Tec Mage Chapter Thirty Nine: Florem Lucis
It had been two game days since Atlas found the magus, the illusionist specialist magus name was Buli Ironsmith. Each magi had their own unique magic and research they carried out, some magi studied how to increase medicine effects while others looked in to increasing crops growth rates and resistance but Buli Ironsmith was researching space and anything to do with it.
This lead Atlas to do a chore for Buli, to gain the new magic that Buli held Atlas had to first do a job and retrieve an item from a dungeon.
The all seeing eye.
Buli wants the telescope called the all seeing eye, a magical telescope that can peer though the most dense of items, nothing can block its view.
It is held in the most ancient part of the floating continent, deep in the bowls of the earth.
Reward: illusion magic.
This was why Atlas was making his way though the dungeon he was in, with no light the darkness was all consuming but Atlas was fine, with his eye technique he could see any thing that emitted mana and everything emitted mana. The view in front of Atlas was a multi coloured rainbow, each piece of rock or pool of water had their own mana and each mana piece had its own colour. It was close to a living painting.
With Atlas able to see all in the dark he could bypass the groups of black skeletons that roamed the area. Only later did the inhabits of the dungeon encounter Atlas, the first was a giant headless man with rippling muscles. In the monsters left hand was a massive great sword but in his right hand was the monsters head. This was a Dullahan.
"Stop, turn back now or face a knight in battle" the Dullahan had the temperament of a knight and didn't see the magic user Atlas as a worthy opponent.
Atlas didn't know how the Dullahan could see him in the pitch darkness but it was undoubtedly that he was talking to Atlas.
"Can't we talk about this" asked Atlas.
Whirling the sword in his hands the Dullahan stepped forwards without saying a word.
"Wait" Atlas tried to talk.
"Talk is for the weak and cowards" but as the Dullahan said his piece a giant earth hand wrapped around the Dullahan and rooted him to the ground.
"Waa, yo..you god damn coward" whispered the Dullahan.
"Lets talk" said Atlas.
"I don't talk with magic punks" even though the Dullahan was rooted to the floor he didn't show any respect or fear, with his head tilted and turned away the Dullahan just snorted at Atlas.
The Dullahan was showing his disgust for magic, in his eyes the only way to fight was with weapons and if you didn't fight with a weapon then you weren't fit to face the knights in a fight.
Atlas didn't want to kill the Dullahan, it was clear that not only being intelligent the monster had pride and a ego, Atlas didn't need to kill and he didn't want to.
Atlas could of left the Dullahan encased in earth but what would happened after that. Atlas decided to try and gain the trust of the Dullahan, after all the dungeon was huge with many turns and twists, it would take forever to map the dungeon completely even with his mana mouse wave scouting.
Talking to the Dullahan seemed a waste of time, no matter what Atlas said the Dullahan ignored him. It was also hard to talk to some one face to face that had the ability to turn his head 360 degrees with just a twist of their hand.
"Fine" Atlas pulled off his Alchemy gloves and placed them in his bag, he did the same for his razor fin vest, robe, magus hat and belts. The only thing he was wearing was a silk white shirt, razor fin trousers and razor fin jet boots, even his rings had been unequipped.
"What are you doing" asked the Dullahan.
"Getting ready" answered Atlas as he unbutton his silk shirt.
Under the silk shirt was Atlas specially made spring suit, for months Atlas had worn the spring suit. In the beginning one spring was fixed over the chest, arms, shoulders and back. After months of wearing the spring suit Atlas had gradually increased the springs on the suit and now there was no visible skin and each spring was tightly wound to increase resistance.
The spring suit that Atlas was now unequipping caught the attention of the Dullahan, he was silently impressed. He judged the suit to be incredibly hard to move in judging by how many tightly wound springs there was but Atlas moved like a normal person that had no restrictions.
"His strength must be incredibly high for a mage" thought the Dullahan.
After Atlas put his shirt back on and placed the spring suit in his bag he walked over to the Dullahan.
Picking up the Dullahan's sword Atlas waved it around.
