Chapter 23:
The servants and the entertainers came out again and we were ushered back into the waiting room for the next round. We had three stones, we still needed another seven according to the rules of the Trial. Mia was alive, and I nearly broke down crying when I felt her breath and heartbeat, but she was unconscious.
It didn't look like she was badly injured, instead it looked like how I remember Boone looking when he had stopped a giant Scorpion years ago. It had turned out that when he did that, he had drained his immature Essence Core of every drop of energy it had all in one push, and it had knocked him clean out. It took him a long time to recover because back then he couldn't generate essence at anything more than a trickle - people without constellation stones just couldn't. I had the feeling whatever active blocking technique Mias’ wings had used, it drew from her essence to stave off the injury, and if the blow was powerful enough, it had shocked her system into blacking out. The bashes and bruises from impacting the ground unprotected probably didn't help.
But if Mia was in the same state now as Boone was then, she would be out until she recovered some essence - which would be at least an hour to generate about ten 10% of her Core. I didn't think Mia had managed to level her Will Attribute yet, which would have increased her recovery, but I couldn't remember for certain.
Boone was also exhausted. Against advice, he had used far too much essence pulling the stones away, and had used up a good portion of his Core. Boone didn't have receptacles for individual powers like I did. He only had his main core like a Monster did. He often said it was utterly unfair that humans had so many places to stick essence. It was the reason why adventurers could fight so many creatures on their level or higher - they simply had more resources.
We both sat next to Mia where she was laid out on a bench. I couldn't even give her another dose of the healing bottle until most likely after the next fight. Her body would become poisoned and incredibly ill with the influx of too much foreign essence that her core didn't produce.
Minos entered the locker room, emerging from the floor as though stepping out of the sea. “That was well fought!” He bellowed, clapping his metal hands with a bang. Mia didn't even stir. “Such a good tactic, Little Brother! The others did not tell me you had such an ability as Telekinesis. It is a rare talent among Great Spirits. You will be mighty in years to come!” He gushed and grinned down at the fox, but my friend looked more pissed off than happy at the praise.
“Kintsuji may be my mother, yes. But I am sorry, I do not count you as family.” Boone snapped, his hackles raising. “Until Kintsuji created this Trial and trapped us in here, I had no idea you even existed and none of you seemed keen to share that information. These are my sisters, and one of them is hurt. Please keep your voice down.” I placed my arm around Boones’ neck and hugged him close to my side. The Minotaur slumped, the look on his face as if he had been slapped, and Boone breathed a deep sigh before he relaxed into my side.
“Ah…my apologies, Brother. Boone,” he stammered and corrected himself at the Foxes’ growl. “I did not mean to offend. I merely came to offer my congratulations and your prizes for passing the round.” He pulled from a pouch at his waist three, slightly larger than average, Ability Crystals. “Keep fighting well and there will be more of course.” I looked at the crystals, looked at Boone and my Sister, and sighed, coming to a decision. “The two of you need to recover. I’ll try to handle the next round alone.” Boone and even Minos protested the danger of that, but I stood my ground. “I have the higher reserves, I'm not injured, and if I take those two crystals there's a high chance I will level something useful. Mia can't use a crystal till she wakes up, and I need someone here to look after her until she does. I have the cloak as armour and my weapons can hurt the things in that arena, even if I may struggle a little. Please - let me do this.”
Boone wanted to protest more, but even he could tell he didn't have enough in the tank right now. We’d get a little time to recover, hopefully, but he knew I was right.
“You are Brave, Little Fox. That is to be commended. But we will have to see if your bravery is not just foolishness in disguise. I am the Master of this Trial, and I will allow it. The next round will be you alone.” Nodding his massive head in confirmation, Minos left via the floor, before he could hear any arguments from Boone. The fox went to round on me when Minos had left, but I forestalled him with a deep scratch behind his ears and a kiss to the forehead. “Rest, buddy. You need it. Then when I need to take a break, the both of you can fight in my place.”
Without another word, I grabbed the three crystals - two were level 7, and one a level 8, the largest crystals we had seen so far - and shoved one into my mouth.
