Dodging a clumsy claw attack, I grab the arm of the wingless griffon and squeeze my hand as hard as possible, and feeling bones getting crushed I release my grip, ignoring its cries of pain as I grab its throat and rip it out. Reeling back, the griffon tried crying out and failed, collapsing into a heap. Panting slightly as I threw the torn throat away, I looked around and saw the corpses of four other wingless griffons.
It’s been a rather bloody fight, tricky as well. These beasts could use earth magic, offensively as well. I’d been hit in a few spots by rock bullets. I felt the areas that had been hit bruising. Sighing, I look at my System feeling slightly satisfied.
You have levelled to 30!
Gained the following Stats:
Agility: +50
Strength: +35
Intelligence: +25
Toughness: +2
You gain 10% more Stats due to Aspiring Hero, you gain the following:
Agility: +5
Strength: +3
Intelligence: +1
Toughness: +0
Health increased to 3,000.
Lunar Mana Increased to 30,000.
My stats levelled as normally, but my health and mana experienced a jump. Checking, I saw nothing else there as I stretched my body. Since I was still recovering my body was filled with fatigue much faster, meaning we’d have to rest once again. Sighing, I turn to Aubrey while ignoring the feeling of being watched.
Seeing Aubrey drain the lifeforce of two of the beasts I’d incapacitated for her, she looked excited. She excitedly told me she had reached level 29, and without warning jumped at me, giving me a quick hug. Patting her shoulder, I look at Alice on top of her head. She was still meditating but I had been feeling something akin to wonder and excitement from her. Is she close to figuring something out?
“Hey hey Alisha.” Clinging to my arm and resting her head on my shoulder, Aubrey spoke with some excitement. “Do you need to rest? You look tired.”
I was starting to get worried about Aubrey. Before we started she had stopped being shy and usually had a serious expression on her face, but after absorbing the lifeforce of so many monsters it had changed and she became this very lively, happy and excitable girl. I wanted to ask her what was going on, but perhaps it was simply she was treating me as a friend, and this was her true personality.
“Mm, I need to rest.”
“Okay! Come come, the safe zone is close to here!”
Dragging me along with her, I let her do what she wanted as we walked.
“Aubrey?”
“Yes?”
“What is lifeforce?”
“Oh! You don’t know? Well, lifeforce is within everyone. Think of it as a flame within you, when you’re all healthy the flame burns brightly and as you get injured that flame helps you recover your injuries. The more injured you are, the more that flame starts going out. If the flame goes out, you die. The System shows you your health, right? Think of that as your flame in numbers.”
Understanding what she meant, she turned her head and smiled at me. “I can give people my lifeforce to help them recover from wounds or empower their body, as you know. It’s a unique ability I can do because instead of my lifeforce being like a flame, it’s more like water. It’s not water though, nor is lifeforce a flame. Mm, nevermind! So the way I level is by absorbing the lifeforce of living beings, or monster cores. It gets absorbed into my body giving me experience.”
Giggling as she explains, I understood what she meant as I nod along. We continue to make small talk and as I round the corner I spot a hooded female figure standing along the path, facing us. She held an orb in her hands that she was looking down at. A bit surprised since we hadn’t met anyone down here, I’m about to greet her when she suddenly looked at me.
“Domain. Chart of Stars!”
Grabbing Aubrey, I pushed her back behind me with a bit of force as I generated my wind around me, filling my fists with starlight energy and invoking Star Dust fists. Expanding all around is a field of stars, constellations of stars in every direction, above and below. There was no solid ground below my feet, I just sort of floated there. Looking around this Domain…it felt weak, at least weaker than mine. This was the first time, apart from Mimics, I had a Domain used against me since that red spirit.
Looking at the woman, I saw she wasn’t alone. Standing besides her was a rather bulky man in shiny, silver armour and behind the pair sat nearly 15 people. Without reserve, I used the System to check all of them. All of them were between level 25 to level 32, with the armoured man level 35 and the woman showing as unknown everything.
Level 35 Markus
Ascended Human
Apprentice Sword Saint
Health: ???/???
