Meera went rolling through the air and almost crashed through a tree. Thankfully, she was able to stop in the air in time to avoid getting smashed through a tree. Another thing she was grateful for was her experience with dragons and knowing what was about to come as soon as she chopped off the dragonling's head. So, she had removed her Gem of Echoes and saved her ears. It wouldn't have made much of a difference if she had kept them on. She could've simply healed them with Vitalize, but why waste Mana?
Despite using many skills in conjunction, her Mana pool was still at two-thirds. She had enough Mana to heal any injuries if she had received any. She knew she had gotten good but didn't think she had gotten this good.
She quickly checked her notifications while the white spots faded from her vision.
*ding!*
[You have killed Scarlet Toothed Dragonling – Level 603. For killing an enemy 100 levels higher than your own and delivering the killing blow, you have gained bonus experience.]
*ding!*
[Your party has killed Sorceress of Ink – Level 656. You have gained partial experience. For killing an opponent a hundred levels higher than your own, you have gained bonus experience.]
*ding!*
[Congratulation. The Shadow Image has gained 9 levels and reached Level 467. You have been awarded 27 stat points]
[Congratulations. Chakram of Echoes effect activated. Upon reaching Level 460 in your main class, you have earned one more Chakrams.]
One regular chakram appeared on her arm. She pondered if they could be used against weaker opponents, thanks to her high Dexterity.
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror's Affinity has gained 3 levels and reached Level 362. All of your mirror-based attacks will get a 367% boost.]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Ambush Tactics has reached Level 182]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Druvis Might has gained 4 levels and reached Level 170]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirrorstrike Vision has reached Level 299]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror Wing has gained 2 levels and reached Level 270]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Mirror Phantom has reached Level 165]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Shadow Coating has gained 2 levels and reached Level 182]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Dusk Veil has gained 3 levels and reached Level 121]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Spectral Dominion has reached Level 153]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Death Mark has gained 3 levels and reached Level 123]
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Shadow Affinity has gained 3 levels and reached Level 199. All of your shadow-based attacks will get a 202% boost.]
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
*ding!*
[Congratulations. Armor of Mirrors has reached Level 252]
Meera hadn't used a whole lot of other skills, and the raw essence must still have been something in the air, even down here, as she gained more levels than she had hoped for. Still, something was better than nothing.
Next came the best part. She rubbed her hands in anticipation.
*ding!*
[Class Ability Activated. You have stolen the skill Magma Eruption. Magma Eruption – Type: Active. You can rupture the ground with a mighty stomp, spewing forth magma and volcanic gases, changing the lay of the battlefield around you. Would you like to acquire this skill?]
*ding!*
[Class Ability Activated. You have stolen the skill Molten Armor. Molten Armor– Type: Active. You become encased in a layer of molten rock, burning anyone who dares to attack it. Intense heat and flames leap off the armor when struck. Would you like to acquire this skill?]
They were both good skills and if she had space for them, she would've taken both or Magma Eruption at the very least. However, after her lessons with Veridiana, she was going to have a bias for Shadow or Mirror Affinity skills.
By design or coincidence, her class has been geared toward those affinities. Since affinities strengthen all skills and help them level up faster, these just wouldn't work for her, so she gave them up.
"You best get down here, dearie." Kalrina waved to her. "If the explosions haven't permanently rattled your brains. If so, take your time. I'm sure the dragons have a swift remedy for that."
"Why couldn't I have befriended a less annoying sorceress?" Meera grumbled as she descended to the others.
"Oh, so not rattled at all," Kalrina cooed, smiling brightly. "I'm so glad, my dear."
Meera sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Thank you, Meera," Lainor said. "That sorceress was beginning to become a nuisance."
"Ah, yes. You have my undying gratitude," Kalrina said. "Now, we best be off. That explosion must've drawn the attention of—"
The witch was cut off by a mighty roar that seemed to make the trees quiver and shake the very foundations of the earth. Up above, a pair of full-grown dragons peeled off from the fighting and came straight for them. It would be hard to miss them or the small crater the dragonling's head had made.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Meera dashed for the trees with the witch and cultist in tow.
By the time the dragons landed, blowing up a veritable dust storm, they were good and lost in the trees. They hid behind thick tree trunks as the dragons conversed in their language and sniffed about the place.
"They are saying someone killed Plaron," Lainor whispered. "And that he was a fool for ever coming out here alone."
"A fool that came in quite handy," Kalrina snorted.
At that, one of the dragons' head snapped in their direction. The dragon didn't bother checking to see if anyone was hiding there. It simply blasted red-hot flames into the trees. Meera dug her back into the tree, hoping the tree wasn't reduced to the cinders. Thankfully, the trees held, even if several branches around them were blazing.
