Psychokinetic Eyeball Pulling

Chapter 39: Eternal Chains

Light trailed from Losef's eyes as he moved at a blinding speed to intercept the man's fist. Losef's shield flashed a golden white light at the intense impact from the man's fist. With an explosion, Losef lunged his spear as it blurred from Astrid's vision. The hardened spear tip penetrated the demon’s shoulder as the force sent it hurtling through the air.

The demon clambered back onto its feet, the sneer still present, as if someone had carved it from stone.

With a thud, two beastly creatures shot out from the other passages. Four legs, with dense, jagged fur, lunged toward Losef. The other towards the middle of the group. Rob and Daniel quickly intercepted, sending the creature back with a small whimper.

"We'll separate. Losef and I will handle the big guy. The rest of you deal with the mutts." Daniel said and dashed forward in a storm. His iris glowed with multiple distinct lines, his eye twitched, as if it was trying to find something.

Astrid and the others immediately focused on the two beasts. Astrid used Crash unreservedly. Multiple explosions rattled its head. With a shake, it bounded forward, as did the other one. Fire and powerful arrows surged around her, but she focused only on the incoming beast at her side.

Astrid tried creating an illusion in front, but the beast simply sprinted through it.

Leena stepped forward as she lunged her umbrella forward, piercing toward the mutt's shoulder. It tried to dodge, but Leena's wrist flicked and cut past its thick fur. Astrid shot a dagger forward. It blasted past its fur, but stopped at the beast's skin. With a clang, it fell to the floor.

Damn, it can't get past its damned skin. What is made of?

Astrid immediately ditched the blades and grabbed a handful of obsidian needles.

"Leena, can you stop it for a second?" Astrid shouted.

"Put your trust in me, my lady!" Leena said as metal emerged from her skin. A long metallic shield covered her arm completely. With a humph, she let go of her weapon as the enormous beast tore towards them. Metal spread from her boot, and clawed its way into the ground, sprouting like roots. With a clash, Leena screamed as her arms latched around its neck. Her body didn't move an inch.

Perfect. Astrid grinned. She placed a Mind Barrier around Leena and controlled the needles to hover above her head. Her mind strained as she shot them forward. The monster tried to close its eyes, but Astrid forced them open and then shoved the needles straight into its eyes. The beast thrashed around. It heard the fighting from Daniel and Losef and careened towards their direction in panic.

Daniel dodged to the side as the beast slammed into the demon. He swung his curved blade and separated the beast's head from its body.

"That's one way of dealing with it." Brett said, as he stood up from the other beast, hot blood pooled out of its neck.

They rushed forward as they helped Daniel and Losef deal with the humanoid demon. Leena wiped the blood from her mouth after the tussle with the monster. The melee class leapt forward. Leena made sure that she could always block for Astrid.

Next was a full frontal assault from the melee. Daniel, Brett, and Losef made a frightening trio. Astrid's mind relentlessly thrashed into the demon. She waited for moments to release her needles. One pierced his eyeball. With an ear piercing roar, he placed his hand on the ground. The chinking of chains rung like bells as Astrid and the other’s, had their legs coiled like a constricting boa.

Astrid could feel the mana from her container bleed out as it seeped through her pores. Daniel’s leg suddenly broke free, with a slash of his sword, it screamed through the air and dug itself into the demon’s throat. His eyes widened in surprise. Daniel’s wrist suddenly changed, moving to the side with a gentle push. The demon’s head was separated from his body.

Daniel wiped the blood from his mouth as he held his ribs. His eyes peered off into the three different passageways.

“We’ll rest here for the day–night, whatever it is right now.” Daniel shook his head.

Rachelle rushed over and lifted his shirt. Instead of hovering her hand over it, she positioned it on the skin. The skin turned bright orange as light pervaded his innards. His face remained the same as he ignored the scorching pain.

“That’s all I can do until I upgrade my Skill. We should hire a proper healer, Daniel.” Rachelle gnawed her lip.

“Stop your nagging.” Brett said. He held the enormous chain from the demon’s neck. “Here, it’ll be something good.”

Rachelle nodded as she turned to Astrid. Astrid placed it into her hands as the information popped up within her head.

You gained a Epic piece of class equipment set!

Warrior Class - Level 120 - Eternal Chains: The Eternal Jailer’s chains. Piece 1 out of 2

| 40 added strength.

| 35 added constitution.

| 20 added dexterity.

| Physical stats increased by 5%.

| Stuns have 15% increased effectiveness.

Set 2:

| Grants Epic skill - Eternal Chains: Lock an enemy down with the Eternal Chains. Any damage you receive will be transmitted back to the target two-fold.

Astrid’s eyes bulged at the item. High-level items were very difficult to get, and it being Epic rarity meant that it was highly sought after. There was no doubt that it would be worth a fortune back on HMS Rebirth, or even the black markets of the different survivor colonies.

She explained what the item was, and Rachelle’s dour expression turned into one of jubilation. Despite that it wasn’t an item for her, she snatched it from Astrid’s hands and rushed over to Rob.

“Rob, here, for you!”

“Mmm?”

“Lower your head, you’re too damned tall!” Rachelle scolded.

Rob dipped his head as the chains were placed around his neck. Immediately, his body recoiled as he stood straight. A silly laugh left his mouth as he started flexing his muscles. Although Astrid couldn’t make out a difference, he seemed happy enough. She stroked the anklet around her ankle as a smile crept up onto her face.

Astrid felt her legs tremble slightly. I’ve used a lot of mana today. Thinking back to all the fights, it was no wonder. Astrid sat next to Lisa and Leena. Everyone else was guarding or scrolling through their System. She was about to do the same when Lisa asked a question.

“I heard all about you–the rumours I mean.” Lisa said. “Oh, I don’t mean it in a bad way! It’s just that you are opposites of the you in the rumours.”

