Chapter 277, 1/2, Jane

Chapter 277, 1/2, Jane

From the desk of Erick Flatt, to whom it may concern:

A single day has passed since that unfortunate interruption of the start of the war, but here we are, back at it again! Many of you might have noticed that I have been all over the place recently, and mostly in the sky. If you looked out there right now you would probably see me in at least 5 places at once.

That is because I am in at least 5 places at once, but I am also here, on Veird.

Im a fae, now. That means something, I am sure.

What means more, is that Plan Surround and Consume is working. I have been fighting the Primal Lightning out there at every step of the way, and that has probably looked strange to everyone here, with Lightning happening where it ought not to happen and then suddenly not happening at all. In some places, the Red Lightning even flowed backwards.

Thats the nature of a Wizard War.

Nothanganathors attempts to disrupt the plan are just that; disruptions. We are winning, and I have spent about 3 weeks doing that sort of winning for us, while less than a day has passed here on Verid.

Soon it will be time for everyone else to step up to the line and take their swing. And it wont be hopeless! It wont be a death sentence, as some of you are saying.

We have big plans for those of you that wish to fight. I am writing this letter to tell you that you have the full capability to rise up and fight yourselves After a little bit of help from the Pantheon and House Benevolence and myself.

Weve already begun deployments of that power among many people. I am sure many of you receiving this letter have heard of that. Well tell you all more in the following week.

As for the current events of the war, all that Lightning you see coming from the Edge of the Scheme of Fenrir are 90% automatic attack magics. Nothanganathor is, of course, actively throwing each bolt and I am directly fighting against him in a contest of wills each time, but the contest of wills is, so far, a routine series of attacks, and I am easily able to counter all of Nothanganathors bolts of Primal Lightning.

Is he lulling us into a false sense of security?

Perhaps.

I am not going to take the bait and commit to a larger attack at this moment. Plan Surround and Consume is perhaps a day or five away from completion. It is going slower than it had in the beginning, because the system was getting bigger. A lot bigger. And that necessitates a whole bunch of coordination magics and the complete revamping of the Northern Spellsurge Mountains into a singular focus.

Currently, the planetoids are crashing into sunlights and devouring them, to become sunlights themselves and light up the void for all the people on Fenrir, forming a net of interconnected planetoids that are both generating mana mostly Benevolence and actively suppressing Malevolence in the area.

The growth is already spiraling hard. One planet has become two, and those two each made another planet, making 4, which then doubled again, to 8. We slowed down the rampant growth to add more stabilization to the system, to make the planetoids grow into true planets, larger and more solid in their construction.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

Soon, they will envelop the whole of Fenrir.

The calculation to that deadline is kinda simple.

The entire outer surface area of Fenrir in square kilometers is calculated by the surface area of a sphere, which is A=4r^2, at a radius of around 150 million kilometers. Meaning Fenrir is around 3x10^17 million square kilometers. The distance between the surface of Fenrir and the height of the Seeds is mostly negligible, so the space the Seeds have to cover is pretty much 3x10^17 million square kilometers.

Each Seed is spaced out from each other Seed at a distance roughly equal to the distance that used to exist between Veird and its moons, meaning each Seed is covering a sphere of the sky over Fenrir that was more easily calculated based on the simple area of a circle, which is A=r^2. So at a radius of 380,000 kilometers, that means that one Seed, when fully grown, covers about 4.5x10^11 square kilometers.

We dont want the Seeds to simply be a single layer deep, though, with no ability to bolster each other. And so, we have plotted for triple coverage; making the necessary area to cover three times as large as the original 3x10^17 number. Or 9x10^17.

Figuring out how many moons we need is a simple calculation of:

9/4.5 and 10^(17-11)

or

2x10^6

Or 2,000,000 planetoids.

Which is about 21 doublings.

Not too much, really! We could have done that in a single day, because each Seed is already repaying back the mana used to cast it in under an hour.

