Syl: Chapter 124 (Patreon)

Chapter 124: The Final Source

As expected, I awoke before Trixie, who had somehow managed to entangle herself even more in her hammock. I stealthily made my way out of our expansive tree fort and resumed my practice. I was becoming increasingly adept at merging a basic projectile spell with an additional effect, a skill I was eager to master as it would enhance all my basic attack spells.

'I'm a little surprised I haven't earned an emblem, skill, or something for all my work. Maybe I can ask the guild about that; surely there's a glossary of common emblems and how to go about achieving them. Although Whitney did mention that people like to hoard their power.'

As predicted, I finished my spell in roughly two hours and was testing it out quite happily. After the initial acid struck and did its melting damage, it would linger around and keep going. It was reminiscent of my adhesive acid slime shot combo, and once again, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and confusion, a familiar feeling in my magical journey.

'Seriously. I discovered a custom spell, then merged it into another spell to mimic something I could do two evolutions ago... I'm starting to understand why Gramps was so upset.'

After only a few more casts of my newly renovated [Acid Dart], I finally got the level up.

<Proficiency gained. [Corrosion Magic LV 4] improved to [Corrosion Magic LV 5].>
<[Corrosion Magic LV 5] spell [Contagion] learned.>

As the spell's information was written to my mind, I couldn't help but chuckle. The spell would take all afflictions and debuffs from a target, halve their current duration, and spread them in a cloud released from the target. Anyone caught in the released cloud would have one chance to resist or receive all the spread afflictions and debuffs at the newly halved duration.

I immediately thought of a scenario where I could cast [Contagion], then [Decay] on every target but one, then cast [Contagion] again and repeat the process; that was until I continued going through the spell and realized that it somehow marked what it spread and prevented them from being further spread.

'That's a letdown. My own fault for jumping to conclusions before finishing reading.'

Even if I couldn't keep spreading the same conditions repeatedly, it was still an amazing spell, and, in the right situations, it could save me a lot of time and effort. From what I understood, there was no friend or foe component to this, and it would only exclude me from the targeting.

I didn't have a target to try it out on right now, but I cast the spell and held it to scrutinize it. Like [Decay], it was a doozy to comprehend, and vast sections of the spell construct were like staring at a foreign language. The only section I felt comfortable modifying was the one I recognized as the cloud shape it would take when cast.

'Or maybe spores would be more appropriate than a cloud in this case? Either way, I think I'd want to convert this to a projectile. For both safety's sake and for a range of options. How often can I expect enemies to be conveniently grouped up?'

Unlike [Decay], I could pump more mana into it, but judging by the increased mana going straight to the cloud portion of the spell, I figured it would only increase the emerging cloud size. Definitely not a spell to use amongst friends in its current state.

Happy with the current state of my spells, I went back to trialing [Elemental Shift]. Sleeping on it overnight, I thought I should see if my [Sub-Cores] could align themselves. I ordered one of them to use the skill and, with bated breath, watched them do it. My celebration was again premature as I saw the triggered skill apply to me rather than my [Sub-Core].

'Is it because they don't have mana channels?' I wondered, recalling Trixie's explanation. 'Does that mean, in theory, I could shift the mana in my slime?'

I was extremely tempted to try it out, but I had a fight coming up and didn't want to risk breaking my mana, traits, or profile any further. As if preordained, Trixie emerged right when I contemplated trying it out 'just a little.'

"Morning..." Trixie said, mid yawn. "I don't know how you get up so early."

"Morning. Technically, I can go for a day or two without even sleeping, based on previous experience."

"There's a trait for that... The higher you get it, the less sleep you need until you eventually stop entirely." Trixie said, her distaste clearly visible. "I don't know why you'd want to rid yourself of one of the few pleasures of immortality."

I shrugged and decided to change the subject, "So, anything you can tell me about this foe?"

Trixie sighed, "I wish I could, but if I interfered, we would be severely punished." She paused, scratched her head, and then shrugged. "Correction... I'd be punished, but you'd be caught in the collateral crossfire."

While I would have preferred some more information, it wasn't like I had a choice if I was to believe Trixie, and so far, her track record was pretty spotless other than the occasional prank thrown in.

"So, where to?" I asked.

"The lake. You sure you ready?"

"I can't think of any skills or traits I could easily gain a level. Unless we wait around longer?"

Trixie shook her head, "No, you're right. Leaving her alone any longer might actually be to your detriment, and it sounds like you've grabbed all the low-hanging fruit."

I wasn't sure what to expect, so I took my "Blueblin" form as I stacked all my defensive traits again and had everyone recast [Arcane Armor]. Since Trixie said it was at the lake, I could assume it was an aquatic foe, and likely Ice or Fire would be my weapon of choice, but I left myself elementally unaligned for now.

It didn't take us long to land at the edge of the lake, and once again, I was amazed at how crystal clear the water was, but I couldn't spot anything living inside it. I cycled through all my senses, and the best I got was a high concentration of water mana near the center.

"Come, let's go make ourselves known," Trixie said and started fluttering toward the center area of the lake.

