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‘Holy fucking shit,’ said Garovel privately, which made Hector want to ask the reaper for details, but Caster wasn’t done.

“Every new incarnation requires a unique name,” the man said. “I am thinking that mine will be Casterat, though I am still deciding. Ziraster has a nice ring to it as well, I feel. As my soul continues to unify and evolve, my mind will eventually settle on one or the other. Hopefully.”

Huh. Hector wondered if Royo would have another new name when they met again. The guy had already used the alias “Eleyo” beforehand.

Still, Caster continued. “As for the power that allowed me to take and manipulate this ship: it was a combination of my servant ability, that of so-called ‘Destruction,’ and one of my nascent abilities as an incarnation. That being, my ability to mold, store, and reform geometry.”

Geometry? Hector felt compelled to ask something now. “How does Destruction combine with that in order to accomplish what you did?”

Caster chortled. “You are thoroughly intrigued, I see. It has been quite some time since I bothered to explain these things to anyone. I’d forgotten how enjoyable it can be to provide insight to attentive listeners.”

A man after Garovel’s own heart, Hector thought.

“Perhaps Avar had a point, after all. In any case, I digress. ‘Tis a little-known thing, but Destruction, as it is commonly known, is something of an incomplete ability. Granted, such a case might be made for all servant abilities, but Destruction is of particular note here, because it was originally conceived of as a means of building networks, and yet after all this time, it has not fulfilled that role in the slightest.”

What in the hell?

“I believe this was because it was sabotaged in its inception, rendering only the first half of its capabilities usable while the rest remained unrealized.”

Hector was blinking inside his helmet, trying to process all of this information. “...You’re saying that all Destruction users are supposed to be able to do what you did to this ship?”

Caster bobbed his head. “Well... yes. Exactly so. Given enough time to grow and learn, of course.”

Garovel decided to chime in now. ‘But you believe it was sabotaged. Why do you think that?’

“Because it comes from me,” said Caster. “I should know how it is meant to be.”