—— ? ——
Varrax sat in his domain, absolute disbelief holding him. The disbelief turned to rage as he watched the mortal mocking him through the construct.
Obsidian cracked, and the realm flashed into fire as his eyes burned the face of the impertinent mortal that was now swaying side to side as he played on the small wooden instrument in his hands.
“Release that rabid dog.” He commanded the hive mind. “Tell him that if he makes that fool scream for death, I will forgive his previous disobedience. If he doesn’t make him suffer, then I will shift my rage to him.”
Varrax cut the connection, then turned his full gaze on the show that would begin. He was sure his servant would comply. The mortal was obsessed with torture.
The construct would record this heretic’s death, and he would keep it as an example of what happened to those who defied him.
His rage simmered as he imagined it. It was go–
*DING!*
The sound of the accursed system made Varrax’s head snap up. What in all the realms could it be notifying him of?
—- SYSTEM NOTICE —-
> UPDATE REGARDING POSSESSION.
> Source: Simon Starfall - EABST-4327D
> Action: Skill Acquisition.
> Skill: Steps of the Shifting Echo.
> Creator: Arynn Stridebreaker
> Reason: Simon Starfall has gained the skill ‘Steps of the Shifting Echo’. As this is a unique skill, duplication was impossible. The stored skill “Steps of the Shifting Echo” has been removed from your possession. As this action has deprived you of a possession, proper compensation has been delivered in accordance with the divine pact.
Harmony is offered.
——————————
The rage that burst out from Varrax shattered the entire realm.
—— ? ——
Down in the mortal realm, Simon was grinning ear to ear as he continued to play his song.
—- SYSTEM NOTICE —-
> A FEATURE HAS EVOLVED.
> OLD:
>> Brand of Refusal
> Explanation: A limit was imposed. Despite this, you pushed against it. Now that limit has prevented you from the growth you have earned. In recognition of this, you have been given a Brand of Refusal.
> Uses: These brands can be used to empower skills of your choosing. Each is equivalent to using two skill points for that skill. If you use this brand to empower a skill, all future brands or similar features will be automatically used on that skill.
WARNING - By using the Brand of Refusal, you accept the limit that has been imposed on you. Once used, the feature will be blocked, and a path will be forever closed to you.
> Amount: 10 / ?
> NEW:
>> Heretics Mark of Refusal
> Description: A limit was imposed. While others accepted imposed limits, you rejected them. You refuse to allow others to restrict your growth.
Your defiance has been recognised, and your brands have grown into something more.
> Effects:
>> Path Resolution: These marks can be used to empower skills of your choosing. Each is equivalent to using two skill points for that skill. If you use this brand to empower a skill, all future brands or similar features will be automatically used on that skill.
WARNING - By using this effect, you accept the limit that has been imposed on you. Once used, the feature will be blocked, and a path will be forever closed to you.
>> Heretical Thief: You may name a blocked skill, or a skill within a deity’s domain that is currently cursing you. This skill will be unblocked or given to you if it is within that deity’s ability.
Stolen skills benefit from the currently held marks. Current bonus to growth: 1.0%
>> Charges: 1
——————————
Simon didn’t even hesitate. “STEPS OF THE SHIFTING ECHO!”
*DING!*
—- SYSTEM NOTICE —-
> FEATURE INVOKED
> Heretics Mark of Refusal - Heretical Thief
> Skill: Steps of the Shifting Echo
> Deity: Varrax the Undying
> Will you gain this skill? YES - NO
——————————
Simon laughed as he accepted the prompt, his fingers mechanically strumming out notes.
*DING!*
—- SYSTEM NOTICE —-
> SKILL GAINED
> Skill: Steps of the Shifting Echo - Unique..---
Simon was trying to read the prompt when a blur of movement in the corner of his vision cut him off. He dodged to the side.
“Hey!” Simon yelled. “It’s rude to interrupt someone playing!”
The vessel didn’t seem to care as an axe head descended. Simon backstepped and resumed playing. The song was technically being played correctly, yet every note was somehow horrifying.
Simon's eyes swept the area around him. The four that had been chasing him were now closing in, the axe wielder in the lead.
He needed time. He also needed to read his fucking skill, but—
Shit.
He spun away from a strike, then started a limping run. Simon couldn’t retaliate if he wanted to. Not if he wanted to keep playing.
So the only answer was to runnnnnnnn.
His steps picked up speed as he moved along the circle of vessels that slowly closed in.
They weren’t going to let him escape.
Good thing that wasn’t really his plan.
“I’m going to enjoy peeling each inch of skin from your shuddering body.” A slick voice called out from behind him.
Simon glanced back and saw Maelis outside the circle of vessels.
Shit.
