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Chapter 312 Unreasonable Demands
🕑 Added 2019-09-26 17:01:12 +0000 UTCAuthor's note Sept 26th: Hey all, hope you're doing alright. Got sick yesterday :(. Already a bit better though. Let me know what you think. Oh and check out the changes to 309 and especially 310 (or don't, I'm not your supervisor).
Cheers
Chapter 312 Unreasonable Demands
It was a weird atmosphere when they landed on top of a building near the massive gate. Ranks of dark ones stood in formation, mages behind as barricades were created. Weapons at the ready, they waited. The gates remained closed. Lucas had moved to the very front, none of the people stopping him. You think he can do anything? She asked Maro who was standing next to her.
I doubt it. I like the way he thinks, I really do. Admirable. Depends on the enemy forces I suppose and what their goal here is. If they even break through the guardians positioned outside. I dont know much about the political situation as well as the Feynor.
Will you fight them? Terok asked, constantly switching his attention between the gate, the dark ones below and the two people next to him.
Maro didnt reply, simply focusing on the gates. Ilea wasnt sure either. The elves had left no survivors, going as far as eating dead humans. She didnt know what would happen if Baralia took Virilya but some of the soldiers had killed civilians without restrain, others had ignored them. Lets see what the Feynor are like. The only thing she knew was that once those gates opened, chaos would ensue.
They will attack us regardless. Those dragon worshiping cunts are ruthless. Terok commented.
Have you fought them then? Maro asked, the dwarf shaking his head, Then lets see where this leads.
Ilea sat down a moment later, her legs hanging freely. Came here to have some time off from fighting and all I did so far was fighting. She smiled, at least it hadnt been Taleen or undead knights. And she had some food, though the shopping was underwhelming.
How the fuck are you guys so calm? Were all going to die , Terok looked around, as if he was trying to find an escape route.
Maro glanced at Ilea but turned his head forward again. At least I get a warning this time. With all the other attacks it came out of nowhere. She was the one to answer. Just stick with us, youll survive.
Probably. Maro added.
Ilea smiled, Probably. She repeated. It was true of course. Terok would be safer as far away from the gates as possible but the dwarf was at level 223 already, higher than most of the dark ones standing below. It simply depended on how powerful and numerous the attackers were. The same was true for Ilea and Maro and while she didnt know his reasons, she refused to ignore an event like this happening close by. Ilea would be standing there even if she was the only one inside the dungeon.
The pounding on the gates became louder, different spells and explosions audible in a muffled tone. At least thirty of them. If we assume only attack mages are trying to get through we should expect at least eighty of them. Maro commented.
They shouldnt stand so close together. Ilea noted, looking at the dark ones gathered in the big area before the gates. The house they were on stood around two hundred meters further back, the sounds audible thanks to the silence of the defenders. Ilea could feel them through her sphere, at least those standing close enough. Theyre terrified.
Course they are, their home is about to be sacked.
Tell me dwarf, what happens to settlements the Feynor attack? Maro asked.
They usually dont leave anything behind. An affront to their own culture. At least thats what everyone says.
The king nodded and walked to the back of the house, holding out his hand before bones started dropping down to the alley below.
So you will fight? Ilea asked.
There might be no choice. As much as the old man believes there to be one. He replied.
One last explosion bent the gates inwards, the torches and glinting reptile eyes reflecting the light indicated quite a bit more than the eighty attackers Maro had suggested. A single one walked inside, the collective holding their breath as he approached. A small figure compared to most of the people in Lisburg, not taller than Ilea herself. Squinting her eyes, she could make out some details. It reminded her of a lizardman, the tail much shorter and where they were greenish, these people were going towards yellow, gold or brown.
The head was completely different, more dragon like than anything else. Even the drakes had lacked some of the features the Feynor sported, the amount of horns the most prominent one. The reptile looked dangerous, powerful, its spear glinting in golden light. It wore light armor, open in several places to reveal scales it likely deemed appropriate in defensive capability. It was too far away for Ilea to identify of course but the sheer confidence it exuded after entering the dungeon had her guess its level pretty high.
Welcome noble warrior, to the Vineyard Caves. May we , Lucas was interrupted by the Feynor.
Your kind is not welcome here. Do not speak for those dreadful monsters. It raised a hand and continued, addressing not the elder but the people of Lisburg, Surrender now and you shall die without pain, I swear on the dragons of the high peaks. Be returned to where you came from, released from this world you do not understand.
