Underworld - Book 4 - Chapter 13

Creature Observation told me all I needed to know. There were four Master Elementals of Wind, Ice, Earth and Fire just below, looking to beat me into submission. Each one was level 1,000. I would have kicked myself if it would have done any good. I’d already face multiple mobs at a time at higher levels than me, but I had rarely faced casters. I’d hoped to run into some so that I could Drain them and improve my Intelligence and Wisdom stats, but of course these guys just happen to be undrainable.

Despite the part of me that just wanted to rush in a finish them, there was another part that warned me that doing so would be a mistake. I remembered how Rock Hard, the Earth Level Overseer to the Head Mistress’s Bone Palace, had been able to move through the walls and easily pinned the Hell Hound, saving our lives. He was also a Master Elemental and if these things had the same intelligence and ability, this might be a tad dangerous. The first thing I needed was a battery.

“It’s about to get hot.” I called to Aeris.

“Yay!” She replied.

Swerving toward the Fire Elemental, I released all forms except Fire Incubus and let it transform me entirely. Ice, wind and rock flew through the air to drop me from the sky, but it was a fireball the size of a giant eagle that hit me square in the forehead. I punched through it. Appearing on the other side of the blast, I slowed myself while coming face to face with the fire creature. Flames covered every inch of its humanoid form, but its red hot coal-like flesh was solid enough.

“Hugs!” I cried as I swooped under its outstretched hands and drove my head into its chest. With my arms firms around its waist, I heaved it into the air with me, using Succubi’s Caress to suck the mana from his body.

Something hit me in the side as I was returning to the air, but I took no damage. The Fire Elemental turned up his flames to burn himself from my grasp, but its only affect was to drain itself of mana even quicker. So many ideas came to mind of how to handle the four of them in as silly of a manner as possible. I was still new to flying, so my mind was having fun with the new possibilities. Tossing the Fire Elemental from the air screaming meteor, or meteorite if I wanted to be technically accurate, was almost too good to pass up. I could also give each elemental a free ride to the chamber’s ceiling and let them drop to see which one would bounce the highest when they hit the ground. I could, let it snow, get a rock massage… I had to shake my head clear of all the nonsense for the Wind Elemental appeared in the air to my flank in a surge of power. 

With an impromptu casting of Hell Hound’s Tail, I flooded it with extra mana to extend its size. Wrapping it around the Fire Elemental twice just under the arms, I let him drop.

A bone chilling Gust hit me like a man-sized fly swatter, threatening to slam me into the side of the room. A strong swipe of my wings sent me up out of the onslaught of air but place the Fire Elemental in its path. Instead of pulling me with it, my tail snapped in two, sending a bolt of pain through my spine.

The Fire Elemental was tossed against the wall and started to fall.

Through gritted teeth, I healed myself and dove toward the Wind Elemental. Another Gust met me head on. Folding my wings against my back, I made myself as aerodynamic as possible and pushed against it headfirst. It was enough for me to make it close, so I cast a 1,000 MP Alpha Bolt out of my mouth. The recoil pushed my head back just enough. The Gust caught me, and I was diverted up and off course, over the Wind Elemental’s head. Alpha Bolt did its job though, smacking it in the gut and forcing it to cut off its spell.

I spun in the air above it to grab it by the head, when the most intense spike of mana accumulated in its hands. There was no build up or cast timer like I’d grow to expect from normal creatures. Even with Mana Sight the elemental’s control of its magic was too perfect to respond to in time. I’d seen Aeris’s Wind Slash enough times to know the spell was the surging toward me at point blank range. Just as she had figured out how to condense its power to make it even more deadly, the elemental did the same.

The Wind magic tore through my Skeleton Titan’s breastplate and hammered into my chest. Though I couldn’t see the damage done beneath my armor, the damage indicator told me all I needed to know.

-17,415 HP

It had actually punctured my Fire Incubus Form’s armored skin. This guy was no joke. I immediately thought of Aeris. If this thing could hurt me, what was she capable of?

