Alex never would have thought he’d be so happy to watch dozens of cute, fluffy, baby bunnies, die. He wasn’t sure if it was the large front teeth, or how their whole bodies scrunched up with each hop, or the way their dark eyes seemed to ignore everything other than moving forward, but they were definitely cute. Sure, the creatures were way oversized, though if the ball of matted fur in his inventory was anything to go by, it was mostly floof. The furballs were, however, considerably less cute as they seemed primed to run him down, an outcome he was very much opposed to.
His charge to the solitary Jar had taken him around fifty feet, leaving Alex nearly equidistant from both the beasts and the battle assembly. If he thought his sprint had been fast, it was nothing compared to the E-Grades around him, and the two groups were clashing within seconds. Options limited by the sharp metal ahead and the dozens of rabbits behind, Alex decided his best option was up. He jumped, his new levels having further imbued his body with power and allowing him to rise quickly, only to realize he’d missed something. Projectiles, from both the distant wall, and rear of the charging forces were flying straight toward his ascending form.
Arrows and magic of more varieties than Alex could count threatened to make him a pincushion, his Epic skill the only thing giving him the presence of mind to dodge while his improved Dexterity allowed his body to follow through. Aiming for the head of the largest person he could see in the flood below, an armored figure like the one he’d run into back in the city, Alex used them as a platform. Swinging his legs as he balanced all his weight in his palm, he twisted, landing just behind the frontline, the person not even seeming to register the action. Not that Alex had much time to marvel at his show of acrobatics as the press of charging people threatened to squish him if he wasn’t careful.
Using Sixth Sense to guide him through the ranks of fighters wasn’t perfect and Alex found himself getting jostled more than once, but soon he was back to where his dagger could do real damage. Cursing as he watched the Jar fall faster than he could count, Alex continued to move while considering the best plan of attack. When he’d initially seen the beasts charging at him, he had been tempted to dash toward them rather than away, but chalked that up to suicide. There were too many, and even with his new levels he likely wasn’t fast enough. Now, he wasn’t sure he’d made the right decision. Sword, spell, and a hundred of other methods of attack were slaughtering the beasts nearly on contact, leaving few unharmed enemies for him to engage.
Pulling further on his mana, Alex expanded his sensory skill’s reach. Along with his recent increase in level, had come a higher regeneration rate, and while he knew it wasn’t the time for testing, he needed to take the risk. Dumping another four mana per second into the ability, upping the total to seven, he could instantly feel the difference. The additional mana sending a tingle through his brain and body as he tried to process all the new information.
It was too much, at least initially, and the torrent of sensory data failed to filter through to anything Alex could understand. He missed a step, the pain from his skill’s overload causing him to catch one of the Jar’s attacks in his chest. Luckily, for this circumstance at least, it had already been injured, the impact containing less power than he’d expected. Burns covered its coat, exposing the charred skin of its flank and the arrow sticking out its back leg, leaving Alex with more of a gifted kill than an attacker. Not even bothering to activate any skills, he brought his dagger into the side of the beast’s neck and twisted. Now, as the beast died on his blade, Alex knew the risk had been worth it.
His sphere’s circumference had greatly increased, and while he was unsure the exact range it had at least doubled. Not only that, within the bubble everything close to him was clearer, as if he’d been supplied with the skill’s version of far-sighted glasses; and while the more distant objects were still somewhat hazy, even the events outside his direct perception were clearer, no longer just vague energies, but something more substantive. All without drawing from his reserve of mana.
Taking a deep breath, then stepping forward a pace as Sixth Sense alerted him to a nearby fighter about to collide with him, Alex readied himself to join the battle in earnest. Even with its greater reach, the sensory skill only showed a few uninjured beasts remaining, all toward the back of the pack, and he doubted that would remain the case for long. Activating Silent Strike and Thorn’s Touch Alex closed with the nearest beast hoping to open a path as he dodged the friendly blades being swung around him.
Like most of the others the first creature he met was already injured, its death inevitable even before he struck. Still Alex was willing to take the sanguine expulsion that followed his Thorn’s Touch to be sure he killed it. Based on the incremental rumbling, he doubted the next beasts that exited the forest would be such easy prey, any experience he could gain now would be worth it. Deactivating the bleed skill as none of the nearest rabbits looked to need it, he continued to tear through the ranks.