Negotiations braking down. Ilea commented, Maro snorting next to her. The people around them were getting more and more terrified with each word the Feynor spoke. The sheer arrogance and contempt was damn near graspable even from the distance.
Thats how you keep the moral high ground after slaughtering a people. Maro said, his magic spreading behind him, Ilea glancing back.
Terok, if shit goes south, lead people to the arena and barricade yourself in with them. Ilea said to the dwarf who obviously didnt want to stay there. He nodded quickly, not even glancing at her as he stared at the torchlight quietly swaying in the dark tunnel beyond.
These people are peaceful, unwilling to take part in your war. Neither do they encroach on your territory. Leave this place, you are unwanted here. Lucas spoke loudly.
The Feynor nodded, You shall die with them old man. He shouted something in a hissing language before a storm broke loose. Dozens of the Feynor appeared beyond the gate, spells started flying in as defensive barriers and walls were erected by the Dark ones who quickly spread out, rushing into houses or behind cover as the first spells impacted. The speed and precision of both the attackers and defenders was a marvelous and terrifying thing to watch. Ilea glanced a wooden wall forming where Lucas had stood, now obscured by rising smoke, explosions and fire.
Ice rained down on them as Maro raised a shield above. Terok looked at Ilea and she just nodded, the dwarf vanishing right after. She watched as Maro lifted his hand, a beam of black opaque energy slamming into a flying ball of fire, the thing exploding in mid air. More and more of the creatures rushed in, hunting down the dark ones still remaining near the gate. Four or five to one, they broke through their defenses and cut into their armor, skin or ethereal bodies.
What are they doing? She asked as she stood up, her ashen armor forming as a series of dark orbs slammed into her. Maro stood behind his barrier as she felt his magic intensify, the noises of bone on stone audible behind. Many of the dark ones were already fleeing or repositioning at this point, not thirty seconds after the initial breakthrough.
The gift for surrendering was a painless death. There is no rush when they hold the only entrance. Maro suggested.
Ilea shook her head, a Feynor appearing in her sphere before he lunged at her, barbed spear in hand. Stepping to the side, she grabbed his neck and squeezed.
[Warrior lvl 159]
He thrashed and clawed at her armor, spear continuously slammed away by a limb of ash before she slammed another one down his throat, exiting on his back after severing the spine. The creature went limp in her hand before she let go. A skeleton moved up next to her, grabbing the body before bringing it to Maro. So youre going all out? She asked.
Theyre already burning down the city. If anything I owe it to Lisburg to stop these ridiculous creatures. What are you going to do?
Ilea watched as six of them taunted a downed dark one, blood seeping out from his severed legs as they kicked at him. She noted that it was one of the two warriors that had stood behind the idiot in the arena. Dunno, Improvise I guess. Oh man, this is going to be a mess. She didnt wait for Maros reply, blinking twice to reach the group of Feynor. Identifying them quickly, she noted the highest leveled one was just below two fifty.
Healer , One of them spat when she stood above the dying dark one, a tendril of ash sending mana into him to stabilize his body.
Yes. Why dont you just finish him off. Theres no reason to torture him.
They are not of your kind? Why do you care human? One of them spat.
When two others moved to attack, her limbs rushed out, piercing four of them while one managed to deflect it. Her ash extended further than she had moved the limbs before, a change from her evolutions she hadnt tested so far. Pushing further, her limbs punched out of their heads before retracting again. The Feynor took a step back. Look around you. Do you think beasts would build houses, sell trinkets? Why dont you stop this and fuck off? No further killings necessary. Ilea knew of course that they would ignore it, she had killed four of them right here.
You will die and so will they, in pain, suffering, wishing you were , Ilea appeared behind him and punched the back of his head, bones cracking as he shot forward and impacted hard on the ground. She followed up with an ashen limb cutting into the wound and smashing his brain.
She avoided the strike from the last survivor of the group, the one with the highest level. His weapon was clad in crystals. When the blade rushed at her, she just let it hit, her Azarinth Fighting informing her about the impact.
It bit into her ash before she grabbed his arm, her limbs cutting into his body with quite a bit more difficulty than the others. Still the end result was the same, his limbs ripped off before head was pierced. Ilea ripped out the blade that had cut surprisingly deep into her ash considering the kingsguard hadnt managed as much with some of their strikes. Must have been confident. She noted the crystals growing in her ash but simply discarded that part before remaking her armor.
