EPISODE: 198: NEW GENERATION 5

— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR: 7292. SEASON: NEW BEGINNING.

Lorde felt a small surge of strength enter his body. It didn't make him overly powerful, and he felt an intimate connection between him and Simra that was difficult to describe. He could tell her distance from him and so much more without looking at her.

"Well, this is… interesting —now, I'm happy the two of you are getting together… really , but pleassssse tell me how this is going to solve our predicament," Amaya huffed. "I'm ready with a spell that can double our chances of killing it—my spell, (Seismic Rupture), is about to end."

Amaya's words were fast, partially panicked, and broke the small moment between Lorde and Simra. Lorde laughed, a clear bell-like sound that rang over their immediate area. He felt fantastic, the pain from the previous hit had all but gone from his mind. Today was a wonderful day.

The ground, once vigorously rupturing about the trio, was slowly coming to a halt. The sky rumbled, and the once soft drops of rain increased in pressure. The storm picked up, and a downpour released over the battlefield. Amaya pressed a ring on her finger, and the rain, which did its best to soak through her battle-mage armor, now fell around an invisible shield.

"How much longer will it last," Simra asked, focusing on the task rather than what accepting Lorde truly meant. She tightly gripped her dagger, flames igniting on the blade as she activated a skill.

The heavy downpour didn't affect their visibility on the target, the crystals that served as their helmet's eyeholes provided them with excellent vision. Simra's Life Points were back to full, and she began to get a strange feeling in her chest—a feeling of a better tomorrow and a brighter day.

"Well," Amaya pondered, tapping her foot on the ground. "It's ending in five… four… three… two…"

Lorde's laughter grew even louder as Amaya counted down, and for a moment, Simra wondered if she should have held off on accepting until after the battle. Her face burned, but she kept her position as they prepared for the countdown to end.

"Let me lead, Simra on my right, Amaya, stay behind us—once my taunt hits, release your spells," Lorde stated as Amaya finished her countdown.

"One," Amaya finished, the mental model of the spell construct finished in her mind. All she needed to do at this point was properly release it. She activated a skill, the ground shifting underneath her as the trio took off.

Notifications appeared in the corner of their eyes, but the foursome ignored them, as such distractions could cost them their lives. Amaya stuck close to the two spell-swords, her spell was ready but was best used in a range that the Tempest Coyote could not dodge.

The creature watched them approach, choosing not to make a move. The rain above matte its fur, making it look like a wet dog. They were a dozen meters away, a distance that was crossed in a matter of moments. Lorde burst forward, taking the lead as he activated a skill.

Just as he opened his mouth, the creature disappeared, a vision of it appearing a distance before them showed moments before the scene came true. The rain, once heavily falling on its fur, was blown away by a green wind. Its fur immediately dried, and the wind swirled around it, creating a tempest.

"Shit, that's (Eye of the Storm)—it's an area of effect that cuts anything around the Tempest Coyote into pieces," Lorde alerted. When Lawruthian shared the notification of the creature's skills, he'd done his best to quickly scan them.

"Well, what now? That magic will cut my spell apart before it can touch it unless I activate it on us first—in that case, its effect won't be as strong," Amaya began. "I can disrupt the earth underneath it, but I doubt that will be much help."

Simra shook her head, "That won't work," her eyes carefully watching the Tempest Coyote. She quickly read the notification regarding the skill. "The (Eye of the Storm) would detect and break the magic before it could set. It's both an offensive and defensive ability."

"It's not impossible to stop it, only we'd need a strong attack to break through in one go," Lorde laughed, and his icy-green eyes settled on Simra. "Before, I would say it'd be pretty hard of us to do so at our levels, but now…"

Simra appeared confused, as did Amaya, who raised an eyebrow in skepticism. The wind continued to pick up around the Tempest Coyote, and it was only a matter of time before it began to move. None of them thought of retreating—even now, with the skill requiring time to pick up, the young magi could have retreated to a safe distance. Instead, their only concern was fighting and finding a way to defeat the creature. There was a pride in them that didn't allow them to retreat or call to their elders for help.

Lorde's icy-green eyes sparkled with confidence as he finished, "…but now, we've got a shot."

As his words finished, Simra thought back to her acceptance and the effects of the (Heartbound) skill. She looked to Lorde and waited as he continued his explanation. She tightly gripped her dagger, its campfire flames shining brighter in the rain.

"Don't worry about anything else—just use your strongest skill, I'll support you," Lorde said, stepping closer to her. "Amaya, get ready to release your spell—Madria, follow suit." ‎

Madria gave a confirmation, but her gaze wasn't on the trio but directly above them. She silently pondered before glancing in the direction of Lawruthian's battle.