Master Wind Elemental

Level: 1,000

Health Points: 250,000

Mana Points: 10,000

Strength: 500

Dexterity: 2,000

Constitution: 500

Intelligence: 1,000

Wisdom: 1,000

Creature Observation said that their Intelligence and Wisdom stats were on par, but I knew without having to see anything more that Aeris’s Master Rank in addition to her true form put her on another level entirely. That meant she had the power to seriously hurt me. I half wanted to release her upon it to watch how she dealt with it. Instead, it was time to stop underestimating these creatures.

It had impressive Dexterity, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Changing my mind, instead of grabbing ahold of it, I slammed my fist into the top of its head. It seemed I’d get my wish to cast Meteor, in a round about way. The Wind Elemental rocketed toward the ground and collided with the base of the pearl stairs. They crumbled on impact. The Wind Elemental immediately started to dissolve into nothing. Even though it hadn’t worked on the Ice Elemental, I tried Force Learn once again, only to be disappointed. It was worth a shot. At least I got another 7 levels.

With one of the elementals down, I saw the Fire one had recovered from its fall and rejoined the others. It seemed I had inadvertently avoided a lot of pain by taking to the air and getting my distance. If the Wind one could hurt me, that meant the others could as well. It was probably the Wraith’s desire to catch me that drove the Ice one to first try to freeze me instead of attack. That would explain why they weren’t casting anything at the moment and waiting for me to come. It seemed the Wraith still thought he could catch me even after what he’d seen. Should I play it safe, or play into his hand and overwhelm him with force… I still hoped he would see that I was already too powerful to capture and change his mind about answering my questions. Breaking through his trap might do just that. His remaining confidence still gave me pause.

“If you’re scared, I’ll take care of the big baddies for you,” Aeris said.

Glancing back, I saw her in her wispy form. She winked at me.

“Decisions. Decisions.” I replied, cutting of mana to my wings. Winking back at her, we began to fall. 

Her scream was void of fear. It sounded like a gleeful whistle.

Air rushed past us as we darted for the floor. I took no steps to slow us. With a simple bend of the knees I met the ground and landed gently against the ground. Gently enough for the pearl floor to give way and form a small crater beneath my feet. I stood at the feet of the stairs that led up to where my enemies stood waiting. The Warhammer Russ had gifted me I held firmly in my grasp.

Fire Incubus was slowly draining me of mana, but in its normal state, it would last me 32 minutes. It would two minutes or so less than that now because of the mana I’d already used. The Fire Elemental really hadn’t shared his mana like I’d hoped, but it had still helped. Silly Wind Elemental must have gotten jealous.

Mana management was extremely important. It could be the difference between life and death, but I had to acknowledge that I had a tendency to be too stingy. I rarely used any powerful spells unless there was no other choice. I’d been comparing myself to Aeris since her incredible display in The Belly, but that was with her going all out. I really didn’t know what most of my spells were truly capable of. So it’s decided. It’s time to mix a little fun with caution.

I exploded from where I stood, throwing dust and pebbles in my wake. Landing at the top of the stairs surrounded by the enemy, I radiated heat at a level that made Hell Hound’s Turn Up the Heat ability whimper in fear. I’d never really messed with the form’s Enrage ability because it didn’t increase Constitution as well as Strength and Dexterity like I could with my Light Magic Buffs. It cost more for what I got, but the heat that came with it was a beautiful thing, and I wasn’t holding back. At an extra 10,000 Mana Per Minute, I cooked the platform and the three elements that stood there with me.

Ignoring the Fire Elemental, I rushed the Earth one, pulling back my Warhammer like I was about to strike. My left hand was out in front of me empty and in position to meet the mob’s attack head on. A savage spike of stone shot right at me. Just as the Wind Elemental’s Wind Slash was able to pierce my skeletal and armored skin, this had the same level of concentrated mana.

