In the past week since discovering the new Mythic Dungeon, the Night Furys and I had established a steady routine.
Our mornings were dedicated to maneuverability and endurance training. We'd race, I'd conjure obstacle courses using various forms of elemental and illusory magic, or we'd use the natural obstacles the earth itself provided. Most of our time was spent in the air, but a few hours were dedicated to terrestrial and aquatic training.
Night Furys are not natural swimmers, so all three of them struggled in the water. I had to teach them how to utilize their tails and wings for swimming, guiding them through the movements.
During the second half of the day, the four of us would continually spar; either in the sky high above the clouds, landlocked in dense forests or rocky slopes, and yes, even underwater (though only for a couple minutes). At times we'd do two on two battles or even three on one, but for the most part it was every reptile for themselves, an all-out brawl with no holds barred.
The fights would get tense, and I had to utilize both Restoration and Holy Magic to heal serious wounds and bruises more than once.
During the evening, we'd track down some dungeons. This is when we trained our teamwork. Despite being naturally lone hunters, the Night Furys were surprisingly good at utilizing pack tactics and working as a single unit. It helps that they're able to fully understand Draconic, even if they can't quite speak it. They're also adept at understanding and utilizing body language.
At night, while the other three black dragons slept, I experimented with runic magic. I have a few theories on how to utilize it to negate weaknesses and boost strengths. I just have to make the runes more energy efficient.
I also continued the dungeon raiding, grinding to get as many levels as I could. Due to the growing scarcity of the dungeons in my explored areas, I was having to travel further and further to find more of them.
We've faced quite a variety of enemies in the dungeons, from elementals, undead, pirates, griffons, and more. It's been a healthy variety that's given me and the Night Furys quite a bit of practical experience in several different combat situations.
And tonight I've finally reached the threshold I was aiming for. I got the notifications as I stepped out of a Rare Dungeon, one full of harpies, avians, and bird-people.
Notice!
The Prerequisites have been reached.
Would you like to select a new class?
Y/N
I smiled. Archmage is now level 125, halfway to completion. As such, I'm able to choose another class. I've also reached the first objective in my Solo Leveling quest, which is to gain fifty levels. Man, I've spent days grinding and searching by now.
But it's all been worth it.
Select Your Class!
Fighter, Mage, Rogue, Support
Now that I've obtained Archmage, there is absolutely no reason for me to go into the Mage section again. Not for a long while at least.
I'm aiming for another Ultimate Class, so into Fighter we go.
Select a Subclass!
Barbarian, Warrior, Paladin, Warlord, Soldier, Monk, Battlemage
Martial Artist and Assassin are my current Fighter Classes. Taking a look at my skillset as a fighter overall, my abilities are definitely in line with an assassin build, one that's focused into strength thanks to Corded Muscle. Should I continue to build off of that?
Monk seems like it'd compliment my current build the most; it would more than likely fall right in line with Martial Artist.
Barbarian, Paladin, and Warrior seem more like tank type classes. If I want to round out my build more, I should probably go with one of those.
Soldier and Warlord…to be honest, I have no idea what those would entail. How is Soldier different from Warrior, and what benefits could being a soldier of all things possibly have? It's tempting to take one of these out of pure curiosity.
Battlemage only became visible after I got Archmage. Looks like it replaced Earth Monk. Going off the name alone, I'm guessing it's some kind of fighter that utilizes a select few spells in combat. That one seems like it'd complement my current classes the most. It's also definitely a Unique Class at least. The fact that it became available only after I unlocked an Ultimate Class basically guarantees that.
Let's check it out.
Battlemage
Battlemages are essentially wizard-warrior hybrids. They are highly versatile on the battlefield, able to wield multiple skill sets with both magical and martial might. Many magical nations covet them, for they are literally one-man armies.
Stating the obvious, I have access to a lot of magic. Having a class that specializes in utilizing magic in combat not only complements my Classes and Skills, it enhances my entire corporal build, from racial traits to class abilities.
Select a Subclass!
