Chapter 11: Resource Allocation
Before announcing yourself to the world, you should carefully consider the reaction you expect from it. Above all, those who wield immense power will always be evaluated by society based on how and for what purpose you use that power. Also, to which group you belong and what role you've defined for yourself: Hero, Villain, or Antihero. These are the main roles occupying this world. There is also a fourth role, namely, people who have the influence and resources to attempt to control various villains or even heroes. For example, Amanda Waller, who will eventually assemble her famous 'Suicide Squad' that will perform dirty work in exchange for their lives and the dubious promise of early release from this work after each mission. Why is it a dubious promise? Well, to start with, any villain they recruit has likely killed someone, likely has special abilities (otherwise, they'd be useless as a valuable resource), and therefore, I have a very reasonable question. Why in the world should anyone release highly dangerous criminals back into society? The freedom of such individuals either ends with a bullet to the head or a tragic end in the execution of a suicidal task. Although there is a third option where this organization provides heroes with information about the villain, and then the cycle just repeats. Why all this complexity? I have no idea. Maybe it's because they are trying to occupy heroes and divert attention... from something? Argh! I'm not a specialist in uncovering the dark and terrible secrets of this world with my ingenious hypotheses.
Where am I going with this...? I don't want to be just another villain or hero for society. I want to create something like 'My Own Antihero.' What does this mean? This would mean that people will know of my existence. My identity will be open to the public because I'm not afraid for my safety. It's a different matter if I had loved ones. Friends, family, or a lover through whom I could be manipulated. This world, when looked at by an ordinary person, is just an insane place, and living a peaceful life here is impossible by definition. Maybe I'm exaggerating. As far as I'm concerned, the only way to ensure my safety and that of my loved ones is to know in advance that someone can help me and my family and then continue to live my ordinary life. Take, for example, the so-called 'Heroes.' Yes, they can help, but where's the guarantee that they will be in the right place at the right time? Correct. There isn't one. That's why I want to be something like a living guarantee that people don't have to worry about their safety. And no, I won't use the standard hero methods to solve problems. I will give my opponent two options for how events will unfold. Either we solve their problem together (in case this someone interests me), or I simply kill them because they pose a threat to the local residents, and I will set an example for the local villains of what awaits them.
Will this actually work? Do we really need to go so far as to kill someone? Yes, I believe we do. It's not always possible to find common ground with a being that doesn't want to listen, and such beings only understand the language of force. I always find it more interesting to study my enemy rather than kill them. So, when I had the opportunity to make my enemies my 'best friends,' I immediately decided to take advantage of it.
So when did I want to do what I want to do? Well, first and foremost, I want to eliminate the possibility of an unfavorable outcome early in my great achievements. Therefore, I want to thoroughly deal with my army, heroes, and my own character stat and skill upgrades. Now that my mana is unlocked, I can study many more useful things that were previously unavailable to me. I think it's worth disappearing for a while and focus on myself.
First Month
First and foremost, I decided to allocate my attribute points in a way that would allow me to summon most of my immortal legion.
Level 56
HP: 700/700
OD: 2200/2200
Mana: 2650
Strength: 64
Agility: 232
Luck: 1 - ???
Intuition: 81
Willpower: 45
Wisdom: 50
Constitution: 70
Endurance: 100 + 120
Charisma: 62
Intellect: 65 + 200
Resilience: 80
Why did I decide to spend my points so recklessly on endurance and intellect? Well, I realized a simple truth after completing my last dungeon. No matter how strong I am, the dungeon monsters will be stronger and more numerous, so my top priority was to have as many options as possible for using abilities and relying on my faithful and fearless army. My speed already surpasses human capabilities by several times, and my ability to manipulate time makes my enemies helpless. Initially, I had planned to rely only on myself, using my speed and time manipulation abilities, but Asta opened my eyes to my main weakness. I was blatantly weak against enemies who had resistance to my attacks. I was weak against immortal beings who are powerful and dangerous if you don't know their peculiarities. This is where my "Loyal Friends" will come to the rescue. They will learn their weaknesses, strengths, and quirks. Based on the results of the analysis, I'll strike at the right moment and restore the armor of defeated soldiers with my strength. Why should I make an effort when, in the worst case scenario, I can summon my main figure, "Asta"? She will move on my chessboard like a "Queen," doing as she pleases, and will be my main firepower.
