Chapter 19: Imp Missiles Pt I

Sarah tried to avoid the vine serpents as they countered the infernal with their speed and mobility, although that was easier said than done. Her biggest problem was when the infernal was occupied with multiple salamanders while the vines arrived which meant she couldn’t hide under the legs of the infernal. She had already sent two of her imps to explode when she was faced with some sticky situations, but that just meant more time wasted sitting around and waiting for her mana to regenerate. It seemed to come back at around a rate of 1% per minute, so it only took around 20 minutes to get it all back but that was still 20 minutes wasted.

Which was what she was doing right now, wasting biding her time while her mana regenerated.

Status, she thought.

Name: Sarah Rose

Race: Half-Greater Demon

Class: Hellbringer (Epic)

Level: 21 -> 24

Strength: 7

Agility: 8

Wisdom: 100 -> 114

Intelligence: 108 -> 114

Vitality: 13 -> 20

Endurance: 7

Charisma: 13

Unused Stat Points: 15 -> 0

Abilities:

* [Ritual Magic] Rank 2 Level 1

* [Demonic Mana Manipulation] Rank 1 Level 9

* [Soul Sense] Rank 1 Level 2

* [Enchanting] Rank 1 Level 1

* Empty -

Perks:

* [Adaptive] - +1 free stat points per level.

* [Ritualess] - You may substitute reagents for mana in your rituals.

* [Demonic] - Your mana has the demonic attribute.

* [Intelligence Prodigy] - Identic Memory.

* [Wisdom Prodigy] - You learn abilities faster.

* [Solo Diver] - 10% buff while fighting solo.

She had thrown a couple of points from her levels into wisdom to get it even with her intelligence, then started adding the rest to vitality. While maximising her damage is important, what Sarah knew was more important was that she stay alive. She could hide behind trees and out of sight while her infernal battled, but eventually something will slip through like the vine serpents nearly did and she would like to be tanky enough to take a few blows or a surprise attack if it came.

Should I be learning another skill to fill the last slot?

“Not yet,” Lucifer replied. “Time spent learning now is wasted considering your learning speed will improve with your senses as you pass level 25. We can focus on your skills afterwards.”

But wont getting the levels up also give me experience?

“Yes, but far from the rate you’re gaining experience now.”

Lucifer seemed to have a more cheerful tone, likely happy about her impending arrival at level 25 and the safety he mentioned a core would offer him.

Is there any limit to perks?

“No, but most would struggle to reach 5 in their lifetime.”

That confused Sarah for a moment considering she had only had the system for about two days and yet already had 6. Then again, three of them were titles she received for being the first to achieve something, two were racial, and the last was for the mythic ritual well beyond her level she completed. If every perk was this hard to get, then it made some sense why many people went years with only a few perks to their name.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Her mana now fully recharged, she got up off the ground and performed her quick ritual to summon another imp. She could see the benefits of a perk like [Ritualess], letting her call forward an imp with no need for any fancy circles or sacrifices. But once again, the imp was stuck at level 24, a barrier that Lucifer said she may only be able to cross either with materials like the golem core or by cracking level 25 herself.

She could sense she was getting close to this barrier, the experience slowly building up from kill after kill. Roaming around the floor, as she moved more towards the centre of the massive jungle-like area the monsters were now almost unanimously at level 24 themselves. This made her imp fairly useless in the fight, acting more as a bodyguard that hit beside her while the infernal took care of any attackers. It was proving well worth the materials, having stomped through maybe 20 of the earth salamanders since it had been summoned and looking no worse for wear than when it was first called forth.

Something seemed different up ahead. Taking no risks, Sarah first looked up to check if any vines were close and being in the clear she sent her infernal forward into a clearing she could see between the trees. Lying in wait was a pack of four of the salamanders, but one of these salamanders stood out from the rest.

