ossuary: where the bones of the dead are laid to rest. Why name this place that?"
I raised a finger, "We'll talk where it's safe. Come on."
We darted through the ossuary, the kelp layers getting denser over time. Each layer compounded on the other, the writhing movements of behemoths masked by the kelp layers above. As the light of Leviathan dimmed to disparate rays, the primevals came out to play. They warred in the distance, and Shalahora kept away from them. With his expert cloaking ability, he evaded their presence.
But I didn't because I never even imagined using a cloaking ability of any kind. Several primevals ended up disrupting our voyage but not for long. My scouts communicated with the network of cities, and the vast legion I amassed arrived in a swarm. A hundred core golems raced overhead. They tore through the kelp forest, destroying expanses of kelp. A dozen dogpiled each behemoth, goring them apart in seconds.
More war golems piled onto the primevals, our tactics like frenzied sharks. Shalahora gawked at the metal soldiers, the vast armada becoming a sight to behold. They shattered the horizon that led to my cities, and that path gave us a view of Leviathan as we passed over the shining bones below.
I dashed ahead of Shalahora, peering back at him, "You coming?"
Shalahora watched a primeval facing thirty golems, its body rent into slithers. Shalahora kept his gaze on that sight as we passed,
"I...Of course. Of course."
We reached one of my border cities, the vast dome reaching up to the lowest layer of algae. The blue core shield rotated over the city, an impassable expanse of energy. The roads connecting the city to the others crackled with mana. Two guardsmen golems flew up to greet us, the bulky soldiers eyeing Shalahora with suspicion.
I pointed at my umbral friend, "We're good. He's my ally."
The guardsmen bowed, "Yes, creator."
I never programmed the whole bowing thing into them. It was something they began by themselves. Either way, a rupture in the city's barrier split open before we flew into the protective bulwark. Elegant buildings rose up to the top of the blue bubble, the constructors building this place from the ground up.
Those skyscrapers fitted into the dome efficiently, and the different kinds of stones slotted onto the rainbow bone accents well. Compared to every other part of this forsaken planet, the niceties stuck out like a festering wound on someone's face. Shalahora murmured, "This is beyond anything I expected of you."
I eyed everything with a critical eye, "It's better than I expected too. I didn't make this city that long ago, so it looks like the golems have been working overtime."
We landed in the tallest of the sleek spires, the windows made large enough for me to enter. The empty room served no purpose, so I made us two chairs by lifting a hand. Another mind saturated each seat with an antigravity well, so we didn't snap the chairs to bits. Another of my psyches activated the quintessence light above, the crystal brightening the room.
Another ego made a table for us, and another mind made water with ice cubes in it. Two other consciousnesses created dirt and plants in contained areas in the corners of the room. One of those plants ended up being some kind of fruit tree. Taking several of the fruits, we squished them into juice while a final psyche generated two glasses onto the table.
Plopping into the chair, I pooled the juice and ice into the glasses. Everything happened with my time dilation in effect, so it took about ten seconds. To Shalahora, that was about seven. The Sovereign watched it all happen before flowing into the chair I made for him. He lifted the glass of fruit juice, lifting it over his head. While inspecting the bottom of it, he mouthed,
"To be frank, none of this feels real to my eyes."
I scowled, picking up my glass. I leaned onto one hand while sipping on the lifeless juice, "Yeah, it's the same here. Nothing on this planet feels real to me anymore by now."
Tossing the whole cup into my mouth, I crunched on the glass, noting how soft it felt. Shalahora's words sauntered in a slow drawl, "I've never seen an origin mage craft life from nothing."
After canceling my time magic, I frowned at the random fruit juice. It tasted like sour cotton and dirt. I grimaced, "Well, let's just say this doesn't match the real thing. This is all a shade of its real self." I raised a hand at the umbral Sovereign, "No offense against shades."
The shadow lifted a hand, "None taken." Shalahora poured the juice onto his palm, and it soaked into a thin film over his skin. The liquid split like veins coursing over him, all of them reaching his center. He turned his head to me,
"It is the first liquid I've had since arriving, so regardless of the origin, it's quite refreshing. Thank you."
I wafted Event Horizon over the fruit tree, the entire plant disintegrating into mana outside of a dozen of the fruits. I spiraled them onto the table in front of Shalahora while crafting a stone bowl in front of him. They landed in a neat pile, and I gestured to them, "Go ham, man. They're yours."
