I think this may be the first time I've seen an orange hue get tossed into the mix. Actually, after checking, it's just the color of Vigorflame, duh! Phoenix's are some of my favorite mythological creatures, I dig the theme and they are almost always appropriately powerful as well.
Our own chosen hero, is he being likened to a phoenix, and this influx of power is his 'rebirth'? Or is his spirit one that has been reborn, and he'll begin to regain memories as his power 'returns' in the same sort of manner that Hunger received power from Once and Future?
Alternatively it could be more subtle, memories and attitudes towards places and events that spring up from seemingly nowhere. His own personality slowly either blended with, or overwritten by who he once was. Or perhaps by another force altogether. Perhaps the consciousness of the VR has been in hibernation so to speak waiting for an appropriate vessel, and now that one has been revealed, it's going to begin to influence the chosen one. So many possibilities, so little screen time, but that's alright! The meat of this one is dedicated to Mr. Vigor himself.
First though, plot!
The net of stars drew forth a being of whirling runes, sigils traced in translucent fire that writhed and spun around a disk of blazing gold. Into his mind it transmitted a facsimile of the information he sought, a recent scene from the Lord Protector's mind, and he felt a great exhaustion fall over him, cost and consequence of carrying his thoughts alongside as it pierced the veil of Augustine's protections.
Ah, continuing from this image is nice. I feel right at home in our cloak of sky, perhaps one reason to be wary of infusing it with the dominion of earth. Sometimes you don't know what you have until it's gone, or changed beyond all recognition, anyway.
So here is a look at a non-murder-hobo astral entity. Rare for us to interact with something outside of the whole torso sphere! This creature is literally a shiny circle with fiery rune etched about it... It's a leap, but you wouldn't happen to know any Rings of Power, perhaps the One Ring? Nothing? Bah, astral entities never get the reference.
They are an entity right after our own heart to, skipping all the complicated negotiations and just infusing our mind with what we wanted to know. Perhaps it had read our mind in advance, determined the payment we would part with and just expedited the whole process. Sort of crazy, but I suppose personal privacy might not be such a concern to a fiery rock.
Once again we're reinforced with the idea that Arete expenditure is, outside of Praxis abuse, the most fatiguing activity we engage in. I suppose that makes sense why Arete Debt is, at minor amounts, merely prohibitively exorbitant in its taxation. While anymore is absolutely fatal, it must suck on something akin to our... soul? Something that doesn't grow, doesn't get bigger or more refined. It can't be stealing from our rank, because it has grown to the N'th degree, yet I'm pretty certain we can only ever go 1pt into Arete debt.
---
Interesting to me how effort...lessly... Mhmm. Perhaps the wrong word to use for something that requires Arete. It's still difficult to quantify how much a single Arete is worth in the wild, though this does give something of an idea. For two Arete, we bypassed the most powerful magus's we know of protections to get an unfiltered? look into her mind. Two was sufficient to not only pay for the transaction and satisfy this immensely powerful Astral, but also ferried Hungers mind along for the ride. Arete is one helluvadrug, thats all I'm sayin.
--
I'm curious if Hunger merely saw what we read, or if there was a bit more to it. I have to imagine based only on the perspective differences and the way he must have consumed the info that it was off from what we received. Much more detailed in most regards now that I think about it, for while we are limited by word count, Hunger is only limited by what his supernatural abilities could process and remember. We'll perhaps have more opportunites in the future to figure out the +&- on Hunger to thread.
Call upon This One should you wish to do business again, the being spoke in words of light across his vision, But take care, for the cost shall mount with every transaction. Be well, Praehihr.
Oof, he started off so strong too. Escalating Arete costs are bad for business, I'm starting to wonder if this guy isn't a legit drug dealer. First hit wasn't free, but considering our spending habits it may as well have been. The big question is how such costs will scale, if it's the 2-7-25 that would quickly become untenable. 2-3-4 or even 2-4-6 could get more business from us. The closer we are to double digits though, the less likely I think we'll be scrying. At least using this entrepreneur
Praehihr, indicating he knows of our origins even if we never advertised them. With the decimation off, what gives us away? I suppose we did just dive into someones mind with this Astral, so I shouldn't be too surprised if he skimmed us as well. Though both Gisena, and the other Astral that triggered Aubaru both seemed to have a 6th sense for our Tyrant condition. I'm awfully suspicious about what might be giving us away, I wonder if Gisena has never said anything merely because we never inquired.
