Chapter 711: Aetherizer Revisited

Name:Leveling up the World Author:
Chapter 711: Aetherizer Revisited

It took half a week for it to become clear that Dallions self-imposed deadline was far too optimistic. While it could be said he was making good progress in some areas, it was obvious he could get nowhere as close as where he wanted in the allocated time. Furthermore, he had abused his fame, adding in a bit of music skills, to learn more about the creatures that Katka had warned about. As it turned out, the beings were very much real. The tome he had managed to get illegally from an apprentice at the novice administration building described them as extra-realm beings that ventured into the world at random. In most cases, they only came and went, but sometimes they would cause chaos or create a home for themselves in the wilderness. It was speculated that some of the non-Star-spawn monsters were, in fact, such creatures that had adapted enough to the world that they lost their ability to leave.

Dallion had skipped through the philosophical reasoningit was exceedingly boring and often conflicted with its own findingsand flipped straight to the bestiary section. Everything there ranged from annoying to terrifying. The reality chameleon was there, as well as the platypainthe creature that had defeated Dallion in humiliating fashion back when he was an apprentice.

Nil, how strong do you think Ive become?

Not enough to take on a noble, if thats what youre asking, the echo replied. I know Im wasting my breath, but rushing things will only put you at risk, as well as anyone who tries to protect you.

So, I havent improved at all?

I didnt say that. The fact that your magic trait is eighteen proves that youve improved. As the saying goes, youve acquired a little knowledge, sadly just enough to get yourself into more trouble that you can handle.

Can I take on an apprentice?

Thats a difficult one. It depends very much on the apprentice. With your current knowledge, you can probably take on most of the apprentice clerks even without casting spells. However, youll have no chance against an actual assistant mage.

What about the artifact guardians? Dallion said. The one I started improving.

The question had taken a surprising enough turn, leaving Nil momentarily speechless. It had been so long since Dallion had entered the artifacts realm that one would have thought hed learned his lesson and left it alone. Going back to it wasnt the best of ideas. Then again, it was better than trying his awakening trials again.

You already know you can defeat the first one, Nil said. The second one might cause some trouble, but you have a chance. To be honest, it can still go either way.

And the last?

That depends on what the final guardian is. Might be something weak, or it might be a full-fledged dragon.

Come on, Dallion laughed.

Where do you think the first emperor found his familiar? It wasnt in the wilderness, I can tell you that.

Okay, so a mini-dragon. Not that made it any better. A dragon with adequate knowledge of magic wasnt something Dallion felt he could win against. Then again, it was definitely something he could face.

Youre thinking about it, arent you?

A boy can dream, Nil. Dallion said, then went to the stash or artifacts in his room and grabbed hold of one.

SPHERE ITEM AWAKENING

Reality changed.

The AETHERIZER is level 1 of 3

You are at the START of the AETHERIZERs first level.

Unseal all levels to fulfill the AETHERIZERs destiny.Findd new stories at novelhall.com

Two purple rectangles appeared, same as the last time Dallion was here. An octagonal mirror corridor continued forwardDallions path to the first guardian. Last time, it had taken a lot of energy and spark infused line attacks, not to mention magic projections, to get the creature. This time, Dallion intended to focus solely on spells.

COMBAT INITIATED

Magic really is powerful, Dallion thought.

Especially against magic and magical creatures, Nil agreed. Just dont get overconfident. In the real world, magic only succeeds if its stronger than the person its used against.

Considering Dallion had several mage encounters, he should have known that. Right now, though, he ignored the comment, chasing after the guardian.

Athletics, he thought, running on the wall of a realm in order to avoid the spikes of water that spouted from the floor. The vixenair was getting more creative as it struggled to defeat his enemy. Occasionally hed even deal Dallion a bit of damage, only to have it immediately restored by Lux.

Then, the inevitable happened. Despite its active attempts, the guardian was left with no choice but to get trapped in one of the corridor realms. Turning around with a hiss, the creature circled itself. To some, it would seem that the vixenair was chasing its tail, yet any mage could see that was the final casting of an intricate and extremely complicated spell. Heat and air symbols were present in abundance, suggesting it planned to go out literally with a bang.

Crap! Dallion thrust forward.

This was the first time hed summoned his harpsisword in the fight, but right now, he didnt have any choice. There was only one way he knew to stop a spell in progress, and it involved a sharp weapon infused with spark.

A slash split the air, landing on the floor in front of the vixenair. Time seemed to stop. The creature looked down. The tip of the blade had failed to hit its paws, yet that didnt matter. The pattern it had so diligently created had been sliced in two. The spell quickly fizzled away, leaving both face to face.

Give up, Dallion said, splitting into six instances.

Why is it hesitating? He wondered. It was obvious who the winner was. Even if the creature managed to escape the current trap, there was nowhere it could go. It was completely outclassed, and yet there was a hint of stubbornness coming from it that prevented it from accepting defeat.

The AETHERIZER Guardian has admitted defeat.

Do you accept her surrender?

Dallion didnt hesitate, hitting the thumbs up rectangle the moment it appeared. Normally, this would mark the disappearance of the vixenair, but since magic was involved, the creature remained where it was, looking at him intensely. Now that the fight was over, and the vixenair had calmed down, it looked rather cute.

Thanks. Dallion reached to pat the creature on its head. To some surprise, the creature let him.

You have a magic companion, the vixenair said, in a high-pitched female voice.

Yes. Yes, I do. Dallion smiled. Was the vixenair offering to join as well?

How?

I have the skills for it.

How did a magic companion agree to join void companions?

From what Nil had explained, magic and void didnt go well together. From this perspective, it made sense that the corresponding creatures wouldnt get along as well.

Ive no idea. They just agreed.

Youre a strange one. Strange and dangerous.

This was yet another time that something out of this world had called Dallion dangerous. The prophecy shared by the dwarf hunter came to mind. Yet that was over wasnt it? Or maybe Dallion had mistaken the event. The destruction of the world wasnt related to the Star, but to something else entirely.

Im not dangerous. Dallion remained calm. Just a unique combination of traits, skills, and companions.

No, youre not. The guardian disappeared, and with it, the mirror blocking the main mirror in the corridor.