Chapter 103: Tyrant

There was a hereditary Trait in Enemies of Corruption. One that Serene had deciphered as having a chance of manifesting only in a Giant. A Trait his sister had encountered in a Giant NPC merely a handful of times, but those runs were the ones in which they’d gotten the furthest.

The Trait was called Tyrant.

Its effect was as sinister and grand as it was simple.

It harvested ’luck’ from creatures its wielder killed. That luck could then be spent to influence drops, Wisps, and whatever else they encountered — an effect that extended from the user to their party, hijacking their fortune and taking control of it... ’like a tyrant.’

It was a broken ability that, if properly managed, could yield some of the most powerful Resonances and Items in the game.

On the surface, it sounded wonderful. As though there were no drawbacks whatsoever.

But that was only true as long as their collective luck remained positive.

’Now the lack of drops makes sense...’

The Trait had a drawback that reared its ugly head once their collective fortune dipped into the negative.

The first symptom was simple: drops became increasingly scarce, regardless of how many monsters the Tyrant and their party killed.

Annoying, sure, but nothing too unmanageable. As long as their luck didn’t keep declining.

But if it did keep declining...

The Tyrant and their party couldn’t die. The Trait wouldn’t allow it. Instead, it would borrow luck they didn’t have to keep them alive, plunging them further into debt. And the deeper that debt grew, the worse their misfortune became.

Status effect after status effect. Broken bones. Stumbling into spawning zones they weren’t prepared for. Ambushes that no amount of preparation could prevent.

The RNG would turn against them at every opportunity, each misfortune compounding the next until their characters were all but comatose... yet still alive.

’And if that Trait were brought into reality... its effects would extend far beyond combat and the dungeon, wouldn’t they?’

It was no wonder Ralph wanted to die. He didn’t want to suffer the consequences of surviving even if he made it back outside and never entered the dungeon again.

The obvious solution would be to kick the one wielding Tyrant from the party, right?

’What tyrant would allow that?’

Leaving the Tyrant carried its own punishment. The deserters would be saddled with such terrible karma, the Tyrant taking all of their latent luck. Their only options were to have the Tyrant rejoin the party or die and start a new game.

Neither of which offered Peace much comfort in a real-life playthrough.

The only real solution was to spend time culling weaker monsters on a lower floor, where their strength could compensate for even the worst of luck. Slowly paying off the debt without risking their lives.

’But we’re weak... nowhere on the first floor is safe.’

Something unforeseen was bound to happen no matter where they went to try and pay off this debt.

There was also a second stipulation...

’The reason Ralph seemed willing to follow Volkar...’

Defying the Tyrant’s will or intuition would only accelerate the depletion of their luck, as they were always being led toward the safest path.

’Ah... I’m a bit ambivalent about this.’

Volkar possessing such a Trait was all but confirmed by the look in Ralph’s eyes when Peace had questioned him and what he’d said in response.

On one hand, Peace was safe. He was going to survive, no matter what. At least, as long as he wanted to and didn’t deliberately kill himself.

But the cost of survival would be... something terrible.

Only time would tell what that ’something’ might be.

’Dita... is another story.’

The outsider who was neither a beneficiary nor a benefactor of the Tyrant.

Her luck, or lack thereof, was entirely her own.

Her life would be forfeit if they encountered the Worshipper of Light.

Peace didn’t even know how he’d survive himself, but there was definitely a way considering they’d ended up here with Volkar at their side.

He only wished that whatever that solution was, it would include Dita.

Ralph met Yulis’ gaze with a look of longing for something impossible, drowned and squashed by the weight of ’what is’.

"I don’t completely understand how he figured it out, but he’d be correct in his assumption."

Yulis screeched:

"That’s not an explanation!"

Ralph lowered his head, hiding his eyes under his shaggy blonde hair.

"Our friend here, Volkar, possesses Tyrant."

Peace glanced at Dita, only to watch her expression flip from ’screwed, but force a smile’ to ’oh, fuck me’ in record time.

’Ah, so she does know.’

Only that Dita hadn’t believed it until Ralph explicitly said it.

And it seemed she’d instantly worked out the ramifications of her not being in the party. She’d gone utterly silent, yet her head flicked left and right as if begging for a solution to present itself.

On the other hand, Maura’s eyes widened for a second before settling as she grimaced and returned to healing her wounds.

Volkar didn’t show much reaction. Though it didn’t seem he was aware of his own Trait; rather, he was in too much pain to use his brain.

It was only Yulis who seemed truly confused.

Peace looked toward the ceiling, its white surface curving inward like an inverted bowl, golden trim lining its circular rim.

"My teacher took it upon herself to ensure that I learned all the known Traits. She was quite particular about the ones she deemed problematic, interesting, or those whose holders had vast potential. The Tyrant Trait..."

Slowly, Peace went on to explain the inner workings — both potential detriments and benefits. Once he was done explaining, with Ralph’s unmoving gaze confirming his words were true, Yulis broke into a rage.

Rushing Ralph, he kicked him square in the jaw, sending the hollow knight crashing to the ground.

"Why didn’t you tell us?!"

"What would telling anyone have made a difference—"

Stepping forward, Peace interrupted Ralph.

"It was for Volkar’s sake... People would do anything to recruit him if word got out. That very fact would cause your fortune to plummet due to all the negative encounters it would have to prevent."

Stomping his foot into Ralph’s chestplate and standing over him, he shouted:

"So, he didn’t trust us to keep our mouths shut?!"