"It is Shadow Army spell. A very rare non-standard Summoner's spell," Peniel informed after seeing the spell.
The shadow creatures mostly ran in one direction, they were heading to the main temple which was the seat of power of this divine faction. After further inspection, the new reinforcement from the cult also seemed to be headed in that direction.
"They are going for the main temple!" Jack said.
"The main temple is where the Altar of Courage is located. They must be looking to destroy it!" Mihos uttered.
"Altar of Courage?"
"It's the source of power for the Council of Virtus. The altar granted buffs to all members. If it is destroyed, not only will every member lose the buffs, they will also receive debuffs for a period," Paytowin explained.
"It's not just about the buffs. That altar is the representation of our devotion to our God. We cannot allow them to desecrate it!" Mihos exclaimed.
"Mihos, you bring Paytowin to the main temple. I'll join you after," Jack said.
"Where are you going?" Paytowin asked.
"I'm going to say hi," Jack said. He then turned to Arlcard. "Arlcard, please stay with them and protect my outworlder friend."
Arlcard simply nodded.
Jack unsummoned Therras. He then flapped his wings and shot up into the air.
He first flew towards the sea of darkness that was moving like a wave towards the main temple. These Shadow Army spell produced so many shadow creatures. There looked to be more than one hundred.
"Damn! That guy is much more powerful compared to the last time we met," Jack said. "A spell that summoned so many minions. He could be an army on his own."
"Don't sell yourself short. You are also more powerful than before," Peniel encouraged.
"Hehe, you are not wrong," Jack said. His left claw then started to form a spell formation. Seven runes were formed at the same time.
"Let's see if your seven-runes summoning spell can take on my seven-runes offensive spell," Jack said.
The spell formation was completed and a sphere materialized before his left claw. The sphere started to crackle with electricity as the surrounding lightning elements were absorbed. He could feel a large amount of lightning energy pouring out from his Lightning God Blessing. Aside from that, the Orb of Raijin in his left arm also released an incredible amount of electricity and fed it into the crackling sphere. Thunder returned to the cloud in the sky above and soon multiple lightning strikes shot down and converged onto the orb on Jack's left claw.
The phenomenon drew Master's attention who was floating not far away. "That's… the lightning boy…?" Master had heard the report about Jack gaining the dragon form. There was no report of others achieving this feat yet. Gridhacker had also sent a short message before he died informing Master that Jack was present in this place.
The lightning sphere in Jack's hand finally finished building up its power. This was the Perpetual Lightning Judgement he had learned from the technique book Garland dropped. He could choose to unleash this spell in the surrounding area or direct it to a fan-shaped area ahead of him. Unlike Garland whose mana manipulation had allowed him mastery over this spell so he could control it to only strike enemies and spare allies, Jack had no such control yet. Luckily, there was nobody else inside that sea of shadowy creatures before him. So, Jack released the pent-up lightning in their direction.
The sphere of lightning exploded and uncountable lightning snakes radiated in a fan-shaped outward. The lightning was so fast that in the second that Jack unleashed the spell, the entire view in front of him was filled with electricity.
The shadow creatures that were touched by these lightning snakes evaporated like burnt paper blown away by a strong gust of wind. Everywhere the lightning snakes passed through, the shadow burst into a puff of smoke. Jack didn't even see damage numbers pop up. The shadow creatures just ceased to exist after getting touched by the lightning.
When the lightning energies subsided, the entire area that was filled with wriggling black sea before, was now completely cleared.
"This is more than I expect…," Jack said.
"The Perpetual Lightning Judgement is unique that it can increase its power by incorporating the lightning element in the surrounding environment," Peniel explained. "By itself, it is already very powerful. But you also have the Lightning God Blessing. When Garland used the spell near you before, the spell only took a tiny portion of your divine power. But now when you cast it yourself, no barrier prevents it from absorbing your divine power. Your Lightning God Blessing even feed it willingly. Not to mention you also have the unique weapon orb etched into your magic staff. The lightning power contained inside that Orb of Raijin is also nothing to scoff at. That's why your spell has transcended beyond normal. I must say this Perpetual Lightning Judgement spell fits you very well."
"Hehehe, that's right! Tremble before the mighty lightning god, hahaha!"
"That's a pretty bold statement," A voice drew Jack's attention. Master was now floating down towards him from up in the air. Jack flew up and met him in the middle.
