Chapter 485: The Three Shadows (1/2)

Ilea used Force to slow down the pompous being, trying to teleport it behind herself.

The Reaver stepped to the side but was slightly pulled forward anyway, yet not teleported. His backhand was slowed by the magic field as he tried to hit Ilea. The heavy hammer smashed into his side, bringing him down to one knee.

Lightning spread into it from its back, making the creature roar before an explosion rocked through the two of them.

Neither the Reaver nor Ilea showed a visible reaction, the creature continuing to attack as she focused on her space magic.

It blocked her hammer swings with slow movements, the sheer size of its arms and hands countering her attacks. She got a few hits in before a fist smashed her square in the chest. An attack she could have easily avoided.

The movements were so clumsy, Ilea wondered how a creature like that could be considered level three forty. I do hope it’s born at this level.

She was flung backwards and tried to use force against the nearby wall. It slowed her movement before she slid to a stop on the ground.

Didn’t even crack the armor, she thought with a smile. It was nice, fighting some low level enemies for once in a while. Now with an actual purpose.

Outside of Force’s influence, the creature focused instead on the other two adversaries, its movements now quicker and more decisive.

Trian floated around, sending bolts of lightning at the being from a safe distance, teleporting whenever the being got close.

A barrier appeared around it after the mage had led it into the hastily prepared circle of Claire’s making. A fist slammed into the bright energy, cracks immediately forming.

Bright light appeared within the dome as a dull sounding explosion spread inside. The energy vanished, smoke and fire released.

The Reaver roared as it stumbled out of the smoke, burns showing on its sickly skin.

Ilea executed her three step run up perfectly, the hammer lifted from behind her back before she let go.

It twirled once before slamming into the creatures head, stunning it for a second as the others continued their assault.

She tried to use Displacement instead of Iana’s enchantment to move the weapon to her hands but found the thing only sliding slowly towards her, Ilea’s mana declining by hundreds of points for each use.

The attempt was stopped and she instead used the enchantment. This time the hammer moved, its weight apparent as she struggled to control the flight angle. She caught it, wincing a little at the thought of it hitting the creature head on. Maybe the level IS justified.

Another use of Displacement moved the giant creature a meter back, its fist now unable to reach Claire’s barriers before lighting and fire enveloped it again.

Doesn’t even regenerate, Ilea thought. And still it took so much time for her companions to kill the being. It was understandable considering their levels and the apparent focus on defense and Vitality the creature had.

A last powerful blast of lightning slammed into the Reaver’s head, frying its brain before two powerful explosions ripped through its legs.

The creature finally died to another explosion covered by a dome like barrier.

“Easier than last time,” Trian said, floating down to join the others.

“Well of course, I’m participating now!” Ilea said in a joyous tone.

“You could kill this thing with a single strike,” Claire said. “It’s because we had more space in this cavern than the last. Don’t grow overconfident Trian. They hit hard. For us at least.”

“I know,” the man said.

Ilea checked her messages briefly.

‘ding’ ‘Your group has defeated [Torn Brute Reaver – lvl 342]’

‘ding’ ‘The Faen Valkyrie has reached lvl 4 – 1 stat point awarded’

‘ding’ ‘Force reaches lvl 2’

“Just a single level for that one,” she said and quickly tested her spells. Half a meter more for Force and about seventy centimeters for Displacement.

She liked the bonuses, knowing that at a higher level, she would be able to use the spells at an impressive distance.

“Nothing for us,” Trian said. “Your participation is showing.”

“I know you want to use the hammer but can you try and only use your third Class? I somehow doubt it would make much of a difference but it’s worth a try,” Claire said.

Ilea rolled her eyes and stored Quiet. “Alright, only magic form now on.”

She formed a fist and watched the pale flames flicker over her hands.

Trian chuckled. “Not that it will make a difference. She’s too powerful, even with just that.”

“Many of my passives I can’t even deactivate. My main Classes will be involved either way,” she said as they moved on.

[Torn Blood Reaver – lvl 383]

The next enemy they faced was more lean, and as it seemed a little more intelligent too.

