The Hundred Reigns 276: King of Spiders (18)
They teleported to safety mere seconds before the whole tower self-destructed.
Simon didn’t see the event himself, but several of his minions posted around the perimeter informed him that explosions shook the entire building before it collapsed. The blasts and quakes that followed reached all the way to the capital. The Ravenous and Vouivre had attempted to scavenge what they could before Muse’s airship fleet arrived, but the Musan Sniper had apparently survived the tower’s collapse and remained dedicated to protecting its ruins. These forces had been forced to depart with little to show for it.
Simon wondered what that Sniper was made of to be so resilient, but he would find out the answer to that question soon enough.
Thankfully for Muse, it appeared the Earth Megalith’s basement had been specifically designed to withstand that kind of destruction without compromising the nation’s energy supply, so the ancient crystal remained safe. The attack was nonetheless a national shock and probably the biggest act of terrorism on the Republic’s soil since its inception. The newspapers released on the day after the collapse put forward multiple possibilities, from an experiment gone wrong to an Endymian operation.
Whatever the case, the Republic had lost its precious Noble Crestone, its main industrial base, and its Crafter in short order. It would take them days to figure out what happened, and then they would deploy all resources towards finding those responsible, likely with the Oracle’s assistance. Simon and his allies would have to lay low for a while.
Still, such a victory deserved a celebration, and Simon decided to throw a well-earned feast and ball for the occasion.
His Weavers and retainers gathered in Bert’s former manor in the evening of the day after the Mechanical Tower’s collapse, where they were greeted by turks, mephisgoat guards, and high-class pleasure demons specifically summoned and branded for the occasion. The Cobweb’s wealth purchased the most exquisite food, the most potent drugs, and the best wine money could buy under a single roof, all so that his minions would find no pleasure forbidden to them.
“I will be disappointed if the party doesn’t end in a riot of decadence and debauchery,” Elsa commented while trying on dresses for the party in their shared bedroom. Her choker helped hide the strangulation bruises from their latest round of lovemaking; Simon was beginning to realize she liked playing with his emotions to make it all the more intense. “You know how a good drug dealer shouldn’t get high on his own supply?”
“Why do I always see you with a dreamshade pipe, then?” Simon teased her as he studied the Crestone in his hand.
“I’m not a dealer, I’m a thief.” Elsa peered over her shoulder after putting on a corset. “Are you going to wear it tonight as a show of dominance?”
“No, I think I’ll consume it now. It keeps trying to roll away whenever I open my Inventory or stop holding it.” It always moved in Lampwick’s direction too. Simon had a pretty good idea of who would inherit the Crafter Crestone if it had its way. “I have the same issue with the Merchant.”
Elsa’s expression turned downcast all of a sudden. “I’ve heard Odette had a son?”
“Benjamin.” Simon sighed. “I don’t know what to do with him. His father is alive, but wholly unsuited to raise him. Perhaps I could entrust him to a trusted retainer like Cassandra…”
“Or we could adopt him ourselves,” Elsa suggested, much to Simon’s surprise. “I wouldn’t mind taking care of him off the clock.”
“You wouldn’t?”
“Velvet donated much of her spoils to orphanages, while Silk couldn’t care less.” Elsa put on a black dress with a web-like pattern, a sorrowful look on her face. “I don’t want that boy to suffer through what I did.”
“I see… that’s very kind of you.” Simon wasn’t sure the Overlord and Rogue were the best people to raise a child, especially with the Zodiac Parade on the horizon, but the idea appealed to him a bit. He owed Odette that much for her faithful service, and he had toyed with the idea of starting a family with Anna in the past… “I’ll think about it.”
For now, he focused on the matter at hand and activated the Crafter Crestone. The Class outfit took the shape of a black tunic merged with a colorful leather apron strapped with pockets full of tools ranging from a painter’s brush to pincers, a metal top and gauntlets, heavy-duty boots, and a mechanical welding mask. The Crafter outfit embraced elements from artisans all over the world, from smiths to shoemakers, and it barely itched on his skin.
The Crafter: The inventor of tomorrow, the artisan of dreams, the smith of wonders, who turns imagination into reality.
Strength B, Vitality C, Agility C, Perception C, Magic C, Intelligence S, Charisma D, Luck B.
