As he ran, he leaned upon his new Elemental Manipulation skill, trying to use it to find a way out of there. With it, perhaps he could create a semblance of flight. A board of purple light formed beneath his feet, and with a shuddering start, it took off. Immediately, he was struck by intense mental pressure, as he tried to hold it together and move it at the same time. However, it ascended into the sky, jerking around wildly. Gritting his teeth, Jonathan asserted his will over the board, and stabilized it. It sped up, and he rode it across the sky towards the wall. Ballista bolts arced up towards him with the speeds of cannonballs, and he found himself engaging in a desperate dance midair to avoid them.
“Stop him!” He heard Harl roaring, the man’s enhanced body sending his voice booming out across the city.
As he moved, he could feel his skill ticking up slowly but surely, and by the time he had reached the wall, it had ranked up to Apprentice 9.
Below him, he saw the mercenary company looking up in confusion, only to turn to hungry glares as they heard what Harl said next.
“The first one to take down that traitor will be richly rewarded!”
Jonathan gazed down, watching as arcane power swirled around the mages, before a storm of projectiles raced towards him. He gritted his teeth and powered through, forcing his will upon his elemental power, willing it to work. Blood dripped down his nose as he overtaxed his will, but he eventually was rewarded with an upgrade for his skill.
He closed the Journeyman rank upgrade notification, and then noticed Branth running towards him on the ground. Frowning, he watched as the man waved his hands desperately up at him. Realizing what the man was doing, he swooped down on his board and grabbed his arm, taking him with him. After that display, leaving Branth here would have been a death sentence.
The two men ascended into the air together, with Jonathan desperately using his board of elemental energy to dodge the incoming attacks. He saw the Captain and the other officers preparing their own attacks, prompted by screamed orders by Harl.
“Stop him in the name of Slothari!” Harl shouted at the top of his lungs, his face red with the effort. However, by that point, Jonathan and Branth were already miles away.
A sudden boom sounded behind them, and a blistering shell of condensed energy shot their way, coming from the direction of the officers. It contained enough energy to level a small town, and would seriously injure, if not outright kill, Jonathan.
He swerved to the side, but the attack tracked his movement. With a grimace, he turned around and summoned a black hole using half of his entire mana pool, imbuing it with his runic power. It swelled to the size of a basketball, and when he loosed it, it screamed through the air like a banshee. It met the projectile midair, causing it to detonate. Buffeted by supersonic winds, Jonathan and Branth were knocked off the elemental construct. Jonathan reached out, grabbing the beastman, and created another one beneath them. The more he used it, the easier it got.
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Before they could be assaulted again, Jonathan steered towards a small hill, and dipped down behind it, erasing his foes’ line of sight. Sighing, he set down the board of elemental power, and turned to Branth.
“So, you chose your path in this world. May I ask why you picked my side?”
“Your power is quite alluring, as well as the promise that it makes at your low level. If you were able to defeat Granath, then perhaps you can kill Slothari too. A warrior craves power over all else, and if there is a wall in their way, they stagnate. I do not wish to stagnate.”
“Well, you made yourself an enemy of most of this circle. I hope you don’t end up regretting it. For now, let’s go. The others will be coming for us.”
Jonathan set a brisk pace, moving at the maximum of what his new ally could comfortably move at. He had some notifications to look over.
For reaching Journeyman Rank in three different Manipulation type Pathway Skills, you may choose to combine them to create a skill better than the sum of its parts.
Combine?
Y/N
As he had expected, he had the opportunity to combine his Mana Manipulation, Stamina Manipulation, and Elemental Manipulation skills into a greater whole. The choice was simple, and he made it.
You have fused three Pathway Skills!
Mana Manipulation, Stamina Manipulation and Elemental Manipulation have combined to form Energy Manipulation! Level has been given based on relative mastery.
Energy Manipulation: Journeyman 5
(Advanced Pathway Skill)
You are well versed in the manipulation of your body, mana and element. In combining them, you have gained a greater understanding of them, as well as the ability to use them in sync. This is a powerful skill, one known by few. Its stat bonuses will mimic those of its constituents, with an additional boost. As an Advanced Skill, it gains a 25% bonus to all constituent skill usage.
Bonuses: +25 to Intelligence, Wisdom, Strength and Dexterity.
You have gained access to a new skill!
Ephemeral Trifecta: Mythical
You may draw upon your Stamina, Mana or Elemental energy for the needs of the others, at a reduced rate of efficiency. In unity, there is strength.
Accept?
Y/N
There was only one real option there, and Jonathan hit yes. Power rushed into him, and a burning sensation rippled through his body as he felt his pathways changing, allowing for the mingling of energy. He almost faltered, but he pushed through. It was nowhere near as bad as the thresholds had been.
The stat bonuses were larger than before, but he did end up losing out on five points of Intelligence, which was fine, considering what he gained.
You have gained a new quest!
Pathway of the Titans: Heroic
You have formed a combination Pathway skill, finding that in fusing the parts of you most integral to your path, you gain great power. Further this path for great rewards.
Current objective: Fuse a total of nine Pathway skills (3/9)
Rewards: Skill, Title, access to next quest of the chain.
Accept?
Y/N