More to think about for another time, but if we are leaking somehow it may be in our best interest to have Gisena craft some sort of blocker for us. Perhaps an addon for our Cloak of Sky?
The runes dipped once as if in genuflection, and then the being departed, winking out like the stars burning low, become dim embers before they faded into ash.
Genuflection huh, you mean time to learn a new word!
...I would have never guessed its meaning, and I can't believe I've never seen this pop up before. I honestly should have looked it up on first read, but I consume the updates so voraciously it sometimes takes a react to slow down and smell the roses.
For the inquiring minds its a bend of the knee that is very respectful, often to a superior. The next few sentences make much more sense with this in mind!
Hunger blinked. It seemed there were some perks to his Cursebearer status after all. Neither the Foremost armor nor their 'theme park agent' had recognized any privilege, but this Astral Entity had been respectful and accommodating.
I had merely read accomodating and transposed its willingness to help for 2 Arete and took that to encompass respectful, for shame.
Perhaps it was a simple matter of the intersection between power and knowledge. The Divinatory Entity was wise, but not mighty, in comparison to Hunger, while the Astral cat held the informational and physical advantage. It might behoove the former to enter the good graces of a Progression-type Cursebearer, while the latter was simply not concerned.
Could be accurate, but by the nature of his being a Progression Type Cursebearer even the Cat should have realized that we could be worth a healthy relationship with. I think moreso that the Cat didn't think they would ever encounter us again, where this entitiy was summoned and has reason to believe we can interact more in a business relationship.
"What'd you learn?" Gisena asked, peeking over his shoulder at the charred remnants of the Divinatory Entity's earthly form.
Kind of funny, looking at this scene from a birds eye view. The image of Gisena poking her head around Hungers to peek at our newest BS. Mr sword, enacting ancient magical rites while Gisena is still stuck holding the no-fun-allowed bag. It didn't mention it, probably because she didn't show it, but I have to imagine there is some envy deep down.
"The Lord Protector is a child," Hunger frowned. "Or was, when she took power. Now she would be somewhere around Adorie's age. Her half-sister, skilled in some form of rune-based sorcery that gives her access to an enormous range of effects. She spends most of the time as a protoplasmic mass of immense physical strength, which explains why no one has caught on yet. And she is working to unite the Realm of Nilfel against a greater threat, her presumptive mother who is a descendent of the Foremost."
Rune based sorcery, and the Astral we summoned was similary fashioned. A coincidence? Often not so! I know she's supposed to be the scary villian right now, but imagining Augustine as a massively powerful balloon floating around is an image I have a hard time dissassociating with her.
It's frustrating, if she had been using softer means in her approach the whole uniting Nilfel against big baddie is totally something we'd be on board with. A gosh darn shame is what it is, though the situation isn't entirely unsalvageable. Just mostly, especially now that our first inclination is stabbing rather than talking. Here's hoping we at least kill her without too many complications if that is the route we go! Wishing for none would probably cost a higher power Wish than we'd want to expend.
"Taking over the Realm of Myth from such a precocious age," Gisena tapped her chin. "If this information is accurate, she seems frightfully astute! We may be dealing with a rival genius, hun. I'm starting to think we picked the wrong side..."
Sort of disagree with the whole sides thing, had we begun with the LP I don't think we could have reconciled, could we? Too much of a guessing game, but I imagine I wouldn't have liked her much if she had forced us to engage in some awful scheme under the guise of the Lord Protector. At least this way our first meeting has the potential to be a 'hey, stop that!'.
More palatable, for me at least.
"First a rival princess, now a rival genius? Many of our adventures have held up a dark mirror to me. I'm starting to think this one is intended for you."
"How bothersome. I'd hoped to return to the Manifest Realm for my side adventure! What do you think, hun? Should we attempt to break bread with this one as well and see the sisters reunited against their true hidden enemy?"
Yeah! that one! Gisena, you are so wise, why doesn't Hunger listen to your unparrallelled council more often?
Hunger paused. The Lord Protector's armies had slain millions, but in her uncompromising pursuit of vengeance he saw an echo both of the Forebear and himself. The forces of the Forebear had conquered without limit, bringing entire universes to heel across their long march of eons, and he himself had committed to vengeance in the face of vastly easier alternatives. Was Augustine's mother dangerous enough to warrant the Forebear's tactics? He'd only had a glimpse, but it didn't seem entirely outside the realm of possibility.
Ugh, reading this just has me salivating for that juicy diplomacy all over again, I was a fool to not toil more in the mines. Alas, we can only move forward.
