Kazumi led the way through the forest, they had defeated the first guardian and his guards. Now they had passed through his share of the domain and were wary of oncoming assaults. The ‘gate’ had been a cleared path through a clearing of trees which had been grown in the form of an archway.
When they passed through the domain changed immediately. A grove of trees that grew in circles and layered one another in a ringed formation. In the centre a small hill raised and on it, stood the most beautiful hind Jazmel had ever laid his eyes on. He was seeing both its corporeal form and then its ethereal; the Mana coiled into its spirit with ease and Jazmel wondered just how something so beautiful could be only a guardian.
DING!
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE DOMAIN OF THE SECOND GUARDIAN
TIER III GREAT SPIRIT HIND FOUND! Spirit hinds, the ancestors of the woods. Defensive and yet also territorial!
The system told him everything he needed to know, the deer was a myriad of shades of green, its coat like dappled leaves and beneath that spirit green. He could see the ambient Mana clinging to its form, keeping it constrained and he had to admit he was in awe of the creature. Its antlers were emerald, the green jewels speared from his head in great prongs like tree branches and he could feel quiet power emanating from it.
The hind snorted and pawed the hillock it was on, and Jazmel read it as a challenge. In seconds, the Mana emanating from its antlers, and it reared its head back to propel something into the area above and around. He could see the Mana, but nothing physical could be seen.
DING!
GREAT SPIRIT HIND HAS USED AURORAL BREACH!
…
THE SPIRITS HAVE HEARD THE CALL!
Jazmel watched as a myriad of colours formed in Mana appeared above them in the domain and immediately from the breach spirits of all shapes and sizes poured forth.
“Spirits!” he yelled, and everyone leapt into action.
________
Sadé moved forward quickly, Kazumi at her side and raging a wildfire as she cast her own skill.
Blue flame inferno!
The torrent of blue flames burned through the first sprites, and they burst into ambient Mana and nothingness.
DING!
EXP ACCRUED!
Foxfire!
Foxfire!
Now she was aware that the skill was effective against the spirits, she covered as much of the sky as she could with her blue orbs and then she made them explode.
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DING!
EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!
+3 STR
+2 END
+2 WIL
Her stats were bumped up and she felt the energy of the system, flare in her core. She knew she was growing a little faster after earning her new title. Princess of the elven realm offered her a great chance of earning more stats but also earning a better bounty from her stats. She cast her skill again and watched as she turned different sprites into glittering dust.
Greater spirits came through now, their forms more substantial and rigid. Spirits that favoured beasts old and new, prancing around the clearing in a wild hunt, an array of Mana and spirit energy all around.
TIER III SPIRIT HIND WREATHES ITSELF IN SPIRIT ENERGY!
IT IS PREPARING!
…
BEWARE!
The system chimed and she didn’t need it to know that something was coming, she watched as Elai cast combusting Mana all around her and the spirits and sprites that charged at her were blown into dust and Mana, the sprites dwindled but the spirits seemed to take a few moments to reform.
DING!
TIER II SPIRITS HAVE RECOVERED THROUGH THE MANA IN THE AIR
Sadé sighed but didn’t falter, she cast her fire and bombarded the skies, and her blue flames decimated the tier II spirits turning them into flaming kindle and they rained down on them; cinders that smelt sweet and of life.
________
Jazmel watched as Paldane burst through swarming spirits and used his raucous roar and blue flames all about him, Jazmel had a short burst towards the spirit hind. He made sure to use it, rushing forward he bounded through the spirits that tried to block his way. Passing through them felt like being submerged in water for a moment; disorientating but the system soon stopped that feeling.
YOU HAVE SURVIVED THE HOLD OF THE HOLLOW!
YOUR SPIRIT, MUCH LIKE YOUR BODY IS DOMINEERING!
+1 WIL
+1 END
+1 VIT
He almost chuckled, but he was already upon the spirit hind. He raised Daishinkan and brought it down with the upmost speed. The blade struck the antlers first and the din of metal against jewel quirked Jazmel’s ears for a moment.
Lacerate
He used his skill and knocking the spirit hind’s head out of his way, he averted being struck by the antlers. He was still sore from the great guardian. He didn’t want to suffer again. the great spirit hind shook its head and swung its antlers towards Jazmel again. he evaded but before he could even respond, Sadé was there.
________
She leapt high into the air and casting her skill down, she rained thunder down. But then she crashed down; stabbing with both short sword and sabre into the neck and throat of the hind. It bellowed, careened a cry that caused Sadé’s own spirit to waver. But it died quickly, and she felt her body incensed with system energy.
DING!
YOU HAVE KILLED THE TIER III SPIRIT HIND!
+3 DEX
+3 AGL
…
+4 INT
YOU HAVE REACHED 100 STATS IN INTELLIGENCE!
…
EXP GREATLY ACCRUED!
LEVEL UP!
________
Jazmel stood breathing slowly, letting his body try and heal slowly as he watched the system dissolve the spirits and the body of the great spirit hind.
DING!
YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE SECOND GUARDIAN
THE TIER III GREAT SPIRIT HIND HAS BEEN SLAIN!
…
ADVANCE INTO THE HALLOWED REALM OF MIRETE
…
EXP ACCRUED!
…
TIER III ANTLER OF THE SPIRIT HIND GAINED!
TIER II SPIRIT ASHES GAINED!!
He smiled and silently thanked the system, he watched Elai and Sadé consider their own rewards, Sadé was growing quickly he watched her now, she moved with the grace of a dancer now and he found himself entranced.
Elai herself had grown considerably; she had always been a powerful mage. He had seen her in action in the demonic castle, she had demonstrated considerable strength when she held the wall during the attack on the outpost. Now she was growing, she had earned significant increase on her Mana stats and now he watched her almost in tune in Mirete, she was wielding her Mana in a completely different way.
“Let’s keep going.” He uttered and Kazumi accepted the lead again, Paldane soaring above her while the three seekers followed behind.