As we stare at the approaching Blight one of the shamblers pounces towards us before a flaming axe bites into its neck and it falls to the side struggling to stand back up. As the plant beast struggles a small stream of smoke begins to form at the edge of the axe embedded in its neck before sparks begin to fly and ignite the creature.
"Interesting trick, I can't seem to contact that parasite any longer but no matter I have a full jungle to command against you insects so feel free to struggle." The blight says as it smiles grimly and I can make out rotted wood in place of teeth. I make a move to start approaching the creature but Tugta grabs my shoulder and puts me back while motioning towards the still struggling creature.
"This is why I said I would only have a few shots, my magic allows me to summon elemental spirits but to do so I have to give them a vessel to inhabit as well as turn to their needs. I can maybe make one more before I'm out of juice and that blight thing is way to strong so if the other beast gets put down you'll have another disposable meat shield." Tugta explains while a sheen of sweat is seen dripping from her forehead before she backs off and takes a knee.
As I process what she told me I glance towards the struggling creature and can't help but be shocked at the changes the creature has gone through. Most of the vines that make up the creature have changed from a rotten green and brown color to a deep red with hints of orange, the plants still look like vegetation but small wisps of flame peak out every few seconds as small parts of its body still convert to its new form. On inspection I can see the entire species has actually changed and that the creature itself is no longer of an intelligent species.
(Flame Inhabited Shambler Level 17 Elemental)
A powerful shambler that's been forcefully possessed by a greater elemental of the plane of fire. Although its body is now more durable it is no longer of sound mind and will only follow orders of the one who summoned it. Unthinking creatures most elementals rely on pure emotion to cause havoc until their mana fueled bodies run out or are banished back to their realms. Fire elementals run off of pure hatred, fury, anger, or passion.
After reading the description I watch as the creature roars in fury before turning towards its brother shambler and pouncing on the creature, smoke and the burning scent of grass fills the air as its flytrap mouth latches onto the standing shamblers front legs and begins tearing it apart.
"Gnat pay attention, I want to savor your defeats before turning you over to the Lord Master of the Swamps" The blight says at it throws a body towards me before stepping back and smiling maliciously as I look down and my eyes widen in horror. The broken body of Wake lays at my feet as his eyes barely shine with life, a gurgling wheeze escapes his throat as he struggles to speak.
"He's...fast....pulled.....under...vines.....ground...unsafe....." the merling gurgles as blue blood starts to escape his lips before his eyes close and he falls into unconsciousness. Before I even realize what's happening a new prompt appears before me followed by a surprising vision.
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{New skill learned! Witnessing the near death of an ally has unlocked a class skill Congratulations! Noble Preservation acquired! Noble Preservation-This skill allows nearby allies who are near death or fallen to gift a skill to the Soul Reader. If accepted that beings soul is also given to the reader and upon strengthening of its mental abilities the Soul Reader can contact and use the souls knowledge as well as train skills against the soul. Warning at current Class level You may only Preserve 3 souls. Attempting to take more will result in possible loss of ownership of Soul Readers body to Preserved souls!}
After reading it ice travels through my veins as I realize that getting this means that Wake is probably so close to death that even this world doesn't give him good chances to survive. Slowly I can feel a cold fire light inside of me as I look towards the blight that's laughing mockingly at me now, its rotted teeth on full display as some of the empty thorn cages in the clearing begin moving and form the spiked form of spiderlike creatures charging towards us.
"Tugta do your best to hold them off until slab gets here, once you guys team up I want no survivors. I don't care if you have to burn this entire clearing to the ground. That fuck is all mine." I say calmly as I pull the cane from my back and activate its ability adding more strength to myself.
"Activate Noble Preservation." I whisper under my breathe as a new prompt appears in front of me and I accept it quickly before grabbing Wake's Trident that's broken in half, the top half still long enough to be wielded like a three pronged dagger by me.
{Noble Preservation activated! Wake Fogmoore Level 13 Merling Gladiator has accepted. Skill given-Weapons Master-Intermediate}
I smile towards the blight before swinging the trident back and throwing like a javelin towards the disgusting being. As the blight moves to the side it stumbles backwards before looking down and seeing the trident in its chest, a green ooze flowing from the wounds as it looks up at me in rage before growling and charging towards me.
"Wake I can feel you in there and since you offered yourself I'll be relying on you to help me get stronger and kill this fuck. I'm not much of a warrior but you are so all I ask is help me when you can." I whisper as I feel a presence start to fill my body before my body rolls to the side dodging the blights charge and my cane lashes out and smashes into its kneecap causing it to crash to the ground.
"I figured once I died it would be a lot worse. Hell worst case I'd wind up in the demon plane or some shit so this is somewhat of a better deal so no worries boss I gotchya." I hear in my head as the blight stands back up and swings his warclub towards my head, the spikes on it pushing out to reveal thorns and spiked vines instead of studs all aiming for my body. As my body dodges backwards my arm swings forward and smashes through several of the vines before I sprint to the side and draw my dagger in my offhand and crouch lower to the ground.
"When you fight against a larger thug like this you stay low and fast, your never going to overpower him so your best bet is to tire him out and use fast strikes. Your cane is magic and fancy but its no different than a fancy club, the dagger is your better bet. Now go I have to rest, this whatever it is , is really exhausting." I hear Wake's voice in my head slowly drift off as my body begins to feel heavier and I realize that Wake is no longer helping to control my movements. As I look up I see the blight watching my warily before approaching at a slower pace before I dart past him and lash out with the dagger, slicing through several of the vines that make up his side.
"So the gnat has some fight in it huh? More of a wasp instead I suppose but no matter, soon you'll be nothing but another corpse for my garden." The blights gravelly voice growls out as he rolls his shoulder and swings the club towards me, his arms stretching towards me while he faces the opposite direction.