Polaris Dark - Arc II Chapter III

Plisse Village Region - Plisse Village Center

"Aahh... That was tiring..."

I yawn and politely cover my mouth with a hand. The trades caravan is going to move out tomorrow afternoon and head towards the next settlement. RIght now, I am resting on a wooden bench with Seraphina and Antheia at the outside of the palisade walls.

The three of us have just finished a request given by one of the villagers that work at the winery. The request was to help deliver several packages from the farmhouses outside the village to the main winery building. The packages are fairly light but fragile so the two girls kept it in their inventory while I held it in my hands to keep up with my "NPC" look. Being thought of as an NPC is amusing to me so I remain acting like one.

Seraphina and Antheia are quite surprised to see me help them without any reparation and end up giving me a portion of the reward. We completed several small tasks given to us by the villagers before this request, giving us some knowledge of the village layout and buildings. The village has an approximate population of 822 people, more than my previous guess of 600 or so villagers.

Although it looks well developed, it is considered a village as it does not have several key buildings and personnel that are a prerequisite for it to become a town. Two important buildings missing are the Town Legislation Hall and the National Bank. The Town Legislation Hall is where the governing body of the town reside and fulfill requests given by the townspeople regarding the town. The National Bank is where people can deposit and withdraw money, making it an essential economic structure for large populations.

"We should go find another request."

Speaking to us, Seraphina yawns adorably before standing up. The sun shining brightly today with only few wispy clouds scattered among the blue sky. Antheia and I also get up and agree with Seraphina's suggestion. The three of us goes to the village's notice board outside of the Adventurer Station building, placed strategically next to the Berry Vine Inn. The Adventurer Station is a small building that acts as the place to turn in requests in a small settlement. We wait for a small group of adventurers and players to move away so we can take a look. A while later, there is enough space for the three of us to see the notice board without our sight being blocked.

"Hm..." the red-haired girl ponders for a moment before speaking.

"Let's do this one."

Seraphina points to the notice that has the request written on it. I look at the page and read the contents of the request:

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Pest Control - Asterberry Worms

There are always pests that try to eat up the leaves and berries of the crops before they can be harvested. At this time of the year, Asterberry Worms are prevalent and may suddenly appear in the fields outside of the village and farmlands. If the worms remain, they'll eventually roam to the vineyards and devastate the fields. The guards of the village cannot be sent out as it would leave the village unattended. Please eliminate at least ten worms or as many as you can find to reduce the danger. Bring back ten Asterberry Worm Pincers to the Adventurer's Station.

A party of at least two members is recommended

Request Requirements

- Eliminate ten Asterberry Worms (0/10)

- Collect ten Asterberry Worm Pincers (0/10)

- Eliminate Asterberry Worms (0)

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It doesn't seem too difficult for the two of them. I might be a bit low in level since the bandits themselves were all above level 20 or so. I might have a slight problem with Technique I recently made...

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After we settled down in the rooms yesterday, the two girls ended up dozing off so I went out to buy some materials and tools to work on recreating the mana reactor from before. With the amount of money I have after completing all those requests back in the City of Arvenus, it would probably last for a while since I did not need to buy any equipment until I start enhancing and creating need items.

I bought a Magic Fire Torch, some plain metal plates from the local blacksmith as well as some metal engraving tools. This village has a jewlry and gemstome store so I also bought a few small, unwanted stones that the store owner didn't want to keep. After the shopping spree for materials and tools, my money dropped from eight gold coins to eighteen silvers. This kind of spending at my level is huge and unnecessary for other players.

The blacksmith was friendly and allowed me to borrow his forge and workplace. He's quite interested to see what I was doing with the metal and gems.

Calstone Iron Plate

Type: Material Set Synergy: No Quality: Common Level Req: 1 A tough but ductile calstone iron plate made from a mix of calstone and a type of wrought iron. The plate is 9x4x2 centimetres and is fairly light. Calstone is a common mineral that is used to increase the tensile strength and ductility of metal materials. The reddish-grey color comes from the calstone being mixed with wrought iron.

