"Any minute now. Get ready." Monady's voice rang out at the communication crystal in my hand clasped in my hand.
In front of me, Rodney and the other three with him were all gearing up to traverse the last few meters to expose the Gigant Pathway Transcendent standing guard around their Red Core.
"You three. Our objective is not to kill but to pull. Even if we're going on the offensive, raise your guard to the limits and engage more enemies. The best outcome will be two on each of us. But that's wishful thinking. Five or six are enough."
"Understood!"
"Ember, We'll be relying on you."
"No problem. Get ready. The enhancement will only be effective for around 3 minutes once you leave my effective range. I doubt I will be able to circle back here within that time frame. Be aware of the time and take care not to be drunk on it or you will suffer."
"You heard the man. Three minutes. By that time, everyone will already be on the battlefield and the enemies will be too hard-pressed to focus on dealing with us. That will be our chance."
Due to the many different tribes and Pathway variations existing in the Dark World, although I've already seen them fight once, it's hard to gauge what kind of Pathways they tread upon.
Apart from the Crimson Spirit of the Dafirae, Vibrant Spirit of Irja and her tribe and Four-armed Spirit of Udann, the others were still a mystery.
There were also the Dark Elves, Dark Soldiers and Dark Beastmasters. Because the Invasion to the Mortal Worlds this time was headed by Zaraya and the other two, those three were tribes under them. Among the freed Transcendents who responded to repay the favor, no one from those tribes was present. Perhaps none of them were sent to the Irreverent Dungeons or they're just that ungrateful.
Either way that's not important now. There will come a time that I might deal with their whole tribes.
"Ember, we're in position. Start now."
As soon as Monady's voice was delivered by the crystal again, I opened three Energy Consuming Skills.
Energy Amplification!
Domain of Valor!
Bulwark of Invulnerability!
[Energy Amplification has been activated]
[Gained 20% increase in all abilities, skills and energy effectiveness]
[Domain of Valor has been opened]
[Gained 64.7 Strength, 68.3 Endurance and 4 Intelligence]
[Gained 24% Speed Enhancement]
[Bulwark of Invulnerability has been opened]
[Gained Quintuple Layer of Energy Shields]
[Gained 36% Defense Enhancement]
Because I am already used to compressing the two Domain-like Jewel Skills, it didn't appear like a zone anymore but a semi-transparent link that extended from the soles of my feet to theirs.
I still didn't know if they're receiving the same stats enhancement but upon sensing their presence and pressure rising, it's definitely enough for them to rejoice at their newfound strength.
When I reached the 4th realm, most of my Skills doubled up in Energy Consumption. Perhaps, it has to do with my increasing overall stats and Energy Capacity. I expect it to increase again when I reach the 5th realm.
Nonetheless, it's still manageable. With another 10,000 increase in capacity after the breakthrough, I can now maintain everything longer.
"Let's go!"
After relishing his enhanced body and the Quintuple Shields circling around him, Rodney looked sharp as he stared straight into the darkness.
As soon as he shouted that, he directed Dark Energy to his foot and launched himself forward while utilizing his own Movement Skill.
The other three followed after him, albeit a little slower.
At the same time as them, I've already started running toward the western side where Monady and the group she's leading were waiting.
From the corner of my eyes, I saw how surprised the reds when they suddenly saw Rodney appearing from the darkness. Although there were trap formations set up around them, one smash of his heavy weapon broke it into pieces before following up for a kick.
The other three mimicked what he did, resulting in shouts echoing among them.
"They're here!"
"How many?"
"Four!"
"Damn it! Hold that side! Kill them if you can but if not, push them back! Like I thought, they will split themselves up, everyone, get ready!"
"Argh!"
"H-how are they this strong? They're not like this when we fought against them. We're also enhanced by the Core, why?"
"Utilize the formations and the stones we collected moron! This is a matter of life and death! Wake up and lay your life on the line! Don't f*cking hold back! This is our only chance to reverse the situation!"
Hearing those responses from their supposed leader, they're truly not like some idiots who will just wait for their deaths. They're thinking. If my skills weren't Support Skills, we will be having a hard time fighting them despite our numerical advantage.
Instead of using the mastered Flash Steps variations, I used the 4-nodes variations with only Skilled Proficiency to traverse the distance. Upon creating and mastering every Elemental Movement Spell composed of every Element at each node count, I might really become a speedster by the time I mastered a Transcendent Movement Spell.
