[Repeal], Divine Chant shouted, the word ringing out like a temple bell as it created a miracle.
There was no physical change in the surroundings, no visible barrier appeared, and no divine light descended to exclude her word, but something did change. That became apparent when the purple lighting suddenly curbed 130%, bending itself like an iron rod as it flew off in the distance.
"What was that, were we just attacked?" Quaiesse asked, instantly turning his confused eyes to the floating figure.
"…Yes, it seemed like a lightning spell, but it went by so fast. Anyway, now that I have shown off my trump card they might act more cautiously. Hopefully, they don't figure out my skills too quickly." Replied Divine Chant, her voice hoarse as if she had not drunk anything for days.
Hearing her Quaiesse's eyes took a worried tinge, but it never left the two distant figures. He gave a silent nod then took out two more crystal orbs from inside his armor.
"I thought both of them were close-range types, but clearly, that was hopeful thinking on my part. I will summon some high-ranking monsters to act as our shield. Should we still proceed with our earlier plan?" Quaiesse asked, throwing down the two crystals near his feet.
With a bright flash, the summoning crystals materialized two figures. One was a massive, armored giant gripping a tower shield and an ebony club, its presence solid and imposing. The other was an elegant fairy, androgynous and draped in flowing wizard's robes, hovering slightly above the ground as it held a glowing wooden staff aloft.
"[Wardwyn] erect your strongest magical barrier and you [Guardian orc] guard any physical projectiles."
"Cough, cough... Quaiesse, don't bother. My miracle from just now will last at least an hour and will repel anything in our path," Divine Chant said, wiping away the blood-tinged spit. "And yes, we proceed as planned. I'll reinforce the monsters further."
With a serene presence, Divine Chant's voice rang out, clear as a bell, silencing both allies and foes alike.
"[Magical Power] [Magical Sense] [Magical Knowledge] [Physical Strength Boost] [Iron Skin] [Mental Link]."
Each word reverberated, creating layer upon layer of divine energy, shaping a second and third wave of enhancements.
The summoned monsters were the first to feel the effects of Divine Chant's skill. Their wild, bestial eyes now gleaming with newfound intelligence, their chaotic, uncoordinated rushes altering into perfectly synchronized maneuvres. This wasn't the extent of their transformation, however. Their already enhanced bodies now shimmered with a membrane of magic, reinforcing their durability and resistance.
They moved with purpose and precision, their roars now replaced by a chilling silence, as though they were calculating predators rather than mindless beasts. The air around them crackled with power, their mere presence an oppressive weight on the battlefield.
Many of the summonses that stayed on the back started chanting magic spells while several others moved in to cover for them. This drastic transformation surprised not only Caenis who was directly engaging the horde, but even the summoner himself.
The surprise did not stop however as Quaiesse's mind was also suddenly assaulted with knowledge upon knowledge of spells and magic he never heard of, yet could somehow comprehend it perfectly. His magic limit also grew severalfold, making him feel as if his body would burst like an inflated balloon.
The next miracle manifests as a strength buff, amplifying his already superhuman body to new heights. His stature remains unchanged, and his muscles do not bulge like those of his monsters. Instead, his entire form becomes denser, more refined—like iron forged and tempered by a master blacksmith. Each muscle, each fiber evolves, transforming him into something unrecognizable compared to the man he was moments before.
'This is incredible, with this, maybe, just maybe we can even do more than just buy time.' Quaiesse thought excitedly, recognizing his powerup as the effect of the secret skill Divine Chant mentioned.
But the change in his body was not the most shocking thing he experienced, it was the mental link he could now feel with his summons. He always had a vague connection with all his summons even before this, like hearing someone's voice while standing inside a dense mist, but now, he can feel their every thought, see their every move, and given that they got a substantial boost in their intelligence, this change was most welcome. This jubilating confidence is interrupted, however, when a heavy cough comes from behind him.
"[Unlimited Endu...] cough cough Ahhhh," Divine Chant's incantation halts abruptly as blood sprays from her mouth with each rasping cough. Her once steady composure shatters as she suddenly keels over, her melodic, bell-like voice giving way to a guttural, agonized shriek that pierces the air.
