CHAPTER 46: SOULLESS WRAITHS

With focus like that of a sage, the experienced weaver of magic motioned her hands like a conductor guiding an orchestra. Strands of mana rose from the tree, slithering in the wind around her as she began conducting the spell, muttering the words that give the magic meaning–

"...Second blossom, shelter of humanity..."

As he stood there readily, listening to the tranquil incantation, he looked up, witnessing shades emerging from the ceiling.

"...Auuuohh..."

"Uuuu..."

["Wraith"] [Level: 15]

The phantoms resembled humans shrouded in black robes, floating with bottom halves that ended like a drifting, serpentine body. Already, there were a few, bringing him to move in defense of the occupied witch.

"Greater Haste."

Prioritizing speed, he sprinted up the wall, intercepting a groaning phantom as it invaded through the steel wall. He ran across the sideways surface, bringing his blade through its body.

"Oooaaahhh..."

It releases an airless groan before dispersing into nothingness.

[EXP: +3,000] [14000/75000]

As soon as one was dispatched, he looked around, finding another handful emerging from all the walls, some from the ceiling, and even those from the ground. Perhaps with some luck, he could be quick enough to dispatch them on his own, but "luck" was not a reliable factor when involving another’s life.

[Light Knight]

From his authority, an ethereal figure shrouded in translucent, radiant armor manifested in the chamber. With a fluttering cape, an illuminated sword and a shield of similar grace, the spirit warrior stood with respect.

"Protect Beatrice!" Leon ordered his summon, swiping his hand while on the move, sprinting towards another wraith that protruded from the ceiling.

Launching from the side of the wall, he kicked across the room, bringing himself within reach of the phantom that emerged from above. All that was needed was carrying his steel through its weightless body, casting away its hungering form.

[EXP: +3,000] [17000/75000]

At the same time, a wraith voraciously flew towards the witch’s vulnerable back, swimming through the air. The light-born shield intercepted the mana-hungering spirit, smacking it right in its hooded face.

"Hrm!" The radiant summon brought its sword downward, cleaving through the wraith.

[EXP: +3,000] [20000/75000]

A hum filled the isolated chamber as the witch’s words stirred the primordial tree into a flurry of different shades.

"...Guidance of the Faerie, Blessing of the Druid King

..." Beatrice continued with her eyes closed in complete focus, weaving lines of mana from verdant, cerulean, and snow-white shines.

Leon hopped to the ground, plunging his sword on the hood of a wraith that peeked from the floor, dispersing it.

"Uaaaahh..." The phantom groaned into nothingness.

[EXP: +3,000] [23000/75000]

From each angle, the smokey limbs pierced the walls as the chamber filled with the sounds of hopelessness and despair. More and more, the wraiths invaded the room, leaving no room for rest.

"Greater Haste. Greater Strengthening."

As he enhanced himself, the ethereal knight at his beck-and-call produced a brief flash of light before sprinting towards the phantoms with incredible speed. Leon observed the summon’s sudden increase in swiftness while moving as well, cutting through a pair of wraiths with a single wide-arc slash.

[EXP: +3,000] [26000/75000]

[EXP: +3,000] [29000/75000]

Behind the ever-shifting tree, three wraiths howled in pursuit of the witch, though were easily intercepted by the agile knight. A single motion of the summon’s blade cleaved through the dark constructs, dispersing them with the potent sharpness of light.

[EXP: +3,000] [32000/75000]

[EXP: +3,000] [35000/75000]

[EXP: +3,000] [38000/75000]

Leon looked over, watching the quick execution performed by his summon, pleasantly surprised by its efficiency. The speed wielded by the ethereal knight, bound in such heavy-set armor, paired with tremendous strength to eviscerate the phantoms, it was undeniable–the summon was enhanced by the same spells that the summoner used.

’Give this guy a medal–he’s invaluable right now,’ he thought, sprinting to the occupied witch’s right side.

From the wall, an unusually long-limbed wraith emerged, groaning as its hands reached for Beatrice’s head. Not a single flinch of an eyelash came from the witch, in complete concentration. Leon took quick steps to bring himself within the wraith’s presence, thrusting his sword through its hood.

[EXP: +3,000] [41000/75000]

"Stick close to Beatrice!" He shouted the command at his summon.

With boundless loyalty, the gallant familiar stood by the busy witch. Entrusting the direct safety of the caster to the knight, he was able to move with freedom, sprinting across the wall, unleashing slashes as if playing a game of spiritual whack-a-mole. A quick hop let him pass by the ceiling, cleaving through as if cutting overgrown weeds.

[EXP: +3,000] [44000/75000] [EXP: +3,000] [47000/75000] [EXP: +3,000] [50000/75000]

A pair of hands rising from the floor were crushed by the knight’s radiant shield, who quickly spun around to thrust his blade through another mana-eater.

[EXP: +3,000] [53000/75000] [EXP: +3,000] [54000/75000] [EXP: +3,000] [57000/75000]

Beatrice’s eyes opened as she raised her hand, stirring the mana of the tree into a kaleidoscope of all colors, "--With this promise, bring shelter to those in the darkest hour!"

The entire structure rumbled with the vast magical energy being released, invoking with such intensity that the remaining wraiths were dispelled by the sheer pressure.

Leon landed on the floor, witnessing the birth of the grand magic as the fluctuating lights rose from the tree, leaving the bounds of the chamber. Using his all-seeing vision of his land, the colossal cube constructed of heavenly mana was able to be observed forming around the perimeter of the area.

The unending invasion was cut-off as the monsters left on the interior of the newly-formed barrier looked back.

"Kraa–!" A goblin fruitlessly bashed the barrier, unable to leave.

"Gruuu–!?" An orc grunted, looking around at the companions that should’ve followed it in.

For the adventurers, it was a moment of triumph, one that brought boasts as the fearless warriors rushed in with newfound confidence.

"Get ’em!" Boar shouted.

"I’m racking up those numbers–!" An adventurer with messy, turquoise hair yelled excitedly, wielding his dual sickles.