Astral Point: Summoners Dimensional War

Virginia moved swiftly, raising her hand toward Catherine, who was clutching her injured arm. A soft white glow enveloped Catherine, a soothing warmth spreading through her as the healing magic took effect. The bite wound on her arm gradually closed, leaving only a faint trace that quickly faded. Catherine gave a curt nod, her eyes remaining focused on the Direfang Alpha still pacing in front of them. 

"How's your arm?" Virginia asked gently. 

"Good enough to keep going," Catherine replied tersely, her voice steady despite her slightly labored breathing. "But stay alert."

Virginia turned to Thomas, who was still standing firm. Once again, the healing light surrounded him, erasing the bruises from the Alpha's earlier charge. 

"Thank you," Thomas said briefly, not looking away. His focus remained on the growling enemy, his eyes sharp and calculating. 

Catherine raised her hand, a bright green sphere of poisonous magic forming at her fingertips. "This creature is too slippery," she said sharply. "But it won't evade us forever." 

She launched the magic with precision, aiming directly at the Direfang Alpha. However, the beast moved with incredible speed, sidestepping and retaliating with a bolt of electricity. Blue lightning flashed toward Catherine, but Thomas reacted quickly, intercepting it with his water magic.

"Don't act recklessly," Thomas said in a low yet firm voice. "You attacked without anticipating its movement."

"I know exactly what I'm doing, Hobbes," Catherine shot back coldly. "The poison doesn't need to hit directly. As long as it lingers nearby, it'll work."

The Direfang Alpha kept moving, its steps disrupted by Thomas' counterattacks whenever it tried to close the distance. Catherine launched her poison magic again, this time aiming at the ground near the Alpha's feet. A thin green mist began to rise, seeping into the surrounding air. 

Meanwhile, Virginia maintained her position in the middle, her healing magic ready at a moment's notice. Whenever the Alpha's lightning struck Catherine or Thomas, she promptly cast her spells, ensuring they remained combat-ready. 

"Virginia, don't waste too much mana," Catherine ordered without looking back. "We don't know how long this fight will last." 

"If I don't heal you, this fight won't last long at all," Virginia replied firmly yet softly. 

Amid the tension, the navigator's voice resonated in their minds. "Don't use any skills now."

"What?" Thomas groaned in frustration, deflecting another claw swipe from the Direfang Alpha. "Without skills, this is going to take forever."

"We need to conserve skill points," the navigator explained calmly. "This strategy is sufficient for now. Focus on basic attacks and Catherine's poison. The damage over time will gradually weaken the Alpha."

Catherine clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Fine, but make sure this doesn't drag on too long." Despite her frustration, she followed the instructions, patiently releasing her poison magic while refraining from using her more powerful abilities. 

The Direfang Alpha continued its assault, but its movements began to slow. Catherine's poison was clearly taking effect. Its steps were no longer as quick, and the electricity coursing through its body appeared to dim. 

Thomas observed this closely, a faint smile forming on his lips. "This thing is losing energy."

"Stay focused," the navigator warned. "The final strike must be precise. Wait for my signal."

The Direfang Alpha staggered, its steps faltering after prolonged exposure to Catherine's poison. Its glowing, electric eyes appeared less sharp, but suddenly, its body emitted a bright light. A wave of electricity surged through the air as the beast accelerated unexpectedly, charging directly toward Virginia, who stood behind Thomas and Catherine. 

"Virginia! Get back!" Thomas shouted, though he knew the attack was too fast. 

In an instant, the navigator's voice cut through their thoughts. "Thomas, your ultimate skill—now!"

Thomas smirked slightly, unfazed. He raised his hand high, dark blue energy swirling around him. "Leviathan's Grasp," he intoned with authority. 

From the shadows behind him, a massive, spectral hand resembling a mythical sea creature emerged, slashing through the air with immense speed. The hand seized the charging Direfang Alpha mid-air, halting its movement entirely. The beast roared wildly, its body trembling as it struggled against the massive grip holding it in place. 

"Catherine, get ready!" the navigator's voice rang out again. "Virginia, cast your skill on Catherine!"

Virginia, startled but quick to act, began her incantation. Her delicate hands glowed with a dark red aura, which then surged toward Catherine. "Forbidden Touch," she whispered, as a faint circular symbol appeared above Catherine's head, glowing dimly.