But realistically, The whole Shard battle saga is going to come one day, I'd nearly guarantee it. It is probably wise to forestall it by just killing Augustine and being done with this mess, but I like the potential aesthetics of the story much more if we get dragged into a desperate struggle now with enemies turned allies and everything getting flipped on its head.
Though, perhaps we will have the opportunity to search out this 'shard' ourselves afterward should we put Augustine down. I'd rather scope it out sooner rather than later, even if we don't engage in hostilities. Too much potential is just waiting on the wings.
"It's inconvenient, but we've given our word," Hunger replied. "We've no indication this mother is aware or a threat beyond Augustine's convictions, and she did not seem entirely stable. From what I saw, she lacks neither the ability nor the willingness to slay Verschlengorge for good, if properly prepared. Luckily she's spent much of the past hour layering magical protections in preparation for a direct fight. You may get your chance at a direct contest."
That's true though she was a little off the rails, with all her refrences to the Purple Bitch and us being pawns. Hunger was rather tactful in his revelations to Gisena. Glad he didn't poison the well too early. The bit about Versch I don't believe was in our update, so this could be strong evidence that Hunger does receive more info, unless I'm botching my memory roll.
"The Sea of Nullity again?" Gisena asked. "I'm starting to think you enjoy the idea of rendering me unconscious!"
"It does shut you up for at least a brief span," Hunger commented dryly.
Oh Hunger, there were so many ways this could have gone. This was at least a non-dangerous path.
"Pretending you don't enjoy our little chats? Not very straightforward, your majesty! What would your beloved Forebear think?"
"He'd agree with me. We bomb her with your Ultimate and then cut her down. Simple, easy, efficient. If her magic's nullified she can't kill Versch, nor will she have the defenses to stop me in time. As long as you think you're up to it, else we'll have to come up with a backup plan."
This does sound quite convincing when Hunger phrases it all confident like. Perhaps Cut Through isn't so bad afterall, but I'd still prefer Quick and Methodical.
I wonder if absorbing the random tower in our path counts as the backup plan in this scenario?
"If you don't mind being denied the utility of my Ultimate Nullity for the next few weeks! However, if I release power enough to level her defenses, wouldn't that weaken the very Pressure you're relying on to prevail?"
I thought her Ultimate scarcely touched Stens Rank, but leveled his Outershadow. Perhaps it equalized things more than I remember though. My memory is far from reproach.
Perhaps our Rank would be fine, but its manifestation as pressure would be impaired. That makes some sense to me.
Hunger considered for a moment. "It's possible. My direct power should still be greater, but I'm uncertain how wide the gap truly is when she's behind this many defenses. Nor would it be safe to separate us as we did against Stenallon. Our enemies are too quick, unguarded you could be slain before the Sea is even deployed."
Oh, or perhaps she ultied and caught herself and Sten and not us at all due to the separation, where we know this time that it would be too dangerous to leave her on her own so we are resolving to tank the hit and backpack her. I like any plan where we equip Gisena, perhaps I should focus more on the people we have rather than try to not kill Augustine.
Maybe.
"Don't compromise your plans on my account," Gisena batted her eyelashes at him. "Such is the cost of war!"
He clapped her on the shoulder. "That's the spirit, soldier! I didn't know you believed so strongly in the Nilfellian cause."
"Wheresoever my King leads, I shall strike forth with the utmost ardor!"
"Hmph. I'll hold you to that."
"Nights and weekends excluded, naturally!"
This is grade A banter though, I love seeing Hunger using this sort of humor.
...On Gisenas part though, I wonder how much is banter, and how much she means she'd take a suicidal roll in one of our plans. Things to wonder about, for certain.
---
Aobaru gritted his teeth. He faced a group of marauders who had slipped into the hospital tents from an underground passageway. The Lord Protector's forces were tenacious and cunning, attacking from every angle even after Lord Hunger's arrival had broken the main thrust of their assault. Behind him whirled Sharpbright in scything currents, the bedridden Letrizia sending all the support she could from her supine position.
And here is our boy, in the prime-time slot no less! I've been constantly underestimating Augustine, or perhaps she has been consistently overperforming. Having an underground passageway leading to our sick bay, they must either have some incredible burrowing gadgets / magic among them or were seriously fortuitous when we set our tents here.
Somehow, I doubt it was luck seeing them through
There were a few Knight-Captains stationed here, but none were hale; most sported injures from the crippling to the debilitating, as able-bodied men were sent to the front. He would have to do the majority of this on his own.
