Accidental Reaver

Overwhelming fatigue assaulted Luke's mind.

Stumbling back, he hunched over, clutching a hand over his right eye, huffing, the frost essence thinned in every breath. Luke shut the faucet flow of ice and frost off. The Reaver opened his other hand, holding it skyward.

A swirling glacial vortex opened itself on the extremity like an irresistible vortex. All the snow, ice, frost, and other products of Elementalization coalesced into the command center—resolving most of Luke's backlash from overusing his greatest technique and returning the Shimmering Expanse to a shell of its former self.

The damage from battle self evident in its terrain, the enormous crater overtaking about a third of the expanse, all herbs, grasses, and wildlife—gone. Vampiric Regeneration and Blood Haze surged around the Reaver's body, slowly healing the persistent damage. Holy radiance from Garic and Vathen's attacks raged inside him, but frost met it at every turn. He'd recover— it'd just take a while. Mirah's hymn, a peaceful symphony, gently swayed upon the zone's sound waves—music to Luke's ears. An earthy and pine smell replaced the once dominant ice and snow scent. The white crystal tree seemed to glow more intensely, the whirlpool between its gigantic trunk roots surging with the remaining waters.

As expected, when the majority of the lake's waters evaporated, its water line receded significantly. Despite the crater connecting to the lake, none of it poured out. The whirlpool kept what remained to itself. Pits dotted the terrain, the crystals, and gems within the soil in tiny fragments everywhere, causing every inch to glitter against the radiant light emanating from the central tree.

Only the crystal islands in the sky remained the same as when Luke first stepped foot into the Shimmering Expanse. The thick mists disappeared, a causality of Luke's control. Their vapor used for the Reaver's elemental ends in the battle against the two hunter groups. Dry air settled, amplifying natural scents. Pain ruptured in the Reaver's every nerve ending. Slowly, a strained mind reformed, and Luke's pupils reappeared, frost omnipresent within the blue abyss.

He'd overextended his body, pushing past previous limits with Triple Step and Elementalization. Now, not a single muscle fiber wanted to respond to any unnecessary movement. The Reaver fell forward, face dirtied by the soil, feeling wet upon his skin. The sharp fragments failed to so much as scratch the epidermis. Sweat formed, and Luke closed his eyes, the tension leaving him. Faint wing flaps tugged at his sense of hearing.

Sooty landed beside Luke's head. She started to peck at the Reaver's frost-strand hair, twisting her head around in curiosity. She cooed and cawed, communicating with her Reaver. She softly used a wing to prod Luke's arms, the ice making up the core of certain bones reverting to normal.

Coughing, Luke said, "I don't know either, Sooty. I just ended up this way. You did your job well, partner. Couldn't have made it through without you."

After answering with a proud rattle, Sooty flew off again. She fetched Ludris roughly a minute later. The monic cautiously approached, aided along by the insistent bird. A gap of awkward silence settled between the two. So Luke summoned two Double Stitched Dryad Weave Healing Bandages.

"Patch me up with those, will you, Ludris? I'd appreciate it."

Given an olive branch of sorts, Ludris picked up both bandages. After a cursory inspection, the Monic said, "Every speck of you is ruined, Ninth. Where do you want these two most?"

Figuring that to be the case, Luke tried to feel out his state. Pinpointing where the holy aura festered in him most, he said, "Around my lower neck and mid-chest if you could." Pulling on Reaver's Link, Luke instructed Sooty. The bird roughly overturned the Reaver, his back against the wet soil. She then propelled him up. Luke used both arms to establish himself in that position.

Sooty watched Ludris' every move as the monic Archer began to wrap the bandages on Luke's specified locations. Soothing green herbal power aided against the ravaging damage. Stepping away, Ludris asked, "Can you move, Luke? You should be seen by Kelly, she can assist you more than anyone else still alive."

Struggling to stand, Luke felt both Whispering Tome and Sooty try to help lift him up. Once he stood on two feet, Ludris lifted one of his arms around, supporting him. Limping along like that, Luke was brought to where Halen, Juliana, and Kelly entrenched themselves by the lakeside. The familiar sensation of Kelly's astral barrier enveloped Luke for a second as he came inside the protected zone, a slow healing effect speeding along his recovery. He snapped open his eyes as Ludris laid him upon an improvised cloth stretcher similar to the one used for Juliana. In an ironic twist, she would be the least damaged hunter out of the five if not for the black crystal corruption pulsing along her body.