Each planet is easily paying for itself and every other planet down the line. If we were deploying this system on our own, without the threat of Nothanganathor out here, then we could have had some rather exponential growth and land creation.

At 15 hours into Plan Surround and Consume, the [Seeds of Atunir] had reached 10 doublings. Over a thousand Seeds. The next doubling came in at 17 hours, making over 2000 Seeds.

I have been out fighting the Red and securing the Seeds for 3 subjective weeks, but only for a single Veird-day. At 24 hours, when this note was written, we were at 15 doublings, or 33,000-ish planets.

The 2,000,000 mark is not very far at all.

Pray for our success, and know that you are contributing to our success.

If you are a True Believer of Atunir, as is natural, then come to the Spellsurge Mountains and pray for our success yourselves. Leave your uteruses behind if you dont want to get pregnant, though. Check with the clergy of Atunir if you are safe to approach, or not. Or, if you do wish for pregnancy, then come on up here and achieve a dream.

In a week, after Plan Surround and Consume is finished, there will be Very Big News about empowering people to fight for Veird themselves, and its not that update to all the Benevolence Spells out there that some of you have already noticed. Its so much more than that. You will have the power to affect your world, on your own terms. Soon.

Sincerely,

Erick Flatt

- -

So how about that letter from my father? Jane asked, as she lay beside Sitnakov, in her rooms beside the Blue Corps headquarters in ArKendrithyst.

Sitnakov, white as snow, breathed deep, his chest expanding far and then falling down as he breathed out, thinking. Jane lay there with him, his arm around her body, both of them not doing much of anything at all. He was warm and solid as metallic flesh. His solidity usually didnt faze Jane but she was still feeling a little weak from her Personal Script, inundating her body and transforming how she interacted with the world, so there was a soft comforter between some of where they touched.

Her Personal Status had filled up completely and she had even switched over to it a few times, but mostly not. It was still tender. Still made her body freak out in little ways. Rozeta had prescribed rest for at least a day, and so, Jane was doing that.

Sitnakov had come to her to talk about the letter, but then one thing had led to another and now they were here, in bed together.

Yeah That letter. He offered me a Personal Script. Didnt take. He offered it to a lot of people He said hed announce it in a week, but its already out there. Talk about lighting a signal fire.

Jane laughed at that. He really did light a fire, didnt he.

He did. A pause. You got the PS, right?

I did. Made me a bit weaker, as you can tell, but its already better. Be fully better by tomorrow. Maybe 5 hours.

Sitnakov let out a sigh of relief, his big chest deflating some. Good. I like you being sturdy.

Jane smiled at that. Being called sturdy wasnt every girls dream, but she liked it a whole lot when Sitnakov said it.

Silence took over the warm room, and it was nice.

Softly, Sitnakov asked, Want to go see the Northern Mountains?

Kinda, but Im supposed to stay away from great magical influences. Jane poked Sitnakovs chest. It was like poking adamantium that was trying so very hard to be flesh. You can be an exception.

Sitnakov chuckled. He craned his neck a little to look at her, asking, We should probably stay away from the Fertility Goddesss grand ritual, anyway. Wouldnt want our handholding to end up with you pregnant.

Ha! We cant have Jane had been about to say that they couldnt have kids anyway, but I suppose, me being a dragon would bridge half of the gap, but you being a True Wizard could also Hmm. Is that enough to bridge a gap? Even with you being wrought? We hadnt really ever talked Hmm.

As Jane talked, Sitnakov gave a soft chuckle. Jane loved that deep, warm sound.

And then Jane realized.

Her heart beat hard.

Oh.

Shit.

Was this a Big Conversation?

Jane realized this might be a Big Conversation.

Sitnakov had asked about visiting the ritual site, and then kids, and now...

Sitnakov said, Weve been doing this for a while now. I think I love you. Would you ever want to have kids?

