Aghanim's Rubick Chapter One

First two chapters will be available to all Patreons, Chapter three will be available to Connoisseurs, Then Chapter four will be available to Patricians. Once chapter five is done, Chapter one will be made public and the order will go from there. To be precise:

Supporters: 2 Chapters ahead

Connoisseurs: 3 Chapters ahead

Patricians: 4 Chapters ahead

I will update the Tier Descriptions to match this.

Chapter One

Waiting for the traffic light to turn green, I looked up the match history of the team we were going up against tonight.

Hmm, looks like they play a lot of Doom, going to have to come up with a plan for that. If they pivot into Enigma, I will be able to counter with a Rubick pick. If they ban Rubick, I can play Pugna, though that could backfire considering they do run Zeus… Yes, the draft is coming together in my head.

I noticed a flash of red from the corner of my eye.

“Go, Truck-kun, I choose you!” A child’s voice called out.

What the fu…

CRUNCH

Truck-kun used Isekai!

It’s Super Effective!

---XXX---

Notice, Unique Skill gained: Arcane Supremacy. Notice, Unique Skill Gained: Devour. Notice, Unique Skill Gained: Thundergod. Warning; Interference Detect…

Unique Skill gained, Aghanim’s Lineage.

What? I was awoken by an emotionless voice speaking into my head, continuing to rattle off about ‘skills’ and ‘notices’. I tried to open my eyes, only to find that nothing changed. Panicking, I tried to move my arms, legs, anything at all, only to fail. Desperately, I strained all my senses, taste, smell, hearing, touch, none of them worked.

The only thing I could get was a sensation of faint buzzing, until a splitting headache rushed through me.

Magic Sense Active

The buzzing reconfigured itself, starting to present in a format I could actually parse. It reminded me of visualizations generated by 3D mapping programs, all lines and lacking colour. Examining the image, I could finally determine what I was looking at. It appeared to be some sort of cavern, rocky with a field of weird plants running along the floor. The entire thing was hazy, as if covered in static.

Resting in the centre of the image, in a clearing without any of the odd plants, was a perfect sphere. Guided by an alien instinct, I willed the static to coalesce into the strange orb, for reasons I could not comprehend. The closest I could explanation the sensation to is becoming aware of and attempting to control your own heart beat.

Such a comparison proved apt, as the static solidified, forming a body. My body. The black and white visual was something I was soon very grateful for. Seeing organs and circulatory systems forming over time was something I could do without seeing in vivid detail.

Eventually, though I had no idea how much time had passed, I was able to open my own eyes. The sight that greeted me was a lot less fantastical than what my experiences would have led me to believe. Looking down at my newly constructed body, I saw a normal nude body of a human male, pale skin without blemish. Idly, I raised my hand to my face, noting that the muscles moved quite unlike they should. It appears I would need to find clothes if I wanted to blend in with anyone here. Looking down further, I was gratified by the sight of a functional set of bait and tackle.

Wondering why I was not freaking the fuck out, I got up and stretched, taking in the cave I had materialized in, seeing the faintly glowing blue plants growing like a lush carpet underfoot. Closing my eyes, I could still ‘see’ the static all over the place, the amount that I dragged into my new body seeming to not even make a dent in the amount suffusing the area.

Wondering if my body was the only thing that I could create out of the strange energy, I extended my hand and attempted to ‘will’ a cloak into existence, only to be met with failure. Shrugging, surprisingly unconcerned with my nudity, I started to explore the cave I had found myself in, my new instincts guiding me.

---XXX---

The first thing I ran into was unsurprisingly not a human. The Spider was the size of a car, crawling and skittering on the roof of one of the paths of the cave. Bemused at running into a giant spider, I paused and watched it move, wondering whether it would be hostile.

My question was answered as the thing hissed hatefully and shot a glob of web towards me. Time slowed to crawl as it did so, my enhanced perception allowing me to watch as it dragged the static I could sense inside it’s body to it’s spinneret. This allowed me to see the entire process as it turned the static into web that flew towards me.

Stepping neatly to the side, I somehow knew I could copy it, raising my hand and turning the ambient static in the air into web myself, turning it’s attack back against it and covering the spider in the strong, sticky substance, as it screeched in confusion. Ignoring it’s cries, I turned my palm upwards, staring at it in confusion.

This body had such weird instincts, what they just guided me to do was impossible. The only thing it could be called was magic. My mind suddenly snapped back towards the voice I had heard as I awoke in this world.

‘Arcane Supremacy.’

As insane as it sounded, I knew something with that name. It was the name of one of the skills of my favourite DOTA Hero, Rubick. The hero was able to steal the spells of enemy heroes, casting them with increased effectiveness. In the story of the game, such as it is, he was renowned as a magical prodigy that could use the personal magics of other mages better than they could after only seeing them cast once.

