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Chapter 526 Progression and Possibilities
🕑 Added 2020-07-23 11:10:46 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hello all :). New chapter and more hopefully on Saturday (Probably a little later than usual - maybe).
Let me know what you think :).
PDF/EPUB: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32241245
Chapter Index: https://www.patreon.com/posts/37813894
Chapter 526 Progression and Possibilities
Michael glanced her way for a moment but didnt comment. He summoned something to eat himself, as if he was reminded of the human need by the bowl in her hand.
Ilea checked the rest of her messages.
ding Deviant of Humanity reaches lvl 12
ding Deviant of Humanity reaches lvl 13
ding Identify reaches lvl 16
ding Veteran reaches 3rd lvl 7
ding You have learned the General skill: Devour Resistance lvl 1
Devour Resistance lvl 1
A specialty school of magic combining the perfect control of ones body, blood, and mana to create a unique blend of highly destructive spells. Both used to damage the enemys defenses and body with the benefit of partial health absorption. This school of magic can only be used by those with extensive knowledge and experience. Your survival either means a lack of willingness to kill by your enemy or an incredible defensive repertoire that rivals your opponents magical prowess. Coupled with Blood Magic, Arcane Magic, and Health Drain Resistances, this new skill is just as specialized against Devour magic as that school of magic itself.
ding Devour Resistance reaches lvl 2
ding Devour Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 1
...
2nd stage: Really? Why? Your body refuses to be eaten by Devour magic. You should work on your diplomatic skills.
ding Devour Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 2
ding Devour Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 6
ding Blood Magic Resistance reaches 3rd lvl 9
ding Death Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 9
ding Death Magic Resistance reaches 2nd lvl 11
ding Astral Magic Resistance reaches lvl 2
ding Astral Magic Resistance reaches lvl 17
ding You have found a new realm. Again. And you faced some of its more powerful residents in battle One Core skill point awarded
ding You have met and fought an Astral Spirit One Core skill point awarded
Ilea was very close to just investing another core point into Force but she stopped herself again. Keep your damn points.
Instead she checked if any of the magic she faced had made new third tier resistances available.
To her surprise there were two new contenders.
- Health Drain Resistance
To face an enemy with Devour magic and come out on top is really quite impressive. While it isnt limited to its health drain aspect, the effects themselves are hardly comparable to conventional health drain abilities. A third tier in this skill should help mitigate such damage.
- Mana Drain Resistance
Astral Spirits are rare and powerful entities, close in essence and body to the very mana they wield. Anyone who decides to face such a creature must be able to strongly resist their powerful drain attacks to gain even a slight chance of ever defeating one. You may advance this skill to the third tier.
Damn, I want both!
She checked her status and found only one third tier general point available. It was her emergency point. She might have chosen to advance her Health Drain Resistance had the Queen still been alive but as it was, she regretfully leveled neither.
Ilea put her sixty five stat points into Vitality, bringing it to nearly one thousand.
More health to use for Flare of Creation, she thought and checked her new status.
Name: Ilea Spears
Unspent statpoints: 0
Unspent Core skill points: 23
Unspent 3rd tier General skill points [1795 Total skill levels]: 1
Class 1: The Azarinth Sentinel lvl 367
- Active: Absolute Destruction 3rd lvl 29
- Active: Sentinel Reconstruction 3rd lvl 30
- Active: Azarinth Awakening 3rd lvl 30
- Active: Blink 3rd lvl 29
- Active: Sentinel Sphere 3rd lvl 29
- Passive: Sentinel Core 3rd lvl 30
- Passive: Azarinth Fighting 3rd lvl 30
- Passive: Sentinel Huntress 3rd lvl 8
- Passive: Azarinth Perception 3rd lvl 28
- Passive: Azarinth Reversal 3rd lvl 22
Class 2: Kin of Ash lvl 367
- Active: Armor of Ash 3rd lvl 30
- Active: Aspect of Ash 3rd lvl 30
- Active: True Ash Creation 3rd lvl 30
- Active: Heart of Cinder 3rd lvl 28
- Active: Storm of Cinders 3rd lvl 23
- Passive: Ash and Ember Unity 3rd lvl 28
- Passive: Ashen Wings 3rd lvl 27
- Passive: Eyes of Ash 3rd lvl 20
- Passive: Avatar of Ash 3rd lvl 30
- Passive: Keeper of Ash 3rd lvl 30
Class 3: The Faen Valkyrie lvl 190
- Active: Force 2nd lvl 20
- Active: Flare of Creation 3rd lvl 1
- Active: Displacement 3rd lvl 1
- Passive: Space Shift 2nd lvl 15
- Passive: Body of the Valkyrie 2nd lvl 14
- Passive: Space Awareness 2nd lvl 8
General Skills: Hidden
Status:
Vitality: 995
Endurance: 420
Strength: 515
Dexterity: 425
Intelligence: 900
Wisdom: 1000
Health: 15681/15681
Stamina: 4198/4200
Mana: 19982/20000
She smiled to herself and looked at Michael, done with her food.
