Drake winced, looking at his damaged left gauntlet.
"What the hell is a Flying Swarm Flayer? What the hell is the swarm?"
Norris pointed with one of his daggers.
"That!"
Drake raised his head. Slowly coming into view in the distance was a massive structure in the air, two large insect wings beating as countless specks of black gathered and hovered around it.
"Tan, what's the word?" Ganeer asked.
"This whole planet is one big forest. There is no where to retreat to. Protect Vale or we are going to have a hard time surviving."
"Oh only a hard time?" she grumbled.
"Drake, Ganeer. You are both to protect Vale. Everyone else do your best to form a defensive line here. We have no other choice but to try and fight our way through this."
"We aren't even going to try and meet up with anyone else?" Drake wondered aloud.
"No one is coming. And they would not help us even if we did find another squad. Everyone is out for themselves here. It is just the way it is."
Son of a fucking… Drake thought, looking up at the towering figure growing closer and bigger by the seconds.
On top of the flying structure, there were also invisible enemies that could evade his sensory skills. And then there was whatever else came with this swarm.
He would have to absorb whatever he could to fill his skill slots now. If the rest of whatever this swarm was as powerful as this thing he had just killed. The skills he had at his current disposal were simply not enough.
Drake looked over to Mir'phyra and his younger self as she caught his eye and smirked, shrugging her shoulders.
"I would say good luck, however I truly wish to see you die bloody. The Queen's swarm was a particularly annoying obstacle to deal with back then. I am sure you will agree soon."
"I know I've said this before. But killing you is definitely on my bucket list…"
Drake's mind turned to the stones he still had as well as the skills he still needed to review and understand. However the force that seemed to be moving through the forest was quickly approaching.
Thunderous steps began to shake the ground, trees in the distance were crashing to the ground as if something or someone was felling them with ease.
"Have you ever fought the swarm before Goldilocks?" Ganeer asked, flicking some dirt off the tip of his spear.
"Bunch of bugs, how hard could it be?" Drake shrugged, his hand going to the side of his neck where the invisible insect had almost decapitated him.
Ganeer scoffed, grabbing his glaive with both hands, the weapon beginning to hum with power as the blade glowed red.
"The Swarm isn't just mere insects, pretty man. The Swarm are the kin of the Queen, the Primordial Insect of the Grand Swarm, Kerrigan Khepri."
Drake had never seen a rock sweat before, but he was surprised once again. Seeing a pool of sweat begin to form and bead down his face.
"The Swarm aren't just mindless drones. Or monsters. They are servants of a single minded ancient Primordial world eating disaster. Not a single one of those blasted insects has an original thought running through their liquid brains."
"I thought you said they weren't mindless?"
"They aren't, they're extensions of the Queen."
"Enough of your small talk. They are here," Tan said calmly, stepping forward ahead of the rest of the group.
Drake caught his eye as Tan turned, seemingly speaking directly to him as he did.
"Do not hold back. We will not last long if you do."
There's no way he knows I can use magic right? I haven't even used any yet… Is it because I have red eyes on top of the gold hair? Drake thought.
But soon, any notion Drake had of being even the slightest distracted was swept away. Along with any thought that he would be able to get through this without a full range of skills at his disposal.
The sounds of a marching, or sprinting, or disastrously swift and large moving army had become louder and louder by the second.
And now finally, with the flying fortress in the sky close enough to cast a shadow over them, turning the surroundings dark enough to fool someone into thinking it was night. The massive swarm trampled down the trees and broke into view.
Drake couldn't believe the density of the monstrous insects. Insectoid creatures, some looking like full grown monsters, others humanoid enough to fool you if you did not look close enough.
All of them crawling, screaming, and shrieking as they climbed over one another, shoulder to shoulder as they pushed forward.
He couldn't stall any longer. He couldn't worry if someone saw him use the stones. Drake needed the skills and he couldn't worry about the consequences of possibly going into a drunk power frenzie.
Pulling whatever he could from his inventory, he began consuming anything he could as the swarm rushed them all but a few feet away. The notifications so frequent and loud, yet unable to overpower the buzzing of wings, the clanking of mandibles, and battle shrieks of the swarm.
Skill Stone: Mana Irregularity [Uncommon]
You have learned skill: Power Word Mana [F-Rank] 0/5 [Weakened]
Your skill: Power Word Mana. Has been forcibly increased to [E-Rank] 0/5 [Weakend]
Drake had miscalculated however. Only able to consume one stone before the Swarm collided with the squad.
He looked on as he saw Tan, Gnobin, Kuuwei, Silvester. All swallowed up by the mass of insects.
"Son of a fucking-" Drake grumbled through gritted teeth. Only to be cut off by Ganeer bellowing next to him.
