Midga
d the most famous strategy game. It began as a combat simulation developed by the Academy to train tacticians against the Convergence, and soon became a popular hobby among the residents of Avalon. Two or three players can field armies of statues from the Nine Kingdoms across more than 25 maps and decide who will win the world of Ragnarok. The goal? Defeat the enemy before they defeat your commander.
Tai has been obsessed with the game since his apprenticeship as a necromancer, and he's been playing it well since becoming an undead. After two weeks of hard work since he discovered spring, he finally had time to enjoy it.
"You always play with fire giant/dark elf armies," Annie complained from the other side of the board, where they were assembling their own army of figurines. The tavern is quiet today, with many adventurers moving to greener pastures after being "condemned" in the dungeon. Ty likes to play without background noise, which suits him just fine. "It's going to get boring."
"But if you look at it from a win-loss ratio, it's effective." With A
ie the difference is that she tried out many armies for fun, while Tye was an optimizer; he changed individual units, removed obsolete minions, changed the caster/rogue/fighter/artisan ratio, and tended for incremental improvements. In time, he will build a "perfect" army that no one can defeat.
"I don't understand why you like them so much," she said, gathering an army of mixed humans and light elves. In order to increase the difficulty, they chose a "rainy plain".
"The fire giants have the most powerful and disciplined infantry, while the dark elves have excellent summoners."
"About that, I'm practicing a summoning spell for the academy." Anne started the battle by spreading her forces. Her army is composed to call in reinforcements from many weak units, focusing on numbers and guerrilla warfare rather than Tai's overwhelming firepower. "A permanent teleportation system between two points in space"
"Like a portal between two realms?" he asked, devoting most of his resources to the fire giant siege mage.
”. When you try to cross the barrier between two worlds and fail, there’s a huge magical rebound. I thought, what if we harnessed this reaction? When you throw a ball off a wall, it Bounce back. I thought, rather than having a failed spell propel the target back to where it was, it would be better to redirect the momentum and teleport the person to another place."
Tye guessed what she was thinking, "A
ie, this is awesome. "Because you only need minimal SP to hit the world barrier, you can create a teleportation spell at a very low cost, thereby creating a long-lasting 'portal'." "
"What do you think?" she asked, ecstatic at the compliment. "My mentor thinks it's too dangerous." "
"Your mentor lacked foresight. This spell could revolutionize travel, trade, and warfare. Sure, the first trial will cause collateral damage, but once perfected? It'll be worth it. In the pursuit of science and magic, nothing matters Can."
His praise visibly boosted Annie's morale, as she began to play more aggressively. Hell, necromancers hate elven archers. They can poison units and weaken their health. "Hey, have you ever made a spell?" You told me once that you had the privilege of being a magical prodigy, and Archmage Calvert said you needed to invent a spell to get it. "
"Two, both level three." There were actually twenty-four, all the way up to the eighth level, but most of them were too scary for Annie. In response to the harassment of her soldiers, the Necromancer began bombarding the archers with fireballs, leaving his siege mages to take cover behind a line of fire giants. “I’m currently working on the third one.”
"No, seriously?" He thought she would call him a liar, but she trusted him unconditionally. It warmed his cold heart. "which one?"
Tai hesitated to tell her something so sensitive, but her passionate gaze won him over. He dug around in his pocket and showed her a pure white alchemy stone. "It's a (reflective stone), a device with healing properties. It's not a magic stone, but it should be a catalyst for a universal healing spell, suitable for any spellcasting profession."
"Great," she said, examining the stone with her magic with ecstatic interest. Most healing spells are reserved for specialized schools, such as [Prayer] or [Blood Magic]. "It's so complicated I can barely understand its ingredients! How do you do that?"
By draining Yggd
Asil's sapling and water of life, refined both with Alkahest, and finally added human blood. "Trade Secrets".
"Well..." Annie observed the battlefield, where Tai had built nearly impenetrable defenses. "A tie?"
"Yes." The necromancer agreed. Technically, he might win, but her constant reinforcements would make her primary commander a time-consuming chore. His siege mages also lacked the range to threaten her command post. "Rematch?"
"Wulong wanted me to help him with his commander's tactics homework," Annie replied sadly. Apparently, while the archer excelled in the individual tactics test, he was hopeless at commanding a group. "We are going back to the capital in two days. Can you come with us? Please?"
"I still have a business here," Tai replied. His troops were busy renovating Nastrom while he continued to make breakthroughs after opening the cathedral.
"I hope you will reconsider, my friend." Mrs. Searle's voice cut through the background noise as she approached their table. “I love traveling in groups.”
Ty and Annie both nodded politely, but Annie looked a little uneasy in the presence of the priestess. "Will you come with us?" asked the trainee witch.
