Chapter 14: System Evolution: Nova Vesta
In designated locations, the Argentum faction had managed to make their way to their destination.
The Aerius faction had also reached their public crafting wards in their assigned sector of the city. Even after experiencing minor injuries, they had learned their lesson and were taking their task much more seriously.
For the Terra faction, however, only ten percent of the students were able to defeat the beasts summoned by Lady Vespera. Yet, she did not let the failures go off easily. Instead, she manifested a slightly lower-ranked, easier beast for them to try again.
>>>>>UMBRAX FACTION<<<<<
THE FORBIDDEN SECTOR SALVAGE
The divided parties had already made their way to their chosen ends.
Edgar and his team faced the Rust-Eater Crawlers, while Asher faced the Forbidden Gloom-Weavers.
"He was leading us into death after all," a student murmured, his voice trembling as he stared at the thick, grey webs dangling from the ceiling of the cavern.
Asher didn’t turn around. He merely adjusted his collar, an amused, dangerous glint in his eyes as the clicking of multiple legs echoed from all around the cavern.
DING!
[WARNING: GLOOM-WEAVERS DETECTED]
"Let’s see what these beasts are really capable of," Asher mused, glancing back at his terrified peers.
The massive arachnids crept into view, their sharp legs tapping impatiently against the stone floor. The atmosphere became ice-cold.
The students broke.
"This isn’t fair! Not fair at all!" a male student cried out, rooted to the spot by sheer terror. They huddled close, forming a defensive circle.
Nearby, Kaito squealed, the light radiating from his small body suddenly dimming.
"Don’t tell me you’re actually going to use that thing to defeat Gloom-Weavers!" another shouted in panic.
Asher finally snapped. "Would you all stop cowering and get a grip for once?! All you’ve done all day is whimper!"
The students fell into a stunned hush, their pride wounded. Some were too afraid to even make eye contact with him. Within minutes, however, they straightened up and prepared to attack.
"See those glowing abdominal areas?" Asher asked in a commanding tone. "That’s their life source. Do whatever you can to land a hit there."
The students grunted in response, shifting into a formation stance.
Suddenly, the Gloom-Weavers screeched, shooting thick streams of webbing at them.
"Individual Shield Cloak!" Marnie chanted. Instantly, each student was enveloped in a shiny, jelly-like material designed to deflect incoming attacks.
"Oh, cool! You should’ve done this sooner, Marnie!" a student exclaimed, foolishly charging toward the arachnids.
"Wait! Don’t!" Marnie yelled, trying to warn him.
The others held back, their eyes widening in horror as one of the Gloom-Weavers easily bypassed the shield, wrapping the charging student tightly in its web. It held him in place for a brutal second before tossing him over to its gooey, egg-filled nest.
’Are you serious?! They’re all idiots!’ Asher complained internally, frustration and irritation twisting his features.
"Marnie! Are these shields actually useful or not?" he demanded.
"They are, but only for a short time! It’s a new spell," she responded warily.
"Next time, try polishing new spells before using them in actual battles!"
Without giving them time to plan, the remaining Gloom-Weavers attacked in unison.
"Stonewall!" Asher yelled, manifesting a massive stone barrier to block his side, though the other flank remained completely exposed.
Another arachnid lunged, snagging a girl from the open side.
"No! Ria!" a male student gasped in terror, watching his sister being dragged away.
"KAITO! DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING!" Asher commanded. He had not expected things to fall apart this quickly.
Kaito hopped around frantically, but the Gloom-Weavers continued to pick the students off one by one. Asher hissed, surrounded by the desperate cries of his classmates.
DING!
[HOST IS UNABLE TO TACKLE GLOOM-WEAVERS]
OF COURSE NOT! Asher snarled back internally, his barrier fracturing as he struggled to protect himself.
[SAGEA’S NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: BLUR ATTACK]
[DO YOU WISH TO—]
’You don’t fucking have to ask me twice, you worthless piece of shit! Just use it already!’
[SKILL ACTIVATED: BLUR ATTACK]
[SKILL ACTIVATED: LIGHT]
In a flash, Kaito’s glowing silhouette accelerated. His frantic movements created a blinding blur that sped through the edges of the cavern, successfully catching the multi-faceted, orb-like eyes of the beasts.
With the monsters distracted, Asher shouted, "Marnie! Use Illusion!"
Marnie grunted, executing Asher’s orders without a shred of doubt this time.
The illusion triplicated their very existences, completely outsmarting the Gloom-Weavers’ senses.
"Follow me!" Asher ordered the remaining students, heading straight for the nest to free the captured captives.
However, the students’ movements were agonizingly slow. The atmospheric aura exuded by the beasts had already begun draining their mana.
"Can’t you all go any quicker—" Asher started to snarl, but his words were cut short.
One of the arachnids had spotted them at the nest and came charging at terminal velocity.
Before he could dodge, a thick web wrapped around him. Asher’s limbs went entirely limp as the binding constriction took hold.
The other students fell back in a panic. Kaito’s counter-attacks failed instantly. Sensing victory, all of the Gloom-Weavers turned toward the nest, closing in fast.
Asher’s head went hazy, his mind fading into a blank void. Just as darkness threatened to take him, a familiar, high-pitched chime echoed in his mind.
DING!
’VESTA!’
[WARNING!]
[MANA DEPRECIATING: 69%... 58%... 53%]
’Oh, come on! I need your help right now!’
[KAITO’S ATTACKS HAVE FAILED]
[YOU ARE AT RISK OF DYING]
Asher couldn’t believe it. The word ’dying’ only seemed to sap the remaining strength from his body.
[HOST HAS STOPPED RESPONDING]
Asher’s eyes went completely blank, staring lifelessly ahead. The students screamed at the sight of their leader falling unconscious.
[SWITCHING SYSTEM INTERFACE TO: NOVA VESTA]
The monsters closed the distance, their jaws snapping.
But suddenly, a fiery spark ignited within Asher’s vacant eyes.
A single spark.
Double sparks.
Triple sparks.
[NOVA VESTA: UNLOCKING IGNIFAX INFERNO]
[ACQUIRED!]
[ENGAGING HOST...]
[COMPLETE!]
"Inferno..." Asher whispered.
A sudden, heavy thud echoed through the cavern, followed instantly by a violent, catastrophic explosion of pure heat. The blast wave completely extinguished the Gloom-Weavers in a single, devastating attack.
The students’ panic ceased instantly. Their eyes widened to the size of saucers as the smoke cleared. Standing defensively in front of them was Asher.
The entire left side of his body was engulfed in roaring, vibrant flames—yet his skin and clothes remained completely unburned.
[NEW SKILL PERMANENTLY UNLOCKED: IGNIFAX INFERNO]
As the ashes of the Gloom-Weavers drifted through the air, Asher turned back to his teammates. They looked at him with profound respect, heavily laced with a new, deep-seated fear.
The fire dissipated from his skin, returning his body to its original state.
"Now," Asher said casually, dusting off his uniform as he looked toward the ruined nest. "Let’s start salvaging."
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