Ilea was downright appalled by the lack of interest he had in his own dish, swallowing most of it without even chewing. The smell and look didnt speak for his vile nourishment either.
What are the chances of more rituals being prepared here? she asked.
Low. They reached their goal after all, though the resulting consequences they met are admittedly quite ironic, Michael said.
Are you searching the city with your other clones? she asked.
No, he said.
Ilea wondered if he was lying or if he simply hadnt been able to recreate all of them yet. Or none of them are actually really him.
Are you allied with Lady Redleaf? he asked, the direct question surprising her a little.
Ilea glanced at him and then at Felicia.
More just friends, she said after a moment.
Am I allied with her? Maybe. But I wouldnt help her get rid of nobles in Virilya. Not anymore.
He smiled.
To think Lilith has friends. The songs coupled with the impression you left suggested something else, he said.
Ilea had only uncovered her mouth to eat. The man only knew her as the ashen healer.
Well Im sure you have people too that you would consider friends. Or do all common relationship models cease to exist when one becomes as powerful as you? she asked.
Michael just looked at her for a while.
I believe I have remained human during my life. Im not quite as old nor as powerful as some of the other members. You flatter me, he said. Especially with your high level and third Class. Im aware of some of the required achievements.
Ilea assumed his first sentence was meant as an answer, that he indeed had people he cared about.
Your knowledge on blood magic might have prevented a whole city from being wiped out. If you really told the truth, she said.
She was aware of his selfish motives but it didnt change the result.
Felicia finally woke up then, blinking a few times.
Lilith, she said with a broad smile. She got up and hugged her.
You survived, Felicia said.
Ilea nodded and hugged her back. As did you.
The woman registered Michael in that moment and let go a little awkwardly.
Apologies, she whispered.
Dont worry about it, Ilea replied, noting that she had still used her made up name.
Thank you for the help in there, Felicia said, bowing lightly towards Michael.
He waved her off, already absorbed in his work again.
Ill go back in. Do you two want to remain here? Ilea asked.
With you and the Destroyer present, I shall join you, Michael said.
Still have to test those new third tiers, Ilea mused.
Well go on ahead, Ilea said and vanished. Felicia followed her and glanced back when they appeared in a nearby alley.
Thats a little rude. He saved my life, Felicia said but still smiled. Tell me everything!
Ilea blinked again, this time into another empty hall.
I just wanted to try something out, Ilea said and formed a sphere of ash. It floated above her hand before the thing ignited with a pale white flame.
Its that easy, she thought with a smile. She moved it around and kept the flames alive. She quickly told Felicia about the fight and the hordes they had faced.
Spirits and a Queen? Felicia asked after Ilea was done. She grinned. Well, seems like your intervention once again prevented my death.
Im a healer. I do that, Ilea joked.
The woman waved her off. Youre far more than a simple healer. Now explain that thing to me, she said and pointed at the blazing ball of ash. Could you not do that before?
No not exactly, Ilea said and added one hundred more health to the spell, seeing it flare up slightly.
She formed a mist of ash before her and made it swirl around.
Felicia smiled. Youre not g-
The whole thing suddenly blazed up in white fire.
Interesting. More health because its larger? Or because its not connected to me?
