–
Ianna and her party were all gathered together within the boundaries of the gazebo, the garden around them overflowing with the strange glowing butterflies. She narrowed her eyes, focusing on the first one that drew close even as she raised a finger to point at it. She quickly identified it.
[Shard-Sipper Butterfly] - Hostile - Level 7
HP: 100% MP: 100% SP: 100%
The instant it was identified a bead of white light formed on her fingertip before lancing out as a narrow ray of pale-white light. It struck the butterfly sending it toppling back but not killing it instantaneously. She smiled despite the result. She had restrained her level with Paraklytus’ help forcing it down so that she could take this journey at all. That might have been a problematic situation for most people but to her she saw it as an opportunity to throw off the rust. Fighting wightlings was one thing, but they were something she was experienced with and she had been holding back to allow Mack and Delilah a chance to hone themselves a little and get used to their new powers.
A true dungeon was not the place for that. It was time to cut loose and get back in shape. She held up a hand as Azrael drew her knives and gestured to the opposite side of the gazebo, “Go. I’ll handle this side, Miranda you’re at the center. Mack and Delilah protect Miranda,” she commanded as Nephral wrapped around her legs, his presence increasing her mana regeneration.
She watched as the afflictions that came with [Pale Ray] took hold on the butterfly.
Pale Ray
[Pale Dawn]
Potent
Moderate Mana
Release a ray of cold and necrotic damage at long range, dealing significant damage on hit and inflicting [Chilling Weakness] on the target. This ability has a 30-second cooldown.
* Affliction: Chilling Weakness (Curse)
The infected target's physical strength and willpower drops by 1 every 1 second for 10 seconds.
Chillblains
[Pale Dawn]
Potent
Affliction
Your [Pale Dawn] abilities now have a chance to trigger the affliction [Chillblains]
* Affliction: Chillblains (Disease)
The infected targets takes a small amount of damage each second for each instance of Chillblains. This disease must be cured.
Of course, imposing afflictions had benefits of its own.
Hungering Cold [Pale Dawn]
Potent
Passive Recovery
For every instance of [Chilling Weakness] active, gain a small amount of HP regeneration. This ability’s power is based on your Willpower.
Frost began to form along the joints of the butterflys wings and legs, its antennae turning almost completely white. It remained aloft, its body beginning to glow as she checked to see her progress in killing it. It was a good way to gauge her output.
[Shard-Sipper Butterfly] - Hostile - Level 7
HP: 63% MP: 84% SP: 91%
She narrowed her eyes when she spotted that it had consumed mana and quickly made an upward gesture, casting [Create Wall].
Create Wall
Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
[Labyrinthian]
Potent
Crowd Control (Summoning) | MP Cost Varies
You create a wall out of available materials in a designated area within your range. The wall is considered a non-magical, inanimate object. The wall’s health, cost, and defensive power are based on the materials you use and your Influence. The wall persists until destroyed.
The ground between the gazebo and the approaching butterfly shuddered before jutting up in a single block of stone that quaked when a thick bolt of magically formed stone crashed into it. She glanced towards the other butterflies, lazily approaching as if unconcerned about their supposed prey. The only one close enough to cause any damage was the one before her and it was far from done with her. With a single flap of its wings it threw itself higher into the air, circumventing the wall she had created. Its body glowed again but this time it purged the effects of her afflictions, the frost scattering from its body like snowflakes.
Is it adapting or does it simply have a versatile kit of abilities? She thought as a pair of [Pale Bolt]s formed over her palms, the white balls of light swirling for a moment before she hurled them in its direction. It dodged the first before colliding with the second a fresh wave of afflictions washing over it that it quickly began to try to disperse. She didn’t let it act this time. Another [Pale Ray] collided with it and its wing was shorn off, the creature’s body falling to the ground as she lowered the wall she’d created. It twitched once before falling still.
That death spelled the end of the other butterflies lackadaisical approach. In an instant they were moving faster than before, their body’s glowing with voluminous light. She took a step back and held out both hands, trusting her allies to act as she moved from the experimental phase to the true fight. Moonlight shot down from the sky in rapid bursts, crashing into the encroaching butterflies and sending them scattering as the whisper of knives flying through the air and finding their fleshy targets caught against Ianna’s sharpened senses. She focused on her spell, her lips in a line as she brought to bear a power that had served her well since the day she’d arrived in this world.
Create Mockery [Facsimile]
Capable
Active Summoning | 8MP
Create a tiny amorphous creature capable of shapeshifting into various tiny objects. This creature is carnivorous and produces acid from its fangs dealing minor damage per bite. Mockeries created with this spell have a small amount of HP. Once created, the creature exists until destroyed. The creature is loyal to you upon summoning but may change loyalties based on treatment or necessity. This ability’s power is based on your Influence.
Your Mockery’s are capable of limited flight and will form swarms in large numbers. (From Improved Mockery)
Multisummon [Monsters]
Tier 2
Passive
No Rank
At an additional cost of either mana or health based on the initial mana cost of the creature you are able to summon multiple creatures at the same time.
A low buzzing hum filled the air as a magic circle formed on the ground at her feet and from it poured piles and piles of gold coins. She closed her eyes and reveled in the feeling of the new little lives awakening and resonating with her, their minds touching her with a sudden awareness. She threw her arms up and out urging them forward and they obeyed. As one the little coins split open to reveal insect like wings that flapped faster than a human eye could perceive, they darted into the air as a singular host, a swarm that spread out like a cloud of glittering golden dust if viewed from afar.
Mockeries collided with butterflies in the air. The much larger butterflies suddenly weighed down as the infant mimics attached themselves to any surface they could adhere to. Their tiny mouths opened like miniscule lovecraftian horrors as they bit down their mother’s enemies. The result was pandemonium. Butterflies flashed and glowed, some healing themselves while others released flares of magic that were contrary to the first. There were gouts of flame and shards of ice, bolts of electricity arced from one butterfly in order to knock the mockeries off another. She sprayed the area down with [Pale Bolt]s focusing on the butterflies that turned to help their comrades.
A small group of Butterflies pushed their way through the swarm, utilizing abilities that allowed them to protect themselves from their attacker’s tiny teeth. Ianna threw her head back before stepping forward and releasing a terrible scream.
Cry of the Siren
[Labyrinthian]
Pathetic
Ranged Debuff/Attack
You release a sonic scream that buffets enemies for moderate damage. Enemies caught in the cone of effect have a chance of being deafened and disoriented. This ability has a 1-minute cooldown.
The butterflies plummeted to the ground, their wings twitching under the disorientation only to fall still as the mockeries jumped on the advantage their mother provided. Ianna flicked her gaze from the fallen creatures to the oncoming swarm. Behind her, Miranda finished casting another ability and a wave of cold washed out from the center of the gazebo. A solid wall that brushed past Ianna, leaving her unaffected before colliding with their attackers. Dozens fell, frozen solid, before shattering on the ground like glass. The remaining butterflies took that as their cue to make a final attempt on their prey. They pushed through the swarm of mockeries once again, more falling beneath the acidic teeth of their tiny attackers even as the rest moved in to throw themselves against the meat grinder.
Ianna welcomed them with glowing eyes that flashed with the pale light of death magic.
Primary Gaze
[Labyrinthian]
Potent
Active Attack| High initial MP
Minor Sustained MP
Select a magic element type, your eyes project a ray of that type of energy. This has a chance of causing an affliction based on the element type chosen. This attack deals high damage per second while sustained.
Ianna swept her gaze over the remaining butterflies and they were undone.