Greater Earth Salamander – Level 28 (Boss)

All the salamanders she had seen were very similar in size to a crocodile, maybe 8 feet across but with a lot more mass and no scales. Instead, their backs were lined with a mix of dirt, rock, and stone, giving them some natural body armour that protected their vital organs. They were strong and surprisingly quick when moving in straight lines, with a good amount of vitality and endurance backing them up too. In other words, they had a similar stat distribution to her infernal which meant that, with its higher level, it had a clear advantage in every stat that allowed it to dominate them in fights.

But this salamander was at the same level. Gone was the dirt and rocks that made up its back, instead it was covered in a cracked but solid stone that gave it a level of protection far stronger than the other salamanders. But Sarah was ready for the challenge, and the infernal charged straight in and directly at the boss. The infernal did not move quick, giving time for the salamander to rear up on its legs to about half the infernal’s height and meet the challenge head on. Like a clash between titans, the two monsters slammed their weight into each other.

The infernal had thrown its fist forward, while the salamander actually ducked and met its fist directly with its forehead.

And the fist bounced off. The boss’ endurance combined with the armoured plating made it a tank that could easily meet the infernal. Then it was the salamanders turn to attack. It stumbled back from the attack and opened its mouth wide and breathed… earth? Some kind of mud shot from out and covered the lower body and legs of her summon, and in less than a second it hardened to stone.

But thankfully, the infernal had a definite advantage in terms of strength. It struggled for only a moment before the stone cracked and its legs burst through just in time to let it turn its body and swing at its left and met one of the smaller salamanders that had rushed at its side. Unfortunately, this was the wrong move as while it did crush the face of its attacker it also opened itself up to strikes from the other two smaller salamanders that both rushed its right leg. With impressive jaw strength, together the two salamanders managed to rip its leg to the side causing it to stumble and fall down to its knees. Both salamanders continued to pull, positioning themselves behind the golem which put them out of its reach.

As bad a position as it seemed at first, the infernal had yet to really take any damage. While down on its knees, Sarah knew it would only be a moment before it could reach around enough to grab one of the salamanders and turn the fight around.

But it wouldn’t get that chance. The boss salamander took another deep breath and this time blasted the head of the infernal directly. It wasn’t the best place for it to target, given that it did not need its eyes as it was taking directions from Sarah – nor did it really even have eyes – but the breath did manage to coat the left shoulder and arm of the infernal.

With its mobility getting more and more restricted, it now struggled to reach the salamanders that were attacking its legs. One of them decided to let go, and instead threw its body at the back of the infernal and knocked it flat to the ground.

The fight had barley gone on for more than 15 seconds, and it was already looked like it was over. One salamander kept it from regaining its feet, while another now sat firmly on its back and pinned it down. One arm was locked down by the stone which kept it from being able to push itself up, and now to put the final nail in the coffin the boss approached. Sarah wasn’t sure if salamanders could look smug, but this one definitely gave the impression as its tail wiggled a little too vigorously to be normal.

And so right as it got close, Sarah chose to strike. The golem had been working hard to try and break its arm from its cast, and with a final effort it came free and the infernal grabbed at the boss. Its hands gripped the head of the monster and it flung it down on its back to the ground next to it. With a heave it pulled its body, including the two salamanders that were gripping it, forward so that it was lying on the exposed stomach of the boss.

Then, letting out a small rumble, it exploded.

You have levelled up.

Please find a safe place to undergo your level 25 core formation.

Additional experience is stored until core formation is complete.

She let out a sigh of relief at her success. One salamander had survived the explosion, a sorry sight that was quickly put out its misery by her remaining imp. Her body felt full of energy, practically bursting from the energy that filled her and gave her the feeling that her something was about to burst.

“There is no time, you will have to undergo formation now. Nothing should come near after that explosion, and if something does… let’s hope your imp can protect you.”

Why not go to the surface first and-

“No time, now, or we both die.”

Sarah could hear the urgency in his voice, and promptly sat herself down and… well she wasn’t sure of the next step, so she opened her status and was met with a system message.

Undergo core formation?

Yes, she thought, and her world faded to black.