Two days later, they’re cantering out of the capital and Lexi is wishing she’d exercised more in her own world.
As expected, Eric had made her train harder than she’s ever had, since shapeshifters are tricky creatures. By birth, these monsters are already Tier 3 - a mid-rank species sitting somewhere between the inherent abilities of unique and rare ranked players. They only grow stronger from there since they’re capable of morphing instantly into anything they’ve consumed and wielding their victims’ abilities, though fortunately the system prevents the monsters from acquiring players’ skills or immortality.
Those things are bad enough as they are without getting system-given powers.
Elise and Jordan had worried a lot, not only because of how inherently dangerous shapeshifters are as a mid-ranked monster species, but because Lexi’s Sight skill is still only a low ranking ability that can’t compare to the senior sage’s. It doesn’t help that it hasn’t upgraded despite her reaching level 12.
If I had Elise’s kind of Sight, I’d be able to tell instantly what abilities those shapeshifters have. It used to upgrade whenever my level was a multiple of three, but why hasn’t it improved despite me being level 12? Maybe when I’m at 15? I guess the system could be scaling the rate of change.
They have six days’ ride before reaching the approximate area where the shapeshifters were last sighted, and something tells Lexi that Eric will take every opportunity to make her practice.
We know they’ve devoured Imperial Knights already, which means they have aura skills and Flash. But we don’t know which monsters they’ve consumed and therefore what additional abilities they have - it could be anything from spitting flames to summoning lightning to morphing into bodies that are immune to physical attacks. Akara is strong enough to break through any such defenses, but the same can’t be said of Eric’s and Ray’s weapons - even if they’re powerful magic swords imbued with aura and wielded by famous knights, there’s the level of their opponents to consider.
...Why the hell did I have to go and choose this quest?
She knows why, of course.
Eric and Ray are the best Terran knights in the empire, and they’re stuck babysitting her. It’s only fair that Lexi accepts difficult missions for them to get something out of the deal.
Her bodyguards have been practically glowing with glee ever since she’d filed the acceptance documentation.
I’m happy for you both but for the love of God just leave me out of all the actual fighting.
She’s perfectly content being a couch potato, since the alternative is unending torture with minimal aesthetic impact.
Since round is a shape, I’m already IN shape, you sadistic idiot.
Barely three hours out of the capital, and Eric is pointing her towards a group of level 8 orcs.
I might have reached Level 12 already thanks to my growth hacks, but there’s six of them and only one of me, dammit.
Apart from gaining EXP by cramming for the ball and Parliament, Lexi had been thrilled to realize practicing with Flow and Bend had also led to EXP gains.
Status menu.
Lexi Level 12 Full Bio [https://i.imgur.com/fFwOLP7.png]
Foresight: Grants user ability to see the future. Length and duration at current level: up to 30 minutes in the future for 35 seconds. MP required: 48 Level 10 bonus: one MP-free use of skill [https://i.imgur.com/AzKssjh.png]
Hindsight: Grants user ability to see the past. Length and duration at current level: up to 30 minutes in the past for 30 seconds, can only be activated upon touching the specific object or person whose past the user wishes to see. MP required: 47 Level 10 bonus: one MP-free use of skill [https://i.imgur.com/690DxQp.png]
Flow: Allows user to see effect of flow of time on object, person, or surroundings with different variables by level. Current level allows user to see up to 6 variables’ impact on four items or persons, up to 1.5 days in future MP required: 33 Note: types of variables that may be used differ according to Intelligence points [https://i.imgur.com/0f34yZ9.png]
Bend: Allows user to force FLOW on an object or objects depending on level. Current level allows force FLOW on two objects. MP required: 50 Note: probability of success is dependent on combination of Intelligence, Charisma, Luck, and M-ATK points [https://i.imgur.com/SblmPEv.png]
Guide: Indicates items and people of important to player’s journey. Level 10 unlock: Guide leads user towards items and people of importance from up to 200 feet away. Level up to unlock additional abilities [https://i.imgur.com/l3aDshI.png]
Sight: Allows user to see information about others. User can view levels of people and items - both those that have been shared and those that have not been shared. Level up to unlock additional abilities. [https://i.imgur.com/gTSKqiq.png]
Clarity: Allows user to see past illusions in accordance with user’s level. Current level: 12 Illusions that are level 12 and below do not work on user. [https://i.imgur.com/2OCncE9.png]
Intuition: Allows user to see warning signs over people, objects, monsters, and locations. Synchronizes with Guide. Current level: user can see simple warning sign in color starting from yellow (some danger) up to red (danger imminent). No warning sign will be displayed if no threat is detected. User can see one target of threat. Note: danger may not be directed at user [https://i.imgur.com/6eNvQda.png]
Disable screen.