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Material Information

Tensile Strength: 95/1000

Impact Resistance: 101/1000

Fatigue Resistance: 92/1000

Magic Conductivity: 820/1000

Ductility: 713/1000 Durability Material Plate: 300 / 300 Useum Iron Plate Type: Material Set Synergy: No Quality: Common Level Req: 1 A strong and hard useum iron plate made from a mix of useum and a type of wrought iron. The plate is 9x4x2 centimetres and is very light. Useum is a common mineral that is used to harden and strengthen the metal materials. The bluish-grey color comes from the useum being mixed with wrought iron.

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Material Information

Tensile Strength: 150/1000

Impact Resistance: 221/1000

Fatigue Resistance: 185/1000

Magic Conductivity: 540/1000

Ductility: 40/1000 Durability Material Plate: 300 / 300 Magic Fire Torch Type: Tool Set Synergy: No Quality: Rare Level Req: 1 A very common magic tool used for quick repairs and welding small metallic materials. It produces a quick burning yellow-orange flame that extends four and a half centimetres from the cylinder when the button is clicked and held on to. This tool uses fire-attribute magic gems as it's fuel source that can be replaced when needed.

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Tool Information

Flame Radius: 1cm²

Flame Height: 4.5cm

Flame Temperature: 1105.8°Rø (2096°C/3797.6°F)

Flame Color: Yellow-Orange Durability Torch Cylinder: 60 / 60 Misty Sapphire (Small) Type: Material Set Synergy: No Quality: Uncommon Level Req: 1 A semi-precious gemstone with a soft, bluish-white color. This is dull and nearly opaque, making it a rather inexpensive jewel when compared to other precious gemstones. The Misty Sapphire is a form of corundum with trace amounts of titanium and iron. The original transparent blue color of the sapphire cannot be found due to an unknown trace material other than the iron and titanium.

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Material Information

Magic Storage Capacity: 75/1000

Impact Resistance: 62/1000

Magic Pressure Capacity: 120/1000

Magic Conductivity: 763/1000 Durability Gemstone: 75 / 75 Watermelon Tourmaline (Small) Type: Material Set Synergy: No Quality: Uncommon Level Req: 1 A relatively rare, three-color tourmaline that is quite beautiful to behold. The semi-precious gemstone has three separate colors mixed in it: Pink, white and Green. This small piece of tourmaline shines with a translucent clarity, making it beautiful to look at while having a somewhat mysterious feel to it.

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Material Information

Magic Storage Capacity: 113/1000

Impact Resistance: 42/1000

Magic Pressure Capacity: 200/1000

Magic Conductivity: 635/1000 Durability Gemstone: 60 / 60 Basic Metalworking Toolkit Type: Toolkit Set Synergy: No Quality: Common Level Req: 1

This is a basic toolkit that contains several essential tools for working with metals. The box set contains three files and engraving tools that can be used for metals that are have a ductility of 600 or higher. It also has two different hammers, a machinist's square, two marking tools, three abrasive tools, a metal cutting tool and a whetstone stone.

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Tool List Three Iron Files (Fine, Medium, Coarse) Three Engraving Tools (Fine, Medium, Coarse) Two Iron Hammers (Small, Medium) Iron Machinist's Square Two Metal Marking Tools (Fine, Coarse) Three Abrasive Sandpaper (Fine, Medium, Coarse) Metal Cutter Sharpening Stone (Whetstone) Durability Tool Kit: 200 / 200

In the end, I was able to make two different mana reactors and one incomplete one through trial and error, each with their own calibration and specifications. Most of the other tests failed and ruined the materials so I tossed them out. The profession has given me basic knowledge of how to create the starter items and enhancements but requires an astronomical amount of research, experience and experimentation to build up expertise. It is truly a scientific profession in a realm of magic and fantasy.

The first reactor was given the name . This one uses two small Calstone Iron Plates and a single Useum Iron Plates. The calstone iron plates are used to make the inscription surface as it is very ductile and easily manipulated when heat is added. The foundation and structural framework of the reactor uses a single hard, tough useum iron plate.

