Alright. Before we go and deal with the fissures, I guess I should quickly catch you all up on what happened with Paulina’s evolution.
It went fine, as expected, and she evolved into a Nature Sorceress, which is a combined race of Nature Magician and Sorceress.
Nature Magician is a simple race that just gives you access to the racial Nature Magic. The conditions for evolving into Nature Magician are having at least two of the three attributes that made nature spirits at LV.5 or higher. As a reminder, those attributes are Earth, Water and Light.
Now normally Nature Magician’s don’t have access to the Sorcerer’s Determination racial skill, as they aren’t sorcerers, but Paulina is both, so she can get both of the racial skills. She’ll be learning Nature Magic with Cailie from the nature spirits. Lua and Alice should be able to help her with Sorcerer’s Determination, as Lua’s Monarch of Magic is basically the superior version of it and Alice’s Magical Girl skill has some of the capabilities of Sorcerer’s Determination.
So yeah. I’m having Paulina assist Cailie for now for Nature Magic. Having more people capable of using Nature Magic will just be good. And you never know, maybe Hegemone will take an interest in Paulina and she can get a spirit’s blessing.
Or maybe Cailie will learn how to give out her blessing. She is a greater spirit, so she should be able to bless people. She just needs to learn how.
A few days later, I grabbed the group for the first fissure and we took off towards where it would appear. I also took Glad along, as over the past days, I did what I wanted to try and made some horse, well in this case hippogriff, armor for him based on the Legendary Ebon Steed.
Spoiler [collapse]The armor isn’t that amazing as far as defense goes, only giving a +500 to defense. … okay, +500 is good, but it could be better. But the additional effect of breaking to prevent the wearer’s death is nice.
Not that it should really come to that, as I’ll just be commanding Exodia. And now that I’m getting better at Space Magic thanks to Iris, I can also put up a Space Magic barrier around myself and Glad.
I mounted my hippogriff before I turned to the others.
“So, are you ready to go?” I asked.
“... I hope so.” Ria answered.
“You’ll do fine.” Lua reassured her. “I was also scared, but Brian’s strategy worked perfectly.”
“But you weren’t actually fighting at close range!” Ria called out. “It is completely different just using his cards from long range!”
“... you are the one that refused that strategy, claiming that it isn’t how a brawler fights.” I reminded her. “Besides, you have five equip spells active on you. You’ll do fine.”
“... I know I should, but …”
“Ria. Confidence. You can do it.” Wilma reassured her.
I guess I’ll quickly go over the five equip spells Ria has active on her. First is Mist Body. It makes her completely immune to all physical attacks, so that will be nice. Then there are three copies of United We Stand, just to boost her general stats. The last one is the most interesting one, Ritual Weapon.
SpoilerI’m honestly not 100% sure why Ria can even equip the Ritual Weapon, but I think it has something to do with the curing of the blood curse. I think it is seen as a ritual of some kind, as in my tests, only Ria and Lua, and myself but that might be because of Pack Opener, can equip the Ritual Weapon.
It is kind of similar to how only Alice and I can use the Fusion Weapon, I can because of Pack Opener and Alice can because she is a fusion.
Spoilernro_8
Yes, technically the level should be a problem, but I’m just going to ignore it, because honestly those cards shouldn’t have the ‘Equip only to a Level 6 or lower’, because they are already limited to Fusion/Ritual monsters.
I mean, both cards came out after BS cards like United We Stand and Mage Power, so why limit them to only LV.6 or lower monsters.
[collapse]
By the way, all of Ria’s equips were spread between Lua and Wilma’s duel disks, so mine was free for unexpected events. Ria didn’t have hers active, because it can get in the way of her punches, and the plan we have only relies on one card to be activated and she doesn’t need her duel disk for that.
She did also have a set of traps on her, ready to activate when their conditions are fulfilled. I’m not so crazy that I’d let her fight an SS-rank without some sort of reassurance.
I then re-confirmed that everything was set, before Glad and I took to the skies.
