"I'll miss this place," Princess Vina expressed wistfully, coming to a halt and casting a fond glance over the splendid Orange Field City. Just having departed from the city, she and her maid began their journey back to the capital.
The deep affection she harbored for the town was evident, and were it not for Vira consistently reminding her of her responsibilities as a princess and the impending duties of a future queen, she might never have left for the capital.
"Fear not, Princess. We'll return once everything is sorted in the capital," reassured Vira, ensuring Princess Vina that today wouldn't mark their final visit to the capital.
"I suppose that's true," she mused with a nonchalant shrug.
They boarded the carriage and commenced their journey back to the capital. Opting for a slower carriage, they had a leisurely 8 hours ahead of them. She planned to relish the scenic views on the way back to the capital. Accompanying them were 20 Grandmasters and 3 Semi-Saint guards, mounted on horses by their side.
Lurking in the shadows, 14 Semi-Saints stealthily advanced alongside them. These were the Semi-Saints Rasoul had recently enslaved. He had given them explicit orders to safeguard the Princess discreetly, shielding her from external threats that he was not oblivious to.
Before long, their shadows disappeared from view, having already covered a distance of 4 kilometers from the city.
=====
Simultaneously, on the same road, four hooded figures were making their way toward the city. Their sole objective was clear: to capture or eliminate the Princess. Aware of her impending arrival in the capital, they devised a plan to ambush her entourage during their journey.
"Do you think we should capture or kill her directly?" one of them pondered aloud.
"Eliminating her is the safest option. Even though they are no match for us, remember she is still a princess. Equipped with life-saving artifacts, capturing her would be a time-consuming endeavor. It's more prudent to end her life swiftly and be done with it," remarked another hooded figure.
"We can always indulge ourselves before putting an end to her, so why not capture her first? After a round or two with her, we can then usher her into the afterlife," suggested another with a lustful undertone.
"That does sound more enjoyable, but bear in mind, this mission is crucial. Let's not squander time on it," emphasized the final figure.
"Not as much fun, but alright. We'll deal with her swiftly," the lustful individual remarked with a hint of disappointment in his tone.
They continued their journey away from the capital. Soon, they would be crossing paths with the Princess and her entourage.
=====
In the depths of the forest, Rasoul recovered the lifeless body of the Beast slain by Ragnar. His plan was to forge a subordinate capable of wielding magic, harnessing the power of music, executing mental attacks, and unleashing sonic assaults.
Ever since Lara planted the idea of crafting a Subordinate proficient in wielding the 'Harmonic Resonance' technique, Rasoul diligently consulted the NecroSmith encyclopedia in search of Beasts possessing the desired properties.
Luckily, among the beasts they defeated within the tomb of the War Deity, one possessed the attributes suitable for mental attacks. In addition, Rasoul, Lara, and Sarat successfully eliminated two other creatures exhibiting music and magic abilities three days ago when they arrived at the forest.
Determined to complete the set, Rasoul invested some fire points into the system to precisely locate the last beast with sonic properties. While initially considering handling it himself, witnessing Ragnar's enthusiasm for combat prompted Rasoul to delegate the task to him, entrusting him with securing the final ingredient.
Now that he has all the items needed to create a new subordinate, he activates the NecroSmith ability. The formation appeared instantly, and then he saw the message.
[Welcome to Necro-Smith Creator Shop]
[Select how to proceed]
>>Random Creation
>>Custom
'Custom
-----
[Select of Creation]
>>Humanoid
>>Beast
>>Both (It requires more resources to upgrade the subordinates later created)
'Both
-------
[Does the Host wish to select a Class or merge the classes to form a new unique class?]
>>Select Class
>>Merge (Creation will only be successful if the items used in the process have properties of the Class formed)
'Merge
[Input the class or nature of the classes you want to merge]
Combining the traits of Music, Mage, Bard, and Mental Attacker, he entered his preferred class choices to merge and extract a distinctive, new class.
------
[Input accepted]
[Available Classes formed]
[Harmonious Enchantress]
>>The Harmonious Enchantress is a mystical and rare class that blends the arts of music, magic, and mental manipulation. Through the power of her mesmerizing melodies, she weaves enchantments that captivate the senses and manipulate the minds of her foes. Her music is a conduit for both arcane energies and psychic forces, allowing her to channel potent spells and influence the thoughts and emotions of those around her.
[Arcane Melodist]
>>A magical virtuoso who uses enchanted musical instruments to channel arcane energies. The Arcane Melodist specializes in casting spells through melodic compositions, manipulating the mystical forces to support allies or thwart enemies.
[Mystic Maestro]
>>A master of magic and mental manipulation, the Mystic Maestro wields an enchanted conductor's baton to command ethereal energies. Through rhythmic gestures and mesmerizing music, they can sway the emotions and thoughts of those around them while unleashing potent magical attacks.
[Psyche Serenader]
>>Harnessing the power of the mind and music, the Psyche Serenader is a mental maestro who weaves intricate melodies to influence the thoughts and perceptions of others. This class excels in psychic attacks, creating illusions, and manipulating the battlefield with the harmonious interplay of music and mental prowess.
Rasoul promptly chose the 'Harmonious Enchantress' Class without delving into the details of the others. It seemed perfect for his objectives, especially considering that the next subordinate he aimed to create would be female.
------
[Add items]
Rasoul immediately removed the four beast bodies and their cores from his inventory.
The beasts:
[Aurora Wyrm: Alpha Beast]
>>This radiant dragon-like creature provides celestial energy and iridescent scales. Its affinity for cosmic forces enhances the serpent's magical abilities.
