Syl-Chapter 233: Black Sun

To my surprise, Vee had taken out the crazy black flame mage with a flawless assassination. I could only dock her points for her timing. If she had been a little faster, I wouldn't be staring down such a massive spell that was rapidly destabilizing itself.

Why couldn't the spell just disappear when its creator died. Why does it have to stick around like some doomsday weapon?

My mental complaints went unanswered, and now I needed to quickly protect myself. I would no doubt still be caught in the blast radius, but at least now I wasn't going to be its direct target.

I aligned myself to the Fire element in hopes it would offer some form of protection from the evil-looking flame and then ordered all my [Sub-Cores] to cycle through every single defensive spell I had. [Bubble], [Zephyr Shroud], [Arcane Armor], the works. While they began casting spells, I grabbed every defensive trait I could think of.

My form twisted and shifted as I tried to stack as many traits as possible. From scales to rocky hides to barkskin, nothing was off the table. When defense or resistance was mentioned, I grabbed it.

At the same time, I was trying to create as many shells around my cores as possible. Mythril, Adamantite, Steel, nothing was off the table. I even started trying to manually hold together a shell made of obsidianite.

Thanks to my delegation, I completed what I could with ample time before the spell erupted. I had done all I could, and now I could only brace for impact.

I hope Vee and Trixie are okay...

The explosion was actually smaller than I expected. My own self-destructing worm had far more force behind it than this spell. But sadly, what it lacked in raw explosive might, it made up for in creepy soul damage, or however Trixie had described it. The entire area was swept up in an immense sense of wrongness, as if the whole area had become unhallowed.

The flames licked against my form, and I felt some of my defenses breaching. Overall, I was secure, but I felt that tingling burning around the edges of my being, like something was directly attacking my life force. It wasn't painful; it was more like a growing fatigue as it burnt away what it could. My [Arcane Armor] shattered multiple times, each time immediately reapplied with a fresh one. It might have been the only spell actually stopping this form of damage.

Worst case, if it kills me, I'll take over one of my [Sub-Cores] thanks to [Core Collective]. Hopefully, they aren't taking this damage since they don't have a soul.

I braced myself, but a creeping doubt infested me. The explosion had long since ceased, and even the burning had stopped. But the black flames and malignant aura still blanketed the area.

<Proficiency gained. [Curse Resistance LV 3] improved to [Curse Resistance LV 4].>

Despite the level-up, I was still stuck. I tried to contact Trixie or Vee a few times, but I was alone in this cursed prison. Despite no physical pain, I felt dreary and awful. This was an almost embarrassing way to potentially die, and some part of me was apprehensive that my emergency death prevention would not be enough.

But what else could I do? I couldn't think of any other traits I could buy. Should I dump points into upgrading [Curse Resistance]? I really didn't want to, but it felt like it might be my only option to hopefully overcome the prison and leave this area.

I was frantically going through my profile when I noticed my [Magic Resistance] trait right above [Curse Resistance]. I had wanted to upgrade it from Lesser, and I had the points to do so.

A way better option than using them to upgrade [Curse Resistance], at least!

<Spend 4 Trait Points to Tier Up [Magic Resistance (Lesser) LV 6]?>

Yes!

<[Magic Resistance (Lesser) LV 6] becomes [Magic Resistance (Greater) LV 1]. Trait Points Remaining 16.>

The trait point number was different than I remembered. I must have leveled up during all the fighting but hadn't had time to go through all the notifications.

Trixie had explained that tiering up a trait was a massive bonus, and she had not been kidding. I could quickly identify the reduced degradation of my life force and felt a lot better about weathering through this situation.

I was still stuck, so I reviewed my notifications to pass the time. My [Sub-Cores] would refresh my shield, so I felt safe despite the hazardous circumstances.

I noted that Vee had killed Otto, Zara, and Hans. However, I saw no death notice for the Summoner, which meant either he had died to the black sun or Vee had yet to take him out.

