262. Warped Time

The former Centinel’s Lair was a rather enclosed space— a circular room with a pit at the center. It only had one entrance, and it was a reclused entrance. Before I had fallen unconscious due to my Class advancement, I made sure that there were no Centinels nearby with [Planar Navigation].

Now, though, there was one ready to pounce at me.

[Evolved Centinel - Lvl. 113]

The [Evolved Centinel] soared through the air, closing its spiky legs at me like it was a claw. I flipped over the attack as my wings took form. It tried to give chase, but I flew up to the top of the cave chamber and avoided its attack.

It wasn’t even that high-leveled, compared to me. And it couldn’t keep up with my speed, not unlike its companions. The most annoying thing about it was how high it could jump. I dipped low as the [Evolved Centinel] flung itself at me once again.

“So, which of my new secondary Skills should I test out on you first?”

I tried to be courteous and let it choose, but the [Evolved Centinel] only screeched as it landed on the ceiling.

“Well, for starters, I guess I’ll try out one of my changed Skills.”

The [Evolved Centinel] came crashing down again, and I weaved around it. I twirled to face it right as its feet touched the bottom of the pit. Raising a finger, I tested out the first Skill.

“[Warped Time].”

I watched as the area around the [Evolved Centinel] grew slightly distorted. Just like [Temporal Distortion], time moved at a different speed within a certain space. However, it was shaped more like a bubble now rather than a box. Not only that, I felt like I could make things move slower and faster than what [Temporal Distortion].

“Is that it, though?”

I cocked my head. Surely that couldn’t be the only difference, right?

And it wasn’t.

The [Evolved Centinel] curled its body up as it prepared to jump at me once again. I could see it moving at a much slower pace until it finally escaped the bubble. Instinctively, I knew to move the [Warped Time] to follow it.

I stared as the bubble followed the [Evolved Centinel] up as it barreled through the air towards me. It tracked its movements, slowing it so that I could dodge it with even more ease than before. I blinked.

“Huh. So, I can move it around.”

I narrowed my eyes, moving the [Warped Time] towards me and away from the [Evolved Centinel]. Suddenly, the [Evolved Centinel] picked up the pace to leap at me. Before it could reach me, I immersed myself in the [Warped Time]. I made it so that time moved faster inside the bubble than outside, before gently flapping my wings to move back. The [Warped Time] followed me as I saw everything beyond move at a slower speed than before.

“This is… a pretty good upgrade.”

I could even change the size of the bubble, although I saw no need to do that right now. I dismissed the Skill as the [Evolved Centinel] landed right next to me. Its claw-like legs snapped at me, and I backed up.

“You’re pretty violent. I wonder how I am going to have to deal with you. Let’s see, maybe I can— [Scattering Displacement]!”

I focused on the [Evolved Centinel], hoping that the Skill would somehow teleport it into the air or something of the like. But it didn’t affect the monster. Of course not.

Instead, it sent the pebbles and boulders lying on the ground behind the [Evolved Centinel] flinging to the air. I scowled.

“Seriously? Is that it?

Then I paused when I noticed that the rocks continued to float about. They hovered slowly, bouncing around the walls like they were in the ocean. [Planar Navigation] alerted me to the way space bent around the objects— and how their threads all connected to me.

I felt my fingers twitch, and I realized what I could do.

The [Evolved Centinel] charged at me once more, but I flicked a finger. One of the floating stones shot down with incredible speed. It struck the back of the [Evolved Centinel], knocking it down briefly as I grinned.

“Hey. Want to play a game?”

It screeched and got back up. I backed away from it as I began flicking my finger at it.

“Try to dodge the rocks— it’s not going to be easy, though! Rocks are annoying and everywhere in this place!”

I spoke simply as one by one, the floating rocks launched at the [Evolved Centinel]. It was like a hail of rapid-moving projectiles— something that even I’d struggle keeping away from. And they were of all different sizes, some of them larger than even me, while others were as small as a pebble on my fingertips. They came at the [Evolved Centinel] from all directions, battering it before it could reach me.

I was pretty sure that if I tossed a rock at the same speed as they were being propelled, it wouldn’t be as painful as with [Scattering Displacement]. The space magic gripping the rocks definitely enhanced their ability to inflict damage.

They darted down and discombobulated the [Evolved Centinel] each time it tried to draw closer towards me. I smiled, watching the monster snarl at the floating rocks. It spun around to smash another group of rocks as they winded down towards it, and I yanked them back. I made the rocks avoid the whipping legs of the [Evolved Centinel] before crashing them at its back.

“This is fun, isn’t it? Well, at least for me. I don’t know how much fun it is for you.”

I closed my fingers into my palm and all the floating rocks slammed into the carapace of the [Evolved Centinel]. That actually seemed to hurt it— although, not by a lot. But still, it was hurt by a Skill that was from a Class about 50 levels below it.

