EPISODE 113: VITALITY 1
— Edryan Queendom, Year: 7291. Season: Color Fading.
Madria lay on the ground, exhausted, but with a new understanding of Endurance. The night was young, and I smiled down at her as I offered her our flagon filled with water.
“How is it?”
“It’s different,” she paused, catching her breath and looking at the false sky. “I understand what you mean by getting more out of every step. The world just… supports our movement. I… don’t know how to describe it.”
I nodded in agreement, understanding the feelings she was going through. If I could describe it in any manner, it was like a helping hand constantly pulling you a step further than what was deemed possible.
“Let’s rest, I’ll take the first watch. We enter the forest in the morning.”
As I spoke we turned our attention to the dense treeline. Large oaks, giants in their own right, carved their way through the air, upward and toward the false sky. The sounds of life, insects, birds, and other critters were aplenty—giving us the illusion of a forest anywhere in Edrya.
The air was warm, enough to sleep without a blanket but not unbearable. I turned away and began to call upon magic. I felt its intimate connection with my soul and the surroundings and this time, I called to the earth.
It answered immediately—the brown specs of mana trudged through the air and ground toward me. Its presence was like that of a strong supporting hand as the dirt rose to form a small hut. Exhausted, Madria pulled herself into the hut and I jumped up to the roof. As she slept I would go over my knowledge of Vitality and all I’d learn from Alidra.
My thoughts on the first [Chosen of Madris] were… complex. She was far from what I expected. The woman I talked too seemed… resigned. I could tell she was tired, perhaps it was from her actions, perhaps it was from Olvido. Regardless, the first [Chosen of Madris] was not who and what I expected.
“What did I expect,” I whispered to myself. “…I don’t think I’m anything like what a [Chosen of Madris] is supposed to be… I wish Minerva were here. She’d know what to say.”
I couldn’t really speak with Madria about what I was feeling here. This was something I had to comprehend myself.
“I don’t pray to the Goddess or lead sermons in worship,” I stated, pausing on that thought. My head shook, and my hair scattered.
I concentrated and began to chant. “ Fire is the Origin of Man, and Air is the Leader of Change—combine and burn away my foes with this (Greater Fireball).”
Together, fire and air mana combined to form a large fireball. The common fireball was roughly the same size as a baseball or softball, depending on the mage. These (Greater Fireballs) of my design were roughly the size of a basketball. Dense, orange-red flames swirled in a destructive pattern before me. Ready to be released and explode upon any target I directed it at.
It was such an… intimate connection between me and the magic that created the fireball. After all, most of the mana required emerged from my body. I closed my eyes, concentrating on my next actions.
Vitality directly correlates to Health Points on a one to three ratio, just as the rest of the Life Point attributes were. Sacrificing Health Points wasn’t as easy as using a skill that required stamina, mana, or both leaving your body to activate the ability. Sacrificing HP required active participation in doing so.
All it took was intention to activate a skill, afterward, the Life Points required would be pulled from you. There was no other mental strain on your part.
I pulled at my HP and slowly, my points began to drain. I wasn’t at my peak, but my HP drained from nearly seven hundred to the five hundred fifties. As I did so, I channeled the health points into the hovering spell.
The (Greater Fireball) began to grow, its flames became hotter, and its light brighter—toward a deeper flame. From an orange-red to a white-yellow as more and more HP was channeled into it. Once the process was finished, it was roughly the size of a child’s bounce ball.
The area around the hut was lit like it was still daylight. For several moments, I waited, a tight hold on the destructive ball of mana held within a few feet of me. I’d hoped the notification for the Trial of Vitality would appear, instead nothing happened. Sighing, I dismissed the fireball slowly into the surroundings. A quick eye to my HUD showed me my remaining Life Points.
HP: 556/825
SP: 168/765
MP: 580/1050
The night continued as I tried out many more iterations of using Health Points with spells. None of them worked, and I began to grow uncertain if my original speculations were correct. My eyes gazed at the dense forest before us and a determined expression crossed my face. Alidra said the creatures of the forest would help with the trial. I would find my answer in the morning.
That decided, I finally relaxed. My shoulders, which were tense this entire time, sagged. There were several more hours until I woke Madria and meanwhile, I would put my first class to use. I didn’t have the exotic resources I was accustomed too, but all a magi needed to make something was their hands, mana, and the world around them.
At least, that was my belief.
I glanced down at the earth and ideas began to form. My skill, (Golem Forging), allowed me to forge golems from any material I could tangibly grasp. The air, water, earth, fire—the ten primary elements could be used to form golems. I’d seen such in the domain of Aspect Rasheed. It was time to put that to the test. Olvido… a transforming calamity, prowled through the nameless forest searching for us.