She whispered to herself as she watched a giant golem slowly begin to carve its way forward. "You're trying to take everything on your shoulders again… well… I won't let you."

The Tempest Coyote began to prowl toward their direction, its massive form barely disturbed by the raging winds swirling around it. Its glowing green eyes locked onto Lorde, then flickered briefly to Simra and Amaya as though gauging the threat they posed. The growl rumbling from its throat was low and taunting, the creature's predatory calm radiating an unnerving confidence.

Simra calmed her mind, readying her most powerful skill—Lorde arrived next to her, calmly placing his hand on her shoulder. She could feel his strength enter her body, easily doubling her Base Attack. Now, her only question was if this was enough to cut through the swirling storm around the Tempest Coyote. She felt the weight of her comrade's lives and couldn't help but wonder if-

"No time for doubts now," Amaya shrugged. She tightly grasped her black and white wand as it glowed with a mighty radiance. "Let's just do it—(Lighting the Dark)," she released with a loud shout as if the extra sound would give it strength.

(Lighting the Dark)

Tier: Four

Category: Spell

Functions:

1. White Light: Grants allies within range {+10% to all attributes} for the skill's duration.

2. Dark Light: Reduces enemies' attributes by {10%} and applies {Slow} (-15% movement speed). If Dark Light affects enemies first, the drained strength is transferred to empower allies.

Cost:

200 MP.

Description:

Light and Dark are entwined; together, they release a symphony of radiance that empowers allies with such energy while ensnaring foes in darkness, turning stolen strength into a weapon of unity.

Black and white light exploded from her wand, its light covering her and her companions before it continuously devoured the surrounding ground. Madria refocused, and she activated her spell, focusing on the ground beneath the Tempest Coyote and her companions.

"(Madris's Gaze)," she released—visibility sagging as the Mana and Divine Points left her. This was a powerful tier-six spell that nearly drained her of her remaining energy.

(Madris's Gaze)

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Tier: Six

Category: Divine Spell

Functions:

1. Allies touched by the gaze gain +15% to all attributes and {Increased Willpower}, reducing the effectiveness of enemy debuffs.

2. Enemies caught in the gaze suffer –15% to all attributes and experience {Reduced Resolve}, making them more susceptible to fear and control effects.

Cost:

200 MP/DP.

Description:

You have called the gaze of the Goddess. Do not be found… wanting .

The surge of strength entering Simra suddenly increased by a factor as the white light from Amaya's spell touched her. She felt like her teacher stood next to her, directly guiding her blade as she prepared a strike. If the white light provided strength, then Simra could imagine what the black light did. A golden glow came above her, its effects of strengthening her followed Amaya's spell. A sole eye radiating might appeared, its gaze one of support and acknowledgment. The same glowing eye appeared around the Tempest Coyote, and while it hadn't halted its advance, the wind coming from the creature visibly grew weaker. The eyes gaze seemed to hold disdain for the creature as it watched. ‎ Simra acted the moment the light from Amaya's spell touched the barrier. Like Madria's buff and debuff on the creature, Amaya's spell seemed to be relatively similar.

She thrust her blade forward, her dagger igniting with a flame that burned hotter than before. Her breath steadied, the chaotic battlefield fading away as her focus narrowed to a single point: the Tempest Coyote's heart.

The swirling tempest around the beast faltered, the previously unyielding winds now sluggish and inconsistent. Amaya's (Lighting the Dark) had done its job, piercing through the storm's veil to weaken the Coyote's defenses. The black light traveled on the ground, seemingly clawing at the coyote as it hit. Madria's (Madris's Gaze) had taken it a step further, tethering the creature's strength to the ground, sapping its movement as it slowed.

Simra felt like the very gaze of her Goddess was on her. It weakened her enemy and strengthened her and her allies. This created a feedback loop that made her attack all the stronger as it surged from her blade. A single piercing hole shot through the wind blades, cutting everything to pieces around the Tempest Coyote. She… they put their all into this attack, and right as it reached the Tempest Coyote, another smaller attack joined it coming from above.

The three didn't notice the attack as it came far too fast, and the surrounding light partially blocked their vision. What they did notice was the notifications that came right after their joint attack struck.

You have defeated Tempest Coyote — ★★★★ .

You have leveled up. Please assign the level too…

You have leveled up. Please assign the level too…

You have leveled up. Please assign the level too… x 2

A chorus of notifications alerted them of their win, and the trio's shoulders visibility slumped—a feeling of relief overcame them, but none sat. This was a battlefield, and the soldiers around them still fought.

