Allowing herself to be controlled by anger, Emhe instantly overcame her fear. Despite not having the magnificent magic spear that gave her the implicit knowledge of three skills, she intended to imitate them.
Mimicking the [Stab] skill, she frantically attacked anything that tried to reach her. “Shit! 6 have already reached the barricade.” Although her attacks were quick, they lacked the strength to seriously damage the undead. That's not to mention that her choice of weapon hadn't been the wisest.
Within seconds, there were already 10 undead pressing against the makeshift barricade. "Damn! These dusty bastards have no blood to spill! All I get is them falling backwards to the ground. If it wasn't for the fact that they're so stupid that they walk all over each other, I'd be screwed!”
Realizing her mistake. “I won't get anywhere like this! It won't be long before they rise again! I have to switch to the heavy staff!"
Thinking about the inventory, time slowed down tremendously and appeared in front of her like a hologram.
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[Heavy staff]
Common item
Weight: 3,7 Kg
Length: 1,40 meters
Maximum Blunt Damage: ??? (Knowledge of this weapon is needed)
Maximum Blockable Damage: ??? (Knowledge of this weapon is needed)
Skills: You haven't discovered any skills with this weapon yet.
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Focusing on the heavy staff, it automatically equipped in her hands. "Great! It's instantaneous even in the middle of a fight!"
She wanted to ask Supherm if she could also do that in reality and not only on the Plane 23, but she refrained from doing so. She felt more like strangling him than talking to him. "I highly doubt I can do this out of here!"
The heavy staff was somewhat thicker than the spear. It had metal reinforcements at both ends that gave it an impact area similar to the surface of a fist.
“Bleep! You have countered [Spectral Cold III], but you are still suffering [Spectral Cold II]!”
Grinning mischievously. "Let's see how it performs against crunchy enemies!"
With both hands trying to imitate [Bash], she aimed at their heads using the heavy staff like a spear. However, she stopped immediately when the unarmed undead tried to grab the weapon. "Shit! I can't let them take it from me! Better prioritize accuracy and speed over strength!"
Unable to act after watching the smaller undead grow increasingly violent. "Fuck! They are fast! Much faster than the other! They must be the undead goblins!"
Feeling less skilled than them. “That's not going to work! Change of strategy! I'll let them get close enough to hit them hard from above!” Since the ceiling was high and the undead were pushing each other to get close to her, it was very easy to hit them despite using more strength than speed.
The fragmented bones of the undead began to leap through the air, piling up on the ground, hampering the advance of the undead onslaught.
"Bleep! There are new essences in your surroundings. Try to absorb them before their hosts rise once more!"
Attacking nonstop, not even to catch her breath. "Don't you realize that I'm in trouble right now! I won't be able to hold hands with them! Maybe on the second or third date!"
Gradually, the onslaught of the undead lost strength, however, those weren't all her enemies. One of them hadn't advanced, but that changed as soon as Emhe saw him raise his shield. "Dammit! Please! Don't come! I don't want to hit you!" Anguish and sadness pretended to drown her as she watched Richard's corpse advance.
With tears in her eyes. "Stay there! Stay there, dammit!"
"Bleep! Countdown active. 3:12 minutes."
"I don't remember the faces of my own parents, yet what Dianna felt for this old man was so intense. It overwhelms me. It's like I see the corpse of my own father trying to attack me. I won't be able to attack him. Dammit!"
The Master Instructor slowly advanced until he reached the improvised barricade, crushing the undead in his path. "He seems much slower than the others. Surely, the heavy armor and shield were too much for that amalgamation of bones and dry remains." However, to her astonishment, something changed that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. She had become overconfident. "Wait a minute! The light in his eyes shines differently!"
With overwhelming force and speed, the Instructor charged at the barricade with his shield raised, destroying everything in his path. Bones and wood flew through the air as Emhe jumped to avoid the impact.
The redhead was thrown into the air until she landed on the bed. Bed that crumbled raising a small dust of rot. Closing her eyes and mouth, she instinctively rolled to avoid the next attack. "He tricked me! He's extremely strong and fast! Good thing I didn't face him. He just pushed me with the shield. I hope he doesn't rip that greatsword of his chest!"
"Bleep! Countdown active. 2:56 minutes."
"I can't afford to see him like this. He's not the old man, though he may still have some of his attributes. I can't let him run me over or he'll tear me apart! I have to attack in the only area where he has no armor! The head!"
