Epic Of The Demonic Sage



"It feels… well, I cannot check it here, Young Lord Asher, but my gift feels like it has grown stronger." Captain Donald said in awe.

Lucius didn't need to know the exact details, as the Nexus already displayed the new information to him, but he wanted to have the man's loyalty hence why it was important to check on Captain Donald's well-being and make sure the man was satisfied.

"If you'd like, perhaps we can return to the training grounds and see." Lucius suggested.

Captain Donald paused for a moment. The urge to test his newfound gift was strong, but at the same time, he also did not wish to boast about it in front of his guards.

"This is… a gift from Young Lord Asher, I do not think I can carelessly expose it without much thought." Captain Donald said. 

"True. But I do not think that everyone will immediately be able to tell." Lucius said.

"Perhaps later, I will check out the results for myself and then report it to you, Young Lord Asher." Captain Donald said.

Compared to Lieutenant John who easily agreed to have his gift be tested in front of Asher and Kiana, Captain Donald was more concerned about keeping it to himself and checking it at a private area unseen from others.

'Then again, Captain Donald's gift can cause much more immediate wreck than Lieutenant John here so I understand his hesitation.' Lucius thought.

"Very well, I hope you will consider my request, Captain Donald."

"My apologies once again for the mistaken assumption. I did not expect that there truly was a way to upgrade one's gifts with another gift. It was hard to believe and I thought you were mistaken." Captain Donald cleared his throat and looked incredibly embarrassed, especially with Kiana looking unimpressed and even offended in the corner of the room.

"Do not worry about it, I appreciate a person with skepticism." Lucius said. "Far better to have hesitations before diving into something unknown to you."

"Thank you, Young Lord Asher. I shall return to my duties now." Captain Donald said, but before he left, he stopped at the door. "As for your request, Young Lord Asher. I hope that we can take it from a case to case basis… though I do not think that you will be making any decisions that Count Inanis will argue against. In fact, your father is quite proud, that perhaps, this is what he might have wanted for his young son as well. Someone capable of doing things without his permission."

'The Mark of Obedience is a little different with Captain Donald, but it does not exactly warp someone's personality in obvious ways. So this is merely his way of showing obedience… albeit in a less obvious manner. He is still a person with a higher position in a hierarchy and with his own character, so it affects how he interacts.'

"Thank you, Captain Donald. See you at another time." 

As the Captain disappeared, Lucius took one last chance to glance at the Gift in the Nexus.

Gift Name: Fissure Smash

Description: User can create fissures on the gorund with great power, splitting apart the earth. Can also apply the same force to other surfaces. Has a high consumption of Aether.

Rank: Epic

Type: Physical

Evolution: Possible

***

"Is that everyone, Asher?" Kiana asked once Captain Donald was gone.

"Hmm, I will be meeting with Gellor and the rest of his team sometime this week. I do not think that I can upgrade everyone's gift, so I will start with their leader first." Lucius explained.

"I see. That makes sense." Kiana nodded. "I am sure that they will be thrilled with that. After Gellor, Asher, is there anyone else you plan to upgrade after?"

"I will still have to check, but if I had to choose between the rest of the members of Gellor, then it would have to be… Barty maybe. His Air Vortex gift has after all saved my life from the Plow Worm, though I am curious on how Ariana's gift might develop if given a chance to rise in rank." Lucius explained. "Finch's gift is mostly limited in range, and I am not sure if elevating her gift rank might improve that, and Albus's gift is mostly self-contained."

"He was able to save you too, Asher." Kiana said.

"Yes, but when compared with the aspect of utility, Barty's still has the most use." Lucius said. 

"I see. That makes the most sense." Kiana agreed.

"Indeed." Lucius nodded. 

"Ah, by the way, Asher. The people from the rehabilitation center are done with their preparations. I think they are only waiting for your go-signal before they can leave alongside that of the Masked Legion." Kiana said.

"I will send a few with them as I've promised." Lucius considered the current available Lost that were with him and their respective gifts.

'The chances of combat are rare, but in the occasion that they are to use their Gifts, it is far better than it be the ones who are less… sinister.' Lucius thought. 

Out of the original twelve Masked Legion, the ones like Doyle had their Corrupted Gifts locked. It was about a half of them who had theirs locked.

"I guess, Jacob will be a good addition."

"Who?" Kiana blinked. She didn't actually quite remember the names of the Lost, nor did she care that much.

"His gift will be much useful in keeping track of our volunteers." Lucius explained as he recalled the specifics of Jacob's gift. 

Corrupted Gift: Tainting Dust

Description: The creature can continually release tainted dust from the many orifices on his body. Whatever surface this dust touches is 'tainted' and will contain traces of hell energy. Any person or thing that touches this tainted dust will have this stuck on them for a long time.

'Hmm, Doyle, Baza, Dustin… Jacob. One only needs a few to safeguard them. And with Jacob's gift, I'll keep track in any unfortunate circumstances where one gets into any sort of unexpected danger.' Lucius thought.

It was a shame to lose useful tools afterall.