The voice was strange, and almost insensible in its structure and tone. It was a shimmering noise at first, as if many voices spoke over the other, rather than sensible words spoken by a robotic voice that Will of the Battleworld usually possessed. It gradually turned crisp, as if a wavelength of the message figured out the proper manner which was workable.
Murai was a unique existence in this sense, so Mindarch had to keep some things in mind, while a certain flow of information was undergoing massive tides of interest under many demands.
Those were the very reasons Lisa had in mind when this thing arrived, and a proper connection to Mindarch was happening as she hoped for. It was a bit earlier than usual, but she was hiding further behind Murai, expecting this to be more than important. She was tensed like a bowstring ready to be released. It involved a power against Lordis's interest and how this place affected those rules that clutched Murai's little living. It wasn't wrong at all to assume her interest was stronger than Murai's, since she was the sole reason they were in this temple.
Lorry floated by her side as well, wondering or already knowing what was happening under his mind. After all, Lorry was and always will be a Mindarch's tool, and a creature that only lived because of Levandis and her Hell Haven. It made sense since he was no longer alive. At least in a physical point of interest.
[Beeb. Boob. Biib...] the noise seemed to turn mechanical, emitting some notes to Murai in waves and shimmering noises. He figured it wasn't up to his mind or soul but to his ears. Everyone in his surroundings probably heard it too, but he didn't ask or care about it.
He was in the middle of the fight, but it seemed he had time to hear what this was about since his foes weren't attacking. They remained in their formation, fearing their numbers would get even lower.
[Challanger number 5409.] a female voice said suddenly, speaking as if reciting a nice comforting story. It wasn't one bit unnatural, which was surprising, and no longer mechanical. [Levandis Temple greets the challenger in his journey by the degree of Mindarch and Lady Levandis. It is under the Rules of Mindarch's desire to connect and proceed to great Challanger's interest.]
[Mindarch spoke, and by his degree, the tides of rewards and challenges shall go hand in hand with Mindarch, along with Will of the Battleworld's procedures.]
[The first batch of interest was already conveyed. Thus, certain variables went over more research, and readings, unfolding and becoming clearer so Mindarch will have to adjust them according to Challengers needs.]
[For now, the past is under Mindarch, so let's go over your current challenge, consisting of a couple of facts after spending some time in the Undead Gate of Suffering and fighting the Undead Waves for the past hours]
[Undead Squad of 20 Skeletons are among your current wave, albeit with dwindled numbers. Levels are ranging between 15 and 17. Armor range from dogshit to poor quality.]
[Pathless]
[Talentless tools]
[Then there are 4 Undead Knights ranging from level 32 to 35]
[2 are under Path of Vanguard of their very early stage called: Warden]
[2 have proficiency in weapons under common knighthood. Path of a Knight. 1st stage: Knight Apprentice]
[Level of difficulty is of Grade D according to the Welcoming Party and brief readings that Mindarch allowed to convey. And then there is...]
Then, the voice slipped into the silence, as if wondering or figuring out something new. It didn't take that long for her voice to return.
[Change in status... Mindarch acknowledges the limits and challengers' disturbances. Recalculating...] She sighed as if fed up with living, sounding as if she stepped on a shit.
[Possession of the magic found, bloodline.. incalculable. Encounter too? The hell? Shackles found and restricted. Species' properties are limited and understood for about 30%. Creating answers, information, and proceedings under the Mindarch and it is... Eh?]
[Mindarch acknowledges the might of the Encounter as a bother but acknowledgment from Levandis is not found.]
[Mindarch desires full to limited authority.]
[Do you wish to proceed?] the voice asked out of the blue. At least she wasn't shouting, but she sure sounded as if she didn't want to speak.
Murai didn't seem to catch what was up with the last question. What proceeding did she say and why?
As if fearing or hearing something unexpected, Lorry was interested in helping how he could, or should. His stakes as a Guide weren't small, and he must not be that small in status either. He must have had some incentive to continue to provide the guidance, or this was a price for his living. It was quite a unique position, worthy of danger and hope.
“Murai has no need fearing the shackles, or any problems,” Lorry said behind him. “Levandis nor Mindarch acts like sorry and petty children. Mindarch is a rule that follows these Depths, and not some measly Surface. Lorry bets on Mindarch with his own flames! Lorry knows Mindarch!” he insisted, speaking quite seriously by now.