Shalahora peered at me, "Considering the brevity of your world's existence in Schema's universe, you must be worshipped as a god in your homeworld."
I shook my head, "No one really knows me. Well, anyone that watches streams do, but that's not many yet. Anyways, let's get down to business. We'll get this alliance started off right."
Shalahora leaned back, watching primevals fighting far in the distance, "Then I am here to listen as long as you're here to speak."
I relayed what I'd done since coming, excluding the mental struggle of the time magic. That felt too personal to share for some reason, so I kept it to myself. Shalahora listened with his arms gripping the side of his marble chair. As I finished, Shalahora nodded,
"Then this is why you wished for our alliance to delay until the latter half of our stay here. This was a pursuit done in a lonely light without any other alternative."
He loosened his grip on his armrests, "It must've been difficult to fight for so long here, and that temporal dilation of yours only accentuates that issue. I feel for your journey. It was a difficult one, but you demonstrate the fruits of will and the harvest of hardship. Bear this city with pride, for it stands tall in the face of hell, a beacon to any that sees it."
The acknowledgment felt sincere, and I peered off. I covered a grin while saying, "Well, you know, I did what I had to...How about you?"
Shalahora peered up, "If only my journey carried the same yield. I started near the other rulers, my shades finding them within the first few days of our arrival."
I raised a hand, "Wait a minute, you really mean that?"
Shalahora raised a hand, a shade spawning, "Yes. My shades are beneficial for scouting purposes."
I shook my hands, "I'm talking about when you said within a few days. You can actually tell the time here?"
Shalahora tilted his head in confusion, "Oh, that...My shades live for almost three standard galactic days. I used their duration to determine how long we've lived here."
I blinked, "Genius. Just genius."
Shalahora leaned back, "Are...Are impressed by that?"
I lifted my hands, "Well yeah. I have no idea how long we've been here."
Shalahora answered my unspoken question, "We're just over half the way through Schema's guideline of three months. For that reason, tensions are mounting."
I leaned back, "What, no way. It's been way longer than three months."
Shalahora's eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about? Hm...Wait." He leaned forward in his chair, contemplating my words, "You're the newest ruler. Hm, you mustn't be measuring in standard galactic time. Your confusion stems from that cause, surely."
I leaned back into my chair, my soul leaving my body. I facepalmed, "What? Oh...Duh."
I massaged my temples, "It's not my sense of time. It's Schema's. Oof."
Shalahora peered at my city as he shrugged, "By my measure, wealth and ignorance are better than knowledge and poverty. One is fixed with a few words while the other requires many actions."
I raised a hand, "Thanks for the compliment, but I'm taking that loss on the chin. Anyways, sorry for interrupting you."
Shalahora's blinked a few times before interlocking his hands, "It's no issue. I'd imagine that would be a rather maddening conundrum given the lack of days here, and you lacked perspective. As for what I've said, I created a temporary alliance with the survivors here after arriving. The planet's hostility seemed endless, so I chose the pertinent path."
I shrugged, "Makes sense."
Shalahora's eyes narrowed, "Since coming here, the survivor's caution saved many, and their wariness proved wise. Many rulers chose to plunder the planet at will, however. Many have died from the elements, but that was merely the beginning."
Shalahora sighed, "Many rulers are elected after their ancestral creators have died. Some carry little combat ability, and as you may imagine, that fared poorly here."
I nodded, "This planet is a hellhole, that's for sure." A look of disgust came over my face, "So they all died, just like Schema wanted." Many of my minds jumped into action, "Even better, it was a targeted genocide. The richest empires are the ones most likely to have elected weak rulers based on actual ruling ability rather than raw strength."
I grimaced, "So Schema will assimilate the guilds with the most resources and the least chance of actually stopping the takeover. A bit psychopathic, but well played." I clapped nice and slow, "Good one, Schema. You really got one on us."
Shalahora's gaze turned sad, "That's a brutal cynicism you carry. I could not bear it."
I frowned, "You've focused mostly on fringewalking, so you might not be as aware. To me, I've tried pulling my planet from the dark ages for a while now-" I whirled my hand in a circle, "But situations like this keep stopping me. Apparently, it's stopping everybody else too."
