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Chapter 470 Reinforcements
🕑 Added 2020-04-25 12:08:32 +0000 UTCAuthor's note: Hey all. New chapter up and more hopefully next week :). Stay safe and have a nice weekend.
PDF/EPUB: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32241245
Chapter 470 Reinforcements
There she is, one of the Shadows said after waving her over. Lilith, savior of Riverwatch. Seems like the threat was exaggerated.
Or you are underestimating her, another one said, amusement obvious in his voice. Still very stupidly. He seemed to be grinning, despite the mask covering his face.
The man who had talked first growled. He was at least twice as large as Ilea, plus another Ilea in the form of muscle put on top of it all. His armor too should have weighed as much as a car. Savage, scratched and hastily repaired in parts.
My offer stands, we can do it right here, right now, the second one said, magic flowing around him.
Ilea smirked, identifying the bunch. Warriors and mages in their mid two hundreds. Claire certainly hadnt underestimated the threat, that much was sure. The two men who talked were both close to two fifty.
Stand down, Miller, a woman said, her voice calm and confident. She was smaller than Ilea, a fine light blue dress covering her slender form. Long raven hair fell down her back, her mouth and nose free but the upper part of her face covered by a simple black mask.
Ilea looked at her eyes, feeling the magic in the area through her sphere. Hmm, she thought.
[Mage lvl 285]
The woman was by far the highest level individual nearby, aside from herself.
The brute man shut up, not even grumbling as he visibly relaxed.
You too Duncan. Let the man be, one of the men she had recognized said. It is good to meet you here. Lilith now, is it? he said.
I suppose it is. And here I thought Shadows were secretive with their names, Ilea said, glancing at the woman when she was done talking.
Varren, the man said. We met briefly nearby and back in Ravenhall. It isnt surprising to see you have yet again advanced in power.
Names can be said without being given, another man she had recognized said. Charles. We met near Virilya. During the demon invasion.
You know her? the woman said, likely their squad leader.
Ilea assumed Varren was the leader of the other one.
Yes, Im Petra if you have forgotten. No offense taken of course, names are annoying after all, she said with a smile. She was the one coming to Virilya. One of the reasons Ravenhall is how it is today, and not a demon infested ruin.
Ilea smiled at the waiting group of Riverwatch officials, unsure if to interrupt. Alistair let them talk. Probably a smart choice.
The magic I feel around you Im intrigued, she said to the woman.
I have heard a lot about you, Lilith. And your resistance training. It seems, excessive, the woman said. Yet now that we seem to have traveled here for nothing, perhaps a small bout would not be such a bad distraction.
I agree, Miller said, the massive man crouching as his magic flared.
Ilea looked at him and hissed, Monster Hunter flowing through the group and a few onlookers. She smiled at the fact that not all of them were frozen. Everyone had felt the power.
Millers eyes turned a little red when he could move again, the parts of his face that werent obscured by steel distorting into a vicious grin.
Not exaggerated at all, it seems, Varren said. We have the matter of discussing our mission with the local governor however. I suggest we postpone getting to know each other.
You are crazy, I love it! Petra said as she slapped Ileas shoulder.
Varren turned away and greeted Alistair.
It wont take long. We will receive payment from Ravenhall. Miller, some patience, the woman said.
We could play outside the city, Ilea suggested, looking at the woman.
She seemed to consider. He isnt needed in the talks. Let him live, if you would be so kind.
Im a healer, Ilea said.
Good to see you, Charles said, waving at her.
Ilea nodded. Can you fly? she asked the brute.
Flying is for birds. Do I look like a bird? he grumbled.
No, you lack both the beauty and grace, she said and spread her wings. She grabbed the man with a few of her limbs, lifting him off the ground.
She expected a lot of weight and was still surprised. This creature, whatever it was, could be used as a projectile to breach even the walls of Virilya. Ilea wondered if she could even lift two of him. Probably not. An impressive feat for his actual size.