Ability Crystal Detected. Applying upgrades. Perception Ability: Foxfire Imbuement increased [Wood 1: 1/3] > [Wood 2: 0/5].
Ability Crystal Detected. Applying Upgrades. Inborn Talent Soul Companion level Increased: [Wood 4 0/9] > [Wood 4 8 /9].
Ability Crystal Detected. Applying Upgrades. Inborn Talent Soul Companion level Increased: [Wood 4 8/9] > [Wood 5 0/11].
[WARNING!!] Inborn Talent: Soul Companion has reached the 1st Threshold. Ability has met the requirements for Evolution. An Evolution Path must be selected. Soul Companion Ability must be evolved before it can Level further.
* Strength
* Versatility
* Durability
Boone seized, as two ability crystals worth of power surged down the connection to him and swelled his core. His whole body vibrated with power, and so much spilled out that it once again flooded back towards me and hit me in a rush, doubling me over and leaving me shaking and paralyzed on the floor as whatever Override Kintsuji had built into the Soul Companion Ability reflected back onto me. The pain of nearly an entire Ability Crystal overflowing the Soul Companion Receptacle even made me forget the last message - though I wouldn't have been able to choose without Boones’ input. I would have come back to it later, and hopefully he would forgive me.
[ERROR] Soul linked status of companion Boone has deific override applied. Higher order rules of reality overwrite local restrictions. Executing Override: A Mirror And Reflection.
Will Attribute Increased through Spiritual Resonance: [Wood 1 0/3] > [Wood 2 0/5].
My Core sped up. Will increased my Essence production, increasing the amount my core could generate in an hour. It didn't double, not even close, but I felt rather than regaining 10% of my total, the sudden influx could gain me back 11% an hour. It wasn't much, but at this level everything helped. Boone and I both gasped, but it was clear I would recover first. He had increased in size again. Not by a great amount, but frankly, in raw power, he was easily the strongest of us now. But he would need time to adjust, and he’d still need to recover, now more than ever.
Shaking and sweating from the exertion of levelling up, I headed for the gate back to the arena and banged on it till they let me through and back onto the sands, alone this time.
The sands were once again cleared of the detritus from the last round, the sand itself perfectly level again. Minos was back in his box, overseeing the event, and he stared down at me with a serious look on his face. “Aspirant, you are truly brave to risk the dangers of the arena alone. In reward for your bravery, I shall give you the choice. Would you rather fight Quantity, or Quality?” He gestured with one hand for either option until his arms were spread in a show of being magnanimous. I took that to mean I had a choice between a lot of weaker opponents, or a smaller number of strong opponents.
“Which option offers the better reward?” I yelled back, doing my best to imitate his grandiose voice with much smaller lungs and damaged vocal cords. I don't think I was successful.
“Quality, of course! But as well as greater rewards, there are greater dangers. Is this what you accept?” I needed the rewards for Mia. I had eaten all the Ability crystals from our fights, despite her having done more than half the work.
“Then I'll take the quality option, and try to make it entertaining for you!” The crowd banged their feet against the wooden floors of the stadium in a cacophony of noise, and I could tell that Minos had appreciated my playing along with his grand show.
“So be it. Quality you have chosen, but only to the Victor go the spoils. Open the gates! Let slip the Wolves!”
The gate at the far end creaked and groaned as it was thrown open, and I heard barking and growling. As I waited there, a stone already in the cup of my catapult and pulled back for the first shot as my opponents appeared above the lip of the ramp, and fear flooded my heart.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
You have been afflicted by [Grave Aura] by opposing Winter Wolves. Save failed against [Grave Aura]. You are frightened.
I didn't have my [Dawnslight] up. The coliseum was well lit and I was trying to conserve Essence. But as the Winter Wolves - giant wolves easily five or six feet at the shoulder, with bloody skulls for faces and burning white eyes - appeared, they were able to create an unnatural fear in me that locked my limbs and sent chilled fingers down my throat and up into my brain. There were three of the things, their white fur thick, matted and dirty. Fear made my adrenaline race and my heart beat faster. Sweat started to bead on my brow. Identify activated practically against my will, and threw results back into my vision.
