Hell Difficulty Tutorial Chapter 803 - Not a bad run

I acknowledge my occasional hesitation in moments of peril when alongside my group, a self-doubt coupled with increased caution. These feelings, though unwelcome, are cherished by me.

The more I gain, the greater my fear of losing it all becomes.

I anticipate this will recur, yet for now, I suppress the part of myself that has grown overly guarded since my return to the 10th floor. I permit a facet of myself to emerge, one that scoffs at such anxieties, even as I understand it, too, is integral to my being.

With a sweep of my arm, the spectral form behind me mimics the action. A torrent of raw mana slams into the hatchling before it can conjure another sphere of incandescent lightning. Above its head, a dark halo expands, and the mana within commences a rapid gyre, drawing in more ambient mana from the vicinity. This includes my dispersed mana, the agitation caused by nearby Champions, and the mana from group 4.

Then, I engage the hatchling directly, contending for its own mana. The small creature, with its impassive gaze, observes my maneuvers, mirroring them with remarkable speed and refinement. Its mana reserves may be smaller than mine, but it has been siphoning ambient mana since its inception, bending it to its will.

It seems effortless for it to draw in ambient mana, a lesser, almost trivial resource compared to its own pure lightning. Yet, that diminutive form, its bloodline, and an array of mental faculties and mutations apparently grant it a superior degree of control.

But I shall not yield.

I advance, my spectral vessel turning utterly black. Two golden rings illuminate where eyes should be, and faint azure lines trace across its form, mirroring many of my own scars. With this corporeal form, I will not be defeated.

Mana bends to my command, coursing through my vessel. My mind directs it, and the vessel embodies all the effects of my traits and passive abilities. The hatchling attempts to contest this, but it is futile.

I seize its mana as well, launching a relentless barrage of attacks, each imbued with more mana than any typical Hell difficulty participant should possess. These assaults send colossal waves across the surrounding sea, erupting geysers of water into the sky.

The diminutive creature then fixes its gaze upon my dark mana vessel, spreading its wings wide. For a fleeting instant, its mana vortex rivals mine. It almost appears as though the mana embraces its control willingly. A sphere materializes before it, commencing a rapid compression. Shifting from brilliant white to azure, then to a hue with a white and gold core, it continuously morphs and channels, transitioning between varying degrees of compression with an ease that leaves me astonished.

Yet, it proves unsuccessful every time. Despite its utmost efforts, that mana refuses to condense into the profound blackness I command.

Its cold eyes intensify, and a dozen projectiles, nearly perfect replicas of Empyrean Lances, materialize around it.

A pulse of my dark mana surges forward, leeching the color from the immediate area. Before the projectiles can be unleashed, they dissipate into shimmering white and gold particles, drifting and swirling through the currents towards my vessel, which readily absorbs them.

Regarding mana manipulation, I doubt my physical being and mental faculties are significantly inferior to this entity's.

[Focus - lvl 78 > Focus - lvl 79]

The distinct signatures of my group members fade, becoming mere data points as my mind calculates the optimal distribution of blocking against the barrage and pressure generated by the hatchling, assessing what they can endure.

I find myself able to dedicate considerable attention to assaulting the hatchling, intervening only periodically to support my allies. I modulate the mana absorbed by my dark vessel, enabling them to utilize their own energies, and their primordial energies and fragments continue to assail the hatchling.

Boulders are ripped from the island, hurtling downwards like celestial projectiles. Flames erupt, accompanied by primordial lightning. Somewhere within this chaos, Sophie enters a state of accelerated thought, preparing an assault that she unleashes in concert with the twins.

Maya, clad in her armor, retreats post-attack just as Blackie charges forward. In a manner of speaking, he bears a resemblance to this hatchling, rapidly improving and now unleashed, he commands the deceased champion's body with far greater efficacy.

Meanwhile, Biscuit is positioned on the island's rear, sampling the air currents from the west. Unprecedented quantities of primordial energy begin to coalesce around him, suggesting he is preparing for a significant action.

A wave of my kinetic energy propagates through the atmosphere as I hurl it towards Blackie, but it rebounds, returning with exponentially increased force. I intercept it and propel it back once more, only for the same phenomenon to occur, the power escalating with each exchange. And, as is customary, I simply channel it.

My focus narrows to a single point, condensing further until it's as substantial as my wrist. Then, it rips towards the hatchling with a sound that seems to split the heavens. The immense friction generated by such rapid movement of Qi creates intense heat, as if the very air around it is poised to ignite.

This assault nearly matches the velocity of the railgun strike Tess unleashes from her ring. Both attacks impact almost simultaneously; Tess's blast carves a hole, while mine shatters the barrier, only narrowly missing the hatchling. No, 'missing' isn't quite right – it's as if the fabric of space itself contorts, deflecting the blow away from the creature.

The hatchling emits another scream and darts to the side just as Blackie intercepts it, launching bolts of white lightning at the daemon. The impact sends Blackie hurtling backward, and with each rebound from the ground, he unleashes more kinetic energy.

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Echoing the previous bellow, a sensation akin to a planetary tremor emanates, as if our world rests upon a colossal glacier fracturing deep beneath us. This unnerving feeling escalates, threatening to rupture and either engulf us or, worse, unleash something that should remain dormant.