"Don't you let that damned birdgirl die!"
Drake groaned, putting up his hands and stepping in front of Vale as she waved her fan painted in a red glow.
Expanding outwards the glow grew, passing through Drake and the mass of insects encroaching on them.
You have been affected by beneficial magic: Phoenix's Ember Cloak.
+10% to all stats. +10% resistance to all adverse effects. +50% to all physical damage. 50% reduction of all damage types for the next 4 hours.
Drake understood better now why Tan and Ganeer had stressed protecting Vale. With buffs like this and with a duration of this size. She could change whole fights.
The next moment, drake heard the shifting of stone, in front of him, Ganeer gave a gravely grunt as he swung his massive glaive in an arc in front of them.
The weapon Tore through the first few insects it collided with, but soon slowed to a hash stop, doing far less damage than Drake would have anticipated from the golem.
"Damned pissants are tough as usual!"
Drake had a bad premonition of what was about to happen if even a man made of stone several times his size couldn't kill these insects in one swoop. It didn't bode well for him.
And he was about to find out sooner rather than later.
The swarm overtook Ganeer just as quickly as they had the others, bringing most of him out of view from Drake. The only thing he could see of the man was the top of his torso as he roared and swung his glaive.
The first insect or insect man that reached Drake and Vale was grotesque to say the least. A humanoid monster with bluish purple chitin and insectoid head, two bladed appendages arcing out from the tips of his forearms.
The insectoid swiped, aiming for Drake's head.
Arching his back to dodge the strike, Drake was surprised at its speed. Even with his skills ramping up to improve his stats, Drake's initial base stats were nothing to scoff at. Yet this insect had nearly turned him into Red Skull.
"On your knees!"
Drake shouted his skill, a pulse of mana pushed outwards followed by Drake letting loose his aura for the first time.
Tyrannical Grand War General's Aura P1(11%) [E-Rank] [Weakend]
The last War General of the Prideful Asurans. Refusal of defeat is a given. You are the epitome, the apex, the ever-oppressive and prideful Tyrant. Your word is law inside your domain. The world, the universe, shall kneel at your very mention.
This skill gives access to Aura.
The passive ability to inflict your will upon the world within a certain distance.
Allows the user to perceive their surroundings within a 2000-foot sphere around themselves (Increases with Proficiency)
Aura suppresses anyone inside your sphere that is of your rank or lower, giving a perpetual 50% debuff to all combat stats and momentary fear. (Increases with Proficiency)
Aura momentarily disrupts any and all spells or skills being cast when will is flexed. Must be of equal or lower Rank.
Additional Effect: It's better on your knees - Any target inside your sphere of influence has a beneficial buff removed once per contact with your Aura. 50% of any beneficial buff removed shall be transferred to the user.
Additional Effect: Quash the Weak - If Target is under the effect of Asuran's Prideful Aura for an extended period of time, the aura will deplete health, mana, and stamina based on the difference in level and proficiency. (Increases with Proficiency)
A fresh round of screeches filled the air as the surroundings now seemed to realize the new priority threat that had just announced itself.
Drake ignored the countless notifications flooding in, buffs stacking under his status bar by the hundreds.
He had a job to do first.
After dodging the first strike, the insectoid in front of him swung again and again in a flurry of sharp lethal attempts to take Drake's head from his shoulders.
Drake's skills had ramped up past the point of one opponent being able to give him trouble with the stealing and removal of buffs from the surrounding insects. However Drake would not be facing just one insect for long.
Another swing of the insect's arm, another contortion of Drake's body to dodge. But this time, Drake moved in close.
Slipping his arm underneath the blade of the insect's arm, he wrapped his arm above its arm and twisted. Bringing the insects arm above its back awkwardly as its torso bent forward to prevent its arm from snapping off completely.
Drake took the opportunity to end the fight. There were too many insects closing in for him to waste time on just one.
With his free arm and his knee, he put a good 5% of his status into the blow, slamming the insect's head to mush between his elbow and knee.
But Drake's eyes widened as he released the insect. It was somehow still alive. Its other arm flailing to find purchase with Drake's body.
Drake stepped backward unable to understand how it was still moving with its head completely crushed.
With two more aimless swings, the monster fell to the floor, the kill notification finally coming in.
You've killed Hodor Hah'gar Level 33. Temporary Experience earned. Experience stored.
Drake was amazed. A level 33 initially gave him such a fight that if he had not been paying attention or had decided not to use his skills to their fullest from the start. Was nothing but a reality check.
Is it because it's the brood of a Primordial Insect? Are all Primordials going to be this tough? Are all these insects going to be this tough?!
Drake looked around, the endless swarm closing in around him.
"Ah! Finally! I feel right at home!"