Taking our step into the third floor. Unexpectedly, it is empty. The area is spacious and wide, so I know that it was supposed to be filled with more undead, but no.
Instead, there are only two undead floating in the air. Skeleton bone like me. Wearing cloak and rags but I know something for sure. The fact that they are strong.
! {Boss Encounter}
~ {Umbral Dragon Priest / Level 350 / Health: 1100 [+1100]}
~ {Umbral Dragon Priest / Level 350 / Health: 1100 [+1100]}
“Siola.”
Holding her back as I took a step. Both of them turns, but there’s something else. Behind them is a cocoon emitting a bright brown light, inside it is a ghastly form of a creature.
{Sound Demon / Level 1500}
My eyes peeled. It’s just like the phoenix, but I don’t see any vessel like Inferna. Which means these two are the guardians.
They turn to face us and began to create a miniature sun above them. Grasping it telekinetically and pulls it down.
*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*
Smoke cloud, I waited for their moves. I know for sure, even with that massive explosion. There’s no way that they would die like that.
And I was right. Water dragon coming at us, but Rosa uses her violin to cut it in half.
! {Pantheon Drive}
Separating my shadow. We grasp their bodies and pull them closer but they sever [Telekinesis] connection effortlessly before sending a solar beam at us.
! {Melodic Empowerment}
Grasping them, we smash them to the ground.
But of course, it dealt no damage at all. At least, not by me and my shadows. Rosa and her violent tune creates a shockwave that damages them severely to a point that they lost an arm.
Another solar beam, we pulled their body and led the beam combust into an explosion. Even for the second that it last, dealing damage against one and the other is crucial now.
We grasp them and round them up together so that Rosa can go all out.
Twisting the two-dragon priest with all our might as Rosa plays as hard as she can. But then, the strings gave out. Her instrument.
‘No.’
The dragon priests broke free and started conjuring skeletons, draugrs, and ghouls endlessly while the other charging up a spell.
She grabbed her sword from the inventory, “Damn it.”
‘Protect her, shadow.’
Tens, hundreds and counting. I can’t believe it. A memory flashes before me. A memory of Rakuri and Kurira watching me exploit a bug in Ekolia. A bug where if you reach a certain amount of Mana and have a certain passive spell active, you can pretty much guarantee unlimited Mana.
“I don’t think you will ever need that much Mana, Dola.”
“Yeah, your obsession makes your status looks weird.”
“First, you got infinite health, and then you got infinite stamina, now infinite mana?”
“Like, for what? You still need to kill things, you know.”
Fools!
I mean they’re actually right, but still, even with that bug is patched, I still spend my points prioritizing Mana because who knows, someday I might need it. And I was right again back then. We managed to kill a demigod and his dragon thanks to the spell I cast.
‘I can’t do such exploit right now, but even without it, it’ll still be enough.’
* Telekinesis / Rank 7 / Psychomancy / Take control of Arcane Particles in the surrounding area / Costs: Variable / Requirement: 8 Intelligence
Here in the epicenter of the swarm. I grasp the air and take them all on.
My sight brightened, revealing colors of all enemies in red. All of them gathers into one big pile as I mushed them together, twist, crunch. Spending all my Mana until all undead is dead.
! {Congratulations, you have killed the Twin Umbral. The firsts to have been slain}
! {Your name and contributing party will be listed in the Hall of Fame}
* Luosa: 32% Damage
* Rosa: 68% Damage
! {Requirement has been met}
* Kill 1000 undead of Level 100 or higher as an undead: 2024/1000
* Kill 1000 undead of Level 200 or higher as an undead: 2024/1000
* Kill an undead boss monster of at least level 200 as an undead: 2/1
* Kill a Lich of at least level 300 as an undead: 2/1
! {New Title has been obtained}
* Death Champion / Dread walks among the dead / Effect: Increases All Secondary Attributes except Luck by 25. Increases All Resistance except for Fire and Light by 30%. Increases Light Resistance by 50%.
I feel lightheaded.
“Siola!”
Grabbing my bones before I fall. She let me sit on the ground amidst the corpses of these undead, I feel so tired even though I’m not supposed to feel anything.
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Mana potion, fell out of my inventory. Rosa saw it and quickly went to feed me but the thing just dripping pass my bones. But then suddenly, she floats in the air.
