MM - Chapter 147 - BRING IT ON!

Raine landed a reasonable distance from the forest’s edge. ZionLine housed innumerable areas that were a less-than-stellar plan to fly directly into: the Ruptured Chaparral was one such area. Its denizens were particularly suited to taking down fliers, and the unique obfuscations of his Premium Skydrifter wouldn’t save him from the higher-level observation skills. As he approached on foot, Raine was thankful for not needing to learn about each of the no-fly zones for a second time. Those deaths tended to be particularly uncomfortable.

Squashed by a giant, throat torn out by a wolf, stun-locked and stabbed from behind by an assassin: no big deal. A few shots at the local tavern, and you're back to grinding. It was the rare occasions that ZionLine reared its cruel head and dolled out torturous, delayed endings that left one scarred for weeks or longer. Raine shivered as his worst death played out in his mind again. He cast aside the morbid thought with pure force of will.

He wasn’t even to the trees yet, and the hair on his arms and neck were standing at attention. They were tickled by a warm wind that swept sickly-sweet smells away from the forest's edge. The aroma was but one of the many warnings any rational Traveler could use to decide that steering clear of what lay within was in their best interest. The most prominent of which was the sheer size of the forest’s vegetation.

Each tree was wider than a city block and rose high into the sky, piercing even the clouds. The small shrubs and weeds sprouting from the ground were more akin to typical woodland foliage. Raine stopped at the precipice, senses on high alert. Other than the whistling wind, he heard nothing. Looking up along the sides of the few gargantuan trees in sight was a dizzying prospect. Yet it was one he had to embrace, for that was the direction danger lurked.

Raine wasn't ready to enter just yet. After ensuring there were no immediate threats, he apprehensively removed a helmet from his inventory. Its dark metal surface had a weathered finish, pocked with imperfections as though it were wrought from volcanic rock. Menacing flames oozed from the metal, though they did not burn his hands. The faceplate was reminiscent of a demonic skeleton with menacing gaps for the eyes and mouth. Twisted horns arched from either side of its crown, completing a look that would have most who saw it steering clear. If ever an item Raine owned looked cursed and waiting for its next victim, this was it. Raine could only imagine his friend’s reactions when they saw him wearing it.

[Horns of The Infernal Haskaahl (Plate - Head): (Marvelous Gold - LVL 25) (Health +156) (Defense +51) (Demonic Power +55) (PTC +62) (ACU +62) (Durability 250/250) (Flame Resistance -15) (Innate Passive - Extreme Immolation: The fierce blaze permeating this helmet inflicts agony equivalent to 20% Demonic Power to all those nearby)]

Once he donned it, the passive damage would kick in. Despite the demonic flames consuming his head, they shouldn’t hurt him. He’d done the math four times. After the 15-point reduction to his Flame Resistance, he would still mitigate 220 fire damage per second while the helmet’s passive would only deal 206.

Raine had considered equipping the chest piece as well—it was of similar make, though the horns extended from its shoulders. Following that same math, if he did equip both, they would deal 434 damage per second while his mitigation would drop to a measly 55. It would hurt like hell, but he would survive after dipping beneath 50% health thanks to his aspect; his enemies would not. It wasn't possible to change armor in combat, so if he started a fight with both, he needed to be damn sure that was a good idea. 

Now wasn’t the time to test how excruciating the combination would be. Raine needed his wits to face what was coming. Between the armor and helmet, the latter had more appealing attributes with its excellent Acuity, and so, the choice was made.

Unwilling to hesitate another second, Raine slid the helmet over his head and toggled the option in his interface to equip it. Purple flames burst from his body, radiating outward in a five-meter sphere. They didn’t burn the leaves scattering the ground, and as predicted, Raine didn’t feel a thing other than a comfortable warmth. Yet these were but the first of his flames to test. Raine raised both arms, willing his soul flame to coalesce. In a shocking twist, the two types of fire fought with a vengeance, the soul flame rapidly dominating the demonic.

The two combined, the color changing to a soft golden hue. Raine discovered he couldn't control the demonic-born flames despite them being 'converted.' He shrugged, hoping that would change when his Mastery increased further.

Soul Flame doesn’t mix with demonic flames, got it. The description did say that guy was battling demons for a long time. Well, hopefully, the damage output wasn't affected.

