Her comment cut through Alan's tension like a hot knife through snow. <”Copy on the landmines.“> Alan replied jokingly, as he released his hold on his [Blessing of the Wind]s. Splitting his concentration between two Spells was no longer an issue, but casting the Spells on two separate targets was an entirely different matter all together.
It took every ounce of concentration he could muster, and even then it felt like his brain would be ripped asunder. After the Spells had been cast, the pounding in his head was so intense he wasn't even sure if he'd been successful or not.
Remarkable! Your Spell (C)[Blessing of the Wind] has grown to Level 3!
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Remarkable! Your Spell (C)[Blessing of the Wind] has grown to Level 5! +1 Free Status Point!
Caution! You have been bestowed the (Haste) Buff. Movement speed is doubled and casting times halved during the duration of Buff.
Duration: 3 minutes.
A burst of wind emanated from his body as he felt the (Haste) Buff take effect. Taking solace in the fact he'd at least gotten the multi-targeted casting process halfway right, he pulled up his PSA. A glance at his Party tab showed he had successfully targeted Su'ong as well. He sighed in relief as the pain in his temples started to die down.
That was surprisingly difficult…Alan realized, I'm gonna have to make some extra time for more Spell practice here pretty soon. So [Blessing of the Wind] is Level 5 now. Looks like that increased it to three minutes worth of (Haste). Guess I better get to it then. He stretched his aching back and shook out his sore wrist hoping to loosen it up. That damned Wyrm hits like a tank.
Alan grimaced as he recalled the flash of blinding pain that had radiated from head to toe as he'd been squashed between the Wyrm's heavy body and the floor. Thankfully, the pain almost instantly caused him to lose consciousness, making the experience a brief, if unpleasant affair.
Already down to less than three minutes on his Buff, Alan shoved his thoughts aside and activated [Dual-casting], [Mana Regulation], and [Mana Perception]. This should be interesting, he thought.
The moment his Skills activated, for the very first time, he cast two [Healing Fog]s at once. The Mana drain was instant, and severe. But that was only the beginning. A wild grin spread across his face, and with a cackle of glee, he flooded the Spells with so much additional Mana that his Mana Tendrils began to quiver under the stress.
“That's the way you idiot! Blow yourself up with a healing Spell why don't you!“ With his Emotional Stockpile nearly filled, his toxic subconscious began to lash out, the whispers of madness threatening to break his concentration. As an extra precaution, Alan activated [Tenacious Concentration]. He peered at Su'ong, and everything else lost importance as he swiftly became hyper-focused on the task at hand.
Remarkable! Your Skill (U)[Tenacious Concentration] has grown to Level 7!
<”I've got healing Spells incoming”> Alan hastily murmured to Su'ong. <”You have some kind of Skill that lets you see Mana right? Well…I'm about to make a LOT of fog, so you're probably going to want to activate it right about…NOW!“> He growled out as he unleashed a tidal wave of dense healing clouds in all directions. Within seconds he was hidden from view, deep in the center of a sea of restorative mist. A flood of notifications hit him at the same time.
Remarkable! Your Spell (U)[Healing Fog] has grown to Level 5! +1 Free Status Point!
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Remarkable! Your Spell (U)[Healing Fog] has grown to Level 7!
Remarkable! Your Skill (C)[Mana Perception] has grown to Level 6!
Remarkable! Your Skill (U)[Mana Regulation] has grown to Level 7!
Remarkable! Your Skill (C)[Dual-casting] has grown to Level 9!
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Remarkable! Your Skill (C)[Dual-casting] has grown to Level 10! +1 Free Status Point!
Caution! Your Skill (C)[Dual-casting] is prepared for Skill Evolution!
Proceed with Skill Evolution? Yes/No
As the empowered [Healing Fog] billowed through the room, Alan closed his eyes and mentally selected No. Relying on his Mana Vision, he sprinted forward, making his way towards the obvious void in his spell where the Naga and Wyrm still clashed. The area immediately around the Wyrm was bereft of fog, the only exception being where Su'ong clung to its neck. She was fully encased in a shroud of haze, furiously pounding away at the boss's swollen and bleeding eye. Though it was easy to see she was beyond gassed.
Fed up with the resilient insect clinging to its back, the Wyrm bellowed out in challenge and lifted its head up high. It thrust its skull into the ceiling and thrashed from side to side, grinding the annoying creature between its rough scales and the roof.
Before Su'ong could move, she was pinned between the ceiling and Wyrm. When the beast began to move, she cried out in surprise and pain as her [Vortex Shield] was ground into nothing, and her scales began to peel away. She tried to use her tail to pull herself free, but she was locked in place. Su'ong continued to struggle as she was dragged forward.
Alans eyes narrowed in anger as Su'ong began to scream. As chunks of broken stalactites fell all around him, he knew there wasn't time to hesitate. He was desperate to help, but he was sure if he cast an offensive spell, Su'ong would be hurt as well. Lacking better options he steadied his breathing and re-cast [Vortex Shield] on his Naga companion.
Spotting an opening, he buried his worries and took a chance. Alan crouched down low on the balls of his feet. He clenched his fist and leaned forward, launching himself at the Boss with every bit of strength his legs had to offer.
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Alan's body shot at the Wyrms exposed underside like a rocket. He arrived below the beast, his fist rushing forward in a blur of speed that made the air itself tremble. BOOOM!!! The force of the blow halted Alan's momentum and caved in the beast's abdomen. The tough scales crumbled under the impact, but the rubbery flesh beneath refused to tear. His teeth rattled as jarring waves of pressure shot up his arm.
A cluster of notifications flashed into view right as Alan's shoulder emitted a wet slurp and popped out of socket. Amidst a wave of pain, he quickly pulled up, and then dismissed the invasive notices.
Remarkable! Your Skill (C)[Bravery] has grown to Level 2!
Remarkable! Your Skill (B)[Unarmed Combat Utilization] has grown to Level 2!
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Remarkable! Your Skill (B)[Unarmed Combat Utilization] has grown to Level 3!
Remarkable! You have created the (Common) Technique {Meteoric Rush}!
(C){Meteoric Rush} Level 1- Upon execution, this Technique overclocks the users muscles, allowing for short bursts of otherwise impossible speed and strength.
Percentage of overclock increases with Technique Level. Cost increases with Technique Level.
Cost: 100 HP and Stamina per Second.
Caution! Usage of this Technique may have debilitating effects on users body.
Remarkable! You have created a Technique! As the first denizen of the (Human) Tutorial to create a Technique you have earned the Title Techniquely Savvy!
Techniquely Savvy- +3 All Stats, increase to odds of creating new Techniques.
The Wyrm folded in half under the force of Alan's {Meteoric Rush}-enhanced punch. It roared in defiance as its head struck the floor. Grasping onto the opportunity that Alan provided, Su'ong unwrapped herself from around the Wyrm and retreated into the seemingly impenetrable fog.
<”Thank you for the assistance.“> She said with a pained gasp. <”If you don't mind, I'll let you handle things for a while…I'm down to 18 Stamina, and I can't feel my arms.“>
<”You've already done more than your share.“> Alan replied with a grunt as he jerked his shoulder back into place . <”Get some rest, you've definitely earned it.“> You did a damned good job Su'ong, Alan thought. Now it's my turn to do some damage…
“Of course! Do some damage he says!“ Alan's increasingly irate subconscious voice howled with undisguised mirth. That single punch nearly blew your only fucking arm off! “Shouldn't we be focusing on, I don't know.. Maybe damaging the WYRM?! What is it with you and blowi…”
An uneasy calm returned as Alan's Emotional Stockpile satiated its ravenous appetite for negativity. His subconscious snarled and clawed at the intangible link between his Emotional Core and [Daemonfire of the Impure Realm], trying without any noticeable success to tear it out at the roots. “I'm SO CLOSE! It cried out in despair. YOU CANT SURVIVE WITHOUT ME ALAN!! Though it desperately resisted fading back into the recess of his mind, its attempts were for naught. Alan's Emotional Stockpile would not be denied it's due.
Alan studied the Wyrm cautiously. Though it was currently thrashing on the floor, releasing a deep-throated growl, he knew not to take this foe for granted. I've hit this damned thing with everything but the kitchen sink..he thought despondently. The only thing I haven't tried is {Gaea's Tempest}, and I don't have nearly enough MP…well…I'm getting low on Stamina, but I could always use [HP Conversion] if it comes to that.
He spared a glance at his PSA. After Selecting his Techniques tab, he pulled up the info on his Emotional Stockpile.
*Unique*{Suit of Anger} Lvl 1 Current Emotional Stockpile: 97%
Well…my Emotional Stockpile was bound to fill up sooner or later, Alan thought, a constant tremor in his hand was the only outward indication of the rage churning in his Emotional Stockpile. If we can't beat this Wyrm, like REALLY quick, I'm gonna have no choice but to use {Suit of Anger}…I don't like the sound of that whole Skill self-activation business. One way or another, I'm going to have to use it. I wonder if Su'ong could seal me up in a room alone somewhere when this is over?
