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The main power I would use to fortify my place would be creating a Nexus. They were wellsprings of energy that would multiply my power by using Landscapist to imbue my spells with pure mana and allow me to refill my mana faster than usual.

I also needed to set up proper protection from people teleporting in or scrying on me. Thankfully, as before, I would have to use rituals. I could now use my control over space to block out outside interference.

I also had a few basic rituals that would hamper people with bad intentions or try to attack me. They were simple and would do little more than slow them or cause them to trip, but that could be the difference between life and death in a fight.

Rolling my shoulders, I started barking orders at my simulacrum. "All right, we need to get this place properly defensibly. 9.0, you and 10.0 will be creating a Nexus here. 11.0 and 12.0, you will be setting up defensive rituals that will activate upon hostile intent. I will be preventing teleportation and clairvoyance from seeing us inside here. Lastly, you remaining. I want you to kick Dust production into overdrive and see if you can't find someplace on our original Earth to set up proper production."

Nodding, the Simulcarm split up and headed to work. 9.0 and 10.0 transformed their parasols back into staffs and started waving them around while chanting in german. 11.0 and 12.0 started to conjure materials from Dust and draw circles while the remaining simulacrum headed out the exit as I twisted it to access our original Earth.

Twisting space was fairly simple as all I was doing was turning it so that anybody who attempted to peer inside or teleport inside was redirected. It was like following a road when driving; somebody could plow their own path, but it would be painful, and only a rare few could do it.

I then went to see what the others had done in the hour or so that it took me to ward my home. 9.0 and 10.0 were still chanting and working on creating a Nexus. They would likely be at it until the morning, even with their skill. Artificially raising the base amount of mana in an area was difficult.

11.0 and 12.0 had finished coating the area in rituals. They were hidden under the sunflowers and would trap and slow anybody who tried to harm me. It wouldn't do much against powerful beings, but against ordinary people, they would be stuck fast.

I had a few tasks before I could kick up my heels and relax. I wanted to see if I could sell blood-infused sake to Remilia, as the money would be valuable. I also needed to get proper potions going. I did need to test if Dust could make them or if I would have to try other methods.

Walking over to the lake, I sifted through the filters collecting Dust. I managed to fill the sack to the top, although it wasn't all that much, given the bag was three-fourths full already.

I then walked back over to the forge area and sat down. I wanted to be outside and away from any of the other machines or devices when I experimented. The forges were already built to sustain high temperatures and damage; they were also easier to repair.

Pulling out one of my potions, I opened my Magesight and truly looked at its primordial makeup. While the fluid itself was magical, as I excepted, the glass was heavily infused with magic as well.

Holding the pattern in my mind, I placed my hand in the sack of Dust and focused on creating a new potion. I felt the Dust flowing out of the sack and was forced to wedge my hand further as a truly alarming amount of Dust was used.

In a few moments, I had a small potion bottle in front of me. Removing my hand from the now three-quarters full sack of Dust, I picked up the new potion bottle and opened my Magesight. The potion was almost the same, except all of the magic was slightly less likely because it was not a copy and was mainly physical.

Properly looking through the sack, I frowned. It had taken a little more than a quarter of my Dust to make a single potion, and while the potion was good, it was still an incredible amount of Dust to be shelling out every day.

That was why I was having my simulacrum set up proper facilities on my homeworld. The empires of Endless Legend had built Dust collectors across seas and massive lakes to fuel their empire. I didn't need quite as much but the more, the better.

The two things I had to do was supply my three potions to Patchouli as well as figure out the blood-infused sake. I decided to start with the sake as I already had the potions.

Walking to my Lunar workshop, I flicked off the purity field and walked inside. Striding over to the fabricator, I picked up another dozen bottles of sake before walking out and turning the field back on.

I couldn't just add my blood as it was impure and would dilute the sake from perfection, and while imperfect blood-infused sake might be wonderful for a vampire, I had higher standards.

That meant I would need to purify my blood. I also didn't have much blood due to Alter Self only creating a skin-deep glamour to change my form. It did have veins and the like, as well as being permanent, but all of it was surface level which meant I didn't have the full amount a normal person had.

As I was thinking, I felt the Grimoire grow before I doubled over as I felt a thirsting wind sweep across my soul. I then heard a voice whisper as if it was right next to my ear.

"Well, well, well. I must say it has taken you longer to call upon me then the others. I was almost feeling left out." Spinning around, I didn't see anybody and so called for my Grimoire.

