Opening the gates we find a long, long tunnel. Like, really long. I think it goes forward for a solid mile. The walls are lined with all sorts of murals of canines at war.
“Is that dog wearing a helmet?” I point to a mural with one finger. Both of them follow my gaze, and Pyro lets out a little chuckle, which descends into a coughing fit.
‘Stupid throat.’ He mutters, rubbing his scar with one hand, then sighing. He smiles as he turns back to the mural. ‘That one over there has a pickaxe too.’
“oh? Where?” I ask, then grin as I notice it. “Artemis had a sense of humor, it seems. Who would've guessed?” Phoebe gasps and Pyro pauses.
‘Like, the Greek god Artemis?’ Pyro asks curiously.
“Yeah, her. I think she was at that meeting a while back, but I can't be too sure.”
‘Shouldn't she be with the Greek gods?’ pyro asks, confused.
“No, she left them some few hundred years ago. Or was it thousands? I can't quite remember. Snowstorm could tell you. All I know is she had some sort of falling out with Zeus, and she ended up leaving for greener pastures, and people who more closely align with her ideals. From what I know, she's gotten a lot stronger under Aftermath, and is the goddess of the hunt. That's why this place was designed as it was. Hunting all sorts of different creatures, mundane or no, in all sorts of environments. If we were the right power level for this place, we would likely be having a harder time and would actually have to use hunting tactics, but we are all pretty strong so we can cheese it.”
“I feel like I'm blaspheming against the gods…” Phoebe mutters to herself, running a hand through her hair.
“Meh, you get used to it.” I say, giving her a pat on the back. I stop at a painting of what looks like a werewolf smashing a wall, then keep going. Thought it was something else for a second.
‘I guess I'm already numb to it.’ Pyro mutters, turning from side to side to look over the various murals. ‘Probably due to the tier suppression immunity we seem to share. How exactly does that work?’
“Actually, for once I know this.” I grin. “Do you know what an aura is?”
‘Like, the vibes that someone gives off? Or are you talking anime shit?’ Pyro asks, brow creasing.
“Honestly, close enough. An aura is an expression of one's soul. Basically everything about who you are leaking out of you. Those at tier 3 get the “Aura sense” skill, and with practice, the “Aura control” skill. Aura can be used as a tool, as it allows you to use skills that require you to be somewhere while a distance away. It also lets you press down on others auras. It's called aura suppression.”
‘So, where does this circle around to suppression of tier?’ Pyro asks. Phoebe seems to know most of this herself, and is nodding along with my explanation as I go.
“Well, when an aura meets another aura that's at least 2 tiers, the higher tier aura naturally suppresses the lower tier one. That’s called suppression of tier. There are 3 ways for it not to affect you. The first way is if you are using an artifact, mutation or skill that grants you suppression resistance. The second way is if you have enough karma boosting your soul. Karma is a part of the soul, after all, so more karma means more soul power. The third is if your opponent uses what's called aura restriction, which keeps their aura held in check. It’s actually considered courteous to hold back your aura, and is seen in a similar way as putting a nice suit or dress on at a nice party is.”‘So the karma thing. That's why we are immune to suppression of tier? We just have so much of it?’ Pyro asks.
“Yep!” I grin. “After realizing that my aura couldn't be suppressed, I asked Miria about what my aura felt like. She said it felt like trying to punch through a brick wall using a feather. Higher tier people said it was like trying to compress water. After that I started learning about aura, since I was curious.”
“Has anyone told you that you are quite knowledgeable?" Phoebe asks me, amused.
“A few, but only in specific areas.” I chuckle. “Anyway, we're here.”
All of us look forward to yet another steel door. “Ready to put a bad dog down?”‘Ready.’ Pyro nods, blades coming to float around him.
“Ready.” Phoebe agrees, her spear appearing on her hand. She uses it to cut her hand a little, and fiery red blood drips down onto the spearhead, which clings to the spear and lights ablaze. The cut closes quickly with a small reversal restoration, and I catch Pyro watching the blood and nodding.
‘Wish I thought of that. My death spells would work better if I put my blood on my blades.’ He mutters.
“Alright, here we go!” I push the doors open.
<{0}>
Cool air shimmers and flickers around me as I breathe deeply of it, cold essence flowing into me in a stream.
“It feels nice.” I comment, running a wing-claw along my snout.
“I agree.” the woman with me says in her icebath. “You've been here quite a while.”
