Ebonheim and Calyxia stood on the edge of the outcropping, their gazes fixed on the approaching Kungwan. The sun's first light bathed the valley in a golden glow, casting long shadows over the terrain below. The forest echoed with a dissonant chorus of snarls, growls, and the rumbling chatter of the Kungwan gathering just beyond the treeline.
She took a deep breath and focused her mind, reaching within herself to tap into her recently acquired powers through the Akashic System. She needed some way to compensate for her weakened state outside of her domain, and she had spent the days prior searching through the myriad of abilities the Akashic System had to offer. In the end, she had expended a considerable amount of Quintessence in order to purchase several and increase their respective ranks twice. Unfortunately, she could only increase a power's rank once for every ascension she had undergone.
[Divine Ability: Mystic Roots of Foundation (Rank III)]
[Effect] +8 bonus to Resilience
[Duration] 8 hours
[Essence Cost] 12
The air around her shimmered as she felt a deep-rooted energy surge into her, as if she was one with the very earth beneath her feet. A sense of fortitude settled over her, her body becoming a bastion against ailments, the toxins of venomous foes, and malicious enchantments.
[Divine Ability: Crystalline Veil of Knowledge (Rank III)]
[Effect] +8 bonus to Intelligence
[Duration] 8 hours
[Essence Cost] 12
Threads of golden light danced around her, weaving themselves into intricate patterns and symbols that seemed to float in the air. She felt a surge of knowledge flood into her mind, her thoughts becoming sharper and clearer, honing her focus and allowing her to process information at a greater speed.
[Divine Ability: Luminous Grace of the Moonlit Shadow (Rank III)]
[Effect] +8 bonus to Agility
[Duration] 8 hours
[Essence Cost] 12
Her body felt lighter than air, as if she was being buoyed by the wind itself. She could sense every muscle in her body tensing and relaxing with each movement, her reflexes becoming faster and more precise. The world around her seemed to slow down, her perception of time stretching out as she moved with an almost preternatural speed.
[Divine Ability: Immutable Pillar of Serenity (Rank III)]
[Effect] +8 bonus to Endurance
[Duration] 8 hours
[Essence Cost] 12
Ebonheim felt a surge of vitality rush through her veins, her stamina and endurance increasing dramatically. Her body seemed to hum with energy, every fiber of her being brimming with vigor. She felt like she could run for miles without tiring, or fight for days on end without breaking a sweat.
[Divine Ability: Rites of the Empyreal Confluence (Rank III)]
[Effect] +8 bonus to Strength
[Duration] 8 hours
[Essence Cost] 12
The air around her seemed to vibrate with power, her muscles tensing as she felt a surge of strength flow through her. She clenched her fists, her knuckles cracking as she flexed her fingers, the tendons and ligaments straining under the pressure. Her body felt like it was made of steel, every movement carrying with it an immense weight and power.
[Divine Ability: Legacy of the Boundless Ether (Rank III)]
[Effect] +8 bonus to Perception
[Duration] 8 hours
[Essence Cost] 12
Everything around her seemed to come into sharper focus, her senses heightened to an almost painful degree. She could hear the faintest of sounds, see the smallest of details, and smell even the most subtle of scents. Her awareness expanded beyond herself, allowing her to perceive things from a greater distance than ever before. The world around her became a kaleidoscope of colors and sensations, her mind struggling to process the overwhelming amount of information flooding into it.
[Divine Ability: Element-Resisting Aura (Rank II)]
[Effect] Reduces all elemental damage by 20%
[Duration] 4 hours
[Essence Cost] 10
A shimmering field of energy surrounded her, its surface rippling like water. The colors shifted and changed, reflecting the various elements that it was meant to resist: fire, ice, lightning, and more. It seemed almost alive, its surface pulsing with a life of its own as it danced and flickered in the morning light.
Ebonheim then clasped her hands together and her eyes shimmered as she focused her will onto the trees beside her.