Winter Wolf: Wood 6
Winter Wolf: Wood 7
Winter Wolf: Wood 6
I rocked back on my feet and every part of me told me to run, to hide, to get away from these nightmare creatures. A tiny voice, deep in the back of my mind, though, said No. I paused. The wolves were getting closer and I had to run.
No you don't. You have lived through worse than this. These creatures will not break you. We Rage! But I had to run. They were higher level than me, more dangerous. They would kill me so easily it wouldn't even be funny. I rocked back on my back door again. There was a think as the butt of my spear hit the ground. When had I drawn the spear? Didn't matter, had to run.
No; You don't. You need to fight. We must Rage in the light!
Arcadia, fight! Fight it! Don't give in to the fear! Boones’ voice tore through me, and I felt a familiar but foreign hand on my Core, and [Dawnslight] activated without me even touching the ability.
Ability [Dawnslight] dispels Winter Wolf [Fear Aura] in local vicinity. You and your soul bonded companion will be immune to the effects of Winter Wolf [Fear Aura] for 24 local hours.
I looked back at the pulsing light over my tail, the tail itself swaying in an almost hypnotic way, accepted what had just happened, and turned back to my opponents. They growled, and began to howl, and started to charge. Something welled up in me, something dark and buried, something dark and angry and murderous. I Roared and felt something in my spirit tear with the inhuman, animalistic sound. The Winter Wolves flinched, and I charged.
With the spear being ranked as a Wood 5 item, charged with my Wood 2 Foxfire Imbuement, and backed by my Wood 2 Body Attribute, the spear was effectively a Wood 9 item in my hands, and though I had literally no experience using a spear, unlike Mia, I was suddenly too angry to care. My Essence burned. How dare they!? How dare they try to make me afraid!?
I wouldn't fear bullies ever again! I sprang forward, my tail driving my leap forwards with supernaturally powerful muscles, the spear held like a lance before me. The lead Winter Wolf didn't stand a chance. It tried to make me afraid, and then it tried to dodge and bite me. I didn't let it - the enchanted spear was as light and springy as a reed switch, and practically twisted in the air when I redirected it, and instead of driving the point of the spear down its throat, I impacted its shoulder, and felt the bone deform and shatter under the force of my blow. The wolf screamed, and it bled red. I could feel a frantic heartbeat transferred through the shaft of the spear embedded in its chest. It was Alive. My feet hit the body of the wolf as I twisted in the air and my tail wrapped around its throat, constricting down and squeezing until its growls became gasping whines. As I yanked the spear from its body, I knew what I had to do.
I twisted my head around and looked at the other two wolves that were even now rushing at me to bite and claw me to death for daring to attack their pack-mate, and for the first time I activated [Fields of Illusion] for its main purpose. I reached out to the Wolves with a whipcord of essence and touched their minds. An instinctual understanding of how to use the ability led me to almost instantly spread the cord of essence out over their minds like a gossamer spider web. It touched everything, but certain areas it touched deeper than others. I got the distinct impression that their minds were complex, but at the same time simple: Sentient, but not sapient. There was something there in the package of instinct that said it would be easier to twist the minds of Sentient creatures over sapient: They had no concept of lies.
In the space of less than a second I spread tendrils of essence over the two Winter Wolves and dug specifically into their optic nerves and the parts of the brain that translated optical information, and with a massive dump of essence down the fragile connections, commanded them: Don't see us. Don't smell us. Don't perceive us.
I felt the ability take hold as the two creatures came to a skidding halt. They could see us, but they could no longer perceive us in their eye-line, and until I did something to them to counteract my skill or stopped supplying it with essence, we were effectively invisible to them.