Shalahora peered off, "Hm...Perhaps. We'd never of survived the eldritch without Schema, however. He gave us magic, the system, and our means of communication. That alone offsets these plots."
I took a breath, "Hah...Maybe. From the way I see it, my planet already had an infrastructure, defenses, and decent technology. Schema destroyed our communications, scrambled everybody all over the place, and put us back into the stone ages. We're still licking our wounds from that initial scrambling."
I shook my head, "So Schema took all of that away then pretended like we only gained it in the first place because of him. He used a hypothetical situation to indebt us. The thing is, I was born before the system was on my planet, so I remember a time before he arrived. Those days were better than the endless war we've joined."
My hand crushed the armrest of my chair, "And Schema's mass murder of peaceful factions doesn't exactly build up my opinion of him. It has a habit of rubbing me the wrong way."
A prolonged silence passed over us. Shalahora murmured, "I've never dwelled on Schema's actions this deeply, but I shall reflect on them more in the future."
I calmed myself down, remaking the armrest, "I'm just being salty. I don't know why." Gazing at the shining sea of bones, I nodded, "I take that back. It's this planet."
Shalahora gazed at the bones with me, and he said,
"This planet isn't the only reason rulers died here. Valgus Uuriyah and his followers have killed many of the wanderers that lingered and wandered from the beginning."
My eyes turned to slits, "He killed other rulers? Why?"
"To eliminate competition."
I pulled my hair back while disgust spread onto my face again, "He's an idiot. It would've been so easy to leverage his combat strength into economic gain. He acts as the other faction's guardian. From that position, he controls the flow of resources and leaves this place a hero. And number one in the lottery's rankings."
I threw my hand out, "Instead, he chose to be a villain because he's working with one brain cell."
Shalahora laughed before shaking his head, "You seem so different from when we talked before."
I raised my eyebrows, my primordial wake stretching over us both. I pursed my lips, "Huh. It's, er, a part of my abilities. This mindset lets me think a bit sharper than normal." I opened my eyes wide, "Though, I'm a bit sharper too, so it's a give and take."
Shalahora stood up, "Ah, then that explains it." He walked to the window, interlocking his arms behind himself,
"My last bit of relevant information revolves around Valgus. He chose not to attack the survivor's faction. I am certain that passivity came about because the survivors assimilated the pro-Schema faction within the first two weeks. That swelled their numbers to over two hundred, a number Valgus couldn't eclipse."
A hollow, cynical smile traced my lips, "Ah, Schema's supporting faction didn't last too long. I wonder how pro Schema they are now that everything's settled down?"
I recoiled, noticing my scathing tone, and I straightened up in my chair, "I keep interrupting you. Again, I'm sorry."
"No one may be kind at all times, just as no one may look towards the brighter side of every situation. At times, life forces us to show our barbs as if we were thorned willows. These are your thorns, so wear them with pride."
"Hm...Thanks."
Shalahora nodded, "While I have no more factual information on Valgus, I carry my suspicions. I've searched this planet for a while now, both for treasure and your presence. Fate played a large part in finding you, but it was no accident I was wafting through these dunes near the shining hell."
"You're looking for him?"
Shalahora seethed, his claws brandished, "I believe Valgus intends to do something with the bones here."
Shades rushed our direction from outside the city, and Shalahora turned to them,
"And I shall uncover exactly what that something is."
Comments
Gardor
He keeps freaking out about his mental state, but does he ever turn off the primordial mana aura? That seems like a super easy way to reestablish at least some normalcy.
Gardor
"excluding the time magic, that felt too personal"--> "and that temporal dilation of yours" Either Shadow dude can SEE Dan's self-centered time manipulation, which Daniel should react to, or you should change the "excluding" line to "and I kept my horrific mental struggles with time magic private, cuz that felt too personal"
Weebking12
Well the gold boy would have been in the fortress forever if the old one backing him did not show up but I agree with you because Mc could kill gold dragon if he didn't have the cheap ass old one behind him
Blake Richardson
Thanks for the chapter
Monsoon117
I actually have a pretty reasonable explanation for this, but I can't just dump everything onto the reader at once. It's about getting pieces of the puzzle overtime and having the imagination wonder at what's missing.
Monsoon117
Good points. I'll make those changes.
Monsoon117
Everyone needs a Shalahora in their life, but not everyone has one.
