Ray stood waiting for the axe to complete another pass. It swung by with another swish. Fucker was still crusted with the blood it had drawn from Ray.
Timing was going to be so important in this little trap he had ended up in. He had to be fast.
Primal Summons’ timer was running out. As Ray didn’t want to suddenly lose his wings and plummet to an untimely death, he de-summoned his wings. Of course, that made him fall, but he had risen a little high already behind the swing of the axeblade. Before he reached the lamppost-length spikes at the bottom, he had summoned his wings again.
Safe and airborne. For now. Safe enough to crush a couple of Mana crystals and make sure he was topped up.
Ray had to wait until the axeblade had swung the other way. With the blade gone, he rose higher into the air. Naturally, his wings could take him over thirty feet into the air. He could maintain that sort of elevation without too great a difficulty.
But going even higher was the hard part. At thirty feet, the strongest beat his wings he could manage took him perhaps twenty further feet into the air. That took his total elevation of fifty feet.
He could only hold that flight height for a few seconds, but a few seconds was all Ray would need. With another hard flap, Ray rose another fifteen-ish feet into the air.
The next ten-feet ascent with his wings took him above the arc of the axeblade, which was nice. It had also brought him nearly to the point where the Tower Node was waiting for him. Almost there. Just one more flap and—
And he sensed the monster awaiting him just inside the tunnel.
Ray laughed. “You could have warned me,” he said to his Tower Node. It merely floated there.
Allowing himself to fall back for just a second, Ray prepared how he was going to go about this. All this time, he had been pumping his regular Mana to condense it into True Mana. It had become something instinctive. An action his body performed on its own with minimal conscious input, almost as natural as breathing.
With the gathered True Mana, Ray used True Enhancement on Soaring Wings within Lifeblood Crucible. The dark feathers gained a red gleam, lengthening and strengthening.
All the limits of elevation he had been working against went out of the window. He wouldn’t be able to maintain it for long, but it would be enough to get him past the Irebolt awaiting him. That was all Ray needed.
With one flap of his new, empowered wings, Ray shot high in the blink of an eye. He zipped past the tunnel opening. Hopefully that had startled the monster.
A quick loop-de-loop had him turning around and shooting into the tunnel from an angle above. That definitely confused the monster within, allowing Ray to land just behind it.
Now that this was a proper encounter, Ray could rely on his Hallowed Reputation to take care of the next True Mana cost. But Presence of the Primordial informed him there were more Irebolts quite close by, and if he used up a free True Mana spell now, he might end up regretting it later.
As such, Ray couldn’t end it with one blow as he would have liked. He did have the Mana Infuser ring take his Shatterclaw to Tier 6 before smacking the surprised monster with one cast of Shatterclaw after another.
The Irebolt was able to withstand it. Likely because its body wasn’t made of truly fleshy matter that Ray’s spells did the most damage too.
A Meteoric Bolt burst through the Shatterclaw barrage to fling Ray backwards. He used some Recovery to address the wound, then used Mottling Sphereguard to safeguard against any other damage. He couldn’t keep using up all his Recovery.
Not when the Sylvans entering the dungeon might need him to use more of it.
The Irebolt changed into a serpentine form, thrusting itself at Ray like a lance. Ray’s response was to cast Impervious Shell using Lifeblood Construct.
Surprisingly, the dark shell was big enough to close up the entire tunnel. What little space there was between its rounded edges and the tunnel’s square corners was nowhere near enough for the Irebolt to squeeze through. It was completely blocked off from Ray. The monster even tried to fire off more lightning bolts, but they didn’t get through.
Huh. Well, that was rather easy.
Especially since the Tower Node was able to shimmy into the small gap and join up with him again.
“Thanks for all the help back there,” Ray said.
The Tower Node didn’t respond to his sarcasm. It simply floated to the end of the tunnel and waited again.
Ray took a moment to observe what the Sylvans entering the dungeon were doing. It was unfortunate he couldn’t have a permanent live feed on them at all times. Sadly, they would spot the flying eyeball if it got too close. But at least it told him that all the Sylvans were inside the dungeon now.
