Chapter 85 - Qi Root

Frost tried to free herself from the death-like grip the black vines had her under to no avail.

She couldn't believe she forgot about the spirit pet even though she had specifically marked the creature with her emotional control so that she could keep track of its moments.

Frost frowned, her eyes on the still figure of SelaXiu. She was barely able to influence the other girl's emotions and it took a lot of effort and Qi to keep her under that influence. The best way to influence a person was to make people want to stay in the illusion that you created.

Frost liked to call this skill "Victim's Dream" because it made the victims of the technique to live out their dreams. Frost barely had any influence on what the Victim would see.

And it was really hard to find out SelaXiu's dream. The girl had many amibitions, and goals, and yet, there did not seem to be any dreams of any sort. She was too focused on proving herself of something that that was all she dreamed about.

Or that was what it seemed like at first.

Each time they had fought, Frost used Impact Skill to send bits of her Qi into SelaXiu's veins again. This time she was even more conscious than before because she did not want to end up like the beginning of their battle where the girl realised her emotions were being played with almost immediately.

It still wasn't easy. There were many barriers that her mind held that Frost Nonetheless get access to. And Frost guessed that it was SelaXiu's superior Rank that prevented that access.

But something about Frost's words had triggered a strong emotional fluctuation in SelaXiu. It was so strong that Frost felt guilty about using the technique for the fear of triggering something for the other girl.

None-the-less, Frost used her power to make SelaXiu lean into that remembered feeling.

Even though she was unable to see what the illusion that SelaXiu's mind had created was, Frost could not help hope that it would weaken her mentally. That was one of the tricks that Frost used when she played against the experts of the game. A layer of Qi Illusion is woven into the Qi of the opponent through the Ice Limbs technique.

Frost did not feel guilty about using skills and tactics that are used against larger, more powerful people to fight against a Level 10 opponent because Frost liked to be in control of the momentum of the fight.

And that was the biggest mistakes that the other Experts made when they fought with SelaXiu. They allowed themselves to assume their normal skills and tactics would be enough to kill SelaXiu and so, were pushed into a corner where they were forced to use their techniques against expert opponents but by then, SelaXiu had learned their basic quirks. It would be easier for her to predict a fight and her opponent's thought process when she observes the basics of her opponent's fight style

The only one who had nearly escaped this ability of SelaXiu was Crow whose Qi Puppets occupied his opponents so much that they did not even consider other options for the presence of the puppets.

Frost refused to make the mistakes that she knew others made. She would not allow SelaXiu to gain insight into her fighting style.

Frost closed her eyes and concentrated on her Qi.

She could feel the points where the vines surrounded her body. Though it held her in a tight grip, she recognised its weak points through the places it was unable to hold onto as firmly as did some of the parts.

She created ice blades and pierced through the thick layers of the creature's body.

It twisted and turned as the blades tore through it.

Those watching felt their heart fallin regret. A powerful creature, and yet, it ended at the hands of Frost because its master was not competent enough. It made those watching also realise why they had not challenged an Expert.

Because they were ruthless.

Part of Frost's face became visible once more as more and more blades tore through the creature.

Frost's skin started to turn grey, her hair turned silver, and her lips turned deep blue.

There was an enchanting beauty to her that was not there before.

Long Hei cringed. "I feel bad for SelaXiu…she worked so hard and got a Spirit Pet as a reward only to endup losing it on the same day."

Star Phoenix frowned. "That pet might be an upgradable creature. It is the only reason I can think of for it to have the ability to distinguish between friends and foes, and do things without its master's explicit orders."

Long Hei sighed. "I feel guilty when I say this, but thank god, it is dying before it could reach its full potential, and unlike players, NPCs are not immortal."

Star Phoenix nodded. "You are not alone."

Three figures sat on top of a boulder and stared at the cruel reality that the Spirit pet was dying slowly as it protected its master from Frost's deadly moves.

Yaksha's hand held the handle of his sword in a vice grip, barely holding himself back from attacking the girl for even daring to hurt the Spirit Pet.

He was unsure of what he should do. The Qi Roots were special creatures who were extremely willful and refused to obey anyone. But when they did agree on a master, there was no one else they would accept as theirs and they would die to protect that person.

His eyes went to the thin, still form of SelaXiu who had yet to move a muscle.

He wanted to shake her away from the Qi Illusion that Frost wove around her. Wanted her to understand that her Spirit Pet was being obliterated.

Yaksha bowed his head, distressed.

Diana frowned at Yaksha's reaction.

She had not seen her brother so worried about anyone except her and she could feel how concerned he was about the Spirit Pet.

An idea formed in her mind. "Brother…"

Dark red eyes stared at her.

Diana smiled at him. "It is your duty to protect the creatures of the spirit realm."

Yaksha shook his head. "Any creature who has accepted a human as a master is no longer under my jurisdiction."

"But the Qi Root doesn't have a master," Diana argued.

"What are you talking about, Diana," Luther asked. "Can you not see that it is protecting its master?"