Aster and the girls pressed on, hunting any Field Bosses they encountered. Gradually, the girls caught up to Aster's level, but as expected, closing the gap was challenging given the significant difference in their levels.
Since they had slowed their pace, noon passed before they managed to slip past the forest bio. By then, they had hunted over 20 Area Bosses, boosting Tina to level 41 while the others reached a stable level 40.
As for Aster, taking down monsters that were too much for the girls to handle was enough to propel him to level 50 at last.
"Stats to strength..."
This was the first ti he'd adjusted the stat to which he was adding points. Finally, it was ti to increase his STR! He already had more than enough DEX, and there was no need to boost his WIS any further, especially now that both Crysta and Pyra were under his control. It was ti to balance out his stats.
He had wanted to increase his STR for so long... right after receiving his Job Class as a Magic Swordsman. But now, he was no longer a Magic Swordsman; he was ???'s Avatar, a Unique Mythic Job. It was sothing beyond even a Legendary Job, yet no one but him knew of this for now.
Even the girls were unaware of his class's strange na. After all, they hadn't had ti to discuss it in depth due to all the recent events.
"It was a blessing in disguise, though..." Aster sighed.
If he had told the girls—including Lorelai—about his class back then, they would have surely given him no slack. Now that she had turned into their enemy, the lack of knowledge she had was an advantage for them.
As they left the forest, they surged forward with Aster and Argus' AA Express. They only stopped when they found Area Bosses nearby, maintaining top speed and reaching the exit's proximity in under four hours.
"...?"
Aster suddenly stopped.
They were close to the end, right by the border of a plains and forest bio. But for so reason, a bad feeling washed over him, as if moving any further would be dangerous.
It wasn't the first ti his instincts had warned him of danger, so he trusted them. He turned to the girls and cautioned them.
"Everyone, I think sothing's wrong. I'll go ahead with Kali to check. Argus, the rest of you stay put over there. Hide behind the trees."
His protectiveness might have been excessive, but nobody voiced any complaints. They disembarked the cart and moved to the forest's edge, concealing themselves behind bushes and trees.
"I'm ready."
Only Kali remained at his side, checking her daggers, ready for a fight at a mont's notice.
"Let's go." Aster's voice was grim.
They moved cautiously through the forest, careful not to alert anyone to their presence, with Aster even holding his breath. Kali, on the other hand, wasn't using Stealth yet and simply followed a step behind him. They moved quietly toward the edge closest to the Floor Boss area.
As they approached, Aster waved a hand, signaling for Kali to activate her Stealth. Slowly, they edged to the side of a tree and peered out.
'No way...!'
What they saw was far from pleasing. In the space before the portal leading to the 21st floor stood a group of people. Roughly counting, there were at least four parties present, all equipped for a fierce battle.
From their attire, Aster recognized the clans: Dragon's Roar, Ironblood Knights, and Light of Glory. Without a doubt, these were the mbers protecting Cassy and the others back at the 14th Floor's camp!
'How did they catch up?!'
Aster wondered, confusion swirling in his mind. However, as he scanned their ranks, he spotted two anomalies. One was a pair of mages. The space between them and the others indicated they weren't part of the original parties—extras brought along for a purpose.
'Space Elent Mages?!'
Right, Aster had destroyed the portals to prevent their pursuers from catching up. But that was only true if they didn't have anyone capable of using a Teleportation Spell among them!
To make matters worse, a familiar face stood among them. One far too recognizable for Aster to miss. A woman with platinum hair, wings behind her ears spread wide with pride. It was Lorelai! Not only that, but she had five others with similar characteristics—other mbers of the Aracelli Race!
All of them stood at even intervals before the three clans' party, acting as sentinels, their eyes focused in a particular direction. And the one facing Aster's direction was none other than Lorelai herself.
"...!"
Aster saw her eyes glow before locking onto him. A chill ran down his spine as he quickly turned to flee. "We've been discovered! Kali, let's—!"
But before he could finish, a familiar blade flashed toward his neck. It was the pair of Khopesh that Kali wielded—Bloodshear!
"WOAH!"
Aster dodged just in ti, thanks to his high DEX. However, the tip of the blade still managed to leave a shallow scratch on his neck, blood seeping slowly. "Kali?!" Aster shouted, bewildered.
But Kali's usually cold, observant eyes were now colorless and unfocused. It was clear she wasn't in her right mind... Mind Control!
