CHAPTER 948

The moment they stepped through the gate and back to the shop it felt good to be home, even if it hadn’t actually been too long since he’d been there. By virtue of his mini-gate network in the guild itself, Stonewall had been one of the meet-up points for soul modification, even if they’d done their best to make that stop even quicker than most. They flew over the gathered crowd in a flash and left before there was a chance for anyone to focus on them, if only to attempt to preserve what small bit of piece Ben and Thera both hoped to keep for themselves when making their way through town.

Of course, since I made everyone believe I’d reached the third tier even before I actually managed it, not sure how much of that I have left, he admitted to himself as they walked down the streets to their only stop before grabbing Mora, feeling eyes still falling on him as they went before arriving at the church to see the demidemons gathered there.

Following their previous religious gathering, they were the group that had the largest success dealing with the way he trained his gods believers, with many of them making it to the ninth level of connect, only not being pushed beyond that final barrier by virtue of his intent to modify souls and now that he’d done it, it was time for them to get even more. They might not have had the soul mages to boost the effects they’d get for it by that point but, as nice as that extra bonus could be on top of everything else, the changes to them were already great enough and he could feel enough subtle impatience to know that they didn’t want to wait even longer, even if none of them would have ever dared to voice it.

“Hello everyone,” he greeted as he got there, giving them a smile when he arrived and nodding in Toltho’s direction in particular. “As promised, here to help you out even more. I’m not going to lie to you, this isn’t exactly going to be pleasant, but the payoff is going to be more than worth it so sit tight as we repeat what got you all your last levels before, if in a slightly more extreme way.”

With the warning given he reached out to connect to them all and felt them connect back through the pathway his expanded soul created, giving each of them different configurations of his mind under a modified perception of time as, one by one, they awakened connect.

Some took longer than others, leading to different flashes of mana lighting the church as the minutes passed by, but that wasn’t what pulled the majority of his attention. No, it was the fact that, by the time they had all succeeded, all of them had gained a bonus mind skill that he had held before. Mental expansion, parallel thought, complex mind, and focus, every one of the demidemons acquired one of those skills, making the cause undeniable. Unlike any other awakening he participated in, something about how he would help others with connect in particular left his mark on them.

With a small hint of jealousy to go with it. Normally, there were one in ten odds of getting a bonus skill when awakening, yet here he was, making sure everyone he helped out gained one with certainty, with no idea as to why. Was it the strain he had to put on a mind to do it? There was no denying that even with his new level of mental power and control it was a burden on them, forcing them to sit in the pews while he handed out water and Thera cast out healing spells to ease the pain it had brought, but what if it was something different instead? The touch of his soul against theirs, linked through that shared skill?

If that was the case, then it might have explained how the skill had grown too, getting the name of advanced connect, just like Valaria, Nati, and Xilly despite the fact that many of the demidemons weren’t enchanters. They used it differently so it should have grown differently, yet it was consistent when awakened under his touch, creating another point of curiosity.

And one more thing I’d love to research if I only had the time, he sighed to himself. I guess this can be added to the long list of subjects to look into, assuming the world doesn’t end and I don’t die.

Once the demis were better though, he could see them react to the change. Flexing muscles that had already been empowered a few days prior and feeling their mana pools grow, a benefit for the healers among them in particular for the work they’d do in the greater area, leaving Ben satisfied with the result.

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So, what do you think? On the awakened to non-awakened believer ratio, you’ve gotta be sitting near the top by this point.

Yeah, you are pretty lucky to have me, aren’t you?

While they continued on their back and forth, Toltho joined him, giving a polite nod as he did.

“You only ever do more for us, Ben. I don’t know how to thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it; consider this a reward for being excellent believers. If the other demidemons are ever ready to get a bit more practice with connect so we can try to do the same for them then I’ll be happy to help. Ah, but maybe just not this week. It’s been a long one, and I personally need a bit of a break from helping people.”

“Then I’ll let them know. Surely after they hear of our success, more than a few will come by to at least get their remaining levels.”

“I’ll look forward to whoever I get then. And how have things been in Stonewall since the soul modification?”

“Ha, hectic. You’ll find that the training grounds are still busier than usual; everyone’s trying to adjust to their new level of power. Sounds like it’s led to more than a few levels as well. More mana to practice magic, more strength and stamina to train in combat, it’s not going unnoticed.”

“Glad to hear it. That means the same thing should be happening across the entire planet. And out of curiosity, you haven’t heard anyone suspecting who’s responsible here, have you?”

It was admittedly going to be discovered eventually, he’d made it more than clear to the rest of the planet that what had happened was thanks entirely to the church of Myriad yet he still wanted just a bit of peace in his home, with Toltho cracking a grin.

“None that I’ve heard, and you flew by too fast for anyone to get a look, but would it be so bad if they knew? You’re going to be a god one day, are you not? I’d assume that more fame would be better.”

“Ha, I have more than enough on that front, you can trust me on that. A fair share of infamy too by this point. Really, all I want is a place to come back to that I might get a bit of peace.”

“Mmh, I suppose I can see the appeal.”

“We’re done!” Ben called out as he passed through the gate to Fontesh’s home, hearing the sounds of feet running over to them and scooping up both kids when he saw them, spinning them around in plain cheer. “Which means, Mora, you get to sleep in your own bed tonight, and Delair, you get to come back to work tomorrow!”

“Hurray!” Delair yelled, happy to share his enthusiasm, while Mora was more calm about his own cheer, even if it was still there.

“Hurray is right!” Ben told them. “And Mora, you were good for Fontesh, right?”

“He was,” the dryad nodded as she joined, watching him play with the kids before Thera swiped Mora from him. “And is always a delight to have around. Until next time then, Mora.”

“Thank you, Fontesh. Bye, Delair.”

“See-ya later, Mora!” she yelled back as they went back through the gate, leaving Sachel’s house to walk home as the boy held both of their hands.

“So,” Thera asked him. “What did you get up to while you were staying with them?”

“I distracted Delair so the other villagers could get work done.”

A comment that instantly forced Ben to hold back his laughter, even if he largely failed.

“Alright kiddo, but did you have fun distracting her?”

“I did. We played with the other kids too. I think they’ve gotten used to me.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Still, sorry we left you so long, Mora.”

“We really weren’t expecting it to take so long,” Thera added, sounding just as disappointed in herself for leaving the boy with someone else for so many days, even if he didn’t seem to mind.

“It’s okay, I had a fun time.”

“Well, good,” Ben nodded. “But, since we’re back, the three of us can enjoy the rest of the night together. I’ll get dinner started when we get home and then we can play something so think about what you’d want to do, alright?”

“Okay.”

“Fantastic. It really is just so good to be home.”