They flew out over the western forest, Ilea unceremoniously dropping the man a few minutes later.
He twirled in the air and landed like a bowling ball smashing away a few trees. Not quite a Strike but she had little training launching large men into forests.
She landed ten meters away, watching him stand up.
Level two fifty. Same as some of the Dark Ones. Lets see what he can do, she thought with a grin on her face.
Impressive. I doubted your strength. I still do. You slaughtered a whole army? They must have been weak. I could have done the same, he said, his muscles straining as some of the steel of his armor bent.
Metal mage? No seems to be pure anger.
Im sure you could have, she said and meant it. Eight Shadows would have shredded through that low level army just like she had. She wondered if a few of them would have died, considering the lack of healer. Harken had prepared well, pooling the higher leveled officers together to face her with the ranged support of an army. Now that she thought about it, she wasnt so sure anymore.
She had to admit that she was quite different from an average Shadow. Neither that woman nor Miller, the man standing in front of her seemed very average however.
Lets leave stories and speculations for others. Show me, she said and used Monster Hunter again, spreading her arms in a casual gesture.
This man was dangerous. To most others that was. To her, he looked like a suitable distraction until dinner time.
The magic around him exploded and he shot forward, a simple brute charge.
Ilea didnt care to dodge or blink. She was merely interested in how much damage he could deal.
Miller closed the distance in an impressive time for his size. He threw in a feint when he got close and grappled her, twirling before he slammed her down into the ground.
He didnt let up, rolling with her in tow before he closed his legs behind her back, coming to a stop.
Ilea watched as he slammed his fists down on her, his fingers shooting out to squash her eyes. His strikes looked erratic and wild but he was aiming for weak points quite efficiently. Throat, eyes and nose before he moved on to her torso.
She was surprised some of the damage actually moved past her armor of ash. Waves of Mana intrusion. Interesting. His aim is quite good too. If his fingers werent as fat, he could have gotten my eyes too.
Not getting a reaction, Miller moved on to brute force, slower attacks slamming into her head as waves of mana flowed through her.
The damage was enough to make her use her healing from time to time. Her bones didnt give but her throat and some of her organs were mildly damaged. An impressive feat for someone a hundred levels below her. His hits seemed to get stronger too. Not enough to change anything in his favor however.
Ilea interrupted one of his blows with her hand, stopping his fist dead in its track. Are you done? she asked with a smirk behind her armor.
He twirled and threw her into a line of trees.
She used a few of her ashen limbs to avoid them, using the momentum to sling herself around and back at him.
Miller was waiting, his fist moving towards her approaching chest with all the power he could muster.
Ilea answered in kind, their fists slamming together as she came to a stop. She could hear the satisfying crunch of his fingers breaking. His arm however remained.
Hmm, is that all you have? he asked, apparently amused at the broken bones.
Ilea proceeded to dance around his defense, dodging his attempts to grab or punch her as she aimed for his knees, elbows, wrists and shoulders. Her wings and high speed countered his reach and finesse, her precognition overwhelming his technique entirely.
In a few seconds she had broken eight of his bones, the mans legs giving out under him as he tried to step back. His arms unable to move as well as they had before.
Anybody else would be on the ground but he can still fight.
She had used her attacks without mana intrusion, trying to give him a fighting chance. A few more moves bent his legs into shapes that could not physically carry him anymore. And still he tried to resist, now on his knees, flailing to get her.
Stop it, or Ill move on to your face, she said with a sweet voice, stopping in front of him as she let his uncoordinated attacks slam into her armor.
I admit, you are stronger than I thought, the man said.
Ilea smiled.
But this is nothing. You are barely at my level, he said and grappled her, trying to use his weight against her as he brought them both to the ground.
He hugged her close and proceeded to headbutt her as hard as he could.
Neither of their skulls relented for a good minute, the dull sound of his skull colliding with her armor the only thing audible in the small clearing.
Millers arms suddenly went limp, as did his legs. His eyes rolled back as he fell unconscious, the repeated trauma to his head too much.