Hearing the piercing shriek, Quaiesse instinctively clamps his hands over his ears, his head snapping toward Divine Chant in alarm. A moment later, as if struck by an invisible sonic force, he collapses to his knees, blood trickling from one ear. Despite the pain, his wide, disbelieving eyes remain fixed on her, unable to process the harrowing sight before him.
***********************
"Hmm, what was that just now?" Akeno wonders out loud, her figure still in midair. She had fired a 6th-tier spell [Lightning Bind] to immobilize the summoner, but to her astonishment, it was deflected mid-trajectory. She was not surprised that could be done—it was a mid-tier spell after all—but the way it was done worried her.
'I didn't feel any shift in mana when using a spell or artefact, so it's not a mana base, then was that fate magic... this is troublesome.'
Akeno, despite her attire suggesting otherwise, holds only a few levels in any faith-based domain. Her priestess garb is more a matter of fashion, tailored to suit her master's tastes rather than reflecting any deep connection to the divine. That said, her level 6 priestess job—the second tier in this branch—grants her a foundational understanding of the field.
However, this role was only taken to meet the minimum requirements for wearing the priestess attire. As a result, many advanced skills and knowledge that should have come naturally remain locked to her. In truth, Caenis, with her own unique attunement, possesses a stronger connection to this domain than Akeno ever could.
'I should ask her if she also noticed it.' Akeno thought, but as she was about to send a message the summoned monsters started to act differently.
'What is this? It feels like they suddenly got smarter, their bodies are also covered with mana…What is happening?'
A feeling of unease started to creep up her spine, and on instinct, her eyes landed on the woman from the other side. There she saw it properly this time. When Divine Chant said something, the monsters instantly gained the ability to will magic.
'As I thought it was fate-base magic, and that cloth she's wearing is the catalyst. To think they still had something like this up their sleeves.' Akeno International spate, regretting not spotting the threat.
'But now that I know it's fate-based, there are several ways to counter it,' Akeno thinks, her mind racing through possible strategies. Her gaze sharpens as she observes Divine Chant. "The only issue is, I still don't know the full extent of the skill's reach. From what I've seen so far, it appears to be a buffing type."
Fate-based magic is a specialized subclass of Divine magic. Unlike its broader parent class, it stands out for its esoteric nature and niche applicability. In theory, the caster draws directly from the fate of higher beings, channeling their power to replicate miracles those entities once performed. This makes it an incredibly potent and lore-rich branch of magic. However, in the game, developers quickly sidelined it after players criticized its impracticality and its potential to disrupt game balance. As a result, it was reduced to little more than a collection of sub-par magic spells and items with flavour text that served no purpose other than to have an intriguing backstory with minimal functional purpose.
In this New World, however, where the flavour texts of items and spells are manifested as literal truths, the Fate-based subclass has realized its full potential. Combined with the innate traits of Divine magic—healing, buffing, and, most critically, its potent anti-evil properties—Fate-based magic becomes one of the greatest threats to Nazarick. Given that many of its denizens align with evil, this revelation casts Divine Chant as a pivotal and perilous force in the battle, her abilities now a keystone in turning the tide against Nazarick's defenders.
Like Akeno, Caenis quickly recognizes the enemy's use of fate magic. The realization, combined with the sudden shift in her opponents' coordinated tactics, douses the flames of her battle frenzy entirely. Now calm, like the still surface of the sea before a storm, she sidesteps an incoming fireball with precision. Her focus shifts from the foes before her—no longer holding her interest—to methodically cutting them down as she scans the battlefield for the source of this newfound power, ending it when Akeno lands beside her, lightning arcing from her form and disintegrating the surrounding enemies in a dazzling display.
"I can guess why you are here, and ya it's fate magic," Caenis said, not bothering to look towards Akeno.
"Haa... I see. Fortunately, I know the target, so let's resolve this swiftly. But should we report this to Master?"
"Why bother, the target is right in front of us, let's just kill her and take the item," Caenis said grunting nonchalantly.