Ugh. Those orcs stink.
She can smell them even from a distance, hurriedly putting the Mask of Mist on to provide some protection against the stench.
Let’s try to keep a distance. I can throw Akara, and also use Flow and Bend.
The orcs have spotted her, red lights appearing over their heads with one line coming towards her.
Duh.
Dismounting Violet and sending the mare away, Lexi quickly draws Akara and calls on Flow.
It’s a little windy, and it looks like it might rain later. The grass seems dry, and Ray said orcs have some resistance to physical attacks but not magical or elemental attacks.
Flow: if I force lightning, would it be enough to set the dry grass on fire?
...Hmmm, looks like I might need to help the fire along. Let’s bring the storm, then.
Activate Bend: advance storm to force lightning on grass, then force fire to blaze and spread.
Calculating probability of success for Bend [https://i.imgur.com/KTnJDI6.png]
Could you be any slower?!
Bend success rate: 100% [https://i.imgur.com/xNLSb7e.png]
Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
The sky above her target attack zone darkens instantly after the notification, and Lexi’s hair starts to rise, but she pushes the uncomfortable feeling away in order to focus.
As soon as lightning strikes the ground, Bend’s second object application kicks in and starts a fire which grows rapidly within the target area thanks to forcing Flow on the wind and surrounding grass.
“Rarrrrgh!”
Mask of Mist protects Lexi from the effects of the fumes - now doubtless carrying the additional stench of burning orc flesh - as she dashes forward, readying the legendary dagger.
Your turn to play, Akara.
Flinging the blade at the largest howling orc, Lexi whoops when it enters the gaping mouth and pierces cleanly through upwards at an angle, killing the monster instantly.
“Yes!!! Come, Akara!”
The sentient weapon begins to whizz through the air, the orcs’ physical resistance being no match for a blade that can cut through anything, even if they aren’t weakened by fire right now.
That was just to contain and distract you all while I play dead-pool.
She’s fortunate she’d boosted speed and agility to this extent, since Akara is extremely fast and the orcs are large in size, which means Lexi has to sprint like crazy through the suicide drills if she wants to kill the monsters before they can reach her in their burning fury.
“Nice! Good girl, Akara!” Her stats and Eric’s gruelling training are to thank for Lexi not panting too much by the time the last orc is felled and left to the flames.
> PING!
Let’s see what this homicidal little sweetheart has to say.
AKARA LIKES TO BURN. AFFINITY: 2 + 1 = 3 System: Akara enjoyed killing the burning orcs while flying through flames. Your affinity with Akara has grown. Make Akara happier to unlock more abilities. [https://i.imgur.com/zRPWhiI.png]
I LOVE you, Akara!
“Wonderfully done, my lady.” Ray congratulates her as soon as she reaches them once she’s mounted Violet, and Lexi smiles happily.
“You cut it close when you took too long to figure out Flow and use Bend. They might only be Tier One but you’re still weak - what were you going to do once they reached you? Scream?” Rolling her eyes at the redhead, she glances at the blaze she’d started - it’s dying out now since the wind is no longer strong enough to spread it to more dry grass, and the orcs hadn’t been wearing enough clothes to cause a wick effect.