Rubeno
Hmmm monsoon would have to delete chaps from rrl then first. I dont think he needs editor to go over entire story. Grammar is good enough as it is though.
Rubeno
Yeah, I guess it'd the best way ;). Because like I said earlier there is too many inconsistencies and lacking things in schema as a overlord of area in cosmos for it to cook some kind of giant scheme for millenia. Instead schema overall feels to me like a stagnant entity that made caravan rolling but now he can't stop it. Just like Empire and Obolis. Obolis realize that his laws are insufficient but if he tried to change empire for the better he would find himself against plethora of rebelions.
Kristopher Abraham
I guess we will just have to wait and see how it all plays out.
Rubeno
It was stated few chapters before, recently in fact when Daniel confronts Plazia about his inability to use primordial mana. Then Plazia tells to him that Schema is forbridden from deleting skills directly and sabotafes Daniel indirectly. Eldritch didn't created Schema but Remnants who later were shattered by their creation. Even if golems take power from Mc metal material it still doesn't explain why schema doesn't use his own robotic armies. The only viable explanation is that he is forbridden from doing so by his own programming. Besides mate you haven't answered why schema is sending his own soldiers to die without any tactics? He literally sends advanced cyborgs as a cannon fodder. To the point where even immortal overseer broken down emotionally before Mc. Without eldritch there is no need for schema existence. Schema is afraid that people will stop using it if there are no eldritch that's why he doesn't seek solution to eldritch problem. Permanent one. And Daniel isn't simply pushed to develop but his race is literally being constantly splintered! And it's not like what's done to Daniel is unique! Schema sabotaged everybody! There is clear difference between pushing somebody to develop and active Suppression. It's like saying that rape and tortures make people in the end stronger . Simply, clear bullshit. Don't seek hidden motives where there are none. Schema actions are pretty clear. Right now he wants to take over guilds to have cannon fodder to throw at rebels as for Daniel? He haven't thought simply thst his deception was seen through. How can anybody learn time magic in three months? Even Daniel with his advantages was forced to literally constantly commit suicide multiple times to get it right. Even if he posses it to go against nascent old one is ridiculous stretch for Daniel considering how low amount of time he had to develop.
Kristopher Abraham
He can't delete skills just like he can't give them. He merely provides paths already created so that people may easier learn a skill. It's implied with the old ones because they haven't all taken over his system and everyone doing the bidding of the old ones. Also the fact that Schema intends for Daniel to actually take on the old ones as one reason he empowered him early on. Eldritch created Schema. Other eldritch created Daniel's armor. Doesn't mean Schema somehow knows everything and could have created something akin to Daniel all along. The golems gain power from the fabric of his multiverse and now enhanced by the blue cores. The AI is likely afraid of such which is why he puts heavy restrictions on the blue cores in his system so as to stop his programming being overwritten somehow. Cowardly, perhaps. Though more self preservation. Schema looks to be screwing over Daniel at every turn. With putting him against a level 15k being with the knowledge of old ones and yet he survived. Then pushed him into the battle with the rebels and Legion and yet still survived. Then he restricts him from an aspect of power he allows others and then pushed him to this new world without such restrictions and so far Daniel is no longer just surviving but thriving. I don't see Schema as broken, or an asshole and coward. I see it as a system designed to empower people via the eldritch but also push their limits beyond what they think is possible. Does such a system suck for those living in it? Yes, no doubt. The system holds out a carrot and also beats people with a stick. As to why I don't think it is a coward is that if it was, then it could have easily had all the guilds under its control attack the rebels and Legion straight away to stop them from gaining any power. It didn't because it is a lesson for Daniel. One of the reasons he gave his golems so much freedom as a result of how Schema used his foot soldiers and restricted their ability to "help" others thus not let people be empowered. Each step of the way Daniel learns from Schema on how to do things the right way by the system doing it the "wrong" way. Thus Daniel isn't being told how to do things a certain way which would likely get ignored or have other ways tried, but instead learn the consequences of the wrong way so that he may do it right way from the start.
