Chapter 594 Beaming
Ilea took a deep breath, feeling the magic flow through her. The new sensation from her Deviant upgrade didnt last long, her perception quickly adapting to what the adow had called an increased harmony.
She blinked around in the staircase, activating various spells before she punched into the walls a few tis. Heat gathered in her core before the energy was released in a small beam that burned into the stone.
Everything felt smoother. Practically speaking, her spells activated faster, the mana flowed through both her body and out of her limbs with what she felt like was less resistance. She couldnt perceive a direct change in her physical body but the results were the sa.
Her cooldowns remained the sa and most of her abilities were quickly usable anyway, but it felt good nonetheless. Ilea tried her ash next, moving around her limbs and forming a few floating spears. Okay thats a change for sure.
With the increased control, Ilea felt confident to create eighteen limbs instead of the sixteen she had been using for a long ti. Her ability to move her conjured projectiles around had improved noticeably too and sothing about her armor made her investigate further.
She raised her arm and looked at the thick defensive layer. Instead of making it recede, she cut into it with a limb, revealing the flesh below. Oh boy, she thought, checking her thigh instead. It was the sa there. The ash had partially fused with her body. Just a tiny bit but enough to make her a little uneasy.
Am I turning into an ash monster?
Ilea giggled to herself. Ah who am I kidding. Ive long been one.
Hey adow, how do I prevent myself turning into so purely magical creature? she asked nonetheless.
Youve had choices before, right? Dont choose the ones that may evolve you in such a manner. Though I do have to ask. What is wrong with turning into a purely magical creature? it said.
Probably cant enjoy food anymore, Ilea said, a worried expression on her face.
Ah I see. Food. Of course. Well do carry on, Im sure your intuition will guide you, adow said, cutting the connection once more.
I suppose its right. Ive not been fucked over by my evolutions and choices so far.
She cracked her neck, finding the maneuver still working despite the change. Ti for so payback.
Ilea teleported down and into the large open space of the eighteenth layer of the Descent. A desert. She didnt care about concealing herself, instead fanning out her wings and flying over the sands as she felt the magic in the air, the power coursing through her veins. It all felt vibrant. Available.
A group of three sprites welcod her half a minute later, the creatures retaining their strangeness. Long root like bodies with thin dried out wings on their backs. Their bodies moved quickly in the air, not corresponding to the movent of their wings. Their faded bone like color remained the sa, dice like heads propped up on the thin bodies.
This ti they didnt communicate at all, instead charging up their light magic spells.
Suits , Ilea thought as she felt the heat within her gather. Now lets see how far Ive co since last ti. Do make sure to show what you have. Ill need all the resistance I can get against the Sanvaruun.
A broad smile spread on her lips as she spread her arms in anticipation. She watched as three bright beams of light fused into one, the energy reaching her near imdiately. Hmm, she mused, looking at her hands as the magic burned past her, leaving little damage on her armor.
Did it get stronger too? Or would this have happened anyway?
[Elder Sun Sprite lvl ???]
Close to seven hundred. At least Ill get so experience out of this, if not much, if this is what theyll manage, Ilea thought and deactivated her resistance to Light Magic. The third tier really made a difference, the beams working their way through her defense as soon as the resistance was gone.
Ilea didnt mind spending so ti here. It was a good opportunity for so training, and for testing the new harmony she had gained from her Deviant advancent. She ford a few dozen small spheres of ash, condensing them as far as she could in a short amount of ti before she sent them flying at the three sprites ahead of her.
The group moved, avoiding so of the projectiles while using their beams to deflect the rest. The few hits that landed made the creatures wobble in the air, the blunt force enough to disorient a level six hundred and fifty Sprite.
Really not sothing to write ho about, Ilea thought, a little disappointed in the monsters performance. For now that was, she already saw a few dozen more of the beings descend from the higher reaches of this layer. Together they might even be able to match the Monarchs output. Compared to the elf however, she would have little issues with escaping, should that beco necessary.
The other sprites arrived in the next few minutes, joining in with their brethren to destroy the pesky ashen creature that had invaded their ho. Beams joined together and concentrated in brilliant heat and energy where the being hung in the air, black wings lazily moving on her back. Ash was burned away and reford, bone armor and human skin exposed from ti to ti, reforming again with each mont when the barrage couldnt be sustained.
Ilea just laughed, twirling in the air as she exposed herself to the sowhat extre sun bathing experience. As the creatures gathered, their beams ca to overwhelm her healing from ti to ti but her growing resilience against their attacks through Body of the Valkyrie prevented her from actually having to retreat.
ding Light Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 2
Ilea closed her eyes and enjoyed the heat. Feeling the growing power within her chest, she reached out to one of the Sprites and used Displacent to move it in front of her. Her hand closed around its thin root like neck. The right side of her face lay exposed, her cheek missing as a bright beam of light burned away at her tough skin. Her eye glazed over and popped, blood trailing down before it evaporated. And yet she held on to the struggling creature without a care in the world.