Did I... have his skills? Was the static I had felt since I woke up magic? The idea was insane, ludicrous, but still, something within in me told me I was right.

That wasn’t the only skill The Voice had given me, I jerked as I recalled. Turning to the trussed up arachnid, I raised a palm towards it.

“Sorry old chap, but you’ll be my test dummy for this one.” It hissed at me and redoubled it’s struggles, but that was sadly in vain.

“Devour.” At my words, the static – the magic that made up my body shuddered, a baleful orange pentagram flaring to life over my palm, aimed towards the spider, which suddenly caught aflame. The unnatural fire incinerated the whole thing like kindling, In flash, the whole spider was burned into floating orange energy that floated towards me rapidly, being absorbed by the pentagram and forcing my arm back from the momentum.

I turned the hand around, staring at the palm that had devoured the energy. Absently looking down as I wiggled my digits, going over the new and strange feelings and instinct rattling around in my head. Weaving a web, how to inject venom, balancing on walls and ceilings...

In the game, Doom (otherwise known as Lucifer) was a demon who could devour creatures in return for an extra infusion of gold, as well as copying their abilities. It seemed that whatever dropped me off her had given me a version of that ability that did not have the gold part included. Waiting for a beat in the suddenly deathly silent cavern, I deemed my supposition correct as no tinkling of coins was forthcoming.

So, sitting down on the floor, I went over the most recent series of events. I was hit with a truck for some insane reason, and got put in some limbo where a voice rattled off a bunch of skills and statuses to me, some of which I remembered from DOTA 2, the game I was thinking about just before I died.

So assuming this is real, and not a hallucination in a coma, I was no longer on Earth. Especially considering the giant spider. Even in Australia, that size seemed a might excessive. I was likely not a human either, as I constructed my body out of what appeared to be magic. It was likely that the Orb that was at the centre of the whole process was my actual body, which would explain why my flight or fight instincts didn’t trigger against the Spider. Even if it caught me, it would likely not damage the orb.

Closing my eyes, I focused inwards, finding a ball of warmth within my body. Frowning as I flexed my will, I tried to move it. It seemed to work, allowing me to reposition it anywhere within my form. Down one of my arms, in the centre of my leg, anywhere I thoughts of, I could place the Orb there. As I did this testing, it became easier and easier to move. Might be helpful if I was attacked by something with a piercing movement, allowing me to take the hit to my body but actually dodge away the important part.

Of course, that’s assuming the Orb was the only place I could be damaged, which was by no means a guarantee. Better to save that for a last resort then.

Actually, could I even feel pain any more? The ground I was sitting on should be uncomfortable, but I was feeling none of the awkwardness I should by. Idly, I slapped myself, feeling absolutely nothing from the impact aside from my face turning. Panicking, wondering if I had become completely unfeeling, I rubbed the same cheek, only to feel thje sensation coming through loud and clear.

Was it some sort of context sensitive pain nullification? How does that even work?

No answers were forthcoming.

Sighing, I stood back up, resolved to continue walking. I had no idea where I was, or where this cave even led to, but surely I couldn’t make the situation worse. After all, with ‘totally lost as hell’ being the starting point, things could only improve.

Besides, there was one other skill that was mentioned, Thundergod. Most likely related to another DOTA hero, Zeus. If that was true, it likely had something to do with lightning.

Whistling a jaunty tune, I started to stroll in a random direction. If I got attacked by anything, I would be able to cover it in webs and then test to see if I really could control lightning. If not, then i would be happy to be left in peace.

Time to find out where I exactly I am.

---XXX---

Time, it turned out, was a very difficult thing to track when you did not get hungry or thirsty and no longer needed to sleep. That didn’t stop me from trying, of course, my still human mind taking comfort in the actions even if they were entirely useless to my new body.

I could control lightning as it turned out, allowing me to quite easily use the vegetation of the cave to make fires to cook the various spiders, snakes and bats that assailed me down here. Snake tastes kinda like spongy chicken, by the way. Without spices, it was dreadfully plain and I had to make sure I only did it in caverns that I had determined to have proper ventilation, but it was still something to do other than wonder aimlessly.

Another thing I found out was that I could use the fire to dry out the spider silk I could make, allowing me to use it as thread as it lost it’s stickiness. After discovering that, I found some long rocks and used control over sonic vibrations gained from the bats to shear them down into a rough pair of needles. They absolutely sucked, but I was at least able to weave a fairly decent, if slightly baggy, cloak for myself.

If I ran into anyone here, it would really help to hide just how unnaturally I moved. My muscles did not contract or extend, they merely moved and the body moved with it. Despite that, I was incredibly strong for some reason. I could lift several times more than I could in my previous body, and I was quite durable too, seeing as I could break rocks with my bare hands and not damage my skin.

