Myra followed Piker as the two faced against the Red-Maned giant. Even now, she didn’t think there would come a time where she would actually get face-to-face with a Journeyman rank monster just after breaking into Expert.
Even now, her body shivered at the sight of it. Getting closer to it only imprinted harder on her mind the severity of their gap. Unlike with Captain Val, who was a conscious human being capable of speech, this monster was not.
It was a monster in every way. This monster will do whatever it can to survive, without mercy.
So when Piker, being on equal stage but higher level than her, said he had something, she hoped it wasn’t an all out battle.
Then Piker raised his sword. Icy tendrils covered the blade, his ice-attuned mana entering into it. His glare could pierce the monster as it finally noticed them. Then it changed its attack patterns.
It started to summon a giant Fireball, the same size as itself right on top of its head. The heat was staggering, but Myra’s attunement helped her resist the flame. But what about Piker? She saw him sweating already despite only being out for a few seconds. While the fireball wasn’t as grand as the giant wave, this time they weren’t in Zeke’s barrier.
It was taking its time, so Myra could just go in and attack. But where? The stance alone was enough to prove that it would be a capable fighter, and if nothing else, she was trembling hard.
She shook herself off, then she pointed her spear and channeled her mana. Power gushed from her core, her channels burning up as flames covered her spear. It was hot, but barely warm compared to the blazing fireball in front of her.
“Myra, don’t attack the creature,” Piker said, still covering his sword in frost.
Myra frowned at him. “But I thought you were going to–”
“No, I’m just charging up my attack, and you should too,” Piker said, then he flashed a fierce smile. “We’re gonna blind it.”
…..
In a few seconds, the monster looked ready to strike, swinging its hulking arm towards the two humans. The giant fireball was just about to turn them to ashes, but then gray smoke covered its senses.
But the heat and the wetness of the air proved it wasn’t smoke–it was steam.
It coalesced and covered the entire scene, drenching the entire clearing with its wet canvas. Despite the heat, the steam being produced beat out everything else, causing the monster to lose its balance with the spell.
The fireball winked out of existence as easily as that, causing the monster to lower its arm and glare at particularly nothing. It swiveled its head, the hazy steam blanketing everything.
Myra couldn’t believe what happened. The mixture of both their weapons covered in their opposing elements caused vapor to come to life. When Piker had Myra join their weapons together to do this, she understood immediately.
She focused her entire power on not producing fire to attack, but to fuse together with the ice Mana from Piker’s side. Though her Mana was piss-poor thanks to her low Spirit, channeling fire mana to increase the density of the steam was easy to manage, and way better than dealing with the giant. As for Piker, he tried to make the ice less dense, easy enough for Myra to burn it to a boiling point rather than just trying to create water.
As the two joined together, it created a sizzling that blanketed their senses. It blinded them too, but they were easily able to see the Fireball getting winked out. They had to produce so much of it to the point of reducing their Mana pool, but that’s the only way to distract the creature without fighting it.
“Looks like my hunch was right,” Piker said. “It relied heavily on its Intelligence and Strength, so it didn’t focus at all in broadening its senses. That’s why it decided to use powerful fire magic on everything including the monsters.”
Myra nodded in approval. It was natural to assume that these powerful creatures seem to have everything handed down, but that wasn’t quite right.
Creatures such as these were born to survive, finding ways to gain more power. That included killing anything in its path. Whether they can access the system and use a status, none can truly say. However, if they can get stronger if left alone, it is assumed they also have stats to gain and skills to use. So to Piker’s hunch, it should’ve been natural that the giant opted more for power than precision.
“We should leave,” Myra said. She normally isn’t the type to run away from a fight with an advantage, but she wasn’t stupid enough to actually believe it would work.
It was just a simple measure to distract the enemy, and with no problems whatsoever. They couldn’t ask for a better plan.
Piker didn’t answer, but grunted in affirmation. The two hauled ass faster than anything else, knowing the exact way to the giant dome.
Myra chuckled softly. She was worried about how often she would rely on this barrier from now on. Without one, she feared she would always be filled with anxiety.
Is this what Mikella was worried about? Myra thought. Guess I can’t blame her now. It’s pretty addicting.
The two knocked on the dome, and without hesitation, the opening showed up. They were able to see slightly now, the steam not considered just air and keeping the dome entirely clear. In the span of a minute, they were able to get out, distract the creature, and run back into the dome as it opened. Once the two got in, the dome was immediately sealed in place. With some mild hot steam entering in from the inconvenience.
