When I get in range the large tree splits into individual bone strands, pushing up around me before trying to twine itself back together with me in the middle. It would be a beautiful thing for a flower, but it’s like bone hairs trying to form dreads with me as a bead or just a stray bit of food. Won’t know until I let it catch me, and I’m good, thanks.
-How’d you get a piece to try?- I ask as I dodge the explosion of bone hair by flinging myself down to the ground next to one bone string before they swivel up to rejoin the others.
-Why would I try?- one girl shrieks, and I wish I paid more attention or could tell them apart, ‘cause this bish tricked me.
-You’re mean!- I shout mockingly. If it wasn’t for me they’d never have hit puberty. -Gyack!-
I get swatted as I stop to regret the implications of my thought. Not what I meant, not what I did, probably what a lot of people think we’re actually doing. No.
While I’m defending myself in a mental court the bone stalks have swaddled me, wrapping me in a bony embrace. Bones wind around me tight enough to restrict movement, doesn’t hurt, but I’m definitely being swaddled. My UltraVision is restricted as the rest of the bone just reinforces my blankie, building a comfy bone prison. Eventually I’m just in a ball of bone, cradled and held in place, a little nugget of glitter in the bud of a grisly flower hiding inner beauty.
-Hello?- I call out when nothing happens for a while.
-Are you okay?!-
-We’re worried about attacking it...-
-Hold on!- I call out, focusing on all three of us so I can transfer us to my void.
-No, don’t!-
-Why not?- I ask, don’t immediately get a response, so transfer us to the void.
-*You idiot!*- one of the girls shrieks, curling up around her rage, hunching over with eyes screwed shut.
-The Bone Snare stops spatial transfers,- the other girl explains, eyes wide and shining wetly.
-When?-
I transfer out, back into my bone blankie, then try to transfer back to the Sect grounds. The world stretches slowly, which is weird, and then snaps back to me being in the Snare. I panic, transfer to my void, and sag in relief.
-So it doesn’t hurt you, but you can’t go anywhere?- I ask, sitting up and looking at my advisors. Little Corpse is picking at his lip, one of the girls is huffing in annoynace while the other looks around with what looks like mild panic. -What does it do?-
-Just keeps you trapped.- Little Corpse says, shrugging awkwardly.
-You stay trapped and get corrupted by Resentment! Your soul breaks down or your flesh rots, either way, you get eaten!- Angry Ass screams.
It occurs to me that she might be afraid. Of what? It doesn’t attack outside of bludgeoning? And it just gives hugs. Scary?
-So I don’t understand what it does when it traps you...- I understand they’re concerned, but they’re not telling me what they’re concerned about. Guess I’ll just go find out.
I transfer out of my void, into my blankie, make myself comfortable, and wait. Doesn’t stop me from scratching me nose. The angle it’s holding me at is a recline versus just a horizontal stretch. It’s dark, but there’s nothing to see. And it just... waits?
I ate, I soaked, I napped, and now I wait. Could snack, but I probably shouldn’t provoke it. Could try to fight free, but I want to know what this resting attack does.
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-274730]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1833882/26304431]
[Current Qi: 714370/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105217727/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,126R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
Tch!
-Hold on. Coming back to make some shards and then head back out.- I tell the others, transferring to my void. I don’t bother standing up, but I do sit up. - Dunno when I grabbed all this new Qi, but, okay,- I shrug.
-From the Snare,- Little Corpse says like it should be obvious. -It creates a Qi rich environment, encouraging cultivation, but you cycle in Resentment at an increased rate.-
-Tell me you forgot I collect and store shit without telling me you forgot I collect and store shit!- I climb to my feet throwing my hands up in frustration. There’s a Qi and Resentment item and they’re scared of it why?! -Matter of fact. I’m going out there, you guys are responsible for Depositing all the shit I make. I’m gonna take a nap!-
I transfer out of my void, get cradled in my blankie, and try to nod off.