“I don't think I give a single feather about Mindarch or the secrets of this place,” Murai argued, after figuring out some reasons a while ago. “I like this place, but giving this question a try is another thing... Why is it even happening? Mindarch is curious. What is it even?”
“Question is more important than that, Murai Hisagi. It is a confirmation of Mindarch's interest,” Lisa said behind Lorry, appearing conflicted but glad for some reason. “It is a good thing, although it will be yet another voice to be worried about. Will of the Battleworld is yet to toy with him for some reason, so I insist on taking his offer. Mindarch will act outside of any influence and in fact, it is a reason Breaches even happened to you. Reap what you can.”
“Do you think I am an idiot to take another annoyance?”
“Yes? I think some problems will happen inevitably at some point, but the benefits outweigh the issues. Maybe at the next Gate, or by the end of this one, you will thank me in return.”
He figured her words made sense, yet he didn't know a couple of those things. First, what problems? Second. She seemed to know more about this, and Mindarch must've been up to her last challenges to this place too. In memories. Not right now. He glared at her, wondering about it, which prompted her to speak up. It was getting easier for Lisa to bear his Will in her mind, and her way of working around Murai was getting a bit better.
They were close to his head like flies, allowing Murai's eyes to see them both.
“I am afraid... A lot of things in this place will want you dead” she said, shooting Lorry a wondering look, but the skull wasn't interested in making any comments. That was suspicious by itself, and Murai wondered why.
Lisa knew it. “You are worth a fortune.”
“Fortune? How?”
“Look at yourself...” she pointed at his mighty 30-centimeter tall figure, which was hiding 10 meters before the Knight's formation. He was still waiting to kill them all, but after figuring the present situation wasn't all that bad, he decided to get over this conversation first. The remaining undead were waiting for him anyway, not attacking or walking through the fog, so Lisa talked some sense. “You are an Anatidae. Every feather or patch of your skin is worth a fortune, let alone.... everything in and out.”
“Huh?” Murai quacked, audibly shaking the fog around him with a surge of his quack. “How in the seventh hell this didn't make it out of your damned mouth in all this time? How have you expected this to be out of my damned mind? What the fuck is even worth about a freaking duck!? You hear me?” He barked at her.
“Was it worth telling it? No. I don't think so.” She replied back, not angry or calm. She was calculating some answers and Mindarch in particular was quite important evidence of some interesting things. It was unexpected but welcomed.
“Now. Now.” Lorry stumbled between them, stopping their arguments. “Challenge is ongoing. Blabber isn't fit, and neither it is to lay so low... or talk. Mindarch is the might of the temple. Murai is a challenger. The fight is no place for a talk, Lisa.” He reminded her, but she knew better than there were no rules such as not fighting, or talking. One had to simply abide by the common sense of going against the temple in any shape or form. That was... unless Mindarch said otherwise.
Lorry had no need to mention anything better than that, so Murai calmed down, acknowledging Mindarch as a helping party. It wasn't something negative throughout all of his ideas and for once, he doubted Lisa had any bad intentions either. At least for now.
It was within his expectations. Part of it was the mana essences that helped him like anything else. He also wondered what Mindarch and Will of the Battleworld had for him. Breaches and rules were like Laws. They may be actions or words, rather than truths of the universe, but it was an order in the world of men and gods alike.
He accepted whatever this voice wanted.
[Acknowledgment succeeded.] The female voice said, sounding crips and glad, before turning to silence, until the Mindarch finished his job.
Mindarch was a strange entity in this temple. He was its essence, but not really. He wasn't some kind of living tool too, nor something artificial. He was more of a stranger. A treasure. A soul of something beyond the Greater Sky, and something that posed as an unfathomable treasure worthy of godly interests.
Lisa knew of this from her own experience, which was proving its worth right now. Not talking and letting it out of her head was a mistake, and insensible, but she stood her ground. Murai hoped for more, but what he got was already much better than before.
The noise spread, rushing to Murai's mind without giving him any headache. Instead of that, he felt his spirit nudging along the emerging voice that acted in many slithering and shaking ways around the whole corridor.
