Synergy, as the name suggests, is the combination of multiple elements to produce an effect greater than the sum of their individual parts.
At first, it sounded simple, but Eryke found himself confused—especially by its restrictions. If there were no limitations, wouldn't that mean he could craft nukes by hand and launch them at his enemies?
Even the name alone made the skill seem terrifying. That was until he read the title:
…
Allows the Awakener to combine the basic elements of nature: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air.
The Awakener's spells are 2% stronger!
…
"Hmm?"
Eryke stared at his two titles, stunned for a moment. Then, inevitably, he uttered:
"This is beyond broken."
He hadn't said this while looking at the
This was the title he had gained upon reaching First Circle Mage, but didn't that mean he could acquire it again each time he reached the same level?
"Not only that, but my clones can also obtain it… and my spells would be...."
A shiver ran down Eryke's spine. This was the most exploitable thing he could do.
With his talent, he could stack this title thousands of times.
"Even a single spell of mine could cause devastation."
Shaking his head, he took a moment to observe his surroundings.
"Let's try leveling up first."
The moment he spoke, another man appeared beside him.
"Hmm!?" Eryke frowned and immediately called the system again.
***
[Uses: 3]
[Death: 1 (Cooldown: 1 month)]
***
"A month, huh?" he muttered, then let out a sigh of relief.
At the very least, he could summon his clone back even after its death, though its stats would likely reset.
With that in mind, he wasted no time and sprang into action.
He and his clone began hunting the smaller beasts in the area. Most were ordinary, easily taken down with a single Star Strike—sometimes, he didn't even need to use it at all!
***
"How many Unordinary beasts are in this gate?!" Luna cried out, her face pale with fear.
Belle lay on the ground, covered in wounds, her body soaked in blood.
One of the brawny men was missing an arm, while another had lost a leg and was limping away. As for the lean man, his face was drained of color, his breathing ragged.
"How could there be so many Unordinary monsters? Weren't the mana readings supposed to be low in this gate?" she asked, her voice laced with desperation.
Hearing this, Belle wanted to roll her eyes. How am I supposed to know, milady?
Luna then turned to Lucas, the lean man with glasses, and asked, "Has your mana recovered, Lucas?"
Lucas shook his head helplessly.
"Damn it, what should we do then?" Luna cursed aloud, frustration and fear gripping her.
She bit her nails, her trembling hands making faint rattling sounds in the eerie silence. Her mind was in turmoil, her face growing paler by the second.
She broke down.
Roar!
A deafening roar shattered the air.
The group turned toward the source—and their faces turned deathly pale.
A massive figure loomed before them. Its head resembled a pig's, its body clad in heavy chain armor. A long sword rested casually on its shoulder, and two sharp canine teeth jutted from its mouth.
An orc that looked like a seasoned veteran.
"Run!" Luna screamed before turning on her heels and bolting.
The two brawny men followed close behind, and Lucas quickly joined them.
But Belle…
She despaired.
"My legs… Move! Move!" Belle willed herself to run, but her body refused to obey.
No matter how hard she tried, her legs wouldn't budge. Exhaustion weighed her down, every fiber of her muscles screaming in protest. Even the slightest movement felt impossible.
"Move!" she cried again, desperation filling her voice.
The orc inhaled deeply, its breath slow and steady as it advanced toward her. The ground trembled beneath its heavy steps.
With every step, Belle's heart pounded faster.
It was like a death drum. Each thud of the orc's foot made her face grow paler.
"Milady… she really…" Her voice trailed off as she closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate.
But just then—
A sphere of earth shot through the air, slamming into the orc's head with force. The impact sent the creature stumbling back several steps.
The orc turned, its gaze locking onto Luna, who stood with her staff raised. Though her face was still pale, her hands trembled with determination.
She mumbled frantically, "I can't abandon Belle… she… she…"
The other three rushed toward her, closing the distance.
But the orc only snickered. The ground trembled beneath its weight as it stepped forward, unfazed. It reached Belle and raised its sword high above her.
"Nooo…!" Luna screamed, reaching out in desperation.
Pst!
Blood spurted into the air.
Luna's breath hitched as she looked down in disbelief. A sword had pierced through her back, the blade emerging from her stomach.
She turned her head slowly—only to see Lucas standing behind her.
"Why?"
Her voice wavered.
Lucas lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry," he murmured, then pushed the sword in deeper.
"Milady!" One of the brawny men sprang into action, shoving Lucas away. A soft green light shimmered in his hands as he desperately tried to heal her wound.
Luna's attention, however, remained fixed on the orc, whose sword was mere inches away from ending Belle's life.
"Save Belle. Don't worry about me," she urged.
But the two brawny men refused to listen, doing everything they could to protect her.
Just as the sword was about to strike, Belle's life flashed before her eyes. She squeezed them shut, bracing for the inevitable.
Yet—the fatal blow never came.
Confused, Belle slowly opened her eyes, only to see the back of a man standing before her. He had caught the orc's sword with his bare hand, glittering starlight swirling around him.
"Hmm, seems like there's some trouble," Eryke muttered, taking in the chaotic scene with a sigh.
His gaze shifted to the orc. With his left hand, he gathered starlight—then struck forward with force.
Bang!
"Oh?"
The orc staggered back a step, a deep fist-shaped dent forming in its armor. But, it remained unfazed. Without hesitation, it thrust its sword directly at him.
Eryke ducked under the orc's swing and countered with an upward punch, gathering starlight in his fist.
Bang!
Once again, the orc stood its ground, completely unfazed.
"Kekeke."
The orc snickered, its laughter dripped with mockery as it pointed its palm at Eryke.
Eryke felt the temperature around him spike, rising several times over.
"Shit."
Whoosh!