I used the opportunity to squeeze the wolfs’ throat even harder, cutting off its air as it desperately tried to twist round and bite me where I had climbed to its back - but with the coils of my tail wrapping its throat, it simply didn't have the leverage. I forced its head up, made it look at me with the white, wintry pits of its eyes, and growled. Whatever was waking inside me didn’t use words. It didn't need to. The torn quality of my vocal cords dropped my voice by an octave in the deep notes, and the sound I made simply told the Wolf you don't scare me, and you never will again.
I jammed the spear through the top of its skull and rose it to the floor.
One of the wolves was clearly more intelligent than the other. It realised that I had disappeared, yes, but that I must be here somewhere. It would teach me to underestimate creatures like this. With a deep lungful of air, it blew out and a cone In front of it dropped in temperature so precipitously that the ground froze and icicles appeared in the air.
I remembered the skeleton captain from the Intellect Trial shielding itself with the very same cloak I wore now to protect it from the blast of a claymore, and right before the wave of ice hit me, I threw the edge of the clock in front of me like a shield.
The wave hit my legs and painful shards of ice cut into my legs, dropping my health by forty points, but the ice never touched my face, chest or arms. I had the thought that it would have been a lot worse for me if I hadn't had the cloak on.
Unfortunately, while I was still invisible to them, there was now a very obvious patch of the ground where there wasn't any ice, so they knew approximately where I was, along with the body of their pack-mate.
I started running - not away from them, but flanking them with quicksand quiet steps on the sand, until I had a good angle of attack who hadn't breathed out winter at me. The two wolves leapt at the space where I had been, and razor sharp teeth and claws closed on the body of their pack-mate, tearing into fur and meat and spraying blood around as the body reappeared. Unfortunately, as it was a linked and stationary illusion, as soon as I moved out of it, it no longer protected me, and as soon as they found the white furred body, it broke entirely.
I lined up my attack against the other wolf, figuring it was a good chance that the monsters could only use the breath a number of times, or at least had a cool down period on it. If that were the case then the smarter one wouldn't be able to use its breath for at least a few seconds.
The other one on the other hand…I slammed into the top of its jaw with my tail while its back was turned and snapped its mouth closed, before I reared back and drove my spear into the side of its neck.
It still managed to twist around on the blade and sink its fangs into my arm. The icicle white fangs of the creature actually broke through the fur hide covering my arm and sank straight into my flesh. As I felt the bones rub against each other and the sleeve of fur fill with blood, I knew that should have scared me, should have horrified me, but I couldn't feel anything right now but rage.
The claws on my free hand popped loose of their sheathes under my nails, and I reached forward and dragged them down its skull, leaving scratched trails until they hit its glowing eye socket, and I felt something give under the razor blades’ weight. I jammed two fingers into a very real, very flesh and blood eye and twisted. The thing released my arm and it screamed. I reached under it and tore it's throat clean out, leaving it to bleed and gurgle on the sand, blue flames flickering in the wound from a Foxfire Imbuement I didn't even know I'd activated.
The last wolf bit into my shoulder and neck where the cloak was strongest, and while it deformed and I felt my collarbone creak, it didn't break, but it used the leverage to drag me away from the dying wolf - and worse, from my spear - and threw me onto my back on the sand.
I tried to scramble away before it got to me, but the wolf leapt on top of me and dove for my suddenly defenceless throat.
I had to make a sacrifice, I felt absolutely sure I would die if I didn't. I rammed my forearm into its mouth and felt it bite down, felt the bones snap, felt the flesh tear. But it didn't reach my throat - the pain was absolutely stunning, and I wanted to howl from the very feel of it as it placed a clawed paw on my stomach and pressed down, cutting deep grooves into my skin and organs.
My tail whipped around and grabbed it by the neck, and I squeezed down as hard as I could, choking it, or trying to.
As it choked, it released my arm, trying to breathe, but it began to flail with both legs at my body, half or more of the attacks bypassing the armour and sliced me open. My health dropped by chunks, but I grinned bloody at the wolf. I wouldn't let it win. I wouldn't die here.
As it pushed closer to me, trying to force itself down to tear my throat out, I slammed a Foxfire imbued dagger into its eye and rode its death throes.
Then, mercifully perhaps, I passed out.