Assimilate All Talents

Chapter 230: Nether Wraith

The translucent specter shrieked upon seeing the two. They remained unperturbed by the chill inducing screech and prepared to fight. The wraith’s spectral claws expanded until they were a meter long as it rushed toward them.

Name: N/A

Race: Nether Wraith

Talents: [Nether Touched], [Phantasmal Ripper], [Death’s Embrace]

Level: 94

HP: 1200

MP: 1850

Str: 80 (+30)

Vit: 70 (+50)

Agi: 115 (+70)

Int: 60

Wis: 115 (+70)

Talent Skills:

[Nether Bond] Lv MAX, [Spectral Claw] Lv MAX, [Grim End] Lv 6

’Did it run away? No, that doesn’t make sense. Dungeon monsters never run away.’

He doubted the wraith had fled. It had to be lurking somewhere, undetectable by his recently combined [True Sight (Variant)], which incorporated [Enhanced Sight] doubling the range he could perceive mana and life energy from 30 meters to 60 meters.

Amber was equally cautious, knowing the creature wouldn’t escape. Without needing to communicate, they instinctively put their backs together in vigilance. However, it was the wrong move, as the Nether Wraith suddenly appeared beside them, unleashing a barrage of attacks with [Rip and Tear]. With little time to react, Sol used [Overpower], causing time—or at least his perception of it—to slow down. He summoned two hands, combining the green and indigo chromas to create a bluish green barrier.

The wraith’s rapid claws battered the barrier, causing it to tremble violently. The barrier wouldn’t hold for long under the pressure, but fortunately, it didn’t need to. It gave the duo enough time to back away from the wraith. Just as they did, the barrier shattered, and the two hands were sent flying backward, but they remained unharmed.

"Amber, can you buy me some time to figure out its ability? My two hands will support you."

She nodded and began creating and sending sand soldiers to keep the wraith busy, while the two hands flew around it, firing either red beams or yellow projectiles. The Nether Wraith let out another shriek, attacking the sand soldiers and hands wildly. Every so often, when it couldn’t dodge, it would disappear and reappear a few seconds later.

A bit farther away, Sol’s eyes flickered as he observed the colorful strings emanating from himself, Amber, and the Nether Wraith. He strained his eyes to keep up with the wraith’s rapid movements, trying to discern what was different about it. Eventually, he discovered the truth.

’Its incomplete law technique comes from [Nether Bond], not [Spectral Claw]. So they can have different abilities...’

He identified one strand forming a new connection, similar to the developing law techniques of Sol and Amber. It was linked to [Nether Bond]. Now knowing the source of the wraith’s different behavior, Sol exerted his will over the talent skill and began twisting it as hard as he could.

While Sol focused on negating the incomplete law technique, most of Amber’s sand soldiers perished, and one of his hands was destroyed when the wraith teleported behind it. He wanted to send more hands to support her, but doing so would break his concentration. He had to trust that Amber could hold out for a few more seconds.

Amber’s rate of summoning sand soldiers couldn’t keep up with the speed at which the Nether Wraith cut them down. Within seconds, nearly all the sand soldiers were gone, and the wraith turned its hateful gaze toward her.

But before it was able to chase after her, the floor—covered in sand from the fallen soldiers—rumbled as a giant jaw made of stone rose up and clamped down on the wraith. Unable to dodge in time, the wraith confidently used its connection to the nether to warp between realms and escape. But to its surprise, it realized it hadn’t moved an inch.

Sol chuckled at the wraith’s surprised expression.

"Gotcha."

If there had been even the slightest chance of flying out of the stone jaws before attempting to warp, it was now far too late. The wraith could only helplessly be crushed.