Apocalypse Tamer

Chapter 120: Man vs Endgame Gear

Plato loved hunting things that couldnt fight back.

Now, common wisdom would think that someone would get bored of the lack of challenge. But Plato was a simple cat with simple tastes. He would have been happy chasing after birds and miceafter napping eighteen hours a day of coursefor the rest of his existence.

The apocalypse had changed hunting from a happy promenade into a time of danger. For the last few months, Plato no longer feared not coming back with a catch; he feared not coming back at all.

But now, at the end of the line, the tendency was inverting. Plato felt he had finally become strong to treat most enemies as mice. Hunting was once again pleasurable and worry-free.

Twenty minutes, Plato gloated as his half the party returned to the campsite. I told you. In and out, twenty minute dungeon crawling.

They died in the blink of an eye, Bugsy mused as he trailed behind Plato. The Apolloworm helped Rosemarine drag the fried corpse of Mount Olympus boss along the ground. The creature had been some kind of winged serpent man the size of Steve, though Plato could hardly remember the details. It barely survived thirty seconds before Bugsys sustained fire. Were getting good at this!

We came, we saw, we killed, Rosemarine agreed happily. Mount Olympus aurora had turned into a bright shade of green after she claimed it for the HRA Guild.

What was his level? Plato wondered, pointing at the defeated boss with his paw. I dont even remember its name.

It was Ti Bugsy squinted. Tui Ty

Tweety? Plato suggested.

Typhon, Rosemarine said. It was level seventy, Uncle Plato.

Seventy? Plato was skeptical. No way this critter was seventy. That was Apollyons level before he took a penalty.

And since when did Rosemarine consider him an uncle?

No, no, shes right, I think it was seventy, Bugsy insisted. He was weak to fire, so it helped.

He was weak to death too, Rosemarine added happily.

Damn it, we killed a level seventy Boss as easily as any bird, Plato thought. He felt as if he had lost all sense of reality. The System must have given up on balance twenty levels ago.

The long-awaited reward arrived soon after, as if to confirm that yes, the afternoons hunt indeed happened.

Congratulations, your Party has earned 11,445,000 EXP and 30,000,000 Bonus EXP (6,335,250 for you). You have earned four levels (total 77), though you cannot assign them until your [Tamer] does so first.

Only five levels to go before Platos long-awaited metamorphosis. He would never stop being salty about losing his chance to become a smilodon, but he would settle on becoming a god-lion of infinite power as a consolation prize.

The sheer amount of experience gave him pause though.

Where does the bonus exp come from? Plato squinted at Bugsy. Did we kill bonus enemies along the way?

Uh, I dont know. Bugsy appeared puzzled too. Im not good at math, so I cant say.

Maybe we gained exp from destroying items? Rosemarine suggested.

Bugsy immediately lowered his head in shame. Im sorry.

Unfortunately, Bugsys incredible ability to pierce through Fire Immunity also applied to objects. Having set the boss room ablaze before killing it, his flames ended up consuming the loot in a heartbeat.

Bah, if a little fire could destroy the rewards then they werent good in the first place.

Plato thought he had received his answer when he smelled Basil, Vasi, and Shellgirl in the wind. Those three had finally returned from their shopping trip.

About time, Plato casually commented as the party regrouped under the shadow of Steves metal frame. We raided a full dungeon while waiting forAH!

The terrible sight of Basils corpse laying in his own blood nearly gave Plato a heart attack.

Vasi and Shellgirl, who both appeared unharmed, had removed the Tamers armor and put him atop a makeshift feather bed. Had Plato not memorized Basils smell for years, he wouldnt have been able to identify him. The left half of his face was covered in fourth-degree burns revealing the skull underneath. A fist-sized hole spilled a fountain of blood where the stomach should have been. The right knee was bent in a way that shouldnt be anatomically possible for humans.

And those were only the most shocking wounds among many. Gashes left by axes, spears, and swords covered nearly every inch of Basils body. He looked as if an entire army had used him as target practice.

Basil! Plato immediately bolted to his owners side. Basil, dont die on me!