“Well, my brother is training, so I need to as well. I'm not a good fighter, but I am good with magic and my mind. I want to get a skill or mutation to boost those.” I explain, then take in another deep breath of icy air. “what's a god like you doing here, anyway?”
“Relaxing, mostly.” She grins. “That brother of yours is challenging my dungeon, and I'm watching the run. Care to watch with me?”
“Let me guess, he's wiped the floor with everything so far?” I guess as I make my wy to sit beside the icebath. Artemis, goddess of the hunt, grins at me before waving a hand, revealing a viewing screen. Inside, I can see Pyro, Phoebe, and Abhor fighting against a three headed elemental dog of some sort. I don't recognize it from any bestiaries I've read, but the three of them clearly seem to have a plan. Phoebe unleashes bolt after bolt of fire at the water head, boiling the thing and unleashing rampant steam all over, cascading onto the fire and earth head. Pyro seems to be using some sort of death mana bolt attack to hit the fire head. Every time it bites for him, he vanishes, a floating blade in his place, causing another howl of pain to erupt from the head.
Abhor flits from shadow to shadow, occasionally launching a bolt of time mana at the earthen head to distract and disorient it.
“Not a bad plan, but it could have been far better.” Artemis comments, and I can't help but agree.
“They haven't been working together long. No wonder their coordination is shit.” I comment, watching as the water head launches a surprise bolt of water, putting a hole in Phoebe's leg.
“How much essence do you have?” She asks me, and I take a moment to flip open my status.
Name:Snowstorm
Level:51/150
Age:16
Titles:Frostbreaker, knowledgeer, study master, FREEZE, Tier 2 evolution, Humanify, magic prodigy
This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Strength:150
Durability:150
Speed:150
Stamina:150
Intelligence:172.5
Essence:1,009
Class:Frostbane boxer(Epic)
Soul weapon:Frostbane gauntlets
Species:Frostwing demi-wyvern
Skills: Heat vision(low)Uncommon, Greater enhanced intelligence(medium)Rare, Enhanced knowledge intake(medium)Uncommon, cold barrier(high)epic, memory of the glaciers(high)Epic, swimming(low)Common, split thought(Low)Rare, body temperature reduction(Medium)Uncommon, ice mana manipulation(medium)Rare, Mind magic affinity(Medium)Uncommon, heat shift foundation(Low)Uncommon, Herald of the ice age[Species max]Epic+
Techniques:Swimming(D), Mana manipulation(C), Mind mana manipulation(D), Ice mana manipulation(C), Mana claws(C), Ice spear(C), Iceout(D), Icicle hail(D), Mind bridge(D), Ice mana barrier(C), Heat shift(D), Mana bolt(D), Mana sense(D), Mind mana manipulation(D), Illusion mana manipulation(E)
Mutations: Knowledge intake stomach(B), Multi-Mind system(A)
Spells: Freeze water(Lesser), Frostfield(Lesser), coldsnap(Lesser), amnesia(Lesser), Frost spikes(Lesser), frostzone(Average)
“47 thousand right… now…” I pause, looking between 2 skills. Memory of the glaciers, and split thought.
“Notice something?” She asks, leaning forward in the large tub.
“Yeah. My knowledge affinity is going crazy with these two skills. It feels like they want to fuse, but they're missing something.” “Perhaps another skill? You should check the shop.” She suggests. “I'll go back to watching. You figure yourself out.” I nod to her, then open up the menu. I see a few possible skills it resonates with, my knowledge of the glaciers skill having a field day with them. Eternal sight(Low)Rare is one that my affinity pokes at. Storm of thought(Medium)Rare is another. But the one I find most intriguing is Thoughtmark(High)Rare.
{Thoughtmark(High)Rare: Creates bubbles of thought internally that can be stored eternally, whether within your own mind, or infused into an object. Allows the fusion of thoughts and memories into physical objects and others minds}
“Oh.” I squint at the skill for only a moment before purchasing.
