Psychokinetic Eyeball Pulling

Chapter 27: Evolved Monster

Astrid and the others abandoned their previous house. The sheer amount of noise created was bound to attract countless monsters to their position. Skirting around the edge of the town, they approached an apartment block. Astrid had to crane her neck to see the top from where they stood. She counted sixteen floors in total. Unlike the luxurious white bricks from the Upper District, the building was drab and void of any colour. The walls were sharp and bumpy, textured with tiny stones.

The building had seen better days. The wall exterior was crumbling, but it looked like the architecture was sound.

Astrid rushed to the door as she activated Psych Domain. Many images of moving goblin limbs made their way into her mind.

“Tanks at the front.” Astrid whispered and stood behind the tanks as she connected to the lock, flicking it to the other side.

“Three in the room to the left. Two goblins are in the second room to the right. Four at the furthest room on the right.” Astrid said.

Astrid was going to make a move, but she glanced at Josh–he was thinking.

“I think Nick should hold the door shut with the two goblins. Me, Mina, and Froderick will deal with the ones to the left. That leaves Astrid and Gloria to deal with the ones at the back.” Josh whispered. “What do you guys think?”

Astrid and the others nodded. To Astrid, it was a sound plan, and she would have done the same.

Astrid and Gloria immediately split off. Gloria stopped at the door's entrance with Astrid right behind. The sound of a door being kicked in and shouting from Josh signalled the start of their battle. Astrid created the form of a Wayfarer once more at the entrance of the door. With her current skills, it held imperfections, but the startled goblins hopefully wouldn't notice.

The goblins by Astrid scurried onto their feet and ran towards the door. The goblin in front lunged at the illusion. Gloria’s daggers were waiting. They pierced forward with little effort, leaving the goblin stumbling to the floor. The other goblins fearlessly charged at them when their bodies became weightless. Their limbs flailed around in the air. Gloria leapt up–slashing across their throats–a curtain of dark liquid sprayed onto the human duo.

Astrid spun around. All the goblins on the floor were dead. Looking up, goblins were congregating above them. Waiting.

“Get ready. I’m going to say goodbye to the ceiling.” Astrid condensed the matter in the middle of the hall, where the stairs were located. Crashing the matter, the explosion sent the ceiling tumbling, the goblins crashed to the floor. The same scene occurred from out on the streets. It was a one sided slaughter.

It took them thirty minutes to clear out the entire building. Nick leaned up against the wall. A nasty blade wound had pierced straight through his thigh. It wasn’t just him, either. Everyone was wounded from the battle. Thankfully, it wasn’t anything too serious.

“Did we have to come here?” A gash was slashed into Froderick’s forehead. He looked at Astrid. “We could have easily selected a smaller building.”

“I thought it was the best decision.” Astrid was unharmed thanks to her mind barrier skill, and being a caster in the back lines. She was protected at all times.

“No, that’s not the only reason, is it?” Froderick frowned, sending a droplet of blood splashing onto his breastplate.

“Spit it out, Froderick.” Astrid said.

“Even back on the street, we could have let them pass and avoided any unnecessary battle. Instead, you put us all at risk.”

“I’m new to all this,” Astrid continued, “my thoughts are that the faster we become stronger, the safer we will be. So I am taking risks to accomplish that.”

“I never wanted to be a leader.” Astrid finished and moved to the top of the building, overlooking the entire town. The slight breeze calmed her down. How the hell is there air down here, anyway? Kicking a rock, Gloria stopped it with her foot.

“Taking a little tantrum?” Gloria leant up against the wall.

“A little.” Taking a breath, Astrid shook her head. “Froderick is right. I was only thinking of getting stronger.”

“He's right? That’s debatable,” Gloria continued. “He is naïve. His method is self-preservation and survival, while yours is wanting to become as strong as possible. We need a balance, that’s all.”

“Then Josh?” Astrid brushed her hand against the rough wall.

“How would I know?” Gloria shook her head. “I barely know him.”

“Whatever. Let’s get to making this place defendable." Astrid said. "We can figure all that out later.”

They all got to work. All the bottom windows and doors were soon fortified. Sitting with her back against the wall. She took the time to look at the new messages now that all the jobs were complete.

You have levelled up!

Illusionist level 22 -> Illusionist level 24

Gained 10 stat points.

You now have 35 dexterity.

You now have 140 intelligence.

Psychic’s Power level 8 -> Psychic’s Power level 10 [ Max ]

Psych Domain level 7 -> Psych Domain level 8

Mind Barrier level 6 -> Mind Barrier level 7

Minor illusion level 1 -> Minor illusion level 2

Conditions met, Psychic’s power is evolving to Stage 2

Passive Skill - Psychic’s Power: Your natural talent and the use of Psychokinesis has reshaped your mind, going under significant changes. Psychic powers have 50% increased strength and range.

| [ Stage 2 ]: Your mana pool has increased by 50%. Psychic class abilities have reduced mana cost by 15%.

Just what I needed. Crash uses an incredible amount of mana, so does anything involving moving higher constitution monsters and those with higher levels. That should ease it by a lot.

“I gained a healing skill.” Froderick said. A sigh of relief left his mouth. He lifted his hand to the wound on his forehead and a gentle, golden light filled the room. When the light disappeared and he removed his hand, the wound was gone.

Getting up onto his feet, he wandered around everyone. Healing their wounds. Astrid watched as the matter within his mana container shrivelled. Sweat dripped from his forehead.

Seems like the paladin class has little mana.

Astrid noticed Mina had left her spot on the roof and sprinted down onto the second floor, where everyone was located.

“The others are coming!” Mina said. A smile brimmed onto her lips.

“About damned time.” Astrid walked down to the first floor and opened the door.