This may be a first for Aobaru. I know he was on the frontlines during the Rot Beast fight, but presuming he's been travelling with Hunger he has always been at best second fiddle during any given encounter. This time, everyone is relying on him, lets see how the pressure gets to him.
Aobaru leapt forward, firing off bursts of flame like vectoring jets as he closed in on the first aggressor. He was confident in his offense, but vulnerable to their long-range firepower. Once among them he would be far less exposed, but he had to control the angle of engagement so as not to endanger Letrizia!
Interesting, seems like our Elementalists just can't help but end up on the physical side of things. For all we have mages, we lack for porcelain pots in fancy robes. I had thought Aobaru might be different, but so much of his element improves the physical that he would be foolish to leave that aspect of his element wholly to others benefit.
Smart to dive in among them, its hard fully, or even partially, employ many powers for fear of hitting your allies in such a position. It also appears they have orders to try and take more hostages rather than outright kill them, even further limiting things. Only problem is that he would probably find it difficult to stop foes from bypassing him once he's in the thick of things, but perhaps they are too wary to turn their backs to him with Letrizia still somewhat operational.
Lord Hunger's Pressure rolled over the battlefield in punishing waves, smashing and disorienting any attackers remaining. To Aobaru it felt like being lifted atop a tsunami, but impervious to harm: only sheer swelling height and unstoppable momentum, uttermost high ground from which to fall upon one's enemies and leave only ruin behind.
They said we needed magic, but Rank was lobbied as the God Stat for a reason. Here it is finally on display, a mile away from the battle and Hungers mere presence as he focuses on Summoning is enough to tilt the tide all along the front.
The description of being on the allied side of Rank sounds absolutely invigorating, I can only imagine that Hungers enemies feel the complete opposite! From being lifted to being crushed beneath the waves. The security of an impervious bulwark replaced by an inescapable tangible feeling of vulnerability. Being dragged down into the currents, swept beneath the waves and held listless while your foes circle about.
Spooky.
Hunger grew in strength at a vertiginous pace. In the back of his mind Aobaru worried sometimes that any assassin which required Lord Hunger as a bodyguard would be too far beyond the Vigorflame for him even to interact with. But, he never allowed such doubts to dominate his reckoning. The Voyaging Realm had chosen him for a reason. His time would come, he was sure of it!
Aww, poor Aobaru. He'll never know it, but politics (and effort) were all that stood between him and power to rival that of his...idol? Role model? I'm not sure how exactly Aobaru feels about Hunger. I do know that even if it still leaves him lacking in absolute strength, the Will and mental stats will go a long way in helping Aobaru cope with any feelings of inadequacy that may arise. He also seems like he has a good head on his shoulders, even here before his little powerup.
I too believe his time will come, so long as we keep him alive long enough to see it. Spending the Arete was certainly a shortcut to power, but such strength is presumably his by right eventually anyway. We'll reinvest your would-be power into important goals, like being the king of fish! and snatching towers! ...Sorry Ao!
An arrow caught him in the shoulder, but bounced harmlessly off, its envenomed tip glinting obsidian in the fading light of dusk. Hunger's Pressure had thrown the attack backwards, but Aobaru couldn't count on every strike to be so fortunately repulsed.
I wonder how Undying Vanguard manifests itself. Is this the nod, or was its presence completely unneeded so it's strength is not yet revealed? It may also manifest itself as Pressure that accompanies them at all times now, but something tells me that isn't quite right.
In his break-out display Aobaru did roll out with a 98, so I'm definitely thinking UV wasn't tapped at all in this encounter.
He shook his head in self-recrimination. Nor he could afford to be lost in his own thoughts at a time like this! As Hunger often said, time enough later to dwell.
Okay! He at least likes us a little bit if he is tossing out one of our phrases in the midst of a life and death struggle, and day dreaming about how swole we are. Yeah, he likes us.
Firing his leg-jets once more, he corkscrewed around a second volley, leaving walls of Vigorflame in his wake to intercept any attacks pointed at Letrizia. He snatched an array of surgical tools from a nearby stand, juking behind a tentpole which he immediately reinforced with his Element. Attacks came and bounced off the ironwood; at the sound of an enemy's approach he kicked the pole forward and sent Vigorflame in a wave, detonating his cover in a blast of shrapnel as he hurled reinforced tweezers and scalpels into the ranks of the foe.
What a commando badass. I know Hunger didn't teach him those moves, so is this the spirit of a Hero or just a consequence of the training and upbringing he has had in the Elixir Sovereignty? I'm not sure, but anyone who can fire tweezers with lethal intent has the heart of a champion, thats all I'm saying.
