I woke up more than a bit out of it.I had just had everything brain included fried, cooked, and consumed, so I didn't exactly wake up in a good mood.
"I know it wasn't balanced, but I still feel like there was something incredibly unfair about getting surprise attacked by lightning of all things" I thought while I was processing my most recent death."System what happened" I asked.
[Host was killed by one of the monsters present in the trial of lightning]
"So there were multiple monsters there, that would explain why the [Lesser Gryphon] had no lightning based abilities, those must have been given to the other monster"I reasoned. "What could the other monster have possibly been?" I asked myself while deep in thought."Welp, no point in thinking about it, I won't find out by just sitting here" I thought."System put me back in"I said.
[Done]
I reappeared in the valley of storms again. I figured that the second monster was hiding in the storm cover, while I was distracted by the gryphon."It's attack probably takes time to charge" I mused while starting into the violent storm. "I need catch lightning, which moves several times the speed of sound with my lightning mana"I thought. "Wait, if I can't keep up with it I just need to make it come to me".I charged my hands with my [Lightning Touch] spell and started forming a shell of lightning mana around my body, making sure to mix wind mana into my lower body as well. "Now all I need to do is get hit" I said as I approached the pedestal.I hit the start button and watched the clouds of any sign of a monster forming within them.Sure, enough I could see the green glow that accompanied the monsters forming process.I move forward ready to end the [Lesser Gryphon] quickly so I could deal with my skybound quarry.I activated [Slash] and met the gryphons own [Claw Strike] in the middle. As we struggled against one another I felt my hair start to rise.I moved back and braced for the bolts impact. The bolt clashed with my lightning mana, and I was thrown through the air. I was slammed into the barrier at the mouth of the valley.Then the system gave me a message I couldn't be happier to hear.
[Spell learned:Thunderbolt]
I pushed all the mana I had into my hands, and unleashed a massive bolt of white lightning straight into the [Lesser Gryphon].The [Lesser Gryphon] went down and seemed to barely be holding onto life, when the second monster finally decided to show itself.I activated [Insight] and faced my new opponent the [Parasite Thunderbird].It was a large black eagle-like bird, it's two heads watched me carefully as it landed near the gryphon. I was very surprised and wary of its skills. The bird only had two skills, but they were going to be difficult to deal with .It had already shown the power of its [Call Lightning] skill but it's other skill [Parasitic Fusion] almost promised to be more dangerous. "System tell me what that skill is" I said still focused on the human sized bird.
[Parasitic Fusion:Skill allows the user to transform themselves into pure energy and assume control of another monsters corspe, it can also take a living monsters body if it's severely injured/weakened.If the host monster is alive control of the body will be given to the monster with the strongest will and if the host monster is dead the parasite will gain full control.On rare cases where the host monster and parasite monster possess high compatibility they can fuse and evolve into a significantly stronger monster.In these cases the wills fuse taking the strongest parts of each will turning into a completely new being]
My eyes practically jumped out of my head at that."That might the most unfair skill in existence, or at least I hope it is" I said while in daze at the skills implications.The twin headed bird wasted know time breaking the gryphons neck.It leaned down over the larger monsters body unleashing a spark into the dead monster.The bird started to flake away and transformed into a swirling cloud of dust that lifted the dead body up in the air.From within the swirling cloud I heard a cry, the cry of a apex predator.What emerged from the storm was the largest monster I've seen to date.A massive three-headed gryphon that was easily 12 feet tall if not taller, the monster crackled with lightning almost as if it was a storm all on its own.I activated [Combat Focus] without a second thought, I knew if I didn't I wouldn't be able to think at all.I attempted to use [Inspect] only to be met with a new message.
[Targets level is higher than users information unavailable]
That ment it was not only larger and stronger, it ment it had a level advantage as well.I made what is either my smartest or dumbest choice yet.I stood there and waited for its next attack, [Counter] would be my only chance and I knew it.I looked it in its three pairs of eyes for any indication of movement or intention. Before long the powerful beast had launched itself into the air and masked its large form in the rolling storm clouds above.I felt it, my hair was standing on end again. The lightning fell down, I dodged right and leapt back, barely avoiding the bolt. My [Counter] skill was charged and ready, all I needed was a clear shot. Then fast as lightning, the monster charged out of the clouds.It came crashing down, leaving a scar in the ground.It was dazed, and I moved in, I needed to ground the beast.I charged [Slash] with [Counter] and [Thunderbolt], I threw an arc of sharped lightning at the gryphon. It dodged, moving right it avoided the majority of the damage but I managed to get the base of its wing, leaving it unusable.With the beast grounded all I need to do is [Counter] and [Slash] until it's dead.
I was blindsided by the monsters new speed. The lightning seems to have fused with the gryphons combat skills, it's speed has greatly increased.It swung its claws towards me, and I rolled back out of the strikes path.The monsters three heads each tried to skewer or grab me, as I continued to dodge and charge [Counter] to the max.
[Counter has reached limit, I recommend host discharged immediately or the built up power my become unstable]
Hearing that I prepared my killing blow.I activated [Slash] and used [Wind Cushion] to block his claws, as I moved inside his reach. Once I was close enough I shoved my [Slash] in his chest. After the [Slash] failed to kill it, I was quickly caught and thrown in the air.As I fell towards the monsters beak and certain death, I had an idea. I turned and kicked of its mouth and landed on the beasts back.I gathered all the mana I had left and slammed my fist down between its shoulder blades, unleashing a max power [Thunderbolt] straight into its heart.I caught a glimpse of the system message before I passed out.
[Host Wins]
[Levels gained, Host is now level 4]
[Skills learned [Peirce]]
[Spells learned [Slam Bolt] and [Breeze Step]]
[4 status points gained]