Ebony's Fable

“It was all thanks to you, Hector.”

“...you’re quite the wretched rascal aren’t you.”

Now that Hector said that, Ebony did seem a little meaner to Hector. It was kinda fun messing with him.

They then went on to spar with each other.

Ebony had to face the large issue of not being able to grip onto the ground without his feet touching it or having any friction.

Since he could extend it to his clothing it could also retrieve it but it was actually slightly more troublesome. The chaotic and disorderly flow got worse when he removed the membrane from the soles of his feet.

Testing a little running and Treading Step when he was sure he got the trick down then he went on with his normal spar.

Sword training with Scarlet and just annoying Hector with his new and improved skill. With traction he could stop himself from getting pushed back as much.

Extending Chaotic Repulsive Membrane to his greatsword did take a bit of effort and more mana. The results were…mixed.

Crossing blades pushed both blades from touching each other after the initial impact unless the strength placed into their strikes was really high.

It will push Scarlet’s sword away or aside, making it slide away and slash more easily. At the same time the force also pushes Ebony’s greatsword back.

Ebony found the problem to be his reverse flow for his greatsword was not as perfect as his body’s or clothes which stuck close.

The flow wasn’t sharp. Not fitted to the sharpness of his greatsword. He worked on it with gravity manipulation. Stopping his body’s membrane and just focusing on his sword to conserve mana.

When Ebony slashed out hard and was counter the knockback was strong enough to cause him to pull back and spin. The feeling was like hitting a rubber hammer down on the ground and it rebounding back hard.

He needed to get used to it and adjust his style accordingly. The knockback could either be controlled or he could stiffen and use the push back against his opponent and not himself or use the knockback for his own momentum.

Using it for his own momentum actually fit his current sword style better as long as he could smoothly transit it to the next strike.

Ebony asked Hector saying he had something to test and got him to have his body enhanced.

He gripped Hector’s wrist without touching it and using any strength. It was enough for Hector to feel a vice-like grip.

There was no contact or friction, Ebony tried to grip tighter but Hector got him to quickly stop.

As long as Ebony can wrap his fingers around something the repulsive force was more than strong enough for a ‘grip’. He tried to pick up a rock without extending his spell on it but it was either pushed around or crushed when lightly pinched.

Ebony figured he could manually manipulate gravity mana when he wants to pick something up or touch something if the spell was on.

He imagined he could pick a nice good rock and toss it, taking away the extension of his spell at the last second to repel the rock a good bit. He tested throwing a few rocks against the walls. It took quite a few attempts to get the hang of the timing and good control of gravity mana.

It actually did propel the things he tried to throw. By a lot. With a little practice, it could be a nifty trick.

Ebony got Hector to shoot a projectile at him. The quadra elemental mage either didn’t have a normal projectile spell or didn’t want to use it. He just made a ball of dirt from the ground with manipulation and tossed it at Ebony baseball style.

It didn’t manage to touch him, much less dirty his clothes.

Ebony was tempted to ask Ryley or any archer around to shoot an arrow at him. Hector managed to find a willing level 40 young archer to shoot at him. Just a normal shot without skill other than mastery.

Aimed at his shoulder, Ebony watched carefully to see the arrow come really close in contact. It poked his robes a little before swerving and pushed to the side, then falling.

The archer was stunned by Ebony’s robes, unaware a spell was at work.

The evolved spell was pretty awesome but it had its limits. It wasn’t an actual wall or shield that directly defends him but can easily repel and redirect attacks including and maybe especially projectiles. A sharp, fast or strong attack can bypass his repulsion more easily.

Scarlet’s sword for example doesn’t face much repulsion when touching his skin when they tested it. Too bad for Ebony he wasn’t swordproved. At least he should be water or blood-proof now.

The dungeon hasn’t opened yet. There was no need for them to go to the Quest Hall to check since most people would know once it opened or so people told him. He wasn’t sure how people would just know it when it opened but didn’t bother asking.

“Want to hunt golem’s together?” Scarlet asked before they went back. It was a surprising suggestion. She didn’t seem to like golems from what she told him previously. Ebony honestly felt and guessed it was because they were not edible.

“The mud golems in Bubble Hills? Aren’t those at least 130s?”

“Yes. So? We’ve slayed them. They are one of the weakest 130s in existence. It is summer, so maybe the hills are too dry for them to exert their power.”

“...you monsters. I guess the two of you should be able to take one down.”

“Alone.”

“What?”

“We hunted a golem each, alone.” Ebony explained.