-Dumbasses yelling at me like this is a problem and then keep explaining that it’s not then wondering why I don’t get it. I’m not the idiot!- I shout, the bone blankie giving me a reassuring squeeze. -Thank you.- See? Someone else gets it.
Poor, misunderstood, cultivation treasures. Going around smacking people for not cultivating, then making them sit down and do their homework. You guys are exactly what I needed.
[1 x10 Tear of Resentment Produced]
[-10000 x10 -Resentment]
[+1 x10 Con. Qi]
[+100 x10 Qi]
[-1000 x10 Qi]
[+100 x10 Karma]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,126 + 10 R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-274730]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1833882/26304431]
[Current Qi: 714370/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105217727/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,136R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
-I’ve got so many background systems...- I grumble, settling in. Curious, I try to see if I can get a snack, and I’m able to Withdraw a grilled fish, move enough to eat it, and readjust to fine tune my position. -Cool.-
The Bone Snare literally doesn’t stop me from wiggling around. I’m lying on my back, hands behind my head, just gripped by my torso, and it’s fine. It doesn’t stop me from kicking my feet, lets me wiggle back to curl up on my side, does not restrict me much at all. I drink some tea, remember I was gonna take a nap, and decide to read a little.
I really should read the manual... I open the Sect window, go to the little manual, try to figure out how to access it --.
[-100 Resentment]
[Ghost Sect Manual Knowledge Gained]
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-258480]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1834216/26346744]
[Current Qi: 670870/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105386977/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,138R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
-Did they just charge me for the knowledge of a mandatory manual?- I ask with growing indignation.
-No, dumbass! You just bought the insights! You can read it for free! Why do you need to hold it?!- one of the girls snaps at me.
How the hells was I supposed to read it for free? I go back to the Sect Window and see that I can either meditate on it to gain insights over time but I somehow managed to pay to just have access to all of the knowledge. Ah. Pay to win. Right.
I lie back in my weird cradle, meditate to enter my inner void, go to my Library for a physical copy of the Ghost Sect Manual, back out to my cradle holding a bound manual in my hand, wonder why, with super magic and shiz, all the books are like handmade twine bound composition books, and then open it to start reading. The first few paragraphs warn that Cultivating Resentment can damage one’s soul and Karma, anger the gods, and~ it’s a blurb. I sigh, try to decide if I have the patience to read and meditate on all the knowledge I still have to gain insights on, and decide to take a nap anyway. I bank the manual, roll onto my side, curl up, and go to sleep.
-Is it being serious right now?- is the last thing I hear before I conk out.
Why would I read when it’s in my Library? All I have to do is sleep on it and I’ll understand.
-*You ate the Bone Snare?!*-
I wake up to glare at Little Corpse, but I’m alone in a loose hill-sized pile of bones. Aw... I stand up, bank hundreds of bones, and look around to see I’m away from the Garden of Learning. I’ll leave the teachers to others. What wonderful treasures.
-I didn’t eat it on purpose,- I snap, finally remembering why I woke up. -It gives Qi and Resentment? I finally start cultivating and you yell at me?-
Speaking of. What’d I get?
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-224640]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1834556/26414444]
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
[Current Qi: 601270/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105657777/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,158R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
Um... Still got Resentment, Qi, and condensed Qi. Karma is inching closer to a new Realm, and I understand that I’m part of a Sect that relies on Resentment created when someone dies. And that’s it. The manual I got is incomplete. It’s not the Vengeful Ghost Flame Sect manual. It’s a general Ghost Sect manual.
I open the Sect window and there’s a new purchase option. I can meditate on the Vengeful Ghost Sect manual, but now I understand that I’m part of a very niche sub-sect of a general Ghost Sect collaboration. Big enough to be a Sect instead of just a discipline. So...
[-500 Resentment]
[Ghost Flame Sect Manual Knowledge Gained]
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-234025]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1834571/26418550]
[Current Qi: 601420/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105674202/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,158R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
-Hmm...- I purchase the new manual, and it’s different, and a lot more expensive.