Artisan of Wonders (Passive): You instinctually know how to build any functional non-organic item that has ever been created; this covers everything from weapons, equipment, Artificial constructs, machines, and most goods outside of potions, medicine, and chemicals. You have intuitive mastery of all these items’ blueprints, components, the scientific principles behind them, and all the steps needed to ensure their construction.
Instant Crafting (Active): You can instantly build any item covered by Artisan of Wonders, skipping all the intermediary steps, so long as you have the required materials on hand. This also allows you to instantly repair damaged items.
Refine (Active): You can refine any item you touch to remove its flaws and greatly enhance its base characteristics.
Disassemble (Active): You can disassemble any item you touch into its base components.
Technopathy I (Active): You can telepathically connect to any Artificial creatures, such as golems and machines. Mindless constructs never attack you unless compelled, and you telepathically take control of them with a sufficiently high Charisma score.
While abilities like Improved Process appeared to require higher levels to unlock, Simon only had to take a look at the innate Perks to realize why the Crafter could become such a terrifying force with the right resources. They were so simple and yet so utterly efficient.
All of them tempted him. It said something that Disassemble’s ability to instantly break down any item—which could potentially include things as powerful as the Musan Champions or the Mana Sword—was probably the weakest on the list, and limited only by its situational usefulness.
Refine’s ability to improve any item would be a great pick. Enhancing the likes of his rings or his weaponry at the start of each reign would heavily bolster his combat capabilities. However, he could achieve the same result with normal crafting anyway.
Instant Crafting was exceptionally good. He had witnessed its power for himself when the Crafter created a colossal Champion to oppose him in seconds and constantly repaired it faster than Simon could damage it. It would let him mass-produce any complex device without wasting months on building them.
However, ascending to the Crimson Throne would give him all the resources and pairs of hands he would need to quickly build anything he wanted, and he would still be limited by the need to keep materials at hand anyway. The Mechanical Tower could cheat that requirement by holding components within its rooms, but Simon was a mere human. He wouldn’t be able to replicate this trick unless he somehow merged with Frightwall.
No, only one Perk stood above them all. Gargauth believed consuming the Crafter Crestone would let him build anything he desired when combined with Devil Forgemaster, and Simon could see why.
He had all the time in the world, but the Crafter offered more knowledge than he could acquire in seventy lifetimes.
“Devour Crestone,” Simon said as he held his prize. “Artisan of Wonders.”
He feasted on the Noble Crestone, and then he understood.
The wealth of the Crafter’s body of knowledge opened his mind and unlocked the Worldsoul’s library of information. A door had opened in the back of his brain, setting his mind alight with visions of previous holders. He gazed at mechanical bowels through glass eyes spread across his body of steel, and then at a vat holding a young Jym Coil through his father’s cold, apathetic gaze. He saw himself painting doors to private worlds, sculpting statues feeding on the awe of men, and designing ships capable of taking to the sky.
A vision cut sharper than any other, brought to him by the will of the Crafter Crestone itself. He saw himself carving a life-sized manticore made of wood, with bones of steel and springs for muscles. His pale hands pressed a button hidden in its colorful mane, and caused the puppet-beast to roar on its own.
“I’m almost done,” he said with lips that weren’t his own, while a hooded figure watched. “It’ll be finished in time for the birth, Lord Magnos.”
“Excellent work, Otto. You honor yourself and your predecessor.” The Librarian stepped forward to study the device, a smile on his lips. “Lady Lysandra said the manticore was too ruthless and vicious an animal for a family crest, but I always found them alluring. A lion’s might with a scorpion’s cunning.”
“I’m content with my own portrait of Lady Leanan,” the Crafter of the era, ‘Otto,’ replied. “I can add a signature on the flank, if you want. A message for your child, since…” His voice died in his throat. “I…”
“You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me, Otto. I know my Destined Death is coming.” Elios Magnos’ face remained hidden beneath his hood, but the way he bent slightly revealed his unease. “A message… yes, it’s not a bad idea.”
“Does something come to mind? Anything the boy could read when he comes of age?”
“Yes. ‘I wish you the world.’” Elios Magnos cleared his throat. “‘To my son, Endymion.’”
Simon was flung back to reality, his mind heavy with swirling thoughts.
