The Scorpbeasts didn't present much of a challenge…although many in number, they were relatively weak individually. Thalia calmly blasted them repeatedly with Astra.
With her large mana pool, using the Astra skill over and over was not much of a problem. Furthermore, Thalia had discovered the "System Store". From there she could buy health and mana recovery potions along with other basic items…there was no need to worry about mana running out.
As Thalia continued battling the Scorpbeasts, her proficiency with Astra continued to improve.
!ALERT!
[SKILL – ASTRA has been upgraded to Lv 2]
With the update, Thalia was now able to control the trajectory of the light-beams. Before the attacks were straight lines…like a bullet. Now, they twisted and curved in the air like acrobatic fireflies. It was truly beautiful to see.
The light-based magic attacks resembled death-rays…each ray killed it's target with little difficulty. Occasionally, the Scorpbeasts were positioned in such a way that the light-beams penetrated multiple targets…that felt oddly satisfying…like scoring bonus points.
[Scorpbeast has been defeated]
[Scorpbeast has been defeated]
[Scorpbeast has been defeated]
[Scorpbeast has been defeated]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
The System gave out an avalanche of notifications.
The canyon walls trembled as if an earthquake had occurred…then a giant scorpion-looking beast emerged. It moved on its eight legs with deliberate confidence as if taking a stroll on a Sunday afternoon through a neighborhood park. The System showed in red letters "Scorpio."
Thalia marveled at the sight of such a gigantic beast! Easily larger than a building. Its pincers gleamed like polished volcanic obsidian stones. The mana from the creature was impressive as well…it filled the air like a thick and heavy cologne.
Without delay, Thalia shot a dozen Astra beams at the creature…in quick succession like a machine gun. Unfortunately, the light-beams scorched the exterior shell but did not manage to penetrate.
Thalia retreated a few steps back and fired a dozen more Astra beams…this time she fired overlapping shots aimed at its legs. She hoped to hinder the beast's mobility by injuring a leg or two. The light-beams penetrated the shell…but the damage was minimal.
'He is just too big…the Astra attacks are not doing enough damage…time to change my plan.' Thalia calmly reasoned based on the latest attacks. She pulled out her cutlass and charged straight at the giant beast.
The beast struck with its stinger. Thalia easily dodged and continued to charge straight ahead. Scorpio stomped erratically with its 8 legs hoping to crush the tiny opponent. However, Thalia had a clear advantage…her eyes gave her the ability to see the mana build-up. This allowed her to predict Scorpio's next moves. This advantage also allowed Thalia to dodge the flurry of stinger attacks and leg stomps.
RUNG! RUNG! RUNG!
Thalia struck the beast's legs with her cutlass…each attack sounded like a metal hammer striking a metal object…
RUNG! RUNG! RUNG!
Undeterred, Thalia continued with her relentless assault on the giant beast.
No damage…despite hitting the beast over a dozen times with her cutlass…none of the attacks resulted in any damage.
Frustrated and growing tired, Thalia quickly dodged a series of leg stomps from the giant enemy. However, one stomp struck the canyon wall causing stones and boulders to rain down. In a desperate effort to dodge the rain of stones, Thalia lost focus of the beast. Scorpio took advantage of this opening and smacked Thalia hard against the canyon wall.
Thalia collided with the canyon wall; blood sprang from her mouth filling her senses with an iron taste. She felt her face grow wet…likely from blood running down her nose and eyes. She felt her body grow heavy…likely a few ribs broken.
Scorpio halted its stampede. It saw its injured opponent lying against the canyon wall. Scorpio rose its stinger high into the air…preparing for one final killer trust.
'It over…I lost…I can' beat him…' thought Thalia. 'My magic attacks have little effect…and my sword is not sharp enough to penetrate its thick shell…if only I had a stronger sword…if only I was stronger.'
In that moment, a memory surfaced…perhaps it was a survival instinct…or perhaps it was the System desperately trying to keep her alive.
The memory was from before Kesi…one morning Thalia was training with her father Vidar. As usually, Thalia was unleashing a barrage of swings using her wooden sword. Vidar was smiling as he effortless dodged or blocked the wave of strikes with his wooden sword.
During one of Thalia's attacks, her wooden sword snapped in two. In response to the sudden change, Thalia froze mid-attack…and for a moment she looked unsure what to do.
Vidar frowned slightly and asked, "why did you stop?"
"Be…because…because my sword broke." Thalia answered still dazed and confused.
"Yes, I see that…but again…why did you stop?" Vidar asked.
Thalia looked down sheepishly in embarrassment.
After a moment, Vidar spoke with his usual calm and soothing voice, "I want you to remember something…the sword you hold in your hand is only a tool…the real weapon is in here…in your heart…deep inside…you are the weapon…never forget that."
'The real weapon is inside…deep in my heart…I am the weapon.' Thalia repeated those words in her mind as the giant magic beast prepared for its final attack.
'I am the weapon.' Thalia repeated, 'I am the weapon.'
Like a lightning bolt, an idea popped into Thalia's mind. Astra, the magic-based technique that shoots out light-based attacks…those attacks originate from inside…from her mana…deep inside, her mana is converted into a light-based attack…but what if…
She closed her eyes in concentration, feeling her mana inside…she activated the Astra skill but instead of shooting out light-beams, she molded the light…channeled it into the sword…strengthening the sword, making it sharper, denser, imbued with her mana.
!ALERT!
[ASTRA skill has been upgraded to AURORA]
[Aurora – light-based magic is imbued into objects, increasing its attack/defense/durability. Objects imbued with Aurora reduces magic resistance and physical defense on target area by 50% for 1 minute]
With one quick pierce, Scorpio thrusted its stinger aimed at Thalia's chest.
Thalia waited patiently…she knew these counter strikes required precision, power, and most importantly patience. She dodged the stinger while activating the Aurora skill. She swung with all her strength aiming her cutlass at the stinger-tail. The cutlass glowed bright white…it looked like a light-sword.
SWISH
The cutlass managed to cut straight through the stinger-tail…slicing it clean.
SSCCRRIITTCCHH
Scorpio let out a painful cry…staggering backwards as if it were burned by fire. Without hesitation, Thalia swung violently, slicing and severing legs.
The giant scorpion collapsed on the ground…no longer able to hold its weight. Thalia drove the glowing white cutlass deep into the beast's head.
!ALERT!
[Scorpio has been defeated]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
[YOU LEVELED UP!]
!ALERT!
[SIGHT has been upgraded to LUCIDITY]
[LUCIDITY – a skill that allows you to see through space including dimensional walls.
Higher SENSE stat increase Player's range. Mana cost is 0]
Thalia smiled as she collapsed to the ground.
[NAME: THALIA LVL: 38
JOB: ERROR
TITLE: NONE FATIGUE: 0
HP: 3,760
MP: 2,605
STRENGTH: 50 VITALITY: 36
AGILITY: 82 INTELLEGENCE: 150
SENSE: 257
REMAINING POINTS:0]
[PASSIVE]
SAVANT Lv. 1
Due to high natural affinity to mana, your growth rate is accelerated to 150%.
INSIGHT Lv. 1
Bonus to Intelligence and Sense.
[ACTIVE]
AURORA Lv. 2
Light based magic that may be used as an attack or imbued into objects, increasing its attack/defense/durability. Reduces magic resistance and physical defense on target area by 50% for 1 minute.
LUCIDITY Lv. 1
Allows Player to see mana. Player may see through space including dimensional walls.
Higher SENSE stat increase Player's range. Mana cost is 0.