269. Titan
I was still reeling from it processing what had happened. I didnt normally stop to think for more than a second whenever one of my General Skills leveled. Because, after all, General Skills leveled all the ti. Sure, they leveled relatively slowly. Sotis, I wished theyd level faster. But they did level.
At least, most of them did. One of them hadnt leveled at all despite having been a General Skill of mine since the very beginning; it was sothing I had with from the mont of my birth. It never once leveled, so I assud it couldnt level.
Until now.
General Skill [Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] has leveled up!
[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension - Lvl. 1] -> [Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension - Lvl. 2]!
Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!
Huh.
What did it? What exactly pushed [Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] past the edge so that it could level?
Was it because I spoke to the [Evolved Centinel]? Was it because the [Evolved Centinel] spoke in so strange language?
That was possible. But the real question wasnt how [Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] leveled the real question was what could I do now with it?
I quickly distributed all my Stat and Skill Points I had plenty since Id been fighting and leveling a ton and headed out of the Lair.
Just before I left, however, I noticed one thing. The corpses in the forr Centinels Cornucopia began to rapidly decompose. It was like they were old, eroded stone statues that were collapsing to dust after a bumbling passerby bumped into it.
Huh, so it was the Lair that were keeping their bodies intact. I wonder why.
Salvos (Liberator of the Plaguelands)
Species: [Archdemon of Pride]
Subspecies: [Daeva Cambion] - Lvl. 119
Class: [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] - Lvl. 73
General Skills:
[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 8
[Identification] - Lvl. 6
[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 2
[Racial Skill: Demonic Essence] - Lvl. 4
[Racial Skill: Partial Mortality] - Lvl. 6
[Rest] - Lvl. 5
[Lesser Enhanced Wisdom] - Lvl. 6
[Title Skill: General Curse Resistance] - Lvl. 2
[Title Skill: Recall Skill] - Lvl. 1
Stats:
[Available Stat Points: 0]
[Vitality]: 145 ( 25)
[Strength]: 130 ( 25)
[Endurance]: 140 ( 25) ( 3)
[Wisdom]: 250 ( 25) ( 10)
[Agility]: 300 ( 25) ( 5)
Skills:
[Available Skill Points: 6]
[Barrage of Cinders] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)
[Demons Mark] - Lvl. 10
[Haste] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)
[Intimidation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)
[Faux Limbs] - Lvl. 1
[Nebular Construct] - Lvl. 6
[Radiant Slash] - Lvl. 15 (Maxed)
[Salvo of Vanity] - Lvl. 10
[The Primordial Spark] - Lvl. 15
[Wings of the Netherworld] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)
[Passive - A Hunters Sense] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)
[Passive - Blue Flas] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)
[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 20 (Maxed)
[Unused Skill Slot] x1
Secondary Skills:
[Available Secondary Skill Points: 1]
[Dinsional Pocket] - Lvl 1
[Mass Particulate Modification] - Lvl 5
[Mystical Projection] - Lvl 15 (Maxed)
[Long Range Teleportation] - Lvl 20 (Maxed)
[Planar Navigation] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)
[Scattering Displacent] - Lvl. 10
[Warped Ti] - Lvl 6
--
Hello?
I peered into the egg sac. The wriggling creature broke out of the blue shell after a monts struggle. It landed right at my feet with a wet splat and glanced up to et my gaze. I cocked my head, waiting for a reply.
The [Infant Centinel] hissed and chomped at my feet. I scowled, stepping on it before walking off. It died with a squelch a notification. And I was off speaking to another group of Centinels. Higher-leveled Centinels. Maybe an [Infant Centinel] couldnt speak because it was still an infant?
Hi! Can you speak?
I asked the [Junior Centinel] as I held it by the tail. It didnt speak. It just thrashed about, screeching at . No words. Nothing that even resembled words. Complete, incoherent nonsense.
Ugh, this was a waste of ti.
I tossed it hard against a rock wall. It went splat. None of the Centinels could speak. Presumably, only the [Evolved Centinel] was capable of articulating his thoughts even if it was in a very rough and abstract way.