It wasn't comforting, but it felt foreign, different, and powerful. It was stranger than a normal tone of living beings, nor even something deserving of some similarities. Those were shimmering voices of many huffed beings speaking and whispering at the same time. It also shouted and forced some words or tones upon him.
Some weaklings would definitely scowl and feel how their minds would shatter upon hearing this, but not him. This was barely a pat on his back and something he didn't mind.
The voices spread next, speaking in a rather unique tone of crisp voice that was male, and not robotic. It was understandable, even though he noted at least a dozen distinct voices. Mindarch was friendly, and his interest was in doing what he could do. His certain premise upheld this temple, rather than Levandis alone. That was a lot to take in, and it included many rules.
Murai was worthy to get some pat on his back.
[Greetings, Challenger with the name of M. Terms are presented.] Mindarch said. [I will be an addition to the Guide's interests, and follow the premise of Levandis Temple. It will be brief, following the rules set upon the Encounter's interest and outside influences. Upon our agreement, I am aware of M's interests, influences, and possibilities. It gives this challenge an additional taste under my rules, but it is under my watch. That means a touch to your spirit, so if I may?]
“Oh? I can speak to you?” Murai wondered, but Mindarch wasn't following his voice. He only chuckled, and a firm and soft power washed over Murai's head, core, and body. Mindarch spoke of the deal and deal alone and he was certainly professional and fit for this task. Almost like an artificial construct, with an incredible amount of cleverness and soul, Mindarch definitely recalled some things in Murai's mind. He even got suspicious if this thing was something else than it seemed.
Mindarch continued.
[Readings concluded. Excellent! Following necessary Gates will be prone to Surface and temple's interest. In addition, the Will of the Battleworld will bear its worth against the Encounter and my rules, which adds this a weird flavor, and also problems I had to... resolve.]
[I am the sense, and presently, there are a few issues: Deal with M's Encounter, which is... unique problem. It goes by my position, steeming from non-political and individual opportunities, void of shackles and other problems. This is such a temple. Such a place to follow dreams, shatter them, and care less about the Sky. The ruler and mind of this temple is worth of a proper Challenger, which M stands at all fronts.]
[Thus, a temporary title is granted as long as M is in the temple.]
[Archtouched.]
[Grade S: Mark of Mindarch's intent]
[It grants a certain temporary connection to the rules and setup upon my individual calculations and M's potency. How, M wonders?] Mindarch spoke as if knowing Murai's thoughts. [According to my inner rules, Challengers slide into a few categories depending on their performance, origin, and care of the world. M is at the Top Tier bracket, and worthy of special interest by a few factors. First: Blessed Anatidae. Second: Involvement in the Surface with various notions. Third: Young age, current pathless power, and certain emptiness. Fourth: absolute dread!]
[It is only fitting to befit this choice in a better light, which stems...] Mindarch stumbled in his voice as if hiccuping. He didn't follow the sentence.
[It is only fitting for a Guide to guide the Challenger, and for a temple to provide additional care. That is that.] He let some things go as if undecided over something.
[Thus, I've decided on something special, by the degree of Unique-Level power called Godmark.]
“Isn't he rather chatty?” Murai wondered, glancing at Lisa who was listening to every word Mindarch was telling. She didn't comment on his remark.
[Godmark: It is a unique status under unique circumstances and rules outside of regular influences. It gives rise to chances. M is worthy of this change, but it may or may turn into a disaster instead.]
[Dangers involved in M's interest are various, stemming from the Surface and beyond.]
[M is aware of some of them, so let me be brief for the sake of the current wave.]
[First of the many possible Breaches will be gained upon finishing the current wave, followed by more in the upcoming Gates.]
[After the finish of the fight, the Godmark, and Archtouched will provide mutual benefits and necessary actions, along with further information.]
[All is for the faith and sake of M.]
Then, Mindarch shut up, disappearing in his voice, yet Murai could still feel his overlapping presence around the temple, once he figured out his overall notion. Soul Read helped with that, so that meant he was soul-based, or living thing. It was a bit strange, but it was everywhere. This temple was his home. These voices... He was emotional and livid in vividness. It was alive. This temple was. This Mindarch was everything. Everywhere.
“A rather interesting thing is around us, Lisa,” Murai quacked to her, which she accepted in her own way.
