Lone: The Wanderer

Lone and Soph reappeared above Golden Pass city at the top of one of the two valleys the massive city was nestled between.

"It took me convincing a fae spirit to bend some rules so I could teleport to the capital of the Farwinds and then I had to run for days as fast I could to cover the same distance. Fuck did I miss your Teleportation. A few skill uses, a couple of seconds, and boom! We've arrived," Lone commented.

"I'm still not happy that you flirted with that woman," Soph pouted.

"Ah, c'mon, Fear-iarraidh an Tùir is a spirit. I didn't even consider her gender when I was talking to her, not in that way. Anyway, can anyone sense you from this far? City's real pretty from up here," Lone replied.

He took in the sight that was the entire city and it sparkled in his eyes. Mage towers that reaching for the skies, sprawling living quarters, endless rows of stores that sold all sorts of things, mansions housing the city's most powerful residents, walls sturdy enough to stop the assault of an endless flood of monsters, guilds and institutions of countless purposes, and, of course, the enormity of the royal family's palace.

It was magnificent. It wasn't every day one got to look at a city that housed millions of people in its totality like this.

Soph's pout lessened a bit before she replied. "No, I can barely 'see' the city from here, but no one in my range saw me. It was good to check. I don't know if some other skill can see my sensing range though like that dwarf assassin, but none of the usual suspects turned to look in my direction, so their ability isn't as good as Mana Sensing."

"Which says a lot since some of them are X-rankers like Master Mezro'nan while Mana Sensing is only scaling to B-rank right now. We'll improve that soon, but test over, I'd reckon. Where are the kids and is Breena okay?" Lone asked.

Soph pointed to one of the dozens of towers in one of the districts of the distant city. It was quite impressive looking despite being so small from up here.

The tower didn't really stand out when compared to the dozen other towers that clearly belonged to a mage but it was a sight to see nonetheless. It was a status symbol for someone to be rich and powerful enough to afford such a structure in a city like this one.

"There," Soph said. "Breena's fine. She's fighting Hazel and her friends all at the same time. Master Mezro'nan is watching over them. It looks like everyone ranked up except for the muscly one."

"Scott? He was already an H-ranker, so that makes sense. I see Master Mezro'nan has been taking his job seriously. I only suggested he should help the kids improve, not that he was obligated to. Glad to hear they've all graduated from I-rank. And Breena overcame her barrier. Shame we couldn't be there for that, but it is what it is. She's finally a D-ranker now," he commented thoughtfully.

'I hope they don't resent me for leaving for so long and on so little notice. It was justified given if I died, everything would have ended so we needed to go into hiding, but still, they're kids. Hazel will probably resent me over this,' he repeated one of his recurring worries from his spell of hiding to himself.

Lone squeezed Soph's hand and said, "Let's teleport into their training area and watch them fight. I assume it's a friendly spar since Master Mezro'nan is watching. Anywhere you can get us in that'll keep us from being seen by the kids? Don't want to interrupt since I do wanna see their improvements."

"Sure. There's a balcony. That's where Master Mezro'nan is. If we stand in the right spot, we won't be seen, not that they're looking up there. They're all really focused on fighting," Soph replied before teleporting the two of them once more.

Lone felt a massive amount of mana that dwarfed his own supply but was nothing when compared to his girlfriend's shift reflexively before it calmed down just as fast.

His eyes adjusted and he saw Master Mezro'nan glancing up at him and Soph. "It hasss been exactly two monthsss, hasssn't it?"

Lone nodded as he looked down at the enclosed arena below where Breena wasn't even so much as struggling to fight off Hazel, Emma, Alisa, and George. Scott was giving her some trouble, however.

His eyes lingered on Hazel for a bit longer than the others. Thankfully, it didn't seem like she was using her Mind Reading currently, so she wouldn't be distracted by his mental defences being present.

"Impressive room. Did you need planning permission from the royal family to build it since it's underground?" Lone asked.

Soph didn't say anything and just sat down on the floor of the balcony while at the same time she created hundreds of tiny barriers around herself before dismissing and creating them again and again. Clearly, she wasn't very interested in what was going on and was more invested in her own training.

"No. I own the tower and everything within five metresss of it. Thisss includesss all ssspace below and above the tower, but the underground levelsss are larger on the inssside than the ssspace they actually occupy. I may be an independent mage, but I have an acquaintance who regularly employsss the ssservicesss of a rather proficient ssspace mage. They were willing to arrange an appointment between them and myssself. It took a couple of decadesss, but the wait wasss worth the extra ssspace, asss wasss the exorbitant price," the X-ranked body fortification and earth mage explained.

