The forest shudders in excitement, leaves fall swaying down only to burn against Ruvick's fire.
Bright white sword snake across Nil, a move which seals Ashar's fate. Ruvick skid back, he watch the bright blade point pushed out by his flame, knocking the Liyu back.
It has overcommitted and has no proper stance to break Ruvick’s fire coating.
Ruvick lunges in, letting out another six instant jabs. Only to be blocked by the Liyu. The force of exchange sends a flurry of magic gash across tree trunks.
The Liyu’s mastery of the sword is something he has to overcome.
It lashes with its sword, swinging against his spear this time. Ruvick tries to take advantage and execute a stab. But the Liyu is much faster. It batted the spear away and rushed inside Ruvick's defense. The Liyu planted its feet apart. Sword swung sideways across Ruvick's neck.
He jolted back, narrowly avoiding decapitation. A deep gash was left across Ruvick's neck. If he had been a human or an elf, this fight would already have been over.
HP: 997/1200
MP: 528/620
His fire enforcement consumes mana per second. A death timer he needs to pay attention to.
Lunging in again, the Liyu attempt to repeat the same technique. Ruvick skid back, bringing his spear trained on it, not intending to miss another opening.
Its sword swung, aiming at Nil. Ruvick pulls back again. Escaping the sword range.
The liyu’s sword swooshes through the air, missing Nil. Seizing the chance, Ruvick rushed in. Releasing a blurring jab. But the sword of light dissipated from Liyu's hand, only to appear in an instant on its left hand, batting Nil away. With Nil in the air, the Liyu charge in, scoring a deep gash through Ruvick's torso, penetrating his flame coating.
Ruvick backslammed against a tree trunk.
HP: 450/1200
A deep, soaring pain flared across his body. Ruvick let out a creaking cry. The Liyu bring their swords up, ready to bring them down upon Ruvick’s head. Afterlife flickers across Ruvick's vision. The sword stops. Ruvick glanced up, a root coil around the bright sword, a moment away from snapping.
Ruvick brings Nil down with his right hand. Slamming the Liyu with a Green enchanted spear, sending it flying, crashing into a trunk. Tapping the tree trunk behind him in thanks. Ruvick charge. He found the Liyu trapped with a root coil around its limb. With a visceral scream, He thrust Nil deep across the Liyu's neck. A deep, crashing snap pierced straight through its carapace.
(You Slain Liyu Lvl 52)
(Level Up!)
(Level Up!)
(Level Up!)
(Level Up!)
(Level Up!)
(Level Up!)
(Level Up!)
(Level Up!)
(Essence Obtained: Light Essence Obtained… Converting Into Pure Essence…)
RUVICK LVL 19
RACE: TREANT
CLASS: Verdant Sapling
HP: 1105/2100
MP: 928/1020
STR: 152
DEX: 145
INT: 95
Pure Essence: 1000.
Ruvick pulled Nil, it was draped with slick red blood running down. He looked down upon the Liyu corpses. Gaping hole, making its neck could not support its head any longer. If not for the coiling root across the face. Its head would have fallen off its body.
He could not afford to let the guilt inside him stop him. Ashar's second death still lingers in his mind. A reminder of the cost of this skill.
“Rise”.
A black tendril sprouted from the green bubble of life. It launches itself, coiling around the dead body. Corrupting the green life as it pulls down, entering the Liyu body. Wooden skin crept across its gaping neck, filling it. The carapace is veined with a green slithering vein.
The Liyu open their eyes. A bright pupil greeted Ruvick. It summons a blade made out of light. The creature knelt in front of him, blade shoved down inside the ground.
(Wooden Necromancer)
Glossary (1/20):
- Liyu
(Liyu. Lvl 52)
(Divine Blessing Obtained: Sword Mastery Obtained)
Divine Blessing:
- Nature Symphony -- The will of nature has unified your Essences. You may draw Skills from any Essences combination you possess, bypassing any overlapping Old Tongue.
