"I was going to tell you as soon as I could my lord, but the situation was out of hand." - Gewari
"It's okay. Just tell me what happened?" - Ian
"Once the pillars of light appeared from the ground everyone in the Assassin group was ready. Stellar was positioned near the mountain off to the side of the Forest while I was positioned closer to HavenFall and Luna was closer to the Krepost. However, not long later a pillar of light appeared near Stellar.
Stellar sent a scout both to me and to Luna to tell us about the situation, however, even she didn't understand the scale of the skeleton's attack. Coming out of the ground was a bone dragon as well as an army of lizardmen skeletons. The scout told us that a portion of the skeletons were headed towards HavenFall while the rest went towards the Krepost.
The scout that went towards Luna was asking for reinforcements and instead, some of Stellar's group went to reinforce the Krepost. The switch made it, so the bone dragon was engaging in a fight between Stellar and Luna's pack. I think Stellar needs our help, which was why I wanted to eliminate the skeletons here as soon as possible to bring you there, my lord." - Gewari
"Stellar is fighting a bone dragon right now? Even with Luna and the other wolves, I'm not too sure about their chances." - Ian
"Right, so we need to go now." - Solar
"Then who defends here? The canyon has thousands of skeletons, way more than what we just experienced, and they are being attacked from two different sides. If another army of skeletons comes this way who will defend HavenFall?" - Ian
"I will." - Gewari
"Are you sure? You aren't a fighter. You are an assassin." - Ian
"It will be fine. Trust me. I still have everyone here with me." - Gewari
"She is right, now take this pouch. Inside it is 2 more potions. It should be enough for Stellar and yourself. I don't know how bad the situation there is but retreat back here if it looks like it is too dangerous." - Solar
"I know. Thank you for the pouch. I'll be back soon, with Stellar and Luna." - Ian
"Stay safe!" - Solar
"Take care, my lord." - Gewari
Nodding towards them, I run off into the forest. Going off Gewari's information Stellar should be towards the left side of the Forest and towards the pillar of light in that direction. Luckily for me, I just need to follow that blinding light to reach Stellar's position.
I keep running towards the pillar and eventually, I see clouds of dust and the sound of trees falling. Turning to the left, I run out of the forest, following the mountain until I reach my destination.
[ Rinne has died. ]
[ Aragorn has died. ]
[ Freeia has died. ]
The sudden notification surprises me and gritting my teeth, I rush toward the scene. Looking forward, I see a figure leaping outside a cloud of dust, landing on the ground and rolling for a bit before struggling to get up. The white mask on the figure's face revealed to me that it was Stellar, but before she could get up another 3 smaller figures fly out of the dust cloud. It was Luna and the remaining wolves.
"STELLAR! USE THE MASK'S SKILL!" - Ian
Even while she was dazed she still heard my voice and within a second she and the wolves disappear from my vision. Blowing the wind away with its wings, a monster emerges from the forest. Contrary to Gewari's thought, the monster wasn't a bone dragon but a bone wyvern.
The difference between the two creatures is that wyverns have only 2 legs while dragons have 4 or 2 legs and 2 arms. What is mistaken for arms is that wyvern's wings, which sprout out in a way that looks like the arm and the wing are one and the same. This bone wyvern was as tall as the surrounding trees, sporting pure white bones and a black miasma forming the general shape of the wyvern with blazing blue flames at its eyes.
Looking around to find its previous prey, the monster carefully edges forward, but I stop it in its tracks. I activate Enhanced Agility and Charge dashing towards the bone wyvern. It looks at me as if it was looking at an insect and tried to brush me off with its left-wing, however, I knew it was going to underestimate me.
Timing the moment the wing almost hits me, I Quickstep forward, canceling Charge and activating Earth Spike on its left foot. The spike penetrates through the miasma narrowly hitting the bones in its feet and using this opportunity I close in and thrust my trident at its ankles, along with a couple of stabs from my spider legs. An explosion occurs which cracks the bone, but the wyvern had enough time to finally react to my attack.
