“Magic? Just the thing that none of us three can use that well..” Jack thought, eyeing Araneida and then Sallow. They had been pinned up against an opponent that realistically, they were incapable of doing anything against – Sure, Sallow had access to fire magic, however he stated that it wasn’t strong enough to be used for spells.

  It seemed that they had found themselves in a bit of a pickle.

  The Wraith gazed down at them from above, before exhaling and crossing her arms. “I’ve been observing you for a while. I know that none of you have access to particularly strong magic, so I’m not afraid of losing… But I do request…”

  The Wraith took a few steps back while midair, before gazing at the trio with a sinister expression and a grin, that was enough to even force slight shivers to run down Jack's spine.

  “At least try to entertain me. Maybe I’ll spare you if you turn out to be entertaining enough.” Then, the woman reached her right arm out.

  Sallows eyes widened, before he leapt away. “My Lord! Get away!”

  Jack, without hesitation grabbed a hold of Araneida and using ‘Animal Body’, quickly morphed his legs into large rabbit ones, before leaping up into the air. Where the trio had stood seconds prior, a sudden barrage of dark spikes shot up, which would have surely impaled them had Sallow not told them to get out of there.

  Landing back down, Jack morphed his legs back to normal, before placing Araneida back down and unsheathing his shortsword. The Wraith sighed, looking at Jack with an unamused, even disappointed expression.

  “Which part of ‘physical attacks don’t work on me’ did you not get, Tamer?” She asked, before snapping her fingers. From behind her, two spikes shot towards Jack, who braced for the incoming attack. Right as the spikes got close enough, Jack slashed at one of them – luckily, the weapon worked against the spike and was enough to destroy it, however he wasn’t fast enough to react to the second spike, which tore into his right shoulder – spilling his blood a bit, as well as sending him flying into the wall, with the spike pressing him against it.

  Araneida shrieked after Jack, before looking furiously at the Wraith and leaping up into the air. Then, she unleashed a blood curdling shriek.

  Araneida has activated [Intimidation].

  At first, the Wraith looked surprised by the spider's attack, however her surprise then twisted into a wide grin, before she closed the distance between her and Araneida. “That’s cute～ Unfortunalely, you’re not strong enough to intimidate me, little arachnid～” The Wraith, using the shadows above Araneida, sent the spider down into the ground below, piercing through her tough exo-skeleton and causing the spider to shriek in pain.

  Jack coughed a bit, before grabbing a hold of the spike in his shoulder and with enough grip force exerted, crushed it, falling to the ground and grabbing his injured shoulder. “Dammit… Those attacks are fast.”

  Sallow leapt up behind the Wraith, spinning his sword which was engulfed in flames around, before slicing the Wraith in half again – the Wraith seemingly reacting with small bits of pain, before gritting her teeth.

  “You dirty—!” Before she got to finish, Sallow grabbed onto the ceiling before throwing his sword at her, which stabbed through her as if she was a physical being and then dragged her along it into the ground, where the blade crashed into the ground and kicked up a dust storm. Afterwards, the Grey Goblin king let go and fell back onto the ground, before looking at the Wraith with a cold gaze.

  The Wraith dispersed the dust storm around her, before freeing herself from the flaming blade and looking at Sallow with a furious expression. “Despite that flame being pathetically weak, it still burns… You will pay.” She stated, before dashing at the Grey Goblin King.

  Sallow stood still for a bit, before crouching down and then dodging out of the way. The Wraith flew past him, however scuffed before using the shadows around her to launch a barrage of appendages at Sallow.

  Sallow quickly moved away, dodging the appendages that smashed the area around him, before quickly grabbing a hold of his sword and slicing them apart with one wave of his blade. “My Lord, are you alright?”

  Jack nodded, throwing an empty bottle of a greater potion he had just poured onto his injury. “I’m fine, but it would be a smart move to avoid taking any more heavy damage. I am down to only two potions.” Sallow nodded.

