MM - Chapter 123 - THE OVERWHELMING POWER OF… KITTENS?

[Obtained 158,400 Superiority (1550% bonus for defeating a raid noble 5 levels above you)]

[Obtained 66% Attunement (1550% bonus for defeating a raid noble 5 levels above you)]

After the paroxysm’s brazier crumbled to dust, a tawny bubble containing fifteen gold coins appeared. Next to it was a brightly shimmering golden bubble with a small chunk of black coal. Raine snatched both, eyeing his peripherals suspiciously.

[Cinder of Amanesh: (Marvelous Gold) Fragment of an alchemist's soul flame. Combine ten cinders to recreate the Soul Flame of Amanesh]

Well, that sure makes the choice simple. Even if it were Lustrous Blue, I wouldn’t turn this down.

Raine had been contemplating whether to go straight to the next boss or not. It didn't wait for all ten nobles to die before making its presence known, meaning he could track it down and fight it immediately. Additionally, since the nobles were contained in their braziers, it was a near certainty they wouldn't be summoned to help if he did. That and their essence being absorbed meant the boss would grow more powerful with each paroxysm they killed.

Regardless, now that the possibility of acquiring a soul flame was on the line, there was no reason for further deliberation. Soul flames were vanishingly rare. No typical raid would drop one, as there was never a place in the past where they could be repeatedly farmed. Something so valuable could be found only by pure luck, such as in a unique one-time raid or Mystic Realm.

Soul flames often had combat bonuses that could rival a powerful piece of equipment. Since everyone had the same twelve equipment slots, a passive ability that could match one was practically a form of cheating. The group was waiting a block away from the plaza. Raine trudged toward them, carefully examining his surroundings. During the last fight, he’d successfully condensed a significant portion of bloodlust onto his weapon. Both times he pulled it off came at the expense of lowering his defenses against the noble’s killing intent.

Even though its attributes were reduced, its killing intent wasn't. If I messed up at that critical moment, failing to break through and shock it, I would have been helpless against its mental strength. I can never use that technique against a group of nobles or anyone with greater mental strength than me. If I miss the attack, or they have a way to counter it, I’ll be the one suffering.

Raine’s understanding of the technique’s fatal weakness couldn’t douse the enthusiasm tingling through his limbs. Even if he died right this second, failing the raid, and his reputation in the Silvergate Kingdom plummeted irreversibly, his gains here would make it all worthwhile. For he had taken not one but four significant steps toward understanding mental abilities.

The first: growth through external stress, was discovered when fighting the first boss.

The second: pinpoint targeting of bloodlust, was utilized against the Unliving Flame to distract it.

The third and fourth: Sensing of emotions, and concentration of bloodlust into a weapon, he just discovered.

If those were the four cornerstones of mental abilities he’d heard of in the past, then he might have a serious problem. Not one of the four had anything to do with becoming physically stronger. This meant he was still missing something vital regarding the advancement toward grandmaster and had no idea what it could be.

Raine was still lost in thought when he arrived before the group, mostly missing their expressions between awe and fear. When several seconds passed, and none of them had spoken yet, Raine pulled his head out of the clouds. “I hope you were taking notes. It's your turn next.”

“What?! No way!” TwistedReligion spoke at the same time as everyone else, but his shrill screech drowned them out.

Richtor picked up where the skinny nerd left off, “That's impossible. We couldn't even see its arms swinging. We would be dead in seconds!”

Deloralicious and Kevinsbakon threw in their two creds as well: “We don't have your fancy armor; the immolation effect would kill us before we even reached it.”

“Yeah! No matter how you swing it, we can't fight something like that!”

While Mel, Celeste, Fizgore, and Rhino didn't add to the excuses, they wore deep frowns that made it clear what they thought of his plan.

I cheated on the last Hierarch by dismembering it before the fight even started. Doubtful I'll be so lucky again. I'll need their help, which means giving them actual experience against a noble’s bloodlust.