Let's get back to my abilities. How did I decide to get rid of "God"-rank immortal beings? I had an idea on this matter. The second profession called "Tempest" opened up the possibility of becoming an Agile Universalist. To put it simply, thanks to some knowledge in the field of "Alchemy," I could create solutions that would enhance weapons/characters with special properties. The profession "Master of Poisons," in my opinion, is too narrow in application, and it may happen that some enemies may have simple immunity to even particularly dangerous and powerful poisons. The profession itself was divided into three branches. The first branch included the simplest enhancements in the form of vials for enhancing Strength/Agility/Resilience/Endurance. After transitioning to the second branch, it became possible to enhance weapons with elemental properties. The third branch, however, opened up the possibility of enhancement on a completely different level. Becoming a Superman for five minutes? Sure, sign me up. However, such power always comes with a price in the form of unpleasant side effects that can be minimized if you know what to add to this "Wonder Elixir."
In this profession, there was one very noticeable and unpleasant drawback, namely the ingredients from the fantasy world that were required to create various elixirs. "Ancient Thousand-Year Oak Root"? "Demon Half-Blood's Blood"? Where could one obtain these in this... world? Although, I think even in this world, I can find some of the ingredients. However, it's essential for me to gain access to the auction as soon as possible so that I won't limit myself in any way.
Now, let's talk about Attributes and Professions. The most challenging part was related to my future abilities. I had a total of 32 free skill points to allocate. Before mindlessly spending them on combat skills, I decided to carefully consider the value of each skill that became available to me thanks to the unlocking of Mana.
There was an interesting feature in some skills. If you upgraded what seemed to be a simple skill, it would become extremely powerful in the future. I wanted to address my issue of stamina and mana regeneration and came to the conclusion that the starting skill "Meditation" suited me perfectly. At first, the effects of using it were barely noticeable. You had to sit and remain motionless in the "lotus" position, and after some time, a fraction of a percent of mana and stamina would be restored. I decided to go a step further and simply max it out.
Advanced Black Lotus Meditation Level 10 (Max)
While in a meditation stance, you receive:
- 50% less damage from all types of attacks.
- Stamina regenerates 10 times faster.
- Mana regenerates 5 times faster.
Lasts for three minutes. Cannot be interrupted.
The most obvious downside is that I'll be cut off from the outside world for a full three minutes, but the pleasant benefit is that during meditation, my stamina and mana will be almost completely restored. Now, even prolonged battles won't be a problem for me, although it cost me a whole ten skill points.
The next skill I decided to acquire was "Leader." Unlike abilities, skills couldn't simply be "maxed out." You had to accumulate specific experience for them. I chose this skill solely to better manage my army. After I became a Necromancer and made a contract with them, I started to... how should I put it... "feel" them. To feel the connection between us, and accordingly, the more warriors I summoned, the more challenging it became. It was as if I were a communication operator, explaining to each one through a microphone with a headset what was required of them. I could summon a warrior with just a single thought, and upon responding to my command, they would materialize in the real world. Each time, it was accompanied by a blue mist with flames of the same color on the edges. To reduce this burden, I decided to start my "experiment," but more on that later. I also decided to come up with something like... "rough diplomacy."
Final Warning Level (Max)
Cost: 100 OD. Can only be applied to weak opponents. Before using, you will see the probability of success of the skill.
You show your opponent the most likely outcome of the battle. You and the intended victim will enter an alternative variation of the future. Upon its completion, all events that occurred during this time are erased, but the memory of what happened is retained. It can be applied to one or several targets simultaneously. In this case, the probability of diplomacy/persuasion/alliance/fear of the target increases several times.
