Omni-Mastery

"So they weren't just dispersing randomly to distract us…"

Standing atop the highest watchtower in the Dragon Clan's stronghold, I blankly stared at the sea of 'ants' in the distance. The Dragon Clan Leader's expression turned grave as he confirmed what I saw during my earlier sniping attempt…

The movement reported by the scouting squad became clear to him just like it did to me when I witnessed the action of the second army that I was visiting. Unlike how self-sacrificial the demons were in the Nature Domain, they brought shields, 'Corrupted' shields.

"The ones who surrendered to the temptation are now nothing more than a multi-purpose tool in their hands."

Weakening the original inhabitants, lowering the suppression… These were just a part of the benefits that the demons wanted to suck out of those who fell for their trap. Like heralds of destruction, the demon armies were collecting the scattered Corrupted packs, amassing what looked no different than a zombie horde. The already tough demons had now coated themselves with a very thick shell.

'They really went all out this time.'

The demons and the corrupted had a very close relationship as the supplier and receiver. However, those that didn't go through the process that was forced upon me shouldn't have been that controllable, at least not in their current state.

I had already thought of the possibility that another 'tool' would make it possible before everything started, another reason as to why I took the time to clear the area around the stronghold. Still, things turning out like this felt strange to see in person.

I didn't know just how many trump cards the demons had, but they sure were wealthy for a race that had supposedly been jailed for centuries under the work of the demon hunters…

"This changes nothing, we will do our best to defend our home."

For a clan that sought peace to the point of imposing it on others, the Dragon Clan Leader's fighting spirit was hard to believe. However, there wasn't even a hint of hypocrisy in his eyes. The wary and shaken semi-dragon had truly changed overnight.

"Agreed. The plan should proceed as it is, I will still be providing assistance as promised."

The situation had turned even graver, but a strange calmness filled my heart as if this was just another obstacle that I could easily overcome. Taking a quick look at the items inside my spatial ring, a hint of a smile emerged under my 'dragon helmet'.

"Perhaps… I will be able to do more than I expected."

`~~~`~~~`~~~`

Even as the demon army that kept getting bigger with time became visible to the naked eye, the Dragon Clan's warriors kept on to their stations. No matter if the battle was going to become a siege or entrapment, moving to meet their enemies was still something that they couldn't afford to do.

'Almost done.'

On the other hand, I had already been moving throughout the area of the stronghold for hours. This time, however, I wasn't doing so because my body was tensing up from waiting.

'This is the only way.'

Since my initial plan had failed, the chance to even up the playing field had been blown away. Furthermore, our numerical disadvantage had only grown more severe. Momentary suffocation brought by my helplessness had overcome me for a moment, but it was only then that I finally found an answer!

Although having a solution for everything had always saved me from falling into sticky situations, what if there was no solution, to begin with? Being over-prepared had almost made me forget humanity's last choice… Desperation!

'It has to work…'

The things that one could only try when everything else had failed, the options that had to be used when one was in their last breath. Like the adrenaline that allowed the human body to break through its limits, desperation sometimes made it possible for one's mind to perceive things from a completely new perspective! 

'It can only work.'

Of course, I still valued my life more that I was prepared to escape if victory proved impossible in the end. However, my refusal to accept the future where the demons won and turned the Fire Domain into a zombie land had shown me that I had one last option at my disposal, albeit being an expensive one…

Tap! Tap! Tap!

By the time I was done preparing my final card, the stomping melody created by the Corrupted horde had already covered the Green Dragon Mountain range. The tension in the air gave me the chills, but now wasn't the time to hesitate.

"Huuuu…"

Letting out a long breath, wings sprouted out of my back as I sprinted forward to launch myself into the air, it was time to finish the job that I had started earlier!

Lightning crackled around my arm as I took out the 'Lightning CLoud' that still retained its bow form. Maximizing my speed using 'Body of Elements', arrows continuously formed before turning into a rain of arrows.

[ Agility +5 ]

[ Perception +5 ]

There was no better time to invest the stat points that I had been saving up to this point. Agility was a no-brainer in order to increase my output beyond the limit within the minutes that I had, but I had to enhance my Perception in order for my 'Eye of Knowledge' to keep up. After all, there was no use in shooting more arrows without locating the target they had to hit.

[ You have absorbed… ]

[ You have absorbed… ]

[ You have absorbed… ]

With almost the whole shaman net in full view, my arrow 'machine gun' gave me the chance to experience the rare sight of mass level-dropping. However…

"There is a flying enemy!"

With so many attacks and even more observers, several arrows flew my way as the demons had already taken notice of me. The distance denied them any effective shot at first, but they weren't that far off.

'Just a little bit more…'

While I was the only one moving on the other side for now, the Fire Domain's second great war had already come to a start…