“There they are!” Arya laughed, walking up, her arms braced themselves around Astrid. Being lifted off the ground, Astrid’s feet flailed around.

Is this how the monsters feel? “Hello, can you let go of me now?” Astrid said.

“Oh, sorry,” Arya placed her down. “Was excited, that’s all.”

“What took you so long to find us?” Gloria had her hand rested upon the hilt of her sheathed dagger.

“Well, I thought you’d have listened to my orders.” Price continued. “We had to deal with the goblin ballistas, and the ones hounding on our tail from the forest.”

“Looks like you have all levelled up a bit.” Miller entered the house as he looked Froderick up and down. “New mana skill?”

“H-how do you know?” Froderick’s eyes widened.

“Oh c’mon. I’m also a mage, you know, a healer at that.” Miller smiled. “Most of us have a vague sense of how much mana someone has. A new skill comes with extra mana storage to accommodate it.”

“What about me?” Astrid said.

“Yes, well,” Miller stopped. “Your mana container is huge. You must have a high-ranking mage class, two at that?”

Astrid shrugged.

“So what’s the plan?” Nick said.

“If you’re all set, we’ll be travelling deeper into the town.” Price continued. “There's a bank that’s not been fully looted yet, so we’ll start there. Astrid, point out if you sense anything.” He headed back out of the building and glanced around at the other buildings.

"Can Arya not scout?" Astrid asked with uncertainty.

"Sort of, but not very well." Arya said. "I don't have a scouting ability."

"So you have no one to scout?"Gloria asked in surprise.

"We attempted to recruit one back at Rebirth, but no luck." Miller said.

Astrid nodded. It was usually suicide to go into a town without a scout, but they had already plundered this place before. Which begs the question. Where are all the goblins coming from, and why is their strength so high for their levels?

They left out onto the streets. With having no scout, Astrid focused on her Psych Domain.

“There are goblins all around, in every building.” Astrid’s head moved from building to building.

At the words, Froderick and the others tensed. Their hands grasping their weapons tight.

“Alright, pick up the pace. The bank’s just in front.” Price began walking faster.

Keeping up, Astrid said. “We’re keeping our back open to ambush?”

“We can’t be here all day, a couple hours, and this place will be darker than an abyss.” Price continued. “We’ll set up a defensive perimeter inside the bank.”

“Up top, to the left.” Astrid could sense a goblin was about to peek out from the rooftop.

Mina quickly aimed in the direction Astrid had said. A little green head emerged and Mina let loose an arrow. It pierced through the air and with a crack; the goblin fell back. At the attack, suddenly the curtains all around them opened up.

“Run!” Price shouted.

Everyone scrambled into a mad sprint. Arrows shot out from bows as the sharpened shafts screamed towards them. Every arrow that hit Astrid’s barrier was like a needle prick to her brain. Blood began trickling from her nose as they quickly approached the bank.

“Froderick!” Mina screamed.

Astrid spun around. They had shot Froderick. He clenched at his leg as he stumbled.

Kill!

The strange thought pervaded its way to her thoughts once more. Astrid felt her psychic mana flare up within her mind. Biting her tongue, she regained her focus. Bert charged forward and hoisted Froderick into his arms.

“Run, lass!” Bert’s said.

They entered the bank where a group of goblins was waiting on the stairs. Astrid didn’t hesitate.

Screaming, she repeatedly used Crash four times in quick succession at the goblin archers looming above. It brought forth a group of explosions. The lack of mist, or dust from her exploding matter, made it even more visceral. Legs, arms, and heads scattered in a mist of red.

The staircase crumbled. Her mind felt heavy, but she couldn’t rest. More goblins were scuttling out of the bank’s hallways like ants. It wasn’t just inside, the outside of the bank was an army of goblins ready to tear them apart.

Anya suddenly dashed into the middle of the floor, shooting an arrow. It splintered into hundreds of fine shrapnel. Scattering through the air, it tore into the goblins. One arrow, and a group of goblins fell to the floor.

From the silence that the dead goblins brought, a thudding sound of heavy footsteps with it appeared instead.

“Shit, orc?”

“Fuck, it’s an evolved!”

“What the hell's happening? We cleaned this place up before!”

Astrid felt her mind turn numb. An enormous orc with large tusks and horns, covered in only a loincloth on its lower half, loomed over everyone as it stood in the middle of the hall. Black, glowing tattoos sprawled across its body like magical war-paint. Steam was emitting from its hulking body. Inspecting, she noticed it wasn't vapour. Instead, it was pure mana. The orc's eyes flashed with chaos itself as it flashed forward and clashed against Frank, sending him hurtling into the nearby wall.

“Astrid, move!” Gloria’s urgent words gripped at her heart. The hulking orc separated the group in two. The pressure it exerted as it stood there took Astrid’s breath away.

Astrid and Gloria dashed to the side, away from the monstrous enemy.

The orc moved once more, spotting the sudden movement, right toward Astrid and Gloria. Price’s sword flashed toward the orc. His blade was swift as it gouged into the back of the monster's thick leg. The orc was forced to halt its charge. Instead, focusing on the biggest threats.

“Get out of here!” Bert grit his teeth. His muscles bulged and swept his axe as it smashed into the oversized orc.

“Th–the others.” Astrid groaned through the pain in her head. Looking back, she gazed at the panicked faces of her teams. They were all on the other side of the hall, separated.

Josh met her eyes. “Get the hell out of here. We’ll meet up later!” He shouted.

Gritting her teeth, Astrid supported her own weight and dashed forward.

“We can't kill it." Price shouted. "Bert, go with Astrid and Gloria. We’ll try to lose it!”

Astrid heard Price's shout as they turned the corner.