Chapter 45
The survivors stood clustered around the carcass of the enormous Ursupine, in various states of pain and disarray. Another handful of bodies joined those sprawled around the battlefield, and Alex conscripted a couple of the less-injured to go around and check the bodies, looking for survivors amongst the mangled remains. The Lightning mage stood with Ella and Cenna, Ella bandaging up a piercing wound on Cenna's thigh, the remains of a barbed quill lying nearby. It hadn’t broken cleanly, and the wound was an ugly one, but Dima had one of Alex’s poultices close to hand and was helping treat the injury.
My legs felt like jelly, my head swimming from the expenditure of energy. I groaned as I sank to the ground next to the shattered remains of a stump, and Alex quickly jogged over to check me for injuries. A soft hiss drew my attention to them, and I followed their gaze to my left arm and side; there were small, neat holes in my robe that were already knitting shut, each one a bullseye over an ugly, mottled knot of scar tissue where I had reflexively burned shut my wounds. “Those don’t hurt?” Alex asked me, a finger probing at the hole in my robe curiously.
“Well… I mean, not as much as when it happened, I guess,” I answered sheepishly. I couldn’t actually remember when I’d taken those hits, but judging by their size and circular appearance, it was probably quills.
“Did you at least make sure they were all the way out before you burned them shut? Those quills are poisoned.” The expression of irritation warred with the concern in their voice as they frowned down at me.
“Uhm. Yeah, I’m pretty sure anyway. I don’t… feel poisoned?” I offered helpfully, my smile more like a grimace as they poked directly at the center of a particularly large knot on my side.
“Yeah. Okay. Chew this.”
I opened my mouth to ask what it was, and two fingers darted in, shoving a small wad of herbs into my mouth. I bit down reflexively, and their bitterness startled me, my mouth going dry in an instant. I gagged, and began to spit them back out, only to reluctantly give it a few more chews at Alex’s hard glare. After a few more grinding bites, my mouth was flooded by an oddly sweet taste with an edge like spearmint, and I felt the collective pains in my body start to fade. I grimaced and looked up, a question on my lips, but Alex had already moved on.
Instead, I sat and watched the body of the Guardian, frowning as I thought of Marcus and his unexpected sacrifice.
As if summoned by the thought, the body of the Guardian began to twitch and shift as if rising up once more, only to tumble aside. A vaguely humanoid shape dragged itself out from beneath the bulk of its’ body, armor twisted and bent from the crushing force. Drenched in blood from the sodden mud, it was hard to tell how injured he actually was, but Marcus dragged himself toward us, making a dismissive gesture when I began to rise to go help him. He struggled to heft his mace, the head buried in mud a foot up the shaft.
He came and sat down next to me, the ground shivering under his weight as he plopped down. “We still have to fight the Greenwarden itself, David. Not getting lazy, are you?”
I laughed in response, a hard, crazy edge to the sound. Three more-or-less consecutive boss fights, and all he could think of was the next one? But I was thinking about it, too.
I spat the now flavorless combination of herbs aside, and shook my head. “No, no, just letting everyone else get their rest.” I paused a moment. “I thought you’d died, there.”
“Mm-nmm,” he shook his head. “Not here. Just needed a minute to let the weakness pass. I’m glad you figured out what my plan was; lost my head there at the end and forgot to go through with it.”
I chuckled as I turned my head to look over at him. “It was smart. I wish I’d thought of it.”
“Nah, I don’t blame you.” He tapped his helmet, the metal clanging loudly. “You don’t have the cunning, strategic mind that I do.”
We both laughed, staring at the carcass of the enormous beast. Marcus finally nudged me with an armored elbow, and gestured toward it. “Alright, torchbug,” he said, and I wondered briefly who’d let him hear that name. “Go loot the body. Here’s your hour of triumph. Then we need to get going.”
I grumbled as I stood up, and limped toward the Ursupine’s supine form. I could see the glow of another loot orb shining from within its’ mouth, and I lightly reached out to touch it, the air filling with a bright, clear white light. I felt the light push me away from the moment, my mind filling with it.
[The last Guardian has been slain. The Greenwarden is now vulnerable!]
[Deathmark: 3/3.]
Tallying individual contribution.
TOP CONTRIBUTORS:
David
Cenna
Marcus
Lyrella
Dimitry
Congratulations! As the top contributor, you have been granted an additional reward.
[Balefire Seed (Epic)]: This seed can be used to cultivate a single Balefire Tree. Native to the Cindervaults, these trees require a great conflagration for the seed to sprout. The Balefire Tree will attune its’ surroundings to the Cindervault, allowing easier passage to and from that Realm. This will ease Cindervault-attuned Cultivation in the surrounding area.