The sounds of metal on flesh accented the cries of the beast, but Alex did his best to ignore it as he moved as fast as his body allowed. Most of the oversized bunnies went down with a single strike and while Alex was sure he was gaining experience, his kill counter never updated.
Dashing toward his goal Alex wished he could move faster, in both his skill and normal vision he could see the throng of people tearing though the beast’s ranks. The sight made him want to smile, but he refrained, both due to the circumstances and viscera covering his face. He was living the fantasy life he’d dreamed of, killing monsters with blades while magic erupted around him. Still the little voice in the back of his head reminded him it wouldn’t last long if he didn’t complete his task.
Finishing off two more beasts with a blade each Alex arrived at his targets, he felt the power increase of a level gained but did his best not to focus on it. From what he could tell there were five beasts near him, all unharmed. They weren’t the last of the fluffle, but by the time he reached any of the other groups the remaining ones would have been injured at the very least. Then a flash of lightning killed took out another one and Alex couldn’t wait any longer.
Activating Silent Strike Alex aimed to kill the nearest Jar Kin and break through. Over the course of the fight, he’d begun to see some of the skill’s downsides. The extra speed the ability granted didn’t remain for the flat eight seconds the description advertised, rather it lasted eight seconds or whenever he landed a killing blow, whichever was sooner. After activating the skill three times in ten seconds, his stamina had begun to drop quickly, forcing Alex to be more cautious with his use of the skill. Now he drained the resource freely, hoping the accelerated movement would be enough for at least another two kills.
Angling his movement so he was in the path of two still charging Jar, Alex stabbed out with his short sword, its longer blade piercing through the side and underbelly of one of the leaping beasts. Blood shot out in all directions, loosening Alex’s grip on the weapon as he shifted his focus to the other bunny only managing to land a cut on its moving form.
The blow was superficial, and the comparable trickle of blood that followed showed Alex the dependence Thorn’s Touch had on the strike he landed. Readying a stab at the beast’s neck he wasn’t sure he’d be fast enough to land, Alex felt two pings in his sensory skill and had to make a choice. An arrow flew through the air, its path locked on the first Jar he’d attacked, while ahead of him another of the furry beast was on a collision course.
Knowing he was unlikely to get the kill if the arrow hit, Alex hooked the still semi-impaled body of the beast downward, while bringing his dagger arm to his chest to provide what little defense he could. The Jar fell, and Alex could tell the arrow would miss it, though he had no more time to think about the dying beast as the other slammed into his stomach. The impact had been from a landing blow rather than a leaping one diminishing the force somewhat, though its size alone held the mass necessary to throw him back and onto his butt. The injured Jar acted as a counterweight and Alex’s sword was ripped from his hand as the wind was knocked out of him, leaving him coughing.
The beast took to the air with another hop, and Alex leveraged every point of Willpower he had in an attempt to force his spasming body to move. It did, though it took everything he had to just hold the dagger up steady, as the beast disembowel itself with the force of its jump. Such an attack directly above his body was ill-advised, and his lingering bleed skill found Alex further covered in gore, the newest addition to his clothes smelling much worse than the coppery tang he’d grown accustomed to ignoring.
In the corner of his vision he saw his counter raise by one, though based on its pained cries the one landing behind him was alive. Still unable to breathe properly Alex activated Silent Strike once more, ready to force a chase and secure his kill. Before he could get back to his feet however, a gauntleted fist came into focus behind him, connecting with the beast’s body and shooting it away in an explosion of body parts. He looked from the retreating mangled flesh to his stagnant kill counter. As Alex finally drew in a full breath a few seconds later, he used it to groan.
Having killed the last of the nearby Jar Kit, the metal mountain surveyed the battlefield for a moment before turning back to Alex and offering a hand up. He took it, the pain in his chest and the imminent threat of the continued rumbling winning over his annoyance at the kill stealer. Doing the best he could to wipe himself off, which mainly just resulted in smearing, Alex looked up at the person.
They towered over him, while the metal of their armor seemed to have molded to their muscled form. His first thought was something like steroids though after a moment of consideration, he figured it was likely just a high Strength. Spotting the tips of a bloody handprint on their helmet Alex realized it was the same person whose head he’d used as a makeshift handhold a few minutes earlier.