"Well," Amaya chuckled—hands placed on her hips and head slightly tilted. "It looks like we didn't need the Prince's help after all."

Simra exhaled deeply, her body trembling as the residual energy of her attack faded. She glanced at Lorde, who gave her a nod of approval. She could imagine his face, icy-green eyes twinkling with light.

Madria looked at the golem floating high above the trio. It seemed to ensure that they were okay and that the Tempest Coyote was dead before it took off—as silent as it arrived. She kept silent, if Lawruthian didn't want to announce himself to the battle, then who was she to spoil his fun?

Right before the group could formulate their next plans—a familiar voice rang over the battlefield.

"FORWARD IMPERIUS SOLDIERS! ESCORT OUR PRINCE," General Alexandria's strong voice echoed over the soldiers. It snapped the trio out of their dwindling state as they gazed in the direction Lawruthian was fighting in.

The slain bodies of two Tempest Coyotes seemed left as an afterthought. Before their eyes was a scene they deemed strange, but after a few seconds of thought, it was just like the prince to pull such a move.

Soldiers surged around them, leaving the safety and comfort of fortified positions to advance. Before them, on the shoulder of a large feminine golem, Prince Lawruthian advanced into the beast horde—his golem dealing attacks that slayed every creature it struck. The earth roiled before him; rainwater mixed with dirt and drowned those who were too slow to move.

When the soldiers, Simra, Lorde, Amaya, and the rest, chose to fight within a relative distance of the main army—the Prince chose to advance.

General Ameri laughed, "Let's go, cousin—perhaps you may understand why I've chosen to truly follow the prince."

General Ameri directed her troops forward, her red eyes shone with an excited light. In truth, when it came to the tactics of the fight, she disapproved of Lawruthian's actions. The Imperius Army held the advantage in their position. They had a base camp and had constructed defenses around it to ensure any attack force would have a difficult time in the endeavor. Now, Prince Lawruthian chose to march forward, slaughtering his way deeper into the beast horde. General Alexandria or Ameri couldn't leave him be.

Thus, the Imperius Army began its advance.

"He's…," Amaya muttered.

"He's going to get too far ahead of us if we don't start catching up," Madria exclaimed as she began to advance, her guards in tow.

Lorde turned his attention to the prince, carefully watching his advancement deeper into the beast horde that attacked them. "That's…"

"…dangerous? Or just like Lawruthian," Simra questioned. She began to move, headed in the direction where her lost weapon lay. There was a smile on her face, hidden by her helmet but heard in her voice. "Let's not let him get too far ahead."

The curly-haired girl voiced no surprise outside of the initial reaction to the prince's actions. Around them, soldiers of the Imperius Army surged forward. And, in the air, two demigoddesses and one Prestige discussed. The [Pathwalkers] were displaying smiles of appreciation.

"Haaa," Liana exhaled. Her tone was laced with amusement as they observed the chaos below. "Reckless, but I like the initiative. It's different… different than what we'd have done."

Queen Titiana hummed. Her expression was thoughtful, but it lacked any definitive emotion. She slowly floated forward, a finger on her chin as they advanced with the Imperius Army. She lackadaisically waved her hand, the Central Gate Army advancing. Any errant creature that crossed the army's path was easily dispatched. Unless a proper force of four-star creatures faced them or a completely overwhelming amount of creatures attacked, the Central Gate Army remained unworried.

"I disagree," Margret interjected, her voice carrying a light yet firm tone. "His actions shouldn't be considered reckless but pioneering. Instead of waiting hours for the horde to gather and press us, Lawruthian is taking the initiative to disrupt their momentum. It's bold—and undeniably effective."

Queen Titiana's gaze shifted to Margret, her lips curving into the faintest trace of a smile. "Bold, yes," she conceded. "But boldness without strategy courts disaster. We shall see if his foresight matches his courage."

Below, the battlefield remained a tumultuous sea of clashing forces, the prince's golem carving a path deep into the enemy ranks. Lawruthian's advance stood in stark defiance of conventional strategy, yet it inspired awe and emboldened the soldiers following in his wake. Imperius Army surged forward, their gazes on their prince, their [Chosen] who lead from the front.

Lorde, Simra, and Amaya joined the flow, their earlier victory lending them renewed energy—that, and the potions provided to them. Around them, soldiers roared, their voices harmonizing with the cacophony of battle as steel met flesh and magic tore through the storm-filled air.

High above, Queen Titiana's gaze lingered on her son's bold charge. Her voice carried softly, yet it was laced with authority. "Allow Lawruthian to lead, but ensure nothing dangerous surprises him."

Margret and Liana nodded, their agreement unspoken yet clear.

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