Okay, Ilea murmured and wiggled out of his hold. She stepped aside and used an ashen limb to heal the man.
He fights like a wrestler. With his weight and the power behind his punches, this guy can take on creatures much higher than his level. As long as he is larger in size.
She was a little disappointed at the lack of fast regeneration or health steal. Though she hadnt disabled her resistances, she hadnt felt a drain.
The mans bones snapped back into place and he woke up with a gasp.
FUCK! he shouted, looking around before his eyes found the woman casually sitting on a nearby rock, an ashen limb connected to him.
What did you do? he asked in a growl.
You hit my head, with yours. Repeatedly, Ilea explained.
He put a hand to his chin in a contemplative manner. You have hard bones. But just because I lost consciousness doesnt mean you bested me.
Of course not, Ilea said, nodding with understanding.
Then what are we waiting for? he asked, slamming his fists together with a wide grin.
I like his spirit, Ilea thought and giggled. Yes, lets continue.
The two enjoyed twenty minutes of sweet bone breaking and tree destroying brawling until the others arrived.
Ilea was just in the process of training her discus skills, twirling her body with the man in tow before she sent him crashing into a line of nearby trees, two of them splitting like twigs before he rolled to a stop behind.
Too many of his bones were broken to let him stand. He instead clawed his way back to her with one half working arm, a bone sticking out as blood pooled around him. His eyes were fixated on her as he growled.
He really didnt exaggerate, Charles said as he chuckled and floated down to join her. Now this, is a battlefield.
He likes to destroy trees, Ilea suggested.
It was you who threw him, Varren said in a dry tone.
You must have fought for a while to get him to this state, the squad leader said.
Ilea nodded, not mentioning that she had worked him down to this broken state fifteen times already. She learned about his moves during the time, the leg he favored and the feints he preferred. The heavy brain damage she continued to deliver on his mind prevented him from doing the same.
Or he simply wasnt a fast learner.
Lets pause for a while, honey, she said and crouched near the man, healing him with one of her limbs.
Howd it go? she asked, not looking back at the others.
They had come with a mission but Shadows were quite independent. She wouldnt hesitate to put them into their place if they decided to go against Riverwatch.
There is no need for hostility, Lilith, the woman said. We simply received a report and a part of our payment for coming in the first place. And an offer to stay for a while, which we declined. Neither me nor Varren deemed it necessary to remain.
Thats good to hear, Ilea said and helped the massive man up, his bones back where they should be.
Lets call it a draw. In my favor, he said.
You did well on that last round, Ilea said and nodded. The crawling mess he had been really made her shake in fear. Close to the Ascended. Very close.
None of her skills had leveled during the ordeal but it had certainly been entertaining. And sometimes that was more than enough.
What are your plans then? Still up for that bout? Ilea asked, looking at the group.
I wouldnt say no, Duncan said, summoning a dagger that he twirled around his fingers.
No dagger resistance out there, she thought, looking back at the woman.
We have another assignment east of here, she said and looked at Miller. But I suppose it has been a while since I met my match, she said, a sly smile on her lips. Her black eyes seemed to sparkle for a split second before they returned to normal.
At two eighty, there are plenty of matches out there, lady. Maybe you should leave these plains once in a while, Ilea thought but didnt say anything.
Varren nodded. There was a monster infestation reported north of Kroll. I suppose we can stay for the show, if you dont mind. Since the last tournament was so rudely interrupted.
I dont care, Ilea said.
The woman shrugged.
What do you guys have? Any interesting magic? I pay ten gold for a new resistance, Ilea said.
The two woman in Varrens squad looked at each other. Neither of them had talked so far.
Fire mostly. I doubt you lack that, one of them said, giggling.
I use wind and sand not rare either but perhaps? the other one whispered, the sound traveling through the area with magic.
Is she using wind for that?
Cool voice thing youve got going on but I have all that. You can join the arena in Ravenhall if you want to earn some silver, she said and returned her attention to the others.
