Chapter 136: Growth_Salvos (A Monster Evolution LitRPG)

Chapter 136: Growth

 136. Growth

 I stared down at the Runic Scroll of Starfall, trying to decipher the intricate workings of the mana that weaved its spell. I now understood how it worked or at least, its effects. It would summon a hail of stars? Balls of zing fire. Ones that woulde down with a fury that would ravage thend.

 Something that was truly befitting a High Grade artifact.

 cing the parchment down on the ground, I straightened and raised a w up. I was still in my Kobold form the hand was more Human-like than my regr hand. It was scaly, up until my palms where it grew softer. I focused on the spell, on trying to replicate it. I knew I couldnt cast the same magic just yet it was beyond my level, and beyond my understanding of magical theory.

 Edithe had been teaching me. But even if she was truly a master of magic some kind of [Archmagus] that didnt mean I could learn it all at once. It was not long ago that I didn''t even know what rocks were!

 Wisps of me blinked themselves into existence over the palm of my hand. They danced in a circle, chasing after each other, lighting a blue halo in the darkness of night. I slowly lowered my hand, letting the spell carry itself up, floating higher and higher.

 It hovered nearly a head above me,bining into a single ball of fire. It was shaped almost like a flower petal about the size of my hand. I pointed forward, releasing the magic.

 And it dissipated.

 Aw.

 I stared at the bits of cinder king down to the floor. The magic within it was mostly gone. I scowled.

 I dont think its powerful enough tounch out like small stars.

 I had to ask Edithe about it when she woke up. I looked over towards the horizon I couldnt see the orange ball poking its edges out. But I had a feeling it would be rising soon.

 No need to rush to wake them up. Theyll get up on their own soon enough.

 They didnt like it whenever I did that. So, I let them sleep some more.

 

 --

 

 Thats the thing about these scrolls, Salvos. Theyre designed for a very specific purpose and oue. You can break it down, try to learn from it. But you cant just copy its magic not even when youre transcribing another scroll.

 Edithe spoke as she hefted her Bag of Holding over her shoulder. It had been a few days since I returned from Unarith, and now she was fully recovered, ready to tackle the gunds once more. I nodded slowly, back to normal, no longer a Kobold.

 Huh. That makes a lot of sense.

 Its a simr thing with enchantments although they can be copied. But not with scrolls. Those can have their effects replicated, but not if you use the same runes and magical weaving as the original scroll does.

 I conjured the same wisps of me.

 So this cantunch out like mini Fireballs?

 Not in the same way the Runic Scroll intended.

 My shoulders slumped over. That sucked. I glowered as I followed after mypanions. However, Edithe must have noticed my disappointment. She smiled as she gave me a reassuring look.

 Well, I think its impressive that you managed to even create this. Who knows? You may find a different use for this spell.

 ...thanks.

 I couldnt lie and say that didnt lift my spirits just a little bit. Daniel held up apass, pointing northeast.

 Are you sure this is the way, Salvos?

 Yep! I made sure to pay attention to where the sun was!

 I tilted my head up, seeing its current location in the sky. It certainly looked like we were heading in the right direction. I gave him a thumbs-up.

 Yep! We just have to keep going until we enter the gunds. Therell be a town thats half-eaten by a blight flower field, a valley we have to cross, and a few other things well spot to know if were going the right way.

 We returned back to the gunds, greeted by the green-ish mist that covered the sky, and an arrow to the ground before us. A group of [Skeleton Archers] caught sight of us as we walked in, attacking us immediately before we could even react.

 They were not the most dangerous undead, however it was still odd to see them so close to the peripheries of the gunds. Was it because we came in from a different side? It was possible.

 I charged the Skeletons, supported mypanions from behind. Edithe sted them with her [Storm of Ice and Fire], while Daniel engaged them with his [Aura of the Sentinel].

 I had to leap quickly, closing the distance between us, using [me Burst] to snap away from the arrows that curved after me. Some of them even exploded or set the ground on fire. They blurred all around me some even nicked my skin. But I eventually reached them.

 I took them apart quickly. The dangerous part had been avoiding their volley of arrows. Each one not so effective at close rangebat. I kept mostly to my [Barrage of Cinders], striking for the Skeletons limbs. Their joints were brittle it was like fighting Golems.

 And I could beat Golems rtively easily.

 

 Defeated [Skeleton Archer - Lvl. 100]!

 More experience is awarded for defeating an enemy at least 10 levels above you!