“Huh?”
‘Rosa?’
Pulled towards the Sound Demon cocoon.
“Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh?!”
‘No.’
The cocoon envelope her thoroughly and trapping her inside.
‘Hnngh.’
‘Rosa!’
Crawling on the floor, I couldn’t even cast [Mana Recharge] because I’m unable to talk. I completely forgot about that demon.
No matter how hard I’m trying, I can’t move any further.
Light shines from the cocoon, but then, I see a sword cutting from within it. The light dims as Rosa emerges from the cocoon. Panting and stumbling to stand properly.
“Hnnngh, Siola… what’s happening to me?”
The cocoon is broken, and behind her I can see it. A large monstrous creature, light blue in color with black accent. Its bottom half is like a larva while the top half resembling that of a humanoid if not for its mangled head.
“Hoooooowwwww…”
{Sound Demon / Level 1500 / Health: 345/2300}
“You were supposed to be…”
“You were supposed to be… MINE!”
As the monster scream at her, Rosa is stunned, but it doesn’t seem like the scream actually had any stunning effect. Which means, it doesn’t come from the monster.
“Hnnngh, Siola… I feel like… I’m about to hnnnngh…”
“You insolent beings. Die!” the creature cast multiple signs, “True Art of the Banshee…”
But then suddenly, Rosa turns and screamed loudly. Creating massive shockwave to her front, pushing the demon back to the cocoon, slashing, crushing. The sound resonated through every corner of the cocoon, deafening and damaging the monster.
I couldn’t even hear its scream before its entire head got blown off.
*Pant *Pant *Pant
“Bahhh… Hah, what is this?”
“Siola, I think I might’ve gotten stronger.”
That made me chuckle, I give her a thumbs up.
There’s no announcement about it, but I think she’s the only one who received it. Well, I’m glad either way. As long as she’s fine.
Weird, why do I even care if she’s fine or not. When did I start feeling this way for her?
Waving her hand around. Looks like she’s practicing something, and there I heard it. Sound. She can creature sound similar to that of a violin, but then I heard a guitar, and a piano. All sorts of musical instrument are slowly sampled, I can hear it clearly.
Her eyes absorbing every information she experiences. And there, she plays it. A music that I was once made when I was a toddler.
Happy tune, a happy birthday tune. It’s not even my birthday, but, I’m proud of that one. And she seems to enjoy playing it too. Her smile is beautiful, her eyes gleaming brightly.
At the end of it, she looks at me, my skeletal form, and hugs me.
Her warmth feels nice.
“Well, guess I no longer need an instrument.”
‘Nonsense. You will be leaving Potency enhance— goddamn it, I forgot I can’t speak!’
She went to collect the items that have been dropped from the monsters. And surprisingly, despite the sheer numbers, there’s only a few good ones here.
* [2x] Magic Core / Legendary / Contains the soul of a high ranked creature
* [1x] Magic Core / Ancient / Contains 3 dark souls
* [2x] Umbral Dragon Priest Staff / Heavy Weapon / Legendary / Physical Attack: 100 / Magical Attack: 750 / Enchantment: Necromancy-based Spells have increased 150% Potency and Duration. Dark-based Spells have increased 100% Potency. Has innate spell [Umbral Army], charge to conjure up to 5 Skeletons, Draugrs, and Ghouls at target location, lasts for 80 Seconds / Cost: 1000 Mana / Requirement: 30 Strength, 25 Endurance, 125 Intelligence
* [1x] Grimoire of Demonic Melody / Mythic / Contains [Ravenous Echo], [Doom Chord], [Demonic Overture], [Infernal Crescendo], [Serene Ballad], [Discordant Requiem] / Cost: Variable / Requirement: 100 Dexterity, 50 Agility, 50 Intelligence, Sound Demon class
* [1x] Sound Demon Larynx / Ancient / Body part of Sound Demon
* [2x] Umbral Dragon Priest Mask / Heavy Armor / Legendary / Physical Defense: 500 / Magical Defense: 500 / Enchantment: Increases Strength and Endurance by 40. Increases Intelligence by 80. Increases Mana Regeneration by 5 per second and Stamina Regeneration by 15 per second / Requirement: 60 Strength, 60 Endurance, 130 Intelligence
“Is there anything you can use?”
