Chapter 253 - [Forsaken Labyrinth Conquest] 45/69; Sparring Sessions
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Altani and Acelina were sparring, in the small battlefield, Ismena and Kaguya were observing as well. Altani was manipulating her Starlight Winds alongside her Spear, the dazzling light of the winds going around her body made her look even more beautiful, her chocolate-colored skin shined in golden luster as her silver eyes flew around the wind while her eyes turned into a bright emerald and gold colors, changing most likely due to her new Magic affinity.
Altani wore her serious and determine expression, she has lived for many years and held a mature yet alluring glance, although her personality may not show it, she is a strong warrior.
Acelina was on the left side, her aquamarine hair flew through the air as her golden eyes shined brightly, small particles of gold flew all around her body, forming different shapes, her right hand seemed to have a small, golden tattoo, depicting a shield. Out of nowhere, her eyes shined with a blinding light as the small gold particles flew around her and fused themselves with her armor, greatly enhancing and changing its shape into a more beautiful and "graceful" light armor. Her stats seemed to increase due to this as well.
Altani suddenly jumped with a strong propulsion speed by using the Winds at her disposal, like a bullet she pounced towards Aceline while raising her spear, enhancing it with magic, she released hundreds of techniques one by one, her speed was outstanding, and made Acelina fall back as the hundreds of spear phantoms clashed through the ground, generating strong tremors.
Acelina moved back swiftly while raising her hand, then, she used her Heavenly Gold Wind Magic, manipulating it and shaping it into countless of shields, every technique that hit the shields would dissipate, and the shields would throw the force made by the technique back to Altani, surprising her. However, Altani had a stronger speed and force, devastating the shields with stronger strokes, however, some of the damage would fly back to hers, and she would have to evade in time, lowering her guard for a surprise attack.
Acelina used these small opportunities, as she created small explosions using her Heavenly Gold Wind Magic, the explosions did a great deal of magic damage, but Altani resisted them well enough by using her own magic to create small and thin barriers, that were capable of negating some of the damage and impact.
Then, Acelina created countless weapons out of nowhere, made of magic, as they flew towards Altani from all directions. Acelina gave a satisfied smug as she had already thought about her victory. However, Altani manipulated the magic around her with and her spear, as she released a powerful burst of dazzling winds, blasting away most of the magic projectiles thrown by Acelina.
Acelina gave a surprised expression, however, she quickly went back to her usual smug and confronted Altani, who flew like a bullet towards her. Acelina once again defended herself with her shields while moving around, while Altanit took a more aggressive position, finally gaining momentum.
However, when Altani was about the break the last shield and attack Acelina directly, a powerful explosion happened below her as the ground exploded and countless weapons came out of the floor of the Dungeon. Altani was not able to predict this as she was blasted away, my Azure Gemstone shield appeared and protected her from fatal damage. I think they are taking this sparring too seriously.
I wanted to stop them, but I just couldn't stop seeing the amazing performance of two beautiful women fighting so fiercely while experimenting with their powers. Acelina manipulated the flood of golden projectiles with her hand as if they were a river in the middle of the air. Altani was being overwhelmed, but quickly regained her position as she released another burst of dazzling wind, and then countless star-shaped meteors flew from her small Aura.
These meteors flew with an outstanding speed as they clashed against Acelina, more explosions made the area tremble as Acelina wasn't able to protect herself with her shields, the explosion send her off to a far distance, even when the Azure Gemstone Shield helped her out.
Altani appeared right behind Acelina as she released her powerful techniques, countless of spear phantoms rained over Acelina as if they were falling stars, each successful attack would create dazzling explosions around her and the bright light illuminated the entire floor.
Acelina was sent towards the floor an although she didn't take much damage due to the Azure Gemstone Shields, she was defeated by her standards, and smiled at Altani.
"Alright, nomad, you win… Again…"
Altani flew towards the ground and approached her with a calm yet charming smile.
"You fought well, Acelina. But both of us still have a long road ahead of us… The potential we have discovered can only get us as far… We need to do our best"
Acelina raised her eyebrows as she looked at the serious Altani.
"Sheesh, you're always so serious, nomad… Alright, give me a hand, my armor got incrusted on the dungeon's floor…"
"Oh, alright"
And then, Altani helped Acelina get up from the small crater that she made in the dungeon. As she did, the dungeon bricks slowly started to regenerate until the entire floor was good as new. I approached the two girls as I praised their strengths.
Acelina smiled smugly as she said; "Ohoho~! Of course, that I am very talented, Master Kireina~ Praise me more"
While Altani gave me a very serious expression, but her eyes seemed happy; "Thanks, but this is not enough, Master Kireina, there is a long road ahead"
Although both girls didn't receive a God Blessing, as they already had one, to begin with, Altani having the blessing of the God of Starlight Destiny while Acelina is blessed by the Demi-Goddess of Sacred Gold, the two of them received a qualitative change that was more noticeable today as they managed to evolve various of their Techniques and Skills alongside Spells that they had at level 10.