My magic is mostly arcane, Varren said.
Void, but its the daggers that deal the damage, Duncan said, once more twirling his weapons around. I would still like a bite, if you would indulge me.
Ilea knew that Petra used lava and Charles light. That only left Miller and the woman whose name she had yet to learn.
Ladies first, Ilea said and spread her wings, ascending to reach the same height as the woman.
I wont hold back, considering your reputation, she said.
Oh? Please dont, Ilea said as politely as she could.
She wondered if the Shadow could reach the same heights Feyrair had displayed. Somehow she doubted whatever she had could top a dragon transformation.
The others moved aside when a powerful pulse of mana rushed out from the woman. Mana Ilea had never felt before.
Please be something cool!
Ilea watched as the womans pupils changed from black to something else. A deep void interspersed with specks of light like the night sky.
Magic manifested in the form of hovering shapes, vaguely resembling arrows. They brimmed with energy, colored in shades of red, blue, and purple. It looked like the light around the Shadow dimmed as her power manifested.
The arrows rotated around her in a complicated pattern as she lifted one of her arms. A tiny speck of light formed in front of her outstretched palm, the same sly smile on her lips.
Ilea felt the attack coming and the damage it would deal. The decision was obvious. Disable armor, get fucking roasted!
A beam of dark light came and went, washing over her body. She felt the various aspects of the magic, its complicated form. At first she thought it arcane in nature but there was heat too, something that felt like space magic, and finally something else. Something new.
She reformed her armor without actually using the skill, instead reconstructing the shape with created ash.
Interesting, she said with a smile, realizing that the casual expression on the woman had changed.
Really? You really thought that would be enough to take me out? No wonder youre that arrogant. Well then, let me teach you a few lessons. After Ive gotten a resistance to whatever space mumbo jumbo youre throwing around.
Ilea would enjoy playing around a little before showing this young Shadow the dread of Lilith.
Comments
BeepBoop
Tickling is (a watered down version of) pain. So either mind or illusion mages could make you feel tickled. On the other hand, pain resistance could counteract it.
Barrett Hess
Love the chapter! Thanks!
Endoria
I would prefer to not see any more filler chapter. I get it, Ilea is super powerful, but it is getting old really fast. This chapter has exactly 0% story relevant content, 0% character progression. It is 100% fluff and to be honest, I'd prefer a rewrite of this chapter on Tuesday with actual content over getting chapter 471.
fbt
I think it was a little rushed. E.G. "“Good to see you,” Charles said, waving at her."..she totally blows this off, along with several less overt social cues. It's actually fairly rude, but I think it was just rushed. A simple response or two of welcome or even acknowledgement of any of the several people who know her and made overtures would completely change the tone. Why is she completely ignoring folks she knows who say hi? A nod would be enough, or "hey dude" and a wave...Similarly, there are a few bits (who's talking? was this sarcasm? are we all buds here?) that could be dramatically more focused with just a word or two tweaked. That said, it's G's story, and I love it overall, and writing is an iterative process. :) I was wondering if perhaps a conscious style change was in process; it was a bit more breathless and sparse. That said, no matter the details, I'm in awe of the steady wordcount; yay you! :)
It would also be useful to investigate the soul.
David C
Random question, but what ever happened to the Armament of Trials she got from Goliath? Seems like training with that could be super useful to prepare for a new class.
Okay so, this chapter is clearly not as well polished as your usual. That's fine. That's what patreon is for in a way. But I hope you take the multitude of confused comments and go back over this chapter. If your patreon as a majority seem to be this confused, you can bet more casual readers will be lol. Thanks for the chapter, keep up the hard work.
Nate
I... Think that line about the ascended was sarcastic, but in text you *really* have to be clear about it or it just gets confusing fast.
