Chapter 78: Void Jewel

Chapter 78: Void Jewel

Level 62 - Void Centipede

The long, too many legged monsters fell into her pit. They simply couldn’t make out that the illusion wasn’t real.

Unlike the voidling insects, their feet were more accustomed to piercing into the floor and gaining purchase. They quickly began climbing out of the hole, but Astrid wouldn’t allow that to happen. With a blast of Psychokinetic energy, she pushed them back into the pit.

Unlike the others, they didn’t seem too interested in attacking each other. She guessed they were eating the metal within the mountain to relieve their hunger instead of flesh. Or maybe that was just its normal food, but judging by their desperation to consume her flesh, it wanted something more than hardened metal.

Their pincers opened and snapped closed repeatedly, filling the pit with crunching scissor sounds. Astrid knew they could chop through her bones like brittle little twigs.

I should give them something to eat. Astrid thought and willed her imagination into the pit.

She created the images of herself, and although they only lasted a second, their enormous pincers smashed into each other. Once one attacked, the others quickly joined in.

Limbs and scattered, darkened green blood splashed all up the walls. She was even surprised that they flung some little legs up all the way out of the deep pit. They landed next to her, still wriggling from their postmortem.

Astrid scrunched up her nose and flicked them back in. It was unsettling having something move that was clearly dead. It reminded her of the skeletons during the subjugation of the Underbelly. Anything that was dead and still moving gave her goosebumps. It’s not that she was scared, but who enjoyed living things moving without a heartbeat?

It wasn’t long before they had all died and Astrid reaped the benefits of their self-inflicted mutilation.

You have defeated a Void Centipede - level 64

You have defeated a Void Centipede - level 58

...

You have levelled up!

Psychokinetic level 72 -> Psychokinetic level 73

Illusionist level 72 -> Illusionist level 73

Gained 10 stat points.

You now have 440 intelligence.

Skill level up!

[ Stage 2 ] Major Image level 4 -> Major Image level 7

[ Stage 2 ] Mind domination level 1 -> Mind Domination level 3

[ Stage 2 ] Mental Redirection level 1 -> Mental Redirection level 3

[ Stage 2 ] Weightless Levitation level 1 -> Weightless Levitation level 3

[ Stage 2 ] Illusionary Armour level 9 -> Illusionary Armour level 10

[ Stage 2 ] Mind Barrier level 11 -> Mind Barrier level 12

Experience gained!

Astrid, don’t worry about being lonely. You are getting so close! Not long now–

The childlike giggling voice was immediately cut off as the pain vanished along with the voice.

I’m going mad. Astrid stomped on the ground as she shouted within her mind for the black blob to reappear, but it didn’t. It was as if she was shouting into the void.

Close to what? Astrid thought back to the words. It sounded like a threat, but with the excitable voice, it was more like it couldn’t wait for something.

Close to its origin? A thought sparked in her mind. Astrid moved into the cave. Whatever the black blob wanted her to approach, she doubted it was going to be a stroll in the park.

When it came to the black blob, only one thing was a guarantee; a fight.

You have defeated a Void-roid Centipede - level 67

You have defeated a Void Centipede - level 60

...

Skill level up!

[ Stage 2 ] Major Image level 7 -> Major Image level 8

[ Stage 2 ] Mind domination level 3 -> Mind Domination level 6

[ Stage 2 ] Mental Redirection level 3 -> Mental Redirection level 6

[ Stage 2 ] Weightless Levitation level 3 -> Weightless Levitation level 6

[ Stage 2 ] Illusionary Armour level 10 -> Illusionary Armour level 12

[ Stage 2 ] Mind Barrier level 12 -> Mind Barrier level 14

Experience gained!

Deep within the cave, Astrid took in strained breaths. Beadlets of sweat dripped from her forehead. She uncorked the bottle made of hardened crystal and swallowed the contents within the mana potion all at once.

A cooling sensation whirled around her mana container, then moved all the way up and into her mind. Power was once more restored as she looked down at the massive centipede at her feet, along with the other smaller ones.

There was no smoke here. It mustn’t have reached down into the depths. It wasn’t long before they were all killing each other. But something more surprising was that the largest among them had figured out her Major Illusions. But the others didn’t, and so the strongest among them ripped the others apart, revealing another sparkling gem.

This one was brighter, and the colours more vivid than the last. Just like the other, she placed it in her pocket for safekeeping. She would take it back and let the science classes investigate what the enchantments were capable of.

After scouring the corpses for loot and discovering there weren’t any other jewels. She walked round the large cavern, trying to find any hidden doors or entrances, but there was nothing.

When will I discover a secret passage? Astrid sighed. It was on her bucket list of things to do as a Wayfarer. She had heard of great explorers finding hidden passageways from long before the end of the world.

She wanted to find her own. Something that no one else had.

Well, I guess the dungeon gateway counts. But even this void place was still discovered first by Hashim. I want to be the first. Disappointment tugged at her shoulders.

After who knows how long, she was finally tired. It was time for bed.