Now the Dullahan was sure that Atlas strength was the real deal, he wasn't sure how high it was but for a mage to swing his great sword with one hand meant it was indeed high.
Atlas could see the Dullahan attention was on him.
"Listen up, i can see you don't respect me because you think I'm weak" Atlas turned around and threw the great sword over to his things.
"But as a mage I'm sure i am weaker in blades and weapons but in unharmed combat..... well lets see" the earth surrounding the Dullahan fell to the ground and the Dullahan was released
This shocked the Dullahan, the upper hand was all in Atlas favour, all he needed to do was strike and he would of killed the Dullahan.
"Come at me, lets see what we both can do" Atlas raised his hand and beckoned the Dullahan to attack.
The Dullahan was only shocked for a moment, he pulled him self together and rushed forwards. Each step the Dullahan took made a thumping sound, raising his fist the Dullahan brought it down like a fallen tree, slow but incredibly powerful.
All this was still in the dark but Atlas was still using his eye technique, on top of his Magical Aura Of The Eye technique that allowed him to see mana in all its forms Atlas placed his second eye technique on top of it.
Perceptual Chronometer intermediate level 8
Slows down the perspective of time allowing for more time to think.
moment speed is 40% faster but the minds speed is 400% faster (max)
Not a passive skill needs to be activated, cost 10 mana a second.
With the Perceptual Chronometer activated all movement appeared to slow down, the speed hadn't slowed down but Atlas mind perception had sped up. This gave him time to think and choose the correct path on what to do next.
As the Dullahan log like arm got slowly closer Atlas dodge to the Dullahan left side. Atlas easily dodged the strike, even he was surprised how fast he was. When wearing the spring suit Atlas strength increased at a steady rate but with strength, Agility also increased in equal measure.
Atlas had dodge with amazing speed but he also on purpose dodged to the Dullahan left, with the Dullahan carrying his head under his right arm Atlas had moved into the Dullahans blind spot.
There was a reason Atlas removed the weapons from the fight, Atlas had lots of real life experience with hand to hand fighting as a brown belt in Aikido but he had only just recently started to train in weapons, on the other hand the Dullahan had a huge amount of experience in weapons but not a lot in hand to hand.
As the Dullahan moved his hips around so it's decapitated head could see Atlas, a sharp pain hit it's eyes, Atlas had slapped the decapitated head squarely in the face.
The strike to the face wasn't to cause damage but instead to take the Dullahan attention away from what he was going to do next, with the sharp pain the Dullahan tried to protect it's face with his left hand.
The Dullahan used both hands to protect his decapitated head while Atlas wrapped both of his arms around the left arm of the Dullahan in a lock, twisting his hips Atlas pull the Dullahan off his feet and slammed him to the ground. With the Dullahan landing on his right side the decapitated head was smothered by the Dullahan own body.
Freeing up his hands by pushing the locked arm of the Dullahan in to his back Atlas now had a free hand, striking at the ribs of the fallen Dullahan Atlas aimed for the floating ribs to cause the most damage and pain, each strike caused the Dullahan to twitch. The Dullahan tried to break free by twisting and turning but Atlas had placed his knees over the body of the Dullahan and stopped his movements.
The Dullahan had a lot of vitality but with each hit he took from Atlas the more strength he lost, when the floating rib finally broke the Dullahan let out a small whimper.
Atlas thought briefly about stopping but reminded him self that this was a game and even the most sever injures could be healed, with this in his mind Atlas unleashed a torrent of blows to the Dullahan body, ribs splintered and flesh was bloodied and bruised. Only after the 20th strike did a muffled scream come from the Dullahan body.
"STOP, I CONCEDE" the decapitated head of the Dullahan was still under his own body but Atlas could understand the muffled shouts.
Atlas released the beaten body of the Dullahan and moved a couple of arm length away to avoid any surprise attacks.
