Lukas dispelled the three clones. Their weapons and tools sat neatly piled on the broom cupboard’s shelf. When resummoning, he started with high mass and a steel weave but also channeled lightning through his body. He wove the energy into the standard Haste spell, attempting to create a body enhancement spell that stimulated the muscles and nerves.

You have unlocked a new specialized clone. It excels at empowering its body, movements, and attacks with lightning magic and the Haste spell.

Shadow Clone has progressed to rank 4!

The cost of creating specialized clones is reduced.

What would you like to name the specialization?

The probability of things working out had felt low. As a result, Lukas hadn’t thought of a name for the specialization. He used the name of a clone upgrade he hadn’t picked.

Shock Trooper.

The new specialization will henceforth be called Shock Trooper.

The Shock Trooper clone, El-One, swiftly equipped himself. He looked no different from Lukas except for his eyes. They were a violent blue and almost luminous. Much to his surprise, the clone’s magic levels weren’t static. Instead, it seemed to generate the new energies that came with Thunderstorm’s Eye. The volume wasn’t anything of note. In fact, the clone’s heart seemed to produce approximately half of what Lukas passively produced, but it was still better than nothing.

He had wanted a mostly passive ability for his Heart Pillar, not only because it meant he had fewer things demanding his attention during battle but also because the chances of the clones benefiting from it would be high. The gamble paid off, and he couldn’t be happier.

The Shard of Growth and its Aura of Regeneration were arguably better for the clones’ longevity and Lukas’s survival. However, the involved costs concerned Lukas. He had worried the constant drain would’ve made them less effective in battle or even damaged their integrity in the long term. There was no guarantee that the Essence of Arcane Regeneration would overcome the issue. He believed it was responsible for amplifying the Shard of Static’s energy generation abilities and perhaps also the resistance to lightning and sonic attacks.

When creating the next clone, Lukas opted for the Stalker specialization again but added sonic energy to Silencing Shadows, hoping to mute the sounds he made and disrupt those around him. It was a simple process and involved removing one thread that fed the spell unattuned energy and twisting sound magic around another. The journal once again congratulated him for his success.

You have upgraded the Stalker specialization. It now excels at the use of sonic spells on top of shadow magic. The stalker clones’ ability to erase their magical signature and conceal their presence has improved considerably.

Much to Lukas’s disappointment, Shadow Clone didn’t gain another rank. It would’ve significantly improved his chances of success and, more importantly, survival. Growth would inevitably slow as his ranks continued to increase. He expected new specializations to stop giving him ranks eventually, but didn’t think he’d hit the barrier so soon.

Lukas summoned a second upgraded stalker clone, still beaming with pride.

“What’s the plan, boss?” El-One asked. He hadn’t just picked up the hammer and shield but also relieved Hump of his armor. It was a decent fit and made him look like a guard. The clone dug through the cleaning supplies and smeared grease across his mouth. He also dusted his hair with a grey, ash-like substance. It wasn’t a significant change, but he now looked significantly older. Lukas hoped it would be enough so that others wouldn’t recognize the clone straight away.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Having an Elvis around has its benefits. Perhaps I should start packing the storage space with makeup, wigs, and other disguises.

“I’m pretty sure I've located a member of the coven,” Lukas said, strapping the shortsword to his waist. He adjusted his coat so it concealed the weapon well. “We need to locate her.”

“And what then?” El-Three’s wide eyes focused on his fingertips. Tendrils of electricity danced between them. Unlike El-One, he and El-Three only produced energy at a quarter of the rate of Lukas. Now that he had a closer look, his and their hearts didn’t seem to produce distinct lightning and sonic energies as the journal claimed. It was all one and violent.

Storm-attuned magic perhaps? I’ll figure it out later.

“We’re not supposed to tangle with the witches, boss,” El-Two added. “Esther said our magic isn’t strong enough, and our soul—”

“More importantly, there isn’t much for us to get out of this,” El-Three interrupted. “I get it if we were robbing the valets or the storerooms, but going after the witch is more likely to get you hurt. We can’t protect you from soul attacks, El-Prime.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

Lukas had already scouted out the witch’s location. He walked along the auditorium’s exterior, scanning each box with his sensing technique. He had the stalker clones post themselves nearby. Eyes focused on the door. Meanwhile, returned to Mister Grey with El-One. Unlike regular Bruiser clones, the Shock Trooper didn’t seem to struggle as much when channeling and focusing on a spell. The sound magic produced by his heart appeared to partially cover Silencing Shadow’s energy drain.

“There is a reason mages and sorcerers often gravitate toward spells in theme with their shard abilities,” Esther had explained when convincing him to stick to mostly Shadow Magic. “Attuned magic is often easier to use and comes with less strain than raw magic. The spell and mind don’t need to waste energy converting or attuning.”

It was the other reason why he didn’t want to use the Shard of Growth. Aura of Regeneration would mostly come with healing energy. It had its uses in body reinforcement spells, but only to a limited extent. The clones wouldn’t benefit from the active components, and he’d only end up limiting himself further, making it a poor fit.

Lukas felt proud of himself as he returned to Mister Grey’s box. He had managed to awaken all of his pillars within three seasons of his arrival on Fracture. It had taken a lot of work, some luck, and walking down paths he had hoped to avoid following his fresh start. He had the clones to thank for it. They allowed him to take risks that most sane people would avoid. However, it was just the beginning.

Shards and awakened pillars only started him on the path to greatness. He needed to master their abilities, unlock the conjunctions and confluence, and also master magic. Lukas had only scratched the surface and still had a long way to go.

“I didn’t expect you to return,” Mister Grey said when Lukas returned to his seat. “I thought you’d run off with the shards, and I wouldn’t see you again until you used one of them.”

“I was tempted.” Lukas smiled. “But I ended up having an explore, got reprimanded for wandering into somewhere I shouldn’t have entered, and saw a couple of familiar places. Then, by the time I found the exit, I wanted to know whether you got your badge or not. So, I had to come back.”

“Ten thousand and six hundred crowns. The bidding was furious, but I won in the end.”

Lukas whistled. “That’s an obnoxious amount of money.” He nodded at the witch’s box. “Was it them again?”

Mister Grey nodded. “It was a three-way battle in the end. Them and one of the high rollers.” He pointed at one of the more exclusive VIP boxes hanging off the far wall. Unlike the one Lukas and his current employer occupied, it was a permanent installation. “I’m guessing it's our friends at the Aquila guild in there.”

“There is another reason I came back, Mister Grey,” Lukas said, but the giant man’s attention had returned to the latest of the lots. “There is something you need to know. It’s about Kelpie and the dead Grey Rats.” When Mister Grey looked at Lukas again, his eyes were wide and his jaw set. “And the party behind it.”

“Tell me.” The friendly tone had disappeared. Only ice and venom remained.