Chapter Thirty-Four

While Ione scouted they stood in formation ready for an ambush, but after ten minutes, nothing came.

The Chrotile appeared at ease, focusing on healing, but Elysia frowned in suspicion. Ione shouldn’t be taking this long. She could probably lap a dungeon like this in a minute or two. There was no way she didn’t find the creatures of this dungeon.

Even if the dungeon was several times the size of the others, which she doubted. They all appeared around the same size well, other than the bird dungeon. Were there more birds? There were a ton of dungeons, so it wouldn’t be unusual for some overlap, though the environment looked nothing like that dungeon.

Elysia prodded her bond to find Ione zipping around the dungeon at dizzying speeds. Joy radiated through their bond, confirming her suspicions. Not wanting to disturb her bond’s fun, Elysia just shook her head and sat down, knowing Ione would contact her if she needed help.

Her team jerked to attention at her movement, causing Elysia to form the all clear hand sign one of the few she knew. Confusion reigned but after a scan by Thaux who flashed several fast hand signs Elysia didn’t know, they relaxed and joined her on the ground.

Whatever Thaux saw must have confirmed her thoughts. This dungeon was nothing more than an Ione playground. Still, despite the seemingly safe situation, Elysia pulled up her status with some hesitance, unsure if she wanted to wait to spend some attribute points in case Ione needed help.

Status:

Name: Elysia Arashi

Race: Level 42 Nascent Lightning Elemental.

Class: Level 42 Path of Lightning.

Charge: 8570/9043.

Attributes:

Available Points: 238

Strength: 42

Dexterity: T2-1

Endurance: 42

Intelligence: T2-1

Perception: T2-1

Proficiencies:

Novice Spear Level 8.

Novice Throwing Knives Level 5.

Affinities:

Tier 2 Level 6 (11) Lightning

Resistances:

Death Resistance Level 1

Water Resistance Level 1.

Poison Resistance Level 2.

Mental Resistance Level 5.

Bonus

+70% (100%) Damage with Lightning.

+10% Damage to undead.

+10% Damage to Arthropod.

+15% Damage to Ladybugs.

Skills

Electrify Level 1.

Electrify Self Level 1.

Lightning Bolt Level 1.

Chain Lightning Level 5.

Smite Level 1.

A Moment In Time (incomplete)

Bonds

Sereia.

Umbra.

Ione.

She supposed it wouldn’t hurt to test what a single point in an attribute would do. She dumped more than that while soloing in a dungeon before. Worst case, her team would need to support her for a minute, though she doubted it would even take that long to recover.

Her head swayed back and forth as she stared at her status, trying to decide which attribute to raise first before shrugging her shoulders and adding one attribute point to both.

Her muscles cramped up for a moment before loosening as her core fluttered, but nothing else happened. Curious if the same would happen again, she spent another point in each, resulting in the same outcome. Maybe she should spend a single attribute point at time. Kind of tedious, but if she avoided the backlash, it would be worth it.

Just in case, she waited a couple seconds before spending another point in each, raising them to 45. When nothing different happened, she became emboldened. In rapid succession she spent five points in each attribute, only pausing for a core pulsed.

At 50, her muscles locked up a bit tighter than before and her core stalled for several seconds, but everything was back to normal before she knew it. Still, the increased effects caused her to hesitate in spending more attribute points.

A prodding of her bond with Ione earned herself a dose of joy, though there was a tinge of frustration. Curious, Elysia sent her an image message asking what was going on.

After a short delay she received several rapid-fire images of Ione dashing around the woods, occasionally pouncing on a panicking two legged lizard about the same size as her.

A giggle escaped Elysia as she saw the source of frustration. Ione’s all you could hunt buffet seemed to be thinning. She probably should have slowed down and savored the hunt. Cats weren’t known for their impulse control though. She probably saw a fun hunt and went ham. Seeing the size of those poor lizards, she could see why Ione took the initiative.

They seemed to be spread out so her chain lightning would be useless and they were far too small for smite. She supposed she could use her basic lighting attack, but that would mean she would need to hunt down each lizard. This dungeon was much better suited for Ione. It would’ve taken forever if she stayed with the team.

That left the primary danger being the open portal. Should they relocate deeper into the dungeon? With Ione hunting, she doubted anything would reach them. If anything, by the time they moved, Ione would probably have conquered the dungeon.

She didn’t want to risk a team sneaking up on them when she incapacitated herself with an attribute point spending spree. Even if she rapid fired single attribute point spending, she had no doubt there was going to be some backlash even if it was minor like when she reached 50.

Not wanting to bother figuring out how to mime what she wanted, she broke the silence. “Let’s move deeper into the dungeon. Ione has the dungeon well in hand. I don’t want to risk someone sneaking up on us through the open portal.”

Thauzo and Thres glanced at Thaux for confirmation, which he provided with a nod after a slight delay. “Agreed. We are almost ready, but a little longer couldn’t hurt.”

Before moving, Elysia sent another message to Ione asking for the best place to set up camp. A rapid-fire sequence of images with an arrow pointing to their left before stopping at a clearing at the edge of the dungeon greeted her.

After sending her thanks to her bond, who was radiating impatience to get back to her hunt, Elysia stood and waved for the Chrotile to follow her. Since there was no point in staying in formation, she led the way, smiling when she sensed Ione circling around their position, picking off anything that came near them.

They soon found themselves in the clearing, which was on a hill giving them a perfect vantage point in case something came and the invisible dungeon barrier on two sides indicating they were in a corner. Elysia disregarded the unusual square area when most of the other dungeons on the island appeared to be circular in favor of sitting down and leaning against a tree. The Chrotile joined her, though a couple meters away bunched together.