Inscribing the metal requires heat and magic: heat to increase the malleability of the surface and magic to engrave the magic-conducting lines (see glossary: Magic Inscriptions). Engraving magic inscriptions is not a difficult task; it just requires a large amount of patience and delicate work. By using the base knowledge I gained from attaining my profession and studying the inscriptions from the broken metal pieces, I can inscribe basic single railed magic lines.

The has three single-railed magic lines running along the interior of the calstone iron plates. Each of the magic lines connect to another set of three single-railed magic lines that brings the mana to the reactor's core: the Misty Sapphire (Small) that contains, stores and releases magic on command.

Misty Mana Reactor Type: Mana Reactor Set Synergy: No Quality: Artifact Level Req: 10 A basic mana reactor made with calstone iron and useum iron. The misty sapphire gem at the center serves as the core of the reactor. This is a lost technology that allows one to inject mana into the reactor to control and mold the mana to generate special forms that cannot be done otherwise. This is a disposable basic reactor with only the essential components and inscriptions for general use.

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Equipment Information

Mana Containment Capacity: 100MP

Mana Manipulation Speed: 1.2MP/s

Magic Pressure Capacity: 125MP

Magical Attack +7 Durability Reactor: 150 / 150

The second reactor received the name . Surprisingly, this reactor is far more advanced and powerful even though it is only my first attempt at properly building mana reactors (not with scraps). It probably has something to do with the watermelon tourmaline piece I used for the core. This mana reactor uses the same material as the first one but uses a staggered magic-line formation instead of the three, individual single-railed magic lines from the previous mana core. I cannot use this reactor yet as it has a level requirement much higher than level right now.

Balancer Mana Reactor Type: Mana Reactor Set Synergy: No Quality: Artifact Level Req: 35 A rather special mana reactor that is with calstone iron and useum iron. The staggered inscription lines provide stability for magic control and manipulation. It can be seen as a mana fabricator that allows multiple complex operations to be held in parallel. The balancing function of this mana reactor allows more mana to travel and condense, increasing efficiency but reducing the power of the mana construct created using this reactor. This is a disposal mana reactor that cannot be upgraded nor refurbished due to the way it is constructed.

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Equipment Information

Mana Containment Capacity: 150MP

Mana Manipulation Speed: 2.3MP/s

Magic Pressure Capacity: 175MP

Magical Attack + 12 Durability Reactor: 220 / 220

The last mana reactor I was able to build is still incomplete; the materials I have isn't enough to finish it. The window says that it is at 8% completion so I will have to find more resources to be able to finish the reactor. The blacksmith looked confused but amazed at the fine details on the metal that consists the inside of the reactor.

In any case, I can only use the at this time as it is the second one has a level prerequisite of thirty five while the other is barely complete.

The problem is that the technique is not compatible with the installed core and inscription of the . Because of the incompatibility, I cannot use and ended up theorizing a new technique that could be used in place of the laser-like mana attack. I was able to test it a bit and it shows some promise but will require a large amount of reconfiguration and experimentation to optimize its capabilities.

Accel Sphere Skill Type: Basic Setup Proficiency: - Skill Class: Mana Ball Circle: - Skill Cost: Mana Rank: - [Mana] - - -

This skill produces bright cyan spheres of particle mana that moves towards the direction it is directed from in an arc. The spheres of mana have a radius of two and a half centimeters and will burst on contact, dealing damage to the object it comes into contact with. The burst effect causes a momentary flinch/hitstun from the target, allowing one to connect combination attacks or more particle spheres to the chain. The spheres do not need to be released immediately and will orbit around the user until directed at a target.

Range: 20m

Uses Mana to generate particle-attribute mana spheres, using 3MP per sphere

Capable of generating 3 spheres at once.

