Leveling up the World

Chapter 914: The Eternal healer

For someone who likes peace, you sure are violent! Dallion used his music skills in an attempt to weigh down his enemy, while simultaneously proceeding with two multi attacks.

Moonstone magic had allowed him to summon his aura sword to focus on spells and combat.

MINOR STRIKE

Dealt damage is increased by 10%

MINOR STRIKE

Dealt damage is increased by 10%

MINOR STRIKE

Dealt damage is increased by 10%

Red rectangles stacked up. Despite his speed, the archbishop was finding it difficult to fend off two weapons. Unfortunately for Dallion, he didnt have to.

ABSOLUTE HEAL

SIMONs health has increased by 100%

Green rectangles emerged with almost the same speed the red ones did. This didnt seem like magic or skill, but a natural ability, making him effectively invulnerable.

Dallion had no intention of giving up, though. This wasnt the first invulnerable being he had faced.

Strength is needed to maintain peace, the archbishop replied, his own voice countering Dallions music attacks. A shield that cannot protect is no shield at all.

Spark!

Dallion performed a dual spiral attack. The curves of destruction went forward, crashing into the archbishop before they had a chance to do any damage to the realm.

CRITICAL STRIKE

Dealt damage is increased by 10%

CRITICAL STRIKE

Dealt damage is increased by 10%

Two red rectangles emerged, bringing the otherworlds health to a third. Mere seconds later, the dreaded green rectangle of healing also popped up, restoring it back to full.

Harp! Dallion threw the harpsisword forward, taking advantage of the momentary pause to target the Moon platinum staff. Do your thing.

Metal struck metal, casting illusions of fallibility and rust. Cracks formed along the surface of the brilliance piece of metal. One more attack and a fragment shattered, breaking off from the whole.

Got you! Dallion thought.

An opening had formed in the archbishops defenses. Dallion thrust his sword aura forward, casting multiple spells as he did so. In his mind, he was playing out the battle three moves ahead. Before he could strike, though, the archbishop burst into instances.

It was nothing like Dallion had seen before. He had been in battles before and so was used to seeing hundreds of instances at once. Never had he witnessed thousands clumped together so tightly that they formed a sphere of presences.

Red rectangles formed, then faded away, disappearing with the instances they shared a reality with.

Combining magic, attack, arts, and acrobatics, Dallion spun around, sending line attack after line attack. The devastation of the blows eliminated whole clusters of the archbishops instances, often over a hundred at a time, but they were immediately replaced by new ones.

It takes a lot more strength to attack than to defend, the archbishop said. Thats why I make sure Id win before doing so.

Of course not. The citadel will. Thats what I built it for.

And just like that, an intense regimen of training began. Dallion didnt appreciate being locked out from the real world and his realm, but as long as everything took place here, he could rest assured that no time passed outside.

Every stage of the process was divided into a set number of steps: theory, demonstration, recreation, and final challenge. In many ways, it resembled the awakening trials, only the answers were presented beforehand to save time.

With each task Dallion mastered, he was given a short rest and went on to something more difficult. Basic combat breezed through, leading him to the intricate practice of combat forging, living armor creation and usage, and movement efficiency. Aside from the artifact blueprints, which were too intricate for Dallion to come up with on his own, he had a fairly good grasp of everything else. It was also undeniable that he wasted a lot of actions. As many of the protectors used to repeat, he defeated them in two minutes when he should have done so in half.

Days came and went in the realm of the grand citadel. Every once in a while, the archbishop would appear to check on Dallions progress, though would never personally take part in a fight. It was also notable that no matter how often Dallion touched the topic of the seventh gate of the eight Moon, there was no answer. Even the archbishops Earthly origin remained a taboo subject, only earning the vague explanation that it was somewhere near the sea.

After what seemed like half a year, or possibly more, Dallion was finally told to return to the real world.

You can stay a bit more if you like, the archbishop said, drinking from a crystal glass of orange juice. But I doubt youll learn anything useful.

All the worlds knowledge collected throughout the eras and you claim that I cant find anything useful?

Useful for the current task. You can easily learn the secrets of dryad gardening, nymph irrigation, and all sorts of other tricks that would let you create the perfect garden. You might even be able to join our competition with Tamin on the matter for as long as hes alive.

The comment made Dallion frown. If it was meant to be funny, it definitely missed the mark.

Maybe I want to learn how to create world items, he said.

Yes, world items. The archbishop gave him an annoying smile. And you intend to spend weeks making one in the real world, instead of having me give you one thats already made? Tamin isnt an idiot, Dal. Hell rush the ceremony as fast as he can. Itll start in a few days time at the most. Why do you think I kept you training in the realms?

To keep me cut off from everyone I knew? Dallion said to himself.

Most of the pieces are in place. By tonight, they will all be. All thats left after that is for you to enter Tamins capital at the right time and trigger it all.

And thats how we save the world, Dallion sighed.

REALM EXPULSION

Dallion suddenly found himself inside the citadel. The strong fragrance of plants and flowers quickly reminded him that he was back in the real world. Everything seemed a lot smaller and more lifeless, almost sterile. The only thing that remained unchanged was the archbishop standing a few steps in front of him.

Yes, thats how we save the world, he said. You wont be able to enter the realm for the next twenty-four hours.

A little hard handed. Dallion frowned.

Its for your own benefit. Once youre done with the task, you can come back as many times as you wish. Ill even let you bring your wife. Just shift the balance of power in our favor and youll be able to do anything.

Dallion looked at the boy. He seemed so innocent in his Order robes and otherworldly shimmering, almost as if having a holy halo. Yet, behind that appearance lay a ruthless mass of experience and logic. Nothing he did was by accident. Every action, every word was made to lead to a specific outcomea prophecy that he had selected among the many.

Without a word, Dallion turned around and left the building. Sensing his anger, the plants in the meadow outside moved to the side. Dallion didnt mind. Right now, he needed to be alone for a whileaway from the archbishop, his plants, and creations.

Soon, it became clear that this simple task wasnt as simple as one might think. The entire island was covered with item guardians in the Orders service. There was no way that anyone could approach the island by sea or air unnoticed. From the cliffs and beaches to the highest mountain peak, there was always something looking, listening. As a result, Dallion went to the only place he knew hed get some privacythe air itself.

You really are an asshole, he said beneath his breath, not in the least concerned whether the archbishop would hear. Both of them needed each other. That was why the boy tolerated and trained Dallion, and also why Dallion would go on with the assassination.

He really is, isnt he? a croaky voice said.

Reflectively, Dallion turned around, summoning his harpsisword. He hadnt sensed anything approaching, and still there was a crow flapping in the air, less than ten feet away.

Void. Dallion performed a spiral spark attack at the creature.

The moment the white thread came in contact with the crow, it burst like a balloon of ink, quickly evaporating into the air. Barely had it done so, than a second one fluttered down from the sky.

Nice to see you too, the creature said. I must say, this is the last place I expected to see you.