Chapter 0027

Like most anti-social shut ins who is either a danger to themselves or trying to find their place in the world, Tempest logged into the MMO world and did a stint as a meat shield in the game.

It was not as interesting as gamers made it out to be. Granted, for entertainment purposes, it was better than reading a book in a dark quiet corner somewhere or watching television, but Tempest never got into the gaming world.

Humans are humans. In person there are consequences when one human bullies another. In the online world, not so much. A great player kills a weak player because it part of the game mechanic and also part of the entertainment. It’s not fun fighting against the computer. A geared player kills a new player in rags because they can and again it is part and parcel of the gaming world.

There are many elitist jerks in a gaming world. The lack of consequences as they hide behind a screen name brings out the worst in players.

By the way, Tempest was one of the elitist jerks killing newbies in the starting area for kicks. Although her powers translate to lightning in this world, back on Earth her lightning powers gave her control over anything that runs on electricity. No way was she going to lose in a game that runs off her power!

There were a few accounts that got mysteriously hacked and their gear ransacked. Tempest laughs and taunts the victims every time it happens in chat.

Whenever Tempest kills a boss in the game, she gets the best loot all the time. Tempest flaunts the loot every time it happens.

Whenever a player almost gets her hp down to 5%, a mysterious glitch cause the other player to lag or disconnect. Tempest kills them, then when they come back on line, she ambushes them until she gets bored.

Too many coincidences cause her to attract unsavory attention. Those times are behind her now.

The formation of the mercenary group cause her reminisces of her gaming days. Tanks up front, melee nearby, caster in the back. Healers stay in the back with the caster but there are no magical healing class or profession in the Cardinal Realm. There are healers just not like the healers in game.

Before, Tempest would be one of the vanguards, leading the way and watching out for danger. Now she is in the back with all the range. She can see everything that happens and can react accordingly.

Sadly nothing happens.

Why?

Because the same thing that attracted the Silent Panther is driving the weak prey away while attracting the attention of the stronger beasts.

Incessant whining.

Apparently the stupid sheep did not listen to Amber’s warning.

A few girls took their leader’s warning to heart. They gritted their teeth and bear the aches and pains in their legs all the while pushing forward. These were the commendable ones in Tempest’s mind and worth watching out for. Of course her safety comes first, but if she has the chance she’d save them next.

The complainers can die. Tempest took note of each and everyone one of them. Tempest tried to sympathize with them as she was a city bred girl herself who never had to walk unless it was for physical education and even then Tempest didn’t do much aside from walking in circles in the greenery of the facility, a 15 meter by 20 meters outdoor lawn enclosed by 10 meter high fence.

The complainers were the well-off young ladies by the look of the silk clothes embroidered with flower patterns, ducks, clouds, and a weird looking clan emblem Tempest can’t make heads or tails of or servants of the blacklisted princess.

Jean hasn’t spoken a word since the altercation with Amber.

Ventus told her there are six level 2 beasts within 200 meters of the group. She — Tempest thought her spirits are female even though spirits are gender less because addressing them as he gives her the heebie jeebies — tried to tell Tempest the general direction of each ferocious beast but Tempest declined. The complainers are annoying, but they are a great source of information.

For instance, the rumor mongers gossip about the abilities of mages verse the cultivators of the Heavenly Mountains all the time. They mention the cultivators from the Heavenly Mountains have an ability called the divine sense. It allows the cultivators from the Heavenly Mountains to sense their surrounding further than the eye can see. According to gossip, powerful cultivators can scan everything in the Heavenly Mountains. Mages from the Magus Alliance have an ability similar to divine sense though not as all-encompassing as the cultivators from the Heavenly Mountains. Mages can fuse their sense with their elements, sensing everything their element touches.

Mages lose out in the sensing department. Cultivators from the Magus Alliance were called the Senseless cultivators for a reason.

Despite its limitations, mages practice the skill as it allows them to communicate better with their spirits.

Currently, Tempest is trying to infuse her sense with her wind element.

Mizu and Astrapi wanted to cry favoritism but shove their complaints in the deepest recesses of their hearts. They did hatefully glare at Ventus. It doesn’t matter. Tempest can’t hear them anyways.