Two cosmic black star-lit vortexes with a pink tint amplified the healing forces naturally pulsing from Kelly's Astral Barrier. Ludris sat beside Luke, and Halen busied herself by bandaging up Kelly. Two green stars radiated above the Astralist, fighting against the curses rampaging on her skin.

Breaking the short silence, Halen said, "I'm in your debt, Ninth." She shook her head, "How cold of me. Allow me to start again, thank you, Luke. My party and I owe our lives to you." She chuckled, "It might take Kelly a while to accept that." Examining the black magic lines crawling upon Kelly's skin, she whispered, "Horrid Cursemancers, their spells are always tenacious in the worst of ways without the proper dispelling measures."

Joints popping and bones cracking as they set correctly, Luke withstood waves of pain. The Spectral Heart started to smooth its rapid pumping, finally steadying Luke's breathing. Refreshing frost smothered internal wounds. Blinking momentarily, soft sun rays warmed the Reaver. Shifting his jaw, Luke believed his vocal cords recovered enough to speak normally again without the elemental method he relied upon earlier. He said, "You're welcome, although I'd like to know why Vathen and Garic attacked your party, even after they knew you no longer possessed a crystal key. If they used their heads for a second, it'd be pretty easy to realize I had it now instead. In fact…" Luke glanced at Juliana and the barely conscious Kelly, "They targeted your two newest members far more than you or Ludris. Odd."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

Staring up into the calm sky, Ludris answered, "Many hunter parties have a history of conflict and bloody oaths against each other, Luke. The longer a party is around, the higher the likelihood. Few hunters reach this far without another faction's support—we are no different." Ludris met Halen's hesitant eyes, "Should I tell him for you, captain?"

Done with her bandaging, Halen said, "That's alright, Ludris. I can do it myself. After all Luke's done, I can trust him with this." Exhaling, she closed her eyes and said, "I am the sole daughter of a one generation baron family. My father, desperate to ensure the family's continued prosperity, betrothed me to a Tier 3 hunter—one of the very best in Sylen. I refused and made this team to declare my independence. It's been a years-long struggle since, besides Ludris, all my other teammates end up being targeted, either dying, leaving, or crippled."

Rubbing his body against the stretcher, Luke enjoyed the rough sensation. Sooty roosted a few feet from his head at the edge of the Astral Barrier. Turning his head to face Halen, his neck cracked multiple times. He said, "There a reason why Ludris is spared from all this? And this high tier hunter has been pursuing like this for years? You'd think he'd have something better to do. I'm sure getting a wife or two isn't particularly hard for a guy with status like that."

Shifting her golden hair behind both ears, the elf woman chuckled, "It's a matter of insult. That man already has three wives. I'd just be an ornamental fourth, a woman chained to yet another harem. Common to anyone at the top of the social chain, man or woman." She looked at Juliana and Kelly sorrowfully, "This is his form of 'persuasion' to reconsider. Unless my team reaches tier 2 as a whole, this will never stop. Ludris is an untouchable—an exiled Miel—even for a top hunter, assassinating or crippling him for such a petty reason will be a total affront to that Titled nobility line. It's not worth the risk. Instead, any new members suffer. I'm careful for months at a time, but eventually, a situation like this arises, and opportunistic snakes reveal themselves."

Mirah's gentle hymn contrasted with the subject matter, creating a serene atmosphere in conjunction with soft light from the tree's sanctity and the sun's rays. The luminous birds reappeared finally, their core crystals floating in them. They nested on the network of branches in the sky. Sooty joyfully cawed, coming up to meet her lost feather friends. Silver and black flashing notices tugged at Luke within the Interface log. He ignored them for a while longer, not like they'd resolve anytime soon.

Dealing with a pained wheeze, Luke said, "Never would've thought you a Miel, Ludris. Do you know an Emalia?" Not waiting for an answer, Luke questioned Halen next, "What makes you sure things change if you reach tier 2? All this infighting when this Duchy is under siege daily. It's a wonder things stay intact."

Straightening his back, Ludris agreed, "Ideally, the three nations and the powerful that compose them would unite against the five Throned. Not to mention the other god creatures. I'm a Miel only in name now, my birthright long behind me, Luke. That family prefers to forget I exist. If not for appearance's sake, they'd turn a blind eye to anyone that made me disappear. Can't have others challenging their authority, however. Be careful around Emalia, she's one of the better natured Miels, but that doesn't mean much."

