“What mask? The artifact is a mask?” Miles asked with a tilt of his head. “I am sure it was you who had the mask and wanted to work with us in exchange for orbs you gathered over the years.”
“Huh. Your petty tricks will not work this time, stupid human!” Moth-woman laughed as she raised her hands. From them, a purple mist oozed into the air and formed a scene. The scene displayed their escape from the spider cave and conversation with Moth-woman when they first arrived. How they agreed to battle together, how they admitted Zall had the mask. Everything.
Miles looked at the scene calmly, not flustered at all. “This is just an illusion. You could have displayed anything you wanted. How can we be sure this is the truth?”
“This is a unique skill that can only display memories.” Ivo chimed in. “Its name is Flashback, and cannot be faked at all.”
“Yeah, and why should we trust a chanter?” Xavic jumped in with hatred all over his face.
“True, you are not trustworthy either, man. We ran all the way down here, and you hid the truth from me.” Carlo said with a hurt expression.
“Trust me on this one, that skill is true blue Flashback,” Ivo explained. “The mask is on that big guy.”
“Even if so, I would rather stand by a human instead of a monster or a nutshell.” Maria said, then looked at the trio, “Even though you lied to us, I can let it slip this time.”
“Thanks, hahaha.” Zall laughed awkwardly while scratching the back of his head.
“Insufferable swine shits! I hate your kind, I hate you, people!” Moth-woman shouted in rage.
“We people! Wow, that is racist!” Miles smirked.
“Shut up! You smooth-brained numskull who wouldn't know his knees from his elbows, give me the mask before I start thinking you're deff as you are daft.”
“Chill your tits lady. Gee!” Xavic said, rolling his eyes. “You being angry means you are hiding something.”
“Enough!” She shouted and turned to look at the Chanter. “Since we both are outcasted, let’s battle together.”
“I would rather trust you than these heathens.” Ivo nodded and stood beside the floating monster.
“Good, let’s kill them and take the loot. I take the mask, you take whatever else they have.” Moth-woman said with a grin.
“Deal.” Ivo nodded but a glint flashed in his eyes.
“Now, you piece of dog shits, die!” She raised her hand as silks appeared all around them. “I was weaving them from the start of the battle, it is easy for me to hide them from your pitiful eyes.”
“So, you think.” Miles snickered. “Now!”
With his command, all of them crouched down, and fire arrows bigger than human bodies spread out around them. It was Dorian who created them, and it cost quite a juice from him to form all these arrows.
Superpowers were monotypes, there was only a single form of them in most cases. There were some exceptions of course. The Grader Sachiru Kai could freely create anything with steel, as it was his superpower, but Xavic for example could only create lightning bolts with two attributes.
Dorian’s superpower was the fire arrow, he couldn’t change the shape nor the element, but to advance elemental superpowers, one had to change the form. The predestined fire arrows in shape and density could be bent after endless efforts. This was the first step of the advancement in Grace-Rank.
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When the density of the superpower increased, one would step into the middle tier.
Then came the shape. It wasn’t easy to change the shape of a superpower. It was much harder than increasing its prowess or density. And in most cases, people couldn’t change it freely and could only alter it slightly. In Dorian's case, he could increase or decrease the size of his arrows. This was the second step.
After the shape changed, one would step into the high-tier.
The last step was the merging of both. When the density and shape changed simultaneously, one would step into the pinnacle-tier and would be a step away from the Form-Rank!
Yes! Form in the Form-Rank came from forming the superpower. When one advanced to the Form-Rank, they could freely change the shape of their superpowers. They could also increase or decrease the density of the power to expand their arsenal.
In this scenario, Dorian increased the power and the shape of the arrows. He created giant arrows with scorching fires. It was the sign of a pinnacle-tier hunter!
When arrows were about to be unleashed, Maria spread her superpower. The heat inside the moisty cave increased, and the air started to dry out. But the arrows got even bigger and stronger. At that time Carlo swung his arm in a circular manner and released a wind blade that looked like a Chakram.
It was also the sign of a pinnacle-tier hunter! He changed the shape of his blade into a chakram and fanned the fire arrows. With the final touch, all fire arrows speed towards all directions. The steel-like webs could kill monsters with a touch melted under the scorching fire. In no time at all, all the silk around them melted to nothing.
“You think we would wait for you to form an ‘invisible’ web around us? You are underestimating us, monster!”
“Die, die, die, die you feet in the mouth, smelly mongrels!” Moth-woman shouted in anger.
“Formation A!” Miles shouted and stood behind Zall, and in front of Xavic. “Usual. Target Chanter.”
“We will leave the monster to you, after taking care of the chanter, we will deal with the monster together. Deal?” Miles asked.
“Fine. Make it quick.” Maria said while raising her hands. There were two guns in her hand. She aimed them at Moth-woman and fired. When bullets arrived, they were ignored by the monster. No human bullet could penetrate her skin. But when it exploded, she cried in pain.
“You bitch!”
“Genius. Fire elemental bullets, with her superpower she can empower their powers!” Xavic exclaimed in shock.
“Thank you, idiot, now you let her know all my secrets.” Maria scoffed in anger.
“Haha, sorry, sorry.” Xavic apologized.
“Just go away and kill that chanter already.”
“Let’s go.”
Miles and his group went to battle at the side, while Carlo and his friends battled with the Moth-woman. Miles could hear the cussings of the monster still.
"She has a potty mouth." Zall shook his head while looking at the Chanter.
"Indeed," Ivo said calmly and raised two hands. Two weapons appeared in his two hands. One was a bastard sword while the other was an axe. Both of them were purple in color.
"How did he charge them?" Xavic asked in surprise.
"Chanters have their own charging methods. Kinda similar to our wristwatches but just a simple program, not a real AI." Miles said.
Chanters didn't want to use human technology, but it didn't mean they would deny using orbs. They, thus, created their own charging stations similar to Starve Cleric agents used. After his encounter with Starve Cleric, Miles studies alternative methods too. That is why he recognized it at first sight.
But electricity was a much bigger problem for Chanters. That is why most Chanters would favor lightning or electric elemental orbs.
"Let's get this over with," Ivo said with a wicked smile and charged. The two weapons sparked with lightning while he started to chant.
"The creator of the sky and ground, the ruler of the clouds and lavas. I beseech thee to smite and scorch mine own enemies while I deliver thy will!"
A wave of fire spread from his forearms and covered both weapons. The purple lightning turned into crimson red, while looking ready to explode.
"Die, and be washed from your sins in holy fire, heathens!"
Xavic didn't wait and sent a bolt. It landed on the axe and was delivered by hand holding it. Ivo held for a second but charged again nonetheless.
"Why is it not working?" Xavic asked in surprise.
"The effect got nullified by the weapon. Land it on him." Zall shouted. Xavic nodded and attacked again, but Ivo was fast. He deflected the attacks with one weapon as he swung the other.
Zall defended with the shield in his hand and tried to break the enemy's rhythm, but because he couldn't hurt the enemy, Ivo could ignore his attempts.
Miles attacked from behind, but his range couldn't reach the enemy without leaving the defense his companion supplied. With no other choice, he left his position and attacked with his sword.
Ivo parried his sword with his own, and a current washed over two swords. When the fire merged, it exploded in between them. Xavic didn't miss the opportunity, and landed a bolt of stunning lightning, healing Ivo but in the meantime stunning him. Miles on the other hand flew back from the explosion with burnt skin and quaked innards.