He ordered the eyeball to get in closer and follow them at a distance. So long as it stayed far enough, it wouldn’t be sensed easily by the Sylvans.
Though, the problem was that Ray’s pursuers might separate into different teams in an attempt to close off the entire dungeon and prevent him from escaping. He could only hope there wasn’t some secret passage that allowed one to veer past all the obstacles with ease. Although, the Sylvans in his last dungeon hadn’t been bothered by any obstacles either.
Could these ones have a similar capability? Argh, that was frustrating to consider.
Putting it out of his mind, Ray focused on getting through the dungeon as fast as he could. To that end, he planned on how best to tackle what lay ahead of him.
At the end of the tunnel, the Tower Node had come to a pause. There was a good reason for that. Beyond the passage, the deceptively large chamber was filled entirely with more of the Irebolts. Presence of the Primordial confirmed it. So many that Ray had no hope of fighting them all at once.
Behind hm, the timer for the Impervious Shell construct was rapidly running out too. The Irebolt beyond it was still relentlessly attacking.
He focused on the monsters past the passage. Summoning up a Lifeblood Construct of the Greater Windbane Maw, Ray sent it flying ahead, ignoring the twinge that always accompanied creating more than one “sentient” construct.
Interestingly. It never bothered him to have an Impervious Shell up alongside some other construct. He had decided it was most likely because the shell wasn’t intelligent in the same way the eyeball and the maw were. It couldn’t obey complex commands. In fact, it couldn’t “obey” anything at all. Ray considered more or less a giant shield he could summon at any time.
“Get all their attention.” Ray didn’t need to verbally command the maw, but it felt good to vocalize his thoughts. “And bring them all into this tunnel together.”
The maw flew to obey. As soon as it zipped into the tunnel, a storm thundered into being. Heavy winds rocked through the tunnel, lightning crackling all over the area. The rain was so furious, droplets almost fired horizontally as they shot at him.
Ray was surprised his maw was able to survive for as long as it did. It took some beating from some of the faster Irebolts lashing out, suffered a bolt or two crackling against its scaly face.
Hurry. It had to hurry. The Impervious Shell behind Ray was about to give out at any moment. If that Irebolt joined the chaos, things would turn a little too—
Unless Ray could time everything perfectly.
His heart was already beating far too hard and fast. Now, it went up an even higher notch. If Ray was in any other situation, he would have marvelled at just how much physiological stress he was putting himself through.
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And then the maw was rushing back into the tunnel, all its enemies flying in hot on its tail.
“You did well,” Ray said. “Sorry for the sacrifice.”
He thrust his arm forward just as he called on a True Enhancement version of the Greater Windbane Maw on his arm with Prima Summons.
At the same time, the Impervious Shell finally gave out. Time was up. The Irebolt behind the disappearing shell charged in. Ray threw himself backward, rolling under the Irebolt’s swing and coming back upright. Then he aimed his arm straight ahead, the massive spectral maw filling up almost the entire chamber.
The compressed blast of fire it belched out killed basically everything in the tunnel. Ray was almost flung back at the momentum exchange, the beam of fiery, chaotic energy ripping through the Irebolts in the tunnel.
[Enemy Defeated—Irebolt]
Tier 7 Monster: Irebolt [Level 17] x11
Essence: +13,090
Knowledge: +33
Mana Restored: +1,870
[Level Up!]
Reward
* +3 Intellect, +3 Spirit, +2 Vitality, +4 allocatable free stats.
* 1 Tier Point
Essence to Level 20: 2,360/21,500
Knowledge to next Threshold: 547/600
The notifications were as soothing as they were wild. Despite the tunnel shaking under the pressure from his draconic laser-breath, he was safe for the time being.
More importantly, he had finally reached level 19. Just one more level, and then he would finally be able to evolve his Ascension Class into something that could generate True Mana.
