Ebonheim turned to the Kungwan alpha, her smile vanishing, replaced by a stern glare. The monster stopped flailing and shook itself, recovering from the Essence Bolt she shot in the face. Its damaged eye began to regrow, healing just like all its other wounds.
It took a step toward her, and Ebonheim flicked her wrist, conjuring an Ebon bow in her right hand.
Her Divine Sight kicked in, analyzing the creature in an instant.
[Race] Kungwan
[Sub-Type] Alpha
[Health] 440/440
[Combat Stats] Melee Attack 30; Ranged Attack 24; Physical Defense 30; Arcane Defense 27; Divine Defense 24; Damage 40-48 Kinetic (Claw), 52 Kinetic (Bite); Block 27; Evasion 19
[Skills] Melee Proficiency: Natural Weapons (Expert) +12
[Special Abilities] Damage Reduction 20 (Kinetic), 12 (Fire, Cold, Acid, Electric); Regenerate 60 Health every 10 seconds; Fire Blast (40-50 Fire damage)
Ebonheim stared at the notification and frowned.
Great, so this monster had inherited the powers of a Regenerator and a Flamecaller inside the body of a Titan? This thing was essentially the strongest, toughest version of the entire race.
She let out a short huff, taking aim with her bow. An arrow composed of divine energy manifested between her fingers, ready to be fired.
[Health] 612/612
[Essence] 98/680
[Divine Aura] 127/300
Despite her attempt at bravado, she was still tired from the previous battle, and she was low of Essence again. The only way she would defeat this Kungwan alpha was if she threw caution to the wind and used every last ounce of power she had to annihilate the creature swiftly to overwhelm its regeneration.
The question was, how? Her most efficient option was to barrage the monster with her Enchanted Essence Bolts and chip at the creature's health bit by bit through its regeneration, but at the same time, wouldn't be able to afford to waste time evading its attacks and repositioning to shoot another salvo. It would eventually become a game of attrition, and she wasn't confident she could last that long.
Seemingly sensing her weariness, the Kungwan alpha let loose a terrifying roar, and charged toward her, kicking up a cloud of dust and debris as it ran.
Ebonheim released a breath as she relaxed her posture.
"I could really use a vacation after this," she said, releasing her arrow.
The projectile tore through the air, slamming into the creature's chest. The monster responded by spitting a jet of flame at her.
She ducked, dodging the incoming blast by mere centimeters. Her second shot missed, bouncing harmlessly off the ground near the monster's foot. She cursed under her breath, taking aim again.
The Kungwan alpha slammed into her with the force of a battering ram, knocking her backward. She flipped through the air before landing in a crouch, narrowly avoiding another stream of fire breath.
She dashed to the side, rolling under a swiping claw, and jumped, using the creature's leg to springboard into the air. Her third shot connected, scoring another hit, but again, the monster's wounds began to heal rapidly.
Ebonheim landed several meters away from her adversary and fired off another shot, scoring another hit.
Her thoughts raced as she attempted to formulate a plan, but none came. How could she defeat it in her current condition? What method could she use to eliminate it in one fell swoop?
Ebonheim continued firing her divine arrows, each shot landing true as she pelted the monster relentlessly. Her efforts succeeded in slowing the monster's approach, but the creature stubbornly continued toward her, undeterred.
The Kungwan alpha closed the gap between them, lashing out with its claws, attempting to tear into her. Ebonheim was slow to react, her fatigue sapping her speed and reaction time.
Sparks flew as its claws connected with her aura.
[Divine Aura] 101/300
The barrier deflected the blow, but the impact caused her to lose her balance. She tottered back, falling onto the ground, narrowly avoiding being trampled as the creature stampeded forward.
The monster turned, stomping around and lashing out with its claws. Ebonheim scrambled backward on her hands and knees, narrowly avoiding each blow as she regained her footing.
She leapt, jumping onto the monster's back steadying herself between the bony spines that jutted from its shoulders, and shot her remaining two charges of Essence Bolts point-blank at the back of its head. The attacks detonated on impact, searing through its flesh and leaving twin charred craters in its skull.
The Kungwan alpha shrieked and writhed, the pain of its wounds finally taking their toll. It flung itself violently, attempting to dislodge her from her perch.