After Altani and Acelina sparred, it was turned for Ismena and Kaguya, both girls had very different origins and powers, and fought bravely. Ismena had improved her powers and Spells, as she had acquired a big amount of them, but still had difficulties by trying to multitask while conjuring more Spells, she also showcased some Phantasmal Magic spells that were made by copying the Skills from the Undead Turtle, they were [Phantasmal Domain; Phantom Hands], [Unmovable Phantom Shell] and [Three-Headed Phantom Turtle Heads; Three Breaths].
However, Kaguya had also improved on her powers, as she was now more versatile and didn't need to stand in one place while using her magic, using a semi-transformation of her beast form, she could increase her speed and agility and move around gracefully on her beautiful white and red Kimono. She conjured powerful fireballs that held the power of the Sun itself, and whenever these exploded, they would create small flame familiars for her to fight. She could also generate blue flames that can corrode the soul and control her Will-O-Wisp to do other types of attack that can inflict curses, Blind, Confuse, and even defense.
In the end, Kaguya held more fighting experience than Ismena and won without a scratch on her Kimono. Ismena was devastated, but Kaguya's gentle demeanor made the two girls get along. Ismena in the past would have to find disgusting to talk and be friends with a Demi-Human, especially a beastfolk, but now she did not mind at all, and was more open-minded, it seems. Although being charmed and enslaved may be an important factor.
After the fight, the four girls wanted me to teach them the techniques I've taught to my children, but I felt that it would take a long time, so I only made them practice the basics. Kaguya already knew more or less how to manipulate her Flame Aura, so she was the one most ahead of the four, nourishing her body and soul with it. Ismena had a strange bluish aura named Wisdom Aura, while Altani had a Starlight Aura and a Wind Aura, Acelina on the other hand had a Heavenly Golden Aura and Wind Aura as well.
It seems that those who receive the [Legendary Hero Seed] develop a secondary Aura based on it, they had a hard time practicing with it as the two Auras clashed with each other, so I left them practicing for now.
I then went to check on my children and their current status, Ryo had been steadily becoming stronger through the cultivation of his physique by using his Aura passively inside of his body, he had a very strong affinity with it, mostly because it was made of more Ki than Magic.
Valentia had been steadily nourishing her body with her Dominating Aura, and recently discovered her Shadow Aura as well, which she uses in conjunction with the previously mentioned Aura. Both of them increase the power of her body immensely while giving her more affinity with Shadow and Dark, which she didn't practice much. His transformation now didn't tire him out like before and he was able to hold into it for hours without any burden to his body, still, he liked to use it as his last resort. He's also becoming more skillful with Shadow Magic, gaining the praises of Zehe.
She was now learning some of those spells as well as Earth and managed to fuse the elements, creating Dark-Colored Diamonds, resembling gemstone magic, however, these diamonds were incredibly sturdy, it was perhaps a unique element that she had discovered. Her control over her [Monster Hand] was become flawless as well, and could now control the powerful emotions that filled her mind when she was taking on so much of that power.
Aarae and Ailine had been competing with their Magic Cultivation. Ailine had managed to nourish her Slime Core with her own Colorful Aura and was steadily increasing its power and magic proficiency as well as her vast MP Pool. Aarae in the other hand did not want to fall off, now cultivating using his Orb on his forehead, which also increased the strength of his Shark Familiar, his Magic and MP pool alongside his Resistance stats were increasing steadily, surpassing what he could gain with level ups, he should be closer to evolution as well.
Last but not least, Vudia was taught by Ailine and Aarae, but she also asked her mother Brontes about it. It seems that Spirits have a very different way of how they nourish their bodies. Brontes taught her method, which was by filling her muscles with thunder magic and doing heavy exercises, this made her muscle get tired incredibly fast, putting a heavy burden on it, however, as she keeps exercising, the muscles regenerate with her natural abilities, quickly increasing in mass and strength.
However, Vudia's physique was clearly not adapted to such training, so she only did it partially without the exercising part, slowly increasing her muscle strength passively by stimulating them with her electricity manipulation. She also nourished her body with pure magic by using the Orbs on each of her hands as a catalyst, her golems helped her regulate the flow of Magic as well.
Vudia and Ailine were sitting on my shoulders while I talked with Aarae about certain ways to strengthen his physique, but he doesn't seem to be so interested, only wanting to become strong as a mage. Anyways, when the food was ready, we quickly went to have a small feast before continuing with the dungeon exploration.
The food of today in the morning was the delicious cleaned meat of the Undead Turtle Boss, it has been recently killed for a third time while I was sleeping. It seems that my wives only needed to work together to fight it off.
The ones with high affinity with Light, Holy and Fire like Adelle, Kaguya, Lilith, Altani and Acelina did the highest damage, while the giants like Nesiphae, Nixephine, and Brontes on her Titan Form served as good tanks, taking most of the attention from the monster heads. After around forty minutes, they defeated it. And then Rimuru cleaned the poison and bacteria in the flesh with her absorption, leaving the meat fresh and ready to grill and eat in different preparations.
I also found out that the wine made of Walking Cactus that I was making inside of my body was already ready to drink, so I shared it with everyone, it had a very sweet flavor, with a hint of bitterness at the end of every sip, it was certainly a high-quality wine, I wondered how good would it become after fermenting it for more time.
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