Flames scarred the air and Shin blinked back to the party, his shredded body falling to the ground. Both his arms were missing, along with the rest of his body below his abdomen. The remains of his guts all out of his torso, what blood he could not stop drained into the ground.
Shin kept what little blood he have left circulating, and his organs working as golden light enveloped him immediately, slowly regenerating his flesh and bone. Kamala focused left as a mystic shield stopped a surge of green acid. Steam rose from the shield and the ground the acid fell to, and Kamala’s strain increased, her efforts split three ways between the injured Shin and Donny and her condensed shield.
A fierce firebolt blasted the dragon’s head off course, relieving the priestess of some of her burden as Yen soared through the room, weaving through draconic elements as she peppered the monster with sharp bolts of mana. Kong and Mara appeared around Shin and sped into action. A shrieking roar of pure survival left the shug’s mouth and light shattered off him.
[Shug Magehunter (rare) - Greater Lord]
Strength - 654
Agility - 625
Constitution - 448
Vitality - 487
Dexterity - 588
Perception - 476
Force - 233
Spirit - 420
Control - 296
Willpower - 314
Skills:
Blink lvl. 7, Spellbreak lvl. 5, Heavy Slug lvl. 8, Greater Dart lvl. 10, Greater Dodge lvl. 9,
Traits:
Mana Eater (epic), Lesser Weakness Resistance (rare), Lowlight Vision (rare), Lesser Poison Resistance (rare), Lesser Disease Resistance (rare), Lesser Curse Resistance (rare),
Kong sped to the dragon and blinked with a clawed strike, as the dragon snapped its jaw on him. The shug appeared above and slammed its mouth down as another firebolt exploded just beneath its eye, the dragon lurching its head just into time.
Drogal’s eyes darted to the right at the man with the golden sword. A single swing slashed deep into its neck, too fast to draw away in time. The beast roared and lightning burst around it, forcing all pestering vermin from its side. The dragon took one glance at the party and spat a volley of bombardment before turning its focus back to the one it so deemed a threat.
A vicious onslaught fell upon Leon’s party as the four of them struggled to weather the storm. The mage and the two spirits waited and watched, their goal merely to buy enough time for Shin to heal.
“That’s good enough for me.” Donny walked forward, some of his skin still scalded and charred.
“Your injures are grave, do not be foolish.” Kamala’s voice nearly raised to a shout.
“Not much choice” Donny glanced at the other party. “They won’t last long, then it’s all on us. Just heal the leader.”
Donny burst forward with no regard for his injuries. Aura swirling as he charged through the frenzy of elements and motion around him. His eyes glinted, and ducked under a lash of the dragon’s tail aiming for several at once. And then jumped over its return scaping across the stone, the wind pressure alone threatening to blow him away.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he barrelling forward shield first. Drogal glanced but fire and screams and the glow of a golden blade stole his focus as Donny slammed into its leg. The knight buried his axe into the wound once more, the light of a failed upgrade shattering off it.
He raised his axe again, and held his shield above on reflex as the dragon stomped down on him. Blood burst from the veins in his arms and his bones cracked along with the stone beneath him. A stiff force from his shield knocked the dragon’s foot back up, but he barely glanced to the side as a second hand swatted him away through the shatter of fortress.
Donny cratered the wall with a cough of blood as a purple shield appeared just in time to shield him from a surge of flames. Just one more, Donny thought. One more time and he can get it. He willed his body to move as he slowly fell to the ground but it would not answer.
With the last bit of his strength, he gripped his axe and leaned forward. And found himself in a dark place once again. Before him, stood a giant man with the head of a lion, his eyes fierce and thrilled almost masking the subtle intelligent glint, his fanged smile wide. The wear of battle shielded Donny from shock but the look in the eyes of the lion drew him in, and he too bore the same before he realized.
Ecstasy and craze filled the lion’s face as he laughed his lust for violence away. “Slaughter… Warrior.”
Donny raised his head to the stone room with the same elated crave. The flames ceased as his feet hit the ground, and he burst forward. Faster and stronger than before. Flames burst from the dragon’s body and Donny shattered a path with his shield, flames grazing over his flesh as he passed but he did not slow. He raised his axe with another burst and light shone from it as he buried it deep in the dragon’s leg to a shower of blood.
The dragon roared, this time with a trace of pain and stomped down on Donny, but this time he withstood it. Power surged up, a standing shield charge crashing the dragon’s leg up. Kong blinked by his back in the air and brought him down to the dragon’s other leg and Donny rent through an open wound again, painting the stone red. He burst away back from a snap and stomped on the ground, knocking Leon back a leap before returning to the fray, dauntless and eager.
Shin laid on the ground, his body restored down to his thighs and forearms. The sounds of battle echoed around him but louder still were Inari’s intense emotions. Frustration, disappointment, rage, and overwhelming pride. She urged him, like a growing tsunami, and Shin let it wash over him.