Ebonheim held on to its spines, doing her best to stay balanced on the thrashing beast. As she clung to the monster's back, she funneled her Essence into the Elemental Keystone within her to activate her Flamegale Slash, fusing fire and air.
[Essence] 88/680
A blade of roaring fire wrapped in a whirlwind extended from her free hand, and she stabbed the monster where her previous attack landed. She twisted the fiery blade inside the wound, and then ripped it out, leaving a burning, smoldering hole in its wake.
The Kungwan alpha shrieked again, spinning around in a frenzy before launching itself towards a wall in an attempt to smash her, but she managed to jump off. As she did, she stretched her palm towards the monster, unleashing a Frostwind Gust attack at close range. The combination of frost and air magic erupted from her hand, smothering the creature in a sphere of icy winds and frozen crystals.
[Essence] 78/680
It writhed and roared in agony as its body endured a series of sudden, drastic changes in temperature. From the burning heat of Ebonheim's flame to the freezing cold of her frost, the creature's skin split and peeled away, revealing raw, blistered flesh beneath. It slammed into the wall head-first, the impact stunning the beast momentarily.
Ebonheim rolled across the ground as she landed, the momentum carrying her to a stop. She glanced up, watching as the Kungwan alpha pried itself from the wall, its body encased in a layer of hoarfrost.
Her Divine Sight indicated that the beast's health was just over half health, but its regeneration persisted.
Not good. She was low on Essence, her Divine Aura was almost depleted, and her stamina was nearly drained. At least she was still uninjured, so she could convert her Health to keep her Essence flowing. It would be a risky tradeoff since her barrier was so close to fading, but she needed to stay on the offensive to keep the pressure on her opponent.
If only there was a way to replenish her Divine Au—
Her eyes widened, and she cursed. That's right, she had forgotten! The power she recently picked up for herself when she saw it listed during the Divine Auction—Aura Inversion!
[Name] Aura Inversion
[Effect] This ability swaps the percentile of your remaining health with your Divine Aura's.
[Target] Self
[Duration] Instant
[Cost] 40 Essence
She was an idiot. Why didn't she remember earlier? It wasn't too late to rectify that mistake. It should still be enough for her to make this final push and deal with the Kungwan alpha.
A flash of inspiration crossed her mind, and an idea formed. There was one other way to overwhelm the Kungwan's alpha's regeneration and durability without having to win a battle of attrition.
Ebonheim concentrated and visualized the effects she desired: first, she needed to convert just enough of her Health to replenish a bit of Essence, then she'd use Aura Inversion to swap her remaining Health with her Aura's to reinforce her defenses. If things went right, her barrier would be reinforced enough to resist the Kungwan's attacks long enough for her to land a decisive, devastating strike.
But first, her aura needed to get hit one more time. Its health needed to be a bit lower before her plan could work.
She chortled internally at the thought of making herself deliberately vulnerable. It certainly wasn't something she normally would do, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
She waited for the right moment, and then taunted the monster. "Come on, is that all you got?! Hit me already!"
Her provocation worked, and the Kungwan alpha charged once more, snarling in anger. Ebonheim smirked. As expected, the monster fell for the bait.
She braced herself for the impact, holding out her arms to steady her posture.
The monster reached her position and swung one of its forelimbs, striking her squarely in the chest. The force sent her flying through the air, but her barrier held firm.
[Divine Aura] 74/300
Ebonheim crashed to the ground, sliding along the dirt and mud. She allowed the impact to carry her further until she collided with a large boulder, halting her flight. She took a moment to gather herself and checked her status to verify her progress.
Perfect. Time to put her plan in motion.
[You are allowed to convert Health into Essence at a ratio of 3:1]
[Conversion initiated]
[Health] 612/612 -> 312/612
[Essence] 78/680 -> 178/680
[Aura Inversion activated]
[Essence] 138/680
[Health] 51%
[Divine Aura] 25%
[Swapping health percentile...]
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[Health] 25%
[Divine Aura] 51%
[Health] 153/612
[Divine Aura] 153/300
She expended half her Health to replenish her Essence, and then switched out her Aura with the remainder, strengthening her barrier with her Health.