[Divine Ability: Forest's Call (Rank III)]
[Effect] Awakens four trees within range, imbuing them with divine power that animates and instills them with duty and purpose to aid and protect the caster. The caster can also imbue one Divine Ability that can be used by each tree sentinel once each.
[Duration] 1 hour
[Stats] Each tree sentinel has: 300 Health; Melee Attack 24; Arcane Defense 20; Physical Defense 25; Block 21; Evasion 14; Damage Reduction 10 (Kinetic); Damage 23-28 (Kinetic); Vulnerability 15 (Fire, Electricity)
[Essence Cost] 25
Around her, four massive trees shook, shedding leaves and shuddering as life flowed through them. Their forms contorted and reshaped, taking on vaguely humanoid forms, bark-covered titans ready to defend their goddess. Their branches flexed like muscular arms, roots breaking free to resemble legs.
With a flick of her wrist, she bestowed upon them the ability to use the Vines of the Bramble King at their own discretion.
Hopefully, that should be enough to make up for her weakened state. The Akashic System displayed her augmented stats on her peripheral:
[Your relevant stats are only increased by six points due to the 20% penalty]
[Name] Ebonheim
[Divine Type] Terrestrial God (Artificial)
[Divine Rank] Lesser God - Ascendant Stage
[Quintessence] 7472/16000
[Health] 612/612
[Essence] 538/680
[Passive Health Regen] 30 per hour
[Passive Essence Regen] 34 per hour
[Stats] INT 32, PER 31, RES 33, STR 19, AGI 32, END 23, CHA 25, MAN 8, WIT 13
[Combat Stats] Divine Attack: 31, Divine Defense: 27, Arcane Defense: 31, Physical Defense: 26, Melee Attack: 24, Ranged Attack: 30, Block: 30, Evasion: 30, Base Physical Crit Chance: 23%, Base Divine Crit Chance: 23%
[Innate Abilities] Forest Stride; +50% Health; +50% Essence; Elemental Keystone (absorbed); Manifestation (Rank II); Demanifestation (Rank II); Divine Sight (Rank III); Domain Knowledge (Rank II); Domain Administration (Rank II)
[Divine Abilities] Ailment Cleansing Pulse (Rank II), Vines of the Bramble King (Rank III), Divine Cantrip, Element-Resisting Aura (Rank II), Fecundity of Creation (Rank II), Pest-Repelling Prana, Verdant Craftmanship (Rank II), Enchanted Essence Bolt (Rank IV), Forest’s Call (Rank III), Tempest of the Grove (Rank III), Blazing Essence Bolt (Rank III), Arboreal Stride (Rank III), Path of the Earthen Passage, Charm Animals (Rank II), Self-Regeneration (Rank II), Divine Aura (Rank I), Mystic Roots of Foundation (Rank III), Crystalline Veil of Knowledge (Rank III), Luminous Grace of the Moonlit Shadow (Rank III), Immutable Pillar of Serenity (Rank III), Rites of the Empyreal Confluence (Rank III), Legacy of the Boundless Ether (Rank III), Aura Inversion
[Skills] Athletics (Intermediate) +8, Awareness (Intermediate) +8, Craft: Bow (Intermediate) +8, Lore (Apprentice) Rank +2, Melee Proficiency: Sword (Intermediate) +8, Melee Proficiency: Dagger (Intermediate) +8, Ranged Proficiency: Bow (Intermediate) +8, Stealth (Apprentice) +2, Socialize (Intermediate) +8, Survival (Intermediate) +8, Investigation (Intermediate) +8, Bureaucracy (Novice) Rank +4
"Impressive," Calyxia remarked, her gaze fixed on the newly awakened sentinels. "I didn't expect you to bring your own reinforcements."
Ebonheim flashed a wry smile. "I like to keep things interesting," she quipped. "Besides, I'm not exactly at my best right now, so I figured I could use all the help I can get."
Then, with a flourish of her arms, she drew the Ebon Bow from her inventory. It materialized in her hands, its obsidian surface gleaming in the sunlight. The air around her seemed to crackle with energy as she nocked an arrow and drew back the string, taking aim at the approaching Kungwan.
