112: Arcanist vs. Artificer

He felt bile coming up in his gut the moment he laid eyes on the cloaked man radiating hostile intent. The demonic energy that was permeating the atmosphere around here somehow doubled, this time in a more controlled state that made his hackles rise.

Not only the man, but his group coming along as well didn’t send any good vibes down his way. Selene, Nina’s sister, approached with that queenly presence along with her two servants standing beside her. It seemed like they managed to get all the way here, but only barely got to where they were in a few breaths.

Selene looked over to where his group was, spotting Nina. Ignoring her, Selene turned to Aidan and offered a graceful bow.

“If it isn’t the Hero of Forontia. A pleasure,” Selene said primly. “Had you presented yourself earlier back at the hotel, I would’ve offered a much greater greeting. Instead, we’re in this embarrassing predicament.”

Her words seemed simple, but he knew from her soul that she already realized that Aidan was spying on them when they arrived at the hotel. In other words, they already perceived him even when he was invisible.

He knew that might be the case, but pretended otherwise. Still, he didn’t let that show on his face as he replied.

“Predicament? Is there some issue I’m unaware of?”

“It is quite an issue, unfortunately. You see, me and my comrades have been looking everywhere for this treasure. It is quite necessary for us, enough so that my bodyguard went ahead to strike first. I want to apologize for that, but that’s how much we are in need of it. I hope you understand.”

“I’m afraid I can’t,” Aidan replied. “You see, this treasure is dangerous. I’m sure you all are well aware of this. The malicious energy radiating from this is powerful, so I’m taking measures to destroy it.”

“Now see… that’s where the predicament comes in.”

Selene said, showing regret in her tone, but there was a hint of hostility nestling within her soul. The cloaked man stepped forward, his hand outstretched as if saying that he shouldn’t move or else.

“Step away from that relic,” The man said, his tone casual but dominant. “If you didn’t know, that was just a warning shot. The next one won’t be.”

“You don’t understand,” Aidan said, though he knew his words might not work on this guy. “This relic is dangerous.”

“He’s serious!” Haley suddenly shouted. Everyone turned to her as she pointed at the relic. “That thing is the reason why the demons attacked Forontia in the first place! So many lives have been lost, so if we don’t destroy it here and now, the same thing could happen again!”

“That’s only because someone tampered with it without understanding how it works,” The man answered, his hand still facing Aidan. “I, however, do understand it.”

“Somehow, I doubt that,” Aidan replied coldly. “You reek of demonic energy.”

“Oh?” The man tilted his hooded head. “You can sense it? But it looks like it’s only just a smidgen. You really don’t know how demonic energy works, do you?”

Aidan was taken aback by that. What else is there within demonic energy? It’s frankly corrupted mana riddled with malicious intent, capable of infecting other beings.

Was there something more? He had first experience of how it worked since it infected his limbs from being restored properly.

“I know enough that it’s dangerous,” Aidan said. “And I don’t trust anyone that dabbles in this stuff.”

“I don’t frankly care if you trust me or not. That relic’s mine.”

Aidan could sense it then. Pure greed and want for the relic near him. His soul was hard to read thanks to all the cursed energy radiating off of him, but the want in his voice was clear enough for everyone to hear.

“Now, now, let’s not be rash,” Selene said, raising a hand. “How about this? You were the one who arrived here first. How about we settle this affair amicably? What kind of price would you take to give this relic away?”

“No deal,” Aidan answered without hesitation.

He didn’t bother directing that question to Nina as, in the end, there was no way he was going to let this relic go. He still got confirmation from Nina’s soul that she was in agreement, however. Selene didn’t even look offended or surprised. In fact, she only showed disappointment.

She let out a small sigh, as though she was dealing with a child. “You know, I am trying here. I don’t like the idea of making a deal with Nina’s little pawn, but despite our history, I really did want no trouble between us. But I can’t deny my bodyguard what he wants, either…”

“You make it sound like he’s not under your command,” Nina exclaimed, crossing her arms. “Is he not your employee?”

“He’s more than just a simple employee, though I suppose that’s difficult to describe for someone like you,” Selene shook her head again. “Like trying to describe a color to a blind person, it’s beyond you.”

“I appreciate it if you don’t start insulting my lady here,” Aidan warned.