Although, since I hurt the [Evolved Centinel], it was now annoyed too. It exploded into the air far faster than it moved before. I watched as it bounced from the floor to the ceiling in mere moments— some kind of Skill that greatly enhanced its speed.

It shot out at me before I could react. The Breastplate of Alexander flashed, protecting me from the attack as I stood my ground. I glared at it.

“Alright, if you want to play rough, I have a few other Skills I’d like to test out.”

I tapped a finger on my chin as the [Evolved Centinel] bounced back, readying for another strike.

“What about… [Mass Particulate Modification]?”

It was a Skill I had gained, but hadn’t added to my Skill Slots. I had three new secondary Skills— [Cube of Isolation], [Dimensional Pocket], and [Mass Particulate Modification]— but only two Skill Slots. I decided that the first one I’d use would be the last in that list.

[Mass Particulate Modification]. I activated the Skill and pointed at the [Evolved Centinel].

“Take this!”

I yelled.

…

Nothing happened.

The [Evolved Centinel] nearly crashed into me, but a quick Flame Burst with a [Haste] helped me evade it entirely.

I scowled and tried to use the Skill again.

“Why isn’t it working?”

The [Evolved Centinel] moved even faster now— it blurred and appeared next to me, leaving behind a kind of after-image. I blinked as the Breastplate of Alexander flashed once again. I actually stumbled this time.

“Ugh, you’re being annoying!”

I swiped my claws at it, but the [Evolved Centinel] leapt back out of the way. I frowned when I missed.

“You’re not cooperating! I’m supposed to be testing out my Skills on you! Instead, you’re trying to wear down my Breastplate of Alexander!”

It ricocheted off the walls and struck me once more. I scowled and grabbed it by its legs before it could run away.

“Stop it!”

Black flames wreathed my claws as [Radiant Slash] illuminated the dark cavern. I lashed back at the [Evolved Centinel], expecting it to finish the job. And the attack did do significantly more damage than [Scattering Displacement] did. It even tore off a few legs and smashed open the carapace of the [Evolved Centinel]!

However, it didn’t kill it. I blinked as the [Evolved Centinel] managed to pull itself away from me and limply leap away. It was still alive. It was ready to assail me once more.

“Why are you…?”

And I realized I’d made a mistake— I was taking the [Evolved Centinel] too lightly. I forgot that it was a creature close to me in levels. Not only that, but it was somehow different— maybe stronger— than a regular Centinel.

I pursed my lips, feeling a bit annoyed at myself for underestimating it. I shook my head as I stepped forward and created a Nebular Scythe.

“Fine. If you don’t want to help me test out my Skills, then I’ll have to ask you to leave me alone.”

The [Evolved Centinel] didn’t budge. It eyed me with beady eyes, studying my movements.

“You’re not going to leave me alone?”

I cocked my head, and it answered by snapping at me with its burly mandibles. I parried the attack with my Nebular Scythe as blue flames flared around me. It burned at the Centinel’s broken carapace. At the same time, my other Skills activated.

“Then, die!”

I scorched the back of the [Evolved Centinel] and sliced its remaining carapace open with my Nebular Scythe. It fought back, of course. It continued bouncing around as I gave chase to it. But it couldn’t keep it up forever— its armor wouldn’t hold.

When the last of its carapace had been pried off, I tore into its body with [Barrage of Cinders]. I grabbed its head and ripped it right off, finishing it off with a satisfied smile.

Defeated [Evolved Spindly Centinel – Lvl. 113]!

Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!

Class [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus] Level Up!

[Grand Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 65] -> [Grand Mystic of the Nexeus - Lvl. 66]

Gained 2 Secondary Skill Points!

The notifications resounded in my head as the battle came to a close. I tossed the [Evolved Centinel]s head aside, sighing.

“It didn’t even give me a level up for my Subspecies. What an annoying thing.”

Oh, well. Now that it was dealt with, I finally could test out my remaining secondary Skills. [Cube of Isolation], [Dimensional Pocket], and [Mass Particulate Modification].

“She didn’t become a [Diabolus’ Neophyte].”

Sal didn’t know how he felt about the decision Salvos made. On one hand, he thought it was foolish— rejecting a powerful Class over such a petty reason? Ridiculous. Utterly ridiculous.

But on the other hand, he found it very much amusing.

Honestly though, while there were the occasional moments where Sal found himself being entertained in between watching the antics of Salvos and the rebellion of Belzu, he couldn’t help but find himself growing bored from time to time.

“Something needs to happen to make things more exciting.”

He yawned as on one screen, Salvos began figuring out how [Mass Particulate Modification] worked, and on another screen, Belzu carefully inspected the Sword of Alexander to ascertain all its secrets. Then an idea crossed Sal’s mind.

“A wager.”

He clapped his hands together as a playful smile crept over his face.

“Yes, that would certainly make this more exciting.”

Hopping back onto his feet, a portal opened up before the Devil. He had a few people in mind who he could approach for this wager. The question was— would they be happy to see him?

The answer was quite obvious.

No. No, they would not be happy to see him.