Shadow Clone Sorcery
Chapter 45: Theorycrafting Paying Off (2)

Please select a minor ability to accompany Alter Metal Mass. It will be accessible to you as well as the clones.

• Liquid Steel Armament: Gain the ability to conjure a mass of liquid steel and shape it into a copy of whatever weapon you desire. Runework may be copied, but not arcane sources or essences. Only one mass can exist at a time and constantly drains magic until dispelled.

• Steel Weave: Weave steel through your body. A low-mass weave is flexible and provides minor armoring, helping with fragility issues and dulling pain. A high-mass weave increases protection but limits flexibility and movement. Changing mass dispels the weave.

Why only two options? Did I use the wrong shard?

Less is not bad. When the tier upgrade is potent and fitting, the energy for producing quality or a variety of sub-abilities is reduced. One can add only so many things to mass alteration. Certain shards and pillars also have fewer possibilities. The more different the upgrading essence from the core concept, the more paths. Essence of Steel fits Alter Mass well.

Steel Weave, then.

Lukas liked Liquid Steel Armament but hated its limitations. ‘Only one can exist at a time,’ concerned him. There was no telling if the clones could create one, even if they gained the power to use Alter Mass. He also intended to take the backseat in fights or not get involved at all. Which meant he’d only ever get to use it as an emergency weapon or hand it off to a clone. He would’ve still considered it if not for the constant drain.

Besides, he wished to focus his attention on magic and not split it between too many different active abilities. Managing Shade’s Mantle and Spellweaver was already going to demand most of his attention and energy. Steel Weave was passive and gave Lukas precisely what he needed, and the journal suggested the clones would benefit from it, too. Increased low-mass protection for himself and his minions was perfect.

The most exciting bit was next and what Lukas had been waiting for ever since he learned about conjunction abilities and theory crafted using whatever he understood of Fracture’s magic.

Your Body and Soul pillars have ascended to tier two. Conjunction abilities are available and may also be used by the clones. Please pick one of the following:

• Clone Mass: Create a perfect copy of any object. Magic cost is dependent on size, material, understanding, and knowledge of the object. Cloning magical properties significantly magnifies the cost, and once the process starts, it can’t be stopped. Once personal magical stores are depleted, life force will be consumed next. Copies are temporary and will decay at an increasing rate the longer they have existed; magical objects will deteriorate even faster.

• Shadowsteel: Gain arcane knowledge and understanding of Shadowsteel. Grant mass and solidity to shadows alongside the material properties of steel. Magic cost scales with volume, mass, and density. Understanding, experience, and shaping techniques can further reduce cost while increasing potency.

• Summon Steel Shield: Summon a copy of any steel shield you have studied. The magic cost will vary with size, shape, density, and understanding of its building process. Enchantments and arcane properties may not be replicated. Magic poured into the summoning cannot be recovered until the summon is dispelled.

Lukas grinned to himself and just about kept himself from jumping around like a schoolboy. When he learned that conjunction abilities could spawn from the properties of essences and have nothing to do with the base shards or their tier-one abilities, he knew what he wanted.

After Penelope got him access to the Iskander Arcane Research Center, Lukas had clones browse the library whenever time allowed. They had focused their studies on shadow magic. Granting solidity to shadows was something that demanded years of study and mastery. Changing the properties of shadows was even more challenging. Both demanded mastery, understanding, research, patience, and far too much magic.

However, Shadowsteel gained through a conjunction ability bypassed a good deal of that. Lukas was sure he’d need to spend ages practicing, experimenting, and playing with it to turn it into something truly potent, but he had clones to assist with the act. They could use conjunction abilities linked to the Soul Pillar, after all.

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Shadowsteel would also allow him to emulate the other two conjunction abilities eventually. Shaping and practice would allow him and the clones to create shields. They’d also eventually be able to copy objects. They wouldn’t be good enough to trick and fool people, like giving them a bag of fake gold or false documents that disappeared afterward. But Lukas hoped that future essences would assist with that.

The power compass’s adjacent page changed to match the changes.

• Spellweaver: Tier 1 | Rank 3

• Shadow Clone: Tier 2 | Rank 3

• Shade’s Mantle

• Shadow Steel

• Steel Weave

• Altered Metal Mass: Tier 2 | Rank 1

The journal had more to say related to its personal changes and upgrades, but Lukas ignored them for the time being. The fight between the Shamin and Penelope was more chaotic than ever now that Bass had joined the fray, and the cavern’s collapse had accelerated. There was also a deep rumbling coming from far below their feet. It felt like the tremors prior to a stampede, leaving him to wonder if there were Elder Wyrmkin troops or minions they had stored underground, preparing for an invasion. The chaos might’ve also awakened something worse.

It didn’t matter. Lukas had no intention of finding out what it was and ran for the cavern’s exit.

All of the clones followed suit, carrying loads of varying sizes. Most had found sacks and satchels and stuffed them with Lukas. They didn’t know what while Elvis ran with a bound and gagged colorful Elder Wyrmkin over his shoulder. The specimen was short and skinny. Lukas believed it was the messenger, but couldn’t tell because of the increasing volumes of dust in the air.

Lukas added some solidity to Shade’s Mantle around his neck and head, not taking it all the way to steel but enough to create a light physical layer. He pulled a piece over his nose and mouth before hardening the bit on top of his head further. The magic drain was intense and came with a sudden hit of incredible mental strain. His eyes watered, but Lukas couldn’t tell if it was from all the dust in the air or the exertion.

Instead of taking the long route, he and the clones took the direct exit. Penelope was in their path, but he had resolved to come clean to her. Mostly. He was surprised to find her on the ground, barely moving, while a housecat-sized Bass pawed at her, demanding she wake up. His hind legs were trapped under a massive boulder.

Lukas sprinted at the pair at low mass, burning Haste and moving as fast as his body would allow. Then, just as he reached Bass, he threw himself at the boulder, trapping the familiar and pushing the expanded slider as far as it would go. He failed to get it to the highest point in time, but it was enough. The boulder rocked backward, and the familiar pulled himself free, getting out of the way just before the giant rock rolled onto him again. He immediately grew to his enlarged form.

Bass picked Penelope up with his mouth and flung her onto his back. His feline eyes widened as he took in all the copies of Lukas. Except for Elvis, all of them wore Shade’s Mantle.

“I can’t fly while carrying all of you. Maybe just three.”

“That’s enough,” Lukas said, looking down the tunnel. A sea of four-legged creatures moving on all fours charged at them. Ugly grey scales covered most of their bodies. “You only need to carry two.”

“And some bags,” Elvis added, carefully placing the tied and now unconscious Elder Wyrmkin on Bass’s back. He took the sacks and bags from the other clones and handed them to Lukas. “Get out of here, boss. We’ll slow them down.”

The mage and stalker clones had already started their work. Shade’s Mantle spread out in front of them, solidified and giant spikes growing out of it, like pikes.

Lukas nodded before climbing onto the giant lion’s back.

“You’re going to abandon your brother?” Bass asked.

“He’s not my brother. I’ll explain everything later. Getting Penelope and our prisoner to safety takes priority. She needs medical attention, and I know just the right person to provide it.”

“I was right. You’re a liar that shouldn’t be trusted.” Bass didn’t hesitate and started running. “You helped me and are going to ensure Penny doesn’t die. Or else.”

“You’re going to eat my head?”

“I’ll save that for last.”