It circled them with apprehension, taking in the unknowns invading its cavern with twisted eyes. Clawed hands opened and closed as it gargled, any resemblance to a human taken over by whatever had taken this creature.

It reached nearly three meters in height with a thin body. Visible muscles showed the danger it posed, as did the high level.

Ilea had her ash armor disabled, her auras too. Just walking felt sluggish and weird, as if she was sick.

“Hold me Trian, I’m weakened,” she said, trying to sound croaky.

“Don’t touch me, frail being!” he said and moved away, dodging her hand.

Neither of her main auras cost mana to use anymore, making them constant companions. She knew that they were active even in her sleep.

Plenty of passive skills boosted her power in various ways but nothing really came close to Azarinth Awakening and Aspect of Ash when it came to straight up enhancements.

The Intelligence boost is gone too… meaning my magic will be quite pathetic.

She wondered if that fact helped with leveling her third class skills or if the opposite was true.

The beast lunged, its steps fast and sure. Claws rushed out at the group.

The mages vanished immediately, Ilea the one remaining in front of the beast.

Force barely inconvenienced the creature and Displacement failed to move it.

She ducked, barely managing to dodge the claw she had seen coming form a mile away.

Ilea displaced herself, finding that at least that ability still worked, albeit less quickly.

The creature was hit by lightning, dodging the explosion before it was upon her again.

Ilea made it a game of fighting the creature with her main class passive abilities only. Precognition was huge, as were her fighting skills. She weaved through the quick attacks, her armor grazed but holding, some blows deflected by expert movements.

Each touch made the flames spread, Flare of Creation no longer benefiting from her high Intelligence but retaining the Body Enhancement bonuses themselves. Enough it seemed to cause considerable damage and keeping the monster’s attention on her.

Lightning continued to flare up, both health and mana stripped form the being as Trian supplied himself through his vampyr abilities.

The Reaver roared and gurgled, not finding purchase with its claws as the white flames slowly spread on its body.

Ilea failed to dodge a few wild attacks, the claws digging into her armor, cutting into her flesh.

The damage was manageable with just her natural health regeneration. Her flames continued to spread as the Reaver tried to get out its claws, unable to even shake her around due to her heavy weight.

They stumbled together as it continued to strike her with its left arm, a few of its attacks getting through the bone armor.

Thirty levels higher than me, Ilea thought as they fell to the ground, explosions and lightning spreading around them.

The main bonuses she retained from her passives were defensive in nature, her Flare just adding to the lack of impact the various attacks had on her.

As the reaver was overwhelmed by the attacks of her teammates, it clawed into her chest with the stuck claw, two of them piercing her heart.

“That’s not going to do it, I’m afraid,” she said, almost pitying the creature. “Be free,” she said and grabbed its arm.

Its head exploded in a shower of bone and blood.

Chunks and pieces slapped into her eyes before she brushed them away.

“Are you alright!?” Trian called out as he appeared next to the two, crouching down to check on her.

“What do you think?” Ilea asked and sat up, ripping out the claw from her chest.

“Is that… your heart?” the man asked, fascinated at the sight.

“Possibly,” she said, the wound closing as her armor slowly regenerated.

“Timeless armor. I do believe you mentioned it in passing… quite something to see in the flesh,” Claire said as she too appeared next to her.

‘ding’ ‘Your group has defeated [Torn Blood Reaver – lvl 383]’

‘ding’ ‘Flare of Creation reaches lvl 2’

She chuckled and lied down, spreading her arms to the side as her ashen armor spread again, her auras activating with it.

“Not a single level,” she said.

“Hmm,” Claire said.

“Flare of Creation leveled to two at least,” Ilea said.

“So instead of receiving a bonus for not using your main skills, it gave you less for having weaker Space Magic,” Trian said and chuckled.

“The group setting is part of it too,” Claire said. “So far the most efficient kill was your first, even thought the Reaver was at a much lower level.”

“Aw, I hoped for some dungeon exploration with the two of you,” Ilea said and blinked up, spreading her wings.