In less than two minutes, I saw Monady looking out from above the roof. With a confident grin, she waited for me to approach her closer before jumping off of it, along with the three with her.
Upon seeing their group, I naturally extended the Domain and Bulwark to all of them as soon as they entered its effective range before instantly turning around to go to my next destination.
"He can't wait to see his girl, huh?"
I heard Monady commenting from behind me before a burst of Dark Energy exploded as all four of them shot like a meteor towards the western side of the Red Core.
That woman… What kind of comment is that when she's the one who drew out this strategy?
Shaking my head, I continued onwards and in less than a minute I saw Yatapa slumped in one side of a ruined house, sending out his gloomy vibes again. The other four were standing from a distance, ready to go at a moment's notice.
As soon as I arrived within their 100-meter range, Irja whose eyes were turned to the direction I was coming from instantly met my gaze.
Upon seeing me, her eyes flashed an excited glint and her lips slightly curved upwards.
Perhaps she hadn't noticed that small detail but it was all caught in my eye.
Following that, she turned to the slumped Yatapa and shouted at him.
"He's here! Oi, Yatapa, stand up and follow us!"
Udann, the still slightly injured Axter and the scout placed here couldn't look straight at Yatapa. Perhaps, they're also finding it hard to communicate with him but the three were battle-ready to charge in and make a way for him.
"He will follow us, right? Let's go then. They have already started assaulting them. It's our turn to do our part."
The buff with Rodney and the others has probably expired already. They will be in a pressing situation if we dilly-dally here.
After extending my Domain and Bulwark on all of them, I gave the command to start moving.
The other three nodded while Irja stared at me first.
"What?"
"Why are you here? Don't you need to circle back to Rodney's group?"
"No, I have to make sure you'll be able to pave the way for Yatapa and have him start assaulting it as soon as possible. That's why…"
After saying that, I used Energy Linkage but only to her, temporarily giving her 50% of my Energy Control, the maximum amount I could transfer to someone, along with more than one skill.
"Can you feel it? I transferred half of my Energy Control to you. Blast them away using that Totem. Perhaps, you'll also be able to help Yatapa break their Core. Also, use the abilities I imparted temporarily to protect yourself from harm."
Using the telepathic ability which lets me communicate directly to someone connected to me through Energy Linkage, I gave her an overview of what she can do now.
"You… This is your-- This is a scam! How can someone have this—Ugh. Is this one of your secrets?"
Perhaps feeling the overwhelming Energy Control that I passed to her, Irja couldn't help but shout in my mind.
"Don't think too much about it, go. They'll start wondering why we're staring at each other." I reminded her.
After activating Energy Linkage, the other four could only see us staring at each other. It surely looked awkward so with a cough, Axter notified us of their departure.
Well, it really concerns one of my secrets so I will not talk about it openly.
Since they already started running towards the middle, Irja stopped asking questions and followed after her. Seeing how smoothly she waded through the Energy around her and used it for her ease of movement, shows how much of an expert she is on Energy Molding. She's like Jayna. If both of them have my Energy Control, they'll be invincible when it comes to Energy Manipulation.
A few seconds later, she's already ahead of Axter and the darkness in front has already parted revealing the restless Gigant World Transcendent leader and another two behind him.
"As I thought! Let's stop them! If we let them get past us, our Core. No, our lives will be forfeited!"
As soon as he saw Irja seemingly gliding through the wind, his Energy exploded as his whole body swelled and exuded overwhelming Strength.
The other two behind him also did the same, going all out at the start.
He's not wrong. Their life hangs on the balance at the moment. There's no other choice for them but to defend and live through this point.
However, Irja who landed softly from outside their reach instantly used her Vibrant Spirit Transformation. In a flash of blinding light, four Lesser Spirits appeared around her.
Due to the increased Energy Control and the added stats, all four looked as if giant birds as different colors of Energy started gathering. Likewise, Irja who held the Totem swiftly molded an Energy as tall as her.
Upon seeing that, Axter, Udann and the scout stopped in their tracks as they watched in utter amazement her overwhelming and colorful display.
As soon as she released her colorful energy based-attack, the four Lesser Spirits soon followed and combined with it which made it look like an Energy Spirit Ball of the certain 'Sai*an'
I told her to bombard them but by the look of things… she's about to pulverize them with it.
Is that how perverse I will be with my Energy Control if I'm not filled with Support Skills? Deciding to let her have all 50% was a great idea!
The source of this c𝐨ntent is freewe(b)nov𝒆l