Chapter: 89 Day 25 - For The Good Of The Team

The croaking of heavy metal rubbing together groaned as Korbin and Lonni lifted the thick, chrome box that appeared in our resting area. A bright white light beamed out from it, shining the twitching projection of No-Face hovering in the air.

"Congratulations, Team Elysium! You've completed an Epic-rarity Planetary Objective!" No-Face began, his featureless smooth face bouncing where a jaw should be enthusiastically.

"Hey! How you been No-Fa-"

"Before journeying through your next Planetary Objective, your team's top performer must select from 8 Epic rewards for your faction that will be effective immediately following the end of Planet 147's Quarterly Event." No-Face interrupted, before I could finish greeting the weirdo.

"Oh wow, that's embarrassing, huh?" Korbin snickered at me.

"Thomas Murphy, please select from the options provided in your notifications." No-Face continued.

*ding*

"You're fucking kidding me." Korbin said, his smile instantly dropping.

"Why don't we get to even look at the options?" Cassi complained angrily.

"Wow, and both of you outrank me? Damn, that's embarrassing, huh?" I teased, flashing a devious smile at Korbin.

"What's more embarrassing, you picking our reward, or me picking when to let you leave Elysium again?" Korbin shot back, mirroring my toothy grin.

"Well come on guys, I didn't die twice already not to at least hear our options?" Lonni added, excitedly.

"Alright alright, let me s-" my eyes fluttered, leaning my head back at the absurd amount of words manifested in my face instantly upon opening my notification.

Please Select from the following Faction Reward Options:

[Adept Star Talisman (Epic)] - placing this talisman at the center of any Lithomancy tables Star Chart upgrades its rarity to match the Talisman's, affecting its maximum uses and quality. (Single Use)

[Compass Of The Peripatetic Dungeoneer

(Epic)] - This compass will internally notify its holder when they are within (300 feet) radius of a dungeon.

[Adaptive Combatives Emulation Dummy (Epic)] - Evolving training dummy that can replicate fighting styles and affinities, including its opponent (up to C grade)

[Forge Of Prodigious Armament (Epic)] - A forge capable of withstanding the incredibly extreme and particular temperatures required to melt down some of the rarest, most sought after metals and alloys in the multiverse. (up to D grade)

[Myzur Soil (Epic)] - mended by the remnants of ancient records, this subdued recreation is modeled after the highly potent and resilient soils of a long-destroyed planet from the 1st Era. Capable of adapting and thriving in nearly any climate.

[Contemporary Multiversal Athenaeum (Epic)] - Select Pylon will receive the option to construct an Athenaeum, where archivists can uncover the history of the multiverse and its inner workings. (20th-29th Era)

(Profession required: Archivist)

Shrine Of Remedial Enrichment (Epic) - once placed, moderately increases potency of all healing skills, spells, and rituals within a 40 foot radius. (Single use)

Spellbook Of The Forbearing (Epic) - The architect who crafted this spellbook was a masterful mage infatuated with mana and designing new ways to harness it. Along his studies, he made certain of locking away every modicum of discovery behind layers of mana locks, page after page. Those who seek his knowledge must possess a great deal of patience.

…oh fuck me.

"Are we waiting for any particular reason? Do you need help sounding it out or..?" Korbin said, as I finally finished scanning over the plethora of arguably invaluable items.

"Uh…fuck okay, this is going to be a lot." I began, starting with 'Adept Star Talisman' at the top of the list.

"So, the first option is a Talisman that upgrades a single Lithomancer Table to 'Epic' rarity." I said, beginning to scan my eyes down to the next option when Derrick's eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he blurted out.

"Oh?! That's perfect, we might actually be able to use Suspended Divination Magic once I figure out the for-"

"How long do you honestly think it will take you to crack that formula, Derrick?" Korbin interrupted, in a deadpan. Derrick paused, turning his head slightly at Korbin.

"But, you told me it would be an invaluable breakthrough for us?! Why else am I studying this ancient jargon?!" Derrick retorted, throwing his hands in the air.