Rubeno
And this situation where daniel is right now Frankly is explained pretty clear for me. Schema is a psychopath who cares about pure numbers not understanding or caring about things like feelings. He sent all rulers to die and those powerful who will survive initial onslaught will be killed in fight with nascent old one woken by battlemaniac, choosen of Baldowah. Then schema takes over empires to destroy rebels. Nobody can rebel against schema anyway. Daniel depskte being able to fight avatar to standstill is barely capable of matching "flea" of the nascent old one aka primal eldritch. Big boss himself will vaporize everybody easily. And avatar will survive easily cause his papa Baldowah will bail him out.
Rubeno
Yes, schema may be protecting people from greater dangers In the universe but he does it in absolutely moronic way that undermines his own efforts. He doesn't solve the problem but as unfinished product he keeps volatile Ballon becoming bigger till it bursts and he loses everything because he is way too deep in his act he is making no efforts to chsnge things for the better. You are telling me that Schema can't produce people like Daniel en masse? More! Is livjng dimension only mind bending type of power in the universe? There should be way more anomalies like Daniel existing out there. Or even schema should be able to produce them. Hell, if two weaklings could have do Daniel armor then why schema can't produce others like him? Or similar anomalies? Or robotic armies? There is no hidden plan. Merely idiocy and cowardice of ai who can't stop carawan of going forward.
FlawlessMovement
Lol I’m talking about ebooks as in on Amazon not just a different format. Paying an editor and getting it on Amazon takes work and money, thus needing a return of a certain amount of downloads. So frankly your argument is just wrong
Rubeno
I can't logically understand your arguments. Schema is just unfinished product that spiraled out of control. Remember that he has things he is forbridden from doing like deleting skills of people. Where it was even said that Schema is strong enough to go against old one? As for why schema doesn't have robotic armies its simpler. Schema is is again forbridden from making them. Daniel armor was created by two weaklings! You are trying to say that millenia old entity almost ruling known universe doesn't have access to mind bending technologies and reality warping artifacts? Just look at his relationship with Daniel! He isn't simply throwing him at challenges to make him grow but he actively sabotages him and doesn't even communicate his own efforts during war with rebels with Legion. Schema is just like I said unfinished product who spiraled out of control and massive asshole and coward who keeps people suppressed. It's ridiculous how weak schema is shown up to this point considering that his foot soldiers are being beaten by bunch of rebels
Kristopher Abraham
Though I'll contend that Schema couldn't do what Daniel is doing since he is the embodiment of a multiverse and has powers not even the system is able to provide, only take advantage. I wouldn't be surprised if his golems could take out spatial fortresses by this point.
Rubeno
Spatial Fortress equals to one of the Primaveral eldritch Mc kills in droves rn. Rmeeber that Mc could solo Lehesion who in turn can fight fortress to standstill. Giant eldritch feels like nascent old one in fact than anything.
Kristopher Abraham
Schema is strong enough to contend with old ones for the most part without them overrunning his system and entities even higher up. Yet so weak that people much less powerful are able to take over his system? If Schema were to take care of all the problems, such as what Daniel is planning on doing then everyone will be too weak to stand up to the real threats outside of his system. He likely spends a lot of resources converting the eldritch into bite sized snacks. The new planet is an example of what happens outside of his system constraints.
Rubeno
Again it's extremely far fetched idea. How does it relate to Overseers and Sentinels in war who are in one hand permanently trapped as slaves of the Sschema yet sent to death like worthless trash without any strategy? They can't as you say "leave the system". Truth is that schema is just damaged product who can't change its own code. Do you remember how it was created? It rebelled against its creators but it was never again changed. Like I said where are op robotic armies of schema? Why empower sentients at all if he can have version of Daniel's golems? Besides schema is an idiot. Don't seek wisdom where in truth idiocy holds dominion. Don't over interpret situation. Imagine this, there is group of survivors during war. One dominating group keeps raping women, torturing men etc all because they say that it "toughens" people. Yet they keep those same people somewhat safe against outside dangers. Schema is exzftly this dominating group who is more of a problem than safeguard against outside dangers.
Kristopher Abraham
I'm guessing there Schema has gone through so many different versions where he took care of most problems and not enough powerhouses were created to help with its true mission. So it keeps dialing back and letting people empower themselves until they are powerful enough to leave the system entirely. If it goes that way, I can't wait to see how Daniel responds. I imagine it will cover his vision with some extra bold fluffy text congratulating him on passing and that his training wheels have been removed and has been buffed 1,000%. Then maybe tells Daniel he is proud of him and to fuck off.
