16 An Unexpected Addition (1/2)
As they hid Rainer looked out towards the now fading black fog before he got an idea. Grabbing Luna and running forward he stopped just at the edge of it.
”Luna, heal me with everything you have.”
Luna immediately understood what Rainer wanted to do and drew her Faerie Fire in preparation. Kara seeing the scene was too stunned to act until she saw Rainer reach his hand into the fog. She rushed forward, keen on stopping him, but it was too late.
Rainer mobilized all the mana and Arcane energy within him to try and resist the effect. With the addition of Luna's healing, the pervasive death aura never went beyond his finger, though the feeling was not pleasant. However, he didn't believe in his ability to dodge all the magic of whoever attacked him and knew he needed to do this. This took the entire focus of the two.
Kara just managed to pull Rainer out as he saw the message he was looking for.
[Skill Gained: Death Resistance lvl 1/10]
”Rainer, what the hell are you doing! You saw what that…” She paused upon seeing Rainer's hand completely recovered.
Is Luna's healing this powerful...No! It took a decent amount of time to heal Rainer after he had been attacked by the boss, and his shoulder is still hurt... How is this possible?
Kara moved Rainer's hand with her own and inspected it from all angles before she dropped it, slightly embarrassed at her actions.
”Rainer, what happened?”
”I gained [Death Resistance],” he spoke without much thought before realizing it wasn't such a simple thing to say.
Kara looked at him blankly.
”You gained [Death Resistance]...just like that and you simply gained…” she mumbled while recalling how quickly and suddenly Rainer learned her blade style.
Her face, however, returned to normal right after.
”So how are we getting inside?” Kara asked as if pretending absolutely nothing strange happened.
Quite happy at how Kara glossed over such an irregularity, Rainer contemplated when he'd tell her more. Though for now, she was right to focus on the task at hand. If their enemies hadn't known about their existence before, they certainly were aware now. If they run they may sooner or later find themselves beset by thousands of undead. They need not even have a class or levels; they could just be ordinary citizens of Nalmar. Numbers would crush them either way.
And then there's the problem of sustenance, Rainer thought as he stared at their supplies that were in the midst of the receding black fog. Even if they looked safe afterward there was no guarantee. While the forest lacked almost any life, they could survive on roots and plants along with Luna's water for a while, maybe months, but could they fight with so little nourishment?”
He went over as the black fog faded and looked through their supplies. They seemed to be fine. They weren't technically alive and the fog had an effect of draining rather than decay. But as of now, it wasn't worth the risk.
Rainer looked out towards the tower. This time, he tried to remember the feeling of that magic as it approached him. That was just it: it was just a feeling. He wanted to sense the caster, when they were casting, and from where. Looking towards the keep, he focused on one of the Undead manning the walls.
It took nearly 10 minutes of concentration before he finally sensed something. That thin thread of magic that connected the undead to their master. Some threads led directly to the tower, most giving a foggy impression of coming from a long distance away.
With it came a reassuring message.
[Skill Gained: Magic Detection lvl 1/10]
No one interrupted Rainer as he stood out staring, assuming he had been thinking of a plan. He focused first on finding Luna's position solely through her mana. It was easy enough but how much of that depended on their familiar bond?
He took that same sense and tried to expand towards the tower. He felt almost as if he was moving towards it himself. For but a moment he could sense something that felt like empty mana pools but the feeling was quickly lost and soon he found his target.
[Skill Gained: Mana Detection lvl 1/10]
Yet it was not a joyous occasion. The depth of the mana pool had an immensity to it he had only felt once before. It reminded him of his grandfather's. If he were a small backyard pool, this was a lake. Rainer soon felt drawn into this lake, two ghastly eyes boring into him, before he was brought out by Kara's hand on his back.
”Rainer, have you thought of something?” Kara asked, not knowing what he was thinking.
He turned around, face visibly pale, much to the shock of his two companions.
Luna flew up straight in front of him and asked in a knowing tone.
”You sensed it, didn't you…”
”Yeah…” he said shocked by her soon chipper face.
”Luna says you shouldn't be too worried.”
He just looked at the Fairy strangely.
”It hasn't recovered at all Luna says.”
”It hasn't recovered..?”
”Yep. It was far larger when it fired that scary spell. But it hasn't budged even an inch,”she said proudly at her own insight. Though just as she was about to say it…
”That means his mana pool is abnormal but he is not. If he were extremely high leveled his mana would at least recover faster than mine. And he likely could have used far faster and more powerful magic.”
”Rainer should let Luna talk when Luna discover things,” she pouted, slightly distraught.
Ignoring her Rainer looked back towards the gate of the fort and then at the wall wondering how difficult it would be for Kara to climb them.
”Kara, do you think you can get up those walls?”
”Unlikely. They look similar to the walls most cities and forts bordering demon territories have. They are made in a special way that makes them resistant to penetration rather than against catapults.”
”Then we only have one option…”
Rainer knew even with the presence of this new enemy they needed to act. They would never have a better chance. The dawn approached and even with the overcast sky covering as far as the eye could see the visible brightening gave hope.