Raine inhaled deeply, and they instantly fell silent, eyes focusing on his lips with ears pricked at attention. They didn't dare miss a word from the man capable of soloing that demon, which should have been impossible to kill. Instead of a rousing speech, Raine repeated the words he'd spoken when first saving them from DyingNight, “Make your choice, stand bravely in the face of death, or run and hide forever.”

His simple sentence had the desired effect. They blanched in unison, turning away from his verbal blow. In their own time, they found the courage he knew lurked within each of them. Seeing determination replacing indignation, Raine nodded firmly, “That's better. Didn't I promise that if you came with me, I would show you the truth of this world? How am I going to do that if you're dead? All you have to do is follow my instructions, and you'll be fine.”

“Right. Follow instructions. I… I can do that,” Kevinsbakon nodded in a daze, clearly having trouble wrapping his head around tanking a monster that quick and deadly.”

After giving Rocky the mental command to follow along, Raine explained how they would fight the nine remaining paroxysms.

***

The group arrived at the next wide plaza, brimming with confidence, confidence that vanished in a puff of smoke the moment the brazier blasted a massive plume of unliving fire high into the air. The demon sneered, whips cracking the ground, daring them to trespass within its territory.

Bloodlust gushed from it like a river, drowning them in the threat of imminent death. Fizgore and Talerra nonchalantly shrugged it off. Raised in prestigious martial families, being trained to resist mental abilities was a given. They didn't yet have their own, so they still received the attribute debuff, but at least their knees were steady.

Mel, Celeste, and Rhino fared the next best. Raine’s crash course over the last several days had done wonders to prepare them. They still displayed a trembling muscle here and there but otherwise stood their ground admirably.

Richtor’s crew was an absolute mess and would undoubtedly end up dead if forced to go anywhere near the paroxysm. Again, Raine was the most impressed with Mel. In the past, she was just as normal as anyone else. In comparison, Celeste was a bundle of raw, natural talent that shouldn't be overcome no matter how hard someone trains. Yet they stood side by side. Considering Celeste had also been trained throughout her childhood, it made no sense how Mel could even see her dust trail in the distance.

On the verge of ordering the group to spread out into the positions he'd detailed, Raine paused. An obvious answer to the riddle that was Mel sprung to mind, and it made too much sense to ignore. Raine’s peripheral sharpened on Mel, sudden wariness coloring his every memory of her.

Was she a spy all along? After CronGate took everything from her, she must have harbored intense resentment. If she joined to steal their secrets, it makes sense for her to lay low and hide her abilities. Was our friendship merely a part of her cover, all to steal WIDOW?

When Mel realized his suspicions were directed at her, she couldn't help the little gasp that escaped her lips. Her heart felt like it was being crushed in a vice, and moisture built in her eyes. She desperately wanted to scream at him that it wasn't true. 

Celeste covered her, leaning in to whisper and consequently blocking Raine's view of the trembling girl, “You know what I need after all this? A shopping spree! We're going together, right? Let's do something crazy. Oh, I know. We should buy some kittens! They'll be so cute!” By the time she finished, Celeste was on the verge of vomiting, her neck bright red.

[Can't believe I couldn't think of anything better than her stupid ultra-secret emergency distraction. I've never been so embarrassed in my life!]

Raine ignored her antics. Everyone coped differently against bloodlust; he had no right to judge after some of the methods he'd tried in the past. His mental storm continued in the relentless and brutally frank way that only internal thoughts could be.

Well, this time, Mel wasn't screwed over, chewed up, and spit out by Torune's lackeys. This time, she's mine. I won't let anyone else have her. I'll give her everything she could ever want and more; she'll never have a reason to even consider betraying me.

As anxiety was blasted away in a nuclear explosion of delight, Mel released a sound somewhere between a squeal and a giggle. She clapped her hands and bounced on her heels, excited about the kittens. Raine shook his head, returning his attention to the boss while flushing out old doubts with new conviction.

