Unfortunately for Larek, his body didn’t lose consciousness – because that might’ve given him the blessed darkness of unawareness that he craved only seconds into whatever was happening. Paralyzed with pain, his body began to glow a yellowish-white, as if there was an internal source of light just underneath the skin, and it felt like his flesh and bones were being cauterized by an intense, unending flame. The clothes he was wearing quickly became unbearably tight as his entire frame expanded in an uncontrolled growth, and even with Multi-Resistance protecting them from damage, they couldn’t withstand his growing body and were quickly ripped apart.
It wasn’t until he saw the Mana inside of the Multi-Resistance Fusions emerge from when they were ruptured that he realized that all of the nearby energy was being forcefully sucked into his body, which included the Mana from the ruptured Fusions. He thought it might be that which was causing his body to grow larger, like a balloon inflating as it was filled with air, though it must’ve been hot air, as the heat coming off his rapid expansion was dangerously close to setting the pillows near him on fire.
“Larek! What is happening?!” he heard from behind him, which was when he remembered that Nedira had been working on something in the kitchen, and was now likely looking on in horror as Larek seemed ready to explode. The Fusionist wanted to call out for her to run, as he had no idea what was happening to him other than it was probably dangerous to anyone else in the vicinity, but he was unable to speak. In fact, he was unable to do anything as the roiling pain enveloped his body as his insides felt like they were being broken down into mush before being set on fire.
He wanted to scream in pain, as this was the most agony-filled experience he’d had since he’d acquired his Pain Immunity Skill, and all he could think about was passing out so that he didn’t have to die while being aware of his body exploding. Unfortunately, whatever process he was undergoing wasn’t having any of that, as he was forced to stay completely cognizant of the torture he was undergoing – and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
If Larek’s betrothed had anything else to say, or if she had somehow understood that he wanted her to flee, he had no idea – because he soon couldn’t focus on anything but his own situation. His hyper-focused concentration was fixated on the light emerging from underneath his skin and the way he continued to expand, until he started to push over some of the barrels and shelving near his throne of pillows; his fixation on those details was the only reason he didn’t lose his mind from the sheer pain he was experiencing, but even with that, he could feel his mind fraying at the edges.
Just when he thought his mind and body couldn’t take anymore, with both right on the cusp of being annihilated by the sudden and painful process, his body rapidly shrank to somewhat of a normal size again, and the torturous physical and mental agony began to fade, leaving only the memories of such an experience behind.
Larek felt blessedly cool hands against his face as he heard Nedira suddenly throw herself down in his lap, her frantic cries barely able to get through to him as he tried to come to terms with what had just happened. “Larek?! Talk to me! What happened? Are you alright? Are you hurt? Was this an attack? Larek!”
He couldn’t respond, however, as his body was still paralyzed, and his vision was suddenly inhabited by notifications once again.
Prepare for absorption and transformation…
Ambient energy absorption complete. Physical transformation complete.
Beginning redundant Specialization absorption…
What is going on—?
Whereas his body had originally ballooned up when all the nearby ambient energy was absorbed by it, which he was now aware enough to recognize was being turned into Primal Essence, now it felt like it was being ripped apart from his internal core. Fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how he looked at the information), the notifications were telling him what was happening.
Currently absorbing all redundant Specializations:
Ranger…complete
Basher…complete
Striker…complete
Healer…complete
Generalist Spellcaster…complete
All-Rounder…complete
Warrior Skillmaster…complete
Battle Master…complete
Multi-Champion…complete
Omni-Sage…complete
Ultimate Skillsage…complete
Energy Manipulator…complete
Pattern Savior…complete
Master Guardian…complete
Grandmaster Fusionary…complete
Fusionist Scion…complete
As the list populated with each Specialization that he’d earned, it felt like a piece of him had been ripped out as each one read “complete” next to it. At the same time, he also received a blast of warm energy that infused his tired body, though he couldn’t tell exactly what it was doing. It was a different kind of energy that he’d never encountered before, so he had no way of knowing whether it was beneficial or harmful to him.
After what felt like ages, the list of Specializations finally came to an end – but he was still paralyzed with Nedira on his lap, sobbing against his chest as he lay there unmoving but with his eyes open, for all intents and purposes looking like he was in a waking coma. All of the foreign energy inside of him seemed to finally settle down, which was when he received somewhat of an explanation for what was going on.
Congratulations, Avatar!
Due to your single-minded pursuit and aptitude of patterns and Fusions, you have achieved a threshold that has only been reached by one other in this world! As a reward for your dedication and perseverance, your body has evolved and been transformed into one of divine nature, complete with all the benefits that such a form entails.