On the floor the Dullahan rolled on his back, with his left hand holding his broken ribs and the right hand still grasping his head the Dullahan moved away slowly from Atlas by kicking the floor and shuffling away, he was lost for words. Never before had he lost so fast with out doing a thing to resist, from the first punch Atlas was in control. What was worse was that Atlas was a magic user, this totally destroyed the Dullahan's ego, before the fight he felt like a proud knight but now he felt worthless.
Atlas equipped his gear, in his mind he felt like a tiger but he knew that showing his delight at beating his enemy would only cause the Dullahan to feel spite and anger towards Atlas, instead Atlas offered a healing potion to the Dullahan. At first the Dullahan didn't want to take it but the stabbing pain of many broken ribs soon change his mind.
Atlas leaned against the dungeon walls while watching the Dullahan drink the potion.
"I don't want to seem like a know it all but your power is cut by at least 30% by your condition and your weakness is obvious" explained Atlas.
The Dullahan couldn't say anything, he had been beaten and now only existed because of his opponents kindness
"By carrying your head with your right hand you've lost the ability to attack with that arm and with your massive body obstructing your view only people attacking from your front or head side can you see them" explained Atlas.
"Don't you think i know that all ready" said the Dullahan "it's a necessity that i must protect my head or lose it"
Atlas was tapping his foot against the dungeon walls to get rid of the dirt clumping on his boots when he looked up.
"Listen...., i need to get to the most deepest part of this dungeon but i don't want to be attacked, so how about i make you something to fix your weakness" asked Atlas.
"You want a guide" asked the Dullahan.
"Not really.... i just don't want to be attacked" said Atlas
Atlas could easily order his mana mouse wave to explore the dungeon but this wouldn't stop the attacks, plus this deep in the dungeon the monsters were level 200+ level while Atlas wasn't even level 100, he was only able to beat the Dullahan though skill, martial arts science and inflated stats, a one on one fight Atlas could win but against anything that didn't have the body of a human he would most likely lose, he wouldn't be able to avoid everyone's attacks without taking a hit. The deeper he went the more levels the monsters had and they grouped together, Atlas had seen this when avoiding the black skeletons.
"What will you make" the Dullahan was intrigued, before this fight he would of dismissed any idea of help from a support character.
"Let me show you" with a wave of his had Atlas created a mould from the earth, with his second wave the mould hardened in to rock, having control over the elements was incredibly useful.
Atlas pulled a couple of steel ingots out of his bag and placed them on top of the mould.
Just when the Dullahan was about to ask what was going on a blazing flame collar appeared around Atlas neck and a cape made from fire flowed out.
The Dullahan was classified as a undead and fire was the enemy of all undead, the Dullahan was shocked and quickly took steps back.
Atlas flame cape had special additions to it, he was able to freely control the movement, shape, size and temperature by instinct. Atlas was also able to pick things up with the cape, the cape changed shape to a giant hand, with a burning hand Atlas cape reached out and picked the ingots up while hovering over the mould.
With Atlas free hands he controlled the element wind to condense into oxygen to feed the flames, with the intense heat the Dullahan took a further step back.
"How can he withstand such heat" thought the Dullahan.
Atlas face was only a metre away from the now flowing melted metal as it cascaded in to the mould, the reason the heat didn't effect him was because he had 97% resistance to fire. Not only that but the flames and heat from his cape didn't hurt him, even if Atlas didn't have any resistance to fire the fire cape wouldn't hurt him. It was like a fire mage throwing a fire ball but not talking any damage from holding the fireball.
The Dullahan watched as Atlas worked, cooling the metal using water element control, shaving pieces of metal off using files and other tools, readjusting things. The Dullahan felt a small amount of shame, he had forgotten how much work goes into making things. He looked over to his great sword, this weapon had been with him for years but not once had he thought what went into the making of such a sword. Could he say such people were weak after being beaten by a crafting mage. Years of pain, mistakes, knowledge and skill went in to training and making things, it definitely wasn't any less than a warrior practising his art for years. Some would even say it was harder to create than to destroy.
Finishing Atlas placed his new creation around the Dullahan severed neck then placed the head on top.
