Whatever it was, this time, it--took. A third flicker, a shimmer of potential--and suddenly the white owl was there.
It almost lunged for Jinyi, blank-faced, and smashed chest-first into him. (It was still learning its new role.) Whatever contact it made sapped Jinyi of his strength at once, as though the Administrator had been awaiting this moment, and now?
Now he felt drained. Emptied, hollow, as though he'd run a hundred miles. But as though after he next rested... he would be stronger. Like a muscle taxed to exhaustion, but with growth awaiting it.
The owl stepped back and simply stalked away, and Mother's voice rang warm and approving in Jinyi's mind; the requisite flood of chemicals was powerful, a roar of congratulations striking from within.
"Well DONE, my child! Well done--the POTENTIAL-" and the potential swam throughout the Hive. All of them, their own nexus, their own hives. Each of them a Hive unto themselves. She could feel the power, the magic of it. She could feel what it could make of them.
Fantastic.
The Cleaner eyed him for a moment with something like wonder, before trundling off to return to its duties, seemingly satisfied that it had served such an important role in strengthening its Hive.
3/3
Jinyi has Transcended. He is now a
Transcendent Pupil, and may work his way back up to
Transcendent Master. Upon attaining this rank, his player may post in Update Me to choose a Specialization (viewable in the Magic section of the Guidebook).
He has also learned the spell:
Hivemind:
Transcendent Intensity Manipulation. Draws upon the power of the Hive to create a permanent hivemind by personally assuming control of all Infected, uncontrolled Lesser Gembound within thirty yards. A lower roll may indicate fewer available Lessers. The spell can be cast once per thread to direct the caster's personal hivemind to specific actions that would require a roll for success, ex. combat, but the hivemind will obey minor commands freely.