Requirement: Basic Mana Reactor

Cooldown: 5 sec

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Can only be upgraded through experimentation and enhancements

Skill Damage Max Hit Type Mana Sphere 18% 1 ~ 3 M-Blast

When I had completed my projects to the most I can do, I put away the excess material and gave the scraps to the blacksmith for him to recycle and reuse. He thanked me for allowing him to see the interesting creations I made. In the end, I helped the blacksmith with some of his daily work for allowing me to use the forge. In the end, I got some more money and increased the intimacy rating with the blacksmith as a result.

After this, I went to sleep at the Inn, and woke up next morning, having the two girls who dozed off wake me up by knocking on the door. At this point the girls and I have breakfast to restore satiety before ending up where we are now...

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Plisse Village Region - Western Fields

...so right now, we are currently at the location where the request denotes. The field in this area have many large worm-like creatures that wriggle around.

"...eighteen, nineteen, twenty..."

Antheia counts the number of Asterberry Worms in the field ahead of us while we prepare ourselves for the hunt. Seraphina checks her equipment, fixing the belt and sword underneath the bright crimson cloak around her. Tossling her hair a bit, she finishes her preparations while I check on my Explorer's Dagger and current status. Although not all quests give experience points, most of the ones I do have a moderate amount as bonus, bringing me up to level 23. The level increase is fairly quick pace but is already showing signs of slowly down. It turns out that after level 10, the set stat increase do not appear anymore and you must rely on the two additioanl stat points per level to increase one's strength.

Status Infomation Name: Yukianesa Profession: Clearmind Level: 23 Sub Profession: N/A Race: Kitsune Gender: Female Equipped Title Virtuous Maiden Rank (Social Class) Honorary City Guard Fame: 58 Infamy: 0 - Health: 375 / 375 Health Recovery: 0.19 / Sec Mana: 370 / 370 Mana Recovery: 0.37 / Sec Stamina: 100 / 100 Stamina Recovery: 0.2 / Sec - Strength: 33 Dexterity: 44 Vitality: 21 Agility: 53 Intelligence: 40 Wisdom: 42 Reflex: 8 Endurance: 4 Charisma: 72 Luck: 0 - Physical Attack: 15 Physical Defense: 46 Magical Attack: 10 Magical Defense: 5 Physical Modifiers Slash: 100% Pierce: 100% Crush: 100% Blast: 100% Elemental Modifiers Fire: 100% Water: 100% Wind: 90% Earth: 100% Ice: 100% Lightning: 90% Light: 80% Darkness: 80% Mind: 50% Void: 90%

The worms should be around level 30 or so, making it difficult for me to be effective against it if it was not for my newly created skill. When I tested it yesterday, the three spheres would form around my body, circle once in three separate orbits before shooting at the target in an arc simutaneously. They hit the target I aimed at precisely at three separate locations all a the same time. When I hold on to the spheres, they continue to orbit around my body until I direct them to a target. They cannot be fired one at a time and only when the spheres move away from the orbit, the cooldown will start the countdown.

"...twenty one, twenty two... and twenty three."

Antheia finished counting when we are nearly ready to tackle this quest. I activate the gauntlets on my hands and attach the Misty Mana Reactor to the slot on top of the gauntlet. This increases my base physical attack to 37 ~ 50, magical attack to 34 ~ 48, physical defense to a solid 59 and finally my magical defense to 23.

Seraphina unsheathes the small sword of hers, revealing it to be a simple, decorated backsword with a slim silver blade. There is a small red jewel inlaid on the guard, giving it a more refined look. Antheia takes the wooden staff off her back and gives it a couple of experimental swings before readying her stance. At once, I summon the three brightly glowing mana spheres, readying myself while waiting for the two girls to finish getting ready.

Seraphina then sends a party request to me so that we will receive the commission as a group. Since NPCs can join a player party, accepting it won't reveal me as a player.

I accept the invitation with a thought and the three of us move towards our targets. The Asterberry Worms are large, three metter long greyish red worms that looks like some sort of oversized insect larva. The front end though sports a pair of large greyish black pinchers that look painfully if caught in between them. They're slow moving so I guess we can kite each worm and avoid its attacks.

"Let's do this!"

Antheia shouts out and the three of us dash at the first worm. Seraphina lands a blazing cut on to the worm, revealing the target HP as well as its tier.

