"By the Moon's grace, Ninth. While what forms an Elemental is barely understood, one core pillar unites all theories about them. All who become an Elemental need at least an Expert understanding of their primary or secondary element and an Affinity Soul that matches either. Other factors are at play in forming a true elemental body, but these two are never absent when it happens."

Dry winds roiled past the Astral Barrier, the radiance from the white crystal wood tree mending the terrain damage spread across the Shimmering Expanse. The first stalks of purple-tinted crystalline grass shoot up like bamboo as the crater shrunk. A strong pine smell reached out. Halen started to treat along the Astral Barrier's edge. Kelly lay against the ground, trying to rest like a hospital patient in a stiff bed. The lightning continued to brighten as no grey mists clouded it.

"You're taking the long winded approach of saying I'm one of those now?"

Ludris rubbed a thumb under his sharp jawline, "If you aren't an Elemental, then your talent with ice has never been seen before. So, while only you can figure that out, I'm betting against the lunar cycles you've become an Ice Elemental."

"Just another day in the life of a Defier, I guess." Luke had been hit with a rapid rush of events, this one another to the growing stack. He would grill the Interface log soon anyway to see if any information popped up about this reveal.

Halen paced back from one edge of the Astral Barrier to the other, her staff gone. She crossed her arms over her chest. Since Ludris seemed at a loss for words, she filled in for the monic. She said, "Luke, while I'm not privy to the details of each Defier. The only confirmed among you nine Elemental are Sylen's Guardian Blade, High Defier Musai, and Annika, the Water Scholar. There may or may not be another, but most of your band of madmen and women are not Elementals."

"Aruna won't like that I've passed her up in something so soon. Damn her and the family dynamic she introduced."

"Excuse me?" Halen asked, confused by the reaction.

"It's nothing, me and her developed this odd sibling rivalry. I'll take both of you at your word for now. There's something else I want to talk about."

Raising an eyebrow, Halen said, "That being?"

"Are any of those eight still alive? The Bloodmancer and that hellfire slinging elf are probably dead, but I want to confirm it."

Halen exchanged a look with Ludris. The monic Archer stepped out of the Astral Barrier. He came back with two elves. Elyssra, the dark elf Bloodmancer, lay as a frosted corpse. The other, Iralyn, hovered on the verge of death—Vorpal Touch rotted her further each second, browning the comatose elf. Ludris set them both outside the Astral Barrier. They dropped against the soil with an auditory rustle, crunching the crystal grass.

Stepping back into the barrier to soak in its healing abilities, Ludris spoke, "The Elementalist, Iralyn, is the sole survivor. The other seven are dead as the Founding Four. The six not here, except for Vathen, have no corpse left to bury. Your Ice turned them into frozen dust or worse."

Sitting up, Luke inspected the two elves outside the Astral Barrier. When he saw Iralyn in a state similar to Juliana's but getting there in an entirely different way, the Reaver was about to finish what he started. That elf sure did her best to try and kill him. A believer in equality, he'd return the favor, although he felt a twinge hypocritical about it. An emotional tsunami slammed into him, palpable blood lust washing from a previously jovial crow.

Eyes widening, the Reaver felt Reaver's Link go haywire with pure fury. Sooty dived out of the sky, leaving the branch she roosted upon. The corvid rattled overheard, rocketing to Irayln's body. Like a meteor, her talons clutched the elf, flinging her away from the Astral Barrier's outside edge. Ludris jumped back in surprise. Halen transfixed her gaze on the midnight colored bird.

The rotting figure bounced in the shrinking crater, a blur of black following after. The hunters under Kelly's barrier listened in morbid curiosity for a long minute. Direct sight obscured by elevation difference, wet squishing sounds mixed with the constant hymn. Blood geysered up into the air like fireworks, caws, and rattles following each time. When the companion flew out the crater, bits of intestines dripped from her feathers, now painted in crimson liquid.

Sooty gave a slow, haunting caw in victory, circling the crater's edges ad nauseam. The rush of unfathomable emotion drained from the bird, landing on a white crystal-wood branch, blots of blood coloring the tree limb. Sooty cooed with the luminous crystal cored birds, satisfied. Reaver's Link simmered down, the overcharged spiritual link no longer swaying the Reaver's emotion.

"That takes care of things," Luke said, his body cracking like ice as he walked off muscle fatigue. His insides battled against sanctified aura, but outwardly, the Reaver appeared fully healed. Armor stitched itself in a restorative measure, the Arjanax Core passive working overtime. Foreseeing going into the last dungeon level with mostly non-functioning armor and recovering internals to be a poor decision, the Reaver freely enjoyed the Astral Barrier's and Cosmic Vortex's healing effects. Vampiric Regeneration assisted tremendously, but since he ceased to bleed, Blood Haze ended.

He pulled out an item he'd almost forgotten, a Ramaldi repair consumable. Something he bought from the general store proficient capitalist, who owned the first Skill Book he laid eyes on. Upon its use, his armor regenerated like a living being, reversing incredible amounts of durability damage. Already, his leg armor became as good as new.