- Sword Mastery – You are born with the way of the sword. Spirit of the nine-blademaster has smiled down upon your species.
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“Divine Blessing..” Ruvick muttered. He eyed the Liyu sword, an overwhelming desire to pick it up almost pushed him. Ruvick feels like he can wield it better than the Liyu ever did.
This skill is indeed very powerful. He only had hope that he had already scratched the depth of it.
Liyu is requesting a name..
The blaring text knocked him out of his daze. He cannot waste much time, there's still another Liyu to take down. “Yuu. How about Yuu?”
Liyu bowed his head, hand held to his heart.
(Yuu. Lvl 52)
“Let’s go, we need to take down the other Liyu.” The word felt wrong as it left Ruvick's mouth. Making him fight his past comrades seems cruel. Yet, he will do it.
Yuu stood, running ahead with the blade held in his right hand. Ruvick followed through a small clearing where they had been.
The sentinel lies broken, its back lying across a tree trunk. Two large holes gaping across its stomach.
Ruvick watches as the Human screams viscerally, batting away a spear thrust. His body bled with myriad points across his abdomen. He will not last much longer.
Yuu charged in, summoning the Blade of Light. A subtle flicker went through the blade, then a bright white flame burst from it. Ruvick stumbled from the sudden blare of the light. This must be the result of a combination between light essence and fire essence Ruvick had used to create his necromancer skill.
The human lay on two knees, sword fell to the ground. Just as the Liyu was about to finish him, the bright white light made it turn. In time to block a downward arc with its spear held with two hands.
White energy clash, sending a collision of white light, blinding the grass field. Ruvick shielded his eyes, blinking through the distant white. He opened his eyes only to see the spear-wielding Liyu charge toward Ruvick. Deciding he is alone.
Ruvick meets the charge.
(Fire Enforcement)
Green fire cascaded around him and Nil. He ran forward, thrusting nil to meet the blinding white spear of the Liyu.
Cascade of bright energy ruptures the space between them.
Ruvick's legs were pushed back, and his hands felt like they were about to tear. The white light overpowers his green flame. Like a bright sun somehow using its light to snuff out fire. Ruvick screamed, his fire response. The flame of Nil resists blazing against the white radiance.
A sword of light swung from the corner of Ruvick's vision. A head thumped to the ground. The spear light died. Leaving the ground marred with scars.
The headless Liyu body stood, then, as if blown by the wind, it fell sideways. Blood sprouted into its head, rolling across the brown scorch of the earth.
Nil dropped to the ground, and Ruvick's arm throbbed with a deep, searing ache.
MP: 628/1020
No level-up notification. Yuu has landed the killing blow. Probably saving Ruvick as he did.
“Thank you, Yuu.”
Yuu gives him a nod. Letting his blade of light dissipate.
(Yuu has slain Liyu)
(Essence Obtained: Light Essence Obtained… Converting Into Pure Essence…)
Pure Essence: 2000.
“W-What..” Ruvick eye the text to make sure he understands it correctly. Even if he is not the one who did the killing, can he still get Essence?
He looked across the headless body of the Liyu. Can it still work?
“Rise”
The black tendril catch the Green bubble of life. Repeating the same process as earlier.
Liyu stood, kneeling and shoving it spear of light deep inside the earth.
(Wooden Necromancer)
Glossary (1/20):
- Liyu X2
(Liyu. Lvl 52)
(Divine Blessing Obtained: Spear Mastery Obtained)
Divine Blessing:
- Nature Symphony -- The will of nature has unified your Essences. You may draw Skills from any Essences combination you possess, bypassing any overlapping Old Tongue.
- Sword Mastery – You are born with the way of the sword. Spirit of the nine-blademaster has smiled down upon your species.
- Spear Mastery -- You are born with the way of the spear. Spirit of the Spear empress has smiled down upon your species.
Ruvick grasped Nil tightly, a sense of confidence instilled within him. He spread his leg apart, bringing Nil on point, stabbing across the air. The thrust sends a wind swirl in aftershock. Excitement thrummed inside of it. His core cheered in joy.
