Chapter 53: Synergized Energy 2

Now, how do I incorporate the new affinity I chose from my evolution? 

What is it you say?

Lightning. 

Something close to fire in how destructive it is. It was a subconscious choice, something that might've been in the back of my mind. And honestly, I ain't complaining. I already have badass ones like space, gravity, chaos, and order, so eh why not lightning? It will allow me to create lots of combined spells as well as have the potential to super-charge my instincts if I can somehow incorporate them into my martial arts skills.

Ah, I'm getting excited just thinking about, the surprise on my opponents when I'm covering in lightning and I appear right before them with countless swipes of my sword or brutal swings from my claws. 

It's too bad I don't have a skill to make it easier, but, the skills I do have will give me ideas on how to create my own spells. Eventually, I'll get the corresponding skill, but for now, let's dive in blind!

I get a little creative and liberal with my Angelic Far Arcanist skill using one spell that allows me to create illusory monsters or humanoids. Surprisingly, they're far more cunning than I gave them credit for a bit ago. I maintain the image of a creature that relies on its sly and cunning nature with a good defense against magic. I steady the image molding it into my image as I chant the spell. 

Countless flashes of information and images float within my mind, and I have to steady the illusion and dream mana so it won't fly off and destroy what I want to create. It's surprisingly difficult when I'm still maintaining control over my gravity well that is keeping me afloat and providing a steady stream to Jibril because she wants me to get better at handling weight. Not just any weight, she's gathering ambient mana, and let me tell you, Mana is DENSE. 

Cold sweat cascades down my face and I resist the urge to wipe it away. 

With but a whisper the image snaps into place, displaying a mixed creature that I dubbed the Velocipanther. A hybrid of a velociraptor, a panther, and because I needed more than one I added the traits of wolves. They're already pack hunters, but with the addition of the panther, it was more a neutral ground. 

I took a breath and whispered the name, "Ethereal Phantasm Forge..."

An influx of mana gathered over my body and was let out in a mist that was blown forward until it coalesced and formed four Velocipanthers. They had a shimmering ghostly-like quality, but that is to be expected from beings made of pure mana. 

They appear far more life-like as the spell finishes, however, and a growl sets in within them as soon as their sharpened gazes lock onto me. Obviously, they wouldn't normally attack the caster, but with a bit of a twist on chanting I can finesse it like so. The four spread out as the dense mana atop me is released by Jibril, she had already made herself invisible to not disrupt the formation of the creatures. I canceled my gravity mana holding me aloft and sank to the ground gracefully, they just stared and began their encirclement. A low humming growl with a series of clicks reverberated within the medium-sized space. There wasn't much to work with but it would have to do. 

The agreed-upon leader- most obvious by the crimson feathers atop its head- stared straight at me while the other three were stalked off to the other corners of my position. My mouth pulled back into a snarl stunning them into pausing so I willed the mana within me to rapidly produce lightning. It crackled across my skin, lighting me up with sparks of azure and violet. The Velocipanthers shook off their surprise and after a series of clicks their paws tipped with razor-sharp claws and a pair of sickle-like ones sprang into action as they closed in on me. I sent out a wonky shot of a lightning bolt at the leader, zapping it until it began smoking, but the others lashed out and dented my scales. 

I threw myself forward, catching the one to my right with a backhanded slap that sent it away as it let out a whine of pain. The clicks grew in intensity and began feeling far more aggressive. I began chanting without a moment's hesitation as I steered clear of their claws and though the leader was hit badly, it shook off the soot and brittle scales that were cooked with my lightning and trained its fury-filled eyes on me. What followed was a rapid series of clicks, barks, and rumbles while the others stood straight and listened.

Within that time I finished the incantation for one of the spells that would go perfectly with my lightning. I muttered the spell name, "Blessed Fireball..." But instead of being fired, I held it the few that manifested in place as I focused on the lightning within me. My mana responded to my will, but the Velocipanthers had finished their impromptu meeting and were closing in fast. One of them was even at my back beching out what appeared to be acid. I rolled out of the way. 

I teleported a bit away with the liberal use of my Aura of Infinity, momentarily surprising them, but the leader just changed direction and narrowed its eyes. Its growls grew ever so louder as it closed in on me. I peeked up and was glad that the balls of fire followed after me. I then looked down and smirked as sparks of lightning were already dancing on my palms. I avoided condensed balls of fire energy being spouted by the leader but continued to feed lightning mana into the fire around me. The holy energy within sputtered, but was held strong by the fire as they began spinning together. Damn. Spell-slinging is no joke when it's also followed by animalistic combat. 

I tanked one of their claws and palm-struck another sending it away. The leader jumped and hoped to and fro with its never-ending fire blasts. I felt a tingle and I ducked just in time for the third one to miss its pounce and collide with the two in front of me. The leader just liked angrily, but the lightning had already infiltrated the glowing balls of fire and they crackled with arcane power. 

The lighting felt like it was giving me hums of delight as it traced itself over my scales and made arcs across my body. The thrum of power within me was exhilarating, but I could already feel the tipping point within the balls of fire so I set them loose at the crumpled-up forms of the Velocipanthers and at the leader. 

Two of them got hit directly, screeching in pain as the flames engulfed their bodies. Mana was thick in the air and I could feel the sheer density and power that it had. The leader tucked itself into a roll to avoid the brunt of it, but the other got clipped on the side and was shaking off the remnants of flames that had engulfed it for a brief period. 

The other two who got hit were crumbling, their forms fading in and out as they panted. They shook off the last remaining fire mana clinging to them. And at that moment when I thought they were gonna vanish, the leader howled. It was a deep howl, filled with defiance and power. 

I then felt a pulse of energy. The ambient mana surrounding the Velocipanthers began gathering and clung to the fading forms of its companions. The howl lasted for minutes as the forms began to reform. It was fascinating because even though they were created to have abilities, I didn't think the leader had this. Perhaps a special one that ensures its pack survives? 

I heard HJibril mutter in wonder about the situation, but I refocused and grinned. 

I wonder how many times it could do this. I wanna test it, this would be good as fuck to train with, and if it is possible then maybe phantom demi-humans possible that will allow me to train in actual hand-to-hand combat. This could also be properly used as controlled practice for the girls. For now, though, combat awaits. 

I won't describe every excruciating detail of the ensuing battle, but it did have its moments. I remember the leader having me by the throat as I wrenched its mouth open and threw a ball of fire and lightning mana down its gullet. The scream of pain was welcome I had winced in pain on account of my sensitive ears. Countless rounds of combat were followed immediately by the first one being hailed as my first win. Let me tell you, my fucken skill is bat-shit crazy. It felt like the created phantom beings learned after every encounter and they grew far more cunning even when I mixed a chaotic element, like a new species. Well, at least I think that they gathered the necessary experience to grow strong alongside me. And I threw my arms up to embrace it fully. 

Let me tell you, fighting to the near point of exhaustion and then restarting because my exhaustion recovers just as quickly is fun. Exhilarating. 

I wouldn't say I spent months here, just maybe weeks is the appropriate time frame. 

Either way, everyone was pissed, but it was strictly necessary to train my magic and I wrangled a bit of chaos and order with iffy results. Of course, there wasn't enough of the stuff, but I could still imbue it into my other spells. No skill for lightning just yet, but calling upon it is far easier and it meshed extremely well with my fire. Defensive spells also skyrocketed, like an electrical barrier with floating balls of fire that fire out holy beams. Wicked cool. 

My body began accumulating far more strength than I thought possible, and I haven't even worked on my skills that incorporate the body. I trembled with excitement at the mere thought of pumping into my others skills next.