Should they stay the night here? It seemed perfect for a camp, but she didn’t feel tired. Did she even need to sleep anymore? She took several naps before Mezo, but that was more mental exhaustion than physical. Naps were nice, but she’d rather maximize her time in Mezo, especially if she had to leave early to meet up with Sereia.

Though if she spent all her attribute points she might have different thoughts. If only attribute point spending didn’t have side effects. It would be so nice just to dump them all in her desired attributes then be on her way. Though she shouldn’t be greedy, just a single attribute point in strength was probably comparable to a week at the gym.

Time passed as Elysia dumped a single attribute point at a time. Each successive point ratcheted up the side effects but even after reaching 75 in both it was far less potent than dumping ten plus at a time. Though no sudden jump in her body’s capabilities happened either. Probably the reason the side effects here lessoned. Even if she only gave her body a few seconds between each point it was better than a sudden jump.

However at ninety her core pulsed almost painfully in time with the radiating soreness throughout her body. Determined to take advantage of the down time though she pushed further. When she reached 99 in both her body spasmed painfully. Her core thundered in her chest feeling as if it would explode. Despite her desires she knew she needed to give her body a break so she let herself slump against the tree while taking deep unneeded breaths to try to calm her core.

Fortunately the worst of the effects soon passed but the soreness persisted as if warning her not to put that last point in until her body recovered.

She prodded her connection to Ione to get an update. Her fluffy murder cat was still out in the forest somewhere, probably hunting. Though she was going much slower than before. Maybe stalking the last few creatures.

With no energy she remained laying against the tree unsure what to do. Should she try to improve her lightning control? More control meant more power and efficiency, which was always a plus, but she doubted her body would take kindly to stressing it like that. Last time she tried, she knocked herself out after all.

If only she still had a smart phone to poke at but if the massive turtle couldn’t reach them telepathically, she doubted a phone signal would. If phone signals were still a thing. Local networks were probably active near cities. Maybe larger cities found a way to connect to one another, too.

If only the humans weren’t hunting her. If Urus couldn’t contact, how did that radio work in Port Alberni? System fuckery, probably. Some person probably got a class related to electronics and found a workaround for the interference.

Left with nothing to do Elysia closed her eyes and took a nap trusting Ione would keep her safe.

An unknown time later, her eyes fluttered open, feeling refreshed. She jumped to her feet, lithe muscles flexing just under the surface. Her core pulsed with powerful beats pumping lightning infused blood through her body.

An urge for activity spurred her on, only to pause just before stepping on a pile of sleeping Chrotile. They curled up together in a tangle of limbs as if they were a nest of snakes.

Lucid thought returned as she surveyed the clearing with worry. Wasn’t it dangerous to sleep without a lookout? Sure there was Ione, but she couldn’t communicate with them. They must have been exhausted. It wasn’t like she was innocent. She took a nap, too.

Curious where her bond was hiding, she prodded their bond, directing her gaze upward. In the largest tree, at the southern edge of the clearing as the ground slopped down, was a lioness sized feline sprawled out on a large branch. Her long tipped tail lazily swayed off the branch as she stared down at Elysia with supreme focus contrasting her body’s demeanor.

Pride blossomed at her former kitten’s growth, which Ione reciprocated with a deep and powerful purr. She stood on the branch, stretching her long body, violet lightning sparking off her silvery fur before dropping the dozen meter distance to the ground with the grace only a feline could attain. Without missing a step, she strode toward Elysia with smooth strides and rubbed against Elysia, now reaching her waist.

Any bigger and she might be able to ride her. She doubted Ione would let her. If she was a proud feline like her, she wouldn’t want anyone to ride her.

As if sensing her thoughts, Ione dropped to the ground while looking up at Elysia expectantly. Elysia froze. “Are you sure? Maybe you should grow a bit bigger first.”

Ione hissed in irritation as she glared up at Elysia, practically ordering her to get on.

Still unsure, Elysia eyed Ione’s back, but she relented under her bonds gaze. She wasn’t heavy, so she doubted she would hurt her. How could she hurt her by riding her when Ione could take down raptors with ease even before her latest growth spurt?

While trying to be as gentle as she could, she sat on Ione’s back but soon found a problem. She had nowhere to grab, but that soon turned out to be needless as Ione raised herself, easily handling Elysia’s weight. She shifted a bit, balancing Elysia perfectly before trotting around the clearing.

Somehow, despite having nowhere to grab and no saddle, Elysia stayed perched on Ione’s back without effort, though her feet were nearly touching the ground, proving Ione needed to grow a bit more before riding her would be practical.

Agreeing with the assessment, Ione sent images of leaving and going on hunts to grow, but Elysia shook her head, wanting to at least wait until the Chrotile woke up.

She hoped they were healed by then. With Ione’s growth and her levels, she found fewer reasons to stay with the group. Any bigger and Ione could even function as a tank. She probably already weighed nearly as much as Thauzo, but she didn’t want to risk Ione like that until she was absolutely sure she could handle it. Still, if they could travel even a quarter of the speed Ione could achieve while riding her, they could escape nearly anything.

For now, she would focus on spending as many attribute points as she could before splitting up. It would probably be safer for the Chrotile if she left them, now that the Changed invaded. She had no doubt they would target her if they found her and they would be caught in the middle.

First order of business is to reach 100 in strength and endurance, then split the remainder in her primary attributes. Sure, she was Level 42 on her status, but without spending the attribute points, she wasn’t really that high.

Elysia sent praise to Ione while trying to communicate her plans with images, which seemed to work as Ione lowered herself, allowing Elysia easy dismount before laying the rest of the way down to provide a perfect backrest.

With a smile, Elysia obliged then spent an attribute point in strength raising it to 100.