His healing stopped and Inari summoned by his side. Her feelings soared and Shin answered. White light enveloped her whole and shattered off. Her clothes more illustrious and fierce, a sword in each hand with a fox face on their hilts, and five tails behind her.
[Sorcerous Kitsune Guardian (epic) - Greater Lord]
Strength - 750
Agility - 1001
Constitution - 447
Vitality - 603
Dexterity - 794
Perception - 655
Force - 999
Spirit - 830
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Control - 613
Willpower - 808
Skills:
Foxfire lvl. 1, Slash lvl. 1, Glare lvl. 1, Holy Fire lvl. 1, Grand Sword Combat lvl. 1, Burst lvl. 1, Swift lvl. 1,
Traits:
Greater Hallowed (legendary), Greater Windwalker (legendary), Soul Weapon (epic), Foxtail (epic), Nightvision (epic), Poison Resistance (epic), Disease Resistance (epic), Curse Resistance (epic), Charming Resistance (epic),
Inari shot through the air like lightning and slashed through the dragon’s eye. Drogal roared and spewed fire as Inari burst off the air. His breath followed the kitsune guardian incessantly to no avail. Inari did not jump off the air as before, but ran as though it were the ground beneath her.
She charged suddenly at the dragon’s face and flames exploded from his body, washing over her to reveal a figure shrouded in gray blue flames. The foxfire swept off her and infused into her swords as her figure blurred, slashing through the other eye. Flames erupted from the cut as Drogal failed to extinguish them with any of his elements.
The great dragon steeled itself as its prismatic scales shone, tracking the white fox by scent and unleashed a majestic destruction. A surge of seven colors barreled towards Inari, and she stood still in the air. She held out her hands and her five tails pointed outwards. The prismatic breath stopped just before they reached her, and her tails lit one by one with flames of the same color.
She flashed away from the surge as it melted away the stone between the two parties, and exhaled, releasing the seven colored flames she stole back at the monster. The prismatic breath melted its scales as the dragon roared in pain, ceasing its ultimate attack. Seven colors coated its body like armor as it began to shoot frost and acid and wind at the kitsune in short spurts.
Mara disappeared to Kong’s notice but before he turned he received a message of intent. The shug darted around the mythical battle he dared not interfere with to snatch a belt from the ground and returned to the side of the one who called.
Shin rose, lesser quality items replacing the pants a boots he lost, as he equipped the belt from the disappearing shug, damaged but its effects not broken. The party gathered around him as he looked towards the dragon.
“One more time.” Vigor blazed in their eyes anew as they felt his will.
Inari dashed through the air, spitting hurling foxfire over the lowly dragon but it was taking too long to consume the prismatic armor.
“Aim it all at the eye.”
She turned to Shin as he returned to the fight and acted immediately, gathering the foxfire she had created and sent it surging into the still burning eye of the dragon. Drogal roared and drained his prismatic armor to condense in his eye before the wretched deceitful flames burned through.
A force held his body for a split second as he sensed two vermin join the fox charging towards him. Lightning surged from his body and cratered the space around him as he gathered a seven colored flame from the depths of his soul to extinguish the lives of the curs for good.
And in that small opening, the swordsman appeared, his blade shining brilliantly. Drogal had forgotten the true threat for but one fatal moment, left with no time to respond. Leon slashed his sword, and a gray furred hand grabbed his shoulder.
Shin pulled him back as the blade slashed nearly clean through the dragon’s neck. He stepped forward through the air as Leon fell, cloth and a white mask finding his body, tremor channeling in his fist, and burst forward. With all his might he struck the reeling dragon’s head, the impact ripping the flesh and scales from its body clean off.
Leon smiled as he fell, casually and indifferent, and he disappeared from the room with the rest of his party. Shin landed with the crash of the dragon’s head over on the pile of gold, and a silence took the room for a brief moment.
[Prismatic Dragon (epic) - Greater Lord]
Strength - 1200
Agility - 750
Constitution - 1050
Vitality - 975
Dexterity - 675
Perception - 1170
Force - 1525
Spirit - 1275
Control - 900
Willpower - 980
Skills:
Lesser Prismatic Breath lvl. 10, Lesser Prismatic Armor lvl. 10, Elemental Breath lvl. 10, Elemental Bolt lvl. 10, Lash lvl. 10,
Traits:
Greater Elemental Amplification (legendary), Greater Elemental Affinity (legendary), Mana Domain (legendary), Iron Scales (epic), Poison Resistance (epic), Disease Resistance (epic), Curse Resistance (epic),
Yen roared in the relief and exhilaration of victory for the four of them, and pounced on the Onmyoji as the invoke faded away with his mana. “Shin, you devious fuck!”
Donny smiled too, satisfied for now, and turned as a healing light covered his body. Kamala retained her stoic expression but he could tell inwardly, she was basking in the emotions as well.
“Where’s the loot?!” Yen beamed.
