Book 2. Chapter 17: Ophelia - Champion of Loviatar

Book 2. Chapter 17: Ophelia - Champion of Loviatar

Ophelia was disoriented a little by the teleportation, but immediately used [Ride of the Valkyries] ability to take to the air the moment she felt her feet on the ground. Some wicked-looking spears fired from contraptions in the cavern walls slammed into the [Sacrificial Barrier] Jake had cast on her, but she had managed to avoid several of them. She took a moment to get her bearings and spotted a lone serpent woman in the rear of the cavern she was in.

They were wearing similar equipment to her, but while Ophelia held a shield, she did not, having only a spear. She could feel a sinister energy radiating from the enemy champion. She definitely thought she could be a serpent woman from Drengrbjord, but Ophelia couldnt be sure.

Enemy Champion of the Loviatar detected. Defeat for reward.

She heard Jakes thoughts, making her happy that they were still connected. They could now coordinate her abilities to help him to the maximum. Knowing Jake, he would prefer not to use Hestias power, saving it for when they arrived at the world in trouble. At the same time, fighting without her, Fhesiah, and Bloodberri, was like fighting with an arm tied behind his back, with his specialization choices focusing on improving his party members. Even now, his [Divine Reinforcement] made her much stronger than a usual valkyrie and gave her an edge against this enemy champion.

She reminded Jake that he only needed to call, and shed be there for him.

[Im ready when you need me, Jake.]

She guessed that Fhesiah had said something too, as she felt his eye roll shortly before. Most likely, Fhesiah reassured him she was okay in her own way, as well. Jake had sent that Ophelias message was received with both pride and affection, along with a mental nod, coming over their bond, and so she set her focus back on the enemy champion, and the fight that was about to occur. She couldnt help but feel excited, as it was somewhat rare for her to get into a one-on-one fight, let alone with a humanoid with a weapon.

Of course, youd get excited about a fight, wouldnt you, valkyrie? Your type always does. The serpent woman gave a wicked grin. Such simple-minded do-gooders. They never learned that war is fought with more than just weapons and spells. That theres no glory in war. Makes it all the easier to slay you.

Ophelia furrowed her brows. Just what was this person trying to say? She knew that she was a bit of a glory-seeker, but her people cant help but be drawn to it. But she denied the assertion. Battles could be fought with honor. It was only cowards who took an awful path. She knew that all the battles Jake would fight would be filled with glory, and even if she might never see the end of the war, she knew shed be proud of everything they accomplished.

You doubt it? The valkyries of Drengrbjord doubted too, but they died all the same. They never imagined that we Ormrfolk would side with the winners. We saw the writing on the wall and joined with [Tartarus].

You were there, on Drengrbjord?

I was, and the ormrfolk still are: thanks to our deal with [Tartarus], we now rule over Drengrbjord. This spear alone has killed countless valkyries, them never seeing it coming before it was too late. Come to think of it, you look pretty young, dont you? Dont tell me you lost your mommy?

Ophelia couldnt help but feel angry, but she calmed herself. This person was telling her these things for a reason, as they were already in battle. This person already admitted to fighting underhandedly, especially against her people. She thought back to what Fhesiah had said and realized that this was a good shot at vengeance, but at the same time, she had her priorities straight. She must keep the upper hand in order to be there for when Jake was in need, so she could not afford to fall for the enemy champions tricks.

This was fine. She had fought Fhesiah and Jake enough to know there were many different ways to win a fight, and judging by the trap that already failed, there was probably more. But just how could she use this? She thought about all the tools Jake had given her, and she smiled. She dropped a handful of small balls out of her [Storage Bracelet] to the ground. She started casting a large runic spear of thunder, using the function that Jake had added to her spear staff.

Just what are you

Her spear of magical thunder slammed into a barrier that the enemy champion hastily formed out of magical darkness. This was okay, as she had only meant to keep the champion busy for a moment. The balls began to spread out and roll across the cavern, barely larger than marbles. Powered by magic, they triggered different traps located all across the cavern. Spears fired from mechanisms, frost spread and captured some of the balls, and even chains and nets launched and tried to wrap around where she would be standing if she had triggered it.

