7 Resistance (1/2)
Rainer walked further away from the mine in the cave he landed in. Looking down the long dark passageway he hadn't a clue how far it actually went, but, a minor draft could most certainly be felt. Though, there was little temperature difference from before. An exit could still be quite far, and may not be exactly what you could call an exit.
While he walked his thoughts focused on the small fire spell he memorized. His Arcane magic was special, if it wasn't, that goblin mage wouldn't have been so arrogant, nor would those strange shields of his broken so easily. Luna had as well been unable to recognize the class [Arcanist], so for now, Rainer wanted to have a backup.
If being an [Arcanist] turned out to be something he shouldn't reveal easily, he may be stifled from acting in the future. Or rather, it was never a disadvantage to be underestimated by those trying to kill you, which most of the world he'd met so far wanted to do.
If his guess was completely wrong? Then he'd hope to get a secondary primary class as a [Fire Mage] or something of a similar nature. Even at the failure of that, he'd have something to cook food with or to use [Sleep Learning] on without wasting possible Exp. A part of said fire spell lacked something Rainer always used when he cast magic: Mana inputs and outputs.
Instead, there was a chant. As was written within the notes were several methods to internalize the chant and eventually learn how to naturally flow the mana the same way the chant does, similar to the goblin mage. A completely different experience for Rainer. In the first place, his most recently learned Arcane spells weren't learned at all. They were intuitively created by a combination of his high leveled [Arcane Bolt] and the system's influence. This would be to Rainer the first real magic he learned in this world.
In preparation for his first attempt, as his mana had been fully recharged, he internalized and created the runes within his mind, struggling with the one he didn't understand. A rune was little different in a logical sense from a character or letter of language.
Even if you knew the appearance, the history, and the meaning of a character, it didn't mean you could pronounce it or use it to form a word. In this case, Rainer could use context clues. He knew what the final word was to be, and he knew almost all the other characters, it was just a question of a few experiments before he understood the missing piece.
Rainer checked for a moment that Luna was still sleeping before he began his chanting. He was not happy with it in the slightest. He declared his first task for this world's system of magic would be to introduce runes for controlling mana and make it mandatory for every mage to only create spells with them and not chants. Where would he get the authority to do that? He didn't care nor did he even consider it as, to him, it had already become an inevitable future.
He, however, was thankful that so long as he cast it a few times it wouldn't be difficult for him to add runes to the spell formula to handle the mana control portion.
With a slight hum, he quietly said the words after preparing the other parts of the spell. Chants were based on a combination of sound and meaning. Rainer was seriously impressed by the system, The World Tree in actuality, as it translated the words so they still worked and made sense in English. Rather, if there was a World Tree to physically meet and talk to, he'd join a religion for the first time or create one.
”I walk alone in the darkness. I walk alone without fear. I walk alone without loneliness for I always carry with me but the tiniest of flames.”
He lost a bit of mana, but the result ended with a fizzled spell. Adjusting, he tried over and over taking 52 times before the merciful World Tree, as he put it, granted him salvation. The spell was rightfully quite cheap.
[Spell Gained: Candle Flame lvl 1/10]
[New Spellbook Created: Fire]
[Spellbook: Fire]
[Tier One: Candle Flame lvl 1/10]
Looking at the tiny fluttering flame on top of his index finger brought him a moment of satisfaction. Maintaining the flame, he went back to walking at a quicker pace.
There may have been more than one path ahead of him and if he didn't move quickly enough backtracking would no longer be an option when meeting a dead-end. If there was only said dead-end? He had no choice but to get Luna to activate her ring. Without an element of surprise or a proper advantage, it didn't matter how strong Rainer's magic was if he couldn't use it in time or, more importantly in this case, use enough of it before being swarmed by goblins.
The [Arcanist] class clearly surpassed most others he'd seen, but even at level 25, he would only have 63 maximum mana. He needed to create spells that either did more or cost less. Yet time had always been against him since he came here. With his enemies at his back and the unknown that blocked the way forward, using up too much mana was not a possibility.
He kept up a quick pace, still keeping a part of his attention on the [Candle Flame] over his finger. Slowly he infused mana into the small flame in an attempt to gain a skill related to manipulating fire. Yet lacking any experience in fire magic he lost control.