Taking a stance with arms crossed, Luke faced the gentle sun, now setting against distant crystal mountains. The rays shone over his shoulders. He asked, "Is Juliana going to wake up anytime soon? Lucky girl peacefully slept through all that. I'm a little impressed."

Since Luke chose not to comment on Sooty's actions, the three conscious hunters avoided the subject. Bits of water glided upon Halen's skin, her mage abilities recovering. Compelled to answer, Halen said, "When we cure the crystal blight, she'll wake up hours later. Thanks to you, she'll have to sit through quite the story."

"I imagine so." Frost pervaded from Luke's eyes as he glanced at Halen, "Can Kelly handle those curses, or should I try for her?"

Kelly tried to raise her body, falling back with a defeated splat. "Ugh," she moaned. Twin green stars revolved, trying to rip away cursed mana keeping the Cursemancer abilities active in her body. She put up a failed front, "I don't need your help."

"You act like you have any right to decide what I do, Kelly. Allow me to give you a warning about Defiers and, by extension, our companions." Striding over to the Astralist, Luke crouched down, eyes rimmed with frost, trying to pierce into Kelly's nervous visual organs, "None of us are normal." Revealing a smile, he continued, "Also, learn to say thank you. It'll do wonders for your survival rate."

Listening to his growing mastery over Elementalization, the Reaver put a frosting hand on Kelly's stomach. Soon all the black mana ripped out of her, trying to devour the frost clinging to Luke's hand. He expelled it, and a black miasma rotted nearby crystal and gemmed soil, turning it into a decaying product. Kelly recuperated quickly, no longer obstructed by curses, the twin green stars rejuvenating her health. Leaving the Astralist, Luke sat in a cross-legged position between Ludris and Halen.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Turn those stars to me when you're done. My organs could use it."

"What? In your dreams-"

With an unexpected harshness, both Ludris and Halen said in unison, "Kelly."

Floundering, the Astralist mumbled to herself. When her physique healed, the two restorative stars funneled their efforts onto Luke next. Awaiting his full recovery, Luke perused more Interface changes, sorting out the ones aimed at Sooty first. Halen's team discussed their next steps in the background, their particular words fading away.

[Your companion, Sooty, has grown Vorpal Touch to Tier 1 and Shadow Wing upgrades to Tier 1, Rank 4]

Respecting that Tier upgrades often came with new aspects, Luke expanded Vorpal Touch from Sooty's status.

[Vorpal Touch, Tier 1]

Companion to either a cataclysmic death dealer or an inheritor of sin. Ruin follows your strikes and movement. All your attacks heal yourself for a minor portion of damage dealt while furthering a natural rot effect that can be effective against both the immaterial and material. The rotting effect will continue to fester, ceasing only upon the companion's defeat or end of combat. Vorpal Touch now scales further with Intellect.

Scales further with Intellect. Luke thought, pausing before the following log line, Vorpal Touch seems the type to amass most its power from the start. Now, it'll never fall off versus enemies around our level.

[In response to the Legacy of Greed's adaptation to your elemental racial evolution, Reaver's Link mutates, growing to Tier 1, Rank IV. Your companion is immune to your elemental power and all cold. Their Ice Resistance is now always equal to yours. Your companion's talent with their primary element, shadow, strengthens]

Reviewing the fight against mainly Vathen's and Garic's team, Sooty's control over shadow did show signs of elevating. Honestly, Vorpal Touch's power stole most the show for Luke. By the feel of things, his crow could join him as an Elementalization Expert any day now. Or it could be months, one of those types of 'problems.'

[Your Ice Soul, sensing your immolation by Hellfire, has chosen to become one with your Exalted Heart. Technique and hidden conditions met. The synergy resonates with your vessel, evolving you into an Ice Elemental human. Talent with all elements increases. The quality of your elemental ice elevates, and the cost of multiplying its quantity dramatically reduces]

[Perfected by mastery, Essence Lance reaches Tier 1, Level IV]

[Your racial upgrade alters your life rating, increasing it. Natural affinity with ether elevates. Vitality upgrades and your vessel adapts to your chosen primary element—ice. Ice resistance raised to 100. Ice Affinity raised to 50]

About to close out the log, Luke caught two more notices worthy of his time. Expanding it out, a grin revealed itself as he read about the next unexpected boons.

[Detected Ice Affinity at 50. The Lesser Ice Soul upgrades to a Normal Ice Soul. Your Ice Elementalization reaches the apex of Expert understanding—one realization away from entering the Master level. Forcibly expelling internal hellfire and reconstructing vital body parts to prevent death]

[Transcending from an Ice Elemental physique, Triple Step alters its usual growth path. Its electric currents now flow through your entire vessel when called upon. Your understanding of the technique reaches the first rung of Adept]

Sometime later, the Reaver enjoyed the green stars' healing waves. With their assistance, the hallowed power from Succoria's Ichor died. Once restored, Luke left the Astral Barrier. Except for Asani's Jerkin, Luke's armor finished its self repair—where the majority of the damage concentrated.

Checking the time limit for the Shimmering Expanse, Luke didn't have much longer left. Taking the fool's option of attempting to face Nemenoth alone—assuming he cleared the Crystal Crucible—the Reaver wrung out more potential. He leveled Essence Fissure to Tier 1, Rank IV using ten skill points, his entire saved sum.