An intense rush of pain surged through Ebonheim's body as her Aura and Health swapped. Her muscles tightened, her joints throbbed, and her bones creaked. She gritted her teeth, enduring the agony as her body adjusted to the transformation.
She stood, shaking off the discomfort. Her Divine Aura flashed brightly as the barrier's health returned to half strength, covering her in a shroud of shimmering light.
Ebonheim walked slowly back towards the Kungwan alpha, drawing Essence to use the power she had only used once before.
[Essence] 88/680
[Activating Blazing Essence Bolt (Rank II)]
[Name] Blazing Essence Bolt (Rank II)
[Effect] Shoots an arrow of Essence that deals 150 divine and 150 fire damage to the target. Bypasses 25 Damage Reduction. Has a 20% chance of instantly destroying dark and corrupted creatures.
[Range] 120 meters
[Target] Single target
[Duration] Instantaneous
[Cost] 50 Essence
[Requirement] Ebon Bow equipped. Can only be used when the caster's health is below 30%.
Her iridescent hair flowed wildly in the breeze, her skin glowing with a radiant light. The power within her surged, gathering around her hands and forming an arrow of pure, crackling energy. She drew back the bowstring, the arrow growing brighter and hotter, the heat emanating from her fingertips and singeing her sleeves.
She aimed for the Kungwan's chest, the creature's heart, and let the arrow fly.
The Blazing Essence Bolt soared through the air, streaking a path of fiery light in its wake. The air and ground around the trajectory ignited, scorching the earth in a blazing trail.
The shot connected with the Kungwan's torso, exploding in a brilliant conflagration. A deafening boom thundered across the marshlands, sending shockwaves rippling through the terrain.
The explosion engulfed the Kungwan, immolating it in a swirling inferno. The creature howled in pain as the divine flames devoured its body. It struggled desperately to extinguish the mystical fire, flailing wildly in an attempt to stifle the blaze, but to no avail.
One shot wasn't enough.
[Essence] 38/680
Ebonheim gathered more Essence for one last, massive attack. A torrent of energy swirled around her, enveloping her in a storm of multicolored light. She drew back the string, manifesting another Blazing Essence Bolt, larger and brighter than the previous one.
The Kungwan alpha continued to struggle against the fires, but its struggles began to wane as the flames weakened the monster, its flesh burning away to expose the blackened, charred skeletal structure underneath.
Ebonheim took aim and unleashed her final attack, the massive flaming arrow whizzing through the air toward her target.
[Critical Hit]
The arrow exploded upon impact, vaporizing the monster in a devastating, cataclysmic burst. The eruption consumed everything in its vicinity, engulfing the clearing and sending debris flying in every direction.
The force of the blast tore through the surrounding landscape, leaving nothing in its wake but scorched earth and smoldering ash.
Bjorn raised a hand to shield his eyes from the bright flare. He watched in awe as the fiery tempest raged, sweeping across the land and evaporating the nearby marsh waters in its wake. The heat and the blast wave buffeted his body, yet he felt oddly soothed, as though he stood amidst the warmth of a comforting summer night, not the blazing furnace of destruction that burned in front of him.
And as suddenly as the phenomenon arrived, it subsided. The raging inferno disappeared, leaving only a barren patch of smoldering ground and a crater where the Kungwan Alpha once stood.
Bjorn blinked, stunned speechless by the spectacle. He gazed at Ebonheim, who stood tall amongst the destruction. Her skin glowed with a pale, ethereal light, her hair fluttered gently in the warm, lingering air, and her eyes shone with a radiance as bright as the sun.
"About time," she stated, wiping sweat from her brow. She gave a huff and marched back to where Bjorn rested.
She smiled softly as she knelt down beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Can you stand?"
Bjorn grunted, rising to his feet with her help. "Aye," he confirmed, "though a bit sore." He bowed his head and chuckled. "That was impressive. And inspiring, even."
"Mm. Yes, well, you know how it is." Ebonheim dusted off Bjorn's armor and inspected him. "You look terrible."
"Haha, thanks." Bjorn replied drily. He leaned against his sword, his arms trembling as he tried to remain standing. "You've really come a long way, Ebonheim. To think just two years ago, you fled from a lesser Kungwan, but now...now you're felling these monsters like wheat in a field during harvest."