‘I supposed I could use the mask, but eww, it looks DISGUSTING!’
The enchantment is good. Mana Regeneration and a huge chunk of intelligence increases, any spell caster would definitely love to have this. Unless they prefer light weapon instead.
The weapon looks like something I can actually use, there’s no cast, but a charge up. I guess it’s a bit cringe to shout Umbral Army. So far, I haven’t cringe as much as I thought I would after this whole change with casting. I’m starting to miss it.
I’m also taking the sound box. I think this is what I need in this form but first… the two legendary magic cores. Without hesitation, I gorge on them.
“Woah there.”
! {Quest Completed}
~ {Evolving into Wraith}
‘I couldn’t even say no?’
Like I was just pulled by something, I stood as I feel heat coursing through my body. I can feel glowing arcane particles surrounding me before turning gray.
! {Evolution Complete}
! {Innate Ability has been obtained}
* Ghastly Form / Tier 4 – Expert / Wraith / Remove physical body and turns formless, allowing flight. Agility increases by 200% in the first 3 seconds / Cost: 10 Mana per second / Requirement: 100 Intelligence
* Dark Protection (Passive) / Level 5 (Max) / Wraith / Increases Dark Resistance by 30%
Strangely, I feel… ghastly.
‘…’
‘I wish I could say that.’
Looking at the sound box on the palm of my hand, I put it in my mouth and hope for the best. I can feel it disintegrating inside.
! {Innate Ability has been obtained}
* Sound Demon Vocal Cord (Passive) / Rank 1 (Max) / Gain the ability to speak and access social features. Tone adjustable
Cracking my neck as I tap my fingers on each other, “Mmmmm…”
“Aaaaaaa…”
“Oh, you can speak now?”
Lifting my index, shutting her up. Trying to focus on my tonality and vocal.
“AaaaaaaaAAAAAaaaaaaaaaa… BrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRrrrrrrr.”
“Knife ear, Knife ear, Brrrrrrrrrr…”
“Barrel midget bomb squad.”
“What?”
“Shush.”
Adjusting it further, “Hrmmmmmm…”
[Siola]: “Okay, how do I sound?”
She shrugs.
[Rosa]: “Like you never lost it.”
[Rosa]: “So, is there anything else you want to do now or do we go to another dungeon? Maybe fulfil that lady’s request perhaps?”
[Siola]: “Hmm, well I’d love to obtain more powers.”
Although, I have obtained a way to cast spells, and even better than that actually lifted restriction on social features. I can actually speak. Which means, I don’t necessarily need to visit the lizardmen and obtain THAT item. But who knows, maybe it’s good to have a backup. I always carry that thing in my pocket back in my previous life.
[Siola]: “There is a place, but not necessarily a dungeon. It’s a bit far unfortunately. There are two dungeons on the way, so it’s perfect. But what do you think?”
[Rosa]: “What do I think?”
[Siola]: “Yeah?”
[Rosa]: “…”
[Rosa]: “I think it is best if we leave this place as soon as possible, and rest. We can continue this tomorrow, after a good night sleep.”
[Siola]: “Mm, alright.”
I cast a Sign, “Cosmic Aperture.”
A wormhole appears, upon taking it, it will lead us outside. Rosa walks towards it alone.
[Rosa]: “Hm, Siola?”
[Siola]: “Actually, you go on ahead. I want to try something out.”
[Rosa]: “You’ll be alright, I hope?”
[Siola]: “Of course.”
[Rosa]: “Very well. I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
Once she enters, I closed the wormhole.
Being all alone with my thoughts again without the need to think of others. Somehow, it feels nice. Just like how it was when I was thrown to the desert. I never truly have a chance to be alone while feeling good about it. It’s good to have this feeling sometimes.
It reminds me of the fact that I’m truly alone in this world.
4 years’ worth of events gone. My friends gone. All those joy and sadness, all gone because of a single piece of stain decided to be stupid.
*Sigh*
Yet, I feel fulfilled now.
But I don’t want it to end just like this. I’m not repeating of what had happened before. Each and every single moment I strayed from the path I took in my past life, I can no longer rethread that path, which means, my friends. I wonder…
What will become of us when we meet?