Awakened Talent: 10,000 Exp Converter!

Vincent's One-Step Shift movement skill and his speed attribute points allowed him to swiftly close the distance between himself and Maggie.

Although she had departed a considerable time ago, Vincent's epic-grade movement skill and finely honed stats were no mere display. He traversed nearly 1.12 miles in just 15 minutes.

High above, Maggie soared through the air using fiery wings, her speed astonishing. To avoid detection, Vincent activated his epic-grade stealth technique, Phantom Veil, masking his presence before she could sense him.

Mochi, perched on his shoulder and clutching his hair, voiced her astonishment.

"How many skills do you even have?!" she exclaimed in his mind, gripping his hair tighter as Vincent's near-blinding agility left her flustered.

Unable to suppress his laughter, Vincent glanced over his shoulder. Mochi flailed in the air, desperately holding on.

"You should focus on not falling off first," he teased.

"Why don't you slow down, you evil human?!" Mochi snapped, her voice a mix of indignation and panic.

Vincent only chuckled in response.

"K-Keep laughing! I swear I'll make you pay for this one day!" Mochi threatened, her words faltering under the turbulence.

"Right, right, I'm so scared…" Vincent retorted, smirking.

Before long, the outline of a small town surrounded by stone walls came into view. At its center stood a towering emerald spire, its once serene presence now overshadowed by dark clouds crackling with lightning.

"That must be the Labyrinth of Howling Spire," Vincent mused, his brow furrowing as he detected countless presences clustered within the town.

Maggie appeared to sense the same as she suddenly accelerated, diving into the town. Vincent followed at a cautious distance.

Near the labyrinth's entrance, a ragged group of Origin Warriors had erected a makeshift barricade to stem the tide of primals spilling out of the portal. The town's surroundings lay in ruin, the streets painted in blood.

Amidst the chaos, a striking young woman with crimson skin and fiery orange hair stood out. Oria Phire, Maggie's younger cousin and a Drakorii, battled fiercely alongside four companions. Her orange dress clung tightly to her figure, accentuating her form despite the scars marring her body, including a deep gash on her flank that continued to bleed.

The foes she faced were Tier 1 primals—Spires. These infant-like creatures with translucent green skin, dark emerald eyes, and small fangs were notoriously difficult to combat due to their near-intangible forms. Their affinity for wind and nature elements made them especially lethal for novice warriors.

Oria's exhaustion was evident. Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she fought to maintain her footing. It had only been half an hour since the primal outbreak began, but the devastation was already immense. Many warriors had fallen; those who survived either fled or regrouped at the final barricade.

A gust, shaped like a bullet, hurtled toward Oria. She gritted her teeth and countered with a fiery slash of her short sword, severing the attack but straining her stamina further.

"Huff…"

"Sister Oria, when will reinforcements arrive? We're not going to last at this rate!" cried one of her companions, an Almaurian woman with almond-colored eyes and copper-toned skin.

Clutching her wounded side, Oria forced herself to respond. "Just hold on a little longer. Sister Maggie is surely on her way with help."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Her words carried forced optimism. Deep down, she doubted reinforcements would arrive in time. The distance from Novice Sanctuary No. 3 to the Labyrinth of Howling Spire was considerable, even at an average Tier 1 Origin Warrior's pace. Yet, she clung to hope, trusting Maggie's speed.

The group's struggle intensified when one of her male companions let out a cry of pain as a bullet of wind pierced his shoulder.

"Agh!"

"Jonson!"

"Bro!"

"Sonson!"

Oria and her companions cried out in alarm.

"Alma, take Jonson to the backline!" Oria ordered, her tone sharp.

"But how will the three of you hold the front?!" Alma protested.

"Just go!" Oria snapped, her eyes narrowing as she sensed an even stronger presence emerging from the portal.

A humanoid form, initially a swirling tornado, materialized into a Tier 2 (3★) Elite Spire. It stood tall with long, flowing green hair but lacked any distinguishing features. Dread filled Oria and her remaining companions. Already strained, their chances against such a foe seemed nonexistent.

"Now, go!" Oria barked, urgency lacing her voice.

Reluctantly, Alma carried Jonson toward the rear lines, promising, "Don't die! I'll be back!"

Left with only her two heavily armored male companions, Oria steeled herself. The Elite Spire raised its hand, summoning two small tornadoes that hovered menacingly by its sides.

"What do we do, Oria?" one companion asked, his voice trembling.

"Maybe retreating isn't such a bad idea," the other chimed in, equally shaken.

Oria's jaw tightened. Retreat meant abandoning the town—her family's livelihood—and rebuilding it would cost a fortune. Losing the Labyrinth of Howling Spire wasn't an option.

"Hold it off for me!" she commanded.

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The two warriors roared as they embedded their axes into the ground, conjuring massive stone walls to block the incoming tornadoes.

Bam!

The walls absorbed the initial impact but soon began to crack under the relentless force.

Crack~

Rubble scattered as the tornadoes battered through.

"These walls won't hold much longer!" one companion warned.

Oria ignored him, her focus razor-sharp as fiery energy engulfed her sword. She formed two massive fireballs and shouted, "Get behind me!"

The warriors retreated just as Oria unleashed her attack. The fireballs collided with the tornadoes in a deafening explosion, sending shockwaves through the battlefield. Smoke obscured the area, but as it cleared, the Elite Spire stood unscathed. Its tornadoes now swirled with even greater intensity.

Oria's resolve faltered as she muttered, "No way…"

The Elite Spire let out a piercing screech, and its tornadoes surged forward, accompanied by a barrage of attacks from the hovering spires.

"Is this the end? I'm sorry, Sister Maggie… I guess this is the last time I can help you in this world…" Oria softly muttered, closing her eyes.

Suddenly, a warm gust swept over her. A familiar voice echoed.

"Save your apologies. You still have to help me achieve my goals."