Ring - 7th
Realm - Rack Of Life
RACKEL'S POV
"Wake ...ake....wake...wa...Wake ....up....up.. wake up". I gasped awake eyes wide open as I heaved deep breaths. Taking a sharp look around I found Xenon buzzing over my head. His eyes were full of worry and was that golden paint.
"It's blood doofus. Your blood". He whined and then I watched as his hands lit up with a slight glow before he buzzed back. "You need to stand".
Half my mind was still confused my eyes looking around sharply. 'What happened?". My memory tried to fix onto something but it all came with a buzz. Then like a chord, it snapped into place. It was like my mind was waiting for me to remember before it let my body register the trembles and vibrations going on.
"Here. Pick your Cane". Xenon quickly reminded me. The Willow cane lay close to my feet and grabbing it didn't waste a minute.
"How am I not hurt or bleeding? I was certain the dragon's tail was what struck me.
In front of me, on top of the mountain tip locked in a fierce clash were the giant and dragon. One a fortress of stone and earth the other a savage of scales, claws, and fangs.
"And elements too" I added sharply seeing the dragon's breath was a torrent of mist that smashed into the Behemoth creating fiery explosions that went off on its body staggering it. The dragon inhaled and another sharp breath pushed the thing back as ice encased its legs and limbs. The dragon lurched forward using the advantage.
My eyes left the fight for a minute as I sought my staff. 'There'. It lay next to me just a few feet away. 'Thank goodness you're okay'. I sighed picking it up. Looking at Xenon I directed it back to my head where it settled into my hair. 'Time to leave here before I get crushed'.
Somehow I had landed on the mountain itself. The slap must have driven me done and not back. 'I didn't even see the tail move. So fast. I shivered as I began a hard ascent. Using Pushes to help me clear impossible jumps. My body was strong and fast. While it was nothing like time-stop speed or the head pulverizing strength, it was still enough to clear me across spaces in jumps. Push and pull taking care of the impossible ones.
I was almost over, at the tip and then I'd descend and be gone.
BOOM!!
The dragon hit the tip back first. A loud frustrated and pained roar escaped its maw. It was cut off sharply as a fist of stone punched it into the mountain. Rocks split and rolled down to me. 'Shit'. Jumping up and backwards helped take me out of danger's path and a good pull brought me back.
I didn't start climbing as I watched the beasts to see if they'd go to another side. They didn't. The behemoth punched and slammed down on the dragon. The dragon kicked and scratched but the Behemoth had it by the throat. A claw waved and the Behemoth was suddenly a few meters away leaving the dragon free.
'Wait! What!'. I gaped. The giant looked at its hands just as the dragon inhaled and then breathed out. There was no blast of mist this time. Instead, a beam of concentrated lightning shot out. The giant watched the beam race at it and then it distorted.
"What!". I jumped as the giant appeared next to the dragon and bashed a raised fist down like a hammer on its head. The lighting cut off, the dragon rolling downwards with force in my direction. 'Oh-'. My mental exclamation cut as it caught itself claw first and then facing the giant breathed again.
The giant looked ready to tank the blast when the flames split and then vanished into thin air. The next second the giant staggered, uprooted from a blast beneath its feet. The dragon never one to miss a chance rushed it. Claws flickered and then without even touching it, stone and earth carved out five lines from its face and chest. Its tail spun and with a Titanic whip smashed into its abdomen. It fell back and the dragon rushed coiling itself like a serpent around the behemoth.
It's head above the giant spewed ice on top of the giant. Unfortunately, whatever disorientation the giant had was gone. I watched as runes and symbols, unrecognizable but attractive to me glowed in a red burn rising from its feet right up to its neck and then a core at its chest glowed. Its eyes burned as well and steam rose from its body as the ice melted.
The dragon roared and tried to squeeze. The giant raised its head so it could look at the dragon. It's eyes went from glowing to smoldering.
BOOM!
From the release to the hit, it was instantaneous, two bright beams of fire smacking into tbe dragon face first. The dragon's head rocked back and I saw a lot of scales fly away. Its body weakened and slagged giving the giant the chance to pry itself loose. What followed was a pounding that made me wince.
