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Chapter 296 Azarinth First Hunter
🕑 Added 2019-09-07 15:40:15 +0000 UTCAuthor's note September 19th: Hey all, I hope you're doing well. New chapters up, do let me know what you think of them :). More hopefully coming on Saturday (Internet might be an issue so maybe Sunday - we'll see).
Author's note September 7th: Hey all! First of all thanks for another month (late I know :P) of your support. Love the writing gig. Keep the suggestions, criticism and whatever else you feel towards it all coming, I appreciate it.
New chapters up and more hopefully coming on Tuesday. Traveling so it might be Wednesday.
Have a good weekend all :)!
Chapter 296 Azarinth First Hunter
Oh right. Ilea said, Where is she anyway?
Comes and goes. Brings me food as well as books and news from time to time. I believe she is counseling Catelyn as well as trying to find anybody who survived. The Vineyard caves the place is still there. She however refused to go there, telling me theres too much to do in Hallowfort. He laughed, Can you believe it? One day she was out and already shes busy with learning about the legislature and ties between the current governing forces. Shes truly great.
Doesnt sound too bad, I can see it. Just hope it wasnt a bad decision to help you guys out.
He shook his head, Ilea. Ive known her for a long time. Elana loves to be in power, loves to rule but her heart was never corrupted. She would never admit it but the reason for her tenacity is her people.
You dont have a people anymore. Ilea simply said.
There are always people. Those unable or unwilling to stand up, to fight and choose for themselves. Those who want a simple life, unburdened by responsibility.
I guess. At least Catelyn probably knows what shes doing. Ilea mused, frowning. Why do I even care? She shook her head in thought.
I think its a good idea. Taking on the undead rose knights. Getting a level five hundred kill should be good for your evolution. I sadly never achieved such alone. Maro said before he blinked, looking at the wall and then back to her. I have wondered about something. Something Elana has told me. Maybe you can confirm it.
Ilea clapped her hands together, Shoot.
Two suns in the sky. Thats what she had said. Arcane storms ravaging the land. Blizzards cold enough to freeze stone itself. Is this really what Rhyvor has turned into? He asked.
Pretty much. Why the question though? Terok said as much and Im sure Catelyn did too.
He looked at her armor, I just. I wanted to hear it from you. Unprecedented the changes could be catastrophic.
What do you mean?
I will think about it. Focus on your hunting Azarinth warrior. I wish to see the sky with my own two eyes again. Could you do that for an old king? His pleading eyes made her chuckle.
Maro you look like you are in your thirties. Ill destroy the kingsguard simply because they took my leg. No need to bring your issues into it. Ilea stated.
Dont flatter me. I might find an interest in you after all. He whispered with a smirk.
Ilea rolled her eyes and stood up, her gauntlet vanishing as she touched his muscular chest. Dont threaten me with a good time. Taking her hand away, she turned as her helmet appeared. Plus youre married old man and Im sure the mist witch loves you. And you love her.
He laughed, I do. It never stopped either of us. Maybe she will agree to let you join. Wouldnt be the first time. He murmured, lost in thought.
See you later Maro. Ilea said and blinked out of the chamber. Your relationship is complicated enough. I dont want to get in there. She thought, blinking again to avoid the kingsguard noticing her. Fucking a cursed elf against the very rules of their all mighty oracles is exciting enough for me.
Alright. Now lets see how this goes. Ilea said to herself as she stepped into the dark zone of the dungeon. Compared to last time she now had a way to gauge the damage they would deal, had a way to deal a strong blow enhanced by her third tier auras as well as simply more stats and resources to play with. The problem remained that she didnt think it feasible to face two or three of the knights, though shed give it a shot at least.
Summoning the little flask Terok had given her, she uncorked it and smelled on the yellow liquid inside. It was just color. Something to mark the enemies she would fight. If they couldnt heal, she supposed damaging them sufficiently and fleeing was still a viable option, as long as she could find and fight the same enemy again. The dagger Heranuur had kindly lent her might come in handy as well, though she didnt know how the undead would react to it.