For a brief instant, Plato was brought back in time to the terrible day of Rens death. He refused to lose another, especially someone who had become his closest friend. The first thought on the felines mind was whether he could transfer one of his remaining lives to Basil.

Fortunately, the Tamers chest slightly rose with his breathing. Platos relief didnt last long. Basils current state demanded immediate healing.

Mister! Rosemarine dropped the dead Typhon in her panic, as did Bugsy. The plant immediately cast a healing spell upon her master. Heras Grace! Heras Grace!

Plato had seen Rosemarine bring back Bulgarian soldiers from the brink of death in the blink of an eye. This time, however, the spell barely appeared to have any effect. The hole in Basils stomach shrank by a centimeter at best.

Is this our fault? Bugsy asked Vasi and Shellgirl with magma tears in his eyes. Were you attacked? Did the Horsemen ambush you while we were away?

Neither woman answered immediately. Plato suddenly noticed that neither of them looked wounded, or even horrified. Shellgirl was chewing her lower lip with a spooked face, while Vasi appeared torn between worry and annoyance.

Fff Basil coughed more blood than words. Fi filth

Basil? Plato hurriedly lowered his head to better listen to his friends rattle. For all he knew, it could be his last request. You You want me to groom you? Is that your wish?

Filthy Basil inhaled louder than an asthmatic hippo. Filthy casual.

Plato blinked a few times as his mind struggled to register his friends dying words. He glanced at Vasi in confusion while Rosemarine kept spamming her healing spell. The witch let out a long sigh heavy with meaning.

In the end Walter Tye he was nothing more. Basils bloodied lips stretched into a parody of a smile. Than a filthy casual.

Plato finally figured out what had happened. He played a hardcore game of Board & Conquest, didn't he?

Shellgirl stared at him in disbelief. This happened before?

Plato nodded slowly, calmly, and meaningfully. From his experience, the underground B&C scene welcomed all kinds of dangers and excesses.

Curse you, Basil! You frightened me! Plato gently swiped Basils burned cheek with his paw while ignoring Rosemarines protests. Did you win at least?

His best friend responded by slowly raising his clenched right fist upward; an act that seemed to require herculean strength from him. On a closer look, Plato noticed a white miniature clutched within Basils palm.

Good, Plato nodded with pride before glancing at Vasi. And his opponent? Is he dead?

Alive, short of a miniature and with his pride wounded. Vasi gently caressed her boyfriends forehead. Was it truly worth it, Basil?

Yes Basil Bohen answered without a hint of hesitation. Yes, it was.

Basil recovered late in the evening.

It took a constant diet of healing spells and golden applies for him to return to full health. Whatever magic Walter used as part of their intense, earth-shaking battle had proved resilient even in the face of miraculous sorcery. Remedies that would have healed thousands of HP only helped Basil recover a few dozen at most. Neither being crushed under Apollyons hand nor surviving Blackcinders meteors could compare to this particular harrowing ordeal.

But Basil didnt care.

Though he had suffered through the pain of a hundred dead dwarf miniatures, the horror of undead trench warfare, and the agony of being transported across Greece while half-dead, he had walked away from the board victorious. The priceless Nidhogg miniature was more than a trophy; it was satisfaction made manifest.

I cant wait for the rematch, Basil muttered as he folded leaves around a minotaurs leg. It should make for a great dinner with potatoes.

There wont be one, Vasi said sharply. His girlfriend prepared pumpkin soup in her alchemy cauldron. Promise me you wont play with Walter again.

What? Why? Basil shrugged. It earned us more experience than killing Blackcinders!

It nearly cost you your life, and ours by extension. We already have enough enemies to deal with, no need to add Walter to the list. Vasi locked eyes with her boyfriend. Promise me, Basil. Please.

Since she sounded genuinely worried for his well-being, Basil surrendered with a sigh. Though he loved B&C, he favored his relationship with Vasi over his gamers pride.

That, and she had a point about Walter. Though the necromancer had walked away from the board less wounded than Basilhe had been playing more conservativelythe outcome had left him furious and awakened his competitive spirit. Pursuing this rivalry risked turning it into a grudge.