"What's this?" Catherine glanced up briefly, curiosity tinging her voice more than irritation. 

"An enhancement. Use it now," the navigator urged firmly.

Catherine wasted no time. Closing her eyes briefly, she channeled energy into her palms. "Poisoned Gift," she declared coldly, as if delivering a sentence. A dense, green aura of poison emanated from her body, enveloping the trapped Direfang Alpha. 

The beast howled, its cry shaking the air. This poison, unlike before, attacked the core of its being. Its body convulsed violently, every muscle seemingly battling an invisible force. Catherine's poison seeped deep, ruthlessly damaging the creature from within. 

"Release it," the navigator instructed Thomas. The Leviathan hand loosened its grip, letting the Direfang Alpha's body drop heavily to the ground. The beast tried to rise but was too weak; Catherine's poison had completely overtaken it. 

Thomas approached cautiously, his water-magic-infused hand aimed at the beast's throat in case it attempted a final act of defiance. "Is it done?" he asked, glancing at Catherine. 

"Of course," Catherine replied with a faint smirk, her cold eyes fixed on the fallen Direfang Alpha. "My poison always works perfectly."

Virginia, standing a few steps behind, let out a soft sigh of relief. "Did we really have to handle it so cruelly?" she whispered, though she already knew the answer. 

The navigator interrupted, cutting through the lingering tension. "Good work. It's over now."

A glowing system screen appeared before them, illuminating the silent forest with its soft light. Bold letters decorated the holographic display:

[Congratulations, "Direfang Wolf" Dungeon Cleared!]

Catherine raised an eyebrow as she skimmed through the list of rewards displayed:

---

- Moondrops x300

- Base Gold x3200

- Direfang Wolf Hide x18

- Direfang Alpha Hide x1

- Storybook of Heroes x50

---

The navigator's voice resonated in their minds, brimming with enthusiasm.

"Well done! This is more than enough for the upcoming challenges. Especially the Storybook of Heroes—that will be crucial for upgrading your levels later."

Thomas wiped the sweat off his brow and lowered his weapon. He glanced at Catherine and Virginia briefly, his tone skeptical as he spoke. "But why did we hold back earlier? Why not just unleash all our skills and finish it quicker?"

The navigator responded calmly but firmly. "Each combat unit is allowed a maximum of 5 skill points per day at your current level. Regular skills consume 2 points, and ultimates consume 3 points. If you run out, the only way to recover is through full rest. Since you've already used both skills and an ultimate, you now only have enough points left for one more skill today. Considering potential threats on your way back, I decided it was best to save those points."

Thomas scoffed. "So, because of your calculations, we had to drag out that fight? You're too calculated, navigator."

"I don't make reckless decisions, Thomas," the navigator countered with a sharper edge. "Resource management is part of strategy. If you encounter another monster attack, you'll need those points. Relying solely on brute force isn't sustainable."

Catherine crossed her arms, her gaze cynical as she stared at the system screen.

"So, we're just pawns in your grand plan, constantly micromanaged for optimal results?"

The navigator's tone softened. "Without proper management, you'd run out of resources at critical moments. Would you prefer to face emergencies defenseless?"

Catherine exhaled sharply, glancing at Thomas. "I get why you follow orders now. There's logic behind them, even if I still dislike the methods."

Virginia, standing quietly at their side, finally spoke, her voice soft but cutting. "I understand the need to conserve points. But don't forget, we're human, not machines." She eyed the fading system screen with a piercing gaze. "We fight these creatures with our lives, not just the numbers in your system."

A brief pause followed before the navigator responded in a gentler tone. "I understand, Virginia. But my role is to ensure your success with minimal risk."

Thomas grumbled, still dissatisfied, but chose not to press further. "Fine, you win this time, navigator. But I expect more freedom to decide in the field. If you keep restricting us, I won't be responsible for what happens."

"I understand and apologize if my earlier decision upset you," the navigator replied succinctly.

Catherine shot a glance at Virginia, who appeared drained. "Let's go. I don't want to linger here any longer, especially with this stench." She gestured at Direfang Alpha's fallen body.

Thomas took the lead, his mind preoccupied with the system's restrictions. Behind him, Catherine and Virginia walked side by side, exchanging occasional brief words. Each of them reflected silently on the system's tight control and how it clashed with their sense of autonomy.