Because of this transformation, all redundant Specializations have been absorbed and converted to encompass your new, final Specialization; all future Specializations that might be earned will instead be absorbed by this final Specialization. In addition, your status as a divine being – while undoubtedly supremely beneficial – comes with different requirements for advancement, so be prepared for a few important changes to your development.
Congratulations, Avatar!
You have unlocked the Divine Fusionist Final Specialization!
Requirements:
Fusionist Scion Specialization
Ultimate Skillsage Specialization
Grandmaster Fusionary Specialization
Pattern Savior Specialization
Energy Manipulator Specialization
At least 10 Mage Skills at or above 100
At least 1 Martial Skill at or above 100
All Fusion-related Skills at or above 100
All Pattern-related Skills at or above 100
All Guardian Skills at or above 10
Intellect of at least 500
Acuity of at least 500
Pneuma of at least 500
Strength of at least 500
Body of at least 500
Agility of at least 500
Created 1,000,000 or more Fusions
The Divine Fusionist Specialization also provides these benefits:
Ability to produce and manipulate Divine Spirit for use in Fusions
A one-time bonus of +20 to all Mage Skills
A one-time bonus of +200 to all stats
Ability to manipulate/alter existing Fusions in unique ways
Ability to create custom Fusions with unique Effects
Ability to impart any Fusion-related Skill to those with the capacity
Ability to utilize Pattern Cohesion in unique ways
Ability to manipulate up to 95% of your Pattern Cohesion outside of spell patterns and Fusion formations
75% increase to manipulatable Pattern Cohesion when used in combat
Ability to impart any Pattern-related Skill to those with the capability
Heightened ability to manipulate your internal pattern
Enhances the strength of all spells and pattern constructs by 30%
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Increased efficiency in manipulating all types of energy and patterns
Ability to impart any Guardian Skills to those with the capability
50% increase in efficiency for all Mage Skills at Level 100 or above
50% increase in Mage Skill improvement speed
Enhances the strength of all Fusions by 70%
60% reduction in Mana Cost for all Fusions
70% reduction in Pattern Cohesion requirements for all Fusions
30% reduction in Fusion Time for all Fusions
90% reduction in Mana Cost for all cast spells
70% increase in the magnitude of all cast Spells
70% increase in the range of all cast Spells
65% reduction in Pattern Cohesion requirements for all spells
5% reduction in Mana Cost for healing-based spells
Ability to learn all spells 25% faster
25% increase in damage done with all Weapon Skills
30% increase in efficiency while using Body Regeneration, Stama Subjugation, and Dodge Skills
65% Stama Cost reduction for all Battle Arts
40% increase in effectiveness of all Battle Arts
40% increase in duration of all Battle Arts
5% increase in Agility when wielding a bladed weapon
5% increase in the effectiveness of the Bladed Weapon Expertise Skill
5% decrease in Stama cost for all Battle Arts while wielding a bladed weapon
5% increase in Agility when wielding a blunt weapon
5% increase in the effectiveness of the Blunt Weapon Expertise Skill
5% decrease in Stama cost for all Battle Arts while wielding a blunt weapon
10% increase in Agility when wielding a ranged weapon
5% increase in the effectiveness of the Ranged Weapon Expertise Skill
5% increase in the effectiveness of the Throwing Skill
5% decrease in Stama cost for all Battle Arts while wielding a blunt weapon
The Divine Fusionist Specialization automatically absorbs the benefits of all current and future Specializations earned!
The extremities of Larek’s body began to wake up first, and he felt relieved once he could finally wiggle his fingers and toes. As the rest of his limbs began falling back under his control in a cascade of sensation, he did his best to fully comprehend what the notifications had told him.
I’ve evolved? I have a “divine” nature, now? What exactly does that mean?
When he looked at the list of benefits that his new Divine Fusionist Specialization gave him, he recognized all of the benefits that his other Specializations had provided, but now it was all absorbed and condensed down into one neat, organized list. He supposed that it was handy to have that available rather than try to look at the benefits for over a dozen Specializations, but he didn’t think that the pain and the transformation were worth it.
The additional benefits, however, just might be. Not only did his “final” Specialization provide a one-time bonus of +20 to all of his Mage Skills, but all of his stats received +200 – a massive increase, on top of his most recent ones. In addition to the Skill Level and stat increases, there was something else on the list that he wasn’t exactly sure what to make of yet, but he had his suspicions.
