Chapter 47: On The Ground, A Planet and Star

“What’s that!”

There was already panic throughout the city when the crack in the sky covering a 1/8th of the city emerged. Those who chose to watch the crack could only really see the surface of a burning moon and the occasional flashes of bright light.

Then without seemingly any warning the moon cracked, shattered and exploded. Large pieces of the moon floated and to the onlookers it looked more like an asteroid belt.

Nina softly lamented, “That’s probably not good for someone.” 

As reinforcements and security started to arrive all over the city, the civilians weren’t the only ones panicking. The Dominous Hood members also were. Some reactively tried to use their broken communication to contact their base but of course, that didn’t work.

What’s happening?

Tyell couldn’t really tell what was going on.

In a moment an explosion on the other side of the crack happened and everything changed again. People were yelling, certain Dominous Hood individuals said some mumbo jumbo which caused a bunch of other members to retreat somewhere and disappear all within the blink of an eye–including the one whose attack he just blocked.

But the weirdest part was he could see it all happened in what felt like super slow-mo.

Then the unknown voice spoke again. 

 (“ I’ve slowed down your perception of time ”)

It faded between masculine and feminine, low and high pitch. 

He had no idea what this voice was or where it came from. His thoughts were jumbled, but the worry for his family and concern for everything else just left for a moment and he calmed down briefly to focus only on the present.

…Is that bad for me?

 (“ Yes, trust me, you are going to have a massive headache tomorrow ”)

Espoiramissa replied back.

Why… are you doing this? It was a simple and frightening question to ask. From everything that Tyell has ever learnt, suddenly hearing a strange voice in your head was never a good sign.

(“ Saving your life and judging the situation ”)

Tyell couldn’t reply and for what felt like an eternity within a moment he only waited.

(“ Tyell Stella, I’m going to do you a small favour ”)

Espoiramissa spoke again.

Tyell’s mind continued to shake, …W..ha..t 

The longer he spoke to this entity the less safe he felt. 

(“ I’m going to give you a slight power-up, the cost will be nothing. You just have to agree ”)

Tyell didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He mentally bit his lips and replied firmly. Yes.

An energy filled his body and he could feel a change in his Soul Page and Vocation.

Name: Tyell Stella | Race: [Human]

Level 50 | Awakened

Mana: 50%

Vocation: [Light Highway Runner]

Skills:

- Pockettory

- Quick Step

- Crisis Location Alert

- Retain Stamina

- Quiet Step

- Quick Hide

- I Belong Here

- Pain Reduction

- Hit & Run

- My Highway

- Run Light

He didn’t know what to make of it, but the most obvious thing was the changes in his Level and Mana. His mana was now only half and his level was lower.

I thought it wouldn’t cost–

(“ It didn't, in layman's terms, I just had to rearrange some wires. Your strength and mana are still the same as your level 64 self. Also, I mentioned earlier that you will have a headache, but now you are most likely to pass out for a while as well. Don’t worry, you will still feel the pain of the headache the entire time. So once this is over and done, find a good place to sleep ”)

Before he had a chance to go over all the changes. Prisms of light flew towards the sky and explosions happened all around the area.

Tyell’s perception of time returned to normal and he felt a little dizzy, but before he could regain his bearings inside the bubble, the voice spoke one more time.

(“ Now Tyell Stella, I would recommend getting your mother, sister and your friend Lila Globe Rewolf out here quickly ”)

Nina had continued launching her light constructs, but her offensive assault seemed limited to everyone who was watching.

As her next volley of offensive prisms fired, some flew ever so close to numerous Hood members. Nina then uttered something under her breath and her staff shone an ominous white.

The prisms of light turned black pausing in the air for a moment, seemingly about to fade away and vanish. However, they caved in on themselves and within a millisecond exploded.

Shatter! 

Thousands of pieces shot in every direction punching through the armour of the Hood members. Importantly the prism that exploded next to Lila’s leader broke through her armour and caused a massive injury to her side.

She hovered to the ground, blood dripping to the side that burned away the moment it touched the grass.

The counterattack didn’t turn the tide of combat completely in Nina’s favour though.

The ground beneath Nina and Tella turned black as well and started to rumble as if it was about to explode. Nina pulled an item out from her dress but nothing happened when she tried to activate it, trying to move was also hard as her legs felt frozen in place by some skill.

“Can you move?” She asked Tella.

The extremely pale Tella shook her head, unable to speak.

“Okay, I will at least protect you.”

Nina tapped her staff on the ground and layers of light began to exclusively cover Tella.

