The Fool's Freedom

Alan sighed. Trying to convert some of his points into currency only led to being offered mana stones. Either the currency of the region they were in was mana stones, or New Earth was still not considered part of it due to the recent integration.

Since there was no access to any better trades than what was offered by the multitude of anonymous users of the World Temples, Alan decided it was the second.

However, the list of buildings he could contribute to the Sanctuary was something else. He browsed in detail, lamenting at the price of things such as simple walls, living abodes, and wells. How would that even work anyway?

Would a well pop up once he put the points in, like in those old strategy games? That would be neat, but pretty useless. His Spiritual Domain worked in the same principle to some extent although it was not him who had done most of the work.

The Sanctuary also had the capability of building most of the simpler offers themselves. Skills were useful, and there were quite a few classes left that dedicated themselves to that. Rosalyn had mentioned that a lot of people had tried to convert even simpler ‘profession-type’ classes into combat ones when the need had come, but now things were better.

The barriers were one thing that no one could yet replicate and they were quite expensive. Their Sanctuary currently had two active ones, and perhaps another that was a short-time emergency-only measure.

Most options had to do with defense, but there were a few that suggested inviting outside influences to help develop the Sanctuary. It was not possible to buy them yet, but they were there to tease and be quite tempting. Could they get alien [Blacksmiths] or [Enchanters]? Mr. Muge wouldn’t be happy about that and relying on someone from the outside world, no matter how much better at their job, was no way to develop.

Before they knew it New Earth would be robbed blind of whatever treasures and resources the System had graced it with.

Alan’s attention moved away from the myriad buildings for the time being. Personal strength came first, and he wouldn’t simply drop all his wealth for something that wouldn’t benefit him.

His eyes glistened as the mists swirled again and he had a much smaller, but much more enticing arrangement.

Skill Trading? Fuck yeah!

Would you like to trade one of your skills for a random one of the same level and attribute for a 500,000 SP?

That was not what he had in mind at all! And it was daylight robbery! It had taken him almost losing his life, getting tortured, and being whisked off to another world to even get all those points. Still, [Synaptic Failure] was giving him fewer and fewer opportunities, since stronger opponents shrugged off the momentary confusion of their nervous systems quite fast. If he could strengthen it, then that would be for the best, but perhaps trying something new…

No. I don’t have the points and I’m not in a gambling mood.

He moved on to the next option.

Would you like to trade one of your skills for System Points? You will lose the ability to regain it.

Is there a point in this? Are there limits on how many skills one can hold? It made no sense for anyone to give up on skills, even if they were trash. Who knew what they could advance into?

While he was not particularly happy with [Void Pierce] since it was mostly useful on the weak, or after being boosted by [Sacrificial Attack], it was a much stronger version than [Mana Zap].

Alan’s returned toward the building portion of things and hesitated. His gaze finally stopped on something, and he briefly lamented the loss of points before grinning. They were not that important anyway. This was doing good at its finest while benefiting himself too. Wouldn’t he be the owner of it?

Would you like to purchase a Mana Converging Array Tower for 250,000 SP?

Yes.

Awaiting permission from the Sanctuary Leader.

It took a painful minute during which Alan wondered if Rosalyn hadn’t undergone a change of heart.

Permission granted. Would you like to retain ownership of the Tower?

Then, the mists swirled before him recreating a birds-eye rendition of the Sanctuary and allowing Alan to place the building wherever he deemed fit.

The changed Sanctuary was much tighter and more clustered than before, but there were quite a few open places that could work. Alan liked his privacy, but putting it around the edges seemed silly. The point of the thing was to gather mana from the vicinity and toward them, and it could store quite a bit of it too, which would aid his next ritual and perhaps the development of his Insights.

It took only a thought, and then the ground shook.

Alan dismissed all the System prompts and ran out of the World Temple. Just before him, something was growing, constructed by wisps of blue mana turning real by the second. It was materializing out of nothing.

Then, it was there, towering way above the Sanctuary.

The change was almost immediate. He felt it in the ambient mana all around and how it moved slowly toward the new construct. It was fascinating and for a moment Alan closed his eyes. He had read the description of the tower very well, and knew what the change entailed, but still… It felt wonderful.

Like a soft breeze, only instead of wind it was existence itself converging towards the tower, since mana was existence in a way.

Murmurs brought him out of his revelry, and Alan opened his eyes. Many were staring, pointing. Few had loaded up skills or drawn their swords, as if the tower made of dark steel-like stone was easy to stab.

“What did you do now?!” he heard a familiar voice ask from the side. Rosalyn was marching toward him followed by a few very nervous guards. Alan knew she liked to utilize guards now.

“I bought a house,” he said.

“I know what that is! It costs more than the shields we have combined! We could’ve put so many points to a different use—ah.”

Did she finally feel it? Alan smiled and shrugged.

