NOVEL FROG Chapter 70: What in the tarnation!
The ground started to darken under the ophidian warriors’ feet. If one were to see the scene from above, they would see 200 dark spots in a cog-like formation.
An arcanist's greatest trait is their willingness to learn new things. Zyrus had learned the formation deployed from the glemorax chief.
The aliens had the ability to fly and they were masters of close-quarters combat. High attack and defense, coupled with a mobility boost by their wings. The cog formation was perfect for well-rounded troops like them.
However, Zyrus’s summons were different.
Naturally, Oroszlan was able to figure out the formation with a glance. The abyss attribute was infamous for its corrosive and sticky properties. However, its offensive capabilities were lackluster to say the least.
It was a double-edged sword. Even mighty wyverns would be reduced to puddles of energy if they were exposed to abyssal mana for long enough, but on the other hand, even goblins could survive against the corruption for a short while.
[Trial will commence in 00:00:00]
Though one minute was short, both Zyrus and Oroszlan possessed superhuman thinking. The time was more than enough to deploy a basic formation.
*Grrrrrr*
“Focus on defense and injure them with your claws,”
Both leaders gave opposing commands to their troops. Barbary lions were 2 meters long with lean and muscular bodies. Their steel-like nails scratched with a jarring sound against the ophidian warriors’ scales.
While their ivory tusks were able to penetrate the blackish-green scales of the ophidian warriors, their yellow fur was also shredded like tofu under the black claws of their target.
Interestingly, neither side was using weapons. The barbary lions possessed remarkable strength and stamina. With their swift claws and sharp tusks, they were a force to be reckoned with in close quarters.
On the other hand, Zyrus had merged the verdara beetles’ offensive and the glemorax warriors’ defensive traits into his summons. With a trace of the Sylvarix bloodline and abyssal mana to sublimate those powers, they weren’t the least bit inferior to their enemies.
Both sides were equally matched in individual power, but this was a 500 vs 200 battle.
Well, 199 to be exact. The Fallen knight hadn’t moved from Zyrus’s side since the battle began.
“If you’re injured, use your body to protect the ones who are healthy. Retreat to the center when you can’t hold on anymore,” Zyrus commanded in a steady voice.
He wanted to talk with Oroszlan and fork out some knowledge from him, but he knew that the other wouldn’t say anything useful unless he won the fight.
‘And I don’t have the luxury to chat either,’
He had used nearly all of his mana. To put it into numbers, it should be around 300 MP. With his total MP of 370 and 70% recovery rate, he could get back nearly 260 MP in an hour.
Thus, he recovered 4 MP per minute. To put that into perspective, a standard fireball spell costs 5 MP.
Zyrus didn’t know any spell that he could use with abyssal mana. He could create one if he wanted to, but it was pointless. Spreading out the corrupted mana was more useful than concentrating the mana in a tangible form.
‘Besides, all spells unrelated to summoning are forbidden in the trial,’
*Grrrr*
*Rawwr*
The barbary lions growled and brawled out with the ophidian warriors who used their claws and whip-like tails. While the claws dealt more damage, the tails’ blows were painful enough to make the lions teary-eyed.
5 minutes..10 minutes..half an hour..
Neither side was able to kill the other. All they could do was injure the opponent and let them be rescued by others. Oroszlan tried to single out some ophidian warriors, but it failed every time as Zyrus’s summons' were slippery like eels.
This was the first time Zyrus was fighting a drawn-out battle. A fight without any surprise attacks or trump cards, A pure and barbaric battle of strength.
“Took you long enough,”
*ROOOOAR*
Golden ripples spread across the battlefield as Oroszlan roared at the barbary lions. Buffing one’s summons was a basic skill for any summoner.
The barbary lions’ catlike eyes shone with vigor. Although there weren’t any external changes in their appearance, their strength and speed were enhanced by a notch.
“Fall back,”
Zyrus commanded his troops while observing Oroszlan with his eyes of annihilation. He could see the circular rings of mana which were pulled into the barbary lion’s body. Just copying the others' skills was beneath his status as an arcanist.
‘It’s similar to overdrive,’
Zyrus was able to guess the truth at a glance. The roar used by the lion-headed giant wasn’t a skill recognized by the sanctuary.
Overdrive improved an object’s performance by consuming its durability, whereas this roar increased physical attributes by consuming vitality.
