"Attacking them from behind!; What a preposterous cowardice!." Screamed Viennetta, what dragged her teammates attention.
Odette aggressively whispered through gritted teeth. "Why are you shouting?; Just because we're invisible doesn't mean you can cry like a crazy, needy Virniya."
"Relax, Blondie. My Camouflage is per… , it can still be improved; But unless we hit something, or are touched. No one should detect us…"
Vurckair glanced at Viennetta. "Instructor Mäwller said: «Prepare to engage», in case we are spotted due to debris, dust clouds, or blood stains. So we are alert in our safe retreat. Not to attack without a plan, outnumbered, in an unknown terrain."
Miellessa is bewildered. "You intent to analyze the Hobgoblins path to avoid the Reptilian's traps… Accept my apology, Vec-Vurckair. I also thought you spoke out of cowardice. But using our enemies as disposable pawns is remarkable."
"«In love and war, anything is fair. Whoever says otherwise, has never been in love, much less in a war». However. Traps are not a problem. The tunnel's network is. Be vigilant for new exits and additional reinforcements."
Like a prophecy, his words came true.
The loud blared of a war horn provoked multiple holes in the ground; From them, Hobgoblins sprouted out quickly, executing a precise enclosure that included the nearby river.
Archers sent a volley of fiery arrows, setting on fire the thatched roofs.
Panic broke out, and instincts kicked in; The Reptilian villagers fled to the water's false safety; Unaware of the ambush waiting for them.
Hobgoblin Crossbowmen were positioned across the river's opposite side; Barrels of tar were pushed and poured into the river.
Reptilian Hunters retaliation is slow and disorganized, but every shot is a hit.
Unlike the Hobgoblins, who rely entirely on their discipline, and overwhelming numerical advantage.
The Reptilian retreat came to an abrupt halt.
Instead of crystal-clear water, black viscous liquid floated on the surface. Some brave villagers jumped into the river. Their attempts got interrupted with fiery arrows piercing them, then, their corpses ignited the tar.
"This is horrible." Gasped Viennetta, holding her urge to vomit. She couldn't even cover her mouth, since her hands must remain in contact with Vurckair, or she would lose the Camouflage.
Odette saw an incongruity. "Are they building a… Dam?."
"Correct, Miss Mussers." Acknowledged Vallad'Yanna. "The Hobgoblins want the tar near the village."
"Why?." Questioned Viennetta. "Isn't this massacre enough for them?!."
{Is she serious?!}
Vurckair answered. "The Hobgoblins are at war, they can't be lax and waste resources."
"I don't get it!."
"It's part of their strategy. The Reptilians must have aqueducts to other settlements, the fire will block the reinforcements, and the dam can change or stop the river's flow. In other words, many will die of thirst, or at least suffer from the scarcity."
Viennetta was horrified; She represents the Spear's Offense, but never thought of such cruel methods to achieve victory.
{This is not a raid, or a siege. The Hobgoblins want to annex this territory}
"Nalune. Can you make them fly without me?."
"Yes. Are you planning to find the Nucleus, with us acting as a distraction?."
"Indeed." He roared playfully. "Did i told you how turned on i get by intelligent women?."
"No, but now that i know. It makes me want to become silly."
"Better for me; Airheads are easy to seduce."
Naylyn scoffed and rolled her eyes. Such bratty attitude is unfitted for who is called «Perfection Incarnated».
'I'll get one back at him.' The idea made her smile, looking like any other lovestruck damsel, and not the unbeatable prodigy of the Nephron Family.
The ephemeral sight vanished with Naylyn's cold, detached voice. "Ready yourselves."
One smooth motion later, Instructor Valkysh became the epicenter of the formation; While Viennetta and Vurckair kept the Camouflage as they fell to the ground.
He took Viennetta's hand and let her lead the way into the village, avoiding arrows, Hobgoblins and Reptilians.
{I didn't get Proficiency like it happened with Naylyn. Maybe that was because of her Profession, Handleress}
Viennetta suddenly changed direction, twice, then a third time.
"What are you doing?."
"I don't know." Confessed Viennetta. "The Nucleus is… moving. If a Competitor had took it; I wouldn't be able to see it. But it's moving regardless."
{The Nucleus can only be obtained by Entities from outside the Quartzal. Natives cannot interact with it, unless...}
"Hey, «Snowflare». What happens if someone from Ell'Thane has a descendant with a local?."
"The offspring can use the Nucleus to breach the Quartzal…"
{I figured as much}
Aware of her words, Viennetta is amazed at her own slowness. "We need to recover the Nucleus!."
"Why are you telling me, Snowflare?." He spanked Viennetta. "Lead the way!."
She was about to protest, but a second smack convinced her otherwise.
•
{ Potential Multi-Route Candidate:
+375 Proficiency }
{ Potential Role Obtainable:
+250 Proficiency }
{ Level Up From 1 to 2 }
{ Profession's Development:
+2 Vitality
+2 Ordinance
+2 True-Wine }
•
[ Vurckair Yavellant Vecturion ]
[ Sodomancer - Level 2 ]
[ Proficiency ] [ 50 / 1,200 ]
[ Singularity - Grade 0 ]
[ Store Capacity - 14 / 35 (Of 100) ]
[ 24 ] [ Vitality ]
[ 24 ] [ Ordinance ]
[ 24 ] [ True-Wine ]
[ Flow Latency - 720 Units ]
•
' Potential Muleteer Candidate:
+1000 Proficiency '
' Potential Multi-Role Obtainable:
+1500 Proficiency '
' Level Up From 0 to 6 '
' Ell'Thane's Protocol:
Profile - Unlocked
Contracted Summon - Available '
' Profession's Development:
+3 Vitality
+3 Spirituality
+3 True-Orange
+2 Minion Slot '
•
[ Viennetta Falloneer Wröthck ]
[ Igfrostmare - Level 6 ]
[ Proficiency ] [ 475 / 700 ]
[ Singularity - Grade 0 ]
[ Store Capacity - 20 / 25 (Of 100) ]
[ 08 ] [ Vitality ]
[ 08 ] [ Spirituality ]
[ 08 ] [ True-Orange ]
[ Flow Latency - 160 (Crippled) ]
•
{No way!. I get a quarter of the Proficiency i should obtain; On top of needing four times as much Proficiency as a normal person from Ell'Thane}
"What is this?!." Viennetta exclaimed with trepidation. "Where are my other Stats?!."
"Hidden. Although you don't require any of them. They are a massive anchor to your development, not to mention they mess with your personality. Fix it if you want to unlock the natural potential you possess. Including External and Internal Magic, you are blessed with the advantage of wield them together. Don't waste it."
{This is not how i expected to do it, but i can see the consequences firsthand}
{If my hypothesis is correct. Naylyn got tired of flying because she only uses External Magic. Which means she basically utilized a quarter, to a third of her full prowess}
Although still distracted, Viennetta refocused on finding a path to the Nucleus.
In a minute, Vurckair and Viennetta are in a tunnel that lead to a spacious chamber below the village.
Corpses of Hobgoblin troops lie splattered around; While warriors and wizards fight fervently against a single Reptilian Female who has the Nucleus embedded in her nape…