…..
“That was an awesome plan!”
Mikella said as she high-fived Myra on the way in. She was breathing heavily, but a smile rose on her face while Piker looked like he just ran a marathon from how much sweat he was producing.
“Looks like Piker has a good brain after all,” Myra joked, but this time Piker didn’t respond. Or rather, he just didn’t bother as he turned to Zeke.
“How is it?” Piker asked, getting Zeke to turn back to him.
“It’s… it’s done,” Zeke said, letting out heavy breaths. It took a lot more concentration than usual.
The situation, the intensity of the rune-making, the Mana cost, everything was weighing on him hard. He knew doing this while in combat would be more difficult, but the severity was higher than he expected.
Looking back at his newly created rune array, he stared at it in marvel, despite it being his own making.
Even if nobody around him understood the specifics behind this, everyone looked at it with awe as well. Three magic circles, each having complex scripts from within, glowed in turquoise light that seemed to radiate with power. The mediums held true against the dome, and due to that, it seemed to pulse with energy. Once he created a bigger barrier medium to encase all three mediums at once, it truly transformed the dome into something else. It kept pulsing outward, almost resembling his heartbeat.
“With this, we can actually do something from within the barrier,” Zeke breathed, still trying to keep himself stable. He looked over to Mikella, nodding. “Mikella, you want a first try?”
“Me?” Mikella pointed at herself. “What do you want me to do?”
“Hit the dome with all your might,” Zeke said, pointing over at the creature being revealed as the steam was losing its potency. “And pour your intent into the strike to hit that thing. Make sure to keep your image vivid in your mind as you do. It’ll help a lot.”
“O-Okay,” Mikella nodded. She stepped over to the dome in midst of the heavy silence from everyone else.
Zeke took a glance at the leaders, to which Cloud was now severely staring at them. Or rather at the array he created. He figured Cloud would be interested, but due to the nature of the situation, he forced himself from getting close.
I sort of get it, but I still think it’s a little ridiculous.
“So… d-do I just hit it?” Mikella asked again. “Do I use my skill or…?”
“Actually, only use stamina,” Zeke said. “I’m still a little shaky if anyone uses skills or magic spells, but just stamina is perfect. That’s exactly what the array is built for.”
“Got it…” Mikella breathed slowly, then let out a harsh one. “Ready!”
She lifted her sword up high, pointing the tip at the barrier. She stared only at the creature which was now starting to ramp up its ferocity once the steam finally cleared. It was only meant to be a distraction, which has now been dissolved as the Red Maned Giant lifted its tree trunk of a staff and casted its giant fireball spell.
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She breathed heavily as she flexed her muscles within her armor. Kinetic energy poured right into her sword. Then, with a single strike, she pierced the barrier.
For a moment, nothing happened. For just a single moment, the tip of the blade hit the dome with a single ‘thunk’, as though she didn’t do a thing. Considering the amount of power poured into it, everyone expected it to create a bigger clash than some metal clinking.
Then the air exploded. A wave of force passed through Zeke’s channels as he actually felt the energy flow through his barrier, from the use of his rune array.
In that span of a second, Zeke felt his insides swirl with a flurry. His mind whirled. Everything he ate from last night to last week was ready to churn and tumble out of his mouth. There was an intensity behind his eyes and ears, from deep within his core that could never be stopped.
A powerful force emanated from the barrier, a second after Mikella struck it. It traveled across the ash-layered field and straight towards the giant creature, creating a sort of air vacuum. The force landed on the giant and made it topple, taking a step back from the force. A sharp wound appeared straight across its abdomen.
Black blood oozed from its open wound, large enough as though a… Well, a giant pierced it with its own blade. More blood was thrown up from the red maned giant’s mouth. Its eyes widened, almost confused, as though something went wrong.
Everyone inside the dome froze at the sight. The soldiers gaped with shock, and even the leaders looked surprised.
Piker and Myra’s jaws hung, and even Mikella, responsible for the hit, looked aghast. Only Zeke did anything different as he knelt to the ground, heaving as he felt like his bile was rising from his core.
“Ugh…” Zeke groaned. “M-Maybe don’t use stamina. That was… intense.”
“Holy shit!”