Mel's talents are no less remarkable than the others. This is the last time. I'll never doubt what she's capable of again. After all, we are molded by the expectations of those around us. If I go easy on her, thinking there's something she can't do, I'll be creating artificial limits for her, restricting the limitless future she clearly has. From now on, she's just as big a part of my future plans as anyone else.

“Aaargh! Let's do this!” Mel stole Raine's thunder, taking the lead and rushing toward the noble demon.

Raine could have easily stopped her but didn't, respecting her desire to finish the raid as quickly as possible for obvious reasons. Bloodlust sprung from his skin, its sphere of influence expanding rapidly to protectively cover her. As shimmering light enveloped both his fists, she raced forward, stepping over the furrow that clearly defined the plaza's entrance.

Before she took a second step, a whip traveling so fast as to be invisible was nearly upon her. Mel flexed her Connection and kicked the solidified air to her side. Body flush with Discipline, she dove into a blazing-fast cartwheel. Cobbles exploded behind her, sounding the beginning of battle.

The group split. Fizgore rushed straight in, bursting through the rubble and dust from the first whip's strike. His deep voice carried a Challenging Roar the noble couldn't resist. Furious faces turned toward him as its attributes fell by the slimmest margin.

[Challenging Roar: (Beginner) Shout to attract the aggro of all enemies within audible range. Additionally lowers all enemy attributes by 5% (Less effective against stronger foes) (Cost: 10 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 seconds)]

Since the skill did no damage and didn't force aggro for a set time, whoever hit the noble next would immediately steal its attention. Knowing this, nobody made an offensive move as they scrambled to align themselves. Celeste, Richtor, and TwistedReligion were the first in position. They stayed at max range, only having to ensure Fizgore was between them and the demon.

Fizgore blurred. Two more whips cracked, their tips snapping into the ground on either side of him. His feint was a martial technique that made him appear to be moving in one direction, then the other, when in fact, he did neither. His shield was up to Deflect a fourth. He took several hundred damage from the deflection and immolating heat that filled the central portion of the plaza. Fizgore’s health instantly jumped to full as a Healing Ray of pure white light shot from Richtor’s outstretched hand.

[Healing Ray: (Beginner) Channel through mace, wand, or hands toward a target within 10 meters to restore health equal to 125% CP every 10 seconds. User cannot move (Cost: 5 CP per tick) (Cooldown: 60 seconds)]

Mel chipped in by hitting Fizgore with Guardians Embrace and Guardians Comfort, buffing his Defenses. Meanwhile, the rest of the group used Lunge to quickly arrive in a spread-out semicircle just outside the immolation range; they were far enough apart that a Burst aimed at any one of them wouldn't damage their neighbor. 

As the last two whips fell, Raine appeared before Fizgore and fell back on thirty years of competence with his weapons of choice. He Parried the first whip with his left fist, then deflected the second with a powerful right jab.

[Damascus Spiked Knuckles: (Lustrous Blue - LVL 15) (Attack Power +56) (Attack Speed +1.5) (PTC +18) (ACU +12) (PHY +15) (Durability 140/140)]

Side-by-side, they directed matching toothy grins at the towering creature. Incensed by their defiance, the demon’s heads screeched. Its blazing eyes released a volley of firepower. Smashing mace to shield, Fizgore met its challenge with a roar of his own. Holding his shield before him, he activated another class skill, Wall of The Guardian. A shimmering field of energy shot from the corners of his shield, spreading out to form a large barrier.

[Wall of The Guardian: (Beginner) Expand the range of your shield by five meters absorbing damage and force up to 1500% of Defense and Resistance for 5 seconds (Cost: 20 Discipline) (Cooldown: 120 seconds)]

Twelve Blasts and Bursts flew toward Fizgore at incredible speed. They shattered against his shield of energy in cacophonous explosions of crimson light. With his heavy armor and the Marvelous Gold necklace borrowed from Celeste, Fizgore successfully tanked them all without falling back a single step.

