Buffing spells with exponential increases technically do not have limits, back in the game, the mana they consume per cast varies and can be set by the player before combat, through this method, someone can set up a [Maximum Physical Boost] that consumes their entire mana bar and gives them one shot capabilities.
Some might say that this type of thing is broken... And it is, the thing is though, it's the meta and nothing is stopping everyone from doing this exact same strat.
There was a brief time where the players went to war with each other over this feature and the arguments were between "you're just a meta slave who follows what's popular, you can't innovate!" For one group and "shut up, you want to feel special with your "home brew build" you snowflake? Feel unique? Then don't play F.C! You're pathetic!" For the other.
Other than the limitless usage of end game buff spells, none of this is relevant to my situation right now.
The amount of mana I used to cast the two buffs currently wrecking my body is more than enough to let me escape the shadow of the Warped while the magic fueling them will turn me into a monster in half an hour.
My hand is slowly turning dark, the paleness making way for ebony and my veins are now blue, the power within them caused the walls to burst.
Tree bark cracks from my grip as my boosted strength casually overwhelms the wood, I can't even hold on to it, whatever piece I grab tears apart, leaving me to continuously struggle to exert my strength.
After I had enough of this, I just pushed myself off the ground. Once I stood straight, I ran in the direction of my trap.
The speed at which I moved would have torn apart any regular person, this particular problem has never been addressed at the game and I would have hand waved everything as "because magic" if I wasn't breaking trees whenever I collided against them.
Lines of fully grown, building-sized trees start to fall down, creating a visible trace of my path across the forest. I was going so fast that I couldn't even hear it when a tree fell down, save for the rush of wind, I was deaf to everything.
Every fiber of my being was focused solely on reaching the trap and leading the deer there, the damage being done to my body, undergoing corruption, and the looming threat of another earth shaking attack from the Warped moved to the back of my mind.
My instincts screamed at me and my body reacted to the small shift in the air as the raised hoof moved downwards again, like a hammer of judgement, it struck the ground and tore everything apart.
Air whirled all around me as I jumped, this time I didn't bother to aim for a tree, I was going so fast that the momentum of my jump made me fly for several dozen meters and just as I was about to fall down, I grabbed the edges of my new cloak and spread it all around me.
Gliding through the air calmed me down for a moment and I forgot that my heart was beating hard enough to break my ribcage.
The scenery made me tear up. I don't know why but the only thought in my mind at this very moment is: I'm so glad I got to see this before I die.
Because it's guaranteed by this point isn't it?
Right now, I'm not leading this thing to kill it and get stronger, I'm doing it because I want to take it down with me.
A laugh comes out before I can stop it, the sound feels forced, outright maddened.
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I am not dying all by myself, the world will find my corpse next to the Warped and will mark this whole event as an insane attempt to kill a Warped while low leveled.
My feet touch the ground, I feel my bones creak before my reflexes take over and I roll forward. I get back up, my back straightening as I tense up, then I go back to running.
Air fills my lungs with every breath, the sheer thrill of running for my life while knowing that I'm leading something powerful to its death is making me lose my mind! Or maybe that's the lack of air in my brain? I'll win this entire thing either way.
Slowing down gives me a headache and my head starts to throb, it shares the same rhythm as my heartbeat. My muscles burn as my legs start to relax, every step sends jolts upwards, stomach cramps attack my core en masse and my arms begin to look like wet noodles.
Blood fills my lungs the moment that I stop, is the whiplash of using strength beyond my level finally catching up to me? It wouldn't shock me if it did, my insides probably look like a mess right now.
Another wave of crimson pushes past my lips, I hold my hand up and let some of the blood flow down my palm. I wipe my mouth with my cloak and breathe in, "some of it is purple."
The corruption is taking root, the damage is definitely speeding it up...
My gaze goes over the distant sky, where the giant of a Warped is slowly getting closer, the silhouette gets bigger as time goes by. Every time the ground shakes because it is taking a step, I increase the distance between us with my boosts but it is covering that ground with just a few strides.
Soon, it passes the invisible threshold it refused to cross in the past, proving my theory that it is attracted by the cloak that I am wearing.
"Keep walking, go on..." I grit my teeth to stop myself from coughing, it didn't work and the white enamel is stained red. No talking, got it.
Standing in place and doing nothing made me realize that the constant weight in my hand has disappeared, I look down and notice that my dagger is nowhere to be seen. I let out a self-deprecating laugh, wherever it is doesn't matter, I'm gonna die soon so I don't need it anymore.
With that, I checked my system to take note of my achievements and strangely enough, I got a few classes. Did they come while I was running away? Interesting.
*Corrupted Mage
+10 Resistance
+10 Magic
+Corruption Resistance
+Corruption Compatibility
+Magical Symbiosis
-Spell Purity
-Magical Cleanse
My first ever +20 stats from a sub class, and also two perks that are obviously negative with no other positive effects. I have no idea what they mean and I honestly don't have the mental capacity to think about it, nor do I care to ask why the effects of the positive and negative perks are seemingly working against each other.
"Will this be enough to survive what comes next?" No one can really fault me for asking this question, I mean, it's a chance for me to live isn't it? Or it looks that way at least. "Is it? Maybe, maybe not."
I cough out blood. Idiot, why did I bother to talk again? My organs have ruptured from using end game boosting spells and I'm still pretending like I'm not standing by death's door.
*Death Wish Caster
+10 Magic
+5 Resistance
+Ruinous Spell Casting
+Near Death Damage Increase
+Fear Resistance
And this one is pretty good too, it's pretty hard to believe that I got a two for one deal in sub classes the moment that I decided to risk my life. Did the system reward me for my bravery or some shit? The system doesn't work that way but it would be funny if it did.
And last but not least, I finally got some sort of tracking class:
*Artifact Scourer
+5 Magic
+5 Dexterity
+5 Physical
+Ruin Navigation
+Dungeon Navigation
+Treasure Sense
-Modern Comfort
-Mundane Item Effectiveness
The perks weren't bad and the stat it gives is top tier, overall, the sub class is beneficial, this is even with the abysmal negative perks that come with it.
I close my system and put my focus back on the approaching Warped, I have no weapon I can damage it with and the buffs I've given myself earlier are now wearing off, the consequences of using them is still affecting me however.
Running in my current condition isn't a good idea, moving in any way is not ideal really, but I don't think I need to do that. I trust the trap that I've set to have enough fire power to bring down this oversized deer.
A shadow casts everything in darkness, the world stills for a moment, then it starts shaking.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
My eyes constantly go to the bindings of my trap, I've made it so that it keeps itself together even with the ground shaking force of the Warped's steps and it's been holding on so far.
Soon enough, the Warped is here, it spots me with its one good eye and walks even faster. In response, I flipped it the bird and waited for it to come.
"Just a bit more..."
