Narrowing my eyes as I watch the man’s hand get closer to his sword, I also kept my guard up against Xia. I knew if they both attacked me at once I would have no chance of escaping, but I sure as hell would drag one of them down with the last of my strength. Maintaining the Astral Ice Spikes behind me, I watch as the man suddenly grunts and drops his hand away from the sword. At the same time, Xia also drops her hand.
Turning around, he points at a man and woman behind him. “You two, get Aubrey to the safe zone.”
“Stop.” Saying those words, the five turn to look at me. “Leave, we don’t need you here.” Sending me an annoyed look, the man who appeared to be the leader spoke again.
“Oh? Did you not ask for our help?”
“I don’t trust you. Leave.”
The man’s stare turned from annoyed slowly into anger. “Don’t get cocky ‘hero’. Don’t think you can order us around.”
I knew getting into a fight here would mean my death, my entire body refused to even move, I could only stand on my left leg. I wouldn’t back down however, I had seen the greed in his eyes, if he took Aubrey away who knew that he would do.
“I told you, I don’t need your help. Leave.” Biting my lip to keep my focus on maintaining the spikes, I stared him down as his face contorted with fury. Two behind him also stared at me with fury while the last two looked like they didn’t know what to do.
“Bitch, I gave you a chance.” Drawing his sword along with the other two, I didn’t hesitate and shot out at the three of them. Just as the spikes shot out, I heard a mumble from in front of me.
“Domain. Time Stop.”
A strange power ripples out from Xia as I turn my head towards her, I threw my last two spikes at her. Something strange happened at that moment. Everything and everyone except for Xia and I slowed down to a stop, including the Astral Ice Spikes I had thrown.
Looking around, we were still in the tunnels. The five Silver adventurers had stopped, not even a muscle or hair moved. Xia slowly stopped and drew her rapier as a purple magic surrounded it. Turning to the five, she took a step towards them. I knew what she was about to do.
“Stop!” In a commanding tone I shout at her. Immediately she froze on the spot, turned on the spot and kneeled once again.
“As you command, Mistress.” Frowning at her comment, I looked at the five who were frozen.
“What happened to them?”
“My Domain is Time based. I can stop anything I deem as an enemy, freezing them in time. I can only maintain this for twenty seconds.”
Indeed, looking at the five, I saw they were slowly starting to move again and in the next moment everything sped back up. The spikes I sent out hit everyone, including Xia, even though it only shattered against her, impaling them. Because of my exhaustion, I missed my target, their hearts, instead I hit them in the shoulder. It was enough, the corruption from the spikes will spread. It might not kill them, but it would do a lot of damage.
Recoiling slightly, the three looked at me with more fury before it twisted into fear. Xia had slowly stood, facing them with her rapier drawn. Checking the levels of the five, the highest was the man, Julian, who acted as the leader, at level 32. As he glares at me back to Xia he finally casts a final look at me.
“Watch your back, ‘Hero’.” Turning on the spot, he leads the other four away. Gritting my teeth, I push my palm out, trying to summon another spike, but feeling pain shoot through my mind followed by heavy dizziness, I knew I was drained of mana and couldn’t.
As they turn and walk down the corridor, I listen as their footsteps and scent faded. Sighing, I stopped myself from collapsing. Looking angrily at Xia, I yelled “Why did you interfere?!”
She didn’t respond, nor did she move. Getting angry, I was about to yell again when I noticed what was wrong. Xia was completely frozen, just like the five Silver grades had been when she released her Domain. Raising an eyebrow, I wondered if this was some kind of side effect. Looking at Aubrey and Alice, I saw Aubrey had managed to sit up and as I met her eyes, she smiled.
“Are you okay?” As she asked me that, I smiled and shook my head. My body was completely exhausted, I could barely move and my mana drained completely empty to the point that mana no longer circulated. Right now, a light breeze could knock me over, and the worst part is that we weren’t in a safe zone, a monster could easily kill me right now. Telling Aubrey this, her face turned to worry as she struggled with the chains again.