The scaly oversized lizard raised his brow at Soph's frivolous expenditure of MP but he wisely chose not to ask any questions.

"That's cool. I'd love to meet a space mage. Anyway, I'd like to hear your summary now," Lone said, raising his brow in surprise when he saw Emma and Hazel collapse suddenly.

"Poissson magic," Master Mezro'nan answered the unasked question. "I took the liberty of having Breena'sss needlesss enchanted with a powerful sssleeping effect originating from the poissson magic school. Thossse two are the only onesss who haven't developed a resistance to the magic yet."

"Magic and not normal poison? Why?" Lone asked.

"They usssed the real poissson yesterday. Breena hasss been instructed by me to alternate. It hasss been rather effective. And do not worry, I persssonally have been sssparring with her to ensssure ssshe too gainsss thessse valuable resssissstancesss," the X-ranker replied.

Lone nodded. "You're good. You got Teaching Mastery?"

"Yesss. It is at advanced-level-two," Master Mezro'nan replied simply. "Now, the summary. To ssstart, thingsss did not go asss I had initially planned becaussse I have been harrasssed almossst every day sssince your departure by my fellow X-ranker, Lady Carnation. If you do not recall, ssshe wasss there when I and three other X-rankersss came to invessstigate the eruption of aura in the children'sss former home."

"Ah, the one who turned into purple flowers when she fucked off. Funny name," Lone commented.

Soph spoke up and said, "She noticed me arriving thanks to some artifact or something. A feather? I dunno what it is. Anyway, she's making her way over here, but only she is. No one else. For once. She isn't in a rush, so she'll get here in, uh... ten minutes? Maybe a bit longer. She's walking."

Lone smiled slightly. "I wanna fight her... Anyway, continue."

"I ssstarted by bringing all of them to the quessst dessstination you had chosssen out for Breena'sss enlightenment. It took sssome time, but ssshe eventually ranked up well into the night. With usss already being outssside of the city, I thought it wissse to get them all to fight monssstersss to judge their combat ability, ignoring my apprentice asss he wasss ssstill unconsssciousss. I had him moved to my tower firssst. Their disssplay was disssapointed dessspite two of them having unique ssskillsss," Master Mezro'nan detailed.

'They told him about their unique skills? I guess that's their right and questions would obviously get asked about Scott's Beginner Booster.' Lone frowned.

He took a second before replying, "That's not very fair. Emotion Reading isn't usable in combat against monsters so weak they have no intelligence, which is what I assume you pitted them against. Meanwhile, while Alisa's Rift Summoning could be used for combat, it is not meant for that and has an unreasonable cooldown. George is also new combat while Hazel and Alisa are new to this planet. Emma performing poorly is, indeed, disappointing given her lightning magic."

"I know it isss Mind Reading, not Emotion Reading. I expect you will want a new contract with me to keep this information private, yesss? I do not intend to ssshare their sssecretsss with othersss, but I am willing to sssign another contract if it putsss your mind at eassse," Master Mezro'nan said.

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Lone nodded. "It would. We'll do it before we leave, thanks."

"You are welcome. Now, that wasss a fair asssesssment, however, I expected more given they know you, the man who injured Prince Keining while only being a C-ranker at the time. Regardless, the morning after we returned to the city wasss when Lady Carnation began visssiting every day asssking to talk with my chargesss. I have refusssed every time. Two monthsss isss not a long time for thossse asss old asss ssshe and I, but her patience will be ssspent ssshould I deny her for a few yearsss and I do not know if I could defeat her in combat. Essstablissshing myssself asss ssstronger than her would allow me to order her to drop the matter given how thisss city operatesss," Master Mezro'nan said.

"Continue," Lone replied with a nod.

The lizard looked up to him in doubt before doing as told. "They have all earned Physical Pain Resssissstance, Poissson Resssissstance, and Earth Magic Resssissstance. Ssscott, Breena, Alisssa, and George have also earned Poissson Magic Resssissstance. Ssscott has learned one earth magic ssskill, Pebble Ssshot."

Lone watched with interest as the sweat covered teen slid out of the way of one of Breena's needles that had be launched at him. Mid-slide he grabbed a handful of dirt and spoke some words aloud before the dirt turned into five little balls of earth magic that fired at Breena. She used one of the many daggers strapped to her body to deflect them all.