Intending to find out, Raine bounded into the woods. His Finesse and Acuity were now 602 and 413 respectively. It was debilitating to move at speed while one attribute was so much lower than the other, but Raine had been dealing with it for days and now that the gap had lessened, he almost felt comfortable with the blurring. He could now track his own movements up to around 80% of his maximum. Instead of doing the rational thing and slowing there, he pushed all the way to his current limits.

Raine dashed between colossal trees, the scenery streaks of color and sound. A worm the size of a train was his first run-in with the locals. A ‘small’ portion of its body extended from the ground, contentedly munching on a wrangled mound of flesh beneath its bulky mass. The creature vibrated at his approach, filling the air with a threatening rumble.

[Golathean Chewer: (Level 37) (HP ?????/?????)]

While flying for the last days, Raine spent the majority of his time flexing bloodlust to its fullest. Killing intent exploded from his skin, forming three separate spikes that lanced into the large bug from different directions. Its posturing turned to a terrified quiver as it sensed powerful enemies all around. Abandoning its meal, the chewer retreated into the ground.

Raine couldn’t help but be proud of the results of his training. A painful pulse in his skull let him know he pushed a little too hard with the third spike. Last Chance’s Gambit made an appearance with the use of bloodlust. The weapon was still two levels behind and overdue for an upgrade.

While keeping an eye on the upper forest, Raine worked his way deeper inside. Due to the size of each tree, the woods mimicked a labyrinth with how easy it was to become disoriented, even when staring at the map. He encountered a few other beasts, but none chose to pursue him after a demonstration of killing intent. The wind died to nothing, unable to pass easily between the massive trunks. Even though it was kilometers distant, a hive of Golathean Bees filled the air with a deep background buzz that tickled the bones. Soon, the trees changed from rough, brown bark to white and flaky. There was no need to go deeper; Raine had arrived.

Scanning the ground, he found an open space without the telltale softened sediment the giant worms left behind. Either a massive root ran just beneath the soil, or a deposit of rock. Raine didn’t care which, only that something would disrupt them from digging into his workspace. He removed a complex weave of thick ropes from his inventory and spread it over the firm ground like a blanket.

[Basic Harvesting Net: Corpses will remain preserved for 2 hours when wrapped in this small harvesting apparatus]

As with players, slain beasts vanished within a few seconds of dying. The only way to prevent that and harvest their bodies for crafting materials was to either utilize items or skills to preserve the corpses. Since the engineering class didn’t have any skills for harvesting, Raine had no choice but to use an item like the net.

It wasn't necessary to wrap them up as the item claimed; piling them atop it would be enough. Raine staked the edges with some leftover nails, then went to work on the next net, and the next. Before long, the entire clearing was covered in the tough rope. Nodding in satisfaction, he dusted his palms and gazed upwards. The sides of the trees were suspiciously free of movement. He knew the truth: there were thousands of monsters just out of sight. Not having fought in days, Raine stretched, heart pounding in anticipation.

It's go time.

Running at the nearest tree, Raine dove feet-first through the air, heels slamming into the flaky white bark. 611 Potency only managed to produce a slight tremble in the colossal wooden construct. To the creatures that lurked within, their sturdy home shaking caused a rarely-witnessed shock. A flood of relatively tiny creatures poured from hundreds of holes in the bark: it was a veritable kicked hive of activity.

They dropped to the forest floor by the dozen, each larger than Raine. Thick, segmented shells protected bulbous bodies. Wide, downward-facing jaws split their heads in the middle, revealing multiple layers of jagged teeth. An array of claw-tipped limbs scurried beneath, sending the beasts scrambling forward with unnatural haste.

[Golathean Mite: (Level 35) (HP ?????/?????)]

Raine wasn’t idly watching them come. Bloodlust drenched his chosen battlefield, slamming into the beasts and making them think twice about what they were about to do. With the addition of ever more backup and the threat to their home, there was no turning back. They charged, uncaring of the weakness settling into their carapaces.

[Negative affliction applied (Enfeared): Enemy attributes reduced by 20% (Duration 4.66 seconds)]

The familiar weight of a two-handed sword appeared in Raine's palm. With his current attributes, the lower-level weapon felt like a toy. The cursed ring’s roulette filled his body with agony as it ripped away over 700 health. Raine had hoped that as his health increased, the pain of activating the roulette would lessen. The reality was the opposite: it hurt like hell.

