The shredding sensation threatening to whittle everyone down gradually stopped.
Pherdanta turned to everyone, and as though nothing had happened – as though she hadn't disappeared under the constant whipping of impossibly powerful slashes, and hadn't just adjusted all her mana cores and the mana within them simply by being inspired – she smiled.
"We no longer need to stay here. I have everything I need," she said and then turned to the Priest. "It is impressive that you could replicate everything of ours – abilities and armour – into these conscious forms, on top of sending us hours back into the past. You no longer have to strain yourself."
The Priest considered her for a few monts.
"Very well," he said. Pherdanta gave a courteous nod, and looked up high, at the CREATURE riding his PHANTASMIC RETAINER. She wouldn't get to see how the rest of the battle between him and Replicus had gone in detail, but it pleased her to know that in the end, he had been proven wrong.
…
A mont later, Pherdanta and everyone else found themselves back in the courtyard of the Kudobtu House Mansion. The Priest's skill in Energy Forming must have been even more faceted than they had thought, because when they appeared, they were already in their physical bodies.
The Priest had stashed those away before the group jumped back in ti. It stood to reason that he must have retrieved and inserted everyone's consciousnesses back into those bodies within a fraction of a mont – right before the present microsecond.
But this was not sothing anyone fixated on.
Vali was the first to voice her thoughts. The subject was obvious.
"How in the world did you survive that attack?" she asked Pherdanta.
The Unlimited Star turned to the Kinn Family Head, and then found that everyone else seed to be asking the sa question with their gazes.
Drawing a smooth breath, she pointed at the large star at the centre of her breastplate.
"It was because of a property of this armour – the Granted Star Armant. It has an ability called Granted Restoration. A single activation of it is more potent than a Supre Healing Potion. I can survive any attack as long as I have charges of the ability. This armour has five of those charges, and I used two to keep myself from dying," she explained.
"That's a cheat," Maxim said, flabbergasted. "Even Vali isn't capable of that."
"Thanks for pointing out my shortcomings," said the Healer with the shake of her head.
Pherdanta smiled.
"Have you learned it then?" Shura Desmonn asked her, his face as harsh and rigid as always.
There was no question about what he ant.
Illyinni swallowed a lump of saliva. She was still stunned from what she had sensed pouring from Pherdanta seconds ago. Her physical body was unhard by those small cuts she endured, of course, but she still felt them on her skin.
"Yes," said Pherdanta confidently. "I can open a path into the Under… and more. Let's get ready to leave as soon as possible."
There were a few monts of silence. Everyone took their ti digesting what had happened on that trip back in ti and so spared a mont to reevaluate their opinion of Pherdanta. Perhaps, it wasn't absurd after all that she could lead them into the Under to discovery what Boron was planning in the depths.
Agnees Kudobtu clapped to get everyone's attention.
"Alright. My armoury is open to you all. Our rivalries have been suspended for now, I suppose. You can grab anything you need before we leave," she said.
Shura shook his head.
"That's not necessary." He flaunted a golden ring on his right hand. "I have everything I could ever need right here."
Illyinni shared the sa sentint.
"I think my technique is all I'll need for this honestly. I don't much care for armour, unless it's of that quality." She pointed at Pherdanta's Granted Star Armant.
Shannazah gave a little bow to show that he appreciated Agnees' gesture, but was also almost wholly reliant on his technique.
The ever-reserved Moyars Morde said nothing.
Agnees nodded to them all… and then extended the courtesy to Guissepo who had been especially quiet.
Everyone was surprised that the forr cultist would be approached with such a rare invitation.
"I appreciate the extravagant gesture. Quintess knows I don't deserve it. I only have my extravagant Blessing to count on, but unfortunately, its qualities are wholly offensive. So, I will take so armour, if you don't mind."
Agnees nodded and beckoned him over. Together, they disappeared into a door at the end of the courtyard. Not a mont later though, a large group of people entered the courtyard through the opposite entrance. They must have been given permission by Agnees, finally.
Silrat, the Stark Troops and so of the experts Vali and Maxim had brought, stread into the courtyard. They hadn't been necessary for all that had been going on until now.
Silrat rushed up to Pherdanta.
"Well?" he asked.
She gave a reassuring nod and he sighed in relief.
"Good. Good, good, good. What's next?"
Pherdanta considered the question, and then her eyes brightened.
"Maxim."
The pink-haired woman raised a brow and ca over when the Unlimited Star beckoned her.
"What?"
"I have a task for you. It might be a little demanding, but I think I can replenish your reserves afterwards," said Pherdanta.
"What kind of task?"
Pherdanta gestured towards the gathered experts.
"I have two asures for protecting and arming the weaker combatants we have for this mission, but I think a third wouldn't hurt."
Maxim narrowed her eyes.
"Considerate," she said. "Now, would you tell what you have in mind already? I'm getting nervous."
Pherdanta smiled.
"You can capture obscure entities with your technique, right? Like technique effects?"
"…Where is this going?"
"I think it would be really beneficial if everyone had a few dozen attacks they could throw out without having to concentrate or expend mana. Like, say, powerful slashes."
Maxim reeled.
"Oh! You want to—"
"Exactly. How many can you capture with Planate High?"
Maxim grinned.
"For today, as many as are needed. How many do you want to give per person?"
Pherdanta calculated in her head.
"Considering I have to make sure each slash doesn't end up breaking your technique… How about five hundred per person?"
Maxim paled.
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