The approach might have worked too back when she had first encountered the undead, she simply hadnt tried. With her Azarinth Fighting in the third tier, the insane damage they dealt would hopefully be somewhat easier to deal with. As well as my third tier recovery. Even if she was literally cut in half, now that wasnt much of a problem. As long as she had mana to heal.
The alleys smelled terrible, the stone of both streets and houses more susceptible to growing fungi as well as anything else that liked the temperature. She was pretty far in already, no enemies to fight as of yet. I wonder if they fight each other undead knights and Soul Rippers. If it was true then they somehow were incredibly even or the monsters somehow came back, after such a long time there had to be an explanation. The missing parts on most undead she had encountered previously suggested they werent on good terms with well something.
Perhaps they had their territories and somehow respected them but she doubted such, seeing how at least the undead knights were ravenous beasts. They dont go into the higher parts of the city. Perhaps Maro had an explanation for that. Maybe they simply retained some of the commands they once had or they disliked the necromantic energy coming from the palace. Either way it was in her favor, leaving the once city now dungeon with monsters for her to kill.
One such monster appeared a couple minutes later, walking leisurely towards her in the open street. A part of its abdomen was missing, as if removed completely. An undead rose knight. Its armor was dented, bruised, rusted or outright missing in parts, its sword abused and dull as it was dragged along the ground, the noise the only thing audible in the vicinity as if announcing its presence. A challenge of sorts, to anyone that would stand in its way. Or perhaps a plea. Ilea thought, her auras going to the max, ash surrounding her as she stood and waited for the monster to notice her.
[Undead Rose Knight lvl ???]
Smiling at the information, Ilea uncorked the little bottle and doused her hand in the yellow liquid. You are what I want. The screech coming from the creature rattled through her very bones. A challenge yet it didnt paralyze her. Three heavy and quick steps brought the undead upon her, its sword clasped in both hands as its strike came downwards. Ilea felt the danger, felt that the hit would dent her helmet, would crash into her skull and incapacitate her, for a while at least.
She stepped aside, stone exploding next to her as the blade came to an abrupt stop. A kick followed, making her spin before her hand landed on the knights shoulder. Ilea smirked at the yellow paint that immediately left behind a colored hand, barely visible in her Sphere but it was enough. The sword rushed at her, Ilea blinking away, the attack too quick to dodge. When she appeared the knight had already jumped her way. A thrust, feint, grazing against her arm, the real strike following right after, dodged before she punched his stomach, where his armor was no more.
Her mana intrusion rushed into him, ashen limbs extending behind her as the knight moved to deflect the blows. It had given her enough time to dodge his next attack, avoiding the strike that would have ripped out her legs, armor and all. The knight was on her again, anticipating her dodge. His elbow smashed into her chest, Ilea knowing the damage would be manageable didnt blink, saving the skill for an emergency. The attack left her breathless, her chest plate denting inwards as her bones groaned.
Flying backwards, she spread her wings to stop herself in the air, twirling to the side when the knights sword came flying towards her. He followed right after, landing next to her. Fists moved quickly, Ilea using her fighting skills and experience to deflect most of the blows but her gauntlets were dented with each strike, muscles below damaged and bones cracking as she healed against it. Seeing the sword come from behind made her blink, immediately healing the injuries.
She watched the knight catch the blade casually, walking towards her with near stumbling steps. You can do this. Strike after strike, Ilea weaved around the sword, taking hits where possible as her ashen limbs delivered more and more damage, herself using every opening to get damage in with her fists. Knowing which attacks were feints made the fight possible in the first place, the sheer speed and power of the thing still occasionally overwhelming her.
When the knight suddenly let go of his sword in the middle of a strike, his fist moved too fast for her to even blink, Ilea in the process of dodging the sword. A feint feeling of danger washed through her brain before her head rocked back, nose broken and teeth ripped out. Blinking into a nearby building, Ilea switched out her helmet and used a chunk of mana to heal herself immediately. The sword crashed through the wall a mere second later, Ilea rolling out of the way before the knight landed next to her, a kick sending her through the opposite wall.
