Chapter 304 (2/2)

To everyone’s shock, most of all his own, his Skill Level in Astral Projection had grown to 52, where it had begun to slow down, but still. Astral Manifestation was nearing 30, too. The huge amount of PP had enabled him to finish off a Path, and start him on the Astral Body Path, which was giving him increased Intelligence and Wisdom.

Simon was finding some strength, and it felt… really great.

“He… uh… David fought something, but it was weird. He couldn’t hit them until I pointed them out, and he kept attacking the air. It sorta seems like… these monsters use illusions.” Simon said, feeling extremely embarrassed in front of Thea’s intense gaze.

“Alright, I’m going ahead then. Keep us informed. You can see them right? Just point them out.” Thea said, hopping on Chrysanthemum’s back.

“Uh but-” Simon began, trying to explain that based on David’s expression, he really didn’t want any help, but Thea was already riding off, her bear bounding forward with more speed than he would have expected.

Cursing, Simon focused, his consciousness leaving his physical body and returning to his Astral one. With an act of will, that body moved from the quarry David had left it, rushing forward to catch up with him. Within seconds, he had found the other man, who was methodically tearing into the air, seeming to search for something.

The small, grey monster beneath him was hissing and spitting, but even as it dodged side to side, David’s strikes got slowly closer. Then he found it, and killed it. Simon reformed his projection. “Thea is coming.”

“Why?” There was a hard edge to David’s tone, and Simon abruptly realized that there were at least a dozen of the small bodies crushed around, as David blurred to rush forward. The other man had torn through a dozen in the time that Simon and Thea were speaking, and was already moving forward. And at this speed…

Simon began to sweat. He should have hopped on the back of Chrysanthemum. If they got much farther away…

“Uh…” Simon realized he hadn’t answered when David gave him a look. “Well-”

There was a screech, and suddenly from several bushes on the slope ahead of them, there was a rustling. Then fully 30 of the small grey humanoids dashed forward, aiming for David.

Immediately, David’s face scrunched together, and he waved a hand. 6 Hammers of the Dawn crashed downward in the thick of the creatures, probably killing almost 10. But they rushed forward, and a few dozen more followed them, rushing downward.

Slowly, ponderously, three more creatures left the brush, looking towards David with glowing eyes. Two of these were around double the size of the grey humanoids, and had a copper tinge to their skin. The final, which stood in the middle, was as similar size to the grey monster fodder, but was slender, and had golden skin. Small tentacles wriggled from its head, giving it a strangely feminine vibe. A Lvl 32 floated above its head.

It hissed, pointing, and its two copper attendants rushed forward, aiming to swarm David.

David was lashing out left and right, fighting against things that weren’t really there, as the grey humanoids crowded around. It was actually slightly comical to watch, or it would have been, had the outcome if David fell not been so scary.

But even surrounded, he was an absolute machine twisting and attacking, eliminating one monster at time, although each time it took him around 10 seconds to find the bodies.

Focusing his will, Simon created arrows near the ones closest to Randidly, and instantly he began to rip through the surroundings, killing the monsters. But Simon couldn’t help but notice that there were several long cuts on David’s arms and legs, although he could see nothing attacking him. Was he… being damaged by the illusions….?

Then the two copper skinned monsters arrived, and the grey ones dived to the side. David looked up, high above their bodies, at least 10 meters into the air, and then he was just abruptly thrown backwards, smashing into a nearby tree. There had been nothing for Simon to see, but there was clearly a huge impact.

With a grim expression, David got up, rubbing his neck. Thea was rushing forward, but would take another few minutes before she would arrive. Her max speed was much lower than Davids.

In the meantime… Simon needed to figure out what the fuck was going on. And what he could do to help.