Nice to see his element overloading something in action to, something tells me he could overload people but I'm not sure he does anything of the like in this episode, and given his heroic disposition and age he might not consider it for quite some time, if ever.
One half-blind assailant thrust with his spear, which Aobaru caught in his armpit, trapping the weapon and infusing it with flame. Modulating the course of his fire, he had the spear explode butt-end first, catching the enemy in a grisly vacuum as the weapon erupted like a mortar point-blank.
Damn man, I like the easy to follow stuff like this at times. Two sentences and it takes you everywhere you need to go. It manages to have a beginning, middle, and end in a nice self contained little bit of action. Gets a visible W on the board for him as well, whereas everything else he has done may or may not have actually... well, done anything as far as we know!
Aobaru was already moving, thoughts fluid and effortless, the trance of battle descending upon him as he whirled and dipped and sprang through the anarchy of war, hesitation absent as his flames reaped life after life. Was this it, the hidden power within, the strength to actually contribute to Lord Hunger's ventures as more than simple support?
I feel like I'm going to be Aww'ing a whole bunch. because awwwww man he just wants to do his best. I have a soft spot for 'battle trance' type of moments as well, where you already know every cut, thrust, and riposte you're going to make, it's all about positioning yourself in the most advantageous places to execute from.
He's finally going to town on these fools, when suddenly, reality reasserts itself.
It was not to be. A net fell over him, strands of oiled steel that resisted the influence of his Element, entangling and disabling him even as Hunger's Pressure once-more protected him from direct harm. He fell to the side as attackers poured in, this time from an Astral gateway bordered with runes.
I missed this in the first read, but the nets were coated in a substance that actually resisted his element! Very cool, and another point in the preparations and planning of Augustine. Even our friends are difficult to scry and keep tabs on, or so she said, so this was probably from intel gathered the hard way too. That Augustine is quite the gal!
In other news, the quick grab operation was running over a few minutes, and plan B aka, pop in the big boys activated. Or perhaps this first squad was merely to confirm the target and many such crews were running around, and these guys just popped their metaphorical flare to summon these guys in.
Regardless, surprise Aobaru, they're here now! Luckily Hungers Pressure / Vanguard still seems to be good at stymieing any poke damage.
Elites, men in carapace armor of shining violet and ivory, whose weapons dripped with emerald venoms or screaming soul-fire, the flared wings of their gilded helm embossed with the Lord Protector's personal crest. One man stabbed idly at Aobaru and departed after his weapon found no purchase. Hunger's next Pressure-wave came upon them, but they seemed almost prepared, hunching into defensive posture as a single shield-wall to ride out the onslaught; slowly establishing a beachhead whose rate of growth could withstand the idle attentions of the sea.
Elites huh, they are certainly dressed for the occasion. I can see the violet as one of the LP's colors, but I'm surprised he backed it up with an Ivory. I would have thought that in a nod to his 'patron spirit' they would be dressed in some sickening brown hue that stained the world around them with their very presence. Instead, they are quite fashionable, they even have fancy little crests and nightmare laced weaponry. Every growing empire needs a little terror baked into their armaments!
Hunger hasn't been on the field long, but they've managed to adapt quite well. They've obviously worked as a team for some time, or at least have a training regime that is fully transferable command to command. There couldn't have been much time to issue a command here, so it was either via a mental message, training instincts, or perhaps a uniform gesture to get the whole group to fall in line.
I like that it was noted that all this was in service of abating the idle attentions of the sea, leaving room to how these same mooks would be overwhelmed should we have bent a portion of ourselves directly against them.
He couldn't let things go on like this. Desperately Aobaru looked inside for some scrap of insight, some Chosen-One spark that would lead him to victory in this dark hour.
Aww #3, trying desperately to pull a Deus Ex Hunger. More flattery, or the flailings of the truly desperate? I'm not sure if he knows about how we cheat to power, so probably desperation.
There was nothing. No visions of glory, no hidden potential, no promise of power just waiting to be tapped... He was just, Aobaru, as he'd ever been.
You're still a good boy, don't give up hope! even if you're only ever this strong, we'll still let you backpack with us, you can even carry Adorie this time!
The Voyaging Realm could have chosen anyone. Why had it chosen him? He was skilled but nothing special, straight out of high school with an above-average Element and a chip on his shoulder, and now in way over his head.
