Chapter 49 Finding the Eleven Smith
I have also reached level 50, which isn't surprising given the experience gained from the catacombs' battles. The most remarkable increases are in Dark Aura and Item Box, both of which are difficult to level up, yet they improved significantly.
Especially Dark Aura, which usually requires hitting multiple targets during battle, leveled up independently. Perhaps she dragged some guild members into it.
Unless activated with Arts, Dark Aura is merely a malevolent, high-consumption skill with no real effect.
I'll think about the skills later; the main focus should be on Liora.
Name: [Liora]
Gender: [Female]
Level: [51]
Race: [High Human]
Job: [Apostle]
Magic: [Flash Magic 31], [Light Magic 61]
Craft: [Landscaping 28]
Skills: [Loneliness Resistance 50], [Scythe Technique 59], [Summoning 31], [Shrine Maiden 48], [Chant Extension 28], [Moonlight Scythe Technique 25], [Angel's Factor 10]
Stats: Attack [156], Magic Attack [379], Durability [282], Agility [381], Luck [319]
Title: [Mortal Sin: Murderer]
Unique Skill: [Lethal Blade], [Shadow of Death]
Despite not having been in combat, this level of increase is exceptional. Liora's strengths are numerous, but Loneliness Resistance seems to be a particularly noteworthy benefit.
However, even with Loneliness Resistance, it's meaningless without effort.
There are several Arts available to acquire now. I plan to consider them gradually, but first, let's obtain the Angel's Factor Art.
This skill has only eleven Arts: one at level 1, and then one every 10 levels, so all eleven can be acquired.
The order might be important, but there's comfort in knowing that I can get them all. Without overthinking or investigating, I'll just go ahead and choose one.
'Here we go!'
The newly acquired Art is called "Blessed Wing." When Liora declared its use, a single wing appeared behind her, extending diagonally upward from her right side.
Rather than a wing, it feels more like a semi-transparent blade. It doesn't look biological, more like something mechanical or artificial. It's a strange feeling.
"Oh! More blessings from the gods!"
Liora, delighted, tries to look at her own wing, spinning around like a dog chasing its tail. How cute.
I'll record this too. Whether or not I'll post it is uncertain, but if I do, it might be titled "Liora Chasing Her Wing."
After resting, we proceeded deeper into the forest.
In an ordinary forest, we'd have to worry about ambushes from behind trees, but the trees here are so tall that there are no hiding spots.
Though, we must always stay vigilant of the sky.
"Let's go."
About ten spiders appeared. Upon using Appraisal, I found their level to be 53—relatively high. Additionally, they possess a dreadful skill called Egg Shot.
We need to be cautious while killing them.
Liora was about to rush forward but first unleashed a Shining Slash infused with Lethal Blade. The attack effortlessly killed the spider, but a swarm of baby spiders erupted from its belly.
Yikes!
Unfazed, Liora dashed toward the horde of baby spiders. Using a double jump, a skill from her shoes, she landed right in the center of the swarm.
Amid the mass of baby spiders, Liora unleashed Shining Burst.
Wiped out. All the spiders were wiped out.
Before even confirming the results, Liora had already slashed at another spider. She decapitated it, and just like before, a horde of baby spiders burst from its belly.
I activated Dark Aura on Liora and applied all available Arts. Along with numerous status ailments, the instant death effect of Scythe Technique, which rarely manifests, was triggered.
The weak baby spiders died instantly from the instant death effect.
"Liora—!"
"I know, Samurai."
As the spider's horde turned its belly toward Liora, my fear that they might actually do it was realized. The spiders unleashed Egg Shot.
A hail of baby spider bullets fired from all directions.
Samurai blocked them. She transformed her body into an octopus-like shape, shielding Liora by wrapping her arms around her. The baby spiders directly hit Samurai.
Although she took significant damage, Samurai, being a mimic, had a massive HP pool.
In recognition of Liora's acceptance of a clear "death" during battle, I assigned Samurai as her bodyguard. Her durability is indeed monstrous.
From the gap in her tendrils, Liora peeked out the Withered Branch of All Things.
If it's about magic attacks, this should be the main focus as it provides more firepower. She received it as a sub-weapon.
