Tempest Cliff.

“Looks like we’ve got some company,” Aurus said in a soft voice, easily noticing the menacing aura exuded by a being only a few meters away from them. With the variations of the terrain in terms of height every once in a while along Aurus and Herellia’s path, fortunately, the being couldn’t see them. It was also fortunate that they were able to see the enemy as it was lower than them.

“Identify.” Using the chance they had, Aurus commanded the system to identify the entity in front of them. In an instant, a screen appeared in front of Aurus’ field of vision, shocking him in an instant as he couldn’t help but mutter, “Do I have bad luck or insanely good luck?”

Ding!

________

[John (Branch Siphonus Fearus (Special))]

Existence Level: Inanimate (X)

Level: 31/40

HP: 9200/9200

SP: 3150/3800

Stats:

[Immunity]: 1683

[Mental Fortitude]: 2215

[Fear Intent]: 1821

Skills:

[Fear Aura — Third Seal], other skills are uncheckable due to the skill [Species Analysis] being low level

________

“Holy shit,” Aurus couldn’t help but curse at the being in front of them. Out of all the possible grades they could meet, it was an X-grade being. Not only that, it was even a special type of being that didn’t follow the Branch Formosus path nor the Sapling path.

“Hey Aurus, I’d suggest you support me from the side on this one. This being gives me the creeps,” Herellia couldn’t help but shiver inwardly as she could feel the aura emanating from the being.

Since Aurus knew Herellia’s class, he knew what Herellia was going to do. While she was still by his side, he hurriedly commanded the system to identify the skill he got from John through the [Species Analysis] skill.

Ding!

________

[Fear Aura — Third Seal]

Grade: S (Mortal)

As a being that gains power by siphoning fear out of the enemies it meets, it gained proficiency in controlling this amassed fear, creating a domain around the being where its properties are boosted. In exchange, a part of its SP is used up every once in a while.

This aura has formed its third layer already, significantly boosting the boost the being gets.

> Boosts the being’s stats by 100%

> Gives the SP Depletion debuff to the being

________

With him gaining knowledge on the enemy, Aurus gained more confidence in his words as he said to Herellia, “Herellia, once you get covered by the aura, make sure to always stay on guard. Although it looks weak, it packs a strong punch.”

Taking his words into consideration, Herellia nodded as she gradually floated up in the air, heading towards the being that exuded the aura. Not long after, a red aura that contained intense bloodlust started to cover Herellia, gaining the being’s attention.

As for Aurus, he continued to roll a bit more forwards, exchanging his SP for power as a silver flame started to cover his body while a magic circle was conjured inside his Spell Core. With his attention focused on the being, he muttered, “Let’s see how it goes.”

…

“Hm?” The being that suffused a menacing and stifling aura, instantly noticed an aura that didn’t lose out to his from the skies. This being’s name was John. It was the same being that Aurus identified.

John looked at the body of the branch from the skies and noticed the red engravings wriggling all over its body. At first, he didn’t know what they were, but after a while, he grimly laughed as he started to use his SP to prepare a skill. “I see, this branch is critically injured. I don’t mind gifts at all. I’ll put it to good use!”

With the name of the skill shouted in his mind, a large cluster of the intangible energy around him, suddenly gathered and formed a half corporeal hand as it exuded a ghastly glow. Not long after, miserable shrieks could be heard coming from the hand as it shot out towards Herellia.

Noticing the hand coming out to get her, Herellia let out a stifled snort as the red aura around her became more and more corporeal. Not long after, the red engravings all over her body converged towards one point as a crimson red tendril shot out of her body from the engravings, colliding with the half corporeal hand.

“Hahaha! You dare face my [Impenetrable Ghast Hand] with a measly tendril? You must be drea—” In the midst of John’s arrogant remarks, the crimson red tendril suddenly expanded to the hand’s size and in one fell swoop, engulfed it. Rather than continuing his remarks, he swallowed the words he was about to say, slightly looking at the branch floating in front of him with fear.

“[Blood Art: Siphon]”

That was the name of the skill that Herellia used. It was similar to Aurus’ [Five Melancholy Spirit Spear] that had five forms. The Siphon form allowed the crimson red tendril to engulf the skill of the enemy, which was a hand. Now, what would she do with it?