It turned out it was both.
The difference in cost wasnt huge but definitely noticeable.
She made the flames die down and tried out her other new ability. Dont resist.
Felicia raised her eyebrows but didnt say anything.
She appeared a few meters away, upside down. The woman remained floating in the air, her smile looking like a frown from the angle.
That wont be super useful again trained warriors, she said.
Not all of them can fly, Ilea said.
True, Felicia said and floated closer, slowly turning back as the air flowed around her.
You said your second Class helps with the berserker stuff, right? Ilea asked.
Helps me get out of it, yeah, Felicia said.
I remembered something when I checked my resistances earlier. Do you have Soul Magic Resistance? she asked.
No. I dont think Ive ever knowingly met a Soul mage, Felicia said.
Maybe you should, Ilea said. Theres a section in the second tier that says A serene calm now sways through your very essence, changed and evolved, grounded and calm. Maybe that could help.
Hmm thats interesting. Thanks! Felicia said. Ill see if I can find a trainer somewhere in the Empire but Ive got it mostly under control.
Sure, Ilea said and tried to use the main new part of Displacement. She focused on the closest spot her ability could reach and marked the area. At the same time she marked an area on the other side of the hall.
Interesting, she thought as she watched the phenomena form thanks to Space Awareness. There was a slight distortion in the air even visible to the naked eye but the sight her awareness provided proved much more confusing.
What did you do? Felicia asked, looking at the changed air.
Ilea felt the spell drain her mana quite quickly, a conscious effort necessary to keep the magic active. A little less than four hundred mana per second, four fifty without regeneration and meditation I think.
Forty to sixty seconds with a full pool.
Destruction and Storm of Cinders still used up way more if she went all out. Against a strong enemy like the Queen, that simply wasnt possible because of dodges, missing attacks, and various teleports mixed in between. Something like the hordes she had fought earlier didnt really count either because their constant magical attacks fueled her with more mana, heavily increasing her up time for various skills.
She made an ashen sphere and shot it into one of the five by five meter areas.
They watched with fascination as the sphere vanished and flew out on the other side.
Its momentum hadnt been used up and the thing simply continued another three times through the two areas before it finally fell to the floor.
Ilea let go of the spell.
Huh.
Its like an actual gate , Felicia said. Can I step through too?
I would imagine that works, yes, Ilea said. Its a space connection between two areas, nothing less and nothing more.
Limited range? the woman asked.
Yep. Eight hundred meters right now, Ilea said.
Hmm still usable in a siege or to break in somewhere without detection, Felicia said.
Or to send the combined efforts of ten explosion mages into an enemy line, Ilea said with a grin.
That works too, Felicia said and giggled.
Though I suppose I can do that with normal uses of Displacement too. Maybe not as easily but it definitely costs less than this.
Ilea could definitely see how the addition could be useful, if only to get allies through anti teleportation enchantments. One issue was the size of the two areas. They had to be quite large, meaning she couldnt just form a small hole to send a few of her limbs through but had to create the around five by five meter portals. She knew instinctively that a larger area was possible too.
Can you move them? Felicia asked.
No, Ilea said. She had tried but she would have to remake new gates if she wanted to change where they existed. Over four minutes to use it again.
I guess I could have used it against the mantis just place it in front of me and as far away as Displacement could have gotten me. The distance might have allowed me to flee more easily until her buff ran out.
Insane that she could keep up with me either way. Maybe she had two teleportation spells too.
Done testing? Felicia asked.
One thing , Ilea said and aimed her hand towards the open space before her.
She formed a mist of non condensed ash that simply flowed forward. Flare of Creation activated, the flames spreading through the simple ash like wildfire.
The particles farthest away fell to the ground, out of her manipulations influence but still burning. She didnt let up, creating more ash as she moved the flaming spray around.
Costs nearly nothing other than health.
Flamethrower unlocked, she said to herself and grinned, moving her arm back as if it was a loaded weapon.
The flames subsided and left behind a thin carpet of ash.
The nature of the spell even allowed her to keep the ash burning as long as she had resources to spend.
