As all the Floaters swarmed at me, fighting the entire group was too much to handle, even for my cheat-like damage. I ignored their awful stench and focused solely on my defense. Floater on the left stroked at my left side, and other two surged from behind to surround me.
The shield was supposed to protect me as I pushed to the left, but that left open my other side.
<table style="background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 75, 122, 0.93); margin: 10px auto; width: 90%; border: none; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 2px; padding: 0">
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 3]
[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 2]</td>
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A sharp, searing pain shot through my shield hand, leaving it nearly useless despite the gallons of wine I’d downed. One desperate dash brought me to a safer position, but in my haste, I stumbled over a downed floater, landing in an utterly unheroic heap.
“Fire Cleanse!” Istvan’s commanding voice sliced through the noise of battle—the anguished cries of monsters blending with the howling storm. His flames surged to life, a fierce, purifying blaze that reduced everything in its path to ash. For a fleeting moment, I was struck by a memory: the siege of Sky City. Istvan, then as now, had been the leader of our small group—one of the most formidable mage commanders in the Imperial Army and a loyal servant to the Duke.
The ominous cracking of the shield encasing the ship tore me from my contemplation. Combatants exchanged nervous glances as the enemy’s relentless tentacles battered against it. Each blow resonated through the air, a chilling reminder of how precarious our situation was. My pulse quickened as I scrambled to my feet and climbed onto the deck.
The Duke’s retainers stood in their classic formation: warriors and paladins in front, mages and priests at the rear, rogues guarding the flanks, and the Duke commanding the center. His scarred, youthful face was turned toward the fray, but seeing him now, towering over me, made my breath catch. I used to think of him as a small man.
Istvan, however, was unchanged—his ageless presence was just as imposing as ever. His black robes blended with the stormy night, save for the faint glint of his sharp eyes and the gleaming staff in his hand. His gaze landed on me like a hammer, stern and unyielding. “Hero! Fall in line, to the back!” he barked, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Oh, yes. The standard Imperial formation. Flawed as ever, with male close combatants in front and female casters in the rear. Lucy used to rant about it endlessly, perched in her favorite window. How is she now? I wondered, the thought momentarily stealing my focus. I need to reach out to her.
“Hero! Move!” Istvan’s voice dragged me back to the present.
“I can’t, Commander Istvan, sir!” I protested, planting my feet. “I need to fight on the front lines and let them damage my shield. My skill—”
Before I could finish, Istvan grabbed the edge of my robe with a surprising grip and yanked me to his side. “You will follow my orders, or you will not fight at all,” he growled, his tone cold and uncompromising. “Insubordination during a crisis is intolerable, even for you.”
“Sir, please! I’ll be more effective at the front—”
Istvan’s grip tightened, and his strength—unexpected for a mage—held me firm. “No! You will stay back and heal the soldiers. Your comrades are risking their lives to keep you alive.” He cast a swift sound rune, his voice suddenly booming across the deck. “Attention, all! Prepare for battle. I’m lowering the shield for the floaters!”
The cracking of the shield reached a crescendo as Istvan raised his staff. Glowing runes formed in the surrounding air, their intricate designs traced with such precision it looked effortless—like he was strolling through a park drinking his favorite whisky, rather than facing down death.
My frustration burned as I watched him manipulate the shield with a mastery I could only admire. The barrier grew translucent, allowing the floaters to pass through while still holding the writhing tentacles at bay.
“Soldiers, hear me!” Istvan commanded. “Hold the line until we finish the [Spear of Destiny]!”
Wait. What?! This early? My heart raced as he rummaged through his inventory, finally pulling out a plain, unassuming spear. He placed it on the deck, motioning for the other mages to chant. One by one, they drew runes before them, their mana flowing into the spear as it seemed to devour their energy hungrily.
“The Elite Floaters!” a warrior shouted, intercepting an attack. A horde of larger, uglier Floaters wielding crude bronze weapons surged forward.
Disobeying orders, I blocked a strike from one of the elites, keeping my [Ice Blood] skill active. But the force of the impact was overwhelming, sending me staggering backward until I collided with a Paladin.
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">[Elite Floater Lv.7]
Type: 3-rare Elite | HP: 145/145</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">[Block successful. Mitigated amount of damage: 3, other damage halved. Suffered amount: 5]</td>
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“Hero! Last warning!” Istvan’s voice boomed across the deck, sharp as a bartender’s during a bar fight. Even with his focus on the chanting mages and the spell work, his keen eyes had caught my reckless charge. Terrific. I begrudgingly stepped back, lashing out with my whip between the two warriors. A sharp, supersonic crack echoed, and the [Elite Floater] lost its right arm in a glorious burst of icy shards.
Around me, my new comrades grinned despite the chaos. Their movements became more confident as they instinctively shifted to guard the area near me, benefiting from the icy aura of my [Ice Dance]. The icy air shimmered faintly around us, slowing our enemies and giving even the less agile warriors a chance to dodge the incoming blows.
The relentless storm raged overhead, rain pelting down and mixing with blood on the deck. Cries of battle mingled with the howling wind, and every clash of weapons reverberated through the ship. I watched the warriors take advantage of the Ice Dance’s slowing effect, their strikes more precise as the Floaters struggled to maneuver in the icy haze.
Four tense minutes passed, the fight wearing on. My breath caught as a warrior in front of me stumbled, his footing lost on the slick, bloodied deck. In three strides, I lunged forward, shield raised just as the Floater struck. Its claws raked across my shield with a screeching sound. Success! The cold spread further as [Ice Blood] activated, its energy seeping into my veins.