Like a whip, it slammed the dragon I to the mountain's head draped over and exposed to me. The Titan began flickering around. From all sides, it appeared and rushed blows that rattled the dragon. I took a step back as wonder left me and turned to horror. Blood spilled from the dragon's mae, seeping through its row of teeth, turning it from white to red.
I stopped watching the giant as I found myself pitying the dragon and watching as its eyes kept dilating in reverse. I could see pain, hate, and rage yet there was a sense of defeat in its eyes. It just stared at nothing, saw nothing. A thousand-yard state.
'I could help. Stop this fight. Separate them and give it a chance. Live to fight another day'. I looked from it to the Behemoth and then back. I staggered back. It was looking at me now. Its eyes were beautiful, how didn't I see that? They were like gems but with visible microscopic atoms within them. Marvelous. I could see more and more of the atoms in grander a scope. Could feel and hear their buzzing. It was like they wished to show me something. To tell me something. To dance and let me see their beauty and secrets. It was like...
A snap went off in my head.
**Akash - Draconic Insight has been cast on you**
A mountain. An unimpressive peak, and yet high enough. Caves hidden within both small and large. Not a single predator around, only prey. It was as it should be.
The scene glitched.
The mountain was in ruins. Wrecked and shattered. It looked like someone took several ballistic projectiles to its sides. The caves looked unblemished. All but one. Shattered and widened till it was less a cave and more a rift in the mountain. The inside looked better than the entrance.
Shells. Fluids. Pieces of scale. Grooves of five on the ground and walls.
The scene changed again.
I saw red. I wanted death. I felt rage. My body, no not my body. The dragon shook with wrath. We found it. The culprit. A mountain of stone and earth.
**Akash - Draconic Insight has ended**
Pain hit me like a hammer to the skull. Luckily it was only a flash of it that I felt before it vanished replaced with a familiar pressure that alluded to the pain still present but now nerfed by the pain settings. I stumbled back with a gasp and to one knee balancing on my staff.
"What, what was that?".
**Quest - Rank A
**Vengeance
The Akashic Dragon has shown you it's pain. It's a failure. It wishes for its enemy to fall.
Rewards - ??
**Accept Quest - Y/N**
The box of text hovering in my sight was an answer to my question. Looking away from the box to the dragon to its slowly clouding gaze was the answer I needed. The box vanished with a wink as I pushed myself back to my full height. My eyes left the dragon and settled on the behemoth.
What the dragon showed me was a good explanation for its rage and continuous attempt to end the behemoth. 'Not like it matters'. I thought. This was the quest and there were rewards.
'Plus, the dragon did strike me. I should have gone by at this point. Since it's weak and defeated now, I'll just turn to you then'. I looked at the behemoth. 'Plus, this is a good time to practice combat magic'.
Taking in the Titanic entity I shivered. 'I'll just have to be careful'. I switched my staff 4i to my left hand and raised the now free arm. Any more delay was looking bad for the dragon. 'Let's start with a boom'.
The behemoth was still flickering from one side to the other dishing blows into the dragon. It was a surprise the Serpent's scales had yet to break. 'Focus. I should have learned another Akash by now but I guess it's neither the time nor the hour. My two Akash will have to do'.
The behemoth appeared right in front of the dragon arms raised, fists cupped together and then smashing down like a hammer.
I activated **Arcane Conflagration - Wizard Fire** in a hurry and a burst of bright red and golden flames shot from my hand in a loose beam aimed straight at the giant.
It saw the beam before it hit as it paused in confusion arms halting midway to its strike, right before the beam shot over its fists and smashed into its neck with an explosion of force and fire. It stumbled backward, palms released and arms waving slowly but wildly.
I unleashed another beam after cutting off the first one instantly. The aim was to drive it back from the dragon. Which worked as the second strike pushed it back again. **Almighty Push** left my body directed from my legs and blasted the ground beneath me. I was airborne the next moment aiming for the dragon.
Midair I used **Almighty Pull** to drag myself to the dragon. Using Push' I erased my velocity before landing on its scaled underbelly. "Hmmh."
