Chapter 34: Meeting part 2
Disclaimer= "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen!I'm excited to let you know that I've created my own Discord group—a place where we can chat about anything and everything.If you're interested in joining, you'll find the link in my profile and in the comments of this chapter.Thanks, and hope to see you there! "
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[ ] = Doruuk thoughts
"And now, I'll reveal my ability," announces Zaira, her voice resonating with barely concealed pride. The silence in the warehouse becomes almost oppressive—as if the very air has paused its movement. Even the wind's gentle rustle through the broken structure seems to have ceased.
"Passive—'Treasure Bond.'" She straightens her posture, exuding newfound confidence. "When I'm near money or valuable objects, my physical strength increases in direct proportion to their value—up to a maximum boost of 30%."
[An extraordinarily useful ability for a heist. During the loot transport, her strength will progressively increase—she could carry more weight than the others or break through unforeseen obstacles.]
She continues with a slight smile curling on her lips. "If I come into direct contact with money, I gain a 10% bonus to my movement speed for five seconds."
[Perfect for a swift escape. With pockets full of coins or jewels, she could easily outpace any pursuers—a skill tailor-made for a thief.]
"My active ability is 'Clairvoyant Sight.' For 15 seconds, I can see through any obstacle within a 30-meter radius. This allows me to locate hidden enemies, safes, and traps. If used in the presence of money, its duration extends to 20 seconds."
[Incredible. We could map an entire building beforehand, spot guards, and identify traps—this ability alone might determine the operation's success.]
My interest is completely captivated, yet Zaira isn't finished. A fierce glimmer of satisfaction flashes in her eyes as she prepares to unveil her second set of abilities.
"And now, the abilities of my second Luminousa…" She pauses deliberately, savoring the attention of everyone present. "Passive—'Edge of Focus.' When wielding a bladed weapon, my precision increases by 20% and my mind clears, reducing the likelihood of panic or distraction. Moreover, after defeating an enemy, my attack speed surges by 10% for five seconds."
[A natural combiner—a true explorer and assassin. Not only can she pinpoint the treasure, but she can also eliminate any obstacle standing in our way. Each enemy felled only sharpens her lethal edge further.]
Her tone deepens into an almost hypnotic cadence as she adds, "Active—'Phantom Blade Dance.' I enter an advanced combat state for 15 seconds. During this period, my attack speed boosts by 40%, and my resolve strengthens to the point where fear and distractions cease to exist. After five consecutive attacks, the following strike deals a bonus 50% damage."
A heavy silence follows, laden with respect—and perhaps even a whisper of fear. The others exchange glances, their admiration for her barely hidden. Now I fully understand why they revere her abilities.
[This woman is lethal—a consummate explorer and fighter, forged by a life dedicated to seizing what others deem unattainable. With her leading us, our chances in the heist have dramatically increased…]
I finally allow genuine admiration to seep into my tone. "That is a truly impressive ability," I say. "It will provide us with a decisive edge in the heist." The tension in my shoulders eases slightly; with such potent skills at our disposal, our prospects for success have soared.
"Now that we know everyone's abilities, we must discuss how to combine them optimally to maximize our effectiveness."
Zaira nods and leans against the makeshift table. "Kael and Eldon already form a formidable duo," she observes. "While Eldon can slow down enemies, Kael can swiftly eliminate them."
[She's thinking in terms of direct elimination—a strategy that is effective yet risky. The more casualties we leave behind, the more relentless the pursuit becomes.]
I reply in a measured tone, "That may be true in theory, but remember: ice melts when exposed to fire. Without precise coordination, their abilities could interfere with one another."
Kael steps forward, a challenge lighting his eyes. "We know that, but I won't allow our enemies the time to mount an attack. I'll take them out before they pose a threat."
[Too much confidence can be dangerous.]
Otis crosses his massive arms. "Even if something goes awry, I'm here to serve as our tank."
A shadow of concern passes over my face. These warriors are primed for direct confrontation, yet our mission demands stealth and meticulous precision.
I lower my voice, letting the urgency seep into every word. "I understand, Otis, but we cannot afford mistakes. I refuse to let anyone be hurt; this operation must proceed without a hitch."