Ability to produce and manipulate Divine Spirit for use in Fusions
He wasn’t exactly sure what this “Divine Spirit” was, but he suspected it was what he felt in his body when his Specializations had been absorbed by the transformation process. He would have to discover what exactly it meant later, however, because he was more interested about the warning he received in the notification about the requirements for advancement. To begin digging into them, he opened his full Status for the first time since his transformation, and the changes were apparent from the first glance.
Larek Holsten – Avatar of Fusions
Divine Fusionist
Level 71
New Fusion Progress (50 AP): 0/1
Available AP to Distribute: 127
Available Aetheric Force (AF): 241
Stama: 7000/7000
Mana: 7140/7140
Strength: 700 (+)
Body: 715 (+)
Agility: 700 (+)
Intellect: 714 (+)
Acuity: 714 (+)
Pneuma: 6,435
Pattern Cohesion: 64,350/64,350
Mage Abilities:
Spell – Acid Spray
Spell – Active Illusion
Spell – Bark Skin
Spell – Binding Roots
Spell – Buoyancy
Spell – Dousing Spray
Spell – Dynamic Illusion
Spell – Fireball
Spell – Form Barrier
Spell – Furrow
Spell – Ice Spike
Spell – Lesser Restoration
Spell – Light Bending
Spell – Light Orb
Spell – Localized Anesthesia
Spell – Mana Siphon
Spell – Minor Mending
Spell – Nature’s Renewal
Spell – Pyroblast
Spell – Rapid Plant Growth
Spell – Repelling Gust
Spell – Shatter
Spell – Static Illusion
Spell – Static Invisibility
Spell – Stone Extraction
Spell – Stone Fist
Spell – Thrust
Spell – Wall of Thorns
Spell – Water Jet
Spell – Wind Barrier
Fusion – Acuity Boost
Fusion – Adjustable Illumination
Fusion – Adjustable Illuminate Area
Fusion – Adjustable Mana Siphon
Fusion – Agility Boost
Fusion – Area Chill
Fusion – Automatic Ice Repulsion Field
Fusion – Automatic Strong Temperature Adjustment
Fusion – Binding Thorns
Fusion – Blinding Heat
Fusion – Blinding Freeze
Fusion – Body Boost
Fusion – Buoyant Sphere
Fusion – Buoyant-Thruster
Fusion – Camouflage Dome
Fusion – Camouflage Sphere
Fusion – Directional Illumination
Fusion – Expression of Free Will
Fusion – Extreme Heat
Fusion – Flaming Ball
Fusion – Flying Stone
Fusion – Focused Light Beam
Fusion – Freeze-Delayed Mist
Fusion – Frozen Zone
Fusion – Furrow Field
Fusion – Gradual Aetheric Purification Array
Fusion – Graduated Illumination Strong
Fusion – Graduated Parahealing
Fusion – Healing Shelter
Fusion – Healing Surge
Fusion – Heavy Load
Fusion – Icy Spike
Fusion – Illuminate
Fusion – Illuminated Free Will
Fusion – Illusionary Image
Fusion – Illusionary Perception Ward
Fusion – Intellect Boost
Fusion – Intellect and Acuity Boost
Fusion – Left Gust of Air
Fusion – Mage Skill Hexa-Boost
Fusion – Mage Stat Boost Suite
Fusion – Magical Energy Negation Plane
Fusion – Magical Energy Negation Sphere
Fusion – Martial Skill Hexa-Boost
Fusion – Martial Stat Boost Suite
Fusion – Muffle Sound
Fusion – Muffling Air Deflection Barrier
Fusion – Multi-Resistance
Fusion – Multi-Purpose Arsenal
Fusion – Multi-Thruster
Fusion – Occlusion Sphere
Fusion – Omni Boost
Fusion – Paralytic Light
Fusion – Paralytic Touch
Fusion – Perceptive Misdirection
Fusion – Personal Air Deflection Barrier
Fusion – Pneuma Boost
Fusion – Portable Lifter
Fusion – Protection of the Void
Fusion – Purify Water
Fusion – Reactive Necrotic Siphon
Fusion – Red and White Illuminate
Fusion – Reflection Sphere
Fusion – Repelling Barrier
Fusion – Repelling Gust of Air
Fusion – Resonating Mana Siphon
Fusion – Right Gust of Air
Fusion – Secure Hideaway
Fusion – Shape Material
Fusion – Sharpen Edge
Fusion – Shattering Acidic Occlusion Dome
Fusion – Space Heater
Fusion – Spellcasting Focus Boost
Fusion – Stone Shredder Dome
Fusion – Strength Boost
Fusion – Strength and Body Boost
Fusion – Strengthen and Sharpen Edge
Fusion – Strengthen
Fusion – Strengthen Area
Fusion – Strong Watered Growth
Fusion – Temperature Regulator
Fusion – Transfer Potential
Fusion – Traveling Gate
Fusion – Tree Skin
Fusion – Variable Elemental Gust Sphere
Fusion – Variable Repeating Elemental Projectile
Fusion – Variable Elemental Destruction
Fusion – Water Stream
Fusion – Weaken
Fusion – Vacuum Blast
Fusion – Void Curtain
Fusion – Void Pocket
Martial Abilities:
Battle Art – Furious Rampage
Battle Art – Consuming Speed
Battle Art – Tactician Mind
Battle Art – Fleetfoot
Battle Art – Empowered Strike
Battle Art – Absorb Blow
Battle Art – Execution
Battle Art – Command Shout