Looking at her chains, I wondered if I could mentally command them, but found I couldn’t. Did I have to touch them first to establish a link? While I’m trying to think of solutions, including seeing if Alice could drag her over somehow, out of the corner of my eye I see Xia starting to move again.
At first, she moved slowly before everything sped back up. Seeing her gently sheathe her sword, she once again faced me before kneeling again. Pursing my lips, I wanted to know why she was acting like this. But first, if the System is to be believed…
“You. How do I remove those chains from Aubrey?” Pointing at Aubrey, Xia doesn’t move her head to look.
“Mistress, the chains are blessed by a Demigod and can only be removed by a Blessed or the Moon Goddess herself.”
“How do I remove them?”
“By placing your hand on them you can command them to unbind their target.”
Taking a ragged breath, I sway slightly on the spot. I was on the brink of falling asleep. Biting down hard on my tongue, I look at Xia while thinking of what to do.
“Bring Aubrey to me.” Xia stands swiftly, moves to Aubrey and gently lifts her. She then slowly walks back while walking around the bodies around us and keeps Aubrey standing in front of me. If this counts as assistance, then so be it. However I’d like to think Alexander would be lenient, or only count combat assistance as against the rules.
Reaching out while ignoring the muscles in my body complaining, I placed my hand on the chains and felt a link between me and the chains. Seems like I was right earlier and sending a mental command, I watch as the chains fall away as Aubrey gasps in relief.
Quickly turning around, she grabs my bags off the floor from where she had just been and comes back. Digging around, she pulls out a healing potion and hands it to me. Thanking her, I downed the contents in one go and threw the empty bottle to the side.
“Where’s the safe zone?” Looking at Aubrey, she smiled as she looked past my shoulder and pointed.
“About twenty metres down there is a turn to the left, and after a short walk there will be a room. That’s the safe zone.”
Not trusting my balance, I didn’t turn as Aubrey went to my side and put my arm around her shoulders. As I’m about to say something, she giggles and looks at me.
“I’m ‘guiding’ you to the room.” Speechless at her comment, I shook my head…that was a mistake, I felt the pain throughout my body from moving. The healing potion was doing its work, but I was nearly out of time, I could feel my consciousness slowly drifting away to sleep.
Looking at Xia, I didn’t know what to do about her. I couldn’t trust her, but at the same time I knew she’d be useful to us because she came from the church. Looking gently around me since Aubrey was keeping me balanced, I turned to Xia, grabbed the empty dimensional bag Elise had bought and threw it at Xia’s feet since I couldn’t reach her.
“Take anything of value from these idiots and put it in there. Drag the bodies away from here, or burn them, whatever is easier. When you’re done, come to the safe zone. You are not to harm, or think of harming Aubrey, Alice or me.”
I still didn’t trust this person. I felt on edge when I was near them, but I trusted the System this time.
“Yes, Mistress.” Giving me a short reply, Xia picked up the bag and walked to the nearest body, or what remains of it, and began checking them.
Aubrey gently helps to turn me as she ‘guides’ me to the safe zone. Once we entered, Aubrey led me to a corner and gently helped me sit down as I avoided my right leg hitting the ground or being caught under my butt. Sitting down next to me, Aubrey pulls out a small pouch and takes a small, blue pill from it.
“Here, put this under your tongue.” Doing as she says, the moment the pill started dissolving under my tongue I felt a heavy sleepiness overcome me, and with the fatigue, pain and mana exhaustion I already had, I dropped to sleep within a second.
***
Stirring awake, I felt groggy as I heard a lot of noise, voices, footsteps and other types of noises. I felt something stroking my hair, and opening my eyes slowly the first thing that entered my eyes were legs dressed in a light pink pair of pants. Groaning, I turn my head upwards to see Aubrey looking forward at something before she glances down at me with a smile.
“Finally awake sleepyhead?” Speaking in a teasing voice, Aubrey giggles slightly. Groaning, I sat up slowly and saw that I had been sleeping on her lap. Rubbing my eyes, I glanced at Xia. She stood before us with her rapier drawn, and looking to see what she’s facing I saw about a dozen adventurers in the room. All of them wore Silver grade plates.
