Lukas waited until after he returned home before checking Shadow Clone's potential with all not-spoken-for essences. He started with the one that excited him the most.

Shadow Dragon Clone

Clones can use breath flames carrying all attunements available to them, but they are significantly more expensive to create.

Utility minor abilities available.

"Well, that's underwhelming," Lukas commented. "Just dragon breath?"

"Dragon breath is pretty fucking cool, boss," Eins said, grinding the glaive blade. It was now as long as his forearm and had a nasty curve. Parts of the unpolished edge glowed a warm orange like embers floating away from a comforting campfire.

"It's not enough. Especially when we don't know what the connected utility ability might be."

"That's not even the worst bit," said a Stormtrooper, looking over Lukas's shoulder. An eyeball-sized Stormfire sphere floated over his left shoulder. Its stability surprised him. "No new clones. El-Prime doesn't want to be stuck with just four of us."

"True," Lukas said.

The Essence of Dusk's offerings was surprisingly potent.

Shade Clone

Clones gain Shade Sense when using the mantle, growing sensitive to spirits, ghosts, and all incorporeal entities.

The maximum number of clones will increase to six.

Shade's Mantle potency will increase.

Shade Sense caught Lukas off guard. His time on the Realm of Greater Beings had taught him of the existence of the spiritual and ethereal realms. Unfortunately, all magic related to interacting with them was closely protected and expensive. There were ethical questions related to them as well, since the very much reviled Lords of Death and their necromancy-practising followers used the related magic. They also closely guarded it, only allowing people who had joined their cult to use it.

Lukas didn't commit to it straight away. Only two extra clones felt insufficient, and the bit about Shade's Mantle increasing in potency was far too ambiguous. He needed more but wasn't yet sure what that more was, and moved on to the Essence of Predation.

Shadow Clone

Shade's Mantle gains the additional effect to disrupt spells and abilities used by entities of a lower tier.

The maximum number of clones will increase to nine.

Shade's Mantle surface area will double.

"So close to perfect." Lukas sighed.

"Nine clones and doubled surface area for Shade's Mantle?" The Stormtrooper raised an eyebrow, looking over Lukas's shoulder. "Isn't that good enough?"

"Good enough isn't good enough. The disruption effect would be amazing if it affected people of the same or a greater tier at all. If something is weaker than us, dealing with it is no trouble at all. Isn't that so, Eins?"

"I don't know, boss," the clone replied. "I'm just along for the ride. Give me the tools to craft and money for resources, and we're all good."

"I can't tell if the specialization made you super dedicated to the craft, or you're just saying that not to be involved in this discussion," Lukas commented, moving onto the final option. "The last one checked usually turns out to be the best one. Doesn't it?"

"Is that meta commentary, boss?"

"Not intentional. Just a fact." Lukas sighed. "I have the highest hopes for the Essence of Ambush. I'm keen to find out what it's got to offer."

Shadow Clone

Gain the ability to empower Shade's Mantle with fear. Its potency will vary with the tier difference between Shadow Clone and the target.

The maximum number of clones will increase to eight.

Incorporating new shadows into Shade's Mantle will consume less magic and stamina.

"Interestingly, the name didn't change for the latter two," the Stormtrooper said.

"It probably means they're more compatible with Shadow Clone than the others," Lukas replied. "So, instead of just upgrading the current capabilities, it's adding new things."

"That explains Essence of Dragon, but not Essence of Dusk. You'd think the latter is super compatible with shadows."

Lukas shrugged. "It's inconsistent. The Pillars of Self and their rules don't make a lot of sense. There are themes and concepts at play here beyond us. Dusk might represent the end of life or when the spirits stir?" His eyes wandered over the four essence spheres sitting on top of him. "I think number four is the winner. Any protests?"

Eins didn't reply, focusing all of his attention on the glaive.

"Shadow Dragon Clone sounds cool as hell," the Stormtrooper said. "But I think that's better saved for one of the other abilities. Maybe Thunderstorm's Eye or Spellweaver. And I agree with you on the topic of Essence of Predation. But I'm not sure about the Essence of Dusk. Shade Sense might prove pretty useful. Spirits and ghosts could help gather a fair deal of information. We might even be able to haunt people."

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"True. But only six clones." Lukas sighed, returning the two rejects to the journal's Hidden Compartment. "There is also the matter of whether we can get spirits, ghosts, and other undead to cooperate. Just because we can sense or communicate them doesn't mean they'll help us out."

"The last thing we want is the whole 'he can sense us, so let's fuck with him' thing," Eins said. "Isn't that a thing? Malicious spirits and ghosts often target things that sense or believe in them?"

"I thought that was just in the stories," stated the Stormtrooper.

"No. I'm sure that's a thing." Lukas made his decision, and he returned the Essence of Dusk to the Hidden Compartment. "I rather like the concept of infusing shadows with fear. If we can use it without people realizing, it should also help a fair bit outside of combat." He looked up at the Stormtrooper. "Visit the Frozen Phoenix chapter house and Liesel. They're not due to leave for a couple of more days, but it's best if they know I'm ascending."

"It'll be a nice flex, too."

The essence sphere dissolved as Lukas made his decision. Its contents flowed into him, sending shivers up and down his spine. Shade's Mantle manifested without his prompting, and the shadows flickered, squirming and seeming to phase through several states. It went from incorporeal to gaseous, to tar-like, and then solid. It was somehow darker and significantly more potent than it had been before.

