Chapter 530: Dangerzone (1/2)
As it stands, Elos could use more self aware beings, even if it might mean more competition to humanity. Not that we can really compete with the existing races. Everyone is busy dealing with the monsters around them. But even if we find some way to move the insects through the gate without them dying or turning to monsters, how the fuck would we move the meadow?
Ilea didn’t question the positive impact Meadow once had on Erendar. Right now the realm was filled with spirits that did nothing else but fight each other and everything they came across.
That’s like if every human was like me, she smirked and landed a few kilometers away from the previous action. Ilea was sure a world with more sapient creatures was automatically better. Of course they had ways to make life miserable for everything around them and themselves but Elos proved quite a bit better than what she saw in Erendar.
Spirits came soon and she resumed her training.
Whenever too many Astral Spirits showed up, she would change locations.
The creatures either didn’t care about pursuing her or had no way to even do so. Meadow informed her that the Astral Spirits only showed up when a large amount of mana was used in a certain area. For example a few thousand death magic spells.
Meadow assured her that the beings could randomly show up too but generally didn’t care with something like Ilea’s passive magic output. It was a possible explanation why they didn’t pursue her.
Their drain abilities luckily had a somewhat short range, allowing her to mostly avoid that problem during her fights. Ilea was really just a conduit to summon spirits of death and through them the Astral beings, residents of Sephilon.
Ilea returned to the temple after three hours, checking her gains as she entered the structure through the hole in the wall.
‘ding’ ‘Sentinel Huntress reaches 3rd lvl 9’
‘ding’ ‘Azarinth Reversal reaches 3rd lvl 23’
‘ding’ ‘Eyes of Ash reaches 3rd lvl 21’
‘ding’ ‘Phaseshift reaches lvl 2’
…
‘ding’ ‘Phaseshift reaches lvl 11’
‘ding’ ‘Displacement reaches 3rd lvl 2’
‘ding’ ‘Space Shift reaches 2nd lvl 16’
‘ding’ ‘Space Shift reaches 2nd lvl 17’
‘ding’ ‘Body of the Valkyrie reaches 2nd lvl 15’
…
‘ding’ ‘Body of the Valkyrie reaches 2nd lvl 18’
‘ding’ ‘Deviant of Humanity reaches lvl 15’
‘ding’ ‘Deviant of Humanity reaches lvl 16’
‘ding’ ‘Monster Hunter reaches 3rd lvl 5’
‘ding’ ‘Veteran reaches 3rd lvl 8’
‘ding’ ‘Death Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 12’
…
‘ding’ ‘Death Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 14’
‘ding’ ‘Astral Magic Resistance reaches lvl 18’
…
‘ding’ ‘Astral Magic Resistance reaches lvl 20’
‘ding’ ‘Astral Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 1’
Astral Magic Resistance – 2nd lvl 1
The power of the stars, harnessed and used to wreak unimaginable destruction. Few beings are able to channel this power through their bodies. It would not come as a surprise to find a human, of all beings finding a way to modify their weak vessel for its use. You should not let your encounters fool you, this school of magic is quite extraordinary and just as rare.
2nd stage: You have faced enough wielders of Astral Magic to warrant a second tier resistance. Your body is much less likely to disintegrate against this powerful school of magic.
‘ding’ ‘One Third tier General skill point awarded’
The second tier bonus was helpful, even during Phaseshift.
Quite a few levels for the little time I spent with the monsters.
She had to admit that the danger she had faced against the Queen was much higher than what the spirits managed.
If the Astral versions had been sapient, fully driven to hunt her down with their powerful abilities, there might be actual danger but as it was, she hardly thought it possible to die against them. Precognition, high level healing, high resistances, mana gained from enemy spells, two teleportation abilities, and her simple winged speed worked together to make her night unbeatable for the enemies she faced.
The Spirits of Death could pin her down if she allowed it but their simple mindedness made sure they couldn’t capitalize on that benefit.
The fact of course remained that both the death and astral magic damaged her armor and health. If enough monsters worked together they could kill her in less than ten seconds without her regeneration and evasion. A being even of her level would be downright disintegrated if it took the same damage she did, let alone one with lesser resilience and resistances.
Ilea assumed that was a major part of the danger and level calculation. The high enemy levels made up another part of the equation. It would all slow down in time, as it had with the Guardians and Specters. But for now the magic governing her skill advancements still considered the Spirits of a high enough danger to reward her with frequent level ups.
If I make one dumb mistake, I’m dead. Problem is, I won’t, she thought as her wings settled behind her, the tail swaying slightly.
“Hey there. You don’t look so good,” she said to the group of heavily armored people that had reached the throne room.
All were close to or slightly above level two hundred. Their mismatched gear suggested adventurers rather than military. There were ten people all in all, two healers with sweat dripping down their faces, one barrier mage who kept a dome around the group, and a variety of mages and warriors that currently just focused on fighting the high mana density.
They all tensed up when their eyes met Ilea’s ashen form.
Various whispers in the native tongue escaped them, the name Lilith audible a few times.
“I’m right here,” Ilea said and waved. “Who are you?”
“Lady Lilith! We are adventurers from Gyffold… the guard made a posting at the local guild, for anyone brave enough to explore this place,” one of the higher level people said.
“Aha. Well good luck. Don’t go out of the city. You’d be eaten alive,” she said and blinked down to the vaults.
“How’s it going?” Ilea asked when she appeared close to Michael.
He barely glanced her way. “Very well… yes… thank you.”
A third Michael had joined the two, all currently occupied with a single piece of paper and the runes drawn onto it.
“Welcome back, Lilith. An impressive display of resilience,” Meadow said telepathically.
“Thanks,” she replied in the same way, noticing a few of the insect creatures glancing at her from the destroyed entrances.
“Do they have food left?” she asked.
“There is enough for a few of your weeks. And I’m sure more could be supplied from your realm,” Meadow replied.
“Good. Yeah, if you have anything to trade,” she said.
“The mage Michael is providing gold for information on various magic theories. It’s quite peculiar that your species has found interest in such an element. Though the concept of currency is certainly quite useful,” the being said.
“I saw them taking away bodies earlier. I managed to retrieve the corpse of the Queen when she died,” Ilea said.
“The return of their leader should lead to some trust. I suggest you offer it to the survivors,” Meadow said.