He offered her a smirk, though his voice still sounded hoarse.
Ebonheim chuckled lightly and returned the smirk. "I've still a ways to go, but...yes, I've learned a few things since then. I suppose my training has paid off."
Her smile fell slightly, her expression becoming more solemn. "Bjorn...what are you and the others doing here? You weren't supposed to get involved in this conflict. I told you I'd handle it."
Bjorn raised both palms placatingly and shook his head. "You left before I could tell you that the Kungwans may have some means of acquiring host bodies to infect for their brood. So, I decided to assemble a team to investigate the matter...and, well, we found a gateway that abducted people from across the realm and transported them within the abode of a dragon."
Ebonheim's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Gateway? Abduction? Dragon?! What—?"
She cut herself off as the sounds of battle continued to echo through the nesting ground.
Bjorn furrowed his brow as he stared into the distance. "Let us go lend aid. I'll explain everything later."
----------------------------------------
The last of the Kungwan forces fell quickly as the party fought side by side with the Seraphidae, and by the end, the Kungwan nest fell silent. The sun dipped below the horizon, its crimson rays painting the sky in hues of pink and orange.
Serrandyl plopped on the ground and sprawled herself on a rock, reclining in an exaggerated manner. Lira sighed, her shoulders drooping as she trudged over to take a seat next to Serrandyl. Th'maine slumped against his staff, catching his breath, while Bjorn leaned against a boulder and crossed his arms, observing the aftermath.
The Seraphidae milled about, tending to their injured. They helped one another carry their fallen comrades away from the battlefield and laid them down on a nearby hilltop to receive proper care. Others carried weapons and armor from the fallen Kungwans and proceeded to distribute them among themselves.
Ebonheim surveyed the damage, sighing heavily. Her eyes scanned over each body that the Seraphidae tended to, but she averted her gaze, unable to look at their faces for long. It stung her to see so many casualties. If she had agreed to have her villagers fight alongside the Seraphidae, maybe there wouldn't have been as many deaths. But then again, she also couldn't bear the idea of losing anyone from her village in this war either.
It was a conundrum, and she felt selfish for even thinking about the consequences of her choice. Still, she owed the Seraphidae a debt for taking on the task of purging the Kungwan threat.
She spotted Calyxia speaking with the battle seer Ophis near the remains of the Kungwan alpha. Their eyes locked, and Calyxia motioned for Ebonheim to join them.
Ebonheim nodded, glancing back at Bjorn and the others. "Wait here," she instructed. "I'm going to check on things with Calyxia."
Bjorn merely raised a thumb and waved her off.
Ebonheim approached Calyxia and Ophis, her gaze moving back and forth between the two.
Calyxia gestured towards the Seraphidae battle seer, who inclined his head respectfully.
"The Seraphidae owe you our gratitude, goddess Ebonheim. We are grateful for your aid. Without it, I fear this battle may not have ended as favorably for us as it did," he declared.
Ebonheim shook her head, waving off his appreciation. "Please, there's no need to thank me. My role in this was minor. All the credit goes to you and your kin...and Calyxia as well."
Calyxia shrugged and chuckled. "I've eradicated the all pods that stored the bodies in metamorphose, so no more broodlings shall threaten the region. If there are still stragglers left along the outskirts, the Seraphidae scouts can deal with them. The important thing is that the Kungwan threat has been dealt with, once and for all."
"Indeed," Ophis chimed in, nodding. "We will conduct a thorough sweep through the surrounding regions and ensure every last one of those foul beasts is disposed of."
Ebonheim glanced over her shoulder to where Bjorn and the others waited patiently. She turned her attention back to Calyxia and Ophis, a question lingering at the tip of her tongue.
"Do you two know anything about a gateway that could transport people into Kelzryn's lair?"
Ophis and Calyxia exchanged glances.
The Seraphidae battle seer shook his head while Calyxia narrowed her eyes.
"What exactly do you mean by that, Ebonheim?" Calyxia asked, slithering down to meet Ebonheim at eye-level. "Care to elaborate?"
"I actually don't have all the details. It's best to ask Bjorn and the others about it, so follow me." Ebonheim replied, walking back to where she had left Bjorn. Ophis and Calyxia followed closely behind her.
