Chapter 223: Out of Psi but not out of Mana

Chapter 223: Out of Psi but not out of Mana

Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education. The human mind is our fundamental resource.

John F Kennedy

It had run out without me noticing; suddenly, nothing was holding me up. Failing to transition to flight from stationary with my clothes still wrapped tightly around me, I fell, landing lightly on the ice.

The moment my feet hit the ice, the Wyrm somehow sensed the source of its pains and turned to face me. It seemed so much smaller from up in the air, especially compared to the giants physique. Up close and from the ground, it seemed so much larger.

I could run, and I might make it to Namir in time. Then again, I might not. I had seen how fast the beasts were above and below the ground.

I might be out of psi, but I was not out of mana.

And given my traits and stats, I had time to think despite my impending doom. Seeing as they seemed to sense through vibrations and some form of heat sense, the time for deception and all of those related skills had passed.

Unarmed, my martial skills would not avail me here; going up against a Wyrm with my fists and feet alone would be futile. However, quick reflexes and Iron Man would hopefully keep me out of its maw in the first place.

It was time to focus on sheer magical might.

Boil instantly liquefied the ice in front of me with the mana I pumped into it, creating a trench of boiling water despite the ice mana fighting against the heating of the endless ice. Panicking, the Ice Wyrm pulled up sharply in its charge, hesitating to cross the uncomfortable heat which would have fiercely burned its already melted flesh.

However, I still had more to do. The worm was stopped but not defeated. Worse, it was not standing still. Hissing, the Ice Wyrm opened its maw only for ice to pour out and start cooling the boiling water.

Rather than battle a monster over mana, I switched to something else.

Fotia. The spellcraft called flame into existence, but rather than throwing it in a ball, I called on the skill Gale to pull air behind me, funnelling the fire directly across the boiling trench into the face of the Ice Wyrm. Too much air would put the fire out, but that meant I had to add more mana to my spellcraft. A tornado of fire drilled into the beast's open maw and killed it nearly instantly.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)

Exhausted by the extensive use of psi and mana, I sat heavily in the now relatively temperate endless ice. Nyx landed gently beside me before stepping forward to inhale the steam billowing up from the slowly cooling water trench. Luxuriating in the heat, I could tell she was tempted to slip into it.

Well, that happened. Remarked Namir, pulling up behind me. Are you even capable of being subtle?

What else did you expect me to do? I asked, torn.

Run. He replied.

Would I have made it? I asked.

His silence showed his contemplation. Before coming down with, If you hadnt stopped midair to watch the fight then intervene, you wouldnt have had to find out. Bjorn threw you right at the snowbank over there. You would have been fine.

Having dispatched their foes, the giants approached us and regarded us and the melted Ice Wyrm from the other side of the trench of bubbling water. While it had halted an Ice Wyrm in its mad dash, it would not stop them from jumping or walking around.

Looking up from the melted remains of the Ice Wyrm, Hes a mage? At his age? Bjorn asked in confirmation.

Yes, Namir replied, tense, with his hand resting on my shoulder.

No wonder you had to run out to sea. He commented. You are always welcome to stay, but we wont make you. He tried to reassure Namir. That being said, a little heat for the hearth at night would be appreciated. He offered an open smile. And according to Ragnar, you saved my son from being struck in the back, so Im more than a little grateful to you.

Bottoms up.

I held the flask cautiously before following the instructions. Mana sight showed me how brightly it glowed in more than one sense. Tipping it up, the icy cold liquid ran down my throat, and I stared with fascination as the mana spread outward from my stomach. It started off freezing cold, but I watched it spread throughout my body, bringing an increasing warmth with it. Until the cold no longer felt cold at all and was pleasantly warm.

Ding! Ice resistance (Lv 1)

. . .

Ding! Ice resistance (Lv 2)

. . .

Ding! Ice resistance (Lv 3)

. . .

It feels so warm now. I smiled at the result and the new addition to my status.

Thats just the first one. He grinned at my happiness. Weve all had a lot over the years. This explained why they werent so bothered by the cold on their trek across the endless ice or they never bothered to heat the vault to a more comfortable temperature. Best to let it settle, though. Ill make up another when you're ready. This ones for Namir. He passed over the second before he returned to butchering the Wyrms carcass now that they were all inside.

I was tempted to try to steal or copy the spell from one of the beast cores and add it to my own. But Blizzard was only a Tier 2 skill, and I only had four remaining slots for stealing spells. I wanted to save them for the best spell imprints I could find. At Tier 5, the spatial vault was insane. I couldnt guarantee I would find something similar, but I was reasonably sure I could find something better than the Tier 2 blizzard. The Ice resistance would be far more helpful to me, especially as we still had a way to go.

Having heated all the stones, I went out to join Namir and see if I could tell the difference. Nyx decided to stay curled up on the heated stones. Namir had already informally started his first watch, and without a Wyrm to dismember, he was the only adult available. He stood a little distant from the entrance, and with the giants busy working on the Wyrms, they had yet to build the usual ice walls and courtyard.

Bjorn said this ones for you, I said as I handed over his to his cloaked form.

Itll be worth it if it takes the chill of this. He wasnt hunched over, but it still looked like he was trying to retain warmth.

However, I noticed the difference when I stepped out onto the open ice plains. Before, the wind and ice had been bitingly cold on my extremities, particularly the top of my nose, where it was uncovered enough to allow me to see now it was only freezingly cold. That didnt seem to be much of a difference, but it was. The pain of the ice had been removed.

Bottoms up. I prompted him to get it over with and watched as he downed the elixir.

He shook and shivered, Thats freezing. He shuddered, and I realised I had at least taken mine inside, which was nice and warm.

You can step inside for a moment to warm up if you would like. I can keep watch. I suggested.

No, its alright. I can feel it beginning to work. He stoically answered. Besides, how much mana do you have left?

Good point, I replied.

Well, now that some of your secrets have already been revealed, theres no harm in giving you a knife for next time. He unbuckled a belt and a knife.

Next time? I asked.

I doubt there were only four Ice Wyrms on the endless ice. He gave a catlike grin.