“...you guys aren’t messing with me are you? If not then sure, let’s go. Wanna make it a party thing? It’s a good chance to practice some teamwork and see each other’s capabilities on the field.” Hector thought that if the mud golem were found in Bubble Hills it was probably due the poor environment for them that they were weak.

“Mmm, good idea.” Ebony replied.

Scarlet shrugged, that was her goal anyway.

Mud golems were considered a ‘very weak’ monster of their level. They were slow and clumsy, their attack patterns repetitive and predictable. Intelligence almost non-existent amongst the lesser mud golems.

The Cysarus could beat them even with the level gap.

Hector said he knew where the other 2 were staying and would inform them.

Scarlet stood noticeably further away from Ebony when they walked back to the inn. She appeared to be more absent minded as well.

Ebony was kinda hoping she would stop him and say that she would cook for him again but to his disappointment it didn't happen.

The inn’s food, which actually wasn’t all that bad, was almost tasteless to Ebony now.

It was also more expensive now that prices have risen and Ebony just thought that it was such a waste. Even so, a full meal was cheaper than ingredient cost in Arcta. Ebony was confused why they don’t trade with Plainston more. Or why he didn’t see a single human or other races in Arcta despite the Frost Elves not unwelcoming to others. He could always ask when he returned to Arcta.

Night went and day came.

The party met up at the city gate with Ryley and Hector being a little late. Tuffock was nervously waiting there before Ebony and Scarlet arrived.

Ebony brought along a fully compressed Layered Ice Carapace. He was using too much mana either practising or charging an ore or two to prepare a second one.

Scarlet was still acting a little absent minded since the day before and seemed to be keeping more distance with him. It was kinda perfect for him, it made things easier for him this way too so he didn’t say anything.

When they moved out after the whole party gathered it was immediately obvious that they couldn’t move at similar paces.

Scarlet shot forward like a bullet with Ryley barely managing to keep up, Ebony was lagging behind quite a bit. She was taking it easy and looking back to check on the party.

Ebony noticed Hector’s footwork behind him being a little unique. A short observation told him it was fit for his close-ranged combat style. Short burst of speed and not for travelling long distances. He wasn’t using enhancement and neither was Scarlet.

Tuffock was left behind with no one being able to see him behind them soon enough.

After a few minutes, Ebony caught up to see both in front of him waiting ahead. Hector came after and breathed out loudly as if a sigh.

Tuffock… Ebony backtracked to find him huffing and puffing like his life depended on it.

Ebony got close to him and was about to ask if he was alright before Tuffock spoke up first.

“Haa.. Haaa.. Haaa. Are you freaking bastards trying to torment a poor mage!?” Tuffock’s face was scrunched up in rage as he panted.

‘Maybe it’s a split personality instead.’ Ebony thought.

Tuffock turned meek almost immediately after the outburst but he didn’t apologise for it or say anything about it.

‘Does he not remember what he said or just too shy about it?’

Ebony put his arm around Tuffock as he carried him by his side and ran to where the others were waiting.

“Slow.” Scarlet complained.

“Yeah, the dungeon will be large. We don’t want to stay in there forever, we need to move fast especially on the first few floors.” Ryley wasn’t happy but tried to be as reasonably polite as he could in front of Scarlet.

His pride as a speedy scout was trampled on when Scarlet was slightly ahead of him.

“Couldn’t you move a lot faster when we duelled?”

“Move..movement by stone manipulation. Consumes mana. Me..mentally tiring.” Tuffock was still trying to catch his breath.

“...Tuffock, try hanging off my ice shield. I should be able to carry you while we move.” Ebony proposed.

With an increase in Intelligence, the strength and speed of control of his spells have improved as well. The 10 stat points from the 2 levels gain in his Sub-Class was put into Intelligence, reaching 171.

Compared to his normal movement speed, it was too slow, but it was much faster than Tuffock running.

“Bu..but won’t it tire you out? It’s a waste of mana too.” Tuffock looked concerned.

The amount of mana used for just moving masses of ice around was low enough that Ebony didn’t realise it. Others would have, since they aren’t able to regenerate mana while they cast.

Tuffock suit of stone armour was reduced to a upper armour, a chest plate that he was wearing under his robes. Ebony only knew that due to his gravitational senses.

Constant casting was supposedly mentally tiring too, why didn’t Ebony know that?

“It’s alright, I have been carrying it around all along anyway.”

Ebony turned his shield with the curve inward part facing the sky, getting Tuffock to sit comfortably and hold tight. They continued towards Bubble Hills and deeper in.

Ebony was slowed down a bit though, Tuffock was pretty light if you didn’t consider his stone armour.