[Harmony Harpion: Great Beast]
>>A mythical bird with wings that resemble musical instruments, the Harmony Harpion contributes musical notes and melodies. Its harmonious songs are incorporated into its enchanting aura.
[Mindbender Sphinx: Alpha Beast]
>>The Mindbender Sphinx, with its psychic prowess and mesmerizing gaze, contributes to the mental manipulation aspect. Its antler enhances its ability to manipulate the minds of those it encounters.
[Sonic Sirenix: Great Beast]
>>A deep-sea creature with vocal cords that can generate powerful sonic waves that disorient and incapacitate foes. Its attacks also deal damage to internal organs.
Within the tomb, they vanquished the Harmony Harpion, one of the guardians safeguarding the treasures Rasoul and his companions serendipitously discovered. Among the spoils was a rare flower known as the Lyravine Blossom. The Sonic Sirenix, the creature Ragnar defeated, also contributed to their bounty.
Rasoul gathered all the bodies and cores, depositing them into the formation. Alongside them, he placed the Lyravine Blossom, enhancing the mix of components.
Notably, he extracted a Grea sage core that once belonged to Isabella Dawnheart, a former Dark General who excelled in illusionary magic.
He tossed the gathered components into the mix and proceeded to the next step.
---
[Does the Host want to add an option to name his Creation]
>>Yes
>>No
'Yes
------
[Select Gender]
>>Male
>>Female
'Female
---
[Set Age]
'20
[Note: The subordinates' appearance will be determined by the traits of the Host and materials used in the Creation.]
[Creation sequence started...]
[Time before completion: 4 hours]
=====
Back in the Thunderclaw Voltalion, Sabrat and Rowan continued their relentless onslaught, leaving a trail of carnage in their wake. Meanwhile, the Saint Beasts stealthily advanced towards them.
Sabrat reached out to Rowan through telepathy to strategize, momentarily forgetting that Rowan was also a Saint Beast/Human.
'Rowan, how should we handle this?'
'There's nothing to handle. I can eliminate it with a single strike. Don't forget, I am a saint,' Rowan stated confidently, driving his dagger into the neck of a Great beast.
'Rule number one: Never underestimate your enemies,' Sabrat cautioned, sensing a hint of arrogance in Rowan's demeanor.
Almost as if the beast could pick up on their thoughts, it suddenly lunged at Rowan instead of Sabrat.
Rowan held his position, but upon clashing with the beast, he was forcefully thrown a staggering 1 kilometer away. A white glow poured on his skin, steadily consuming the shadows that enveloped him.
Realizing the nature of the threat, he swiftly employed his cosmic energy to dispel the encroaching white glow on his skin. Simultaneously, he sent a mental message to Sabrat.
'Be careful, it's a forsaken beast.'
'What is a forsaken beast?' Sabrat inquired, deftly avoiding an attack from the formidable creature.
'Forsaken beasts are banished creatures, expelled from both realms of light and darkness. They possess a blend of divine and abyss energies that can devour other energies if allowed to spread. Given your reliance on Mana, avoid getting hit by the white glow,' Rowan explained.
'Good to know,' Sabrat responded, adding, 'How should we handle this?'
"I just have to give it a taste of its own medicine," Rowan replied, then unleashed an ability.
"Abyssal Veil," Rowan uttered, and immediately, the shadows in his vicinity began converging toward him. As he initiated movement, the shadows augmented his speed. Meanwhile, the beast retaliated by shooting white darts in his direction.
Each dart sped towards him, but with his heightened agility, Rowan skillfully dodged every projectile. He continued to maneuver in unpredictable patterns, effortlessly avoiding the attacks. However, unbeknownst to both Sabrat and the beast, the Rowan they perceived was merely an illusion.
The fourth effect of his 'Abyssal Veil' ability allowed him to create an illusionary decoy, while the first ability rendered him nearly invisible to the observer's eye.
As the illusion closed in within 7 meters of the beast, a dart finally struck it, causing it to disperse. The beast realized it had been tricked, but before it could react, a dagger materialized out of nowhere and pierced it straight in the neck. Another dagger swiftly followed, piercing through its left eye.
The strike wasn't ordinary; it carried the imbued power of abyssal energy. This surge of energy sent excruciating pain coursing through the beast's brain, bringing an abrupt end to its pitiful life in an instant.
Rowan then materialized into his physical form, casting a glance at Sabrat, who stared at him with intensity. Sabrat knew Rowan was skilled with shadows, but witnessing the seamless way he moved among them stirred a tinge of envy within him.
He recalled seeing a similar feat when he trained with Zayd in the tomb.
And as if Rowan could sense his feelings, he commented with a smile, "No need to envy, bro. Your connection to the nether realm is stronger than mine to the abyss. Try to reach the Saint realm quickly, so you can tap into the nether nectar."
Hearing this, Sabrat's face lit up a little, and he eagerly rushed to the body of the beast, storing both the body and core. They proceeded to search for more beasts to kill, their thirst for blood knows no bounds.
=====
Back in the Sundance Kingdom, a mere two hours away from the capital, four individuals lay concealed like predators, biding their time for the princess to walk into their trap. Their intention was clear: to swiftly complete their task and move on.
A sense of impending chaos loomed, and soon the entire empire would tremble.
++++++++++++
[Lyravine Blossom]
>>A mythical flower with resonating petals, the Lyravine Blossom is a natural amplifier for the Harmony Harpion's melodies. Its celestial hum enhances the bird's musical contributions, creating an enchanting synergy that elevates the Celestial Serenithrax's aura to new heights.