“Okay, let’s get this party started.” I said to myself before I activated the card that would open up the fissure. “Dimensional Fissure.”
Spoiler [collapse]After activating the Continuous Spell, I quickly deactivated it and returned the card to the Collection, as I got out the other five. But just that quick activation was enough, as the weak spot in the dimensional barrier cracked open and formed into a real dimensional fissure.
Now then, time for Exodia.
“Oh, Forbidden One sealed away in stone tablets
I require your might to assist me in my endeavors
I break the chains that once bound you
As I’ve gathered your pieces to make you whole
So with all five pieces of your true might I summon you
Exodia the Forbidden One!”
SpoilerYes. The chant is required. Because it is amazing.
I had my great God-like Spellcaster get to work in repairing the fissure, as I watched over Ria.
“Something is coming. You’d better be ready.” Lua warned me, as the dimensional fissure crackled with power.
“I can see that. Let’s hope it isn’t too bad.”
“Whatever it is, I hope it comes with good materials.” Wilma said.
“... how can you be thinking of that when we are about to fight a potentially country destroying foe?” Lua asked.
“Because those materials can be used to make weapons that will defeat the next ones.” Wilma stated.
“Can both of you shut up?!” I yelled. “... it's here.”
Just after I said that, a thin but long leg came out of the fissure. Then another, and another, and another. 8 super long legs, one massive monster.
“... why does it have to be a spider? Insect blood tastes awful.”
“Come on! That is a worldweb spider!” Wilma called out in excitement. “We can use its webs for so many things. Go take it down!”
“Yes!” I called out, mainly to excite myself. “Life Equalizer.”
Spoiler [collapse]I felt some HP drain away from me, confirming that the card had activated correctly. The spider should now be down to just 3000 HP so I should be able to handle it from here.
I quickly put the used Life Equalizer into my magic fanny pack before I used a mix of Fire Magic and Flickering Step to approach the monster.
I saw the spider raise one of its front legs, getting ready to hit me with it, but because of the Mist Body, I should be immune to it, so I just kept going.
Admittedly, having an attack just swish through my body did feel strange, but it didn’t stop me, so I kept going.
The spider seemed very confused why its attack didn’t do anything, and I used that chance to jump at it.
“Blazing Body!” I called out to activate another enhancement spell, this one will engulf my body in fire, making me hit a lot harder, and it also burns my enemies. Agunan taught me how to do it, and it is now one of my favorite spells.
I punched the spider’s belly with my full power, leaving a slightly smoldering impact zone behind.
I then quickly used Vampiric Body Modification to grow out my wings, so that I could better control my fall. I sadly haven't yet learned how to fly, but soon I will.
Once I got to the ground, I began running to a better position. This jumping and punching won’t work in the long run. I have to get to the spider’s back.
As I moved, I saw the spider gathering mana, so it must be preparing a magic attack.
“... okay Brian. This better work.” I said to myself, trusting that the cards Brian set on me would activate.
And once the spider let off the Dark Magic spell it was preparing, it indeed did.
I think Brian called it Draining Shield. It completely negates one magical attack, making me recover HP equal to the power of the attack.
Spoiler [collapse]I got a bit over 4000 HP from the card, so the attack was very powerful. Yes Brian’s cards ignore defenses as well as my armored jacket, but taking that hit would have still stung.
The fact that I took no damage from that attack either seemed to have further confused the spider, because it seemed to start to rage. It was stomping around, trying to hit me with its long legs, while also shooting out tons of small spells. But between some dodges and Mist Body negating any hits that came from the legs, I was doing just fine.
Once I got to a good position, I prepared another spell. Flare Boost. It boosts my movement speed for a bit, while also leaving some flames where I had been standing, almost like an afterimage made of fire.
I then jumped with all my might, even using my wings to boost myself higher. I controlled my fall and headed for the spider’s back.
Once there, I swapped my wings out for additional arms. Then with my four arms, I began throwing full power punches at the spider as fast as I could, while also using Status Drain to weaken the spider as much as I could.