I now realized why it had been both weak and sturdy. The scales where were less than those on its back and sides. While pounding had been inefficient the force must have reverberated through its innards causing inner haemorrhage.
"**Divine Restoration - Healing Mist**" I mumbled. The greyish-gold light oozed from my skin and poured into the dragon. The rattle and vibration beneath my feet shook me a bit. With a running leap and Almighty Push push, I sailed up and towards the now-settled behemoth. Its head swiveled in all directions searching for me.
A glance behind me showed my mist still working on the dragon. I frowned. I had no confidence in single-handedly ending this behemoth. Between me and the dragon, it was more plausible. 'I'll have to buy it time to heal completely. But what to do?'. My eye searched through the two spells I knew.
Almighty Push and Pull was already working well as a mobility skill. I could already see a way to use it as an offensive too. I shivered in mental pain. 'The backlash would be huge'. I went to Arcane Conflagration. Wizard Fire was doing well for me in attacks but it only served to push the behemoth back. 'Well, I didn't expect my weak attacks to destroy it. Still, the beams could lead it directly to me plus I need more force to shake it. A concentrated blast, right in its face. That should work, let's see'.
I was beginning to fall, the ground rushing up fast to meet me. Stretching my right hand in the behemoth's direction I visualized what I wanted. My eyes found a part of its body I wanted the blast to target. I could sense the Akashic energy within me flow through the distance, like a writhing serpent till it met the point where my eye was focused on. It was both instant and slow. Fast enough to reach while I was still dropping but slow enough that I could pick it up as it happened.
**Arcane Conflagration - Incendiary**
The spot erupted in a blast that drove the behemoth to the side and back. It staggered. Almighty Push cut off my landing and then I dropped to my feet on the edge of the mountain. The behemoth caught itself and a roar filled the air. It was like mountains shaking and clashing.
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Its eyes swiveled but I was already on the move. Running as fast as I could, I dashed to its right. I6 flickered and vanished. "Shit". Skidding to a halt I turned sharply hoping it wasn't going for the dragon.
"Huh". It wasn't there. "Where the-". My question stuttered in my throat as my surroundings went dark. "Ah, Shit". Looking up I found myself staring at the glorious heel of the behemoth its shadow looming over me.
**Almighty Hold**
**Almighty Push**
The ground cracked beneath my feet. My right hand shook and rips and tears ran through my flesh, blood spilled and I blinked almost distracted by tbe weird color of my life's blood. The giant's heel paused for just a moment.
"Aaahh". I screamed as I felt my bones creaked and break, my flesh rip and tear all over my body and not my hand. "Fuck, fuck". I let myself fall quickly releasing the heel, it came rushing down at me faster than I hoped. "No, no. **Almighty Push**". I screamed out the Spell.
My body was blasted out and through the shadow and increasingly vanishing light as the heel sought to trap and squash me to the ground. I slipped right through the tiny space between certain death and ground before hitting the floor and rolling over and over again, trailing dust and sand in my trail.
I lay there with a groan wondering how I even survived that. I rolled myself to my back already trying to create a spell to heal my wounds. The heel was there, descending right on me.
I couldn't even exclaim, couldn't try getting away again. Even if I could find something to use my Omniscient Hand on I didn't have time for it. So I did what I could at the moment.
**Almighty Hold**
My spine cracked. I moaned as the pressure hit me. The ground shattered around me. 'If this wasn't a game, I can't even imagine the amount of pain I should be in now'. A crack and snapping sound startled me with a spike of pain and then pressure. I looked to see my left hand holding the staff bent at a weird angle. I shivered.
Basically, only my right was slowing the heel down. "Where the fuck is that dragon?. How long would it take those wounds to heal?".
I cursed as I felt myself sink into the ground. I couldn't even move anymore and it was by luck that my right hand was still working enough to simply push out the Almighty Hold. The heel was close, too close. I could smell it now, poke out a tongue, and just need three more tongue lengths to taste it.
"I'm so screwed". I felt like hitting myself over the head. 'I should have let the dragon die. It couldn't even assist when needed. Or should I have waited for it to heal up before attacking? That's impossible with the behemoth not letting up'. I sighed.
