Each hoof stomp was accompanied by a bellow of agony, and every time it used its elemental abilities, the same sound emerged. Initially, the boar was aligned with Earth, but now every time it attacked, it released a strange elemental fusion of Earth and Death. Jonathan knew of the existence of fused elements, like Ice or Decay, but this one was far stranger.
Rippling waves of churned up earth spread from every attack, suffused with bones wrought from compressed Death. Jonathan’s armor was pitted, and his flesh blackened by an earlier contact with one of those bones. It seemed to be an element best described as that of the Grave, of earth so infused with the energy of the dead that it was permanently changed.
Eliza was even more affected by the energy than Jonathan was, despite their now almost identical level. This was the last battle before Eliza reached Tier 5. Although she was only a single level below Jonathan, that gap seemed like a chasm. That wasn’t to say that Eliza wasn’t powerful, she was probably one of the strongest fighters for her level in Telvaria, but compared to Jonathan, few could compare in the arena of potential.
“Do it!” he shouted at Eliza, giving her an opening with a lance of the Void that cut away at a moldering tendon, staggering the boar. Eliza took a deep breath, and then thrust her blazing sword into the wound. Divinity exploded outwards, scouring the monster’s flesh away from the bone. Then a blast wave of compressed air buckled the limb, destroying it from the inside out. It was an attack far beyond Eliza’s level, one made possible by her Outsider status, and her nascent godhood.
Jonathan watched proudly, happy that his allies, or one of them at least, could somewhat keep up. Although his current level of power was leagues beyond any of his companions, he knew that they would catch up. After all, it didn’t matter that they couldn’t beat him in battle. It mattered that they could beat his enemies. When one counted the Hellbreaker as a friend, most battles were guaranteed victories.
As Eliza leaped away, her shoes slamming into the boar’s exposed bones, the monster fell, unable to support itself any longer. The Death crystal pulsed, and released its charge into the body of its host, now too weak to resist. The boar died, and was reborn a moment later, its flesh peeling away to reveal the skeleton below.
Jonathan raced in, resolving to finish the battle before the creature could regain its strength. Already, the bones were sliding back into place, reversing the damage from earlier. His fist slid back into position, and with a shout, he forced enough Void energy to level a mountain into his hand. His knuckles burned with violet fire, and a sheath of brilliant purple coated his hand to its wrist. Then he struck, straight into the center of the gem. The green crystal cracked in half, and the resulting explosion tore the boar apart. Bones clattered to the furrowed ground, in a wide circle.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Jonathan landed amidst a rain of gemstone fragments and dust, feeling enough essence rush into him to gain another three levels. More importantly, Eliza was ready for Tier 5. She quickly sat down and began her ascension, while Jonathan watched over her.
As the sun slid across the grey skies above, Jonathan opened his stat sheet, eager to see what his new class had brought.
Jonathan Harlowe
Tier 5
Void Human(Exalted)
Divinity Aspect: Void Hegemon
Elemental Mastery: 17%
Elemental Juggernaut: Tier 5 Legendary
Active Blessings: The Third Eye of Exal’drin
Level 403
(573 free points)
Strength
8742
Dexterity
7220
Constitution
6947
Resilience
7658
Intelligence
6928
Wisdom
6220
Divinity
240
Health: 156308/156308
Stamina: 196695/196695
Mana: 155880/155880
-
Titles
True Unbound Spirit: Unique
Second Circle Breaker: Unique
Lesser God: Godly
Supreme Initiate: Ancient
Stand Against the Unknown: Ancient
Prodigy of Fusion: Mythical
Lesser Xenocide: Legendary
Greater Giantslayer: Legendary
Iron Will: Epic
Leader of Men: Epic
Refined Form: Epic
Avenger: Epic
Lineage Hunter: Rare
Righteous Killer: Rare
-
Skills
Spark from the Dark: Unique
Maw of the Void: Ancient
Aegis of the Void’s Dichotomy: Ancient
Void’s Hunger: Ancient
Wrath of the Void: Ancient
Minor Endfire: Ancient
Ephemeral Trifecta: Mythical
Void Piercer: Mythical
Void Missile: Mythical
Runic Overcharge: Mythical
Anchored Mind: Legendary
Rune Savant: Legendary
Void Drill: Legendary
Channeled Basic Truesight: Legendary
Sense the Weave: Legendary
Fists of the Maelstrom: Legendary
Minor Enlightenment: Legendary
Void Slipstream: Epic
Warrior’s Trance: Epic
Battle Focus: Rare
Impact: Rare
Focused Scry: Rare
Runes of Power: Rare
Redirect: Uncommon
-
Pathway Skills
Blunt Weapon Mastery(Advanced): Expert 7
Runecrafting Expertise(Advanced): Expert 6
Energy Manipulation(Advanced): Expert 2
-
Martial Path
Flowing Maelstrom: Expert 2
-
Weapon Domain: Expert 7(Advanced)
Metaphysical Domain: Expert 6(Advanced)
Energy Domain: Expert 2(Advanced)
-
Quests
The Strongest: ???
Hellbreaker: Impossible
Pathway of the Titans: Heroic