I could just blast him with one powerful scorching attack, but that would mean an empty mana pool, which could be even deadly if that thing would survive. I couldn't allow myself to take such a risk, without trying other stuff before.

In the next few minutes, I checked if ice, raw energy, 'Power strike', or normal attacks using 'Hunger of The Void' would work, but they didn't. I was growing more impatient, then suddenly an idea hit me. I almost facepalmed out of my own stupidity.

Why? Because I was in possession of a barrier-breaking skill, that I forgot since I barely ever used it. With thin on my mind, I increased the tempo, sending few firebolts, then shadow walking closer to put my hand on the sphere protecting the ghosts, then I used 'Berrier breaking'.

It didn't work, and I had to evacuate because the spiked balls went after me. The good news was that it didn't work because I didn't use enough mana. I felt it when skill got released, and my magic couldn't even scratch the defenses. This meant I just needed to use more. How? That was something I wasn't sure of yet.

I kept moving around for a moment, to not lose momentum, and try to create another opening. I made one soon, and closed the distance again, this time dumping way more energy into it. The sphere shattered like glass, and I immediately swung my weapon in a barrage of slashes, just as one of the balls hit me in the back, and then fell down, since the ghost perished in a cloud of smoke.

I immediately used a few heals, since the spikes managed to pass through the enhanced kevlar, and dig into my flesh. It was a shallow wound though.

- Congratulations, Peter. It took you some time, but you managed to win - I heard in my head.

- Yeah... I forgot I can break the barriers properly, now just with brute force.

- Good. You need to keep in mind all of your skills and use them properly. Now pick the crystal. I think this will be enough for today.

- I can still go. I have plenty of energy left.

- I know, but the ghost move, and I don't have a suitable target for you at the moment.

- Ok - I said, sending back what was left of my shadow army, and then picked up the stone.

The Great One immediately moved me back to the city. I appeared in the house he was occupying. He was reading a scroll, using the silver light coming from the outside through the walls.

- Good job, Peter. Now you should sell the crystals, and get some rest.

- Yeah, I will... Hey. I have a question for you.

- Then ask.

- Was this city always underground? The pathway here was quite narrow for such a place like this.

- It used to be a transport hub - he explained, putting the scroll down. - Obviously, it was above the ground, but I moved it under and made the young tree not allow the ghosts to enter. That's why the one following you couldn't pass through the dome.

- That makes sense - I nodded. - You must be very powerful to be able to bury a city like that.

- I am, but that's not nearly enough compared to what we need. That's why I need you, and other humans to get stronger. Much stronger.

- I will work on that when the pathway to earth is open.

- I don't doubt that, Peter.

- Hey... I have another question. Why the architecture in all of those cities I can see through the gates is so different? Bahumdabars were so keen on the esthetics?

- No. Most of those cities are reminiscent of other races that they conquered. The two places you visited were quite old, and the ones responsible for them were two different races. Both completely went extinct during one of many Xuvi uprisings. They used biological weapons to take down Bahumdabars, but instead took a few other races, and also killed many of their own.

I nodded slowly. With what I went through I could understand that those aliens could really go that far to achieve what they wanted, but I couldn't blame them. We humans would probably also fight for our freedom forever. At least that's something I really wanted to believe in.

I went to the device, and first, put my hand on it, after a few seconds of admiring it. It looked incredible compared to the ones we had.

Just like I thought, I found a hundred points on the account. Then I started browsing a little and discovered that there was everything I could possibly think of to buy there.

I could get any type of food or drink. Electronics, cars, even military equipment. I just bought some burgers and coke with ice in a paper cup. I ate first, then I out the crystals on the symbol, and sold them for an astonishing number of 68 222 203 000 regular points, and 481 class points.

Those numbers were incredible, and if I were to earn them normally, it would take me months. I had plenty of options to invest those, but I decided to think about this a bit more since I needed to pick my classes and skills carefully now. Who knew how many weak ghosts are still out there? I had to be ready for the strongest ones as soon as possible.

Even on that day I probably would have to use all my mana to win with the one possessing a strong barrier. It was pure luck I had the right skill to break it, and even with that, I used almost a quarter of my whole pool to achieve it.historical

I bought some more food, because it was delicious, and went to think, and then sleep in one of the closest houses.

The first hunt in the Loistavadvaar ended with 68 222 203 080 regular points and 481 class ones.