<Class Experience threshold reached. Elementalist is now LV 17.>

<20 Skill Points are now available.>

<Racial Experience threshold reached. Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) is now LV 14>

<19 Trait Points are now available.>

<Class Experience threshold reached. Elementalist is now LV 18.>

<21 Skill Points are now available.>

<Racial Experience threshold reached. Chimeric Cluster Slime (Blue) is now LV 15>

<20 Trait Points are now available.>

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I gained two levels, so that's why my trait points changed.

I had gained a surprising amount of levels. Between five high-level humans, the summons, and the random kobolds, it was a buffet of experience points. If I assumed the Summoner hadn't died in the explosion, I might even get a third level in my race or class out of this.

Other than experience, I hadn't gained too much. However, there was one notable exception.

<Proficiency gained. [Attack Mastery (Lesser) LV 7] improved to [Attack Mastery (Lesser) LV 8].>

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Oh wow... This took ages. I think I was still on the floating island when this last happened? I guess fused skills require a ton more effort.

<Spend 2 Skill Points to Tier Up [Attack Mastery (Lesser) LV 8]?>

<[Attack Mastery (Lesser) LV 8] becomes [Attack Mastery (Greater) LV 1]. Skill Points Remaining 19.>

I had no demonstratable difference in the newly upgraded skill, but I hoped it would be as effective. And then, to my surprise, I got two sudden notifications.

<[Curse] resisted.>

<[Prison] lifted.>

"Get out of there!" Trixie's shrill scream assaulted my mind.

I bolted with [Thunder Step] into [Wind Step], with maximum chaining to try to cover the most distance. Thanks to [Essence Sight], I could see the perimeter of this accursed area, and when I breached it, the sickly feeling finally dispersed.

"Wow... That was awful," I muttered.

"Jeez, you dumb slimeball doofus! You had both of us so worried!" Trixie cried.

I looked around but couldn't spot her. My reconnected bond with Vee told me she was also not nearby and was quite a distance away.

"Where are you two? Is Vee alright?" I asked.

"All good on my end!" Vee replied. I felt relieved.

"You saved me; thank you!" I said.

"I'm sure you would have survived... or something," Vee brushed it off. Anyway, this stupid Summoner guy is still around. I've been stalking him. I figured you might want to get some revenge."

"I'm honestly surprised he survived. Or hasn't fled yet since he did," I replied.

"Well, he keeps running in circles," Vee answered.

"Circles?" I questioned. "Trixie?"

"Guilty!" Trixie giggled triumphantly.

"I thought you weren't allowed to interfere or something," I asked, and I started heading towards where I felt Vee was.

"Yup. You're right again," Trixie answered. "But I just so happen to be changing what he sees on the horizon; it's not exactly my fault. He just so happens to be looking in that direction."

"Your honor, I didn't mean to stab him; he simply slipped and fell onto my knife!" Vee responded sarcastically.

"Exactly!" Trixie agreed. "I'm glad you understand it. I was beginning to worry you were maybe a bit challenged since you still can't imagine yourself as the rock."

I expected Vee to scream in frustration, but there was nothing but silence. However, I could sense a burning and simmering anger brewing over our bond. I wished Trixie would stop pushing her buttons so much, although some of me wondered if that would finally be enough to get Vee to break through.

It would be kinda funny if she does it through the power of spite, only for Trixie to exclaim that it was her plan all along. Actually, I bet that's exactly what she will do!

As I headed in that direction, I shifted to my elven form rather than the strange, blobby, defensive amalgamation I had tried to create. I tried consuming a health potion, but it did nothing for the strange lingering feeling.

<Status: Healthy>

That's not true at all, though! I'm definitely not healthy! Should I purposefully break my core and hope I feel better? No, wait, that's stupid. I'll maybe consider it if I don't feel better in a day or two. Plus, who knows, maybe the Summoner has some last-minute tricks up his sleeve? If those shadow centipedes grab me again, it could be enough.