[-5000 Resentment]
[Vengeful Ghost Sect Manual Knowledge Gained]
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-258480]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1834586/26422656]
[Current Qi: 601570/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105690627/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,158R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
-Okay...- More expensive, but I guess this is niche knowledge that takes years to gain insight into?
[-20000 Resentment]
[Vengeful Ghost Flame Sect Manual Knowledge Gained]
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-228795]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1834601/26426763]
[Current Qi: 601720/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105707052/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,158R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
-Yep.- That’s the name of my Sect. So why is there still an option to purchase more knowledge?
[-50000 Resentment]
[Ghost Preparation Manual Knowledge Gained]
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-188680]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1834616/26430869]
[Current Qi: 601870/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105723477/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,158R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
-I suppose that would be considered expensive...- I acknowledge while Little Corpse and the girls stop sputtering indignantly. I’m gonna assume they’re rushing to my Library.
[-100000 Resentment]
[Ghost Forging Manual Knowledge Gained]
[Ghost Pot +170/-0]
[Resentment: +3035550/-88680]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1834616/26430869]
[Current Qi: 601870/957945100]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,451]
[Current Karma: 105723477/107275977]
[Resentment Wallet: 200C.St.,113R.Sl.,158R.Sh.,0D.M.R.N.]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
-Now we’re talking!- I perk up, transfering to my void in order to learn what these bones actually taste like. I take a quick moment to go into my inner void to race to my Library to see that the girls and Little Corpse aren’t the only one’s fighting over the new manuals I’ve gotten. - ? Hope no one’s messing with the garbage the stupid bug just got! ? -
I cackle as the girls blush, Little Corpse flinches, head tucked down and shoulders raised, and the other ghosts suddenly realize they’re fighting over the wrong book, wandering off through the stacks. Back out into my void and I pause before withdrawing a Bone Snare bone when I remember that I’ll need a bone core to generate Resentment forged weapons.
So... What to do? I’ll need to sleep on everything individually to settle the knowledge to access it reliably. I could read and think on it, but that takes longer. I could snack and read, but then I’d still need to take time to think on it or nap on it. What else do I need to work on?
-*You’re supposed to have met up with Widow’s Sigh hours ago!*- one of the girls banshee screeches through the void at me.
-Rather do that,- I admit. I can read, I do read, I don’t want to right now. -How could you find him?-
One of the girls storms up to me, eyes blazing, brows furrowed, lips twisted in a scowl after coming from inside the house. She’s holding something in her hand, and, when she’s close enough and I hold out my hand, she slams it against my palm.
-My badge?- It’s literally my sect badge. I lift it up and spin around, shrugging at her and she rolls her eyes and walks back into the house.
I head outside, feel a slight pull and get a light chime sound inside my head, shrug, then head in that direction. I see I’m loping towards the garden again, decide to kick off and drift away for a bit before doing my floaty bunny hop in the right direction.
I close in on a group of people, not uniformed, but they are armored, and when I try to get the others attention to ask if this is something to avoid, they transfer out around me without a word. Little Corpse has his sickle out in one hand, and some chains in the other, but where’d the chains come from. The girls whip out fans, floating in the air like the little misses they are, and I’m trying to figure out where the fans came from.
-You don’t know half of the treasures you have,- one of the girls scoffs, turning her head to put me out of her sight, but she’s not even facing me.
I look at the “enemies” to see that they’re just armored leathery hided zombies, plate and rotting leather. The figure I thought was just a zombie or person around skeletons is a well-armored creature with a helmet. And they all have glowing red eyes.
-Are they violent or nah?- I ask because everyone’s geared up but we haven’t even tried talking. -You guys enemies or can we be friends?- I ask the main armored figure, getting to see the eyes narrow by the glow narrowing.
-Why?- Little Corpse turns to stare at me with wide-eyed disbelief.
-Why the chains?- I ask him since we’re asking questions.
“Who do you serve?” the heavily armored figure asks, voice rusty and crackling. Can they send or do they literally crackle at one another.
-Me?- I answer and it doesn’t respond.
“Who is your master?” the creature narrows its eyes at me again, and I realize it doesn’t think I responded.