Pierre Steiner
Yeah I was a bit surprised as well, it doesn't match at all. This guy is 250 smth? If what is meant is that his stubbornness is scary I find it kind of laughable in the face of the Ascended. Oh boo hoo I'm the big bad low leveled musclebrain that can't do shit vs the big bad world threat that can slice you up in seconds
fbt
I didn't understand the following bit at all, seemed very at odds with what was happening, yet was internal dialog and didn't make sense as sarcasm either "The crawling mess he had been really made her shake in fear. Close to the Ascended. Very close." Maybe it was intended to be internalized sarcasm and was just roughly written? argh, half my comment got deleted. While the action stayed at the friendly sparring level, the tone was a bit more aggressive (e.g. "She wouldn’t hesitate to put them into their place if they decided to go against Riverwatch."). Shadows haven't generally been shown to be random bullies, so it's unclear why her thoughts went this way. Beyond the testosterone-poisoned guys (which was reasonable) the whole thing seemed cast as closer to everyone expecting it to go sideways than you'd expect for professionals there for the same reason from the same org. Idk, maybe just how I'm reading it. More adversarial tone than usual btwn shadows, or from Ilea.
tibbish
Ilea should learn Tickle Magic (totally exists guys, ~toootally~) as a general skill and use it on stone stubborn opponents like the muscle guy in this chapter. You can bend and break guys like that over your knee and they'll keep coming thanks to their T3+ [Perverse Masochism] skill but tickle them until they pee and they'll buckle like a belt and flee!! With all those tentacles her Tickle Magic would be nigh unstoppable!!
tibbish
Sometimes even the heroes lose the fight against such fell villains as the Dreaded Cliffhanger
tibbish
Ilea was pretty strong even than vs most other people though. If he can mostly equal her combat capabilities at the same level that is impressive.
tibbish
You must've been misreading. The disagreement wasn't over if there were ANY people who were close to 300 but whether there -MUST- be -LOTS- of humans who were 300+ simply because they can live longer. It was already known that there were a few Shadows who were in the high 200's. But that is only a few, most were ~200-250 or so. And the Shadows seem to be some of the highest leveled humans around in the Southern Human lands. The real issue isn't whether or not they can find high levelled monsters to kill. They all know which way is North if they really want that. Its whether or not they're willing to risk a high chance of death levelling solo with monsters the same or higher level than they are. Again that is something that most nearly everyone view as suicidal and insane, even among the Shadows, which should tell you a whole lot about the chances of pulling it off. If most of the people who are the high level daredevils see it as too risky and dangerous very very very very few others will ever try it. The few that do are probably considerably less sane and sociable than Ilea is too.
Atlas Dwarf
I don't think so, the last level she got in Void Magic Resistance was 2nd lvl 16.
lenkite
Also the fighter wasn't all that impressive for his level. Ilea at his level was already solo challenging skilled Monsters (the expert swordsmen) at level 250-260 who were double her levels at the time. He is a grab-and-smash guy without brains. Freaking dumb if he thinks that was a draw in his favour.
lenkite
So, there exists high level people who are close to 300, unlike what a LOT of folks were saying earlier. And this Shadow (I didn't get her name) is supposed to be young. My wild guess is that there are 100 humans at or very close to 300 across the human plains. (It could even be more, since we have only seen a portion of human territories). The only reason humans don't get higher is that they don't get to see higher-levelled monsters in the plains too much. Unless they travel to skull ranked dungeons. And entering those without having a healer is a dice toss for death.
Zarik0
so true she got her what 2 time? maybe 3 time when she can get 7-8 free new resist her in 1-2 days and we have the big skeleton too in that dungeon
Alsia
Thanks for the chapter! Can't wait to see what the new resistance is. Side note, has she gotten Void Resistance to Tier 3 yet?
Ivactheseeker
I think Rhaegar wanted to keep the "cool act" so the one person that gets mentioned all the time didn't get a name (the lv 285 woman), but that made things way more confusing.