Before the spiked knuckles solidified over his hands, Raine gritted his teeth and triggered the ring again. The weapon he was searching for appeared on the third attempt. It released a golden glow interspersed with arcs of black lightning. A dangerous sense of invulnerability coursed through Raine as his defensive attributes swelled.

By this point, there were well over twenty of the oversized mites nearly atop him, with more falling every second. Each impacted with a hefty thud, shaking the ground beneath Raine’s feet. When he was here in the past, the sight would have made him soil his pants. For the average Traveler, facing even two enemies of equal level without a solid group at your back was suicide. These beasts were not equal level. Raine braced, feet digging into the soil as Connection firmed around him. In the last instant before the beasts crashed into him, he swapped to the Fraction of Solidity, further boosting his Potency and Physique.

Even with all his preparations, Raine was thrown back and slammed against the nearest tree. His arm was raised to interpose a heavy slab of metal between himself and the encroaching horde. They renewed their charge and crashed upon it, heavy bodies falling like boulders in a rockslide. Hundreds of limbs and snapping jaws cascaded against his sturdy martial stance and brand-new bulwark, the results laughable. [-1] [-1] [-1]

[Bulwark of Reapers Revenge (Shield): (Chaotic Gold - LVL 25) (Defense +125) (Health +250) (PTC +80) (ACU +80) (PHY +80) (Durability 275/275) (Innate Skill - Decree and Punishment: Absorb 25% of physical, celestial, and demonic damage and force - up to a maximum of 1000% wielder's Defense. Absorbed damage and force may be released at will. Additionally, kills will absorb the souls of those slain, instantly charging the passive by 200%)]

At level 35, each mite boasted an impressive 775 Attack Power. An average tank of the same level, equipped with level-appropriate gear, would have around 500 Defense and be killed in moments. With Raine's top-tier raid equipment, advanced class, and the Heart of Plutus, his Defense was a truly staggering 1,269.

Despite that, the difference in levels gave them a chance. The hits making it around the shield still stung and drew blood. [-26] [-29] Whether striking flesh, armor, or shield, each hit Raine took charged Decree and Punishment. Thankfully, the percent gain was based on the original force behind the blow and not the final result. Meaning that it only took eighty-one attacks to fully charge the innate skill. With so many piling atop him and more joining the fray each second, the shield was charged in seconds.

Raine was buried entirely inside a mountain of screeching bugs when the bulwark pulled itself forward in a light bash. The phantom of a demonic skull launched from its surface, swelling in size as it slid through the throng like some ethereal horror born from pure nightmares. Each creature it touched was struck with 1000% of the force delivered over those eighty-one attacks. They were blasted away as though hit by a swarm of missiles. Raine’s vision filled with damage numbers. [-14,089] [Critical hit! -28,178]

Flailing insects coated the air and ground. Many were thrown far enough to impact the other nearby giant trees. They fell, collapsing to writhe in agony. All the while, the armor’s passive whittled down their health in waves of fiery agony. Smoke seeped from the joints of their plated bodies, releasing a cloying stench that mingled with the forest's already death-drenched aroma. [-208]

If that was the end of their suffering, it would have eventually been enough; it was not. The Soul Flame of Amanesh was tucked into the golden glow. It delved into the immaterial souls of its victims, searing them from the inside out with each second. [-50]

[Innate passive 1 - Sharing is Caring: Wield your inner flame against your enemies, dealing 50 soul damage per second (Damage = Mastery x Level) (no cooldown) (no cost)]

Still, level 35 durability wasn’t something so easily overcome. The beasts recovered, flipping back to their feet and activating regenerative skills. The ones who impacted other trees summoned many, many more of their kind. An army of Golathean Mites descended onto a lone Armsman. They were now taking the threat to their home seriously and unleashed a massive barrage of offensive abilities.

Some turned to a blur as Bombing Charge sent them hurtling from above to crash into Raine with incredible force. Others unleashed Acid Spray, coating him with sticky, sizzling goop. Raine braced his feet, shield up and back to the bark behind him, ready to receive their worst; after all, this was still just the warm-up. It was only a matter of time before the commotion drew the forest’s true threats.