When Priam's conquering fog annihilated the mightiest corrupted, the undead army froze. The next mont, a murderous frenzy seized them. So revenants were trampled in the violent fury of the ensuing assault. Failing to create a breach, the elusive leader had decided to throw caution to the wind.
However, given the enemy commander's style, they were unlikely to join the assault. Which could betray them. Jasmine's shadows probed the forest, alert to every corrupted being. Animal and humanoid skeletons, decomposing bodies, all joined the lee. The scene was terrifying, but Jasmine spotted no stragglers. Does the commander control from a distance?
As thousands of necromantic monsters surged toward the base, Priam unleashed a veritable tsunami of fog. Jasmine widened her eyes as she lost her connection with the shadows enveloped by the mist. The attack was destructive enough to affect the Concepts locally.
She wasn't the only one shocked.
In the ditch at the foot of the rampart, one of the putrefied corpses released a black, oily smoke. Slithering, it slid along the ground toward the forest to escape destruction. In a second, it had vanished into the undergrowth. All this ti, the leader had hidden close to the action, feigning death.
While Priam was busy slaughtering hundreds of skeletons and Kazuki defended the base, Jasmine was the only rival capable of stopping the commander. She rode a shadow, determined to prevent them from leaving the base.
Ti was of the essence because Log-a-rhythm's influence over the forest was still weak; its territory reached only about twenty ters into the woods. Jasmine's body followed a shadow leyline, reappearing between the black smoke and the exit.
Bathed in the crimson light of the full moon, the forest was terrifying. Under a branch, a shadow observed her prey. [Huntress's Eye] allowed Jasmine to examine their weaknesses. [Predator's Instinct] revealed that her presence was not yet detected. Both skills were particularly useful for an assassin.
As the smoke passed beneath her, Jasmine threw an aether dagger. The weapon plunged between the leaves, embedding itself in the leader's shadow, who abruptly froze. Jasmine's aether strengthened the bond between the wielder and their shadow, while her Concept immobilized the latter.
[Recognition]
[Banshee - Tier 1 - Corrupted - Viscount] - One of Those Who Announce Death. Corrupted by the Necromoon, this banshee is now the cause of tragic destinies.
Corruption: Stage 3 - Necro Court Viscount.
The corrupted swarm stirred before revealing a silhouette. Humanoid, with gray hair and enormous ember-like eyes, its skeleton was black as obsidian. A kind of shadowy veil covered its body. The creature turned its head painfully, observing the aether dagger planted in its shadow. Its coal-red eyes glowed with fury, and it let out a terrible scream. The shockwave traversed the forest, rallying the corrupted.
Hidden by [Shadow's Ho], Jasmine avoided the brunt of the sound attack but still felt her mind cracking. The leader was not weak.
Nor was Jasmine.
Necromantic monsters lunged into their leader's shadow, trying to dislodge the weapon. A futile endeavor leading them into the dark depths of the Shadow Domain. Jasmine was pleased with her new ability.
Opening a gate to the Domain of a Concept required being both a Sage and reaching Unity. Jasmine had spent almost seven years at the Symphony stage, approaching Unity slowly. Perfectly aware of the dangers of this final step, she had progressed with caution. Considered a genius by her organization, she should have reached Unity in one more year.
Priam had succeeded in a few days. Jasmine's pride urged her to catch up. Thanks to the add-on given to her by Priam, she had experienced the Unity trial in advance.
For several days, waiting for the event to begin, the assassin had trained, reliving the sensations and dangers of Unity. A few hours before the event started, she had plunged into the Shadows. She erged united with the Concept and in full possession of her faculties.
Yet, Jasmine took no pride in it. Following the path laid out by her boss was infinitely easier than being a trailblazer. She considered herself indebted and wanted to erase part of that debt by killing the banshee.
Jasmine spent almost a minute watching the corrupted fall one after another into the Shadow Domain. When the Necro Viscount began to stir, Jasmine decided to end the fight. [Shadow bidding], combined with her Talents and Concept, was a formidable skill, but the banshee was not weak. In fact, it was strong enough to resist the pull of the Shadow Domain.
Jasmine had only two ways to defeat it: plunge her enhanced dagger into its heart. The problem being that the Banshee might use its last strength to scream. The final attack had a high chance of taking Jasmine to the grave. That was out of the question.
There was another way.
Before the banshee could free itself, Jasmine entered its shadow.
[Head over Shadow].
Her shadow rged with that of the leader. The absence of light grew to cover both opponents. The next mont, the shadow burst, revealing the absence of the two fighters.
Jasmine had drawn the leader into her shadow.
Status:
PHYSICAL:
Strength 449 ( 12)
Constitution 794
Agility 455 ( 9)
Vitality 684
Perception 667 ( 1)
NTAL:
Vivacity 390 ( 2)
Dexterity 495 ( 8)
mory 218
Willpower 836
Charisma 506
TA:
ta-affinity 415
ta-focus 338 ( 4)
ta-endurance 260
ta-perception 201
ta-chance 230
ta-authority 15
Potential: 3321 ( 17)
Tier 0
Sun points: 3229 ( 1126)
[He Who Eludes Death] charge: PRID.
[Tribulation]: Six Tribulations pending.
Future Tribulations delayed until:
Ti: 170 days 0 hour 37 minutes 14 seconds.
Next thresholds: 12 attributes > 400 / 6 attribute > 600 / 3 attributes > 800
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