-I answered you? I am the one I serve! I am my master!- I throw my hands up. -*There are many who would try to claim me, but they have nothing to give in return that I can’t gain on my own. Who do you serve?*-
“My master is the Lord of the Razed Army,” it rasps, the two mummified leather zombies flanking them move to stand on either side of the armored zombie. It coughs, clearing its throat, and then speaks. “Will you serve?”
-Did your voice just change?- I ask in disbelief.
It was rasping at me and then cleared its throat and now just sounds... like a young lord, actually. Then I realize what it just asked me and my amazement is overcome by annoyance.
-*You’re gonna attack me if I say “no” after I just said many people try to claim me but offer nothing of value in return,- I sigh, ignoring the smug smirks and flat stares from my advisors. -If I ate a whole ass Bone Snare, can I make a mini one to help with cultivation?*- I ask, because that training thing was so much more interesting than this posturing and political bullshit.
“You can swear allegiance to my Lord, and your reward will be you continued existence,” he exclaims, leaping backwards and drawing his sword dramatically.
-Focus!- one of the girls snaps at me, looking back to make eye contact and glare.
-No!- I open my eyes wide back at her before rolling my eyes.
“Last chance!” the armored man bellows, pointing his sword at me.
-Still no!- I call back to him, widening my eyes at him before turning to glare flatly at Little Corpse and the girls who glare back with equally blank faces.
“Then perish!” he growls, sprinting at me with his two companions quickly falling behind.
-Do I gotta be part of this?- I ask.
-No need!- Little Corpse says, hunching down before launching forward with his blade held out at his side. The girls mirror his sentiment, but stay floating around me as a defense guard.
-He good to handle the boss by himself?- I’m assuming the little dudes are additional mobs while the chatty dude is the main mob in their group.
-He doesn’t just nap and eat, like some people,- one of the girls huffs at me.
-*Ah, so he’s not making the money you all are using?*- I sigh, nodding knowingly at this “revelation”.
Little Corpse laughs, doing a spinning leap into the air at the same time as the armored captain. One of the girls snickers while the other just glares at me.
Little Corpse releases the chain’s length as he spins, the corpse captain having to block the chain, but then it’s around again to slap him upside the head. By the time that’s over Little Corpse and the captain land, the captain staggered from the blow while Little Corpse is free to race in, sickle raised and head low. He crouches when he gets in range, and I’m concerned he’s going to leap into a swing and impressed to see him leaping backwards as the captain swings, his disoriented state either a ruse or something he snapped out of quickly.
Little corpse hops backwards, left and right, taking the time to wrap the chain around his arm with his movements, keeping his sickle raised defensively as the captain watches him. I don’t know why, but they both charge one another again, in sync, and I still don’t know to what cue they’re responding. The sword goes up, over, and down, Little Corpse catching and deflecting it with his sickle before leaping off to the side, and I wonder if my penchant for hopping and drifting to cover long distances has influenced his fighting style.
Little Corpse snorts, one of the girls giggles, and the other shouts at me to shut up. So maybe.
By now the other two leather zombies have caught up to their captain and I’m about to ask if we should do anything about it when the girls throw their little bone knives, tagging both zombies, one each, before transfering to their victims. They are the knives and the knives are literally a part of them, so that’s pretty nifty. They behead the zombies, one with her knife, the other with her fan, and then they throw the knives at me. I scream, -- they’re literally throwing pieces of themselves at me, and I know how that story ends, why wouldn’t I? -- but they were just moving back to stand guard near me.
-Know your weakness?- one girl narrows her eyes, face pinched in a smug smirk.
-Know you’re gonna have to get a part-time job to make your own money, you keep pushing me,- I snark before realizing they’re older than me and I don’t have kids. Not doing this again! -I’m a terrible pet and you’re a mean contracted spirit! I haven’t broken our contract, and I said I was getting you because I can’t fight. Rude ass! You constantly remember why I got you to join me in the first place then mock my lack of foresight? Pick a road!-
