Chương 159: Chapter 158 [I Don't Speak Furry]

Nice. Glad he went with the wall instead of more firepower. The reactions my shroud and Luka's shields get show how useful stuff like that is here. Sam watched Parmo as he explained the wall and his reason for picking it.

"I know I said I wanted Ice Lance, but the goblins and kobolds attack later that day changed my mind. Without Luka's dome and Sam's shroud, we would have been hit, and if not us, then the guards. More damage is nice, but an ice wall has more utility." Phil looked at the knee-high wall of jagged ice.

"Yeah, that's a fair point."

"Can you change it?" Leo asked.

"Make it higher, for example?" Parmo tried. The wall came out the same way. He shrugged.

"Gonna need more practice."

"There'll be loads of uses for it, though," Luka said.

"Probably stuff we haven't even thought of yet." Shai's tail flicked as she nodded.

"It's not just a defensive measure. You drop that behind an enemy and you suddenly have a huge advantage. You can also use it to split a defensive line in two. Plus, you always have cover if you need it." Parmo let the wall drop and Sam went back to his casting. He'd been at it for the better part of an hour, thickening the shroud in patches, thinning it in others. The last twenty minutes had been spent making himself disappear inside it while keeping the space around his feet clear.

The precision was there now, the shroud doing exactly what he pointed it at rather than bleeding outward. Then something shifted underneath it. He stopped and pushed intent into the fog rather than extending it. The chime sounded. He pulled up his tab.

[Umbral Shroud] Type: Area Concealment Spell Difficulty: Low Skill Level: Apprentice Range: 10m radius [EXPAND] Effect Summary: Moderate density mist generation, directional control available Selective visual and sound concealment within affected area Caster gains innate perception of movement within the shroud Elemental signature: Fog System Analysis: Mana pathway stable and widening Elemental attunement confirmed: Fog Current Power Level: Proficient Progression method: Repetition through tab, refined intent Potential Threads: [Snare]: Restraining fog tendrils, immobilizes targets within shroud [Phantasm]: Illusion generation within shroud, auditory and visual [Zone of Dominion]: Total spatial awareness within affected area [Venomous Snare]: Restraining fog tendrils with toxic effect [Phantasm: Unlocked] Type: Illusion Spell Difficulty: Medium Skill Level: Novice Range: Within Umbral Shroud only [EXPAND] Effect Summary: Generates auditory and visual illusions within active shroud Caster selects targets affected, allies immune if designated Illusions draw from environmental and psychological stimuli Elemental signature: Fog Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road.

Report any occurrences. System Analysis: Mana pathway active, early stage Elemental attunement confirmed: Fog Current Power Level: Foundational Progression method: First successful cast, intent driven Potential Threads: [???] [???] [???]* He read through it twice before looking up at the others.

"Can I try it on someone?" Phil looked up from his swords.

"Yeah, go on then." Sam began by casting the shroud around Phil before he layered Phantasm on top. Phil stood there for a second, head turning slightly. Then he went very still. His hand dropped to his leg, then up to his shoulder. He took a sharp step sideways. Sam let it drop. Phil stood there, looking like he'd seen a ghost.

"Holy fuck." He looked at Sam.

"That was terrifying. I swear I could feel something touching me. I thought I heard a woman whispering in my ear as well. I knew what to expect and it still freaked me out. Please, never use that on me again."

"What was she whispering?

'Phillllll. You'reeee a furryyyyyyy' or something?" said Parmo, grinning before Rika punched him in the shoulder.

"Ow. What was that for?"

"Stop calling him a furry. So what if he likes furry ears and a tail? You don't get on Leo about it."

"Leo's never tried to claim he isn't a furry." Leo shook his head.

"That's just not true. You know as well as I do there's a difference between a furry and Beast-kin. Furries are more animals who walk on two legs and talk. Beast-kin are like supermodels with animal ears and tails. Big difference."

"And Wings!" shouted Rika.

