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The Astral Shadow

A young teen forges her own path apart from her elders within the stage of virtual reality

konrad_dunbar · Ciencia y ficción
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101 Chs

90 || Completing The Arrays! Stygian Solar Fire!

The end of every day before resting, Tara and her Clones would work on their specific section of the two arrays. First was learning how to correctly draw the array sections without any major flaws. If there were too many issues in their specific sections then the energy they channeled would either disperse into the air or surge then explode. This became an issue of fine tuning what they were placing down instead of how much energy they were using.

Since Tara had only been doing simple arrays before and then further empowering them with the Ethereal Script, this was actually the hardest part. Luckily all over her clones shared her Support Expertise, so any issues they could run into as they went along were immediately fixed or worked around. Still it would take some time before it was perfect. She would alternate days to figure out what array she was working on.

As Tara fell into her routine during her session, her friends in Ruby Blade and Lapis Tome all reached level 20 and were able to overcome the Advancement Hall. Thanks to the Tier Crystals they had farmed during the Crossover Event, all of the inner members didn't get less than an S ranking.

While the rewards weren't as grand nor as many as Syringa Fang's, they all received either a piece of Obsidian Equipment for their class or an appropriate Obsidian Skill, along with a 2 percent increase to their dropped coins and a 5 percent increase to their drop rate plus rarity.

Of course, there were exceptions among them:

Being the Child of the System, Lilac Alexandrite received 2 equipment, 3 Skills, a 5 percent increase to their dropped coins plus a 10 percent increase to drop rate and rarity. While she didn't get an Ancestry change Lilac did receive a Class Title, though she won't say what it is. She also unlocked the Luck and Fortune Hidden Stats, making her even more of a must have in Dungeons.

Gladiolus Rain also received a Fabled Class Title, Purvial Guard. Lapis Tome this time had discovered an underwater Trial Dungeon within a caldera not to far away from their empire. It was a wonderful reservoir of materials and mobs. It was this Trial Dungeon that raised many members to level 20, but for Gladiolus it had awakened her Soul Bead, Matar.

Furthermore, in fighting the Greater Monster Purvial Guard Keylos, her Prowess in Block Rate had increased from 13 percent to 15 mid battle. It wasn't a lot but this was a minor threshold allowing her title [Shieldmaiden] to be acknowledged by Keylos.

In the end he gave Gladiolus was given a Legacy Gem, which was a recording to Keylos's experiences and abilities. The Gem then fused with her body once she became a Guardian, actually appearing out of her inventory autonomously.

Of the 144 of the original members of their Workshops, 48 became Order Archetypes, 48 became Balance Archetypes, and 48 became Chaos Archetypes. Of these 3 groups, the 26 Pugilists gained what was called a Hidden Title, either Way of the Moon or Path of the Sun, thanks to the Twin Sphere energy. Besides them and ignoring Kingdom Lock who had gotten one before, only Syringa, Gladiolus, Alexandrite, and one other acquired a Class Title during the Advancement Test.

The last person was Jumping Sash, who was meticulous in her analysis and translating of the book they had been given. Having the Ancient Alphabet present was certainly handy to her task, but it felt like the words and letters kept shifting even on the first page. Izel would later admit she had the same problem in reaching the Gate in front of her School.

Still, her efforts were not in vain, as once she hit level 20 and went to the Advancement Hall, she was given the Polyglot Class Title. It was the first Artisan based Class Title that allowed her to speak and read different languages from different clans, even monster tribes!

Out of the 144 only 31 of them had acquired Class Titles. And that was only because they had the Twin Sphere gathering technique! Without it only 5 out of the 144 members would have a Class Title, showing just how rare a Class Title was.

The timing of the Advancement was great for American members of the two Workshops, as the Youths League Competition would begin the next day. Pakeej asked that unless it was Unity Crown, no one was allowed to display Twin Sphere energy or that they had a Soul Realm.

Also those that chose the Chaos Archetype couldn't display any of those Skills so that way they could hide their tricks for later. Luckily, tournament season only asked for base classes upon registration.

As for the rainbow ticket Syringa received, it would probably be best to use it after the Unity Crown. Many powers, even nations and countries, would be paying attention to this display of North America's younger generation. The battles would lead to an great influx of new players and therefore new recruitment opportunities for everyone.

The ticket will draw many to Ruby Blade and Lapis Tome's capital cities. But that was only provided their Workshop got that far.

Tara, as she climbed out of the dive pod, wasn't interested in the Unity Crown. And given the most recent incident, her family would most likely not participate as everything as the Regionals are public. Even then, she wasn't allowed to go to school and register.

The competition season started with several school district Labyrinth Runs and Coliseum Matchups then went to Regionals. It was only at the State level that they would include Raids as the final linchpin for deciding the final rankings. This would continue all the way up to the National event, where the 4 top teams in the nation would meet up.