A ping appeared to the side of my vision. Ignoring it I focused on the heel. Whatever it was wouldn't matter with me dying here. It was legit game over now. The heel vanished. My Hold sputtered out like a flame put out as I had nothing to quite literally hold. The ground shook beneath me and I turned to follow the giant as it stumbled.
The dragon was on it. Biting, roaring, and clawing.
"Ah, Thank ... the Creator. Yes. That sounds best". Focusing on myself I willed a spell to heal my body.
**Divine Restoration - Heal Thyself**
I didn't see the slight glow and stars that escaped my body. Too busy shutting my eyes in relief from the pressure. While the pain was cut off the pressure was uncomfortable. Still better than the pain but not something anyone would like either way.
I struggled to my feet and gripped my staff tight. Locking my eyes on the battle going on I didn't realize I was frowning.
A glance at my records showed I had used almost 300 essence. Knowing most of my spell cost was too low to deplete my essence this fast I figured it was from holding up the heel. Healing Mist would have also taken up more essence due to the injuries and size of the recipient.
"Size, effect, and power matter". Nodding to myself I turned back to the behemoth. Thinking of different ways to do this I realized front-line fighting wasn't for me.
"Support it is. First let's see, Uhm..." I watched the behemoth smash the dragon head first to the ground then flicker out of the location. It appeared behind it and grabbed its long tail. The snarl of rage and frustration from it reached me as the behemoth spun it and those fit up into the air. It vanished and reappeared above punching down with such ferocity I felt the shockwaves.
"Wait! That's it". With a grin, I dashed forward. Using Almighty Pull on the dragon I tugged myself forward. The behemoth vanished reappearing on the ground its palms folded together and held behind its head ready for quite the pitch. Only I could see Akashic energy gathering and spiking from its hands.
'Shit, it can cast spells too. What the hell Hildelith how overpowered is this thing'. I shook my head and focused on what came next. The dragon descended just into the reach of the Giant. I arrived behind its head but still far away right as it swung its fists. I followed.
"**Almighty-". I drew my fist back, cocked for a punch, and then threw a right hook putting in mind the forms my brother usually used in his training. "-Fist**". A ripple rushed from my fist, the air blasted apart, and the sound of thunder ripped through my eardrums. The circular outwards blast traveled from my fist up to the behemoth.
BOOM!!
The sound from collision rivaled the fist thrown itself. The head snapped to the side the hands jerked and another explosion of energy wrecked it from its fists. It stumbled and fell to its butt while the result blasted my right arm to shreds and bloody strips.
'I want to believe that was me but I'm not so naive'. I muttered eyeing my drooping hand. Heal Thyself fixed it up instantly and then I pulled myself to the dragon. Healing Mist went to work on it. IT caught itself halfway to the ground and I held on with my free hand onto a scale. "Bloody staff".
The dragon circled in the air like a serpent and then darted out like an arrow straight for the behemoth. I watched in horror as the runes glowed.
"Wait-" My eyes widened. "-why is it white?". The runes pulsed in a white glow and then I felt my fur stand on end. "No. Turn-". BOOM! CRACKLE!!
A surge of electrostorm blasted in all directions with the behemoth as its epicenter. I knew there were several curses in my mind for Hildelith as I lost hold of the dragon, definitely sute there were numerous roars of pain from the creature, and finally a pressure all over my body.
I came to quite far from the detonation site. My body tingled and the scent of burned meat hit my nostrils. Pushing to my feet I found an unwelcome sight. The giant was standing over the dragon, its hand wreathed in lightning. Like a storm god looking down on its defiant entity.
I gritted my teeth. 'First battle and that demon fled. Second and I'm so out of my depth. There has to be a way. My records". The screen flickered into my vision I looked through it. There was no time to learn a new Akash. It was easier to create variants under a spell than to learn the base spell itself.
'I don't have that time'. I read over my racial abilities and then my perk. "What can I do with this perk of mine?". I frowned. "This wasn't the time to practice with my perk. I needed to do something. If only I could check the giant for its weakness. If I knew about that lightning I wouldn't have let the dragon rush it. I thought it could only absorb heat". I looked up and frowned as the giant's arm rose to the heavens. Dark clouds rushed to gather over this head.
