Ajax death blade stared at the man who floated in space atop the planet Duhiri, clad in shimmering black attire with arms folded, a visible aura in the shape of a muscular humanoid behind him.
“Blow him out of the sky” Ajax said,
Master Killian as per usual, sighed,
“For the tenth time Ajax, we can’t blow him out of the sky. First of all, we’re in space, there is no sky, secondly, stop being a baby and open up the ship”
“You know what I meant, and there’s no way I’m letting that overgrown baby on this ship” Ajax sulked,
The face of the man in space darkened, blue eyes that promised retribution stared hard at Ajax,
“You do know he can hear you right?” Killian said with a smirk, finger on a button as Ajax glared at him,
“Putting the resonator on broadcast, really?” Ajax sulked,
The man in space floated closer, Ajax waving cheerily at him,
“Haden, what a surprise to see you!” Ajax said cheerily,
The man named Haden pointed to the ship, Ajax rolling his eyes,
The silver blade, the name given to the vessel Killian owned was shielded against spatial pathways opening up inside it, hence masters like Haden couldn’t open one directly into the vessel. The dark-haired man entered the ship and fixed a glare so cold on Ajax, he shivered,
“that’s one cold look” Ajax commented,
Haden turned to Killian,
“Killian stellar blade, an honor to have you in this region of the archailect” he said,
“Haden shadow touch, it is an honor to meet the famed shadow shield of house Ironash” Killian replied,
“What, no greetings for me?” Ajax asked as the two masters, continued conversing,
“I’ll admit, I’m a bit puzzled by your presence here, you’re a long way from house thousand blades, besides, the tournament is scheduled t begin in three short weeks” Haden said,
“Indeed, however, loathe to bother you, I may have some, ah, assets on this world” Killian said,
“assets?, does my world play hosts to ascenders worth the time of the stellar blade and I’m not aware of?” Haden asked,
“You do now I’m right here, right?” Ajax asked,
Haden turned to him as the shadow mist behind him took shape to form a dark muscular man with dark hair of tendrils floating, wearing gold arm bands and dressed in gold armor,
“It is only my respect for the stellar blade that holds me back from pummeling you down to Duhiri below where my beloved would want nothing else than to rip you to shreds, do not push my patience Ajax death blade” Haden said,
Ajax only blinked,
“So, no banquet?” Ajax asked,
Haden drew in a deep breathe, a bit ironical as masters no longer had any bodily function and need,
“Ajax, stop antagonizing our host” Killian said as Ajax raised both hands in surrender,
“You are quite right, we have two experts on your world, they had need of your dungeons to grow stronger quickly before the tournament, apologies, I would have called ahead but I wasn’t sure the presence of Ajax in this vessel wouldn’t antagonize you” Killian admitted,
“Any member of house thousand blades is welcomed in my domain, save a certain miscreant” Haden said,
“ouch” Ajax muttered,
Killian nodded,
“Thank you, but we’re fine in the ship” Killian said,
“I’m not” Ajax muttered again,
Killian and Haden turned to him at the same time, Ajax turned away, sulking as he walked towards the bridge,
“News has begun to filter in about house Dracon” Haden said,
“What about them?” Killian asked,
“An incursion right in their capital world, the nest” Haden replied,
Suddenly Ajax was there, all serious looking,
“An abyssal incursion?” he asked,
“No, the cult has begun to move again” Haden replied,
“One problem after another” Killian said,
“True, but those are issues for the rulers and brigade members, tell me about these experts of yours” Haden said as they walked deeper into the ship.
*************
Moyo rolled as he dodged the spiked tail of the dungeon boss, one eye shut and matted with blood, he twisted, using dominion to deflect the tail that turned at an impossible angle to come for him. Using a step of Ogun, he distanced himself from the boss and clenched his right fist. Above the hybrid, thin razor-sharp intent blades formed overhead,
“HOLD” he ordered as the boss froze in place,
Then with a twitch of his hand the blades fell with all the power of an executioner’s axe, the monster twitched also, breaking the command Moyo placed on it and glowed as its hard exterior deflected the blades, turning them in different directions as they tore into the trees and vegetations around.
Moyo winced as it spotted him and roared, its concussive blast clearing away the trees in that direction. Moyo already in the air, gathered his Ashe as dominion vibrated in his hands, one eye wide opened and a brutal scream coming from his lungs. He brought the blade crashing down on the beast with all the rage he had.
Its diamond body clashed with his blade, sending reverberations through his body as his sight wobbled, that minute second blinding him to the tail that smashed into him from the side, sending him crashing into the forest.
For two days he had fought the beast, sending a message to Ashira and Eogan to stay off the fight. Moyo could feel them at the edge of his now expanded realm, waiting to help should he become injured beyond capability. However as much as the skill wrath of Oya was a boon, it also served as a curse, healing all his injuries no matter how deep or brutal they could be.
