Chapter 860 Changes Cemented
On the outside, he found traces of the battle, ground overturned, trees strewn on the ground everywhere, and traces of blood still present, even though the bodies had already disappeared.
Astaroth could see who had fought where based on the damage the ground held, with burnt patches or melted ground and lacerations in the surroundings. He could tell this had been a heated battle.
After close inspection, he found Genie and White's tracks and could easily deduce where they were going.
Behind their tracks were dozens of other sets of tracks of smaller-sized canines, and Astaroth wondered where they came from.
He hadn't seen the pack Genie and White came with and had no idea she was now leading her own pack. But it was irrelevant to him right now, so he brushed it off.
Looking toward the city, using the compass on his minimap, Astaroth tested out if he could still transform into his demon form or Geminae's form.
'Rather, I should call them my angel and demon form. Geminae and the demon no longer exist. It's Sanguis Oxym, now. And I'm not ready to test how obedient he is just yet,' Astaroth mused.
But, as he ordered his body to change, it did, without a hitch, and he smiled.
Both forms were still available to him.
This was a relief, as they were good to his stats. Their bonuses had been cemented when he received his second notification earlier today about the changes to his race options.
He looked at his new passive again, and he smiled.
**
Mortality Shattered (Passive): Your mortal coil has failed you, and you have died. But beings from both sides of the eternal conflict of good and evil have decided you had value and saved you.
Since both sides laid claim to you, you have gained the traits of a Nephilim, a child of both sides, with the potential to overthrow either of them. Your existence rank has grown a tier, and you have access to both heritages at will (Must be changed into either form to benefit)
Demon Form: Strength, Constitution, and Agility scores +200%. Intelligence and Wisdom scores -50%. Maximum natural defense limit +50%. Vulnerability to holy energy (Damage taken +100%). Resistance to demonic powers (Damage taken -50%). Corruption strengthens you (Max 50% boost).
Demons are the incarnation of brutality, and their bodies reflect such a heritage. You gain incredible physical capabilities and resistance at the cost of your reason and sagacity, and you develop a vulnerability to anything holy.
Angel Form: Agility score +100%. Intelligence and Wisdom scores +200%. Maximum natural defense limit +25%. Vulnerability to demonic energy (Damage taken 100%). Resistance to holy powers (Damage taken -50%). Immune to corruption effects, but weakened by it (Max 50% debuff). Your body sheds a natural aura that casts away weak corruption.
Angels are the justiciars of life, and their wisdom knows no bounds. You gain the smarts and insight of a being who has lived through time, and evil holds no power over your mind.
Your kind may be fewer, but their strength is nothing to scoff at, and weakness is not an option. But evil always plays dirty, so you must remain vigilant.
[Third Form locked]
**
He already had an idea about the third form but wasn't in a hurry to unlock it, either. If it made him look like the being in his soul, he wasn't excited to try it yet.
But these boosts were significant in themselves.
This would make him much more powerful in the long run, and he could use the power against enemies he would surely face in the coming times.
He stayed in the angel form, returning to Bastion City, thinking about the things to come.
The one-year mark on the game was slowly creeping up on them, and Khalor had been adamant that they reach at least level seventy-five before that point. He still hadn't told them why, but Astaroth was willing to trust that it was for a good reason.
His level of trust in Khalor had grown in the last few days, both because he came to help him at home when the Zhong Kui had tried killing him and because he had held him at bay when the demon tried going on a rampage on his return.
He had proved he was an ally to him, even though his attitude was still shit.
Reaching the palace in a few minutes, his speed significantly superior to the one he had taken when he left and his path unincumbered, Astaroth landed before the palace doors, returning to his normal body.
The guards jumped in surprise when he landed, immediately grabbing their weapons. But they sheathed them back when they saw who landed and saluted him.
"King Astaroth!"
"At ease, soldiers," Astaroth replied, walking past them without stopping.
He needed to get back to the office where Phoenix was before she decided he had been gone for too long, and she flipped the palace and city on its head to find him.
Reaching the office at the back of the palace, Astaroth stopped before the guard. As he looked behind Astaroth, he let out an enormous sigh.
"Sir. Where is your guard?"
Astaroth chuckled.
"I didn't ditch her, if that is what you are thinking. She's with Leon. I couldn't wait for them, so I came back alone. She'll find me when she's done. Now, let me in, please."
The guard shook his head, his face discouraged, but he pushed the door to the office open.
Astaroth thanked him with a nod before walking into the room, where Phoenix was intensely focused on a set of sheets of paper. Her scrunched-up nose and furrowed brow told him this was a tough case.
"I'm sorry for taking this long to come back. Something came up, and it took much longer than anticipated. But I can resume where I was now," he said softly.
He hoped talking to her soothingly would prevent her from being mad.
Instead, she only looked up briefly, glancing at him, before pointing at the seat across the desk.
"Then get to it. We need to come up with plans to deal with each of these players before the end of the week. Because I doubt they'll be happy with your new plan for the kingdom. And I don't want them to start calling us slavers on the forums."
Astaroth gulped, realizing why she was in a hurry to turn that page for the guild.
The situation was already bad, and he just poured oil over it and lit it on fire. Now, they were on a clock to fix it, before it burned them.
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