Mage Skills:
Spellcasting Focus Level 115
Fusional Growth Level 120
Pattern Restoration Level 121
Focused Division Level 140
Multi-effect Fusion Focus Level 140
Pattern Recognition Level 145
Fusion Level 145
Pattern Formation Level 145
Mana Control Level 145
Pattern Manipulation Level 145
Magical Detection Level 160
Martial Skills:
Ranged Weapon Expertise Level 10
Blunt Weapon Expertise Level 15
Throwing Level 29
Unarmed Fighting Level 30
Pain Immunity Level 20
Dodge Level 100
Body Regeneration Level 100
Bladed Weapon Expertise Level 100
Stama Subjugation Level 100
General Skills:
Cooking Level 13
Writing Level 16
Bargaining Level 18
Saw Handling Level 20
Reading Level 22
Long-Distance Running Level 25
Speaking Level 45
Listening Level 55
Leadership Level 70
Beast Control Level 75
Axe Handling Level 105
Guardian Skills:
Energetic Transmission Level 15
Aetheric Authority Level 17
Primal Essence Mastery Level 15
While he had been told it had been the case, seeing all of his Specializations completely gone was a shock – but it was the annotation near his name that was even more shocking.
Avatar of Fusions? What even is that?
What didn’t change was his Level, and he still had 127 AP to spend on his stats that he’d gotten from his last three Level-ups, but the normal Advancement Points section of his Status had been replaced. Apparently, as far as he could tell, instead of earning AP from Leveling up his Skills, he simply needed to make Fusions. He was able to focus on the line named “New Fusion Progress,” and he received a little more clarification; it wasn’t just any Fusions that he needed to create, but ones that pushed the boundaries of what he’d already created before. If he made such, then he would Level-up and earn 50 AP to spend. While he didn’t receive this information specifically, he could only assume that the requirements for the next Level-up would be more than just the 1 new Fusion required right now.
Then there was his Available Aetheric Force, which had been something like 2.6 million before his evolution – but was now down to 241—no, 243. As he looked at it, the number went up, and a quick check of the ambient energy around him showed that he was passively absorbing it from the environment. As for the massive amount he had before in reserve? It had likely been consumed to fuel his transformation.
He was momentarily shocked when he saw his stats, for a couple of reasons. First, the 200 additional points per stat had already been added, putting him at over 700 for everything other than Pneuma, which was directly influenced by his Body stat. Secondly, his boosted stats were gone, so they were technically smaller than before, which was when he realized that all of the Fusions near, on, or even inside his body had been obliterated during his painful evolution, including his Omni-Boost Fusion that had been enhancing his stats. He resolved to replace it as soon as he could, perhaps with an even larger one that he would have to grow with his newest Skill.
Finally, when it came to those Skills, he was blown away at how far his Mage Skills had come. With the additional 20 Levels in each of them, every single Mage Skill was above Level 100, including Spellcasting Focus, which was always the hardest one to Level because it only really Leveled at specific times when creating certain Fusions. With all of them at such a high Level, he felt like he could create just about any Fusion he could imagine, and he would be able to do it with the incredible Skills at his disposal.
When looking at his Skill list, he realized that his transformation had also consumed the Skill Boost Fusion which had been increasing the Level of a few of his Mage and Martial Skills, so he wanted to replace those as well. This time, though, he thought he might be able to include all of them, and at a higher Magnitude than just the 10 it was before. I wonder – would that count as a “new Fusion” for my Leveling requirements? Or would it have to be something even more spectacular? He wasn’t sure, but he’d have to experiment to find out.
Thankfully, he had absolutely no problem with experimenting.
Other than those changes, Larek’s Status was largely the same everywhere else. He still needed to allocate his existing AP he had available, but he held off for now.
Now that he was finally able to move again, he had to explain to his betrothed about what exactly just happened to him.