More condensed constructs would have much higher range but this way, she could cover large beings with Flare of Creation in mere moments, without having to get particularly close.
Flamethrower? Felicia asked. I guess that makes sense. Im happy for you! she exclaimed.
[Mage lvl 252]
You got a few levels too. No evolution? Ilea asked.
She shook her head. Sadly not. Two new spell options but nothing that seems more suited than what I already have.
Fair enough, Ilea said. Shall we then?
Whats the plan? Just explore? Felicia asked.
That too, Ilea said as she switched into her Baralia armor and blinked out into an empty alley. A being communicated with me through mind magic in there. I think meeting it should take priority.
You can talk to things with mind magic? Felicia asked.
I think most mind mages can initiate contact. Im not sure why it only communicated with me well, the others might have just not mentioned it. Bob might already be there, making a deal with it for whatever treasure their realm holds, Ilea said.
You know his actual name? Felicia asked. Makes sense now why he chooses to be called the Destroyer, she added and laughed.
Its not his real name but I think it fits. Dont get too close to the man, his reputation is based on reality, Ilea said.
Oh Im very much aware of that, Felicia said and giggled. Velamyr warned me plenty.
As much as I like the idea of fighting monsters in that new realm, our goal should still be to close the fissure somehow, Ilea said. The danger is simply too high with the mana leaking out. I cant imagine the damage a single high level Spirit could do to this city, let alone the human plains themselves.
Well figure something out, Felicia said as she touched her back. Dont worry.
Ilea sighed. Just let me brood in my annoyance.
Felicia shook her head. Its very unlike you. I understand. I really do. I nearly died today after all! But the ritual didnt kill the whole city so thats a start. Now we just have to figure out the next step, she said and smiled.
They reached the section of the wall where a dozen guards had sectioned off the area with a crude stone wall, shooing away interested civilians.
A large entrance had been dug into the wall, dense mana already seeping into the surroundings.
It was still nothing compared to the other side.
She simply displaced herself alongside Felicia into the hall.
A few people looked at them but as soon as she started healing some of the near frozen guards, their reception quickly changed.
They went through already.
Hector isnt here, she thought and looked around. Why isnt there a single healer present?
Where are the healers? she asked.
A warrior close to one fifty stepped up to her, his eyes had already been focused on the two newcomers before.
Who are you? And why are you speaking in Standard? This is our jurisdiction, he said.
Ilea turned away from the now mostly healed soldier, still touching his shoulder as she tried to examine the condition he was in. It just looks wrong mana poisoning maybe? No veins or anything but hes breathing heavily.
Dont worry. We wont be here for long. Your men should avoid going to the other side. The mana alone could kill them. Bring them out of here and try to contain the mana spread if that is in any way possible, she said.
He seemed unsure for a moment, glancing around at the few guards present.
If you attack me, I will injure you. So dont do it. We came to prevent the ritual that took place here. The one that wiped out four cities in your kingdom. Did you not call for healers because of the corpses here? she asked.
Who are you? the man asked.
Answer the question, Felicia said.
Their attire suggests theyre members of the Order, yes. And our mages confirmed that this was a ritual site. Destroyed now but their lives have fueled something. And now we have this gate in the middle of our city, he said, scratching the back of his head.
Smart man.
Ill try to close the gate if thats at all possible. You should be above level two hundred with high resistances to cold temperatures and the arcane if you want to go to the other side, Ilea said.
You wont claim it? the man asked.
Claim a realm? Ilea asked before she smiled. Im not the British Empire.
Comments
Markus
Claim a realm? I’m not the British Empire. :D
ThrasherGX
I think the problem Felicia has is that she remembers Ilea from before she was Lillith. She respects and admires her yes, but I she also knows how little time it has been since Ilea was weaker than her. This causes her to be somewhat dismissive since she doesnt see Ilea as significantly more knowledgeable than her. (Though Ilea almos certainly IS more knowledgeable about skills at this point)
Ivactheseeker
Which part of that is a magical construct?