My wings spread wide as I took off into the air. A horde of Centinels snarled and snapped below , but I ignored them, flying higher up to a small crack on the ravines walls. Id be moderately safe here. I was still tired from the brief battle with the [Evolved Centinel]. So, I sat down, letting [Rest] course through my body.
As I found myself sitting on the cold floor, I produced the books I had kept away with [Dinsional Pocket]. These had been diaries that belonged to the adventurers who dared venture down to the Bloodied Gulf. Thrilling stories, surely.
But when I sifted through them, I found that a lot of the books were regaling the tales these great [Warriors] or [Mages] had prior to delving into the Bloodied Gulf. It listed their achievents, the powerful friends theyd made, and a bunch of other boring crap that incessantly praised the author.
Seriously! Even I wasnt that prideful!
Edithe should really have a talk with these people. Oh wait, she couldnt because they were dead. So, you guys werent that great then!
I shook my head, chuckling softly. Despite my amusent, I did acknowledge that it was very much possible for to end up with the sa fate that befell these adventurers. I could die. I understood my mortality. I wasnt a fool. I didnt think of myself as an invincible [Hero] of the ages.
They ca here to purge the Centinel threat. I was here to survive and killed that annoying [Evolved Centinel]. At least, that was what I thought I was here for.
I continued to turn the pages of the diaries, not out of intrigue, but simply hoping to find anything that would be useful for . Information that could help navigate the Bloodied Gulf. I didnt find much of the like, unfortunately. The most useful thing I found was a [Mage]s compendium of the various Centinels. He or she even detailed the various evolutions of [Evolved Centinels] encountered in the Bloodied Gulf.
There were four types of [Evolved Centinel]. Variations existed, but there were four broad forms they took on. The first was what they called a Sage Centinel. An intelligent Centinel that adapted to their opponents with different magical Skills kind of like the [Evolved Centinel] Id just fought.
The second was a Titan Centinel. A typically large Centinel that dwarfed even the size of [Older Centinels], but not quite as large as [Senior Centinels]. I didnt think Id seen one of these yet.
There were also the Gracious Centinels. [Evolved Centinels] that were described to be Human-like in size and fighting prowess. I thought of the first [Evolved Centinel] I fought. That was likely a Gracious Centinel.
And lastly, there were Horror Centinels. These were described to be monstrous taking all kinds of shapes and sizes, with monster-like abilities. These were the other two [Evolved Centinels] Id seen. They were said to be the weakest of the [Evolved Centinels] as the least intelligent of them all.
It was interesting. The fact of the matter was, the [Mage] who wrote this compendium had spent enough ti down here to encounter enough [Evolved Centinels] to make these claims. But Id only seen four [Evolved Centinels] so far.
I wondered just how nurous they were.
There were two more pages in the compendium. Each was less detailed than the next. The first was a brief description of an [Ancient Centinel]. It was nothing I didnt already know. That it was massive and powerful above Level 150.
And the page after that simply had a na. A placeholder. No description. It simply said: the Progenitor.
I cocked my head, curious.
What is this Progenitor?
I was under the impression that all Centinels could lay eggs and produce offspring. Id seen it, even.
Huh.
I leaned against the rock wall, interest piqued. There were so many mysteries still left uncovered about the Bloodied Gulf. However, I knew what my goal was. I didnt care for a Progenitor, even if I was curious.
I was going to kill that [Evolved Centinel] or Sage Centinel. Whatever he was called, I didnt like him. And once I was through with him, Id deal with Belzu.
I closed the books and let them disappear into my [Dinsional Pocket]. Just as I got to my feet, however, the ground shook. Sothing tingled inside of [A Hunters Sense] warned sothing was coming.
My eyes grew wide. Was it the [Ancient Centinel]? I was prepared to teleport away from the alcove when a large shadow lood over the entrance. I blinked.
Thats?
