Gore spilled from the creature as its clawed talons were deemed harmless against the golden scales that seemed to be wrapped within the sun's light. I quivered in my boots from the pressure of the monster that just bit the head off of my sparring partner, the late majestic Griffin.
The wyvern’s reptilian eye monitored me, black sclera held a small yellow pupil that was shaped like a thin diamond that reflected my body in it as it chewed the intestine and meat of the pseudo-chimera.
Panic began to sweep throughout the crowd in waves. Yelling, screaming, and explosive powers were released as students fled without care for their fellow classmates. Teachers ran down the aisles of the circular arena and beat onto the translucent ward that protected the audience.
A loud booming familiar voice launched over the audience; “GOOOOD EVEENING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,” the headmaster, Maxith Sito began announcing, “WE HAVE A SPECTACLE FOR YOU ALL TODAY SINCE YOU KIDS DON'T LIKE LISTENING TO RULES, WE’RE HERE TO REMIND YOU WHY YOU DON'T BRING MOMMY OR DADDY’S WYVERN MOUNT TO SCHOOL.“
A Telepathic voice played in my head, “Someone broke the barrier controller, Lucas, you’re going to have to defend yourself until we can help you out.”
My heart sank.
“HERE WE HAVE THE PROSPECT OF THE AREN HOUSEHOLD, LUCAS OBELIX AREN, OUR FUTURE DRAGONSLAYER! GIVE me A ROUND OF APPLAUSE”
The crowd slowly started a roar of applause and sat back in their seats uneasily, not wishing to tick off the level 70 man who had plenty of opportunity to harm them or expel them from the academy.
Teachers began to chant their spells, hidden from the distance my hearing could reach, as they began to lay their abilities onto mine and the legendary monster’s body.
[Notice: “Frozen Will“ has been cast on you]
[Your Mentality has been Strengthened and Surdied. You have begun to resist [Fear of Dragon]]
[Notice: “Ballad of the Fey King” has been cast on you]
[Your Strength and Dexterity have been Enhanced. Mana cost has been reduced.]
[Notice: “The Hands of Titans” has been cast on you]
[You surge with the strength of the Old Blood. Your Endurance and Sturdiness have been Enhanced.]
[Notice: “Tempest Surge” has been cast on you]
[Your strikes will be endowed with the Legacy of Lightning. Your electrical power has been Enhanced.]
I screamed as clashing abilities in my body began to swell, the buffing done by my teachers had forced me to adapt to the moment and duration of each spell that etched temporary light against my body.
I paused as the pressure that told my mind to flee had slowly begun to fall, the force on my mind had slowly been lifted, as if the “majesty” the dragon… wyvern exuded from its body was lesser somehow from my mind’s new bolstered strength.
I looked down at the electrical blade in my hand that shifted from its blue aura to a white gold violent and luminous blessing. I watched as the buffs that had saved me from the fear slowly turned into hope when they were compared to the debuffs that began to affect my opponent. Ghastly chains of dark purple-black liquid and intangible restraints held the wyvern in place, it roared at me, forcing me to freeze up again.
[
[The Pride of the Last Dragons has been used to shake your insides, causing you to lose your mind.]
[
I snarled and ran forward. The creature, trying to do the same, failed when its restraint embedded it into the floor, causing a loud crash as its head broke through the ground. Horrible stenches came from the monster, its shine had dulled and rotted as afflictions of either Decay or Poison began to rot it from the outside.
[Battle has commenced, [Training] has Started]
I tore into the creature with my blade, my electricity surged as I slammed the tip of the steel blade into its chest, only for it to stop after hitting bone, the impenetrable material of Wyvern bone preventing me from attacking properly.
A roar rang through my ears and caused me distress, the noise forced me to remove my blade from my hands. I covered my ears if only to reduce the sound by a bit. My head sat inside the wyvern’s hair where it began to convulse.
I had no reason to hesitate, my fear had been fortunate to be removed by
Broken blade hilts scattered the ground from the previous fight between Leon and his opponent, but the only “real” sword was partially embedded in the chest of the monster.