"Yes, but only after you figure it out. It took a confirmed future god over 20 years and a surplus of his generationally gifted, dead-fathers studies to figure that out. I think we got time to upgrade you fucking Star Chart." Korbin shot back, glaring at Derrick who met his gaze for a short while, before sitting on the couch behind him.

"Okay, so I'm assuming it's probably a 'no' on the talisman, what's next?" Cassi asked, turning to me.

"Ugh, okay but I'm just going to list all of these off. We all get to choose one, and no one chimes in between them. Got it?" I said impatiently. After rattling off the following 7 reward options and receiving numerous puffed lower lips and approving nods, the floor once again opened for discussion.

"Okay, since we all know Derrick's pick, let's start with Lonni." Korbin said. Lonni smiled, standing up from the couch beside Derrick who was staring off, apparently deep in thought.

"I mean, I'm pretty sure my vote's pretty obvious too. That Forge sounds perfect not only for me, but for our forces if we're able to acquire enough valuable materials." Lonni quickly pitched, clearly having considered how he could finagle an upgrade to his Forge. To be fair, he didn't make any bad points.

"This is true, however we haven't found any materials you weren't capable of working with, not to mention its an item caps off after only D-grade." Cassi thoughtfully rebutted.

"That doesn't necessarily mean it wouldn't be a great addition? Our soldiers in general would benefit from this considering how much Lonni gets commissioned." I argued, not wanting to write off the forge. It wasn't my personal favorite, but it was certainly one I would live with selecting if the vote swung that way.

"We'll table that one for now, in case nothing else is agreed on. Cassi, what's your pick?" Korbin asked.

"Honestly it was difficult to decide, but I think I have to go with the Athenaeum. Any information we can gather on what we're to face is invaluable to continued survival, and I don't just mean as a faction." Cassi answered.

"What do you mean?" Lonni asked.

"We've been to two planets, and according to the Myzur Soil's description, both of them are destroyed. I get the feeling that just doesn't happen over a turf war like it might have before the integration." Cassi passionately replied.

"Well correct me if I'm wrong, but it still requires a profession I'm pretty sure no one in Elysium trains in, though." I added, after some thought. After all, with how difficult I found getting my Beast Tamer profession, I can't imagine something like an Archivist will fall from the sky anytime soon.

"That doesn't necessarily mean someone won't pick up on it? Besides, Elysium's reserved for qualified members anyhow. Maybe we just need to expand our qualifications to Archivists, there's bound to be one out there." Derrick countered, scanning over the group and not looking my way once.

"That's not a bad point, but it's still basing our selection on chance." Korbin added, rubbing his chin.

"I'm not against it, but I will say the forge would help us indefinitely." I said, wondering if there was any information on mana manipulation stored in one of those Athenaeums. After Phanthu showed me how little I truly understood about water mana in general, I can't help but yearn to learn more. Especially considering I got a level in intelligence from it, a stat I desperately need to catch up…among a few others.

"Fair enough, we can discuss it further. Korbin, I believe you're next?" Cassi said, snapping him from deep thought as his eyes fluttered up.

"Oh, yeah my votes for the spell book." Korbin answered, snapping his fingers and lightly hammering his fist atop the other.

"Really? Why, none of us have any time for that?" I asked, shocked he hadn't selected something more, well, practical than what I interpreted as a glorified puzzle book for mages?

"That doesn't mean multiple mages can't be employed to study the book around the clock, 24/7 until we've exhausted whatever Epic rarity information is locked in there. And much like the Athenaeum, the information in there's probably worth the patience. Only difference is we don't need a new Profession to crack it." Korbin quickly answered.

"Who's to say we have enough talented mages to get into it? Something so rare shouldn't be so easily accessed." I retorted.

"Wouldn't that also just make it a fantastic means for training them?" Cassi added, standing with her arms crossed and a furrowed brow.

"In theory, but we're still in the realm of 'what if's' if we go by that logic. At that point, why wouldn't the Athenaeum theoretically have the location of this book in it?" I replied, feeling a tinge of frustration at the hypocrisy.

"Not unless it predates the 20th era, though I'm not sure age equates to rarity in the multiverse. Frankly…" Korbin sighed, dropping his head and rubbing his eyes before continuing.