Calyxia chuckled softly and shook her head. "Well, let's hope you're as good a shot as you are a showman," she said, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the approaching horde.
"I guess we'll find out soon enough," Ebonheim replied, her tone grim as she watched the Kungwan draw closer and closer. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, steadying her aim. "Let's get this over with."
With a twang, she loosed the first arrow. It flew through the air in a blur of motion, striking one of the Kungwan in the chest. The creature let out a pained howl as it recoiled, clutching at the wound. Its companions snarled and hissed as they pressed onwards, undeterred by the loss of one of their own.
Calyxia wasted no time, her serpentine half launching her into the air as she unleashed a volley of glowing projectiles from her fingertips. The missiles struck several Kungwan, causing them to shriek in agony as their flesh sizzled and burned. She landed gracefully on the ground, her body coiling beneath her as she prepared for another attack.
"Best we split up so as to not get in each other's way," Calyxia suggested. "I'll take care of the left flank, and you take care of the right."
Ebonheim nodded and nocked another arrow, taking aim at one of the Kungwan on her side. She loosed the projectile with a twang, striking the creature in the shoulder. It let out a pained howl as it reeled back, falling to the ground in a heap.
Calyxia launched herself into the air once more, her serpentine form undulating as she soared towards the other side of the battlefield where a shallow stream marred by jagged rocks and boulders lay. She landed gracefully on a boulder, her gaze fixed on the approaching Kungwan as they scrambled over the rocky terrain, their claws scraping against the stone as they moved.
Ebonheim gave one last look in Calyxia's direction before she turned and sprinted towards the hillock that lay on her side of the battlefield, vaulting over rocks and boulders as she went while her tree sentinels lumbered behind her. She could hear the Kungwan closing in, their snarls and growls growing louder as they drew near.
As she reached the hillock, she scrambled up its slope, her hands and feet finding purchase on the loose earth and rocks that littered its surface. She reached the top and turned to face the approaching horde, nocking another arrow as she did so. Her tree sentinels came to a halt beside her, their forms towering over her as they stood at the ready, their branches flexing like muscular arms as they prepared to attack.
"Alright," Ebonheim said, her voice firm and commanding. "Let's show these monsters what we're made of."
----------------------------------------
Ebonheim’s feet pressed against the soft grass of the hillock, her eyes fixed on the approaching horde of Kungwan as they clambered over the rocks and boulders below. The air around her was filled with a cacophony of snarls and growls as they drew nearer, their jaws open wide to reveal rows of razor-sharp teeth.
As the Kungwan approached, Ebonheim raised her free hand, her palm facing outward as she focused on drawing upon her divine power. Her eyes shimmered with an ethereal light as threads of golden energy danced around her, weaving themselves into intricate patterns and symbols.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
[Divine Ability: Enchanted Essence Bolt (Rank IV)]
[Effect] Shoots an arrow made of Essence that deals 48-60 Divine damage to the target. Bypasses 12 Damage Reduction. Deals double damage against dark and corrupted creatures.
[Range] 100 meters
[Target] Single target
[Duration] Eight charges
[Cost] 15 Essence
[Requirement] Ebon Bow equipped
[Essence] 523/680
With a flash, a glowing arrow materialized in her hands, its surface crackling with energy as she held it aloft. Eight ethereal petal-shaped leaflets floated above her shoulder, each representing one of the arrows she had left to fire. She nocked the Essence Bolt and drew back the string of her Ebon Bow, her muscles straining under the tension.
Scanning the area of adversaries, her gaze settled on one Kungwan that stood out. It was slightly larger, its skin patterned in a unique tapestry of vibrant hues. With practiced ease, she released the bolt, watching as it seared through the air like a shooting star and struck the Kungwan square in the chest.
The creature let out an agonized howl as the projectile exploded on impact, sending shards of burning energy coursing through its body. It stumbled backwards, its flesh scorched and smoking from the blast. But her triumphant smirk vanished as the creature's wound closed at an alarming rate, mending flesh and bone as if she'd merely tickled it.
