[Rosa]: “I literally saw you charred to the bones, how are you even alive still?”
[Siola]: “Well, it’s thanks to this circlet. Dying would mean you would be teleported back to a safe zone with a heavy penalty to your stats.”
[Rosa]: “You’ve died before?”
[Siola]: “…”
Unfortunately, not in this game.
To the fifth floor we go. This place is quite different than the other, and the fact that it is the center of the dungeon and where the lava came from.
I’m not expecting another empty place, and I was right.
There is a massive orb at the epicenter of the lava and it is unreachable by normal means. I could use [Telekinesis] again, but there’s no point to it.
Inside that orb is a feathered winged creature doused in flame.
{Cinderlight Phoenix / Level 1500}
“Yeah, we’re not beating that… right?”
“Mm. There’s no way we can.”
The creature is an Ascended ranked monster. It’s a step beyond Ancient and just before Transcendental rank. But oddly, no matter how far we walk around the place, it hasn’t woken up.
“Siola, there’s a chest over here.”
“Wait, don’t open it!”
“Oh, okay.”
“Phew.”
That’s a classic trap. Although there might not be a trap, the boss might just wake up when we opened it. Happens too many times for me.
[Siola]: “I think we’re done, here. Let’s just leave.”
[Rosa]: “You sure?”
[???]: “Halt.”
Our eyes peeled. As we look behind us, the phoenix is still inside the orb. But upon looking up, a powerful energy gathers in the air, and a woman in a dazzling flame appears.
Her hair styled magnanimously just by her shoulders, her slender yet voluptuous figure sways as she descends from above. She dons an outfit, a dress, that encapsulate the size of her bosoms. A V-cut with a naked back. Her fiery eyes opened.
{Cinderlight Vessel, Inferna / Level 480}
She approaches us, “I sensed another presence of a vessel, but it seems I was mistaken.”
Looking at me in the eye.
“To think you have slain our guardian, but it matters not, for it shall revive once again through his blessing, the Hellblade.”
I noticed something inside her hair, ears.
“You’re an Elf?”
“Hou, so you have noticed. Indeed, I am.”
! {Pantheon Drive}
Casting a Sign as I chop, “Mind Splitter.”
A stinging pain in her head, “Gahangh?!”
[Inferna]: “Wh-What’re you—”
My [Hex Flame] charged up.
[Siola]: “Hex Pillars.”
Her eyes widened at the sight of silver black flame erupting from the ground, engulfing her entire body in its cursed energy.
[Inferna]: “Ngaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!”
[Inferna]: “Y-You vile beings!”
Rosa dashes past me. As the elf takes to the sky, she violently plays a screeching tune that creates a soundwave that split the air and damages the elf.
[Inferna]: “Ngahhh?!”
It falls, Rosa quickly takes a new weapon I’ve never seen. A sword with a scale similar to that of the Chameleon we fought before.
She stabbed the elf’s chest as she falls upside down and create a massive cut in her stomach.
*Thump*
Grabbing the elf’s by the hair as she lifts it upwards.
[Inferna]: “Hnnngh, wh-why… why did you do this?”
Suddenly, a piece of memory from my past life. Ludwig, asking me why I’m killing him before he turns into dust. My eyes opened to the current reality.
[Siola]: “Why did you stop us from leaving?”
[Inferna]: “Nothing! I just… I just wanted to talk… Please… kill me if you must, but don’t touch my lord. She’s very close to her reincarnation.”
[Inferna]: “And I guarantee you… y-you will benefit from her uprising.”
[Siola]: “How long will that be?”
[Inferna]: “I don’t know, but it’s very close… I can feel it… please…”
Reincarnation.
Looking at her, I wonder if she knows something about that topic. I’m sure she is. I might be able to kill the phoenix since her vessel can pretty much die with one more attack, but maybe this time, it is more beneficial for me if I were to let this one go, after all.
I never had a choice then.
