Back at home I'd always been associated as someone steadfast... Sometimes stubborn... Sometimes even violent. I don't intentionally hurt people of course,
the comment leaned towards the ways I try and do things.
My approach to life.
Hmm maybe, that's just over complicating it. You know what... Alice likes to say that I'm a bit too 'Forward' sometimes. I think that's what it is…
I couldn't help but giggle as I subconsciously imagined her whining. Not that she whines a lot, she’s a lot more hardworking than one would might think of her.
…
Anyway, back to the topic. Sure things would go smoothly whenever do our best to compromise, and… Everyone is happy Eyerolls and everyone has something to gain.
Being mutual and all that.
I can't say I hate the idea, but what if the situations we choose to twist now, eventually leads to even more mishaps later on?
Or maybe even worse?
Think about that.
...
Hence why I don't make compromises. Even if I have to get violent and war freak over it. Sure there will be someone hurt, eventual pain and suffering, but that's just how the world works.
Even if you twist and bend, and fold the situations you encounter, there will always be one to be hurt.
Nothing is enough. There will always be someone hurt. Someone wanting more. Someone who has reasons. Excuses. Weak people pleading. Groveling.
inhale…
exhale…
I mean…
Why the hell would you choose to go along with all that. As long as your choices are for good reason, more so for your self, that should be more than enough reason to fight for the results you want.
Sure there will be consequences, but even then, it would be a lot more simpler if you tackle challenges as is.
Even if it requires you to be violent sometimes.
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... ...
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> [Info] Devouring Flame and Ember | Mana Body Strengthening Variant
> - Circulates mana through out your body, then to your surroundings causing everyone and everything to burn, empowering both your Strength as well as Perception.
> - Although weaker in intensity, your flames are now more flammable, and a lot more expansive as well as harder to put out. The same properties remain consistent through out the burning duration allowing the flames to spread more easily as long as you’re able to supply mana.
>
> You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
> - Drains the Ash and Ember of all burned entities and objects, restoring Life and Mana.
> - Temporarily Increases stats for each Object or Entity currently burning from your mana.
> - You are immune to your own Flame.
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Initiating towards one a group of unsuspecting dark elves, I lunged and locked the head of the miserable elf into a choke hold. He tried to reach for his weapon, alerting his two companions in the process, but couldn't reach it, my strength as well as his now burning head preventing him from making the right choices, the flame preventing him from gathering air, weakening him in the process.
Seeing this, the two other dark elves, immediately summoned their weapons and dark thick unknown liquid flowed everywhere, empowering their bodies, the type of mana a lot more stronger than I could muster myself. Alarm bells rang all over my head, my battle experience keeping me calm as I used their attempt to swing at me further the suffering of their comrade.
"You demon!"
One of the Elves screamed as he watched his own blade slice the innards of his now flaming brethren. The other Elf, seeing this, unsummoned his weapon in an attempt to overpower me and save his teammate but that was a huge mistake on his part.
I silently grinned inside as I watched him attempt to grab the man. Kicking my first victim towards the other, spreading the flames even further as I circulated more mana. Launching myself towards the one that shouted, I took a wide leap as I swung my gauntlet, my target’s composure still unguarded even as I closed in on him.
Having no choice but to confront me, I saw dark mana undulate and pump his body, his veins as well as bones creaking just from the mana like thick liquid flowing from inside of him… Giving him an unreasonable amount of strength, at the cost of his bones and muscles.
Engaging in the melee with new found confidence, he tried to overpower me but alas, with the surroundings as well as his teammates unable currently burning, I had more than enough stats to go blow for blow against him.
Not to mention, it was over the instant he got distracted from all the burning.
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> [Info] Quest Updated: Burn the practitioners of the tainted.
> Check point reached: (1/2). You will be revived here should you die or become captured. Retries Left: (3/3)
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> [Info] Item obtained: Insignia of Asgard. Can transform to any form of accessory, Current Form: Ring, 0/5 Asgard Rewarded Skill Slots, 0/100 Consumable Slots, Items will not perrish inside the special storage. Cooldowns temporarily disables all skills. Disintegrates upon the users death or disqualification to Asgard.
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> [Info] Please select a reward.
> + Scan, Small Area, 3 second cooldown
> + Disorient, Single Target, 20 second cooldown
> + Slow, Small Area, 25 second cooldown
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...
Selecting scan, time resumed and I instantly noticed the earring that I'm now wearing. Along with the bonus item as a reward, I had reached level 8 by the time I killed the last of the Elves. Though the quest itself screamed massacre from the very start, simply seeing the dark liquid howling from the bodies of these darkelves was enough to make me want to burn this whole forest along with them.
Just the howl of emotions... Of pain and hatred I felt whenever I see that black goo... -
I stopped the trail of thought lest I truly burn this forest to the ground.
Testing out the new ability, a pulse of the thinnest amount of mana spread all over the surroundings and back, feeding me information, allowing me to notice the faint and transparent figure just behind me.
I glanced back calmly as I waited for the just detected wisp to Materialize.
...
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> Guiding Soul: Leonora, Level ???
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...
"You're getting better with manipulating your flames... Though you need to practice allocating controlling your mana to flow a bit slower. It is only safe to assume that there will be enemies who can outright resist or even counter your flames without much effort...
The floating soul whispered audibly and I followed as instructed. Feeling my mana, gush a lot gentler this time.
…
"A bad match up to be precise..."
The wisp continued. She was some old soul acting as a guide in this Trial, and have guided me from circulating my mama to the very start of the quest. I find her Sweet but a bit too dark with her stories sometimes...
Often Sarcastic but, never the less she, fulfilled her duties, Like an old but knowledgeable granny. Partly reliable and helpful, partly... Well... As you can see.
Annoying...
"See! You've become so good by now... I remember when I was... -"
...
... ...
I shut of my thoughts, unwilling to listen further. Circulating more mana, I am able to burn and spread my flames even further, slowly, I was uncovering the amount of mana needed to feed initiate various effects of the flame. The weak but hyper expansive properties of my flame allowing itself to burn and spread even faster as long as I have enough mana to sustain it.
There's also the property of the flames that allow me to absorb burnt remnants covering into life and mana, as well as amplifying both physique and perception depending on how much I've burned and absorbed.
If only the mana cost is a bit more sustainable... Making up my mind, I've decided to finally spend the attribute points I've got, splitting majority of the Stat points more towards Origin Affinity for stronger burns and mana regen, then the rest towards Endurance and a bit of physique, so I wouldn't have to be too reliant on the passive stat bonus that I get from circulating my mana.
“That should be enough.”
Closing the interface, I looked back at the patiently waiting old soul.
"Shall we get going and burn more of them?"
"That would only be the way, sadly."
She muttered lost in thought, before conceding and following from behind. Though, unlike her, I started to walk faster and then to a run.
More than eager to burn all the tainted to the ground.
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... ...
To be continued.