Chapter 38 - An Unusual Fight (2/2)
Noticing the hand coming out to get her, Herellia let out a stifled snort as the red aura around her became more and more corporeal. Not long after, the red engravings all over her body converged towards one point as a crimson red tendril shot out of her body from the engravings, colliding with the half corporeal hand.
”Hahaha! You dare face my [Impenetrable Ghast Hand] with a measly tendril? You must be drea—” In the midst of John's arrogant remarks, the crimson red tendril suddenly expanded to the hand's size and in one fell swoop, engulfed it. Rather than continuing his remarks, he swallowed the words he was about to say, slightly looking at the branch floating in front of him with fear.
”[Blood Art: Siphon]”
That was the name of the skill that Herellia used. It was similar to Aurus' [Five Melancholy Spirit Spear] that had five forms. The Siphon form allowed the crimson red tendril to engulf the skill of the enemy, which was a hand. Now, what would she do with it?
”[Blood Art]...”
”[Consume].”
The crimson red tendril that expanded to engulf the hand in one go, suddenly shrunk in size as the hand engulfed also shrunk as well as it was forcefully pressed into a tight space. Not long after that, the hand lost its rigidity, turning into pure energy which was absorbed by Herellia.
After a few seconds, a blood red flame started to cover Herellia's body. With the corporeal red aura and the blood flame surrounding her, it made Herellia look like the goddess of blood.
Aurus looked at Herellia from afar with shock. From how Herellia handled it, it seemed that she didn't need his help at all. With him getting to that conclusion, he deactivated the [Spirit Energy Ascension] skill and watched the fight as a bystander. ”I guess I can also see a glimpse into the Blood Belhazard class, a class that's beyond a normal Belhazard.”
Wooooonnnngggg...
With the blood red flame completely covering Herellia's body, it was time for Herellia to move on to the next step. She was the one going to attack.
”[Blood Art: Coagulate]”
The crimson red tendril that sprouted out of the red engravings all over her body, suddenly detached itself from her body, being covered by the corporeal red aura. After that, the blood red flame that was a transformation of the energy that made John's energy into a usable energy for Herellia, was transferred into the tendril as it now exuded a sharpness and fierceness that didn't lose to anything sharp and fierce.
Sensing the aura surrounding the red tendril, John looked at it and scoffed, ”Just a facade to hide its measly attack power. Why would I become scared of that?”
A Branch Siphonus Fearus was a Special being that didn't tread the Branch Forminosus path, but rather made a path for itself by harnessing the fear felt by enemies. With the cacophony of screams and wails within his aura, plus with his stats transformed into stats that suited his current personality, it wasn't unusual for John to get to this conclusion. As a being that spread fear, he didn't need to fear anyone at all.
Of course, he didn't know that this was the real deal.
”[Blood Art]...”
”[Sanguine Burst].”
Bang!
Like a flash of lightning, the red tendril that was boosted in strength instantly pierced through the aura surrounding John, and of course, through John's body as well. With just one tendril, all 9200 of his HP was depleted in an instant, not even letting him say any words of regret.
Whoosh!
After dying, a plethora of red and green particles scattered all over the ground, which Herellia grabbed without hesitation as she needed it to evolve anyways.
Being dumbstruck at the attack power of that red tendril, Aurus was at a loss for words when Herellia came back to his side.
”The problem is gone. Let's continue,” Herellia said as she instantly noticed Aurus' dumbstruck expression...well his aura that showed intense disbelief.
After a while, Aurus was able to regain his senses as he looked at Herellia. He made a mental note to not mess with Herellia. Ever.
With the threat in front of them gone, they continued to tread along the path that Aurus remembered.
Along the way, Aurus couldn't forget the prowess behind the skill Herellia showed. Thinking that it was because of the alliance, he then asked, ”What level is your alliance at?”
When guilds in games had levels, alliances in ISE had levels as well. Rather than unlocking new buildings or features, they just boosted one feature. That feature was a boost to the member's stats.
”Hm? Level 7. Why?” Herellia let out a curious aura as she replied. Although she knew that whenever her alliance got stronger, she grew stronger as well, she didn't really know the basis behind it.
”Level 7...stats are boosted by 100% at A-grade and S-grade, while it's 200% for X-grade!” Aurus couldn't help but mutter in disbelief as he knew that leveling an alliance was hard. Although the maximum level for alliances were 30, even before he reincarnated as a stick, the highest leveled alliance was only at 23.
Seeing that Aurus was engrossed in his thoughts, Herellia thought back to the question she was going to ask Aurus before they met John. At first, she hesitated since they only knew each other for like a few hours or so. But now, after fighting against John, she decided to ask one more time. She didn't know why she wanted to do it, she just had a feeling that it would be beneficial for her and the alliance.
”Hey Aurus.”
”Yes?” Done being trapped inside his own little world, Aurus snapped back to reality as he replied to Herellia's call.
”Have you been blessed by the gods?”
”What?”