Chad Hagner
Oooh I wonder what the resistance will be
Ilea really needs to head back to that golem dungeon for a few days before she hits 350, an additional 7 resistances at 2/20 should be a good boost even if they are pretty obscure. It was Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz, Diamond, Blight and Vine I think.
Grond (James)
I have to say, it was really confusing who was talking or doing what, especially when everyone was getting introduced. Is Petra one of the squad leaders? Is she level 285? Or is that the weird magic woman?
Problem is that she has been fighting monsters whose level she can't identify, possibly even triple marks that she was able to kill. Therefore even if she can't identify Ilea's level she isn't that worried - she has one-shot much higher levels than herself already. She doesn't expect Ilea to be different, as no other human she has faced has been different in that regard. Also there may still be a bit of subconacious underestimating due to the Healer tag.
Sean Ulrich
Chaos Magic... Chaos Manipulation... CHAOS CONTROL!
Michael scott
Thanks for the chapter. 285 is pretty good considering she stays on the plains. But we have seen some dungeons are high level.
Emma Carlin
I'm thinking it might be some form of radiation.
Seb
Maybe he met her but she never met him? Like maybe he saw her fighting during the demon invasion or something?
Albedo's Ahoge
Mahou Shojo Shadow!
Frank Pisauro
Thanks for the chapter. Got to say that it felt like half a chapter though.
Albedo's Ahoge
It would great to see Shadows getting stronger. 300 minimum is really required in this region.
Albedo's Ahoge
Love the spirit of that new giant guy. Also loved the sweet bone breaking love play they were doing.
Rip Woodham
Thanks for the early chapter. I love morning releases. I think Varren is a mistake. That Rhaegar forgot Viper was briefly said to have been the one she met in Riverwatch. It was only a few lines. Maybe easier to take that out than redo this, I don't know. Anyway, there was no Varren before this chapter. And I thought the "it isn't surprising to see you have yet again advanced in power" line was annoying. Also, this introduction was really hard to follow.... And additionally so was the last part when she took the damage.... someone was finally able to explain it to me though (edit). Courtesy of TroubleFait: They saw the "armor" getting destroyed, Ilea "getting fucking roasted" and then the "armor" reforming as she healed. (tho first "armor" doesn't need quotes, rather destroyed does)
foldedcorners
the dreaded cliff hanger. i have a feeling this shadow is annoyed ilea didn't remember her name. some people are proud like that
carebear90
How is Miller still alive? With a mentality like his, I wonder how he didn't die long before reaching 200. Or did he damage his brain somewhere along the line by all the head butting? But shouldn't that have gotten better when Ilea healed him, if that were the case?
Matthew D
Celestial magic? Also would be amazing to see Ilea challenge all of them at the same time and stomp them
Chopper
ding! You have faced many different types of magic but this is something else entirely. But still, you withstood and walked away from the care bear stare...
BookDragonling
Dang, now I have to wait for Lilith to show off how badass she is. Always fun seeing arrogant/ignorant people put in their place
When did she meet Varren?
Han Pol
and it should round Ilea's resistances up to 50 different types.
Max Scherer
Ohhh next chapter will be cool. Every new Shadow should have a bout with lilith at some point to destroy the arrogance that builds up at high levels XD
That might be so in our world, in this one the suns could be living monsters for all we know. Like the one in the Taleen dungeon which was floded with Patreons and Centurions were she teleported, there was a gigantic sphere in the roof that produced light that was a huge Taleen machine monster, probably quadrupled mark since the Taleen Patreons are triple marks.
J03MAN
Radiation magic?
Joshua Little
Sailor Moon?
She using Ultima Magic from Final Fantasy?
Robert Mullins
Aww. They think they're strong. How cute.
Michael Weis
There should be fission and fusion magic. Those are the processes behind thermo nuclear and sun, respectively.
Svensonsen
I need more😠😠😠😠
Thanks for the chap! New res on the way is always funny
Vin Reisling
Star magic from this girl maybe? Thanks for the chapter!
Joshua Little
Thanks for the chapter.
Max R
aww yoss