In reality, he was doing something he wouldn't attempt at all without the [Arcanist] Class effects. Pouring more mana into a spell in most cases ended with failure and consequences. [Arcane Energy Manipulation] combined with other synergistic effects alongside his high level [Arcane Bolt] is what made adding mana and energy to the spells possible. The flame jutted out in all directions and slightly hurt his hand before snuffing out.
Yet, for seemingly no reason the pain partially receded, becoming little more than a dull ache with no visible damage other than a bit of redness.
[Skill Gained: Burn Resistance lvl 1/10]
He sucked in a breath of air as he contemplated the potential of such a skill. While [Burn Resistance] itself would have limited application, what did this mean for Rainer? With a bit of effort, he could gain a baseline resistance to nearly everything.
He had only been burnt twice since coming here, once when he received minor burns on his back from the Goblin [Fire Mage], and just now. With Luna's healing flame, would it even be difficult to gain a resistance to practically anything?
He still had only a minor advantage in leveling skills from his human race and [Arcanist] Class but even just level 1 of any skill had shown to be significant.
He stopped walking and stared down at his stomach. He couldn't help but think he should just repeatedly punch himself until he gained some form of physical resistance. Mocking his own hesitation he continued to walk forward. The pounding of a fist into flesh resounded in the cave.
Sometime after Rainer walked out of eyesight an unexpected change occurred. Unexpected for Rainer if he was aware of it.
”Stop and return to your posts,” Gognar called out to the working goblins and human slaves.
Gognar couldn't help but frown as he felt pain in his still broken arm and partially cracked sternum. The mage had felt weak to him, far weaker than the Head Shaman. A fledgling at best. Yet not only had he killed the chief shaman he had nearly killed Gognar himself. Had he not protected himself with the entirety of his Aura in time, he would have most assuredly died.
He had only ordered his men to threaten him with pursuit. He had no plans of connecting the mine directly to the spider caverns, having a deal with their queen not to intrude into each other's territory in exchange for leaving the tunnel open and offering human sacrifices. Even if that weren't the case, there was no benefit to going after that deceiving mage as of yet. He'd end up on the wrong side of the mountain. There would be little threat for now.
Maybe he'll kill that troublesome queen…
”Chief, letting puny human getaway. We say no,” an Orc to the left of Gognar spoke up.
How lacking my tribe is…
Before the Orc at his side had a chance to even react Gognar had gripped his head and with an unstoppable grip lifted him straight in the air. It took but a moment before his fingers penetrated the screaming Orc's head.
”Get Back...Now!” Gognar growled out.
Gognar himself walked away still angry at coming so close to death. Ever since he had been trained in Aura and was able to set his Primary Class as Martial Artist none of his tribe could even stand before him.
He would be taking a trip out of the mine, he needed to go find their Head shaman's successors in any case back at their city. He'd kill and get stronger along the way.
Then I'll head north, find that mage, and tear him in half.
[Skill Gained: Physical Resistance lvl 1/10]
Rainer sat down and leaned against a large stalagmite. He had grown frustrated after hitting himself for what he thought had been almost a thousand times and in a fit of anger he picked up a loose stone and slammed it into his leg. It wasn't broken, but the thigh contained numerous nerve endings. Not even the satisfaction of a message helped Rainer.
He opened up the left side of his coat and gently poked Luna awake.
”Ah, no, Luna won't eat it, Luna can't eat anymore,” she mumbled out in her sleep.
”I'm not asking you to eat anything hurry up and heal me,” he winced a bit and retorted back.
”hmm...Rainer? You don't have any food?”
”Thanks for reminding me that I haven't eaten in almost 2 days, now can you heal me?”
”Heal...Ah! Rainer, why so many bruises?” she said lifting up his shirt.
”Luna, you can tell where I'm hurt? Is it a part of the familiar connection?” he asked a bit surprised.
”Yep Luna always knows when Rainer seriously hurt, even if Luna sleeping Luna will know,” she said proudly, not yet realizing she had thrown guilt on herself.
”So you knew when I got burnt earlier…”
Luna tried to fly away, but Rainer grabbed her before she could even take off and lightly poked her in the head.
She grabbed her head and looked sadly towards Rainer. He ignored her act completely and just spoke again.
”Well come heal me now, and you'll be forgiven for having such a good nap while I was in pain.”