[C-tier Realm - Urjin Complete.]
[Finish Realm Guards For Extra Benefit.]
The boss killed meant the practice is done?
He had just reached half of the required capacity. It was already the second hour.
He returned his concentration on the two closing in on him. "Dismiss," The interface vanished. "I can't leave yet until I break those two."
Using the Void-Bat was too taxing with his body in pain, and he couldn't use his last dagger so easily.
"I'd draw them in."
Even if they'd be careful, they could see the reach of his tendrils. He stood still as they circled him.
His breathing was steady, but the dagger tightly in his hands had become heavier. The birds looked from the shadows on the ground, back to Killian.
He wondered if they noticed. The shadows range was shrinking.
He saw them hesitate, then they moved.
They stepped into the range of his dagger with their eyes focused on his hand's movement.
He didn't move yet. When they lunged at the same time, his hand snapped up.
But the dagger didn't leave his grip.
Instead the tendrils shot upwards, like a sharp line that pierced horizontally, quicker than before.
It wrapped the injured one mid-air and pulled it down hard. The other slipped past, rising to the air immediately.
He clicked his tongue. The one he missed was the first one who he had prepared the trick for.
"So ungrateful, aren't you?"
I have to make another move.
Think, Killian.
"Move, Killian!"
The fallen bird he caught screeched loudly targeting his legs, that were the only thing in its line of sight.
Shit!
He jumped back immediately and the tendrils formed a protective barrier, absorbing the screech, and tearing into the bird.
He stumbled due to the sudden movement, but before he could recover, he saw the other bird move above him. Its motion was too fast to follow.
He heard its wings flap above him.
The bird's talons dug into his shoulders, lifting him off the ground. Its wings beat hard as it dragged him further up in the sky.
"This is bad." He said flatly.
"You think?! The tendrils can't catch you!"
Killian chuckled lightly, hearing the Void panic. "Chill. What if I said it was my plan? Status. Inventory."
The bird reached a height and its beak opened wide, as it moved to tear him apart.
The moment its mouth opened, Killian's hands moved, swinging an object down its mouth.
The dagger on his other hand stabbed into the bird's talons and it let go, while trying not to swallow the foreign object thrown into its mouth.
"I have always wanted to say this shit." Killian muttered, as he fell under gravity.
The bird swallowed the bomb that was thrown in
"'Boom, motherfucker.'"
The explosion hit instantly.
Boom!
A sharp burst tore from its throat, and the force threw Killian further down. Pieces of flesh scattered in the air, and Killian dropped with them.
The tendrils on his neck quickly moved desperately around his frame.
He hit the ground hard and stayed there. A small smile on his face as blood trickled down his lips.
His chest rose and fell as he stared up, a faint chuckle leaving him despite the strain in his body.
"You are crazy. Very crazy, Killian!"
The tendrils slowly uncurled from his frame as he heard a notification come in.
[Capacity: 16% → 22%]
Finally, it is in the twenties.
[Additional Benefits Unlocked] ↓
Killian let out a slow breath, his eyes half-lidded as he lay there. "Worth it."
"Not! You have a C-tier and B-tier Realms next. Did you feel challenged by Keith's promotional jobs that you tried a B-tier at the cost of your life?"
You figured it out? That's embarrassing.
"You are not that hard to read."
Killian smiled at that. Only his sister ever mentioned it, saying she always knew when he lied because his tone was quick and flat.
Quara did say these missions aren't child's play. These creatures fight for their lives. Just like me.
"Exactly. Now, die. Or end the simulation. You need to rest. You have a mission tomorrow."
Killian sighed, and reached for the healing strips in his pockets. Very slowly, he lifted his arms to place each strip on different parts of his body.
If I die, I will need mana to reset, but that can put me in cardiac arrest since I'm already drained.
I can't end an unfinished simulation. Except by skipping the last one. Nothing is free even in a simulation.
"That is messed up."
"That is the way of a Warden. If I survive it, then I'll be good." The pain racking his body said otherwise.
He closed his eyes and let the healing strips work for the next hour.
When he reopened his eyes, the skies were still the same. Nothing changed. No other creature had gotten close to him as he had worried.
Well, this place looks like a mess.
Anything sane will avoid it.
He lifted his upper body, and waited for his vision to steady. He forced himself to stand, and rested his back on the tree.
"I will definitely reach 30% with the last C-tier realm, so I can skip the B-tier realm till later." He stepped forward, but stopped.
The tendrils at his neck remained. He touched them.
"Thank you for taking the impact of my landing too."
"Do I have a choice? I have a reckless host."
He smiled, looking around the trashed forest, at his handiwork. Pieces of flesh and fallen trees.
His eyes caught a shiny object, the tendrils brought to him. He held it in his palm, and his eyes slowly widened. "This is a… a Sound Bead!"
"Swallow it. The larger bird you killed was a special one."
"I am not a Sound Element user though."
"Who said he wanted the life of a Dual-Element user?"
Killian looked at the bead carefully. It wasn't fully developed so its use will be limited.
"That was for Fire and Void. Not Sound. Also, it will only work when I scream and that's embarrassing."
"Swallow it."
He sighed, and gulped down the bead. His heart jerked after a second, and he felt mana pool towards his chest area where it settled.
It took less mana than I thought. I guess I'm a step closer to becoming a multi-element user.
"Now, you're talking."
He slid down to the foot of the tree. He felt better with the help of the healing strips but his legs were still weak. "Status."
[Additional Benefits Unlocked] ↓
He tapped the drop-down button.
[New Skill Unlocked]
[Umbral Override]
"Wait, I have seen this skill."
"Yes."
"Is it…?"
"You're welcome."