Fine, Basil said while grumbling. But you have to admit the suicide dwarf catapult was a stroke of genius.

There are leagues between genius and madness, Basil. Vasis serious expression melted away into a coy smile. But it was well-played, I wont deny it.

Of course. Basil always gave his best. By the way, are there Chronomancy spells among the formulas you purchased from Walter? he asked while letting the leg roast over the campfire. Im considering taking Chronomancer levels next.

My grimoire does contain Chronomancy spells, but I doubt you'll ever be able to cast them. Vasi gave Basil a condescending smirk worthy of the smuggest wizard. Mine are Tier VII and up.

There it is, Class discrimination, Basil mused. Can you inflict five-digit damage with a halberd, Miss Yaga?

Can you stop time and drop meteors on your foes, Mr. Bohen? Vasi put a finger on her lips as an idea crossed her mind. Now that I think of it, my staff lets me exclude my party from a spells effect. I wonder if it applies to my time-stopping one.

I hope so, Basil said with a grin. Sharing is caring.

He did wonder what else Shellgirl bought. The Party had stopped a few kilometers ahead of the infamous passage of Thermopylae, where an alliance of Greek city-states held back the might of the Persian empire. At their current speed, they should reach Athens tomorrow night. With the battle against Ashok around the corner, the team needed to refine its battle tactics.

Bugsy returned from his reconnaissance tour by the time Basil finished cooking. How are you, Boss? the Apolloworm asked as he landed near the campfire. You look pretty spry tonight!

Im fine, Basil reassured him. Sorry to have worried you.

I knew you would pull through Boss, but I admit I had my doubts. Bugsy grabbed the reconnaissance camera around his neck and gave it to Basil. Ive detected Ashoks Field on the horizon.

Vasi looked away from her soup with a worried frown. Are you sure?

I am, Bugsy confirmed with a nod. I did not enter it, but I approached it close enough to gather information.

Thermopylae was nearly two-hundred kilometers from Athens. If Ashoks field extended far enough to be visible from the region, it had to cover all of Attica. Bugsys pictures, which showed a never-ending thunderstorm ravaging the Greek countryside across the horizon, confirmed Basils worst suspicions.

Eighty maybe eighty-five, Basil counted in his head. From Rosemarines example, a God-Field covered one kilometer per level. Hes pushing past eighty now. I hope our new equipment will let us cover the level gap.

We wont benefit from surprise, Vasi pointed out. Hypathia tracked us down the moment we entered her fields range. Ashok will detect our presence hours before we reach Athens.

I know, Basil replied with a grunt. Besides risking an ambush, this would complicate the teams ability to summon allies to assault Athens. We need to figure out a counter before we reach the God-Fields range. I hope Shellgirl can craft something.

Did somebody say my name? Like a devil summoned from hells depths, Shellgirl exited Steves metal belly with Plato on her tail. The mimic wore featureless black gloves on her hands, while the feline carried a silvery mirror shield fit for his size. Basil immediately recognized the design. Oooh, do I smell pumpkin soup? I love those!

Its a witch's secret recipe, Vasi joked. Brewed with love and paladin souls.

Wheres Rosemarine? Basil asked upon noticing his dear plants absence. She never skipped dinner usually. Is she alright?

Shes resting inside, Shellgirl replied. After all the spells she cast on you, Partner, she more than deserves her nap.

Tremble, villains! Plato drew Joyeuse and raised it to the bright, Incursion-tainted sky. Basil had to admit that between Charlemagnes Joyeuse and his new shield, the feline honored the heroes of old. Justice is not blind, for it has whiskers!

Can I bribe you with fish? Basil mused before examining his best friends new toy. As he suspected, it was a copy of his own Moon Shield. So you figured out the crafting recipe, Shellgirl?

I did, though it took a few times to refine properly. Shellgirl raised her hands proudly. These gloves are a real money saver.

Now that he wasnt fighting for his life over a B&C board, Basil took the time to study Shellgirls new acquisition.

Lokis Glove

Family: Accessory (Gloves).

