RhaegarRRL
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Chapter 576 Feast
🕑 Added 2020-10-06 11:08:46 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hello there. New chapters up and more hopefully on Saturday (Leaves probably one on Thursday).
Let me know what you think :). And thanks for reading.
PDF/EPUB: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32241245
Chapter Index: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37813894
Chapter 576 Feast
Ilea kept pace with the elves, her ashen wings lazily moving behind her back. She wondered how long theyd need to get north if this was the suggested flight speed.
The trees here looked much less exotic. Evergreens that clung to the rocky hills, high and sturdy but more spaced out than the dense canopy where the dungeon had been located.
Seithir had guided them for the better part of half an hour, the soul mage locked in on his target from the beginning.
Ilea landed last in the mountainous terrain in the northern region of the forest, a small clearing the destination of their side objective.
Two Elves sat on an old tree trunk, looking at the approaching group as they continued eating.
The carcass of a large animal lay nearby, cut open with various pieces missing.
Greetings, young ones, Isalthar said, floating a little above ground, his white robe nearly touching the earth below.
Welcome Isalthar, one of the two said, his gaze moving over the group before it landed on Ilea. He had black eyes, his head shaved unlike every other elf she had seen before. Intricate runic tattoos snaked up his dark skin, glowing lightly to Ileas magic perception. He wore black armor, light and made with metals. Niameer perhaps. Share our prey, if you wish.
Feyrair hissed. Dont mind if I do, he said and dug his hand into the carcass, ripping out a chunk with bloody delight. He bit into the raw meat, blood dripping down his scale armor.
You bring a new Hunter? the elf asked, his voice laced with caution.
[Mage lvl 325]
An ally and Guardian of Cerith, Isalthar replied.
Ilea watched with interest as Feyrair ripped out another piece of the dead beast, throwing it towards Seithir who happily caught it, nibbling on the large chunk in quiet joy.
Hey, nice to meet you two, Ilea said and walked a little closer.
The second elf looked at her with a smirk, his purple eyes seizing her up. He held a small piece of meat in his hand, as if it was a delicate glass of wine. His black hair flowed down his back, downright luminous and perfectly straight. The elf sat with crossed legs, wearing an intricate bright red dress that seemed entirely unsuitable for either fighting or being in the wilderness. His features were delicate, no noticeable muscle visible on the little skin he showed.
Ilea wouldve doubted herself if she didnt know about the Oracles, not feeling the power from him that shed expect from one of them.
[Mage lvl 412]
A human crosses our path. What a surprising delight you have brought to us today, he spoke.
The bald elf hissed, both annoyed and hostile. Ilea couldnt tell at whom exactly it was directed.
I myself am named Asay, female human, the black haired one said. I will be interested to hear your story.
Im Ilea, good to meet you, Asay, she said with a smile hidden behind her armor.
The bald one got up and took a step towards her.
Feyrair glanced up from his aggressive feast and hissed.
You protect her? the bald elf asked.
Feyrair grinned. She needs no protecting. But once shes done with you, I shall finish the job.
The elf growled but halted in his tracks. What is the meaning of this, Val Akuun? he asked, looking towards Isalthar.
He shared all that is to know, Asay said. Or would you question his word? his voice sounded excited, magic sparking in his eyes for a split second.
Not his, but hers, the bald one said and pointed at her.
Listen baldy, I dont need your approval. If you have something against humans, keep it to yourself. Im just here to destroy a bunch of Praetorians, Ilea said, crossing her arms as she looked at him.
Ben sighed, sitting down next to Asay. He whispered something to the other elf.
It is our nature. Yet this development is wonderful, Asay said, not keeping his voice down.
Im Farthorn, the bald elf said, stepping closer to her. And I dont like you.
Youre the first one, congratulations, Ilea said.
Asay snickered to himself, hiding his mouth behind the sleeve of his complex dress.
Ilea will lead us far into the north, where another group of Hunters we shall join, Isalthar spoke, unperturbed by the happenings around him.