The thing Atlas had created was a metal collar to keep the head in place as it rested on top of the neck, pulling a metal clip the metal collar constricted around the stump connected the head and the stump on the body. It was a tight fit but it needed to be to stop wobbling of the head.
The Dullahan right hand made an empty grasp into thin air, years of looking after his head under his arm made the arm search for his head automatically. Instead he slowly reached up and felt his head and the metal collar.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Atlas couldn't see great details in the dark even with his eye technique but he could hear the grunts of sniffs of the Dullahan as he touched his head in happiness.
"Will you help me now" asked Atlas.
Clearing his throat the Dullahan answered with a simple answer "yes"
The warriors soul in the Dullahan had been tempered and transformed, he was now seeing thing in a more broad light. Many years later he may forget but right now he saw that being a crafter or a mage wasn't weakness but a different kind of strength.
Atlas gave back the great sword to the Dullahan, Atlas picked up his stuff and left with the Dullahan not as enemy or monster but as people who respected each other.
As they walked further in to the dungeon Atlas meet with other Dullahans who wanted the collar that Atlas made and threatened him to make it but Atlas new companion smacked down the disrespecting Dullahans with his new free hand. Any fights the Dullahan got in to he easily won, with both hands free he could attack and defend at the same time.
Not all Dullahans tried to force Atlas to make them a collar, some asked while kneeling to Atlas, Atlas didn't neglect them and freely made one for them too. Most Dullahans were thankful when they had their collar equipped but some had changed their tune as soon as the collar was placed on them.
"HAA HAA WHAT DO I NEED YOU FOR NOW" wailed one Dullahan.
With a wave of Atlas hand the metal collar turned around taking the head with it, Atlas had the ability to control metal with his skill Magnetic Presence. The Dullahan that had shown his true colours now had his head facing his back.
"WAAA... I WAS ONLY JOKING" but it was too late Atlas had encased the Dullahan in earth and was removing the collar.
"NOOO PLEASE" begged the Dullahan but Atlas didn't have any pity for this Dullahan. Atlas also cursed him self, he should off checked the Dullahans soul to make sure he was trust worthy.
"Where was your knights spirit" said Atlas Dullahan as he tutted.
The Dullahan was left in a coffin of earth, with every step away from the Dullahan Atlas heard the apologizing Dullahan as he beg for the collar back but Atlas was having none of it. Atlas didn't ask anything for making the collar but he was mocked and attacked by the person he was helping, no amount of crocodile tears would sway Atlas to giving the collar back to the Dullahan.
Deeper and deeper in the dungeon Atlas passed many different monsters and with the help of the Dullahan he was able to pass without problems, this carried on for 5 levels of the dungeon.
Atlas was about to take some stairs down to the next level when the Dullahan he had helped stopped him.
"This is as far i can take you" said the Dullahan.
"What..why" asked Atlas.
"Pass this point the heat increases past my endurance" explained the Dullahan.
Atlas with his 97% resistance in fire and heat and hadn't noticed how hot it had become, perspiration was dripping off the Dullahan's body and face but in the dark Atlas couldn't see this detail.
To Atlas the heat only felt like a warm spring breeze but to the Dullahan it felt like he had been working all day in a forge, the heat was all consuming and relentless.
Atlas wanted to keep the Dullahan with him so travelling was easier but he realised that even if Atlas gave him a enchanted cold rings to cool the Dullahan off he wouldn't be fire proof and if he gave him a complete set of fire proof rings the Dullahan would only have 50% fire resistance minus 20% for being an undead.
Atlas shook the Dullahan's hand and had started making his way down the stairs when the Dullahan shouted to Atlas.
"WATCH OUT FOR THE LIZARDS, THEY ARE NASTY LITTLE DEVILS" shouted the Dullahan as he waved Atlas off.
Atlas was confident he could deal with the lizards in one way or another.
As Atlas took the final step of the stairs that lead down the temperature raised to a new height, this didn't even faze Atlas in the slightest. The temperature wasn't the only thing that was different, a faint red glow was everywhere lighting up the place.
