Chapter 770: Hunt (2/2)

“Our defensive line is here, Lilith I assume,” Ziva spoke, her horse stepping forward to block the woman’s way. “We can’t let anyone go in there, it’s too dangerous. Besides, there are enchantments in place to block teleportation.”

“I’ll make sure to be careful,” Ilea said as she walked past the horse and woman without a concern in the world. Ziva tried to follow when Ilea’s form burst out with white flame and she vanished.

“Where… she got past?” Ziva asked.

The sounds changed instantly, the heavy impacts gone and replaced by more frequent but weaker vibrations.

Ziva jumped down from her horse. “We can’t let her face that horde. There were hundreds!”

Alice took in a deep breath. “She’ll be fine.”

“Alice?” Ziva asked, the woman glancing her way.

She had rarely offered a contrasting opinion, mostly in agreement with what the experienced Paladin did and said. But if she knew one thing better than Ziva, it was Ilea. She had gone and fought Taleen monstrosities long before her name was known throughout the Plains. Alice only had a glimpse at the power of Azarinth magic, and yet she was one of the more powerful fighters in the council, despite their higher level.

If the stories were true, and she had no doubt in her mind that they were, it was not Ilea they had to fear for. It was whatever stood in her way.

More fighters joined their line in the next ten minutes, some telling of a large scale battle in Riverwatch, others hailed from Stormbreach. Why so many had come to their aid was as of yet unclear. Dawntree had dealings with the Accords but they were not yet a part of it.

Alice assumed there was a reason Ilea herself had come to deal with it. Perhaps she had roused some ancient evil deep below the mountain, or one of her dungeon delving adventures had released a set of ten thousand machines. She didn’t know, though she would be lying if she said she hadn’t been glad to see her.

She tensed up when the wall broke inward, the stone crumbling with chunks flying into the tunnel.

Out walked Lilith, her form covered in ash before she spread her wings, the last signs of white fire dying down in the tunnel behind her.

“All clear,” her voice resounded in Alice’s mind before she flew up and away, teleporting out of the city and towards the gate bunkers.

Alice looked down the tunnel, a few magical lights flickering to reveal the bits and pieces of dull green metal left behind. The entire floor was covered. Some machines hung from the ceiling or walls, half embedded, their bodies dented, heads flattened or melted.

“She seemed angry,” Jaime said.

Alice glanced over to the man before she looked back down into the devastated tunnel, an entire wiped out Taleen army littering the depths. “You think so?” she said, raising a brow.

Ziva motioned for them to move forward, her sword raised as she called for light mages to help illuminate the tunnel.

“Don’t half of those explode when you destroy them?” a nearby Sentinel asked as she and her team walked down towards the entrance.

“Not if you destroy them fast enough. Mana intrusion destroys some of the enchantments,” another said. “I’ve done it before.”

“No you haven’t,” their third member said.

“I would’ve shown you, but you see, our enemies are already dead,” the man said again.

“Shut it,” the woman said and made a few gestures with her hand, the team quieting down instantly before they moved down into the depths as one, alongside groups of adventurers and guards.

_____________________

Ilea returned to Riverwatch, joining up with Trian, Sulivhaan, Alistair, and plenty of officers, administrators, and people associating with the Accords.

“Yeah. I think it’s time,” she sent to Trian.

“Did you do something with those keys you’re collecting?” Trian asked.

“Not in a while, no. Maybe they just figured out who I am, or where they could find me. At least it seems likely that this has something to do with me. I doubt they suddenly consider all humans their enemies,” she said. “How many died?”

“I’ll spare you the numbers,” Trian said as he looked at her. “They defended their home against an invader. It’s not your fault.”

Ilea took in a deep breath. “I’ll finish the job.” She gave a nod to the others before she activated her third tier transfer, appearing next to Ben a moment later. “It’s time.”

“I… what happened…” He considered her for a moment before he hissed. “Never mind. Then let us be on our way,” he answered, hissing once more as he joined her.

A gate formed next to them, the two stepping out on a mountain overlooking the Still Valley. Ilea summoned her locator and looked at the arrow coming to life as she activated it. “Nobody has escaped before?” she murmured the words.

Ben remained quiet for a few seconds, a thoughtful expression on his face as he regarded the expansive valley. He looked at her. “None I would know of. But then you are human.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Ilea asked.

“I know none like you,” the elf said with a smile.

“Not the time to hit on me,” Ilea said. “Any last suggestions?”

“You know what I know, and you learned from the Hunters. I don’t suppose wishing you good luck will benefit your chances of survival,” he said.

“Been lucky enough to survive thus far,” Ilea said. If it’s a hidden stat I might as well have it at the max.

At least the last few days in Kohr had provided a chunk of levels for both her Classes and skills. She had managed to fell four additional floating mind magic void tentacle island fortresses of flesh.Enough to get to level six twenty one in her main Class.

Might as well use the core points then. And see what I can do with it.

‘ding’ ‘You have unlocked [Mythical Title]’

Right. So what’s available? And how do I choose?

‘Available titles for [Mythical Title]’

- Wanderer [You may go unnoticed when in places unfamiliar to you]