Wail of the Banshee, my only sonic damage type spell, screamed out of my palm with 10,000 MP. Its stone spike shattered like glass, but the reach of the spell didn’t stop there. Its reached in the same way, seemingly falling apart from the inside out. Its head and torso even began to crumble, but then I watched as it sucked itself into the ground just as Rock Hard had been able to. 

My Warhammer chased after it, smashing the flood where it had disappeared only to flake and crack at an incredible rate as my palm still channeling Wail of the Banshee touched down. The entire platform disintegrated into dust in a ten foot radius before I cut mana to the spell. I almost squealed when I received 7 additional levels.

I quickly found why the Ice Elemental hadn’t attacked. All its effort was going into summoning one massive spell.

Even as the Fire Elemental was casting fireball after fireball at me and connecting with everyone, I summoned my tail and looped it around his foot. My control over the tail was clumsy compared to that over my skeletal appendages, but it cost much less mana. Oh well. 

Pulling with my tail, the Fire Element struggled to stay on its feet. Remembering how my tail had been severed, it somehow reformed its hand into a cleaving weapon and cut my tail clean in two. As much as it benefited me to have my tail cut form my skills progress, it hurt like losing a limb, and I hadn’t been ready to heal it.

I was on the Fire Elemental before it could regain its balance. Taking it by the throat, I spun, placing it between me and the glacier of razor sharp ice that was heading my way.

Despite the Fire Elemental taking the blunt of the attack, I was thrown back. Soaring off the platform, I crashed, hollowing out my own special cavity in the side wall.

-31,888 HP

The crater I had created was completely covered over in ice. Not only had its ice injured me, but the Fire Elemental died, and I only got three levels because the Ice Elemental had technically killed it.

Blanketing the area in Heal, I said, “You still with me?”

“Fine. That was fun!” She wasn’t kidding. I could hear the delight in her voice.

The ice around us was skipping the liquid and turning to steam as it met the heat of Enrage. “Hold on.” Eyeing the densest mana in the area through the giant block of ice I was trapped in, I got a quick judge of the distance and jumped. The ice fled in a midst as I shot through it and flew across the room. Blue mana reached out from the elemental to meet me, when Fire Incubus Form’s other ability, Fire Breather, erupted out of my mouth.

Whatever spell it was trying to cast was devoured in my flames. They were almost liquid in intensity and stuck like napalm when reaching the elemental’s head.

Landing before it, I grabbed hold of both of its wrists and didn’t let it flee. Aiming with my mouth, I covered the remaining mob in liquid fire. I still had ahold of its arms when its body dissolved into nothing. Strangely, I got eight levels this time. It must have leveled when it accidently killed the Fire Elemental. 25 levels all together. Not bad.

I released Enrage, strangely not feeling much of a difference in my temperament. I could still feel my own anger, but I suspected after a certain amount of Intelligence you’d keep a clear head despite how you felt. Even magically induced rage.

I still didn’t dare to drop Fire Incubus Form or Bone Titan’s Defense. It was time to face the indignant Wraith now that all four of his minions had been taken care of. They’d been strong enough to cause me harm, but the fight was still over in less than two minutes.

“Are you ready to answer my questions!” I cried.

There was another rumble from inside the tomb. This time the Wraith’s voice was restrained, almost subdued. “My brothers and sisters died for their mistake of being too lenient with those who should have been their slaves. I will not make the same mistake. Now, you die.”

The same swelling of Dark Mana that I’d felt when the Wraith had attacked me last time I was here came from behind the tomb’s vault.

I leaped back over what was left of the pearl stairs to the ground floor without ever turning around. My eyes never left the grand obsidian doors. When the power let loose, it drove into the door, but instead of damaging it, the door itself began to soak in the dark power. I realized in the moment that it wasn’t solely a door. Just like the pillars to either side of the tomb could channel and direct mana, the arching doorway was just one massive pillar designed for Dark Mana.