Such a "miracle" only costs two skill points, and it's useful because sometimes I don't want to engage in lengthy conversations about who's right and who's wrong. It would be sufficient for me to give a hero or a villain a significant warning that would deter them from making hasty decisions. Most importantly, it would make them think about the consequences rather than trying to stop me or lead me onto the path of the "True" way through the most effective means, namely violence.
It so happened that I didn't take into account that my increased mana pool would periodically go out of control due to my weak experience in handling magic. This usually happened due to bursts of minor emotions. I felt like Naruto, who also had an entire ocean of chakra but couldn't use it properly due to his terrible control. The example, of course, wasn't perfect, but the situation was somewhat similar. I had to spend ten skill points on such a simple skill as Mana Control, which later evolved into...
Advanced Mana Control Level 10 (Max) Can be improved!
Your mana control is comparable to that of a talented and promising mage. Your mana source is challenging to detect, and your flow is always in a "calm" state.
Reaching the maximum level of the skill has unlocked an additional property!
The cost of skills that require mana is reduced by 50%!
I spent quite a while dealing with all these attributes, abilities, skills, and the like. It took a whole month of mental work. Fortunately, I decided to settle on a private island of the Shadow League for some time. It was almost uninhabited and existed solely for the "training" of newcomers. I liked it because despite being populated by all sorts of exotic wildlife, none of the local fauna attempted to attack me. Apparently, they had a much more developed instinct for self-preservation and survival than humans. It was a bit strange... Yes, I controlled my mana, but for some reason, the wildlife still sensed me even when I was invisible. That's when I realized that animals have a special ability to sense danger. How does a living being sense danger from another creature? The correct answer: Aura. It exists in every living and non-living being, and so I decided to correct my... flaw and simply get rid of such a thing.
The Talon Dagger glowed with a blue light, and tossing it into the air and catching it in reverse grip, I stabbed it into my chest. My dark green aura gathered around me like chaotic smoke and then disappeared with a sudden vacuum burst.
Aura Annihilation Level [???] Passive.
You have destroyed your own aura. Now, almost no one can sense you in advance. Only beings of the God/Higher/Ancient rank and above can feel your faint presence.
"...This feature can be both a curse and a blessing, but for Assassins, it's a true gift. Who would suspect the murder of someone who doesn't even exist in this world...?"
This was another skill from the Assassin's final branch that cost me five skill points.
And I still had only six points left...! It was hard for me to part with them for something seemingly useless. But then I remembered my loyal heroes, who also had some rather interesting abilities of their own. First and foremost, I was interested in Asta, who, among other things, had the ability of telekinesis. I summoned her. The warrior silently knelt on one knee, waiting for instructions.
"Asta, you don't need to kneel all the time. I would like to conduct a small experiment so that both you and I become better!"
A piercing gaze from her glowing blue eyes emits a hint of curiosity.
"As you may have noticed, I possess a unique power, and no, I'm not talking about time manipulation right now. I'm talking about the 'System.' I've called you here to propose an 'Exchange.' I want to learn your Invisible Hand of Darth Vader, Telekinesis, or whatever you call it... It doesn't matter. In return, I'll give you this useful book from my inventory." I materialized a red book titled "Berserker Profession." "This will be entirely fair. I mean that if both of us become strong, our chances of achieving our goals will significantly increase. So, what do you say?"
I had some doubts about whether the System was capable of such things, but in every "Game," there could be a possibility of exchange. Items, weapons, and even skills. The main problem was that I was offering her ready material, and she had to come up with an "alternative" for the deal. A way that would help me learn this.
And she found it...
