Chapter 430: Nature (2/2)

It was obvious that a human shouldn’t be here but that was exactly why it was important to stay, to get her resistance up and to the third tier.

Arcane lightning and now this. Nothing else seemed so hell bent on killing her while being incredibly effective at it.

“Can… you… explain?” she asked the Fae with strained words. At least she could speak now, her body slowly taking in the surrounding power, helped by her resistance.

Human, it sent and pointed at her before it popped one eye. Even with the suggested training it kept her right eye unharmed, perhaps concerned.

Uncomfortable

She smiled. I can feel that, little one, she thought.

“Is… it.. just… more… dense?”

Much

“You… don’t… mind?”

The Fae shook its head.

Like

“I… see,” Ilea said.

“Is… it… normal?”

Rare

Mountain

Cave

So just high up or far below the ground? Ilea thought. She wasn’t sure about the exact meaning but at least it wouldn’t be something that just randomly happened.

It really shouldn’t come as a surprise that there were insane natural forces at play here after the last couple layers. She just didn’t expect it to be something other than another creature.

“Third… tier… help?”

Maybe.

Human.

Different, the Fae sent.

As we are… as we are.

Finally, the message she was waiting for popped up. The veins on her arms were already a little less visible, her ash even stronger now. It seemed her body had overcome the initial shock.

‘ding’ ‘Arcane Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 20’

‘ding’ ‘Space Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 7’

- Arcane Magic Resistance

Magic, a force mysterious and powerful. It fuels both deadly spells and incredible creation. You have seen and felt it in its raw and chaotic form. It has coursed through you, has permeated your very core. Few live through what you have. Not just in general… that too… but just the Arcane itself. The recommendation to visit a psychiatrist is still something you should consider. Really.

Got it!

Joy, she sent, watching the Fae twirl in place.

That’s a point I’ll gladly spend.

Arcane Magic Resistance – 3rd lvl 1

Wielding the true arcane is a rare and powerful talent only accessible to few. The raw energies tear at not just flesh and bone but at the magical structure and minds of whomever faces them. Its red glow turns purple the more refined it is. This skill shall help you counter masters of the arcane.

2nd stage: Your flow of mana has been ruptured many times by the raw form of magic, making it substantially more resistant to both adept mages and natural occurrences of the true arcane.

3rd stage: You have survived both arcane storms and immeasurably dense pockets of mana. Your body has changed and adapted, both able to walk within mana sparse as well as highly saturated areas. Constructs made from your mana become more resistant and substantial.

Ilea immediately unclenched jaw, the power in her limbs returning, increasing even compared to before. A breath left her before she filled her lungs again deeply.

“Whoa, this is fucking weird,” she murmured. The first part of the bonus was obvious, the result immediately felt.

“I can move in mana dense areas now,” she said to the Fae, giving it a thumbs up.

Nice

“No shit. Hmm… would I have died had I been weaker?”

The Fae pointed at itself.

Savior!

“I mean if you hadn’t been here. I’m aware that you’re my shining knight.”

Dark

“Dark Knight, whatever,” she said with a smile.

Yes

Death

“Damn… pretty fucked up if you ask me. What if I walk into an area that’s even more dense? I mean the description of the skill now suggests I could do that but do you think it would be a problem?”

Dangerous

Maybe

Death, it said and shook its head after the last word.

“What about the Trakorov for example… I’m sure it wouldn’t give a shit to come down here… just like you. Would you die if you went south? Where there are no arcane storms? Or even out of a dungeon… wait no, there was a Fae I met in the south.”

Uncomfortable

Death, it again shook its head.

“So it just applies to weak as shit species like mine?”

It nodded with a giggle.

“Fucking busted. Is that why shit like a Trakorov doesn’t just waltz around in the south, stomping down cities?”

Possible

“It could though, right? It’d just be uncomfortable as fuck.”

Likely

“You’re very vague.”

World

Varied

It sent with an annoyed tone.

“I know, I know. Sorry. They can just get resistances too… hmm maybe not. Or can you train Arcane Magic Resistance in a mana sparse area? Maybe Mana Starvation would be a skill one could pick up,” she suggested.

No

“Now you’re absolute again.”

It giggled into her mind.

Maybe

“I’ll go with maybe. Maybe if I ate the Trakorov’s kids and it really wanted revenge.”

Bad

Idea

“Are you sure? I already thought about stealing some scales.”

No, it bumped her head with a stumpy arm.

“I was kidding.”

“Would be pretty powerful armor though…”

Another bump.

“Just saying.”

The second part of the skill talked about magical constructs. Ilea could feel that her ash was included in that. The difference was noticeable but nothing spectacular. Perhaps equal to five or ten percent in her Avatar of Ash third tier. A difference still, one that would make a fine addition to her collection.

She jumped down and looked around the dark cavern. Her sphere was still a little muddled but not quite as much as before.

“Sense any creatures?”

The Fae shook its head.

Both of them watched as a sudden spark of purple energy flared up in the distance, zapping through the cavern before it vanished into the ground.

“Is that a creature? Another Elemental?” she asked with an excited voice.

The Fae shook its head.

Natural

Dangerous

“You think so. Who would have thunk.”

Ilea charged up Monster Hunter and roared into the cavern, trying to lure anything out that might be lurking within. Huh, should have done that earlier as well.

She waited a minute and blinked up a couple times, repeating the same within the Lava layer.

The Fae shook its head.

What? she sent.

It didn’t say anything.

“Hey, I’m a human. I could only laughably imitate a roar before. Let me have my fun.”

Dangerous

“Why?”

Proud

“That’s the whole intent of the skill. I piss off powerful creatures and they come and fight me.”