It’s best I prepare it a warm welcome.
----------------------------------------
Madria watched Lawruthian sleep peacefully. The false light of dawn began to emerge—erasing the darkness and bringing the full bluntness of summer heat. It seemed the Hall of Attributes didn’t follow the weather pattern of the Mortal Realm.
The chirping of birds reassured Madria from the danger that lurked within. Gently, she placed a hand on Law’s arm and shook. Red-gold eyes met hers before she could issue a second shake. Law smiled up at her and rose.
“It’s dawn already?”
His eyes went dull for a moment as he glanced at his HUD. It was the same for any who focused on notifications or other aspects of the system.
“It seems I’ve fully recovered, fortunately.”
“All beings undergo the (Rest) buff when sleeping. Otherwise, some higher levels would never recover their Life Points in an appropriate amount of time,” Madria responded.
She stood and gestured to the side where a plate of cooked rabbit meat sat to the side.
“It seems you were busy last night,” Madria commented as she looked through the entrance and at the countless small holes that littered the ground. Standing guard, was Law’s peculiar golem suit.
Law smiled and sheepishly scratched his head. “I hope I didn’t disturb you…”
His eyes took on a serious expression. “…but I wanted to ensure we have adequate protection in case we run into Olvido.”
He nodded toward his storage bracelet, which was left in Madria’s care during their switch. “I’m sure you’ve seen the countless small golems within there. I don’t think I can kill a calamity or even a rising one… but hurt or deter it?”
He left the rest unsaid as he lifted a piece of meat to his mouth and began chewing. Madria understood his implied intentions. Hurting or deterring Olvido from pursuing them was vital in completing the trials. If what Alidra said was true, which Madria didn’t doubt, then the rising calamity would hunt them. Fortunately, according to Alidra, they would have allies in the forest in the form of beast.
The pair tidied themselves up to the best of their abilities before, as one, they began to move toward the forest. The large Pillar of Vitality and Mind hovered over the forest like a stark protector. Not a shadow was cast from its height. The moment they arrived at the dense tree line, Lawruthian paused.
“We’ll head toward the pillar, be on the lookout for anything we can (Inspect). We need any type of hint to help us with Vitality and Mind.”
Madria nodded, “I’m prepared.”
There wasn’t much else the young woman wanted to say. She held a lot on her mind, but most importantly, she prepared to support Lawruthian in the event they ran into anything dangerous.
Together, they entered the nameless forest, weapon in Lawruthian hand, and skills ready on the tip of Madria’s tongue. His remaining hand was kept strapped to his chest—the golem arm not functioning with his skill commanding it.
The light of day instantly dimmed the moment the entered past the treeline, and the sound of animals and other forest inhabitants intensified.
Bright colorful birds flew in the air, too fast for the pair to (Inspect) them, but it gave them much more hope now that the signs of life were more aplenty.
Lawruthian took the lead, Madria close behind. He’d given her [Limitless Edge] while he’d use his hatchet to cut away any small bushes and other fauna in their way. Every so often, the pair would pause and Lawruthian would climb a tree to gage their direction. It was quick, taking no more than two to three seconds to scale up one of the giant oaks. Once he returned to the ground, he updated Madria on their area.
“There’s a clearing around 2 kilometers ahead, it looks like it cuts through the forest, so perhaps it’s a river. Maybe we can find something that’s larger there than all these quick birds.”
It didn’t take long for the pair to reach their objective. Not after unlocking the full potential of Endurance. They slowed as they neared the sound of rushing water, eyes scanning the area as the trees became sparse.
Madria paused behind Law, her Intent was spread around the area and through it, she felt eyes on her.
She turned, gently calling to Lawruthian as she did so. “Lawruthian behind us. (Examine)”
His reaction was even quicker than hers as he flashed to stand guard before her.
“(Inspect).”
[VILMIND OCELOT]
Base Atk: 300
Base Def: 0
HP: 60/60
SP: 60/60
HP Regen: 720/Hour
SP Regen: 720/Hour
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Power: 1000
Endurance: 20
Vitality: 20
Self: 1
Description:
A creature of the Vilmind Forest, the lazy ocelot is a greater version of its lesser self, the [Power Kitten].
Skills:
???
Theorize Weakness:
???