  Araneida rose back up, before leaping back behind Jack and Sallow, all three now facing the Wraith again – who was looking at them with a cold expression. “I have to say, I am disappointed.”

  Jack scuffed. “What a joke…” He commented in his mind before looking around. Afterwards, he gripped his shortsword a bit more tightly, before walking to Sallows side. “Sallow, can you envelope my shortsword with fire?”

  “I can certainly try… However it will not be a powerful flame.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” Jack narrowed his eyes. “As long as it is some kind of flame, it will work.” Sallow nodded, before extending his left hand towards Jack's shortsword and grabbing hold of its blade. Moments later, it was ignited in a fire. Then, the duo turned to face the Wraith again, who looked bored at first, before twisting her expression into one of sinister joy.

  “Hoho… Do show me what that pathetically weak fire can do gentlemen.” Without hesitation, the three of them leapt at one another with Araneida standing back, before picking up on some nearby noises.

  Jacks and Sallows blades met the spikes created from the shadows that the Wraith used, sending a rippling echo of weapons clanging against each other through the cave environment around them. The spider quickly turned away and began moving over to where she had heard the monster noises – disappearing from sight.

  Jack, Sallow and the Wraith continued their clash.

  The Wraith was pushing the two individuals back with the way she controlled the shadows – and her movements? They were fast paced, yet at the same time, elegant - as if she was some noble lady. Jack, observing the way she moved and fought, couldn’t help but think of her as a dancer.

  “The way this wraith moves…” He narrowed his eyes, before slicing apart a barrage of appendages that had been sent his way. Then, the man transformed his legs into an ostriches, before dashing around the Wraith, while a wave of new appendages made of the shadows around them flew after him – smashing and destroying the stone around him. “It reminds me of her…” Jack finished his way of thought.

  While looking at the Wraith and running, a mental image appeared in his mind.

  He remembered his training – how his teacher was ruthless and had a style of fighting that made it look like she was dancing.

  The Wraith moved similarly…

  Leaping up into the air, he morphed his legs back to normal, before pressing against the ceiling and taking in a deep breath.

  [Combat Experience] has been activated.

  +30% to Agility.

  Then, the Tamer dashed down at the Wraith at such great speed, that at the spot he had pressed himself against on the ceiling, a crater was left by the sheer force exerted from his leap. The Wraith looked at the man with a shocked expression, before sending a barrage of shadow appendages to try and intercept the man, however Jack moved so fast, he flew through the appendages, landing right in front of the Wraith.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “Wh-what…?”

  Jack's eyes shone ever so slightly orange as he slashed his fire engulfed shortsword at the Wraith – seemingly successfully slicing her in half. Then, in the moment of confusion that Jack had created, Sallow appeared behind the Wraith and slashed at her as well – with the two attacks from both Jack and Sallow seemingly slicing the Wraith apart in a cross.

  The Wraith appeared surprised at first, before scuffing and laughing.

  Then, before either Jack or Sallow could do anything, the two were grabbed by the shadow appendages summoned by the Wraith, before smashed into the wall of the cave. The Wraiths body came back together, all the while she let loose a sinister chuckle. “That wasn’t bad… So unfortunate that your magical abilities are so lacking.”

  The Wraith looked at the two with shining eyes and a grin. “Perhaps if you weren’t a ‘Tamer’, you’d be able to handle me～”

  Jack scuffed, gritting his teeth and spitting out some blood. “God dammit… First that shitty woman called me useless because I was a ‘Tamer’ and now some ghost bitch is looking down on me as well? Is ‘Tamer’ really that weak of a class?” Jack stood back up, his body ever so slightly trembling. The flames that had engulfed his and Sallows' weapons had faded.

  The Grey Goblin also rose up.

  “Hey Sallow, can you cast any more of that fire?”

  Sallow shook his head in denial. “I’m sorry my Lord… but I am spent. Ever since becoming your servant, my power has been limited.”

