With the support of his aero-elementalis Dream ran, ran and ran as the ground shook behind him. From behind something was slithering, getting close, closer and closer.
With a quick glance behind him, Dream saw two golden, glowing, jewel-like eyes shining through the veil of the gray, ambient fog. The fog dispersed as the owner of the yellow eyes closed in, causing the numerous dead trees to collapse under its imposing size.
"Tsk. Can't catch a damn breath with you," he barked, turning around and summoning his skill..
Skill: [ Aspect ]
Aquamorphism
[Morphogenesis]
72
Reaching out to the ground, he transformed the surface in front of him into a pool of mud. As it closed in, the snake-like creature sank into the mud quite easily, thanks to its behemoth-like size. Seeing that the creature was trapped in his mud, Dream further increased the mud's size, causing it to entirely swallow the creature whole.
As effective as his skill seemed, Dream had the feeling that the creature wouldn't simply drown to death. Therefore, he proceeded to call forth his other skill.
Skill: [ Aspect ]
Cryomorphism
[Morphogenesis]
140
Extending his power over the muddy expanse, the mud began to undergo a transformation, as a chill settled in the air around him. Slowly, the mud gave way to a crystalline solidity, its surface freezing over with a delicate layer of ice.
The alteration was accompanied by a symphony of unique and captivating sounds. At first, there was a subtle, faint clicking noise as the mud relinquished its moisture to the freezing process. Then, as the ice crystals expanded and grew, a gentle chorus of soft tinkling sounds emerged, reminiscent of wind chimes swaying in a gentle breeze.
The transformation reached its crescendo with a resounding yet melodic crack. It was the sound of the last vestiges of the mud fully giving in to the icy embrace, creating a thick layer of frozen ground that now extended where the mud had once prevailed.
As he stood there, his breath forming frosty clouds in the chilly air, a fleeting smile touched his lips.
One of the advantages of aspect-type skills and arcane abilities overall was that they allowed him to manipulate elements that wouldn't have been accessible to him under normal circumstances. This skill for instance, in many ways similar to cryo-elementalis, granted him the power to alter the existing form of his surroundings, just like a cryo-elementalis would.
Although what he wielded wasn't and will never be cryo-elementalis, its ability to alter the world was satisfactory enough for Dream, at least up to a certain extent. That which laid beyond that “extent,” was where the line between cryo-elementalis and his Cryomorphism was clearly drawn.
While cryo-elementalis, like all other forms of elementalis with their respective elements, enabled him to conjure ice seemingly from nothing and wield it as his own power, Cryomorphism granted its wielder the ability to alter "things," transitioning them from an initial state to a frozen one, which made it, by nature a very flawed power. Just as Aquamorphism, its liquid-altering counterpart, was unable to liquefy living beings or, of course, creatures—similarly, cryomorphism exclusively functioned on inanimate objects. So, well aware of this fact, when he succeeded in encasing the serpent within a layer of ice with his cryomorphism, all Dream could manage was a "fleeting" smile, and nothing more. What happened next gave him reason for doing so.
A colossal pillar of lightning surged from the ground upward, accompanied by a deafening crack that echoed through the air. The sheer force of the bolt shattered the ice encasing the snake-like creatures, sending shards in every direction.
Cryomorphism was certainly impressive, no doubt, but due to its operational nature—much like Aquamorphism—it found its greatest utility in terms of hindering enemies, for an instance lasting no longer than five seconds, entrapping foes. However, it paled in comparison to his elemental manipulation abilities, lacking the same level of potency.
Name
H.P
A.P
W.P
P.P
Threat
Aspect
Lesser Aspect
Nagadread Lvl.3
55▼/57
329▼ / 524
0.5
643▼ / 1576
Behemoth
Elemental Resonance
Electrokinetic Resonance
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Electrokinetic Dissonance
“Barely a scratch, huh? Well, I’d already figured it would be like this,” Dream mumbled, raising his hand, preparing himself to launch a mantra.
Knowing that his electro-elementalis would be ineffective against the Nagadread, Dream realized he'd have to depend on his aero-elementalis abilities to take it down.
Feeling that he didn’t have in his hands the appropriate aero-elementalis mantra against the Nagadread, Dream resorted to improvisation, harnessing his electro-elemental energy to craft an attack resembling [Wind Blade], albeit a significantly more intricate and larger rendition.
Dream hurled the formidable wind blade attack toward the Nagadread. The swirling gust of charged air manifested as a sharp, cutting force, hurtling with incredible speed.
In an astonishing display of reflexes, the serpent's instincts kicked in just in time. As the wind blade whizzed through the air, aimed straight for its throat, the snake's sleek body contorted and twisted with uncanny agility.