Looking at them, all of them were injured in some form, from a few cuts and bruises to some with missing limbs. There were also two corpses just lying there. Glancing at Xia, my first thought was that she’d had done something before Aubrey spoke up.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“They failed the tenth floor. This is the aftermath. The safe zone we’re in is the closest to the boss room.”
“Did it mutate?”
“No idea. They tried to approach us to see if you needed help, but blue hair there scared them away.”
Groaning, I rubbed my eyes again. Looking at Xia, I just left her be for now. I wanted to ask her questions, but with so many people in here I didn’t want them knowing anything, in case they went to the Church.
“How long was I asleep?”
“About sixteen hours. I fed you three healing potions in that time.”
It’s been a day since we’ve entered? Looking down at my body, it was completely healed, except for my right leg that had some light bruising, and squeezing it lightly I found no pain. The bruising would heal within an hour by the look of things.
Leaning my head on Aubrey’s shoulder, I watched the people for a while. The severely wounded ones were either chugging healing potions or were being healed by two people. Looking away from the scene, I knew that the boss coming up would be extremely difficult, but I still felt determined.
“Well, I can see you’re not changing your mind.” Smiling at Aubrey’s words, I turned my attention to the System. I saw that from all the fighting and killing, I had gone up two levels and had nearly reached level 33.
You have levelled to 32!
Gained the following Stats:
Agility: +100
Strength: +70
Intelligence: +50
Toughness: +4
You gain 10% more Stats due to Aspiring Hero, you gain the following:
Agility: +10
Strength: +7
Intelligence: +5
Toughness: +0
Health increased to 3,500.
Lunar Mana Increased to 32,000.
The level up was normal, however the next part surprised me more.
You have pushed your body to its absolute limits and surpassed those limits. Your Race has become less restricted.
Previous:
You gain +2 Stat rank to Intelligence and Agility.
You gain +1 Stat rank to Strength.
Your Lunar Mana Talent now increases all Lunar type magic by 30%. The strength of all other magic is no longer weakened.
You gain additional strength at night, +30% to all stats during night. You will be weakened during the day, -15% to all stats during the daytime.
You have a much stronger affiliation with Lunar magic.
Updated:
You will no longer be weakened during the day.
Your Mana Realm has mutated further and will now produce small amounts of pure Lunar Energy.
As you have pushed past your limits, your body has become strengthened, granting you new talents: Monster Regeneration II, Starcaller and Supremacy of the Moon.
Your Lunar Mana Talent now increases all Lunar type magic by 40%.
Lunar magic now flows through you, allowing you to use it like it’s natural.
Squinting my eyes, I couldn’t believe what I saw. The System never said my class was restricted in the past when I first evolved, so why is it now suddenly saying it was becoming less restricted? I looked at the new talents I had received.
Monster Regeneration II: Your body has increased natural regeneration, healing most wounds within minutes. Severe injuries will heal within an hour. Blood will not regenerate faster.
Starcaller: The power of spells using Starlight energy and constellations as a basis become empowered, causing spells to have additional effects.
Current Bonuses: None
Supremacy of the Moon: At night, any Spells, Skills or Magic Items that utilise Lunar Magic or Energy will no longer affect you, giving you complete immunity to those spells. In addition, your Lunar Magic spells may trigger an effect.
Current Bonuses: None
Gasping slightly, I felt speechless at this. In a short time I’ve gotten so many bonuses and stats from the System…was it from the System, or was the System just telling me of the changes? I needed to find that out first, something I’d have to ask Elise once I’ve left.
Closing my eyes while keeping my head on Aubrey’s shoulder, I thought over the encounter I had once again. The members of the Church had been around my level, some a few levels higher, yet they were just…weak. Thinking through the fight, I thought about it and the only conclusion I could come to was that they didn’t seem to work together. But I didn’t know for sure.
“Hey, Alisha?”
“Mm?”
“Want to go do another dungeon once we’re out of here? We’ll be level 45 or 50 once we leave after all, and there are like six other dungeons, one even at level 50 that we could explore.” Sounding excited as she asked, I thought about it for a moment.
“Sure, but I can’t for a few months.”