When I arrived, I had expected the Summoner to potentially be out of breath, but he was mounted on a unicorn that was galloping at quite a speed. It really seemed like he had a monster for every occasion, and I couldn't help but applaud his utility.

I found my thoughts drifting toward possibilities, wondering if I should look into them before slapping myself back to reality. I had enough on my plate and so many classes and skills to explore. I wanted to look into traps, evolve, and still finish and see what Elementalist had to offer me.

Besides, what would I even need summons for? The only actual benefit would be if I had my [Sub-Cores] pretend to be a bunch of monsters.

I debuffed his mount before casting a deadly [Waterjet] spell. The beam tore through its legs and sent him toppling to the ground. He tumbled a bit before recovering, instantly taking a ready stance. His shadow shuddered, and a pair of shadowy centipedes emerged from it. When he saw me, he went from apparent shock to a rage.

"How!?" Kaspar screamed. "How did you survive?"

"Guess your friend didn't try hard enough," I mocked. "And now you are the last loose end I need to tie up."

Kaspar snarled, his fists clenching tightly. "I guess it falls to me to uphold their sacrifice in the name of the Emperor."

"You and your lot started this!" I shouted. "You've got nobody to blame but yourselves. I just wanted to do some adventuring, but you keep sending assassins after me. In fact, thanks to you, I've had some immense growth, so maybe I should be thanking you?"

Kaspar's fury was momentarily snuffed out, and he looked quite concerned as he scrutinized me.

<Proficiency gained. [Identity Fabrication LV 6] improved to [Identity Fabrication LV 7].>

Thanks for the level!

He cursed, almost spitting in anger. "You should not have grown so quickly. Experience boosting traits? Some other elf bullshit from the god's favorite race?"

I'm not even an elf... Although I have looked over the human profile, I can see his point.

"If your Emperors are so great, why didn't they spend their accomplishments bettering humans?" I questioned. "Surely one of them earned enough to do something. Or did they selfishly spend it on themselves?"

"What madness do you speak of?" Kaspar shouted, reaching for an ornate dagger with a bloodred jewel in the hilt.

"The elves have these boons from their progenitor sacrificing everything for them," I explained. "Surely your Emperor could've done the same thing? Or was his accomplishments so bad that he got no offers.

"You're mentioning some things you really shouldn't be..." Trixie warned me telepathically. "Although I do agree, their Emperor could have done something. Maybe losing the war so badly was that much of a setback for him. Or maybe he was just selfish."

Kaspar glared at me as he held his dagger, "Your lies will not damage my faith."

I was going to taunt him when he abruptly stabbed his own hand.

"Did he just stab himself?" I asked.

"Yeah... Either he lost it, or maybe he's trying to summon a demon or something?" Vee suggested. "Evil cultists do that type of stuff, right? Blood sacrifice, summon a demon?"

"How do you know that, but you can't pretend to be a simple rock!?" Trixie shouted. "No, forget that. Syl, kill him!"

"Oh shit, he is summoning a demon?" Vee asked in surprise.

Meanwhile, I had already launched an attack. I blasted a [Lightning Bolt] and half a dozen explosive needles through [Slime Shot]. One of the centipedes intercepted the spell, while the other coiled around Kaspar to intercept the needles.

Not good enough. I thought and detonated the needles.

The flurry of explosions went off, and I noted the centipedes had died, but there was nothing about the Summoner.

Not waiting for the smoke to clear, I fired a few more spells into the smoke. They hit something, but I was still not getting a kill notification.

I threw out a [Gust] to get immediate answers and saw Kaspar. He was clutching his hand in pain while far too much blood was being siphoned from his arm. Around him, a glowing magical circle was forming. Vee fired an [Acid Dart], and I received my answer; the magic circle erected a barrier that ate the spell.

"Damn... Too late," Trixie said.

"I guess we will add demon-slayer before dragon-slayer to our accomplishments!" Vee said reassuringly.

Now that sounds like something worth an Emblem!