"Noted. Seems the Pyrites and Miels have their fingers in everything these days."

Darkly laughing, Ludris said, "You have no idea, Ninth. Most of this city's problems stem back to one of the two Titled, or the minor nobility trying to strengthen their connections."

When Ludris finished his piece, Halen started her own. A steely determination colored her tone, "Most tower factions have tier 3's on their roster. When this team is valuable enough to join one, which will almost certainly be the case if we all reach the second tier, that man will have no choice but to drop the matter. I'll be out of his lustful reach."

"How do you plan to get the feat required for ascension?"

"To kill Nemenoth as a team of four, for most hunters that will do it. Or a lesser number for either of the Ruined Realm dungeon bosses. There's a few other methods, but those are the two most common ones."

"None of you four have the fundamental skills to do it."

Halen and Ludris froze before Halen reluctantly acknowledged it, "You are right, but in the future, when Juliana and Kelly reach the furthest extent of their abilities-"

"No, while that's part of your issue, you're ignoring you and your team's lack of judgment. Both of you synergize too poorly, have undeveloped techniques, take too much of a back seat to other's initiative, and undertake risks too large without the competence to have any real chance of succeeding." The Reaver's eyes shone with frost, "I won't forget the lack of support, allowing that elf to nearly burn me alive, or you overstaying here, setting off these events in the first place. While I didn't have to help you, the least you could've done is keep one team occupied—which the three of you utterly failed to do."

The two hunters hung their heads. Coughing weakly, Kelly eked out words, clearly a strenuous effort for her, "What…would you know? Not everyone has talent like you, damned…Defier." Black mana steamed around her exposed skin, the deep-seated curses purifying.

Thinking the chances of convincing them were low, Luke prevented himself from bickering with Kelly. The girl probably needed a few more harsh lessons from the world of combat and hunters. How this recent event wasn't enough—he'd never know. He put a bit of time into viewing the multitude of Interface alerts.

[Xera, the Sword Wand, has reached level 50. Leftover experience stored can be applied to Wayfinder at will]

Taking action before he'd forget, Luke sent the stored experience to Wayfinder. The leftover amount didn't appear enough to get the Numbered to level twelve.

[Xera resonates with the converted Ichor, evolution requirements revealed]

Quickly skimming Xera's status, other than her damage for magic and physical increasing, one other tidbit of information stood out.

Next Evolution Requirement: Envoy Essence

Luke could see the First Reaver's machinations at play. His progenitor never intended for him to shy away from facing the god creatures and their servants. Just as well, he developed the madness to rise against them anyway. Wondering what converted Ichor meant, Luke filtered log lines to find out. One hinted at it.

[You have stolen 795 HP, 0 Agility, 0 Strength, 0 Intellect, from two drops of Succoria's Diluted Ichor. The Legacy of Greed strips away the will within her blood, significantly reducing its potency. The remnant power loosens the chains binding your Reaver abilities and Xera. Sin converts the Ichor to raise multiple Affinities. Please review status for concrete detail]

He rued the lost primary attributes that likely vanished to the void, taken from his opponents, but rebuffed by his vessel since he'd yet to shatter the second thresholds for agility, strength, or intellect. Luke tried to interpret what converting the Ichor entailed. Raising Affinities was obvious enough, the representation of talent in one area. The bit about Xera was spoon fed to him—the class artifact's evolution requirements became obvious. His Reaver abilities acted the same as before. Perhaps the change was too small to notice, or some other unknown variable escaped him.

Bringing him back from the Interface, Ludris spoke up, "Ninth, feel free to ignore my asking, but do you have an Affinity Soul or even the maximum of two?"

"Why? Looking to figure out all my secrets? You and Halen are a curious pair."

Lightly laughing, Ludris said, "Nothing of the sort. I've been on this deadly side of the world for decades, and what you showed with your technique goes beyond what most ever achieve in a lifetime. Have you heard of Elementals?"

The Reaver's skin closed up, and all surface wounds were gone. His white frost strand hair slowly darkened, inching back toward the original black. The hymn lightened the fatigue in both mind and body. Feeling the strength revive in his muscles, Luke said, "Let's say I haven't. Do they have something to do with me obtaining an Affinity Soul?"

Slowly nodding, Ludris seemed to collect his thoughts before relaying an answer.