Its only fitting, to have my eyes explode again in this place, she mused and raised her other hand in front of the creatures head. The heat within her released in an instant, a beam of fiery energy flashing out from her palm, quite literally removing the monsters head from existence.
Flakes of ash flowed from its neck as a ding resounded in her mind. Ilea grinned when she saw that her attack had partially disintegrated four more of them who happened to be in the path, only one clinging on to life.
ding You have defeated [Elder Sun Sprite lvl 700]
ding You have defeated [Elder Sun Sprite lvl 684]
ding You have defeated [Elder Sun Sprite lvl 658]
I told you Id be back, she said, her face regenerating as the creatures moved into clusters, focusing their spells together for a more powerful result. Ilea knew it wouldnt be enough to stop her. These creatures were simple minded monsters wielding overwhelming magic to defeat their foes. Beings who never had the need nor will to advance past their limiting instincts. And it so happens that they had once tried to kill a dear friend of hers.
If they had been Sapient, perhaps it would have led to a different end, but their spells werent the only limited thing about them. I can be patient too, despite evidence to the contrary, she thought and continued forming heat within her. A display of such destructive magic wouldve forced most enemies to flee, sapient or not. But it seed the Elder Sun Sprites had an ingrained arrogance not much unlike that of the Elves. Or perhaps they simply couldnt comprehend that a living thing existed that could fight them.
We will never learn, Ilea thought and displaced another creature to herself. Her ashen limbs spread and entrapped the being, resisting the continuous light magic. She floated a little closer and punched the monster in its dice like head, the impact vibrating through her arm, leaving a dent in the hard material. She punched from the left next, speeding up as her magically enhanced body brimd with power. Ilea started mixing in her mana intrusion, quickly overwhelming whatever lousy defense and health the being had.
ding You have defeated [Elder Sun Sprite lvl 685]
She turned around, letting the body fall towards the partially glassed desert below.
ding Light Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 3
You Are pretty effective with that combined effort, Ilea mused. The impact however was lessening, the enemy spells dealing more than ten percent reduced damage with each passing minute of their continued battle.
Ilea started being a little more active, using her quick teleportation to close the distance between the various flying creatures, her intrusion overwhelming each and everyone of them in a matter of seconds.
She appeared within the largest cluster, using Heart of Cinder in a sphere around her to disintegrate the group of Elder Sprites. Violence, she thought, using the remaining ash to form spears she sent at the few creatures that were left.
Ilea was almost disappointed when the last of them fell to her attacks, the area quieting down as she floated in midair. That was what a hundred? Two?
The fight hadnt taken long either but after the hordes she had faced in Erendar, she supposed the experience couldnt be anything but underwhelming.
You dont suppose you could let know about large clusters of high level monsters nearby? she mused, looking upwards as she checked her ssages.
ding You have defeated [Elder Sun Sprite lvl 658]
ding You have defeated [Elder Sun Sprite lvl 700]
ding The Azarinth Sentinel has reached lvl 472 Five stat points awarded
ding Kin of Ash has reached lvl 466 Five stat points awarded
ding The Faen Valkyrie has reached lvl 418 One stat point awarded
And no more skill levels. Oh well, not like there was a lot of skill involved in this battle.
Even if I would agree with your way of life, there is nothing here that could satiate your endless lust for blood and death, adow replied.
Are you sure? A good punch to the head might help so beings awaken, who knows, Ilea said. Alright then, beam up Scotty.
I understand the humor, however you would be surprised with how effective that thod really is. Especially with hard skulled creatures like yourself. Are you referencing a fictional work Im not familiar with? adow asked.
Ilea deactivated her space magic resistance when she noticed the pull, appearing in adows domain a mont later.
Why does that not surprise . And yes. Its an older reference, but it still checks out, Ilea said with a smile.
Maybe so day, I will understand your otherworldly references. I hope the planned alliance between Raenhall and Hallowfort will lead to a lot of literature trade at least, adow said.
Well Im sure you can teleport or mine valuable things from the vicinity to buy things yourself, Ilea said. But I dont know if a TV or computer would actually work the sa way in this realm. Who knows. There was so good stuff out there though.
I feel envy, to have such a short life and yet be entertained so thoroughly. adows like had to entertain ourselves with the study of magical theory, it said.
Ilea rolled her eyes. Yes yes old one. But now youre powerful as fuck, and humanity would rather fuck around behind their walls. Even I am just a fringe case because of my battle obsession, she said.
Are you suggesting I did well? adow teased.
Of course. Youre the best, strongest, and funniest adow I know, Ilea said and winked.