As I was doing so, the spider was preparing another spell, likely trying to throw me off of its back. But Brian had prepared for that, so another card activated to counter the spell.
Dimension Wall not only protected me from the spider’s spell, but also turned its full power against it.
Spoiler [collapse]I kept punching the spider, while it again tried to use magic. Once again, a card set by Brian turned the spell against the monster. This time by the power of Mirror Force.
Spoiler [collapse]After it did, I felt the spider weaken below me, so the repeat attacks must really be getting to it. It also might use some sort of a healing spell, so I should try to end this now.
I rushed towards its head, preparing for my most powerful spell. Once I got there, I jumped a bit, so I could really come down hard on its head.
“Flare Impact!” I called out and let loose a massive explosion of flames. The power of the spell combined with the jump boosted quad fist to the back of the head finally did in the spider, as it collapsed to the ground.
I took a few seconds to catch my breath, while I was also checking over my body for burns.
Flare Impact is a powerful spell, it really is, but it has one big weakness. It also inflicts damage on me. Not as much as it hurts the opponent, but even with my highly fire resistant armored jacket, it still doesn’t feel all that good.
I returned to where Lua and Wilma were waiting for me. Receiving their congratulations, and Lua’s healing, felt nice, before I just sat down on the ground to watch as Exodia would finish repairing the fissure.
I was happy that Ria was able to take down the worldweb spider no problem. I honestly wasn’t 100% sure if she could, but it seemed almost easy for her. I guess Life Equalizer really just is that powerful against SS-ranks.
I kept flying around with Glad, waiting for more monsters to show up. The only things that did were a few silkweb spiders, which are just C-rank monsters, so I dove in with Glad, while entering a Beast Union with him.
With our powers combined, the spiders stood no chance against Glad’s claws, and they were easily taken care of.
I then returned to the air, before I undid the Union.
From there, it was just a matter of time before Exodia closed the fissure and this ‘little’ problem had been solved.
And after it was, I got my reward, unlocking a new set, Tactical Evolution.
Alright. Before we go and deal with the fissures, I guess I should quickly catch you all up on what happened with Paulina’s evolution.
It went fine, as expected, and she evolved into a Nature Sorceress, which is a combined race of Nature Magician and Sorceress.
Nature Magician is a simple race that just gives you access to the racial Nature Magic. The conditions for evolving into Nature Magician are having at least two of the three attributes that made nature spirits at LV.5 or higher. As a reminder, those attributes are Earth, Water and Light.
Now normally Nature Magician’s don’t have access to the Sorcerer’s Determination racial skill, as they aren’t sorcerers, but Paulina is both, so she can get both of the racial skills. She’ll be learning Nature Magic with Cailie from the nature spirits. Lua and Alice should be able to help her with Sorcerer’s Determination, as Lua’s Monarch of Magic is basically the superior version of it and Alice’s Magical Girl skill has some of the capabilities of Sorcerer’s Determination.
So yeah. I’m having Paulina assist Cailie for now for Nature Magic. Having more people capable of using Nature Magic will just be good. And you never know, maybe Hegemone will take an interest in Paulina and she can get a spirit’s blessing.
Or maybe Cailie will learn how to give out her blessing. She is a greater spirit, so she should be able to bless people. She just needs to learn how.
A few days later, I grabbed the group for the first fissure and we took off towards where it would appear. I also took Glad along, as over the past days, I did what I wanted to try and made some horse, well in this case hippogriff, armor for him based on the Legendary Ebon Steed.
Spoiler [collapse]The armor isn’t that amazing as far as defense goes, only giving a +500 to defense. … okay, +500 is good, but it could be better. But the additional effect of breaking to prevent the wearer’s death is nice.
Not that it should really come to that, as I’ll just be commanding Exodia. And now that I’m getting better at Space Magic thanks to Iris, I can also put up a Space Magic barrier around myself and Glad.
I mounted my hippogriff before I turned to the others.
“So, are you ready to go?” I asked.
“... I hope so.” Ria answered.