Forerunner, Hunter, Sentinel, Slayer, Prophet, Vanguard
Hold up, what is this? The titles for these subclasses...aren't what I was expecting. It isn't gonna have me choose a type of magic? Or does this choice determine that?
Either way, I can use deductive reasoning here.
Forerunner seems like it'd have something to do with DEX or END. Hunter…maybe DEX and INT based? Sentinel and Vanguard…those two seem like tank-type titles, so perhaps END or STR? Slayer could be those two as well…Prophet seems like it'd be WIS and INT. Or CHA.
Without selecting one, there's no real way to be sure.
I could be completely wrong, but I'll choose one that seems like it'll complement my current skills, or round out my build more.
Martial Artist and Assassin already cover my DEX and battle I.Q. I need to start covering areas that I'm not entirely potent in, so maybe we should aim for more of a tank and damage dealing skillset.
However, I do have a Racial Skill tree and more Rare Features to explore; as I build up Stat Points I can use those to evolve my body to become a natural tank, and save the Classes for damage dealing abilities. So how about we go with one that'll most likely split the difference.
Subclass Gained!
Slayer
Slayer Battlemages are adept at taking out larger creatures and structures, utilizing a form of might and magic that is efficient and powerful. Their fighting styles vary, but generally favor a head-to-head style of combat.
When facing opponents that are larger than you, your spells, skills, and Stats gain a 10% boost.
Battlemage (Slayer) - LVL 1/150, 0%
Gain 4 STR, 2 END, and 2 WIS every level up.
I chose Slayer and I'm not disappointed. The stat gains here round out my current build, giving both STR and END the boost needed to operate at more of a tank and damage dealing capacity.
That 10% boost will become next to useless when I age and grow, but I have other methods to work around that. I'll just have to invest some of my new points in Assassin. And in the instance I do come across opponents bigger than myself, I now have a little caveat to aid me.
Let's see…scrolling through the Battlemage Skill Tree, it looks like the Slayer subclass utilizes a lot of skills and spells that enhance the physical body, especially when it comes to dealing and taking damage. That's honestly perfect.
With this class (including my Racial Stat Gains and Corded Muscle perk), I'll gain 6 STR, 4 END, 4 INT, 6 WIS, and 2 CHA every level up.
DEX might actually fall behind. It won't rise as Battlemage levels up. Should I merge my Fighter Classes now to work around that? Or would it be smarter to hold off before I do that, and build up more levels and skills.
I had to merge four Classes total to unlock an Ultimate Class, two of which were Unique Classes. I currently have three Fighter classes, only one of which is Unique…
I do still have over two months to level back up if I merge some classes and skills, not to mention that Mythic Dungeon…
Screw it. I'll do it. But I need to purchase something first.
Killing Mastery
You now have innate knowledge of how to kill a specific race of being, regardless of how powerful they are. This ability comes in great significance when dealing with seemingly unstoppable opponents and allows you to gain knowledge on how to end their lives with expedient efficiency.
This ability scales with your INT and WIS stat.
Target Race(s): Dragons, Humanoids
It cost 50 points, but I imagine a large portion of beings I'll end up fighting will be human. This should give me an edge when fighting smaller opponents that are humanoid.
Now we can do this:
Notice!
You are about to merge Assassin (Class), and Martial Artist (Class).
Do you wish to proceed?
Y/N
"Yes."
Notice!
Assassin (Class) and Martial Artist (Class) have been merged.
Unique Class gained!
Ninja - LVL 75/150
Gain 4 DEX, 2 END, and 2 WIS every level up.
Specialization Selected:
Assassination
Ninja who specialize in assassination are quick and efficient killers. They tend to favor stealth kills, and are proficient with moving quietly. But they are no strangers to open combat, using their skill and knowledge to quickly and efficiently take down their opponents.
Sneaking is 20% more effective.
Striking an opponent's vital areas (i.e. head, neck, crotch, etc.) guarantees a Critical Hit.