After getting back to her feet, Emhe launched an attack directly at his head. However, the Master Instructor parried it with an ease and calm that baffled Emhe. Just by raising his shield slightly, her attack turned into a simple joke. "Shit! I can't beat him with the heavy staff if he's carrying that shield!"
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[Undead Human Warrior] (Level 39)
Blessings: ???
Power: 235+47 = 282
Dexterity: ???
Intelligence: ??
Willpower:???
HP: ???/1045
Mass: 102
Height: 1,67
[Deadly Rest]
[Free from Starvation]
[Inconsistent]
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"Shit! I have to think of something now!... Hold on! What if I snatch the greatsword that's still embedded in him?... No, no, no! I would have to struggle with him and he's already shown me that he has overwhelming strength. Shit, shit, fuck! The other undead will rise again soon. The glow in their eyes is back!"
"Bleep! You are suffering [Spectral Cold III]!"
Trying to keep her distance from the Master Instructor. "I have to remove their essence, but... How do I do it?!" Opening the inventory to change her weapons. "The heavy shield and the crude mace are better suited for this task!"
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[Tower shield]
Common Item
Weight: 10,2 Kg
Maximum Blunt Damage (MBD): ???? (Knowledge of this weapon is needed)
Skills: You haven't discovered any skills with this weapon yet.
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"Gods! This shield weighs a ton!"
As soon as the undead goblins began to swarm around her, the Master Instructor withdrew. "He doesn't attack me if there are others in the way? Great! That'll give me some leeway to defend myself. I have to take them down and collect their essence!"
Realizing that she was cornered in a corner of the room. "Shit! I have to...! Wait! This might work!" Also realizing that she could no longer be attacked by more than 3 enemies at the same time, she raised her shield and parried the blows of the two undead attacking her left flank and hit the one on her right flank. "It seems that when they rise again they're a bit clumsier and weaker."
“Bleep! You have countered [Spectral Cold III], but you are still suffering [Spectral Cold II]!”
Hitting them again with renewed confidence. "Good! Despite being such a primitive mace, it's very effective against them! They fall a bit easier than before. Ok! Now I just have to figure out how to keep the old man from coming after me!"
"Bleep! Countdown active. 2:26 minutes.
There are new essences in your surroundings. Try to absorb them before their hosts rise once more!”
"Stop doing that! If you're not going to help me, don't overwhelm me by telling me to do something I can't! I'm on the edge or don't you see it!"
As soon as 4 of the 8 undead that had risen fell, the Master Instructor prepared to charge once more. "Oh, no! He's going to attack me with them on the way! No, no, no! I have to do something! I'm cornered!"
Despite having put all her strength into sheltering behind the shield, the price for withstanding the attack was high. "AAAAGH!"... "Gods! It hurts like hell! I feel like my bones are about to break."
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The pain in her back and arms was so intense, she almost dropped the shield. Holding back tears and clenching her jaws... "NEVER! YOU HEAR ME, OLD MAN?! NEVER!"
Suddenly, the Instructor grabbed her by the throat with his free hand. "AGH!" "I can't breathe! Damn you!" "AAAAGGGHH!" "He's going to snap my neck and I can't unequip my shield or he'll crush me in this corner with his shield!"
"Bleep! You are suffering [Spectral Cold III]!"
With great effort, Emhe managed to lift the mace fighting against the terrible pain. Without thinking twice, she tried to hit him in the skull. However, unable to properly move or concentrate because of the pain, the blow ended up being pathetic! “Shit, shit, shit!"
Desperate, she tried again, but it ended even worse. The undead felt superior, and proved it to her in the worst possible way. Squeezing her throat much harder.
Unable to breathe and feeling terribly cornered. "I'm not going to die here! I WON'T GIVE UP!"
With eyes full of fury, she raised the mace again. In the same confined space, she began to strike his head again and again, as if the pain didn't exist. Again and again. Without giving up. Without stopping. "AAAAAGH!!!"
On the seventh blow, and with her skull slightly damaged, the undead released her. However, when Emhe intended to repeat the attack with much more space and force, the Instructor grabbed her wrist. But he didn't just do that. He began to squeeze and twist her hand so hard that Emhe could only think of letting go of the mace. "AAAAAGH! Gods! You don't get tired, huh?”
"Bleep! You are suffering [Spectral Cold IV]!
You are reaching dangerous levels!"
*[Spectral Cold IV]: Debuff. Causes:
-20% to Willpower and Intelligence.
The pain received is drastically intensified.
You can suffer brain damage in your real mind.