His thoughts wandered back to that ancient reign when he first read his father’s notes on House Magnos’ genealogy. He hadn’t really paid much attention to it back then, but now he recalled that one of his ancestors indeed bore the name of Endymion. Simon hadn’t thought much of it then, since it wouldn’t have been unusual for someone to be called after the country they lived in.
But what if… what if it had been the other way around?
Father told Lauriane that Endymion had been named after House Magnos, and Mardok was a demon with no family name. Had he decided to honor his greatest ally by claiming his son’s name as his own?
Another disturbing possibility came to mind, but Simon didn’t even want to consider it. It would carry heavy implications about where his darkblood ancestry came from, and he didn’t want to entertain that thought without proof.
Simon looked around, and new information flowed into his brain the moment he caught sight of Elsa.
“What’s wrong?” she asked him with a slight hint of concern upon seeing the unsettling focus in his eyes. “Are you well?”
“Your robe was crafted with satin… the strands taken from spiders’ silk to perfectly mimic a true web’s pattern…” He touched its fabric and sensed the supple flesh beneath it. “Tainted black with snail dye…”
His eyes moved up to the ceiling, which he knew hid gears and pistons capable of rearranging the clockwork manor’s layout. His new Perk immediately provided intel on how to improve the design, and his Pranked Title immediately filled in holes with new suggestions of sinister death traps.
“I understand… and I comprehend.” Yes, yes, now he saw all the wonderful possibilities he had missed before. Walls that closed on intruders. Hidden mouths spreading odorless gas into chambers. Doors with teeth. “I can build… anything.”
An overwhelming flow of information entered his mind, as Artisan of Wonders and Devil Forgemaster worked together to inspire him like never before. The two Perks fed on each other like how miasma and mana created a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
“Champions, golems, weapons, airships, pictoboxes, flying pyramids… anything.” The secrets of science and magic revealed themselves to him with a mere thought. “I can bind the power of the Megaliths through mana reactors, bending the elements to my will! I can raise machines that will trample castles, and replace perishable flesh with unyielding metal! I shall enslave lightning with one hand, and build pathways to infinity with the other!”
Machines fueled by miasmic mutagens, Overbots capable of mimicking him better than Hector, cannons fueled by Frightwall’s miasma… In his head now lay the power to reshape the world, nay, the future to all his desires.
“Too much…” Simon muttered as he tried to focus. His Class provided too much information all at once. “Too many possibilities… it’s overwhelming.”
“Shush…” Elsa grabbed his cheeks and forced him to look upon her face. “I know something that can help.”
“A kiss?”
Elsa smiled as she whispered in his ear. “A bigger Crestone.”
The audacious absurdity of her answer somehow cut through all the information overload, and caused him to burst out laughing. “You know, you are a bad influence on me,” he said, his arms wrapping around her waist. “You’re bringing out instincts I’m trying to grow out of, and yet I keep finding myself drawn to you for some reason.”
“Simon, we are just getting started.” Elsa looked into his eyes. “I’m serious though. Can you consume more Crestones?”
“Probably. I unlock one spot every ten levels or so, so I might have two left.” Simon shook his head. “But considering how much experience it takes to level up nowadays, it might take a while.”
“Tell me about it. I barely got a single level out of yesterday’s heist.” Elsa took it in stride. “Oh well, we can rob Vouivre next. I’m sure we’ll find good gizmos for your new Perk to work on in her daddy’s chest.”
“It’s not a bad idea.” The thought of Gargauth’s spirit fuming as his killer’s son completed what he couldn’t appealed to Simon. It would serve the reptile right for attacking him during their time as the Wicked God. “But let’s not tarry long. Our guests will wonder what we’re doing, and I want to visit my sister right after.”
The party was well underway when they arrived to find their guests waiting for them in the manor’s marble ballroom. Most guests were engaged in chatter or drinking from their cups. Mephisgoats dressed in tasteful Endymian—and form-fitting—maid uniforms lit up the place with ghostfire chandeliers and bleated to announce their arrival.
Simon oversaw the crowd. Granny Radhag had arrived in her elven form with her arm wrapped around Duchar’s, while Cassandra and Pallian had put on modest—if formal—clothes. Shabram was as splendid as ever, Bert wore a fresh new skin based on his own murdered father, and Voltobauta stole the show by wearing an elaborate hat adorned with illusory flames. Only Chrom Cruak and Renal hadn’t bothered putting on good clothes, but those two were beyond saving when it came to taste anyway. Even Borsh had made a token effort by putting on a bow tie, which just looked ridiculous on a giant werewolf. Hector alone had declined to attend to better look after Lauriane, which was for the best. Simon intended to visit them right after ensuring everyone had a good time.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for coming today,” Simon said upon greeting his guests, one of his mephisgoat maids handing him a glass of wine. “I would like to raise a toast to the successful heist of the century!”
