The path down to the 4th level seems to just stretch farther and farther, but I don't mind, as it gives me a chance to get used to the several magics I now have. For now, I seem to have four different magic types. The path down to the 4th level seems to just stretch farther and farther, but I don't mind, as it gives me a chance to get used to the several magics I now have. For now, I seem to have four different magic types.
First is what I'm going to call 'Devouring Magic' since it seems to only react after I've killed something, for example, the weapon devil and acid devil, plus that weak devil from the first level. As far as I've been able to discern, this magic lets me 'eat' the magic of other things and absorb them, and once I absorb enough, I can use that magic myself.
For now, it seemed that I had to kill other devils if I wanted to get more magic, but that was fine by me.
The next magic was Weapon Creation Magic, names on the tin, you know what it does. The nuance of it is more interesting, since I can't just form a sword out of nothing. I have to have a detailed image in my mind of what I want to make, then I have to supply the mana and guide it until it becomes the shape of what I want, then it solidifies, and boom, I got a sword.
Obviously, this takes a second, which is why I've been practicing with simple things before I move on to others. So for now, my loadout consists of a spatha, a simple spear, and some throwing knives. These are the few things I can make decently quickly, so I don't really worry about them that much, but I'd rather not lose them. As for the .44 Magnum?
I don't even really understand how I was able to make the thing, I was just thinking about how cool it would be to have one since it's stopping power isn't bad, it's just outclassed by everything I've come across so far, maybe if there were humans I'd be better off, but for now sword is the way to go.
Now I have a new magic to work with, Acid magic. Funny enough, I can make weapons faster with this magic than with Weapon Creation magic. Granted, the weapon is just going to be solid acid, but it's still pretty cool. For now, though, the only two things I've focused on making with the acid are a javelin for throwing and a crossbow.
Not the best, but better than nothing. Plus, it keeps me occupied between walking, resting to regain mana, and practicing some more. I've been trying for the last few miles now to make a few new things with my magic.
For the weapon magic, I NEED a sniper rifle, something that can punch a hole through a mountain just in case I need it. It's going badly right now, since the most I can make is a pistol with a rifle barrel, but practice makes perfect, so I'm still going at it.
Acid magic is also getting worked on, as I need actual magic for damage, since punching things won't work forever. I enjoy the rush and thrill of fighting up close, but I need something to keep me away from other magic that will probably be twisted and dangerous if the mana in this place is anything to go off of.
After walking for another couple of miles, I sense several waves of mana erupt in the distance, as if a large battle is happening. Since I had nothing else to do, I headed that way to check it out. As I get closer, I feel the waves of mana sweep across the landscape, and I start to hear shouting as well. Crouching at the top of the hill, I stop and watch the six devils fighting below.
"You blazing idiot, why did you set me on fire?! I'm on your side!" A large earthen devil screeched as the flaming devil beside it shrugged. "You should have moved in time." It said as the pair hid behind a rock wall, glaring at the dark water that rushed past them.
"See, this is why we are superior. Much better than these low creatures!" A voice as loud as a hurricane bellowed as it gracefully dodged a bolt of fire. "Quit playing with them, we still have to deal with these two!" A large sea creature snapped as it blasted water at a slowly growing wall of magma.
Behind the magma, two devils grinned as they advanced on the water devil. "Keep him still so I can get a clear shot. I only have one chance to hit him before the shock!" A frenzied devil said as it bounced and vibrated in place. "As long as you help me get the fire and earth brats, you can have the other two." The magma casting devil said as it stared greedily at the wall of earth that was slowly being chipped away by the water.
Seeing the devils scream and argue amongst themselves was almost funny, but I was more focused on how I could take their magic as my own.
'Alright, let's break this down. Fire and Earth are taking a beating from Wind and Water. Water is distracted by keeping Magma and Lightning at bay. The best choice would be to shift the balance of power in favor of Fire and Earth so they could distract Water enough for me to kill. Could also just rush Water and hope for the best.'
I ran through the options some more, and the devils down below locked themselves into a stalemate. There were always the options of jumping the first one that used all of its mana, but seeing how none of them were committing, and were keeping an eye on their allies, it might be worthwhile to force one of them to commit, then jump the first to fall down.
Sliding down the hill to another outcropping, I got an idea and started to make several bows using Weapon creation magic, and several acid crossbows as I aimed them all at the distracted water devil. Now I just had to wait for my chance, which came when the lava devil tried to push forward, forcing water to divert more pressurized water at them.
"ARGH! Trickery!" It screamed as dozens of bolts and arrows pierced its flesh, none fatal. Seeing it distracted Lava eagerly gained ground as Fire shot several bolts of fire at Wind, as Earth threw boulders in the way of Lightning.