We destroyed three gates in the past week. Are you sure its wise for us to go north? Farthorn asked, sitting back down on the trunk, his eyes focused on Ilea.
Praetorian facility, Ben said. Thats why we could use the two of you.
A wonderful adventure, Asay spoke, smiling bright and showing his sharp teeth. Much more exciting than the work in these parts.
Perfect white teeth, Ilea thought as she looked at him, their eyes meeting.
Neither of them spoke, staring at each other for a while.
Your aura is quite fascinating, Asay finally said.
Thanks, Ilea replied and summoned a meal herself, not about to eat raw meat. Keylas cooking was a tiny bit better than that.
Ben perked up but didnt say anything, taking in the smells with interest.
How far north? Farthorn asked, finishing the piece of meat, blood dripping down his chin.
Depends on your flight speed, Ilea said. Half a day, maybe more.
She had the mark on Elfie, which meant no detours or getting lost.
He contemplated and finally hissed. Very well. If Isalthar wishes it.
Can all withstand the storms? Asay asked.
We shall move through the ravines, and increase our speed by night, Isalthar said.
Thats a no, Ilea thought, looking at the group. She assumed Asay and Isalthar had little trouble surviving, the former mostly just because he asked. Feyrair claimed it was no issue but she wanted to see that first. The rest she doubted could take a direct hit without a care, even Ben.
Then again theyre elves. They probably had a lot longer to train resistances. My healing and Sentinel Core advantages for training would easily be overcome with a few more years or even decades.
Ilea summoned her map and sat down in a chair of ash, focusing on all her marks. She could easily place them but the distance to most was too high for specific tracking. Walter and Dale were the closest, their movements sometimes perceivable. More so Dale, because of his profession.
Sure you dont want some? Feyrair asked, holding out a bloody chunk of raw meat, intestines and bones sticking out on one side.
She continued eating while looking at the map. You should really think about improving your cuisine.
What do you mean? he asked and sat on the ground next to her. This is just perfect, he bit down, grinding through the bone with his teeth.
The sound was grating in her ears but she didnt show a reaction, knowing his diet would simply change to purely bones whenever she was around.
ding Deviant of Humanity reaches 2nd lvl 17
Humans should go out more, she thought, sighing at the wonderful hearty taste of her cheese and potato dish.
Asay still stared at her but she didnt mind much. There was a reason Ben sat down next to him immediately. Perhaps they shared an interest in humans and their peculiar behaviors.
What makes a human join a group of elves? Farthorn asked.
Ilea looked up, chewed for a moment and swallowed. I met one in the north. We made a deal. Id explore a lost city dungeon, and he would share information. He wasnt even a Cerithil Hunter then.
But he is now? Farthorn asked, glancing over to Isalthar. Are we sure this isnt a trap?
The dungeon is real, and I trust them, Ilea said. Elfie wouldnt lie about that.
Elfie , Asay tasted the word before he giggled. Spectacular.
He raised his hand and looked at her.
Do you have a question? Ilea asked.
Are we all Elfies? Or is there only one? Asay asked.
Ilea smiled. Im not sure. I like Asay though. Its a good name.
Indeed it is. You have fine taste, for someone so fiercely dressed in ash, reeking of death and power, he spoke.
A potential disruption in Praetorian production is worth the potential risks, Isalthar said. Or would you disagree?
All the elves quieted down, looking at Farthorn.
No, he said, his eyes towards the ground.
What just happened? she thought, looking at Ben.
He smiled but didnt say anything.
Power dynamics, or maybe a hierarchy thing? I wonder how much the Hunters took over from their respective domains structures.
Feyrair had eaten a respectable part of the beast, hissing when he seemed done.
A question?
He stored the carcass in his storage item as white flame burst from his body, burning away the dried blood and small pieces of skin and flesh still sticking to him.
Isalthar floated to Ilea, his eyes fixated on her. We shall follow you, Ilea. Do not lead us astray.
Is that a threat or a plea? she asked with a smile, standing up as her map vanished and the ash dissolved. She finished the food with a few last bites and spread her wings.
The elf didnt clarify, leaving the interpretation to her alone.