A round of applause and raised glasses answered his declaration, with his brave cattle warriors clapping louder than anyone else. How could he have lived without them?
“My predecessor Gargauth sought the Crafter Crestone all of his life.” Or should I say, all of his lives. “My father never managed to obtain it, in spite of his many, many attempts… and yet we succeeded where they all failed, and I couldn’t have done it without you all.“ Simon raised a toast to his guests. “Revel to your heart’s content! The night is on me!”
His mephisgoats responded with fireworks spells, and his demotaurs unbottled the wine until it flowed like waterfalls. The smell of dreamshade became overwhelming as incense bowls were lit up and turks played wonderful music… though Simon immediately thought about how he could tweak them to improve their performance.
He might need a little training to parse all these intrusive thoughts.
“A beautiful speech,” Voltobauta commented once he approached the couple with his own cup of blood. Two vampiric maids escorted him. “I was touched.”
“Don’t tell me you regret what happened,” Simon replied. “You’ve seen the puppet infiltrators for yourself, and the things we saw inside that tower… it was a perversion.”
“I won’t lie, I’m not going to mourn anyone who kidnaps people to turn them into dolls, but I expected less… destruction.” Voltobauta squinted at him. “The Mechanical Tower’s collapse was hardly subtle. You understand that there will be consequences, yes?”
“I do, yes.” Simon would rather have avoided the tower’s destruction and stuck to absconding with the Crestone, while letting the authorities discover all the horrors inside. Still, one had to make do with the situation at hand. “Which is why I suggest you all lay low and keep to our divination-proofed safehouses for the near future.”
“Holing up in your Attic for the foreseeable future isn’t my idea of a high life,” Voltobauta complained with a sigh. “I suppose I can at least practice more necromancy spells. I do need new recruits after the losses we took from the heist, and I’ll have no shortage of recruits with the Endymian civil war.”
He was right, as much as it annoyed Simon. Now that he had obtained the Crafter Crestone, he should try to establish contact with Dassein to inform him about Lauriane’s survival, and maybe even secure his assistance to unlock Gargauth’s hoard.
Elsa pulled at his sleeve and pointed at a corner. Simon spotted Bert and Chrom discussing a bit away from the rest of the guests, with the former looking rather downcast.
“Doesn’t that make you curious?” Elsa asked.
“It does,” Simon agreed as they walked towards the two, catching their attention. “You look uneasy, Bert. I thought you would be rather happy about finally slaying your creator.”
“I was,” the puppet admitted. “But now… now I wonder what to do.”
“Oh, I see the issue.” Elsa sipped from her glass. “You dedicated your entire life to revenge, and never thought of what you would do after you got it.”
Bert glared at her. “Don’t mock me, fleshbag.”
“I’m not. I’ve been there with Verney, so I sympathize.” Elsa chuckled. “Well, maybe not. I did have plans beyond his demise, though it did bring a smile to my face.”
“I told him… there is a world beyond revenge…” Chrom rasped.
Simon raised an eyebrow. “Do you have plans for what you’ll do after avenging yourself upon your Tribe?”
“Yes,” Chrom Cruak confirmed, much to Simon’s slight surprise. “I shall rebuild what I lost. My kingdom will be birthed anew… on ashen ground.”
“But what should I do?” Bert complained as he stared at his hands. “Art has lost its luster without a father to horrify.”
“You do the same thing you’ve always done,” Simon replied bluntly. “You serve me.”
Bert looked up at him for a moment, the new purpose of his miserable existence dawning upon him, and failing to provide him much joy. “Damn it.”
“Don’t you see what I can do for you?” Simon asked as he studied the puppet, imagining all the ways he could refine his limbs. “Your creator wasted you, Bert. Tossed you away and treated you as a failure, rather than the first step towards perfection. I see all the ways I can improve you, now. You can become more than you ever imagined.”
