My Servant System

Jahi PoV

"BRACE!"

My voice boom around us as the Fenghuang's spells materialized, the lurid green mana arcing through the air towards us, each long bolt dripping with corrosive energies that sizzled as they splattered to the floor.

Everyone planted their feet as we braced for the impact of the magics, while the groaning and shrieking of the newly raised undead echoed out from the pit, the vapors rolling off of the Fenghuang giving new 'life' to more and more corpses.

Ironic, considering it was a creature that represented new beginnings and such...

Letting out a piercing screech, the Fenghuang charged up another barrage of spells as we recovered from the first, its beaked head turning to watch as Mom and Nirinia had to begin dealing with the rising horde instead of it.

Those corrosive mana bolts had slammed into our shields with the force of a hammer strike, pushing us all back as the metal shields in out hands began to melt, the acrid smell of dissolving metals joining the bouquet of rot and blood that permeated the air.

The creatures mana was capable of dissolving more than metal, however, as it began to chew into our barrier and disrupt the various runes that floated around us, slowly peeling layer after layer of our barrier away to reach us.

"Leone! Liga! Bolster the barrier instead of attacking! Take my spot!"

The two women nodded, switching their spells from offensive to defensive, their absence making itself known instantly as the rain of fire and wood that had been damaging the creature stopped, leaving the normal mages to slowly chip away at the creatures defenses.

Even with Kolia present with us, we were being pushed back and forced to wage a battle of attrition; a battle that the creature was currently set to win.

Tossing the shield away, I stepped back as Anput and Adelina closed ranks in front of me, while Leone and Liga stepped forwards, taking their spots behind the two women.

I reached into my satchel for a few potions, uncorking the mana potions as I began to do something I wasn't entirely comfortable with yet; spell crafting.

Unlike Leone and... Kat, I couldn't exactly say that I was the most in tuned with my mana; despite having a rare elemental affinity, I was more of a physical fighter, though I did dabble in the arcane here and there, mainly out of necessity.

So, as I focused my mind not on the giant, decaying, putrid Fenghuang abomination in front of us but instead on runic theory, I took a deep breath and hoped my gambit would work.

This creature hated Light Mana, as did the Necrotic Lord, which would suggest a fear of what it was capable of.

Now, again, I wasn't the smartest when it came to arcane subjects, but I was a warrior, and when someone was afraid of something, that suggested a weakness to that thing.

So, I needed a potent Light Magic attack to deeply wound the creature, and I had a few ideas that I could already build upon; spells I already utilized regularly.

I just... needed to upscale them by probably ten times...

Taking one of my more understood spells - my Light Discs - I began tampering with the foundation of the spells structure, all while the second barrage of corrosive mana slammed into the barrier.

Leone joining the group on defense was noticeable, as less of the mana splattered against our legionnaires this time, but even she let out a grunt as the creature began to charge up another shot.

Shifting runes around from place to place, I comprised a new variation of what was a rather basic building block spell.

I added new functions to certain parts of the spell - for instance, the power of the spell came from the speed and the explosions at the end, which I tinkered with to increase both as best I could, while still allowing the rest to work...

For a hasty job, the new variant of my Light Discs seemed stable enough and potent enough, but the problem was the mana cost, hence the mana potions that were already uncorked in my palm, waiting for me to begin.

As the legionnaires continued to stand firm against the Fenghuang creature, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, preparing to empty most of my Core of mana and pour it into the spell.

This was going to feel... atrocious, but it had to be done.

Opening my eyes, I began to funnel the mana inside me towards my hands, runes of golden Light Mana pulsing into existence around me, which the Fenghuang honed in on instantly.

It screeched loudly with rage and desperation, stomping forwards as it tried to bring its raw physical might to bear, prompting Mom and Nirinia to shift focus from the rising horde of undead and instead begin attacking its legs, wanting to slow it down.

My breathing grew uneven as I felt my stomach flip, while my heart pounded like crazy as the Core attached to it emptied, my hands trembling as I raised the vials to my lips.

Drinking down the ocean blue liquids, I felt artificial mana flood into my system, slowly being converted to Light Mana and joining the growing mass of runes in front of me, which were slowly shaping themselves into a Ritual Circle.

Legionnaires shouted out as the creature drew closer, its feet leaving behind craters as it stomped towards me, while it swept its arms out towards the ground, pushing any legionnaires out of its way.

However, the creature could only screech in anguish as the golden light that shone in front of me flared, covering the city of Huran in a harsh, blinding dome of light.

Raising my hands, I growled as the Ritual Circle finished, spinning wildly as it began to chew into the ground in front of me, sending a barrage of dirt behind itself as I shot it forwards.

Slicing through the earth before rising, the golden Ritual Circle became my Light Disc, shooting through the air and colliding with the approaching Fenghuang creature, which raised its pus covered arms to block the attack, screeching in agony as the mana that it coated itself with shattered.

My spell cut cleanly through its arms and impacted the creatures torso, spinning rapidly and chewing into its flesh, shredding the decaying, gooey flesh and breaking the fused bones before burrowing into its chest, where it promptly began to shine.

"EVERYONE! GET DOWN!"

Dropping, I covered myself in mana, not even a second too soon as the Ritual Circle imploded, light bursting from the creatures chest before dissolving the creature as the runes flooded its body, eating away at the impurities.

A wave of energy brushed over us all as the Fenghuang skull fell to the earth, chipping and cracking before crumbling to pieces, the undead following suit as they dropped to the ground, lifeless once more.

Silence descended once more around Huran, but this time... it didn't feel heavy and laden with negative energy.

It felt... normal, though the scent of decay and blood still floated around, just not as prominent as before.

Getting to my feet, I grabbed another few potions and drank them, feeling my mana still draining away from me, and I stumbled to the side before steadying myself, shaking my head as I smiled tiredly at the awestruck legion.