Im not familiar with this area. Any reason not to go north directly? We could fly eastward first, she said.
There is nothing in our way, Isalthar said.
Good, then lets see how fast we can go, Ilea said and started flying. She assumed it was a bad idea suggesting she carry some of them.
The next hour turned out quite underwhelming. Isalthar, Feyrair, and Asay could keep up with her non charged wings but the rest fell behind quickly. Seithir at the lowest level was surprisingly the quickest of the three others.
The group managed to pass the Naraza mountain chain rather quickly, the winds growing harsher and the mana more dense.
Ilea tapped Feyrairs arm, the group now flying through a broad crevice leading northwards. I think weve reached a suitable stage, she said with a grin.
The elf looked up to the looming dark clouds, his red reptilian eyes turning towards her. Indeed, he said. Seithir, call for me if we are needed, he said.
Our guide is already abandoning us? Farthorn asked, looking at the two before he hissed.
Few forks in the way, just keep going northward, Ilea said.
Enjoy yourselves, barbarians, Ben said.
Ilea blinked up, flying out of the tear in the land.
Feyrair followed, as did Asay.
I merely wish to watch, he said with a broad grin.
Feyrair rushed ahead, flying for a few minutes with Ilea effortlessly keeping pace.
Asay fell behind but he would catch up soon enough.
The elf came to a stop when a large cloud filled with arcane energy loomed over them, purple streaks of lightning slamming into the savage landscape nearby.
She felt the power and shock waves from hundreds of meters away. Compared to her first time in the north, the natural phenomenon no longer proved an insurmountable challenge. Flying here instead was a testament to their power.
Youre a few levels lower than me, Fey. Are you sure you want to do this? Ilea teased.
The elf glowed with power, his body erupting in white flame, his eyes a blazing red.
A human like you needs more than a few levels and Classes to best me, he said, a streak of purple energy rushing past him a few meters away, taking with it a part of the white flame covering his body. His left arm was left limp and blackened.
Ilea watched as he started moving it again, both his skin and armor above reforming before her eyes.
Surprised? he asked, his sharp claws extending with blazing white flames.
I thought dragons would be invulnerable, Ilea said, feeling the power build above her.
She displaced herself into the trajectory of the lightning that came down close by, letting it spread through her with its blazing purple energies.
The arcane power broke through her armor and into her body, her third tier healing regenerating it all in mere instants as the lightning slowed, wreaking what little havoc it could against her resilience.
Feyrair laughed, white wings of flame materializing behind him as his magic surged. I knew you wouldnt disappoint, he said and rushed her.
She let him come, her auras and spells ready to answer whatever he threw out.
The elf started with five blazing spheres forming above his head, sending them towards her with a higher speed than he himself moved at.
Ilea let them advance, her precognition informing her about the damage they would do.
She didnt move.
The spheres exploded in bright fire, energy, and heat. The air trembled, leaving behind the uninjured ashen healer flying amidst the lessening inferno.
She saw the fires sticking to her and willed the affected ash away, reforming her armor below.
The elf was upon her in the next moment, appearing next to her with his clawed hands lashing out.
She deflected his first blow, pushing away his claws with her left hand. Her ashen limbs had reformed, lashing out at him before a bright flame spread out in a sphere around the elf.
Her ash was pushed away as he pressed against her hold. Hes stronger, she noted.
Feyrair slashed at the limbs with his other hand, the bright flame able to cut through the ash. Four limbs still sneaked past, cutting into his armor and body.
Ileas reverse healing and mana intrusion flowed into him with every moment their bodies touched, his fire in turn burning both her armor, skin, and mana. Her smirk widened when he broke away, vanishing to reappear ten meters away.
His fire slowed her healing but not by much. Not more than what Im doing to him.
The elf vanished again, avoiding a bolt of lightning striking down from the arcane storm. Bright energy formed on his palms, beams of fire lashing out to meet her.
Ilea laughed and moved her wings, avoiding the spell entirely. She twirled and blinked through his quickly moving fire beams on her way towards him, the elf in turn keeping his distance.
