The [End Spider] pulled back, preparing for the last part of its attack cycle. Instead of throwing the stave like the [Spider King], it buried the stave in the ground. The earth trembled and tore apart. Silas ran for the forest, seeing the breaking ground chasing him. He entered the forest, finding safety in its shadows.
He hid among the giant trunks, his breath heaving as he peeked around a corner. Their enemy stood still; the stave it had buried in the ground vanished. This last attack was unexpected.
"An AOE?" he said, amused. 'Area of Effect (AOE) skills are especially effective for stunning or throwing groups of enemies away. Our only chance to attack it is when it has three staves.'
He looked around. No one was in the field; everyone had run to the forest when they realized what was happening. Silas wished for Danavar and the guards' safety, but the Lightservants could go to hell for all he cared.
He opened his inventory and drank one [Small Potion] and two [Energy Potions]. He felt invigorated. The wizard then opened the [Skill Interface] to check his new skills, hoping the system had given him something useful.
[Earth Spike I]
[Deals damage based on 60% of caster's attack.]
[Energy Consumption: 8 Energy]
[Description: Conjures a pillar of rock to rise from the ground beneath the enemy target.]
[-Skill has a 30% chance to knock-up enemies, stunning them for 1.5 seconds.]
He sighed. The skill was not bad but seemed useless in his current situation. Silas was reminded of his frustration with [Earth Skills]; low-level [Earth Skills] tended to be the most frustrating and least favorite among all skills. This was largely because their game animations were not as impressive compared to other skill sets.
However, no one could deny their value in defeating endgame content, especially for players aiming for a skill set with nearly endless [Crowd Control Effects].
He went to his [Inventory] and checked the stats of his newest equipment, the [Spider King Orb]. Wizards in Heroes of Destiny could wield two weapons: a staff in the right hand and an orb in the left.
----
Spider King Orb (Common)
Attack: 10
Energy: 20
Additional Stats:
Energy +15
[Spider Set Effects 1/2]
Attacks have a 60% chance to inflict [Poison I] on the target.
----
[Spider King Orb has been equipped]
He wished he had the other weapon to complete the set, but he was certain [Arachne] would drop it. He closed the inventory just in time to hear the growl of the [End Spider]. It summoned its spear again.
Once complete, Silas ran towards the shattered field of grasses. From the horizon, he saw the growing light. Morning was approaching, and he judged that it wouldn't be long before the sun rose.
Shadows appeared on the field. Silas felt [Haste] cast on him. When he looked back, he saw Danavar and the vice-captain behind him. They nodded to each other and turned to face the monster.
In the distance, he saw Bartholomew and Rivas, their bodies covered in yellow light. They jumped from point to point until they landed on the monster's skin. They ascended steadily towards Arachne.
They reached the gigantic shoulder of the monster and leaped, aiming their Holy Attacks at Arachne. Blazing fire erupted from Rivas's hand while Bartholomew threw a sword made of blue light towards her.
Amidst the battle between Arachne and the Lightservants, Danavar commanded the soldiers to aim their rifles at the master of the [End Spider]. Bullets flew towards her. Silas used [Flicker Fire], followed by [Water Dart] and [Magic Pierce]. Fire, water, and light magic sped towards their target.
Arachne, distracted by the Lightservants, didn't notice the attacks. Bullets pierced her skin, and Silas's skills struck her already battered body, causing the monster she controlled to stagger.
Through the smoke, Silas saw Arachne jump to escape. Gritting his teeth, he aimed his skill at her. He cast [Air Burst], causing the air around her to collapse inward and explode, tossing her to the ground. Dust flew up where she landed. She rose to her feet, looking around in a daze.
The guards aimed their bullets at her, and Danavar slashed forward, sending a wave of water that struck her. Silas used [Earth Spike], a pillar of rock rising abruptly from the ground and hitting Arachne in the stomach, tossing her into the air.
He heard her retch. As he approached, Silas saw her raise her hand in a plea.
"O wise one, please stop…" she said, breathing heavily.
Silas gazed at her, shaking his head. He threw [Water Dart] at her, the sharp particle of water made her scream. He followed with [Magic Pierce], which pierced through her right arm, severing it. She looked up at him in disbelief, anger in her eyes as she stared at her severed hand on the ground.
"You!" she began, but a sword flew through her head from the left, silencing her. Arachne stilled for a moment before falling sideways, her glaring eyes fixed on Silas even in death.
[You received +200 Destiny XP, [Spider Venom Sac]x2, [Normal Weapon Core]x2, [Spider Queen Stave (Normal)]x1, [Arachne's Silk]x1 & +2500 Shields]
Silas turned to where the sword had come from. The two Lightservants approached Arachne's remains. Bartholomew pulled his sword and wiped it with a handkerchief before throwing it to the ground. Then his eyes shifted to Silas. Everything about the man, from his pale skin to his deep black eyes, spoke of danger and death.
Unexpectedly, Danavar stepped forward with the remaining guards. Bartholomew frowned at them. "You know this is treason, captain."
"You seem to forget, Lightlord. It has been ages since the power of the state was removed from the Church. Only the owner of this land can charge me with treason," Danavar said. "Renim is a free country."
Bartholomew laughed. Silas felt worried for Danavar and his men.
"But you're sheltering a Heretic and a sworn enemy of mankind."
"And he is also the same person who saved my life and countless others. Thanks to him, the town is finally safe," Danavar said, his eyes shifting to Bartholomew. "I can't let him die in your hands. I will not stand idly by." He said the last sentence firmly.
The Lightservant held his gaze to the man before he sighed, turning sideways.
"Fair enough," He said. "Then just hand us the [Angel Blade] that you stole. Then we will leave in silence… for now.
Silas pulled out the sword from his [Inventory] and threw it to the ground before Bartholomew. The man laughed and mumbled about distrust.
"What do you mean, for now?" Danavar asked.
"I mean what I said, captain. We received an Order from above. This wizard must die. I don't know why the Origin Palce wants him dead, but that's not my concern. I do this for Glory," Lurfael said as he wrapped the sword in a white cloth. He turned his back on them, but Rivas remained standing, his fingers curled into fists.
"I'll see you again, wizard," Bartholomew said. Rivas turned and followed his master.
The remains of the monster had long vanished. Silas looked around at the heaps of stones that made the [Dungeon]'s entrance, now fallen to the ground. He wished he could have run through that [Dungeon]; it would have helped him grow stronger. He must not take Bartholomew's promise lightly. The man was surely scheming to catch him.
'What could Origin Palace want from me?' Silas wondered. 'Does being a transmigrator have something to do with this?'
He shook his head and focused on the issue at hand. The wizard turned to Danavar, who was eyeing him.
"What could the gods want from you?" Danavar asked, then shrugged. "For now, let's go back to Gram and check on the town."
[Quest 'Where It All Began' is successfully completed!]
[Rewards: +200 Destiny XP, [Large Health Potion]x5, [Large Energy Potion]x5, [Common Weapon Smithcore]x1, [Common Armor Smithcore]x1, [The Cursed Lady's Necklace (Normal)]x1 & +5000 Shields]
[New Quest is available!]
[Quest VIII: Tying Loose Threads]
[Description: Go back to Gram together with the guards and Danavar.]
[Rewards: +200 Destiny XP, [Large Health Potion]x5, [Large Energy Potion]x5, [Common Weapon Smithcore]x1, [Common Armor Smithcore]x1, [Special Skill Ticket: ???] & +5000 Shields ]