I don't get to choose the subclass for this one? It must've auto-selected for me due to my overwhelming amount of assassin related skills and perks, or because it was unlocked by merging the Assassin class. Maybe I should've invested in Martial Artist a bit more before I merged the two…assuming it would've even done anything.
But I'm not complaining. That's a pretty great perk.
Though what is disappointing…it seems I don't get chakra or chi, or anything like that. Don't get me wrong, I can live with that just fine. I've got magic, which is much more versatile, but it's still a bit of a let-down.
As I was considering which of my two new Unique Classes to equip for my next dungeon run, the System hit me with another notification.
Notice!
The Prerequisites have been met!
You may select another class.
Select Your Class!
Fighter, Mage, Rogue, Support
Wait, what? I can choose another class? Why?
I scanned over all the system windows, my reptilian eyes darting back and forth, rereading everything twice over.
…Is it because Ninja is already at fifty percent completion? Thinking back, when I merged my classes last time, none of them managed to breach even thirty-five percent completion, but this one made it to fifty.
Did this happen because the two classes I merged were maxed out? Again, either way, I will not complain! I can totally exploit this! That second Ultimate Class might be closer than I originally anticipated! Now, what else can we get?
"Fighter," I declared.
Select a Subclass!
Barbarian, Warrior, Paladin, Warlord, Soldier, Monk, Arcane Knight
My current classes are Ninja, Battlemage, and Archmage. Two unique classes and an ultimate. With the way my stats currently fall, what would be the best to take this time?
"Status," I called forth my stats page, moving a few text boxes around.
Name: Kilgara
Age: 15
Race: Arcane Royal Dragon
Rank: Youngling
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Level: 300
Class: Archmage - LVL 125/250, 41%
HP: 38,000
MP: 462,700
SP: 47,500
STR: 550
END: 950
DEX: 608
INT: 1,322
WIS: 1,082
CHA: 806
LUK: 500
Points: 515
My stats didn't drop nearly as much as before. I only lost twenty-five levels from merging and gaining Ninja.
It also doesn't look like I necessarily need to go into a tank class. END is my third highest stat. Going into another strength or damage dealing class might be my best bet here.
I should probably choose a Unique Class if I want to better my chances at gaining another Ultimate Class, but the options for Unique Classes I can use to round out my build are fewer and fewer. It seems that the further you delve into certain classes, the more specialized the unique options become.
Currently the only Unique Classes available are Monk and Arcane Knight.
Arcane Knight is the only new one. I'm guessing it would increase STR and INT, or even END. What features would make it different from Battlemage? Battlemage is a class that already utilizes spells for hand-to-hand combat.
Let's see what it entails.
Arcane Knight
Arcane Knights are arcanist warriors who specialize in weaponizing magic for physical combat. Whereas most magic wielders tap into mana and apply an elemental nature or affinity to it, Arcane Knights, like Arcanists, wield raw mana for their techniques. This gives them an innate resistance to raw arcane damage.
Honestly, this class compliments my Affinity too perfectly.
Arcane Knight, LVL 1/150, 0%
Gain 2 STR, 2 DEX, 2 END and 2 INT every level up.
Class Traits Gained!
Arcane Specialist
As an Arcane Knight, you specialize in refining raw mana. You can conjure and channel this mana through various weapons, armor, tools, and other such tools.
Arcane damage is mitigated by 20%.
Arcane Enhancement
Arcane Knights specialize in enhancing their gear with mana. You are able to utilize magic to enhance and enchant weapons, armor, tools, etc., increasing their effectiveness, durability, and efficiency.
Yep, too perfect.
Concentrating, I held out my front talon and focused. Power flowed through me as a translucent dagger appeared in my claw, forming from a swell of red mana that converged on itself. It reminds me of the 'conjure weapon' spells you see in Skyrim.
A handy ability for sure, but I'm not exactly a wielder of weapons. Although…
I dispelled the dagger, focusing power in my talon again. Utilizing Arcane Manipulation, I cast the spell again, this time on my claws. The same swell of red mana converged, but this time the translucent red energy manifested around my talons, essentially lengthening, sharpening, and strengthening them.