Looking at the people at the back, they wore the same coloured robes, a dull silver with a crest on the right breast. Looking at the symbol, my stomach tightened slightly as anger, excitement and annoyance built up in front of me. I knew that symbol.
The symbol of the Church of the Moon Goddess.
Markus throws two cubes, one at me and one at Aubrey. Failing to dodge, I forgot I had nothing to step on. The cube hits me in the shoulder, exploding into dozens of silver chains that proceed to wrap my arms around my torso tightly as magic surged from the chains…before stopping.
You have been bound by the Chains of Evernight’s Imprisonment.
You will be bound, your magic will be sealed and you will not be able to break the chains.
Does not affect the Goddess of the Moon’s Blessed. If a Blessed is bound by the chains, they can be controlled by the Blessed.
You are not bound by the Chains of Evernight’s Imprisonment.
You are not sealed by the Chains of Evernight’s Imprisonment.
Hiding my surprise at the notifications, I quickly came up with a plan as I heard screams from behind me. Resisting turning my head, I knew Aubrey would be fine and only be bound. Ceasing the mana circulation in my body, I heard the woman with the orb speak.
“Foul monster who desecrates the name of our Goddess! I, under Her name, find you guilty of stealing the bracelet of a Sister from the Sisterhood of the Moon Goddess, as well as daring to foul Her name with your mouth! Your punishment will be public execution!”
Markus unfolds his arms and starts walking towards us. How does he have a foothold? I can’t figure it out, he was just walking on nothing. Watching his movements carefully as he approached me, I ‘struggled’ against the chains making my face twist into one I hoped looked full of fear.
Markus’s face doesn’t change as he steps closer. His guard was down, meaning he fully believed I was bound. Five metres…he is the biggest threat here, besides the unknown threat that the hooded woman represented. Three metres, I started ‘struggling’ more as I slowly began circulating mana again.
As he stepped into one metre between us, I stopped moving, mentally commanding the chains to unbind me, and as I felt them loosen suddenly I explode my mana, within half a second I had my fists prepped with starlight, wind circulating around my body as I stepped in and threw my fist into Markus’s chest with all my strength.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Time seemed to slow as I saw his eyes go from looking down on me to confused. Reaching for his sword, my fist had already arrived at his chest, exactly where his heart laid. Smashing through the armour with some resistance, my hand plunges into his chest, blood slowly spurting out as I feel my arm pass through his chest. I felt my fist connect with his heart, and the force ripped his heart from its place, exploding it as my fist travelled through the other end. All within a second.
Pulling my arm out as quickly as I could, I saw his eyes start turning lifeless as he unsheathe his sword and swiped upwards with a speed that nearly equaled my own. Crossing my arms in front of myself, I felt the sword slash my arms. It was a shallow cut, he lost power as the sword connected.
Blowing him away with a wind explosion, time speeds back up. Looking up at the crowd of people as the body slammed onto some unknown ground, I saw all of them step back looking shocked. Before they could do anything, I spread my arms to my side as I spoke.
“Domain. Mystical Lunar Starfield”
The sound of something smashing sounded throughout the domain we stood in as mine rushed out, consuming it and replacing it completely. A lake appears underneath my feet as the stars around me disappear, replacing the stars in a night sky above us. A freezing wind blows strongly all around us.
The people in the back looked surprised and terrified. Some drew their weapons, others raised their hands as mana surged and the rest clasped their hands together and started chanting. The hooded woman thrust a hand up.
“Kill the heathen!”
Picking up the chain that had fallen, I used mana to increase the wind’s strength within my domain, mixing the wind circulating my body with it. As the wind blows fiercely, I charge at the woman holding the orb as I dodge a few spells. Flinging the chains at the woman, I send another mental command, telling the chains to bind her. For some reason, the moment the chains stopped their magic earlier, a faint link had formed between us.
Watching as the chains wrap themselves around the hooded woman, I don’t bother watching as I dash past her, with as much speed as I can. I can feel my body straining itself, the fatigue and pain coming back hard, slowing me down slightly. I haven’t completely recovered, and the shooting pain from my right leg made everything worse.