She dropped some more to replace the ones that had gotten stuck or destroyed by the traps, and couldnt help but respect the enemys shamelessness. But she was used to someone that was both shameless and would resort to taunting her into a trap, already.

She sent another runic lightning spear at her opponent, and they growled in frustration as they once again were forced to block with magic of their own, instead of trying to stop her traps from being triggered, Ophelia presumed.

At this point, some balls arrived near the ormrfolks feet and went past her, so she knew she had a safe place to land if she needed. She didnt think she had eliminated all the enemy champions traps, but this was certainly a good start. Just looking at all the traps, while not overly powerful on their own: she could see how many of them could change the tide of the battle, the enemy champion knowing how to best take advantage.Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

She did her best to monitor Jakes fight over their bond, and while things were going well, she knew that could change in but a mere moment: when the enemy summoned their god. She thought hard about her tools and those that could help Jake turn the tide of the battle, and which she could use instead, in order to save them for when Jake could use them. She would defeat her enemy, and help Jake at the same time.

In a way, she was fighting two fights against two champions. This was an important battle, for the safety of many people, of the many families in this world and even the next that needed her protection. With it came great glory, and for her, vengeance. And what did a valkyrie do, when there was an honorable battle and glory to be had? They rode.

While valkyries had wings and could fly, they often rode pegasus or other mounts into battle. Without Jakes advanced stamina regeneration, her overall endurance did not allow her to fly for long periods of time, and she knew many other valkyries faced this challenge. So they often rode mounts to battle, as it wouldnt be good for them to be tired when they arrived to do battle, after all, and having a light magic wielding ally to fight with was of course of great value. Her [Ride of The Valkyries] helped her fight as if mounted at all times, and if and when she got a mount, it would allow her to enhance the both of them.

Her wings were filled with blinding brilliance, and she blurred toward the enemy champion as she flew from her position in the air of the cavern, her [Ride of the Valkyries] driven to the maximum. To Ophelias surprise, her spear was parried away despite the immense momentum she had behind it, but she slammed into the enemy champion with her shield.

She kept moving toward her as the enemy was sent flying, but she couldnt help but be surprised at how dull her impact felt. Normally that much weight and that much speed would cause broken bones to her targets, but this ormrfolk had moved along with the blow, somersaulting backward toward the wall of the cavern. Most likely, they had some sort of technique that added magical elasticity. The enemy was filled with darkness as their legs touched the wall.

Ophelia arrested her bodys forward momentum and stopped in the air as she had seen what was coming, transferring the force as best as she could to a powerful thrust of her spear. The ormrfolk kicked off the wall, jumping towards Ophelia with a spear thrust of her own. The ormrfolks spear was longer than hers, and it looked like she might score a blow on Ophelias right shoulder, her spear arm.

While the ormrfolk was stuck moving in a single direction following her spear, Ophelia was not. She changed direction mid-air, moving herself to the right, forcing the enemys spear to both meet and slide off her shield and change the trajectory of her own spear to head toward the enemys throat.

Just as she thought her spear was going to land, the ormrfolks body contorted backward nearly impossibly as they spun in the air, and as they got a single foot on the ground, they managed to retreat with supernatural speed to the other side, some form of skill or ability. They had to abandon their own attack, but the fight was now reset.

50

Wisdom

69

Charisma

70

Ophelia's Level 16 Skill Sheet

Advanced Mana Control

Level 2

Ride of the Valkyries

Level 2

Advanced Valkyrie Magic

Level 2

Advanced Purifying Flames

Level 2

Advanced Runic Magic

Level 2

Bonded Hearth Core

Level 2

Valkyrie Spells Known

Renewal, Consecration, Spear of Hestia, Barrier, Hearth of Hestia

Ophelias Level 16 Non-Combat Skill Sheet

Looting

Level 1

Advanced Smithing

Level 2

Misc Skills:

Energy Vacuum, Chosen Champion Fervo