[Siola]: “Then I hope we can meet again when she’s awake. Let’s go, Rosa.”
[Rosa]: “What, we’re not killing her?”
[Siola]: “No.”
Rosa loosened her grip and walk over her.
[Inferna]: “Nnnngh, th-thank you.”
[Rosa]: “Goodness, Siola. Why did you suddenly attack for no reason then?”
[Siola]: “Nothing good comes from elves, especially the pretty ones.”
[Inferna]: “Wait!”
Rolling my eyes as I turned back, my [Hex Flame] charging up.
[Inferna]: “I-I can teleport you two back to the entrance. But first, please, would you be so kind to assist me with a task for my lord?”
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Her stomach regenerating but her skin is still burning from the spell I cast.
[Inferna]: “No wonder you managed to defeat our guardian. This is quite a… terrifying magic.”
[Siola]: “Inferna, it’s what you called, right?”
[Inferna]: “Yes, feel free to call me so.”
[Inferna]: “I require you to bring me an item called [Everlasting Flame]. An outer world dragon has stolen it from us. Last time we saw it. It was headed to a place called The Witch Mountain Path.”
[Siola]: “A dragon? What kind?”
[Inferna]: “Almost as large as our guardian, but it doused in purple flame. It’s also a winged one.”
[Siola]: “Hmm. I won’t guarantee it, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
[Inferna]: “Thank you.”
The moment she raised her palm, none of us twitched, but I can feel Rosa’s piercing gaze to her every movement.
[Inferna]: “Siola and Rosa, I hope for your return.”
! {Congratulation, you have conquered Magen Repath}
! {Your name and contributing party will be listed in the Hall of Fame}
* Luosa & Rosa
Our bodies enveloped by a fiery shining light. Soon, when we opened our eyes. We’re greeted by the breeze of the wind, and the sun in the sky above.
[Rosa]: “Goodness, we’ve been in there for too long.”
[Siola]: “No kidding. I forgot that I have my own method of teleportation so we never needed her actually.”
[Rosa]: “It’s good to conserve resources though.”
[Siola]: “I guess.”
[???] “That’s them!”
A couple of people gathers, including some faces we’ve seen previously.
[Warrior]: “They’re the one who PK-ed us!”
[Man]: “Out of the way!”
A bulky man, the one we who asks us for a fee to enter the dungeon.
[Man]: “You there. We got a weird notification here, telling us that someone just conquered this dungeon. Don’t happen to be the two of you, right?”
[Mage]: “Huh?”
[Warrior]: “What, what did you say?”
[Rogue]: “They… conquered the dungeon?”
[Warrior]: “Just the two of them?”
[Siola]: “And what if we are?”
The man narrowed his eyes down, “Well, first. This dungeon is our guild’s property. It’s fine for you to grind and get the drops or whatever, but any treasures within it must be handed over.”
[Siola]: “…”
[Man]: “Just give us the loot, little ladies. We don’t wanna any trouble.”
[Man]: “Surely you know what it means to go against the Heavenly God Sword, right?”
Raising my hand towards him.
[Man]: “Heheh. Good, I know you’re the sensible type. One who knows your place.”
[Siola]: “Hex Pillars.”
Their eyes peeled a moment before three 1-meter pillars flame burns 5 of them in its fire.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!”
Screams of agony.
“Ngooooooooohhhhhhh! Wh-Whaaaaaaaaaaaat is aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaangh!”
Six of them were not caught, including one of the people we encountered before. The woman looking into the fire as it extinguishes and sees the people in it charred down to their bones.
[Mage]: “Wh-What just…”
Some fell on their butt. Some took a few steps back.
We went passed them and just as I figured, there’s no longer resistance or blockade in our path. We go down the latter smoothly and jump off platform onto the dirt road.
Resuming our journey.
[Rosa]: “I take it we’re going to this Witch Mountain Path?”