The skill says it can utilize armor too, but I'll have to experiment with that later. The sun will be up soon, and I'm still quite a distance from Thorn, Saphira, and Alva.
I dismissed all the System Windows. Spreading my wings, I took off, flying towards the clouds.
The sun barely peeked over the horizon by the time I landed near the sleeping Night Furys.
A few days later…
Natsu inhaled deeply, the cold air stinging his lungs. To fight off the cold, he forced his body heat to grow, calling upon his dimming magic reserves once again.
His eyes opened to the sight of a burnt corpse, which once belonged to a rather large ice bear of sorts. This one had been even larger than the overgrown bears he's had to deal with the last few weeks.
But bears were only one of the many creatures he's had to fight off.
"Damn that stupid lizard…" He mumbled under his breath. Though he couldn't help the small smile that formed on his face.
Kilgara may have dropped him in the freezing ocean, leaving Natsu to fend for himself in this frozen region of hell, but he couldn't deny just how…efficient this 'training' has been. It was exactly what he was looking for.
He hadn't completely recovered his magic the entire time he'd been here. The cold was relentless out here. To survive, Natsu had to learn to call upon his magic in intervals, and use it sparingly in fights.
If he didn't, he'd probably end up freezing to death.
"Hehe!" Natsu grinned to himself as he began tearing into the dead bear-monster for food, "Just you wait Gray! I'll be able to handle your stupid ice no problem!"
Still smiling to himself, Natsu prepared to chow down on his meal, when a red magic circle suddenly appeared below him.
He barely had time to register what was happening as his vision blurred.
The meat he'd been holding fell to the snowy ground as he vanished.
"AH-CHOO!" Gray sneezed, rubbing at his nose as his eyes watered, "Damn this stupid sand!"
He just finished conjuring an igloo of ice for the night right next to a small oasis of water. The frozen construct looked extremely out of place in the desert, but Gray found that creating a thick barrier of ice around himself was the safest way to get some decent sleep.
Luckily, the desert was freezing at night, so his magic wasn't really at risk of melting while he slept. That's been his only saving grace in almost a month.
For as soon as the sun rose, his icy hut would drip all over him as it melted rapidly. Though it didn't melt nearly as fast these days. The morning of his first day, however, Gray was nearly crushed by chunks of icy slush as his igloo melted in seconds under the blazing desert sun.
There's absolutely no way this desert is normal!
During the day, Gray had to constantly keep moving. If he didn't, he risked getting burned from both the sun and sand.
He'd managed to fashion a makeshift pair of footwraps from plant fibers and the skins of creatures he killed for food. Despite the harshness of the desert, the creatures here had developed traits that protected their bodies, such as scales, chitin, or tough hides. Gray decided to take full advantage of the fact in order to avoid his feet burning and chafing off from merely walking around.
The sandstorms made it even worse.
"When was the last time I actually had all my magic power…" Gray sighed to himself as he lay down on the smooth coolness of his icy floor.
"Can't deny it though…" Gray smirked as he closed his eyes, "Natsu and his lame flames'll be leagues easier to handle after this!"
His eyes were still closed as a red magic circle suddenly appeared beneath him.
"Huh?" Gray opened his eyes as he noticed some foreign light reflecting off the ice around him.
"What the he-" He was cut off as he vanished.
Ymir's eyes remained closed as she listened intently to the sound of the ocean.
She sat in the same place she'd been coming to for a couple months now, meditating just as Kilgara taught her.
To aid in her meditation, she focused on the sounds emanating from the waves of the sea, keeping her posture straight as she heard them crash against the sharp rocks beneath the cliffside she sat upon.
It was what Kilgara taught her; if you find your mind overwhelmed with thoughts and stress, find something nearby you can focus on. Something mundane and constant, like dripping water, wind, rain, your own breath or heartbeat, etc.
Luckily for Ymir, ocean waves are one of the most calming sounds known to mankind.