A familiar system window appeared before her with an offer to learn the profession, and her pointed clawed finger tapped on the "Yes" option. After that, her aura suddenly began to emit a threatening red shade, her head lowered to the ground, and her body slightly hunched. Is this what absorbing knowledge looks like?! Damn! I didn't think about such dangerous consequences...! I was about to retract her, but I noticed how she raised her hand up, and her menacing and terrifying aura suddenly extinguished. It seemed like a simple gesture that indicated that everything was under control. Asta clenched her fist in front of her, and a small edge of red energy crackled with tiny red lightning sparks at the tips of her iron-clawed glove. Hitting herself once in the chest, where a recently black hole from a pierced sword was gaping, she seemed to express... gratitude? It's amazing how she can convey feelings without words. It's simply astonishing. As for her wound on the armor... When I had the opportunity to summon her, I offered to "patch up" her. Restore her armor to its original condition. She temporarily disappeared from reality, but nevertheless, agreed. It seemed to me that I felt something on the edge of consciousness. Some doubt. As if that wound meant something to her and it was something extremely important. After all, it's hard to imagine such a powerful hero who would guard a throne with a broken sword stuck in his chest. The sword, by the way, couldn't be restored, even considering my abilities.
Name: Equalizer
Rank: Legendary
Status: Destroyed/Cursed
Description: Once, this sword was the most formidable weapon of the Empire; now it's only a weak and pitiful semblance of its former self. Despite the fact that the sword has long lost its previous properties, thanks to the soul of its owner, it has acquired new abilities to come together from its own shards and take the form of a blade from the owner's soul. Extremely dangerous against incorporeal beings. Grants its owner high resistance to attacks of a spiritual nature.
I received a quick answer as to why my attacks were not very effective against her.
How did Asta decide to repay me for my help? Well, at first, I didn't understand why her massive clawed palm was slowly approaching my face, but I completely trusted her and felt that no matter what, she would not betray me. I simply believed in her. Her cold steel glove gently touched my face, and memories seemed to be absorbed into me, flowing into my head like a continuous stream. These memories were frighteningly simple, but they all repeated the same action. And after a while, I felt a small moisture beginning to trickle from my eyes...
I... was crying?
The sword rises and falls a thousand, maybe even a million times. Training the memorized swing to the point of automatism. She long forgot what flesh and breath were, but the spirit still hones every movement of her style. Because she believes that one day all this will come to an end, and he will come...!
Memories seem to erase like a black mist and are replaced by new ones.
Muffled footsteps echo through the empty hall. A step into emptiness, and in an instant, she finds herself on the ceiling. A step to the floor, and her hand pulls an invisible opponent towards her, slicing them in half. The invisible shadow of the enemy falls lifeless, and she feels a faint sense of pride. She's still as fast and strong as... before?
But what was before...?!
Clawed hands clutch at her head, legs bend to her knees. She tries to remember something important and valuable, but it eludes her and fades into nothingness. It teases. Torments. Tortures her soul from within.
The memory abruptly ends, and the calm gaze of her glowing blue eyes awaits my reaction.
"You decided to dedicate all your time to training, didn't you?"
"Phantom Step" - Learned!
Cost: 5 SP/second.
Allows you to literally walk/levitate in the air. Even in weightlessness, you don't lose your sense of orientation.
"Phantom Grasp" - Learned!
Allows you to grab a particular object and grip/attract/push away/crush, etc. The strength and speed of the grip will depend on the invested SP.
Surprisingly, the skills were... free! This was quite a pleasant discovery. As for the remaining six skills, I decided to invest them in some useful combat tactics against future enemies. "Life Detection," "Area Seizure," "Mana Singularity," and "Subjugation."
While "Life Detection" was self-explanatory and allowed me to sense life within a certain radius, the other three skills were from the Necromancer branch.
"Area Seizure" was a kind of territorial mark for defense. It looked like I was placing my seal in the form of a palm print, and from this mark, one of my squad members could appear at any moment. The mark was invisible to ordinary people and could only reveal itself when activated. I had special plans for this skill.
"Mana Singularity" allowed me to turn my body into a kind of singularity, which, upon killing an enemy, would convert their life force into replenishing my mana reserve.