My hope of overwhelming him with power died as a beam of Dark Magic hit the platform and a new creature started to form. It was a mana density I’d seen before. It was as if Lady Contessa was being resurrected before our eyes.

From my best estimations, Waldemar had been of a higher level than Lady Contessa, but only just. It was her genius with Dark Magic that had made her truly dangerous. In some ways, more dangerous than he was.

If I’d ever been looking for a rematch, then the time was now. But to fight Dark Magic, that meant using Light Magic. Although, Fire Incubus Form might work. I’ll just have to overwhelm it with my physical stats and beat on it until it falls over.

Casting Creature Observation, I found it hard to think. It wasn’t just another Master Elemental at all.

Wraith

Level: ?

“We should run,” I said, thinking Aeris would have the same idea.

“Or, this is perfect,” She replied. “Just as I needed room to push my Wind Magic to the limit, this could be your perfect scenario. I think you should fight him.” 

“But that would mean using Light Magic. A lot of Light Magic. What about Mistress Nava?”

“We’ve already tried to draw her away. What are you really worried about?”

“Losing. Death. Not getting to experience having 22 baby Wind Sprites floating around the house.”

“22, huh?”

“Don’t take that literally.”

She snorted. “You can tell better that I can. How powerful is he? Your best guess.”

“He’s like Lady Contessa leveled up to Waldemar’s level.”

“Can you beat him?”

I watched the Wraith started to become aware of his surroundings. Could I? “Yes.”

“Then do it. I’ll stay back here and be your cheerleader.” Aeris spun off my back and appeared before me, her ethereal arms raised high overhead.

“After Mistress Nava is taken care of, will you marry me?”

She was suddenly very still and the air all around followed as if it submitted to her command. Even in Wisp Form I could see her lip tremble as she tried to respond. 

I stepped forward, taking a knee to show her it wasn’t a joke.

She began nodding up and down until she finally spoke. “I will.”

Coming to my feet, I put my arm around her and pulled her to me. It only worked because she immediately reverted to her Wind Sprite Form. It was only for a moment, but our lips pressed together, then I was stepping past her. The Wraith didn’t look like he was about to wait.

Mana Sight allowed me a moment to recalculate all my forms and buffs after my new stats from leveling up. Letting out a slow breath, I committed myself to going all out and removed my scepter from my inventory. 6x Advanced Mind Buff launched my Intelligence and Wisdom stats threw the ceiling by an additional 2,700. My Mana climbed to over 620,000 and I would be able to hold Fire Incubus Form for approximately 2 hours. The Form only stayed in place so that I had a layer of protection between me and the Light Magic that dwelt inside of me. Two layers of protection if you counted Bone Titan’s Defense.

My scepter became apart of my armor and my Warhammer I put away. With my preparations complete I headed toward the mound of pebbles that had once been the stairs.

I could see the Ireki like feature’s in the Wraith’s face, despite its completely lack of red skin. It was just as bald, and it had the same eyes that were turned inward at an angle. Instead of legs there was trails of energy like a tattered gown that sat on nothing but air. Its arms were real enough, as was the defined muscles in its chest. In many ways it reminded me of the mix of a genie and a ghost.

Watching me approach, the Wraith gave me a crazed smile.

“Your sure you won’t just answer my questions?” I said.

“You will pay for making me waste so much energy!” He lifted his arms to either side, when the elemental pillars began to react. The first pillar struck his back with a beam of Earth Mana and armor began to form. A moment later, without waiting for the first to finish, the next pillar clothed him with a cloak of Wind. The final two coated his arms in fire and ice. The amount of energy he now possessed far exceeded anything we had ever face. There was only one reason I didn’t turn around, grab Aeris, and run. His armor didn’t cover his face and underparts.

I glanced back to give Aeris a thumbs up.  It was then that the very bowls of the Underworld seemed to be unleash all at once. 

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Sorry guys. I did it again.