"Looks weak, but I assume it is beginner rank and Breena is used to handling much faster threats," Lone assessed.

Master Mezro'nan nodded. "Hisss ssstatsss are phenomenal, but he cannot fully control himself yet. I have sssuppresssed him via a body reinforcement magic ssspell. Otherwise, it would be him againssst the ressst, the difference being Breena can hold back, unsssupresssed, he cannot."

"What percentage of my stats did his unique skill give 'im?" Lone wondered aloud.

"10%," Master Mezro'nan answered. "10% when boosssted, not bassse."

Lone whistled in admiration. "That's more than enough to make an H-ranker explode. Damn I'm good at remaking bodies."

"Indeed you are," the X-ranker replied. "He is alssso the only perssson I know, perhapsss on the entire continent, that hasss world force dessspite not being granted a ssskill by Altrosss."

"That's gotta suck. Oh well. And the rest? Anything stands out?" Lone asked.

"George hasss earned Cooking Massstery, Breena hasss earned Dagger Massstery and Knife Massstery. A teacher for Hazel'sss mind magic affinity is due to arrive in a week for an interview to sssee if ssshe would make for a fitting apprentice. Asss implied earlier, I haven't had any luck for Alisssa'sss ssspace magic affinity dessspite knowing a practitioner of sssuch magic. Emma refusssesss a teacher, insisting you are enough on that front for her lightning magic affinity. Unfortunately, my Teaching Mastery is not ssstrong enough to have merited any further resultsss. Asss a final note, all of them except for Breena have been getting increasssingly frussstrated at not being allowed outssside of the tower without me being presssent." The lizard paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully.

After a few seconds, he said, "Hazel hasss been asssking after you to know if you are okay at leassst twice a week. It isss a bit upsssetting having to tell her 'I do not know' every time. Ssshe knew you were alive becaussse of Ssscott'sss unique ssskill, but emotionsss often ignore logic."

"I haven't been a good brother to her. I've been more like the dad that left to buy cigs only to come back 20 years later, remarry your mum, then spend so much time at work you never even see 'em despite living in the same house. That will change soon," Lone said, a deep look in his eyes.

"That made little sssenssse but I am glad to sssee you care. Isss my firssst reward prepared?" Master Mezro'nan asked, some eagerness unhidden in his tone.

"Yeah. Took me seven weeks and tens of millions of mana to make, but it is. Be thankful to your apprentice. Him doubling my MP made it possible. As for your second reward, we can go once they're done fighting, I say hi, and we deal with Lady Carnation," Lone replied.

Master Mezro'nan nodded. "More than acceptable. May I have it...?"

Lone reached into his Dimensional Storage and pulled out a set of claw coverings that were littered in illegible carvings and they glowed with a magicul thrum. "Most powerful thing I've ever made besides maybe Scott's body. Don't make me regret making it for you. And remember, it only has five uses. It probably would have cost me billions if I had to make it infinitely reusable."

"I wouldn't dare. With this, I may be able to defeat Lady Carnation and perhaps even Guildmaster Brux," Master Mezro'nan said excitedly as he slipped the device on his front feet.

'It's powerful, but not that powerful. Brux would still destroy you, I reckon,' Lone thought as he recalled the information Item Examination displayed when he had finally finished creating the claw coverings a little over a week ago.

Immortus Series 1: Mezro'nan's First Reward

The item is a set of claws made specifically for Master Mezro'nan, a Restodian Iglaform. They are perfect in every regard and were made without any flaws whatsoever. The method to do this is only reproducible by the creator, Lone Immortus.

The claws are made from the most magically conductive metal known to exist on Altros, distradium. They are sextuple enchanted. The enchantments are as follows: 1. [Soulbound]. 2. [Magic Enhancement] 3. [MP Boost] 4. [Form Fitting] 5. [Spell Storage (capacity of 5)] 6. [A Tool For A Life].

Due to how powerful the enchantments are when compared to the strength of the item, it will break after 5 uses.

Soulbound was as simple as it sounded, it made it so the claws would only work for Master Mezro'nan. Others could steal them but never use them. It would have needed a more complicated enchantment to actually bind the things to always remain at the owner's side.

Magic Enhancement passively increased the wearer's magical abilities by 1.1 times. This increasing MP, increasing spell strength, reduced skill costs, made learning new spells easier, amplified magical affinites, and a whole host of other small but cumulatively large changes.