She had managed to keep her arms in front of her, her arms breaking but otherwise not causing any major injuries. Healing it back slowly, she spread her wings while in the air and outside the house, looking at the knight that jumped on top of the building. Feeling the attack coming, she moved down, the blade rushing by like a projectile fired from a ballista. No wonder they dont need bow and arrow. Ilea rushed down to engage when a second blade made her blink. Here we go. She used her momentum to land on the knight with a kick, pushing him backwards as she sent destructive mana through him.
His arms moved quickly, grabbing onto her leg before she could get away. Ilea braced herself as the knight smashed her into the stone roof, her body crashing through a part of it as her leg strained from the force. Another hit followed before a second knight landed on the roof. She saw the blades rushing back to them, frantically kicking with her free leg as ash spread around her. Ilea sacrificed a thousand health to enhance her, kicking twice before she could finally wriggle free.
She blinked, avoiding the swords before appearing thirty meters away. Her eyes opened wide as she noticed the sword coming her way. Her wings spread but before they could even materialize, the sword crashed into her horizontally. The blade cut through her armor and flesh, stopping halfway through her spine.
Ileas wings flapped, her limbs going numb as her blood and guts streamed out of the nasty wound. Her perception was still there, Ilea dodging the second blade coming her way as she sped towards the higher section. Cant heal with the blade in , She twirled in the air, letting the blade crash into a nearby building. Ilea had disabled her pain, not that it would have mattered with the damage to her spine but when the sword was ripped out of her from the impact, she couldnt help but yelp.
Blood and innards spread out, her wings the only thing still carrying the limp body onward. Ileas vision was getting blurry but her sphere was crystal clear. Storing her destroyed armor, she used eight hundred mana to heal herself, feeling returning to her arms and legs immediately as her spine reformed, her organs coming back and the two parts of her body nearly separated came together again.
A fresh set of armor appeared right in time to deflect the thrust coming at her. Relentless bast , She couldnt finish the thought, the second knight crashing through the wall next to her before she blinked away, all the buildings giving her a second or two to breathe. Dont get grabbed. She waited inside a house before the monsters came in, quick and silent. The room was in near complete darkness, Ileas fiery buff the only thing shining through the openings in her helmet and the thin lines connecting her armor.
Healing mana flowed through her as she sacrificed the same amount she recovered per second to her third tier State of Azarinth. Moving towards the wall, Ilea tried getting the knights in an awkward position, their huge statures as well as weapons working in her favor in the close quarters. Ashen limbs continued to deal damage but she didnt know which one of them was marked, no time to check. Their swords cut through the walls and crashed into ceiling and floor, Ilea jumping and rolling through their attacks, ashen limbs delivering damage as she spread her ash and used reversed reconstruction to add to their suffering.
Thanks to her second tier in the skill, she could keep her own healing up. As long as the knights were using their swords, she was semi sure they wouldnt try to grab her. Dodging one of their blades opened her up for the second enemy, its weapon crashing into her head before she could spread the ash to blink. The sword cut through her helmet and got stuck inside her head before the monster simply ripped it off from her very shoulders.
A weird sensation spread through her, her sphere and awareness splitting. She saw her body through her sphere, saw it both as her center and away from her. The one eye that hadnt been crushed looked on as her body was kicked through the nearby wall. Eye closing, she focused on her body and sacrificed a thousand points of mana, her awareness returning to normal as she blinked upwards to avoid another strike. Her armor was there, no helmet. Fuck.
It was then that she decided to retreat, for now at least. Ilea made sure to avoid blinking as she flew towards the higher sections of the dungeon, dodging the thrown blades whenever they appeared behind her. She moved higher and higher to giver her more time as she murmured to herself, hands grasping her face.
The sun was shining through the crack in the cave, Ilea angrily eating her food, conscious of every movement of her jaw, every gulp. Her movements suddenly stopped, the feeling of her split awareness flashing through her mind. She shook her head, taking another bite and trying to focus on the taste. Ilea didnt notice the tears dripping down from her chin, noting instead the salty taste from the food. You can do this. She reminded herself, Meditation flowing through her. They can take your head but they cant kill you. Never. Dont give in to fear.
ding Fear Resistance reaches lvl 6
Are you fucking kidding me? Ilea felt four different things at the same time. What came out was a soft chuckle. Maybe Im going mad. The ridiculousness of it all was overwhelming. Healing back a lost arm was one thing but she had lost her head, her brain, her eyes, her nose. She stopped the train of thought. And then the system, gods or whatever the fuck it is mocks me with a fucking resistance skill ,
A shudder went through her, healing and meditation flowing through her body and calming her down. She was pretty sure that without them, even with all her experience, she would be sobbing in a corner somewhere. My perception skill didnt activate so I had enough health? A weird notion. Perhaps her ability to heal even fatal injuries made the skill less useful, only activating on high enough health loss alone. Motherfuckers.
