[Cure's Proficiency has been upgraded to Expert]
Through the continuous use and perhaps because of the way I applied it to Axter, the Proficiency of Cure sped past the threshold and finally reached the Expert Proficiency.
Because of this, the casting time of the Spell will once again shorten. If I could compare this Spell to a System-related Skill, it was comparable to a Level 3 Blessing that Noelle has during my time at the World of System.
Despite still being in the 4th realm of their respective System, the three who are part of Yuko's Hero's Party are about to reach the threshold. That's probably thanks to Yuko's buffs and the bonuses they received when their normal System got an upgrade.
Moreover, they're now fighting in harsher and larger battles at the World of Barbarians along with my four Companions.
With the descent of the Dark World Transcendents, they're the only deterrents left when most of the barbarians in that world already succumbed to become the Dark World's pawns.
"Ember, it's done." With a gleeful grin, Irja went back to my side after the explosions and screams of curses died down from the distance where the three higher world denizens finally against the encirclement of the six Rank 2 Transcendents on our side.
Earlier, when the reinforcements finally appeared within 100-meters behind us, I instantly sent them a telepathic message to circle behind the enemies, undetected. Thanks to the map above, Monady also became aware of that.
When she determined that the three were about to retreat, she called for those three to come out of hiding behind them.
Soon after that, their last struggles could only be described as desperate.
At first, Yordi tried to cut a path for them but Yatapa single-handedly stopped him… As it turns out, that death-wishing guy was hiding his true prowess all along. Everything he had shown us from before was him holding back.
Although he's not at the extent of nearing the 700 UPL threshold of an Exalted, he's more or less around the same UPL as Larnel. He's even stronger than the two we chose to stay behind at the Blue Core.
The smoke-like energy that he scattered around to block their escape route couldn't be broken no matter what method Yordi used.
The ice-blue rifle he used appeared to have some restriction regarding simultaneous use. Even if he was taunted by Monady to pull it out, he ignored it and just focused on making a way out for Larnel.
At some point, Rowena who seemed to be at the end of her rope joined in doing that.
That woman was already spent from all the wounds she received.
Of course, they also have their own medicinal pills to treat their injuries but with the state of battle, it wouldn't take effect as fast unless they were given the chance to sit down and focus on healing.
At that moment of desperation, what they wanted to make sure was to let Larnel escape to safety. My guess about that guy's importance was proven but it was all too late for them.
With their Energy also about to be depleted, they couldn't open their Domains again to counter the influence of the Domains of the newcomers. And that resulted in them to continuously weaken within each second that passed.
I remembered Rowena's words at that moment, "Now that it has come to this. Sir Larnel. What's about to happen is your fault. You're an idiot who treated our allies badly and even prevented them from coming to our rescue. Look, even if they had started to move now, they will only be able to see our corpse."
For her to blame the guy, she already lost all hope to leave this place alive. Begging wouldn't help anyway. Everyone also wanted to live and leave this place. There's no need for prisoners here when the losing side is bound to die regardless. That would be too stupid if pity prevailed here.
In response to her putting the blame on him, Larnel responded by laughing crazily.
Although I hadn't mentioned to them that there's a possibility for one of them to be hiding a trump card that could protect their life, Monady and the others guessed it by themselves.
When Larnel took out something from his ring, Monady and Yatapa moved quickly to cut his arm off, preventing him from activating whatever that was.
Even when I was at a distance from them, I felt the terrifying pressure greater than the ice-blue rifle of Yordi when that item fell down to the ground.
Amidst the screams of pain from Larnel, Yordi tried to lunge at the dropped item but Irja was also alert that she was more than prepared to bombard them again using the Totem.
Fortunately, the whole thing didn't end like the works of fiction I have read before where there would always be something wrong that would happen in the end.
When Yordi failed to scoop out the dropped item from the ground, Monady quickly gave the command to end all of them, without blinking an eye and by kicking whatever that item was.
"Great job. But we have to retreat as soon as possible." I lifted my head and stared at her elated expression.
When she heard my lukewarm response, she almost clicked her tongue but resisted it in the end. She nodded before walking towards Monady and the others who were looting the three corpse's bodies.
Although I'm interested in that item as well as Yordi's rifle, there's no point in being greedy now.
When we're about to leave the area, Udann offered to carry Axter whose shoulder was suffering from severe frostbite when I managed to melt all the frost in his body.
And seeing that everything was already settled, I deactivated every opened skill, including the Energy Zone.
And as if strength left my body, I almost slumped down to the ground
Exactly as I estimated, my Energy Reserves were down to its last drop that I could feel myself on the verge of losing consciousness once more.
If the battle continued longer than that, the same thing would probably happen.
At this point, I could now clearly see the disadvantage of not completing the Mortal Pathway yet. Unlike them, despite my overwhelming Energy Control or Manipulation, my Energy Capacity was just too low...
If I had at least half of what they have, I wouldn't turn into a drained-out rug like this.
Amidst my darkening vision, I felt someone lifting my body and slinging my arm onto their shoulder.
Well, after constantly being close to that woman during these few minutes and when she carried me a few hours earlier, I could already recognize her scent and build.
Irja went to my rescue once again. Is this still her gratitude?
"Open your eyes and move your legs. I don't want to carry you again."
-
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Because of what happened at that battle against the three higher worlder, the reds who came late at that scene turtled up at their Red Core and decided to continue being on the defensive. Even when the scouts closed in their vicinity under the orders of Grenol and Rodney, no one was seen leaving it even after 24 hours had passed.
During the 24 hours, after we recuperated somewhere, we continued hunting the golden statues and at this moment, the gathered energy on top of my head was more than enough to breakthrough to the 4th stage of the 4th realm with a lot of excesses.
About the loots from the three higher worlders, they once again gave me the highest achievement. Instead of Monady's suggestion to pick one of the rings, I only asked for the books as well as Yordi's rifle.
I reminded myself not to be too greedy lest I wanted to be targeted by them once we're out of this place.
Most have fickle minds after all. And although I have already built some trust in them, my identity is sensitive. I can't rely on that here unless they're my Companions or someone I deemed to be trustworthy.
Well, trust is relative and I have a demarcation line wherein I am the ultimate judge. I trust who I want to trust. If I am betrayed by someone whom I trusted, then that's my fault for not judging correctly.
"Grenol and Rodney said that they will wait for 12 more hours before we regroup and storm the Red Core altogether. In the meantime, we are tasked to clear out all the golden statues and close in at that big golden circle." Monady started after the crystal on her hand stopped shining. "One of the scouts surveyed that place and saw bigger golden statue which he dubbed as having the strength of an Exalted. Behind it was a cave filled with at least 100 giant stones that we could get from a golden statue."
"Exalted? We cannot bridge that gap even with our numbers…" the Dafirae Transcendent who served as reinforcement yesterday commented.
She's right. It's not the same as bridging the difference between Rank 1 and Rank 2 Transcendent. Now that we're almost aware of our own prowess, only Yatapa could hold himself against it and it will surely not end in his win.
"I know. Our objective is the stones behind it. That's why someone needs to act as a lure." After saying that, Monady eyes switched their focus on me.
That hopeful glint in her eyes… She's probably thinking about the Phantasmic Doppelganger. Using clones to lure it out, huh?
Since I already exposed everything that I can do, the way they treat me has already changed to this.
"… I have a condition." I started.
Since they wanted to make use of my specialty, I should get something from it rather than just those stones, right?
"Please state it."
"Give me half of the last hit against the remaining golden statues."
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