MP Boost gave a raw boost of 300,000 MP to the wielder. It could have been more under the same enchantment, but Lone didn't want to complicate the item even further when he struggled to make it on time anyway.

Form Fitting was an enchantment he needed to apply to Sofia's armours soon since it made the item - in this case the claw coverings - change shape to match the size of the user. Master Mezro'nan could use body fortification magic so Lone was convinced he could change his body's size, making this a rather useful enchantment in his estimations.

Spell Storage was the real kicker. It was the most complicated part to enchant onto the device by far. It allowed the host to store a spell for later immediate use. It sounded simple however it was anything but. It was this enchantment that would destroy the item once it had been used five times due to how much of a strain storing a spell would put on the entire item in its current state.

Lastly, a Tool For A Life was an enchantment that make it possible to put five other enchantments on such a thing. Normally, A Tool For A Life required a sacrifice to be made, but Creation Magic could skip that brutal step, thankfully.

Lone was sure there were a million other ways to make such a device but his knowledge of enchantments was very limited, and he did not want his mana organs to be sealed again, so this was the combination he had gone with to fulfil his first part of the contract with Master Mezro'nan: Lone will provide Master Mezro'nan with a weapon that can allow Master Mezro'nan to fight evenly with XX-rankers.

It could only be used five times for such a purpose, was quite restrictive, and would likely only work on the weakest of XX-rankers or on one caught extremely off-guard, but still, he'd done as he said he would.

'It felt wrong making them with Creation Magic. How many levels in how many skills would I have gotten if I have made 'em legitimately? Tonnes, I bet. Still, should make more stuff on this level for Soph, Sophie, Breena, and the kids, when I have enough mana to waste it on this kinda thing in the future. Heck, even Kyuubi could use a suped up harness now that she's big enough for Soph to ride her,' Lone thought before he dedicated his full attention to the spar below.

'I'm running out of weapons,' Breena thought as she ducked under Alisa's quarterstaff that was aiming for her head.

At the same time, George's longspear wobbled purposefully with its leaf-head intent on skewering her left thigh. Breena didn't even have the time to dodge because a Lighting Bolt was heading towards the only route for her escape. It would seem Emma had shaken off the anesthetic poison magic, even if only just enough to crawl and cast a spell.

Scott was also rushing in her direction, his greatsword drawn. Clearly he'd ran out of MP since he'd swapped from long-range to close-range.

Breena frowned beneath her mask as she invoked, "Shadow Walker."

A fifth of her SP disappeared, making her feel a little bit weak but it was fine. She had only used the skill for a second to enter her own shadow and exit Alisa's.

The blonde hero was surprised and couldn't react accordingly when Breena grabbed her quarterstaff but both hands and pushed it up against her neck, choking her out. Breena had the higher Strength and Agility so Alisa could do nothing but wriggle about in defiance as she lost consciousness.

"Shadow Walker." Expending another 1,000 SP, Breena appeared next to Emma and then punched her in the side of the head, knocking her out for the final time.

'I have about 700 SP left. To think I could beat them all when I had less than 2,000, now with just over 5,000 I need it all to even stand a chance. Still, I won't be losing today,' Breena thought.

She ignored George who was busy regaining his balance after his stab had hit nothing but air and instead rushed for Scott. He, likewise, changed his course to match hers.

Within seconds the two were upon one-another. Scott swung his sword in a wide arc as if he intended to cleave Breena in two. She dropped to her knees, sliding across the floor. At the same time, she draw two of her three remaining daggers and cut both of Scott's ankles as her momentum brought her through his legs.

He screamed and toppled over, dropping his blade to instead clutch at his injured feet.

Breena quickly got up and reached to her belt, placing a needle between the gaps of each of her fingers before she gave George a chilling glare.

He dropped his spear and smiled wryly. "I surrender?"

Clapping filled the training hall, surprising everyone who was still conscious, Breena Included. 'Lord Mezro'nan doesn't have hands. Who's clap-'

"Master Lone!" she shouted excitedly.

He was walking in the air using Ungrounded as he approached them from the balcony Lord Mezro'nan usually observed them from, his hands clapping in appreciation.

"You've all grown a lot. Let's get you all healed up and have a catch up, shall we?" he asked, as brilliantly and as confidently as ever.

Breena stopped herself from rushing up to him when he landed on the ground, however. 'That letter from Milindo's Queen... I need to tell him about it. How... how will he react?'

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