And finally,"Subjugation" was a crude form of soul capture, and if successful, I could use it as a very valuable resource, with quite a wide range of applications. After all, the soul is the most valuable thing a person has. I think demons of hell will soon see me as their colleague. The key is not to flaunt this ability too much, or all my future efforts will be in vain. I decided to leave two skill points as a reserve.
The Second Month
In the second month of my seclusion, I decided to proceed with my experiment. I summoned all four of my heroes into the real world along with a small group of regular knights and a couple of mages.
"I have called you here to resolve some misunderstandings between us and to build trust. After all, I don't want to have mindless and foolish puppets. I want to see a real and formidable army of what was once the Great Empire! Yes, you all are practically indistinguishable from each other, but your souls..." I pointed to my chest, "Your souls are what make you unique and interesting! Even after all this time, you still remember how to fight," I cast a brief glance at Asta, "how to hunt and kill," my gaze shifted to Robin, "how to protect those in need," my gaze moved to Maria, who had been holding her palms together in prayer-like gesture, and Trask.
"To be honest, I can't help you right now. You are immortal undead, and for you, a single century is nothing compared to ordinary humans. So, I want to live this century as a person who wants to enjoy life to the fullest. But I promise that when the time comes, I will help all of you."
All the others present in my special space also heard every word of mine telepathically.
Another hidden reason I didn't mention was that I was simply afraid and unprepared to face something truly horrifyingly dangerous. I couldn't compete with someone who could easily annihilate an entire kingdom, and I couldn't imagine anyone being able to kill Asta. It just didn't make sense to me because when she was alive, Asta could have been several times stronger! Who or, rather, what could kill her?
After some time, Asta knelt down and placed her fist on her chest, a gesture she often used to express her loyalty. Eventually, the others followed suit, and it even slightly embarrassed me. I chuckled, scratched my head, and asked everyone to stand.
"So...! I didn't gather you just for this! I want to restore your individual identities and what you remember about fighting suggests that you can also recall who you were. From now on, we will train in tactics and refine our movements. I will give you short instructions, and you will execute them as you see fit. Self-improvement and homework. I feel like a real teacher in elementary school!"
I didn't want them to fight each other; I could already see what they were capable of. I wanted to instill freedom of action, analysis, and tactics in them. So, with each passing day of these training sessions, I began to notice that they gradually shed their stiffness and hesitation. Their movements became smooth and confident. It was as if, step by step, they were remembering who they truly were. Their souls were filling with hope and purpose. It was as if I was witnessing the rebirth of the Empire from the ashes.
In this way, I transformed from a Solo Assassin into a "King" who was only used to observing the successes of his army. I just needed a throne now. Heh.
At the end of the second month, almost all of the warriors changed their status from "No Determination" to "Full of Determination." Robin, Trask, and Maria, upon gaining these statuses, unlocked some special abilities they hadn't used against me because they wanted me to defeat them and end their torment. They fought without fire and determination. They fought out of necessity, bound by their eternal curse. In contrast, Asta fought at the limits of her abilities and only held back due to her Honor.
Well, I had spent a decent amount of time here. It was time to return to the world of people...
I was prepared for almost anything, but I never expected that upon my return, I would hear important news about a global alien invasion. Externally, they resembled lizard-like humanoids clad in green armor, and someone among the daredevils managed to capture on their mobile camera what appeared to be the well-known "God" of their planet named Darkseid, flying in the air and emitting gamma rays from his eyes. What could I say about him? He chose an unfortunate place for his invasion...
It's funny how just as you decide to get to know the world better, the world presents you with a chance to make yourself known.
Darkseid's army against My Army? Let's see who wins. I think Asta and I will take on our Darkseid, and the rest will focus on defending the city. If there's an opportunity, they will all join us in the end. We won't be dancing alone for long. After all, important and prominent heroes like "Supes," "Bats," and "Supergirl" will definitely be there. We need to beat them to it...! I haven't felt this excited and anxious in a long time. The most important thing is not to lose our heads in battle and to analyze the situation carefully.
Next chapter: Chapter 12 - Darkseid