Locating the dark ones missing legs in her sphere, she extended her limbs further than the ever had and grabbed them, bringing them back before she healed the warrior. Enough so he could at least run. How far could I reach before? Three or four meters, that was at least eight or nine just now. Sending a wave of mana into him, the warrior gasped and coughed. Go to the arena, defend it. Ilea simply said and walked towards the exit. She saw a group of skeletons rushing by, Maro hard at work.
Entering the combination of mist, fog, smoke and ash that had formed, she trusted into her ash. She watched a group of Feynor cut into the corpse of a dark one before another one came and hissed something, the five muttering but walking towards the city. This isnt an invasion. Ilea noted, appearing between the walking ones before ten limbs of ash absolutely shredded through them. Bloody and limbs were sent flying as her arms of ash moved through a second time. They were all dead, below two hundred all of them.
Hey, what did you tell them? She asked, appearing close to the one she heard talking before. The smoke around them moved and light broke through, revealing the creature before her.
[Mage lvl 251]
A healer human even, no, you are more than that. Why are you defending them? Do you not know what they are?
Ileas teeth ground against each other, Same offer to you. Leave this place and dont return. Or die.
The creature hissed before a curse crashed into her, her life draining as he moved backwards. She simply shook her head and kept walking towards him. The power of his spells were impressive, yet his curses were nothing compared to Elfie, his drain nothing compared to the Miststalkers. Fool. He said and vanished, appearing farther towards the exit.
Ilea followed, blinking once to reach the middle of the square. She found what looked like a cocoon of wood, cracked open with a bunch of dead Feynor laying to its side. Negotiations failed? She blinked once more.
Kill her. The same dragon like creature shouted as a dozen mages sent their spells at her. Ash moved, forming barriers in front of her, reforming and moving in parts to deflect and stop the projectiles. Many managed to get through, Ilea moving quickly to dodge, trying to not exert herself too much as the spells rushed past, some grazing or even impacting on her armor.
Stop it. She said, forming shrapnel from what remained of her ash before all of it smashed into the shields and defenses of the Feynor, the first line losing at least eight as her ash punched through scales, organs and bone alike. The ones with a higher level survived, some injured while others managed to stop her attack entirely. She noted the shouts as well as warriors moving in behind her. Good. Now that youre all here, Ill repeat it. The mages looked at the collapsing corpses and the lances of ash forming above her head, Leave this place, or die.
Roars came from all around her as they attacked in unison, the lances sent into the mass of Feynor still standing in and beyond the bent gate. Ilea vanished, twelve ashen limbs on her back now, they slashed through the confused mages and warriors, vanishing again as soon as she could to keep them on their toes. It was absolute chaos, her Sphere and high reflexes keeping her focused and in control as she slaughtered the beings. Her spells she only used against the higher leveled ones, absolute destruction and storm of cinders taking quick care of even level two twenty enemies, their defenses simply lacking against her form of attack.
Her limbs were defended against rather well by many of them but for every one deflecting her blows, there were three being cut apart. It was obvious that at least half had some form of spacial perception but it was her positioning against theirs. As long as there were dozens of weaker Feynor in the tunnel, she could simply use them as shields or cover against the spells and swords from those more powerful. Ilea had no time to meditate, conserving her mana and using her reversed Absolute Destruction whenever possible.
Finally reaching the end of their ranks, nearly sixty meters into the tunnel, she grabbed one of them and formed another shroud of shrapnel. This time she tried a star like shape, investing quite a lot more time in the mass and density before the attack rushed into half confused half pursuing enemies. She let go of the dead warrior, her reversed healing having killed him, Flee and I wont pursue. She said and slammed a spear to the side before four of her limbs crashed into the warrior, denting his armor, one of her arms piercing. A kick sent him flying, impacting several more as they appeared around her, blades, spears, arrows and spells flashing.
As she thinned their ranks, Ilea moved back towards the city, more and more spells impacting her now that the chaos was reduced. The remaining warriors and mages became increasingly defensive as she slaughtered one after the other. She wasnt seeking the city for help but for cover against their ranged attacks. While few had pierced her armor even half way, it would only get worse over time. When she reached the houses again where Maro and herself had stood on, she noted that there were no corpses around. It was nearly quiet, the enemies behind her moving in and as well as explosions resounding in the distance.
