The Path of Ascension 3: A LitRPG Adventure

30

They started ordering drinks from the auction staff as item after item got brought out to the stage. They were all poor now, so watching new items come out was more a game for them than it was actual shopping. Matt hoped that this wasn’t the best the auction houses had to offer, because no one but the actual factions had earned any substantial amount of points at this point.

Besides the odd item or two, most things went to the prince or princess, who had access to the points generated by capturing and holding various forts and cities.

It made the auction boring; nothing was going to the little guys.

So, they drank.

They were ordering Tier 6 liquor and were thoroughly tipsy by the time the auction was coming to a close. None of them had to be told to not go overboard, but they were riding the edge of feeling good, and actually getting drunk.

Matt was trying to keep Aster out of the sour apple brandy that apparently smelled too good to resist, when an item brought on stage caught his attention.

While a small vial was displayed on stage, Javier called out, “Here, as one of our final items, we have a Tier 10 bottled Concept. Unlike most…”

Matt lost interest once he heard that it was a bottled Concept and said, “Psh. Who cares? It’s just a bottled Concept.”

Annie shushed him, as did her sister. Even Conor got up to watch the auctioneer, with only a slight wobble.

Seeing that he was outvoted, Matt quieted down and listened. “Even a Tier 6 can use this. Yes, truly a marvel of alchemy. This is a triple attribute Concept. Yes, Three. “

After a slight pause to accommodate the murmurs of interest, Javier raised his arm, flexing his bicep as he continued, “Strength.”

He lightly rapped his knuckles against his chest and said, “Durability.”

He casually reached out with an open hand, demonstrably closing his fist as he finished, “And Regeneration. This is the ideal bottled Concept for anyone trying to build a more physical combat style. It can be used to bolster your defenses, or it can help you lean into the offensive a little more. Starting bid of 5,000 war points!”

Matt’s new teammates all made sounds of disappointment when they heard the price and returned to their chairs. Matt felt Aster lurch out of his arms but was distracted by Liz.

She scoffed at them and said, “Just make your own Concept.” She burped in the middle of her sentence while still holding her beer but continued after a moment. “It’s waayy better.”

Annie flicked the condensation off her glass at Liz, who spluttered at the droplets’ sneak attack. The twin said “It’s not that easy. You need…”

Liz threw up her hands. “I can teach you!”

Matt missed what was said next as he noticed the lack of his bond in his arms. He looked around to find her muzzle deep in his once half full glass of alcohol he had placed on the table.

He pulled her back to get a burp in the face, and a pushed thought of, “Apple!”

Oh, that’s not good.

Aster went into a tirade about apple-flavored hearts and ice cream, which Matt ignored while she started kicking slower and slower as the liquor took effect. He glared at everyone who could have seen Aster going hog wild on his glass but sighed in defeat. After all, it was his own fault in the end.

He was brought back into the conversation by Emily, who kicked at his leg and yelled for him. “Maaatt!”

“What!?”

“I asked if it was that easy. I want my own Concept.”

Matt thought for a moment, until the topic of conversation came back to him. “It’s not that hard. Do you have your…?” He looked at her for a few blinks until the word came to him. “Phrase! That’s the word. Do you have your phrase? Or at least an idea?”

Annie shrugged. “How would we know if you already need a Concept to tell?”

“Damn, that’s a good point. s**t! I don’t know…” Matt shrugged and joined everyone as they looked at Liz, who was now sitting primly. If her cheeks weren’t flushed so bright red, she would almost look authoritative.

“It’s easy. I’m telling you. I can get you a Concept. Fifteen minutes.”

Even Matt booed her, and she corrected herself. “Okay, okay fine! Maybe not fifteen minutes, but before the war is over for sure. You guys fight well, and I’m betting that if we push you really hard, you can figure it out.”

Annie called out, “I want a stabby Concept!”

Everyone stopped to look at her, and she defended herself while holding her glass like a shield. “What? I can already do the sneaky part. I just need to do the stabby part better.”

She mimed stabbing someone, and when she sloshed her drink over her hand, she started trying to lick the alcohol off it. Matt failed to stop himself from laughing as Conor’s gaze was cemented on her actions. He slowly flushed while watching her probably unintentional display.

He made a note to tell her about it later. It was a good sign, but he was distracted by Emily loudly saying, “I want a Concept of power!”

Even Conor was drawn out of his staring when she said that. He countered, “That’s not a real Concept. It’s too vague. You need to start with spell damage or something.”

Emily glared at the other man and pouted into her drink when he didn’t seem to notice.

Liz added another nail in her coffin. “Power isn’t a Concept, that’s an Aspect. I think I heard of someone using that, or at least something like it.”

She pursed her lips and was suddenly distracted by a cheese wedge that Matt was in the middle of eating. She snatched the remaining half for herself with a devilish grin at her crestfallen partner, and added, “I think they started with bodily strength, then bodily control for their Intent, and finally used bodily power to round it out. There’s nothing stopping you from going for a spell version.”

Emily wiggled in her chair with a dreamy look on her face.

Conor shrugged and leaned back with a large sigh. “No clue what I want for my Concept. First, I need a way to take hits better. Reflection does nothing to me, but my Tier 3 Talent gives me a slight bit of sustainability. Do I lean into that, or go for more tanking? Maybe I can transition into more of a hybrid like you, Matt.”

Matt tossed out, “What do you see yourself doing? Do you like being on the front line?”

Conor chewed on an olive while he pondered the question. “I don’t know. I was given my skill by my sponsor when I joined the Path. They pretty much set me down the path toward my current build.” The large man paused to think about it for another moment, before finally adding, “I don’t mind it. But being defensive will only take me so far on my own. Rifts are slow fights for me most of the time. I need either more damage, or someone else on my team. I’ve gotten this far by choosing the rifts that I counter, but eventually, I’ll run out of time. It’s so nice to fight with all of you, where I can just keep a defensive posture.”

Annie looked like she had a brilliant idea, but she was silenced by her sister, who swiftly lunged to cover her mouth. Annie struggled for a moment before starting to lick her sister’s hand. Emily must have been used to that trick, as she maintained her muzzle on her sister and eventually persevered. Conor glanced at them with a puzzled look but ignored their antics. He looked back to Liz, asking, “How do you intend to help us with our Concepts?”

Liz looked up from the near-empty tray of snacks and shrugged as she half leaned over Matt and Aster to get at the other plate of hors d’oeuvres.

“It’s not that hard. Matt and I—well, really just Matt as I have an internal Concept—can restrict you with his Concept while sparring. It’s not guaranteed to work or anything, but it’s a good start. You’ll start to resist it naturally, and that can give you a glimpse into your phrase.”