sharkattack
So I guess the Force respec is actually happening. Since she'll probably go with an offensive skill to test first since they seem to level faster, here's an idea for Burst: Skill description seems to paint a picture of a persistent fire sphere like a miniature sun, perhaps it could evolve into a Body Enhancement fire aura type thing later. It could synergize with Heart of Cinder by rapidly charging it, so she can use one of her most powerful attacks more often. Like a 2 stage explosion hydrogen bomb.
sharkattack
I'm picturing it as push-pully/stretchy space instead of the supernaturally sharp space cracks of xianxia stories. If you try to grab the portal edges, your fingers would appear to stretch in space. Or if you're caught mid-portal as it closes, you'd be pushed out one side instead of cut in half. Unless you're too large, then you get torn in half like that giant squid that attacked Ravenhall. Which sounds like an interesting way you could use Displacement 3rd, come to think of it...
sharkattack
Seems like an obvious oversight, maybe it's static (like Blink's 3rd)?
Alsia
You know, if I were Felicia and got direct advice from Lilith about how one particular skill would immensely benefit me, I would make it my number one top priority to sort out once this ordeal is over with. One does not scoff resistance training advice from Lilith. Someone that powerful has no need to divulge information that others are tight-lipped about, so when they do, you really should do what they recommend. Especially if it helps one of your main problems with your class.
kjoatmon
Does this imply that Cless can claim the reals, as she is a citizen of the British Empire? Oh! Wait. She needs a flag. Can't claim things without a flag.
Connor Bruha
Thanks for the chapter!
Matthew D
I had the same thought. The reason for the safety of humans is because high level monsters find the human plains uncomfortable due to low mana density. If that increases they obviously might travel to the human plains
Rincewind314
She might not be keeping that close of a count. Knowing that another point is coming soonish, but not count to know exactly how far away.
On re-read, I’m not sure why Illea isn’t advancing one of her two available resistances to the 3rd tier. She mentions her one point is the “emergency” but she’s only 5 skill levels from getting another one available (1795 -> 1800). Unlocking a new resistance to 3rd tier will require a fight where she gets some sort of resistance related achievement - which means she’s almost 100% guaranteed to get some more general skill levels before she has a chance to use it. Grabbing 3rd tier mana resistance would help her against the Astral Spirits, and would let her continue to level that along with Astral and Death resistances when she goes back in, meaning more general skill levels overall.
Justin "Johnist" Johanson
Wouldn't there have been a 3rd tier general point for Devour Resistance reaching Tier 2, not to mention all the other skill levels obtained?
Ilea better remember to go back and get Mana Drain Resistance when she can!
Dominic French
I also think the increasing magic density from the portal on the human planes could attract some big bad monsters and possibly other sentient creatures. Someone once said(I forgot her name(barbarian lizard chick from the descent) that the only reason the humans kept the human plains was due to it being crappy land with low Mana density.
Dominic French
Wonder if the portal is dangerous, what happens if someone goes in only and clips themselves on the top or something. Is it sharp? Can it be opened inside of Giant monsters and mess them up with only pieces of their body going through? Can she let something part way through and close it kind of like how Thor killed that dragon except hers is even more dangerous since it is invisible to everyone who can't detect it
Adam Roundfield
I just realized that the entire "human plains" is all of maybe fifty major cities, each with less than a million people. So at most there are a hundred million humans in this world, as far as anyone seems to know. Ilea needs to get with the realm gate network and expand the reach of her burgeoning megacorporation. Maybe Earth will actually do really well (less apocalypse and more "magic humanity fuck yeah") as the Mana expands into it through the realm crack that Ilea fell through, and that will be her next captive market...
Straven
Got to say I love the little systems messages, that thing for darn sure has some attitude! Thanks for the chapter.
Adam Roundfield
Ilea takes more of a Dutch East India Company approach to things.