Seeing my chance, I got closer to Fire, who had fallen behind Earth as it tried to stay back, giving me the chance to get closer as I rammed my spear into its spine. It screamed in pain, halting the fighting momentarily as the other devils watched me stab Fire in the chest with my sword before crushing its skull. I welcomed the rush of warm magic that entered my body as Lava and Earth glared at me with angry eyes.
Not about to lose the initiative, I called upon the fire magic within me as flaming gauntlets blazed around my forearms. The fire was dark and seemed to twitch as I flexed my hands, and claws shot out ready to tear into flesh. "WHO ARE YOU?" Wind bellowed as I ignored it and just watched the rest return to fighting amongst themselves, now much less eager as they kept a close eye on the new player in this deadly game.
"YOU! When I'm done with these weaklings, I'm coming for YOU!" Lava roared as it tried to force its way past the deluge that Water kept up as their magic tides sizzled against each other. Water didn't let it go unimpeded as it had caught a small glimpse of Lightning behind it, eyeing it hungrily as Earth decided to rush me, hoping to get the upper hand.
As it charged at me, thick armour formed around it as my fire did nothing but harden the earth. That did make it a bit easier to break since it became brittle and was easier to break apart, but with how Wind and Lava were looking at me, I had to get this done quickly before they decided to jump me as well.
As Wind tried to get closer through the air, I glared up at it and decided to copy it, holding the fire in the palm of my claw for five seconds before releasing it, as it formed a funnel of fire, forcing Wind back as Earth closed in. Not that it did any good, as Earth was slow but bulky in that armour.
As I jumped on Earth's back and started to tear into it with flaming claws, I felt the mana gathering for an attack behind me. Throwing myself to the side, I avoided a wave of water that would have washed me away. Turning, I saw Water trying to solo me, Lava, and Lightning, since Wind looked ready to run.
Not wanting to let anything go, I channeled more mana into my body and fire magic as flaming boots appeared as well. Now with a speed boost, I kick Earth in the side, he goes tumbling as Lava moves towards him slightly, ready to abandon Lightning to get at least half of his prize as I send more fire at Wind, forcing the confrontation as gale force winds descend to try and blow me away.
Not willing to let Wind throw me away from all this delicious magic, I pushed through the wind and got closer, before noticing Lava shifting his position slowly closer to the still recovering Earth. 'Everything as planned,' I grinned as I suddenly stopped fighting, letting the wind take me as I used it to get into the air above Lava and Lightning, who noticed me a second too late as I descended like a flaming comet.
Lightning hissed in pain but was otherwise fine as I pummeled and tore into Lava's chest. Its flesh was searingly hot, but I pushed through before Lightning sent a bolt of crackling mana at me. Twisting to let it fly by me, I stomped on Lava's face before charging Lightning.
Not about to let us fight alone, Water and Wind closed in as the terrain became more unfavorable. It didn't bother me much as I left burning claw marks all over Lightning before sending a wave of fire at Wind. Hissing in pain, I looked down to see blood where Lava had caught my leg. Perhaps it was the literal fire magic burning inside me, but my mind felt a burning fury at being wounded as I charged at Lava, tearing off Water's arm as he tried to intercept me.
Reaching Lava, I tore into his chest with fury as his molten blood splashed on my arms, singing them as I tore out his heart, and tore it to shreds before a lance of wind magic slammed into my side, placing me conveniently next to the still struggling Earth.
Grinning, I tore what was left of his armour to shreds before stabbing the heart and brain. Lava cursed loudly as it sent a wave of magma at Water, but I wasn't able to focus on that as a terrible hunger suddenly tore at my mind, and without thinking, I tore out what was left of the earth devil's heart, and ate it.
Water, Lava, Lightning, and Wind suddenly stopped fighting as they watched the strange devil before them suddenly start to consume the dead Earth devil with a hunger usually only seen in mindless demons.
"What a barbarian!" Wind sneered as Lava and Water glanced at each other before placing barriers between the remaining devils and the strange devil finishing off Earth's corpse. "No matter what, we kill that thing first, then we deal with each other." Water said as the others nodded, not wanting to end up like Earth.
As my mind pulled itself back from the mindless hunger that had just consumed me, I stared down at my bloodied hands as I felt my mind stabilize. 'Ok, that's new, never had a magic compel me to eat something so literally before. I'll worry about that later.'