The journal's pages flipped to the section dedicated to Shadow Clone.

Shade's Mantle may now be infused with a Terror Aura.

Please choose a minor upgrade for Shade's Mantle.

Shadow Armory: Gain the ability to draw previously shaped constructs—tools, weapons, and armor—from the shadows without having to manifest Shade's Mantle.

Autonomous Shadows: Program Shade's Mantle or a fragment of it with a simple task. It will follow all instructions until the magic fueling it is depleted.

Domineering Darkness: Light sources will struggle in the vicinity of Shade's Mantle, flickering and losing luminosity. The effect can be amplified with a minor arcane investment.

"Well, that's a bonus." Lukas raised an eyebrow, reading through the options again. "The journal hadn't said that minor abilities were available."

"Maybe it only says that when something brand new is going to be spawned, and not when it's adding bonuses to the existing abilities?" The Stormtrooper hurried over, ending whatever he was trying with the Stormfire sphere. "They're all pretty great, boss. Shadow Armory could be great. It'll cut out the shaping portion of our needles, bolts, and all other projectiles."

Eins didn't join the conversation, still slowly grinding away at the glaive, removing the rough outer layers and making the steel shine. Only the edge glowed with the light of the Phoenix Forge.

"I'm happy with this selection. Essence of Dragon is best served for the Heart Pillar."

"Or Morph," Eins commented, finally contributing to the discussion. "Imagine how cool Biomancy and draconic essence could be together."

"Only if it comes with the ability to adopt draconic features by default," Lukas said. "Imagine how cool dragon claws, lungs, or scales would be. Just the ability to roar like one would be a game-changer. I don't think that's going to happen, though. Essence of Predation might prove better. We'll see when that happens. Let's focus on the matter at hand first."

"Quick creation of shadow armor and weapons might be great," Eins said. "It would lighten the load on my shoulder and take my time creating amazing pieces for you." His volume dropped to nearly a whisper, but his words were more than audible in the quiet workshop. "Especially considering how frequently you ditch my hard work."

"All of that is true, but do we want to invest resources in something we can achieve with training?" The Stormtrooper asked. "The true bonus here is being able to pull things out of the shadows without manifesting Shade's Mantle. But is that enough?" He created a second Stormfire sphere, and veins bulged on his temples. The pair bubbled, struggling to maintain stability. "That's why you're hesitating, isn't it, El-Prime?"

"It is. Eight clones are a lot. We can dedicate one or two to shaping shadows full-time. Currently, creating things out of ordinary shadows isn't a big deal. It's cheaper to do so with Shade's Mantle." Lukas sighed, reading through the options again. "It would make sense if the ability helped with our projection issues. Shaping feels like what we're already best at."

"But this is a bonus you weren't expecting," Eins commented. "Should be a decision you obsess over so much. Pick what makes your life easier. I'm biased toward armory. However, enough practice will indeed allow us to achieve the same. So, one of the other two might be better."

"It feels like Domineering Darkness is probably the best option, boss," the Stormtrooper said, looking over his shoulder. "Light is our greatest weakness. If Shade's Mantle can make sources of it falter and fail, we will be able to sneak about much sooner. There will also be more shadows to add to the mantle and weaponize."

Lukas nodded. "The fact that Domineering Darkness's effects are eternally active and don't consume extra magic is a major bonus, in my opinion. Create more shadows. Fuck with visibility. And then tune it all up with some investment. What if eventually we can take away all light and plunge everything into darkness?"

"Sounds like a winner to me," Eins commented, returning his full attention to the glaive.

He gave Autonomous Shadows a moment of thought. It was useful, but felt like too much to manage alongside the clones. The journal didn't provide a lot of details, but he imagined it would also consume a significant chunk of energy. He foresaw uses in automated defenses or shadow illusions, but both felt like things he'd eventually master with shaping and manipulation.

Lukas retired to the first floor, wiped himself down with a washcloth soaked in hot water, and changed into nightclothes. Once in bed, he made his decision, and consciousness began to fade. He couldn't wait for his total number of clones to double. It would make his life significantly easier. Lukas also looked forward to pairing Shadowfire spheres with the Terror Aura. The time to rain chaos was near. He didn't foresee a future as a mage that just brought death and destruction. There was a lot more to the path he hoped to walk.

Even though a deep slumber took Lukas, emptiness didn't dominate everything like during previous ascensions. His mind retained some degree of alertness. Lukas felt the amorphous mass that represented his soul. It took on an almost mercurial appearance, viscous, silvery, and liquid. Then, it darkened until the mass looked like a blob of tar. His soul appeared far more willing to break into smaller chunks.

At first, it was an uncomfortable experience. Lukas had grown used to the pain, but it persisted even after the ascension to the second tier. He was still tearing off bits of himself to create new clones. Something told Lukas that it was no longer the case. His soul appeared more divisible and pliable.

The connection to Shade's Mantle and shadows almost seemed to deepen. They no longer felt like an element of Shadow Clone. Instead, they were a part of him, and the connection was deeper than just an attunement.

Shadow magic carried far too many negative connotations. Everyone seemed to connect it to malice, necromancy, and 'evil'. Lukas disagreed. There was something beautiful in the shadows, and he was glad to make them a part of him.

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