Spell (curse, holy)

Cost: Moderate mana.

Cooldown: None.

Current rank: Iron 0 (00%)

Effect (iron): Burns a painful brand into the target, inflicting slight transcendent damage and the [Sin] and [Mark of Sin] conditions. The brand cannot be healed so long as the target retains any instances of [Sin].

[Sin] (affliction, curse, stacking): All necrotic damage taken is increased. Additional instances have a cumulative effect.

[Mark of Sin] (affliction, holy): Prevents aura retraction. Cannot be cleansed while target retains any instances of [Sin] or [Legacy of Sin].

“How’s it going?” Humphrey called out.

“It’s coming along,” Jason called back.

“If it could come any faster, that would be really, really great!”

Jason kept casting spells until his mana ran low, chugged a mana potion from his belt and started casting some more.

“Carry the mark of your transgressions.”

Spell [Castigate] has inflicted [Sin] on [Marsh Hydra].

Spell [Castigate] has inflicted [Mark of Sin] on [Marsh Hydra].

[Marsh Hydra] has resisted [Mark of Sin].

[Mark of Sin] does not take effect.

Jason let out a whoop of triumph. The mark of sin effect was of little use in the current battle, so it didn’t matter if it was resisted. With inexorable doom, sin and Colin’s necrotoxin in place, the damage would increase exponentially.

“Everything’s done,” Jason called out. “Stay strong and we have it!”

“I’m not sure if waiting is an option,” Clive said, his voice enervated.

He drank a mana potion even as he poured his mana into his familiar. One of the runes on Onslow’s shell lit up, then dimmed immediately as a cloud rose up out of his shell. Water bullets erupted out of the cloud, pounding into the hydra.

In front of the hydra, Humphrey was bloody and exhausted but defiant, pushing on through sheer force of will. The hydra was doomed now, but it could still take them with it. Jason resumed casting spells, trying to hasten its demise.

“Bleed for me.”

Spell [Haemorrhage] has inflicted [Bleeding] on [Marsh Hydra].

[Marsh Hydra] is already affected by [Bleeding]. [Bleeding] is refreshed.

Spell [Haemorrhage] has inflicted [Sacrificial Victim] on [Marsh Hydra].

“First time,” Jason cheered. “Good stuff.”

The affliction reduction from Jason’s aura had limited effect at the start of the fight, but it penalised resistances further for each instance of the sin curse. With the curses now stacking up, afflictions from both Jason and Colin were becoming more reliable, including those from Jason’s other new spell.

Ability: [Haemorrhage] (Blood)

Spell (wounding, unholy)

Cost: Moderate mana.

Cooldown: None.

Current rank: Iron 0 (00%)

Effect (iron): Inflicts or refreshes the [Bleeding] and [Sacrificial Victim] afflictions.

[Bleeding] (affliction, wounding, blood): Deals ongoing damage by causing or increasing blood loss. As a wounding effect, this condition absorbs and negates an amount of incoming healing, after which this affliction immediately ends.

[Sacrificial Victim] (affliction, unholy): Any drain attacks or blood afflictions suffered have increased effect.