I picked up the closest pommel I could find and focused my mind on it while facing the Wyvern, it was a pathetic and jagged piece of metal that I could hardly use
[[Training] Experience has been consolidated.]
[Skill: [Arc-blade Swordplay] has integrated
[[Lightning Sword Shroud] has been Created.]
[User believes they are in danger.]
[[Lightning Sword Shroud] unfurls to protect its user.]
A cloak of golden electricity violently sparked outwards from Lucas’ back, thrashing outward as if a monsoon threatened the arena. The hood settled onto his head where his golden hair spiked outwards, and arcs of electricity pulled the hood tightly and formed it to his body despite the plasma fabric threatening to escape his body.
Lucas’ now golden eyes threatened to strike down his restrained foe in front of him, he raised the broken blade as if to sheathe it in a scabbard behind his back, and pulled out the broken blade with a broken and formless sword that seemed to bend around like a lightning bolt.
His body launched forward, and he struck his lightning blade into the sword that sat in the wyvern’s body. Violent roars expelled from its maw as it began to glow, electricity flowing through its veins underneath the carapace.
A man with Moss-green hair, the academy’s headmaster, descended through the arena kicking the wyvern off of the student, where it moved to stand up, only to fall over as its internal structure was surely nearly as damaged as it looked on the exterior where the glowing red steel sat right outside of the chest of the creature.
Lucas panted as he looked up at the crazy smile and dark lenses that reflected his glowing body. He heard a few mental notifications before passing out with the headmaster in his presence.
[Backlash has begun.]
[[Lightning Sword Shroud] has been
----------------------------------------
[Perspective Shift; Echo(LV 9)]
----------------------------------------
“We got a notice from Captain.”
Echo stayed silent for a while before asking, “What did she say?”
“She said she can’t go to Oseas.”
“Well, why the fuck not!” Echo slammed her fists on the table, groaning when her fists hurt after striking the desk.
“I looked into it a little,” Cain said, before pulling out a piece of paper that looked like it was ripped out of a book, and Echo read it after double-taking at Cain.
The parchment stated that dark elves were under the elves’ “Religious” genocide, and people would be compensated on Oseas if they killed them.
“What the fuck?” Echo asked, getting a look from Cain as her uncharacteristic swearing had nearly filled the room.
“This was declared… some odd 500 years ago, and while it's not exactly a real practice anymore, since the 70th Demon King has long since been born and killed, and the world tree has finally been safely secured, the world no longer has a need an excuse to needlessly kill Dark Elves.”
“And what? She can’t come to Oseas because they might start again?”
“They still do it, but they’re not allowed to, it's mainly old conservative elves who are afraid of the 70th Demon King, as far as I’m aware, that was a war that was relatively justified.”
Echo's brow furrowed, “No war is justified.” She crumpled the paper and threw it in the corner, rubbing her brow, and looked to Cain.
“What is our Inventory?”
“Well,” Cain began, “Dried Fruit Leather and Meat Jerky, Salted Fish, Hardtack-”
“Hardtack?”
“It is just really gross bread.”
“Ah.”
“Some Herbs and Spices were found in the kitchen, which was lucky, and I assume you saw Teth’s warning message about the pickles?”
Echo giggled and nodded.
“So we have, food enough for… probably a month? Considering the fact that Miss Liora feeds us, even though I told her she didn’t have to, however, she gives off vibes that she doesn’t mind having three hundred kids… I’m honestly in favor of investing in them.”
“Why’s that?”
“Some of us aren’t exactly normal kids, but there are some. Plus if nothing else, new orphans could turn out newbies who show actual promise.”
“Like recruitment?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want boss.”
“What about valuables?”
“‘Crate of rope Coils, a Box of Lantern Oil Flasks, Fishin’ Nets, Sail Repair shit, ‘Barrel of Tar and Pitch, some small barrels of Fresh Water has been sent to the kitchen, that covers the stuff that ain’t valuable. We have a lot of rusty weapons, crossbows, axes, ship tools, and spearheads. An annoying nine-hundred and ninety-four lowest-rank magic stones, potions, alchemy stuff,” he gestures to the quill he's using, “Magic inkwell with a refilling enchantment, ‘hundred-twenty silver coins in a case,” He taps the lockbox on with the quill.