“Rosie,” he said. “Both you and I know what I do is only up to me. However, I assure you this will benefit the Sanctuary in many ways. The Tower will build up its reserves, and when that is done it will create an ambient field of heavily concentrated mana all around. That means more productive meditations, faster regeneration, easier creation of mana-infused items or scrolls, and so on. You must understand how important this will be for the future of the Sanctuary. And, not at the last place, I need a place to stay if I’m to kill people for you, and I didn’t want to ask you for it.”

Rosalyn just glared at him, then seemed to slump.

“You’re right. This might be good, providing we survive long enough to feel the benefits.”

Alan shrugged. “I’ve killed tier twos before. Nothing to be worried of.” I was under the effects of [Bestowment] back then though… better play it cool. She doesn’t know that.

“Come, let’s check it out.”

The tower was not far from the World Temple and its base was a hexagon with no doors in sight and no windows. Its dark luster seemed quite alien, and while most of the buildings in the Sanctuary looked to be made from one piece, it was shoddy work done by inexperienced skill users.

The tower was more like a temple. The few decorations were astonishing in their detail and made one feel like they were standing before a work of art from the old world. Each of the corners was adorned with a tall statue depicting men and women holding open stone grouds. The openings were facing outward as if they were there to catch the mana and funnel it into the strange construct.

Alan neared it and instantly felt the connection. With a prod of his mana, the nearest wall parted allowing him and Rosalyn passage. She left her guards outside, to their disappointment. Alan didn’t know them and didn’t want them inside.

The inside was bare, devoid of furnishing at all. The cold stone was oddly welcoming and even now Alan could feel the concentration of ambient mana in the room. Stairs went up, but the passage was closed off.

In the center of the ceiling, however, hung one of the most beautiful spheres of crystal Alan had seen. A clear blue orb too large to be grabbed by an arm-span, and carven with strange symbols that twisted and turned with the mana flowing into it. It was dark at the moment, but it seemed to be one of the storage points of the Tower.

“This is quite impressive… Some of our [Builders] and [Architects] could learn a thing or two if you allow them a visit…” Rosalyn said. She was busy staring at one of the murals covering the walls, depicting two great armies and a demoness laughing above them and holding something akin to an apple. It was quite a pretty but ominous visage.

Alan knew the Tower was not a product of another civilization, unlike the very expensive and unattainable buildings available for purchase at a later time, but still felt it was the work of an artist. Somehow the System didn’t strike him as one.

“Eventually, I’ll think about it. I’d need some furniture though.” I still have some of the ones from the fractal… I wonder if our crafters have made anything better.

“I could arrange something. We’ve come a long way.”

The tower had four more floors, each separated into increasingly smaller rooms. Another blue gemstone rested on top of it, revolving slowly and charging from the ambient mana of the world. He could modify the walls as he wished, shifting and reconstructing. It was quite a thrill to do that, almost like playing a game. However, the Tower needed a lot of time to charge, and Alan let it do just that.

He left with Rosalyn, feeling much better. This finally felt like something he had earned – a home. He was quite excited about the ritual ahead of him too, although it would probably involve a large amount of pain.

It took Alan mere minutes to rush through the Sanctuary and end up near one of the largest buildings, now dwarfed by his tower. A meeting with Turtle was on his agenda, although they were not that close. The man was a prominent figure in the Sanctuary, and according to Rosalyn despite his insistence to be left alone, he had formed a small follower base.

Just as he reached the building Alan felt something and used [Void Step] to dodge. A flash of blue appeared where he was, revealing a man in a Rabbit mask. Other forms appeared around, peeking from rooftops and crouching down on ledges.

They do try to act cool, huh? Was that an attack though? There had been no danger. Alan doubted Top Rabbit was that weak. Perhaps a harmless attempt? The guy was said to be quite young.

“Hey there. Ready for a chat?” Alan asked.

“You’re fast,” Rabbit said. “Faster than me.”

“That’s… objectively true.”

“I don’t like it. Stop.”

Alan raised an eyebrow, and the man moved. He was fast, and faint lines of blue lightning formed under his feet as he pushed away from the ground.

Still, Alan was faster and appeared behind the guy with no issue, reaching for the rabbit mask. It was different now that he was ready, alert, and in quite a good mood due to his shiny Tower. Seeing the skill before had helped too. He paused just centimeters away and stepped back.

Perhaps I can use him to glimpse into [Void Step] improvements? I shouldn’t insult him too much. He’s just a kid and God knows this has been a great skill. Anything can be a lesson. Fuck me, I should’ve kidnapped Amir.

“Is that necessary?” Alan smirked. “You can’t surprise me. I’m faster. Just admit it.”

Top Rabbit didn’t respond. He flashed in movement again, but this time away from Alan, and the rest of his teammates followed. Alan shook his head. At least this would keep him on his toes.

He didn’t bother with the door and climbed the building with his shadows. On the top, he found what he was looking for. Turtle was not a close friend or anything, but he was interesting.

As a result, he now lived as a hermit… as much as one could do that in the middle of the bustling Sanctuary. The man was still naked from the waist up and even thinner now. Faint lines covered his whole body, depicting the patterns on a turtle shell, like tattoos.

It looked kind of cool.

“How’s living forever treating you so far?” Alan asked loudly, startling the man.