[Siola]: “No, that’s on another side of the region. Somewhere in Lorkhan’s territory, I think.”
[Siola]: “We still have plenty of dungeons to conquer, so let’s focus on that, Rosa.”
[Rosa]: “You plan to conquer them all?”
[Siola]: “God no. I don’t have all the time in the world. We just need to get stronger up to a point. A point where we can easily dominate others without a fear of losing.”
[Rosa]: “You’re fearless as you are now.”
[Siola]: “I won’t be as fearless when there’s tens of thousands of the best players in the world fighting against my lonesome. Even if such scenario won’t happen, people who play this game will continuously get stronger. I just don’t want to be left too far behind.”
She grabs my hand, clenches her fingers against my fist. Even through her gloves, I can still feel her warmth washing over me.
[Siola]: “You’re making my stomach churning.”
[Rosa]: “Heh.”
Heading south, we go by the dirt road and sliding down the trenches as we enter the forest off the road. Rosa tilted her head as she turns.
[Siola]: “What is it?”
[Rosa]: I heard something.”
She decided to follow it and after a few minutes of walk, even I can hear it now. Streams of water following clashing against rocks. It’s a river.
[Rosa]: “Heh, I knew it.”
[Siola]: “What, a river?”
[Rosa]: “What we’ve got back home is a canal and you can find human footprints all over them, but this here… this is nature. Same one where we saw from the books, the videos of old.”
[Siola]: “…”
[Rosa]: “This here is the view of the Capital, Siola.”
Capital, as if. Though her eyes seemingly full of joy, I can’t take this moment away from her as I too can sense a hint of excitement within me.
[Rosa]: “Look, fish.”
Heheh, I guess it really is amusing.
[Siola]: “Think this might be a good chance to catch up. I haven’t checked anything since we delved in that dungeon.”
[Rosa]: “Will it take a while? I’d like to take a look around.”
[Siola]: “It won’t, but sure, go ahead.”
She goes tip-toeing around the river and I myself decided to take a seat on the damp flat rock by it. Bright sky, vegetation on the other side, it’s nice.
“Now, why did I not get the level 100 milestone for Psion class yet? Do I have to learn all the spells in this tome?”
“First, let’s check the loot.”
“Good lord, there’s too much of them.”
There’s only a few that is of interest to me.
* [3x] Magma-woven One-piece / Cloth / Epic / Physical Defense: 50 / Magical Defense: 450 / Enchantment: Increases Fire Resistance by 25%. Has innate spell [Magma Armour], Cast to create magma stones and pad them into equipped outfit, granting additional 250 Physical Defense and 125 Magical Defense, lasts 320 seconds, cooldown 360 seconds / Requirement: 80 Intelligence
* [5x] Scorched Linen Leggings and Boots / Cloth / Rare / Physical Defense: 10 / Magical Defense: 80 / Enchantment: Wearer is immune to mobility-obstructing effect and can walk on any Fire-based surface without taking damage / Requirements: 40 Intelligence
* [1x] Flamebite Gloves / Cloth / Epic / Physical Defense: 45 / Magical Defense: 200 / Enchantment: Fire-based Spells have increased 25% Potency and Range. Has innate spell [Magma Grasp], Cast to conjure scorching magma from a surface to erupt, 12-second cooldown / Requirement: 80 Intelligence
* [1x] Drake’s Ember Hat / Cloth / Legendary / Physical Defense: 20 / Magical Defense: 500 / Enchantment: Fire-based Spells have increased 50% Potency and Range. Reduced Fire-based Spells Cost by 25%. Increases Fire Resistance by 30% / Requirement: 150 Intelligence
“Nuh?!”
“Since when did I got a legendary, and why did I get a hat?”
Goodness, if only it’s an armor or something. A circlet maybe, but a hat? And it’s a witch-like hat too, I’m about to flip right now. What a waste.
“Damn it. The stats are good too!”