Feeling as if the wrist was about to break, Emhe opened the inventory focusing on an empty cell.
"Bleep! There is nothing to be equipped there! Do you want to unequip something?"
Desiring it with all her might, she unequipped the mace and shield. The Instructor saw the change puzzled, realizing too late that she had re-equipped the mace choosing the left hand.
Catching him by surprise, the redhead managed to hit him in the skull with an accurate strike. Despite having far less prowess to rely on, she managed to stun him for half a second. Repeating the attack several times and enduring the pain, she managed to hit him hard enough that his skull began to crack.
Very confused, the Master Instructor tried to move away from her and protect himself with the shield, but he didn't see what she had prepared. The redhead positioned herself on his left flank and attacked him with the recently equipped heavy staff. By the time the Instructor sensed the side impact, he could only collapse as his skull exploded into pieces.
“Bleep! There is a new essence in your surroundings. Try to absorb it before his host rise once more!”
"Gods! This has been incredibly difficult and painful!"
“Bleep! You have countered [Spectral Cold IV] and [Spectral Cold III], but you are still suffering [Spectral Cold II]!”
Gasping, she leaned down and placed both her hands on him to absorb his essence. Tears came for more than all the incredible pain. "I'm sorry, old man! I hope you can find rest wherever you've gone."
"Bleep! New essence gained! You have gained 390 essence points. Honoring your pact, you handed over 195 points to the entity called Supherm."
"Thum, Thump! Your Dexterity attribute has increased by 1."
"Thum, Thump! Your Willpower attribute has increased by 1."
Lost in thought. "I'd be lying if I told you it didn't hurt! I'd be lying if I told you I didn't enjoy beating you. I must be crazy, but I think I had fun and I feel a little bad about that. What the hell is wrong with me? What am I? Is it because of the memories of Dianna or have I always been like this? I hate that I can't remember anything!"
“Bleep! Countdown active. 0:55 minutes.”
“Bleep! You have countered [Spectral Cold II], but you are still suffering [Spectral Cold I]!”
In great pain, she continued to finish off all the undead that were trying to rise again. "How is it possible that I can attack without getting tired? How is it possible that despite all the pain, I have no injuries? How did my attributes increase without the rested effect? What kind of place are the planes? Maybe I have Dianna's skills! It's strange! I haven't even heard that bleep saying mine, just that damned Spectral Cold! Could that be the cause?"
With only a few undead trying to rise, Emhe unequipped the heavy staff and continued touching the remaining undead with both hands.
"Bleep! You have discovered a new weapon skill that allows you to perform a quick strike to the head. Aim at slow or downed targets. Can be used with any blunt weapon. Do you want to name your newfound skill?"
Smiling. “Bash sounds good!”
"Bleep! New weapon skill. [Bash] (Level 1)!
Your Polearm Mastery has increased by 1! Your current value is 3!
You Spear Mastery has increased by 1! Your current value is 2 (14)!
You have discovered a new combat mastery with the help of the essences found! Staff Mastery!
Your Staff Mastery has increased by 1! Your current value is 1!
You have discovered a new combat mastery! Heavy Staff Mastery!
Your Heavy Staff Mastery has increased by 1! Your current value is 1(13)!”
*[Bash] (Level 1): Weapon Skill. Strike with a one or two-handed weapon. Quick blow to the most sensitive parts of the head.
Maximum Blunt Damage (MBD): It’s value is the sum of:
(6% of own Weight if one handed (12% if two-handed)
(Extra weight (On the arms))**
(20% of Power)
(50% of Dexterity)
(10% of of Intelligence)
(10% of of Willpower)
(Combat Mastery of the group to which the weapon used belongs.)
(Combat Mastery with the weapon used.)
Critical Hit: MBDx3.
While executing the skill you acquire:
(1% to Power & Willpower)
(4% to Dexterity)
Stamina Consumption per hit: 3% of own Weight + Weapon Weight.
**Any item equipped on the arm or arms that increases its total weight. Such as gloves, armor, extra protections and the weapons themselves.
Emhe felt euphoric despite the pain. As the rest of the undead rose, she finished them off with [Bash] and absorbed their essence. She accumulated a total of 395 more essence points between the undead goblins and the ones that looked like humans. Essence he had to split with Supherm.
“Bleep! Countdown active. 0:00 minutes.”
"Gods! I did it! I did it!"
Triumphant after her well-deserved victory, Emhe waited for Supherm's hissing voice. However, she realized something was wrong when he didn't speak despite the long wait.