I was also busy creating a staff out of some ore I had found that was tough as hell, not bending our braking no matter was I did to it. I was molding is slowly, conducting lightning through it to heat it up and shaving it down to size with my vibration magic. Due to how strong the stuff was, it was slow going, but it was nearing completion.

The secret to staying sane, I had discovered, was to distract yourself with crafting projects. My dad’s insane DIY binge when he retired suddenly made a lot more sense to me.

Currently, I was moving through the unexplored parts of the cave system, trying to find a gem or something to serve as the head of my new staff. Nothing I had found down here proved a threat to me, in fact after using Devour on the majority of the creatures I had come across I discovered that it actually increased my own internal well of magic. The best way I could describe it, was that my current magical capacity was a balloon, attached to a separate system that acted like a tap.

When I Devoured things, they went to the source behind the tap and then slowly dripped into the balloon. The process was not quick, my capacity having only just barely doubled despite the sheer amount of energy I could feel inside the container for my Devour victims, but for all I knew if it was any faster my body would pop or something. So I was happy with what I got.

My inspection of a wall was interrupted by a rumbling, deep voice, “Who is that who intrudes into my domain?”

Well now. I followed the echoes of the voice down the cave system, ears straining. Picking up the sound of distant breathing, I trusted my ears to guide to the one who had spoke.

My hearing was not the only sense that I relied on, as I drew closer the magic suffusing the air thickened, increasing in intensity until it felt like I was wading through water.

The source became revealed to me as I walked into a large, spherical cavern. It was the biggest space I had found in this cave system, though it did not feel like it. The reason for this was that most of that space was taken up by a truly massive ball of solid Magic, forming a visible, glowing barrier.

Inside of which was an absolutely massive dragon.

“Well.” My voice called out, causing the Dragon to snap it’s head towards me, “This is new.”

“Heh.” The dragon scoffed, it’s voice shaking the floor, “I imagine most have never met a True Dragon. At least any who live to tell the tale.”

Indeed, the creature in front of me was terrifying, absolutely monstrous. But I wasn’t worried. My Arcane Supremacy had fed me details about the barrier containing it. The spell seemed to be based off of the Dragon’s own strength, making it truly unbreakable by the one confined within. There were other things woven in as well, affecting time and space? The thing was truly complex, I felt like to copy something like this I would need to have seen it cast beforehand.

If I even had the strength to cast something like this. Still, looking at the spell work awoke something within me, something that had been absent for my entire time since dying.

Hunger.

Wondering idly if I fed off of magic or knowledge, I ignored the pangs as I spoke to the mythical creature, “Indeed. I never expected I would ever see a Dragon in the flesh. There have been many things I have seen wince I woke up that I never thought I would.”

“Well, I have never seen something like you either. A solid Magical Construct with it’s own will?” It hummed, “Intriguing.”

“I’m sure there is much we could learn by speaking to each other. But tell me mighty Dragon, how did you end up in this situation?” I asked.

“I was rampaging around this area ages ago, in search for a good fight. A Hero appeared and sealed me here. Eventually a cave rose up and I have been left here ever since.” Was the reply.

“Damn.” I whistled, “Without even being able to move? That must have been boring as hell.”

The Dragon drew back and roared, the sound crushing me like a physical object, causing me to panic before I realized the thing was laughing, “Yes! Exactly that! It was so boring!”

“How amusing, for one to say that after hearing a True Dragon was sealed... Tell me, what is your name?” It asked after it calmed down.

“My name?” I blinked, “Its... It was... I was called...”

I had a name. I knew I did. But every time I reached for it, it slipped from my grasp, flowing through my fingers like water.

Why couldn’t I remember?

“You lost it?” The dragon asked, suddenly sombre.

“It seems so.” I replied, “I know I had one, before I was brought here.”

“Brought here?” The dragon raised a scaly eyebrow causing me to start.

I had no idea how long I had been down here, but so long without a good conversation partner made me a lot more open than I would be otherwise. So, I told him the story of how I ended up in his cave.

“A Reincarnation? Into a monster I have never seen before? Most interesting.” It rumbled as my story finished.

“‘A Reincarnation’?” I asked, “Are they common here?”

“Not common per se, but several countries summon them due to the process granting several strong Unique Skills as they arrive here. The same thing likely happened to you.” I shuffled at the deduction, causing a small rumble of laughter to sound, “Oh don’t worry, interfering with another’s skills in in poor taste. As my first conversation partner in a long time, I would not wish to be rude.”

“Thank you.” I replied, relieved, “Putting aside my missing name, may I know yours? I know nothing of this world, after all. I don’t even know your gender.”

“HAHAHA.” It roared, tickled at my words, “I am a male. Your ignorance is perfectly understandable, however, know that you stand in the presence of Veldora!”

He reared back, spreading his wings as far as his wings would allow, “The Storm Dragon!”

“A good name.” I spoke, marveling at the mythical creature, “Well met, Veldora.”