[VILMIND OCELOT]
Base Atk: 300
Base Def: 0
HP: 150/150
SP: 150/150
HP Regen: 1800/Hour
SP Regen: 1800/Hour
Power: 1000
Endurance: 50
Vitality: 50
Self: 1
Together, their eyes landed on the curious creature that watched them from a branch above. Its yellow-brown eyes gazed at them for a few more seconds before the ocelot turned and slowly left. The pair of magi lost track of it as its brown fur with green spots quickly blended into the forest.
“A Vilmind Ocelot, well now we have a name for our nameless forest now,” Madria said with a slight smile.
Her eyes scanned the notification and she frowned. “Sixty Health Points and Stamina Points but three hundred attack. Its regeneration and defense…”
Her words trailed off, and she turned to Lawruthian—wanting to know whether he saw the same as her.
“That’s not right,” he began, frowning. “It has one hundred fifty Health Points and Stamina Points. The attack and defense are the same. Here, let me share the notification.”
Madria began to frown as well. A moment later, the notification Lawruthian saw appeared before her.
Her eyes scanned the notification before they lit up at the extra information Lawruthian’s skill provided. “You’ve successfully upgraded your (Inspect) to the legendary grade?”
He nodded in response.
She paused, only to share what she saw with him.
“Could it be an illusionary skill,” Law theorized once they both finished reading.
Madria shook her head. “Divine Mana is exceptionally good at dispersing illusory skills and other harmful effects. The Vilmind Ocelot is powerful, but I don’t think we necessarily need to fear it. I doubt it’s strong enough to put us into an illusion, nor powerful to shield its attributes… not like the demigoddess.”
Law’s frown grew deeper. “Then if what we’re both seeing is correct…”
His words trailed off and Madria continued to study the notifications. She pulled them side by side, her eyebrows arched upward.
“Could it be something similar to the Trial of Power? Controlling Power was required to kill the [Power Beast] could…,” she frowned. The two mirroring each other’s expressions.
“My Base Attack is fifty-five and yours is one hundred forty-five. What we saw was five Base Attack away from being able to kill the ocelot in one hit,” she paused, her thoughts not clear on the matter.
Law’s frown dispersed and his eyes widened in excitement. “If I held only ten more points in Power, I would have the required amount…”
Just like Madria, Law’s voice trailed off.
“This forest is the area for the Trial of Vitality and the Trial of Mind. Could it be we need to sacrifice Vitality somehow to increase our Power?”
Lawruthian sharply looked at her. “…That shouldn’t be…”
His voice trailed off, and he turned to look back in the direction the [Vilmind Ocelot] disappeared in.
“Possible,” Madria finished. “But since we arrived here, everything we thought impossible hasn’t been. The Goddess guided me when understanding Power… perhaps she can the same with us here.”
Law stayed silent and the sounds of the forest was the only thing heard between them for a while. He continued to stare in the direction the ocelot disappeared toward. Madria stood quietly behind him. She didn’t know what he was thinking, but she waited patiently—trusting him to come to a decision.
He turned back. “Perhaps you’re right, and it does have something to do with transferring Vitality into Power… maybe it's not just Power… but sacrificing Vitality in general.”
His eyes were firm as they met hers. “If that’s the case, then the answer lies within our soul. We’ll talk more about this later, we should move while there’s still daylight.”
“You’re right, perhaps we can find more creatures the further we travel. We’re still in the outskirts of the forest.”
Together, they made their way through the sparse trees and toward the sound of rushing water. Lawruthian led and Madria followed. Both were much more lax than when they first entered Vilmind Forest, but their thoughts were in a new direction.
The trees further cleared and the sparkling blue of water emerged as a large river rushed cut through the forest. The pair made their way to its edge as Law removed their flagon to refill it.
Madria kept watch—gazing around their surroundings for any signs of danger. Her eyes lit up as a small distance away, she spotted a stone bridge that pierced its way to the other side of the river.
The next second she gasped, an expression of concern and partial fear on her face. Her gasped didn’t go unheard and Lawruthian looked up sharply—hatch in hand in case of an attack.
When he spotted no sign of danger, he turned to face the direction Madria gazed at. Once he spotted what made her gasp, his grip around the hatchet tightened—wary eyes gazed around the forest surroundings.
In the distance was a large grey stone bridge that pierced its way to the other side of the river. If that was the only concern, then the pair wouldn’t have reacted as such. Scattered around the bridge was destruction. A trial of black led from the forest and directly over the bridge. Following that trial were countless slain bodies. Some half decayed, other’s still appeared relatively fresh. No matter… all were dead. Nothing stopped what caused the destruction. Not the trees, nor the beast.
