264. Cornucopia
The Bloodied Gulf was a complex network of ravines intersecting with larger ravines intersecting with larger ravines. It was a gulf that had been burrowed out beneath a gulf at the southern edge of Secely where the soil was stained a blood red. Centinels crawled through every inch of this dark cave-system. Thanks to [Salvo of Vanity], I was able to map out quite a bit of the area around so that Id know where I could find the best Centinels to fight for to level.
I entered the Lairs of these [Senior Centinels]. Many of them were in the lower Level 100s, which didnt pose too much of a threat for . And since I specifically chose with Lair to enter, I always picked the ones that were more secluded from other Centinels so that my fighting wouldnt attract even more of the monsters towards . It would mitigate the risk.
Unfortunately, it didnt eliminate the risk factor entirely.
I managed to avoid getting into a fight that was too difficult for a few days, but my luck had run out. Because, right now, I was locked in battle with a higher-leveled [Senior Centinel] Level 130, one of the highest-leveled [Senior Centinel] Id seen so far. And my battle with it had drawn the attention of an unwanted visitor. An [Evolved Centinel]. One Id encountered before. It was Level 121 and had spike-like legs covering its entire as it rolled quickly across the ground, tearing it up.
Maybe I wouldve been able to deal with these two just fine on their own. But they werent alone. There were other [Older Centinels] and [Younger Centinels] here, too. They didnt pose much of a risk more of an annoyance. A hindrance that made it hard to focus on the two main threats here.
They crawled up the walls, giving chase to with the [Senior Serpentfiend] leading the way. I sent a wave of blue fire at them to keep them back, but the [Evolved Centinel] barreled its way towards from behind. I flipped over the attack and struck out with my Nebular Scythe. The back bladed edge was caught in the spiky limbs of the [Evolved Centinel]. Before I could pull away, the [Senior Centinel] crashed into my side.
I went soaring through the air as the Breastplate of Alexander flashed. It absorbed the attack, although the impact still knocked back. I scowled as I tossed the Nebular Scythe, lodging it into the side of the [Senior Centinel]s armored head.
The carapace broke as the [Senior Centinel] raised its undulating body in pain. It let out an agonizing screech, spraying acid by sheer instinct. Before I could capitalize on this mont of weakness, the [Evolved Centinel] launched a flurry of spikes at . I blinked, caught off-guard by the sudden attack. So kind of Skill that allowed it to detach its limbs? Or no it was firing the very edges of its claws en mass. Rapid blasts that I needed [Haste] to avoid.
I was starting to get very annoyed by the constant pressure from both these Centinels. And that was not to ntion all the other weaker Centinels that were present here. I had to deal with them before they drew the attention of even more Centinels into the area especially if another [Evolved Centinel] showed up.
Id been reserving my Skills holding back, so to speak. Keeping them for when it was appropriate, rather than using my best Skills against every Centinel I faced. And this mont seed like the ti and place to use them. I spread my bone-like wings wide as I took off into the air. The Centinels gave chase, but I activated [Warped Ti] and moved faster, keeping entirely away from them.
I sent another wave of blue flas, washing over the horde of Centinels as I swooped down, grabbing a [Junior Centinel] that avoided the blast. I picked it up with a grin.
Hi! Im Salvos! Mind blowing up for ?
It struggled as I tossed it straight at the [Evolved Centinel]. It seed to glow its carapace was marked with a shining symbol. The [Evolved Centinel] began to roll away, but I pointed.
Stay.
And it halted. [Demons Mark] engulfed the [Junior Centinel] in bloodied flas before compressing and exploding into a pillar of crimson. It consud everything within its periters, scorching the other Centinels close by.
Alright, thatll hold it for a minute.
I flew back down as I began to morph. My body twisted into sothing else, growing four more arms as I beca taller. My face contorted like it was being tugged out and I bore fangs that were far sharper than my claws before I had transford. I crashed straight into the [Senior Centinel] as [Demonic Essence] took hold of .
I bared my teeth, tearing into the shelled body of the [Senior Centinel]. It shrieked as I used [Radiant Slash] to slice open its carapace. Then with a flurry of [Barrage of Cinders], I ravaged its soft body with all six of my claws.
The [Senior Centinel] thrashed about, spraying its acid wildly all over the ground as it tried to throw off its side. [Faux Limbs] protruded from my back and gripped the side of the [Senior Cenintel] so I wouldnt fall off.
I continued assailing the [Senior Centinel] as the crimson flas of [Demons Mark] dissipated. From the corner of my eye, I saw a blur. Sothing speeding through the red, headed straight towards . I pried off more of the [Senior Centinel]s armor, revealing its fleshy bits. Then I flipped out of the way.
The [Evolved Centinel] its body was charred and half of its barbed limbs were missing barreled straight at the side of the [Senior Centinel]. It knocked the [Senior Centinel] back, shredding open more of the [Senior Centinel]s skin.
I watched from above as the [Evolved Centinel] tried to gather itself, only for the [Senior Centinel] to turn an angry gaze at it. The [Evolved Centinel] backed up, clearly uncertain as to what to do, but the [Senior Centinel] didnt think twice and lashed out at the [Evolved Centinel].
Good, I thought, raising my hand as black flas began wisp off my fingertips, turning into a Nebular Bow and Arrow. Thatll buy a mont to do this. Most of the regular Centinels in the Lair were already dead. The rest were being distracted by an onslaught of [Scattering Displacent]. And now that the two main threats were distracted by each other, I could take a deep breath and enhance my Nebular Arrow into sothing more.