 

 

 Defeated [Skeleton Archer - Lvl. 101]!

 More experience is awarded for defeating an enemy at least 10 levels above you!

 Less experience is awarded for defeating an enemy with the help of others!

 

 No Ghouls were leading them, huh?

 The ivory bones crunched under my feet as I returned to Edithe, walking alongside Daniel. The red-haired woman shrugged.

 Its better this way. Were back here to find the Heralds Brush and the Totem of Incense. And, um, destroy one of them?

 The Totem of Incense. But theyll destroy it themselves. We can keep the Heralds Brush for ourselves.

 Its a good thing too

 Daniel sighed, rubbing at his shoulders as if they were sore.

 Im getting tired of this blight.

 Reaching into my sack, I produced a single cleansing flower for mypanions to see.

 The blight isnt going to be too much of a problem for now. Especially since Xidra even gave me this. To avoid situations likest time.

 Edithe shook her head, speaking in a determined voice.

 Its fine, Salvos. Theres no need to worry about me. I feel better than ever.

 I eyed the red-haired woman. Usually, I would be dubious of her words whenever she said something like that. But now, I could see that meeting with Xidra had changed something in her. It wasnt a drastic change however, it was enough to reassure me.

 Then lets continue.

 

 --

 

 Huh.

 Dont copy me! Thats my line!

 I folded two of my arms, and pointed usingly at Daniel with one of my free hands. He blinked a few times, before ignoring myment.

 You really were telling the truth.

 His gaze was fixed on the town. It wasnt even really much of a town anymore. There were a few decrepit buildings scattered about. It made it quite clear that it was never really a massive poption living here perhaps it was some kind of farming town like Ghostlight had been.

 Either way, there was arge wall of green gas cutting halfway through the town. It was like a curtain had been pulled over, abruptly blocking half the stage from view. The blight nketed over whatever other remains of the town there was, with blight flowers clearly growing on the rotten wood of copsed houses.

 I narrowed my eyes, picking out a few figures lurking within.

 Im never going back in there.

 Edithe spoke defiantly. I nced back at her and nodded in agreement.

 Me neither.

 We tried to give the blight flower field a wide berth, warily keeping away from its perimeter so that nothing inside could justunch out and attack us. Unfortunately, that meant we didnt pay attention to the dead forest to our back.

 A Ghoul, leading a group of Skeletons, charged out and attacked us from between the spindly trees. I caught sight of the undead the thudding footsteps of the bounding Ghoul, as well as the cking of the Skeletons before calling out a warning.

 Daniel, Edithe!

 I looked back at the both of them. They were readying their weapons but behind them, I once again saw the shadows lurking in the blight. I remembered what happened thest time around. It was a bad series of events that led us into the blight flower field. We had been nked from multiple sides.

 It was the gunds. A ce that was above our level. Anything could happen. Even if we could have won this fight it was only a single Ghoul we might get attacked by something else. So, there was only one smart option to do here.

 Run for it!

 Mypanions were caught off-guard by what I said. They stopped to exchange a nce, only for me to exasperatedly gesture past them.

 Hello? Are you listening? Run!

 They made a dash away from the charging undead. I spun around, facing the Ghoul down. It moved fast it had to be at least Level 105. If I used my Greaves of the Wanderer, I could have been able to outrun it. But mypanions wouldnt. So, I just had to distract it for a bit.

 Raising a finger, I pointed at the Ghoul as I let out a growl.

 [Title Skill: Zealous Call]. 

 I focused only on the Ghoul. Not on the Skeletons or the [Zombies] hiding within the blight. I was not going to call down a horde on me. No I knew better than that. I just had to draw the Ghouls attention. Its Skeletons would bumble after it, and it would leave the other undead in the area out of this.

 Activating [Self Haste], I just barely dodged a savage swing from the Ghoul. I circled around it, backing up as its Skeletons came to its side. Then I released a [ming Breath], engulfing them in the cone of blue fire.

 The Skeletons faltered, but the Ghoul charged right through. It tore through the mes. But I was no longer there. It spun around, seeing me getting further and further away from it with each [me Burst]. The Ghoul let out a terrifying shriek a ring of gray energy shot out towards me, slowing my pace.

 I scowled, realizing that the Ghoul would catch up to me at this rate. I grabbed for the strings of mana in the air around me, immediately weaving it into interlinking chains. A scythes edge ran down one side of the chains the Sickle Grenade was far easier to form now that I was used to creating it.

