Chapter 122: Flashy Beams

The flight to the central chamber proved to be longer than expected, even with the previously high travel time. The Lost didn’t build for someone either so small or slow. Perhaps it was simply not an issue for them considering the teleportation devices they must’ve built. Ilea had the theory that they simply were loners and wanted to be as far away as possible from the others of their race without completely giving up the comfort of socialization and perhaps a market or something.

Ilea put her remaining twenty stat points into Wisdom to have a bigger mana reserve for whatever was to come. Checking her stats she felt rather confident of fighting or at least flight in the worst case scenario.

Name: Ilea Spears

Unspent statpoints: 0

Unspent 3rd tier skill points [Azarinth First Hunter]: 0

Unspent 3rd tier skill points [Inheritor of Eternal Ash]: 1

Class 1: Azarinth First Hunter – lvl 211

- Active: Destruction – 2nd lvl 20

- Active: Hunter Recovery – 2nd lvl 20

- Active: State of Azarinth – 2nd lvl 20

- Active: Blink – 3rd lvl 2

- Active: Azarinth Hunter Sphere – 2nd lvl 20

- Passive: Body of the First Hunter – 2nd lvl 16

- Passive: Azarinth Fighting – 2nd lvl 20

- Passive: Hunter’s Sight – lvl 20

- Passive: Azarinth Perception – 2nd lvl 17

- Passive: Azarinth Reversal – lvl 2nd lvl 5

Class 2: Inheritor of Eternal Ash – lvl 205

- Active: Veil of Ash – 2nd lvl 12

- Active: Form of Ash and Ember – 2nd lvl 15

- Active: Ash Creation – lvl 2nd lvl 6

- Active: Embered Body Heat – lvl 14

- Active: Wave of Ember – 2nd lvl 4

- Passive: Ash and Ember Manipulation – 2nd lvl 10

- Passive: Ashen Wings – 2nd lvl 6

- Passive: Eyes of Ash – 2nd lvl 15

- Passive: Body of Ash – 2nd lvl 13

- Passive: Ashen Warrior – 2nd lvl 7

General Skills:

- Elos Standard language - lvl 5

- Identify - lvl 7

- Meditation – lvl 2nd 15

- Poison Resistance – lvl 17

- Heat Resistance – lvl 19

- Pain Tolerance – 2nd lvl 4

- Mental Resistance – 2nd lvl 10

- Fear Resistance – lvl 2

- Water Resistance – lvl 6

- Wind Resistance – lvl 7

- Lightning Resistance – 2nd lvl 5

- Ice Resistance – lvl 7

- Crystal Resistance – lvl 6

- Earth Magic Resistance – lvl 5

- Arcane Magic Resistance – lvl 6

- Corrosion Resistance – lvl 8

- Light Magic Resistance – lvl 2

- Mist Magic Resistance – lvl 1

- Curse Resistance – 2nd lvl 2

- Mana Drain Resistance – lvl 18

- Health Drain Resistance – lvl 16

- Blast Resistance – lvl 12

- Dark Magic Resistance – lvl 1

- Veteran – lvl 1

Status:

Vitality: 600

Endurance: 290

Strength 251

Dexterity 350

Intelligence 510

Wisdom 350

Health: 6000/6000

Stamina: 2888/2900

Mana: 3432/3500

The whole way took over two hours to travel and the group more felt than saw more of the energy pulses flow towards the center, getting stronger as they went.

“Be prepared.” Trian said as he slowed down, letting go of the demon before they entered the next supposedly big hall. And big it was, even more so than the first one they had found. Additionally there was a rhombus formed metal object floating in the middle of the room, hundreds of meters in the air with other metal objects floating around it. A beam of blinding red light entered the object in that moment from six different openings in the faraway walls of the hall before the lighting dimmed down again, Ilea’s sight adjusting quickly.

With her sight recovering, Ilea saw a beast approaching through her sphere, reacting immediately as she dodged a swipe of massive claws before three punches hit the creature that looked a little like a beefed up mole, the power of her punches combined with the destructive mana rocking through its body, leaving a weak and dying enemy that was killed with the stomp that followed Ilea’s jump towards it.

Looking backwards Trian was already in the air, lightning charging around him as her wings spread, following the man to the middle of the room. “That wasn’t something we’ve seen before. Maybe one of those Lost?” he asked.

“I doubt it Trian…” Ilea said as they came closer. Around them there were animals and monsters of different kinds running towards the center as well, occasionally looking towards the flying warriors of the Hand. “Look at that, there’s a guy there and he doesn’t look a lot like a different species. Demon you don’t have a description of them?” she asked and realized that the mind weaver was falling behind already and didn’t even hear the question.

Getting closer Ilea’s eyes opened a little wider. The two landed before the man who was now surrounded by a plethora of monsters, all of which looking towards them. Ilea looked to Trian and then to the man before them who was obviously confused and surprised that someone had come to this place.

[Mage – lvl ??]