Jane had an eternal moment, laying there against Sitnakov. Her heart raced. Her head felt heavy and light at the same time. She had to check herself to make sure she wasnt having some sort of cascading biological reaction that could end up with her dead, or worse. She even brought up her Personal Script to see if there was a problem.

Jane Flatt, [35] [Current Location: Layer 789; Veird, year 1453]

Mana split; Soul, Body, Mind: 59%, 31%, 9% [Full!]

Reson allocation rate: 1%

Darkness Level: Archmage

Fractal Level: Blind

Benevolence Level: Store Manager

Soul: 114; 721,500 per day / 8.3 per second

Body: 60

Mind: 19

Overall Stability: [+8.2, -0]

Mp: 114,000/114,000, [+4.9, -0]

Hp: 60,000/60,000, [+2.5, -0]

Pp: 19,000/19,000, [+1.5, -0]

Resons: 100/100, [+.1 = +.01, -0]



There was no problem there.

One thing that Jane really liked about this new Status is that it told her when things were wrong, and what kind of danger she faced. One thing she did not like about it was that she was still figuring the whole thing out. It wasnt very cooperative

Jane? Sitnakov asked, quietly.

I know I love you, Jane said, the words coming easily. My body was just acting weird.

Sitnakov breathed deep, gasping a little and then he heard the rest of Janes words. Sorry. You said to take it easy

No no Youre fine. Nothing happened Well. Yeah. Jane huffed a laugh. You threw me for a loop. But Yeah. Jane looked up at Sitnakovs face. He looked at her, questioningly. Jane said, Yeah. I want kids eventually, if thats actually on the table. I didnt know that you did, though.

Sitnakov relaxed and tensed in equal measure as he smiled brightly. Yeah, I do. And Id like to have them with you.

Jane asked, What would they even be, though? Adamantium wrought? Orcol-sized dragonkin? Human?

Sitnakov declared, Adamantium wrought. I think I could swing it. There would be some rituals to get it done. Wrought reproduction is not like fleshy peoples Well. It is, in some respects. Some.

Jane snorted a laugh. It better not exclude all the fun parts.

Of course not!

Sitnakov did not elaborate, though.

Youre not going to elaborate?

Nope. Not until were married and praying to Atunir. Sitnakov waggled his eyebrows. Unless you want to go visit the northern mountains and give both our dads heart attacks?

Jane smiled at that. Come on. She sat up and got up, saying, Now you got me wanting to go see it. Im ditching the uterus though while were up there.

Sitnakov seriously nodded. That might prevent pregnancy.

Ha! Might?

Its a big fucking ritual, Jane. Sitnakov stared off at nothing for a moment. Its He looked to Jane. I really do want to go see it with you.

Big sights get my blood pumping too, big guy. She added, And I guess I can just morph into a dude for a whil mmrph!

Sitnakov rose from bed and wrapped Jane in a hug, kissing her deeply. Jane did the same for him.

The moment lasted longer than either of them expected it to last, and it was great.

Jane was in love.

Finally, breathlessly, Jane was in love, and the man she loved loved her back. Suddenly she started crying and laughing and Sitnakov asked what was wrong and they ended up back in the bed, talking small words that were so very large.

- - - -

Jane stepped out of a portal alongside a deployment from the Blue Corps and House Benevolence.

Sunny, Kiris [Familiar], eyed them all, and then bounced in place. The little girl was shaped like a long dragon these days, Kiri having long abandoned the couatl-disguise that her [Familiar] used to wear all the time, since she herself was a dragon. Sunny shut the big [Gate] that had taken the team here, and then briefly bounced in the air in front of Jane and Sitnakov.

Thanks for the ride, Kiri. Sunny.

Sunny twirled and then vanished into a little [Gate] perfectly sized for her, vanishing like an illuminated noodle sucked into a white hole.

Karonditus, the engineer team leader of this excursion, asked them, So we dont need to care about having you here, right? Youre not in charge right now?

Correct, Jane said.

The Blue Corps was a conglomeration of various political entities that was less like a real power, and more like an organizational structure, making sure everyone knew what was happening. Karonditus was technically from House Benevolence, and he was here with a bunch of tech to settle some of the overloading problems of this Seed Ritual up here at the Spellsurge Mountains.

Such a thing would have taken maybe 5 people, with some cartloads of stuff.

They had 37 people in their entourage. No one had wanted to deny the leave of those who wanted to come up here to see the largest magic on Veird since the creation of Fenrir.

Jane said, Were here to see the sight as pilgrims, just like all these extra people in your over-inflated team.

Karonditus chuckled. What do you mean, sir Oh. Uh. Is it maam? Or What?

Jane said, Whatever you want.

Jane had needed to get rid of her uterus to visit this place safely, so she did that with [Perfect Polymorph], allowing her to assume the guise of a man she referred to as Jake. Sitnakov was just himself, standing to the side, all white instead of black.

The Northern Spellsurge Mountains loomed a few kilometers ahead, like craggy walls of silvered rock. A pass in the mountains was the road into the various facilities inside, and thats where thousands of pilgrims walked into the place, under a glittering golden sky.

The natural auroras of this northern pole had long since vanished ever since the day of Fenrir, when the Shells of adamantium layered over Veirds original Surface. They had only been in existence for 10 years before that, though, because they required a magnetosphere and Veird didnt have one until Janes father had drawn up plans for one.

The auroras were back, though, and different. Golden hues filled the world overhead like a dance of sparks and a wash of mist. And down here, the songs of priests echoed in the mountains, like an open-air church.

It was an absolute miracle of an experience.

Candice laughed loudly. I didnt manage it, but Evan is having luck with that. Have you not poked at it at all!?

Oh Bah! Well Good for him. I mostly managed to get it set up nicely. Jane mentally flicked the air. See?

Words appeared.

Mp: 114,000/114,000, [No Ongoing Damage]

Hp: 60,000/60,000, [No Ongoing Damage]

Pp: 19,000/19,000, [No Ongoing Damage]

Battle readout.

Candice raised eyebrows. Thats how you set that up? How about this No. wait. This is what you need to see first. I did manage this much.

Mana: 112,000/112,000, [Protecting Health + Psyche]

Health: 63,000/63,000, [Protecting Psyche]

Psyche: 17,000/17,000

Candice said, Thats the full readout, but the actual battle readout is this one:

192/192 [Clear]

Jane stared at the absolutely tiny Status. It was beautiful. What the fuck All those numbers that came before it were indicative of something truly amazing going on, too. Some sort of pool stacking So that one covered the other? You can do any of that? Have one pool protect the others? I didnt Hmm.

Candice smiled wide.

Are you making one pool protect the Obviously youre making one pool protect all the others.

Not quite. Candice said, Im making Mana protect everything until I get low, then they share damage equally.

Jane almost asked how she had done that, but then her thoughts caught up with her. But then you take a big hit and you lose a massive hunk of mana?

Candice nodded. Yeah. I thought of that problem too, so... You know how Dad talked about Benevolence flowing away and then coming back? Im trying to accrete for that specific ability, to make it easier for me to ignore Wizardry and fight on the front lines... She paused. Have you asked your Personal Script to do anything for you yet? Anything big, I mean.

Jane shook her head. Ive been in meetings and with Sitnakov and doing all sorts of Blue Corps stuff, and its only been a day.

Candice smiled wide. I suppose thats the benefit of not taking responsibility for others. I got all the time I want to break this Personal Script wide open. Gotta have something to do when I cant go on the frontlines and there arent any dungeons to break..

Ehhh yeah. Its been kinda not fun, has it? Jane added, a bit too strongly, a bit too mocking, But its been great for the world!

Candice was right there with her, Gods know that the best thing for people to do is paperwork!

Jane snorted.

So how big is your Benevolence Mark? Im labeled as a New Hire.

Store Manager.

Ha!

Still smiling, Jane finished putting on her armor. Have you had any real luck breaking your Personal Script? I tried asking it to give me a billion mana, and it simply did nothing.

Candice shrugged. Its kinda weird. Non-helpful? But still helpful, in its own way? I think I need to upgrade my Fractal Mark level up to anything more than Blind and itll be able to tell me more or something. Everyone Ive spoken with has their Fractal Mark as Blind. She paused. I havent asked any Mind Mages, though? Have you?

Jane shook her head. Havent done much of anything with power experimentation.

It had literally only been 24 hours since this whole Personal Script business started But Jane supposed they were in a war, and things were moving fast for those of them who had nothing else to do except explore themselves and figure out new ways to kill things. Candice was seriously gifted in that art in a way that Jane had always thought she had been, but Candice took it a step further. Candice was also alone most of the time, though, so there was a trade off.

Jane was happy with her current life except for all the war, of course.

Jane looked up at a readout hanging beside the door. Dungeon Readiness: 94% and ETA: 0h27m. She said, Is 27 minutes enough time to check out my Personal Script more?

You could spend a century talking to your Personal Script, Candice said, very strongly. Its Its so much more than I ever thought it could be. So do some soul searching meditation to reach it, and speak to it. To them. Not accretion meditation, mind you. Soul searching meditation. And then Candice dropped the seriousness in her voice and flipped a hand, saying, Just meditate on it and see if you can do anything broken. Like how about making a [Time Stop]? Unless you got Blessed by Phagar when I wasnt looking, then neither of us should have that one.

Jane smiled a little. Ive always wanted [Haste].

Bah! You always go for the chicken shit magic. Go big!

Jane rolled her eyes.

Sit down and meditate! Ill poke you when its time to go.

Candice was acting kinda weird about this because usually shed be gnawing at the doors wanting to start the dungeon. She seemed more excited about the Personal Script than the dungeon...

So Jane sat down in the prep room and closed her eyes.

- -

Just when Jane was about to give up with soul-searching meditation seriously, she was never that good at this, and this was the wrong environment for it Jane felt the world fall away. She almost woke up because she realized she was asleep, and yet she wasnt asleep at all.

It was that space between being asleep and awake, when you could choose to wake up or to fall back into full slumber. It was there, in the dark world behind Janes eyes, that the dark turned into something more.

Blue took hold of Janes senses and drew her down a path into herself, into a dark blue room that was lit with light and yet still dim. It was another in-between space. And then, she was there.

Jane stood in a room with a dark-blue hologram of herself.

The hologram spoke, Greetings, User. I am your Personal Script and this is your first full-contact with me. Future contacts will be easier. Before we begin interfacing, know that the only power that I can grant you is what you make yourself. Make a spell, and I will codify it for you. That is my primary capability. All other capabilities of mine can be explained through conversation. Please ask your questions now.

Jane had no idea where to really begin. So she began with Candices ideas about covering weaknesses and resource pool condensation. I want to set up my Status so my strengths cover my weaknesses. Can you help me with that?

Probably.

Probably?

Do you know how to make your strengths cover your weaknesses? Youve gotten a lot of help from this thing Im sensing is called the Script, but youve picked all the low-hanging fruit from that that you can, and how much of that power is your own, anyway? Do you know how any of this works at all?

Jane was almost floored, but then she paused, and she laughed in that pause. Oh shit. This is Yeah. Okay. Let me try: I want all damage to impact the resource pools I have, which are the largest, so that my smaller resource pools are preserved.

Sure, if thats what you want. How, though?

Jane blinked. Arent you supposed to be Im not sure. Helpful?

I am helpful, but you have no idea what youre doing, so Im goading information out of you in order to get you to do what you want to do. I cant actually give you power, or much of anything. The Script does that for you, and even in that case you have to talk to someone to get you started and you still have to get your power yourself. As I explained, I codify what you are already capable of doing. Or what you do. So do something, and I will codify it.