I will rip off your limbs and heads, stuff those rusty swords up your asses. The words came out hollow but her gaze focused, the slight shaking in her hands calming down with each passing minute. There will always be a Drake. She said to herself, over and over. Finally, an unknown amount of time later, the suns having set and the city now clad in darkness, Ilea stood up. She stored the empty box of food in her necklace and put on a fresh helmet. Retreat when a second one appears. I get it. Dont lose your head. She didnt smile at her own joke, even though it was terrible.
Both her hands clasped her neck, her mouth opening before a scream ripped out of her, audible in a big part of the silent ruin. Wings spread before she jumped off the roof, her target the marked Undead Rose Knight. Her eyes were focused, cold, her body poised. Her mouth a thin line below her helmet.
Landing behind the wall, Ilea started her search. She had the scent and her Hunters Sight would lead her to the target. Not the undead himself but the yellow paint she had used. Noticing her perception focus on her own right hand time and time again, Ilea switched out the gauntlet before continuing her search. I will find you.
It took an hour to pick up the scent, a grin blooming on her face. I will kill you.
Comments
Miritar
haha my thoughts exactly, "this is what happens when you cross a dragon *plop*" she can now scare the hell outa anyone. imagine if she showed up at Ravenhall and presented that while in the Brick armor?
Han Pol
Hmm wonder if she has any skills now that can be upgraded to the third tier now.
Lomie0
it's not really combat anymore at that point, just torture really and probably would only be as good as non combat training.
J H
I hope she gets the chance to level more resistances before hitting 300. She's got a few close to the second tier now like crystal and light, and lightning and mind are not too far from maxing out with the blue reapers right there. All she has to do is find one or two isolated ones, break their legs, let them fuck her up and then blink away when she gets low on mana, meditate, and repeat. I bet she could get them both maxed in 3 days like that. Also I'm actually much more interested in her ash class evolution than her Azarinth one. I really hope she doesn't stop power leveling until she gets 300 in both classes instead of just one.
Arkeus
Let's not get ahead of ourself there.
Phaeth
Did Ilea just find proof of the soul existing ?
Han Pol
well I would put it after her healing her blink, her wings and ash manipulation and creation.
Jonathan
What's the Taken reference? I missed it.
Jonathan
She's at least got to go get the helmet to save the metal for reforging.
Also amazing chapter!
Azarinth fighting is an amazing skill. Its literally like precognition in battle. It has the potential to become her most useful skill yet, next to her healing.
Sebastian Viller
That sounds like it would take a lot more time than blinking away from the 2 excessively higher level undead knights that are within a couple meters of her
Jonathan
I wonder if it would have taken less mana if she'd reached out with an ashen limb to grab her head and just reattached it.
Cyryl Chołodowski
And like that she will acquire the "What the fuck is wrong with you?" class. No, not class description, the literal class. The class for those who punch down that which is above them.
Jonathan
Find a relatively safe place within hearing range of The Cliffs I think it was?
Ato
I love these more than the grind segments, they really show how utterly devastatingly powerful those things are, and how dangerous it is to Ilea
Atlas Dwarf
Well she found something for Void Magic Resistance, only they have levels similar to the demon whale and like to pin down their prey. At least she doesn't have to worry about the whole body part tearing thing after this. Also I wonder if the Soul Rippers are using Void Magic on the air to increase their speed.
PloofDoodle
*Chuck own head at Terok* "All you need to get ahead in life"
Critical Hit
Yeah, who knows she might get it for killing this level 500+ guy. Fighting something nearly double your level has gotta give a hell of a lot of experience right?
