Four.
That’s how many lenses Mias was currently living through.
One Mias, Observance Mias, stood at the epicenter of the gorge, floating high in the air, watching all movent below. Another was in the strategy room with Vale and the Queen of Ruin, controlling and expressing everything Observance Mias saw. A third was with the Ice Witch, directing her movent.
The fourth...
The fourth possessed the most concentrated form of Mias, as it had the most labor-intensive role — cloaking the strike force surrounding him.
Spreading his presence to cover four people, while simultaneously reducing their presence, was much easier said than done. Actually, perhaps not. Because it made zero sense when said. Thankfully, Diable’s [Quantum Entanglent] sowhat helped him mitigate this disadvantage.
By linking herself and Strike Force Mias together, the two moved in perfect sync.
Together, they’d been successful in covertly maneuvering to the entrance of the Nascent Dungeon — which had been discerned as the dungeon of a Nascent Wretch.
Not that the Class necessarily mattered...
Resist all they like, Mias had been assigned to kill them.
While there was so information he could maybe strip from his adversaries, Mias had decided to let it go due to the nature of the situation.
aning, this dungeon had been reduced to a mark for assassination only. And if the smoky specter had decided a life held no knowledge worth stealing, it was as good as gone.
’The Ice Witch is in position...’
Formless at the mont, Mias couldn’t speak to his squad, but they understood his ssage the mont the veil surrounding them and Diable began to drift toward the entrance.
Then... they breached the threshold.
In a matter of seconds, screams echoed throughout the cave.
"Guuraak!"
Just like Vale had warned, whether they’d been sensed or not, the Dungeon Master had been notified of an invader.
As the group of five clung to the walls and descended into the dungeon, twenty thick, green-skinned, pig-like beasts rushed to the bottom of the ramp and began looking around left and right.
’Ancient Wartorts...’
A species that was thought to have gone extinct ages ago.
Sadly, due to that fact, their language had been lost and was sothing Mias didn’t know, but knowing their language or not was inconsequential at the mont.
The strike team carried on with their march as the pigs, despite not seeing anything, all began to sniff.
While [Nevermore] continued to do its job near perfectly, they slled that sothing was wrong in the air.
Not that they could pinpoint the source.
Even as they inched right by them, the Ancient Wartorts only ever glanced furtively over their location.
However, as expected, they didn’t simply shrug it off as nothing.
A small group rushed up the ramp and out of the dungeon to scan the area. Observance Mias watched as, when they found nothing, they began to scream into the gorge.
"Guuraak!"
Trees began to shift, and rocks began to fall — as if the Scar itself was coming to life.
In the corner of his perception, Observance Mias noticed both Akkuron and Celestia sending scouts to see what the hell was happening.
Then, that Mias saw a steady tide of delegated dungeon beasts rush in the direction of the Ancient Wartorts. It also witnessed a wave of insect humanoids rush out of a particular Ergent Dungeon, only to be imdiately frozen and shattered by the Ice Witch leisurely leaning against the wall by the exit of their dungeon.
Seeing that, Strike Force Mias increased his speed of navigation through the stone layer.
Because the Ancient Wartorts were a big species, such a thing was quite easy to do, as their dungeon had been designed to complent that fact. The only problem was the inherent darkness.
Mias saw the world through constructs, but the place was so jam-packed with Aether and beasts that everything sowhat blended together. But he was relatively able to tell where to go by sensing the location of the walls. As for enemies...
Sivian turned into their main guide to avoid them — being able to sense the heat of the Ancient Wartorts; that was the main point in her selection, actually. Other than strength.
More and more Ancient Wartorts filed past the strike force, all taking up defensive positions at different points — points the group had already passed.
It was after five minutes of stalking through the dungeon that they happened upon the throne room.
Sitting on a throne of stone with bone accents, a massive Ancient Wartort spouted off orders left and right.
"Guuraak. Gurak. Guuuuraak."
Watching this scene, Diable and Strike Force Mias halted, prompting the others to as well.
’Alright...’
Then...
Diana raised [Draw Back] and nocked an arrow.
The Archer pulled the string taut and held it, allowing Aether to slowly pool in the Item, fueling its Enchantnt.
They were going to assassinate the Master in one shot, then retreat as quickly as possible. Hopefully, before those reinforcents arrived.
And, at first, it went well.
[Nevermore] contained the pressure.
However, as more and more Aether concentrated, not even Mias was able to keep it hidden.
The noses of the Ancient Wartorts pulsed more and more rapidly. Each slowly closed in on them.
It was as they did that Mias ford, then sighed and looked over at Edith, who held a [Dawn’s Eye].
"Activate it."
In a fraction of a second, light filled the space, allowing all but Mias to see with ease.
The Wartorts’ glares flicked to the exposed group. A massive howl of war followed.
"Guuuuraak!"
Mias held out his hand, letting a smoky scythe form, then rest comfortably in his palm. As he did, he used [Severance] — removing it from the split-perception, cutting and reconfiguring the essence of his current form to adopt the ability to see.
As his vision flickered to life, he stared at the mass of green Ancient Wartorts charging them.
"Don’t let them get close to Diana and Diable."
Edith nodded while twirling [Iron Plea] in her one hand.
Sivian bore her fangs as she prepared a volley of corrosive venom.
Diable, who’d deactivated [Quantum Entanglent], had begun to channel [Decoherence] on [Draw Back].
aning, the three options — the shot missing, being evaded, or hitting — were in the process of being broken down and reduced to one.
User Comments
0 comments from readers