[Bangle of Falling Stars (Rare)]: This bracelet has a limited number of charms which may be sacrificed to create a falling star. The power of the Star is dependent on the number of Charms spent. Once all charms are spent, the bangle becomes a mundane item.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
For landing the killing blow against the Forest Leviathan, you have been granted an additional reward.
[Earthswimmer Cloak (Epic)]: When worn, this cloak allows you to swim through dirt and mud as if it were water; harder substances are more difficult to traverse. This does not grant the ability to breathe in any substrate, and suffocation may still occur if you become trapped.
For landing the killing blow against the Starsnare Stag, you have been granted an additional reward.
[Starfire Band (Epic)]: When worn, this ring allows the wielders’ attacks to carry an essence of Starlight within them, shedding light as daylight whenever the attack is channeled through the hand wearing the ring. Additionally, once per day, the wielder may draw upon natural sunlight to empower an attack.
For landing the killing blow against the Ursupine Dreadnaught, you have been granted an additional reward.
[Quill-studded Bracers (Epic)]: When worn, these bracers allow the wielder to launch poisonous quills as a ranged attack. Each bracer may launch three volleys of quills each day, reducing its’ protective qualities accordingly.
[Ursupine Dreadnaught slain! EXP granted.]
[Quest Complete!]
[The Forest’s Guardian]
Guardians Slain: (3/3)
The Scribe has born witness to your deeds! Beware, for with great rewards come great attention. Be prepared to defend your gains.
EXP Granted.
Additional EXP granted for total strength of beasts slain.
[Level up! You are now level 30. +9 Free points gained from Race and Class.]
[Level up! You are now level 31. +9 Free points gained from Race and Class.]
[Level up! You are now level 32. +9 Free points gained from Race and Class.]
All around me, people were wreathed in bright light, reappearing with new gear, wounds rapidly healing as they were filled with energy. Loud cheers erupted from them as they all inspected their new equipment. Cenna had a new set of close-fitting leather armor that seemed to shift and shimmer around the edges, colors shifting to mimic her surroundings more closely. Lyrella had a pair of almost too large gauntlets that looked to have fat pyramid-shaped studs on each knuckle, and thick bands of metal reinforcing them. Her fingertips were hooked into talons, metal nails on the tip of each. Dima’s new robes were decorated with small metallic studs that seemed to arc electricity, little sparks jumping between them as if racing over his body. Lightning bolts woven into the cloth shimmered and twisted, the light seeming to strike across it as if a storm lay trapped within. Marcus’ armor appeared wholly new, with new embellishments and a gilt trim along the edges. His hammer had gained a single coal-black ring of metal around the striking face.
My new appearance was somewhat less… coordinated.
A brass charm bracelet hung from my wrist with a half-dozen stylized shooting star charms hanging from it, tinkling lightly whenever I moved my hand. The bracers were a mottled brown with a pattern like the Ursupine’s quills, and when I bent my wrist forward, they sprang up into a small nest of spines. The cloak that draped my shoulders seemed to be made of moss, and I twitched a little as it swished damply against my back. It seemed too heavy to move much, and hung like a lank weight around my shoulders.
Lyrella was the first to notice me, laughing at my mismatched appearance. “Hey, congratulations torchbug. You look like a bush.”
Cenna looked up from inspecting her gauntlets to see me, her lips pursing tightly in what I knew was an effort to hold back laughter.
Marcus was less reserved, bellowing with laughter as he looked me over. “Don’t worry, David. I think it lends you a certain… earthy charm.”
Even Dima joined in the laughter this time, as I shook my head and turned away, looking toward the Greenwarden. “Alright, alright. Thanks. Now, why don’t we take a little bit to rest and spend our points.” I glanced down at the quest counter hanging in the corner of my vision; the impromptu clock that we had all come to judge the passage of days by.
[Trial by Fire]
Survive System Initiation
There are many paths to Power: carve your own. There are many trials within the Tutorial area that may be overcome to grant various benefits. Sponsors are watching, and your performance may curry favor with them.
Rewards will be granted based on performance within the Tutorial.
May the Scribe witness your deeds.
Remaining Time: 3d 6h 22m
“Six hours, say? We’ll depart here right at the three day mark.”
There were a few murmurs of agreement, many people caught up in inspecting all the new changes they’d experienced. There was a lot of discussion that broke out, and I heard the word ‘evolution’ here and there. I thought to speak up, but held my tongue; the explanation was clear enough. If they chose to jump the gun and evolve now, unprepared, it would hurt them down the line, but also might save their life in the next battle.
As I moved to step away, I heard Cenna call out behind me. “Good work, Torchbug!”
A chorus of shouts agreed with her, and I ducked my head, moving off into the forest. I needed space and privacy to make my little firestorm without hurting anyone else; that, and hopefully I could figure out something to do with my new gear to make them look a little less… Earthy.