"What?" Ebonheim exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes wide with shock and awe. She watched as the Kungwan regained its footing, its body seemingly healed from the grievous injury inflicted upon it.
Her eyes shimmered as she activated her Divine Sight, peering into the creature's aura for answers. An ethereal layer settled over her vision, revealing the Kungwan's aura that pulsed with robust, relentless vitality.
[Race] Kungwan
[Sub-Type] Regenerator
[Health] 260/260
[Combat Stats] Melee Attack 24; Arcane Defense 22; Physical Defense 25; Damage 19-23 Kinetic (Claw), 20 Kinetic (Bite); Block 22; Evasion 20
[Skills] Melee Proficiency: Natural Weapons (Intermediate) +8
[Special Abilities] Damage Reduction 8 (Kinetic, Acid, Fire, Cold, Electric); Regenerate 30 Health every 10 seconds
This was new. Its body had a more dense, viscous aura around it, almost like a thick gelatinous substance. This must be what allowed the creature to regenerate so quickly. She'd have to hit this thing hard and fast if she wanted to bring it down for good.
"Well, this complicates things," Ebonheim muttered under her breath as she watched the Kungwan continue its advance. She did a quick count on the number of Kungwan that had arrived—twenty-four in all. Not an insurmountable number, but still a formidable force to contend with. Three of them were Regenerators, each one striding confidently ahead of their kin.
Ebonheim's surprise didn’t go unnoticed. The Kungwan forces reacted like a swarm sensing a threat, spreading to flank her position while the Regenerators continued forward.
Suddenly, from the base of the hillock, tendrils of green erupted, snaking and curling around the advancing Kungwans. Her tree sentinels invoked their borrowed power, Vines of the Bramble King. The thorn-covered vines coiled around the creatures like constricting serpents, piercing flesh and bone as they tightened their grip. Several of the Kungwan let out shrill howls as the vines dragged them towards the tree sentinels, who promptly began to pummel them with their massive fists.
Like stalwart guardians, the tree sentinels stood firm as they battered their foes, their wooden bodies absorbing the blows dealt by the Kungwan. The Kungwan retaliated with tooth and claw, their razor-sharp teeth gnashing at the bark-covered titans while their claws raked against their trunks.
Ebonheim watched in awe as the battle unfolded below her, the tree sentinels holding their ground as they fought against the Kungwan horde. She nocked another Essence Bolt and loosed it at one of the Regenerators that had managed to break free from the vines. The projectile struck the creature in the shoulder, causing it to recoil as its flesh sizzled and burned from the impact.
"Let's see how you like this," Ebonheim muttered under her breath as she fired more Essence Bolts in rapid succession, each one striking the Kungwan in different parts of its body. The creature shrieked in agony as the divine energies tore through its flesh, its skin scorched and smoking from the blasts. Despite its regenerative abilities, the damage inflicted by the bolts was too great, and soon, the Kungwan fell to the ground in a lifeless heap.
Ebonheim let out a sigh of relief as she watched the creature's aura fade from existence, its body disintegrating into ashes. One down, two more to go—but just taking one down took five of her eight remaining charges. She'd have to make these count.
As if sensing their companion's demise, the other two Regenerators snarled and howled as they redoubled their efforts to break free from the vines' grasp. Several of the Kungwan managed to tear through the thorny tendrils, their claws slashing and ripping at the tree sentinels who retaliated with powerful blows of their own.
The battle raged on as the Kungwan continued their assault, their numbers dwindling but still formidable in force. The tree sentinels held firm, their wooden bodies absorbing the blows dealt by the creatures while they pummeled them with powerful strikes of their own.
Ebonheim sniped at one of the Regenerators that reeled from its bout with one of her tree sentinels, its battered body covered in deep gashes and lacerations that continually healed. The Essence Bolt struck the creature in the chest, causing it to jolt back as its flesh sizzled and burned from the impact. It let out an agonized howl as its skin began to melt away, revealing charred bone and muscle underneath.