Atlas wanted to map out the dungeon and his usually way was for the mana mouses to scout ahead but in this heat they would turn in to mana smoke as they had no resistance to anything and their health was in the low two digits, Atlas would have to do this the hard way and search for him self.
Deep down Atlas was searching the area for a deeper part to the dungeon, this deep down the walls ceiling and floor was made from this sharp black and purple glass like mineral.
"Identify"
Obsidian
a naturally occurring volcanic glass, formed when lava cools rapidly, used in jewellery and made in to cutting tools, a blade made from obsidian can be incredibly thin and sharp
Atlas pocketed any lose Obsidian he came across, the gnolls at home could use the mineral. When Atlas passed a corner he was confronted by 6 giant lizards, each one was standing like a man and had a massive curved scimitar.
They all turned towards Atlas, Atlas could now see the details of their eyes, madness. It was a rare madness that humans only get when they had lost every thing, this was the madness of letting the world burn. Saliva dripped from their mouth hitting the ground and turning in to steam, each drop of saliva vaporized as soon as it hit the floor just like butter hitting a hot pan.
In an instant the lizards charged at Atlas. Usually Atlas would take time and see if the creatures he was fighting had intelligence but the lizards were too fast Atlas had to fight for his life.
Slowing his perception of time Atlas made his plans.
Atlas knew he had to keep his distance from these lizards, their speed was too great and judging of the size of their weapons their strength was the same.
Atlas was only level 88 and judging by their movements the lizard men was somewhere in the 250. Triple the difference in level, any normal player would be destroyed with the first attack of just one of the lizards but Atlas wasn't a normal player.
With Atlas vow at not killing without reason his level was very low but this didn't mean his stats were low, he hadn't skipped in that area at all.
There was many stat boosting things that could be done in Royal Road that if a person found them all they would become like a god, able to fight with the most powerful monster despite level.
Atlas had found that his stats increased though making inventions, repetitive movement, discovering things, increasing certain skills to intermediate and a couple of other things.
Blacksmith alone increased strength, weapon damage with hammers and affinity and resistance with the elements.
With Atlas perception giving him time to think he realised that his spell fire trap would cause little to no damage to these fire resistant lizards, the only other attack spell worth using was Atlas clay hand but Atlas needed to slow the creatures down first.
While taking steps back Atlas raised his right arm, his hand was closed and his hollow steeled spikes pointed at the leading lizard, casting a spell gust the wind travelled though his gauntlet, with a soft "poof" a vial flew out of the spikes.
The vial crashed against the leading lizard eyes causing the lizard to grasp his eyes in pain and getting in the way of the others.
Two lizards jumped over the now blind thrashing lizard, with their weapons in hand they attacked, with weapons over their head they slashed downwards. Atlas side stepped one sword strike only to meet with the second. The blade seemed to scream down as the air was ripped.
The blade slammed on to Atlas shoulder tearing his Razor fin skin robe and crushing the metal hidden in the robe.
"Twwaaangg" the spring suit also took damage.
You have taken 5000 damage"
Atlas face paled, such damage was his first thought.
If it carried on like this he would be dead, only one attack had cause massive damage, Atlas reconsidered the lizards level, 250 seemed too low but as Atlas mind wondered the first lizard who had missed his sword strike swang his blade in a horizontal arch towards Atlas face.
Shocked Atlas pressed the back of the blade that was embedded in his shoulder and ducked.
Missing his head by a inch the blade swang over Atlas head in to the on coming stumbling face of the lizard that was attached to the blade that was embedded in Atlas shoulder.
Two forces collided together, the slashing sword against a falling giant lizard, there was only one way this was going to end.
The blade sliced straight though the head of the giant lizard, blood flowed like a fountain from the stump where the head used to be. The body wobbled for a moment then dropped to the floor, the blood that flowed out quickly boiled as it hit the super heated floor.
Looking at what he had done the giant lizard looked on the body of his fallen comrade, this was a mistake.
Atlas rushed forwards pulling the sword out of his shoulder and throwing it at the stunned giant lizard.
With great speed the giant lizard came to his senses and block the flying blade but at the cost of him being wide open and his weapon arm flaying above his head.