[A tank like Otis draws too much attention—he's a last-resort asset rather than a frontline choice.]
Zaira fixes me with a piercing gaze. "We all share that goal. Doruuk, do you have any specific ideas?"
I rise slowly, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes upon me, and take a deep breath to steady my thoughts before speaking.
"Yes, I do. Listen closely." My voice falls low, demanding full attention. "Zaira, your role is essential. Thanks to your first Luminousa's ability, we can quickly locate the treasure. Speed is everything—we must complete this operation as swiftly as possible, avoiding needless confrontations. Should we engage in battle, the situation could spiral out of control."
I step toward the center of the group, ensuring every ear catches my plan.
"Imagine this: noise attracts monsters, rival warriors may converge on our target, and the treasure's guardians could overwhelm us simultaneously. Such a scenario would be unmanageable, even with our combined abilities. We must avoid even the slightest confrontation with these threats."
[With Zaira's clairvoyance, we could detect patrols long before they become a problem. Kael and Eldon could create diversions well away from our objective. And Otis should deploy his defense only in emergencies—when stealth is already compromised…]
Nods of agreement ripple across the room. My words have struck home. They start to envision the operation not as a head-on brawl, but as a precise, surgical infiltration.
Just as I prepare to continue outlining the strategy, Zaira raises a hand to interrupt me. Her expression shifts—half amused, half concerned.
"Ah, Doruuk," she says lightly, her tone suddenly casual in stark contrast to our previous seriousness, "I almost forgot to mention—taking that treasure is, by its very nature, illegal."
Chapter-End.
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ABILITIES
Doruuk
Rank: 9
Luminousa: 1
Escape (Cooldown: 10 minutes)
Dread Revenant --> { (passive 1 --> Mark of Ruin)
(passive 2 --> Bloodlust Manifestation)
(passive 3 --> Aura of Terror) }
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Zaira
Rank: 7 (close to reaching Rank 6)
Luminousa: 2
First Luminousa:
Passive - "Treasure Bond": Physical strength increases when near money or valuable objects (up to 30%). +10% movement speed for 5 seconds when directly touching money.
Active - "Clairvoyant Sight": Can see through any obstacle within a 30-meter radius for 15 seconds (20 seconds if used near money). Can detect hidden enemies, safes, and traps.
Second Luminousa:
Passive - "Edge of Focus": +20% precision when wielding a bladed weapon; reduced risk of panic or distractions. After defeating an enemy, attack speed increases by 10% for 5 seconds.
Active - "Phantom Blade Dance": Enters advanced combat state for 15 seconds, increasing attack speed by 40% and strengthening mental status against fear or distractions. After 5 consecutive attacks, the next hit deals 50% bonus damage.
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Otis
Rank: 7
Luminousa: 1
Passive - "Adamantine Resilience": Takes 30% less magical damage while in defensive position.
Active - "Sleeping Fog": Releases poisonous fog that makes enemies fall asleep or unconscious within a 10-meter area. Effect lasts 60 seconds (enemies with high resistance may resist slightly longer). Especially lethal in enclosed areas. 7-minute cooldown.
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Eldon
Rank: 7
Luminousa: 1
Passive - "Frozen Arrows": Arrows inflict frost damage and slow enemies by 15% for 3 seconds. If an enemy is hit by 3 frost arrows, they're slowed by 30% for 3 seconds.
Active - "Frozen Rain": Launches a barrage of ice arrows covering a 10-meter area with a freezing effect. Enemies within progressively slow up to 50% for 5 seconds. Enemies remaining in the area for more than 7 seconds become completely frozen for 20 seconds. Hitting a frozen enemy causes bonus frost damage. 15-minute cooldown.
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Kael
Rank: 7
Luminousa: 1
Passive - "Flame Arrows": Arrows ignite targets on impact, burning them for 5 seconds. Fire can spread to flammable clothes and objects. If a flaming arrow hits an already burning enemy, damage increases by 20%.
Active - "Inferno Blast": Shoots a special arrow that explodes on impact, creating a 10-meter area effect. Enemies take immediate fire damage and are knocked back by the explosion force. The area remains on fire for 20 seconds, causing continuous damage to anyone inside. 7-minute cooldown.