The journey to Esverita's gates passed in an awkward silence. Although they encountered no threats or ambushes as the navigator had anticipated, a tense air hung over the group. The usually confident voice of the navigator now carried a note of caution.

"The decision to conserve points was merely precautionary," the navigator said sincerely in their minds. "If anything unexpected had occurred, I wanted you to have the means to survive. However, I understand your frustration. I promise that as your levels increase, so will your skill points, and I won't need to be as strict. Please, bear with me for now as we focus on gathering resources to enhance your levels."

Thomas sighed deeply, his eyes fixed ahead. "Fine," he said curtly. "I appreciate your explanation, but don't let such economizing jeopardize us again."

"You talk like it endangered your life directly," Catherine remarked with lingering irritation. "Still, I agree. If you want our trust, don't prioritize calculations over our safety."

Virginia, trailing slightly behind, shook her head slowly. "Safety is the priority, Catherine. But the navigator's calculations weren't entirely wrong. You're both too quick to blame." She gazed at the reddening sky. "If we must be patient to grow stronger, then I think it's a fair price to pay."

Their conversation ended there. When Esverita's gates finally came into view, the tension among them began to ease. However, their brief respite was abruptly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps from the forest.

A maid, disheveled and trembling with fear, emerged from the trees. "Help! Please help me!" she cried, her voice hoarse and choked with sobs.

The woman stumbled toward Thomas's group but tripped on a tree root before reaching them, falling hard to the ground. Virginia reacted immediately, rushing to the woman's side. She knelt beside her, her warm hands gently touching the maid's shoulder.

"Calm down," Virginia said, her tone soft yet firm. "Tell us what happened."

The maid sobbed uncontrollably, struggling to catch her breath. "They... they're going to kill me!" she stammered. "I escaped from the palace. Assassins are after me!"

Catherine stood a short distance away, her gaze skeptical. "And why are they after you? What did you do?" she asked coldly, her eyes narrowing.

"I don't know!" the maid wailed louder. "I'm just a servant, but I overheard something I shouldn't have! Please, they won't stop until I'm dead!"

Thomas glanced at the woman briefly before turning to Catherine and Virginia. "This might not be our business, but she's clearly in danger. We can't just leave her."

Before anyone could respond, a system screen materialized before them:

[Quest Update: Resolve the Internal Conflict in Esverita.]

The navigator spoke with newfound seriousness. "It seems this is more than just a personal issue. We may have just stumbled into something far bigger than we anticipated."

Virginia looked to Catherine, seeking her opinion. Catherine sighed, as if burdened by the sudden responsibility. "Fine," she said reluctantly. "But I want a full explanation from her later. We won't involve ourselves in a conspiracy without enough information."

"Agreed," Thomas replied curtly. He knelt near the maid. "We'll help you, but you need to cooperate. Lead us to safety or tell us more."

The maid nodded quickly, her eyes still wet with tears. "Thank you... thank you..." she whispered, her voice barely audible through her panic.

They prepared themselves, their gazes fixed on the direction the maid had come from, ready for any threats that might emerge at any moment.

***

Skill Details:

Thomas Hobbes "Monster of Malmesbury" (R)

Ultimate Skill – Leviathan's Grasp

Description: Hobbes summons the shadow of a giant Leviathan, extending its claws to ensnare all enemies.

Effect: Immobilizes enemies caught in its grasp for 9 seconds and applies the "Absolute Authority" debuff to all enemies for 1 minute. Affected enemies lose 20% of their maximum HP and are unable to use any skills while the effect is active.

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Catherine de Medici "Serpent Queen" (SR)

Active Skill 2 – Poisoned Gift

Description: Catherine presents a poisonous gift to her enemies, gradually draining their HP.

Effect: Inflicts the "Venomous Curse" status on a chosen enemy, reducing their HP by 5% per second for 10 seconds. If the target receives healing, the poison spreads to the nearest ally.

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Marianna de Leyva "Nun of Monza" (SR)

Active Skill 1 – Forbidden Touch

Description: With manipulative whispers, Marianna restores a teammate's health while marking them. The marked ally deals additional damage to enemies when attacking.

Effect: Restores HP equal to 50% of Marianna's magic power to one ally. Grants the "Forbidden Mark" for 30 seconds, increasing the marked ally's ATK/Magic ATK by 10% against enemies.

***