His errant thoughts brought to his attention his sudden lack of [Tenacious Concentration]. Without time to make frivolous guesses, he assumed that his Skills had been deactivated during the creation of {Meteoric Rush}, and promptly moved on. With time steadily ticking down on his (Haste) Buff, Alan pulled a Shadow Shuriken from inventory and flung it at the Wyrm. It struck the beast where its abdomen met the floor and exploded soundlessly upon impact. The Shuriken's destruction released a thick purple cloud of grasping hands that sought out, and latched onto anything in range.
As the first Shuriken landed, Alan had already pulled out, and thrown another.
For just a moment, the Wyrm was confused. It saw the stubborn creature standing before it throw a small metallic object, and within the span of a second, it quickly threw another. The Wyrm knew it had plenty of time to dodge these pitiful attacks, but why should it? What had it to gain by showing weakness now? It had already proven it could weather any attack these tiny creatures could muster up, after all. Though it had to admit the magic user was proving to be more trouble than it was worth.
As the Wyrm reveled in thoughts of self-superiority, the metallic devices exploded. Out of the eerily quiet explosion, a swarm of misshapen appendages reached out in all directions. They grabbed fistfuls of the boss's tough hide and pulled it towards the center of the purple cloud. The beast finally realized that this had simply been a ploy to hamper its movement.
Refusing to submit to the foul trickery of a base creature, the Wyrm turned to face its strange multi-limbed purple enemy and tried to feast. Without hesitation the Wyrm sank its fangs into a mouthful of purple arms. With a sound like bones breaking, it's teeth snapped shut on nothing but smoke. Physical attacks were unable to damage the ethereal enemy. The smoke reformed into arms that wrapped around its face, and immediately yanked the beast's head into the center of the Shuriken's area of influence.
A feeling the Wyrm had long since forgotten reared its ugly head, making an unwanted return as the grasping hands gripped onto its upper and lower jaws and made an attempt to clamp its mouth shut. Fear. It realized that it was becoming well and truly afraid of this strange purple creature and its dozens of immaterial limbs. And that made the Wyrm angry.
With its head now pinned to the floor, the entirety of the Wyrm's body began to quiver and tremble uncontrollably. Before its jaws could be forced to close, it cocked its head to the side and looked up at the puny trickster standing before it. Planning to show a trick of its own, the Wyrm inhaled a burbling breath and screamed out a long, keening wail. The strange arms finally managed to slam its mouth shut, but the Wyrm took solace knowing the damage had already been done.
Right as Alan was about to attack, the Wyrm screeched out a sound unlike anything he'd ever encountered. An almost imperceptible frequency penetrated through his skin, burrowing straight into his body. Alan clenched his stomach as his internal organs started to vibrate. What began as an annoyance quickly grew into raw agony. Within seconds of the seemingly unavoidable sonic attack, his ears ruptured in a brief flash of excruciating pain. For just a moment, all sound ceased to exist.
A sudden motion to his right drew his wary attention. He turned his head just in time to see Su'ong rush out of the fog with a freshly-conjured stone spear in hand. With blood gushing from not only her not-yet-healed wounds, but also from her obviously damaged ears, she unleashed a furious shout and threw her spear into the immobile beasts bloodshot eye.
<”Give me your Mana-Steel spikes!“> Alan winced as Su'ong practically roared into his head through party chat. The sudden blast of sound was like sensory overload. Alan's entire body froze up. <”Pull your head out of your ass Alan! I'm almost out of time on (Haste)! Give me those Gods damned Mana-Steel spikes!“>
Alan pulled the spikes out, and before he ever offered, Su'ong snatched them out of his grasp. <”How fast can you cast your lightning Spell?“> She asked. Without giving Alan a chance to respond, she cocked back her arm and threw the entire stack of Mana-Steel Spikes with tremendous force. Not a single one missed. The cluster of thin rods sank deep into the corner of the Wyrms eye, directly next to the stone spear she'd already thrown. <”Target it's eye!“> She yelled.
Alan instantly Understood what she expected from him. He smiled at the simplicity of her plan and activated [Dual-Casting]. Focusing intently on the embedded spikes, he started channeling Mana into two [Lightning Strike]s.
With a crazed gleam in his eyes, Alan unleashed his Spells.
<”One lightning rod special coming right up!“> Alan silently shouted in warning as the clouds began to crackle and buzz.