Everyone inside the dome hollered and cheered as they went over to the front of the dome, their fear utterly debated. Finally, as though not able to hold themselves back, the leaders also stepped up, looking at the array more closely.
“Zeke!” Mikella knelt down to Zeke, rubbing his back as per the course. He didn’t know why, but just feeling her touch caused his insides to not feel like a washer on heavy duty mode.
“Ugh…” Zeke groaned again, his stomach still churning but finally calming down. “Thanks…”
“Was that because of me?” Mikella said, her tone filled with guilt. “Did it hurt you more?”
“Not worse than what you did to the monster,” Zeke chuckled darkly. “Damn, that was epic…”
“Zeke, you think we can do that again?”
Myra said as she knelt down with him. She even added on rubbing his back along with Mikella, the two together causing a calming sensation down. Zeke nodded, but then hesitated before answering.
“Just, uhh… don’t use any stamina for now. See if you can attack again normally.”
“Just a normal swing then?” Piker said, stepping up to the barrier dome. He stood in front of the large array, angling his bastard sword. The array was built to receive attacks, so it won’t suddenly lose its power if anyone nicked it. That’s the specialty of his special barrier mediums–they won’t be cut so easily. “I’m going to try. It looks like it picked up the danger.”
Zeke looked ahead, finally noticing that red maned giant looking distastefully at the dome. It gave a powerful bellow of a roar as it finally charged in. It swung its staff like a mace and tried to attack the dome directly. Realizing that its magic wasn’t strong enough to break it, it tried to strike at it in an angle. It struck hard, causing the dome to shake along with everything else within it.
Zeke groaned again, but he held on. It was easier compared to before, but his current state wasn’t taking it lightly. Still, he ushered himself to stand, using Mikella’s weight to help as she dragged him along. Myra instead let Mikella handle him as she unsheathed her spear again.
“Mana’s not okay, right?” Myra asked, getting Zeke to nod.
“Just… just normal attacks for now,” Zeke said, shaking himself. “I need a bit of time before I can take another blow like Mikella’s again. I don’t want it to get so bad that the dome breaks apart.”
“Understood!”
Piker shouted gladly as he swung his sword at the dome again. His bastard sword struck true at the design, causing it to send another wave of force throughout it.
Zeke this time didn't’ feel anything, but it was clear it worked as the force from Piker’s blow managed to pass through the barrier and hit the closed up Giant. It groaned loudly as it was pushed back, a single slice appeared across the giant broad chest again. While the power wasn’t as strong as Mikella’s, proven by the difference in size of the two wounds, the giant certainly didn’t like it. Especially since it was close enough that the wound hit harder than normal. The travel distance was still a thing, even if it was filtered with an array.
“My gods… it truly works,” Piker said, awe in his voice. Zeke still couldn’t believe how Piker seemed so into it.
“Bash its head in!”
Myra shouted as she was the next to hit the barrier with all her might. It caused the wall of anxiety to finally break, and through the dome, a wave of unrelenting rage exploded forth.
The other soldiers finally gathered up the courage to help. Now that they didn’t need to get out of the barrier, each one ran towards the dome and attacked with all their might.
But the sudden barrage of attacks, strikes, and slices at the barrier was now overbearing his mind. Zeke closed his eyes as he channeled the strange forces traveling through his spirit. He knew it wasn’t the actual attacks, but the residual effects of each strike hitting his dome, hence his connection to it. It wasn’t hurting him, but more like giving him the shakes.
He was starting to understand a little about his magic, or magic in general. When magic is made, with enough intent, more power can be added. But there was also a drawback of putting too much of yourself into the intent. It would make the magic itself act like a connected part of you–of your spirit. So when Zeke made his barrier and his rune arrays with his full intent, that also went with his connection to his spirit.
He stood firm as each strike that landed on the barrier made its way to the giant. It roared as it tried to combat the pain by slamming the barrier over and over, but to no avail. Despite its strength and physique, it didn’t provide much of an ‘oomph’ like its spells. Still, it packed a wallop as each strike sent more shivers down his body and soul.
The strikes from his team, and the strikes from the giant. They were all messing with his head and soul. But he only focused on one thing–survival. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stare at the giant, glaring it to death from his barrier.
Perhaps it was just a natural monster who wanted to survive. Perhaps it saw the team as intruders to its home, but Zeke couldn't care less. Zeke never intended to leave any of the monsters alive.