”You’re kidding me, right?”
The lethal gust of wind narrowly missed its intended target, the snake's head dipping low as the wind blade sliced through the air mere inches from where its throat had been a moment earlier.
The wind blade, now slightly diverted from its original trajectory, continued on its path, leaving a trail of residual energy as it flew into the faraway distance.
“Come on!? That was more than 150 P.P gone, reduced to atoms.”
The Nagadread, having evaded the attack by a hair's breadth, remained poised and ready, its eyes gleaming with a newfound alertness toward Dream.
Mantra Created
Name
Type
Rank
Tier
Hurricane Slash
Aero
Novice
[1]
[ Aero ]
Novice
Hurricane Slash Lvl.1
142
Without permitting himself to dwell on the lost power points, Dream swiftly registered his aero-elemental stunt as a mantra and unleashed it toward the beast. This time, he tried being more careful, refraining from channeling excessive energy into the mantra, mindful that the Nagadread might once more manage to evade it.
As Dream's wind blade attack streaked toward the Nagadread, the serpent reacted swiftly. It coiled its massive body, raising itself upright to create a formidable barrier. The outer part of its iridescent scales now faced Dream, lightning dancing all across its body, shimmering like an impenetrable shield.
His wind blade struck the scales with full force, but it was as if they were forged from the toughest material imaginable. The scales seemed to absorb the energy of the attack, barely flinching as the wind blade made contact. It left little more than superficial scratches, hardly making a dent in the creature's H.P.
Strong scales, powerful elemental abilities, and a poor compatibility with my skills, all work both in his favor and against mine. This battle isn't merely unfair to me; it's entirely one-sided.
Dream wanted to complain out loud, but something strange happened before he could. The Nagadread tightly coiled its body, wrapping around its own core.
“Huh?”
Dream was initially confused by what the Nagadread did, but the moment he saw its A.P and P.P profusely decreasing, as lightning began zapping all across its body, he understood. Surely the creature was about to unleash yet another of its electro-elementalis stunts, and sure it did.
Lightning began to dance across the serpent's body, a mesmerizing display of crackling energy that illuminated its scales.
“No good,” Dream mumbled, summoning out a large amount of Odo.
Then, in a sudden burst, the electrical energy surged outward from the Nagadread. Bolts of lightning, bright and fierce, expanded rapidly, engulfing the surrounding area in a blinding radiance.
The once dim battlefield was now transformed into a dazzling realm of electric brilliance. Dead gray trees and rocks shuddered as the energy coursed through them, casting eerie shadows against the vibrant glow.
For over a dozen seconds, the air crackled with electricity, generating an almost palpable tension. Only then did the Nagadread gradually unwind itself from its position. Almost simultaneously, Dream emerged from his Odo Cocoon, which had spared him from the fate of being electrocuted to death.
Dream's eyes locked onto those of the creature, his gaze infused with a distinct blend of cunning and hatred—an amalgamation he had never before encountered in any other monster. “It must be frustrating, isn't it? You're probably wondering how I managed to survive that. Am I right?”
Name
H.P
A.P
W.P
P.P
Threat
Aspect
Lesser Aspect
Nagadread Lvl.3
42▼/57
249▼ / 524
0.5
352▼ / 1576
Behemoth
Elemental Resonance
Electrokinetic Resonance
Electrokinetic Dissonance
“But just so you’d know I ain’t dying so easily.”
A quick look at its stats revealed to Dream that not only did the creature's own attack consume a significant portion of its overall A.P and P.P, but it also considerably reduced its HP.
Name
H.P
P.P
O.P
O.M.P
A.P
Level
Dream
79▼/108
452▼/1652
218▼/438▲
41.7▲
203▼/439
16
As Dream pondered the situation, a question echoed in his mind: could he actually pull this off? He kept his focus on the Nagadread, which, instead of launching another attack for the moment, locked its gaze onto Dream. It hissed and screeched, as if about to unleash a venom it clearly lacked. Undoubtedly, it was an attempt to intimidate him. However, this attempt yielded poor results for the Nagadread. Rather than feeling fear, Dream's mind was engaged in prospecting, seeing a glimmer of hope in the prospect of victory.
The creature, all its stats considered, still remained, for his current level, a formidable opponent, but the toll it had taken on its own resources was evident. A determined glint appeared in Dream's eyes. Perhaps, just perhaps, this battle wasn't merely manageable—it might even be winnable. A flicker of hope ignited within him, propelling him forward with renewed energy.
Without a speck of hesitation, Dream spun around and, with the snake in hot pursuit, pulled out the oldest trick against a strong opponent in the book—running away.