Dragon Sorcerer 2 - Chapter 81 (Patreon)

Chapter 81- Too Close

A part of me realized that I was not taking this seriously enough. These ogres were a genuine threat to me. Individually they were too slow to pose a serious risk, but my magic wasn’t powerful enough to take them all out and that left me with melee. They weren’t stunned, but the spell had dazed them temporarily and deafened them. That brought me the time for some self-evaluation.

My attitude was likely because I knew in my draconic form that six ogres would be easy to overcome. Then it hit me. I was developing my monk abilities, and that was important. I was syncing better with the class than ever, but I had an entire host of abilities, which I wasn’t using. That would change now.

Project Image

This innate magic was better than any illusion. It created a partially real copy of myself. I could directly control it or give it some vague commands. In this case, I ordered it to attack the enemy, but since it was only 12% solid, I simply instructed it to dodge as best it could. Its health was also only equal to 12% of mine, so it wouldn’t take much to destroy it.

Yet it did have one additional benefit. It started to sprint to one side and then I willed it to cast a spell. No normal illusion could do that.

Force Darts

Three tiny magical missiles flew out from the image’s hands each one striking a different ogre. That got them moving straight for the illusion. I picked off the straggler who was the one I originally injured. While I hated to burn through one of my stored attacks, I needed to end this quickly.

I clawed and fought my way around to his front. I wasn’t exactly sure how the released attack would work. I didn’t even know if physical contact was necessary, but here went nothing. I triggered the stored Claw attack, which was the least of the blows. Even though I was several feet in front of the ogre, translucent claws shot off of my fist. It formed an attack the size of my full claw and came up underneath the ogre’s chin.

His throat was ripped wide open and his jaw hung half off. I followed it up and let loose a series of blows to make sure he was good and truly dead. Then I looked over to see how everyone else was doing. I hadn’t received any help from Lisella, but I saw that she was busy supporting Cami.

Seeing my bonded companion with her tiny frame dancing amongst the ogres made me proud. She was wrapped in buffing magic from Lisella and holding her own better than I would have ever expected. Even the weakest of these ogres was a Tier 2 monster, so I expected she would gain some good XP.

Modessa’s foes were almost all down and Liam was clearing out more of the ogres from a distance. I was still impressed by the explosive power he could back into a slender sliver of wood, but it worked for him.

That left me free to finish off the last three ogres on my side. My image was barely staying ahead of them, so I didn’t have long before they would be focused on the real me again. The idea popped into my head that I should simply transform into an ogre and then meet them with a brute force for brute force, but something just didn’t set right with me about taking such a slovenly and stupid form. Being an evolved monkey was bad enough.

Instead, I grinned as I came up with an idea that would combine some of my abilities. First, I cast a spell and then I opened my Soul Space and activated one of my racial abilities.

Burning Sphere

Manipulate Sand

The sphere of fire sprang into life, hovering around me as the sun in the sky orbits around Iliea the world of the most precious beings, dragons. It was a decently powerful spell, but not enough to take out multiple ogres. Still, I was going to make use of something I’d seen the desert tribes doing.

I directed a stream of sand into the burning sphere and then used my will to further manipulate it. The sand was melted down and then formed into bits of molten glass. My will shaped it into razor-sharp edges. A notification popped up, but I ignored it for now.

Then I pushed the sphere into the back of the closest ogre. His flesh was shredded by a storm of glass and the wounds were seared with fire. He shrieked as glass was embedded under his skin. The monster made the mistake of looking back at me. That not only caused the glass to slice his eyes into shivering jelly but also allowed shards of the glass to blast into this throat, shedding his throat and then cut his insides up as the glass worked its way down his digestive tract.

He screamed like a helpless animal as he was shredded both inside and out and I continued to pour mana into both the spell and the fragments of glass. Because of Thunder Clap, his comrades were deaf and continued to chase after my projected image rather than hearing as their fellow drowned internally in his own blood.

I managed to finish a second ogre the exact same way, but then my mana started to run low. This fight was far harder than it should have been. I was going to need to build up both my Durability and my Mind. Having seen how powerful Lisella was even without knowing all of her skills or spells, drove home this point. The ogres were just another reminder.

