Alex pondered these options. Both seemed dangerous, especially retaliation, so he decided to play it safe. “Predict the consequences of retaliation.”
The hologram showed a giant, flaming crater a thousand yards in diameter.
“Thank you, Iss… No, retaliation doesn’t suit me.” Alex furrowed his brow in thought. “How did he pierce the ship’s energy shield? What kind of magical skill is this?”
Then the unthinkable happened: Alex rushed at Leach like an ethereal spirit… and passed straight through him.
The undead froze, looking around and sniffing.
A moment later, Alex’s spirit returned to his body. His head spun, and he felt nauseous. He forced a smile, reassuring his anxious clanmates that he was okay. “My new skill, I have to get used to it.”
.
Attention, player Phoenix!
Certain magical practices had affected you.
Epiphany implemented (Modified Copy spell mastered, Dark Ghost cluster)
Hidden Essence ability activated (phantom puncture of Leach Nekri)
Modified Copy spell implemented
Leach Nekri’s abilities were intercepted and duplicated:
Death Archer transformed into Ghost Archer (Dark Ghost cluster)
Death Warrior transformed into Swordsman – Son of Shadows (Dark Ghost cluster)
Source: Mallorns
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Alex consulted the spellbook to make certain all these spells, and a combat form, were there. However, the list of abilities was inactive. He had been fortunate to notice the clue in time.
.
Disciple Third Class Degree required, specialization — Dark Mage
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“That doesn’t make any sense!” Alex quipped.
I have to figure out all these clusters, ranks, and specializations. But for now, I need to try new skills.
When Alex decided to use the Ghost Archer, he felt something invisible and a large zip past him, blowing a gust of air.
“Wow!” he exclaimed as a huge black bow appeared in his left hand. It oozed darkness and seemed to have several different specializations – combat bow, hunting bow, and sabotage bow.
Alex drew the string, suppressing the urge to let loose.
The bowstring was strong and bright blue. The arrow was as long as a spear, with a tip of black crystal covered with dark flame. Alex knew no black fire existed, but here, right before his eyes, the arrowhead burned with black flames.
He quenched his thirst with two glasses of cool water, then used the Son of Shadows spell. Even though time was running out, he couldn’t help but stare at himself on the hologram.
His body seemed to be tinged gray. Even the whites of his eyes were darkened. He hold two strange swords – wide, triangular in shape, vaguely reminiscent of the Italian cinqueeda, of a dark blue color. They were surprisingly lightweight.
The undead slammed into the spaceship, striking it over and over again.
Alex gritted his teeth. The undead leader seemed determined to be a thorn in his side.
The time for a duel had come.
“Dark Radiance, give me a couple of minutes,” Alex said.
“Yes, captain. Hood luck,” the ship’s AI said, accompanied by the rumble that rolled over the bulkheads of the ship.
Alex stood at the exit, driving away his doubts and fears. A cold confidence swelled inside him.
“Open the door!” he ordered.
The door slid open. Alex leaped forward and ran at his enemy.
Leach screeched. The Takh-takh-takh of his white jagged arrows thundered in Alex’s ears.
Alex deftly maneuvered through the area, using the micro-portal to dodge the deadly arrows. Leach squealed, swore, and raged without cease. It gave Alex strength, and he fired a burst of four arrows of his own.
It’s time to fight back. Alex at the limit of his capabilities, knew he would be overwhelmed if the undead’s advance kept accelerating.
Alex activated the Ghost Archer, using the portal to move ten yards to the left. He shot twice, one arrow aimed at the ghoul and the second slightly to the left, going with his gut.
Everything worked out as he expected. Leach was able to dodge the first arrow but immediately fell under the second. The undead had some kind of passive defense working.
A ball, flashing sharply in blue, formed around him but burst like a balloon a moment later. Along with the pieces of defense, Leach had also been injured, falling and covering his head with his hands. Alex sprinted towards him, but when he reached the spot, he found only a pair of feet in crystal shoes remained of this extravagant undead.
Damn Cinderella. He turned, waved, and addressed his clanmates watching him on the hologram. “Hey, come here! Iss, return the Ultras to their original positions so they can repair the ship. Use the warehouses to upgrade them if needed.”
Alex crept to the edge of the hill to survey the Mellorns, surrounded by hordes of zombies. The sight wasn’t for the faint of heart. Some frenziedly dug into the ground, shaking their heads, clanking their jaws. Others stood motionless in the rain like a large terracotta army.
He turned toward the other side of the hill, watching with a smile as his troops rushed towards him. He picked up the undead’s crystal shoes, without a doubt a powerful artifact oozing magic. Try as he might, though, he could see neither its stats nor its name.
It isn’t yet available to me by rank, I guess, Alex thought, stowing the shoes in a subspace warehouse.
By this time, his clan members had joined him. After listening to their enthusiastic congratulations and receiving the girls’ kisses, Alex ordered, “Form a square. Our task is this – we make our way to the Dark Mallorns and fight until the undead are vanquished.”
The Ice Vigors unit approached the magical trees like a red-hot knife through frozen dust, and formed a circle around them. However, the undead weren’t about to flee. A noisy din, fumes,