Simon had hoped he could have used the yoreboon to engage his Reckless Movement skill. That fucker had figured out exactly how that skill worked.
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
The good news? It seemed that meant the only thing Maelis was doing now was spewing disgusting visions of Simon’s demise.
“You have to catch me first!” Simon yelled back with a grin as he rushed one of the four vessels that had tried to cut him off. He dropped to his knees and slid to avoid the sweep of its sword.
Simon spun and kicked out a foot to get back up to his feet and continue his run. He blinked and nearly stumbled as the action just… happened?
He didn’t have time to think as another weapon was coming for his throat. Another of the vessels had closed in.
That momentary pause had been too much. Simon misjudged the swing of the axe, and it was going to hit.
Simon tensed himself in the moment and moved.
He blurred as he rocketed past the vessel and kept up his run.
Wait. What?!
Simon kept running, but his mind whirled. He glanced down at his arm, and he couldn’t believe it. There was no cut.
He had dodged it.
Another creature blocked his path. Simon glanced behind him as his fingers continued to pluck the strings of the ukulele.
Shit.
He needed to get past this one, too.
And then he was.
Simon couldn’t help but slow his run, his eyes blinking rapidly. He looked back at the dumb expression on the vessel that had just swung at air.
HUH!?
He glanced up at Maelis.
The smith looked confused.
Simon felt confused.
Everyone was confused.
Simon tore forward as his feet moved below him.
Just show me the effect. Come on, system, short and sweet.
——————————
> Steps of the Shifting Echo
> Effect: Your intent guides your movement, even when your mind cannot. The body will act to fulfil the will behind the step.
——————————
“Holy SHIT!”
Simon shoved his weight into his left foot as he shoved himself to the side to avoid the grasping fingers of a Vessel. The circle had closed in on him.
Intent. Intent! Okay, okay, okay. I DON’T WANT TO GET FUCKING CHAUGHT.
Simon moved, his legs glowing as he pumped more into his Anima Control. Three of the vessels had cornered him, and Simon rushed towards the opening.
Then he nearly face planted as his feet yanked beneath him and his body whipped around as he spun to run in the complete opposite direction.
The movement wasn’t complex, but Simon hadn’t done something like that before. He dropped to his knees and once again slid past the axe wielder.
“Not even close!” Simon said with a laugh as he scrambled to his feet and shot off.
But the circle of Vessels had closed. There was no way out.
He had less than a minute before he would run out of room to run. Simon had really hoped they were going to do something other than this current strategy. There was just no way he could see to get past the encirclement without coming in range of steel or hands.
Could he just… run past them?
He glanced at the hulking creatures.
There was no way.
If it came to that, he would try it, but…
His fingers plucked out the final notes of Riptide, and Simon instantly started playing it again. He didn’t know another song well enough to mindlessly play it wh–
*Thrumm*
Simon stumbled, and the note held in the air as he paused. He stared down at the ukulele.
He plucked the next notes. The horrible rendition of Riptide continued. But he could hear it.
The thrumming sound of his skill.
Simon picked up the pace and frantically sped up his playing. Notes flew from the instrument as he dodged another attack and wove around them.
The thrumming kept growing with every note.
Come on, come on, build up faster
He snuck a glance at the closest Vessel in the circle.
It was holding its hands on its head, covering its ears.
Simon quickly swept the area. All of the vessels near him were holding their hands to their heads.
His fingers blurred as his playing grew faster and faster.
The vessels chasing him slowed.
“What are you doing!” Maelis screamed.
One of the vessels in the circle fell to its knees, its face in agony as it held its hands to its head.
*DING!*
Simon swept the notification from his vision and made a mad dash towards the kneeling creature.
“STOP HIM!” Maelis screamed, then his eyes rolled.
The creature to the side of the one kneeling did the eye roll snap and then moved to block Simon.
DODGEEEEE
Simon screamed to himself as he charged it. Two others ripped their hands from their heads and reached for him.
It was going to cut down his chest and the instrument he held.
Simon spun at the last moment, and the sword slashed down his back. He felt the blade slice into him, but his body doubled over as he stepped close to the sword user.
He strummed his ukulele and dove past.
Blood trailed him as he rocketed up the mountainside towards the portal. He dodged to the side as he heard a whistling wind, and a hammer flew past. A quick glance back confirmed Maelis was sprinting after him.
Reckless Momentum engaged, yet the short man was gaining.
Simon didn’t care. He was out of the circle and happily nearing the end of his second playthrough of Riptide.
The final screeching note echoed across the mountainside, and Simon started it again.
*Thrummmmmm*
Simon laughed, his brain woozy from the blood loss as he kept playing and running. He felt a growing empty feeling as Anima Control continued to suck whatever it did from him.