He had sparsely slept, feeding off the roasted meat he bought in the bronze ring of the red dust kingdom before going into the dungeon. He had fought for most of the night, slowly chipping away at the skin of the beast, a battle of deadly attrition that meant either side could give up at any moment when their endurance gave way. At level 290 and with 3,060 points to add to his attributes, Moyo was being insanely stubborn avoiding it and he knew that deep down.
It came from a sore spot, the spot where in his consciousness he knew he might not make it in time to gold to be on level ground with Kenuran. Not that any sane person would expect him to do so, the climb of ascension was a gradual process, not an insane sprint Moyo had been pushing from the get go.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Watching the monster prowl around towards him even as he faded into the trees, he located Ashira and Eogan who oddly enough was coaxing the trees to grow back all over the dungeon, that and trapping the lesser hybrids in the thick branches and exposed roots of the trees, making them easy pickings for Ashira who was leisurely killing them off.
Landing close to Eogan who turned and frowned at him, a stalk in his mouth as he nibbled contemplatively,
“You know, it’s called a delving team for a reason” he said,
Moyo barely nodded and lay on the ground, one part of his mind counting down till the dungeon compass that always led the boss to him honed in on his position. Ashira landed softly near Eogan and folded her arms, tapping her legs, he noticed she did that when something was on her mind or she was anxious. Blowing out a breath, she sat close to him,
“I know you might not believe me, but ascension isn’t a race, it’s a process and you’re missing out on the best part of it” she said,
“it’s always a race for me” he muttered,
“Why?”
“Cause either I’m trying to protect something or something and someone is coming for me, I can’t be weak” he replied,
“Welcome to the archailect, something or someone always wants to kill you” Eogan said,
“Eogan” Ashira cautioned,
“Easy for you to say, you just want some relics and free leveling” Moyo replied immediately, already regretting the words that came out of his mouth,
He sighed and turned to Eogan who stared at him with a look of coldness,
“Have you known despair titan blade?” Eogan asked,
Moyo noticed Ashira froze up beside him, something about Eogan must had made a silver ranker fear a bronze ranked such as Eogan,
“a few times in my life” Moyo replied,
“Then you must know the feeling of helplessness that comes along with it” Eogan continued,
Moyo merely stared on,
“I watched my world burn at the whim of a master, I watched my family cry out for help to me and I couldn’t lift a finger as an advocate with an expert turning my only child to stone in front of my wife who had been barren for a fucking century” Eogan said,
Moyo stared wide eyed,
“So don’t you come up here, all high and mighty, talking to me about something or someone coming for you. For the greater part of 50 years, I could do nothing to the expert, a mere bronze for that matter” Eogan spat,
“And now?” Moyo asked the bronze ranker,
“he’s buried alive in a pit filled with an insect that slowly feeds on flesh and lays its eggs, his whole body is a hive for the insects and experts don’t die easily, not from insects” Eogan said with a smile so malicious his eyes glowed green,
Moyo didn’t break away his gaze,
“Good, the bastard deserved that and worse” he said,
Eogan studied his face for a while and turned back to the jungle,
“The back” he said,
“What?” Moyo asked,
“The back, right in the middle, it’s it weak point, hit it with all you got” he said,
Moyo glanced at Ashira who nodded with pursed lips before turning back to Eogan, something was going on between the both of them, but he didn’t have any idea what it might be, and he could get to that later. Getting up, he took in a deep breath,
“Eogan” he called as the man turned to him,
“I apologize, I went far out of line” he said,
Eogan nodded,
“Just don’t die out there” Eogan replied,
Seeing as that was as much of an acceptance he was going to get, he activated his step of the titan, floating in the air above the jungle, bringing up his stat table. He was about to go toe to toe with the monster again, and while he was fast enough to dodge hits, he wasn’t strong enough, as absurd as it might sound to break through the hard diamond shell of its body, plus he needed to be able to tank hits.
Seeing as he had no choice but to put his points in his strength and endurance, he prepared to dump them in those two attributes, keenly aware that he was about to pass the 5000 mark for the attributes and thus given the option of an evolution. With one thought he opened his vault midair, already he could hear the roar and thundering footsteps of the beast.
He dumped 1,600 points and 1,460 points to both endurance and strength respectively, groaning as his sight swam, his muscles and body being empowered. If his muscles were rock before, now they were pure hard steel. His HUD flared to life,
Notice: you have exceeded the 5,000 milestone for your attribute, you have the option to evolve said attribute into a higher form, evolve? Y/N
He picked yes and retrieved 5 legendary aether shard from his vault as it snapped shut, its silver doors groaning close as it vanished,
Attributes: strength and endurance are evolving, availability of aether, excess……availability of aether shard, aether shard is of legendary tier…...absorbed…...evolving…...evolving….
Notice: subject has advanced command, command name: Ashe, evolving,
Notice: subject has evolved mantle, evolving……evolution complete.