"I intend to visit my beloved Tristan," said Mrs. Searle. "After what happened in the dungeon, I realized I should take some time off and surprise him."
Oh? Natai might accept her offer. He kept wondering how this shining knight could rival the painting of his lover.
However, the capital is the seat of power of the Academy, protected by magic and staffed by royal knights. Under his cover, the Necromancer prefers to avoid unnecessary risks. "I can't say yet."
Mrs. Salter nodded gracefully and put her hand on Anne's shoulder. "Can I talk to Ty alone?" This is a private matter. "
The young witch looked unhappy at the suggestion, so Tai comforted her. "If you want, we can play at the store tomorrow morning."
"Good," she complained. "But please change your army next time. I insist."
"As you wish," Tai replied, amused, and his protégé left, whistling.
Mrs. Salter watched Anne pass through the tavern door and take her seat. "She sees you as more than just a mentor and a friend."
"Childish infatuation," Tai replied, showing no interest in romance. "She's going to get through this."
"I think you would make a great couple." "She's bubbly and makes you smile. There's definitely room in your heart for love."
"Not sure," Tai responded. But he longed to find an apprentice. He can teach the secrets of the Order and continue the great work. Could Anne be the one? She rejected the peace offer in the tunnel and remained loyal to the princess. "What do you want to talk about, ma'am? Or are you here to play a game?"
"You know I always lose," she replied, amused by the challenge.
"Wrong, you won our first game."
"You didn't do a good job of protecting your commander, but unfortunately, you learned your lesson." She shook her head. "Walter, I want to talk about your new miracle cure. This works."
"So the cancer is really gone?" he asked immediately becoming serious.
"Cancer?" she laughed. "I feel healthier than ever, my friend. I daresay you have made me a year younger. I have something to show you."
She took his hand in hers and briefly showed him her status screen; unlike the Necromancer, she wasn't using Pe
k to forge her information. She was an open book, so warm to the touch of her fingers.
Yseult Whiteha
d
Level: 45 (Bard 16/Bald Priestess 20/Muse 9)
Type: People of light elf descent (humanoid).
Party: Balder Church.
He browsed her ever-increasing array of attributes and personal perks until he discovered a new addition.
[Little Lifegift: You gain resistance to [disease] (including magical diseases), and you recover twice your HP from healing effects.
"When did this happen?" Tai asked in surprise, breaking the contact of her hands.
"Just after the last treatment," she replied. "you do not know?"
"It was unforeseen. I've had great results in plants and animals, but such great personal benefits in humans?" Indeed, the spring water, combined with the alkali, produced a miraculous effect; he gave her A weaker elixir. "Have you told anyone?"
"No," said the priestess. "I think you should be the first to hear about your discovery."
"You may be a special case, and the treatment simply reaffirms your elven heritage," Tai replied, though he wished otherwise. "It's too early to call it a discovery."
"I thought you would be more enthusiastic, my friend." Mrs. Searle smiled. "Then let me be happy for both of us. I can't express my gratitude in words. You saved my life, Walter."
The necromancer smiled. "Do you remember what you said to me the day we met? You spent the whole day helping me adapt to this city."
“Life is too short to help each other.”
“It resonated with me,” Tai admits. "I felt a connection, that we might be kindred spirits, even though we have our differences." Their respective views on death and the gods.
"I thought the same thing, and now I think you are my favorite person," said the beautiful lady. Anyone else would have fallen at her feet upon hearing this. "That's why, although you are doing a great job at Lyon, I sometimes wonder if you are wasting your talents. If you can create such a powerful therapy with the resources you have, imagine that with the support of the Academy you How much can be achieved.”
“Maybe I’ve improved so much because I’ve avoided the bureaucratic red tape,” Tai points out. "I do best on my own, and my treatment of you, ma'am, is far from perfect."
"I understand your desire for privacy," the priestess said. "But if there's anything I can do to help you make this medicine available to everyone, please don't hesitate to ask me."
"I will," he replied softly. "However, I would appreciate it if you could keep it a secret for now. I don't want to draw anyone's attention until I have the refined product."
"Are you worried you're going to be a target?" Soult said, suddenly fearing for his life. “Who did this, the disaster cult?”
"Or a criminal," the Necromancer replied, but he realized that the priestess was a little too concerned about his safety this time. "You're thinking about something else."
"Congregants in Lyon discuss things, Walter," said Joseph. "Even the underworld. So, imagine my surprise when I learned that you didn't come to pray or pay tribute to any of the gods since you came to our dear city."
Tai focused on the pieces on the chessboard. He had hoped that his visit to the priestess would be mistaken for praying to Balder. "Are you asking me if I'm unfaithful?"