Arriving in front of a robed person, I punch with the built up momentum, slamming into their head. I watch as it explodes, spraying blood and bones in all directions. Turning, I narrowly dodge a sword strike as another spell comes flying at my face. Not having the time to dodge it, I roared as loudly as I could as I placed my hand in front of my face, swiping the spell, a fireball, away.
Feeling the heat through my gauntlets, I knew that I was facing trouble. I was still recovering, I was nowhere near the peak of my speed, I’m surrounded on all sides and my mana was at about half. Even though I know I had the absolute disadvantage, I felt an excitement rising in me, I felt pumped, happy to be fighting like this.
Using Lunar Blessing, I spread it throughout my body as much as I could, feeling that weird barrier that prevented me from spreading it completely throughout my body. Gritting my teeth, I spin on the spot, dodging two strikes and a spell as I kick out at the closest to me with a Lashing Fire Kick. Smashing the woman in front of me with the leg, I see the flames burst, setting her ablaze as her screams rang out.
Turning to another, I saw him swing his sword clumsily, a face filled with fear. Using the back of my hand, I swipe at the sword, the gauntlet protecting me while the sword is knocked from his hands. Grabbing his throat he cried out “DON’T KILL ME!”
Ignoring those words, I snapped his neck before throwing him at the person behind me that was swinging his sword. Seeing him hesitate, I shoulder tackle the corpse into him while reaching over and grabbing his head, tearing it from his shoulders.
Dropping it, I turn and throw up a wind wall in the direction of the spells that were coming towards me. I had smelled the fire from one of them. The wind wall blocked most of the spells while spikes of ice and earth made it through, stabbing into me. Ignoring the pain, I summoned my own Astral Ice Spikes and returned them at full force at the four who had fired spells.
Watching as the spikes impaled them, I let the Astral magic corrupt them while turning to yet another swordsmen. Sidestepping the spell, this time I fell behind as my body started screaming in pain. Gritting my teeth as the sword cuts through my cheek. Grabbing the sword, I yank the man towards my other palm, grabbing his head and slamming it on the lake, crushing it completely.
Looking back up eagerly, I saw seven of them alive, five of them were still chanting while two held swords, trembling while looking at me. Weak, all of them weak, even with the disadvantage they had been so easily killed. Why? Was I that strong? Feeling a surging confidence, I shook my head to get rid of the feeling. I knew there was a reason other than being strong for why they were so weak.
Not caring about the chanters, I rushed up to one of the swordsmen who dropped their weapon and raised their hands with a terrified face. “S-Stop, I don’t want to die!”
Once again ignoring their words, I plunge my fist into his chest, grab his heart and rip it out. Seeing his eyes widen while falling back, he mutters “M-monster…” as the light leaves his eyes.
Turning to the last man with a sword, he was right behind me with his sword raised. Straining my body that had passed the point of pain, I rolled under the attack, got up to my knees while reaching out, grabbed his head and yanked down while throwing a punch up towards his neck. My fist cleaves through his neck as it hangs by a thread. Panting, I remain on my knees as my body trembles from the pain. My right foot couldn’t handle my weight anymore, it felt so painful that it made me nauseated.
Looking at the five remaining chanters, I raised my hand and fired Astral Ice Spikes at them, watching as they pierced their chests where their hearts were. Their eyes shot open in surprise and fear as they reflected my image. Watching as they fell I knew they were dead. Were they not paying attention to the fight? Not knowing what they were chanting, I just slowly got up and looked at the hooded woman while keeping my weight solely on my left leg.
Feeling my domain tremble, I knew I had little time left, but I couldn’t move. The moment I set my right foot on the ground, the pain shocked me completely. I had numerous cuts, bruises and some ice and earth spikes impaled in me. Pulling them out, I ignored the bleeding as I raised a hand. I’d just fire an Astral Ice Spike at this bitch and call it a day.
However, before I could even invoke the mana, someone appeared before the woman. Gritting my teeth, I instead invoked the wind around me as I mentally prepared to put my right leg down once again. Frowning, I stopped as I looked again at the new person.
They were facing away from me, but I could see shoulder length blue hair, a slender figure that wore a sleeveless pink shirt, and a blue scarf around their neck. They wore long pants that were also light pink in colour with a rapier attached to their hip. Gritting my teeth, I checked who this was.