“My lady is a kindhearted woman. Strong, smart, hardworking–”

“Stop, Leena! You’re making me sick.”

Lisa chuckled.

“You’re like the mother of the group, right?” Leena chuckled. “Astrid told me.”

“I guess I am?” Lisa shook her head. “Someone’s got to look out for the boneheads.”

“Even Daniel?” Astrid said.

“Especially Daniel.” Lisa gazed over at him. “He often gets absorbed into his own world, thinking nothing but moving forward–finding the right path. But the right path isn’t always the best.” Lisa dipped her head as she grabbed hold of some rations.

“What happened to Rob’s tongue?”

“Ah, that?” Lisa grabbed hold of a dried biscuit and bit into it. Crumbs fell. “It happened when we were younger, Rachelle’s mother was struggling, so we sneaked into the Middle District for some coin and food.

Daniel wanted to go after a wealthy man. Well, let’s just say that it never panned out the way we wanted. Rob ended up taking all the blame for it.”

“They cut out his tongue?” Astrid slapped the tiled floor. Her palm tingled, but she didn’t care.

Lisa’s gaze was stuck on Rob. “They did.”

“And we let it just happen.” Astrid huffed.

Lisa laughed, her hand resting on Astrid’s trembling hands.

“What do you mean we? What Daniel said back there is true. You know, you’re part of the family now.”

“Even more reason for me to be pissed off.” Astrid took a breath and paused. “How did you come to be under my father?”

Lisa was taking a sip from her canteen when she almost spat it out. She wiped the corner of her mouth, removing the dribbled water.

“You found out, huh?” Lisa said.

“Yes, it was rather obvious.” Astrid continued. “Right when the subjugation mission was being organised, a team of Wayfarers recruited a newly awakened noble of the Sinwen family.

You guided me through my first mission, making sure I could watch what you were doing and learn the strategies. You also helped me level by letting me kill the Spawn.”

“Well–I guess we weren’t that good at keeping it hidden then.” Lisa bit her lip. “Do you blame us?”

“You know, you sound like my mother. No, I don’t blame you.” Astrid laughed. “I’m not a child.”

“But my lady, you still sleep in the bath. Oh, and you always ask me to make that lemon drink you always like–and it always needs to have cream–”

Astrid grabbed hold of Leena’s shoulders and started shaking

“Shut up!”

Lisa broke out in laughter. “You are so cute.”

“Who the hell's cute!” Astrid shouted.

Astrid quickly sunk her mind into her System, escaping from the embarrassment.

You defeated a - Jailer Hound - level 78!

You defeated a - Eternal Demon - level 117!

Extra experience is awarded for defeating an enemy levels above!

Experience is reduced for fighting within a group!

Experience is reduced for having low participation!

You have levelled up!

…

Psychokinetic level 38 -> Psychokinetic level 44

Illusionist level 37 -> Illusionist level 43

Gained 60 stat points.

Skill level up!

Crash [ Stage 2 ] level 3 -> Crash [ Stage 2 ] level 4

Mind Barrier level 7 -> Mind Barrier level 10 [ Max ]

Psychic’s Power [ Stage 2] level 2 -> Psychic’s Power [ Stage 2] level 3

Psych Domain [ Stage 2 ] level 2 -> Psych Domain [ Stage 2 ] level 3

Minor illusion level 4 -> Minor illusion level 8

Anti-Disabling Field level 3 -> Anti-Disabling Field level 7

Experience gained!

You now have 100 constitution.

You now have 125 wisdom.

You now have 220 intelligence.

Mind Barrier has reached maxed level for [ Stage 1 ]

Requirements met for Mind Barrier [ Stage 2 ]

Evolving Mind Barrier to [ Stage 2 ]

Mind Barrier: You can control the surrounding matter, solidifying it. Excess damage will break your barrier and use half of your mana. [ Stage 1 ]

| Stage 2: Mind barrier is stronger, less mana usage. If broken, now uses up only 25% of your mana.

Astrid nodded in satisfaction as her Mind Barrier formed around her. The lack of mana usage was incredible. It was also noticeably thicker. Despite the added thickness, it was still invisible to the human eye.

Just what I needed. I wonder how strong it is though. I need to test it before actual combat. Astrid pinched her chin in thought. She needed to know what attacks she could block to best counterattack. Then the last message entered her mind.

Milestone reached: 100 constitution!

Conditions met, Thick Skin evolving to Stage 2.

Tier 2 upgrades:

Magic Skin: Magic defence is increased by 10%.

Magic Skin was a Skill mostly used by dexterity melee classes. While they could dodge psychical attacks, a wide area of effect magic posed a tremendous problem. Although it wasn’t a lot, 10% could mean the difference between life and death.

Extra Life: Lifespan is increased by 20 years.

Extra life! It was a skill highly sought after by most of the nobles. With an increased life meant that their rule could be even longer. But for Wayfarers, and other combat classes, it had little use. Having a higher lifespan meant nothing if you died early from a monster’s weapon to the heart.

It would be arrogant and foolish to believe I will live a long life. Taking a breath. She needed something to boost her power.

Enhanced Heart: Constitution stat is increased by 10%.

A skill used by tanks to increase the amount of base damage they could take.

Mana Veins: Increase the amount of mana you can use by 10%.

There’s the one. With the increased power of her Mind Barrier, she had little use of the defensive Skills.

General Skill: Mana Veins [ Stage 2 ] gained!

Leaving her System, she gazed at Leena.

“Y-yes, my lady, do you need some lemonade? I’m afraid I don’t have the ingredients–”

“I don’t need any damned lemonade! Attack me!” Astrid shouted.

Leena sighed. “More psychotic training?”

“You bet.” Astrid grinned.