As she cast her skills, the pedant around Tella’s neck flashed briefly, and Nina felt a non-hostile force somehow pass through the barrier.

A Tyell covered in a yellow light had run through the barrier and Tyell reached out his hands.

Tyell used his two new skills [My Highway], [Run Light]. However, even with them, he felt as if he shouldn't have been able to pass through the barrier but somehow he did…

He grabbed both women's arms and jumped out of the hostile terrain with them–his skill carried them along without harm. Moments before he stopped safely outside that attack’s radius, Nina already created another barrier around them.

Nina tapped Tyell’s hand, causing him to let go, “Thank you, child, you saved me from having to heal myself later and more importantly stop me from being cursed by that unknown skill.”

The area where they were standing exploded into a gaseous cloud of black fire and golden smoke. While not knowing what exactly the skill was, Nina knew it was going to place some nasty negative effects on her if she couldn’t defend herself from its full effects. Even so, she needed to ensure Tella was safe first.

Nina was thankful, but she added, “Now please take your mother and leave. I don't want to see either of you hurt.”

Tyell nodded and ran with Tella in his arms using his skills again.

Lila could only watch as everything unfolded. Afraid she would get in the way, afraid she would distract Nina who was trying to defend herself and Tella, afraid she would make a mistake that would cause her to be unable to look into her aunt's eyes again.

Then if the situation couldn’t get worse, an injured Hood member appeared behind Mella. Lila recognised her, she was one of the other team leaders and she was currently evaluating Mella. Their armour was grazed by some attack and the other side had specks of the light prism lodged in the armour.

I need to get her out of here!

“[Momentary Connection] You have enough of a connection. [Casualty Rupture].”

The leader's hand glowed an ominous smokey gold and black as she quickly reached out to touch the small defenceless girl on the ground.

“Get back!” Mella stumbled back as fire appeared over her body instinctively trying to shield her.

Lila could feel the danger of the skill, every one of her senses was screaming at her to not get near it.

No! [Accelerated] [Jump] [Lightning Leap]! 

She used three movement skills all at once, even though she knew her body couldn’t handle that amount.

Within a moment Lila grabbed Mella, cast another skill, and kept moving.

[Pocket Lightning]-[Lightning Wall]!

Pulling out a lightning shield from her storage to block the skill and unbeknownst to her, Mella’s glove glowed and added another layer of shielding. In the moment the two forces collided a small burst of mana erupted.

Lila and Mella were now a couple of alleyways away and Lila’s legs gave out from the stress of the skills and she let go of Mella.

As Lila was about to breathe a sigh of relief. 

“What are you doing?!” Yelled the women behind Lila. Lila’s armour protected her identity but also made it obvious she was working for Dominous Hood, which gave the leader a fully justified reason for their annoyance at the insolence at Lila’s actions but also gave Lila a brief opportunity. 

“I…” She stood up, acting apologetic.

Then she turned around and punched.

[Empty Pockets] [Lightning Strike] [Concentrate Lightning]!

Lila made use of her [Lightning Hand] Vocations special skills using the moment given to her by the team's leader's hesitation to attack.

[Empty Pockets] Released every lightning construct and spell that Lila had currently stored, [Lightning Strike] was an attack that she poured all her additional mana into and [Concentrate Lightning] merged the skill and all of the constructs into one attack.

Lightning sprung forth off Lila’s arm destroying the armour covering as an after-effect, a beam of lightning exploded through the chest of the team leader tearing them from the inside out.

The light show ended quickly and Lila could no longer feel her right arm and the corpse fell to the ground before it quickly burned away into dust.

I.. actually killed her…

Shocked that she managed to pull that off and completely exhausted she fell to the ground. She then heard the footsteps of Tyell running towards them.

“Mella!”

With the Stella family mostly reunited the main trouble was now elsewhere.

Nina reflected another blast away.

“Nina! Let’s make a deal!” The female leader grabbed her injured side and jumped up into the air. 

Nina spun around, “Oh deary me, what kind of deal lassy?”

“Give us your staff, and we will let this city go.” 

Nina sternly asked, “That’s not really up to you isn’t it?”

“No, but.” Lila’s leader opened her hand and a small black dot flew which rapidly grew into the size of a large sports ball. “This has enough power to take out over half the city if not more with ease,” The Hood seriously asked, “Do you want to risk it?”

Lila and Tyell could feel a sudden suffocating pressure being released from the orb. Mella was unaffected by it but Tella fell to the ground coughing.

“Well, if that is how you want to play it.” Nina’s eyes darkened, and she stamped the bottom of her staff on the ground.