Chaotic Repulsive Membrane is much harder to cast on something not in contact with Ebony. Even normal reversing of the gravitational mana was tough so Ebony didn’t use it on his shield. Or rather he wasn’t able to do it without fully focusing on gravity manipulation.

Ryley showed his scouting or detection skill by informing them of what monsters were hiding in which directions. The monster population being pretty low, the hills were more silent than usual.

Not many people hunt Cysarus or mud golems so there should still be many of them. While normal monsters are not that different from animals and are given birth. Creatures like golems are either man made or formed by nature.

Monsters can reach a certain level in days or even faster but golems or spirits that are formed by nature can reach high levels in minutes. Mud golems range from 130 onwards, it would be almost impossible to find one at level 1. It really depends on the environment and its natural elemental mana levels though.

No one found where in Bubble Hills they were being formed from but it was probably from deep underground with thicker mana and essence together with some other element that forms the core of the golem.

Ebony broke the previous core but if he was able to drain the golem dry without breaking it, the core will go into a sleep mode or something similar.

A very popular material for staff and wands because they can absorb that type of elemental mana from the surrounding. He had no idea if it was what’s used for Tuffock or Rowent’s staff though.

With a little crafting magic and adding of functions a good sustainable staff can be made. The broken core isn’t useless of course. They can still be treated and placed into Hector’s armour or gauntlets for example. The most popular enchantment or function was obviously mana efficiency or increasing that particular spell or elemental power.

The party got deeper and deeper into the hills, none went into caves or underground. Even when they found tracks of them.

Getting ganged by large groups of golems would be suicide even for them.

“Group of 5, 138 to 143.” Scarlet pulled back and reported.

“3 of them, 2 are 147 the last is 148.” Ryley called out from a short tree, coming from another direction.

Hector and Tuffock were resting, they weren’t really out of breath or anything but stamina consumption was an issue for Hector. Ebony didn't have to guess to know that the heavy armour weighed him down lots.

Ebony was getting weird looks from Tuffock, Hector and Ryley as they alternated between him and his shield floating around.

They decided to take on the group of 3 with Tuffock being the most nervous and asking if they should really take them on. Ryley didn't say anything but he was unnerved too. Hector was excited and pumped up like usual.

Unlike Scarlet and Ebony who didn’t show much reaction or anxiousness the others were stressed out.

Ebony thought that a single hit from the golem could kill them all, Hector might survive a blow with all his enhancements on but he couldn’t keep his enhancements up forever.

“Can you guys really keep it busy?” Ryley was looking at the 3 hybrid vanguards as he asked. The two ranged attackers weren’t going to be in danger for a short period of time.

Ryley should be able to run away if anything happens but Tuffock would be on his own if the 3 vanguards went up and died.

“HA! Bring it on golem.” Hector smashed his fist together.

Ebony and Scarlet didn’t bother replying as the golems were in sight.

Other than the roles, they didn’t have any planning on how it would go.

Somehow or the other, Ebony and Hector took the 147 ones while Scarlet already had a spear of fire smashing into the other.

The blast of heat blew towards the two of them and Ebony felt really uncomfortable about it. He had Icebody Enhancement on already after all.

It startled the golems.

Ebony could hear and see steam and smoke coming from the golem that got hit.

‘Hot damn…it dried up and crumbled. That’s some crazy firepower. Pun intended.’

“Holy shit!” Hector had a similar reaction but he already ran up to the charging golem.

Two shadows flew past their heads both slamming into the golem that Scarlet hit. Ryley and Tuffock didn’t slack off.

Ebony let his new and improved shield take on the golem who was hulk smashing towards him.

He previously used 2 shields but they probably weren't as strong as the current. His shield didn’t go unharmed as the golem this time was stronger as well.

Ryley’s arrows were coming slowly but they tended to hit the mark and hit the thinner joints of the golem, chipping some mass away. With how close they were it would be pathetic if he missed. He was focusing fire on the one Scarlet was fighting while stone lances were sent to support Hector and Ebony.

Tuffock was not standing as far away as Ryley as he reused the large stone lances. They stabbed in like dropping a ball into a muddy puddle, not dealing much damage. The golems only moved to pluck them out when the stone lances were hindering their movements.

The one Scarlet fought was struggling to move with stiff and dried up joints.

Tuffock managed to pluck the lance out before the golem could use it themselves. He changed the 2 lances into maces and started whacking away.

Ebony sent ice swords into his and Hector’s golem not too far away. He got to injecting ice mana into his target. Tuffock and Hector caught on to the tactic, punching and smashing at frozen parts.

“SUPERRR PAANCH!”