  Jack sighed. They were in a corner — this Wraith had the advantage. Neither of them could so much as leave a scratch on this thing, meanwhile the Wraith was just playing around with them. It was so frustrating.

  To Jack, it felt like he was back in that room, training with his teacher and being unable to land a single hit on her.

  The Wraith began to slowly approach the duo. “I think play time is quite over. I will now put you two out of your misery.” The Wraith stopped and extended her arm towards Jack and Sallow. Then, a dark magic circle appeared in her palm and then an exact duplicate of it, only a lot bigger, appeared behind her.

  She was beginning to cast a spell.

  “Darkness of eternal slumber, I bring these two sinners as a sacrifice. Accept them and devour their souls, body and mind and ensure that not even their screams of agony can escape.”

  As the spell incantation reached its end, the Wraith looked at Jack and Sallow with a gaze, that very much was one that belonged to someone, who believed that they had already won. “Devourer—”

  Then, a shriek came from behind.

  Araneida has activated [Intimidation].

  The Wraith then suddenly stopped, dropping to her knees. “W-What!?” Jack looked around a bit confused. Then, a bright red magic circle appeared below the Wraith. The Wraith's eyes widened – then, a pillar of fire engulfed her as the Wraith let out a blood curdling shriek of pain.

  Finally, Jack and Sallow managed to spot Araneida in the distance. Beside her, was a large, bulky creature, which seemed to have this feathered cloak over it, casting a shadow over its face, while still allowing a pair of reddish eyes to shine through. The creature was holding a staff in its right hand and over all looked a bit similar to the Grey Goblins, just, more bulky.

  Jack narrowed his gaze on it.

  [ CREATURE ]

  Grey Hobgoblin Sorcerer

  Rank: C

  Level: 42 (3)

  A Rare variant of the Grey Hobgoblin.

  This variant has trained in the ways of sorcery and possesses a greater intelligence than most others of his species. While it appears hostile, it tends to be docile and in fact avoids humans.

  [ CREATURE ]

  “So…” Jack got up, popping out the second to last greater healing potion in his arsenal and opening it, before drinking half of it and tossing the rest to Sallow, who chugged the rest of it. “Araneida got help, huh? Smart girl.”

  He cleaned off his mouth.

  The pillar of flames that had enveloped the Wraith dissipated and the Wraith was nowhere to be found. Then, it appeared behind the Hobgoblin, attempting to stab it through its chest – however the creature quickly reacted and leapt away, with Araneida following after it.

  The Hobgoblin then aimed its staff at the Wraith.

  “Flare.” Bright red magic circles appeared all around the Wraith, before she was engulfed in flames again, releasing a blood curdling screech again. After landing down, Araneida dashed towards Jack and leapt into his arms, happy to see him alive. Jack patted her lightly on the head.

  “Good job Araneida, you brought us just the help we needed.” The man put Araneida down, while Sallow eyed the Hobgoblin Sorcerer. Something felt familiar about this being to Sallow.

  The Wraith crawled out of her predicament, breathing heavily. Her body was damaged — with scorch marks and patterns across it. “You… You bastard–! How dare you ruin my beauty!?” The Wraith yelled, before letting out a loud shriek, which shook the cave.

  Then, the shadows around suddenly rose up, before forming into large monstrous creatures, all of them growling as they towered over them all. Then, the Wraith pointed at Jack and the others. “Children of the shadows, destroy them!”

  Jack narrowed his eyes on one of the creatures.

  [ CREATURE ]

  Shadow Apparition

  Rank: G

  Level: 45 (2)

  A Creature created from the shadows with the powers of a ‘Warlock’.

  [ CREATURE ]

  Jack scuffed and grinned, picking up his shortsword and moving to join the side of the Hobgoblin Sorcerer. Sallow and Araneida followed his lead a moment later. “Hey,” He spoke up to the sorcerer, who threw his gaze at Jack. “Take care of the wraith for us. We’ll keep these things busy.”