First, sable motes wisped off it like a dark mist as it turned into a Nebular Blazing Bolt. Then the mist seed to solidify into jagged edges the black tal-like arrow sohow grew a shade darker. Symbols began to outline the Nebular Blazing Bolt, refining it to beco far stronger and more controlled.
I aid the Refined Nebular Blazing Bolt at the [Senior Centinel] as it crashed into the side of the caverns wall. The entire Lair shook, and I loosed the arrow. The Refined Nebular Blazing Bolt launched out like a single black beam one that moved so fast it reached its target the instant I let go of the bowstring.
The Refined Nebular Blazing Bolt tore straight into the weakened side of the [Senior Centinel]. Nothing stopped it from burrowing straight through the flesh and lodging itself deep within the giant monster. Then a beat passed a mont where nothing happened. Before, finally, the arrow exploded.
It was a compressed blast one that didnt consu nearly as much space as my [Demons Mark]. In fact, it was quite small. It barely expanded beyond the width of the [Senior Centinel]. But it tore the [Senior Centinel] in half. An entire segnt of the [Senior Centinel]s body was gone as it collapsed in two long pieces.
I grinned, lowering my Nebular Bow. The [Evolved Centinel] paused and stared at its dead companion. Then it turned and hissed at . I unloaded a salvo of Nebular Arrows at the [Evolved Centinel] as it shot its own projectiles my way. But before its projectiles could reach , I redirected the rocks floating around with [Scattering Displacent], enlarging them with [Mass Particulate Modification] to intercept the attack.
The projectiles of the [Evolved Centinel] never reached , but my own arrows stuck out of its sides, replacing the limbs it had lost. I spread my arms wide as the [Evolved Centinel] hesitated.
Is that all you got?
It faced , then looked towards all the dead Centinels around it. Blue, black, and red fire ebbed away at their corpses, filling the Lair with smoke. Sothing clicked inside of the [Evolved Centinel]s head, and it moved.
I watched as the [Evolved Centinel] spun around and began to flee. I narrowed my eyes.
Oh, no you dont!
With a beat of my wings, I shot forward towards the [Evolved Centinel]. It was hard to catch, but I simply created a regular flaming kusarigama with [The Primordial Spark] and tossed the chains around its side. I caught the [Evolved Centinel] before it could get too far and pulled it my way.
It flopped over on the ground as I lood over it. It backed up, shaking, trembling in fear as I raised my six claws. It raised its own limbs too, then I paused. My eyes narrowed.
Are you submitting to ?
I stared at the [Evolved Centinel] as it showed its underbelly. The weakest part of its carapace. It didnt even protect itself with its arms.
I cocked my head.
Now, what should I do with you?
I thought about it for a mont as the [Evolved Centinel] quivered. It looked at with eyes rounder than usual, with a hint of a glint as if it was tearing up at . It didnt want to die. It was more intelligent than the other Centinels in that it knew it didnt want to die.
I shrugged.
Ah, well, shouldnt have attacked in the first place.
I raised my claws and it shrieked. The [Evolved Centinel] struck back against , but I ducked under the attack and dug my claws straight into its chest. I ripped it apart and tossed it aside.
Not like you would have spared if I was the one who lost this fight.
Defeated [Evolved Spiky Centinel Lvl. 121]!
Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!
Cleared [Lair: Centinels Camp]!
Experience is awarded for clearing a Lair!
Defeated [Senior Centinel Lvl. 107]!
Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!
...
Defeated [Senior Centinel Lvl. 130]!
Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!
Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!
[Daeva Cambion Lvl. 114] -> [Daeva Cambion Lvl. 115]
Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!
Subspecies [Daeva Cambion] Level Up!
[Daeva Cambion Lvl. 117] -> [Daeva Cambion Lvl. 118]
Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!
Class [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] Level Up!
[Grand Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 66] -> [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 67]
Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!
Class [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] Level Up!
[Grand Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 71] -> [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 72]
Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!
With the battle finished, I was inundated with a lot of notifications notifications of all the levels Id gained over the past few days. I was close to Level 120 in my Subspecies, and had finally broken past Level 70 with my Class. It was because Id cleared out multiple Centinel Lairs, at this point. Probably dozens of them.
It was odd, honestly. Id have thought itd be a Dungeon with these many Lairs so closely interspersed together. However, not only were all the Lairs called the sa thing the Centinels Camp they also all belonged to the sa type of monster. Maybe that was why it didnt qualify as a Dungeon?
I shook my head as I turned away from the corpse of the [Evolved Centinel]. I was tired, and the battle had drained quite a bit. If more Centinels especially stronger Centinels showed up now, Id be very much vulnerable to them. I was just about to take my leave when I spotted a crack on one of the far walls. This Lair had been rather large compared to the others. It was like a long tunnel. And at the other side of the tunnel, the walls were beginning to crumble due to the damage my [Demons Mark] did. And it looked like there was sothing beyond the wall.
[Planar Navigation] couldnt reach that far. I had to get closer to get a sense of what was there. I blinked as I sensed odd objects. Ones that seed to emanate with power, but also not really?
I frowned as I pulled away at more of the wall, revealing what was on the other side. And I saw
Now entering [Lair: Centinels Cornucopia]!
Corpses. Human corpses. Hundreds of them. And on them, they still had their weapons and armors. Artifacts that they brought with them to the Bloodied Gulf.
Huh. Daniel wouldve loved this place.
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