Then a box flashed into my vision.
"Eh". I was seeing records. The giant's records. 'I can see records?'. I didn't know if I should be glad about it now or pissed I didn't discover it sooner. 'Focus'. I looked over the records and my mouth dropped.
**Welcome to the Akashic Records, Elder 37**
**Records of the Akashic Behemoth, Burdil**
**Name:** Burdil
**Akashic Rank:** Akashic Behemoth
**Akashic Essence:** Ascendant (129500/187500)
**Power:** Base (18)
**Wisdom:** Base (3)
**Racial Abilities:**
**Reality Distortion**
- **Warp Space:** Can manipulate the fabric of reality within a certain radius, creating zones where the laws of physics behave differently (e.g., reversing gravity, slowing time).
- **Illusions:** Generate illusions so convincing that they can even deceive other powerful magical beings.
**Dimensional Shifting**
- **Teleportation:** Instantly move between locations within the Rack of Life or across different planes of existence.
- **Phase Out:** Temporarily shift out of the current dimension, becoming intangible and immune to all forms of attack.
**Magical Energy Absorption and Redirection**
- **Energy Absorption:** Absorb magical energy directed at them, converting it into raw power that heals them or fuels their spells.
- **Energy Redirection:** Redirect absorbed energy back at their foes or into the environment, causing devastating magical effects.
---
**Lore:**
Akash Behemoths are titanic entities adorned with glowing, ever-shifting Torain symbols etched into their immense forms long after their creation. They traverse the Rack of Life, placed there after their birth by the Primordial Magi. Behemoths are the embodiments of raw, untamed magic, serving as both guardians and terrors of the realms they inhabit. Their presence is a constant reminder of the unpredictable and often dangerous nature of Akashic power. At their chest sits their core.
"This thing has not even gone all out". I glared and then looked up. The behemoth was staring right at me. Don't tell me it felt me scan its records. That's just bullshit. Okay, maybe not. Some games usually make characters get notified when they are identified'.
The giant vanished. Behemoth, it was a behemoth. I didn't bother looking around. Its actions were already quite obvious. Almighty Pull dragged me to the dragon's side and just as I thought the Behemoth appeared where I had been. Heel stomping my position.
"With all that stomping, it's a sin to not do this". I created an incendiary beneath its feet. The explosion stumbled it backwards. "Okay. If you can absorb magical energy that would mean you're like a battery. You have quite the threshold too. Ascendant. Well fuck. Okay. What to do?. Energy attacks are useless".
I was absentmindedly using Healing Mist on the dragon. "Hmmm. Core. Most golems fall when their cores are destroyed. Should work here. Now-".
The dragon rose with a roar. " Shut up and don't go attacking it stupidly. It's quite powerful". The dragon snapped its attention to me with a heated glare. I stared back. "Just how powerful are you?". I willed myself to see its records and prayed that it didn't feel it.
**Welcome to the Akashic Records, Elder 38**
**Records of the Akashic Dragon, Anatilda**
**Name:** Anatilda
**Akashic Rank:** Akashic Dragon
**Akashic Essence:** Ascendant (91700/12500)
**Power:** Base (3)
**Wisdom:** Base (18)
---
**Racial Abilities:**
**Akashic Energy Manipulation**
- **Energy Channeling:** Harness and control the raw power of the Akashic Force, enabling feats of unparalleled magical prowess.
- **Energy Infusion:** Imbue objects, creatures, or spells with Akashic Force essence, enhancing their properties or unlocking latent potential.
**Elemental Breath Attacks**
- **Elemental Fusion:** Combine elemental energies with Akashic Force to unleash powerful, multi-elemental blasts (e.g., simultaneous fire, ice, and disintegration).
- **Elemental Mastery:** Shift between pure elemental breath attacks and Akashic-infused variants that induce visions or disrupt magic.
**Hidden Truths**
- **Revelation:** Unveil concealed truths and secrets, offering insight into ancient mysteries, future events, or the true nature of beings and objects.
- **Mind Link:** Establish telepathic connections to share cosmic knowledge, imparting wisdom or potentially overwhelming others with vast information.
