Chapter 187: Undercurrents
Chapter 187: Undercurrents
Chapter 187: Undercurrents
You defeated - Earl Kamron: Corruption Overlord - Level 274!
| Extra experience is granted for defeating an enemy many levels above!
You have Levelled up!
| Oculus Witch Level 161-> Oculus Witch Level 165
| Voidmare Level 161 -> Voidmare Level 165
You have gained 40 stat points.
| You now have 1416 Intelligence.
The moment her target was dead, Mind Domain ended.
Dominating Sovereigns Eye level 9 -> Dominating Sovereigns Eye level 10 [ Max ]
| Conditions not met for evolution.
Currently, it was the only other skill that had reached its maximum level. However, because it was a Transcendent skill, she wasn’t too worried that she was unable to evolve it. In time, it would come, but it wasn’t something she could attempt to chase.
Returning back to the land of the living, Astrid took a relieved breath. In some moments of the fight, she was worried she wouldn’t have the strength to defeat him. From when he cancelled her consciousness to the outside, or his incredibly high physical capabilities. However, in the end–she came out on top.
She had a vague idea of where his body was. It was in the distance, under a pile of rubble. It was most likely a cellar.
Astrid didn’t know why he had to be here, but she guessed it was because he had to be in the vicinity to control that self explosion attack from before.
Originally, she wanted to scout Earl Kamron’s memories. But trying to fight with her life on the line–it wasn’t possible. In the end it didn’t really matter. She had gained most of what she needed, and the most important part was that he wasn’t directly under the ‘Order’. Rather, he used their influence to achieve his goals.
And if her deduction was correct, then he had obtained a symbiote from the Order.
Astrid gazed out into the distance. She would only find out once she had a look at his body. If his eyes were gone, then that meant he did, in fact, have symbiotes. Of course, in the end, it didn’t really matter if he did or not. His actions wouldn’t be justified regardless. She swore to crush the order.
But that was something for later.
Her attention was now on the corrupted. Without being controlled, they became even more terrifying. They slammed against the walls with no regard to their safety. If not for Astrid stopping them–they would have continued to smash their skulls against the solid structure until they popped open like watermelons.
Astrid wiped the blood from her mouth thanks to the battle within the Mind Domain.
“Astrid, what do you need us to do?” Daniel shouted from up on the wall.
“Just make sure no-one attacks me,” Astrid said.
“Got it.” Daniel nodded as he gathered the others to keep a keen lookout for the golden haired girl.
Topping up her mana with a stimulant, she got to work ridding the corruption from everyone in the surroundings.
Once one person was cured, they entered into the walls of the shopping district. The cries of meeting their loved ones echoed from within, but Astrid was too concentrated to feel any sort of happiness. Not until she rid the disease from everyone–would she feel comfortable.
It took a few days to cure everyone, and although it was easier than when she was doing it without a skill, it still used up a tremendous amount of mana. Not wanting to gulp through her entire supply of potions, she had to wait until her mana naturally recovered. Thankfully she had multiple buffs to mana recovery–so she didn’t need to wait very long.
Astrid no longer floated in the air. Instead she lounged on the wall. Her back was stuck to the cool earth as she tried her best to ignore the thrumming pain within her mind.
It should have taken a few extra days, but she persisted in curing them as fast as possible. The quicker she could move on, the better.
She didn’t know how far the corrupted had managed to travel, and there were more ways than one to access the lower district from here. Tunnels, or cracks in the arc, for example.
The faster she could sort everything out and prepare the defences on rebirth, the better.
“So–what happened with the military forces?” Astrid asked without looking as she rested her arm against her head.
“Well, the commander for each division was murdered, so without orders, they just decided to rob the boats, and head off somewhere else,” Daniel sighed. “Those who decided to stay were corrupted after the long weeks of resistance. But, we did manage to find some noble families on the surface. They had managed to defend their residences by pulling back all their forces, and concentrating on consolidating their power.”
“Earl Kamron really fell to the deep end.” Astrid tapped her finger on the solid wall.
“What we do for power,” Daniel said.
“Any word from Lord Sinwen and the main force of Rebirth?” Astrid asked.
“None, I’m afraid,” Daniel continued. “But Freya is already repairing the information networks around Rebirth. She’s a competent one, that lass. Along with Lisa, it shouldn’t be long before we’re able to relay information once more. How about you? Almost recovered yet?”
“Getting there,” Astrid groaned, and finally sat up. “Once my mind doesn’t feel like it’s splitting, I’ll go find Earl Kamron’s body, then continue around Rebirth to make sure there’s no extra danger plaguing us from the depths.”