“You’ll do fine.” Lua reassured her. “I was also scared, but Brian’s strategy worked perfectly.”
“But you weren’t actually fighting at close range!” Ria called out. “It is completely different just using his cards from long range!”
“... you are the one that refused that strategy, claiming that it isn’t how a brawler fights.” I reminded her. “Besides, you have five equip spells active on you. You’ll do fine.”
“... I know I should, but …”
“Ria. Confidence. You can do it.” Wilma reassured her.
I guess I’ll quickly go over the five equip spells Ria has active on her. First is Mist Body. It makes her completely immune to all physical attacks, so that will be nice. Then there are three copies of United We Stand, just to boost her general stats. The last one is the most interesting one, Ritual Weapon.
SpoilerI’m honestly not 100% sure why Ria can even equip the Ritual Weapon, but I think it has something to do with the curing of the blood curse. I think it is seen as a ritual of some kind, as in my tests, only Ria and Lua, and myself but that might be because of Pack Opener, can equip the Ritual Weapon.
It is kind of similar to how only Alice and I can use the Fusion Weapon, I can because of Pack Opener and Alice can because she is a fusion.
Spoilernro_8
Yes, technically the level should be a problem, but I’m just going to ignore it, because honestly those cards shouldn’t have the ‘Equip only to a Level 6 or lower’, because they are already limited to Fusion/Ritual monsters.
I mean, both cards came out after BS cards like United We Stand and Mage Power, so why limit them to only LV.6 or lower monsters.
[collapse]
By the way, all of Ria’s equips were spread between Lua and Wilma’s duel disks, so mine was free for unexpected events. Ria didn’t have hers active, because it can get in the way of her punches, and the plan we have only relies on one card to be activated and she doesn’t need her duel disk for that.
She did also have a set of traps on her, ready to activate when their conditions are fulfilled. I’m not so crazy that I’d let her fight an SS-rank without some sort of reassurance.
I then re-confirmed that everything was set, before Glad and I took to the skies.
“Okay, let’s get this party started.” I said to myself before I activated the card that would open up the fissure. “Dimensional Fissure.”
Spoiler [collapse]After activating the Continuous Spell, I quickly deactivated it and returned the card to the Collection, as I got out the other five. But just that quick activation was enough, as the weak spot in the dimensional barrier cracked open and formed into a real dimensional fissure.
Now then, time for Exodia.
“Oh, Forbidden One sealed away in stone tablets
I require your might to assist me in my endeavors
I break the chains that once bound you
As I’ve gathered your pieces to make you whole
So with all five pieces of your true might I summon you
Exodia the Forbidden One!”
SpoilerYes. The chant is required. Because it is amazing.
I had my great God-like Spellcaster get to work in repairing the fissure, as I watched over Ria.
“Something is coming. You’d better be ready.” Lua warned me, as the dimensional fissure crackled with power.
“I can see that. Let’s hope it isn’t too bad.”
“Whatever it is, I hope it comes with good materials.” Wilma said.
“... how can you be thinking of that when we are about to fight a potentially country destroying foe?” Lua asked.
“Because those materials can be used to make weapons that will defeat the next ones.” Wilma stated.
“Can both of you shut up?!” I yelled. “... it's here.”
Just after I said that, a thin but long leg came out of the fissure. Then another, and another, and another. 8 super long legs, one massive monster.
“... why does it have to be a spider? Insect blood tastes awful.”
“Come on! That is a worldweb spider!” Wilma called out in excitement. “We can use its webs for so many things. Go take it down!”
“Yes!” I called out, mainly to excite myself. “Life Equalizer.”
Spoiler [collapse]I felt some HP drain away from me, confirming that the card had activated correctly. The spider should now be down to just 3000 HP so I should be able to handle it from here.
I quickly put the used Life Equalizer into my magic fanny pack before I used a mix of Fire Magic and Flickering Step to approach the monster.
I saw the spider raise one of its front legs, getting ready to hit me with it, but because of the Mist Body, I should be immune to it, so I just kept going.