Blinking into an apartment, Ilea took the spear of the appearing Feynor right on. It dug into her ash two thirds of the way as her limbs cut into his neck. She moved two ashen arms around him to get him closer, a hard punch ripping off his head. Three more appeared while a group of mages sent spells in through the windows. She danced through, her ash ripping into them, now fourteen limbs that were still as easily controlled as her initial eight.
The heat in her chest started to increase as more and more warriors appeared, poking at her while they deflected her ash. Only elites had remained, all her resources being drained by the mages outside while a curse slowed her down and made her feel sick. Her mind was being punched by magic too but all of it was manageable thanks to her resistances and healing. The more simple offensive spells were simply dodged or ignored as they slammed into floating ash or her armor, burning away layer after layer while the warriors got in hit after hit.
She used the time to meditate, deflecting only the most dangerous attacks. The drain to her resources became more and more negligible as time went on, the heat in her chest reaching levels where her health started to drop. Ilea blinked, appearing near the biggest cluster of six mages as her ash rushed out to envelop them in a thin mist. My body, no teleportation.
The warriors appeared within her range and rushed at her before she sacrificed five hundred health, activated her third tier Aspect of Ash and released Heart of Cinder.
A sphere of fire and heat ripped through them, Ilea spreading her wings as she floated above the crater. Half of the house was missing and of the two dozen enemies only one remained, both arms missing as he had been aiming a spell right outside the range of her attack. His eyes were wide as she floated towards him, sixteen ashen limbs ripping through the defenseless mage before silence returned to the square.
Comments
Michael C
Gods. I had chills. Amazing. She is a Goddess of Ash (500 lvl evolution)
G. Harthane
Hey thanks for the feedback :). Glad you like the rewrite, I definitely feel better about it.
Rip Woodham
I don't think Ilea group thought it that simple at all. They didn't even want to get in the middle of it but when the Dark Ones who had let them in to civilization, fed them, were polite to them, etc started getting slaughtered and tortured well, that's simple enough. If anything Ilea repeatedly trying to get to them to back off was annoying to me. Die lizards die!
levon
1. Dark ones have talked about a big change 2. Felnor are saying she doesn’t know what she protects and call Dark ones abominations. 3. The suns. And the changes after the disappearance of one. Nobody sees it coming for a dark one to be responsible for that? And the Felnor trying to save something? Or is everybody thinking that wars and their underlaying reasons are simple to understand and there are clearcut badguys and goodguys? Maybe the darko es are the ones who maintain the rotten possition the north is in?
Matthew Robinson
The rewrite to 310 was very well done. I'm glad you trusted us enough to ask what wasn't working since you obviously knew something wasn't and I'm glad you listened. I hope you like the chapter better now. I like how now that Ilea has hit 300 she is drifting a bit. Trying to figure out what to do. It feels very real. Any big goal once achieved can often cause a sense of purposlessness because that goal was overwhelming. If that's what you've been going for lately then well done. If not well I'm sorry but that's what I'm getting from her. The fight in this chapter was epic. Looking forward to the conclusion next chapters. As for her next big goal. I have my hopes but I don't want to influence the direction you see her going. Thanks for the great story so far. Keep it up.
sharkattack
Every time she uses Heart of Cinder I smile with glee
tibbish
She killed a armys worth of demons, who were sentient, but lower lvl than her and got hardly anything out of it when she was still in the South. So I don't think there is any sentient bonus for xp gain. It really comes down to soloing and beating things higher lvl than you for bonus xp
tibbish
Levelling quickly is more of a issue of mindset rather than skills it seems. Ilea lit a fire under his butt and got him moving so to speak is all. Prior to her showing up he was trying to play it safe and go slow and now he is willing to take more risks and is being 'rewarded' for it
Thomas B Wilkes
He levels faster because of more higher level enemies in the north. I mean ilea leveled slow until she fought the taleen and undead constantly. He is fighting those at a lower.level so even with a party is still leveling quite fast.
Rip Woodham
Looking forward to seeing what she gains from this. Does killing "sentient" beings reward more? Facing an army? I guess the slaughter is going to end here but I hope not. Those overgrown lizards deserve no quarter! And we didn't see Maro yet. I KNOW you aren't going to not show the Necromancer in action in such a scenario.... riiiiight? ;-) I also wonder if the Dark Ones even saw her fight, because it seemed like they all ran off or were killed before she stepped in. Ilea's awesomeness must be witnessed!
