NOVPUBWhen Kei heard about Phoenix's Rebirth, she decided to level up that path more seriously… that was a skill that Rain added with the help of Larisa… she finally had recovered enough memories to be able to trade stamina for health, and that was very useful.
That path alone should be enough to keep everyone busy and satisfied with training as well. The only downside of the path was the fact that it was a path that it didn't allow weapons to be used. Their vital energy was used to activate those auras, and weapons couldn't be enhanced with the auras.
Rain explained that in the next meeting and, the people who saw and understood it felt satisfied with that. They thought that Rain used the last few weeks on developing that path… they were dead wrong.
"Is that something easy to learn?" Esmeralda asked.
"Those who have used Limit Breaker for a while and reached the max level should have no problems learning it since you just have to know how to control your stamina through your breathing. I suppose mages will have a bit of a hard time." Rain explained. "Well, the mages of now, compared to the mages of the past, will still have a much easier time."
In the past, mages weren't accustomed to a world where dragons and massive beasts were the main enemies. This allowed them to specialize in magical abilities, with common formations and tactics designed around the assumption that they could stay at a distance and remain so, casting powerful spells without engaging in physical combat.
However, significant changes occurred over the last one hundred years. The disappearance of ordinary enemies and the emergence of diverse threats rendered most old formations almost obsolete. Mages now faced a variety of challenges that required adaptability and physical prowess. The need for close-quarter combat skills became apparent, disrupting the traditional roles of magic users.
Moreover, the widespread knowledge of skills like Limit Breaker added another layer of complexity. While this skill significantly enhanced physical abilities, it demanded mastery over stamina control. Mages, accustomed to focusing on mana, had to adapt and learn to harness their stamina effectively.
"It will be better if we ask Kei to help people learn that," Branden said.
"Good luck with that," Rain said and then shrugged. "I already have my hands full."
"On the next topic," Esmeralda said before Branden could find a way out of the mess he put himself in. "How are things regarding our speed toward the next target? How much time do we have?"
"We are three weeks away," Rain replied.
Everyone thought that they had a bit more than four weeks, but as expected, with more mana available, the vessel was able to move faster, and no one realized that. While that was good, it gave them limited time to prepare.
"What about the exploration suits?" Regis asked.
"We should have one hundred of them available by that time," Terra replied. "We asked some people to help us, but they can only do so much for now."
"That is still a small number… one of our goals is supposed to capture that giant centipede, after all," Regis said. "Did we see any signs of other lifeforms there?"
"No, the sandstorm is taking over the entire planet with every passing day; it is difficult to see anything else," Rain said. "We can only see that monster now and then. That being said.. we can't say if it is the same monster."
"The relics said that the first dragons were all different from each other. Why do those creatures resemble each other?" Esmeralda asked.
"We can't rule things out based on only two examples," Rain explained. "Our planet had many types of ambients, deserts, frozen lands, mountains, forests, oceans… we can't say for sure if that world is the same. If it isn't, it would make sense that the first dragons from there would look like each other."
Everyone understood the gravity of the situation. The first dragons of each planet were known for their immense power, and the fact that they were about to face one had already been a cause for concern. The worry increased when considering the possibility of encountering more than one of these creatures.
Given their limited manpower, the challenge became even more difficult. While they had experience in facing giant beasts, the unique abilities and strength of the first dragons required special countermeasures. Dealing with a creature that powerful would demand meticulous planning, strategic coordination, and the utilization of every available resource.
The concern wasn't just about immediate survival; it extended to the overall success of their mission. Capturing the giant centipede was a primary goal, and they couldn't afford to underestimate the potential threats posed by the first dragons or any other unknown creatures on that distant planet.
In light of these challenges, the availability of exploration suits became crucial. These suits not only provided protection against the harsh environment but also offered enhanced mobility and defensive capabilities. The hope was that with the right preparations and equipment, they could increase their chances of success against the powerful entities they might encounter during their mission.
"If we stop the production of the suits now, we will have time to test if we can add our teach as many people as possible the Delayed Healing tehcnique," Terra said. "That will increase our survivability by a large margin."
"While that is interesting, it won't be very useful if the battle suits end up being damaged during the attacks," Rain said. "We also need to improve their durability."
"We can study to write some runes to repair the suits in case of damage," Isa said. "Still, we will have to split those runes between healing and repair."
"We can't have our cake and eat it too, I guess," Rain shrugged. "What is the plan?"
Esmeralda, Regis, and Sealyn looked at each other… there was no other option aside from starting the mission with even fewer people.