---
**Lore:**
Akashic Dragons are revered as ultimate sages and guardians of cosmic knowledge. Their scales shimmer with vibrant colors reflecting their deep connection to the Akashic Force, symbolizing profound insights into the universe's hidden truths and arcane energies. Known for their formidable wisdom and understanding of the cosmos, these dragons are sought after by seekers of enlightenment and answers to cosmic mysteries. They wield immense power, not only through their elemental prowess but also through their ability to reveal and shape the fundamental truths of existence. Their existence serves as a reminder of the limitless potential and profound mysteries embedded within the Akashic Records.
The roar in my face told me it felt it. "Sorry, had to know. But why are you an Ascendant but your threshold is lower. Also, how and why exactly are your Powers and Wisdom different. The same I mean but opposite. It's not making sense". In the corner of my eye the giant vanished and I used Almighty push to shoot myself airborne. 'At this rate, I'll be using the Divine essence soon'.
I was midair when the bastard appeared next to us. The dragon didn't wait for me as it lunged at it. It raised its arms to defend. Incendiary shook its torso letting the dragon slip past. I pushed myself forward and immediately remembered I wasn't on the ground.
I bolted forward to my surprise and for a split second I looked back to see nothing. 'So it works mid-air too'. Turning forward I grabbed at nothing and felt the pull fail. 'Okay, only push works. Probably like a propulsion'.
I turned back to the ongoing wrestle. I finally realized why the dragon was losing. First was its power weakness. I began to realize power meant different things depending on the race. For the behemoth, it meant its might and strength more than it meant its Akash. If it was a percentage thing I'd put it as a 60 + 40 thing. Sixty for the physical aspect and 40 for its Akash. The opposite was the case for the dragon. This meant the brawl ongoing was in the Behemoth's favor.
When it came to magic the dragon had the upper hand. But the energy absorption skill was a bane for it as all its breaths and attacks got sucked into the Behemoth's body. 'The runes must be how it regulated and guides the energy. The color lets enemies know what element it turned the energy to'. I looked at the Behemoth's chest as it shoved the dragon to the side with a punch.
'What is your function?'.
I almost cursed again but kept my mouth shut. A smile graced my cheeks. I had an idea. Landing on the dragon's back I ran. Gravity came to work at times to pull me down as I ascended. Pushes and pulls neutralized such attempts and shortened distances.
My essence was ticking below the 100s. I kept dashing though, jumping over scales and spikes. My ground shook and trembled as the furious dragon fought its adversary. One final pull shot me past the dragon's eye. Its eyeball rolled and locked on me. The Behemoth looked at me. Its eyes are a dull opaque crystal. This close to the Behemoth I could finally see what its body was made of.
Crystals and organic flesh mixed and merged as one. All except the core location. Its chest was protected by some sort of metal. But it didn't cover the core. Instead, the core was lodged deep into the chest.
I wasn't sure if the dragon knew what I wanted to do or if its vengeful rage made it ignore me. Either way, its attention returned to the Behemoth just as I socked an Almighty Fist into its face shattering my hand again. Seeing this it roared straight at the Behemoth's face. Akashic energy shot out of its mouth in a cascade of elements as I fell back already healing my hand. The behemoth was too slow to protect its face so instead the runes flared for life as the Energy struck it hard.
My healing done I pulled myself to its core landing within the circular metal protection. "Got in. Now to see if a focused-". The core pulsed and then turned bright red. Slowly I turned to find the dragon's chest perfectly aligned with the behemoth as its arms squeezed it to its body in a hug. Looking back to the core it pulsed brighter and brighter letting off dangerously high levels of heat.
Something told me if that energy was concentrated and shot out this would be the end. Of both me and the dragon. As if to punctuate the thought the dragon's body was pressed up against the edge of the metal shutting me in a bright metallic cave.
My plan died away as I looked at the core in horror. 'That's exactly what it wants to do'.
What was I supposed to do when I had been sealed in a reactor facility when there was a meltdown ongoing? Even as I stared in horror and tried to come up with something the core went from red to golden red and the air boiled and burned.
I was toast.