“Yes… yes, now I see what I should live for.” Bert glared at Simon with the same malice he once reserved for his creator. “Finding a way to undo your strings on my soul, and then kill you.”
Simon sighed in annoyance, having expected that answer. Such a lack of vision. “Well, it’s your life.”
“It’s a blessing in disguise,” Elsa mused. “The fear of treachery keeps the wits sharp.”
“This bickering is pointless,” Chrom Cruak said; a sentiment which Simon shared. “We can achieve many great things with both the Crafter and the Alchemist on our side. I have a…” His fist clenched. “Suggestion.”
“Suggestio—” Simon tensed up. “Mmm?”
Elsa’s eyes widened in alarm. “What’s wrong?”
“Some of my imp spotters outside have just died.” A chill traveled down Simon’s spine as he sensed multiple presences popping up on his Dungeon’s perimeter all of a sudden. “Intruders—”
A manalith cannon shot echoed outside, and the entire manor shook like a bell.
A/N: yup, Simon is officially entering his Dr. Doom era ;)
Comments (97)
Laurianne "Genocide" Magnos back at it again
Calling it now Lysandra killed Endymion and this is the foundation of the beef
If this arc makes it to the Zodiac parade I’m abandoning the Freya cult and jumping onto the Elsa ship. How do we not have a poll yet? I guess I’m so used to Simon completing his goal and then getting squashed like a bug 5 seconds later.
The technology that I'm looking the most to is actually memory transfer thing Crafter had going about. It apparently could completely copy the memories of brains it captured. With some tweaking Simon might very well do shit like copying Techniques and spell of people he kills(notably Louis). If we are really lucky we might actually just copy Alchemist knowledge directly from our sister, thus gaining the benefits of the perk without having to consume it. Also one giga big brain thing we could do is create Balzam-turk. While his soul is beyond our reach, his mind and body are most certainly not. Just being able to talk with the man is liable to discover a trove of important info, and it also opens us to very funny reign where we pilot mecha Balzam after we swap out his body with machine before it is discovered, meanwhile Simon does mad science with Lauriane.
The bigger implementation is potentially sharing memories of his retainers between reigns.
I fear the thought Simon doesn’t want to entertain may be the closest one to the truth lol Should have known Elios banged Mardok when the fucker appeared in that form. Mardok stole some of Kenjaku notes. It just seems like this time it did make sense.
“Don’t mock me, fleshbag.” Alchemo was great, one of my favorite side characters in the perfect run, top 5, maybe top 3 even.
I would bet just about anything that the title he gets from This reign is gonna be the strongest
Sir, a five headed dragon has hit the Crafter's Tower.
must have been the wind
Damn Simon is getting really OP. His knew crafters mind and the crazy angel form would go crazy if used right. We need a training arc
we need at least 7 of them where Simon gets to the bunker that survived the parade and /mute everyone whilst training with turks he created XD
Will Simon ever get to enjoy a victory? Simon is finally a serious threat though and will probably survive. The Crafter perk is great, Gargauth was right no wonder he had the longest reign as Overlord. The vision raises more questions as it seems like Mardok is Simon's ancestor. Simon's love for his demon herd is always great, can't wait for the Monster Shepherd reign. The title at the end of the reign might be a Rogue perk since his focus this reign was on stealing the Crafter crestone. Simon is once again considering starting a family that's a heart break just waiting to happen. It won't be a serious possibility until Simon can force both parties to submit and rule openly, but the other countries will still want him dead. I still think he should marry Satine and other wives representing the population of Endymion's territories, like Eole for shifters, and cast his Edict to seal the country off so he can prepare for the Zodiac parade. And like Anna said take Remedia as a concubine. But training reigns first.
Gargauth only had the longest Reigns because he was a giant fuck-off dragon. He never even managed to Devour the Crafter. I would say the Mageling Title disagrees. Though admittedly I don't know what Title they'll give, I just doubt it'll be one based on the Rouge.
If I read the ability correctly, simon could build his own musan sniper
LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I haven't been this hyped since the first fight with the Golden Champion. That's a major check mark on his list. I really want to see if Simon can last until the Parade this time, and how he handles it.
> dressed in tasteful Endymian—and form-fitting—maid uniforms shouldn't they be from Cocagne?
Mardok is Simon's grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grand-grandmother?