To survive, and to gain more power, Zeke–no, everyone here, will fight to thrive.
“Take it down!” Zeke shouted, and as though his words carried law, the others followed with a roar of affirmation.
Mikella added in her strikes as well, even changing her sword to her axe as she hammered in as much power into her strikes as possible. When Zeke eventually gave order to only one of them to use stamina, Piker, with his high Endurance stat, added in his powerful strikes.
And they were brutal.
His bastard sword struck with such fatality beneath the steel blade that Zeke actually felt his bloodlust for the giant through him. His spirit quivered at his intensity, his desire for the blood and death of the giant washing over him. But Zeke refused to bulge as the force of energy waved through him and passed over to the monster.
With each strike, the monster looked more and more riddled with cuts and bruises. But despite its injuries, not a single soldier within the dome was harmed, somehow getting the giant to roar in a rage, or perhaps panic.
Then, with all its might, the giant raised its staff like weapon, the black rock affixed on it from the top aiming straight for the dome. At the same time, the other soldiers came in to strike as well, and the two finally collided in unison.
Something that Zeke didn’t expect happened in a flash. The forces between each strike was too much for his mind, his mana finally petering out. The dome that protected them all this time fizzled and cracked. Then, it shattered, disappearing out of existence and causing the soldiers to scream out in terror.
“Shit! The barrier!”
“What happened to it?!”
“Zeke!”
Mikella shouted as she ran towards the now falling Zeke, hitting the ground with his knees, then his torso followed. His head hit the ground which was a lot softer than he expected it to be.
But his eyes still worked, and he could see the giant actually roaring in defiance and pride. Despite its wounds reaching to the point of causing it to nearly stumble, it actually grinned. Its tusks peeked out from its mouth as it opened in gratification.
It swung its staff again, ready to strike them all down. Zeke couldn't even muster up the energy to stand, let alone reactivate his barrier. He didn't even realize that with each blow, a bit of his own stamina was getting reduced, and looking back within himself, his mana and stamina were drained dry.
“Goddamit…” Zeke grumbled, expecting the hit to happen and a lot of pain to ensue as he looked up.
But that didn’t happen. With multiple roars, the soldiers struck back. Despite the barrier disappearing and their protection gone, it wasn’t as though they suddenly started fearing it again.
After all, it was on its last legs.
The soldiers struck with every skill and spell they could manage, striking the creature down and causing it to lose its grip on its staff, causing it to fall and leaving it to make a huge thump noise as it landed.
The major ones–Myra, Piker, and Mikella–charged in with abandon. Each one used their abilities to the max. Piker struck its leg with a powerful kinetically charged chop, causing it to roar in pain and stumble to its broken knee. Despite it being a sharp blade, the toughened skin of the giant was too strong, but it certainly packed a wallop like a mallet pounding meat.
Myra leapt forward with a blazing spear straight at its shoulder, causing it to get punctured and cauterized at the same time. The giant tried to move, but it couldn’t take its legs off the ground as it was frozen over by Piker’s ice magic. As it was clear, it would work on its body, just not against the giant’s spells as it couldn’t cast any magic.
Then Mikella charged forward, her axe ready in her hand. She ran with abandon, her eyes glowing bright hot and yellow as her energy charged her axe with dense potency. She jumped, her Class Skills working together into a harmonious symphony of death.
She roared and slammed her axeblade straight above the giant’s head, now knelt and easier to hit from above. Her blade, shimmering with its greenish and white glow of Heavenly Strike, managed to gut the top of its skull and drove it deep into its innards, splitting brain matter and everything else alike.
Black blood oozed out like a waterfall from the venture as the giant could no longer react anymore after that final blow. Everyone distanced themselves away as the creature, no longer capable of even making a dying roar, fell to the ground lifelessly.
And soon, a wave of energy flowed through everyone, Zeke included. He breathed slowly as the energy filled his channels to the brim, nearly exploding as a notification finally popped up.
> Level up! You are now Level 29. You gain 2 free points (2 FP total).
>
> You have gained +1 DEX from your class.
> You have gained +1 INT from your class.
> You have gained +1 SPI from your class.
A slew of other notifications came in before that, but his body was too tired to comprehend them. The last notification that came up proved that the giant truly died.
He breathed one more time before closing his eyes, letting sleep finally take hold of him. He was too damn tired to celebrate.