[Critical Hit]
Ebonheim fired another Essence Bolt, striking the Kungwan in its exposed chest cavity. The projectile exploded on impact, sending shards of burning energy coursing through the creature's body. It lurched back once more before crumpling to the ground, its aura dissipating into nothingness.
"One more to go," Ebonheim muttered under her breath as she gazed towards the last remaining Regenerator. The creature let out a defiant howl as it continued its assault on a tree sentinel, its claws tearing deep gashes into its wooden body.
A few of the normal Kungwan had managed to break free from the vines' grasp and evade the sentinels' attacks to sprawl over the hillock's slope, scrambling to climb its gradient.
Ebonheim spun around, her feet digging into the ground as she jumped backwards, narrowly avoiding the Kungwan's jaws snapping at her face. A second, injured Kungwan's claws raked against her Divine Aura, causing it to ripple and distort from the impact.
[Divine Aura] 295/300
She ducked and dodged, her movements fluid and graceful as she evaded the Kungwan's attacks. Her body hummed with energy as she danced around them, her feet barely touching the ground as she leaped over their claws and fangs. She fired her last charge of Essence Bolt point-blank atop the creature's head as she vaulted over its body, causing its skull to explode in a shower of gore and bone.
Landing on her feet, Ebonheim spun around to face the other two Kungwan that had managed to climb up the hillock. As she put away her bow, she drew her dagger from its sheath at her belt and held it in front of her, its obsidian surface gleaming in the sunlight as she took a fighting stance.
"Come on," Ebonheim taunted, motioning with her free hand for the creatures to attack. "I don't have all day—well, maybe I do...depending on how many of you there are to slay."
The Kungwan snarled and lunged at her, their claws extended as they leaped towards her. Ebonheim sidestepped the first creature's attack, bringing up her dagger to deflect its claws as it sailed past her. She spun around and slashed at the second creature's back, her blade biting deep into its flesh.
It howled in pain as Ebonheim's blade tore through its back, causing blood to spurt from the wound. She ducked under the first creature's claws as they swiped at her face, bringing up her dagger to deflect them before countering with a swift strike to its abdomen.
The Kungwan recoiled from the blow, stumbling backwards as blood seeped from the wound. Ebonheim pressed her advantage, her movements fluid and precise as she danced around her opponents, slashing and stabbing at them with her dagger.
Ebonheim weaved and bobbed, evading their attacks as she continued to strike back with her own. The hillock's slope grew slick with blood as the creatures' wounds began to take their toll, their movements becoming sluggish and labored as they struggled to keep up with her relentless assault until with a thrust of her dagger, Ebonheim pierced the eye of one of the Kungwan before withdrawing her blade and spinning around to plunge it deep into the other's throat.
With a final gurgling gasp, both Kungwan fell to the ground, their bodies limp and lifeless as their blood pooled around them. Ebonheim stood over her fallen foes, her aura shimmering in the sunlight as she caught her breath. Her gaze turned to the base of the hillock where her tree sentinels continued to fight against the remaining Kungwan horde, their forms battered but still standing firm. Seven Kungwan corpses lay strewn about them, but one of her sentinels had fallen, its body broken and splintered from the battle's fury.
She drew her bow once more and nocked a normal arrow from her quiver, taking aim at one of the Kungwan below. Even though the Kungwan were resistant to normal weapons, the properties granted by her Ebon bow as well as the damage inflicted by her sentinels should be enough for her arrow to inflict a death blow.
The arrow flew from her bowstring with a twang, striking one of the Kungwan through its maw and out the back of its skull. The creature collapsed to the ground as blood gushed from the wound, its body convulsing before going still.
Her tree sentinels took this opening to knock another Kungwan prone before stomping it into mush while the vines ensnared a few others. Ebonheim fired more arrows, impaling another two of the creatures through their chests and heads.
A sudden gust of wind, and Ebonheim's eyes darted skywards. Kungwans, lean and agile, leaped from the treetops, their elongated bodies twisting mid-air and their trajectory set for her. Her Divine Sight trained on them as they descended upon her position.