Attacker is going to be a tri-partite Muse/Lore/Oracle affair, OR perhaps Dassien went insane and merged with a Zodiac. (What sign is he anyway? Was that ever revealed?) (Edit: WizardClassic notified me that he's a Ram sign, so no-go on corrupted Dassien. They already pilfered it and Crom has it.)
The Ram, the wiki has the signs for the rest of his family too.
Yeah… throwing a victory’s party at Bert’s mansion which is in… checks notes… Lampwick, Muse, after causing the biggest terrorist attack in the history of the country might have been a tad… unwise. Well, we did need a way to close this reign tho…
I expect this reign’s title to be as busted as the one he got from devouring the mage crest
the ENGINEEER : you can code team fortress 2 ....... and 3 !!!!!!!! ( sike no just turrets and do cool emotes )
Diabolical cliffhanger for the weekend.
Spoiler: Simon dies.
Dayum...I underestimated the potency of the crafter. Hopefully Simon won't forget Jim's lesson. Knowing all existing blueprint isn't the same as INVENTING something
I think the Oracle saw the ripples just caused by him eating the Crestone so she's trying to kill Simon immediately.
Instant Crafting: if the description is taken literally, then choosing that perk doesn’t actually grant him any abilities. It only lets you craft things that you know how to craft through the Artisan of Wonders perk.
It would probably adapt to Devil Forgemaster in that case. Devoured Perks that aren't applicable to the Overlord do change to fit in if they don't.
Shabram has the best setup. I'm hoping the author realizes the synergy they've got going. 1. Shabram is utterly loyal 2. Many, including Euphemia, assume it's slavish loyalty to the Class/State. 3. But what if that's incorrect? What if her loyalty is merely to Simon? Shabram was in charge of watching Simon. Minute to minute. Every single day. For his entire life. Isn't it odd she never had brands from Balzam yet immediately accepts all 7 from Simon? Isn't it odd she hides Aegio from everyone yet volunteers the information to Simon? Isn't it odd she was willing to fight to the death during the Oracle invasion of Frightwall? (Before Louis arrived she was going to die defending Belzamine.) After living in a castle full of evil scumbags, how hard would it be to NOT fall for the one person that has the soul of a Paladin? Especially when you've watched them from the shadows since he was a boy. This would also serve as a way to flesh out Simon's time as a powerless trapped nobody, a bastard prince of nothing. (Prince of Nothing, how's that for a Reign Title?)
Huh, that is a pretty cool theory. It's a bit hard to imagine Balzam would be chill with anyone outright *refusing* his brands, at least someone who wasn't already of high status before he took them in. Though I suppose she might also just be that goated at her job he decided he needed her anyway.
If we didn't waste our Perk Slot on Armsmaster we'd be able to uniquely pair inorganic mastery of Crafter with organic mastery of Alchemist to achive unprecedented dominion over reality. Still the single dumbest decision Simon has made to this point. Wasting an entire Slot to get something that just provides attack vectors you already have in other abilities. Absolute masterclass of failing to understand concepts of redundance and opportunity cost.
...what? Armsmaster? The perk he's relied almost entirely upon for utility since he got it? How was he going to do anything but die versus the Musan sniper without "Arrow Snatcher"? How was he going to bring down the forcefields or manastone without "Magic Eraser"? How was he going to fight magic-immune golems? Also, it's a story not a video game. The Author is the arbiter of reality. Maybe that combination DOES unlock Super Turbo Autism crafting abilities. Or maybe it just let's you build a better laxative. He's already got the ability to craft mutagens, poisons, potions, and more from the Overlord class anyway. I could see many critiques for poor combat performance, "Armsmaster" ain't one. It even works on magic spells, although the author has yet to do anything on that front.
Great chapter
Mardok the Trap-King, Overlord of (B/P)ussy, Astolfo-fan, and Simon's great grandma. I can't believe so few people are commenting on that.
Where does the second come from? Do I even want to know?
I think it’s crazy that we still don’t have a poll.
he seems to have gotten strong enough to escape even when things get very spicy .... for now ( but you are right, it is probably a matter of time )
We all suspect (probably correctly) that mardok has some sort of master plan which screws over the other overlords and lets them resurrect somehow. But it would be funny as hell if it turned out mardok was just a demonic but doting great grandparent who is trying to helicopter their cute but bumbling descendants into ruling the world with an iron fist because that's the only way they'll be safe from that nasty, horrid, bitch of an oracle who they should never ever ever date because she's no good for them.