"No." She shook her head. "Whether you decide to serve God is your own personal choice. However, Walter, I do fear for your soul. It is unlikely that you will die in battle if you lack faith..."
“It’s no use paying lip service to a God whose teachings I don’t abide by.”
"I know this sounds cynical, Walter, but the alternative is much worse." If only she knew. "Surely there is a god in whom you can recognize yourself, who can save you from the torments of Helheim? Freya, the goddess of magic in Vanir? Or Mimir, the god of wisdom?"
"I will not speak well of a disembodied head." He would rather believe in his own magic than in the good will of any god. "Have I told you my real name? Not the name my parents gave me, but the name I was called in the Yggdrasi prophecy?"
"You told me this story," she said. "According to my research, you should be able to survive Ragnarok. But Walter, fate can be changed. People on Earth have challenged fate before, and no one knows when they will do so again."
You will know.
Thirty years ago, one of them buried him six feet under water, proving the prophecy to be nonsense.
"I think the news of your death is too exaggerated." Robin said, getting down from the carriage.
Ty shrugged, minding business. This time, he brought Hagen with him as extra security, that dullaha
Riding on the back of a scrawny horse; Robin himself assembles a band of thugs and assassins for the gathering.
Just as the necromancer asked, the gangsters also brought seven corpses and lined them up on the ground. As he tries to keep a low profile, with no new adventurers to challenge the dungeon, Tye is forced to "outsource" his search for materials.
"Very good," he said after examining the body. “Who would be the living candidate?”
"I'm Dolan," Robin waved to a looming white-haired old man. Considering his muscles, size, and powerful posture, this thug must be an experienced boxer. "He is a fugitive and meets your requirements. Due to his crime and age, he will almost certainly be imprisoned in Helheim, so he agreed to be tested by you."
"In my opinion, any chance of extending your life is worth the risk," he replied, his icy blue gaze completely calm in the presence of the undead.
"What got you sentenced, my living guy?" Hagen asked.
"Love," replied the man, looking at Dullahan with a strange insight. "And you?"
"Loyal," Hagen answered, his fingers tightening around his weapon. "But please tell me more, I love romantic stories."
"I got a new wife, Laura. Pretty young flower, in her twenties; treated her like a princess, but I couldn't satisfy her and she started dating some noble brat. She made me the butt of a joke, so I banged her head against the wall."
Hagen seemed curious as Ty frowned in disgust behind his mask. "As far as I know, adultery is punishable by death in Avalon. I thought the authorities turned a blind eye to such cases. At least that was the case in my day."
"I might as well kill that bastard who put the sword where it shouldn't be," the old man replied with a vicious grin. "Being with his wife, so he knows what it's like."
Oh fine. Here, Ty thought he would feel guilty about the testing process. "Drink this." The necromancer handed the criminal a dark red potion that could easily be mistaken for blood. "I've tested some weaker versions and the results are encouraging, but never on someone as old as you."
"I have great energy," the man answered, and swallowed the whole bottle of the elixir like beer.
The results are spectacular.
Dolan regressed several years, losing ten years every minute. Wrinkles disappeared, white hair turned to gold, scars turned into pure skin. This influence lasted into Dolan's prime years in his twenties and then no longer. "fffffuu——" the criminal struggled to find the right words.
Tai was pleased that he wasn't going to regress into a toddler - which was why he was healing Surt with his weaker variant - and he put a hand on Surt's shoulder and activated his [Life Drain] device]. He quickly stole a year and stopped there.
"Just like I thought, the coffee I stole for so many years still works," Anko said, as the assembled thugs looked on in awe. "My elixir restored your youth, Mr. Dolan, but it did not keep you young as I had hoped."
"I may not be immortal, but I can be a new person," Dolan replied with a happy smile. "You're no wizard, masked man; you're a miracle—"
"Death[X]."
Dolan fell to the ground and died.
Note to self: The elixir of life also does not save test subjects from violent death.
"It's disappointing," Tai said, moving on to a second round of testing, holding up his reflective Dory. "[Prototype Naglfa
]. "
Dark magic spread from his fingers to the stone, using it as a catalyst. The spell manifests itself as an otherworldly light shining upon the corpse. After the magical light disappeared, there was a brief silence.
Then Dolan opened his eyes.
His mouth fell open and he gasped for air as life returned to his cheeks; nevertheless the shock made him stagger as his heart began to pump blood into his cold body . Dolan fidgeted on the ground, still dazed from the sudden resurrection. "Damn mother," a Mockingbird assassin bodyguard cursed. "he is……?"
"Undead?" Walter shook his head while using magic to analyze the patient's body. "No, Mr. Dolan is still alive, although not in good health. He has lost 120 HP, 40 HP and 4 other attributes. The spell works, but only on the person who was just killed."