"Sure. And wings," added Leo.

"Well, to get back on topic. Nothing I could make out. It was more like blowing in my ear or maybe bits of words, but nothing I could make out clearly." Phil pointed at Sam.

"Using that on people in a fight is downright cruel, dude." Sam grinned.

"Well, that will be their own fault, right? It's not like I planned on using it to take the piss back at the flat..."

"I'm so glad I moved out when I did," said Leo with a shiver.

An hour passed, then two. Luka had spent that time practicing his casts: the speed of them, the size of the dome, forcing more mana and power into the shield. He tried different methods to improve his control while getting his casts in. On the next cast, something changed. The dome came up the same as always, but underneath it, the force wanted to go outward. He stopped and pushed it away from him instead of holding it. The chime sounded. He pulled up his tab.

[Enhanced Standfast] Type: Force Barrier Spell Difficulty: Low Skill Level: Apprentice Range: Self [EXPAND] Effect Summary: Controlled force barrier projecting from the hand Low to moderate damage absorption Low mana cost Elemental signature: Force System Analysis: Mana pathway stable and widening Force attunement confirmed Current Power Level: Proficient Progression method: Repetition through tab, intent refinement Potential Threads: [Bastion Dome]: Full surrounding barrier, high mana cost [Force Shove]: Directional force burst, minor impact damage [Gravitas]: Force pulse radiating outward, disorienting effect [Gravity Well]: Pulling field, draws targets within range toward caster [Bastion Dome] Type: Force Barrier Spell Difficulty: Medium Skill Level: Novice Range: Self, 3m radius [EXPAND] Effect Summary: Complete surrounding barrier enclosing caster and nearby allies Moderate damage absorption, degrades under sustained impact High mana cost Elemental signature: Force System Analysis: Mana pathway active, widening Force attunement confirmed Current Power Level: Developing Progression method: Repetition through use, intent refinement Potential Threads: [Dome Surge]: Releases stored impact energy outward when dome drops, scales with damage absorbed [Dome Trap]: Placeable dome that locks targets inside, holds until damaged enough to fall [Dome Pulse]: Periodic force tremor radiating from dome surface, disrupts anything pressing against it [Gravitas: Unlocked] Type: Force Pulse Spell Difficulty: Medium Skill Level: Novice Range: 5m radius [EXPAND] Effect Summary: Radiating force pulse centered on caster Causes disorientation, nausea, and loss of spatial awareness in affected targets Secondary effect draws focus of affected targets toward caster Moderate mana cost Elemental signature: Force System Analysis: Mana pathway active, early stage Force attunement confirmed Current Power Level: Foundational Progression method: First successful cast, intent driven Potential Threads: [???] [???] [???]*"Finally. Anyone want to help me test mine out?" The lads looked at each other. Phil shook his head. Sam took a step back. Parmo folded his arms.

"After what just happened to Phil?" Parmo said.

"Hard pass." Torren stepped forward.

"Try it on me." Luka looked at him.

"You sure, dude?" Torren nodded. Luka cast. He felt a ripple of magic pulse outwards and hit the big orc, but there was no immediate, visible effect. Torren stood still, head tilting slightly. After a few seconds, his eyes moved to Luka and stayed there.

"It is uncomfortable," Torren said. His jaw was tight.

"I feel nauseous and I cannot stop looking at you. There is a pull, like I need to do something to make it stop and hitting you is the thought that keeps coming back to me."

"Sorry, man."

"Don't be." Torren rolled his shoulder when the spell dropped.

"That was harder to resist than I expected. And I knew exactly what was happening." Phil looked between Luka and Torren.

"You've got an actual tank taunt."

"Which is hilarious if he casts it while standing next to him as well," Leo said, nodding at Torren. Phil laughed.

"The big scary half-orc with a war hammer right there and the spell's pulling everyone toward the Dwarf woman next to him." Luka shrugged.

"Anyone understand what this guy just said? I don't speak Furry."