“Thanks, for uh… the help.” Alex heard himself say, the polite words more an instinct than intentional. Speaking led to a coughing fit, and the person waited for him to stop before raising their helm and responding.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Aye, lad. Always here to help a man still getting used to his skills. Name’s Jamie, raw bit of killing you did out there.”
Alex nodded dully as he checked over his ribs, none seemed to be broken, but he looked up as he registered the man’s words.
“Alex. My name’s Alex. Did I, you could tell, my skills.” The makeshift question came out in fragments, Alex unsure what to say. He didn’t to volunteer any information, but if it was that obvious anyway, he’d take some advice.
“Unless it’s normal you go taking some fancy clothes and get em covered in monster guts.”
Alex frowned, causing the Jamie to laugh, a boom that spread out through the clearing. A few bystanders looked over though none seemed overly interested, most still focused on the forest. As the larger man got his mirth under control he continued.
“Look kid, me and mine over there,” he pointed to a group of three nearby people, “are willing to fight with ya if you want. Like I said, you did good killing the lil ones, but these next fuckers are a bit tougher what’d ya say.”
Alex looked over the others. One held a staff, another a bow, and the third a massive sniper like weapon. Long range fighters it seemed, though the robed one could be a caster or support.
“I appreciate the offer but ahh… Do you know how many are coming? Beasts I mean.”
“Total?”
“Yea, will there be more after whatever’s next?” Alex asked, not wanting to risk fighting in a group and leaving his quest incomplete. Though based on the sounds from deeper in the trees, help would be appreciated.
His brow creased, and Alex took the chance to grab his fallen sword, storing the beast in his inventory as he did so. He used his stained shirt to wipe the weapon off as another rumble rang out, they were getting louder and more frequent. What whatever was coming was getting closer.
“Maybe bout five waves,” the man said finally. “They always send something weak first, not sure if that’s an agreement or a consequence.”
He shrugged, though Alex wasn’t sure what it even meant. Still, based on the man’s words, the earlier in the waves he completed his quest, the better. But if the beast in the forest were as large as they sounded, he might not have a choice. Seeing some of his hesitation, Jamie added.
“The offer’s not meant to be some permanent thing, doubt you can drink enough to stick with us anyway. I was just sayin we’d watch your back if you fought with us. You’re free to dally off and solo if you want, just let us know first.”
“Boys, girls, and anything in between, playtime’s over. Second wave is on our doorstep.” The voice that called out had a distinctly southern accent, and much of the crowd cheered at its proclamation.
Knowing he didn’t have much time; Alex made a decision. “Sure then, for this wave at least,” and the first of the large beast landed in view as if to accent his statement.
“Follow my lead then,” Jamie shouted over the commotion, “don’t worry about the rest, they have their jobs.” He pulled his face shield down with an audible clunk and raised a massive war hammer from seemingly nowhere, but Alex only had eyes for the giant beast that had begun landing in the clearing.
If the small Jar Kit were cute, these larger versions were out right terrifying. Alex glanced at the people all around him, no one moved, and this time he wouldn’t be charging forward.
Advanced Analyze
***
General
Name: Jarkin
Race: Evolved Lepus
Type: Sub-Boss
Age: Adult
Level: 40+
Grade: E
Class: Unknown
Health: Unknown
Mana: Unknown
Stamina: Unknown
Description: Hailing from the dense forest of Endor, the Jar is known to be the bottom of the beastial food chain. Normally found in herds due to weak individual strength Jar, when unable to escape a foe, are known to attack viciously using their though bodies and large front teeth. These second largest of the Jar family are known to be much more brutal than their younger cousins, employing magical tactics to defend their claim on life. Jarkin often act as the protectors of their nest and do not take kindly when their young are slaughtered wholesale, beware reprisals.
***
The earth continued to shake as more and more leapt from the forest’s shielding trees, not as many as the Jar Kit but with their size it didn’t much matter. Each towered over him, the smallest of them a story tall and all labeled as a Sub-Boss. Alex had never seen the classification, but if each wave followed a pattern would the next wave be Boss level beast then… what after that. He almost wanted to risk soloing one of them, just to have another kill under his belt, though even if he managed to finish it without dying, he’d almost certainly be injured, out of resources, or both. As he looked around however Alex knew the point was moot, he had no way of getting one alone in the first place.
