Master Of None

The fiery impact if Remey's fist on the darkened scales of the smoldering alligator caused the side she had struck to glow bright red. Almost white with the intense heat.

Remey had easily attracted fire mana from the boundary of the fire elemental plane. It was enhancing her strength much more than what she had been able to wield just a few moments ago.

This made an opening for Midnight to rake her claws across the weakness scales. Because she was using her physical might, she easily tore through the sift scales.

The magical attacks that could have been used would have been reflected by the softened scales. The information that Walker was giving his party was exactly why they were easily beating the large smoldering alligator.

But the monster was not done yet. It had become much angrier as it had been attacked and even damaged during what it thought to be a hint.

However, it was even worse that it had become focused on the party. Smoldering alligators loved to fight.

So this was an ideal chance for it to have a real fight. One that would make it stronger.

If it hadn't focused on Midnight who had just injured it, the monster might have seen Su charging forward. While the smoldering alligator was much heavier than Su, she had channeled water mana in to her shield.

A skill she had been able to learn by copying what she did with light mana but with water. The water mana had formed a thick layer over the twin shields before they hit the smoldering alligator.

When Su came in to contact with it, the water layer over her shield which could be used to slow arrows, acted as a cooling agent instead. This made the scales and the smoldering alligator better with physical defenses than magical.

Hence when Gil released an arrow and Onyx attacked with his tail coated in light mana, different things happened. The physical attacks from both Onyx and Gil consisted of the arrow hitting the scales and Onyx's tail hitting the side of the smoldering alligator.

Basically, it was a hard hit that didn't do any physical damage. However, they had used mana within their attacks.

Gil's arrow had been filled with fire mana. This attack caused immediate damage since it was mana at different density in an unexpected method.

Therefore, it did not meld with the fire mana being controlled within the smoldering alligator's body. The pain caused chaos to that one side.

On the other, an armor of light mana had covered Onyx's tail. The density and defensive bonus made him safer.

What really helped though, was that Onyx's control of light mana was strong enough to alter that armor. In to sharp light spikes that burst on impact.

So while no physical damage got through, the magical piercing attack of light mana did a lot more damage. With the disorientation of its strengths becoming its weaknesses, the smoldering alligator began to radiate a lot more heat.

It was pushing up its body temperature with the use of its fire mana to a very high degree. All the scales lit up bright red slightly turning white hot.

This was the immense amount of fire mana that was stored within the score of the smoldering alligator. It stepped forward and charged ahead trying to push Su away.

The rigidity of its scales had changed making it more resistant to magical attacks. Its' speed was much faster than what it had been just moments before.

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That was how Su got knocked back even a little bit.

While it was not as defensive, this monster had used its skill to allow it to throw the large weight it carried around. In turn, that meant it was harder to defend against in an instant.

Not that Su was hurt. She could only feel a slight ache that came from being hit at a fast speed.

Otherwise, she had already slammed the twin shields down in a harsh shield bash. The last of the water mana was forced to burn off barely changing the temperature of the smoldering alligator in the least.

Not that it was a problem, Remey was already punching out. This time Onyx had matched his timing with hers as they both delivered heavier hits.

The tail slam had Onyx's entire weight behind it. The blunt force cracked many of the scales and broke the leg of the smoldering alligator.

Remey's defense breaking fist stole away the vital fire mana because she had a much better grasp on the manas. On top of that, her fist caused a deadly wound and broke multiple ribs.

It was a show of teamwork and power against this larger monster.

"Seeing that the original prey was nearby, the smoldering alligator made an dash to attack the lightning arc spirit and Walker.

Foolishly, it charged at them with its jaws wide open. Attempting to snap down on them with the red hot teeth lining those jaws.

Walker and the lighting arc spirit were in sync. Walker sensed the flow of mana and he pushed back on it.

This had already channeled the lighting arc spirit and allowed it to realize what Walker planned. His hand reached out and touched the eternal codex.

It flared to life with the density of manas all around it. In a single swift motion, it changed in to the form of a staff while the lighting from the lightning arc spirit coursed through it.

Walker just had to channel those manas, that lightning, and aim. A loud crack echoed through the boundaries to the three elemental planes.

The smoldering alligator collapsing came next, but at a much less flashy sound and light mixed with the collapse. Only a sigh as the last of the air escaped its body, the flames going out.

There was a fizzling sound as multiple small lightning arcs shot off the lightning arc spirit. It was glad to be alive, but even more excited that it had used the mana it controlled in a way that did not harm everything around it.

Because of the chaotic nature of lightning, it had always seen the dangerous side of this existence, not the controlled and protective side. Walker had just shown it that though.

It had sensed the way that he adjusted the manas changing the way that the lighting arc spirit thought of its own mana. That was mostly because Walker had seen safer lightning being used by monsters born with multiple elemental manas.

Yes, that monster had not had light but wind mana instead, that didn't matter though. Instead, the focus was on the smoothness of control over the mana.

Because the world had been cut off from the elemental planes, there was a difference in how the elemental spirits had grown as well. Since this was something that would take a lot of time to realize, many people would have failed to understand the differences.

It was one of the key reasons that the elemental spirits living in the elemental planes had not become spirit race like those of the world. Their manas were more original to how the manas should flow.

Less isolated and adjusted over years of dormancy, alteration, or unbalanced manas. That made them more ancient in a sense, more true to what the manas really were.

Not that it was a bad thing, it was just a different point of view than others. It was, however, where the manas would also cause growth.

Right now, the lighting arc spirit was drastically adjusting its body. It had just discovered another way to understand itself after all! Something like this was very rare.

When Fleur noticed this, she made an effort to leave the spirit mark. She had not done so since she was entirely focused on the changes in elemental manas all around her.

The changes in density had been very hard for her to adjust to since she was not absorbing purer manas of all forms. When she had noticed the changes in manas though, she understood that the lightning arc spirit was becoming a spirit race.

It had adjusted itself to copy the calmness and order it had sensed from the way Walker used all three manas. A major change, but one that made it able to travel where it wished.

To not be trapped within the unique boundary that lightning naturally formed, would be a dream come true. Many of the elemental spirits here only stayed in their unique planes.

This could change that. Change their perspectives.

…