The Fallen Paladin, Mädriänä, ordered an abrupt halt; Right palm rested on her longsword’s hilt, as her obscure eyes scanned the now inexistent cavern they observed after they delved into the Quartzal.
"Stay alert." Barrick squinted his black sclera eyes. "This rocky wall is an illusion."
Throlf, the short, Monk-Cleric Fungoid, opened his usually closed eyelids, revealing yellow irises and black scleras.
His superior vision, and fungal perception, are unable to determine anything out of the ordinary.
Such discrepancy is what kept him wary; The same sense of danger he felt when the Thova harvested his mushroom kin. "It’s quiet..."
"Too quiet." Remarked Cedric, an arrogant Elf Druid, who never took his green eyes off the alluring curves of Loreden’Ya.
A Niffler, who could easily be mistaken for a snow elf, due to her pale-white skin, platinum hair, and light blue irises.
"Peaceful facades can hide dark, twisted secrets. And from my personal experience. «Trapless lairs tend to harbor major threats». Let’s not test our luck."
Mirä stepped forward.
Her brown, bob cut hair remained stable despite the abrupt shift. "We must conquer this Quartzal, or our lives don’t deserve to continue another day. «Victory or Oblivion!»."
Cedric spat, muttering under his breath. "You think you’re Gydllurn?. Stupid, brainless witch of the «Thyfall Mäwler»?."
"Witches craft artifacts, and brew potions. I’m a Mage’s Apprentice!." Mirä stated cheerfully, aiming her wooden staff, the embedded yellow gem lighted up menacingly with a green hue.
"«Shö’Thöm»!."
Eight green Nodes emerged, forming a cube that condensed and compressed in an instant, before being shot forward.
The impact caused a fluctuation in the Illusion; Bursting it, with a powerful, close-range detonation.
The shockwave met two obstacles.
An aqua green triangular barrier erected by Loreden’Ya.
Then, a purplish square barrier withstood the rest of the weakened strike, all thanks to the mysterious last member. Eth’Yaira. Cloaked, hooded, and masked; Showing only the bright purple, solid glow on her eyes.
Mädriänä sighed. "How many times do i have to remind you?: «Think before you act»."
Mirä grabbed the hem of her Apprentice’s cape. "I’m sorry, Auntie Mädnä."
"«Instructor Gadrigoth», when we are on duty, «My clumsy niece»." Mädriänä’s soft voice got insta-replaced with stern fury.
Confusion filled Mirä, until she felt a sharp item against her neck.
The object became visible; What flooded her with fear and despair, despite the serene spoken warning.
"Stay calm, and follow my lead."
Viennetta’s scythe pressed further, without drawing blood, or causing a cut on Mirä’s neck.
The Paladin couldn’t allow her relative to be dragged away.
In a blur, she unsheathed her longsword, delivering a precise thrust towards Viennetta’s forehead.
But it didn’t reach.
The weapon got stuck in the air for a second, before the silhouette of a Werewolf emerged from Camouflage, what startled the group.
Mädriänä is the Instructor, and the most powerful member of theiy Spear.
The sight of her main weapon stopped so blatantly between the beast’s claws, is beyond disturbing, and discouraging.
Someone gasped behind Viennetta.
It was Vallad’Yanna; Who came out of the tunnel accompanied by Odette and Naylyn.
"Vu-Vurckair?." Instructor Valkysh asked with trembling voice, her sternness nowhere to be seen, and unsure of how to proceed.
She cannot fight the young Vecturion when he is in his right mind; Much less if he is under the feral instincts intensified by the Ascension Animal Affection of an Alpha Werewolf.
"Indeed, «My Lover»." Teased Vurckair, though his wolfish features caused his grinning face to look menacing, rather than dashing.
"«It» can talk?!." Screamed almost the entire Spear of Mädriänä; Except for Mirä, who is still afraid of the sharp edge touching her neck.
And Throlf, who pointed to the Dragonoid’s head in Vurckair’s paw. "That’s why we lost track of the Nucleus, Barrick. «He» already claim it."