Later was now upon me as Lava and Water hurled spells at me, as Wind and Lightning took the flanks. Seeing the spells and claws reaching for me, I called upon the earth magic within me as I took a stance. Time seemed to slow as I felt the mana form as a suit of armor around me, my eyes slowly tracked the Lightning devil as it shot past Wind. Seeing its outstretched claws, I grinned as I felt my form become more bulky and slow. 'I can work with this.'
As Lightning noticed the armor, he tried to break off and just shoot past me. What really happened was I stretched my arm out and clotheslined him. He hit the ground hard as the earth armor let me tank Wind's spell as Lava and Water chanted further up. I focused on Lighting first as I stomped down on its legs, shattering them as it screamed in pain, before I then stomped on its head and dispelled the armor, tore out its heart, and ate it.
Now with lightning gone, the others were now seriously considering retreat, but I was already wreathed in crackling lightning and closing in, so they didn't have a choice in the matter. As I jumped him over the wave of water, I landed hard and slammed my fist down as the massive boulder formed, tanking a wind spell before I threw it at Lava.
Lava roared as I got closer, keeping an eye on Water, since if he got one good hit off that would be it. 'ABOVE!' I threw myself to the ground as the ground wrapped around me in a defensive spell with spikes. I felt everything shake as the dome protecting me took hits from three different elements. Thinking fast, I poured more mana into the construct before I felt something click, releasing the mana. I watched in satisfaction as the dome exploded outwards, showering the three devils who'd gotten too close with shards of their own magic, as well as shrapnel from the spiked dome.
Seeing Water with a nasty-looking spike in the gut, I sent wave after wave of dark flames as it screamed in pain. Getting closer, I tried to form the earth armour just on my leg, it worked, and so I kicked the spike as hard as I could, driving it in deeper.
Water screamed louder as I felt the other two charging up mana. Both were going all out, so I sent a huge pulse of mana into the earth, as a wall formed between us as spells crashed into it. Tearing out the water devil's heart, I quickly ate it as the wall behind me crumbled.
Spinning, I created a 2-meter-long lance of water and hurled it at Lava before covering myself in lightning and using the speed boot to leap at Wind from what remained of the wall. Lava hissed as the water did a little damage, as Wind tried to force me back down to earth. It almost worked until a pillar of earth rose to boost me back up, as I wrapped my claws around the devil's throat.
Not going down without a fight, Wind formed claws of its own as we tore into each other. It felt like knives of wind were raking my sides as the devil slashed furiously at me. I returned the favor with relish as we plummeted like a rock.
Lava was already waiting for us eagerly as it stood in the center of a decent-sized puddle of magma. Seeing the danger, Wind tried to break off and flee, but I didn't let it as I held on tight, before using half of my remaining mana. I felt weakened as the mana left, but was rewarded when a massive torrent of water slammed into the Lava devil, who screamed in pain as his molten flesh solidified. Still not done, I headbutted the Wind devil before angling my body so that it hit the cooled magma before I did.
We hit the ground hard as I heard the Wind Devil's skull crack. Still dazed, I forced my body up as I tore out its heart and ate it, before turning on the Lava devil that was starting to glow red hot. "You freak!" It spat. "How dare you steal MY prey! I will enjoy burning you alive and feasting on your flesh, and I will take back what is rightfully MINE!"
I just got to my feet as I felt the ground shaking under me, calling on the last wisps of mana within me, I formed another lance of writhing dark water, but rather than let it fly, I grabbed it and charged forward. Lava roared as his skin returned to the color of magma, and the cooled lava under us started to shake as fresh lava spewed out from the cracks.
Lunging forward with the lance ended up being the best choice as the devil roared in pain every time I scored a hit. The heat was starting to get to me, though, as more lava steadily poured out from the shattered ground where the wind devil and I landed. "Stay still so I may burn you!"
Lava seemed to get more agitated as I danced around it, flowing like water around the magma and flaming fists it threw at me as I stabbed deep into its gut. It roared as I pressed the advantage, having no other choice but to kill it quickly as the lava flowed towards me, seeking out the one killing its master.
Pushing the lance in deeper, I let go and started to pummel the devil as it did the same with less strength than before, due to having to control the lava so it wouldn't die to its own magic, plus trying to expel the lance stuck in its gut.
As the resistance from it got weaker and weaker, I ripped out the lance with a yell as lava splashed along my side, and I jumped atop the devil, plunging the lance into its heart before forcing its head into the lava, holding it down as it writhed for a full ten seconds, before finally stilling.
Without mana to fuel it, the lava started to fade away as I collapsed, feeling every burn as I felt the burning spark of Lava magic ignite within me. Feeling that terrible hunger rise up within me again, I decided to just let go as my body moved on its own, devouring what was left of the lava,wind,fire,water, and lightning devils.