(Author's Note:)
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Jesus Christ, here it is, Chapter 5. You think the King Piece is essentially a Cheat Code? Wait until the end of this chapter…
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Gladio Bael, A White Peace -
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Lord Zekram wasn't kidding.
There's an interesting bit of runework woven into the very foundations of Bael Castle.
If Zekram Bael says you aren't leaving, then - unless you're stronger than him by a fair margin - you ain't leaving.
He still hated his father, and it was still a largely white peace between them, and Gladio did not particularly mean half of what he had been forced into saying.
Pride was the cardinal sin of the Bael Clan, and both he and his father would gladly die on their own respective hills firmly believing that they were right. Anything less was offensive to their Pride.
Still if there was an upside to the fact that Lord Zekram needed to intervene it's that the First Bael decided to accompany him to seek out a contracted Magician in place of his father.
Probably to give them both a chance to unwind and calm down. But Gladio also knew that it was highly likely that his oldest direct male ancestor wanted to see if he'd get something new from his system, if he chose well enough.
Unbeknownst to either of them, what Gladio pulled would change a great deal.
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Gladio understood the importance of choosing his first Contracted Magician. Magicians like Devils, Angels, and Fallen Angels were extremely long-lived. Most Magicians had an average lifespan of at least 300 or 400 years, and that was on the lower end of the lifespan range. Only a handful and a half of things would break the pact. One of which Gladio hoped to use someday.
Anyways, since Zekram himself was accompanying him, it meant that Mephisto Pheles had to - rather reluctantly - also accompany them.
What that amounted to was Mephisto giving Lord Zekram the stink eye while Gladio reviewed the files. And as he put the last one down, he gave Mephisto his own stink eye.
''He's not here.'' He said.
''Wanna be more specific, brat?'' Asks Mephisto.
''I already knew who I wanted to have as my contracted Magician. I'd be surprised, old man, but I'm really not. I want to meet Georg.'' Says Gladio.
Mephisto sighs, glares at Zekram some more, sighs again, and hands over Georg's file.
As expected, the file came with a request to form a pact, much as all others had once the formal request was sent in for Magicians interested in.
''I want to meet with Georg.'' Gladio decides. Leaving the room.
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Zekram Bael, First Generation Bael -
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Watching Gladiolus leave, Zekram turned to smile at his oldest "friend".
''Like to know how the little shit knows about Georg.'' Mephisto grunted.
''And I'd like to know why you hid one particular file from us?'' He asked Mephisto.
''Georg's different, talented and gifted in equal measure. But his ambition could be a problem.'' Mephisto grunted.
''Gladiolus is much the same; he's quickly shaping up to be my most prodigious and most impressive descendant yet. He's chosen two exceptional servants, and unlocked two extraordinary abilities I never dreamed were possible. Currently his estimated potential is mid-tier Satan Class, but I fully expect it to continue to rise and climb higher still.''
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Gladio Bael, Lion of Bael -
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Gladio did one thing before he met with Georg.
He spun the wheel.
-||- 100 AP Used, 950 Total AP Remaining, Spinning the Wheel… -||-
Gladio felt his very existence alter a moment later
Reward(s) Granted: Power Stone!
Well, cover yourself head to toe in purple paint, and call yourself a potato. You ain't no Thanos, nor do you have the Gauntlet, but what you do have is the god damned motherfucking Power Stone. You are the Stone's one True Master; only those you deem worthy of it can receive its blessings. In your case, your Demonic Power replenishes constantly, your physical might is exponentially higher, and your durability makes Darkseid look like a pansy. The Stone exists in your soul, but you are able to summon a physical manifestation to give to others, albeit weaker than your own.
Warning: The other Stones now have even Lower chances of being hit!
Kurama:
Well, Yasaka might have something to say about this. As if the Power Stone wasn't bad enough you've got Naruto's Nine-Tailed Fox inside of you. Your potential in Senjutsu and Touki has risen exponentially and you have an untapped wellspring in Chakra ready to call upon as well as the ability to detect negative emotions. Be warned, the fox, though mellowed, is still one cranky motherfucker.
Warning: As a result of acquiring Kurama the chances of landing the eight other Tailed-Beasts has been reduced to a much lower degree.
Feat Achieved: Acquire your First Infinity Stone 250 AP Granted, 1150 Total AP
Feat Achieved: Acquire the Power Stone, 0 AP granted, 1150 Total AP
Feat Achieved: Become a Jinchuriki, 0 AP Granted, 1150 Total AP
Feat Achieved: Acquire Kurama, 950 AP Granted, 2100 Total AP
Feat Achieved: Hit 2000 Total AP for the first time, 0 AP Granted, 2100 Total AP
''Oh my fucking go- OW!''
Did that really just happen?