She inhaled deeply, the fresh and salty air leaving a pleasant feeling in her lungs. The setting sun greeted her as she opened her eyes. She felt a small smile form on her face, and peace seemed to envelope her entire being.
She felt better than she had in years. The sorrow and pain she'd grown accustomed to feeling on a daily basis was now practically non-existent. She first noticed it a week or two ago; it was as if the training to gain magic, all the meditation and the exercise…it was healing her.
That was truly magical. For her, at least.
"Evening, M'lady," Luxion's voice made her jump a bit. You'd think she'd be used to the robotic orb appearing out of nowhere by now.
"You and Kilgara are the worst…" Ymir grumbled slightly at being startled, before her smile returned, "Hello, Luxion- Wait, what happened to you?"
She sat up immediately, concern now etched into her features. Luxion's form was covered in soot and bore more than a few scratches.
"Master is in danger," Luxion stated, "I've been sent to retrieve you. Prepare for a fight."
"Uh…What? Um…okay. Okay," Ymir nodded as she processed that abrupt information. She gulped nervously, trying to steel her nerves, "Take me to him."
"Just grab onto me," Luxion stated as a Draconic rune appeared on him. Kilgara's runic magic…
Ymir took a deep breath, bracing herself as she reached out her hand. She vanished with Luxion as soon as her fingers touched his metallic form.
Earlier that day…
It's been a few days since I gained my new classes. The Night Furys and I have been busy. We've tackled the rest of the dungeons in the area, and are finalizing preparations to enter this new Mythic Dungeon.
"Class List, Status," I commanded aloud, bringing up both screens from my system.
Class List:
Arcane Knight, LVL 25/150, 25%
Gain 2 STR, 2 DEX, 2 END and 2 INT every level up.
Ninja - LVL 90/150, 11%
Gain 4 DEX, 2 END, and 2 WIS every level up.
Battlemage (Slayer) - LVL 22/150, 86%
Gain 4 STR, 2 END, and 2 WIS every level up.
Archmage - LVL 130/250, 56%
Gain 6 INT, 4 WIS, 4 CHA, and 2 DEX every level up.
In total, I've gained sixty-seven levels from our raids. With unique classes and an ultimate one (not to mention the stat gains from my race), this brought my stats above and beyond what they once were when I was this level the first time around.
Name: Kilgara
Age: 15
Race: Arcane Royal Dragon
Rank: Youngling
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Level: 367
Class: Archmage - LVL 130/250, 56%
HP: 60,400
MP: 584,500
SP: 72,480
STR: 822
DEX: 728
END: 1,208
INT: 1,670
WIS: 1,444
CHA: 960
LUK: 500
Points: 850
My MP count now surpasses that of the Archmage from The Kingdom dungeon. And then this happened as well; I got a new perk when my END rose to one thousand.
Perk gained for breaching 1,000 END!
Vigilant Vitality
You gain a boost to your health and stamina, along with a minor healing factor.
Your body is resistant to diseases.
Your body's cellular structure is more adept at taking physical damage.
On the surface, this perk increased my HP and SP calculation modifiers. But the way this perk is worded gives me pause. Once I'm finished here, I'll have Luxion analyze a sample of my cells and DNA again, just to be sure of the changes.
Hm…I have the points now. Luxion gave me quite the lecture for not utilizing them properly. So how about I just bring all my attributes up to one thousand?
HP: 60,400
MP: 584,500
SP: 72,480
STR: 1,000
DEX: 1,000
END: 1,208
INT: 1,670
WIS: 1,444
CHA: 1,000
LUK: 500
Points: 470
The change didn't affect my HP, MP, or SP, but woah, did I get a lot of notices from allocating those points!
Notice!
Perk gained for breaching 1,000 STR:
Enhanced Musculature
All physical attacks double in power.
In a contest of pure strength, your STR is boosted by 10%.
This may seem underwhelming at first, but if all physical damage I deal is doubled, alongside the number of critical hits my classes allow me to make, I can kill quickly and efficiently, no matter how much 'HP' an enemy may have.
Notice!