“Elder Strand.” Trian said. “So you were the one to open the rift and summon the demons?” he asked, Ilea remembering the name associated with the face of the elder that had supervised her evaluation at the Hand all these months ago.

“Ah yes, you are the noble of the house Alymie. And you?” Adam Strand asked, the monsters around him spreading to encircle the two warriors. The man looked to be around forty, his gray and black hair strengthening the piercing effect of his blue eyes. He walked to the side as well, likely to not damage the mechanisms governing the laser show the others had observed in the past hours. The man’s robe was armored and definitely magical but he wore no helmet.

“Perhaps one of the new ones… your eyes do seem familiar but not that armor. A beautiful set of elven craftsmanship.” he mused, the monsters circling further while Ilea and Trian stood their ground, both confident in their teleporting abilities, a strategical surrounding quite meaningless to them, perhaps even beneficial as the enemies were spread out.

“Why are you here? Why summon those demons to the Hand and Ravenhall?” Trian tried again, his first question completely ignored. The man did confirm he wasn’t an illusion or shape shifter, should such a thing exist, knowing about Trian and his family. At least a partial confirmation to Ilea but the thing she had seen enter the rift looked quite a bit different than the man they saw before them.

“I have my reasons noble. The demon invasion will be a test for the Hand, one sorely necessary. A test truly for all of humanity should they make it further out...” he trailed off, still walking. “The more interesting question is, why are You here and how?” the elder asked, slowing down and eventually stopping. The two were now completely surrounded, the mind weaver floating a couple dozen meters further back, as of now ignored by the elder.

“We followed behind. To find the reason for all that death an chaos...” Trian said, both him and Ilea realizing that there probably wasn’t a diplomatic way out of this.

“And to find a way back… because of that you're coming with us, willing or unwilling.” Ilea said, her body tensing up at the chance of a fight, ready for anything the man would throw at them. He just sighed and shook his head.

“Reckless and young. If only the majority of members consisted of people like you.” he smiled and looked up. “It is inevitable. Your will stands against mine. Come then, warriors and meet your end.” he said, their vicinity exploding in motion as several monsters launched ranged attacks on the two. Ash surged outwards as Ilea appeared next to one of the ranged beasts, more of them running towards her previous location. Trian appeared above, dodging more attacks when Ilea delivered a punch to one of the monsters, this one not reacting the same way the weak drake that the elder had summoned at her evaluation had, instead biting towards her with its beak. She dodged and delivered an uppercut before a kick to the beast’s unprotected stomach ended it, blood coming from its mouth as it collapsed.

Ilea flew upwards as well, not wanting to be surprised by the lurking elder, seeing the animals and monsters as a mere distraction. Her bow came into her hand as she aimed, moving her head a little to the side as a blob of acid flew past her. The heavy metal arrow was released and pierced through a cat like monster’s head, digging deep into its body and killing it.

‘ding’ ‘You have learned the General skill: Heavy Archery – lvl 1

You have proven to be capable with a heavy bow, hitting your targets with destructive precision. This skill will improve upon your capabilities, making the bow just a little easier to handle, its impact just a little higher.

Ilea smiled brightly as her perception of the weapon in her hand changed, the massive string coming back to her ear with unprecedented ease, the next arrow striking a moving bear in its chest, making it slow down and fall to its knees, the spear like arrow protruding out of its back. ‘Where are you?’ she thought as lightning struck a group of monsters that tried to protect three ranged attackers annoying Trian.

She perceived the elder below her with her sphere as he climbed through the air at an incredible speed, his movements as quick as her own ability to fly. She waited for the last moment and blinked away, her bow vanishing into its bracelet as she locked eyes with the man turned monster. His facial features were distorted, his blue eyes smaller and more piercing. The old body turned to muscle, his hands ending in shiny claws long enough to pierce through her neck.

The elder’s nose had vanished, his mouth now rows of teeth as he stood on shimmering air below his clawed and powerful feet, webbing showing between the toes.

“Alright sharkman, are your old bones really willing to go through with this?” Ilea said, smirking below her helmet before the elder approached, his expression staying the same through her taunting, his movements efficient and deadly as he walked through the air as if it was solid like the ground below.

He reached her and his clawed hands slashed out, three of his strikes were dodged, Ilea trying to find an opening, her own attacks dodged or blocked just as expertly by the summoner. The man had more levels and experience which showed after just half a minute of exchanging blows. Before she was pushed back, Ilea simply changed her style to one a little less focused on defense, willing to take a couple hits to land one of her own. The man’s claw cut into and through her veil, hitting hard on her armored shoulder. Ilea managed to get in a punch with her offensive spells but the elder didn’t even flinch, hitting another claw into her less protected elbow, his claw cutting through and drawing blood.

Ilea moved backwards, continuing to block as her wound healed again and she switched to the offensive again, blinking next to the man and hitting hard into his side, making him slide away in the air and turning back towards her. He held his side and looked at his hand.

