[Should we go down, do you think?] I ask.
[Oh no. What if they’re hostile? I couldn’t possibly escape. In fact, how would I even get down?]
Good point. Bears might be good climbers, but they aren’t designed for a kilometre-long vertical climb on stone. Not even close.
[I wonder who’s in charge down there. You have any idea, Al?]
The giant eye flares at my question.
[I do not. I am most curious to know.]
[Why don’t you head down and take a look about? You can scratch your itch and then come up and tell us. I’ll even trade some information without being a pain about it.]
I thought the demon would leap at the chance to pick my brain a bit more, but to my surprise, he doesn’t, wavering in indecision.
[Something wrong?] I ask him.
[It may be dangerous for me in this city. I have passed through it before, and my reception was… unpleasant. I am reluctant to return.]
[Huh.]
I stare down at the city below for a little longer before I shrug.
[Ah well, if we can’t find out now, it isn’t a big deal. It’s not as if they’re going to launch an assault on the layer above or anything. We can go back into the tunnels and keep hunting until the hatchling… I mean, Brilliant, is done evolving. I’ve been getting some decent Levels, and I’m keen to keep that wagon rolling!]
The big bear nods.
[Me too! To think I might actually reach tier seven. I never thought it would be possible in the past.]
[Hopefully we can still last in the second stratum once we manage it,] I sigh. [To be honest, I almost prefer the cold to this incessant heat.]
49. Use the Force
[Gah! Another ghast! Whose turn is it?]
[It’s mine,] Sarah replied grumpily. [I’m willing to give it away, though….]
Tiny shoots his hand up, an eager expression on his face.
[Settle down, you big lug. Sheesh, you don’t even get to eat ’em when they’re done. Are you this greedy for experience as well now?]
The big ape gives me a long, slow nod before extending a sombre thumbs up.
When it comes to hoarding things for myself, I’m always greedy.
I can practically hear the thoughts running through his head, and it irritates me no end.
[We’re going to do this democratically. I’m not handing you any more freebies just because I’m feeling lazy.]
[I-I would like the chance to hunt it, master.]
[Crinis? Got the hunger for Levels, I see! Good! How about that, Tiny? Already another contender in the ring.]
He looks down at the black patch on my carapace, the pain of betrayal shining in his eyes.
[Get over it, you drama queen.]
Visible confusion ripples across his face.
[No, I’m not explaining it.] I turn to Sarah, [Are you sure you want to give this up? They reward a good chunk of experience, you know?]
The big Asura Bear shudders, a comical sight to say the least.
[No, it’s fine. They’re just so creepy. I’m happy to give up on it.]
[Alright then. Invidia? Are you in on this?]
Goodness… the look he’s giving me right now…
[Okay! I thought I should be polite and ask rather than just assume… You know what? Fine. Next time, we’ll just put you straight in the draw. No need to glare at me like that.]
I mean, I know he’s an envy demon, but I felt it’d be rude to just throw his name in the hat without bothering to ask. Seriously, the look he gave me, though… ouch.
[I’m also going in on this one, so that means all five of us are in. Don’t grimace like that, Tiny, did you think I was going to sit them all out? You all know the drill, get ready, three, two, one!]
Tiny plays rock, he always plays rock. The shadowy goop on my back stretches out to make scissors, Invidia forms a coloured barrier of paper, and I form scissors out of the ground beneath our feet.
[Who wins in this situation? I can’t remember…]
[Master…]
[Maybe we do best two out of three?]
After a few more rounds, we determine that I’m the winner. By which I mean, I determine that I’m the winner. Gwehehehehe. The experience will be mine! I’ve been meaning to test a few new things anyway. I’ve been diligently practicing my Force Magic over the last week, and now I think it’s ranked up to the point where I can do some real damage with it. I have a few new spell forms up my carapace, and I genuinely think the oomph I’m able to pack into even the basic Force Bolts is enough to cause some real damage if I use them in the right way.
Compared to their previous limp-wristed slapping when I first started using this particular affinity, they’ve now upgraded to a solid right cross.
Hehehe, stupid ghost, you’re in for it now. My minds spin into gear, winding up the Force Mana construct and spitting out the energy I need before I start shaping it into the required form. The moment my spell is ready, I fling it out at the unwary ghast, catching the demonic remnant by surprise.
The mana slings out in an open loop that catches around the monster and snaps shut around it, locking it in like a vise. Hah! You might be an ethereal douche-bag, but you sure as hell can’t slip through a net made out of mana! The moment the spell takes hold, the hideous creature spins toward me and tries to reach out with its dreadful claws, only to find itself bound tight. With an almost contemptuous attitude, the ghast begins to flex its might, aiming to break free.
Foolish monster. I find your lack of faith… disturbing.
With the many brains I have at my disposal, a number of spells have already been in the making, and they are unleashed one after another on my helpless foe. Condensed Force Bolts slam home like hammer blows, buffeting the beast and buying time for me to close the distance. As I prepare my Dash, I send out another, more potent Force Bolt. Unlike the others which travelled in straight lines, this one curves through the air, striking down at the monster from above and smashing it to the ground.
Filled with rage, the ghast finally breaks free of the cage I imposed on it, but it’s far too late.
DOOM CHOMP COMBO!
With a few devastating snaps, I shatter the final remnants of resistance within my enemy and its energy begins to dissipate as I read over the notification from the system. Oh yes, give me that juicy XP. I need too many damn Levels before I evolve again, I can hardly wait!
Man, it hasn’t even been that long since I reached tier six, and already I’m yearning for tier seven. Evolving is addictive as hell.
I’m so caught up in the moment of my victory, of thinking of the future and the short and sharp battle that I just participated in, that I almost miss the tiny thread of thought that wriggled through the air, seeking out one particular member of our group. So faint, less than a whisper, practically just a breath, but even so, it manages to barely snag my attention. If I hadn’t been practicing my mental Skills so thoroughly, then it may have slipped past entirely.
Insidious and careful, the thread of Mind Magic drifts through the air as I try to focus on it, to grasp it with my mind. But it’s so quiet I can barely sense it, and it moves like a leaf on the wind, drifting here and there on an unseen current until, finally, it connects to the giant bear patting Tiny on the back as she comforts him for missing out on the fight. The moment it touches her, she stiffens and sits up straight.
[Sarah…] it whispers.