Damon's Ascension-Chapter 96: Assembling The Team 5

Of course, the tellers would not dare say this lest they ruin their company’s business, but Nicholas Spencley heard their thoughts loud and clear with his own ability. He couldn’t help but rub his chin with amusement, connecting the minds of their entire group in a network. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

’These goblins have an interesting thought process, friends. They seem to disdain us for "cheating" as they say,’ Nicholas passed onto the group.

Protizen blinked first and instinctively looked over his shoulder. "What the hell... who just whispered in my head?"

Kyle froze mid-step, then squinted hard at Nicholas. "Wait, wait. You can... talk in our heads? That’s like... Professor X but worse. Bro, are you always eavesdropping?"

Nicholas smiled politely. ’Only when I’m bored.’

Henry clutched his head and hissed. "Argh, don’t sneak into my brain uninvited, dude! What if I’m thinking about anime girls? Or worse—anime moms?"

’Too late, I already saw that Kagome shrine you built in your head,’ Nicholas responded dryly.

Henry gasped. "Stay outta the waifu zone, Spencley!"

Xela tilted her head innocently. "Oh! This feels like when you’re in a party chat but no one else has a mic."

’Accurate, though I can hear your thoughts, so I suppose it’s a very one-sided podcast.’

Bane folded his arms. "Hmm. You do this often?"

Nicholas shrugged with aristocratic grace. "Not often. Just when people start giving me weird looks like I should be the designated team butler."

Levi, ever stoic, simply said, "I don’t mind it, as long as you keep things... filtered."

’Your mind is the calmest ocean I’ve ever touched. It’s eerie. So... yes, nothing to filter,’ Nicholas admitted with a strange expression.

Felicia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Nicholas, stop playing psychic Discord moderator and stay focused."

"Apologies, Vice Captain. Just keeping the chat lively." He bowed slightly, grinning.

Damon finally spoke up. "At least he’s not forcing us to wear matching uniforms or using his powers to win arguments."

’Yet,’ Nicholas teased with a grin.

"Alright, let’s focus on the task at hand," Damon said with a roll of his eyes.

Nicholas chuckled and gracefully disconnected the mental link... though everyone looked at him for an extra second afterward, just in case he was still listening.

"Now I need each of you to share your initial Worldly Essence cost and cooldown so we can calculate how much you need until level 30," Damon requested as he glanced at the group.

Henry was the first to raise his hand lazily. "Mine started at 130 units and the cooldown was 8 hours... now it’s already kicking my ass at double the hours per level. I’m gonna cry if it hits two months."

Kyle shrugged and adjusted his slipper with one foot. "I got 90 units, 10-hour cooldown. I think the system felt sorry for me showing up in housewear."

Protizen tilted his head slightly. "Started at 150 units. Cooldown? A full day. But with Ultra Armor eating up conversion time and energy, it kinda makes sense."

Xela waved her hand. "Me! Mine was 50 units and 6 hours. I thought I was special... but apparently I’m just normal with a really busted ability."

Levi crossed his arms, voice calm. "Mine was 180 units. Cooldown’s 20 hours. Liquid manipulation takes a toll, I suppose."

Bane answered next, deep voice steady. "200 units. Cooldown: 24 hours flat. I transform into other species, so it checks out."

Connor leaned casually against a display terminal. "Mine was 140 units, 12-hour cooldown. Shadow World doesn’t come cheap, apparently."

Nicholas gave a smile. "110 units. Cooldown: 14 hours. Fitting for a gentleman who deals in minds and memory."

Marshal, as always, was the last. He spoke in a low tone. "300 units. Cooldown, 1 full day. Words of Power is not something the system gives away lightly."

Felicia furrowed her brows, doing the math rapidly. "We’ll need exponential values after each level-up. Starting values help, but by level 30..."

Damon sighed. "We’re looking at some ugly numbers. Especially for those of you with high starting costs. But at least now we know what we’re working with."

Henry groaned. "Yeah, we’re working with pain. And bankruptcy."

"Luckily, we have Damon’s wallet," Xela said cheerfully.

"Lucky us," Connor deadpanned.

Damon folded his arms. "Alright, the next step is to confirm your stats. Share your current panel so we know what roles everyone best fits. I’ll go last."

Henry raised a hand lazily and grinned. "Sure, I’ll start the show. Current stats: POW 2, MOB 2, FOR 1, MEN 4, PRO 1. I’m basically the guy who copies your OP ability and makes it look better."

"Or worse," Kyle muttered.