 It was just as I had expected. Sure, [Passive - Refined Casting] was useful for the short-term. But in the long-run, I would be able to cast magic at the same level of efficacy as it with time, practice, and experience. Swinging the Sickle Grenade above my head, I tossed it straight at the Ghoul leading the charge. [Title Skill: Zealous Call] was no longer afflicting it, but I was the only visible enemy within its surroundings.

 The first st only sent it stumbling forward, killing a few of its mindless minions. But the second knocked it off the ground I had quickly created another Sickle Grenade, and threw it at the off-bnced Ghoul. More Skeleton bones went flying through the air as the Ghoul was knocked back.

 I felt the curse leaving my body. The Ghoul was slightly hurt maybe I could finish it off if I continued fighting it for a little longer. However, I didnt intend on staying separate from mypanions for too long. I took the chance I had and made a break for it. After all, I did level up from that encounter.

 

 Defeated [Skeleton Warrior - Lvl. 102]!

 More experience is awarded for defeating an enemy at least 10 levels above you!

 

 

 

 Defeated [Unarmed Skeleton - Lvl. 96]!

 Experience is awarded for defeating an enemy!

 

 Subspecies [Asura Changeling] Level Up! 

 [Asura Changeling Lvl. 89] -> [Asura Changeling Lvl. 90] 

 Gained 5 Stat Points and 3 Skill Points!

 

 --

 

 I returned to mypanions not long after. They were d to see that I was safe, and our journey continued with not many other interruptions. The gunds were dangerous, yes, but it was also vast, and we knew how to avoid unnecessary fights, especially when they hindered our goal.

 It was night by the time we found the valley I had seen. I recognized it immediately since it was where I rested with Xidra before confronting Gexli. With the blights effects weaker here, we thought it was a good ce to set up camp.

 They ate their Human foods and exchanged light conversations. Then Edithe retired to bed, while Daniel wrote for a little bit in his diary. I was studying the Runic Scroll of Starfall, messing with the me I could conjure, and trying to figure out a practical use for it when the Human man snapped his book shut.

 Im going to head to bed, Salvos. Please dont wake us up in the middle of the night with some kind of explosion.

 Of course I wont.

 I snorted, letting the dancing fire now more like a twinkling star than burning wisps making a halo dissipate.

 You Humans need your sleep, and thats fine. But if something attacks us, Ill shout and scream until youre awake even if you dont want to.

 He smiled.

 Youve grown quite a lot, havent you? Not only have all your directions been right so far, but you didnt get lost when you went to draw that Ghouls attention.

 I beamed and raised my chin up.

 I have!

 I eagerly agreed with him. Then I paused. I stared at the Human man, remembering recent events. He raised a brow as I addressed him.

 And you should too, Daniel.

 Uh, what?

 The Human man was puzzled or was he only pretending? It was hard to tell. But I turned my gaze towards Edithe, who was sleeping soundly in her bed roll over at the corner of the alcove. I shook my head.

 There was nothing I could tell him that would change his mind. I had already made my opinion on the matter clear. So, I just spoke the truth.

 I can understand your apprehension, Daniel. Itd be like if I were to reveal my nature as a Demon to someone like Saffron or Hadrian. I dont know what will happen.

 He opened his mouth, but I cut him off.

 However Edithe is yourpanion as much as she is mine. The both of you have fought alongside each other against a Greater Demon 20 levels above you, and have survived the gunds alone together. It is not like she is someone you cant trust.

 Hesitating, Daniel shifted on his feet. He chewed his lower lip, speaking softly.

 ...I know that, Salvos.

 He sighed, zing over at the sleeping woman with a sad look. Then he averted his gaze.

 The problem isnt her, but me. Im just afraid.

 Getting to my feet, I ced a hand on his shoulder. A shadow was cast over his face, his gaze now resting on the palm of his hand.

 I know you are.

 I remembered what he told me about his past. About his world. It really was not fair for someone like him to be thrust into this situation. Unfortunately, that didnt matter.

 However, if you keep hesitating especially in the most dire of moments eventually, you will make a fatal mistake. Someone might die. You might die. Do you really want that to happen?

 He was still uncertain I could see it in his face, in the way he moved back away from me. But at least, this time, he didnt just avoid the issue.

 Ill talk to her about it. Not right now. But I promise, I will do it.

AliNovel

Chapter 136: Growth