Chapter 102: Lost Wanderer (1/2)
Ilea was sure that after getting used to the new weight and her newfound strength, she’d be able to use the gauntlets like a heavy and slow troll would use their massive fists, good enough for the purpose they had to fulfill.
Checking the 3rd tier skill point Ilea found it only available for the Inheritor of Eternal Ash class and not for her Azarinth ones. After concentrating on it more she also found that none of the skills were ready for an upgrade, not a surprise as none were at 2nd level 20.
“How did you reveal them? I only felt their presence.” the conversation between Eve and Claire started after Ilea had stopped using her new skills. Probably a somewhat underwhelming display of newfound power when viewed externally. At least with the displayed skills.
“The runes reveal some hidden enemies. Only if they’re wounded or damaged, hence the needle storm.” Claire explained and nodded towards Ilea who was approaching them again, having moved a couple meters away to test her changed skills.
“Ash Creation, not bad. Weird for a close combat fighter to gain the highest form of manipulation in an element.” she commented and looked towards Kyrian who was apparently still reading. “Trian was right by the way, try to focus on the mission alright?” Ilea was a little confused.
‘Did she really just scold me?’ she thought and smiled at the unexpected feedback. She didn’t retort initially, after all there were now four other lives connected to the levels of her shenanigans.
“Considering me and Eve just saved your asses you should be grateful.” the comment couldn’t quite be blocked by her filter but the tone was obviously in jest. Trian looked down while Claire nodded towards her.
“You did, thank you. That’s why we’re all here, together. Next time it will be somebody else with the deciding ability. As our tank and healer you hold two very important responsibilities, just make sure to remember that.” Claire thanked her but Ilea was still a little annoyed.
“Unclench Claire. I’m aware of the stakes.” and that was that. The rune mage nodded, having locked eyes with the cold gaze of Ilea. It was understandable that the team didn’t yet trust each other in an unknown situation. Both Claire and Ilea knew that but the tension still lingered in the air.
“Ah, relax you two. Trian don’t you want to collect the dust you made? It’s quite valuable I hear.” Eve suggested and continued “Kyrian are you sure you can read?” she walked up to the man and waved her hand before his face.
“Might as well get some quiet.” Trian mumbled and walked around the cave to collect the dust and likely alchemical pieces dropped by the Death Spirits with his storage ring. They still didn’t know about Ilea’s and she wasn’t about to show them when the noble boy was made to collect some dirt, the scene already well worth her secrecy.
Ilea tried out her new body heat spell as well, still waiting for Kyrian and Eve who were now joined by Claire. Apparently the man had some difficulties understanding parts of his new class evolution. Her body went cold the same way it had before, until she was indistinguishable from one of the corpses in the room, at least temperature wise. The other way went a little different as the heat in her body increased and increased further and further.
Ilea checked her health and found nothing wrong but the ground below her feet was sizzling a little a little even through her armored boots. ‘So it did change...’ she thought, having been unable to have such an impact on her surroundings with the skill. Possibly a help in some ways and it made the skill a little more viable. At least now she was actually curious about its second stage.
Kyrian nodded and Claire called out to Trian. Apparently they would continue at last. Ilea was annoyed that she had left her pack at the entrance of the mine and she wasn’t about to reveal her storage necklace because she wanted to eat.
“Claire do you have anything edible with you per chance?” Claire shook her head to her disappointment, Trian joining them a minute later.
“So further in?” Eve asked, looking towards the only other exit to the cave they were in.
“Yes, there are only seven corpses in this room. Not enough to account for all the adventurers that went here.” Claire explained and looked towards Ilea who shrugged and walked onwards, activating her new Veil of Ash. Compared to the more chaotic looking shroud, the veil looked a lot more thin and slower moving.
Walking onwards the team was on much higher alert, having nearly been wiped out by a group of enemies fifty or more levels below them. Ilea didn’t care much and was just happy she had leveled up her class and could save the others but she surely would’ve been annoyed if she had been taken out by something like that. ‘That’s why I have all those resistances… one moment of bad luck or the lack of a healer and you’re dead. Even against something that should be weaker…’
The problem was of course the sheer number of enemies the team had faced and the mind attack bypassing most of their defenses. Considering the team had a mind mage themselves it was no surprise so many adventurers had died in this death trap when even Ilea’s team nearly lost.
“Stop...” Eve whispered behind her and Ilea stood still and crouched a little just shy of entering the next open cave. “Something’s in there I can feel it… it’s weird.” Eve continued, adding nothing but confusion to Ilea who just wanted to walk in and find out.
“Explain. We have time.” Claire said. Everyone looked towards Eve who was struggling with something.
“It’s like there’s hundreds of them in there… some sort of magical creature… I can feel some of their emotions, they’re angry and scared. There’s something else, it’s not quite sentient but nothing like I’ve ever felt.”
“Well that’s all fascinating. Can we go in now?” Trian asked but Claire insisted on waiting for a moment longer. Eve calmed down a minute later.
“Are you alright? Can you send an illusion to check?” Claire asked and was happy to find Eve nodding back at her. Something had obviously overwhelmed the woman a little and Claire wouldn’t ignore that. An illusion came to life next to the group and quickly vanished towards the open cave.
“It’s a glowing stone of some sort… I believe it’s the source of the weird feeling… there is something there… oh wow I’m not sure we can take that.”
“Eve tell us what you see.” Claire had a calm voice but Ilea was sure she was just as annoyed by the incomplete descriptions. The mind mage had to work on describing a scene, that was sure. Otherwise whatever they were looking for would be gone long before they even made it there.
“I can’t use identify but it looks scary. And strong. Some sort of black and thin creature with a silver skull. It seems to be attacking a glowing spot on the ground but I can’t make out what exactly.” the explanation gave them a little more than before.
“So in we go, smash skeleton, save glowing thing and recover weird stone. Blast whatever else is in there.” Ilea summarized and got some stares from the others.
“What she said.” Claire confirmed, not wanting to waste anymore time with the skeleton having some sort of agenda.
All of Ilea’s skills flared up and she felt magic surge behind her as well, even without the specific perception. The team followed her out into the cave beyond and the scene Eve had described played out in front of them. There was a bright blue crystalline stone shining out from its place in the wall, giving Ilea a headache when she looked at it. Close by was a massive and spindly creature with a silver skull resting on top of its black body that consisted of three black legs and four black arms. All of it looked more like branches of a black tree.
A black fire was being released by the monster towards a shining light on the ground. With her sphere Ilea could see some other guests in the room that seemed to avoid the conflict in the middle of it, gravitating more towards the shining blue stone.
“More Death Spirits I think.” Ilea immediately said as Claire threw runes all around them and the room. Trian started glowing red as he powered up and dozens of needles flew through the room, creating circles of runes that came to life a moment later with a short green light. Illusions of Eve came into existence and flowed into the room as Ilea summoned a thick cluster of ash around her, ready for whatever would come.