Well, it's worth noting that Mardok doesn't necessarily care about being properly alive himself, and could possibly be fine with others accomplishing his goals for him as long as he's able to see it (through the Overlord's eyes). So there is a not that far fetched possibility that he just wants Simon to go full evil overlord.
Cliffhangers on a Friday is evil
wouldn't the artison of wonders perk enable the crafter to monitor all progress the overlord makes? New Miasma-Related objects should have mostly come from the hands of previous Overlords after all, in sudden jumps. Maybe we'll see some Miasma-Weaponry from the crafter in later loops? also, the description of the crafters eyes basically confirms that he crafted optic lenses/pictoboxes before Simon did. Following that train of thought; the crafter should have had countermeasures in place immediately after the Pictobox was created.At least I read the perk as being all-knowing of all inventions, especially when paired with a 200tb supercomputer-brain. Food for thought.
I somewhat doubt the ability is that omniscient. I imagine he'll have to be at least partially focusing on miasma-powered inventions regularly to realize anything is changing about the inspiration he's getting.
You instinctually know how to build any functional non-organic item that has ever been created Does this perhaps include Vassal Crest Stones? Like the Biographer?
We'll see the next time he looks at some manalith probably.
So we've got a timelooping protagonist that eventually kills all his enemies, Elsa and now Otto...reminds me a lot of the Pride route in Re:zero. What are the candidates rn for the last two crestone slots? Dracolith and Oracle are the only ones I can think of. I think Rogue was being considered earlier in the story but if he can consistently get Elsa as a sort-of ally then it may be wasted. Beast Crestone seemed interesting but it had a warning attached to it's Karmic Form perk, not sure that's still an option or if Crafter can work around it.
Librarian and oracle, naturally
“things we saw inside that tower… it was a perversion” glad to know he’s fine with the goats in tight maid uniforms tho :p
So which creststones did he consume and which perks? Is there a overview? Thought the mage, the merchant and now the crafter
Adventurer Vassal which got upgraded to full Adventurer, Merchant, Mage, Summoner, Warrior , and now Crafter
I really hope he kills the archer
Yeah i've really been looking forwards to him finally having more than 1 crown.
Tftc
I’m interested in seeing what an arc will look like with Simon being able to dominate Vouivre. We’ve never seen it. It would be interesting to see her submit to him. Would that also make her want to mate with him? Wil she become Jealous of the other women in Simon orbit and see them as rivals. Also Simon has never really build a relationship with Dassein he is always off screen and his interactions with Simon are always brief. There is more to his character we don’t know about.
Hopefully this reign can still end with Archer zodiac fight
I mean, we haven't seen the poll yet, so maybe the reign can go that long. And with Louis dead and Euphemia busy putting out fires back home, the only real danger to Simon is betrayal/ambush scenarios.
Damn really surprised that he didnt get a level for blowing up the tower and finally eating the crestone
Anyone else imagining an evil Great Gatsby vibe to the party? And by Void I hope this reign isn’t close to the end, but let’s face it, everyone’s gonna be gunning to take down the best ship we have (Elsa. I’ve been thoroughly converted)
I’d like to see Simon properly survive a well planned ambush for once. Normally he’s doomed
The fact that there has been no poll gives hope that he will survive
The fact that the Crafter has a technomancy perk that scales off charisma and only providing D rank charisma scaling is genuinely so funny, what's up with that? Also, damn, did Elios and Mardok have a kid...?? Would never have expected that, but Mardok is genderless so they could the logistics are easy to imagine. The Crafter's perks are as potent as imagined... i doubt there's info about the Throne on there, but this may quite possibly unlock Overlord Vassel classes, heh. Thanks for the chapter!
The Grandma Mardok theory has been going around ever since the adventurer crest was devoured
I'm really curious with how this reign will end now that Louis is dead and the crafter neutralized. Maybe the oracle? but if she steps out of Illusea Elios will come so not worth it. The adventurer and co? We all love Alcyone but she can’t carry her team alone and the others are weak. Vouivre/Dassein? I don’t think they are strong enough to kill him, especially now that Simon has Elsa and Chrom as ally. Euphemia? Same, she would need her children as backup at least and doing that leave Endymion defenseless in a civil war. There's also the Zodiac but i don't think Void will wait for them this time.
