Chapter 430: Nature (1/2)
Ilea checked her levels from the endeavor, eating another meal as she bathed her feet in lava.
‘ding’ ‘Monster Hunter reaches lvl 19’
‘ding’ ‘Monster Hunter reaches lvl 20’
‘ding’ ‘Monster Hunter reaches 2nd lvl 1’
Monster Hunter – 2nd lvl 1
Many times have you faced creatures well beyond your level. You revel in it, seek them out and you prevail. Your presence demands respect. Growl to show your prowess. Effects vary depending on those affected as well as their levels in relation to yours.
2nd stage: You become better at communicating your intent. Infuse your voice with up to 100 mana to increase its range and effect on those that hear it. Fully infused, you may lure even powerful creatures towards your location, depending on your intent.
‘ding’ ‘Veteran reaches 2nd lvl 15’
‘ding’ ‘Veteran reaches 2nd lvl 16’
‘ding’ ‘Heat Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 2’
‘ding’ ‘Heat Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 3’
‘ding’ ‘Lava Magic Resistance reaches lvl 11’
…
‘ding’ ‘Lava Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 1’
Lava Magic Resistance – 2nd lvl 1
2
‘ding’ ‘Lava Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 2’
…
‘ding’ ‘Lava Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 20’
‘ding’ ‘Pain Tolerance reaches 2nd lvl 10’
‘ding’ ‘Space Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 6’
Nearly a day had passed, the Trakorov happily assisting in her training between dozing.
The thing was lazy and Ilea was pretty sure it sustained itself off mana alone. There really wasn’t another explanation with how little prey was present in these layers. Some of the monsters hunted and ate, like the Wyverns, Cyclopes and Varass Drowners but to sustain the heat this creature produced, it would have to consume whole towns worth of people.
Ilea was certainly glad that wasn’t necessary. Otherwise these monsters would roam instead of simply sleeping in their caves.
She didn’t have enough data on the Trakorov to be sure about it but even if it roamed from time to time, it reminded her more of the lizards she knew from earth. Mostly chilling out on a branch or hot stone.
Her Monster Hunter skill felt much more refined and the range was incredible when she charged it fully. The noise however annoyed the Trakorov and she refrained from using it any further.
The second tier for her Lava Magic Resistance coupled well with her third tier Heat Resistance, allowing her to both charge her Heart of Cinder more quickly as well as adding a bunch more power before her body started taking damage.
She was getting closer to her twelfth third tier general point as well.
Even training with the Trakorov, none of her class skills had leveled. It made her feel much more comfortable around the creature, an additional hint that it didn’t mean her any harm. Not anymore at least.
Compared to most of her previous training, the past day felt more like a spa to her. She didn’t keep her pain perception up throughout the whole thing either.
As soon as she had reached the second tier of Lava Magic Resistance, she left the skill active from time to time to enjoy the heat.
Coupled with other skills, she could definitely understand why the massive creature enjoyed lazing about in its cave all day.
She simply had too many other hobbies she enjoyed but if she would be reincarnated as an animal, it would be a hard decision between bird and lizard.
Done? the Fae sent.
Ilea had noticed it was lazing about as well but for the last couple hours the being had become increasingly restless. Neither did it particularly enjoy the sparring matches with her ashen clone.
“Twenty minutes or so? Then we can check out the deeper layers,” she replied.
The Fae twirled vertically.
“Come on… exploring the unknown? Even more ancient and powerful beings to befriend or fight.”
It stopped the twirling and looked at her.
Violence?
Maybe, she sent.
Boring
“I’m sorry. You can send a complaint to our support address. I apologize for being an inefficient activity organizer.”
The Fae lifted a pebble of black rock and shot it at her head.
“Hey! That could have killed me if I was a normal human.”
It giggled into her mind.
Normal?
Monster, it sent with a sarcastic tone.
“Oh?” Ilea asked and covered her face in ash. “Then what does that make you?”
Prey, she sent the response and blinked to the creature.
They flew around the cavern, giggling and using spells to fight each other.
A loud roar resounded a moment later, massive eyes open and focused on them as the Trakorov stared at them. It huffed, steam exiting from its mostly hidden nostrils.
Danger
Definitely
Leave?
Leave
The thoughts were exchanged in quick succession as they giggled and flew past the massive creature, sending their goodbyes as they approached the small crack in the wall at the end of the cavern.
No gate blocked the way, simply a small cave entrance carved into the black stone.
Ilea flew down, Fae by her side. The cave was more like a hole, leading straight down for nearly a hundred meters.
