City of Fallen Souls: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 3) by Jez Cajiao (fb2 epub reader .txt) 📕

as rain on the hillsides, but by the end, it had swelled to a roaring, rushing flash flood of power, breaking down the ‘dams’ of impurities, washing them away, and absorbing the destroyed components into part of the river, instead of constraining or eliminating them. I understood suddenly how being poisoned and cleansed multiple times would build up an immunity, as the ‘Cleanse’ spell broke the poison down, remaking it into part of the target’s body. It was so different from the ‘Cleansing Fire’ I already knew, that I was amazed. I could sense the difference in the way that the fire aspect literally burnt the impurities out of its target instead of washing them away. After a long moment, Arrin and I gained the full knowledge of ‘Cleanse’, and then Nerin moved onto ‘Strength of the Seasons’.

The second spell was more of a static structure, a tidal basin rather than a river, as it constrained the healing and split it into a multitude of weaves. They were all basic, in comparison to my ‘Battlefield Triage’ spell, but where my own spell targeted and healed so much more, this spell had a more gentle and beneficial overall effect.

In addition to healing five points per second for thirty seconds, repairing basic injuries, reforming skin, and replenishing blood loss, this spell also gave an artificial boost to the target’s Health and Stamina. For thirty minutes, it would push the usual limits upwards by around a hundred points each, and that alone was a fantastic boost… especially as my mind raced to find ways to use this knowledge to augment my existing spells.

Once the transfer of knowledge was complete, we sat in silence for several seconds within the connection, until Arrin managed to ‘push’ his knowledge of ‘Magic Missile’ to Oracle, and she passed it to me as I felt Nerin leave the link.

Arrin displayed the missiles in our joined awareness, first creating one, then altering it in ways he’d clearly evolved. The missile became a dart, then lengthened to a javelin, then shortened to a cannonball. The structure of the spell remained basically unchanged, the ‘seeking’ and the ‘cornering’ capabilities the same, regardless of the shape of the dart, but I sensed the way that he’d altered them, pushing more mana in to increase the speed and therefore the damage done, and the way he’d created an explosive pocket of air that detonated on impact. When the spell was done, and I felt the knowledge sliding into my mind,  I grinned in satisfaction and new respect for Arrin. The whole process surprised me, since it had been so much quicker and easier for us, due to being Mages already, than it had been for poor Ame.

I took a deep breath and checked the time. Finding that I had twenty minutes left before the fight, I began to build the lightning bolt, showing Arrin the way the ions moved, the way the targeting for the spell worked by subtly ‘shifting’ the air aside to make a clear space through the intervening distance, entirely free of air for a fraction of a second. The way the spell built a form to contain the lightning, then essentially gave it a release, ‘pouring’ it out into the space between seconds to travel down the channel of emptiness until it hit its target.

I felt Arrin’s understanding as he sat back, Oracle breaking our link, and I let out a loud sigh as the new spells settled into my mind.

Congratulations! You have learned three new Spells: ‘Cleanse’, ‘Strength of the Seasons’ and ‘Magic Missile’!

Cleanse:

Breaks down toxins and debuffs cast on the target. Repeated combinations of set toxins and cleansings may result in heightened immunities to that toxin. Cost of 25 mana. More potent effects may require channeled castings.

Strength of the Seasons:

This spell buffs Health and Stamina pools by 100 points and lasts for 30 minutes. It also provides a healing effect over time of 5 points per second for 30 seconds. Cost of 150 mana.

Magic Missile:

Creates a trio of small missiles, which can be independently or collectively targeted and have a range of up to 30m with a damage per missile of 5 points. Damage can be increased through channeling extra mana into the spell, up to a maximum of five times the damage for ten times the cost. Cost of 25-250 mana. 

I admired my new spells, feeling Oracle adjusting and examining our understanding of them as I stretched. I was still kneading the kinks out of my lower back when Augustus spoke.

“Five minutes, Jax. Time to get ready for the fight…”

I got up, twisting to free up muscles that had been stationary for too long. I regretted spending so much time talking and absorbing the new spells, as it had cost me my last chance to eat, for a few hours, at least.

“I’ve evolved my ‘Strength of the Seasons’ numerous times over the years, so I’ll cast it on you all just before the fight begins. My version will give you all a boost of one hundred and fifty points to your Health and Stamina, and a full minute of five points of Health regeneration per second. Make the most of it,” Nerin said, looking us all over, and I forced a smile as her eyes met mine. I was grateful for the new spells I’d been given, but I found myself wishing I’d had time to learn ‘Haste’ as well.

“Thank you, Nerin,” I said, settling all of my weapons in place. Habit compelled me into drawing my swords, then reseating them, loosening my daggers in their sheathes, and checking to make sure all of my equipment was there. I’d made a point of giving everyone three Health potions, two ‘Average’ and one ‘Greater’, before I’d settled down with Nerin and Arrin. Arrin and I had three mana each, as well, with the same concentrations.

I searched for Oracle, who grinned at me as she shifted back to her usual, smaller size, but staying by my side.

“What?” She