"How do you know?" asked the mockingbird.
"The boss can't find any bodies in the warehouse, and they're all old and dusty," Hagen answered.
"Oh, that explains the other part of your order." The crime lord nodded to himself. "It makes sense now."
"What - what are you doing to me?" Dolan panicked.
"Test, Mr. Dolan," Ty replied softly before quickly killing him. "Death[X]."
And just like that, the poor murderer was back from the dead, whether he liked it or not.
"Same loss as before," Tai observed, noting his test subject's uncontrollable trembling. This spell can be used repeatedly, but the attribute penalties stack. The good news is that the effects of the elixir are apparently permanent. He kept the [little gift of life] that the potion gave him. "
"What happens if the statistic is zero?" asked the robin, growing more and more interested. He could almost see the gears turning in her head as she tried to figure out how to profit from it.
"I guess the subject can't be revived again." Tai wouldn't test that far. He couldn't risk the eternal death of a mortal, even a lowly one. "Mr. Dolan, that's it for today. From now on, we will just monitor your recovery and see if the punishment wears off over time."
"Well, I'm still waiting for round three," Hagen laughed at the criminal.
Dolan was too frightened to answer and crawled away. Mockingbird waved his hand dismissively, and two thugs helped him to his feet. "That's not enough," Tai declared. "I need to further perfect this elixir."
"Is it perfect?" one of the Assassin bodyguards couldn't help shouting. "Isn't it enough that you spit in front of the gods?"
"If he can die from trauma, that's not true immortality. The final panacea, in addition to returning the subject to optimal physical condition, should also be able to permanently stop aging." Tai hopes that people will never die from any disease. No compromise.
"Many people would be content with a second youth," replied the robin. "So, you want to use corpses to test the limits of your spell."
"It's sharp," he confirmed, looking at the "sample." "How old are they?"
"As you said, everyone is a day apart," answered the robin. “That one was from yesterday, that one from two days ago, and so on for a week.”
perfect. He started with the freshest corpse, that of a decapitated criminal. "[Nagel's Law Prototype]," he said, but the body did not rise. The Necromancer stubbornly asked Hagen to reattach the head to the body, and then used [Repair Corpse] to fuse the two parts together. "[Prototype Naglfa
]. "
The corpse opened its eyes and gasped for air.
The bodies from days 2 and 3 were recovered, but not those from day 4. A full repair changed nothing.
"Three days," Tai said, as the resurrected criminals struggled to adjust to their new lives. "While the state's penalties have not changed, three days after death is a hard limit. It also cannot resurrect a body that has lost vital organs, although it can eliminate decay and decay."
As he suspected, the necromancer would need to increase the potency of his spell to the ninth level in order to resurrect any corpse, regardless of age. Maybe even the tenth.
Congratulations! In your pursuit of immortality, you have achieved [Alchemist] level one!
+10 sp, +1 vit, +2 i
t, +1 lack.
Yes, he can do better. "That's remarkable," said the robin heartily. "How much?"
"What? Is it the elixir of life or a magic spell?"
"two."
"The perfect elixir will be freely available to everyone. Of course, the more funding and test subjects, the faster I can complete it."
"It was a mistake," she replied. "Make it free. I know people who would sell their souls for it, even in its current state."
"I have enough soul," Ty shrugged. "I intend to make it freely available to everyone. Immortality should be a universal right."
"Some people would say this should be banned. It would keep the monster alive forever."
"Drugs help criminals live longer. Should drugs be banned?"
"You are preaching to a true believer, my dead friend," replied the robin, laughing. "However, you still treat me as a woman who repeats herself."
Tai smiled, amused by her audacity. "I need trolls or hydras to reverse engineer their regeneration and perfect the elixir. I also want to know about a death knight in Log
es activity information. ” His own attempts at magical divination were predictably thwarted.
"Main Med
aut?”
Ankou tensed up, like a snake ready to bite.
"So you'd be surprised," she said. "That's good to know."
"Have you dealt with him?" Tai couldn't resist his desire to know more information.
"Not directly, but my organization provides it to everyone." Her smile turned somber. "Including disaster cults."
Tai thought for a moment that he had heard wrong. "which one?"
"Fenrir and Loki's."
One wants to eat the world, the other wants to plunge it into bloody chaos. "Medlot will never help them."
"Then we were talking about the log
es area activities (death knight). If you're not sure, I can act as an intermediary. Maybe even arrange a meeting. "
"I'd be happy to," the Necromancer replied coldly. "But do you know what he was doing in Logres?"
"Oh, you know, that's the eternal disaster pitch," she said with a chuckle. "Destroy the Kingdom of Avalon and burn Midgard, as always."