She noted that the heat was rising, even with all her buffs and defenses. When they reached the ground, she had to actually heal against the damage.
Ilea included the Fae as well, though it didn’t seem overly concerned. Still it accepted the small ash cocoon she formed around it, holding the creature in her arms.
“A level one hundred human would literally melt down here, you know,” she commented, taking in the layer.
A large cavern, black rock like within the Trakorov’s lair. Lava pooled into orange glowing lakes, streams flowing in from cracks in the walls and ceiling. Large stone protrusions, platforms and boulders dotted the area, the sound of slowly moving molten rock the only thing audible.
Ilea had to do a double take, the air shimmering as if twisted and torn by the heat. Many of the rocks resembled half burnt down candles, melting slowly from the top but not quite enough to form another pool of lava.
She coughed, wondering if there was even any air within the layer. Drowning wasn’t much of an issue to her anymore which made her doubt suffocation or smoke poisoning would be a lot scarier.
Safe? she asked her little friend.
Safe
How the fuck can it survive this, she asked herself, still not quite able to grasp its body with her healing magic.
Nothing moved in the layer, other than the streams.
Ilea flew around for a couple minutes but nothing showed up. Neither from within the lava or hidden near the ceiling or behind the rocks.
The layer was empty. Perhaps her perception simply did not allow for her to see the creatures or there was no interest on their side to challenge her. With the Trakorov so close by, she could certainly understand the lack of inhabitants.
She took the Fae and made her way towards the next layer, another shaft that led down into the unknown. There was a case to be made about training Heat Resistance here or perhaps gain a skill against the smoke and lack of air but she could tell the Fae wasn’t doing so well.
Plus with Avatar of Ash, she could reach the same result inside a small forge with no ventilation.
As they descended, the heat was replaced by something else. Something Ilea couldn’t quite place immediately.
Her eyes opened wide a moment later. It was obvious. Mana. Pure unadulterated mana. She had last felt it coming in waves from the Sand Elemental and Trakorov, before and during their battle.
The permanent feeling now was something she hadn’t felt in a long while however. To a lesser extent perhaps when she had first flown into the north. Her Sphere was muddled, barely recognizing the walls right next to her.
It didn’t exactly feel like drowning, nor the effect gravity magic had on her. It was a little more subtle. Her heart was beating faster, her jaw and fists were clenched. She could feel the hair going down her back, could feel the ash close to her body, her tongue in her mouth, as if all of it was foreign.
Slowly it became more difficult to breathe, her wings barely keeping her up anymore as the controlled descent turned into a free fall. She tried grabbing at the walls. Blink activated but it felt like moving through water, and not water with her second tier resistance, but water from when she was a kid and swam for the first time.
Her healing still worked, informing her that nothing was wrong with her body. And still she could barely move, finally slapping against the stone ground below with a loud thud. The injuries were minimal, quickly taken care of by her regeneration. The rock looked worse off.
Okay? It was the Fae’s turn to ask, the creature popping out of the cocoon and floating close to her face.
Maybe, she sent back and used her ashen limbs to slowly move her back up into the corridor. She was severely slowed down, any monster could just rip her apart.
Half a minute later, she was hanging ten meters up within the shaft, ashen limbs barely holding her body in place. Something that should have been simple, even for just one of the protrusions.
The Fae seemed concerned, floating around her, asking her if she was okay from time to time.
‘ding’ ‘Arcane Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 18’
I see, she thought. It’s that bad, damn. Come on second tier, you’re supposed to deal with exactly that.
Magic, she sent.
The Fae looked at her before it nodded in understanding.
Help?
No, she sent back, deciding that she should get used to it herself. The creature could drain her mana so she assumed it had some way to assist her in this but at some point the Fae wouldn’t be there anymore. Stuck within the stone shaft, she felt it an opportune moment to get her resistance to a higher level.
The Fae got bored after half an hour.
Ilea suggested eye popping.
An inspection of her arms made her realize that dark blue and purple veins had formed, pulsing with something that wasn’t her heartbeat.
Same shit that happened to Elfie, she thought, remembering him passing out after the Praetorian fight.
Should I teleport up and get out. I could just chain blink, even if it feels muddled.
There was no immediate danger however. The elf had survived and so would she. She trusted her ash to keep her hanging in the tunnel. Already her limbs felt more in control, sturdier.
‘ding’ ‘Arcane Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 19’
The difference was minimal but she did feel it.
Heat so intense it melted her skin even through her armor was something she could deal with, something she was pretty used to by now actually.