As if responding to her call, the body of the dragon started to melt, along with the hill of gold. Both swirled into the center forming eight treasure chests, glowing orange. Yen soared over immediately in a burst of anticipation and hope. As the item floated up, her expectations were met perfectly. She donned the item without hesitation, a white long sleeve silk crop jacket held together around the top of the chest with straps, while storing her amulet.
“Wait are you waiting for?” She said, tapping all seven other chests open. “This is all legendary!”
The others walked over to varying degrees of haste. Shin inspected each before hopping over to the ones he chose, skin tight leather ninja pants with the Greater Swift skill and a pair of golden arm circlets that with a skill that boosted the stats of his personal summons by twofold. Kamala took an elegant white gown and teardrop head necklace while Donny took a brutally jagged dull gold axe and a white metal chestpiece.
“What did you get?” Yen asked them.
“Bites into the opponent when I cut them, basically. Passive skill.” Donny held out his axe. “Armor triples my defense skills like Bastion.”
“...the gown triples the potency of healing, the necklace triples abjuration spells.”
“Fucking perfect, we’re basically invincible now. We should thank golden boy’s party for giving us twice the rewards.”
“Guess you got something good, too.”
“Triple flight speed for the riding boots…” Yen taps her jacket. “Triple fire potency. Three fucking times!”
“Do not get overconfident.” Kamala spoke.
“I’m just getting started.” Yen showed no sign of reeling in her excitement. “We still got the tutorial rewards, and this is a guaranteed top 100 stop. Another epic tier skill.”
“As will 96 others. The ones we have faced included.” Kamala reminded. This time, Yen’s confidence did shake a bit, as she found herself reminded by something.
“We can worry about all that in ten days.” Donny spoke up. “What happens after the stage ends.”
“We probably go where the party leader came from.” Yen understood his question, answering casually as there was nothing to worry about. “How long do we have anyway?”
“3 seconds.” Shin answered.
“Huh? Wha-?”
The world froze gray though time did not stop between them. Shin scrolled through the rankings first.
1. Shin
2. Leon Moore
3. Attila Atreus
4. Sereth Narmer
5. …
He found Yuna in the early fifties, about as much as he expected. There was no difference in reward between 2 and 100, so she would continue to be cautious and smart. Her success was never a doubt in his mind, he just wanted to see how she was doing.
“Hey… You’re from the Igarashi family, right. Like the main family?”
“Clan.”
“Whatever.” Yen gathered her resolve to ask the tactless question. “Why is your name just Shin?”
“That’s my name?” Shin tilted his head and Yen opened her mouth before deciding to drop the matter.
She scrolled through the list more. “...Kamalasambhava…? You said yours was Pandavas. Shin is Shin, what’s your excuse?”
Kamala did not answer, simply looking for her skill options.
“And where are you? Did you fuck up somehow?”
“69.”
“...Adonis Knox?”
“Mum could see the future.” Donny scrolled up a little more before glancing to Yen after a smile. “Yennifer Thompson?”
“Shutup.”
Shin didn’t bother looking for the ability he had been searching for from the start. From what Onamuji said, it wouldn’t be something he could obtain from these. Instead, he chose a new trait, one he had decided during the fight. The first step in a pair of traits he felt he needed for the path ahead.
[Acquired legendary tier trait Survival State.]
‘Survive fatal injuries much longer than normal.’
Unlike before, there was no bombardment of invitations, only finding himself in the small dark dimension with his floating patron. Onamuji didn’t speak immediately this time, merely slowly floating before him haphazardly as if trying to read him.
“You’re so reckless for someone who chose the long term…” He mused. “You plannin’ to focus on speed?”
“No.”
“Physical stats in general?”
“No.”
“Alright. You can put some more points into something else then. Just a hundred. No more, even in the last stage. Maybe two hundred. Get a bunch of ‘space’. Traits are better than skills right now too. Think about what you’d want ‘em to be. You’ll understand in the next part. Also, stay in greater lord for now.”
“Class?”
“Yeah. Just bare with it and raise that all the way. Gonna be difficult if you don’t.” Onamuji paused for a moment. “You like the people you’re with?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
Shin tilted his head in question but Onamuji didn’t elaborate.
“I got more to say at the end, but guess that’s good ‘nuff for now. Remember, just a hundred. No more till the end of the trials.”
The space faded away with Onamuji’s partings and Shin found himself back in the still world. The others seemed the same but he noticed Yen being different from how she was. A little like back when she walked away after their first training, though firmer now. But he felt like he shouldn’t ask why, so he kept silent.
The goddess overseeing them appeared in the gray sky once more, distant and divine as ever. “Fate is merciful for those who truly seek it. The Tower shelters. The Tower bestows. The Tower is all. Thou who hath found hope. Thou who hath found thy path. Walk it to the end. Walk it to salvation.”
A light consumed the world. Consumed all but the depth of hollow eyes.