He wanted to ask more questions, but one of the creatures landed ten feet away cutting off thoughts of anything else. Alex stumbled, the Jarkin’s dispersing force making it difficult for him to keep his balance. The beast looked down at the much smaller, much deader bodies of the Jar Kit and let out a roar. Not the snort he’d usually attribute to a rabbit, but a full-on howl of rage. Many more echoed throughout the clearing, and in response the frontline let out a war cry of their own before they were charging once again, Alex hot on Jamie’s heels.
The Jarkin were spread heavily across the clearing, engaging in battle with everyone from the soldiers to the volunteers, though Alex’s focus was only on a single of the massive beast. For the battle arrangement as a whole their first charge ended up being only semi-successful. As his skill suggested, these larger Jar had access to more than the brute force the youngest of their species wielded, though the constant vibrations showed they definitely had that as well. In his skill’s vision Alex saw something new as a greenish-white haze shot out from the beast before many of the charging people were sent flying backwards.
Their target tried the same tactic, but with Jamie taking the brunt of the damage while Alex slipstreamed his armor the pair continued through unharmed. A stream of projectiles peppered the beast after its first attack, and with a call from the large man to follow his steps exactly, Alex was within the beast’s guard.
Jamie struck first. His massive hammer impacting the creature’s leg with a resounding crunch. The Jarkin let out a howl of pain, the side of its injured leg leaning closer as it lost balance. Alex used the opening the best he could, though even with Thorn’s Touch the toothpick like size of his blades in comparison to the beast drew little blood. He struck again and again, body still accelerated by Silent Strike and mana draining prodigiously as he attempted to litter the beast with lingering damage.
It swiped a stunted paw at him, but Sixth Sense telegraphed the movement clear enough to warn him. The actual strike came nowhere close to connecting, but Alex failed to factor in its force, and likely wind magic the attack brought with it. The air pressure threw him back a few feet, the midair spin he did not enough to land on his feet leaving him to roll against the ground for a yard or two. Jamie, with his thousand-pound armor, had no such issue.
He parried the large appendage off the hilt of his hammer, using its large mallet as a counterweight. Spinning the massive maul with the grace of a bow staff, he brought the weapon up and around smashing into the paw as it passed him, leaving a bloody mush of red-stained fur the only remaining evidence of the limb.
The mangled paw rained blood as Alex got back to his feet, ready to dart back into range. He couldn’t complete the quest requirement, but he could get more experience, only the beast didn’t let him get close enough to try. The Jarkin leapt, using its single good leg to remove itself from Jamie’s range. More attacks from the rear shot upwards trailing the beast’s path, though the it continued its rise unimpeded.
Alex thought he heard Jamie curse, though the noise of the battlefield made sounds hard to parse, and it didn't take long for him to realize the issue. Good old gravity. He readied to run as the beast continued to rise. Ten feet, twenty, thirty, only Alex wasn’t sure where to go, the impact would be massive. When it started to drop, he figured anywhere was better than here, but Jamie stopped him with another command.
“Be ready kid. When it impacts, you drain it dry.”
He took the stance of a hammer throw, armor dull in the shadow of the beast, and Alex hoped whatever the man planned to do worked. Jamie begun to spin, the action causing Alex’s muscles strain just from watching, one rotation, two, then a final and he released, his massive hammer whistling through the air as he screamed.
“Sudden Impact.”
The hammer connected squarely with the beast’s chin, and Alex couldn’t help but wonder how it hadn’t been decapitated. The skill had however, removed much of the animal's downward momentum making its landing a less jarring one. Alex heard what he suspected was a number of bones breaking as the beast flailed on its back, though he only took the time to activate his movement skill before moving to do his part.
When he reached the writhing Jarkin it was already littered with cuts and piercings, clearly not long for the world. But with the beast on its back, the ranged fighters would have been hard-pressed to kill it out right, while avoiding him and Jamie. In an attack similar to the one he’d used on the Silver backed Slayer he brought both his blades together and dragged it across the flailing beast’s flank. Jamie showed up a second later. Giant hammer back in his hands as if he hadn’t just launched it with enough force to reach the city’s gates.
Twirling its haft with more flair than necessary he brought blunt weapons down onto the beast’s head with a pulpy crunch, it’s body spasming for a moment before going still. He looked down to Alex’s panting form, the smile clear in his tone even with his face was obscured.
“Ready for another?”