Then my image was crushed by the last ogre. He almost seemed confused, with it just dissipated in his hands rather than leaving any blood or a body behind. But the ability had done what I needed it to do. I raced forward and fought this ogre with all of my monk skills. He was simply too slow. It took time, but I broke the bones in his hands, took out his leg and then crushed his skull.

When I looked up, I was pleased to see that the adventurers were watching as Cami finished off the last remaining ogre. That was when I was hit by a slew of notifications and even the ones I had pushed off before.

You have learned the evolution of Sand Manipulation- Glass Manipulation. It diverges enough to become an independent skill. In order to keep this ability, you must spend the requisite 25 DKP to keep it. Failure to do so will prevent you from using the skill in the future and this singular use will only be a happy epiphany which occurred while under duress, never to be repeated.

Spend 25 DKP?

Having seen how effective the ability was, I swallowed the cost. I wanted to keep enough DKP to evolve once I learned about the other evolutions, but this was just too good to pass up. I could think of all kinds of uses for it.

The next notification, though, left me scratching my head.

You may activate your second class. Option: Hidden Blade. You have an aptitude for illusion magic, including the ability to project your image and have demonstrated the ability to deliver devastating and targeted killing blows both internally and externally.

Hidden Blade is a Rare Class.

Stats per level:
 Agility +4

Mind: +3

Free: +3

The class possesses a variety of skills suitable for both hiding and for delivering lethal blows and critical strikes.

That was definitely not the type of class that I envisioned for myself. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that it reminded me of Modessa, but I was having nothing to do with it. With that rejected, I got another notification that I’d been waiting for.

You have defeated 6 x Tier 2 Ogre Bashers.

Threat level was low: 4 DKP gained. (you could have transformed)

You fought in human form and utilized your human class. You are now eligible to earn XP for any creature you directly kill. Due to being significantly outnumbered, XP is multiplied. +1800 XP.

I cursed because it still wasn’t enough to gain another level. I wanted the stat points if nothing else, but then I grinned because of the next message.

Your bonded companion has gained a level. She is now a level 7 Dragon Rider.

You have gained +10% Age Category Growth. You are now 80% of the way towards Mature Adult.

Strength: +5

Durability: +10

Mind: +3

I telepathically congratulated Cami, and then asked her to share her notifications. I was curious to see the class that she was offered but agreed with her rejecting it as inappropriate for how we needed to grow. I couldn’t help but wonder if we were doing something wrong that we were meeting the requirements for classes, but not the type that we would want.

You have met the requirements to evolve your second class. Option: Magic Spear. You have an aptitude for the Spear and have demonstrated a style which weaves your magic and melee together.  

Magic Spear is an Uncommon Class.

Stats per level:
 Strength +1

Agility +2

Durability: +1

Mind: +1

Free: +1

The class possesses a limited number of skills which will combine magic and the spear. It is a common class for those who fight in the military.

Yeah, after reading that, it definitely wasn’t something that I wanted for her. Neither did she of course.

You have defeated 1 x Tier 3 Ogre Shaman and 11 x Tier 2 Shaman Bashers. (Note while fighting beside your bonded dragon companion you gain full credit for all kills attributable to your dragon)

Due to one of the opponents being of a higher Tier than your current level and being significantly outnumbered, your XP is multiplied. +6037 XP. This includes a share of the group XP of 830 XP.

No wonder it took all of her and Lisella’s focus if they had to defeat not only five of the bashers but also a shaman. I was jealous that not only did she gain XP from my kills, but also got XP as part of a group with the other humans. I wondered why I was excluded from that. Yet as soon as I did, I realized the answer. I didn’t consider myself to be part of them. I was apart and it would stay that way. They would have to show me a lot more before I could ever consider them as anything but enemies who I tolerated.

I was about to ask her what she got with her level up and how close she was to the next when the ground around us shook. An explosion of dirt and rock shot up into the air and rained down all around us. Then a low, guttural voice called out. “Found you wyrmling. Let me send you to join your ancestors.”