Ambush after Simon fights the Archer, maybe? Or maybe during the fight itself.
Love the jump in power with the crafter's crestone but I don't see how many of the story's antagonists and problems prove a challenge anymore. I'm sure Void will come up with something but we must be nearing the end.
I feel like we are still 20 or even 30 reigns away from Simon getting over the obstacles of Elios and the Oracle, even though both are level capped I wouldn’t be surprised if there combat power is above level 100. Mixing in abraxis boosted Hellel Asterion. The mana goddess, The king of the eidelons. There’s still many figures that could pose a threat to even max level Simon. Plus there’s much mystery of the abyss much more to explore in the world and the former overlords to deal with who seem destined to revive.
At first, I was worried Artisan of Wonders would simply give Simon skill he could otherwise obtain with enough time and practice. But, it seems like it instead led to a qualitative upgrade to his mind that he couldn't achieve by other means, so I'd say it was worth it.
"You have intuitive mastery of all these items’ blueprints, components, *the scientific principles behind them*, and all the steps needed to ensure their construction. " How the hell did the Tower not have enough creativity to work around the scientific principles bit? It's underlining science of the universe! Did noone in the history of the Worldsoul not make things without Mana or Miasma for it to learn beyond them?
Man I love morally dubious Simon.
I didn't get the Dr. Doom reference. Can sb explain?
Doctor Doom is a mad scientist, a sorcerer, and a tyrannical ruler. His signature is building robot dopplegangers that look like himself, the Doombots. Simon appears to want to do the same thing by building Overbots.
These improved Overbots are going to make his non ruling reigns much easier, no more Laurent Linconnu timer. With a sufficient bot, he can buy himself the full year each time till the parade. He is basically scot free now unless he wants to sit on the throne that reign.
We'll have to see. An Overbot sounds like a construct, and constructs can't be added to his Party to hide under Anthemic Secrecy. They don't have the soul for it I don't believe.
I like Simon the Craftlord as an unexpected and pleasant direction for this arc. I also like Elsa.
I’m calling it now, Eole snitched on Simon after the crafters tower debacle.
I hope not... she was told about the puppet people.
The immensity of insight Simon now has is incredible. So looking forward to the title for this reign
Fingers crossed Gargauth gives something good and related. Might give an incentive for Dracoliths or something.
> You instinctually know how to build any functional non-organic item that has ever been created Does this, perchance, include the Crimson Throne?
...Depends on the working definition of "organic", because the Throne is clearly, to some degree and definition of, alive.
Simon now has the base perks required to one day become the world's greatest Fighter, Caster, and Artificer. He just needs to practice more!
He'd be an even better Fighter if he took the Monk's Body Techniques Perk. With Archfiend Form he'll be able to get around the limitations of Monstrous Techniques since he has Claws, Wings, and. . . teeth? Scratch that last, his face became a mask. He's missing a tail and teeth then. Better then nothing since I don't think the Beast's Perfect Shapeshifting Perk is making it in the DC lineup.
Out of all supervillains, DOOM is perhaps the most threatening one to emulate. Go Simon!
Honestly I don't see parallels with Dr. Doom except being a ruler. Simon isn't nearly petty enough. What interesting about Doom is how he combaines the intelligence and the power with manchild temperament. Simon acknowledges his mistakes, he can say sorry and forgive.
Don't tell me it's the damn sniper
Still no poll yet. Don't think this'll kill Simon by whoever is trying to invade at the moment. Sniper somehow? Or, you know. The Oracle. Wonder how Gargauth is feeling right now with the Crafter's Perk. I've kept on saying he'll reward a good Title for doing so, but now I'm unsure. *Shrugs* guess we'll see next week.
Gargauth sould be pleased. I would worry about what Gargauth in the Simon Archfiendform could do with the Crafter..
amazing!
Love the crestone visions more and more. I wonder if Mardok is Elios daughter in law
Nah, Mardok is definitely Elios' wife.
Wait did Simon basically commit 9/11?
If the Twin Towers were controlled by a single mind and were actually the body of a horrifying AI monstrosity that was replacing the smartest people in New York with puppets while harvesting their brains, the sure, I guess?
Fucking interlopers
TFTC
First!
Did you get first or did I? I can't tell.
First!