“Oh, not a pawn, but a loyal dog? How cute,” Selene giggled. “Still, even for a dog, you’re reaching a bit too high for your station.”

“Selene, just let me have this guy,” The cloaked man said, his fingers tightening into fists. “He ain’t that special.”

“My lady,” The werewolf man spoke up, pointing at the cloaked man. “I don’t think he can hold himself back any longer. I’m afraid we’re going to have to do this the hard way.”

“...It does look that way, doesn’t it?”

Selene answered, and turned her now expressionless gaze onto the man aching to battle.

“Don’t start regretting this now–go.”

The ground exploded from where the cloaked man was at, revealing his top speed for all to barely see before Aidan pushed his head away from its current spot.

A dagger swept right across his face, too fast for him to comprehend. At the same time, he saw the man whose hood fell off, revealing a helmet that covered his eyes with what looked like goggles that glowed bright green. For a small moment, he thought he saw glowing script written across them, flowing like a computer code.

Aidan commanded the air to flow and flew himself outwards, the man following right after, summoning another dagger to pounce at him. Without hesitation, he launched at him, the two daggers flowing like water and aiming to slice him apart. The one dagger aimed for his neck, the other aimed to disembowel him.

Aidan twisted himself away before crafting the earth to shoot out spikes from beneath to impale him. The man managed to swerve away from the spikes, then pushed himself back before flinging his arm forward with dagger in hand.

Several small black figures flew outwards, as if from nowhere, and upon closer inspection, Aidan saw that they were metallic birds that tinkled with each flap of their metal wings. What should be their eyes glowed a bright green before shooting themselves at Aidan like bullets.

Aidan summoned his Venom sword and swung at the birds, but they suddenly twisted around and floated around him, their tinkling wings surrounding him. That was when he noticed something was off about these things.

Harsh vibrations echoed from their wings, magic being casted and keeping him down. Pressure started to grow on top of him, and he felt his senses getting distorted.

Their wingbeats are affecting me!

The birds followed him like a magnet, unwilling to let go of their prey. With a growl, Aidan conjured flames with Craft to burn the birds that kept closing in on him. As the fire was everywhere, none of the metal birds got away without getting absorbed into the flames, burning their metallic bodies until they became scrap metal.

Without a second thought, Aidan activated Phase. In another second, the man appeared with his dagger and fist plunged deep into his ethereal gut. The man was close enough for Aidan to feel his soul’s surprise to find his hand feeling absolutely nothing.

Aidan kicked with every bit of his Infused Strength at his gut, pushing him all the way across the dome from how much mana he put into the kick. Aidan panicked for a moment, thinking that his daggers were coated with powerful demonic energy that could’ve interrupted his Phase spell, but thankfully he didn’t realize the weakness yet.

But he did feel that he messed up on the timing. Now this guy knows about his emergency escape spell. If he had timed it better, he could’ve dealt a lethal blow to him, but the metal birds were too much of a distraction for his senses to stabilize properly.

The man blasted the earth that covered him away, revealing himself and his helmet that glowed once again with those strange scripts riding across the goggle’s glass.

Aidan crafted air bullets, fireballs, and hardened earth spikes, calling forth dozens of them and boosting them with his abilities. He flung his hand forward, unleashing a rain of spells straight at the man. Despite the many spells aiming to take his life coming his way, he looked calm as he lifted both hands to his sides.

A wave of sleek, metallic creatures appeared from thin air, surrounding the man and gaining height. Some rose above 6 or so feet while others crowded around the larger ones with a ferocious gleam to their glowing eyes. Aidan watched in fascination as each one of those creatures were exactly as what he expected.

They were literal robots, or at least some machinations that were similar to the guardian he faced back at the Crystalfang dungeon. However, unlike the pure electrifying mana that served as the guardian’s power source, these creatures ran entirely on this demonic energy. They radiated that same malice that demonic energy always had, and once summoned, they rushed forward, tackling the array of spells aiming to take their master down.

They either disrupted the spells by swinging their claws and fists down, or used themselves as targets to take on the spells, their non-sentient lives snuffed out in a heartbeat. The entire dome became shrouded in dust and smoke as the collision continued, the earth rumbling from the sheer pressure exuded from the combined blasts and explosions.

Aidan kept summoning more spells to shower the man, hoping that he had some kind of limit to how many robotic creatures he could summon. He didn’t think it was possible, but after seeing the man’s Class from scanning, he should’ve thought it sooner.