I followed cautiously, scanning the water below, still unable to spot anything living or otherwise. I expected to find something when we reached the center, but it was still just the two of us. Trixie frowned and impatiently tapped her foot against nothing while she fluttered about.

"Is she ignoring us? Surely, she should have felt us arrive." Trixie complained.

"...Do we just wait around?" I asked, unsure how to proceed.

"No... How about we knock? A good [Fireball] straight down should do the trick." Trixie said with a wink.

"Are you serious? Is that why you said she'd attack me on sight because you wanted me to provoke her?" I said, frowning.

Trixie halfheartedly chuckled and shook her head. "Fine. I'll just steal some of her essence flow; that should wake her up."

Trixie closed her eyes briefly, and I almost instantly felt the large source of mana below rapidly approaching us. Bursting from the lake was a girlish figure with greyish-blue skin and what looked like fish scales along her limbs and partially running up her neck to reach her face. A webbing was between her fingers and toes, similar to a frog, although her fingernails were black and elongated. Rather than hair, she had what looked like constantly dripping water pouring down her scalp, and her eyes looked like giant sapphires. I had initially assumed she was naked but then noticed that rather than clothes, she seemed to be wearing almost a toga made entirely of running water. Rather than flying, she seemed to be standing atop a solid water platform, which defied gravity.

<Aquillia [Spirit Candidate]; Undine LV 54; Hydromancer LV 36; Elemental Affinity: Water.>

The second I saw her, my emblem immediately reacted. Worthy!

I shuddered. Was Trixie serious about putting me up against her, or was the pixie finally showing her true colors, and this was her plot to eliminate me.

No. That was my paranoia talking. I had to give her the benefit of the doubt; she'd taught me a new form of magic, helped me train my magic skills, and gave me information on how to directly unlock an advanced class.

The undine seemed angry initially, but she was startled when she noticed us. "Trixie, wh-what are you doing here?"

"Oh, you know... Just visiting. It's been so long, after all," Trixie replied, dripping with sarcastic venom. "I've been cooped up for far too long."

"I-I see... Glad to hear you're out and about and doing... Well."

"No thanks to you." Trixie snapped back, and the undine visibly gulped.

"I don't know what you mean."

"Really?" Trixie responded with a glare that gave me chills, even though I wasn't the target. "You didn't notice a fellow spirit on the island you just happened to be squatting on? The same spirit who was trapped and likely reported missing?"

"Yes?" The undine responded as if she really believed that would be enough.

Trixie burst into uncontrolled laughter, causing the undine to shift nervously.

"Look, even if you're upset, you aren't allowed to act against a candidate unless you want to be banished." The undine responded after gathering some false courage.

Trixie smirked. "Yes. I certainly can't attack you directly. Or even help someone against you."

Despite the open hostility in Trixie's words, the undine seemed to grow more confident in herself. Was she an idiot? Trixie glanced at me and gave me a cheerful smile. The undine finally seemed to notice my presence.

"Who's this blue goblin?" She demanded.

"This is my good friend, Syl," Trixie replied, and I gave an awkward wave in response.

The undine seemed to examine me closely and then shuddered. "Y-you've brought another water spirit to challenge me? I know you're upset, Trixie, but be reasonable."

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Trixie said, giggling to herself.

The undine turned to me, "Look, I don't know what she told you, but you should give up. I'm far stronger than you, and I've been gathering essence here for decades. I'm one of the furthest along water spirits."

I sighed, not really understanding the situation fully. "Look. I just want the island essence to return to normal to get a yellow slime to spawn."

I thought my explanation was reasonable, but the undine glared at me and shook her head. "I am not leaving the island; I claimed this essence nexus. Even if I left temporarily, reclaiming it would take me forever."

"Can't I just give you mana like I've given Trixie? I don't see why you need the essence specifically."

The undine looked shocked at me, but Trixie just laughed.

"She's not eating, she's leveling up. As spirits, we can channel great quantities of essence into direct experience; it takes longer than killing monsters, but it's far safer and easier."

"You can just sit on your backside all day and gain free levels!?" I exclaimed, horrified.

"Well, only the lazy or the cowards do it. I only did it briefly when I was first born." Trixie answered.

"Is that why she's only an intermediate class?" I asked.

"Yeah, she's probably neglected to train her skills, so she lacks the requirements. She's probably trying to just brute force her way through." Trixie answered.

"Oh, big talk from little Miss Prodigy!" The undine said, shaking her head. "Not everyone is as barbaric and lucky as you; it's no wonder you got yourself locked up."

I couldn't believe my ears. The human nobles' leeching experience from adventurers was bad enough, but this was beyond that. While I could hardly call myself weak and pathetic right now, I definitely didn't start that way; I had to struggle just to survive my first day, almost eaten by my brethren. Meanwhile, this undine just sleeps in her lake all day and just levels up for free, with no risk, no struggle, just pure privilege.

I refused to back down. Especially because she was standing in the way of my yellow slime.

"Last chance, Aquillia! Leave, or I'll take you out." I warned.

Aquillia snorted, "Big talk for a little one. Trixie can't help you; you're all alone, and this is my domain."

She raised her arms outwards, and the entire surface of the lake shook.