Asterberry Worm Level 29 Health: 816/903

So its vitality is very high for its level... I wonder if we will need to be aware of any other strengths the worms might have.... Also, since that cut did not do a huge amount of damage like it would have done in real life, it should be classed as a monster, not a regular animal/creature.

The worm emits a high-pitch squeak like sound and charges head on at the red-cloaked girl. The worm's limited agility doesn't let it catch Seraphina and the latter dances out of the way while Antheia slams a mid-sized rock on top of it with magic. The rock breaks apart on contact, dealing damage while crumbling away.

Asterberry Worm Health: 793/903

Rock Crush: -15% Agility (12s)

It doesn't do much damage but it reduces its already pitiful agility even more. Well, my turn...

I rush up to the worm's exposed side as it is still chasing after one that dealt the most damage to it. I get up close and personal before sending the mana spheres around me at the worm. A wide arc is formed and each sphere bursts on the opposite side of the worm, causing it to cringe.

7 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 8 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 8 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm

I follow up with four straight punches before kicking the worm, using the recoil to bounce away from the worm that just changed its target to myself after it recovered from the hitstun a moment after the spheres of mana burst.

45 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 38 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 39 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 42 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 13 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm Asterberry Worm Health: 593/903

Rock Crush: -15% Agility (7s)

Within five seconds, the worm has taken over two hundred damage. I leap away while the worm charges at me. It doesn't look like it has any other moves other than charging and attacking with its pincers.

"Yuki, please get away from the worm."

I glance at Seraphina who called to me just now. I see Antheia and Seraphina preparing something big; probably spells with area of effect or splash damage. Like reality, friendly fire is on: an archer cannot just shoot an arrow through a friendly and have it hit the target. Area of effect spells will hit anyone in the vicinity unless it specifically says that one can control what target it affects.

"The two of us are going to cast stronger spells that have splash damage, please move away from there."

Antheia finishes the instruction and so I comply.

I skirt around the worm while it tries to get its pincer-like jaws on me, leading it towards Antheia and Seraphina. The two of them have finished channeling a powerful spell each and are waiting for the perfect shot. At once, I create three mana spheres that orbit once around me before arcing towards the worm and striking it.

8 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 7 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 8 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm

The worm cringes at the bursts while I dash away, moving to where Seraphina and Antheia are. Seraphina calls out a chant to activate the spell she held on to.

"Reduce to ashes, Impact Flame!"

...Did she really need to call out the spell name?

The girl swings her backsword at the worm, creating a blast of orange-red fire that shoots straight at the target. The blast hits the worm dead center, creating an explosion of flames that incinerates the area around the worm as well as the target.

Asterberry Worm Health: 410/903

Almost right after the explosion, a yellowish-brown magic circle about five meters above the worm appears. The circle drops a large boulder on to the worm before it bursts and crumbles away.

Asterberry Worm Health: 147/903

Stun (2s)

That last strike did almost three hundred damage in a single hit as well as apply a two second stun on the worm. The three of us rush over at different angles to finish the worm while trying to stagger our positions so that we would not get in each other's way. It looks like the worm attacks the one that does the most damage during the most recent frame of time regardless of other effects. The agility reduction has expired and the worm regains its speed though not amounting to much. As the worm charges at Antheia, Seraphina draws in close and slashes at the worm twice with her sword.

Asterberry Worm Health: 79/903 Asterberry Worm Health: 20/903

Antheia and I strikes together at the last moment, dealing the final blow. Antheia bashes the worm charging at her with a horizontal swing of her staff while I launch one of the techniques I learned from training with the city guards. It is simply a sidestep hook punch with the left hand that uses the momentum from the step to power the hook. This technqiue is named for how it looks to other people seeing it in action.

39 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm Asterberry Worm Health: 0/903

The worm collapses in a heap, the body deflates as if it contains hot air, causing it to decrease to half its original size in height. The worms do not have any usable materials so we leave the corpse there for nature to take its course. Seraphina goes to the worm's corpse and picks off the pincers easily, placing it into her inventory.