“Did something happen?”
“Mm, the System said I can’t go into dimensional dungeons after my last one, something about doing the True Route locking me out.”
“Oh…does that happen? I didn’t know.”
I started telling her about our time in the Temple of the Blood God, answering her questions as I spoke, and explained everything we had seen in there as she got more and more excited. Finishing my story, Aubrey said that she too wanted to go through a dungeon like that. Her reason was because it could have good loot, causing me to giggle.
After another hour of resting, I get back to my feet and stretch. Looking at Alice, I pursed my lips to see she was still in a state of…learning, I guess. Aubrey stands with me and lightly stretches as well. Xia turns and is about to kneel before I put my hand up.
“Please, no kneeling. It’s annoying.” As I say this, she stops and bows while putting a hand to her chest.
“Yes, Mistress.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I wondered what to do with her. Maybe I should just kill her here so that my worries would be lessened. As I’m thinking, Xia brings up the bag I gave her.
“Mistress, I have collected everything of value and dusted their corpses.”
Oh, that’s right, I did tell her to do that. Before I could reach for the bag, Aubrey snatched it from Xia’s hand and opened it eagerly. Sighing, I let her be before turning my attention to Xia again. I didn’t want to treat this person like I had been treated in the past, and I had to admit I felt hesitant to order someone who can’t refuse my orders to end their life, it didn’t fit well with me.
“You’re to follow us, however you are forbidden from assisting me in any form. Do not interfere with any of my fights unless my life is in absolute danger, do you understand?”
“Yes, Mistress.” Bowing once again, I felt a few stares from the others in here…focus on treating each other!
“Once we’ve killed the floor 10 boss and get to the next floor, I will be questioning you.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Sighing, I overheard the whispers of the other group questioning if they heard me right and if I was insane to challenge the tenth floor. Before it became an issue, I walked out of the Safe Zone with Xia and Aubrey behind me.
While making our way through the floor, I hunted down more monsters and easily killed them. The experience I received however was significantly lowered, so it took about an hour to finally reach level 33.
Stats
Elite Aspiring Hero, Alisha
Strength: D+ 508 (+102)* Agility: C+ 837 (+167)* Intelligence: D- 378 (+76)* Toughness F- 103 (+20)*
Current Bonuses: Monster Title
Soon, we arrived before a large set of bronze doors. There wasn’t anything special to them, and checking with Aubrey we had arrived before the tenth floor. It wasn’t a separate floor, however it was treated as such by the Guild. Without hesitating or waiting, I walked forward and pushed on the doors as they creaked open. Ignoring the stares I felt on my back by others, I walked in, followed by Aubrey and Xia.
We arrived in a large dome room, torches on either side that were already lit. Looking around, I didn’t see anything that resembled a boss, and as I’m about to ask Aubrey, the System flashed a notification.
Warning! The Tenth Floor of the Tomb of Lilith is mutating!
“Sigh…of course it is.” Shaking my head, I watched as the room changed around us, like a Domain expanding. Suddenly, we were standing in an endless field, short small green plants that I identified as potato plants filled the field. Directly in front of us is a rather tall man with a mask.
He was wearing long black pants, a long sleeved white shirt, a red cape behind him, his mask was the skull of a boar-like creature and on top of his head he wore a golden crown, with gems of different colours embedded. His long, pink hair waved in the slight wind of the field, it was tied in a loose ponytail behind him. In his right hand he held a long, blue sword with a faint purple glow to it.
The Blood God does not forget.
Seeing the new System notification gave me a sense of surprise and the System wasn’t done.
Unique Quest: The Champion of the Blood God.
The Blood God does not forget. He has sent his champion to ensure your demise.
Defeat the apparition of The Blade.
Rewards will be determined on performance.
Good Luck.
Looking at the figure, I checked his System information.
Level 35 Apparition of The Blade
Champion of the Blood God
Blood for the Blood God
Health: ???/???
“Aubrey, Xia, get back, don’t interfere.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
The Blade raises his sword wordlessly and points it at me as I take a step forward, preparing my stance as I stare him down. Without a word, we both moved, matching each other's speed as the fight began.