Liyu is requesting a name..
“Liy,” Ruvick said. “I will name you Liy.”
Liy bows in acknowledgement. He stood pointing at the dying human and the sentinel.
“Yuu! Bring the sentinel to a spot where the sun blares!” Ruvick ordered. He rushed beside the human, scanning across the deep injury.
“The other Guardian.. Is it fine?” The human croaks. His face is pale. Red hair sprawled across his head. Blood matted his white shirt, with gaping wounds.
“I don’t know,” Ruvick answered. His mind raced for any solution to save the human. He needs to draw a skill. But he had lost his Life Essence due to the overpouring of Life Essence by half the forest.. He scan across his remaining Essence.
Essence (8/100):
- [Death Essence.] (DECROPHOS)
- [Fire Essence.] (ROH)
- [Earth Essence.] (GAV)
- [Water Essence.] (LIM)
- [Plant Essence.] (LUPIH)
- [Light Essence.] (RENDESCE)
- [Wood Essence.] (DELIH)
- [Moon Essence.] (LUNIYAH)
What would help here?
“You can speak,” The human black eyes squint on Ruvick. “You're not a Guardian?”
“No, my name is Ruvick. I was born from the tree of Nil. We call what you call a guardian a Sentinel.”
“Born from Nil? I see. A Sentinel.. So that's what they called. Please make sure it's fine. Ruvick, my mum always told me to help the Guardian if I see one.” The human lay an arm across Ruvick’s.
“What is your name, Human?”
“Nora”
“Nora, I can’t promise the Sentinel will be fine. But, it's in less danger compared to you.” Nora's grip on him grows weaker, his skin gets cold as time passes by.
“Please tell my family...” Nora trailed off. The light in his eyes dimmed. Ruvick's hand went to check his pulse. It's still there, but very weak. Like fire, one breath away from being snuffed out.
Pure Essence: 2000.
-Skill Mix-
(Choose Your Essence. Max 5)
Light Essence. Plant Essence
Ruvick chose the two essences he thought resembled life. He considered putting Moon Essence in, but decided against it since it might require moonlight. He inhaled a deep breath as he proceeded with the skill mix. His core pulsed quickened.
-Drawing Skill-
Vine Whip (50). (Grade E)
A green vine burst from Ruvick's hand, it coiled around the air. Extending itself like a whip. Ruvick drew it back, The vine obeyed, slithering and wrapping itself across his arm.
Ruvick clenches his hand tightly. This is anything but a healing skill. He looked toward Nora, his eyes examining Ruvick with weak light.
Nora's eyes flitted across the sky. His body shuddered in a peaceful breath. “Don’t look like that, Ruvick. I know you tried.”
“I'm sorry,” Ruvick whispered, his voice contorted.
“Thank you for trying.”
If only he still had his Life Essence. Things might be different.. Ruvick jolted in realization. He picked Nil up, the spear brimming with his mother's last life force. There’s a chance Nil inherits his mother's Life Essence. He laid Nil across Nora's gaping wound. “Lend me your strength..” Ruvick mutters, his voice comes out begging.
Nothing happened. Nil merely touched Nora's wound, nothing more.
There must be something.. His mind recalled when the green flame took over his Fire Enforcement skills. Ruvick extended the vine across Nil, The vine sprouted with flowers. The flower glimmers green, full of Life Essence. He let it slide toward Nora's wound, covering it with green glowing energy.
The flower's bright green light dimmed out. Ruvick watched the light seep toward Nora’s body. His body pulsed with green shimmer. Nora opened his eyes. Colour makes it back to his pupil. Nora blinked, and he jolted up, holding his closed wound.
“Ruvick?” Nora eyed him. “How? You did this?”
Ruvick cradled Nil across his hand. He touched Nora's pulse across his neck. It beat strongly. Life continues. Ruvick had saved someone. An act he will keep doing.