And so, I wear them all. A sleeved top one piece in black-ish gray with red accent, the skirt has a little texture that is similar to the turtles we found on the first floor. The boot is lightweight, but somewhat beefy, including the legging.
“Guess I won’t have to worry about someone flipping my skirt.”
The gloves are also comfortable to use, albeit, being too tight. I had to remove my rings and wear them from the outside. And speaking of rings, I also got two new accessories I can use.
* [1x] Molten Core Amulet / Epic / Enchantment: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%. Grants additional 40 Strength and Endurance / Requirement: 120 Intelligence
* [3x] Smoldering Bracelets / Rare / Enchantment: Has innate Spell [Lava Tremor], Cast to create a quake in 10-meter radius and filles every crack with lava, 35-second cooldown / Requirement: 80 Intelligence
I can sell off the surplus and I even got a couple of skill and spell books. No tome or grimoire unfortunately, but these can be used or maybe just sold later on.
* [1x] Emberheart Skill Book / Epic / Requirement: 80 Intelligence
* [4x] Serpent Strike Skill Book / Rare / Requirement: 30 Intelligence
* [5x] Chameleon’s Cloak Spell Book / Tier 3 – Advanced / Requirement: 45 Intelligence
* [1x] Volcanic Grasp / Tier 4 – Expert / Requirement: 100 Intelligence
* [1x] Fissure Strike Skill Book / Uncommon / Requirement: 10 Intelligence
* [1x] Molten Shield Spell Book / Tier 2 – Intermediate / Requirement: 10 Intelligence
* [3x] Inferno Step Skill Book / Tier 3 – Advanced / Requirement: 50 Intelligence
Let’s see here. I got a good amount of Exp, enough to level me up more than 60 times. I’m lacking a couple more levels to up my Faith stat so I can learn the only book that I have yet to learn a single spell from, the [Tome of Malevolent Shadow].
This should do a lot for now.
===== Profile Status =====
Statistics
* Name: Luosa
* Level: 165
* Class: Psion
* Title: [Dragon Lord Scourge], [Fire Wielder], [Indomitable]
Primary Attributes
* Max Health: 12 [+6] | Max Mana 1: 420 [+3885] | Max Mana 2: 420 [+3675] | Max Mana 3: 420 [+210] | Max Stamina: 66 [+165]
* Health: 18 | Mana: 9030 | Stamina: 231
Secondary Attributes (5)
* Strength: --- [+40] / Dexterity: --- / Endurance: --- [+40]
* Vitality: 10 / Agility: ---
* Intelligence: 125 [+50] / Faith: 20 / Luck: 5
Combat
* Physical Attack: --- / Physical Defense: 125 [+1250]
* Magical Attack: 1150 / Magical Defense: 1230 [+990]
* Health Regeneration: 0.001 [+0.375] / Mana Regeneration: 1.95 / Stamina Regeneration: 4
Active Effect
* Pulsar Nebula Diadem: The wearer can no longer be healed. Health Regeneration is increased by 0.375 per second. Upon death, shield the wearer in a cocoon of arcane, restoring all primary attributes, 86.400-second cooldown.
* Magma Ring: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%
* Lava Ring: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%
* Molten Core Amulet: Increases Fire Resistance by 50%. Grants additional 40 Strength and Endurance
* Drake’s Ember Hat: Fire-based Spells have increased 50% Potency and Range. Reduced Fire-based Spells Cost by 25%. Increases Fire Resistance by 30%
* Magma-woven One-piece: Increases Fire Resistance by 25%
* Flamebite Gloves: Fire-based Spells have increased 25% Potency and Range
* Scorched Linen Leggings and Boots: Wearer is immune to mobility-obstructing effect and can walk on any Fire-based surface without taking damage
* Magma Dragon Collar: Increases Intelligence by 50
* Dragon Skin: Physical Defense by 500 + 100% and Magical Defense by 250 + 50%
===== Profile Status =====