As I throw the fireball at the skeleton, it takes the broad sword and holds it almost like a bat. When the fireball gets closer, it swings, aiming to swat it away.
With a flick of my finger, the small ember dodges up and over the sword before slamming into the head of the skeleton. Thanks to the helmet though, nothing really happens other than it knocking its head back slightly.
I point my finger at the skeleton and shoot out a line of compressed wind, trying to blow off its helmet.
It ducks out of the way this time and swipes its sword at me, causing a wave of golden energy to blast forwards.
I swipe my hands up, creating a shield of dark energy.
*POW!*
The energies collide, and the golden one dissipates.
“Shit. That felt kinda like light magic… Is it holy magic?”
I have to quickly throw up another dark shield as two more slashes come my way.
“Haha! Getting mad that I keep flying? Too bad, I don’t play FAIR!”
I clench my fist, causing spikes made of dark energy to shoot up from the ground. They bounce off the armor harmlessly…
I swear that motherfucker just smirked under that helmet.
“Alright then, if normal elemental magic isn’t working… I’ll just do this!”
I hold up my hand and clench my fist, causing gravity around the skeleton to increase by quite a bit. Once I’m sure it can’t dodge anymore, I fan out with my other arm, causing a wave of fire to spray towards the ground. It impacts with a roar as it all converges towards the skeleton.
Struggling against its own weight, it tries to slash with its sword towards the flames, but only manages to just barely lift it, causing the built-up holy magic to slash into the stone below.
The flames lick at its armor before finding its way between the plates and inside. After a few seconds of the flames, I slowly start to descend again. I let up the gravity magic and stop controlling the flames. The second I do, I see a golden flash of energy heading straight for my head. With a casual snap, a wall of dark energy stops the thrown sword from hitting me.
“That was your final attack before your death? Alright then.”
I watch as the flames dissipate, leaving behind still-sparkling white and golden armor, filled with ashes. There’s also a green crystal, and a book with golden ornamentation on the cover.
I walk over and swipe up the book while storing the gem and armor. I open up the book, and on the front page…
““Basics of Holy Magic”, huh? I bet this skele-boi was some type of paladin before becoming an undead.”
I read a few of the pages, learning a few spells.
“Hmm… Low-healing spell… Uses magic to accelerate the body’s natural healing. Uses ambient magic instead of the victim’s energy so-as to not exhaust them… Get your buddies back in the fight in a jiffy… why are they trying to sell me a spell?”
I chuckle and look down at the sword near my feet. I lift it up and hold it, using gravity magic to make it weightless. Now that I’m holding it, I can see how truly massive this thing is. It’s about eight feet tall, and has a blade that’s about a foot and a half wide. It’s golden, with a white blade, and green and red gems trailing up the fuller. On the hand guard is a golden carved western dragon head on both sides. Yup. It’s a fantasy sword…
“So fucking cool…”
I take the blade and gently prick myself on the arm before trying out some healing magic. I hold my hand over it and cast the spell, feeling a slight tingle as the spell anesthetizes the area before healing it. In a single second, the spell anesthetized the area and healed the cut. It even cleaned up the blood!
“Low-healing my ass!”
I huff and inspect the sword and armor next.
[Divine Paladin Baraqiel’s Sword: the sword wielded by the late Divine Paladin Baraqiel during his battle with the Demon Lord of Wrath. Effect: x10 damage against dark beings.]
[Divine Paladin Baraqiel’s Blessed Armor: the armor of Divine Paladin Baraqiel. This armor was blessed by the goddess Enara. It deflects spells and wards off evil. As it was blessed by a god, it is unbreakable by normal means. Effect: x10 Holy Magic strength. x2 Dark Magic resistance.]
Hm. They’re not bad. I’ll keep them in case I ever fight a legion of undead. I imagine undead count as dark beings. Kinda ironic that an undead was wearing it.
I suppose this means that Baraqiel lost his battle against the Demon Lord of Wrath. Makes sense. I didn’t see it during the battle, but the chest plate has a single finger-wide hole right where the heart would be.
Wasn’t this armor supposed to be unbreakable by normal means? The hell did that thing do to break it like this?
Well, now that Baraqiel is dead again, I see that there’s another door behind the pulpit. Likely the way to go deeper into the dungeon. I think I’m good for now though.
“*yaaaaaawn*, yeah. I need some sleep.”
I’ve spent a good five more hours in here after all. And I’ve been physically active, too. To the point that all three of my stats have increased:
~~~~~
Stats:
Vitality: 9 / 26
Agility: 14 / 47
Mind: 243(972) / 98,260
~~~~~
I was wondering how I was able to keep going for so long. My vitality went up by over double, and my agility went up by exactly double. My Mind stat went up by an insane amount. I suppose practicing and actual combat are two different things.
While on my way back to the scholar’s study, I hear something…
It sounds like whimpering? I also smell blood…
I take off, lightening my body and propelling myself forwards with gusts of wind. Eventually, I find what it was. Surrounded by three kobolds, constantly hitting them with clubs, is a boy. At least, I think they’re a boy.
He’s thin, wearing a collar and a dirty tunic. Cuts and bruises cover his entire body. On top of his head are two, fluffy white ears that disappear into curly white hair, matted with dirt and grime.
As one of the kobolds raises their club to strike him again, I flash forwards in a sudden gust of speed, wielding the sword. I slash across the bodies of all three kobolds, using wind magic paired with gravity magic to send the blade straight through all three, bisecting them with ease.
“Hic… Ugh…”
The boy… no, man in front of me is huddled up in the fetal position, protecting his head with his hands. I call out to him gently, putting away the sword into the bag,
“Hey… Can you hear me?”
When he hears my voice, he freezes before turning around and looking at me. When he sees me, his eyes roll over and close before he passes out…
“Uh… Ah! Right, healing magic!”
I hold my hands above his body and start casting the healing spell from earlier. Almost instantly, bruises recede, cuts heal, even a few missing fingers he had begin to grow back. His complexion gets much better as well, as his pale and pained face slowly turns into a healthy pink peaceful one.
“KIEEE- GUGH!”
I hear a kobold screeching around the corner and quickly cast a dark spear through it’s head.
Yeah, this dude needs somewhere to rest. He’ll get killed if I leave him out here. Where can I take him, though…
I’m not bringing him to my world, obviously. I don’t even know if I can bring other people over.
The study had a bed, so I suppose that’d be the best option. I cast a bit of gravity magic on him and lean down to pick him up. With him cradled in my arms in a princess carry, I freeze as he slightly opens his eyes. He looks up at me for a few seconds before leaning in and nuzzling his face against my neck…
Why is my heart pounding like this?…
I mean, he does have some beautiful blue eyes…
But I’m not gay! I like girls! I’ve only ever been with girls…
Okay. Not the time and place to unpack this. Let’s just get this guy someplace safe.
“KIEE-GUGH!”
Jesus, if you wanna sneak attack, then don’t scream like a banshee!