And how many adows do you know exactly? it asked, sending a vision of a thousand squinting eyes.
Youd be surprised, Ilea said, smirking at the continued attempts by Feyrair. She glanced over to Neiphato who sat ditating with wooden shapes floating around him. Definitely a contrast.
No, I wouldnt, adow said. You asked earlier in regards to your skill change.
Yeah anything youre noticing now? Ilea asked.
Im sure you noticed already. How your ash and arcane mana have integrated more with your body. I believe it will be a great boon, adow spoke. However it isnt the dramatic change you feared. Not yet at least. However any further evolution options should be quite interesting. Be sure to consider them carefully when the ti cos.
Ilea nodded. Will do. Thanks.
Hey Fey, want to go back to the Praetorian facility for so ti? Until our friends here make so progress with the gates and locating device? she said.
The elf just roared, trying to dodge a bunch of barriers forming around him, his wings clipped a mont later before his limbs were removed, his body slapping to the ground as he uselessly spewed his fires.
Maybe so levels would help you fight the adow too. Im sure youll win! Ilea said.
The dragonling rolled his eyes and returned to his Elven form.
Youre not suggesting this creature could ever overwhelm ? adow asked in a dry tone.
Yeah no, I just want him with . Cant kill Executioners alone yet, Ilea sent back, giving a thumbs up to Feyrair whose mood didnt seem particularly stable.
Yes. I dont think staying here is a good idea, he said with a hiss and sigh, sohow at the sa ti.
Neiphato? Ilea asked.
He glanced towards them. I will continue my training here for now.
Alright. Then enjoy yourselves. Lets say were back in a week? Ilea suggested.
I suggest you give those two a little more ti. Three or four weeks at least, adow said.
Ilea rolled her shoulders. Ah, well. I had hoped to start the search a little earlier. But I suppose getting into the ancient network takes so ti. Just dissolve your mark in case Im needed or if youve had a breakthrough.
Iana smiled. Will do. With adow here, Im sure itll be manageable. Worst case youll have your locator at least.
Sure, good luck then. And rember to eat and sleep, she said.
I will make sure they do, adow inford her.
Thanks. And for your help in general. Dont know what wed do without you, Ilea said.
I help those I consider friends. Without , well youd be stumbling in the dark for another few millennia. But lucky for you, I already did that part and have co to show you fire, adow remarked.
Just dont show us how to build nukes, Ilea said.
What are nukes? adow asked.
Ilea waved towards the tree, stepping onto the teleportation platform. Weapons of mass destruction. Spells destructive enough to flatten whole cities with a single blast. That kind of stuff.
Id like to see such a nuke used against my shields, the tree suggested.
Lets hope it doesnt co to that, Ilea said when Feyrair joined her. See you.
Ilea and Feyrair had an easy ti finding their way into the Praetorian facility. Elfies mark led them through the desert and into the manufacturing plant without issues or Monarch interruptions.
Lets continue to fuck this place up then, Ilea said as her ash fanned out.
Feyrair glanced at her and smirked. More limbs. Did sothing change?
Deviant of Humanity to the third tier, she said.
He hissed. I see. Perhaps youre closer to an elf now than to a human.
She twirled and looked at him. Would that make an Oracle?
Well, if that were the case, youd be the Oracle whose Domain Id join, Fey said and winked.
Alright, eyes on the prize, dragon. Weve got a lot of work to do, Ilea said.
The two continued in Izta where they had left off, mapping out the massive facility while they fought the various Praetorian variants. Ti passed quickly and for every hall they destroyed, they discovered another three.
Ilea inford Elfie about their progress on the first day and that he should call for her whenever they encountered an Executioner. The machines were rare but still forced Elfies group back whenever they did encounter one. For Ilea and Feyrair, they were the best source for skill experience. Class level wise, the Hunters were a far better choice because either of them could fight that variant alone.
Three weeks passed before Ilea was called by one of her marks. However contrary to her expectations, it wasnt Iana or adow. It was Trian.
et? was the intent sent with the disappearing mark.
Might have an ergency with a friend. Want to join or stay here? Probably doesnt have anything to do with your war, Ilea said as soon as she received the ssage, destroying the last Praetorian in the vicinity.
Feyrair turned towards her in his dragon form before he turned back to his Elven self. Ill join you of course. More interesting than these endless halls anyway, he remarked.
Ilea smiled and activated her third tier blink. A few minutes passed before they both appeared within her ho near Ravenhall. Trian had been in the city, his mark slowly fading as Ilea focused on his location.
Cover your elfishness, Ilea said and displaced them out and towards the city.
As you wish, ash princess, Feyrair said, his new nickna sticking. Only because it sotis visibly irked her when he said it.
If anything, she was a Queen.
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