Perk gained for breaching 1,000 DEX:
Hyper Reflex
Your body's innate reflexes are incredibly refined, allowing your body to act at the speed of thought.
I'm already a very fast thinker. This combined with my already enhanced Kinesthetic Sense? I have a borderline subconscious precognition! Almost like a danger sense of sorts.
Notice!
Perk gained for breaching 1,000 CHA!
Silver Tongue
When you speak, your voice carries weight and a heavy presence. Depending on your words and the social situation, this could enhance your presence with a subtle aura of fear, inspiration, persuasiveness, etc.
I don't really interact with people to begin with. I honestly could've done without this perk just fine, but you never know when you'll need to talk yourself out of a sticky situation. Or maybe your goal is to talk your way into something; either way, I'll take it, though I don't anticipate needing this particular perk anytime soon.
Now then, with that out of the way-
Notice!
Achievement unlocked!
Optimal Conditioning
Objective:
Reach 1,000 in all physical stats.
Reward:
Peak Physique Perk!
50 Stat Points
Notice!
Achievement unlocked!
Mental Clarity
Objective:
Reach 1,000 in all mental stats.
Reward:
Sound Mind Perk!
50 Stat Points
I absolutely love it when this happens.
Peak Physique
Your strength, speed, stamina, senses, agility, reflexes, accuracy, longevity, durability, healing factor, and flexibility are further enhanced.
This perk passively buffs all physical attributes, perks, stats, and traits. This includes any future physical traits gained in your lifetime.
Sound Mind
Your mind is a perfect harmony of intellect, wisdom, and awareness.
Where you aren't the smartest, you're the wisest and most influential. Where you're not the wisest, you're the most influential and the smartest. Where you're not the most influential, you're the smartest and the wisest.
Due to your mental clarity and sound mind, your magic control is enhanced, allowing you to manipulate your mana more freely. This lowers the overall MP cost of spells.
So, what I gather from Peak Physique is that I now have even more raw power. As for Sound Mind…it seems this perk is saying that I'm a jack-of-all trades when it comes to mental prowess. And hey, I'll never say no to any magic related skill! Even if the difference is small, having my spells cost less magic power could spell the difference between life and death in combat.
I gotta say, I've never felt more powerful.
"Let's move," I ordered the Night Furys as I dismissed all the system windows, "This is our final stepping stone before facing The Grand Magic Games."
With that, the four of us stepped through the dungeon portal, one by one.
The mountains of Fiore changed immediately. We found ourselves surrounded by lush steppes and towering sea stacks, all teeming with steep valleys and intimidating slopes.
The clouds were far below us. The sun was setting just over the horizon, and two moons were just barely becoming visible in the dimming warmth the sun provided. It wouldn't be long before nightfall.
I couldn't help the smile adorning my snout. Our black scales would be perfect under the cover of darkness.
"Wait just a few minutes," I told the Night Furys, who were twitching with anticipation. Thorn was especially on edge.
I looked over at a neighboring tower of rock; this one was large enough to be classified as a mountain. Upon its peak stood a large structure half built into the stone. The Monastery, I'm assuming. Its architecture was remarkably similar to that of ancient Chinese and Japanese temples.
Looking at it only solidified my suspicions. This place definitely held Ninjas.
To add to the ambiance of our ambush, I began casting a spell, Alter Environment. I made the change to the climate slowly, dragging out the spell while refining the mana to be silent and minute. After several minutes, clouds started to converge among the darkening sky. A thunderstorm was now imminent.
"They call you the offspring of lightning and death," I said aloud to the Night Furys as I strode forward, spreading my wings, "Let's put that to the test."
I took off, the Night Furys hot on my tail.
A storm was coming.
Drat, the Eldest Apprentice sighed from her desk as she took a peek out the window, If it rains, he'll track water and mud all over the place again!
The Young Apprentice and her had been sharing a room ever since she woke up. And after she declared her feelings and began supporting him in his training…they'd become even closer.