Dozens of sharp teeth pierced through the walls, tearing away at my hiding spot with ferocious intent. I backed up as flas wreathed around . I narrowed my eyes, not recognizing the gaping maw that tried to dig its way to . It didnt look like the mandibles of an [Older Centinel] or [Senior Centinel]. And it certainly wasnt an [Ancient Centinel].
The mouth seed shaped more like that of a beast. One with far fewer teeth than a Centinel, but an elongated jaw that could chomp harder and through tougher materials. I identified the creature, and I got my answer.
[Evolved Centinel - Lvl. 131]
A Titan Centinel? A small smile crept over my face as I realized that this was the one [Evolved Centinel] sub-type I hadnt seen just yet. A fire burned within . A desire to see how it compared to the other [Evolved Centinels] Id fought so far.
But before I could jump straight into battle with the forming Nebular Scythe, another shadow lood behind the Titan Centinel. A figure just barely larger than the Titan Centinel. And it wasnt alone.
I recognized their shapes and forms. Regular Centinels. But not weak ones. [Senior Centinels]. Each of them above Level 120. They accompanied the Titan Centinel as they tried to burrow their way to .
I blinked.
Thats a lot of high-leveled Centinels
I hesitated. Would I be able to beat all of them? Or better yet would I be able to defeat them without attracting even more unwanted attention? I didnt feel confident enough in myself to do that.
That was the thing. This was the Bloodied Gulf. I thought I was safe in this alcove, but sohow, the Titan Centinel found . And it led a small horde of [Senior Centinels] after r. I completely forgotten the one rule of a place like this. After all, it was just like the Netherworld.
Nowhere was safe.
It was always dangerous, no matter where you were. You migthve thought youd found a safe haven, but it could be compromised at any mont. Just like right now.
I found my back pressing against the walls as the massive crab-like claws of the Titan Centinel ripped the entirety of the cliffs surface off. I now stood on a small ledge, exposed and surrounded by dozens of Centinels that were equal to or above my level.
The Titan Centinel stared down at . Its body was like that of a giant tree trunk. Its face was that of a deford flower with spiky thorns poking out the sides of its neck. It opened its terrible mouth like the unfurling of withering petals and I took my chance.
I teleported above the Centinels before they could bear down on , wings spreading wide and taking off into the air.
Nice to et you, but bye!
I exploded straight for the ocean above. I wasnt going to wait to see what itd try to do to . But the [Senior Centinels] were quick on my tail. They scurried up the cliffside, slowly closing the distance between us even despite my [Haste].
I clicked my tongue as I watched them draw closer. The Titan Centinel turned its lumbering figure and let out a cacophonous roar. One that instantly made turn my attention above . I watched as Centinels poured out of the cracks in the cliffside above . They rained down on , cutting off my escape as they descended like a wave.
I paused, hesitating as I was flanked from both sides. My exit was cut off. I had to fight . Or maybe I could use [Salvo of Vanity] to distract
Before I could make a decision, I heard a high-pitched sound. One that suddenly morphed into sothing more coherent. Slightly cracked, but still understandable to my ears.
Here!
A voice shouted. My gaze snapped to the side. For whatever reason, I was drawn to a specific portion of the rock wall. It looked gray just like any other part of the ravine. But sothing about it was off. And I heard the voice again.
Quick!
So I flew straight for it. I sent out a burst of fla in all directions with [The Primordial Spark] as I dove for that spot. As I drew closer, I realized what was wrong. [Planar Navigation] told exactly what was wrong. There was no rock wall there.
It was empty, even if I saw sothing there.
I exploded into the other side of the illusion, tumbling to the ground as my blue flas covered my escape. I waited with bated breath for a mont as I heard the Centinels] pass. They drew eerily close to the entrance, but they didnt think to check it. Not when all they saw was any other part of the rock wall.
I sighed in relief and turned around to thank whoever saved .
Thanks
Then I paused. A speckle of fla hovered over . One that glowed softly in the dark. It had no shape other than that of fire.
[Will O Wisp - Lvl. 121]
Um hi?
Reviews
All reviews (0)