“[Blood Art]…”

“[Consume].”

The crimson red tendril that expanded to engulf the hand in one go, suddenly shrunk in size as the hand engulfed also shrunk as well as it was forcefully pressed into a tight space. Not long after that, the hand lost its rigidity, turning into pure energy which was absorbed by Herellia.

After a few seconds, a blood red flame started to cover Herellia’s body. With the corporeal red aura and the blood flame surrounding her, it made Herellia look like the goddess of blood.

Aurus looked at Herellia from afar with shock. From how Herellia handled it, it seemed that she didn’t need his help at all. With him getting to that conclusion, he deactivated the [Spirit Energy Ascension] skill and watched the fight as a bystander. “I guess I can also see a glimpse into the Blood Belhazard class, a class that’s beyond a normal Belhazard.”

Wooooonnnngggg…

With the blood red flame completely covering Herellia’s body, it was time for Herellia to move on to the next step. She was the one going to attack.

“[Blood Art: Coagulate]”

The crimson red tendril that sprouted out of the red engravings all over her body, suddenly detached itself from her body, being covered by the corporeal red aura. After that, the blood red flame that was a transformation of the energy that made John’s energy into a usable energy for Herellia, was transferred into the tendril as it now exuded a sharpness and fierceness that didn’t lose to anything sharp and fierce.

Sensing the aura surrounding the red tendril, John looked at it and scoffed, “Just a facade to hide its measly attack power. Why would I become scared of that?”

A Branch Siphonus Fearus was a Special being that didn’t tread the Branch Forminosus path, but rather made a path for itself by harnessing the fear felt by enemies. With the cacophony of screams and wails within his aura, plus with his stats transformed into stats that suited his current personality, it wasn’t unusual for John to get to this conclusion. As a being that spread fear, he didn’t need to fear anyone at all.

Of course, he didn’t know that this was the real deal.

“[Blood Art]…”

“[Sanguine Burst].”

Bang!

Like a flash of lightning, the red tendril that was boosted in strength instantly pierced through the aura surrounding John, and of course, through John’s body as well. With just one tendril, all 9200 of his HP was depleted in an instant, not even letting him say any words of regret.

Whoosh!

After dying, a plethora of red and green particles scattered all over the ground, which Herellia grabbed without hesitation as she needed it to evolve anyways.

Being dumbstruck at the attack power of that red tendril, Aurus was at a loss for words when Herellia came back to his side.

“The problem is gone. Let’s continue,” Herellia said as she instantly noticed Aurus’ dumbstruck expression…well his aura that showed intense disbelief.

After a while, Aurus was able to regain his senses as he looked at Herellia. He made a mental note to not mess with Herellia. Ever.

With the threat in front of them gone, they continued to tread along the path that Aurus remembered.

Along the way, Aurus couldn’t forget the prowess behind the skill Herellia showed. Thinking that it was because of the alliance, he then asked, “What level is your alliance at?”

When guilds in games had levels, alliances in ISE had levels as well. Rather than unlocking new buildings or features, they just boosted one feature. That feature was a boost to the member’s stats.

“Hm? Level 7. Why?” Herellia let out a curious aura as she replied. Although she knew that whenever her alliance got stronger, she grew stronger as well, she didn’t really know the basis behind it.

“Level 7…stats are boosted by 100% at A-grade and S-grade, while it’s 200% for X-grade!” Aurus couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief as he knew that leveling an alliance was hard. Although the maximum level for alliances were 30, even before he reincarnated as a stick, the highest leveled alliance was only at 23.

Seeing that Aurus was engrossed in his thoughts, Herellia thought back to the question she was going to ask Aurus before they met John. At first, she hesitated since they only knew each other for like a few hours or so. But now, after fighting against John, she decided to ask one more time. She didn’t know why she wanted to do it, she just had a feeling that it would be beneficial for her and the alliance.

“Hey Aurus.”

“Yes?” Done being trapped inside his own little world, Aurus snapped back to reality as he replied to Herellia’s call.

“Have you been blessed by the gods?”

“What?”