The three of us turn to the next worm and move cautiously towards it. The worm can sense enemies around it but only if the person attacks will it fight back. It's a sad thing really but since people need to grow their crops here and the worms are destroying the hardwork of raising the asterberries....

This time around, I start the offensive and send more mana spheres at the worm when I am approximately two meters away. I rush towards the worm as soon as the mana spheres leave the orbit around my body, punishing the target with a quick jab and a straight punch, rotating my hip at the last punch. All three waves of attacks strike home as the worm cringes from the bursting spheres of mana.

7 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 7 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 8 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 32 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm Critical! 72 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm Asterberry Worm Level 30 Health: 826/952

This worm is one level higher than the first one...

Seraphina slices at the worm immediately after my final punch, searing the worm with a blade covered in orange-red fire. Ah, so this is probably a technique she is using. The worm flinches as small flames from the strike appear near the injury. She then chops vertically, dealing an additional hit before hopping back as the worm lunges in her direction, shifting targets quickly due to the damage difference.

Asterberry Worm Health: 748/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (66s) Asterberry Worm Health: 668/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (63s)

Antheia moves behind the worm and smashes a rock on to its body, dealing damage and reducing its agility.

Asterberry Worm Health: 639/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (61s)

Rock Crush: -15% Agility (12s)

Seraphina sidesteps the worm chasing after her, swinging her sword horizontally and slashing the worm with a deadly strike. The worm overshoots the red haired girl as it charges before it turns around to try and attack her again but gets t-boned by Antheia's staff striking out a moment later, smashing the metal cap on to the side of its body. The worm gets knocked away from the straight line towards Seraphina.

Asterberry Worm Health: 541/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (58s)

Rock Crush: -15% Agility (9s)

A salvo of mana spheres detonate on the worm's body, causing it to cringe from flinch, creating a window of opportunity for me lash out with my left leg, kicking it before Seraphina throws her sword at the worm. The sword flies straight forward with its blade pointing at the worm, indicating the use of a spell or technique. Swords thrown are not aerodynamic at all, which makes it impossible for it to fly like that without a technique/spell's backing.

7 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 7 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 8 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 32 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm Asterberry Worm Health: 486/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (55s)

Rock Crush: -15% Agility (6s)

The sword pierces the worm before exploding into flames, incinerating the worm while Seraphina moves closer to it, the sword she threw reappearing in her hand. She didn't say anything about this spell or technique of hers, making me wonder if the previous "Impact Flame" spell she cast actually requires speaking out the name and blurb to activate.

Asterberry Worm Health: 311/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (53s)

Rock Crush: -15% Agility (4s)

I check my remaing mana and find it decent enough to not require a rest after several more battles.

Mana 334 / 370

With the blaze status effect doing little damage, I wonder if it is calculated by the percent of damage from the burning slash Seraphina used or it is from her weapon attack. Either way, it does little but irritate the mob. In the long term though, it does do about 2% damage to the worm's maximum health if the full duration elapses.

As the worm continues to futilely charge at Seraphina, Antheia has a spell at the ready and is about to cast it. Noting this, Seraphina runs away while I hop to an advantageous spot in the grass and wait for Antheia. Soon, the sunstreaked brunette slams her staff into the ground, creating a small yellowish-brown magic circle underneath her while she kneels down on one knee. At the same time, a magic circle with a radius of two and a half meters and the same color appears underneath the worm. The circle glows and traps the asterberry worm for five seconds, disabling its movement and ability to attack (no ranged attack).

Asterberry Worm Health: 310/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (49s)

Ground Lock: Stops all target(s) within the magic circle (5s)

I do not have another technique or spell that works at a long range so I turn activate my again and pummel the helpless worm with another three mana orbs.

8 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 6 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm 7 Damage dealt to Asterberry Worm Asterberry Worm Health: 288/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (47s)

Ground Lock: Stops all target(s) within the magic circle (3s)

Seraphina casts five small fire balls at the worm with her left hand before speaking out again with her more powerful spell. The five fire balls strike the worm, dealing an average of thirty damage each after my faster moving mana orbs blast the worm.

