Chapter 698: Magu (1/2)

Chapter 698 Magu

The group stored everything they could before Ilea gathered them up close to her. She left behind two of her ash copies to prevent anybody else from entering the cube. With non lethal force, just in case any adventurers managed to get there in the span of half a day. The distance to the Pit wasn’t particularly far and the survivors knew where the Shining Caverns were located at the very least. Now that the mind magic creature was gone, some of them surely wanted to come back and explore what lay beyond.

Transfer activated, Fabric Tear connecting the group to her long range teleportation before they were shifted in the fabric, all of them appearing in the domain of the Meadow.

“Sooner than expected,” the being spoke. “Greetings, traveler. Welcome to my humble abode,” it added, the words specifically aimed at the Fae.

Ilea could see a complex mesh of space magic form all around them, a demonstration that seemed to serve as a greeting. “What, you’re a peacock now? Feathers all spread out to impress the lady?”

“I am simply trying to converse. Ilea, I have no idea how these beings see the world around them. And this one has already said ten times as much to me than Baron Violence,” it said.

“Before you get entirely lost, we want to bring back a massive steel cube,” she said.

“The Fae has explained the circumstances, yes. The measurements seem reasonable. I’m already preparing a suitable section of my domain,” the Meadow spoke as stone began to shift in the cavern, a large section between the corridors that led up to Hallowfort and down to the Descent. “I assume you would like to claim the cube for yourself? Or the Sentinels?”

Ilea smiled, patting the Fae on her shoulder with an ashen limb. “The latter, though I guess I can reserve a room for myself. If the whole idea is alright for you of course. I don’t want to force interactions on you that you might want to avoid. Or put anything in your domain that you don’t want there.”

“I’ve been enjoying the life you’ve brought to this place. It’s… refreshing, to be seen as… something else than a god or monster. And I’m sure I can help teach your Sentinels more than a few things. I’m a healer myself after all. And even you managed to learn something, which means anyone can do it.”

“Hah. Well, I appreciate it either way,” she said. “I guess we can resume the training while you plan everything with the others. I’ve gotten enough Core Points for another skill enhancement too.”

“What is happening,” Pierce murmured. The group stared at the shifting stone, large slabs folding out of the massive cavern wall. The floating material dissolved to nothing. Behind it the imprint of a sideways cube was carved into the high reaching section of the Meadow’s domain.

“You may leave the furniture on the ground. I will take care of it,” the Meadow spoke, eliciting a few looks.

“You already got the measurements?” Iana asked, summoning her notes. “I see… yes. Let’s go over the runes again. We only have one chance or the thing will be torn apart.”

Ilea left the others to their own devices. The Fae remained on her shoulder as she sat down near the crystal tree.

“Truly enlightening,” the Meadow spoke. “Thank you, for bringing Twin here.”

“Twin?” Ilea asked.

“Yes, it appears Owl has nicknamed it due to the situation concerning its soul,” it answered.

“Twin, you’re alright with the name?” she asked the creature.

Twin

Acceptable

“Good, Twin it is,” Ilea said with a smile. Not exactly two of the same in there but I suppose it doesn’t matter much.

“The King demands an explanation! What is this outrage!?” the being spoke, the outburst over again a moment later.

Owl joined them, likely communicating with the Meadow in an effort to rid the Fae of its problematic state.

Hmm, one skill to enhance…

Ilea ignored the bursts of soul and space magic flaring up around her, the Fae floating up as runic circles appeared on stone plates nearby.

Let’s go with Embered Form, she thought and used five of her Core skill points to enhance the skill.

‘ding’ ‘Embered Form [Enhanced] reaches 3rd lvl 1

Passive: Embered Form [Enhanced] – 3rd lvl 1:

Hmm, more shock absorption. Useful I guess. Ilea simply had no clue what her base shock absorption was and if the bonus she got from her Earth Magic Resistance was added afterwards, if any of it was multiplying or just in addition to each other. The change certainly wasn’t particularly exciting.

“Nothing good?” the Meadow asked, likely engaged in more than a few conversations at the moment. The cubical imprint it prepared was still under construction, more sets of runes cut into the stone walls with every passing second.

“No, it’s good. Just purely defensive. Shock absorption. Testing?” she said when a chunk of stone the size of her head appeared a few meters away before it shot forward and impacted her face. Her head won out, the chunk deflected and flying to the side before it hit the ground a few times and rolled to a stop. A bit of her skin was slightly scratched, already healed when she glanced at the tree. “Verdict?”

“A noticeable improvement. Your head barely moved,” the Meadow spoke. “I believe you’re more durable by now than most four marks I’ve seen. If we take your regeneration, healing, resistances, and mana absorption into account.”

“I mean I can kill them. But I’d love to be strong enough to just ignore their fourth tier abilities,” she said.

“You simply lack the base resilience and health for such a feat. But that will change as you level and increase your Vitality,” the Meadow said. “You might enjoy the fact that most four marks wouldn’t get away unscathed by the fourth tier magic of another similarly powerful being.”

“That does make me feel just a little better. Leveling will only become harder though. I can’t just make myself some high level machine to put my soul into or have a ritual turn me into something better,” she said.

“Well. Options would exist, I’m sure you’re aware of that. You simply cling to your human form. Something I very much support, it’s interesting to see your growth. And so far you’ve had no difficulties finding large amounts of high level creatures to battle. I’m sure that won’t change now,” it said. “At the very least you can work on your skills with me. While you collect more Core Skill points to enhance the rest of your skills.”

She cracked her neck and jumped back. “True. So let’s continue.”

Ilea spent the next few hours training with the Meadow until Iana and Chris were ready to go back to the Soul Forge.

She only managed to level a few of her skills with the intense and literal gutting experience.

‘ding’ ‘Archon Strike [Enhanced] reaches 3rd lvl 2’

‘ding’ ‘Mantle of the Titan [Enhanced] reaches 3rd lvl 2’

‘ding’ ‘Wood Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 3’

Every level will help against Audur, she thought and cracked her neck. The enchanters packed up the prepared materials and made them vanish into their storage devices.

Twin suggested helping from the side of the Soul Forge, in case any of the space magic runes caused unexpected fluctuations. None of the mana suppliers had the necessary control to make sure the ritual would be perfectly stable after all, even Ilea with her Space Manipulation.

The Meadow had gathered and categorized all the collected materials, books, shelves, tables, and everything else from within the Soul Forge, ready to place it all back where it belonged. Granted they succeeded with the large scale transfer.

“See you later,” Ilea sent and activated her spell, connecting everyone to her long range ability before they vanished.

“Should probably get up to the Dome soon,” Ilea said and looked around the cavern. No adventurers so far.

Her copies were still standing guard close to the entrance, now aided by Aki and Owl. Or rather replaced. As powerful as they were, they wouldn’t be able to match the two high level beings.