Hearing Isha’s finding, everyone went confused for a moment. Then, all of them synchronously turned towards the hole they came from. Their healer was standing there.
Nobody took any damage besides Damien, so everyone’s health bars were full. They had doubts about what ridiculous healing spell Karo cast on Damien, but defeating the Articores was of more importance than dwelling on Karo’s working.
“It’s a good thing he won’t lose the level. We can kill these Articores as per our previous plan.” Una said, but looking at Damien’s state, Isha had completely different emotions.
Una again readied her stance laced with the spear, and said to Yu, “Musclehead you and me are going to separate these leeches off of him, one at a time. While Isha and Ghun shave off their life with big spells.”
Una again readied her stance laced with the spear and said to Yu, “Musclehead, you and I are going to separate these leeches off of him, one at a time. While Isha and Ghun shave off their life with big spells.”
It sent them tumbling, scattering the group into two confused Articores who soon set their eyes on the target, which was Damien, seemingly having seizures.
The swordsman was sweating hard with a pale face and shivering hands. He looked like someone who needed an immediate medical emergency. Isha and Ghun bombarded the Articores in an effort to push them back, but they failed to surpass their frenzy to feed upon Damien’s fear. Christian didn’t interfere this time, making enough sense that his efforts were not much needed in this scenario.
Despite the collective efforts of native veterans, Isha, and Yu, the Articores again latched on Damien who barely came back to his knees from the ground.
“Fuck!!” Una cursed and sent one flying again with her fierce spear jab. But her efforts were of no use. Just a single touch and eye contact was enough for the Articore to replenish its health for trying again.
In just two minutes and a few attempts, Isha understood one thing and expressed her concerns with a heavy heart, “We are stuck. It does not matter how many times we try. The Articores will restore their health just by touching and staring at him. He has no recollection of what's going on with him. We need to kill him.”
“Isha what are you saying!” Una fought back,” We have already killed one of them. We just need to push them far enough so that they can’t get back to him.”
Una saw the effort and chance they required to finish the Articores, but to Isha, only Damien’s miserable state was visible. She painstakingly tried aiming for the eyes to help him snap out of his terrified state.
“I too believe we are stuck in a deadlock.” Yu mustered words, bashing his shield in an attempt to
Yu’s words gave Una second thoughts. She searched for Ghun. He was in a stance to release a throwback bomb.
“The sole reason we downed the first Articore was because it was too far away from Damien to reach him in its injured state.” Ghun threw the bomb and scattered the group once again.
“And one more thing,” Ghun added, giving a sidelong glance to Isha, “I don’t think that we should continue, as Damien is suffering.”
Una turned towards Isha, who was trying to ease Damien’s struggle by aiming her quick-fire spells at the Aritcores. There was obvious pain in her eyes.
“Isha, it’s your decision now.”
“I will do it,” Her vision blurred with warm tears as she muttered those words.
“INAAK-INF-” Before she could even prelude her spell, Karo appeared beside her, disrupting her concentration and the spell.
“Too soon little Enchantress,” The swordmaster said and snapped his fingers. As if teleported to frigid cold outer space, both the Articores detached from Damien and hung midair. Without any movements, like stone-cold statutes levitating in zero gravity.
“I said I won’t meddle and do damage dealing, but listen to me for a moment.” Although Karo had already proven himself to be a powerful entity, this time the impact was much greater for the whole party.
Christian had sparkles in his eyes as he looked at Karo. They had stacked their life on the line and were still ineffective against the Articores. Yet this guy rendered those creatures useless with a snap.
Yu’s belief of Karo being omnipotent in this level-map turned true, while Ghun and Una felt glad that he was present there, despite being the proprietor of the trip.
Isha, on the other hand, was raged. “YOU DID ON PURPOSE, DIDN’T YOU!”
There was no timidness in her words this time, but only abject contempt. “This was your plan all along. To make Damien suffer and play with us.”
“I had no such intentions,” Karo said with a sharp eye, not trying to intimidate but feeling accused. Regardless of his intentions, it scared away Isha's short-lived bravery. The swordmaster softened his expression in return.
The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
“As a matter of fact, you were here for your own growth.” He paused, making sure she was at least listening, “I merely suggested a good place to hunt while giving my assistance, which I did in exchange for seeing some unique strategy to fight with Articores. Lastly, I to witness and admire you while you show your grand magic skills.”
Everyone except Damien(incapable) facepalmed at Karo’s thick-skinned brain’s reasoning to still flirt in that situation.