A blast of air came from Hector’s direction when the golem was blown back as it tumbled. He did have some explosive punches. To think he could push back the much higher levelled golem. Even if it was just by a little, it demonstrated the amount of power behind his super panch.

“Eat another thousand punches, sucker! Regimental fists! Ahhhhh!”

Hector kept shouting as he didn’t let up. Numerous furious punches came out and left afterimages in the air as he punched around the chest of the golem where its core was. His overall damage was considerably weak as the golem was a whole lot tougher.

Ebony had successfully gotten an Ice Sword stabbed into both its elbows so it wasn’t able to swipe Hector away. The golem was quickly trying to get more mud to regain its mass and mobility.

Ebony was busy with his own and didn’t help Hector anymore, he needed mana himself. His speed still being much lower than the golem.

Ebony compressed Icebody Enhancement to his limit. He really needed to learn a way to keep a mana pool of compressed mana so that he could cast already fully compressed spells.

He can slowly compress external spells but that wasn’t the case for Icebody Enhancement. Ebony couldn’t seem to increase it anymore than 30% of his limit but it was impressive enough.

30% of 490% was 147%. Icebody Enhancement cost 12.5 MP/Min after both ice and enhancement mana efficiency. Ebony was always consciously trying to be more mana efficient as well.

12.5 + [(12.5/100) x 147] = 30.875MP/Min.

Icebody Enhancement level 79. Constitution buff 15% +79% = 94% of Intelligence. Strength and Endurance 89% of Intelligence.

Intelligence of 171 + [(171/100) x 147] = 422.37.

(422.39/100) x 94 = 397.0466 Constitution buff.

(422.39/100) x 89 = 375.9271 Strength and Endurance buff.

Ebony thought that he was in dire need of speed and Agility. He was as strong and tough if not stronger and tougher than any warrior his level. The fact that Ebony can keep it up as long as his Core Skill and body can take it meant to him that his hybrid build was working out perfectly well.

Thinking about it he should train Icebody Enhancement more. Improve, refine or mutate it if he can, the Agility debuff was annoying.

The rest of his excess mana was sent directly into the golem’s body with Frost Injection. Still too weak to cause deep wounds, Ebony hacked frozen mud away bit by bit. The golem didn’t just let that happen as it protected itself with thickened arms.

They were at a stalemate with neither being able to do much to each other. Ebony bet he could wear out the golem now that his defensive and evasive capabilities were satisfactory.

After a short while, arrows came stabbing into the golem’s chest from the back.

Ebony didn’t even touch the level 148 golem and didn’t get partial experience but he knew that Scarlet was already done with her target.

Playing it a little riskier he let his shield take all the attacks while he went in for an overhead slash after a power stab. Ebony didn’t forget to have Battle Song and Chaotic Repulsive Membrane on for their share of experience.

He limited the membrane to his sword at first, it helped splatter mud onto him. Getting the membrane on quick enough that the mud cleanly slid off him.

The golem was getting slower and stiffer anyway so evasion was getting easier.

Ryley’s arrow shot it through from under its arm and the golem stopped moving, the arrow getting half stuck in it.

The golem struggled to remove the arrow before Ebony stuck his sword where the arrow was and froze it. Ebony got the notification for partial experience and multiple levels a short while later.

They went to back Hector and Tuffock up, they weren’t looking so good. The golem seemed to be back at full power as they didn’t have a way to slow it down like Ebony freezing it or Scarlet baking it. Scarlet was definitely in her enhanced state as her speed and power were on another level.

She de-limbed the golem with a single slash for each limb but it happened so fast the golem lost all 4 limbs at practically the same time. Its torso falling to the ground as mud and earth tried to rise and reform its body.

Ebony stayed where he was as a blast of heat came forth again, even hotter this time. The air around Scarlet was burning as was the ground.

The ground cracked and dried up and the golem couldn’t get its body together. Scarlet merely straightened her hands with one of her swords that burned and stabbed right into its core.

Ebony got another notification but fewer levels and experience.

She waved her hands and the fire on the ground was extinguished.

‘Could she have slayed all of them herself?’

Ebony thought there was a possibility but her chances were low. Her physical enhancement skill needed time to get to its strongest and even then Ebony suspected it was a lower strength buff than his own.

Her speed buff was ridiculous though, together with a Constitution and possibly Vitality buff. Her swordsmanship that increases in speed and power also requires time to build up.

With her unique swordsmanship she could still overpower a buffed up Ebony. She didn’t really need to overpower him though, she was fast enough to disregard a small strength difference. The longer she fights the stronger she gets but her stamina consumption skyrockets accordingly.

She couldn’t solo all three of them could she?