"…I think Tom's right, the Athenaeum's a better choice." Korbin reluctantly said. I fought back every urge to laugh aloud, maybe even ask him to repeat the phrase so I might be able to burn the audio into the walls of my mind.

"Okay smiles, that leaves you. What's your pick?" Cassi said, pointing out a grin I didn't realize I was wearing.

Now, in my heart of hearts, I knew deep down I wanted that compass. Do I know what dungeons are? No. Do I want to know if they're anything like the kinds I used to spend hours upon hours crawling through playing video games as a kid? Fucking absolutely. But, do I think anyone else would prioritize sheer curiosity over any of our choices?

Unfortunately, no.

"I think the training dummies our best bet. Anything that can replicate fighting forms can train not only us, but our soldiers far better than we could. Not to mention it's comparable all the way to C-grade, which sounds pretty fucking high to me given our H-grade statuses." I said, knowing my second favorite option was actually useful. Only issue was it would only benefit me when I had it, and something like this would undoubtedly be reserved for Savants Elysium.

"The implications are rather impressive, it's a bit limiting considering it's only one dummy, though. I can see it servicing us and our elite soldiers at max." Cassi replied after a pause.

"I should also point out the likelihood we eventually aren't constantly battling and conquering other factions. As much as I'm all for quality training, this feels a little one dimensional compared to the other options." Korbin added. I wanted to rebuttal, though it wasn't like they were wrong. In truth, I had a feeling over which choice would be the popular consensus.

"So, I suppose that leaves us with the Athenaeum then?" I asked, glancing at the 4 other faces in front of me twisted in thought.

"I mean, I'm pretty committed to the Talisman but, I could live with that too." Derrick said, breaking the silence.

"It's limited to the last 9 era's, and our own will probably be pretty shallow. But, I can't imagine humanoids have spent that time just fucking around. I'll change my vote." Korbin added.

"That makes it 3 votes including mine. Still, what do you two think?" Cassi asked, looking at Lonni and I. I pointed at him to answer first.

"If you're sure it'll be for the good of Elysium in the long run, I trust your judgement on this one." Lonni replied with a smile.

"Yeah, same here. I wouldn't mind learning the history of some prolific water users either." I quickly added.

"Then it's settled?" Korbin asked, peering around the room at us. Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Okay Tom, go a-"

"Your faction has selected the Contemporary Multiversal Athenaeum! The option for construction has been added to your pylon store. It can only be built once, so choose wisely!" No-Face said, interrupting Korbin's green light for a selection I already made before fading from existence. The chrome metal box slammed shut, before collapsing into a long pile of metallic dust.

Wow, that was pretty underwhelming.

*ding*

Your Faction Rank (1st) has qualified for (3) options for your next Planetary Objective!

"Oh shit, we're still in the lead guys?!" I cheered, reading over the notification. Just below was a list of options for our third Planetary Objective.

The Fall Of King Kjaval (Epic)

Votes: 0

Labyrinth Of Lost Legends (Epic)

Votes: 0

Oberonia's Race To Extinction (Epic)

Votes: 0

Damn, all of them are Epic?!

"I guess first place comes packed with hard choices." Cassi grumbled, staring blankly at assumedly her own notifications. I read over the three closely, trying to decide which of the 'Epic' rated choices sounded better.

"I certainly don't care for any kings, but Oberonia sounds like a new planet. Might be worth checking out?" I offered. Lonni nodded in agreement, but most everyone else remained deep in thought staring blankly in front of them.

"I think the second option won't be as centered around war and death as the other two." Derrick said, once again breaking the silence.

"Yeah, a labyrinth certainly sounds interesting. Though the 'lost legends' part could imply we run into something real strong in there." Cassi pointed out.

"Would that be such a bad thing? We just defeated three gods and giant earth eating worm for fucks sake, I can't imagine it gets much worse." I argued, not seeing reason to worry.

"Hold on, before we start arguing too much…" Korbin said, putting his hands up.

"…doesn't a labyrinth sound kind of fun to you?"

…

The Fall Of King Kjaval (Epic)

Votes: 0

Labyrinth Of Lost Legends (Epic)

Votes: 5

Oberonia's Race To Extinction (Epic)

Votes: 0