Quality: S.

Effect 1: [Turbo: Consumable]: The damage or healing inflicted by consumable items, such as potions and bombs, is increased by 30% and pierces through all forms of Resistance.

Effect 2: [Item Duplication]: When worn on a hand, the glove creates a perfect copy of itself on one of the wielders hands; if the wielder has more than two hands, the copy appears on one of them at random. This second glove can duplicate any item touched by the original. The copy mimics the originals properties, but costs 50 SP per minute to maintain and disappears if it is no longer in contact with the left glove, or if the right one drops the original.

Effect 3: [Copy Insight]: When copying an object with item duplication, the wearer has a chance of figuring out the appropriate crafting recipe equal to their LCK/4. They only receive one chance per item.

Effect 4: [Item Conqueror]: You can use any item as if you met the prerequisites; for example, you can equip Type-restricted equipment as if you were of that Type yourself. This does not grant any form of proficiency, however.

Effect 5: [Whats Yours is Mine]: You can mark up to nine items with an invisible rune by touching them with the glove. You can recall any of these items back to your hands at will.

A glove crafted by the god of trickery from stolen hair and salted tears. Legends say that Loki wore it during all of his crimes, though this glove was always found where the evidence wasnt.

Busted, isnt it? Shellgirl gloated. It cost us thirty percent of all our funds, but I say it was the deal of a lifetime!

Basils surprise must have shown on his face. Can it copy unique items?

Wanna see? Shellgirl quickly swiped Joyeuse off Platos paw while ignoring his outraged shrieks. The moment her right hand grabbed the pommel, a perfect replica of the legendary sword materialized in her left. Im sure I could copy your halberd too!

Plato sulked at the sight and stole the original back. It looks better on me!

Even though the replica vanished into golden dust the moment Plato recovered Joyeuse, the fact the device managed to copy a legendary artifact astonished Basil beyond words. The potential applications numbed the mind. The fact it also made her count as 'royal' for the purpose of wielding Joyeuse meant she could potentially use any item affected by the System.

This is really the end of the line. Basil had played enough RPGs to see the signs. This is endgame-level gear.

And we suffered enough to earn it! Plato hit his shield with Joyeuse. The blade appeared to sing as it touched the metal. Ive died more times for this team than anybody else!

Im just so happy we all survived long enough to complete our Major Chicken DVD marathon, Bugsy muttered with a sad noise. Our evenings will feel empty without them.

Bugsy, there are always more series to watch, Plato mused. I cant wait to introduce you to Policats Force after weve dealt with Lightning Butt.

The nickname his former cat used for Ashok brought a smile to Basils lips. Yet, the rest of his words filled him with doubt. Plato sounded so certain about what they would do in the future, but Basil himself hadnt found his own answer. If Benjamins idea of rebuilding the world after winning the competition held water, what kind of world would he create?

Basil knew it might be premature to ask himself this question. Reaching that moment would already demand extraordinary sacrifices without success being guaranteed. Yet the thought wouldnt stop gnawing at his heart.

Should I turn back the clock as Benjamin asked? Even if Basil intended to evacuate his party outside of Earth in this eventuality, he felt conflicted over the idea itself. Perhaps Walter was right. A world unprepared to fend off the likes of Maxwell might not be worth saving.

He wondered if the Chronomancer class would offer more insight into the situation.

Chronomancer Level 1 to 4 Stat Gains: +3 STR, +8 AGI, +2 VIT, +2 SKI, +4 MG, +3 INT, +2 CHA, +4 LCK. You earned 150 HP and 65 SP.

Chronomancy I (Passive): You can now learn and cast [Chronomancy] Spells up to Tier I. If you gain the ability to cast [Chronomancy] Spells from other classes or Perks, the Tiers stack together.

Accelerate Spell (Passive): Whenever you cast a spell, you can immediately cast a second one by spending twice its usual SP cost.

[Divine Auspices II] raised your [Chronomancy] spellcasting Tier to III.

Basil waited for a flash of inspiration that would never come.

His team was about to confront an uncertain future soon and he had no idea how it would end.

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