Jonathan Walker
This is brutal we need her to hit 300 soon ughhhh
Jonathan Walker
No we don't want her to lose everything damnit hahah
Robert Nolan
Great chapter but damn I was hope the decapitation would end up with her healing from the head then being stuck in a fight with no gear and no storage device because it is all back with he body and the enemy is guarding it.
Yaksher
I do like that she's leveling at the rate of roughly 1 level per chapter on average so far. Also half wanna see her find her decapitated head and throw it at someone, but I'm not sure *she's* mentally equipped for that.
Harb
First I’ll get the obligatory Highlander reference out the way. Loved the epic fight, surprised she hasn’t been working on getting veteran upgraded to 2nd level before the evolution.
G. Harthane
I mean you could argue the same whenever she blinks... body taken apart and put together again? You don't know. Scary to think about. I also like the idea of us dying whenever we sleep and the next day a copy with the same memories wakes up :P.
This was an amazing chapter wow
Matthew Robinson
Really loved this chapter. She gets into and really pushed herself. Now she at least knows that she really can survive what should be a fatal blow. Can’t wait for that 300 and it’s evolution now. Maybe work in the headless requirement?? Lol Edit: Azarinth First Headhunter. Haha
Rip Woodham
Fucking great chapter. :-)
Rip Woodham
Yeah, it's neat that she could regen from either one.... really upped the creepy weirdness factor.
David Brims
Grinding has its place, but this shit is awesome. Like when she faced the Blue Reapers or the Old Bloods... I guess a few body parts flying around adds to the ambience.
LilSaint001
Hahaha. Taken reference? She wants to be Liam Neeson
Grond (James)
It's a little unclear when she blinks away if her head goes with it. It's unclear at one point her awareness snaps back to her body and abandons her head.
Yeah, that's gotta be pretty daunting to get over mentally. Almost seeing her body regenerate a new head and then run away. It's gotta make her wonder if she is the same Ilea that hopefully didn't died with the head or if she's just a system-generated copy.
Solarlancer
also one more thing. This one is a little morbid. But i wonder if she will go and get her head and put it in storage as a reminder.
Solarlancer
I know it was going to happen once the skill said you can heal lost head but damn i didn't expect it to be in this kind of a situation. I was expecting someone will take her head and think she is dead and thanks to that survive but than again this way was also pretty good. hope she finds some time to relax or someone to talk to so she could get her felling straight or simply recover form this trauma
Alexander Belousov
I like the whole "you don't know how your skill works, until you experience it". She has perception abilities... Those abilities do not rely on brain, eyes, ears... They are pure magic. So, if you lose your head, they still work. You can still "see". Sweet. :D
Corwin Amber
thanks for the chapters
Alexander Dupree
I believe your heading is correct. Though you seem a bit of a headonist.
Loipers
Typical Ilea, rushing head first into danger. At least she's finally making some headway on killing those ??? mobs. She's mad now, but instead of rushing in headstrong I think she should try to keep a cool head. After all, she just had a close shave with danger with the mobs being so far ahead in levels. Losing your head in an emergency is a brainless way to go. Still, I like where this is heading. I'm not sorry
Tommy Littlefield
Agreed she could almost keep up with one of them when she was at like 240-250 now with several more third tier skills and much higher stats she seems to somehow be struggling more (though that could be due to simply being much more willing to aggressively fight it to deal so actual damage)
Tommy Littlefield
Sick probably hitting 300 sometimes next week then I hope 😬
Jonathan
I hope she found one that's over 590. "You have killed an enemy more than 300 levels above your own. Bonus experience is awarded." The level difference of the solo kill might be instrumental in her evolution, too. Also, a question answered. I wasn't sure if healing a lost head would result in a new head or a new body. Of course, if it were a new body, she would have to go retrieve her necklace. She's lucky it didn't fly off somewhere in the first place.
Baba Vader
Thanks for the chapters! Holy fuck that was some nice action. But that cliff....
Arkeus
Hey, it was an awesome joke :) I guess she fought much longer than the first time, though it also felt like they were much stronger too. Still, this is fun :D
DarianAmell
Ilea tracking her "prey" who can decapitate her. Truly she deserve her class.