Level 55 Xia
Starbound Human
Arcane Spell Swordsmen
Health: ???/???
Fuck. I can’t deal with a level 20 in my state yet this person showed up. Sucking in a breath, I watched them carefully, but their next action was completely outside of my predictions.
Grabbing the throat of the hooded woman who started struggling, they lifted her up in the air.
“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” Screaming at the blue haired girl, Xia, the hooded woman continued to struggle.
“Bishop Ellen. I, Xia, the protector of the Blessed, hereby find you guilty of plotting the murder of a Blessed of the Moon Goddess.” Speaking in a soft female voice, Xia tightened her grip.
“BULLSHIT, YOU WERE ORDERED TO KILL THAT MONSTER, DO YOUR JOB!”
Xia continued as if the hooded figure, Ellen, didn’t speak. “Your punishment is execution.” Without another word, I sensed a powerful pulse of mana surge from her as purple cracks ran up from where Xia’s hand gripped Ellen, running up her neck and face.
“TRAITOR! YOU BETRAY THE MOON GODDE-” Before she could finish, the cracks ran through her entire body before she exploded into chunks, purple light shining brightly. Watching this scene, I knew I couldn’t defend against magic like that right now…no, even at my peak I would be dead.
Seeing Xia turn to face me, my stomach tightened as I focused on creating Astral Ice Spikes with the small amount of mana I had left. As she took a few steps towards me, I prepared myself for death, but before that could happen, she…kneeled.
Keeping my guard up, I balanced myself on my left leg as I kept an eye on her as she spoke.
“Blessed of the Moon Goddess, I, Xia, hereby pledge my absolute allegiance to you, I swear this upon the name of Celestia, the System and my soul. I pledge to do no harm to you, your friends, allies or lovers. Even in death I pledge my soul to you.”
Leaving me speechless, she continues to kneel with her head bowed as a notification from the System appeared in front of me. Ignoring the countless other ones about the humans I just killed, I read what it said.
Xia has pledged their allegiance to you, their very soul is yours to command. If she disobeys any order, she will be punished. If she thinks of doing you harm in any form her soul will be tormented. In the case she causes you harm due to an order, she will not be tormented. Xia can not lie, deceive or lure you in any form, she will be punished.
Looking at the notification, I glanced at Xia, keeping my guard up. I didn’t trust her, all it would take is one strike in my current state to kill me.
“Are you from the Church?”
“Yes.”
Upon that answer, killing intent rose in me. It would be safer to kill her now…or order herself to do it. Thinking it over though, if what the System said is true, she can not lie. I could gain information about the Church from her before ordering her to end her life. Looking away from her I checked Aubrey and saw that other than being bound, she was fine. She was looking at me with tears in her eyes.
As my Domain crumbles, we return to the tunnels as I turn my head carefully. Around me lay the corpses of all the members of the Church that had attacked me. I had used my full power, or at least what I can give in my condition, right from the start. I had questions about this situation, like how the hell did they find me?
Hearing running footsteps coming from behind Aubrey, I looked up and summoned Astral Ice Spikes as my mind became lightheaded. Rounding the corner are five people, Silver adventurer plates on their necklaces, 3 men and 2 women. They all look at Aubrey who is chained up, Xia, then me and finally the massacre around me. Staring at with some fear, I heard one of them mutter “What in the fuck…”
One of the adventurers, an older man, stepped forward while looking at me. “Aren’t you Alisha?”
Frowning for a moment, I quickly remembered that I had been acknowledged in front of hundreds just yesterday. Nodding to the man, he quickly spoke again. “What happened here? Do you need help?”
Pursing my lips, I felt a bit annoyed. Pointing at Aubrey I say “Help her into the safe zone. Don’t assist me in any way, don’t even think of assisting me. And don’t touch the bodies, their loot belongs to me.”
The man frowns as he looks deeply at me. I saw a sense of greed appear in his eyes. These humans, they’re all the fucking same. As I watched a hand slowly move towards his sword, out of the corner of my eye I saw Xia also reach for hers.