When she got close enough, she simply let the fires burn into her, her ash and skin below resilient to fire more so than most other magic. She punched towards him when he suddenly vanished.
Ilea used Space Shift to latch on to his teleport and appeared with him, her fist connecting with his armored chest.
Destruction and Storm of Cinders spread into him with a sizzling noise, his armor denting slightly as he was pushed back, only to slice away at the ashen limbs that came for him.
His eyes opened wide suddenly, Ilea closing the distance with her wings and grappling onto him.
No teleports for either of us, she thought, ignoring the wild swipes of his powerful claws and the fire burning all around.
They tumbled as she slammed her fist into his face repeatedly, breaking away the helmet piece by piece as her ash dug into his powerful armor and skin. It was a test, to see whose regeneration would prevail but Ilea didnt have to take a risk, able to teleport away whenever she realized he could overwhelm her.
Lightning struck, slamming into he tumbling pair and the ground below, ripping stone asunder.
The force pushed them down, the high level warriors crashing into the ground without a pause in their attacks.
Feyrair looked worse for wear, much of his armor stripped away, blood showing on a hundred cuts, pouring from a few deeper wounds.
Ilea herself was on fire, her ash regenerating where it could, stripped away in parts by his claws where white flame now burned her skin. Much of the heat she simply absorbed with her Lava Magic Resistance into Heart of Cinder, the mana he expended returning to her through her high resistances and Sentinel Core.
Another punch cracked his cheekbone, his left eye squished instantly. A surge of energy spread out from his chest, pure kinetic force mixed with incredible heat pushed Ilea back, making her hit the ground a few times before she skidded to a halt.
Her wings reformed as she cut away the burning parts of her body using her sharpened ash, healing taking care of the rest.
She smiled to herself, closing her right eye when a lightning strike crashed into the ground a few meters away. Her wings worked against the force, her body barely pushed aside. Rocks and debris ricocheted off her ashen armor, the ground vibrating with the released energy as the air sung with magic.
Before her, Feyrair had changed. His body bulged and exploded with scales and fire. A large tail and powerful wings burst from the massive dragonling as his four clawed feet dug into the stone below. He was larger than last time, the muscle clearly visible and his whole form shining bright within her sphere.
The only recognizable feature was the white flame clinging to his body and the two red eyes set into his draconic skull, their focus on her alone.
Show me what you can do, dragonling, Ilea said and laughed, ascending towards the clouds as she watched him do the same.
His large maw opened as the surrounding mana seemed to flow towards him, the flames stirring as the heat increased yet again.
Charge all the way up, buddy, Ilea thought and waited, a glance to her left revealing the distant Asay floating in midair. She saw a purple bolt flash towards him before it suddenly changed directions, hitting the ground at a steep angle. Thats a little better than my lightning redirect.
Feyrair had finished his spell, the world growing still before he roared.
White fire rushed out in a chaotic storm of heat and energy, spreading in a massive cone loosely directed at her. Not a precise or particularly quick attack perhaps, but likely not intended for such a small and nimble target.
Ilea couldve used her third tier Displacement to send the flames right back, or she couldve used Phaseshift to reduce its damage. A few simple teleports mightve done the trick as well. But of course she did none of those things.
She spread her arms wide and welcomed the dragonlings wrath.
Comments
Melting Sky
She has low key questioned him about these sorts of things in the past but he was incredibly tight lipped about it. Even when she outright called him out for being a stealth three mark in this most recent encounter he never actually confirmed or denied it. Meadow is likely her best source of information on this sort of thing and Meadow basically told her that it was wise to hold onto her core points like she has been since better options should become available with time.
Boutross
Ilea should ask the 3 marks elf about core points, he must know about it and it'd could be very valuable to learn the other options.
reeen
always love to see and read new chapters. this is currently my favorite novel that im reading.
Jonathan
OK, wait a second. that's not me.