Meera stayed still, as did the others. Not wanting to incur the dragon's further wrath. She might have been able to take on one dragon with the witch's help but not both, not even with Lainor present. A few tense moments passed before the dragons growled or spoke again. Then, there was the unmistakable sound of wings flapping.
She finally dared a peek, and they were gone. She let out a sigh of relief. "They're gone."
"And we should too," Kalrina said, taking off without waiting for a debate.
"But step lightly," Lainor warned. "Just because we cannot see them doesn't mean they cannot see us."
Meera had enough dealings with dragons to know what he meant. She had enough Mana to fly the rest of the way but would need the Mana if the dragons returned. So, she decided to walk for now. She stepped out of the cover of her tree and onto the burnt and blackened ground. Some branches still burned, and she hoped the fire didn't spread and turned into a forest fire.
They walked in silence. Lainor's head kept swiveling about, but he mostly looked up, hoping not to find any sign of the dragons.
Meera and the witch didn't need to rotate their head to see, but even they saw no sign of the dragons. They had come some distance from the keep. The sounds of fighting had died down some, nor did she hear any flapping wings.
"I think we're probably safe," Meera declared softly.
"Hmm," Kalrina nodded, not looking entirely convinced. She scanned the canopy once more before she spoke in a hushed whisper. "But still, we should be cautious."
"Oh no…" Lainor pointed up.
Just then, a pair of massive wings blotted out the night sky as a dark shape shimmered into view. Meera figured it must have some sort of cloaking skill like her Shroud of Shadows. Its maw glowed an orangish red.
[Shade Wing Dragon – Level ???]
"What's his level?" Meera asked.
"There's no time for that," the witch practically shrieked. "Run!"
"I agree, but if you must know, it's 732." With that, Lainor ran towards safety.
But there was going to be no safety from this shower of flames. Meera could see the fire washing over them like a great tsunami wave. She had to do something. She could take out her level 3 chakram and maybe put an end to this dragon, but she didn't want to reveal her super weapon just yet.
"You two go, I'll catch up," she called, making her allies stop in their tracks.
"My dear, no matter how strong you think you've gotten, you're not strong enough to take that on," Kalrina called in a controlled voice.
"Who says I aim to kill it," she replied. "I'm only going to distract it and then follow."
She didn't wait for a reply and shot up through the foliage with a level 2 chakram in each hand. The dragon's eyes widened as if it had not expected its prey to come so willingly. But she was not its prey; no, she was its hunter.
As soon as Meera cleared the trees, all her level 2 chakrams exploded out from her back. All fifteen of them spun around her as glittering discs of death. She activated Shadow Coating on all of them.
"I really wasn't planning on killing a second dragon tonight," she said.
The dragon's eyes blazed red. "You will suffer such pain that even your ancestors will quake from your screams."
"That will be tough since my ancestors are…I don't know how many light years away."
She activated Shadow Coating on all her chakrams, and they blasted towards the dragon. Some, she aimed at its wings, some at its glowing neck, and others at its head. The dragon was swift in dodging to the right, but it couldn't pivot as fast as her chakrams. They curved mid-air towards the dragon, and each one hit its mark.
A couple tore through his wing, making him dip. His belly touched the top of the trees. But his scales were harder than Plaron's and weren't so easily crushed. Her chakrams still left their mark on each one they hit but couldn't break through. The chakrams that hit its neck were like punches to its mighty neck.
The dragon was angry now. A torrent of flames burst from his mouth, but Meera teleported safely to one of the chakrams close to its head. The heat from the fire felt like they were melting her armor.
"Here," she whispered in what she thought was the dragon's ear. The flames shut off as the dragon turned his head in surprise, but he was too late to do anything else.
Meera slashed out his glowing red eye.
The dragon flinched hard to the right. Meera teleported to the chakram hanging in the air on its right. Activated Druvis Might and kicked its head with all her strength, and it turned out the Druvis were equal, if not greater in strength than the dragons.
The dragon's head shot up straight as if she had kicked a ball. She flung her chakram after it and cut out his other eye, blinding the dragon fully.
The dragon didn't cry out or wail but roared. The infernal roaring skill that she had faced many times and hated. A fear bubbled up in her heart, and she froze in place, but that was not all it did. It was also a signal to the other dragon that was hunting them.
Sure enough, the second dragon dashed from around Akhessai's foot and came straight for her.
Fuck! Meera cursed. And I almost had this one.
She recalled all her chakrams and blasted away into the cover of the trees.