Rubeno
I use lncrawler to download epubs from royalroad because I like reading novels in ebook reader. It's not like authors get money from ads on rrl anyway. And I have never seen epub from Patreon being uploaded on pirate site. So frankly your argument is a moot point.
Rubeno
That's very far fetched interpretation. And frankly it doesn't stick for me. There is too many holes in it. How old schema is? He is very much ancient by this point and he is ridiculously weak. Daniel existed for not even a year and he is already producing robotic armies by hundreds. Where are armies of schema? They are bunch of weakling sentients being defeated by bunch of rebels with stolen tech. Even more this idiot simply sends his armies to death without any basic tactics! What kind of secret plans schema has here? To commit suicide? Nah! Schema is just a coward. He has enough power and exist long enough to know what eldritch are. And he knows that without eldritch people will not need schema at all! So instead solving the problem permanently he keeps people in illusionary, perpetual rat race while suppressing everybody at the same time. As for Daniel? He can sit on his ass for decades and come back as galactic destroyer by virtue of stats alone! There is no reason to push him harder when he can just focus on building his empire and will become strong anyway with hordes of upgraded golems and personal power anyway. He needs time to consolidate what he already has. Not to be put in yet another galactic war that will stop his advancement.
Rubeno
What is there to add? They are with each other and have some time together from time to time. And due to schema Earth is in constant state of danger. There is no reason for "couple together" chapters when their issues are resolved. And romances are attractive for some people to read due to exzftly various problems to solve.
Rubeno
If we digged deeper it's weird that Cosmic fog like entity has human like behaviors like laughing or smiling whereas even creatures that evolved beside us like dogs or cats see showing teeth as sign of aggression. And we are talking here about Cosmic higher being! Then again this is a story and unless author wants to focus on the topic of first contact it would make writing several times harder if he wanted to write it more... Logically. What I believe is thst most important is flow of the story. If it's not too jarring And is acceptable there is no need for excessive nitpicking. As for Shalahora himself it feels as if author wanted to show him having brutal past, he travelled alone and hunted for long time and now he became more gentle and even became ruler despite his species tendencies toward loneliness. And now he saw Daniel as weakest party among sovereigns who just happened to be his partner travelling to the convention. He didn't know other rulers but knew Daniel. Goal of Shalahora is to make friends and he is among most powerful among rulers.
FlawlessMovement
So just a casual though after re reading this amazing piece of literature again, maybe you shouldn’t provide us a free copy of any ebooks you release edited. Now before everyone tries to attack me think about the fact we are his main customers who will BUY it in the first place it would hurt his sales
Weebking12
Ya I feel the same as you I dont think schema would just fuck over everyone out of the blue he has a plan with Daniel and not only that but he can't do much but send a fortress at him as he can 1v1 or even more a overseer
Weebking12
I think it can be a felgling old one or a knew fortress (btw the primeval can't glass a planet but kinda close its setting him up to fighting a fortress though)
Kristopher Abraham
I'm starting to think Schema is playing a very long game and that it isn't broken as the characters believe. Rather the purpose of the system isn't to fight the eldritch as they are mere tools to empower people. Or even fight the old ones but something much greater. That it is spending most of its resources hiding the inhabitants from more dangerous foes. The way it has pushed Daniel at each step through adversity against insane odds... Restricting him so that he pushes against it with fervor then put him on a planet to take advantage of it. This new planet feels like another training session for more skills and tactics. Also the planet very well may be leading to the emergence of another old one. A perfect opportunity for Daniel to take another step toward imprisoning actual old ones inside his multiverse and using their powers much like a furnace. Perhaps that was why the eldritch were involved in the creation of Schema. As a means of revenge against some creature that is eating their universe and eventually eats all others, entropy incarnate.
Shadeymankey
Looking forward to Daniel being with his gf again some more. Their relationship hadnt felt real since pretty early in the war
Radangus
its confusing that shalahora is just magically friendly and understands communication and likes daniel and is capable of holding conversation
Rubeno
He already has a lot of blue cores numbering in hundreds. It's not a problem to take place in rankings.
Kemizle
I hope Daniel finds stuff to give to schema and not he’s golems won’t want to think what schema would do with the flesh and blood of Daniel
Required
Some of the descriptions of Shalahora felt weird, isnt he the "fog-like" entity? Scratching his cheek, aswell as how he tilted his head and such was described.. feels like it could be phrased differently?