Well, at least I’m not going to cause a bushfire.
----------------------------------------
Foresight - which she’d used less than 10 minutes before they’d been ambushed, Intuition only providing a few seconds of warning - had told her the shapeshifters range from levels 35 to 63, and even though Lexi’s reached level 13 by the time they get to the quest objective the trio aren’t prepared for everything that comes their way, despite her escorts’ high levels.
We’re gonna die.
It’s an intense battle, because the monsters have devoured many powerful Terrans, and Lexi can’t use her skills or items in the melee as she keeps having to dodge or defend herself.
A time attribute player who needs time.
“Watch out!”
THAT HURTS!!!
She’s slammed into the ground hard from the force of the blow, positive everything’s broken when the mere act of breathing causes spikes of pain in her torso, and willing away the unwanted tears that come to her eyes.
“My lady!” Ray reaches her in time to block the next swing of a rock fist, and Lexi forces herself to her feet, dimly aware of the ringing in her ears and...
My bracelet and gauntlets.
The protection bracelet Jordan had given her, as well as the Gauntlets of Stone purchased from Brienne, are on the ground in pieces.
Oh no, my P-DEF!
While they’d fulfilled their functions perfectly, now Lexi is left without the additional 15 point boost to her defense parameter.
I’m screwed.
“MOVE!”
Luck kicks in and allows Lexi to dodge a flaming, bladed whip in time, and Agility narrowly prevents her from tripping over her own feet as she struggles to move despite the pain.
This feels like the time I got hairline fractures on my ribs from that asshole self-defense instructor.
Breathing is painful, but she doesn’t have a choice now if she wants to live.
We were arrogant.
Eric’s and Ray’s high levels had made Lexi overconfident, her reliance on Intuition and Guide had made her lax.
I should have used Foresight earlier.
Barely six minutes into the fight, and Lexi can already tell the three of them are being overwhelmed by the eighteen monsters that operate as a seamless unit, morphing into Imperial Knights, magi, and all manner of terrifying beasts to suit the flow of battle.
If Eric and Ray had been alone, they wouldn’t be struggling like this.
The redhead is doing his best to engage as many shapeshifters as he can, while the large vice-commander attempts to shield Lexi, but there are too many monsters and Lexi is still too slow and inexperienced.
I’m deadweight.
She’d been improving bit by bit, thanks to Eric’s grueling training and the monster fights he’d forced on her. But it’s no where near enough, and once again Lexi curses her lack of offensive system-skills.
Hang on.
While she does her best to stay near enough to Ray, Lexi’s noticed that the shapeshifters’ concerted attacks have a distinct pattern.
They’re trying to isolate me.
Eric had taught her that while she’d been catching her breath during one of their lessons - a hunting technique used when facing a pack of animals: separate the weakest one from the group.
I should have trained more.
It’s taking everything she has to dodge and duck, all of her Agility and Luck to avoid tripping as the shapeshifters try to sweep her with sharp tentacles, as she narrowly avoids a poisoned dagger flung at her thanks to Intuition.
These lights are everywhere and so distracting. Why couldn’t I get a skill that actually lets me engage directly?
Stop it, now’s not the time. Don’t think about all that other stuff. Focus on the fight. Without the bracelet and gauntlets, I’m much more defenseless physically. With how fast paced the attacks are, I can’t take time out to use any skills, so all I can do is rely on my own speed and agility to not get hurt.
Mask of Mist protects her from a cloud of purple poison, but she makes the amateur mistake of closing her eyes instinctively, opening them just in time to see a terrifying face full of fangs right in front of her.
“Lexi!”
“Ahhhh!!”
She’d raised her right arm in time to shield her face, which gives the creature the opportunity to take a good bite.
Go to HELL.
Fortunately, she’s always had a temper, and anger kicks in to overshadow terror and pain.