She smiled, feeling good that Mindarch seemed to turn the situation from good to excellent. It was a basic confirmation of her worry and interest, and it wasn't involving Levandis herself, which was a good thing. This was worthy of a smile, yet it wasn't that alone. “I know you are prone to disasters, so leave this be and move on, Murai Hisagi!” She argued, pointing at the undead lurking in the fog.
“I know. I know.” Murai nudged his beak towards them and looked at their glistering Soul Flames in the distance. “So much for these demands then. I wonder if these challenges are as sensible, as the Mindarch is. The first time that he acknowledged me was great since he spoke sense and he was even polite?! That is... I swear. More things should be like that. The Mindarch is more interesting than lackluster Will of the Battleworld.”
“Mindarch is a boss! Lorry already explained it to Murai.” Lorry argued beside him. “Murai will regret this range of thoughts. Hmp!” He sneered unhappily.
“He can think whatever he wants and do a lot of things... I know that Lorry, yet it isn't fine right now. What do you want yourself from me then? You were previously inclined to remain floating further back with Lisa. So much for being a Guide that seems to follow this Mindarch's interest more than me.” Murai shot a glance at Lorry, hoping to seek his reaction.
“Lorry wants to see it closer. How Murai will deal with the rest of this wave. Now, with Mindarch close, things will be much more interesting. Lorry can't wait.”
Murai wasn't bearing his eyes on him like a drill, but he sure listened well. “Should I take it as the demands are balanced toward me? By whom? You or Mindarch? Someone must be involved to decide the enemies.” He demanded an answer.
“Lorry doesn't need to mention a thing. Mindarch is enough to answer to do that,”
“Hmh! Easy... It isn't hard to seek answers, but having some lofty ass magic construct talk to me instead is better when it is sensible. Good. I will take it. It is better than Will of the Battleworld, and at least it doesn't bear its shackles and fangs at me as the other does. Fine... Let's do it. How do you want me to deal with them?” Murai asked, wondering about the 4 heavy and hard-to-deal-with Undead Knights.
Their Paths were clear, but at their core, they were a tusk of a former living. Their Paths paired fairly well with one another, which was stemming from a Knight Pathway, with countless weapons, and army-based classes. Each of those Undead had a Class at Grade D, as they were engulfed in Mindarch's Mark, Blessings, and auras. It improved them even through death, and it was outside of Will of the Battleworld.
Murai could see that. He did recognize this from the Welcoming Party too, now that he went through Gate 1. Those undead had interesting power dynamics that went over the setting. They had no mana cores, but they felt as if their power was closing on them.
Each was at the strength of Undead Knight from the Welcoming Party he fought, but they had no crazy equipment like that sword. 4 of them together were quite a party, and additional skeletons behind them could also become an annoyance.
However, they waited in their formation, which was a questionable idea. They'd already wasted their numbers, and he was alone. They should fight and catch Murai in this place since hiding was futile.
Alas, their good tactic was to wait, because there was no time limit in this fighting and Murai had to move past them regardless if they moved or not. In fact, time was crucial to Murai more, and he wanted to go on and not be stuck against these small fries.
That was it. A simple wave like many before him, but this one was tougher.
“A direct confrontation is best, isn't Lorry right?” Lorry mischievously smiled.
Murai didn't say anything in return and didn't care about Mindarch for now. It seemed yet another thing altered his possibilities, which moved within Lisa's expectations for some reason. She was tensed up throughout this time. He could tell that, and her smile or hopes seemed to indicate something for sure.
He returned his attention to the Undead Knights, who restrained themselves 10 meters before him, hiding in the fog. and behind those shields.
“Knights are former adventures and soldiers. Surface enemies, whose instincts are left out because of intact Paths.” Lorry added behind his back. “Murai will get at least High-Grade 8 essence out of each, and perhaps even Low-Grade 7 if Murai is lucky.”
That was a nice motivation indeed, and it worked. “Wait... Luck? Is the drop rate different from the rates of magic and mana?”
“Who knows?” Lorry chuckled as he floated away, disappearing into the fog.
“Stop inclining me to do what you want! I do my things in my way.” Murai barked back, carefully thinking of the methods and how to dispose of those thick front-facing shields. He genuinely thought of those undead as mana essences alone, and shattering their defense was a key to killing them all. If he will have trouble, he may as well try his Robust Spirit's identity.