For a brief moment, he was by himself. He raced towards the portal as he tried to think of what he was going to do.
Maelis was gaining on him.
He needed more time. Or he needed this effect to be bigger. Or…
Simon pulled on his summoning skill.
*POP!*
He fumbled a few notes as the guitar slammed into him. He barely slowed as he whipped the ukulele back towards Maelis, then grabbed the guitar.
His fingers strummed.
The notes blasted out, the thrumming growing in power.
Simon spun around and ran backwards as he grinned at Maelis.
“Realm Rocker is pleased to announce the ROCK cover of Riptide!” He bellowed back.
Snow danced around him as the guitar squealed out note after note. Simon’s grin got even larger as he saw dawning comprehension on Maelis’s face.
“You damned FOOL!” Maelis screamed as the smith gained on him. “It’ll kill you too!”
“Oh yeah!” Simon’s wild eyes met the Yoreboon. “But damn, is it going to be one hell of a show! HAHAHAHAHA!”
Simon faced forward and zig-zagged, dodging whistling hammer after hammer.
“Come on, shorty! This tour is just getting started!” Simon screamed as he tore past the portal and up the mountain. His legs pumped under him as he dodged to the side as Maelis swung for him.
Simon tore across the side of the mountain, his voice booming out as he screamed what he thought were the lyrics.
“Babyyyyy Running down to the riptideeee. Taken away to the light side, I wanna be your hummm drummm plannnnn”
—— ? ——
“Is… that music?!” Jorik asked in disbelief from his place on the wall. The ballista bolts had stopped minutes ago, and the faint sound of cracks and booms had come from the mountainside. Then there was nothing.
Kurda squinted through a spyglass. “Oie don’t… know…”
Then he spotted it. Movement up on the mountainside.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Kurda said. “It’s him. What der’ hell is he doing there?”
Floppy ears, guitar in hand, madly dashing across the snow. He grimaced as he saw the trail of red that followed the man.
“Who?” Jorik snapped.
“Simon.”
The gathered people all looked at Kurda, then back out toward the mountain.
Beside him, Ryne shuddered. “On all the stars. I know that sound… But why?!”
Kurda stopped looking and handed the spyglass to Jorik. The guard snatched it with a nod, then peered through it.
Kurda’s face frowned as he stared out at the mountainside. What…
His eyes went wide. He turned to Ryne. “Ryne, how fast can we reinforce der’ roofs?”
Startled, Ryne looked at him. “What?”
But Kurda was already thundering off. “The roofs, Ryne! The Roofs!”
The big man started bellowing, “Everyone! Get inside! Now! In as few buildin’s as wer’ can!”
“Kurda, what's going on?!” Ryne yelled as she chased after him.
“Roofs! Ryne Roofs! Reinforce dem! Now!”
“KURDA!” Ryne caught up to him and hooked his belt. “Explain!”
The big man paused, turning to her. “When we were in der’ tunnels, that crazy man Simon used a skill that built up and nearly buried us.”
Jorik caught up with them with the other guards.
“And?” Ryne asked. “What does that have to do with roofs?!”
“What if he could use der’ skill with his awful playing?”
Ryne froze, her eyes widening.
“Oh shit,” Jorik said from her left. “If that worked… in all the hells..” Jorik’s gaze snapped to the barrier above. “How much can that stop?!”
“EVERYONE GET INSIDE NOW! AVALANCHE INCOMING,” Ryne screamed as she shot away. “ROOFS, KURDA, ROOFS!”
Everyone scattered as people pushed and shoved towards the nearest large building.
Except for one man.
Marden the healer watched from the shadows on the wall. His eyes were locked on the mountain and glowed with light.
—— ? ——
In his divine realm, Melodian the Magnificent watched through the gifted construct. He was going to have to find something nice to give the goddess of living records.
His smile grew as he heard the words of the townsfolk. He didn’t even mind the discordant notes drifting down off the mountain.
“Absolutely insane.”
His eyes locked on the scene. He couldn’t take them off it.
“Maybe I was wrong about you,” Melodian muttered. “Seems you can perform.”
His eyes glowed as he took in every detail. “And this will be one to remember.”
—— ? ——
Varnholt turned into a buzz of activity as the growing sound of Vance Joy’s Riptide slowly fell on the town.
Outside its walls, enemies fled and scrambled as they tried to make their way back to the portal.
On a mountainside over town, a crazed man in a bunny onesie belted out verse after verse as his fingers danced on his guitar.
THRUMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Far above, an Aurora Hopper exploded from a bank of snow and dashed frantically away.
The bank of snow started to slide as the mountain rumbled.
—— ? ——