“Umu.” He preened, before bending down awkwardly, staring into my eyes, “But, it is an ache in my jaw that one who has spoken to me so frankly is unnamed.”

“Are names powerful in this world?” I mused, “There are several stories like that in my previous one.”

“They are correct.” He confirmed, “A name bestows a measure of power unto the named, inducting them into the lineage of the namer. It is considered a great honour.”

“I see.” I hummed, stroking my chin with my hand, before shrugging, “Well then I will just have to earn a name then. Or make one for myself.”

“If...” The dragon seemed shy, rubbing two of it’s claws together, “If you are content with being my ally... I would bestow a name upon you.”

“Content?!” I exclaimed, “Being an ally of a Dragon is the coolest thing ever! Of course I would enjoy that.”

His shyness forgotten, the dragon preened, “Indeed! You are most wise, my new friend! Any would be honoured by this gift. However, this gift is not free.”

He turned serious at this, looked down from his towering height, “All Reincarnations are destined to do great things. Many fail to live up to their destiny, but my intuition tells me that you will be better than them. So, in exchange for this name, promise me something.”

He took a deep breath, “I wish for you to find a way to free me, or kill me.”

“Kill you? Why would you want that?” I asked, curious.

“A True Dragon is a pillar of this world, intrinsic to it’s existence. Killing me would merely let me reform in time, freeing me in another way. However, within this barrier, I can neither escape nor die, so I am stuck here and will continue to be so for at least another few centuries.”

“I see.” I tilted my head, examining the barrier in question more closely.

It was a thing of stunning complexity. I employed everything I had learned from manipulating magic along with my skill Arcane Supremacy into attempting to devise a counter-spell, however I obviously failed. I just did not have the power necessary to overload any of it’s mechanisms, nor the experience with barriers required to unravel them.

That’s not even mentioning the time and space components, things that made my skill sputter and fail when attempting to analyze them.

Wait a minute... Power...

“Before I accept, I need to test something. Do you mind, Veldora?” I made sure the Dragon would not take offence.

“Of course. I know I am asking a lot.” He acquiesced.

His permission granted, I raised my hand to the barrier and attempted to cover it with my own magic. It did not react, neither growing stronger nor weaker, but the important thing I sensed is that it did not resist my magic acting upon it at all.

You see, I can’t dispel the magic, but I could eat it.

“I can kill you, Veldora.” The Dragon seemed stunned, then affronted.

“You think your power is sufficient to kill one of the True Dragons? As you are?” He seemed angry at my insinuation.

“If you are fighting me, of course not. It would be over in an instant. But if you don’t react or resist...” I breathed, before explaining my plan, “I can eat magic, the monsters around here are made from it. One of my unique skills, Devour, allows me to turn them into energy and then consume them, turning their strength into mine over time.”

He narrowed his eyes, then widened them, “You want to eat me?”

The loudest sound I heard from him yet erupted from him, his mirth overflowing in ear-splitting howls of laughter, “HAHAHAHAHA! The arrogance! The cheek! Our first meeting, and he wants to devour me whole!”

Still shaking with laughter, he looked down at me, “Indeed! I have decided! One so bold, so fearless, shall not merely be named by me! You shall be my brother! I shall give you my crest, and then you shall eat me, prison and body whole! Then, when I have reformed, we shall meet each other again!”

“I’ll have a feast worthy of a King ready for you when you do.” I promised, haven grown very fond of Veldora as we spoke, his personality one that was easy to get along with.

“Make it a feast worthy of a Dragon, brother.” He rumbled, laughter subsiding, “Let’s see here, a name fit for you...”

He stared at me then, and I felt his magic subtly shift as he looked. Then he hummed, “Yes, that’s a good name. You shall henceforth be known as Rubick!”

He just looked at my skills, didn’t he?

Huffing, accepting the name as my own, internalizing it, I felt it settle into place in my soul, my whole existence shifting as it happened.

“In my world, siblings shared their last names. If you are truly my brother, I would give you a last name that will be ours.” I spoke, trying to get back at him for his snooping.

“Not content to eat me, you will name me before you do?” He seemed amused, “Very well. Give me your name, my brother.”

Thinking, I snapped my fingers as the perfect name came to me, “Maelstrom. You shall be Veldora Maelstrom and I Rubick Maelstrom!”

“Yes!” He laughed, joyous at my decision, “The Maelstrom Brothers! Indeed, that sounds suitable to ones such as us. Not, my brother, take your meal, then take the world by Storm!”

He spread his arms and wings, assuming an open, defenceless stance.

“Thank you Veldora. I will see you soon.” He grumbled contently at that, as I raised my palm towards the sphere of magic, pentagram flaring to life.

“Devour.”

The last I saw of Veldora, he was grinning toothily as the whole room was flooded a baleful orange.