The Elder Apprentice shook the blush rising in her cheeks. Instead of dwelling on the admittedly enjoyable nights she'd been spending with the Young Apprentice, she opted to instead prepare to scold her new lover when he opened their door.
He and a group of their fellow students of the Monastery had been out training in the courtyards late today. And every time it rained, he tracked mud all over their floor when he got back from those late training sessions.
She fumed slightly, the stormy weather dampening her mood as thunder bellowed from the clouds.
She took a deep breath, turning back to the scrolls spread throughout the desk.
Sealing arts were indeed complicated, but the Elder Apprentice had been a scholar for her entire life. She was grasping the concept quickly, at least according to the Great Sage. What usually took years of careful study and practice, she was achieving in mere months.
It tickled her pride, and she definitely rubbed it in the Young Apprentice's face for a while. He'd barely grasped the basics in the same amount of time back when she was unconscious.
The door to their room suddenly opened, revealing the young man himself.
"Stop!" She declared with a firm voice, causing him to freeze as he looked up at her, "Don't you dare take another step before your shoes are off."
"Ah, right," Her lover chuckled as he slipped them off, leaving the muddy shoes at the door.
"So," Her demeanor instantly shifted as she gave him a sweet smile, "How was the training today?"
"Pretty good, actually," He smiled back at her as he sat down on their cot, "I've finally gotten the hang of those new techniques the Sage showed us a while back."
"Took you long enough," She smirked at him, before waving him over, "Now come check this out!"
"Oh? What'd you find?" He ignored her little jab, knowing if he fought it there'd be a chance he'd sleep on the floor.
"The runes used in Sealing Arts!" She excitedly pointed at the diagram depicted in one of the many scrolls she'd been studying, "They're remarkably similar to magic circles! Just a lot more complex. Like, way more! The language they used is so freakin' hard to translate over, but I've finally managed to crack this one! This particular set of runes were used to seal away a Greater Demon way back when!"
"Yeah, I could've told you that," The Young Apprentice smirked, "And I know you know that I already know that. I tried putting a rabbit in a stasis field with it, but it didn't work. The seal was too weak to hold it. What's your point?"
"What you don't know, lover boy," She dug through the parchment, pulling out an older looking scroll, "Is that that wasn't the whole seal; it was only a part of it!"
"Yeah, I already knew that, actually," He chuckled, "I went over it with the old man a while ago; the technique for stringing together multiple kanjeic sealing runes was lost with the creator of the technique when he sealed the demon away. People have tried to recreate it, but their experiments ended with them dying. It's why Fūin Gijutsu is considered taboo and dangerous."
"And just who do you think you're talking to?" The Elder Apprentice smirked back at him (causing his stomach to flutter a bit), "I just successfully strung three of these runes together!"
She held out her hand, which he only just now noticed was covered in kanji that strung together like a chain. The symbols suddenly glowed, which was followed by a puff of smoke. Resting in her hand was a small bird native to the area, one adorned with colorful feathers. The seals on her hand were now gone.
"What!?" The Young Apprentice had an excited look on his face, "That's amazing!"
He grabbed her face, eliciting a squeal from both her and the bird, and planted a large kiss on her lips.
"Damn!" He declared with a smile as he released her, "We're one step closer! You've gotta-"
BOOM!
Their celebration was interrupted as an explosion went off, shaking the foundation of the tower they occupied.
Both apprentices gave each other blank looks before dashing to the door. They looked outside just in time to hear a strange whistling noise.
Pethew! BOOM!
The central temple of the Monastery shattered as a second explosion tore off its roof, setting fire to the building and the surrounding mountainside.
"Huh…?" The Elder Apprentice quietly voiced her shock.
"What the hell?" The Young Apprentice suddenly grit his teeth as a feeling of dread crept over him.
A familiar feeling of dread.
"It can't be…"
He suddenly dashed, heading toward the temple.
"Wait!" The Elder Apprentice quickly reached behind her, grabbing his muddy boots, "He didn't even put on his damn shoes!"
She chased after him, seemingly oblivious as a third explosion rocked the Monastery.