A flash of light burst from the long staff.
The spell she used was Lightning Snipe, a new Art from Light Magic. This Art is a sniping magic.
The MP cost is high, but it delivers strong firepower and allows for long-range attacks. Furthermore, it has a headshot mechanic that increases damage when it hits the head.
The spider's head exploded.
Liora returned the staff to the sub-weapon slot and regripped her scythe. With a dance and a jump, she closed the distance and delivered a spinning slash with her scythe imbued with Death's Guiding Blade.
The slash dealt significant damage to three spiders.
Although it was a critical hit, it wasn't an instant kill because the Head Hunt skill didn't apply.
The severely injured spiders lunged at Liora.
Liora escaped their attack with Flash and then unleashed Shining Blade. The weakened spiders were eradicated, along with the baby spiders in their bellies.
"I'll fight too!"
The princess rushed in, sweeping her staff upward.
"[Staff Technique] Art: [Scooping Up]!"
The spider was flung into the air, its legs flailing as it was suspended in the sky. The princess dyed her staff red with the glimmer of magic power.
"It's safe to use this in the sky, right?—[Empress Flare]!"
A blast of flames shot at the spider's belly. After piercing through, the spider's body was incinerated.
"It's over, huff… huff… so tired…"
The last spider was taken down by the elven guard. Proper combat can be exhausting. Although there was no real danger...
The biggest risk was probably the princess setting the forest on fire.
I've heard that the trees in this area are hard to burn, but we still need to be careful."Levels may be rising, but... my skill levels aren't improving."
Since then, the elf's guard has become more enthusiastic.
It started after they witnessed Liora's [Snipe Lightning]. The elf's guard—Sicily—established a tactic where she would scout for enemies, and Liora would perform long-range sniping.
They formed a good pair. More than Liora and elf princess.
Currently, Liora has a permanent buff of "significantly increased critical damage" thanks to the effect of [Heavenly Wing], obtained from the [Angel's Factor].
Additionally, this art has the effect of "instantly killing enemies with less than 5% HP."
The latter effect aside, the former greatly enhances [Snipe Lightning].
She lines up her long staff like a sniper rifle, aiming and shooting.
Since it's light, there's no sound, and the head of an ogre in the distance is blown off. With the sudden death of one of their group, the ogres notice us.
Another head is blown off.
The ogres run at us with desperate expressions, but at this distance, it seems their best move would have been to flee.
One dies, another sustains a wound to the abdomen.
One's leg is shattered, and another loses its head.
"Shall we fight?"
"Y-Yes! That's why we're here!"
The princess, with flames infused in her staff, begins to run, but Sicily reaches the ogres first. She's no longer hiding her high level, is she?
She clings to the back of an ogre and slices its neck with a dagger.
It's coated in paralyzing poison.
As the ogre falls to its knees, the princess smashes her staff into its face. An explosion of flames follows, completely depleting the ogre's HP.
"Whoa!"
An ogre that had survived tried to slam a rock about the size of a vending machine into the princess. She blocks it with a barrier of flame magic, and as the ogre reels back from the impact, she slams her staff into its groin.
—Explosion.
Aaaah!
The ogre rolls its eyes, foams at the mouth, and its HP drops to zero. The princess finishes off the remaining enemies who had been immobilized by Liora's sniping.
"Not bad. This is easier than going solo."
"Mhm... yes! Your decision was great, divine being!"
"Haha, yes, that's right."
Liora has high endurance and can handle everything on her own. With the support roles of myself and Samurai, she possesses a strength that would be complete even as a solo player.
To defeat her, one would need the strength of a max-level character.
However, long-term expeditions are still dangerous.
When facing multiple enemies, she inevitably resorts to a forceful fighting style, relying on [Regeneration] and [HP Regen].
If we increase our numbers, we'll simply be able to hold our own against multiple foes.
'it's an MMO, after all. It's natural for solo play to be tough. The difficulty is likely intended for party-based or team-based combat.'
It seems having reliable companions is necessary.
Playing with other players is a hassle, but for Liora's safety and a smoother game experience, it's wiser to compromise.