I had, however, seen one way to dodge it in a clip online. The method was a bit stupid, but it was better than dying,
I got up close and hugged Veyra right before [Time Eruption] went off.
The shockwave of time magic exploded in a globe around us. Loose pebbles rose to the air as if gravity had been lost. An arrow that was about to hit Veyra stopped mid-air and fell to the ground. A mage tried to cast a spell, but that was canceled by the shockwave. Mythforged’s members took the blunt force. Everyone was knocked back, receiving damage anywhere from twenty to fifty percent of their health bars. Three died, including Treant33.
And I, hugging the mage herself, received no damage.
As far as I knew, this was a bug in the game. [Time Eruption] didn’t do damage if a person was close enough to the casting mage. The ongoing theory was that the game avoided dealing damage to someone hugging the casting mage to avoid having the spell do damage to the caster as well.
Whatever the reason was, Veyra glanced behind at me and asked, “Uhm, what are you doing?”
I let go of the hug and grinned. “Nothing. I saved you from the third ranked assassin in the world, that’s all.”
Veyra saw Fuhad’s corpse, and her eyebrows rose. “Oh,” she said. “So that’s where the dark shadows were coming from.”
I blinked. So she really hadn’t known Fuhad was about to assassinate her?
“Any chance you got another portal?” I asked, noting that we were still surrounded.
“No mana,” Veyra said and began drinking a mana potion. Her health bar was at 59%.
Six players were still alive. They were all high level players, but only one was in the top five hundred. Proxy4raxgg, the tank player. They all took defensive positions, drinking health potions and letting their support mage heal the damage they’d just received.
Veyra finally cast a portal below her feet, only for it to be immediately frozen. Mythforged’s mage reacted immediately, freezing our escape. The portal was blocked.
What can I do here? I asked myself. My position was far from stealthy, and I had no isolated targets. I’d need to fight my way through, which would be difficult with my low level equipment.
I opened my inventory and, using the side of my eye, I quickly checked if I could equip any of the two items I’d just collected.
Dark Enlightenment
Item type: Epic Robe (Unique)
Required Character Level: 225
Stats:
- +6000 Spell Power
The robe had no abilities, and only offered a single stat. I had to check twice if I’d seen it right. But no, this robe actually only gave spell power. 6000 was triple that of what robes normally gave. That number was really good, even if the robe didn’t give any skills.
The robe would be expensive as hell, probably two or three thousand dollars minimum, but it wouldn’t help me now. I checked Fuhad’s drop.
Cursed Lichfang
Item Type: Legendary (Unique Event Item)
Required Character Level: 201
Stats:
- 1400 Attack Force
- 50% Critical Strike Damage
- 15% Critical Strike Chance
- +5 Dagger Proficiency
Abilities:
Curse Of The Lich (Passive): Attacks with Cursed Lichfang deal 50% less damage to all targets. The reduced damage is stored inside the dagger. 0/20,000 damage stored.
Curse Of The Lich (Active): Release all damage stored with a powerful blast of dark magic.
Holy shit. A legendary event item. This dagger was literally worth more than a car, and it was possibly a best-in-slot dagger for assassins. I equipped it instead of my common dagger. The system reminded me that I was below the level requirement.
[You have equipped an item beyond your understanding. All stats are halved. Unable to use abilities. Negative effects of curses still apply.]
I winced at that. The attack force stat would be halved to 700, and that would be halved again by the curse. Still, the dagger was so powerful that even with the debuffs, it was miles better than the common dagger I’d been using.
By the time I was done skimming the stats and switching equipment, a greatsword crashed down on the carriage.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
I jumped back, now back-to-back with Veyra, and the greatsword crushed what had just been the roof and my footing. Proxy4raxgg, in his adamantite armor, raised his sword for another attack. Behind me, Veyra fought against the lower level players.
You’re my opponent, I thought, facing Proxy4raxgg, the tank. As always, I examined him for critical strike spots. He didn’t have a full helmet with a visor like Oblivara, but a circlet—a metallic headband that paladins often wore.
A golden shine coated his sword, and he raised it high toward the sky. I recognized the casting animation for [Divine Smite].
The spell would cast a lightning on my head, and it was undodgeable. I’d die in an instant. I needed to cancel the spell.
I threw my mithril dagger at his face, which made him lean his head to the side. The dagger grazed his cheek.
An arrow shot at me. I dashed forward with [Shadow Dash], both dodging the arrow and getting right into the tank’s face. I was now too close for [Divine Smite] to land, and the archers would risk hitting their teammate if they tried to shoot me.