From his line of vision, he couldn't see them at all. Mana Detection was his eyes instead, allowing him to view the outline of their bones, hiding behind the shields with high efficiency. They were known as tower shields. They were burly, tall, and hard to wield because of their mass. But when pushed against the ground, their defense was high. From what he could gather, the pair of shield-bearing knights had their shields secured to their bony right forearms. There were two straps, securing them so they wouldn't move.
This mean one hand was shackled with it, while the movement with the polearm was also limited. The shields around the forearm ensured their lack of flexibility, which was defacto a disadvantage of heavy infantry, and they even had heavy armor. Murai wasn't sure how effective weight was as a weakness since their bones were long enchanted from their living in this temple. Physical limits may not be a key to victory, but the previous probe of his arrows provided some answers. They had some limits for sure.
A clumsy enemy from his memory was already one step in the End. But a towering mountain wasn't what he could shatter. Those shields were annoying for his current power of magic. He had to give his Shaping some other try since the enemies were sitting on their asses and doing nothing.
Shields were sturdy, and rather unmoving pieces of metal but he had something that could move in any shape or form. His mana will do, and Shaping will do its justice. It wasn't a massive surprise to make something unordinary happen out of literal magic.
The shields were tall enough to be on the ground, secured there with their lower end. At the above sector, it was tall enough to cover the majority of their skull, but their Soul Flames protruded to seek beyond them, while sides revealed their shoulder. Other skeletons behind were also visible, but most of their bones were hiding behind two shields that were side by side. This wasn't giving him many choices but to hit them with his arrows, or anything with long-range.
Murai didn't have many choices, and there were also the other 2Knights behind. Skeletons were whatever. He will strike them after dealing with the knights, or if they choose to attack, he will obliterate them with his flame shots or more arrows.
The best way to incapacitate a heavy infantry was to go for the feet or to destroy their main weapons. One could strike the feet in any way as long as it would hit, but the shield was a part that was the problem. They may pose more than one problem since they were heavy, and tougher than they looked.
He knew he shouldn't get into the heated moment, or Conjure or Shape his mana for too long. It could be problematic for power, speed, and momentum. Their formation was also tight.
Forcing the undesirable tactics wasn't something Murai wanted, so he moved closer. The fog made the surroundings unclear for either group most of the time, but one thing was clear. Getting closer was a possible strategy, and every meter closer was an immense help.
They, or the Mindarch want to test my status quo. Before this wave, undead attacked me fiercely without a bother of the fog, or was the Mindarch why it was like that? He spoke to me... along with Lorry and his interest. Or... they feel my threat and choose to wait for me since it is part of their strategy? Expecting that from such measly little undead fools is laughable, but what if it makes sense from their standpoint? I had to act, as a Challenger. They may also sense me to a certain extent but lack the means of control, flexibility, and attention. They are also stupid and lack a proper head. Their previous strategy to stand around like fools wasn't right. Their remaining cannon fodder stands after them. Fine... I am clearing my head and the strategy is clear. Murai deducted, feeling he was right, even though he was half right, half wrong.
The truth was, that every undead in the temple had a speck of a former consciousness. They weren't walking dolls, since a former soul was always better than an empty shell. The intelligence was proportional to the strength of the undead, while Mindarch and their creations were also important. The stronger the undead was, the more clever it would be, and the stronger their tactics were.
Murai had yet to meet anything stronger than howling beasts and crying skeletons, so this was a surprise.
Slowly crawling forward, Murai moved 4 meters forward. He was quite close to them by now, and the knights could attack him in a blink, yet they didn't.
A test, huh? I will butcher them without an issue. Murai thought, feeling his chances rising and he decided on his move.
What he did was simple. He Conjured a vaster amount of mana forward since he was closer than ever, and accuracy wasn't as big of an issue when he was 6 meters before them. The amount of mana was enough to form at least 20 arrows, but he didn't Shape them to be small, or something.
Excatl opposite.
He made a couple of arrows instead and made them massive. Each arrow was a meter long, with a point that resembled a spear. Some of them had also a dull-looking point, with no tip at all. They looked like hammer arrows instead. Those were the first he shot forward, pushing the fog away.