His heart didn’t stop thumping, though. Despite the number of Irebolts that Ray had killed already, there were still quite a few more inside the chamber ahead that were still alive. And of course, he couldn’t forget about the Sylvans closing in. Hurry.
The Tower Node seemed to feel the urgency as well. It zipped ahead. Ray wasted no time following, adding all his free points to Intellect and crushing some more Mana crystals to keep himself topped up. He also added the Tier point to Primal Summons. There, now his summons would last even longer.
Just as the tunnel opened up into the chamber, Ray called up his wings. If he was fast enough, then the remaining Irebolts wouldn’t be a problem.
So long as his Tower Node didn’t decide to stop all of a sudden.
Ray swung past the still-alive Irebolts. He would have flipped them off had he not been moving so fast. As it was, he swerved within the chamber and followed the Tower Node into another tunnel at the far end. This tunnel had a side passage.
One that had a Sylvan rushing through it.
The shock probably affected both of them just as much. Why had Ray not sensed the alien with Presence of the Primordial? Had Ray been sensed anyway?
With the Tower Node continuing to fly on, Ray didn’t slow down. He looked back just in time to see the Sylvan swinging around the corner to flash after his quarry. Not on his watch. A jolt of his arm sent another Impervious Shell covering up almost the entire passageway.
“Ha, I don’t think so,” Ray said as the Sylvan began attacking the dark shell without much effect.
His heart stuttered in his chest, though. If there was already a Sylvan this close by, there had to be more gathering even faster around him. How many other passages connected to his one directly? It was difficult to stave off the paranoia that he was already surrounded, that he was walking—flying, he supposed—straight into a trap.
At least the Tower Node now seemed to be hellbent on getting Ray to… wherever it was leading him. He hoped it was to the next Tower Node, but really, what proof did he have?
Cursing under his breath, Ray followed his strange guide through more obstacles and past more Irebolts. They didn’t stop against any of the creatures, only pausing when they couldn’t outrun them or some trap forced them to take more care than was ideal.
Though, Ray was getting pretty good at getting past the dungeon’s various barricades. A hailstorm? He could tank right through it, annoying though it was.
Another tunnel had the walls closing in on him. With a great rumble, they snapped in from either side, seeking to crush Ray. Thankfully, Impervious Shell came in clutch once more. It was powerful enough to stop the walls from fully closing, and there was enough of a gap for Ray to travel through with ease, thanks to summoning the shell horizontally.
Finally, the Tower Node led Ray to an elevator. He hadn’t expected something like that in a dungeon, but then again, if it had so many different kinds of mechanisms for various traps and the like, an elevator was hardly anything more complicated. Just a stone platform that ascended once he stepped on a switch in the centre.
An elevator that brought him in front of giant double doors.
Ray looked at his Tower Node. “This better be the spot.”
The Tower Node didn’t reply. When Ray stepped up to the entryway, the doors opened on their own. Revealing a huge Irebolt inside. He wasted no time using Presence of the Primordial to determine what exactly he was facing.
[Presence of the Primordial]
Greater Irebolt [Monster] [Tier 8] [Level 21]
Formless monsters made from the matter of the compressed sky. They are said to embody the various aspects of the heavens. To hold and control the weaker Irebolts more efficiently, the Everair set the main guardian as a relay of sorts, one that directed its subordinates according to its masters’ orders.
Skills:
Segmented Form [Tier 8]: Construct and reconstruct your form at will to form any shape by reconstituting the various segments that make up your body. At Tier 5, this skill allows manipulation of 16 segments.
Thunderstorm [Tier 7]: Summon a storm of lighting and thunder in the near vicinity. Thunderbolts will randomly strike foes within the area of effect. At Tier 7, the skill’s area of effect is 21 meters.
Blizzard [Tier 7]: Summon a storm of snow and ice in the near vicinity. Hail will randomly strike foes within the area of effect. At Tier 7, the skill’s area of effect is 21 meters.