Large three-toed tracks carved their way upward and over the bridge. The trail of destruction followed the entire way. Together, they approached the destruction. Partially wary, but it was clear this occurred yesterday. However, the states of the bodies said differently. Some were decayed as if they were left out in the open for days, weeks even. Others were fresh, they appeared to only be recently slain.
Madria paused outside the field of destruction leading to the bridge, but Lawruthian continued. He studied the remains of the creatures.
To him, it was a field of chaos. Few creatures held wounds. Although it was obvious, some were crushed underfoot of Olvido. Instead, it seemed the miasma the monster radiated did most of the work. An air bubble surrounded his head as he walked through the field—preventing the remnants of the miasma from invading his body.
It took over ten minutes before he emerged from the field to return to Madria’s side.
“Let’s go,” he said stoically, nodding toward the bridge.
Madria followed his lead, conjuring a ball of air to surround her head as they made their way across. When they crossed to the other side, the destruction continued. In fact, it seemed to be greater than across the bridge.
Large amounts of dead creatures, [Vilmind Ocelots], wolf like creatures, and horned rabbits appeared dead. Amongst them were other creatures. Large birds, hawk-like creatures lay amongst them while along the banks were crocodile beast.
All were decayed and dead.
The trail of destruction continued into the forest, the large ancient looking oaks, knocked down. Torn from the ground in some places as they obstructed Olvido’s path. Its heading was clear to the pair.
“The Pillar of Vitality and Mind,” Madria whispered.
Death and decay shot through the Vilmind Forest, like an arrow fired from a bow. Its target was straight and true. Its destination, one that the pair of magi-humans headed for themselves.
“It will be waiting for us… it knows we need to enter the pillar…,” Law began. “We need to mov-“
His words didn’t finish as a large roar reverberated through the forest. A few seconds later, wind blasted through the trees and into the pair. The magi were tossed off their feet and bashed into the ground. A second, more anguish roar followed the first with the piercing cry of a hawk after.
“The trees!”
“The trees,” Lawruthian urged to Madria, grabbing her hand as we ran toward’s the largest tree in the vicinity.
They’d only made it to the base when the strong winds came. Lawruthian held on to her tightly, the base of the large oak protected us from most of the blast.
“What is that…,” Madria questioned once, the second blast finished.
“Fighting… something big must be fighting Olvido. I’m going to climb the tree… do you want to stay here on-,” Lawruthian said.
“Let’s go,” Madria didn’t let him finish before she started climbing.
ROOOOOOOOOOOOAR!
A third, powerful roar came, and the pair held on to the tree together. A second later, the blast came. The tree sway but held on strong, before it finished, Lawruthian was climbing, Madria right with him.
They cleared the canopy, silent as they emerged to see three colossal beings fighting.
A single large wolf bit into the neck of Olvido, its white fur darken and decayed in places. Black blood spilled onto its fur, steaming as its acidic properties attacked the beast.
A hawk’s cry pierced through the air, causing the pair of magi to hold on to their ears as the sound blasted toward them. It was loud, nearly causing them to lose their grips on the tree.
The hawk held brown-black feathers and a crown of golden feathers sat on its head like that of a human ruler. It flapped its mighty wings slightly above the wrestling pair of creatures. Lawruthian estimated them to be nearly twenty or so kilometers away. The size of the beast and the way attributes enhanced the body allowed the pair to easily make out the details.
The moment its cry was heard, the wolf creature removed its vice-like grip from the neck of the larger Olvido. It jumped back, casually knocking down trees in its way.
Madria’s eyes widened, and she pulled at Lawruthian, screaming, “GET DOWN!”
It was far too late as a powerful burst of air made its way through the forest. Lawruthian watched, in part stunned fascination, in part excitement, as the colossal beasts fought. The hawk seemed to swell, its chest, wings, and body grew a size before it release it all in one single flap. A nearly invisible green wing burst forth, striking Olvido and forcing it into the ground. A roar of pain escaping its lips. Trees, dirt, and other debris flew from the area of impact, but the remnant of the attack was what should be feared.
A second later, the aftermath of the hawk’s attack arrived. The large tree canopy shook, Lawruthian and Madria partly holding on to one another, partly to the branch they were trapped upon. Groans emerged and Lawruthian’s grip broke through the bark and into the wood, his other arm doing its best to keep hold of Madria.
The branch creaked and groaned, fractures appeared at its base. A second later, it subsided, as the remnant of the attack passed.
The pair gazed at each other, then back toward the area of impact. One held eyes wide with excitement, the other concern.
“(Inspect).”
AN: Sorry this is late once again—had to make sure some things were proper in here before we got to the end of S4. Our hero’s are becoming stronger!