Well shit…
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Gladio went into the meeting without a Contracted Magician; he left with one. Furthermore, he also got another little set of rewards.
Observe has leveled up, the user can now cast Observe on objects to acquire information. Casting on sentient individuals now includes new data.
Feat Achieved: Acquire your first ever Contracted Magician, 200 AP Granted, 2500 Total AP
Feat Achieved: Level up your first Skill, 200 AP Granted, 2500 Total AP
He'd spammed Observe the moment he arrived at Grauzauberer HQ. Seems like the best way to actively level up the skill was to spam it with the more powerful and famous the target the better.
But that Power Stone and Kurama?
Holding the manifestation of the Purple Gem in his hand didn't make it feel any less surreal.
He'd tested it in training briefly, and he could confirm that after expelling both a large amount of Demonic Power and a continuous stream of Demonic Power, respectively, his power was replenishing constantly.
Regardless, this would be a very useful tool in the future. One he fully intended to use.
Power Stone, Kurama, Ultimate, Eight Gates, and Boosted Gear… he was quite possibly the most broken character of all time.
And yet, it was worth noting that his stats weren't as divine as one would expect.
-||- User Stats: -||-
Name Gladiolus Bael
Species: Devil (Pure-Blooded)
Clan: Bael
Clan Trait: Power of Destruction (Mutated), Liontaming, King of Flies
Rank: High-Class Devil
Servants: 2 Pawns
Power-Level: Low-Tier Ultimate-Class
Potential Power Level: Upper High-Tier Satan-Class
Reputation: Semi-Famous Clan Heir
Age: 8
Titles: Prince, Heir of Bael
Equipment: Regulus Nemea, Boosted Gear (Blocked)
System Rewards: Silver-Tongued (Passive) Lv-1, Dancers Grace (Active) Lv-1, Observe (Passive) -Lv1, Charm (Semi-Active), Eight Gates (Support), All For One (Passive),
Potential Unleashed (Support), Senju (Active), Massage King (Passive), King of Flies, Merchant (Support), Sword Saint [Unrealized] (Support), Compulsion (Passive), Edicts (Support/Passive/Active), Power Stone, Kurama
Total AP: 2500
Was it strange that he found it deeply concerning the Power Stone and Kurama merely raised his power level to lower Ultimate-Class and his potential power level Upper High-Tier Satan Class?
Eh, regardless, that was a problem for future Gladio. Present Gladio wanted to sleep for a short time.
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Waking up, Gladio went through his usual pre-breakfast routine, and when breakfast finally arrived, he and father still weren't speaking to each other, which was fine. But tomorrow he'd begin his first lessons with Aunty Vene and Rudiger.
Gladio wasn't spinning System Roulette for a while yet, instead he called upon the System Merchant.
A screen popped up in his head.
-||- 50 AP paid to Merchant, 50 AP refunded for users first time in the System Market. -||-
Gladio skimmed through the Marketplace before his eyes widened at the sight in front of him.
Fucking Hell! Nah, no way was he waiting for this shit to disappear!
Benihisago - 150 AP
Kōkinjō - 150 AP
Shichiseiken - 150 AP
Hiramekarei - 275 AP
Gunbai - 150 AP
Ebony Blade - 500 AP
Ebony Staff - 500 AP
Crocea Mors (Demon Sword) - 150 AP
Gladio didn't hesitate.
Added all eight to his cart and forked over a large portion of his AP.
Merchant Rewards Granted: Crocea Mors, Ebony Staff, Ebony Blade, Gunbai, Hiramekarei, Shichiseiken, Kōkinjō, Benihisago.
The rewards appeared before him in his room, as he touched them he felt certain of one thing.
This world was sure as shit not ready for him. Not at all….
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(Author's Note:)
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Sooooooooo, Power Stone and Kurama.
Fucking Isaac, that's Doctor Doom btw. Ah shit, as all-powerful as the two were, I had to weaken them a little bit to maintain some balance of power. Because the man landed those two, we skipped the meeting with Georg and replaced it with the merchant's store being used for the first time, and Gladio dumped 1875 AP on Eight things. Spent about half the time I've been laid up in bed with a worsening of my symptoms of gastrointestinal problems just building the merchant's stock.
I was mostly fine today, back on Solid food again, in small amounts obviously, but at least I can now drink more than a single tiny sip of water every 10 to 15 minutes. Dying for a fucking Pepsi though.
Anyways, back on topic.
With this, we now begin to post publicly, and next chapter we'll have time-skipped to Gladio being 13.
Time to get an Ice Princess and a Black Dog with a Scythe!
But not in chapter 6, no, Chapter 6 is very much the foundation for the coming Black Dog Knight Arc. With everything that's coming, it's almost a shame we don't get to see more regarding the stuff gained from the Merchant, but I don't think we need more exposition.
See you guys next chapter.
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