Felix jumped back – as did Tinuriel, whilst Reth backed away until the other two were just within the radius of the Air Bubble. The corpse stood up and smiled, “Ah,” the raspy, clicking voice emanated from the slack-jawed, open maw. “A Versewalker and Escorts.” It reached down and picked up the odd sword. “I’ll be taking your Core.” Almost faster than he could react, it launched at Felix.
He ducked the blow and loosed a point-blank shot from the clockwork pistol into the creature’s chest – but it bounced harmlessly off of the power armor. He rolled backward with the dodge. A System Message appeared in Felix’s vision.
[Against Overwhelming Odds Talent notification – foe is 10+ Core Levels higher than you. Active portion of Talent unlocked.]
Lucifer, level-up. Now!
Engaging.
Whisperfang for me and give Tinuriel that last level of Rime Knight. Last level of Netherlight Myrmidon for Reth.
Roger!
image [https://i.postimg.cc/GRjf5VpK/Felix-ch-81.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/ysWYd05q/81-1.webp]
[This is your 10th level in this Class. You gain access to a new Class Skill]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/Gr66R3t7/Frozen-Fury.webp] image [https://i.postimg.cc/7PfGwS4V/Tinuriel-ch-81.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/RvHS144X/81-2.webp]
[This is your 10th level in this Class. You gain access to a new Class Skill]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/1SWCXWbH/Netherlight-Crusade-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/M6Zf3hrg/Reth-ch-81.webp]image [https://i.postimg.cc/wgPxs781/81-3.webp]
The trio sparked with prismatic light corresponding to their colored stat bars, and Felix saw to his satisfaction they rapidly filled up to full. It’s still way higher Core Level equivalent than us. But we have a chance. It’s three on one. He side-stepped another slash before Tinuriel knocked the blade away and pushed the power-armor wearing, former Versewalker off-balance. It bought her a few moments, and she activated a flurry of Skills. Deathless Juggernaut, Bastion
image [https://i.postimg.cc/TRJstf7M/Deathless-Juggernaut-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/0xBgWd7w/Bastion-Reflection.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/X3rttBjB/Icy-Shell.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/dsxpLwB0/Menacing-Chill.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/GR7ZMxC1/Aura-of-Frost.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/7DKZwKKM/81-4.webp]
The blazing blue flames engulfed her body, as the white-blue ice encased her form. It was covered by a mirror-like reflective sheen. And lastly, the white-blue dart of energy surged from her towards the creature – but bounced off of its head. “Menacing Chill didn’t work!” She shouted as she interposed herself between the massive power-armor encased person. The two exchanged a flurry of blows – Tinuriel primarily focusing on defense, and if not for Bastion, she would be getting pushed back from the force of the blows, if not simply thrown aside outright.
Detect Weakness, Electroblade, Hellblade, Undetectable Step, Death Mark
Offsetting the cost of Death Mark with a use of Against Overwhelming Odds.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/qJcZzjTc/Detect-Weakness.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/RMRTkJVZ/Electroblade.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/ry8ZWxVB/Hellblade.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/z5skH47n/Undetectable-Step-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/7xkc1fNn/Death-Mark-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/5bZYWPtK/81-5.webp]
Felix vanished and shot the weak spot highlighted by the Detect Weakness – the head of the fallen Versewalker. The shot struck true and instantly consumed the Death Mark. The bullet bored a hole through the creature’s skull, igniting them aflame as the crimson and black energy surged through them. The arcing electricity jolted along their form, but they kept swinging, trying to get to Felix. Tinuriel got in the way once more and suffered a few hits that her Temporary Health and damage reduction soaked with ease.
This isn’t that difficult.
Don’t jinx i-
The creature’s body surged with a violent, black light as the ichor exploded from its body.
“Netherlight Sanctuary!” Reth yelled out as he slammed his staff down. The Air Bubble vanished as his whole concentration was focused on this singular intent of protecting the trio from the goop blast.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/7H4K8025/Netherlight-Sanctuary.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/FmCkDFX4/81-6.webp]
The silver-white light encompassed the whole group and the goop just splashed around them. The corrupted Versewalker let out a cackling gasping noise. “You have unique Affinities. Now I really want that Core.”
“Lucifer, what’s going on?” Felix asked as he saw the bullet hole slowly sealing, despite the hellfire still burning within the skull.
“Not good!” He was back to panicky lawyer speaking. “They are just a vessel being piloted by something else. Something corrupting. A deity this Versewalker captured in that container. A deity of blood and corruption. Something called a Void Commander from Universe #2. The Versewalker used it to make a new Class – Voidwalker – and it took control of the body. Best guess that Vicky has is-”
“Felix!” Vicky’s voice echoed around the trio. “That thing was Tabula. You can’t kill it, only contain it.”
“How?” Felix shouted back as the void-creature slammed over and over on the Netherlight Sanctuary. Every time it did, Reth winced as his concentration was pushed to the limits. If not for his mental fortitude and intensive training as a mage of his home Universe’s intelligence corps, the barrier would have lapsed.
“I put a new container into your inventory. Luci-”
“I got it,” Lucifer replied. “I’ll put it in your hand as soon as we extract it.”
“Tell me how, stop just telling me what I need to do. I need to know how.”
“You have to injure its host body enough that it flees to find a new host. It’ll try for one of you – so make sure none of you drop below fifty percent of your maximum Health – and when it tries to get into you, catch it!”
“I can’t hold it!” Reth shouted as the barrier faded.