My dark mana coalesces into numerous orbs that orbit me, each launching forward and elongating into segments of a protective barrier, designed to intercept the torrent of lightning the hatchling relentlessly fires. What begins as a single discharge per second gradually intensifies to two, then five, then ten. The hatchling's lightning descends upon us at a terrifying pace, while I meticulously channel, concentrate, and manipulate my mana with equal speed. A single moment of miscalculation would allow the lightning to pierce through, striking down those on the ground.

Paradoxically, this dire reality sharpens my focus, and the hatchling finds itself incapable of siphoning any local Qi. Any of its own mana is disrupted the instant it departs its form.

It all belongs to me now.

[Eclipse - lvl 69 > Eclipse - lvl 70]

[Current - lvl 45 > Current - lvl 46]

[Current - lvl 46 > Current - lvl 47]

Just as Blackie collides with it, the hatchling lets out another cry. Its voice amplifies, spreading far and wide, and the tremors instantly surge in power.

Suddenly, the entire sky transforms from azure to a brilliant white, while the clouds beneath shift to a deep indigo. Stark illumination renders everything with painful clarity.

My eyes ablaze within their sockets from the overwhelming influx of information, I realize the sky itself has become a vast array, a domain, or something of even greater magnitude – an entity now encompassing the entire planet.

I deploy multiple healing marks from Lily, their restorative power easing the strain on my eyes as I replace my glasses. My gaze falls upon the hatchling beneath Blackie. He continues his assault, even as bursts of reflected kinetic energy erupt around both combatants. During one such explosion, Maya and Aaron are hurled through the sand and rocks of the island.

From the periphery, Noodle darts in, latching onto the hatchling with his bite and, unlike Blackie's impact, manages to pierce its scales. He recoils instantly, jaw agape, his body writhing in agony and spasms. Another wave of reflected kinetic energy flings him away, where Lily rushes to his side.

Then, the Weredeer manifests.

Appearing from nowhere, it stands bipedally upon the placid sea, its form bleeding, set against the stark white sky and blue clouds. Even the hatchling and Blackie freeze. A wave of terror washes over everyone, paralyzing them.

Faced with the sheer absurdity of the situation, I find myself simply exhaling and smiling. 'Not a bad run,' I muse inwardly, my gaze sweeping over the surroundings and the people near me.

I take a single step forward, the sole entity moving against the oppressive force. My Vessel draws nearer, placing its hands upon my shoulders as the dark halo surrounding me expands further. My Empyrean Blood surges, circulating with increased speed, as I push it onward. This flow of pure mana fortifies the field, granting me the ability to grasp the Qi within my own body.

The Weredeer shifts its attention from the hatchling, turning its gaze towards me.

The sky intensifies to an even purer shade of white. Somewhere on a distant continent, a roar identical to the hatchling's echoes.

A flicker of recognition sparks in the Weredeer's eyes as it regards me. Raising its clawed limb, it swings, its claws ripping spatial fissures through reality itself.

I find myself transported to an entirely different location. A small grove of trees. Verdant grass carpets a gentle, sloping hill crowned by a solitary tree, with a few others scattered around the continuing expanse of grassland. Beyond this pastoral scene, and in all directions, stretches an endless white void, devoid of discernible walls, ceiling, or floor.

Leaning against a tree, Biscuit rests upon my lap, his form identical to the memory of him from the first floor. It strikes me that the forest surrounding us is also the same as before. This moment, one of tranquil respite away from everything, brings back vivid recollections of times spent with this incorrigible corgi who had a penchant for thievery.

Instinctively, my hand lowers to stroke Biscuit's head, savoring the texture of his fur beneath my touch.

"We're not dead, are we? And this isn't some sort of afterlife," I inquire softly.

The corgi lifts his head, and more clearly than ever, I perceive his primordial energy shimmering behind his eyes.

"Biscuit, did you manage to replicate my pathetic leaps in Thought Acceleration? Is this your creation?"

"I understand now."

Despite whatever turmoil might be unfolding externally, I resist the urge to panic, choosing instead to place my faith in this canine companion. Nonetheless, a subtle tightness in my chest impedes my breathing. Through his emotions, understanding begins to dawn upon me.

I grant myself a few moments of quiet contemplation.

"You know you don't have to do this," I state.

"There's no way there won't be repercussions."

I open my mouth, intending to object, but find myself at a loss for words. Instead, I reach down, drawing him closer against my chest, and embrace him tightly. For a prolonged interval, he remains perfectly still, allowing the embrace.

Following this pause, he turns and gently nudges my nose with his front paw. My own voice sounds foreign as I whisper, almost pleadingly, "Don't die. Don't leave me."

A sob echoes, and subsequently, the effect of Thought Acceleration dissipates.

Suddenly, Biscuit is positioned before me, facing the Weredeer, his primordial energy radiating with an exceptional intensity.

The force obliterates the Weredeer's assault.

It consumes the very space before the Weredeer, banishing it to a distant location.

It severs our spiritual bond, extinguishing it completely.

It tears a minuscule rift within the very fabric of the tutorial's structure.

And then, Biscuit vanishes.