{Skill purchased: Thoughtmark(High)Rare}
{Skill resonance detected}
{Skill:Thoughtmark(High)rare, skill:Memory of the glaciers(High)Epic, and Skill:Split thought(Low)rare are resonating.}
{Skill fused: Eternal library[Species max]Legendary}
{Title gained:Legendary progenitor}
<{0}>
My trident slams hard into the thigh of the rocky creature’s back left leg, making the creature stumble and yelp. The fire head is down, and both Pyro and Phoebe have teamed up to take down the second head, while I try to hamper its movement. Until the second head is down, its body won't be able to take damage. Honestly, it's the only reason I haven't killed it yet. My attacks are good at getting through stone. Piercing attacks usually are. Slashing attacks suck against stone, and blunt attacks are decent, but piercing is where it's at. With the water head, ice mana is what Phoebe has found works best. She throws an ice bolt, which I notice is weaker than her fire bolts despite carrying the same amount of mana. Chunks of the liquid head freeze in chunks, only to be slashed off by a sickly shooting by. Slowly, steadily, the water head dies.
Unfortunately for them, they forgot about the earth head, as it opens its jaws. I did not forget. A time mana bolt slams right into its right eye, making it yelp. Unfortunately for the creature, impervious bodies aren't immune to the flow of time, unfortunately. It wasn't a spell bolt, since the incantation takes too much time in combat.
The moment the water head is dead, it’s over.
Shatter the veil
Force drill
My trident, with both the skill and technique used at the same time, pierce straight through the creature like it isn't there. As it goes through it, cracks form throughout the creature at an unnaturally rapid pace, force and mana ripping outwards from the trident. In less than half a second, the dog explodes in a shower of earthy bits.
{You have slain Trillement Cerberus, Level 148}
{Level up}
{Level up}
{Level 84 -> 86}
“Damn, two levels and I was working with you guys?” I turn to Phoebe and Pyro, then pause as I notice them staring.
“What in Pyronites name was that?!” She gawks at the place there used to be a large earthy dog.
‘If I’d gotten hit by that…’ Pyro just stares at my trident, then shakes his head. ‘What was that?’
“That was Shatter The Veil.” I say, my trident vanishing into my soul. “I can’t exactly put the way it works to words, but the best way to put it is it overlaps every possible future way I can hit it, and makes every single one of the possible timelines where I do the most possible damage overlap with each other and hit the creature at once. I also layered Force Drill on top, making the blades spin at mach speeds.”
“That’s something else alright.” Phoebe whistles. “I’m very glad we swapped sides.”
‘None of the commanders could do damage like that with a single attack.’ Pyro says, picking up a cracked fang off the ground, this one infused with water mana.
“Maybe Aerolyn?” Phoebe offers.
‘Maybe. I don’t know if she’s tier 3 or 4 though.’
“You guys want to rest before the hidden boss?” I ask, picking up exactly 4 fire fangs, 4 earth fangs, and 4 water fangs.
“That’s a good idea.” Phoebe walks up to a wall and leans on it, sliding down until shes sitting on the floor. She runs a finger along the tip of her spear as she thinks. Meanwhile I’m searching out holes on the floor I can slot the fangs into.
‘How do you never get tired?’ Pyro asks as he leans down to see what I’m doing.
“Greater enhanced Stamina.” I say. “Increases my Stamina stat by 50 percent and decreases the rate I fatigue by 40 percent.”
‘Kind of like my Absolute strength stat.’ Pyro muses. ‘Increases my strength stat by 15 percent and reduces backlash of abilities and physical soreness and pain by 40 percent. It helped me when I was working out. I didn’t need to work out since I wouldn’t get stronger for it, but I like to keep healthy habits.’
“Fair.” I say as I locate the first hole and slot a fang into it.
“How’d you find out how to do that?” Phoebe asks from her spot against the wall.
“Aftermath told me the details. If we go through the door to the treasure room we can’t go back. But as long as we were in here for less than 24 hours and put the fangs into the holes, the roof will open into the hidden boss fight.”
‘Blood Dragon, right?’ Pyro asks.
“Drakon, not dragon.” I say flatly. “You’re half dragon, though, so you get a pass.”
‘Well, not originally.’ Pyro points out.
“Do you want me to take away your D-word pass?”
‘No, no, carry on.’ Pyro raises his arms up in mock submission. I chuckle and slot the 15th fang in.
“Tell me when you guys are ready and I’ll slot the last fang in.”
‘I’d like to get a nap first.’ Pyro says. ‘That's fine?’
“I have an illusion spell that can put you to sleep if you want me to use that.’ I offer.
“Illusions? Why didn’t you use them in the fight?” Phoebe asks, confused.
“I suck at fighting with them. I’ll soon add them to my fighting, but I don’t have the practice.”
“Fair.” Phoebe shrugs. “But a tool you don’t know how to use is better than nothing.”
‘Not if you accidentally stab yourself with it.’ Pyro points out.
