Chapter 578: Expansion Pack (Pre order now for exclusive skins) (1/2)

Chapter 578 Expansion Pack (Pre order now for exclusive skins)

“No, it’s not your skills being more effective. I told you, I can disable my resistances,” Ilea said, rolling her eyes at the smirking elf.

“Oh of course,” Feyrair said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Next thing you tell me, you can absorb mana from my spells.”

Ilea’s left eye twitched. “Another bout?”

“Oh? No I don’t think that’s necessary. I wouldn’t want to hurt you too badly,” he said.

Ben caught up to her and touched her shoulder. “He has a way to turn around any situation. Do not let it get to you.”

If only my Mental Resistance would profit from his shit, she thought with a smile.

The few bouts they did have, she had to admit weren’t quite as one sided as their first. Well in the end they turned out the same but each time, the elf could hold his ground a little longer. His first defeat let him get over his aggressive pride, now staying on the defensive all the time. At one point he even tried to flee, just for a chance to recover. Downright blasphemous really.

How dare he do what I would.

It wouldn’t have been a problem if he didn’t heal as fast as he did. He wasn’t quite as insane as Ilea but coupled with his high defense and growing ash resistance, it was definitely annoying.

The parallels to her own fighting style weren’t lost on her either. If anything it was more annoying.

At least they were getting close to the northern dungeon. Ilea hoped Elfie’s group hadn’t somehow fucked up and destroyed or disconnected the gate. Well in that case I can just leave them all behind.

The thought soothed her and the journey would soon end, allowing her to punch dwarven machines.

She checked through the few messages from her training when they finally arrived.

‘ding’ ‘Sentinel Huntress reaches 3rd lvl 25’

‘ding’ ‘Deviant of Humanity reaches 2nd lvl 18’

‘ding’ ‘Heat Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 8’

‘ding’ ‘Soul Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 4’

Another five levels, she thought and entered the dungeon.

The group of elves followed her as she led them through the corridors and into the Centurion facility.

“Always a sight,” Feyrair said when they flew out into the large open space between the many layers of the manufacturing plant. “We should collapse it all,” the elf added, summoning flames around him.

“No,” Ilea said. “There are people who could learn from this structure. Plus a friend is still around.”

“Smith,” Seithir spoke, smiling gently.

“Yeah, smith,” Ilea said.

“We are not here for Centurions,” Farthorn said.

Ilea glanced at him as they floated downwards. “The special variants are quite impressive. I doubt your young would have no difficulty against them.”

“But the Hunters here are sufficient to fulfill that task,” Asay said, smiling at her.

“They are,” Ilea replied, the group landing at the bottom of the facility. Singed steel and dents showed where the battles had taken place, shrapnel and piles of burnt steel littering the area.

She followed her mark into one the corridors, the group coming into a large hall where four elves circled a single remaining Centurion.

Feyrair vanished instantly, tackling the special variant with white flames bursting forth.

The thing was destroyed in seconds, Elfie and his group retreating as the new elf basked in the Centurion explosion.

Ilea watched the elf as he turned towards her, brushing off the soot as he grinned.

Trying to impress me? she thought, rolling her eyes at the display.

Asay snickered to himself as he glanced at her. “You’re not actually interested in him, are you?”

She wondered. “Hey, at least we share a hobby. I’m not looking for a serious relationship anyway.”

“In that case there is no need to mock you into reconsideration,” Asay said, floating past to greet the group of new elves.

Farthorn floated past, his eyes on Ilea.

“Still think I lured you into a trap?” she asked, getting an amused hiss in reply.

“Perhaps I misjudged you, human. Time will tell,” he said.

Elfie made his mask vanish before he bowed in midair. “Niivalyr Olanis, I am honored to meet you.”

“As am I, Cerithil Hunter. It is always good to welcome more into our fight. I am Isalthar, brought here by our human ally. We have much to discuss,” he said.

“Val Akuun,” Neiphato said, bowing deeply.

Ilea felt some discomfort in a few of the elves but Isalthar didn’t seem to mind.

“Where is the gate?” Feyrair asked as he joined them again.

Ilea sat next to the small camp fire, enjoying the warmth and smell of burning wood. Asay and Ben had joined her, the rest discussing the layout of the Centurion facility and everything Elfie’s group knew about their target.

She wasn’t particularly interested in the specifics, focusing on the many marks in her mind. “What does Val Akuun mean?” she asked after a while.

Ben hissed, gesturing her to be quiet.

“He is afraid, to call him what he is,” Asay said with a smirk, his sharp teeth showing as his mouth opened slightly. “Why? Is it not a title of the greatest honor?”

“There is no honor in murder, only necessity,” Ben said.

“Who did he kill?” Ilea asked, addressing Asay.

“Who would instill such fear in elves such as us?” Asay asked.

Oracles? Ilea thought.

“He killed a lady elf?” she asked.

Asay smiled. “That is how the story goes. I have yet to hear him claim its truth himself, and yet he does not refute the title. One that speaks of the greatest deceit, of cursed wickedness, and yet to others an honor, a call to freedom from domains and whims of ancient Oracles.”

“What is it to you?” she asked him.

He remained silent for a moment. “A testament of great loss to life and magic. The hope it may instill in some is not lost on me however. A balance I have yet to settle, on one side or the other,” Asay spoke.

“And yet you’re here, cursed and hunted,” Ilea said.

“Their restrictions are something I can do without, neither can I deny their bright brilliance of magic itself,” he spoke, his eyes glazing over lightly as he smiled.

“Overwhelming power, wielded by those blind for change and the very protection of their children,” Ben hissed.

Asay raised his hands. “Why should those who stand above, concern themselves with matters of their lessers? Is it not enough a gift for them to bring us life?”

Ben just hissed again and murmured something in his elven dialect.

“So your domains are just governed by the most powerful Oracles and males?” Ilea asked.

“Not quite. Oracles hardly ever concern themselves with… let us say, practical questions. Their whims and wishes are often confusing to those who cannot understand their ways. The rulers… in a sense that you, a human, would perhaps comprehend, are those we call Monarchs. The one most powerful in each domain. They too follow the word of the Oracles but as their concerns are rarely overlapping, each rule in their own way.

“For were it not for the sanctuary of the Places of Creation, any elf that dares defy them, would’ve long met their end,” Asay said.

“Dungeons, right?” Ilea asked. “Why the rule against disturbing them?”

“Dungeons, yes. It has to do with mana density but more so with the birth of creatures you call monsters,” Asay spoke. “You may deem them pests but Oracles, and not few males of our kind, think differently on these sacred caverns,” he said and gestured around himself.