Okay okay okay, Jane said, and then she paused in thought. Okay Can you tell me what I can do with a Benevolence Mark?

According to what you know, Benevolence makes things work out in your favor.

Does it do that for me? Give me I dont know. Luck?

Not really, as far as you know.

Are you only able to know things that I actually know?

I dont know what you dont know, yeah.

Jane paused for a second. Dad had made this Personal Script to give power to the people, and yet Hmm. This was not helping Jane gain power to overcome Wizardry and other powers. But maybe she was just going at the problem wrong?

She tried, I have to fight a Wizard for the good of the realm and probably the universe. Does that unlock any more capabilities?

The hologram paused.

It glitched

The hologram came back brilliant white and rainbows. Her voice was the sound of the world speaking directly in Janes ears, I hear you want to save everyone. I can help with that. Here are some options for you to pursue:

Words appeared.

Armor of Protection

Sight Beyond Sight

Fateweaverss Luck

They are exactly as you expect them to be, except not that at all, and I cannot simply grant them to you. What I will do is attempt to set things up to allow you to figure them out yourself. The speed at which you can create any of these is measured by your Benevolence Mark level, which currently sits at Store Manager. I cannot give you a time estimate for any of them, but I can tell you that Armor of Protection will be the easiest one for you to realize how to make yourself.

Oh.

So it was like that, eh?

Jane was beginning to understand this whole thing better. She also guessed that Candice had picked Armor of Protection.

Did Candice have a larger list of options, or a smaller list?

Hmm.

Other questions needed to be answered first, though.

Jane asked, Why did you switch to Benevolence white and start being helpful?

You were speaking to your Personal Script before, born of the trio of Dark, Fractal, and Benevolence, and seen through the lens of yourself. They are little more than enablers to what you can already do. The Dark is an insane wash of power untold, so good luck dealing with her. I suggest you visit her eventually, but dont stick around. Fractal is a little better, but shes blind. Speak with her and see if you can become something more than blind. I am your Benevolent Reflection, only a third of the power behind your Personal Script. I am in tune with the needs of the world, and through those needs, I can give you strength. Considering what is coming down the line we have a lot of work to do. In less dire situations I will likely be less helpful than the other two, unless you were truly strong in Benevolence.

There was a lot of fantastic information there.

Jane asked, What does being strong in Benevolence look like? What would I need to be for you to always be this helpful?

The leader of a nation of millions or more, who desires to make that nation stronger through Benevolence, or anyone headed in that direction either through fate or personal choice and desire, will unlock me at my full capability at all points in time. Someone truly versed in the Fractal might have better luck pursuing that sort of power. The Dark is the Dark, and good luck with that, though they do give out the most power, so me saying good luck with that is not being dismissive. I really do mean good luck with that, because you will get power, but it might not be what you need or want. Janes Benevolent Mark said, Anything smaller than national-level only activates me to the level you are experiencing now when the threat is large enough that the whole realm is in danger She glanced away, then turned back to Jane. Pick a desired power and mana-alter your mana to Benevolence as much as you can in the following battles for it will be able shield you from reality-based alterations better than what you are currently capa

A soft voice called from outside the room, and something pressed against Janes shoulder.

Benevolence rapidly added, I might be able to help you make a second one later! But pick a starter now!

Jane already knew which one she was picking. Armor of Protection. I pick that one.

And then Jane woke up.

- -

Jane blinked several times as the world came back into focus.

Candice was there, looking at her, grinning. Did you manage anything?

Jane glanced at the air, where some letters hung outside of a box that only she could see.

Current Benevolence Focus: [Armor of Protection]

Unlocked! Wizardry Resistance! Utilize Elemental Benevolence in all your workings against ultimate threats and parts of that Benevolence will cling to you, to shield you against reality alterations. Base Benevolence Mark affords full protection against level Wizardry. Warning! Does not work against basic damage. Only reality altering.