Tinuriel’s blade blazed with energy as she activated several offensive Skills: Execution
image [https://i.postimg.cc/4ZdkQFHG/Execution-Watery-Death.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/BJqnZqDd/Eviscerator-Caustic-Demise.webp]image [https://i.postimg.cc/VmtD7zvG/Obliterate-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/Gr66R3t7/Frozen-Fury.webp]image [https://i.postimg.cc/bP3ZwYJt/81-7.webp]
Tinuriel’s energy that was channeling down into the blade surged to her palm and she held it up right in the creature’s face. A blast of neon-blue, acidic green, icy-white, and echoing behind it – rushing water – blasted into the creature. The head was blown clean off, and yet the form continued its assault, with Tinuriel barely blocking with her sword. It reached out and grabbed her arm, squeezing tightly as her Temporary Health vanished, and she cried out in pain as even through the damage reduction of Deathless Juggernaut and the reduced damage inflicted, her Health dipped quite substantially.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/qJbqbwYL/81-8.webp]
Reth raised his staff once more and used Earth Shield.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/FvpPq87V/Earth-Shield.webp] image [https://i.postimg.cc/fzTkfpHy/81-9.webp]
The protective rocks surrounded Tinuriel and she shook off the grip before slicing back at the creature. She then shoulder-checked it, throwing her whole mass into the creature as it stumbled back.
Lucifer, sync up with me. And offset the Death Mark with those Talent Charges. Death Mark. Vital Strike.
Dragon Dance
image [https://i.postimg.cc/7xkc1fNn/Death-Mark-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/s3cP8xrc/Vital-Strike-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/KFKhkvqg/Dragon-Dance-Water-Dance.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/KZ5RLxDC/81-10.webp]
Felix dashed behind and atop the creature, planting his feet as best he could on the shoulders as he fired down – activating and consuming the Death Mark as the hellfire and electricity imbued shot went right down the neck hole. Again. Death Mark. Offset the cost.
Last charge of that Talent. Vital Strike.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/Bq3jXXHx/81-11.webp]
He loosed a second shot into the same hole in the neck. As the thing’s free-arm clumsily reached up for him, he jumped off of it and behind Tinuriel.
Reth laughed, “Clear out!” He had activated Affinity Empowerment, Affinity Amplification, and several uses of Anima Ascension as he continually fueled the powerful spell that he unleashed. “Cleanse!”
image [https://i.postimg.cc/SQJ8wxDX/Affinity-Empowerment-WEBP.webp]image [https://i.postimg.cc/MwDkDbNM/Affinity-Amplification-WEBP.webp]image [https://i.postimg.cc/7wjj6BGc/Anima-Ascension-WEBP.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/BSPNQqWg/Cleanse.webp]
image [https://i.postimg.cc/D7LWvqJv/81-12.webp]
What? Felix thought. Why is he cleansing…oh. That’s genius. Felix put the water-controlling talisman in his pistol-hand and retrieved the storage container from his inventory with the other. The cylinder looked like a lantern with an aperture that gently sucked inward.
The black ichor infusing the creature surged out of the neck hole as the pink and purple flowering blossoms surrounded and infused the body. Felix pushed the cylinder forward, and it sucked up all the black goop before sealing. He put it into his inventory.
[Experience Awarded = 100]
“Good job!” Vicky’s voice said excitedly. “Fantastic work! That should clear up that lake down there.”
Felix looked to Reth and gave him a thumbs-up, “Good idea doing that.”
Reth nodded, “Once she said it was corruption, I knew it could be cleansed. But…that thing was strong. I used all my Anima and Vigor to pull it off.”
“Worth it,” Tinuriel said as she looked at the still-standing, headless corpse in the power armor. “Impressive suit of armor though. I wouldn’t mind having it.”
“It’s not corrupted anymore. We can loot to our heart’s content.”
Felix looked up into the black waters above, their sphere of safety persisting. “What about all those Cavestalkers?”
Vicky’s voice became sadder, “They…they’re lost. Things that the Void from Universe #2 corrupts can only be reversed by a deity of the Void. And the deity that can do that in Universe #2 is a guy named The Arbiter of Souls.”
“Can we…I don’t know, bring him here?” Felix asked.
Vicky went silent for a moment before she returned, “Possibly. Hold on, let me make some calls.”
Felix held his hand over the corpse and activated For the Hoard! before Looting it.
image [https://i.postimg.cc/ZZMM7fcR/For-the-Hoard-WEBP.webp]
[Loot Obtained]
· K.S. 2 Power Armor
· K.S. 2 Chain Blade
[Loot Bons from For the Hoard!]
· 5,000 VC
The K.S. stands for ‘Kardashev Scale’. This Power Armor comes from a civilization that advanced to the point that they can completely control their whole Solar System’s power and energy. Pretty advanced stuff.
Felix looked to his two allies, “Shall we head out?”
“No Multiversal Charge?” Reth asked.
“I don’t think I ever want to come back to this ‘Verse. It’s too depressing.”
“We still haven’t finished the Crisis,” Lucifer said. “Those Cavestalkers are still out there. And if they’re considered part of this Crimson Tide, we have to stop all of them.”
A shimmering, light-blue portal opened next to the trio. They all turned and Tinuriel prepared her weapon. A man in a light-blue robe stepped out. He had a hood that sparkled with starlight and was deep-set. “Oh, a Versewalker and Escorts. Good to meet you.” He pulled back his hood and revealed a youthful face with deep blue, prismatic sparkling eyes. “I’m Kalinor, Arbiter of Souls of Universe #2. Good to meet you.”