Artificer, Level 62.

It took him a while to understand what it meant, but back in his gamer days, an artificer was someone that dealt with magical tools and implements them in combat. He also should’ve known that it would be a thing in this world since he did face the guardian before that was made entirely out of machine parts.

But what got him so flustered was the fact that this man was capable of unleashing a whole army of creatures to block his attacks. He wasn’t able to connect how he could use demonic energy to actually bring these creatures to life, even if he did use some sort of complex method to do it. As far as he knew, making them come alive and actively defend him like they were sentient beings should’ve required a way higher form of magic than someone of his level should have around.

Letting out a breath, he called forth his swords from the surrounding cavern to aid in his venture. As they were rushing in, Aidan flew straight towards the man who stood there, completely relaxed in his position.

The man summoned his twin daggers, and spun them around before facing Aidan with his sword. The two clashed, their metals singing and clanging from one trying to end the other. Throughout this fight, several of the man’s creatures tried to come at him, but an earthen spike or a strong blast of pressure hit them hard and fast, keeping them away from their fight.

Their entire circle was surrounded by the raining spells still aiming to take the many creatures down, their direction changed the moment Aidan went to fight with the man. He put his Split Mind to full use, all the while pushing his Sword Proficiency to the limit. If he could just get one cut on this guy, he could get the advantage.

But it looked like the man knew exactly what his Venom sword could do as he made sure to pivot and sidestep whenever Aidan got too close. Aidan swung down, prompting the man to pivot to the side, but it was a feint as Aidan quickly pulled to the side to cut him. A gout of flames escaped from the man’s raised foot, pushing him far away and avoiding the strike once again. Looking down, he saw that the man’s boots were also technologically made, metal plating and several scripts written on its surface upon closer look.

Is this guy outfitted out the wazoo or something? Fuck!

Aidan rushed in, crafting the air to maneuver his body faster by creating currents that affected him. The creatures were slowly dwindling in number, allowing him some spare thought for him to use the air for his advantage.

But as soon as he made a thrust forward, the man smiled as chains of dark matter were conjured around him. They wrapped around his arms and legs, keeping him trapped in place. He felt his skin sizzling from the scalding metal encasing him, all of which were done in a few seconds as the man dashed forward, his dagger aiming upwards to his chest.

Aidan flared both Phase and Vanish, disappearing entirely as the chains were loosened and the dagger hit nothing but empty space. In his invisible state, Aidan swerved around, wielding his sword straight towards the man’s back.

He thrusted it forward, ready to skewer him alive, but the man quickly turned around and blocked it with his dagger. The two struggled, their weapons holding each other off as the man grinned.

“Nice trick, asshole,” The man berated. “You like backstabbing like a little bitch?”

“If it works, it works,” Aidan snarled. “How are you cheating? Must be those goggles, huh? They had to be pretty damn expensive.”

“Hah, made them myself, actually,” The man guffawed.

The two separated by pushing each other off, then went back at each other, their weapons flying and clanging in the air. Aidan kept his attention as much as he could as he felt his swords finally approaching.

One after another, the swords flew in from the cave entrance, his comrades standing by the side as they watched the fight. He hoped that Selene’s party wouldn't attack his group, but he knew that as long as Nina was there, they would be fine. What he needed to focus on was the man who is the clear threat here.

As the swords came flying, the man noticed them coming as each one flew at him. He dodged to one side, using his boots to once again give off a powerful surge of flames to propel himself forward. As another sword swooped in, he dodged to the side while a third sword tried to backstab him.

Aidan himself piled into the onslaught, his venom sword ready to take his life. From the looks of it, the man no longer wanted to deal with this.

“This place is a little too small for me. Time to switch places!”

His boots roared in power, the flames turning bright blue as he thrusted forward, pushing right into Aidan in a heartbeat. Before Aidan could even activate Phase, the man’s hands took his shoulders, and wild lightning sparked and raged across his body, keeping him pinned by affecting his nerve system.

His body was flown towards the dome as the walls exploded, pushing them out of the room and into the wide caverns beyond. His swords followed suit, trying to keep up with their owner.

“If that’s how you wanna play, fine,” Aidan growled, his eyes shifting to multiple colors as he grinned. “Let’s see how you handle this!”