“That is the last straw!” Istvan’s enraged shout came a second before his black staff collided with my head. Pain flared as he yanked me from the fray, dragging me toward the chanting mages at the center of the formation.
“You will not join the fight! You are a civilian aiding in a crisis, nothing more. Your recklessness hinders our efforts, and I will not tolerate insubordination. Stay here and don’t move—or face execution.”
I slumped to the ground beside him, glaring at his back as he returned to directing the spell. Fine. My body ached, and the storm’s biting wind stung my face. As I sat there, frustration boiling in my chest, one giant, reckless idea crept into my mind. A stupid, impossible idea.
There was just one catch—Istvan would probably kill me for it.
Whatever.
The counter for [Ice Blood] expired, and with it, my exceptional damage faded away; I could only blame him. Istvan ignored my angry glares, his focus unwavering as he chanted the runes. The spear began to change color, shifting into a pure, radiant gold. Hundreds of runes, engraved by the mages’ magic, spiraled around it, forming an intricate lattice of glowing symbols. I had held this weapon only once in my previous life, and the memory of its immense power intoxicated me.
That was the purpose.
The mages stood in a tight circle around the spear, their faces illuminated by the eerie glow. As they etched more runes onto its surface, a violent surge of mana erupted, sending ripples of energy pulsing through the air. The very atmosphere crackled, heavy with raw power. Nearby, the elite monsters—the experience bags—were so close I could see the malice in their eyes. But I didn’t want to anger Istvan; not yet, at least.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
The battle raged on relentlessly. The ship rocked beneath us as the tentacles continued their assault on the shield, each impact echoing like a barrel rolling. Amidst the chaos, I retrieved ten cauldrons from my pack, setting them up to brew another potion on the unsteady deck. It wasn’t easy—each sway of the ship threatened to topple my equipment—but what else could I do? Just stand there and watch?
After a while, the spear’s hum intensified, a piercing sound that drilled into my ears. It grew louder and louder until it was almost unbearable. Istvan spoke then, his voice low but commanding, cutting through the din.
“Spear of Destiny.”
As he uttered the words, the spear erupted into life, pulsating with a golden light so intense it parted the storm clouds above. The heavens answered; a beam of golden light struck the spear like a bolt of lightning, igniting it with celestial fire. The air vibrated with energy, and for a moment, time itself seemed to hold its breath.
My time had come. Without hesitation, I drank the potion in a single gulp, feeling its effects surge through me. As soon as the heavenly light dissipated, I lunged forward and snatched the spear.
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[Agility increased by 50]</td>
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<th style="text-align: center; padding-bottom: 5px" colspan="2"><strong style="color: rgba(255, 128, 0, 1)">[Spear of Destiny]</th>
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">Quality: </td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">7-legendary</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">ATK:</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">400-500</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">Effect:</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">Turns the wielder into a disciple of chosen God.</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)" colspan="2"><em style="color: rgba(204, 221, 255, 1) !important">This spear was supercharged with extreme amounts of mana and can last only for ten minutes. Make every second count.</td>
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“No! You can’t—” Istvan’s desperate plea was drowned out as the golden light from the spear enveloped me entirely, cutting off the rest of the world. For a moment, I was no longer on the ship. Instead, I stood in the familiar Ice Realm, the place where I had first received my Hero powers. The echo of God’s laughter filled the frozen air, a deep and resonant sound that sent chills through my core. Energy coursed through me, overwhelming and intoxicating, like chugging an entire bottle of whiskey in one go.
I glanced around the vast frozen plain; the stillness broken only by the crunch of snowy-ice beneath my boots as I held the spear. Yet this time, something was different. I wasn’t just here—I was everywhere. My feet moved through both the icy expanse of the God’s realm and the turbulent deck of the ship simultaneously. The mortal and divine realms had fused, existing as one.
I blinked, and the raging storm of the ship returned—the howling wind, the lashing rain, the cries of battle. Another blink, and I was back in the serene Ice Realm.
“Is this a heroic moment? May I use the talent, oh mighty God?” I asked, my voice steady despite the disorienting duality of the realms.
The voice of the God chuckled, rich and amused. “You wish to wield my power to kill this poor creature? Such a purpose is unworthy of a hero. The spear’s magic will suffice. I grant you a fraction of the power you seek.”
With those parting words, the connection to the God’s realm vanished, leaving me on the ship, fully grounded.
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">[Transformation complete. The power of God of Ice Blood was activated.]
[Attention! Heroic abilities found, transforming to the appropriate level, resetting...]</td>
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The strength coursing through me exploded. My grip on the spear trembled as a torrent of mana surged within it. The sensation was familiar—just like in my previous life—but this time; I was prepared. My experience with mana control kept the violent energy in check, preventing even a wisp from escaping. The golden light surrounding me softened, forming a shimmering aura as I smirked and checked my stats.
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">Name:</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)" colspan="5">Princess</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">ST:</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">200/200</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">XP:</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">45</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">AGI:</td>
<td style="text-align: center; margin: 3px; padding: 5px; color: rgba(218, 213, 206, 1) !important; border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.25) !important; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1)">275</td>
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</td>
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Drawing the runes for [Ice Dance] was almost effortless now. The spear seemed to guide my hand; the mana flowing through me as if the power itself willed it.
What had once been an exhausting task now felt as easy as breathing. The golden light shifted, transforming into a translucent, blue-tinged bubble that expanded outward, freezing everything in its path. The sea solidified into ice, creatures were coated in frost, and their movements slowed to a sluggish crawl.
From behind me, the Duke’s voice cut through the frozen silence, tinged with amusement. “We will discuss this later. For now, kill that monstrosity.”