When he was up high, he saw the situation more clearly. Fighting was all over the place. The twelve colossal statues were unmoving. The gargantuan winged lion was still fighting against the five-headed Hydra. The two eternal-grade titans were locked in fierce combat. Around them was clear space. None dare to come near these two creatures while they tussled.
There were a couple of other giant creatures seemingly battling golden-armored soldiers at different spots. Those must be monsters that World Maker had summoned using summoning crystals for this invasion. There were lots of players who were no doubt World Maker members. Lots of dark-robed figures were also in the fight, who Jack knew were Fear's acolytes. The Council of Virtus members was seriously outnumbered.
'I don't know Fear has so many underlings,' Jack said in his mind to Peniel. 'World Maker's side should have finished conquering Liguritudum if all these natives fight for him, right?'
'I don't think Fear let his cult go all out in aiding World Maker in the country conflict. They have their pride, after all. But it is different when attacking another divine faction. Fear had no reservation in this case. What I'm confused about is why Fear goes along with this invasion.'
'Master probably promises him that nonsense about helping him cross over into the real world again.'
"Enjoying the view?" Master finally spoke when Jack was silent for a while.
The two stared at one another. It had been some time since they last met. They were measuring each other's improvement.
Master tapped the monocle in his left eye. Some mana cores floated and seeped into the monocle and it glowed. "Level 55? How do you manage to get such a level so fast?"
"You can inspect my level?! Can this monocle be strengthened by using mana cores?" Jack tried taking out some mana cores and putting them closer to his monocle, but nothing happened.
"… mine is special," Master said.
Jack also scanned Master's level. Master was at level 52. He was at the average player's level. Jack could only check Master's first class, which was Warlock. He didn't know the level of Master's other classes, but he suspected they to be also at level 52. Considering Master had five classes, such a feat was very impressive even if he took advantage of the war situation in Liguritudum.
"What is the level of your other two classes?" Master asked.
"Level 55 as well," Jack answered truthfully. "What about your other four classes?"
"I've heard you joined the recent civil war in Themisphere and had control of the native army, but that still doesn't explain your express increase in levels. What did you do?"
'Damn it, this man just ignores my question,' Jack thought with annoyance. Since it was so, he responded in kind as well. "You villain, what is your plan attacking this divine faction? Is it because you are angry that they sent aid to Liguritudum?"
"Do you think I'm such a petty person? Well, if you don't want to answer, so be it. Time to capture you again," Master said.
Twenty earth pillars formed around Jack in the air.
"This again?!" Jack uttered. He didn't stay idle. He used the dragon form's wind jet and flew through the gap before the twenty earth pillars converged.
"Hah! Don't think I can be captured in the same way," Jack taunted.
"Ignorant," Master simply said.
"The earth god blessing's first skill is not done yet!" Peniel warned. As she spoke, the converged pillars fused into one and slowly transformed. It became a gigantic earth wyrm that was now soaring through the air magically.
The wyrm's large mouth aimed to devour Jack. Jack immediately flew away before the mouth clamped shut where he was a second ago.
"Don't get caught. You won't be able to move if you are caught. Even your race skill, Willpower won't free you from that stone prison."
Jack had experienced getting trapped by the stone prison before, he knew it was nothing simple. He didn't plan to experience it again. His body flew around as the earth wyrm trying to catch him.
As he did, he felt something in his flight path, he immediately changed direction as a ring of light appeared. It was the Magic Bind spell. But then, a few other similar rings of light appeared around him.
"What the…!"
The rings of light flew at him. Jack hurriedly cast Ice Ring. The ice energy hit all the rings of light and either froze or slowed them. Jack immediately flew away before the earth wyrm arrived.
"That was an evolved Magic Bind," Peniel informed.
They then heard a deep roar. They turned and saw a large tiger with feathery wings beside Master.
"That's Feral Tiger, Summoner level 50 spell," Peniel uttered. "But one evolved to have wings using a Flight Seed."
"Damn it! Where did he get so many evolve seeds?!" Jack complained as the winged feral tiger came pouncing at him.
Then he caught sight of Master casting a six-runes spell. With him busy dodging both the feral tiger and the winged wyrm, he could only shoot ranged attacks to disrupt Master. But Master had cast Barrier beforehand and it blocked the standard attacks.
The spell was completed and a lean dark figure with wide bat-like wings appeared.
"That is Warlock's level 50 spell, Summon Lesser Demon!" Peniel said.