WR: 1%

Jane asked, What does a Wizardry Resistance of 1% even mean?

Candice smiled wide. Fuck if I know! I bet the faux-Wizard might trigger it, though, so lets go find out.

- - - -

Jane walked into the command center of the Glittering Depths dungeon of Greensoil.

Her father stood with Quilatalap and a few others, while Fyuri was at the controls. The special deployment of the Third Floor was almost ready, and there were so many things about this that Janes father didnt like, but which he had chosen to accept anyway. It was fine that he was worried, but Jane had been here while he had been gone, and the people who worked here were good people.

Jane knew most of the story of this land through secondary sources, since her father hadnt spoke of much of it while he had been here, and then he had been gone for two years, before he came back and then it was Margleknot Margleknot Margleknot all until a few days ago, when the War started for real. Jane knew about Dungeon Master Rebeccas true nature as an original inhabitant of this dungeon, and how her real name was Fyuri. Rebecca was good at her job, and she didnt need to make a dungeon slime repro to become dungeon master here, since she was born here.

Jane thought her a rather competent dungeon master.

Rebecca caught sight of Jane as she stepped into the command center. She poked at the controls, dictating the scenario, but she looked up long enough to say, Were about a minute from start. All systems are blue. That bar over there shows the level of worry we should be having over this false Wizard turning real, and its reading 1% She glanced at Erick. Itll never go below that. It might jump and fall 3 or 4 points at a time. Anything over 50% we stop the scenario. Usually it bounces around, and especially if the false Wizard starts seeing stuff that shouldnt happen. Simply resisting his attacks does not set him off.

That was enough to answer Janes questions even before she asked them, and a few more besides, but Rebecca was obviously focused on Erick more than her. Jane had a more personable relationship with the people of Glittering Depths, but Ericks memories of this land and Fyuris memories and all that previous-life stuff was

Was something Jane just didnt want to think about, so she didnt.

Jane asked, How are Atunirs prayer systems helping with stability?

Rebecca loved that question, because it allowed her to grin and happily say, The ritual in the north is doing amazing things for the scenario. The Faux Wizard today will be strong, but the dungeon is even stronger. Easily 10 times as much.

Erick spoke up, Good.

He gripped Quilatalaps hand a bit tighter, and Quilatalap squeezed back.

Jane ignored that.

Rebecca asked, Shall we proceed, Wizard Flatt? Delve Master Jane Flatt?

I just came in to make sure everything was going well. Jane said, Ill head to start.

Erick didnt answer. He just smiled a little, and breathed.

Rebecca said, Ill start the countdown when you are in position, when you say ready.

The screens flickered a bit as the [Scry] cameras moved around and focused on empty lands all around the unmoving Siphon. In the normal Scenario, the Siphon was a kilometer-tall thing of silver metal and cutting edges, sitting in a wasteland of rock. It was broken, and the people of the other land were trying to fix it, so they could continue Siphoning away the world, stealing it and making it their own.

In this closer-to-real scenario, the Siphon was a 10-kilometer tall construct of twisted silver with a Wizard floating around on top. This version of The Third Floor, The Broken Siphon was more like The Third Floor The very-much-working Siphon, and this one was actively eating away at the land. That land then turned into power to flow across the void to the imperialist world. In both scenarios, though, the destruction of the Mana Siphon was the main goal of the Third Floor of the Glittering Depths.

This version had a Malevolent Wizard at the top.

It was a little extra addition that made this scenario actually worth running by outsiders training to fight Wizardry and such, like Jane today.

Quilatalap eagerly said, I havent seen anyone make it past the front rotors until True Wizard Sitnakov tried this last month. He stopped before he made it within a kilometer of the false Wizard and they risked another Event.

Gods, Erick muttered, as he squeezed Quilatalaps hand and held it. People get up to crazy shit all the time, eh?

Quilatalap chuckled.

Jane headed to start.