Spearbound Ch. 55

“Has it really been a day?” Eliza asked the question that was also on Kade’s mind.

He didn’t think so, but he had a suspect for what caused the day to end. “It must be that damned pillar.”

Eliza frowned as she took in his severe expression. “You’re worried enough that it’s all you can focus on. Should we really worry about it, though? Even though it’s rebuilt, the interface still tells us we destroyed both.”

Kade paused, realizing that she was right. Their only goal was to pass the objectives, and there was no necessity to risk their lives on something optional.

There’s no necessity, but there might be bonus points to be gained.

When the world flashed red, it stopped his rising greed. It happened so quickly that it thought it could be his imagination if not for Eliza’s equally wary expression.

The interface confirmed the flash.

Area Effect: -99% Health

Warning: Your health has fallen below 1%!

“It’s the fucking pillar!” Kade spat, covering his fear with anger. The confusion over the necromancers’ desperation over the pillar now made sense.

Any lucky glance on his body could kill him and let the karnathis rebuild the pillars without issue.

“I was wrong,” Eliza said, her somehow still having some levity. “We need to destroy that pillar.”

Kade nodded without a word. He obviously agreed with her, but he could no longer see how it was possible, not with their health practically nonexistent.

The area effect influenced everything in the rift zone; a poke could kill even the monsters and karnathis. However, they were hilariously outnumbered.

What was the use of killing hundreds or even thousands when an errant stone throw could end their lives?

He saw Eliza’s furrowed brow and did some thinking of his own. He pulled up the interface to see what he had gained from his recent fight.

You have destroyed 4 Hollowborns (Arcana Level 48)

You have destroyed 8 Rotlings (Arcana Level 47)

Rapid Strike (Level 10)—>Rapid Strike (Level 11)

Spear Sweep (Level 6)—>Spear Sweep (Level 7)

Level up! x3

Arcana Level 48—>Arcana Level 51

Constitution: 50—>53

Endurance: 43.5—>49.5

Strength: 56.5—>61

Wisdom: 30—>31.5

Free Points: 0—>4.5

MP: XX/60—>XX/63

The Hollowborns must be the surprisingly quick undead, and the Rotlings were the walking corpses.

It was good progress when all the kills were incidental and his focus was on the necromancers. He assigned the points to where they belong.

Free Points: 4.5—>0

Wisdom: 31.5—>36

MP: XX/63—>XX/72

He dismissed the interface and saw Eliza waiting for him.

“We should stay here—” Kade stopped when Eliza spoke over him excitedly.

“Let’s hunt as many of them as we can!”

Kade stared, wondering when he had become the cautious one. “Why?”

“Kade, this is the perfect chance to level up. Forget about our low health for a second and think of something that is ten levels higher than us! One attack landing and we kill it!”

He continued to stare, not because he thought that was a stupid idea, but in shock that he didn’t consider this himself.

I need to take a break after this rift zone to reset my thinking. I’ve become too passive.

Kade’s concern about a lucky attack ending them still applied, but there was nothing that pushed them to engage in close combat. Eliza preferred to keep a distance in the first place, and Hellion was the same. While he didn’t prefer it, but his [Soulrend] could deliver devastating strikes from afar.

“I’ll send Hellion to scout for targets,” Kade said, letting his companion know to avoid all conflict, no matter how helpful it would be to him. He was thankful that there seemed to be no flight-capable monsters that could put Hellion in danger.

“It’s a shame that our speed is no longer boosted,” Eliza commented as she zigzagged through her traps to stand beside him. “We’ll need to take a risk and leave this spot, but I think the rewards will be worth it. After the area effect changes, we’ll be in a much stronger position.”

Kade hummed in thought. “So far, there has been a reason behind all the area effects. Do you think we’ll be targeted again?”

“Maybe,” Eliza shrugged, “but there’s no reason to wait here.”

He looked pointedly at the area with the hidden traps.

“Ah, the traps. They’ll be useful against the low-level mobs that will throw themselves against us, but those aren’t our targets… well, they aren’t your targets. All the kills here will apply to me.”