Echo opens it and whistles as the coins shine out from their individual slots.
“-Sunspice flowers, and Firebark sticks, apparently really valuable to rich people. They smell nice but not my thing, did you see the Fey Honey?”
Echo nodded.
“Blankets were found in a crate, but we threw ‘em on bunks we started making, Canvas, a lot of Canvas, probably originally for the sails, then there's medical stuff, tinctures, and poultices, I almost threw it out since its just spongey plants, but Dros, the big fucker, he's apparently knowledgeable about this kind of thing.”
Echo giggled at Cain’s complaints.
He tossed a notebook at her.
“This is the logbook, so figure it out, I’m goin’ to Nap.”
“‘Kay,” Echo said, opening it and walking forward before hitting the square casket with her foot, and grunting.
“Ah, and there’s just… stuff in there, it’s weird umm…” Cain snapped his finger trying to keep his thought process.
“They got a bit of everything in there; Copper Rings, Wooden Pendants, Glass Bead Bracelets which aren’t even smooth, dinky little Bells, Iron Anklets, Bone Charms,|” Cain took one”, Stone Amulets, Copper Earrings which are tacky looking, Tiny Scroll Tubes, Seashell Necklaces, Woven Cord Bracelets, Leather Coin Pouches, Copper Hairpins, Tiny Crystals, Wooden Animals, Miniature Brass Compass, and an Iron Key that has no lock.”
“Wow,” Echo said with a laugh, running her hand through the chest of little trinkets, and snapped her head up to Cain “G’night Cain!”
He waved at her and disappeared out the stone doorway, and Echo sat down at the desk, read through the logbook, and eventually dropped it on the table, and leaned back in the chair before setting herself forward, her head on the desk, and drawing a small two-headed dog.
She stared at the drawing, a few tears stained the paper and spread the ink across the paper before she whispered “I miss you Bear…”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
----------------------------------------
[Perspective Shift; Sebas Aren(LV 24)]
----------------------------------------
Gliding through the dim underground, Gravestones created a cemetery, giant gray stones formed a wall, that held the shambling remains of what was once mortal. Each creature of decayed flesh wandered throughout the cemetery as if monitoring the land they haunt.
“Well, do you see any of your peons?”
[The God of Humanity is revolted by you.]
“Guess you don’t need my help after all. Ihta, where do I find this “Death Knight” at?”
[The Goddess of the Hunt attempts to tell you through the hand clamped firmly on her mouth.]
[The Goddess of Mercy tells you to figure it out, you’re not a stupid kid who needs to be told how to Adventure.]
Sebas groaned as Mercy prevented his all-access information from releasing information his way without bias as he glided down onto the nearest post he could land on, catching the attention of multiple zombies.
“Mercy, let me ask you something?”
[The Goddess of Mercy listens to your question.]
“These aren’t actually real undead right?”
[The Goddess of Mercy nods at you, but tells you this is more Afterlife’s domain.]
[The God of Afterlife says that this is more part of Undeath’s area.]
“There’s a god of undeath?”
[The God of Afterlife nods while smoking something, saying there’s a God for everything.]
“There’s a God for Sex?” Sebas asked, pushing a rotten humanoid’s body off of the post with his foot while he sat down.
[The Goddess of Mercy exhales at your childishness.]
[The God of Afterlife says that there is, most likely, one, however, he doesn’t know them personally]
[You have learned minor information about
[Experience has been gained.]
[Congradulations]
[Nightmare Level 24 -> 25]
[Access. 5 Stat Points are available for Distribution.]
Sebas squinted. “... you people aren’t gods.”
[The God of Humanity tells you to go fuck yourself.]
“Not real gods.”
[The Goddess of Mercy Sighs, and begs you to keep your theories to yourself, since that isn’t entirely true, Sebastian Aren.]
[The God of Afterlife grins at you, but immediately hides it after Mercy looks at him, whistling innocently]
[The Goddess of the Hunt asks if she isn’t a God to Mercy with curiosity.]