"Hmm, that is true. But do you know what type of item she is wearing? All I know is that her clothes are acting as the catalyst."
"Ya. It's not like I know every fate-based magical item, but from what I see, she is wearing an item called[Dress of Heaven's Command]. It's a minor item that buffs any buffing magic and skills." Caenis explains, her eyes narrowing to the enemy woman.
"But that doesn't explain how she deflected your attack." Caenis muss silently.
"Who knows, maybe that items is a divine class that specialize in barrier invocation, regardless it's a problem that needs immediate attention and we find out shortly I suppose. [Fly]" Akeno said, lifting herself from the ground again. "I will go to capture them now. If you want to be useful then I suggest you stop fooling around with these mobs."
"Oh shut it, I was just testing my limits." Caenis huffs in irritation feeling her earlier jab used against her.
Rolling her eyes at the poor excuse, Akeno decides to move in and end things herself. However, just as she prepares to move, a piercing scream, distorted like a broken bell, echoes through the forest. The unsettling sound halts her in her tracks, drawing her attention sharply. She whips her head toward its source and spots the target on her knees. Her voice, fractured and raw, reverberates in waves, each note distorting the air as if forming sonic attacks.
Sensing the sudden shift in the tide of battle, Akeno and Caenis exchanged a wordless glance. Without a word, Akeno ascended into the air, her movements swift and elegant, while Caenis broke into a powerful sprint.
Yet, their advance was met with an eerie stillness. The summoned monsters, who moments ago had been relentless in their attacks, now stood frozen. Their once savage ferocity was extinguished, replaced by an unsettling lifelessness, as if they had become mere puppets, their strings severed.
"Did that scream do something to their connection with the summoner? Well, guess that's lucky for me." Caenis concluded, shrugging internally while running past them.
Akeno reached their targets first, her gaze landing on the two high-level summons 'About level 65 to 70 I guess, with specialization to defence and magic' she thought evaluating the two monsters. Next her eyes turned to their summoner, then a look of sock pass through her face for an instant.
'His outer appearance is the same from a few minutes ago, but internally he had completely transformed, his body is emanating enough magic to mistake him for a mid-90s level player.' Akeno didn't know how he achieved such exponential growth, suspecting it was the same as the summoned monsters. 'So the target of the buffing was not limited to just the summons. However, the cost of such power is evident.'
Akeno's sharp eyes shifted to her true target—the wielder of the fate magic. The once-pristine figure, celebrated for her saintly beauty, was now a shadow of her former self. Kneeling in a fetal position, she appeared to disintegrate under the weight of her own magic.
Shriveled fragments of skin flaked away like crumbling parchment, falling to the ground in silence. Her once-lustrous, sun-kissed hair dulled and turned ashen, strands fading to a ghostly grey with every passing moment. Her body, once vibrant, was now withered and frail, visibly ageing as though decades were being stolen from her life in mere seconds.
"Is this the backlash of using fate magic that's beyond one's level?" Akeno said curiously, her eyes narrowing at the sight unfolding before her.
Maybe from hearing Akeno's voice or finally breaking out of his shock Quaiesse quickly turned his focus towards the floating raven hair, and hurriedly stood up, his body covering Akeno's sight of Divine Chant.
At the same moment, all the petrified summons also started to move, finally regaining their connection with their master.
"Shit. Great, now I am surrounded again." Clicking her tongue at her situation. "Oi, Akeno, try not to finish them off too quickly," Caenis shouted readying her weapon amid the layers of monsters.
"Hmm, from the wielder's state, the price for using the item seems too lopsided, But then again I am not a weak species, so maybe the price is worth it for them". Akeno said to herself, tastefully ignoring the shouts from Caenis.
"What do you say theocracy's summoner?" Akeno ask amicably.
"I am as surprised as you are miss. So would need some proper time to mule it over, preferably with some drinks. But it doesn't look like you would give me time to process through it."
"Fufu, my, what gave you that idea? I am just curious about what is happening behind you." Akeno giggled, hiding her smile with her fan.
"Before we start, it would be only proper to ask. Do you wish to surrender? I promise it won't be too electrifying of an interrogation."