‘This is rather lackluster,’
Even the ogres and trolls used better skills than this. However, Zyrus had to admit that the skill was effective. More than 50 ophidian warriors were gravely injured in just a couple of blows.
Adding to the 70 who were more or less crippled during this battle, he was left with no more than 60 summons who could fight with all their strength.
“Lead the 20 who are mildly injured and attack the healthy lions,” Zyrus spoke to the fallen knight in a solemn tone.
“As you command. However, I do have a wish, My liege.”
“Oh, do you need a weapon or something?”
“A name. Please bestow a name upon me after we finish this battle,”
“I like your confidence. Show me your worth then,” Zyrus tapped the knight’s soldier and moved back with the injured ophidian warriors.
The cog-like formation was reduced to a ring by the barbary lions battering. It was only a matter of time before 60 warriors broke down against 350 lions.
Zyrus wasn’t the only one whose summons suffered grave injuries.
Oroszlan observed with calm eyes as the fallen knight tore apart the barbary lions. Halberds were notorious on large-scale battlefields. You can pierce the opponents’ armor with a thrust or slash their neck and limns with a slash. Even if neither works, with enough force you can just smash their heads.
And a Sylvarix had everything needed to make use of that weapon.
*Grrowl*
“Don’t disappoint our liege,” The fallen knight raised the remaining dozen ophidian warrior’s morale. His black armor was smeared with dark red blood of the barbary lions. Since this was the proving grounds and not any ring in the sanctuary, the corpses didn’t disappear into motes of light.
“Are you just going to comment without doing anything?”
Oroszlan was well aware of Zyrus's intentions. He guessed that Zyrus wanted his summons to be injured for whatever reason, but he was confident in his skills as well. So what if they were injured? he could just heal them back.
It was a foolproof plan. However, it was on the basis that his guess was right.
“I’m afraid that won’t do,” Zyrus shook his dead and used his remaining mana. He knew that Oroszlan wanted to teach him after seeing his summoning skills.
But their paths were totally different. His goal wasn’t to become a summoner. Even though it was a unique class, he treated Balaur summoner as nothing more than a tool.
There was a fundamental difference between using a tool and understanding it.
'He may be a great summoner, but he's too naive to fight someone like me,'
Zyrus’s mana triggered the blackened ground.
*RUMBLE*
It didn’t end there. The entire island shook under the tremors of mana.
Oroszlan was flustered under the doomsday-like situation. He couldn't guess where such earth-shaking power came from.
He didn't know that this wasn’t a real floating island to begin with.
It was an array. And as strong as it may have been, it needed mana to function.
“Now, do you realize why I spread that mana?”
The power of abyss could corrode anything in existence. He had spent nearly 500 MP to achieve this result. This was also the reason why correct attributes were important.
A hundred fireballs might not kill the same number of barbary lions. But the corrosion of abyss achieved with the same amount was enough to bring down an island.
“Hehe.. Are you sure about that?”
Zyrus stared at Oroszlan with an evil grin and looked at the injured ophidian warriors. They knew what they had to do.
*Splurt*
*Bang*
Nearly a hundred ophidian warriors exploded their hearts. The blackened ground absorbed their blood and flesh and became alive.
Hundreds of barbary lions were absorbed into the tar-like land. The Sylvarix had the ability to evolve without limits. It was no wonder such an abomination was born when it was mixed with the corrosive mana of abyss.
‘Argh- it’s more painful than them dying,’
Zyrus knelt on the ground due to the sudden pain. He was connected to his summons, and as such he could feel what they were feeling.
“Get a hold of yourself!” The fallen knight roared in fury.
*BOOOM*
The black land trembled under the roar of the fallen. Unlike Zyrus who was a living being, he was born to lead the legion of abyss. Scattered wills of the ophidian warriors became firm and gathered around the fallen knight.
Even Zyrus didn’t expect such an outcome. He just wanted to kill the remaining barbary lions with the burst of corrosive mana.
‘But to think that my incantation would become a reality…’
[Congratulations! You have passed the trial]
[Extra rewards will be given due to the increased difficulty]
[You have obtained a rare item: Oroszlan’s journal]
[You have unlocked the unique class: Balaur summoner]
*Crackle*
“You should’ve done that from the start,” Zyrus clicked his tongue at the fading Oroszlan. Though he was unable to learn anything useful, the journal should answer some of his questions.
‘Besides, he is my biggest reward.’
He had acquired a knight who would one day become a general of his empire.
“From this day forth, you shall be known as Elsid.”