Strand did that in ravenhall to grow the shadow hand, and he already knew how to use those devices in the demon realm, he don't need a ritual to accomplish that anymore
I was hoping we’d get to see Illea pick her new skill to replace Force, but it probably makes more sense to make sure she’s not fighting off an invasion first. I’m really torn between Phaseshift and Shrouding Cloak. Phaseshift seems like the definite winner against monsters. It’s too expensive to use continuously but it could help her survive against big attacks or alpha strikes… and we all know at some point Illea is going to challenge a Dragon before she’s ready, so she needs all the help she can get there. While Shrouding Cloak does have obvious utility and significant offensive and defensive options if she can use it in combat (interfering with enemy precog, running away, making direct attacks miss)... the main reason I hope she considers it is the Golden Lily. Once they get a report on her and realize how insanely hard it would be to kill her, the next obvious step - if they go to hostilities - would be to take hostages. Since we’ve been told repeatedly that Space magic is rare and hard to defend against, demonstrating that stealth ability should make the Lily leery of messing with her and push them towards cooperation, since Lillith the Invisible Assassin is pretty insanely terrifying. And if they do decide to go after her friends, it lets her track them down while reducing the chance that they’ll kill those hostages because they see her coming.
Max Scherer
that last comment killed me. I cant XD
I think the "body refuses to be eaten" is the special effect, although it seems like oddly vague phrasing. I was kind of disappointed by the description as well.
2nd Tier Devour resistance didn’t give any special effects. The first 2nd Tier that didn’t, I think...
Luciaron
Maybe the mind thing will be similar to what she met in the descent
Rhain
Love that last line thanks for the constant chapters!!!
Andrew
Thank you!
tibbish
Yup. Anything mana/hp/stam drain resist is a super important thing to get because Ilea's main tactic is to outlast her opponents (who are often stronger than her but lack healing/regen capabilities) and if she gets low on any of those stats then she is dead reeeal quick.
HereComesTheBoom
She really needs to work on Sentinel Huntress, even her third class skills are catching up to it.
Slicedtoad
3rd tier mana drain resist is probably a good idea. As long as she has mana, she can't die. A swarm of enemies with mana drain could be a decent threat to her.
Chopper
The high mana consumption makes me think it could only be used for what was mentioned in the chapter. I was kinda hoping a higher stage of displacement would allow her to dismember weaker enemies though..
sharkattack
Man, that upkeep on Displacement's 3rd is steep. I thought it'd work like a teleport trap with regular casts acting as a trigger.
Dominic French
Grind time, she needs and said she wants to level up skills, damn and she also has some pretty enticing third tier general skills she needs to grind for lol
tibbish
needs muuuuuuuuuuuuuuch lower cooldown times to do that but yeah its possible if she does
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter. Plant a flag. I claim this realm in the name of frozen treats, now get me my snowcone.
MountainFox
So with the portal Ilea technically has 3 blinks? And the portal ability is too deceptively simple. If she faces giant opponents and lures their head into the portal and close it midway... heheh...
Julien Fellegara
Her blink is her only way to come back. So, why put it on a realm who can be closed at any time?
Vegetables
Ilea should since she's sitting at home drawing pictures of her all the time to see what she's up to...
SoggyBiscuit
Even if they find a way to close the gate, I'm really hoping Ilea would take her time to level her Astral and Death resistances to the end of the 2nd tier and maybe get to lvl 400, shouldn't take her more than a month if she grinds like a madwoman. The 400th level could be the threshold for tier 4 skills, after all, ya never know. Edit: or she might just change the return point of her Blink to the new realm, after all the numerous high level monsters would probably be enough to get her to 500 at some point.
thkiw
illea gained a portal gun skill. nice. can she cause something to fall forever, gain momentum then hurl it back I wonder?
Garbled Sounds
Even with displacement, blink is still too useful to drop. I dont think she would drop blink any time soon if ever.
Michael scott
Thanks for the chapter. Yes, she definitely needs more 3rd tier general skill points. She should fight the horde at least once more just for the general skill increases.
Relissi
Heh. That last line
Vegetables
Oh and thx for the chapter :)
Vegetables
I thought it likely that Ilea was going to be able to drop blink soon and get some other azarinth power, but still nothing to replace the 3rd tier teleport beacon... just don't really see it happening with other space powers. I really doubt phase shift will do it, but who knows, maybe it will allow phasing between dimensions or something.
Robert Mullins
No one expects the British Inquisition.
OIS
Yay! Finally some more Ilea!