Admittedly, having an attack just swish through my body did feel strange, but it didn’t stop me, so I kept going.
The spider seemed very confused why its attack didn’t do anything, and I used that chance to jump at it.
“Blazing Body!” I called out to activate another enhancement spell, this one will engulf my body in fire, making me hit a lot harder, and it also burns my enemies. Agunan taught me how to do it, and it is now one of my favorite spells.
I punched the spider’s belly with my full power, leaving a slightly smoldering impact zone behind.
I then quickly used Vampiric Body Modification to grow out my wings, so that I could better control my fall. I sadly haven't yet learned how to fly, but soon I will.
Once I got to the ground, I began running to a better position. This jumping and punching won’t work in the long run. I have to get to the spider’s back.
As I moved, I saw the spider gathering mana, so it must be preparing a magic attack.
“... okay Brian. This better work.” I said to myself, trusting that the cards Brian set on me would activate.
And once the spider let off the Dark Magic spell it was preparing, it indeed did.
I think Brian called it Draining Shield. It completely negates one magical attack, making me recover HP equal to the power of the attack.
Spoiler [collapse]I got a bit over 4000 HP from the card, so the attack was very powerful. Yes Brian’s cards ignore defenses as well as my armored jacket, but taking that hit would have still stung.
The fact that I took no damage from that attack either seemed to have further confused the spider, because it seemed to start to rage. It was stomping around, trying to hit me with its long legs, while also shooting out tons of small spells. But between some dodges and Mist Body negating any hits that came from the legs, I was doing just fine.
Once I got to a good position, I prepared another spell. Flare Boost. It boosts my movement speed for a bit, while also leaving some flames where I had been standing, almost like an afterimage made of fire.
I then jumped with all my might, even using my wings to boost myself higher. I controlled my fall and headed for the spider’s back.
Once there, I swapped my wings out for additional arms. Then with my four arms, I began throwing full power punches at the spider as fast as I could, while also using Status Drain to weaken the spider as much as I could.
As I was doing so, the spider was preparing another spell, likely trying to throw me off of its back. But Brian had prepared for that, so another card activated to counter the spell.
Dimension Wall not only protected me from the spider’s spell, but also turned its full power against it.
Spoiler [collapse]I kept punching the spider, while it again tried to use magic. Once again, a card set by Brian turned the spell against the monster. This time by the power of Mirror Force.
Spoiler [collapse]After it did, I felt the spider weaken below me, so the repeat attacks must really be getting to it. It also might use some sort of a healing spell, so I should try to end this now.
I rushed towards its head, preparing for my most powerful spell. Once I got there, I jumped a bit, so I could really come down hard on its head.
“Flare Impact!” I called out and let loose a massive explosion of flames. The power of the spell combined with the jump boosted quad fist to the back of the head finally did in the spider, as it collapsed to the ground.
I took a few seconds to catch my breath, while I was also checking over my body for burns.
Flare Impact is a powerful spell, it really is, but it has one big weakness. It also inflicts damage on me. Not as much as it hurts the opponent, but even with my highly fire resistant armored jacket, it still doesn’t feel all that good.
I returned to where Lua and Wilma were waiting for me. Receiving their congratulations, and Lua’s healing, felt nice, before I just sat down on the ground to watch as Exodia would finish repairing the fissure.
I was happy that Ria was able to take down the worldweb spider no problem. I honestly wasn’t 100% sure if she could, but it seemed almost easy for her. I guess Life Equalizer really just is that powerful against SS-ranks.
I kept flying around with Glad, waiting for more monsters to show up. The only things that did were a few silkweb spiders, which are just C-rank monsters, so I dove in with Glad, while entering a Beast Union with him.
With our powers combined, the spiders stood no chance against Glad’s claws, and they were easily taken care of.
I then returned to the air, before I undid the Union.
From there, it was just a matter of time before Exodia closed the fissure and this ‘little’ problem had been solved.
And after it was, I got my reward, unlocking a new set, Tactical Evolution.