Asterberry Worm Health: 286/952

Blaze: Does 0.5% M-Blast Fire damage per second (42s)

Antheia stands up after the immobilization spell wears off. The worm is now free but it is too late: Seraphina finishes her final spell and calls out.

"Reduce to ashes, Impact Flame"

The same blast of flame appears and incinerates the worm as well as the area around it, finishing off the worm for good.

Asterberry Worm Health: 0/952

Similar to the other worm, it squeaks before collapsing, reducing its height to half its original size from deflating.

"Well that was quick intense..."

Seraphina sighs after muttering something about the intensity of the battle. Antheia, contrary to her bashfulness, joins in and talks about how she felt. It looks like combat brings out her shining, happy-go-lucky personality that is quite the opposite to her normal shyness.

"Even though we did not take any damage, kiting it took more skill than I thought," Antheia says with a wonderous voice.

"It might be slow, but it's charging attack and lunges are slightly unpredictable at times because of the timing."

Seraphina scans the field for the other twenty one worms. The distance between them are quite far part so we can probably take them down one by one.

"No wonder the guards cannot be sent to do this work, the worms are hardy and resilient enough to take more than twenty seconds to deal with even with three of us here," I muse.

"Yep," Seraphina replies, "It's definitely tedious and tiring."

We deal with the other worms in the same way, resting a little in between fighting five or so worms. Recovering mana and filling our satiety and thirst with food and water. Antheia had brought along a large stash of traveller's food and water pack and shares it with us. The biscuits are a bit bland, but much better than the slices of rye bread I still have in my inventory. The dried fruit the looks like slices of mango tastes like raisins while the texture is like that of a coconut. The water isn't any different from other water other than being held in a finer version of the starter waterskin.

After the last worm is defeated we take a shorter break to rest up a little. Antheia slowly reverts to her shy personlity while resting, amusing me a lot. She then returns to her outgoing personality while fighting, making her bright and cheerful. Finishing the rest of the worms, my level has reached twenty seven while Seraphina and Antheia increased their levels by one each. Oh, it looks like the spellsword Seraphina is level 34 now and Antheia is level 35.

Collecting the last piece of the worm's pincers, Seraphina speaks up again.

"Let's head back to the village now and hand in the request."

The three of us agree and start travelling back to the village...

... ... ...

... ...

...

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Plisse Village Region - Plisse Village: Outside Adventuer's Station

We just finished handing in the request, giving us a base reward of ten silver coins. The thirteen additional worms we killed netted us another eight silvers and sixty copper coins, giving us a total of eighteen silver istotles and sixty copper rasters. We split the money three way and each of us receive six silvers and twenty coppers.

"What should we do next?"

Seraphina muses out loud for us to ponder.

"Hm..."

I think for a moment before answering.

"I think we should..."

Before I am able to finish the sentence, loud clanging of bells resound from the outpost tower on a hill outside the village, signalling something dangerous coming this way.

"...wha?"

*Ding!*

Event Quest: Varaug Raid Difficulty: D-6 Tier: Event Evacuate the Villagers!

The sentries outside the village discovered a horde of Varuag raiders incoming! These twisted, corrupt version of the orcs are all but peaceful. They are coming to raid, destroy, capture and pillage this village! Defend the village at all costs and you will receive rewards equal to your accomplishments.

As you are weaker than most of the Varaug, please assist the village and patrol in evacuating the villagers to a hidden shelter until the battle dies down. Be careful of the Varaug that may break through the front lines and stall for time if you cannot defeat it. Remember to protect the villagers before you do anything else.

Quest Objectives

- Assist and escort the villagers to safety (0/861)

- Defend the villagers against the Varaug

Quest Failure Conditions

- You die or are captured

- The village is eradicated

Bonus Objectives

- Assist the guard in repelling the Varaug

- Kill a Varaug Lancer

- Kill a Varuage Brute

What the in the world...

{{Non-Proof Read Version}}