Sad face, I wonder how many times Hunger questioned why he had been chosen during his crusade against the Tyrant. Surely he couldn't have been in a much different position than Aobaru here, sans the element and in WAY way over his head.
He clenched his teeth. None of that mattered. If they captured both Letrizia and the Armament, who knew what could happen?
This is when the music starts playing, if you listen closely, you can hear the inspiring notes start to pick up as soon as his jaw locks.
He would just do what he could with what he had. If that wasn't up to the Voyaging standard, then so be it.
Time later enough to dwell.
Ahh shit Aobaru, I think this is the third hit you've taken of the Hunger phrase, you better lay off or you're going to end up with a vendetta of your own before this is all over!
I have no idea where he got that shonen dialogue, but please lay it on me harder, I can't get enough cheesy stuff! it's super effect!
Aobaru closed his eyes. He'd always been a kinetic Elementalist, using his Vigorflame in conjunction with his body to evade and deliver blows. His body was ensnared but he had his Element still. Why was he acting like he was helpless?
Push up your glasses! Do it! Push em up! ...he doesn't have glasses? GET HIM SOME GLASSES!
Pulling deeply from his reserves, he exploded forth with fire, a raging sea of flames to smother all troops in his vicinity. They turned as if to finish him, but he fired a column of flame downwards, the ground beneath, weakened by their sappers, yielding to his tunnel as it had their own. Acting swiftly, one elite broke off from the group to cut him down.
Ahh, and origins of the tunnel revealed. Sappers indeed, good to know! I'm glad it's a mystery solved, and not one I'll have to wonder about a few years from now.
Here is where the 98 kicks into action, where in a worse case scenario they would have turned to finish him, but in this case he was more than their match. Feels good man, let em have it!
Aobaru could barely see, let alone move, but that mattered not. All he needed was for them to come to him.
The enemy was clever, kicking him onto his stomach to send their sword through his spine execution-style. They probably thought he was some sort of fire-based magus, who required at least line of sight to perform his spells.
Heh, this plan is so absolutely insane I can't believe he has the cahonas to even begin to try it. 'At the moment they begin to sever my spine, I'll turn everything around!' is just begging for something awful to happen. Lets see how it turned out this time though!
As the tip of the blade contacted his skin he sent a flare of Vigorflame through it; the explosion rocked them both and spun Aobaru like a top. As soon as he was turned, flames issued from his eyes, twin columns scorching a hole through the man's torso the size of Aobaru's own head.
Beautifully, as it were. I imagine he could have done a similar move when the guy kicked him onto his stomach though, at more less risk to himself! Not sure if I'm wrong, or if he isn't prepared to use people / clothing as conduits for vigorflame in explody matters.
I can't picture Aobaru spinning as a top as anything but hilariously, and I'm not sure exactly where the net is a this point, but I also don't particularly care. Mainly because he goes superman on this asshole and man if that isn't a moment to write home about. Just to tell mom that you're okay, not that you gouged a dudes torso out with your heated stare.
Propelling himself forward with fire along his back, he slammed into the Elite and launched them bodily into the midst of the enemy. Selective pulses of fire raced out, creating struts of reinforced air that his flame could push against to maneuver his body, serving as temporary limbs to re-position his form.
Holy what the, I'm so glad I'm re-reading this because it's even better this time, by far. Much more enjoyable taking my time to really filter through whats going on in each scene. So he's using some form of element manipulation to spiderman himself around? Whether it's spiderman pull or jetpack propulsion i'm not sure, but the result is similar enough to enjoy it either way.
Ao is more badass than I thought, I didn't know he had this in him to be honest. I definitely trust him with the rear guard!
He closed his eyes and felt only the presence of his Element, rushing forth and receding like echolocation. Attackers piled on but their arms detonated, even runes of spellfire consumed by unending Vigorflame. He lashed out and rotated, a blinding wheel of flame, searing limbs from bodies, plate fusing to flesh before that all-eradicating heat.
Oh my, he did it in this very update. I really did go way to fast on the first read, but i'm always too damn excited to slow down and properly chew! Bravo, sir, Bravo.
The next wave of Hunger's Pressure hit, channeled by Sharpbright as if funneled through a dam, and the Nilfellian Elite broke at last.
To their credit, they did not rout, attempting an organized retreat, but it availed them little as The Chosen One scythed them down, smashed between the anvil of Lord Hunger and Aobaru's forge-flame.
And the finale, Letrizia filling in the spot Aobaru normally sits in! I never imagined using SharpBright to wield someone elses rank as a weapon, that is a really cool application she figured out!