The sound of arrows as if they were cracking against stone resounded around Rainer. He used his [Arcane Blade] and slowly cut through the gate, trying to create a hole large enough for Kara to pass through in her transformed state. Protecting him was Kara empowered by both her Werewolf form and Luna's [Gift of Stoneskin]. While daylight weakened the [Skeleton Archer]s, the overcast sky prevented much of that weakness. Yet their arrows could not penetrate the combination of Kara's demonic form and Luna's gift. Luna herself was inside Rainer's tunic, only her head sticking out.
Though Kara did mutter out several curses complaining about how she'd be quite bruised.
All the while Rainer split part of his attention on using [Magic Detection] on the Mage, or likely some form of Undead, above him.
The gate had a magic to it, slowing down the progress of Rainer's blade, but in the end the Arcane progressed unrelentingly through. The blade created an ugly looking hole that with a simple push opened to the otherside.
Kara grabbed Rainer holding him to her and sprinted forward. Luna began casting [Gift of Lightning] as planned. The moment they were within the tower she planned to finish the cast as two gifts couldn't overlap.
Assorted buildings came into view as they entered the fort. They likely served as warehouses and barracks. Arrows continued to bounce off Kara though there were only a few seconds remaining of [Gift of Stoneskin]. Not only that but Luna had forgotten to mention it could only be used once a day until the last possible moment.
The tower was the tallest and the widest building within the fort. Its enchanted, white stone form extended far into the sky. As they neared the tower, the double doors flung open and various Undead began pouring out. Rainer did a quick check with [Mana Detection] to determine there was only the single Mage who attacked them earlier. He, however, had still not acted.
Kara used the last of her [Gift of Stoneskin] to barrel through the Undead and pass through the now open doorway. Just as the enchantment ended Kara set Rainer down. He began releasing his armed [Arcane Bolts] on the undead still pouring down the stairs.
Kara herself now finally receiving the [Gift of Lightning] buff from Luna swept away a few of the Undead blocking the door and shut it, the undead's preemptive attack serving against them.
After Rainer had destroyed the few coming down the stairs he rushed himself over and seeing more undead coming for the first time unleashed his newly level 10 [Cone of Arcane-Fire]. It combusted straight up the narrow hallway containing the stairs. Not only had the mana cost been significantly decreased, its range and combustion improved greatly.
It seemed the amount of undead that had been rushing down the stairs truly surpassed expectations. Judging by the experience Rainer had gained his spell grew heavily in effectiveness. He had originally abandoned his hope of reaching level 9 before completing this quest, but it may not be impossible now.
[Total Experience Gained: 31%]
Seeing Kara had just finished up cleaning the remaining undead inside Rainer headed up the stairs. Though not before nearly crying seeing a bookcase being used in the process. Several of the old books fell down and were ruined as Kara inadvertently stepped on them. He steeled his heart and hoped the greater treasures would be at the top like any proper tower.
”Kara quickly let's go!” he yelled out, more so in hope of saving all he could.
As he ran up Luna finished her second cast of [Gift of Lightning] onto Rainer. He climbed and rearmed the [Arcane Bolts] he had used getting here. He took a quick glance at each floor he passed noticing that some were of armories while higher up they contained different types of storage chests and crates. Most floors contained doors, likely to other rooms befitting such a wide tower. Reaching the higher floors there were undead that blocked his way but a quick burst of his [Cone of Arcane-Fire] stopped all of them quite easily. He noticed many of the higher floors seemed to be designed as places where Mages would attack from, having shielded balconies and what looked like nooks to rest in.
Finally, Rainer reached the final floor, a small door blocking his way. He looked back at Kara before she nodded and took the lead.
He took one last look at his messages before he was a bit disappointed. Though in reality his combustion effect from the [Cone of Arcane-Flame] worked wonders in such a narrow stairway. Judging just by the number of bones he'd had to avoid he killed a significant amount. Whether it was the level 10 tier 2 spell, the combination of Arcane and Fire, or Arcane magic's ability to seemingly destroy other magics, the magic here being Necromancy, Rainer couldn't be sure. It was likely a combination, he thought.
[Total Experience Gained: 24%]
He still needed 30% more to reach level 9.
The door was a bit short for Kara but with a swift kick it flung open as she crouched her way in, seemingly sure there wasn't an ambush right behind it. Rainer too felt magic but it wasn't aimed in their direction.
Rainer quickly used [Appraisal] on the two figures in the room.
[Undead, Male, Death Knight lvl 14]
He grew shocked at this one. But when he realized the Undead lacked both the size and strange armor of the boss fight in the Dungeon he gained some confidence. More importantly, he could sense a thin thread of magic connect this Undead to the [Lich] standing next to him. So long as Kara could keep the [Death Knight] off of him long enough it wouldn't matter. The [Death Knight] may become completely unintelligent or gradually lose power. Though Rainer couldn't be sure, he didn't exactly understand necromancy.
[Undead, Male, Lich lvl 17]
The [Lich] was strong, but Luna's inference had been right. At the very least it wasn't a 2nd Tier class.