Plasma so hot it instantly evaporated the little moisture in the air appeared at the edge of the brazier. Having repeatedly been yelled at by Raine that this was the most crucial mechanic, the group was well prepared for the Infernal Eruption. As the two-meter-tall wave swept outward, everyone Lunged straight up, easily clearing it.

Now, it was Raine’s turn. He Lunged off condensed air, closing the distance on the noble as its arms lifted high to swing its deadly whips again. Still not having taken any damage, it threw all six at Fizgore, who managed to dodge all but one. He was flung back a dozen paces, quickly dashing back into position. Right after the last whip fell, he opened with Rupture. [-11,469]

With the rippling waves of energy as the signal, the rest of the group released their skills. Those who usually fought in melee had swapped to bows and crossbows. They released a barrage of firepower that did minor damage even with the paroxysm’s nerfed defense. Rhino managed to deal significant damage by throwing Shimmering Star with all his might. The hefty glaive streaked through the air, punching clean through the demon’s fiery form before reappearing in his hands. [-1,337]

TwistedReligion threw spears of ice by swinging his staff as hard as possible. Each dealt significantly more damage than the arrows, but it was truly Celeste who stole the show. Not yet level twenty-five, she still used her old staff. It was a blur in her hands as she danced in place. Each time an end came around, a plodding ball of condensed mud was hucked through the air. They sizzled in the heat, growing hard as metal by the time they landed. One after another, they clanged against the brazier in a steady barrage that chunked off more health than the rest of the raid combined, excluding Raine.

His fists were so fast that he couldn’t see them. He pummeled the same spot repeatedly, the boosted Attack Speed of his spiked knuckles chunking a staggering seven thousand health per second. All the while, his bloodlust pressured the noble, forcing it to focus its killing intent solely on him. 

The whips fell in a steady stream that Raine smoothly sidestepped. He took a few glancing blows, but neither his evasions nor the force from the blows could disrupt his impeccable aim. Already, a crack had appeared in the brazier. Raine wasn’t in a hurry. He didn’t attempt to break its mental strength or use any skills besides Rupture, wanting to give his people as much practice as possible.

When its eyes glowed next, Kevinsbakon stepped in, pointing a finger at the demon, “Go back to hell, ugly bastard! I Taunt thee!” 

[Taunt: (Beginner) Attract the aggro of a single enemy within 30 meters for 10 seconds. Additionally reduces damage taken from that foe by 15% (Cost: 10 Discipline) (Cooldown: 30 seconds)]

The heads swiveled his direction, unleashing their payload on the lanky tank. He sprinted and Lunged for all he was worth toward the outside of the plaza, managing to dodge all but two of the ranged attacks. He slid to a stop before Mel, who slapped the back of his head, covering him in a green sheen that pulled his health bar from deep red to a robust green. Taunt’s ten seconds of hate were interrupted as Kevin left the range of the demon, so it shifted its focus back to Raine.

The paroxysm released a shrill scream as its health hit ninety percent. The massive wall of fire that appeared vanished as an equally large wall of solid stones shot up from the ground when Rocky’s fist smashed into the plaza's edge. The nobles’ attacks canceled each other out altogether. With a flicker of thought, the rock wall fell, allowing their one-sided beating to continue.

The next round of ranged attacks was soaked by Fizgore, who employed a similar strategy as Kevin. Raine took the third, filling his skull and legs with Discipline to avoid them all by a slim margin. 

With all of its mechanics countered, the battle became an exercise in patience and attentiveness, the latter made simple by the excruciating pain anyone who messed up suffered. The former was due to the long cooldown of Rocky’s defensive wall. Twice, someone messed up when jumping over the eruptions, and both times, Mel was there like a guardian angel when they were thrown.

After what felt like an entire day inside the blistering heat of hell’s kitchen, the second of ten nobles dissolved into a wisp of essence that was summarily dragged to the city's center.

[Obtained 158,400 Superiority (1550% bonus for defeating a raid noble 5 levels above you)]

[Obtained 66% Attunement (1550% bonus for defeating a raid noble 5 levels above you)]