Stabbing at a slit that looks like an eye, she pushes Akara in deep and slashes outwards, stumbling back when the creature shrieks and releases her forearm from its jaw.
My armor.
The defensive gear that the Dawn Duke had given to her is in bad shape.
It boosts my HP and P-DEF. Without even this...
Intuition distracts her, as a red line suddenly forms, ending at Eric.
No.
He’s already fighting against eight shapeshifters in the form of Imperial Knights and powerful magi - dodging attacks nimbly, dancing away from flames and lightning strikes with ease while counter attacking. But though his magic sword is coated with aura, and his speed and skill are enough to allow him to do considerable damage, the commander has his hands full and can’t see the Level 60 monster using Flash to attack his blind spot.
NO.
She doesn’t know how she makes it in time, isn’t even aware she makes it in time until pain floods her world, muffling everything except the agony emanating from her chest and hands.
Gloves of web.
When she becomes aware enough to look down, she realizes she’s dropped Akara and that the gloves from Brienne - which enhance her weak grip - are all that’s keeping the aura blade from fully impaling Lexi like she’s nothing but meat on a skewer.
I can’t hold it much longer...
“Lexi!”
Eric lops the head off the imposter stabbing her, aura forming terrifying spikes on his sword even as the redhead hurriedly pulls a healing tonic out of his pouch.
“Ray!”
The giant knight doesn’t need to be told twice, quickly rushing in to buy Lexi enough time to drink the potion and call Akara to her hand as the concoction takes effect.
As soon as the wound has closed enough, Ray suddenly pushes Lexi out of the way, and she cries out when the edges of the fireball burn her forearm and hand, despite Flammanon kicking in to minimize the damage.
I can’t throw Akara in this melee since on the way back she could end up hurting Eric and Ray. I can’t use my skills because they leave me defenseless while in use. I’m losing my defensive gear bit by bit...what can I do to stay alive?
Their opponents are too quick and have much longer reach than her, which makes it almost impossible to attack with Akara unless they close in and grab her. Meanwhile, her gloves are falling apart thanks to the aura coated sword she’d barely prevented from piercing any vital organs while shielding Eric.
Mask of mist is only good for protecting against poison. Boots of gliding are allowing me to move slightly faster, but even with them on and my Speed stats I...
“Look out!” Agility isn’t high enough a stat to let her dodge fully, not against the shapeshifter in the form of an Imperial Knight using Flash.
Luck allows Lexi to turn her face just in time, the aura blade destroying her mask and slicing only her left cheek instead of taking half her head off.
THAT HURTS!
Eric quickly engages her opponent as Lexi fumbles with her pack to retrieve a healing potion, before Intuition makes her turn around in time to see another shapeshifter rushing towards her, poison-tipped tentacles beginning to sprout as it morphs from an Imperial Knight into a terrifying monster.
“Aghhh!”
She’d tried to dart out of reach, dashing to the side, but the searing pain when a tentacle grabs her and slams her down on the ground - the potion bottle shattering and piercing her palm on impact - indicate her boots are being destroyed.
No!
As soon as she turns slightly, she sees the creature has changed back into an Imperial Knight named Jake Nathairas, and is swinging its aura blade at her.
“LEXI!”
Why does it seem like the world has slowed down?
She can see the blade, aimed at her neck, slicing through the air. The triumphant smirk on a pleasant face as Nathairas relishes in its soon-to-be victory over a sage.
I wish we knew all the powers they have.
Many times when Eric and Ray had gotten close to killing a shapeshifter, it’d morphed into some unexpected creature and her escorts ended up having to dodge or defend. It doesn’t help that the monsters are well-coordinated, rushing in to help their companions as Lexi’s party members counter attack.
Even if we don’t know all their abilities, if we at least knew even a bit of their plans then maybe...
Raging steel nicks her.
Hindsight activated. Looking 30 minutes into the past. Viewing time: 35 seconds [https://i.imgur.com/zs4iZkx.png]
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CHAPTER 24 END