Atlas pressed down on two vials on his Alchemy gauntlet, red liquid entered his body instantly healing his wounds, the second vials liquid was a yellow, brown colour that increased stats. This increased Atlas speed and strength, Atlas was sure this wouldn't be enough and so activated The Way Of The Frenzied Wolf.
The Way Of The Frenzied Wolf beginning level 8
Effects last 10 minutes
strength +5
Agility +10
Effects last 1 hour
Wisdom -5
Intelligence -10
Can be stacked up to 4x
1x cost 100 mana
2x cost 300 mana
3x cost 900 mana
4x cost 1800 mana
Atlas attention was spilt between the enemy in front of him and the other four giant lizards that had fallen, only a couple of seconds had passed since the battle had started and the four giant lizards had gained their footing. Atlas would be in a losing battle if they attack at the same time.
With his left hand Atlas reached up and blocked the sword arm of the giant lizard, caught at the beginning of the striking arch the giant lizard had no strength in his arm. Atlas hit the giant lizards stomach with his hollow spiked gauntlets.
The four giant lizards had picked them selfs up and was heading towards Atlas but before they could take two steps a giant earth fist with spikes on it slammed in to them knocking them off their feet, this did little damage but a couple tons of earth crashing in to them caused them to be locked in a stunned and a dizziness status effect.
Atlas continued to strike at the belly of the giant lizard, with each powerful strike the spikes on Atlas gauntlet drove deeper in to the flesh of the giant lizard. In front of Atlas a continuous flurry of earth fist hit the other giant lizards to the floor, each punch Atlas released in to the lizard fresh a new earth fist coped and slammed in to the other four lizards.
Even with spiked gauntlets the damage dealt was minimal, it didn't help that the lizards had a godly regeneration gritting his teeth Atlas closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly.
"Booom" the giant lizard stomach swelled like a pregnant womans belly and exploded, guts and blood hit the floor.
Atlas face and body was covered in blood and small chunks of flesh, he had used his most simple spell against the giant lizard, gust. While Atlas steel hollowed gauntlet spikes had pierced in to the body of the lizard, the regeneration had sealed the spikes in to the flesh. Atlas had used his gust spell to cast a constant supply of wind in to the giant lizards body. With no where else to go the air built up and expanded the body, bypassing the giant lizards natural armour and resistance even the weakest spells could do damage to the extreme.
"Ding"
Level up
"Ding"
Title upgrade Levelling fiend x5
Wobbling up right the giant lizard dropped to his knees dead, the four remaining giant lizards had seen this but instead of fear the same look came back to Atlas, dead eyes that didn't care even if the whole world burned to ashes. Atlas understood that there was no bargaining with them, some people just wanted to see the world burn and it seemed that some creatures were like this too.
Atlas was thinking about retreating, he wanted to take care of the dead body's but with four mad giant lizards on him there was no time, as he turn to make his quick escape four new giant lizard men appeared.
Atlas understood there was no place to run, whipping the gore from his clothes Atlas straightened him self readying him self, in Atlas mind he was thinking fast but he had little options.
Atlas had two attacking spells, one was fire trap and it was useless against these fire resistance monsters and the other was clay hand.
Atlas chances were slim but as long as there was life in his body he would carry on fighting to the last, brushing the last bits of flesh from his clothes Atlas hand gently brushed passed his metal flower that was attached to his robe.
Shocked Atlas had totally forgotten about this tool, he had made it so long ago but never used it before, all his pass adventures were solved with out it, now Atlas only saw it as part of his equipment that he wore every day.
Florem Lucis.
End Of Chapter Thirty Nine
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I've been working on my grammar and i think its better but you never know, I've also been doing some passed chapters grammar checks and rewriting my cheat sheets.
Don't worry i have one more chapter in my back logs to grammar check and spell check so there should be a new chapter in a weeks time
enjoy
P.S I've been thinking about putting a star beside interesting facts I've researched for the story so i can share some knowledge of where i get some of my ideas. Tell me what you think