Chapter 28 #2
But I had seen him swallow. I had to remember that. Paulson failed to hide that my blow landed, and that proved I was in control of myself and this situation.
“Your demands are too great,” he replied, releasing a defeated breath. “I cannot ask my men to make such a sacrifice.”
“Let it be their choice. They can renounce their paladin class and walk away, or they can agree to the soulstone wager and fight. If you aren’t willing to accept that offer, then we can have it out right here, collateral damage be damned.”
“You will truly agree to make the battle only you and your woman?” Paulson asked.
“If you agree, it’s only your paladins, no celestials or other outsiders.”
“I can see that pushing for better terms is foolish,” the paladin admitted. “I will bring this to my men and give them the choice you described. Thank you for showing mercy on the uncommitted. Giving them the opportunity to step away is a kindness.”
“If they aren’t paladins, they aren’t my enemies.”
Paulson offered his hand. I shook it.
He glanced one last time at the letters on the table, as though they held sentimental value for him, and then he was gone.
Invia had two fingers in herself when I returned to the inn room.
“How was your meeting?” she asked, not slowing.
“Stay there, and keep going.”
I teleported to my bedroom in Sanctuary and grabbed one of my few Immunity to Holy potions. When I returned, Invia was still going. Based on the wetness smeared around herself from her fingers splashing, she had enjoyed our brief time apart.
“Eat this,” I said.
Invia stayed on her back but opened her mouth. She grinned when she saw my incredulity. I set the golden grape on her tongue. She bit down and tossed her head back.
It was completely like Invia to get more turned on because of a system notification. Seeing that she was now immune to Holy was like a shock to her clit.
“Fuck, yes,” she said, fucking herself harder. “Why are you giving me this early?”
“Slow down, but don't stop,” I ordered.
Invia obeyed.
“You and I are fighting up to 64 paladins tomorrow. I would rather you have it if you need it.”
“That many? Oh, fuuuck yes.”
“No intentional civilian casualties. Otherwise, tear the paladins apart.”
“This is your chance,” Invia said. “Drown the voice with this moment. Become a new kind of person so it can't follow.”
“You’re that sure this will work?”
“I know that it worked for me. Pour all of that paladin blood in Aurketzu's mouth and drown her for good. Let bloodlust cleanse you.”
Those words echoed in my mind all the way through the next morning, not quieting until I stood in an old wheat field outside of Orthlox.
Paulson telling the guards about the duel must have turned into news. Several dozen civilians had come to watch the battle. Or had the paladins invited them intentionally to hinder my most powerful attacks?
Whatever the source, people were everywhere. Our deal was only that I wouldn't hurt them intentionally. I could work around that easily enough, but any collateral damage would disturb my reputation with the public. Having their support made everything on the material plane easier.
Paladins were such dicks.
“If you're in our way, you won't survive!” I yelled. “Get the fuck out, or you'll probably die! Byron of Zaglis wishes you well!”
I was loath to spend the good-aligned levels, but I summoned 30 skeleton knights and ordered them to chase people off. That took care of the few who were bold enough to linger in spite of my warning.
“Their numbers have dwindled,” Invia observed. “What is that, 23 total?”
I laughed. “That many renounced the class? Those are the smartest paladins we’ve heard of yet.”
“Enjoy the blood, Father. Play with me and drown the voice.”
“You are nothing without me, viceroy.”
Paulson the Pure walked out from the mass of armored paladins as if to offer one final parlay.
Silkmancer pulled 8 Podni bombs from my belt and flew them into the mass of paladins waiting behind him. Pieces of them sprayed upward and outward like a celebrating crowd throwing their hats into the air.
+166 good-aligned levels.
I triggered Shadows of Death to send 13 newly acquired shades back into the horde.
Darkness+14.
Wraith+5.
I Silk Walked into the sky while Invia triggered Channel Abyssal and charged forward in her abyssal demon form.
Four paladins were steps away from engaging Invia when Silk Swords materialized in the gap.
Two of the paladins were too slow and impaled themselves on the blades.
The two who managed initial parries, seeing through the Ghostly Feint enchantment, were overwhelmed a moment later, their skin sizzling like burnt bacon as the fire crystal blades passed through their armor and cooked their innards.