Tara grabs two bottles of Tempo out of the small microfridge near her dive pod, downing them to refresh her body and clear her mind before doing some stretches. Despite the constant refreshing of her concentration and muscles within the body, she still needed to be active with her body and also wary of the drain it took on her psyche.

If she continues her current pace within her next session, she should see some final results in all the fields. Her uncle, aunt, and grandfather are either busy with their own sessions or with running the Blueriver Guild, so she couldn't go ask for their guidance. However, Tara did have access to Boying's holochamber, so she would use that for the time being. Tara also heard some news that the grandchildren of the other Elders might be arriving soon, so she'd have more people on her level to practice with.

After having her fill with the holochamber's swordsman, Tara returns to the dive pod's room. Since learning about Organ Refinement and how it's the next realm past Body Altering, how Retention Techniques are due to the mental feedback between natural and virtual, Tara has an idea.

Tara places several bottles of Tempo beside her, as she sits down and takes the stance of Twin Sphere gathering technique.

It's almost two hours before Tara finally senses a change around her.

The ambient energy isn't nearly as strong or as pure, but the quantity is different. The second Tara taps into the energy, it's as if turning a faucet. Tara rapidly begins to circulate the natural world energy as if she were guiding along her aural paths.

That goes without a hitch, even tapping the location of each Inner Gate as she does, before attempting to follow the path of where her Soul Realm would be.

It's here she encounters some issues. The soul, the spirit, in the natural world is intangible much like her virtual body's aural threads. Spiritual energy is not something that's accessible to her here unlike in her Story. Therefore she can't move the ambient energy along the direction of spiritual energy.

In guiding the energy to a vesicle that doesn't exist, like the forming of the two arrays, it either disperses before recirculating or causes a horrible cramping pain around her navel. It's so unlike anything pain she felt before, that the first time it happens Tara is curled in the fetal position for half an hour before it fades.

Tara drinks the several bottles of Tempo, feeling completely exhausted. Being an Strength and Support Apex meant that her consumption was lower than if she was simply one or the other. Even then, circulating her mental and bodily energies is more taxing than when she fought in the holochamber for hours. She's certainly more sore like she had been working out all day.

With another goal to look towards, Tara begins her second session. She's certain by the end of this one, she'll have finished the two arrays! Once that's done she'll attempt to fight the Stone Chamber's challenge.

Awakening once again in the Stone Chamber, Tara almost immediately notices a slight change. Her physical and mind energies are circulating a little faster and feel a little denser. It seems her natural attempts are not without rewards. This boosts her confidence and makes her eager towards the future.

Tara places her expectations towards meeting her goals and accomplishing them wonderfully. It seems that desire manifests changes in her and her clones, as they perfectly draw and link each array within the first two days of this session!

[You have successfully made the Bedawing Sun (Basic) / Slumbering Moon (Basic) Array!]

[Congratulations! You have become an Inscriber (Master) and Arraylist (Novice)!]

Tara only receives the notification after finishing the Slumbering Moon Array. She's not surprised that she becomes a Master Inscriber, but she is caught off guard that the most complicated array she's made or seen is only at the basic level. What would the Master and Grandmaster version take to complete?

Tara was excited to be a Master Inscriber; this would allow her to engrave Equipment she made with patterns and runes. Once she did enough she would officially become an Engraver.

Tara scraps the array she made before heading to the 10th level Fire Chamber. This was meant for high stage Marrow Sparking aurators. The last two stages were meant for people looking to break through into Eye Illuminating or Navel Enshrouding, while using their affinity for fire. Each Chamber had such floors but most Marrow Sparking sought to go to either the Eightsword or Eight Prism sects instead of advancing here, unless they became teachers.

Now that Tara's made a basic array, she plans to use the Ancient Alphabet. Something tells her not to use the Ethereal Script out right, but instead use the cobalt blue letters when making the Bedawing Sun array and phlox pink for the Slumbering Moon.

Tara and her Clones carefully began their sections for the Bedawing Sun Array, placing half of the Ancient Alphabet wherever appropriate. 13 spots on the array had the 13 characters. Tara has them each sit at their specific positions before activating the diagram finally.

At first, the places where there weren't any of the Ancient Alphabet began to glow that familiar amber orange. Then at the first character the light shifts to cobalt but then rapidly changes into a much darker shade of blue, almost stygian. Each character gave off this blue glow.

The Fire energy gushes into the array as if being engulfed by a hungry ancient beast. It melds with the Solar energy being drawn and the mysterious blue light being emitted. This stygian blue Solar Fire energy begins to saturate Tara's entire being. Except there is no pain or heat, simply a gentle warmth that embraces every inch of her.

As if her cells were starving, even her molecules were ravenously devouring the Solar Fire.