A screeching sound echoed in the corridor, and fog revealed the flying hammer arrow going against the shield. It hit the top of the shield of the left knight, who was prepared for it. Albeit, what it wasn't prepared for was the power of this mana Shaped hammer arrow.
Its momentum was stronger than the smaller arrows, that it was hit before. The shield was momentarily struck open, because the hammer's allow weight that angled the shield, leaving Knight's head and the left portion of its body, wide open.
It happened in an instant when the hammer arrow dissipated and lost its momentum. A much quicker spear arrow penetrated its skull in a split second, traveling through its left eye socket, and ending its life in a mere moment. Eye socket was a weakness Murai figured in a couple of first waves. A spear arrow pushed through the socket,t and cracked its head, regardless of its higher level or powers provided by Mindarch or this temple. It crumbled their formation and ended the skull-less knight a few meters away.
The first shield was gone, which meant great news. The rest of the undead momentarily panicked, so they used the last shield to cover all of the remaining ones behind it. It was funny enough and rather clumsy. 3 knights were after each other, and skeletons were behind. This was almost a perfect offer to kill them in one swoop, but Murai knew his limits.
Murai wished he had a spell like Annihilation Ray or something of that kind, but he didn't. The power of his mana was enough to destroy the skull, so he was glad. 2 thick and large arrows for one was a bargain. He won't waste his Robust Spirit when his magic was enough.
He created 6 thick arrows in total. Each hammer arrow and spear arrow took a chunk off of his mana pool. Shaping and handling them also strained his head, but nothing that he couldn't manage. He shot them with power unlike he ever tried before, and since he was close, his accuracy wasn't affected even with such an amount of mana.
Thankfully, his Mana Replenishment was great, and his mana pool was quite huge. Robust Spirit ensured he wouldn't get any repercussions from the harmful spiritual effects of those moves. He forced himself against his Shaping limits, and what his Beast Core managed, and had no choice if he had to shatter one skull in one move.
He recouped enough mana after his overdraft from Welcoming Party. He even fought and used his mana at every wave, so his confidence grew. Something about this temple had some effects on his Mana Replenishment, and Murai was getting a hunch of it.
Obliterating one of the knights in one hit was hard to accomplish. One accurate and heavy piercing shot and it was over. However, Murai was sure that if he didn't come closer, he wouldn't be able to be that accurate with such large and wild Shaping. Hitting the eyesocket was already impressive in his head.
It wasn't the only thing. He had to make 2 very accurate shots. One to the shield, so it would expose the knight, and then to go along with first, hitting the exposed skull. It was a simple strategy, yet it wasn't easy. It needed very little delay, and he had to trust every shot. If the first shot failed, it was over.
Lorry and Lisa both understand how it went, and they remained looking, rather than speaking about it.
Murai still had 4 arrows left. One of them was a hammer one, while the rest were spear arrows. 6 of them were around half of his current mana. That wasn't little, and it was almost equal to a whole mana pool of ordinary mages of his level.
He fell into a dilemma. Should he use the same method of killing against the second one? That sounded stupid in his opinion. What if the undead weren't as stupid as he thought? He wasn't one to do one thing twice, fearing the enemy would learn from their mistake. So he did one thing he could. Use the same method but in a different way.
Murai shot the hammer arrow forward. It was fast, but not enough for the front-facing shield knight to be unable to do anything.
The knight steadied its posture and lowered its body even more. It put the shield at a steeper angle and put more pressure on the lower end of the shield. The shoulder was resting against the shield, with the weight of a whole body behind it, so the same thing wouldn't happen twice. A notable defense was obvious, and in this way, the hit wouldn't expose the body like before. If it did, it would mean the hammer arrow would destroy the whole shield, which was impossible.
Alas, the hammer arrow didn't travel to the same spot as the last time. It hit the left side of the shield from Murai's position, and slightly lower.
It was the left side of the shield that was closest to the arm. It put forth pressure and explosive power, exposing the Knight, but in a different way. The old straps snapped and the shield tilted by 60 degrees, exposing half of the chest plate.
One, two.
Bang! Bing.
