CHAPTER 231: FIRST DAY OF POWER-LEVELING (5)

The city echoed with the death throes of another Stormscale Skitterlord. Reidar’s skeletal warriors tore through the creature’s lightning-infused scales as his Spectral Mages rained destruction from above.

The Stormscale Skitterlords crashed down in succession, their massive bodies hitting the fractured asphalt with earthshaking impacts.

Lightning crackled around their dying bodies.

The last one to fall twitched, its tail spasmed before finally going still, leaving only the scent of blood and the tang of uncontained bowels behind.

"That’s the last one," Matthias said, wiping sweat from his brow. The exhaustion that would have crippled him weeks ago now wasn’t even there.

Reidar dismissed his summoned creatures. The spectral forms dissolved into mist, leaving only the corpses of their enemies scattered across the battlefield. He checked his interface and allowed himself a small smile.

[Level Up! You are now Level 262.]

[You have gained 0.5 attribute points to distribute.]

Two levels in one day. Of course, Reidar could do much more, but since he needed to power level the others, he chose to go slow and focus on them rather than on himself. But that wasn’t going to go on forever.

The progress satisfied him, though the gap between level increases continued to widen. The higher he climbed, the more C.L.A.S.P. points each next level required. Still, level 262 put him in a comfortable position.

Around him, the others celebrated their gains.

"Level 130!" Seraphine said.

John’s hands shook as he stared at his status screen. "Level 94. God, I never thought I’d see it."

Matthias clapped the younger man on the shoulder. "You earned it. That shield work during the last fight kept those lightning bolts off the rest of us."

Matthias’ own advancement to level 118 was the most remarkable of them all. His presence on the battlefield was difficult to describe. His skills were powerful, even if they were mundane ones, and that was because the more Matthias attacked with his blade, the more mana he got.

It was a trait that worked like Arcane Leech, but on a completely different scale, a scale that allowed him to power up his skills with so much mana that even he at level 118 could almost kill the monsters at 160.

"Another successful hunt," Seraphine said. "At this rate, we’ll be strong enough to challenge the War Hounds within the week."

Reidar nodded. The Spriggans’ average level had increased dramatically. They were still helpless against the monsters that roamed the city, but Reidar doubted they would be against other factions. If things went bad here in Creamont, they could simply leave for places where monsters were weaker.

He dismissed his summons, feeling the mana flow return to him through his Mana Siphon perk. The surrounding corpses smoldered and sparked. The air reeked of burnt flesh and ozone.

Matthias joined them, his face flushed with exertion but smiling. "I never thought I’d see levels come this fast... Reidar, I think I can do it. I think I can save your mother if we keep going like this."

Warmth spread through Reidar’s chest. "That’s good, Dad. That’s really good."

Kara joined in their enthusiasm. "102!" The archer had proven herself useful in tactical planning, even more than Seraphine did on several occasions. Her suggestions about their positioning had saved quite a few of their members from instant death.

Reidar couldn’t be everywhere at once. More often than not, the noise of battle drew in nearby monsters, forcing him to deal with unexpected reinforcements while protecting the others.

They spent the next several minutes harvesting what they could from the corpses. The loot would fetch good prices back at the settlement or serve as crafting materials for future upgrades.

"We should move," Reidar said. "The noise might attract a creature that I can’t handle. I need you to hide so that I can have time to assess the threat before you engage."

The group prepared to leave. They had carved out a profitable farming route through this section of the city, but Reidar knew better than to grow complacent. The same paths that brought them to monsters could bring monsters to them, and not only those Reidar could handle.

They were about to leave when Seraphine stopped.

Her hand went up in a closed fist. The group froze. Reidar moved to her side.

"Voices," she said. "Coming from the street in front of us. There are multiple people."

Reidar listened. At first, he heard nothing but the wind whistling through shattered concrete. Then, faint but growing clearer, came the sound of footsteps and conversation.

Seraphine’s head snapped toward the noise. Her hand moved to her bow. "Everyone hide. Now."

The Spriggans scattered. Matthias pulled John behind a cluster of broken boulders. Kara ducked into a crevice between two rock formations.

Seraphine and Reidar found cover behind an outcropping that overlooked their former battlefield. The position gave them clear sight lines while keeping them hidden.

Within seconds, they’d disappeared into the rubble and ruined buildings, leaving no trace of their presence.

The voices grew louder. Footsteps crunched over debris.

The newcomers emerged from a side street moments later.

A group of survivors emerged into the clearing. Ten of them. Maybe twelve. They wore matching armor, black leather reinforced with metal plates, and each carried weapons that gleamed with obvious enchantments and filled sockets. A dog’s head insignia marked their chest pieces.

War Hounds.

Seraphine’s breath caught. Her eyes widened as she focused on the tags floating above the War Hounds’ heads.

—[Bjorn Shaw—Level 140]—

—[Stig Croft—Level 127]—

—[Freja Briggs—Level 114]—

This can’t be right. No, it can’t be.

Seraphine’s hands trembled. Three days ago, the War Hounds had been in the low 70s. Maybe 80 at best. The strongest among them had barely reached 115.

What Reidar assumed turned out to be true.

Someone had done this for the War Hounds. Someone had given them the same advantage, and that gave Reidar more reason to think that the Church of Unbinding was actually helping the War Hounds.