Breaking free from the Earth Spike, it lunges its whole body towards me with its gaping mouth open. I dodge to the side and cast Stealth, running to the back of the monster and using my lower spider legs to leap into the air. I reach the nape of the monster and cast Cleave, followed up with a series of stabs from my trident as well as my 4 spider legs, before landing on the ground.
I know I didn't defeat the monster, but that was all I could do at that moment. Looking around, I open the pouch and toss the potion onto the ground near the place where Stellar was last seen.
"Drink the potion and get up Stellar. I need your help to defeat this monster. I know you and the wolves are feeling tired and beaten up so bide your time until the Aura of Silence wears off before joining me. I'll be fine for now." - Ian
The cloud of dust kicked up by the explosion clears and the blue flame flickers angrily. The wyvern opens its mouth and a spark of blue flame could be seen inside. A breath attack. I click my tongue and dash toward the wyvern. I couldn't just stand in an open field waiting for the breath attack, especially since I don't have a shield. Instead, the next best option would be to approach the wyvern itself to prevent it from using it.
Furthermore, the wyvern hasn't attempted flight yet and while it doesn't mean it can't fly, it has chosen to not fly even though it is charging up its breath attack. My MP is low and a lot of my skills were on cooldown but even so I can't stop, but then an idea popped into my head. I open the pouch that was already strapped to my body, pulled out the stone stick, and stood still smiling at the monster.
The blue flame burns brighter and brighter in the wyvern's mouth, swirling inside but with each moment my grin grows wider until the monster closes its mouth and rears its head back. Throwing its head towards me as it opens its mouth wide, a stream of blazing hot blue fire tunnels towards me. I grip the stone stick and call out the skill.
"Code of Hammurabi, Eye for an Eye!" - Ian
The stone stick glows white disappearing from my hand and appearing before me, it is all its glory. A solid slab of stone taller than me, with a carved out figure of two people, one sitting down holding a knife while the other stands in front, appears before me. It stands in between the blazing fire and me and glows white as it absorbs the attack. The moment it finishes the bone wyvern becomes immobile for a couple of seconds allowing the Code of Hammurabi's skill to activate.
With another flash of white, the Code of Hammurabi transforms into a complete replica of the bone wyvern and casts the breath attack without any delay. The fire slams into the monster's head knocking it down to the ground and burning the surroundings. I grip my trident and dash towards the bone wyvern, thinking that the counterattack from the Code of Hammurabi might not be enough to defeat it.
The moment the skill finishes, the replica bone wyvern disappears, and the small stone stick comes back into my hand. I reach the scorched earth and see a black skeleton's head however, the monster's body hasn't disappeared just yet meaning it wasn't dead. I use the last of my MP to cast Cleave following it up with attacks from both my trident and my spider legs until the bone wyvern's skull shatters into pieces.
Its body disappears in the process and laying in the middle of the burnt earth was a skill book as well as a giant bone fragment.
[ Skill Book: Miasma Protection (Passive)
+ 10% Dark Resistance
+ 10% Poison Resistance
This skill book will allow the user to obtain the skill Miasma Protection. Miasma Protection will give the user resistance to Dark magic attacks as well as Poison attacks. Open the book and say the skill name in order to learn it. ]
[ Bone Wyvern Fragment
A shattered piece of bone from a Bone Wyvern raised from the dead. It has little to no use on its own to many people, but to a necromancer, it serves many uses. ]
Opening the book straight away, I learn a new skill.
"Miasma Protection." - Ian
[ You have acquired skill - Miasma Protection ]
"Stellar, told you I was going to be okay." - Ian
Appearing right in front of me and making my heart leap out of my mouth, were Stellar and the remaining wolves.
"You got lucky. Very lucky. That monster was too strong for any of us to beat normally." - Stellar
"I know, but luck is just part of who I am. For now, let's head back to HavenFall and treat your wounds." - Ian
"Thank you for coming, Ian. No, I should probably address you formally." - Stellar
Bending down on one knee and placing her hand over her heart, Stellar speaks to me. Right next to her, I see Luna and the other two wolves bowing their heads to the ground following Stellar's example.
"Thank you, my lord, for saving me." - Stellar
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel