C51: Denatus situation, Antares comes
Word count = 2085 on 3/14/2024
(we start off with a partial status page to showcase what spells Axel has learned. Also there was no mention of what Axel's new development skill was so you get to see that here)
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Name: Axel Gram
Title: Titan
Unofficial Title: Horse Thief, Freya's Odr.
Cleanse-simple cleaning spell that dispels dust, stains on clothing or substances upon one's body.
Create Water: a simple elemental spell that converts humidity in air into water. Water can not be more than 5 ft away from user, otherwise control is lost (dnd style)
Flame Wave: An intense blast of fire magic that spreads out in a 10ft cone in front of the user.
FlameBolt- fire formed into a spear-like structure that possesses exceptional piercing power.
Mind manipulation- low leveled mind control spell that is only useful for making suggestions, can be overridden if intellect is high enough (weak monsters only)
2nd magic: Operation of Parallel Memories. Bond of memories and aspects which allows the user to move through the unknown.
Gravity magic- wormhole, Wave of Darkness (gravity well), Nebula, Reverse Gravity, Meteorite.
Gravity Manipulation - Locked
Berserker: G
Mystery: H
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Axel had learned quite a few spells throughout the past few weeks now. Also with his lessons with Mikoto, he also gained a bit of inspiration and attempted to make one or two of his own spells. With gravity it was easy as he has tons of knowledge but elemental magecraft was slightly different as he can not be considered an expert but he still made a spell. It's incomplete and he hopes to learn earth magic but his hopes were dashed as Kaoruko informed him that she has little affinity for earth magic herself and thus can't teach him at all.
In fact, with her own professionalism with illusion magic, it has already been great that Axel was able to learn all that he could, but if he wants to continue his lessons then he will need a new teacher. Axel brought this issue up with Raikou and she did reveal that there was a second candidate for Astolfo's replacement 'Saint'. Due to their own magic being much larger scale and mind intensive. With Axel's current prowess, he could possibly start learning the lower level spells available to her.
Granted he cant be introduced to her at the current moment as Antares is said to break out tomorrow if it has already but there have been too few sightings of other scorpions. To be more precise, Scorpions have been showing up but they have always been in minor groups and it is believed that if the Rex was truly free, it would instead initiate some sort of swarm tactic, rushing all of its 'children' to assault Orario. Yet such was not the case which can only mean that Antares is likely still sealed away in the ruins and would likely take another day to arrive here. The tension is rising in Orario as the day grows closer.
Defensive structures have been created. Axel has mass sold his magic rings and amulets to the Ganesha Familia and the City guards which are backed by the guild. Axel also announced a special offer to allow one person to order a max of 3 items at a time while also increasing the cap of items the store sold up to 800 a week. This is a temporary cap limit due to all the free time he has given himself. Production has been made smoother and even Mash has been helping with the item creation. As a Saint, her learning capacity is abnormal and thus she was able to learn the fragments of elvish he could teach her for the magic item creation and she has assisted enough times that she knows the designs he puts on the items. Her first few times were failures but she improved each time before she got it correct on the 5th try.
Since then, she has rapidly moved up to be Axel's equal in the magic item creation. If it was anyone else, even Adelaid who is working as a helper. She would need the mystery development skill on her falna but she lacks the desire to go into the dungeon, especially with how the monsters have been of recent time. The reason for this increased production is due to the Emergency Denatus that occurred almost 3 weeks ago.
From what Axel was told is that the meeting was held in the Loki Familia manor. To maintain an air of normalcy, they hosted it as a party and had the guests which were both gods and immortals to mingle and enjoy the breath of relaxation. The naming ceremony went forward like normal and there are a few new names as it seems the early monster hordes were considered as great Excellia and even helped a few who were stuck in bottlenecks to finally become level 2 after years of adventuring. The gods had to process over 50 new nicknames before it was revealed that Axel had reached level 4 after fighting through different monster hordes and finally defeating Amphisbaena and some other unknown rex that spawned after it.
A silence passes through the venue before some people began to grumble about how Axel is too strong to be considered level 4. It is only after a minute it is said that he had his adventuring team there to back him up which allowed them to kill it. Somehow the news that he didn't outright kill Amphisbaena soothes the minds of all the gods.
Though Raikou who was in attendance thinks overwise as he has witnessed his emotions and knows that his team didn't help much except stalling but they still got Excellia from the fight. Especially since he outright disappeared in the middle of the fight to another unknown land where he fought hard.
Of course Raikou offers no comment since they will all witness Axel's growth themselves when Antares arrives. He could surely handle the being by himself at this point if what his newest fragment offers is true.
"Well we all know the drill. Anyone want to propose some new title for the boy wonder?" Loki states with a slightly annoyed expression as 'Mama' Riviera has been mystified by Axel's magic item and the strange elvish language written on them. Even Ais has been acting weirder due to him as well. She has had less emotional outbursts in the dungeon which is good but it almost feels as if she doesnt improve faster then she will fall behind when it comes time to do something.[2]
"I am Ganesha. He is Horse Thief"
COUGH
COUGH COUGH
COUGH
Roughly half the guests spit out their drinks at the sudden inclusion as a few of them even snorted their alcoholic drinks but can't care about their appearances as a cacophony of laughs ring out. Even Raikou smiles as she has no animosity to Ganesha…unless he gives her a reason otherwise.
"My precious Anav hasn't been the same since they returned home from sealing Antares. Just 2 days ago, I found him outside Axel and Raikou's old home kicking against the door. Yesterday he broke out of the stable again and found him outside the former Apollo home. Anav doesnt listen to me anymore. He has become more temperamental in regards to his care too. Breaking his favorite brush in all the tussling. I believe that Axel has mind controlled my child and is stealing him away from me. So he is a horse Thief!!! I AM GANESHA!!!"
The god finally ends his rant as a second helping of laughter rings out as the image of the horse being attracted to Axel revitalizes the mood. Raikou has also burst into laughter which attracts some attention due to her bouncing breasts within her dress.
"Ah, my dear Ganesha, is Anav a female horse? Also, have the other members of your lovely horse band share similar symptoms as this Anav? If not then I can only say that you don't understand your child's personality yourself?" Raikou loudly speaks up which only irritates Ganesha further as the momentary thought that the only male horse amongst the Uchchaihshravas would somehow desire Axel is nauseating for him.
"Hai hai. If I may try to explain" A pink haired beauty is a simple cute pink dress that comes out from around the corner and stands next to the god.
"Astolfo, when did you get here?"
"I just got back from checking on the ruins and the big bad is still in there. It seems to be napping or something as it wasnt moving but tons of other scorpion monsters were shuffling around and creating holes big enough for them to get out. I've plugged a few of them but the ruins are pretty big you know" They vividly describe the situation which slightly unnerves everyone as the previous mood is lost before Astolfo continues speaking.
"Speaking of, Anav might be feeling jealous or annoyed because just as we reached Orario, Axel outspeed him. I think this hurt Anav's pride and wants to challenge him again" Astolfo offers a logical reasoning that seems to enlighten Ganesha that he outright leaves the party, crying out for Anav and about a training regiment to bring out its full potential.
A few chuckles ring out at that final scene before a new voice calls out for Axel's title.
"How about giving Axel the title of Freya's Odr. I think it matches him very well." She says with a charming smile that many gods can only ignore as they feel the goddess that even they, gods adore falling for another to be unreasonable. Raikou herself rolls her eyes as she knows that Syr is just Freya's mortal form. Since Syr is already pregnant then her statement isn't false but she still doesnt like it. It's only her desire to coddle Axels children that makes Raikou accept such an outcome.
The party itself becomes far more messy due to Freya's intervention. Fights almost break out amongst the gods as they try to get her favor and her mind off Axel. Loki herself has a mysterious smile on her face as the matter of who Axel's 3rd falna member is never made clear. She thinks about what may come of Antares attacking Orario before shaking her head off her thoughts and going over to annoy the pipsqueak (Hestia) for her own comic relief.
The party ends after the gods discuss how they might assist in fortifying Orario against a possible monster horde and Naturally Axel's magic items were brought up and the guild members that oversaw the party helped mediate the business deal. The following 3 weeks passed by.
Axel finds himself standing on the city wall alongside many others. Welf, Daisy and the rest of the group have already returned to orario. 3 of the Loki familia executives are stuck in the dungeon to help protect Rivira and the rest are here. They are all waiting, waiting for the encroaching shadow of darkness to finally arrive at their gates.
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[1] Crush is a similar spell to gravity well but more focused which means it's stronger than gravity well but also a single target spell.
[2] From my own understanding, Loki is actually pretty smart but is too playful to care. Never trust anyone who constantly has their eyes closed and only opens them whenever they are up to something.