“My illusions don’t stab.” I point out. “They can overload you with false images though. I can also use them to alter your dreams.”
‘Isn’t that basically just mind magic?’ Pyro asks, confused.
“Most mind magic is single target, since AOE is too expensive for mind mages unless it's like how you use it to talk.” Phoebe explains, leaning with her spear. “Illusions are far better for AOE, though not as great on single targets. Things like invisibility, creating false images, that sort of thing, are good for illusions. Meanwhile with mind magic you could trick a few people into thinking nothing is there, but not many.”
“are you guys just gonna talk magic while you rest?” AI ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Probably, yeah.” Phoebe nods.
“OK, I'm taking a nap.
Demishift
I flop onto my stomach, curl around myself, and close my eyes. I'm not actually tired, but it's a way to pass the time so I don't mind.
‘Oh, don't be like that.’ Pyro chuckles, making his way over to me. I roll my eyes.
“Just rest. I'm only waiting on you.” I say then shrug.
‘Alright.’ He sits down beside me. Phoebe pushes herself off the wall to sit with us.
“I nearly forgot you're a dragon.” She says, looking up at me. I sigh and sit up. Maybe sleep won't be an option for me.
“Can't say I blame you given the circumstances, though I'm confused how you worship pyronite if you thought dragons were monsters.”
“We thought pyronite was a human.” She shrugs. “Or rather, that he had every positive trait of every sapient species.” I chuckle at that thought, grinning at Pyro.
“Seems you got the thrift store version instead.” I comment.
‘Ouch.’ Pyro says flatly, giving me a look that says “I want to be mad at you but don’t think I’m allowed to be”. I lean back and sigh, looking down at the floor.
Over the next few hours, conversation drifts to a thousand different topics. Eventually, though, we all have to admit that it’s time. So we all get up, stretch, and prepare to fight a Blood drakon.
Name:Snowstorm
Level:51/150
Age:16
Titles:Frostbreaker, knowledgeer, study master, FREEZE, Tier 2 evolution, Humanify, magic prodigy
Strength:150
Durability:150
Speed:150
Stamina:150
Intelligence:180
Essence:1,009
Class:Frostbane boxer(Epic)
Soul weapon:Frostbane gauntlets
Species:Frostwing demi-wyvern
Skills: Heat vision(low)Uncommon, Overwhelming intelligence(High)Epic, Enhanced knowledge intake(medium)Uncommon, cold barrier(high)epic, memory of the glaciers(high)Epic, swimming(low)Common, split thought(Low)Rare, body temperature reduction(Medium)Uncommon, ice mana manipulation(medium)Rare, Mind magic affinity(Medium)Uncommon, heat shift foundation(Low)Uncommon, Herald of the ice age[Species max]Epic+
Techniques:Swimming(D), Mana manipulation(C), Mind mana manipulation(D), Ice mana manipulation(C), Mana claws(C), Ice spear(C), Iceout(D), Icicle hail(D), Mind bridge(D), Ice mana barrier(C), Heat shift(D), Mana bolt(D), Mana sense(D), Mind mana manipulation(D), Illusion mana manipulation(E)
Mutations: Knowledge intake stomach(B), Multi-Mind system(A)
Spells: Freeze water(Lesser), Frostfield(Lesser), coldsnap(Lesser), amnesia(Lesser), Frost spikes(Lesser), frostzone(Average), Information sharing(Lesser), Glacier bomb(Average)
...
Name:Pyro Akabis
Level:65/150
Age:16
Titles:Cold-blooded, Enigma, Broken, DEATH, Other-worlder
Soul weapon: Six fingers of Infinity
Strength:172.5
Durability:150
Speed:150
Stamina:150
Intelligence:150
Essence: 33001
Class:Reaper of Creation
Species:BlightBane Demidragon[2/5]
Skills: Greater Enhanced Strength(Medium)Rare, Mind mana Manipulation(Medium)Rare, Death mana bolt(Medium)Rare, Sickle swap(Medium)Rare, Reaper’s boost(High)Epic, breath of inevitability(High)Rare, Demishift(low)Rare, Kings vault(High)Rare, Voice of the world(high)rare
Techniques: Creation mana manipulation(E), Mind mana manipulation(D), Sicklemancer arts(C), Death mana manipulation(D), Creation mana construct(D), Potential(???)
Mutations: blood of the fallen(B), Heart of Creation(B), Black thread eyes (A)