“Oh, they’re automated?” Kade had assumed the traps would need Eliza close by to control the activation.

“Uh, they’ll work well enough,” Eliza said, looking less interested in the matter with every word.

Hellion suddenly pushed a snapshot through the bond.

Clawed feet, hooves, and ripples underneath the sand. A tide of beasts. Hundreds. Thousands. More. They were converging from all directions.

“We need to leave now!” Kade grabbed Eliza’s hand and pulled her in the only direction that had no ripples underneath the sand. “We’re going to be pinned from all sides if we stay!”

Eliza didn’t fight his pull and did her best to keep pace. “Will we still be in the desert when we meet them?”

Kade nodded, assuming that she wanted to know how to best tailor her attacks. He kept most of his attention on his surrounding, wary about any movements below the sand.

“Focus on the stronger monsters. I can deal with the rest.”

Kade saw a faint blip in the distance, one that expanded every few seconds. It was the monsters. He turned his [Soulrend] so the tip faced the sand, just in case there was a surprise waiting below.

“What’s your Arcana Level now?” Kade asked.

“Forty-seven,” Eliza said with pride.

He gave her a surprised look, though he supposed that was presumptuous of him. It wasn’t like she had been inactive in the rift zone.

“How confident are you in taking care of all the low-level monsters? Can you assure me they won’t be able to touch me?”

“Nothing is a hundred percent, but I’m confident that this is as close as it gets.”

Kade nodded, his eyes already searching out the strongest of the rapidly approaching horde. He pointed out his biggest concern. “There are monsters that could travel beneath the sand. Take care of those first, if you can.”

Eliza laughed. “That’s their mistake. I’ve made the desert into my domain. I’d be surprised if they could handle multiple attacks from me since they’re surrounded by sand.”

Kade glanced at her before returning to searching for his targets. It sounded to him like Eliza almost saw this as a game, and it helped him do the same.

It wasn’t like he didn’t see the same benefits that she did, but he had been more concerned about the best way to keep Eliza and Hellion alive. Her confidence rid him of those worries.

“Will you be fine if we separate?”

“Go have your fun,” Eliza waved him off with a smile.

Kade let go of her hand and increased his running speed. He directed Hellion, via their bond, to target the distracted monsters while he readied his first move.

Usually, he was reluctant to separate himself from his [Soulrend] against large groups of high-leveled monsters, not wanting to risk its destruction. However, that was when the [Soulrend] was required to be extremely close to cause serious damage.

That no longer applied.

Kade’s eyes roved through the multitude of unique monsters, ensuring that there were no karnathi mages. There were none, but there were no karnathis whatsoever.

He recalled how the pillar in the destroyed city needed sacrifices and thought that the karnathis might save themselves for something similar for the pillar in the desert.

For the moment, it worked in his favor.

Kade’s boots slammed against the sand, each step kicking up a plume as he increased his speed. The desert heat pressed down on him, but it only helped with his resistance.

With a sharp breath, he tightened his grip on his [Soulrend]—then hurled it high into the air. It glinted in the light as it soared towards the center of the incoming horde. Without breaking stride, Kade pushed his speed to the limit as he poured everything he had into his legs.

He wanted the timing to be perfect.

Kade’s pulse thundered in his ears as he reached the horde’s vanguard, a wide grin stretching on his lips as he dodged a sweeping claw by inches. The [Soulrend] was several feet above the horde, and that was as far as he would let it go.

He activated [Life Leech] and [Inferno Burst], timing the eruption of flames at the center of the horde with his fist to instantly kill the monster that tried to slice him in half with its claws. He hoped that [Life Leech] was a loophole that would break the area effect and recover some health.

Kade laughed as he leapt forward, killing a few more with glancing blows as he summoned the [Soulrend] back.

He felt Hellion diving to get a piece of the action, happiness flooding through the bond. His companion truly was a match for him.

For the first time in what felt like ages, Kade was having fun.