Looking warily at her surroundings, she perceived how something began to move. "Wait a second! What the hell is that?"
All the inert remains of the undead began to swirl again, but this time, they were not rising as independent bodies. They were revolving around the Master Instructor's body, giving him another shape.
"No way! Is he going to rise again?!"
"Bleep! You are suffering [Spectral Cold II]!”
This time the undead was taller than the previous ones, as well as much more massive. He grabbed the greatsword embedded in his armor and pulled it out, releasing a red aura.
"Gods! It's the goblin warlord!"
"Bleep! A portal to your Tower of Knowledge is opening!"
The warlord immediately took an offensive stance and started moving towards her.
"Bleep! [See Beyond] has been activated!"
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[Undead Goblin Warlord] (Level 46)
Blessings: ???
Power: 324 +194 = 518
Dexterity: ???
Intelligence: ??
Willpower: ???
HP: ???/1494
Mass: 98
Height: 2,18
[Deadly Rest]
[Free from Starvation]
[Inconsistent]
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Without hesitation, Emhe opened the inventory. Taking advantage of the time slowdown, planned a strategy. Seeing the warlord ready to charge at her, Emhe equipped the heavy shield and the heavy staff in each hand.
"Bleep! Both hands are required to attack properly with the heavy staff. There's a high chance you will miss the attack."
"Shit! I won’t be able to dodge it in time with all this weight on me!"
Tensing her aching body, she forced herself to withstand the attack of that huge goblin with her shield. Unable to evade the attack, she paid the price for facing it. The blow was so strong that she felt her whole body break. Letting out a terrible cry of pain, she was thrown through the air until she collided with a wall. For a few seconds, she lay on the floor, almost unconscious. "GODS! I feel like I've been run over by a giant boulder!"
"Bleep! You are suffering [Spectral Cold III]!”
Supherm remarked a little nervously when he saw her on the ground. "You have resisted very well these five minutes, but this enemy is too much for you. The Instructor was very powerful, but he was unarmed. This time it's different. You should leave Plane 23! You will only lose the opportunity to get a very interesting extra. Some books with valuable knowledge. Believe me! It's not worth the effort!"
Emhe couldn't even stand up. The pain was indescribable, but even so, she didn't seem to want to give up. "Tell me, Supherm! How is it possible that with all the hits I've given and received, I didn't feel tired?!"
Checking that her body didn't seem hurt. "What are the rules that apply in this place?"
Emhe rambled on, trying to break Supherm's silence. "This isn't a completely physical place, is it? That's why I can't see my HP and Energy! That's why I haven't increased a single point of Power despite so much effort! Although I still need to breathe and I still feel cold and pain!"
Emhe kept looking for answers while trying to get up without success. "Earlier you said this was a safer way to get essence, not a lynching. Supposedly this is the past, and in the past I didn't exist, or at least, part of me didn't exist! What I still don't understand is why I only feel pain with no visible wounds! I really have nothing broken? Or maybe this all has to do with the error notification I received upon arrival? The one who informed me that you were making up for the problems arose from the absence of my ability to manipulate the Mana?"
As Emhe rambled on, the warlord slowly approached until he stood in front of her. Patiently holding the huge sword up high as if waiting for her surrender.
Finally giving in. "That's right! But you can die anyway! You can die of pain! Believe me! I've experienced it! Well? Do you really want to continue?"
After a couple more attempts, and enduring intense pain, Emhe finally managed to get up. "It feels like every bone in my body is broken, but I don't see blood or injuries of any kind!” Staring at the undead with intense hatred. “Maybe I shouldn't do it, but I'm going to fight!"
Trembling, Emhe got into position. "Yes! I can move! Don't expect to see me beg! You're gonna have to try harder than this!"
Supherm seemed uncomfortable with the redhead's suicidal attitude. It was as if he was showing the way out to a blind woman who felt at ease in the midst of the flames of a fire. "Are you sure about this? Surrender! Can't you see it's much stronger than you! It will kill you!"
Intense feelings of revenge filled her mind. Feelings born of the hatred Dianna might feel for that huge goblin. "I won't surrender, dammit! I won't, EVER! You'll have to knock me out, you piece of shit! What are you waiting for, killer?!"
The creature didn't think twice and brought the weapon down on her with all its might. However, she was already prepared for that.
She knew she was nearly defeated and that the warlord's power was disproportionate, but she didn't plan to flee. She hadn't run from 17 enemies and she didn't plan to run from just one. Even knowing that the attack would pulverize her, she raised her shield and attacked.