Return to Jorgaldur Volume I: the battle mage

Enemies in the shadows

Eldi had decided to traverse the forest without his disguise or Disguise, since that way he could avoid attacks from those who wanted an exotic prey for breakfast. Showing his level, they didn't dare to get closer, except for some small insects that were taken care by a Frozen Aura. It was, in short, a fairly quiet journey, in which he took the opportunity to gather plants and wood. At least, in the beginning.

Gradually, the level was rising, and thus the possible threats. He didn't intend to reach the heart of the forest, whose dangers far exceeded his strength, but to a point on the map where he would have to be careful, because it was similar to his level.

He increased caution as he approached his destination. The level of wood and plants had reached 50, and were increasing. Bat's Hearing was warning him stronger, although, apparently, none of the possible predators had decided to approach yet.

Suddenly, the warning triggered at his back. He turned fast, wielding an axe, in time to discover how a kind of scythe was heading towards his neck. He reacted quickly enough to use Block, managing to stop the blow with the weapon's handle. Immediately, he stepped back and relied on Block again to stop the second attack.

It was a level 53 mantis, two meters high. Its camouflage and lack of bloodthirst until the last moment had made it invisible to Bat's Hearing skill.

It is a being with little intelligence, drove by its instincts, and which doesn't decide to attack until the prey is within reach. It doesn't hesitate to hunt beings somewhat stronger than him, because its surprise attack is usually lethal. But although the insect had lost the ambush advantage, it wasn't going to stop. Once they start attacking, they continue until killing their prey or dying trying.

Given the continuous pattern of its attack, fast, without regard of itself and without strategy, he decided to use Dancing Axe, which protected him while damaging his opponent. It has the problem that it can't be stopped midway, so it is vulnerable to ranged attacks, especially magical ones, but this wasn't the case.

Again and again, the mantis attacked, despite having been cut numerous times, and also being damaged by both Frozen Aura and Frozen Touch. The Burning ones would have been better, since the slowdown wasn't needed and they caused more damage, but he was afraid of burning the forest.

Even when it lost one of its limbs, the fierce predator didn't give up its efforts. However, it soon fell, surpassed by the high human's skills.

After that encounter, Eldi paid more attention to the shadows, looking for other possible camouflaged mantises, but of little use. Four others, between levels 53 and 55, attacked him at one time or another, without being able to notice their presence until the last moment.

He took advantage of the encounters, once he knew the reach of their attacks, to train some spells and skills. Among them, Rock Armor, allowing itself to receive some attacks to improve the training. Also Frozen Prison, Feline Response, Physical Mirror, Area of Attack and Area of Defense, although the only one he managed to level up was Rock Armor to 5.

Apart from the mantis, no other tried to hunt him. Apparently, the other predators preferred to attack easier preys. But despite that, he didn't lower his guard all the way, fearing that an ambush against which he couldn't react in time could come.

It is also true that, even taken by surprise, those insects couldn't have killed him. Physical Mirror was always activated, reflecting half the damage, in addition to his armor being of excellent quality, and his natural defense not being low. Of course, it would have caused him a lot of damage and pain, although far from being lethal.

After several days, he finally got close to his destination. He hoped to reach the entrance of the passage that same day, after crossing a small river that he hoped wasn't a problem. And it wasn't. It was about five meters wide and it wasn't difficult to find a place to cross. The problem was on the other side. There were signs of magic being used, and the unmistakable sounds from battle.

Eldi approached those sounds with caution, but, before arriving, he was caught in a spider web. He cast Fire Aura immediately, hoping not to burn anything but the web. Given the proximity of the river, there was too much humidity for the forest to burn easily, but the threads did, at least the closest to the Aura.

The spider that should be hidden to capture its prey didn't appear, and he soon discovered why. A little further, after crossing some more traps in the form of spider webs, he discovered several elves in a clearing, fighting the spiders that were surrounding them.

There were six of them fighting and two others on the ground, injured and protected by their teammates. There were about twenty spiders, a meter and a half tall, and of a level similar to that of the elves, all between 53 and 56.

They struggled desperately to repel the arachnids of brown color, in whose bodies several drawings of other colors, predominantly black, could be seen, and which changed as they leveled up. They hadn't only surrounded the elves, but they had placed their threads around the clearing, making it impossible for them to escape or for help to come, unless they traversed them as the high human had done.

Eldi didn't hesitate. He approached, attacking the nearest spider with Javelin and fire. He had verified that the forest would hardly burn, so it was a risk he decided to take. While the spear was stuck in the spider's body, another Javelin was on its way. And, before they could react, he jumped toward it with Earthquake, after which he nailed the spears deeper using Devastating Blow.

It wasn't dead, but quite near. Without a doubt, fire and wounds would soon end its life. The problem was that other four nearby spiders were staring with their numerous eyes the newcomer.