This worked well with group cohesion, and sometimes other members listened in on their conversations, interested in a world beyond the bounds of their own. Earth’s reliance on technology was a magic of its own to people who had never seen an internal combustion engine, or a computer, and the subject was endlessly fascinating to some of the more intellectually curious, like Edgar, and surprisingly, Arkanon. The man might have looked and fought like a brute, but over centuries of life in Tartarus, his curiosity had grown beyond the confines of that realm. At least, when it could be used to further his own power.
On that subject, between Jonathan and the Uthraki warlord, they had two Tartarus entry tokens, enough to transport a good portion of the party, if not its entirety, to that realm at the low level they were still at.
Though, by the time Jonathan and Arkanon deemed it safe to re-enter Tartarus, they had crossed through a good portion of the realm. The caverns of Cessation were all at least a dozen miles in diameter, and the group had passed through hundreds of them in turn. After finding that most did not possess anything beyond Tier 4, Jonathan had started skipping them in search of more powerful foes. That might have added to the danger, but it certainly added to his stats.
Jonathan Harlowe
Tier 3
Void Human(Exalted)
Divinity Aspect: Void Hegemon
Elemental Mastery: 14%
Elemental Juggernaut: Tier 4 Legendary
Active Blessings: The Third Eye of Exal’drin
Level 323
(546 free points)
Strength
4297
Dexterity
3507
Constitution
3315
Resilience
3311
Intelligence
3238
Wisdom
2725
Divinity
40
Health: 74588/74588
Stamina: 96683/96683
Mana: 72855/72855
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This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Titles
True Unbound Spirit: Unique
Second Circle Breaker: Unique
Nascent God: Transcendent
Supreme Initiate: Ancient
Prodigy of Fusion: Mythical
Lesser Xenocide: Legendary
Greater Giantslayer: Legendary
Iron Will: Epic
Leader of Men: Epic
Refined Form: Epic
Avenger: Epic
Lineage Hunter: Rare
Righteous Killer: Rare
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Skills
Maw of the Void: Ancient
Aegis of the Void’s Dichotomy:Ancient
Ephemeral Trifecta: Mythical
Greater Smite: Mythical
Void’s Grasp: Mythical
Void Piercer: Mythical
Void Missile: Mythical
Runic Overcharge: Mythical
Flame of Judgement: Mythical
Rune Savant: Legendary
Void Drill: Legendary
Channeled Basic Truesight: Legendary
Sense the Weave: Legendary
Fists of the Maelstrom: Legendary
Minor Enlightenment: Legendary
Void Slipstream: Epic
Warrior’s Trance: Epic
Battle Focus: Rare
Impact: Rare
Focused Scry: Rare
Runes of Power: Rare
Redirect: Uncommon
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Pathway Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery(Advanced): Expert 3
Runecrafting Expertise(Advanced): Expert 1
Energy Manipulation(Advanced): Expert 1
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Martial Path
Flowing Maelstrom: Expert 1
-
Weapon Domain: Expert 3(Advanced)
Metaphysical Domain: Expert 1(Advanced)
Energy Domain: Expert 1(Advanced)
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Quests
The Strongest: ???
Hellbreaker: Impossible
Pathway of the Titans: Heroic
Jonathan looked over his stats for a few minutes, wondering if it was time to allocate any of his free points. Eventually, he decided against it for now. His Pathway Skills tended to train more effectively against enemies of a closer level of power, and when he was hardly in any sort of real danger, he might as well get as much out of it as possible.
Closing his sheet, he got to his feet. He walked across the camp, ignoring the others as they trained, or in Edgar’s case, meditated within an inverted tornado, his eyes closed and a look of near ecstasy on his face.
“Arkanon?” Jonathan called out.
“Yes?” The response came a moment later, and the Uthraki appeared from behind a large boulder, his fists covered in gravel from his training.
“I think it’s time to return to Tartarus. Unfortunately, the essence reserves here are quite low, unless we seek out creatures like the Bone Titan.” Jonathan smiled. “Although, I don’t think we’re ready for something of that caliber yet. At least, not without significant casualties.”
“I agree. Should we test the capacity of the tokens, then?” Arkanon asked.
“Yeah. I would say that they can transport four or five each, right? I don’t think Eliza really counts here, as the token is calibrated for Tier 4.”
Both men withdrew their tokens, and rounded up the others. Some of them were unfamiliar with the tokens, or, indeed, what Tartarus even was.
“So there’s this other realm, like a different Hell, hidden behind another layer of reality?” Eliza asked. “Who designed this universe? It’s so convoluted.”
“I have a suspicion that where we are isn’t really hell, or at least, not in the way we would think of it,” Jonathan explained. “Our bodies and souls are still intact, as if we were teleported to this realm. If it really was the afterlife, there would be no way back to Telvaria, but I personally witnessed someone escape.”
“You did?” Edgar asked, a frown on his face. “When?”
“Right. You and Hushar were there, but you didn't remember any of it. I’ll be vague to avoid that happening again,” Jonathan replied. “I found a powerful being imprisoned in Mire, and when I freed him, he flew up to the sky, and for lack of a better explanation, broke through it. As far as I know, the Hells are pocket dimensions floating in the Void, and if you can survive that, then there is a potential way out.”
Edgar gave Jonathan an incredulous look. “Why haven’t you already done so? Wouldn’t it be easier to plot your revenge against the gods in a realm where everything isn’t out to kill you?”
“You never had to interact with the gods personally,” Jonathan said, a shiver running down his back. “As soon as I arrived in Telvaria, one immediately found me, and I died before I could even find out where I was. The Hells, strangely enough, are safer. Also, it’s easier to level up here.”
“I don’t think that was intended,” Hushar chimed in. “There is a reason your quest is marked as Impossible.”
Jonathan grinned. “Well, that hasn’t stopped me yet. Now, what do you all say about a bit of power leveling?”