[The Goddess of Mercy will speak with her privately]
“Welp. My entire upbringing was a lie,” Sebas said flatly as he began to walk across the heads of the metal-skulled hoard.
[The God of Alchemy comes back with a chest of items and asks for the Essence Core!]
“Pitch your offer,” Sebas said with his arms out as he tightrope walked across each zombie's head.
[The God of Alchemy offers you “The Heart of the Homonculous”]
----------------------------------------
[Heart of the Homonculous]
{Rare Consumable}
3/3 Uses
Effect: Grants temporary invulnerability and doubles physical strength for 10 minutes per use. Each use requires a 24-hour recharge period.
“This pulsing, semi-translucent heart is warm to the touch, and its essence resonates with a unique Ego. Only those deemed strong of will and purpose can command it, as it temporarily binds with its host to lend them strength in dire moments.”
----------------------------------------
Sebas turned his head upward and tilted his nose up like a picky child halfway through reading, “Yuck.”
----------------------------------------
[The God of Alchemy Stumbles as he stares at you blankly, dropping a few things before shaking his head and fishing a new item out of the chest]
[Silk of the Fateweaver Spider]
{Epic Consumable]
1/1 Use
Effect: The Silk of the Fateweaver is used to mend events in history, making it the eternal item wanted by those old or who have a wish to reach a future they want when the past is unchangeable. The thread coils around fate and creates a new branch in the thread of time.
“An ethereal, silver thread with a faint, glowing shimmer, it feels almost alive in the user’s hands. This single strand, crafted by the weavers of destiny, permits a change in one's path, but it warns of the delicate balance it upholds, bonding only with those who respect the weight of altering fate.”
----------------------------------------
Sebas looked up at the sky with a raised eyebrow after kicking the head off of a zombie beneath him with his leg as it reached up toward him.
[The God of Alchemy is sweating bullets at you, waiting for your response.]
Sebas shook his head no slowly.
[The God of Alchemy groans and pulls out a new strange powerful artifact.]
----------------------------------------
[Vial of “Pure” Potential]
{Legendary Consumable}
Effect: This blood-like liquid removes the natural restraint on the body’s will, allowing for needed exertion of force. This elixir has intense effects, its use could leave the vessel with irreversible damage.
Skill: [Limitless Potential] is created.
“A crimson liquid that pulses with raw, untapped energy. The fluid is deeply tied to life and power, constantly pushing the user to exceed their limits, regardless of the cost.”
----------------------------------------
Sebas looked over the information with a finger on his lip, holding the small stone in his hand, and tossed it in the air before catching it in his teeth.
[The God of Alchemy screams as you catch the Essence Core in between your fangs.]
[The God of Afterlife guffaws at your ability to make even gods tremble, and tells you to quit playing with your food.]
[The God of Humanity hopes you choke.]
[The God of Alchemy tells you to tell him what you want.]
“Well,” Sebas said as he placed the stone under his tongue, “I want… what do I want.” He picked up the headless zombie from the crowd and inspected the creature as it tried to attack him despite its missing head.
“I want…” Sebas said after removing its arms and inspecting the creature, “A bed… Money… god you know what I could really go for? They fry these nice little doughs in Eruka, I never thought I would miss it to be honest, Ah!” Sebas exclaimed during his monologue after pulling the heart out of the creature.
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 15 Ghoul Militiaman]
[Experience has been gained.]
“You’re the God of Alchemy?”
[The God of Alchemy nods, curious.]
“Tell me how an Elixir can turn a Human into what I am now.”
[The God of Humanity growls at you, angry with your questions and plans to smite you down.]
[The God of Alchemy says that he can’t… tell you that, he doesn’t know]
“Hmm, well, do you think you could recreate the… Anomaly.”
[The God of Alchemy stutters.]
Sebas let the essence core fall into his mouth and began to swallow it.
[The God of Alchemy screams Wait!]
Sebas paused as he waited. Pacing back and forth effortlessly planting his talons on each skull with the small claws that had slowly grown to half their previous size.
[The God of Alchemy looks down at you.]
[The God of Afterlife chuckles as you take your time, telling you that stomping around on the heads of the dead is wrong in some cultures.]