Jon
Goddamn! You need an artist for this chapter. That would look awesome.
I like that she simply does not have much need for stuff. However, she actually displayed a fair amount of stuff at her house. I kind of hope she takes on of those Armors she was using vs the Undead and just to sticks it on one of her walls as a pre 300 memory.
Tim Deral
savage
Atlas Dwarf
Honestly her Ash Class fits the bill for most optimal secondary Class due to how much it has given her: 'armour,' transportation, extra limbs, body/fighting enhancers, and access to elemental magic. Maybe a brawler form of Tyrian's Class, although that would likely be trading defence for more offence capability.
Arkeus
It feels Terok levelled a bit too quickly? It took something like 2 weeks? from him being 200 to her getting to 300 iirc, and now he is higher level than when Ilea got to the north.
agentjongon
Ilea has to hold the speedrunning World Record for becoming a walking natural disaster. At a time of under 3 years. It seems to me that 'Azarinth Healer' is the best starting class for speedrunning this category. Anybody have any ideas for the most optimal second class for this category?
Torbjørn Nilsen
It seems to me Ilea is disregarding it because of the light/heavy armor rule. And Goliaths' armor is super heavy.
Torbjørn Nilsen
Yeah Harthane, invest more in your health :) Wouldn't want one of my favorites on RLR to drop suddenly. Awesome chapter as always, I myself love to see more of your world and the races you have created, even though Ilea doesn't have a set goal atm.
G. Harthane
Glad you like it :). Inspiring such a reaction brings a smile to my face.
G. Harthane
If you're a superior dragon, do you have to?
G. Harthane
Thank you!
Jonathan Walker
Holy fucking shit that was so bad ass, I think I'm in love with this chapter that was brutal as fuck... hahahahahahahahhahahahahaha love it
Silver Beard
Agree she needs to go back and convince Poppi to make the trip to Hallowfort to make Cake the rest of his life.
Tommy Littlefield
Pretty sure most people over level 300 get to the one person army status but yeah llea is probably more badass then most people her level
Silver Beard
Is Ilea ever going to try Goliath’s armor again... hasn’t since hitting 300?
opunk
I think Ilea deciding to just take on the army that is killing civilians is very much in character. Can't wait for her to go back to human civilization for awhile.
Silver Beard
Sorry I don’t comment... like never; but I am enjoying the story a lot. Not much for levels this fight; but resistances should be getting some work? Sometimes I wish she was a bit more a treasure seeker (been looking forward to what is in the vault). Like how she could almost start her own museum sort of. I’m reminded of that clip in Highlander- walking around the room through History... Ilea could have something like for all her adventures/kills
Davvy chappie
Are you kidding I'm loving every bit
Atlas Dwarf
Thanks for the chapter. Have a feeling the elder is really some type of berserker/blood mage in combat. And well I wonder if Ilea will gain more than a couple Class lvls from this. At least it sounds like she'll get a few Resistance lvls and Skill lvls.
It'sATap
The quality of this fiction seems to be going downhill. Does Llea even have motivation to do anything anymore?
Yaksher
Negotiations didn't last long, lol. The Feynor sure don't have a lot of justification for their actions.
Nathanuel Vine
Thanks for the chapter and feel better
Cyryl Chołodowski
A pretty one, with lots of tentacles (her ashen limbs). None will think it represents a human.
James Walsh
Negotiations braking down. 'breaking' Locating the dark one’s missing legs in her sphere, she extended her limbs further than the ever had and grabbed them, bringing them back before she healed the warrior. 'than they/she ever had' # either probably works
James Walsh
thanks for the chapter, a few corrections:
Nodlehs
lol nice
Arkeus
She is healing them one at a time I see.
Matthias
it's the same as with her own teleportation: it can't be used when in contact with other beings. I think I remember something about the exception to that rule either being vanishingly rare or unheard of
Chopper
I've got a baaaaaaaaad feeling about this...
Emma Carlin
Low key I kinda want a fun arc where she goes back to the human kingdom OP af and just has fun. Drinking great ale, bedding beautiful women, and maybe teaching some young adventurers.
rkdesc
Huh, I didn't realize she could use her ash to block other people's teleportation.
Corwin Amber
thanks for the chapters
Matthias
wow, ilea taking out what could be considered an army all by herself
I wonder if the dark ones will erect a nice statue of Ilea for this, perhaps in the crater she just created.
T.Tandstad
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