The battle in the Journeyman level raged on. After laboriously clearing the first wave of 30 Vine Wolves, a new type of monster appeared for the second wave.
[Fungal Corruptor - Level 22 Monster
HP: 589/589 MP: 264/264 STA: 682/682 ]
These monsters were like humanoid mushrooms the size of a dwarf. They had red-colored caps as their heads, with their stalk possess two hollow eyes and a jagged mouth that was hollow with no teeth.
On either side of their short bodies were two stubby arms and legs that were quite buff for their size. The group analyzed them carefully to try and suss out any weakness they might have as well as their fighting behavior.
The monsters though, surrounded the lads and began shaking their caps like it was an umbrella. From it, one could see a yellowish spore being released towards their direction, which made the faces of the five become solemn.
Martin seemed exasperated by their indecisiveness and reminded them: "Just so you know, Father never specified you had to clear the dungeon specifically using the training from Gunner. Your magic is also meant to be used here, not just your weapons!"
The five of them seemed startled by this, their mind actually blown by the fact. They had never actually used their magic for raw combat, but rather to supplement their melee/ranged fighting that Gunner had taught them.
It also had to do with the fact that most basic spells were not very effective for combat, but the ones they had learned were the transmuted versions, which were far stronger since Darius had made them train it all to the maximum level.
The five shared looks of shame and sheepishness before putting their weapons aside. Instead, they took out five staves that Darius had specially made for them before he had left.
[All-Element Staff - Weapon
Durability: 2,500/2,500
Quality: Perfect
Resistance: 20
Damage: 7-9
Special: 10x
Description: A special staff made using a smidgen of special materials affiliated with all the known elements combined into one. It has the ability to magnify the effect of any elemental spell cast but a huge margin, by draining slightly more mana from the user as compensation.]
The lads did not have the Supreme System, so they couldn't Inspect things. If they were, they would never have bothered to waste their time using weapons before and would have done their tasks using these staves from the beginning.
Even Darius's Dragonscale Staff was nowhere near this powerful in terms of the boost to magical damage it gave, but favored it because of its origin and the power it would possess after he Static Transmuted it.
Ash began by using a level 20 Adjust.
[Adjust - Level 20 Spell (Max)
Grade: Basic
Cost: 10 MP
Description: Control the fundamental force of the planet that retrains all beings to its surface. This spell increases or decreases the user's weight by 100%.]
Immediately, the weight of all the fungi in the room was doubled, sending them crashing to the ground, their bodies trembling at the prospect of holding double their total weight. 2x weight was not too critical for a human, and it was possible to adapt over time, but for fungi without bone structure like them, it was a death sentence.
While still in the ground, Ash attacked using the level 20 Sparks. This dealt 100% lightning damage to a single target, so the Fungal Corruptor he targeted took a total of 700 lightning damage.
Ash's current Intellect was 70 points, and Sparks dealt 100% lightning damage which was a base of 70 lightning damage. When multiplied by the All-Element's staff's x10 boost, this became the 700 lightning damage currently.
Against these monsters which had just below 600 HP, it was obviously an instant kill. Now, the group could not see damage numbers or the like, but the effect of Ash's Sparks shocked every one of them.
From their magical knowledge, the basic spells were crutches given to mages by the laws of Faust. Their power was extremely derivative and their utility straightforward. In places outside low-level areas like Andrato, Amateurs were seen as the same as commoners.
Only Journeymen and above who could make their own unique magic and have various tricks up their sleeves were given respect. Even though the lads were from Andrato, Darius' lectures had created the impression that the Amateur stage was just a stepping stone and was not useful for battle.
Seeing their prowess like this, the lads could only gulp and gaze at each other. Then, the others too began to attack.
Reina used the Wind Element basic spell, Wind Blade!
[Wind Blade - Level 20 Spell (Max)
Grade: Basic
Cost: 10 MP
Description: Shape the ever-flowing wind into the form of a blade, able to cut through anything in its path. This spell deals 100% wind damage.]
A large blade of wind about the same size as Reina in terms of height and about as wide as the thinnest blade in width was fired out. It lanced through the bodies of various Fungal Corruptors, cutting them in half and leaving them dead.
Reina's Intellect was at 59 points currently so her total wind damage was 590 points, just enough to end the lives of the Fungal Corruptors. The best part was the continuous effect, since it could attack more than one foe if used wisely, and she did use it in such a manner.
She then spun her staff and used the basic spell of the Water element, Pulse.
[Pulse - Level 20 Spell (Max)
Grade: Basic
Cost: 10 MP
Description: Summon a jet spray of water with varying pressure. It can either be intense enough to cut or low enough to drink. This deals 100% water damage at maximum velocity.]
Like a high-pressure water cutter, she sliced a line of fallen monsters, bisecting the targets she chose like they were made out of sugar or salt. She had to aim well though, as the recoil for such a high-pressure spell was high.
Jonathan stepped forth and also joined the fray. He cast the basic spell of the Fire element, Ember. At level 20, it was the same as all other basic spells in that it did 100% of its element's damage.
Unfortunately, he only had 47 points of Intellect currently, so his cast was not enough to kill a Fungal Corruptor head-on… actually, it was! After all, the fire element was the bane of the Wood element, so he dealt x3 elemental damage on top of his usual!
Knowing that it would be futile to sue any of his other elements for combat, Jonathan only used one other spell, which was the Basic spell of the Death element, Spawn!
Unlike the mishap with Darius's two undead, Jonathan's was more normal. From the ground came two Skeletons wearing impeccable armor and wielding halberds as well as a round shield.
These halberdiers were not to be trifled with, possessing agility unbecoming of an undead. Rather, they moved like martial artists from Pan, which shocked the Fungal Corruptors as they were bashed and cut by them rapidly.
James smiled and raised his staff, using the basic spell of the Ice element, Ice Lance.
The area's temperature dropped as a long spear that was crystal blue in color rapidly formed, then was hurled forward by James casually. When it pierced his target right in the center of their cap, it ran the monster through, leaving its fluids leaking as it squealed its last.
As James had an Intellect of 60 points, this deal 600 points of Ice damage, more than enough to end his targets. However, James was incredibly thorough, repeatedly firing his Ice Lances in such a way that they always struck a fatal spot of the monsters, netting him an x3 critical damage boost.
It was just the habit built up from being an assassin to got for weak areas in order to ensure an easier kill. It might seem overkill right now, but it was arguably a very good habit to build on reflex/instinct.
James also made a habit of using the Basic Darkness element spell, Devour, to consume the flesh and blood of the monsters to increase his stats, as small as the increment might be.
It was precisely due to this that he now had more Intellect than Jonathan despite the both of them starting at relatively the same level.
James was like an insatiable beast. He would kill a target and then devour them. Since these were Journeymen monsters above his level, the increment he was receiving was no longer meager.
If he could keep this up for a bit longer, he might see all his stats increase by 1 point!
At this time, Anthony stepped forward with a look of interest on his face. He then gazed at the remaining few monsters and used the Basic Aether element spell that he treasured so much.
Deconstruct!
[Deconstruct - Level 20 Spell
Grade: Basic
Cost: 50% of Energy Gained
Description: Connect with the primal energy of the world and let it revert anything you target into its form. You are able to convert any living being from matter to energy, and can absorb 50% of that energy into yourself to restore health, mana and stamina.]
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