Jonathan
Thanks for the chapters! Like the back and forth, though I did notice something--commonly in back and forths between characters adding "he said" gets repetative, especially if they are shorter statements. Often mixing up the verb with a synonym or even dropping it when it's clear who the 2 parties are can help to smooth out the flow. Thought it might really help those more personal moments like with Ilea and Ben uhh 2-3 chapters back.
Tetsuki
Nope she did encounter one. When she first got north there was a being flying in the storms.
Chopper
I recall long ago when Ilea first joined the Shadows someone warned her about flying high; saying 'the sky belongs to unfathomable beasts' or some such. Aside from the basilisk she has never really encountered anything like that though.
Nate
Damn dude you're like half a week off... :P
自由
I can only repeat that I am super hyped for this arc ^^.
Luciaron
Thanks for the chapters!
Torbjørn Nilsen
Hmmm... Maybe we will se a return of the Arcane Dragon? The one Ilea saw in the arcane cloud for a second.
Torbjørn Nilsen
Cuuute dragonling!
Alexander Dupree
Thanks for the chapters
Michael C
Chills
Ryan Frank
Perfect - let's figting in a giant magic storm because it looks cooler. Love it!
Alsia
Thanks for the chapter! I was convinced today was Saturday and was so confused when I saw the A/N. Guess this means I'll have to bide my time until the next release :p
carebear90
I'm pretty sure by now, that it is some kind of resistance. My top pick would be 2nd or 3rd tier of scrying resistance.
Ziggy
Oo. Long chapter. And a fun one. I dig Asay. And this fight is pretty entertaining.
Max Scherer
I really hope its some kind of skill and not that all sentient people will be hidden. Most of the readers want to see the reaction to three mark Ilea. That will be so much fun!
tibbish
You know she is going to be ~exploring~ that dragon in that dungeon too!
carebear90
Well, he also seemed to hide it from his team so... My guess it, it is to stay incognito when meeting elves of the Domains. I'd be surprised if there wasn't a bounty on him if he is the closest to a leader of a "rebellious group" among the elves, we know about. And it is way easier to identify who a ??? is on apearance, skillset and displayed class than it is for a random ??. I forgot can everyone deactivate their resistances like Ilea or was that part of one of her class skills? If not, it might even be unintentional, but I doubt that somehow.
Cant wait for the dungeon exploration
Andrew
Thank you!
Michael scott
Thanks for the chapters. Damn, sneaky ass elf. Sandbagging his ???. I can see why you would want to be underestimated when fighting. However he usually fights the Taleen. Those machines wouldn't care if he was ??? Or ???? So why do it. Maybe he did it so Ilea or the other humans he was trading with wouldn't be to scared. Meeting a ?? Elf might be bad,meeting a ??? Elf would be a little much for most.
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Sondre Grøneng
Not to mention, there is something truly wonderful about her interactions with elves.
Sondre Grøneng
Aye, been looking forward to people reacting to that for a long time, please don't ruin my dreams.
carebear90
maybe 2nd or 3rd tier of scrying resistance?
Connor Bruha
Thanks for the chapter! Nice fight.
Mmm...toasty
Zarik0
Hmm a 700-800 is not marked at ???, (spell? enchantment? skill class? general skill? his 3 eme class? difference for specie is improbable or its a thing for all sapient ??? mark) a lot of possibility
Zarik0
Nice
HighterDK
I will be very disappointed if we don’t have a three mark Ilea making other humans reconsider some of their life choices.
Thaabit Rivertree
I'd imagine it's some other skill or ability he has. Maybe all 3 marks have it actually, or it's a function unlocked by the system in higher levels.
Tera
Well maybe it's just what identify at the second stage does. So for Iles it's impossible to mask her level. Thanks for the chapter!
Thaabit Rivertree
Loved the chapters. Definitely feels like they have more depth then previous ones, for some reason.
Elves could be different. Meadow sure seemed to think she'd be a three mark at 500.
Glad to see Ilea is having fun!
Boutross
Nice.
Chase Clawson
Thanks for the chapters! Can't wait for the next ones :)
agentjongon
Well maybe Ilea will forever be underestimated. Stuck with 2 marks until level 1000. Oh well