“Quite deadly, and you’ve already healed as well. I do remember you now. Ilea was it? The healer tank. I see you’ve improved on your lacking offensive potential. Why are you here then, did you really come to bring justice to me?” the man asked, surely just stalling time while he himself healed or tried to figure out the damage Ilea had caused. A quick glance around told Ilea that both Trian and the mind weaver were working hard to decimate the hordes of monsters below, most of them unable to fly like they could.

“So you really did summon all those demons. Though the way you talk it doesn’t seem like you just wanted to cause damage. As hard as they’re trying to get out of this place it’s probably as hard to get in?” Ilea asked, trying to get as much information out of the elder as possible. She thought about it and really couldn’t find herself to care much about the demons being summoned to the Hand. If anything it would help a lot of people improve their skills and levels. He did however endanger her team members, herself and Train, worst of all the defenseless Cless still residing in Ravenhall. Additionally as much food as she had already horded, if Keyla somehow got killed there would be hell to pay.

The man didn’t respond, rushing at her again. Ilea met him, his fist clashing into her while a bladed gauntlet scratched across his chest, not quite managing to get through even though the hit was direct. ‘That’s not gonna work.’ she thought and avoided several of his strikes before a kick sent her spinning through the air, the woman blinking away from the ranged attacks that were thrown at her from below. Strand was nowhere to be found as she found her bearings, checking quickly for her team mates when she saw the elder run towards Trian.

“Trian!” Ilea shouted and blinked before she sped up and followed. The noble had heard his team mate and backed off from the horde below as best as possible, finding the elder just as he was upon him. Ilea smiled knowing how good he was at avoiding a close combat fighter. Seeing his reaction and the instant teleportation and counter attack she decided against a direct intervention and summoned her heavy gauntlets, flying downwards in an arc towards the group of monsters that had been engaged with the lightning mage a moment ago.

The armored and buffed woman impacted hard on the biggest of the summoned creatures, its blood and guts spraying outwards blinding some of the other crazed creatures before ash came into existence around her, the woman appearing and disappearing with her heavy weapons, breaking legs and skulls, each of her punches destroying one of them. The seventh creature was killed when she saw the elder approaching through her sphere, her knees tensed as her fist shot upwards inside a cloud of ash, her obsidian gauntlet intercepting the elder.

His hand cut through her defenses, stopped enough for her to angle her head to avoid most of the force while her fist collided with his abdomen, air and ash pushed to the side from the power of the impact as Ilea skidded backwards several meters. More beasts were upon her as she weaved through them, her gauntlets vanishing to increase her speed as she delivered more attacks to the monsters, trying to use them to dodge the elder’s attacks. She found his control incredibly efficient, the man weaving through the monsters and combining their attacks with his own as if they were extensions of his body.

With the last hit she flew upwards and away, only the elder following while some elemental spells were shot towards her, his icy eyes focusing on her own, not leaving the woman enough time to find out what had happened to Trian or the demon. Their fight continued with the elder more calculated and expecting her reckless attacks more and more, leaving the woman nothing else but to back up further and try to defend against his unending attacks. Somehow that got easier and easier with each of his attacks, it seemed while she was getting stronger the longer the fight was going, the opposite was happening with the elder.

Thunder could be heard, the elder looking backwards, an annoyed look in his eyes before he flew towards his summons. Ilea pursued immediately, seeing a bloodied Trian rain lightning on the elder’s mob of underlings. She couldn’t make out the mind weaver but hoped he hadn’t been killed somewhere along the line.

The elder landed in the middle of his summons, putting his hands together while some of the monsters formed a circle around him. Trian didn’t stop his assault, pulverizing some of the beasts below, Ilea making her way towards the obviously wounded man, a part of his armor cut through even. Something that hadn’t happened to her own elven one, still holding strong for all this time. Some chips and scratches were starting to get noticeable, from her encounter with both the elder, the monster hound and Albert, each managing to at least damage the armor slightly.

A pulse of mana and energy came from the elder before Ilea reached Trian, the man releasing a bolt of lightning into the circle of monsters. No impact resounded as Ilea looked left, seeing a being of pure lightning standing above the elder, its body pulsing with blue energy before it extended its hands towards Trian who was charging up another attack.

Ilea moved closer to the man and blinked in the last possible moment, the counter attack pushing into her Veil, breaking through after a second, her teeth clenching as her healing spell and resistances worked against the lightning that coursed through her, pushing her backwards in the air. Trian was behind her but didn’t catch the woman because of the lightning still in her body. Ilea slowly descended and landed on one knee, her burned body healing from the inside, organs rebuilding. She opened her eyelids, the freshly regenerated eyes looking at the enemy with newfound respect.

“That puts even you to shame Trian...” she said, locking eyes with the elder who was once again in his human form. The blue being floating above him in addition to the beasts forming a defensive circle around him quite the opposite of an invitation. Trian broke down to one knee next to her before she touched the man, healing mana flowing through him. The damage was far more extensive than she had expected.