Bjorn, noticing the two approaching him, pushed himself away from the boulder and stepped forward, meeting Calyxia halfway.
"A pleasure to finally meet you, lord Calyxia," he said, extending a hand in greeting.
Calyxia narrowed her eyes, her tail swaying back and forth. She regarded Bjorn coolly. "Likewise. Ebonheim mentioned that you might have knowledge of a strange gateway of sorts."
Bjorn nodded. "It's rather complex to explain, so let me start from the beginning," he explained. "There's a gateway of sorts within the dragon's lair not far from here. I'm sure you know of whom I speak of...the dragon Kelzryn. Through this gateway, the Kungwans have been getting their victims. A magical artifact that powers the gateway links Kelzryn to it—"
"You've seen Kelzryn?!" Calyxia cut him off. Her eyes widened and she slithered closer to Bjorn, grabbing his arm. The snakes atop her head hissed and bared their fangs.
Serrandyl and the rest of the party backed away, startled by her reaction.
Bjorn nodded, unfazed by the snakes' threatening behavior. "Yes, we've come across a device in his lair. The device itself isn't anything to sneeze at—a massive structure capable of trapping the dragon and sucking his life essence out of him to power itself. There's a portal in another chamber that transports victims from across the realm to the lair where...I suspect a Kungwan awaits at certain intervals to implant their spawn."
Calyxia released her grip on Bjorn's arm, leaning back slightly. She breathed deeply, closing her eyes momentarily before opening them again. "You mean to tell me that a being as ancient as Kelzryn has been imprisoned within his own lair?"
"Aye, so it would seem," Bjorn confirmed. "We believe he was captured by someone—or something—a long while ago. His presence is needed for the gateway to function, but we can't for the life of us figure out how to free him without causing harm to ourselves or him. The contraption is unlike anything I've ever seen, even among the Magitech that Artificers of Dhunmirstadt use."
Th'maine stepped forward, holding up his hand. "If I may speak, lord Calyxia, the dragon asked us to retrieve you. He claims that you, out of all the denizens of the Eldergrove Valley, are the only one who can assist him in his liberation."
Calyxia narrowed her eyes, the corners of her lips curling downward into a frown. She stared intently at Th'maine for several moments, before shaking her head and sighing heavily.
"Well, this is... quite a conundrum," she murmured. "I must admit, I didn't expect such an outcome, but there's no time to waste. If what you say is true, then it would explain why the Kungwan have been increasing their numbers at such an alarming rate." She glanced over to where the battle seer stood patiently. "Ophis, finish up the cleanup operations here."
"It shall be done," Ophis declared, giving her a curt nod.
"Good." Calyxia turned back to face Bjorn and the rest of his group. "Now then, lead the way. Ebonheim, you're coming as well."
Ebonheim blinked in surprise but complied without question. There was no way she was going to let Bjorn and the others go off into the dragon's lair by themselves again now that she was aware of the situation—especially when Calyxia was present.
Bjorn nodded. "Then we make for Kelzryn's lair at once." He beckoned to Lira and Serrandyl. "Let's move out, you two."
"Coming," Serrandyl groaned, lazily getting off the rock she rested on. She stretched her arms overhead and cracked her neck loudly. Lira followed suit, springing to her feet and jogging after Bjorn, and Th'maine hobbled on after her.
Ebonheim trailed behind. A mixture of anticipation and apprehension filled her mind. Bjorn and the others were still going to get an earful from her for directly taking part in the war in the first place. But now they were going to get even more of an earful for deciding to venture in a dragon's lair as if it were a simple stroll through the woods!
What were they thinking?! What group of fools goes into the lair of a legendary being like a dragon on a whim? Sure, they had a reason to go in, but things could have ended up going terribly wrong, and they could have been killed! Or worse yet...eaten.
Ebonheim sighed heavily, shaking her head slowly. If it wasn't for the Akashic System alarming her with a quest to save Bjorn's life earlier, the Kungwan alpha would have slain him.
A vein twitched in her temple as she watched Bjorn march into the forest ahead, and the others trailed behind him.
When all this was over, she was going to give them a stern talking to! For now, she kept her complaints to herself. There was one more pressing matter to deal with first...
They were off to save the dragon.