“If you so want, I can bring back all of you to the city. But would it get rid of Damien’s Articophobia?” He looked at the ceiling in a contemplative gesture, and mused loudly, “All he will have in terms of growth would be this Articobphobia. Sure, he is one of the highest-level players now, but for how long? As I have heard, you immortals have a very high growth rate. If he doesn't conquer his fears he will be left in dust by your own kind."
It wasn't his intention to look down on Damien, but the situation required him to spew some bitter facts if he wanted to help the swordsman.
At his words, all stared at Damien with a pitying gaze, even Christian, leaving Isha alone.
"So what now?" There was scorn in Isha's eyes as she stared back at Karo.
"Let me help overcome his phobia," Karo said.
Beating Isha to the punch, Quro spoke first, 'Just how much more do you want to torture that guy?'
“So that you can torture him more?” Isha said in her due frustration.
Like usual, Karo ignored Quro’s question and commanded him, ‘Stabilize instance ID: 148349856. Don’t feed the info on the Instance interface.’
‘Damien would have sufficed,’ Quro said and then confirmed in monotone, ‘Added 200 composure stats with a mitigation rate of -2 per/seconds.’
Putting Quro on hold, Karo replied to Isha with a hearty smile, “I have no such intentions,” he walked towards Christian.
'200 stats aren’t enough. Make it 400. Stop mitigation once it reaches 200.’ Karo stated firmly to Quro.
‘You actually intend to help him overcome his Phobia,’ Quro this time was genuinely surprised, ‘Why? Isn’t he your rival?’
‘As I told you, it’s not about me, but it’s about her. She wants him to overcome this ordeal. But she won’t like my help or ask directly for obvious reasons. She cares for him, and I for her.’ Karo replied to Quro, and said to Christian, “I believe my sword has assisted you greatly.”
Christian nodded, “I don’t know much about equipment and weapons, but I will give all the credit to this graceful weapon. It didn’t let me run all around in panic. And gave me the courage to land a few hits.”
“Great! From now on, you can spectate. I would need the sword to help our friend over there.” Karo held out his hand. Christian, without much thought, returned the sword back.
“Thank you very much,” He first said to Karo, then to all the party members, “I have experienced a lot today. One day, I hope to actually be of use to you guys.”
Karo nodded and held the sword for a moment to nerf its effect and hide its actual attributes. Everyone was looking at Karo and failed to notice that Damien was already on his feet, and the Articores were still levitating in the air statued.
“Are you alright?” Isha filled him in an embrace.
“Yes, I am.” Damien returned the embrace clueless, “At first it was horrifying, later I don’t know what went down, it’s embarrassing.” Being a ragged doll because of fear is actually embarrassing, though.
“No, it’s not your fault, just compulsion because of a trauma. We are good now.” She reassured him.
“Did we kill all of them?” Damien uttered each successive word with more confidence. But when he looked around, he froze at the sight of levitating Articores.
The swordmaster tossed the sword at Damien, “No. Get ready for round two. This time we will be harassing them.”
“We can go back if you want,” Isha suggested.
Damien appraised the sword, reacting to his basic instinct as a swordmaster.
[Quro’s Shine](Grade: [Content Hidden])
Level: No restriction
Base Attack: [Content Hidden]
Defense: [Content Hidden]
Durability: [Content Hidden]
Passive Skill:
Serenity: grants the wielder mental equilibrium.
[Content Hidden]
Damien sighed at the alluring blade. It had a texture of black steel, but it shone with a silvery sheen.
Karo then swiftly called Damein’s swords which were lying on the ground. Both of them flew to his hands, “I will be borrowing these beauties while you have mine. And don’t worry, they can’t even touch you this time. But make sure you land the hit when you get the chance.”
“You can do that, right?” Karo asked.
To Damien who just came back to reality, after his trip to fearland didn't hear Isha’s discussion with Karo, or had any recollection after the first attack on him by Articores.
“Sorry to worry you Isha, but I can’t miss the opportunity to wield this magnificent sword at least once.” He saw in her eyes care for her. She wanted him to refuse this offer and get out of here.
Isha had no choice, Damien wasn’t willing to give up, so she nodded back.
“Get ready then. Here they come.” Karo snapped his fingers again, and Articores came to life again, running straight towards Damien, who was still as terrified as earlier but didn’t lose his ground.
From that day forward, Karo and the party would hunt in the Alka plains for a few days. Both the swordsmen will receive pointers from the swordmaster at the expense of Isha’s annoyance.