Proxy4raxgg gritted his teeth and, instead of swinging, he slammed the pommel of his sword down at my shoulder. The system alarm sound flared immediately, telling me I’d received critical damage.
[Oblique Transcendence - Blood Desperation Active Conditions Met]
[Straight Attacks Are 100% More Effective When Under 40% Health]
I slashed at his throat, only for my weapon to land on his gauntlet. He blocked it. Then he dropped his greatsword back into his inventory. He threw a left hook at me.
I ducked underneath, feeling his gauntlets grazing my hair. I used [Recall Dagger] and my second dagger appeared in my hand.
Looking up, he held one of his gauntlets on his neck, protecting the closest spot I had for a critical strike. He knew how to avoid a vital hit. “Shoot him, idiots!” he bellowed.
[Shadow Dash] was still on cooldown. I couldn’t dash around him, and he was too heavy in his armor for me to just hit. None of my attacks would do any damage unless I landed a critical strike, which he blocked with his gauntlet. I’d need to get around him.
Suddenly, he yelled out and cast a spell I literally could not counter due to the difference in our levels. He used [Taunt], shouting it as a powerful war cry imbued with magic.
[You are now Taunted and Enraged. You are forced to attack player Proxyrax4gg. Attack Force and swing speed increased.]
I lost control of my legs. My eyes saw red as I was forced to run into him. I could still swing freely, but the game controlled my legs, forcing me to move toward him, while wildly swinging my daggers.
The daggers collided powerlessly against his armor. I slashed rapidly, but I dealt no damage. He grinned and raised a fist, preparing to crush my head in.
The taunt prevented me from dodging. I grimaced and had no choice but to meet the attack head-on.
My new legendary dagger collided with his gauntlet. A loud cling echoed upon impact.
[Critical Strike!]
The gauntlet was blown back, and the tank momentarily lost his footing. I blinked and the taunt wore off. What just happened? I thought.
Then I realized my critical strike chance had grown from 0% to 7.5% thanks to my new dagger. All of my critical strike enhancements came through, including the Vital Strike and double damage from Blood Desperation.
That attack was over 3000% more powerful thanks to a random chance. Though, despite the lucky critical strike, his health bar moved by only 6%. His armor absorbed the damage. To kill him, I would need to land a hit outside his armor.
I need him off guard, I thought. The taunt finally wore off, and I turned my back and pretended to run in fear. He forgot defense and ran after me.
Then I used [Shadow Dash] backward. I landed behind him, and I thrust my dagger.
It all happened so fast I couldn’t tell if I was hitting his skull or his shoulder. I placed full trust in myself and hit as hard as I could.
Slash.
[You slayed Proxy4raxgg]
[You slayed an opponent over fifty levels stronger than you! Experience gain increased by 1004%]
[You leveled up!]
That brought me to level 192.
The tank collapsed underneath me. I picked up his gear piece, and glanced atop the carriage, where Veyra was locked in melee combat, unable to use her portals.
I could still run, I told myself. I don’t know her. Do I have a reason to help?
I had no answer, but her health bar was at 20%, and she was being attacked by two swordsmen, one wielding a fiery blade. Veyra’s staff turned to the spear and she defended, but she was being overpowered.
I couldn’t just abandon her now. With [Conceal Footsteps] active, I jumped atop the carriage and pierced a dagger through the first unaware swordsman’s neck. A slash came. I ignored the system notification.
Veyra kept casting [Elemental Barrier] to block projectiles, while simultaneously fighting melee with her staff-spear. She fought one-to-one against a swordsman who I didn’t recognize. She wound up a heavy attack at him, which missed terribly, the spear hitting the ground.
The man watched in confusion for a moment, until [Chronorift] split the ground. A spike crushed the man from below before he could react, finishing him off the rest of his health bar.
Only two more enemies remained. A ranger with a large bow and their support player. Neither were top 500 players.
Easy kills, I thought as I used [Shadow Dash] right at the ranger’s face. I feinted an initial attack, to which he panic responded with [Block]. He raised the tough grip of his bow against the tip of my dagger, the movement supported by the system.
All I had to do was redirect my attack to land a critical strike in his throat.
Slash.
[You slayed Fadeout]
No level-ups this time. He was a low-ish level player. I grabbed his gear nonetheless, and turned to the support player.
She was frozen to the core by Veyra’s [Absolute Zero], tears in her eyes. I tossed a dagger through her head, killing her as well.
[You slayed LoopCat with assistance from Veyra. Experience divided.]
The battlefield fell silent. Everyone was dead. We’d defeated a full guild.
And my inventory was full of top level gear.