Cyclone [Tier 7]: Summon a storm of ripping wind in the near vicinity. Blades of sharp, compressed wind will randomly strike foes within the area of effect. At Tier 7, the skill’s area of effect is 21 meters.
Environmental Reconstitution [Tier 6]: Regain health by absorbing the environment that you are made of. At Tier 6, this skill adds 60 Recovery for use per segment of material absorbed.
Abstract Assault [Tier 7]: When attacking, your body can now manipulate all of its segments separately and perform any attacks.
Heaven’s Wrath [Tier 7]: Channel the power of the sky in one focused blast to obliterate your foes.
“Just great,” Ray muttered. The first monster over level 20 he had seen, besides the Eternal Guardian, and it had to be where he couldn’t afford to waste any time.
[Presence of the Primordial—Dungeon Obstacle]
Node Room
The anchor that holds the sky in place is guarded by the strongest guardian the Everair could create on short notice. Defeating it may be difficult, but obtaining the Node itself should not be beyond reason. Perhaps the two go more hand in hand than it first looks…
Huh? Was the dungeon itself warning Ray that he shouldn’t try to fight that Greater Irebolt?
The monster was… unravelling itself, was the best way Ray could put it. Its serpentine form was straightening so that it stood before Ray like a pillar. The chamber was tall enough to contain it, even when it was standing straight like that.
It wasted no time attacking. Ray was immediately put on the back foot when the cyclone formed around the creature, the funnel of twisting air scything as it cut across the walls and sliced up the pillars. Alright, this monster was definitely strong. That level denomination wasn’t lying.
The Tower Node dived into the cyclone.
“Hey!” Ray shouted after it. “Hold up!”
It didn’t listen. His body almost jumped in behind it. He had grown too used to following it as fast as he could. But he held back the impulse.
Ray wasn’t a System Artifact, so he wasn’t going to pass through that cyclone unscathed.
He looked up at the twister, watching the glimmering segments of the monster within. “I’ll have to stop you to get to get to the Tower Node, won’t I? Fine, then.”
The cyclone had begun moving against him. It charged in.
All Ray did in response was fall back, out through the great doors, and back onto the platform that served as the elevator. The monster followed him. The cyclone itself couldn’t pass through the doorway, big though it was, and the Greater Irebolt had to barge through on its own, without its ripping winds for company.
With one hand, Ray fired off a few Shatterclaws at the monster, striking the huge Irebolt along its segments. They didn’t do a ton of damage, but they did enough to enrage his enemy.
Its body crackled with lighting and ice. The various segments broken apart from the main form and hammered in, seeking to crush Ray like gigantic feet stomping in. he was ready for it, though. In fact, he was looking for it.
Soaring Wings was already on his back. Activating Occultic Apparition with his free hand, Ray shot forward, landing on the lip of the stone between the platform and the room ahead.
As he had done so, his foot had pressed down on the switch in the centre of the platform that activated its motion. It immediately began sinking.
The Greater Irebolt tried to rise, but Ray was ready for that too. He called on Impervious Shell once again, summoning it to lie flat right over the descending platform. Ray had noted how the monster had changed its shape so some quick thinking had showed him just how he could manoeuvre the shell to prevent it from getting off the platform.
“See you, sucker,” Ray said. “Say hi to the Sylvans for me.”
Thunder and lightning blitzed, ice crackled to life under the Impervious Shell. But they didn’t get past the shield. By the time the monster decided to change its shape and come out through the small gap between the shell and the platform, it was too late.
The elevator was almost at the spot where it had risen from.
Not waiting to see if the monster could use the elevator to rise again, Ray quickly headed back inside the giant chamber. He was slightly disappointed that he hadn’t killed the Irebolt outright, but that couldn’t be helped. The Tower Node was more important.
Farther along the chamber, there was a large, raised portion that led to some kind of altar. On top of the altar, a glowing power was emerging from within. Ray couldn’t help but gasp.
The Tower Node he had been looking for was coming out. It was time to destroy the dungeon.