“Good shout.” Daniel nodded. “There’s a lot of survivors who aren’t happy with their still diseased body–”
“I can get rid of it, but let it be for now,” Astrid said. “There’s more pressing matters, just make sure to… placate them.
“Already on it.” Daniel chuckled. “Ah, it’s amazing to see how you’ve grown. I remember seeing you in one of those fancy balls years back. Once a snot nosed brat, now, a mighty warrior. Oh how the turns have tabled.”
Astrid laughed. “Do you mean ‘how the tables have turned’?”
“That’s what I said, right?” Daniel tilted his head.
“Not even close.”
“Well whatever, take this.” Daniel took out a bottle from a space ring, and presented it to Astrid. At her inquisitive, apprehensive glance, he added. “It’s good stuff. It’ll take the pain away like a good amputation.”
Grabbing hold of the bottle, she asked, “There’s a good amputation?”
“Just ask Brett.” Daniel’s lips curled into a crafty smile as Astrid couldn’t help but join him.
“The bottle’s from Charlotte, she said it would be good for a mind down with mana sickness.”
“Charlotte?” Astrid perked up at the name. She was a famous brewer in the middle district. Her talent in ale was only increasing every day that passed. It wouldn’t be long until she was hailed as one of the top brewers in Rebirth.
Along with being in a relationship with a famous triple production class user–Maggie–she was quite popular throughout. It was good to hear that she was alive and well.
From Daniel, Astrid also found out that the damage done to Rebirth wasn’t as much as it seemed on the surface. Many noble families had holed up within their stalwart walls, while most of the survivors in the middle district managed to retreat in time.
It was all thanks to the high ranking Humany Corps officer–Malone. Where others abandoned their posts, believing Rebirth to have fallen, he, and the others, gathered those while the fighting was occurring on the upper floors. From his quick action, many lives had been saved.
Level 150 - Wine of Refreshment: A wine made of various high quality ingredients, then mixed together in a particular order. This wine helps the recovery of those who have overspent their mana either from overtaxing, or taking too many mana potions.
Astrid uncorked it and took a sip. The warm liquid travelled down into her stomach, then she could feel it somehow travel into her brain. The sore head she was experiencing was washed away like a gentle tide.
“Her skills are awesome. It won’t be long before she’s on the top decks.” Astrid clicked her tongue in appreciation. “Give her my thanks.”
“Thank her yourself,” Daniel said, but then shook his head. “Could it be–you’re heading out already?”
Astrid cracked her neck and levitated her body up. She would like to say that it was easier to lift her body with her magic, but honestly, it was most likely brought forth by laziness.
“I’ve got to check Earl Kamron’s body for something.” Astrid rose in front of the walls. “Keep your ears to the ground. Whatever is happening behind the curtains, it’s clear this might not be the end.”
Daniel assented with a grunt as Astrid disappeared into the distance.
***
Astrid stopped in front of a cluster of broken buildings, but underneath the surface, there was a set of already opened doors that led deep under the surface of the home.
Entering, she curled her lips at the stench within. Different body parts lay scattered within the cellar–and they weren’t human. There were claws, horns, feet–Astrid stopped counting.
Instead, she frowned. There was no corpse.
It should be here. Astrid used Psych Domain, but her eyes didn’t fail here. Earl Kamron’s body had truly vanished.
Astrid crouched down at a spot of blood. Days had passed and it was already dried, but Astrid could tell that it was indeed his own. It had the same mottled appearance she had seen during her battle with him in her mind.
Something had moved him. That was certain. A terrible feeling grabbed her as she shot out of the building. She flew to every corner of the middle district thinking that a corrupted had managed to take him somewhere to eat. Given his high density of mana–he would be a perfect treat. It was of no use. No matter where she travelled, or sent her mind to, there was no further evidence of his body.
Where the hell did he go? Astrid snarled as she gazed into the distance. She wasn’t looking at anything in particular. She was stuck in her thoughts.
***
“Archbishop, we have retrieved Earl Kamron’s body.” A man in a white robe bowed down.
If Astrid was here, she would be able to recognise his outfit with but a glance. It was the same outfit the men and women had within Eyamos dungeon. Not only that, but also the location. It was exactly where she had faced the Lich before.
The Archbishop was wearing gilded white robes. Gold hung from his wide sleeves, collar, and ears. Turning, the candle light flickered against his expressionless golden mask.
“He has proved his usefulness,” The archbishop said. His voice was scratchy, like his voice box had been torn, then repaired. “Let us begin the main event. Resurrect him with the power of the Corpse Crawler–”
He turned to a dead woman that sat in a frigid chair. “Isn’t that right–my wife?”