Invia finished each of them off with an upward slice of a blade that didn't have the Sharpen buff, spraying more gore into the air with each swing.
+87 good-aligned levels.
In seconds, the paladins' numbers were reduced to 3.
Scorching air blew across the field in repeating waves. Paulson the Pure had bright white eyes, and divine light radiated from his form as he continued to cast what was likely a very impressive Holy spell.
Poor guy. He didn’t know that Immunity to Holy was even possible, and he didn’t know that his own peers, other worshippers of the Goddess, provided the framework. If Godfried hadn't been a pathetic drunk, Paulson the Pure might have had a chance to win this fight.
I saw the moment doubt crept into Paulson’s posture. Even more of his confidence drained when he saw the last paladins with him turn tail and flee.
Without direction from me, Invia went after them, leaving the old paladin to me.
The light radiating from him disappeared, and he dropped his head. “Humor an old man. What are your stats?”
That morning, I had invested 200 of my unspent Loyalty Pledges. I wanted to be absolutely certain that my victory here was assured.
“151 strength and 135 dexterity,” I answered.
Paulson shook his head. “Our defeat was certain long before the battle began, it seems.”
And he was right. I was level 33, which for most people would mean somewhere around 100 stat points in total, depending on the unlocks they chose and whether or not they multi-classed.
Let me emphasize: 100 points in total, spread across all of their stats. At that strength, a person was a legendary adventurer, perhaps one of the strongest humans to have ever lived.
I pulled up my character sheet:
Level: 33
Progress to Next Level: (10,409,083 / 13,107,200)
Class: Abyssal Sovereign, Tier 16 (1,113,694 / 6,553,600)
Second Class: Fighter, Tier 10
Third Class: Antipaladin, Tier 9
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Strength 151
Dexterity 135
Constitution 142
Intelligence 146
Wisdom 40
Charisma 40
Loyalty Pledges: 557
Oaths of Devotion: 21
Followers of the Silk: 273
Progress to Your Fall: 47 / 100 (Abaddon, King of the Abyss)
Active Abilities: Sense Weakness+1, Abyssal Reward for the Loyal, Safe Word+25, Rope Burn+25, Ghostly Feint+4, Unholy Smite+10, Darkness+14, Wraith+5, Abyssal Permission, Blood Feast+10, Corpse Builder, Shadows of Death+1, Hymen Harvester
Passive Abilities: Bend, Finesse+8, Improved Footing, Improved Accuracy+3, Enemy Study+1, Sense Danger, Unrelenting, Sugar Daddy, Pact of the Ice Fiend, Afterglow, Sharpen+27, Enthrall, Oath of the Silk Noose, Tactician, Silkmancer+20, Devotion Reaper+21, Intoxicate+100, On Behalf of the Viceroy, Dark Champion+2, King of Kings, Path of the Emperor, Restraint, Abyssal Gaze, Harem Master
Shared Abilities: Greater Touch of Ice, Touch of Abyssal Undeath
Equipment: Ring of Strength +1, Bonfire Amulet, Immunity to Poison Amulet, Ring of Legendary Obscurify, Ring of Mind Fortress, Ring of Magic Resistance, Necklace of Resistance to Holy, Bracelet of Nightsight.
I had 654 stat points allocated and still had 64 sitting in my system unused.
“Tad always wished for you to grow up strong,” Paulson added. “In all of this evil, at least one good man’s dream came true.”
“Stop using his name.”
“So a piece of you still feels remorse,” Paulson replied. “As long as that survives, Tad is still with us.”
“This paladin sees you for what you are. Pathetic. Weak.”
I lifted my sword.
“Wait!” Invia said, still in her abyssal form.
She dragged the two paladins who attempted to run behind her. They were unconscious but alive.
“This is perfect,” she continued. “If you’ll have me, love, I would like to marry you today, and we can drown Aurketzu at the same time.”
“How?” I asked.
“Keep him alive for now. Where do you think a girl could find some privacy around here?”
“Brenin, it’s not too-” A silk gag silenced Paulson the Pure.
“We would have to go into the woods,” I said, looking around at the many witnesses watching us from what they hoped was a safe distance.
“Grab him. Let’s find a place.”