[Race] Kungwan
[Sub-Type] Skyclinger
[Health] 210/210
[Combat Stats] Melee Attack 25; Arcane Defense 21; Physical Defense 24; Damage 18-22 Kinetic (Claw), 18 Kinetic (Bite); Block 21; Evasion 25
[Skills] Melee Proficiency: Natural Weapons (Intermediate) +8; Athletics (Expert) +12
[Special Abilities] Damage Reduction 6 (Kinetic); Leap 30 meters; Chameleon; Regenerates 20 Health every minute
Without hesitation, she fired a volley of arrows into the air, but the creatures were agile, their bodies twisting and turning in the wind as they evaded her projectiles. The Kungwan Skyclingers dove down, extending their hook-like claws as they approached.
Ebonheim rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding one of the creatures' claws as it raked across the ground where she had been standing moments before but the other managed to strike her aura, causing it to ripple and distort from the impact.
She backpedaled, her feet slipping on the blood-slicked grass. She caught herself, her free hand gripping the ground as she flipped onto her back and kicked upwards with both feet.
The Skyclinger let out a shriek of pain as Ebonheim's feet struck its vocal sac, sending it flying backwards and tumbling down the hillock's slope. She rolled onto her feet and drew her dagger once more, ready to face the remaining Kungwan Skyclinger who had landed on the ground beside her.
It paced around Ebonheim, its body blending seamlessly into its surroundings as it moved. Its form shifted and changed, its flesh morphing from a mottled green to a dull brown, to a deep gray like watching a chameleon change colors, except this creature's transformation was far more fluid and seamless.
Ebonheim watched in awe as the Skyclinger continued its dance around her, its body becoming nearly invisible as it moved. Even with her Divine Sight, its aura was difficult to discern from the surrounding environment, making it almost impossible to track. The other Skylinger she'd kicked off the hillock had regained its footing and joined the fray, its form shifting to blend in with the grass and rocks as it approached.
Ebonheim gripped her dagger tightly as she focused on the two creatures' auras, her eyes darting back and forth as she tried to keep track of their movements. To her surprise, both Skyclingers launched themselves away from her, their bodies twisting in the air before landing within the treeline nearby.
"What the..." Ebonheim muttered under her breath as she watched them disappear into the forest, their auras fading from her sight. She shook her head and turned to survey the battlefield below where her tree sentinels continued their battle against the remaining Kungwan.
Another one of her sentinels fell, but not before taking three more Kungwan with it. The only persistent threat was the lone Regenerator that was causing the most damage to her guardians. She focused her Essence, activating her Enchanted Essence Bolt. Eight petal-shaped leaflets appeared over her shoulder once more.
[Essence] 508/680
She nocked the bolt and drew back the string of her Ebon Bow, taking aim at the Regenerator. The air around her crackled with energy as she focused on her target. Her eyes shimmered as she released the bolt, sending it flying through the air towards the creature's head.
The bolt struck true, exploding on impact and causing the Kungwan to stagger as its flesh began to melt away from the blast. The creature let out an agonized howl as its skin began to disintegrate from the damage inflicted by the bolt, revealing charred bone and muscle underneath.
She fired another bolt in succession, striking the Regenerator in its exposed skull—the force of the impact caused its head to explode in a shower of gore and bone. The tree sentinel near it took this opening to finish it off with a powerful blow from its massive fist, causing the Regenerator's headless body to crumple into a heap.
The remaining Kungwan seemed unphased by their dwindling numbers, continuing their assault on the remaining two sentinels.
Within the outskirts of the forest, Ebonheim spotted more and more Kungwan creeping out from the treeline, ready to join the fray.
Something told her that this was only a small fraction of what the Kungwan horde had to offer. She needed to save her Essence Bolts for the Regenerators, and had to be wary of the Skyclingers lurking about. There were still those Flamecallers that have yet to show themselves.
"This is going to be a long day," Ebonheim muttered under her breath as she prepared herself for another round of combat. But at least now, she was not one to cower helplessly against just two of them, as she had done two years ago.
This time...she was the one bringing the fight to them.