'How the f*ck do I even master my domain?' Vandel nudged his mind continuously. He was sitting on a rock further away from the tents.
Mastering his domain is not one of the skills he activated just by mere saying it. He needed to focus and connect to his domain points from his soul universe to prepare the formation.
He exhaled deeply and shut his eyes in an attempt to find a clue.
*Ding
[Unlock domain hints]
[Yes/no]
Vandel sighed. So there were hints all along and he has been restlessly trying to accomplish this daily quest. Wait—daily quest? Does this mean he has to practise it daily?
[Yes]
[Domain hints unlocked]
[Access your soul universe]
~To access your soul universe, focus your phantom energy on your mind.
"Well...I guess this will be much harder than I thought."
Vandel shut his eyes and began to access his phantom energy which was a herculean task to him.
He felt a surge restless wind in his mind more like it was rushing into an empty space but suddenly, the connection broke and everything collapsed.
He started all over again.
It took three failed attempts to finally access his phantom energy on the fourth try.
A space that stretched till infinity with restless wind which shook him to his knees. He managed to stand still within his restless soul universe and began to focus on controlling the restless wind in this blue space.
In reality, he still had his eyes shut and hands lying still on his laps.
A leaf on the floor beside him began to move as it was affected by the slowly increasing intensity of the wind. Then three...four...more leaves began to join as the wind around Vandel suddenly became turbulent.
Then the wind became a cyclone that left Vandel unaffected but violently flung the tents and blew it away. The mages rushed outside the tents when they noticed the restlessness of the wind. They protected themselves with their magics. Healing mages took cover behind the earth mages whose earth wall was strong enough to restrict the wind.
"What's with the wind?"
"Does it always get this violent here?"
"Look! Vandel is trapped in it!"
Opal gasped. As a wind mage, she knows this type of windstorm can only be caused by a max level mage and seeing Vandel at the centre makes her heart skip.
She flew with her wind wings to save her brother.
The windstorm abruptly stopped before she could get to Vandel who was shockingly not moving a bit.
The mages exhaled their sighs of relief as they withdrew their magics.
Opal gently touched Vandel's shoulder. "Are you alright Vandel?"
She suddenly gasped when a sudden energy raced through her body. She stiffened for a split second before a large ecto wave suddenly pushed her backwards. She quickly activated her magic shield on instinct.
The force of the outburst vibrated in the distance and forced the mages to the ground.
Opal landed into the side of the plateau and coughed out thick blood. Her magic shield broke. Blood trickled down her face from her head.
The ecto wave stopped at this point. Vandel was still unaware of what was happening.
Opal was shocked. She had deduced Vandel must have undergone some weird transformation while he was in the orange zone but this force, it was quite unacceptable. How can he expel so much energy. Opal didn't believe it. Someone might be after them.
She made to stand but felt cold daggers in her throat. Her heartbeat became irregular. She gasped for breath when she couldn't breathe properly but only lost consciousness.
The other mages rushed over to her. "Opal are you alright?" Orin was the first to get to her. He carried her back to the fireplace.
"Quickly give her some space!" Liam shouted.
"Hmmm...she must have sustained some internal injuries, and on her soul universe. She might have sustained much more on her soul universe. Hmm..what just happened?" Master Park observed Opal's pale blue colour at this point and deduced she must have sustained some serious injuries that might affect her magic.
'There was the windstorm, then the vibrations and ecto wave... Just what has happened to him? Is he possessed by a possession class demon' Liam thought. He had known Vandel from birth. Most of the hunters in their team were from their Wright family in the Tang district, so they had come across Vandel on several occasions. Not one of them had ever witnessed what just happened with him. 'He looks so strange'
"Quick! Save her!" Master Park commanded one of the healing mages. The tiny frail girl but with the highest cultivation amongst the healing mages asides Madie who was the highest skilled healing mage rushed towards Opal's lifeless body. She began to cast her "soul heal" magic on Opal to heal her inner injuries first.
*Ding
[Congratulations]
[Daily quest completed]
[Phantom domain: lv2]
[Reward: instant level up]
[Do you wish to level up?]
[Yes]
[Levelling up...]
[Level up successful]
[You are now a phantom warrior]
"If I get rewards as this, then I should continue taking up quests. I'll have to level up real quick to get to the peak of this." Vandel quickly accessed his status.
[Status: phantom warrior]
[Level: phantom level 3]
[Dominant skills: spectre lv2]
[Cognitive skills: discern lv1]
[Affinity skills: domain lv2]
[Quests: 3/10]
[Exp: 200/500]
[Crystals: none]
[Affinity: phantom scythe tier 2]
[Agility: 15(+10)]
[Strength: 15(+10)]
[HP: 5/10 (+10)]
"My health plus ten? What is it for?" Vandel opened the health tab. He was sure his health had been graded over ten, what's with the sudden increment of point?
"Is she dead?"
"Will she survive it?"
Just then he heard the frightened voices of the hunters as they seemed to be worried about something. He quickly turned only to find Opal's pale body sprawled on the ground while a girl knelt beside her, casting her magic. "Huh? What's wrong with her? Did I do that?"
"Lin will she be okay?" Orin asked with a frightened voice. Not being able to save Opal from such monstrous force which stiffened her whole body almost like electrocution raided his mind with guilt. He had promised himself to always be by Opal's side but this time, he couldn't even assure himself of her life. He felt so useless.
Lin, the girl casting her soul magic on Opal was already getting to her limit. Beads of sweat rolled down her face while she continuously cast her magic. She was determined to save Opal.
"Her soul universe is badly damaged and the pains may last forever..."
"Wh-at...what is wrong with Opal?" A deep voice stuttered behind them.
All heads turned to the direction of the voice. Some were frightened at his sight while some had the expressions of disbelief but only one person was angry.