Flipping it open, I opened to the newest page and paled. Emblazed at the top was the words Mark of Tzeentch. The page went on to list the benefits of being marked by the Chaos God, but I could only notice how my already extremely fast reading speed was enhanced further, allowing me to read the entire page with a glance.

"Now, now it's not that bad. There isn't a proper Warp or Winds anyhow. I couldn't go off and possess some other poor soul." The voice then giggled as its overlapping voices sounded faintly like the cawing of a raven.

"But your not worried about them, are you? You don't care if the world burns so long as you and yours are safe. Anyhow, I can't do anything. It would defeat the purpose of this Grimoire if I could possess the wielder at will."

Freezing at the accusations, I seized on the talk of the Grimoire having a purpose. "What do you mean purpose? Is there some greater plan?" I shouted, only to receive silence in response.

Sighing, I slumped to the ground and placed my head in my hands. When I got my hands on whoever made the Grimoire, I was punching them in the face; murder was also on the table, depending on the purpose of the Grimore. A long, drawn-out death if it was for funsies.

Rubbing my forehead, I strode inside my house and went to my room. Opening my drawers, I rummaged inside for my soul gem. Pulling it out, I twirled the pen in my hand before looking at the gem at the end of it.

Peering inside, I could see a few differences before; it was a pure sea green; however, now I could see a swirling storm of blue deep inside the gem. I assumed this was the mark that was put on my soul. I could also feel that my SOUL had expanded.

It was not enough to put me with the upper levels of Monsters such as Undyne or Sans, but I felt that even without any other sources, I now had more magic to throw around.

Sitting on my bed, I rubbed my temple while thinking. Tzeentch had marked my soul and whispered in my ear. He was unable to actively do anything due to no method to support a possession or corporeal form. He also can't do anything to me because of some kind of pact, and possessing me would ruin the Grimoire's purpose.

That was a kicker; I hadn't thought much on what the Grimoire was or why I found it. Gilgamesh believed that it could be a threat which proved that it wasn't created by mankind. That meant a god or other being created it.

Whoever made it also had the power to bargain with Tzeentch. They were able to make a deal that prevented him so simply corrupting me or otherwise possessing me. Even my newly enhanced intellect was having difficulty remembering who could do that.

Chaos Gods were primordial spirits that embodied emotions. I didn't know everything Tzeentch resided over, but the big ones were change, magic, knowledge, schemes, and hope.

That meant the person who could make deals with him directly, as opposed to with any of his lesser Daemons, was incredibly powerful. I assumed they were able to secure his aid with the promise of seeing places outside of Warhammer if his comments on not being able to affect others with the Warp were correct.

Shaking my head, I stood up and walked out. Tzeentch was the god of schemes. There was no way I could figure out what his plot was in only a single day, if ever. I could only do my best to push it aside and continue with my other tasks.

Arriving at the Lunar workshop, I retrieved the bottle of sake and went over what I was planning before Tzeentch interrupted me. I needed to purify blood to that it didn't dilute the sake.

Creating another large bottle from Dust, I retrieved a knife from the Gate of Babylon, cut open my arm, and bled inside the bottle. I pushed aside the temporary pain and sat there. I was forced to recast Alter Self a few times to replenish my blood supply, but I soon had an entire bottle of blood.

The next step was to flick off the purity field and place the bottle inside. That was followed by walking out and turning it back on. I didn't know how long it would take to purify the sake, but I assumed a decent bit of time.

Ambling over to my now resting simulacrum, I saw they had finished. Reaching out, I could feel the ambient mana level had risen massively. This would allow me even greater power while supporting better rituals.

Giving them a nod, I decided to take a nap. While I didn't strictly need one, it was getting into the early morning, and a bit of sleep would be nice. When I woke up, I would deliver Pactholi's potions and see if the blood was pure.

Walking into my room, I shucked off my robes, shirt, and shorts before climbing into bed, clad only in my underwear. Frowning, I got out of my bed and changed into the pajama pants I had when I was pulled into the Nevernever. As I rolled over, I felt the Grimoire grow. Growling softly, I let the energy grow before closing my eyes and slowing my breathing as I fell asleep.

Powers Gained

Mark of Tzeentch

Either on your body or permanently upon your soul, Tzeentch leaves a mark of his claim on your service. The Mark of Tzeentch causes your intellect to swell massively, and you'll find that even the most difficult mental tasks are child's play to you. You can easily translate languages that are completely new to you with even a small amount of information on the language itself, and information that would threaten the sanity of a stern mind is easily accepted by you as a simple truth, nothing more. Lastly, you have the basic capacity to utilize the Winds of Magic, and you are a decent sorcerer currently.