[Essence Fissure Tier 1, Rank IV]

Creates a fissure of raw essence at a targeted area on the ground or sky, causing all enemies within the area to be knocked up above the fissure for 4 seconds. Dealing no damage and interrupts targets within the area. Caster may now target themselves with the Fissure, affecting them if desired. Cost: 30 Essence

Cooldown: 45 seconds.

Waving his right arm in a wide arc, an elemental Essence Fissure ripped across the sky, hanging above the whirlpool. Its size increased by about twenty percent, with the same pressure—and, as he expected, it lasted an additional second. The force reversed the whirlpool's spin, which returned to normal as the rumbling spell stitched itself closed— finished.

Halen and her party almost certainly witnessed Essence Fissure at one point or another during his battle here. So, his usual reluctance to reveal the ability waned considerably. He slowly slashed Xera around at the lake's edge, getting a feel for any differences. Besides increased sharpness, most changes came about from his altered physique. Frost wafted from Xera unless he intentionally sealed it, an effect at no cost. Of course, the Reaver could dramatically amplify that effect—just not for free.

Turning his head to touch his shoulder, Luke soft said, "Sooty, what are you still holding onto them for? Your skill points—use them."

Taking off from the branch she conversed upon earlier, Sooty glided down to Luke in a circle, landing on his right shoulder. Whispering Tome ended up taking the Reaver's left. Using a mix of coos and caws, Sooty complained to the Reaver.

Luke shook his head, "Undecided? Vorpal Touch levels quickly against the Immortal Slimes, and that last rank of Essence Screech will come soon after. Level up Reaver Beak, another Tier 2 ability under our arsenal can't be bad. As for the rest, up to you. Iron Feather's a decent route. You struggle to level it the most."

Twisting her head back and forth, Sooty stilled a few seconds later. A faint white glow covered her beak, then feathers, before reverting to their usual black luster. Thinking Sooty spent her points, Luke scanned the Interface one last time and examined the updated abilities.

[Iron Feather Tier 1, Rank III]

Companion releases an arcane feather of essence that turns into a protective barrier around an ally or themselves, reducing damage from the next attack by 50%. Amplifies barrier strength by 20% if the ally or themselves are under essence buffs. Feather returns after absorbing one attack or 30 seconds. Two additional sub-feathers spawn, reducing the power of the subsequent two attacks by 20%. Cost: 10 Essence. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

[Reaver Beak Tier 2]

Envelopes Companion's next beak strike in a shadowed mist, causing deadly precision, and dealing a large amount of extra damage. Attack ignores 40% of the target's armor. If the target is under essence debuffs, those debuffs are magnified by 33% for 8 seconds. 25% chance to activate Reaver's stat-stealing. Causes a 15% reduction in the target's armor and resistances for 9 seconds. Now also scales with Intellect. Cost: 25 Essence. Cooldown: 6 seconds.

Iron Feather's upgrade strengthened its two sub-feathers damage reduction. Useful in the case of a chain attack. Reaver Beak's armor reduction and armor bypass effect rose by a few percentages, while the scaling with Intellect appeared to be its main tier jump upgrade. Since Sooty chose the Intellect specialization route in a general sense, it came as a pleasant surprise.

Glancing down at Asani's Jerkin, the fabric damage faded away, its black silk pristine once more. A shame he'd go and smear it again once in the Crystal Crucible. Hunter life problems. Faced away from Halen's party, Luke waved them off while stepping onto the low level lake water, ripples forming.

"It can't hurt to ask, but try to keep your lips shut about any details you saw today. I'm sure most of it will leak out somehow or another—just be sure that somehow isn't from one of yours, Halen. Thanks for the pickaxe, Ludris." The Reaver shifted his attention, "And Kelly, don't stick your neck out when fighting. You're a healer. Positioning is your lifeblood. May as well wash it for the next melee weapon fighter to get near you otherwise. Tell Juliana that becoming unconscious often creates hassles for others and debts for herself. See you later."

Cutting off the Essence naturally flowing to his boots, the Reaver sank into the whirlpool, its force built, then dragged him to its bottom. A water crystal appeared when it touched him. The Reaver and his companion vanished in a burst of bubbles.

With the walking ice disaster gone, Halen, Ludris, and Kelly visibly drained the tension from their bodies. Ludris elbowed Kelly, asking in morbid curiosity, "Still think we can 'beat him', Kelly?" Ludris heartily laughed afterward.

Rubbing the back of her neck, Kelly said, "I was wrong, okay? The further I am away from those mad nine, the better."

Hunching overhead the Astralist, hands on her hips, Halen said, "I hate to be the one to say it, my stubborn Astralist, but we'll be sharing another battlefield with all nine soon. And seven of them are full Defiers, unlike the Ninth, their novice."

Kelly withered at that. She pulled at her hair, "Aha, ha, ha…ha….there's no way that guy is the same level as me, it just doesn't make sense. Feels like I'm a level ten around him—talk about crushing my confidence."

Ludris put a fresh wet cloth on Juliana's forehead, "Defiers never make sense."

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