'Just seeing Lorelai's eyes caught her instantly!'
Aster wasn't sure why he was safe, but there was no ti to dwell on it. The noise from his struggle had alerted the three clans and the other Aracelli mbers, all rushing toward his location.
In less than a minute, he would be surrounded by 40 "enemies." His mind raced, desperately searching for a way to save Kali and the girls. Only one solution ca to mind.
"Sorry, Kali!"
He muttered the apology under his breath as he lunged forward, aiming a punch at her stomach. He needed to incapacitate her first and figure out the rest later.
*CLACK!*
But Kali's reflexes were sharp. She crossed her blades in a flash, blocking the punch—though the force sent her hurtling backward, flying through the forest, toward the other girls.
Wasting no ti, Aster raised his hand, preparing to freeze everyone chasing him. His plan was simple: kill them all, even if it ant sacrificing a portion of his life force.
"CRYSTA!"
His shout echoed through the air, and with it, a biting frost spread. Trees began to freeze as a chilling wave surged forward, freezing everything in its path.
"Kaha! Petty tricks!!!"
One of the Aracelli mbers suddenly rushed ahead and waved his hand. To Aster's shock, the freezing wave... stopped mid-motion. It was a sight that defied all reason, leaving Aster staring, dumbfounded.
How had they stopped Crysta's freezing wave, which had been unstoppable until now? He couldn't even begin to fathom it.
"Shit…!"
But ti was rciless. Before he could collect his thoughts, a barrage of projectiles—both bullets and spells—rained down on him. Panicking, Aster summoned an ice wall, blocking the attacks, and quickly expanding it into a massive barrier that encircled the area.
A towering ice wall, over 20 ters high and 3 ters thick, ford a ring with a 500-ter radius. It was a desperate move, one that ca at the cost of more of his life force.
The numbness creeping into his fingertips, a sign of his dwindling vitality, was a sensation he could never fully get used to.
After sealing his enemies behind the thick ice, Aster turned and ran. Facing them head-on wasn't an option—especially with his ace completely neutralized. Until he figured out how they stopped his freezing wave, continuing the fight was too risky.
*BOOM!*
Aster kicked off the ground, propelling himself forward like a bullet. He followed the path Kali had taken, where the trees had already been cleared by her impact. After a few seconds of airborne travel, he reached a tree obstructing his path.
"Hup!"
With precise control, he used the tree's flexibility to absorb his montum, then swiftly launched himself toward the ground, wasting no ti.
"Aster! Kali, she…!"
As soon as he landed, Cassy rushed to his side, her face filled with worry and panic. "She was sent flying—in a critical condition—so I healed her quickly, but… she's rampaging!"
"I know!" Aster responded urgently. "She's under Lorelai's mind control! I'll deal with her. You girls, get ready to leave imdiately!"
"...!"
Though Aster offered no further explanation, the ntion of Lorelai's na was enough for Cassy to understand. Still, a part of her was in disbelief—how had they caught up to their group, who were supposed to be days ahead?
Cassy's thoughts swirled in confusion, but she quickly pushed them aside, focusing on the imdiate crisis.
Aster moved swiftly, his figure blurring as he appeared beside Kali once more. This ti, he deliberately positioned himself in front of her, aiming another punch toward her stomach. However, Kali, wary of being launched like a shooting star again, dodged to the side. She twisted her body beyond a comfortable range, losing her balance slightly.
"Got you!"
But Aster's punch was only a feint. With Kali off balance, she couldn't avoid the follow-up—a precise chop to the back of her neck. A sharp crack echoed, causing Aster's heart to skip a beat, his face turning pale.
Without hesitation, he caught Kali's unconscious body and quickly checked her pulse.
"...She's alive!" he breathed in relief. "Alright, everyone, follow ! I'll explain on the way!"
Cassy, Tina, and Liz were all covered in cuts, evidence of the difficult fight they'd had against the swift Assassin. But there was no ti to rest.
Explore new worlds at empire
As soon as they reached the edge of the forest, Aster pulled the EM Cart from his Fanny Pack, quickly getting the girls aboard.
"Here, tie Kali up before you heal her!" Aster shouted, tossing them a rope from their survival kit. He then gripped the cart's handle tightly. "Hold on! We're going full speed!"
With a powerful kick to the ground, Aster launched them forward without holding back.
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