“I didn’t know what I was signing up for with Ihta,” Sebas began, “There would’ve been a lot of other monsters I would have chose, rather than a developing Owlbear.”
[The God of Alchemy asks, the Goddess of the Hunt gave that to you?]
“Yeah it's a long story,” Sebas said as he poked his pinky in his ear while placing the dragon fang in his teeth. “So,” he said, taking it out of his mouth, “What do you say?”
[The God of Alchemy joins the Goddess of Mercy and the Hunt in their private chat.]
[The God of Afterlife says you are horrible.]
“Hey, whatsit my fault that the fella wants something that’s never been seen before,” Sebas said, sticking the dragon fang into the skull of a Ghoul as he walked.
“These guys are horrible to kill.”
[The God of Afterlife says that people would normally have magic.]
“Too bad I don’t have magic.”
[The God of Afterlife corrects you, stating that you do.]
“Beg y' pardon?” Sebas asked and ran across skulls until he landed in an area clear of creatures. Landing in an empty area as the hoard of the damned shuffled forwards.
[The God of Humanity clarifies, stating you have what is essentially a Mana Heart inside of you.]
[The God of Afterlife says to ignore the God of Humanity, stating that he’ll teach you like a human, but I can teach you like a real monster.]
Sebas deliberated while the two gods bickered in his mind, slamming his makeshift dagger into the heart of the ghouls that wandered towards him, horrible screeching every time the rusted armor on the corpses received the business end of a dragon’s tooth. Sebas punched the heads off of the corpses he stabbed and watched as they fell with a satisfying ragdoll.
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 15 Ghoul Militiaman]
[Experience has been gained.]
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 14 Ghoul Militiaman]
[Experience has been gained.]
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 12 Ghoul Militiaman]
[Experience has been gained.]
“You know, this might be a lot of enemies.”
[The God of Afterlife tells you that you provide riveting commentary as always.]
“WELL, You said Something about teaching me magic?”
[The Goddess of Mercy prays for you]
[The Goddess of the Hunt says that she has arrived!]
[The God of Alchemy raises his glasses with a finger]
“Oh, you guys are back, welcome to my... personal space.”
[The Goddess of the Hunt smiles and waves at you]
“Yes, hello Ihta,” Sebas said as if talking to a toddler, and kicked off more Ghoul heads.
[The Goddess of Mercy asks why you want the God of Alchemy to recreate The Goddess of the Hunt’s blessing?]
“She neglected to mention I would turn into this,” Sebas gestured at himself as he punched the heads off of the hoard and into the distance.
[The Goddess of Mercy looks down at The Goddess of the Hunt, asking “You didn’t tell him what your blessing would do?]
[The Goddess of the Hunt defends herself-]
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 14 Ghoul Militiaman]
[Experience has been gained.]
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 13 Ghoul Militiaman]
[Experience has been gained.]
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 20 Ghoul Militiaman “Liath”]
[Experience has been gained.]
[The God of Humanity tells you that he has a small idea of where their bodies are.]
[-saying that she tried to tell him, but a bunch of humans surrounded him with spears and he ate the blessing before she could tell him what it would do.]
[The Goddess of Mercy places her hands into her hands and prays for herself.]
“So is that a no?”
[The Goddess of Mercy holds a finger up while she prays, telling you to be silent.]
Sebas closed his mouth and shoved over a pile of shambling and headless bodies before he started decapitating more with his single fist.
“... I wouldn’t mind my arm back.”
[The God of Alchemy says he can do that.]
“Not my arm, arm, my metal arm.”
[The God of Alchemy looks around the space Confused]
[Notice: Kill confirmed, Level 17 Ghoul Militiaman]
[Experience has been gained.]
[The God of Afterlife explains that he had a prosthetic before becoming arrested.]
“Yeah.” Sebas said with a grunt, before launching his fist into another Militiaman, “Is there anything the FUCK else I can use to kill these?”
[The God of Alchemy asks if you’ve considered fire?]
[The Goddess of Mercy looks up at him with an angry look.]
[The God of Alchemy asks, what? In a confused tone.]