Henry glared at the fellow. "I heard that."

Kyle rolled his eyes and scratched his head. "Whatever. Mine’s POW 1, MOB 2, FOR 1, MEN 5, PRO 1. Vibration control needs precision, not punching power... yet."

Protizen folded his arms, posture proud. "POW 4, MOB 2, FOR 3, MEN 1, PRO 1. I tank. I smash. I shield. You’re welcome."

Xela grinned and twirled her silver hair with a finger. "Okay, okay! POW 1, MOB 3, FOR 1, MEN 4, PRO 1. I’m small but I think a lot, like a cute battle calculator!"

Levi’s voice was quiet but firm. "POW 3, MOB 2, FOR 3, MEN 2, PRO 1. Balance is key. I move, I strike, I adapt."

Bane let out a breath. "POW 5, MOB 2, FOR 2, MEN 1, PRO 1. You don’t need smarts when you can break anything in front of you."

"That’s a little too relatable," Henry said.

Connor chuckled. "Alright, mine’s POW 3, MOB 4, FOR 1, MEN 2, PRO 1. I hit fast, hit smart, and disappear before the counterattack. Assassination is the way."

Nicholas adjusted his cufflinks. "POW 1, MOB 2, FOR 1, MEN 5, PRO 1. I prefer to dismantle minds, not bones."

"Creepy," Xela muttered.

"And I know it," Nicholas replied without missing a beat.

All heads turned to Marshal.

He simply said, "POW 2, MOB 2, FOR 2, MEN 3, PRO 1."

Henry squinted. "Wait, that’s... kinda normal?"

"Words don’t need stats. Words just work," Marshal replied, then fell silent again.

Felicia clapped her hands. "Alright, and you already know mine: POW 2, MOB 2, FOR 3, MEN 5, PRO 9. I am the brain. Damon’s the lynchpin."

Damon gave a thin smile. "POW 4, MOB 4, FOR 4, MEN 4, PRO 1. Jack of all trades, soon-to-be master of all."

There was a moment of quiet as they all processed the team’s composition.

"Dibs on being the support main," Xela said cheerfully.

"You were always the support main," Henry deadpanned.

Felicia raised a brow. "Now that we’ve shared the numbers, it’s time to start theory-crafting formations."

Damon nodded. "We’ll iron out the specifics later. For now, we focus on leveling and getting that ship. The Chaos Realm won’t wait."

"Neither will bankruptcy," Henry muttered again, rubbing his temples.

"Then let’s spend fast," Kyle replied, already moving toward the showroom terminal with interest.

"Hello dear customers, what would you like to do today?" Teller number 48 was the one to receive Damon again, his lipless smile very chilling due to the jagged teeth of the goblin race.

"We would like to order a total of 150 billion units of Worldly Essence please. In fact, please call my friend, Godin, down to handle this directly." Damon stated with a calm smile.

Teller 48’s fingers froze above the terminal as his beady eyes twitched. "P-Pardon me... did you say... one-five-zero... billion?"

The goblins nearby stiffened.

Teller 46 leaned over and stared at the numbers populating the interface. His nostrils twitched violently, and he hissed under his breath. "He did! He really did! That’s more Worldly Essence than most mid-rank species purchase in a decade!"

Teller 48 stood up so fast his chair flipped then slammed his hand on the emergency alert rune embedded in the desk. "Summon Lord Godin! Now!"

A siren of soft chimes echoed across the floor as a VIP client alarm was triggered. In a flash, higher-ranked goblins began scrambling, some running to clean up their booths while others stood at attention with rigid postures.

Several terminals across the floor flickered and auto-locked to prevent lower staff from interfering.

"W-What do we do if we mess this up?" Teller 46 muttered in a cold sweat.

"This isn’t just a client. This is Damon Arnan, the Human race Prime Representative. And he brought the whole party of powerful humans, including the resurrection girl!" Another teller shuddered with fear.

Teller 48 wiped his forehead and straightened his vest. "What we do... is survive long enough to let Lord Godin take the hit if things go wrong."

Moments later, the heavy elevator at the end of the trading floor chimed and out stepped Godin himself, still in his familiar nerdy outfit, his goblin grin sharp and electric with anticipation.

He scanned the room and smiled wider when he spotted Damon. "I see my favorite customer has returned with a little... entourage."

Damon gave a slight wave. "Godin. I have a modest request."

Godin’s laugh echoed like a golden coin hitting a marble floor. "You call 150 billion units of Worldly Essence modest? Oh, Mr. Arnan, you really do know how to make my century."