Artificial Fantasy

Chapter 89: Entrance

"9th [Mastery]?" Arthur asks as we walk through the plains where the <Hill Forest> stands nearby. "So that means you guys spent some [Mastery Points] just to get back on some ants?"

"It's more than that, my dear Arthur," I say in an accent that Sherlock Holmes often used in those movies from our literature class. "You guys said it yourselves. We're going to face off against some tougher enemies by the time the new expansion rolls around. If we conquer those monsters, we might able to gain access with more [Quests] that we can't access from the [Adventurer's Guild]."

"It's not only those reasons," Wind adds. "According to Kazu, we can't re-use the same-old tactics that helped us breeze through the early levels. Now that everyone's seen us in a real battle, we have to improve our battling styles as best as we can."

"That's right. Even if we're playing casual doesn't mean we're gonna be stuck in the early levels for long."

Arthur hums in thought as we clarify our plans. "I see. And what kind of [Masteries] did you guys choose then?"

I grin while putting my pointing finger on my lips. "Se-cret!"

Wind doesn't do the same, but he adds, "It's better if you guys see it for yourselves."

Yuri chuckles, much to my confusion. "If anything, I have a feeling those [Masteries] will be a good use to both of you."

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That's right. We think over what kind of [Masteries] we need as our 9th one and go over the advantages and disadvantages of our current equipment and current [Masteries]. Now that I have a new staff that is vastly superior to my [Plasma Staff] (I think?), I know what my next [Mastery] should be.

Taking out my new [Prototype Crystal Staff], I raise it in the air and begin my incantation. "Spirits that dwell the earth, heed my call! Lend me your power to manipulate the stones around me!"

As soon as I say this, several stones suddenly appear around me, a sign that it was working. Once all of the stones appear, I turn to the mob of [Link Ants] and smirk before I swing my staff at them.

"[Stone Barrage]!"

With that, I let the stones fly and watch them break through the ants' annoying armor. And thanks to my [Prototype Crystal Staff's] effects, it has a [Fire Element] imbued into my [Earth] spell, which seems to be enough to give them extra damage for good measure. And that's just the start of our revenge attack!

"You chose [Earth] as your 9th [Mastery]?!" I can hear Arthur's voice echoing behind me. "Man, you are full of surprises, kid! Then again, I'm not surprised since I knew you were going to be a mage."

"Since when? We already knew it was [Earth] after Kazu's friend told me about his new staff," Yuri pointed out. "You're just saying that so you won't make a fool out of yourself."

I don't know what's going on there, but all I'm hearing is Wind chuckling and Arthur growling.

"You little arrogant r-"

"Wind!" I quickly shout, knowing it might not end well if Arthur starts losing his temper as I've seen several times in real life. "I'm saving some exposed ants for you! Get ready!"

"Right! I'm leaving you with the leader, little bro!" I see my brother rushing in and drawing his bow and arrows to aim at the small ants. "You're mine, you little freaks!"

I smiled at Wind. As usual, I'll leave the dirty work to him. But before that, I may need to weaken those ants a bit more.

"Spirits of Earth, I call your strength! Help me summon the earth to overcome my enemies! [Rock Slide]!"