Lightning, there is no lightning here.

Water, there is a river 600 km away from here.

First sense the speed and flow of the wind. Ventus coached Tempest from the sideline.

“Easier said than done.” The little girl grumbled but still did as she was told, fusing her senses with Ventus.

Failure.

Failure.

Failure.

Glares were tossed her way by her companion.

Tempest sensed them but chose to ignore it.

Sadly, the anger from her companions, wait are they companions or are they compatriots? What the differences?

Focus!

Tempest gave up the exercise. Despite wanting the ability to sense all the dangers around her, now isn’t time to practise, or so she justified to herself. Really, it wasn’t the time.

Actually Tempest can easily fuse her senses with the spirits if she put her mind to it. She had done it before back on Earth though it was not a complete fusion since the powers of the spirits are weak on Earth.

“Forget it. I’ll learn how to fight before I learn how to use the sense of the spirit. I’ll focus on one thing at a time.”

Six level 2 magical beast within a 200-meter radius, three in front of you, two towards your right and one behind you.

Tempest silently gathered her mana, compressing it and focusing it on the ends of her finger tips.

Tempest is not at the stage where she can cast spells without a spell circle, however having lived with the spirits for all of her life, Tempest learned how to manipulate and control mana to a profound degree, making her more skilled than the average red mage in the Magus Alliance. She found a way to increase the strength of her attack despite her small mana pool, by compressing the mana into a single point and storing it at the edge of her body. When it is time, Tempest unleash the spells.

The benefits to her mastery are the ability to attack faster than the average mage. There are drawbacks. Since Tempest has to hold the compress mana within her body, it makes it harder for her to focus on her surroundings, hence her dazed appearance.

Tempest had to admit, the talkative Tilda did have some amazing skills. While she was focus on holding her mana in her body, Tilda came up to her for a chat.

“Amber set up is quite good right? The vanguard in the front, range in the back. This grouping allows for the most damage done in the shortest amount of time. I am glad she put us casters together. I won’t brag, but it takes me 6 seconds to cast a spell. The longest I’ve ever cast back to back is 74 spells. Mind you, my spells aren’t lethal to the level 2 magical beast, but it can easily kill a level 2 magical beast. After I finish casting my spells, I have enough energy to fight. One time I took down a level 2 Earthen Bear with just my sword and wits.”

Not to brag, my hinny!

People say, ‘not to brag’ is obviously bragging. This one should put a check on her ego.

Tempest found Tilda’s caretaker apologizing to one of the mercenaries. She sent Wiminia the hurry-and-get-your-friend-away-from-me look.

Wiminia understood Tempest’s message immediately, having been a recipient of the look all of her life, yet she made no move to remove the irritating barnacle.

Tempest wanted to avoid problems with the mercenaries. She isn’t afraid of trouble, but the same reason why she abandons her studies on fusing her senses with her spirits applies to messing with the cannon fodders. Now isn’t the time. Therefore she affected her dazed look she is becoming very fond of while surreptitiously shooting pointed looks towards Wiminia.

Tilda is oblivious to the trouble her presence caused. She continued to provoked Tempest ire blabbering about Jean disrupting the group unity while showing righteous indignation for Amber.

Tempest thought Tilda is a hypocrite and doesn't want to associate with an easily-jump-on-the-bandwagon-sheep like Tilda.

Amber fell while Jean was in the vicinity. Both were crying. That’s it.

What bullying? What arrogant? None one saw Jean pushing Amber, only the result, Amber on the ground crying while Jean saw standing above her. Jean and Amber both said nothing concerning the matter.

Stupid.

Really gullible.

Tempest truly despise these weak willed women who believe everything they were told. She wanted nothing to do with them. The newly acknowledge red mage would have left the group if she could have soloed the Sundered Lion although she now questions the need to go on this venture. She got some money selling her charms. It should be enough to get into the Magus Alliance. If she runs out of money, she can make more.

You need the experience. Ventus spoke as if she senses Tempest’s thought.

Tempest sigh. She truly did need the experience. This is going to be a long journey.