Moyo squeezed his fists and felt pure power running through him, the sheer weight of it leaning on him like a heavy weight strapped to his back, his bronze might seemingly not capable of handling the pure power that ran through him,
Notice: strength attribute has evolved into Titan’s might: 5050
Notice: endurance had evolved Titan’s tenacity: 5072
Titan’s might
You have acquired the strength befitting of a titan, mountains now crumble with a touch of your fists, reality physically trembles with the strength of your arms, you are the strength of a titan personified.
Titan’s tenacity
You have acquired the body befitting of a titan, nothing but the deadliest of blows from an existence stronger than yours can piece or harm you, your body is that of the never-ending resilience of a titan personified.
It started as a grin, then a chuckle, and then full-blown laughter as the dungeon boss came into sight. Even as it prepared to roar, Moyo didn’t dodge. Cocking one arm back, fingers clenched into a fist as his muscles bulged, with a wide grin on his face. Moyo channeled, intent, aura and Ashe into the punch.
Doubling it down with his budding control of the gravitational ability he had, he punched the air the same moment the beast roared, the space between them began to twist as two powers collided, trees were sundered, soil and earth were uprooted, waves and waves of wind intent tore through the very skies as the shockwave expanded, leaving nothing but pure destruction in its wake.
When it was all over, the landscape had been transformed into a war zone, no single structure was left standing. Moyo grinned as the monster stared on in confusion, with one step of Ogun, he appeared behind the creature that immediately twisted in reflex, tail lashing out to catch him. He let it hit, testing how strong his body was. The appendage slammed into him with all the strength of a moving train, and rebounded.
Before the tail could expend all the force that had sent it in the other direction, Moyo gripped the head of the monster firmly in his hand and began pressing down. All his energy going into his fingers that held the head in a deathlike grip so strong, it couldn’t even open its mouth.
Then the crystals atop its head cracked and Moyo smiled, even as the creature whined in obvious pain, he kept on squeezing. The tail came crashing down repeatedly on his body, hammering at him as Moyo paid it no mind, his other hand cocked backwards, closing it in a fist as his eyes glowed purple, gathering Ashe,
“BREAK” he commanded and drove the punch straight into its fractured skull with all of his titan’s might.
The blow released a shock wave that went through what remained of the forest, tearing into what was left of it anyways. The head shattered into a hundred tiny pieces, the cracks extending all over its body as it shattered, the dungeon boss was no more.
******************
“going against the usual methods, overwhelming power, pretty sure he just crossed the 5000 attribute line and as a bronze no less?, the sage would love him, scratch that, the three of them would love him, we have a monster in our camp my lady” Eogan said,
Ashira turned to Eogan, eyes wide,
“what do you mean 5,000?, how’s that even possible?” she asked,
Eogan chuckled,
“a new silver ranker with all the hitting power of a peak gold or early diamond ranker, he really is an inferno” Eogan said laughing,
******************
Congratulations, you have slain the dungeon boss!,
You get:
* One rare dungeon core
* 5,000 gold coins
* 2,000 silver coins
* 1,000 bronze coins
* Armor of the rock hybrid(r)
* Gem of the rock hybrid(r)
Armor of the rock hybrid(r)
Crafted from the very body of the rock hybrid you just killed, it offers full protection against any blow from a silver ranker of level 350 and below, also capable of taking damage to an extent against silver rankers of a higher level or even a series of blows from a gold ranker.
Gem of the rock hybrid(r)
Crafted from the core gem of the rock hybrid, this gem is attuned to force and earth affinities, a rare gem that multiplies whatever earth or force attack channeled through it.
Then the aether and essence hit him again with a greater force, driving him to his knees as he gasped, his core absorbing it. Ashira and Eogan were suddenly by his side,
“Your core is attempting to break through to silver rank, keep channeling all the essence into it!” Ashira said,
Moyo shut his eyes and entered his core, seeing his mountain quake under the essence and aether that swirled inside it. He entered the mountain, gathering Ashe as the ball of power rotated faster, gathering momentum, his mountain still quaking.
With concentration he reached out to the Ashe inside of him, grabbing command of his core, his reality and gripped the ball, holding it in place.
The power reached a crescendo before shooting out in a pillar of light, the color of his mountain being stripped away from the rust bronze it previously had to a shining silver. He followed the lance of power that shot out of his core, channeling it instinctively around his landscape as he watched it expand out and cover the entirety of his core.
Guiding it by pure Ashe alone, it formed an orb around his entire core and landscape, solidifying slowly into a purple color around his landscape.
He flew out of his core and just floated above it, scratching his head at what it looked like,
He no longer had a mountain and landscape just floating inside of him, he had a mini planet.
Leaving the power to settle, he returned to his body and gasped as he felt his body reforged, his mind clearer and his power brimming. The excess energy he wasted had been reduced a little, his silver rank body being able to handle his evolved attributes a bit better.
Level 305! (300 points)
Notice: you have broken into silver rank!
Moyo smiled and laid back on the ground laughing, Ashira and Eogan beside him.