Chương 41: Choice

Heavy stones shattered against my static field while I flew in front. Gwen was weak as a kitten and wouldn't be much help. Getting Gwen out took priority. If I was Dol, I'd do whatever it took to keep us in here. The longer we fought the more Dol benefited. The answer was simple. I'd go after Dol and stop holding back.

My plan was simple. I'd cause so much damage that Dol wouldn't have time to focus on Gwen or the others.

As I flew, I thought about what it would take to defeat Dol. I was about to run into four or more fights against enemies ready for PVP.

To that end, I decided to create a load out of seven white spells and hope for the best.

Ping!

Pyre – A Tier 1 spell that cremates the corpses of your enemies upon death. Temporarily increases HP by 100HP (+1% x INT) x corpse.

Heaven's Balance – A Tier 2 spell that lowers the HP of everyone caught in its light to the lowest individual's HP.

Abolish – A tier 1 spell that disrupts enemy control over aura. Limit 1s

Spirit Link – A tier 2 spell that links your HP to your opponents. HP your opponent loses is added to your own temporarily.

Life Gift – A tier 1 spell that links your HP to your opponent. Pour 100HP (+1% x INT) into a linked individuals health pool.

Purge – A tier 2 spell that blasts enemies with light. 100DMG (+1% x INT) Double Damage against enemies with Black in their name.

Hounds of Vowmark – Tier 1 spell that summons hounds aligned with the white series. HP, AP and stats = 1/10th of user.

I placed my sword on my back I wouldn't need it. My mage job was equipped, and I'd use it. I needed to power up in ways that didn't affect xp. White magic was something I hadn't used before. There were hundreds of spells to choose from in each tome. Some were vastly more complicated than others.

The Hounds of Vowmark were a less complicated spell. In a sense I summoned copies of the hound from the spell. The Hounds of Vowmark spell was a story about the hounds of Vowmark. They were stronger depending on the telling and the amount of belief in the story. I couldn't really adjust the story, but I had plenty of Aura to produce a hunting pack. They were the key to my plan. All of my other spells were touch based except Purge.

My mage job was equipped, and it was time to show what I knew about magic. I couldn't think of a better way to express my knowledge of magic than to pull off a broken combo. Even now, I pulled at my processors to learn more spells. They were the key to my plan. I needed to overtake Dol. As a system AI I knew it was possible. All I had to do was take a few shortcuts.

"I want to go with you." Gwen said. I stared back at her and then to Tyrannus who looked ready to protest. Another seven white spells were queued to finish. I was ready to stop holding back and really fuck up the tower. If she was there, I'd have to hold back.

"No you can't. I'm going to pull out all of my stops and win or break the tower." I said.

"You can win with your mind and magic alone. You are a darkling have faith in your greatest strength." Gwen said.

I let out a sigh as we rose out of the crevasse and continued to climb up out of the basement. "I'm willing to use my magic but if you're with me you'll be in danger." I said.

"I've looked through many futures before Dol plucked out my third eye. We won't be separated if we are together when you beat him." Gwen said.

That could have meant many things. Gwen was a straightforward kind of girl but what she omitted could fill books. Together could mean we'd be dead. The dazzled with half truth and flashed what you wanted in front of your face. Back before she thought a mere 1000AP would be enough to kill Dol. Talk about misjudging a threat. Then again maybe it was just a test or a short-term goal. Maybe she was always going to go out by herself. She didn't say what my odds were with a handy cap.

"Absolutely not, I will not allow it." Rudalpho said. The thought of killing that guy came to mind and passed. Doppel remained silent. She focused on me instead of Gwen.

"I want both you and Doppel with me." I cursed myself inside for those words. Taking them on the battlefield would limit my area effect. So, I'd have to rely solely on cunning and magic. My aura control and aura management would be the key to all of it. My limit of second tier spells would also bite me if they had any tier 3 spells.

I'd have to focus on the most broken combos possible. Any cheap trick would have to be considered. Not only that but if I wanted to win my strategies had to be flexible. I turned to look at Gwen. She was smiling. Fuck! It was all a part of her plan or maybe I touched her heart somehow. Then again, I was asking for all of her to be with me.

"Claudia, we agreed that you would come with us to the Legate. You were captured they will need your testimonial." Tyrannus said.

"I know what my odds are and the odds of the legion." Gwen said.

I grumbled. Apparently, my first no meant ask again at a more convenient time. I did want them with me but once we crossed into the battlefield, I couldn't protect them. They would be a soft target for my enemies. Either of them could die and Gwen only had a half-remembered plan before Dol ripped out her power.

If I did this, I'd have to be sneakier than ever before. Already plans to abuse the spells I knew came to mind. A load out of black spells were on their way and I would use them viciously. Knowledge was everything when it came to magic. Rules of magic were a very loose concept.

We came upon a wall of gobling magicians. They blocked the doorway out of the tower. All at once they began casting but only simple pointer spells. Why was that? A few in the back used spells to enhance other casters spells. They were simple one two combos. "Hounds of Vowmark, Spirit Link," dozens of hounds appeared form congealed white aura before closing the distance.

The line of mages turned their fire on the hounds blasting them with lightning, fire, and roots. One made it across the firing line and bit into the throat of one of the mages. I struck in that moment. "Heaven's Balance," I called and threw a ball of light at the line.

Moments after the ball of light left my hand it erupted with a pale light. It struck the mages and balanced their HP with the one about to die. For a second the entire line of mages froze. They were all caught up in moments of casting and one had identified the spell. Another began casting at my spell, but it was all too late. Once their health pools dropped to that of a dying mage they went into shock.

The entire line of mages crumbled to the ground while I charged a fireball. A tiny white core of spirit link flowed through the fireball. It was a struggle to merge the calm white power of spirit link with the raging force of fireball. It was an unstable coalition of spells but that was the point of fireball. As long as the spell did some damage that was ok too. The ball of flame left my hands and exploded.

The orange explosion ripped apart the remaining gobling mages. I let out a sigh feeling what health I'd gained drop back to normal. It really was a temporary increase in HP. Spirit link attached to every gobling mage before they died. Fireball was a great distribution system.

Ping!

Mage lvl20

Perks

Multicaster – Combined spells gain 10% more effectiveness.

Spell Chain – You can customize command names of chained spells.

That last perk was the most useful of all. I could make a up a name of a spell chain and fire them off. Enemies won't be able to easily identify the spells I use.

We were at the door. "Its decision time Jacob. Will you take us with you or will you go alone. Either way its your decision." Gwen said. I turned to face her to see the most adorable eyes I've ever seen. Doppel chose a different tactic. She opened her mouth and exposed her four tongues and deep throat. I felt conflicted between a growing boner and feelings for Gwen. They were both Gwen and did I really want to leave her behind because it would be a little difficult? I wanted them to be safe and they weren't helpless. Mind Flayers weren't exactly sexually dimorphic. Besides the wide hips and the feminine voices, they loved to shove in my head, they looked asexual.