A pair of spear arrows penetrated the chest, swirling and pushing forth in power and momentum. The power pushed against the other knights behind too. Both arrows hit the chest cleanly, obliterating the bones, and armor alike. So much so, that the spine crumbled as well, ending the life of the last shield-bearing knight in a brutality and unlikely power. Even the continuous power of the arrows hit one of the knights afterward. It wasn't enough to end its life, but a destroyed limb was enough to lower its power.
What an overbearing power, Lisa thought to herself.
Thus, the remaining enemies were a pair of sword-wielding Knights and the remaining Skeletons behind them. They stumbled by more than 5 meters from the powerful push of two arrows, but they soon stabilized their might, when the arrows dissipated away. They lost their power, and it sure was more than Murai wanted from them.
Soul Flames flared up, and the Knights looked at each other and pointed at the skeletons to make a wide circle. Walking toward the fog side by side, they brandished their sword, a few round shields, and spears, before all 6 pounced toward the fog that was hiding Murai. They took the initiative, which he already expected them to do. The status quo was overdue since they lost their defensive formation. Alas, they forgot he had the remaining arrow, so could he kill them all with it?
No.
How stupid... Murai thought to himself. As the knights ran toward the fog at a fast speed, they didn't expect what occurred next. Murai clutched the arrow within his beak and ran into them.
Since they were close already, it was an unexpected situation, and the Knights didn't see him coming. Knight Apprentices stood side by side, and they were asking for a proper counter. Murai shot between them, while the arrow in his beak went horizontal against their legs. He was small, so knights were unable to dodge in time, or even jump.
They both stumbled to the ground before one of them registered a missing leg. It was from a swiping motion from the spear-like arrowhead on the left side of the arrow, but not like it mattered. Before it had a chance to use its sword, a glistering Beak's Peak was upon its face.
The crunching sound echoed in the space, as the skull exploded to many parts. Murai used the most savage hit he had, smacking his beak to the eyesocket, while the other knight went back to its feet. It was the one with all of the limbs intact, and other skeletons were also around.
At this point, the last arrow was yet to disintegrate in the air, but it shook as the remaining foes attacked. They bore their sword against the feathers, hoping to slash the head of his little body. Murai didn't care about them. His head was literary in the middle of a destroyed skull, but his arrow wasn't. It jolted in the spot, turning violent and swirling like a whirlwind under his last-second Shaping before it would dissipate. The sharp point hit at random intervals around him, turning and obliterating the skeletons like foolish tools.
The last knight furiously swung his long sword against the arrow, ceasing its momentum away under 5 swings, and dissipating it in the 6th. But what it didn't expect was a countermeasure of one thing he forgot about. Where was Murai?
He destroyed the first knight with a closed Beak's Peak and without the use of an arrow. It was a lot easier than he thought, and he scoffed at his strategy. He was probably stronger in his physicality than he thought.
Before the last knight had a chance to switch stances, Murai jumped, closing with his beak inside of Soul Flames, before ushering in a Beak's Fury. It was a terrifying last sight before its End, and Murai smacked it dozens of times, swirling his neck, and pulling his insanity switch on. He was mad, hitting it dozens of times, and continued even after he shattered the skull. He continued even after the knight collapsed to the ground.
There was no doubt about the end of this wave. Arrow didn't have time to reach high speed or velocity at this moment, because Murai didn't need it. He went for a kill with his beak alone, figuring it was pretty much the same as the use of heavy arrow Shaping he was familiar with. Will of the Battleworld wasn't, however. It would take more Shaping for him to pull any proper and official spell out of its rules, and he needed experience before new abilities would rise in this weird system.
He went for the face, while Murai clutched the bones in a heartbeat.
All 24 undead: vanquished, destroyed, and shattered. Gone.
Phe! Well fought, I suppose. Murai thought to himself, revealing a rather indifferent expression after he killed them all, He retrieved his head from the knight's cracked body, uncaring about the little bones that remained on his head. He calmed down, and the only thing that changed his expression was what happened next. Mana essences spread their light around the ground, creating light and bliss to his senses.
Lorry's purpose was clear, and he worked fast.
Looking at them, Murai was happy, rather than what Lorry and this place were about. All kills provided an essence. Some were better than others as they should be, but he didn't know how exactly they appeared, and how some essences were better than others, even though they came from the same level foe.
Surprisingly, some of the Knights left out a purer glowing essence, indicating the essence of Low-Grade 7