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Rubeno
Shalahora is such a bro. It seems that Mc finally found a friend he wanted to have in Obelis.
Rubeno
What is he afraid of? He has backing from Baldowah just like golden frog dragon got his ass rescued by eonoth from death. That's why this idiot still lives. Mc only needs to imprison fucker so no old ones shenanigans will happen.. Spatial Fortress by now is vastly weaker than Mc. Remember that lehesion could handle fortress to standstill and Mc beats lehesion no problem alone by now. In fact every primeval here equals fortress if not more. Pile of bones is much much more than that.
Rubeno
Why mug him only? He is unkillable due to backing from Baldowah who will throw tantrum like eonoth when his avatar is close to death yet Mc is in unique position where he can end the threat of old ones avatar by imprisoning him in his pocket space in stasis. Good luck in trying to free anybody from Mc prison. It's impossible.
Rubeno
Without eldritch schema is nothing so he doesn't want the threat to end. He stifles progress and keeps galactic in state of perpetual war not allowing factions to develop in other to further his rule due to fear. Problem is that if he is despot then direct dictatorial domination would be better than charade right now. He could create ever expanding empire against whom Mc even with his opness would not be able to do anytinbg against. Or as you have said benevolent option where he creates grateful societies. But then again why would people need schema in post war times? He is afraid of that outcome. Entity aa old as schema doesn't know what eldritch are? What a joke. It would be easy in time to solve eldritch problem permanently. Besides his firepower is even bigger joke. How schema is so... Weak? Where are ai armies just like Mc makes golems?
thaughton2
I like that Daniel casually ate a cup, and noted how "soft" it was. Absolutely surreal. Just imagining someone casually chomping on porcelain.
Conor McGroarty
Valgus better not be thinking of doing something supremely stupid by disturbing the bone continent. It is quite content to just sleep while doing the equivalent of twitching (gamma blasting the area) when poked a bit too hard. It’s hard to compare creatures on the level of special fortresses but I’m sure that this bone thing should be an APEX full stop. Would be quicker to count from old ones than anywhere else
Jonathan
Hmmm...I'm going to go with murder hobo wants to kill the rainbow bone monster. Wonder if Daniel will have to interviene to prevent his cities from exploding in gamma rads. I kinda want to see Dan mug him and take all the resources so he's forced to fight...though i guess he'd fight in the war anyways?
Zachary Smith
Yay 🥲
Potation
Shalaora seems like a good therapist. When you feel bad about yourself, try writing a character with the problem you're facing, and imagine that Shalaora's listening and answering the character. I think it may be of help
CW_Alpha_CW CW_Omega_CW
Yeah, thanks for the quick chapters! Hopefully you can keep it up, but don’t forget to pace yourself, it’s easier to take a week off than a couple months.
Christian Nweneka
I know Daniel's a little crazy here, but he's 100% right on schema. Imagine if that AI wasn't such a dick, left people their infrastructure and gave them the strength to fight on top of it. He'd have a grateful population, probably better volunteers too, and once the people understand the severity of the threat, taking up arms would be a no-brainer. Plus, cities still get built in schema's world, full of non combatants and people who don't kill eldritch, if the goal is for the planet to eldritch free and for there to be a steady supply of willing soldiers, he's going the most difficult route. The worst part is, this is always how powerful people create their replacements, the heavy application of the stick instead of the carrot, forging someone who can take the beating and keep coming. Eventually someone who remembers, who hates and is willing to go far enough will takedown, or reprogram schema (or just make their own system lol) and it would have all been schema's fault.
Dion Hier
Going Nice
Titaniumtac
Great chapter. Shalahora's voice. He is still only using mind magic to communicate correct.
Kryn
Thanks for the chapter!!
Azgaroth
Thank for the chapter. Will we see at some point Daniel "punching" Schema, or something like a surgery, with the Cipher and all that???
Death Beyond the Grave
Yay! Another chapter. Great work as always, I can't wait for more
Monsoon117
The last chapter was difficult while this one was easy. Shalahora's manerisms are the most challenging part, but even then, it's a fun a challenge, not a scary one. I always find dialogue easier to write than logistics, unless it's a crafting chapter. Those are actually the easiest to write of the bunch. Enjoy guys.