Ignoring everyone, Naylyn got closer. "Wow!. You two killed a Dragonoid?."
Viennetta shaked her head. "No. Vurckair did it alone."
"Impressive~" Naylyn giggled cutely, then coldly glared at Mädriänä. "Sheath your blade before i draw mine. You too, Miss Wröthck."
"You heard Nalune, Snowflare."
Viennetta didn’t hesitate, and stored her scythe.
With her niece out of danger, Mädriänä retracted her weapon, noticing the blade was nicked.
"This is a misunderstanding." Vallad’Yanna said calmly, her stern gaze trying to read Vurckair’s mood. The young Vecturion is too volatile for her to predict whatever he may do.
The same applies to Odette.
"Not fair, or cool, Instructor Valkysh!. I put a lot of effort into making the Illusory Barrier with 5 Nodes. I’m not Miss Nephron!. But for that very reason, we must prevent she waste Nodes if it’s not related to combat!. That’s why everyone has a role!."
{She learned well. Perhaps too well. But the fact that she willingly takes it so seriously, its heartwarming}
Vurckair morphed back to his base anthropoid form, and ruffled Odette’s blonde hair. "Good Girl... Now make me prouder and erect a Six Node Illusory Barrier."
She blushed with apologetical shyness; Her prowess is insufficient for the task, but took the challenge with a compliant nod.
•
{ Potential Multi-Route Candidate:
+375 Proficiency }
{ Potential Role Obtainable:
+2000 Proficiency }
{ Level Up From 3 to 4 }
{ Profession’s Development:
+2 Vitality
+2 Ordinance
+2 True-Wine }
•
[ Vurckair Yavellant Vecturion ]
[ Sodomancer - Level 4 ]
[ Proficiency ] [ 1,725 / 2,000 ]
[ Singularity - Grade 0 ]
[ Store Capacity - 85 / 100 (Of 100) ]
[ 28 ] [ Vitality ]
[ 28 ] [ Ordinance ]
[ 28 ] [ True-Wine ]
[ Flow Latency - 840 Units ]
•
’ Potential Foreman Candidate:
+8000 Proficiency ’
’ Potential Multi-Role Obtainable:
+1500 Proficiency ’
’ Level Up From 0 to 4 ’
’ Ell’Thane’s Protocol:
Profile - Unlocked ’
’ Profession’s Development:
+16 Mentality
+16 Ordinance
+16 True-Indigo
+1 Minion Slot ’
•
[ Odette Thyfall Mussers ]
[ Workeress - Level 4 ]
[ Proficiency ] [ 1,500 / 4,000 ]
[ Singularity - Grade 1 ]
[ Store Capacity - 100 / 125 (Of 1K) ]
[ 56 ] [ Mentality ]
[ 56 ] [ Radiance ]
[ 72 ] [ True-Cyan ]
[ Flow Latency - 19,200 (96,000) ]
•
{Unbelievable!. She went from 72 to almost one hundred thousand!}
{I was right. Having perfect Attunement with the Stats does a massive difference}
Vallad’Yanna invited the Mädriänä’s Spear into the tunnel.
Everyone entered and Odette began her task; What left them astonished; Then speechless.
The Blonde damsel is so focused, that she has not noticed the True-Cyan Halo hovering above her head.
NOr realized about the Nine Nodes she is integrating in the Illusory Barrier; Not Six like she knew it was impossible for her, as she struggled with five.
{So that is the number in parentheses. First is the normal Flow Latency, 19,200 in Odette’s case. Then the Flow Latency obtained by the Halo, which for her is 96,000}
{I guess it’s not showing up for me, because i haven’t reached Grade 1 Singularity}
A vast underground chamber echoed with the distant flow of running water.
Both groups delved deeper, encountering a nice scene; Balalaika and Miellessa are working in tandem; The former is cooking the fish the latter caught from the cave’s stream.
"Greetings, Aunt Mädnä," Miellessa spoke casually, her expression changing to surprise with Odette’s bright Halo...