  The Sorcerer nodded and gripped its staff more tightly, before looking at the Wraith, who was still glaring down at them. Then, the giant shadow monsters roared, before charging them.

  Jack, Sallow and Araneida split up — each one leaping at their own enemy.

  Jack and Sallow attacked the giant shadow monsters, with Sallow simply slicing them apart with his giant sword, while Jack was maneuvering across their bodies, causing the monsters to hit each other.

  Meanwhile Araneida and the Hobgoblin Sorcerer she had recruited, put their sights on the Wraith, with Araneida dashing towards the thing, while the Sorcerer cast some buffing spells on the spider, before spinning his staff and hitting it onto the ground, forming a large, bright red magic circle below him. Then, he started an incantation.

  The Wraith looked like she had a mix of anger, fear and anxiety all across her face. As Araneida leapt up at her, her eyes shining, the Wraith panicked and leapt back. “St-Stay back!” The Wraith demanded, before sending a barrage of spikes at the white spider, however Araneida simply dodged the incoming attacks, before dashing at the Wraith — closing the distance between them in almost an instant. In that moment, as their eyes met at such a close range, the Wraith could hear Araneidas thoughts.

  “You harmed my Master. I will harm you.”

  The spider then grabbed hold of the Wraith, before throwing her away. The Wraith flew a bit, before catching herself and floating midair – her eyes widening as she saw both Sallow and Jack tear apart the giant shadow creatures she had summoned.

  [ ALERT ]

  You have levelled up.

  42 > 43

  [ ALERT ]

  The Wraith trembled a bit.

  “H-How… This Tamer… He shouldn’t be strong enough to fight beasts birthed from the shadows… How is this…” Before she could question it for too long, red chains suddenly bound her – locking her in place.

  The Wraith panicked, trying to break through, before looking down below her with wide, fear filled eyes. The Hobgoblin Sorcerer had finished his incantation and aimed his staff at her in the air. As the Sorcerer's eyes shined bright red, he whispered a single word quietly.

  “Scorch.”

  From the magic circle below the Sorcerer, a trio of large flame pillars shot up towards the Wraith, quickly engulfing her and incinerating her apart. All that filled the cave were the echoes of the pain filled screams of the Wraith. Jack and Sallow looked up at where the Wraith was engulfed, with Jack laughing lightly, sheathing his shortsword.

  “I definitely need to recruit a sorcerer at some point…”

  …

  [ ALERT ]

  You have levelled up.

  43 > 47

  [ ALERT ]

  After a bit, the pillars of flames disappeared.

  Araneida made her way back down, before walking over to the Hobgoblin Sorcerer, who looked down at the small spider. Jack and Sallow joined Araneidas side. Then, as if the Sorcerer was communicating with Araneida without speaking a single word, the two of them bowed towards one another.

  Then, the Sorcerer threw a look at Sallow, before also bowing towards him and turning around, walking away before disappearing in a small flame.

  “Say Sallow… Do you by any chance know that individual?”

  Sallow remained silent for a bit. “I might do.”

  Jack exhaled and laughed a bit. “I see…” He then kneeled and headpatted Araneida a bit, smiling. “Well done Araneida, had it not been for you asking help from that sorcerer for us, we most likely would have been buried two meters underground.” The spider remained silent for a bit, before giving a joy filled squeal, and jumping to hug Jack with her front legs.

  Sallow remained silent, watching the two, before exhaling.

  “This encounter has taught me something… That I should probably focus on refining my magical power. If we ever run into another Wraith, we will need at least one of us to be capable of using magic.” Sallow turned around, picking up his sword before placing it onto his back. Jack watched Sallow with a silent gaze, before sighing and standing back up.

  “That would be useful indeed.” Jack then looked a bit more seriously at Sallow. “Just, don’t push yourself too much alright? I don’t need a subordinate who exhausts himself by pushing too hard.” He crossed his arms and laughed. Sallow chuckled lightly in response, looking at Jack with an amused expression.

  “I know my Lord. I know.”