[Author's Note: Accidentally reuploaded a previous chapter part yesterday. I've fixed it yesterday when it was brought to my attention. If you've not seen it please do go read it before starting here. Sorry for the mistake.]
****
The Bazkermolves were not the only members of their pack. Just the hunting force. Which was why I desired to have the entire pack in my control. The Bazkermolves were large creatures, mimicking their forms when still alive. What they lacked was the musculature their living species had as I could see from the pack of over ten Wolves barking at their resurrected kin.
It was like night and day difference. Standing behind watching my Bazkermolves snarl without attacking I wondered how to do this. Giving the order would pitch my beasts against a more numerical foe.
Luckily they have me. Still, I didn't know if I could actually help. Eyeing the claws on my fingers and the wings on my back I sighed. I couldn't believe I had not tried to fly the moment I saw those wings.
"Boos isn't making this easy for me". While I had not initially wanted to use my stream option I knew that somehow the boss would know. He always did.
So I had no time to play around as I knew he would see it. Which also meant that I had not tested my wings. Fortunately, this was a good moment to do so.
I could feel the muscles and tendons that connected to them. It was weird. Like an appendage I always had but didn't know how to use.
Walking with the Bazkermolves had taught me a bit about communicating with them. It was less of mental speech and more of imagery, feelings, and direction.
I had the wolves surrounded in no time.
Stretching out my wings for a start was hard. It was like trying to get feeling into a limp leg. Soon I had them stretched out and attempted flapping both. Their batshapebut feathered presence made them look weird. With each tiny and weak flap, I could feel a sort of pressure accumulating around me.
My feet slowly left the ground. Somehow I knew that flapping with even more strength than this would get me going faster. Since I was not good with flight yet I had to keep myself to the minimum.
"Oh boy". I flapped more and rose higher and higher. Soon I was almost touching the canopy. From above I could see some of the wolves keeping an eye on me while the others watched my hounds.
I flew around the trees, flapping to arrest momentum and just spreading out my wings to drift. It was a sensation I knew I would never forget. It wasn't easy but the standoff gave me time to get a hang of it. Still, why I would have wanted to fly more I had things to do.
'Let's have fun later. Now...' I moved till I was behind the wolf pack. 'Let's get me some new followers '. I furled in my wings and dropped head first tilting myself so I was like an arrow coming in head first. 'This is both exciting and scary '.
'Attack'. I screamed mentally at my Bazkermolves while forming an image of all of them attacking at once. They bounded forward barking and snarling to catch attention.
Eight wolves dashed forward to meet each and the last two leaped up to attack me just as I spread out my wings to catch myself. Panicking at the biting and snapping maws I slapped away one. My eyes widened as its head exploded in blood and gore.
The next one was already on my arm, its fangs sinking into flesh. Or trying to. I knocked on its skull and my fist sank into bone and brain. 'Eww'.
I crashed on my feet and down to my knees. Shaking off the shock at the gruesome death and the sight of blood I was experiencing I stood back up 'Shouldn't this be censored'. I didn't dislike blood neither did I faint at the sight, yet the amount of brutality was a reminder of just what the boss was capable of.
I felt the fun of the fight get numbed as I looked to the next wolf. My Bazkermolve had it under its feet and was tearing morbidly at its face. Yet something strange was happening. The wolves were fighting off the Bazkermolves somehow and it looked like some sort of power-up was happening. Their furs glowed with a brown earthly aura.
**Organic Matter detected**
**Reanimate - Y/N**
The former notification prompt appeared once more. With a nod, I confirmed the reanimation.
*Reanimation commenced**
It didn't take long and soon I had two new Molves. Quickly I sent each to assist the weaker Molves.
**Bazkermolves formed**
**Frierwood Forest claimed by ?*#?#&¢**
"Still not clear how that works". I shrugged and flapped my wings taking to the air. Looking around I found one struggling to take down another Molve. The white Wolves were too strong. I was there in a moment foot crushing the beast's spine. The Molve didn't waste a moment rushing to help another take down its prey.
I was quick to confirm the prompt and soon the 11th Molve was with me. It dashed into the fray doubling the attacks against another. With the added force it didn't take long for two to bring down one and rush to aid another.
By the time I was surrounded by eighteen Bazkermolves, I had two groups of notification. The first had me confirm my starter rewards.
The woods rustled and the environment seemed to take on a darker tint. One that was suddenly suddenly filled with bright and numerous colorful lights. Each one zipped and whipped around me. The Molves looked around them and jumped barking and growling at each of the lights.
Then they formed a circle around the howling and barking beasts and I could see blood flow from the creatures. A thought to stop this crossed my mind but something told me I didn't want to dare it.
The blood gathered over my head glowing and pulsing. Then it split into two and condensed till there was nothing but two straight and stick-like shapes. The blood shattered and two blades fell, one to my right and the other to my left embedding into the ground blade first
Shortswords. One was a matte black steel up to its handle. The other was a gleaming purple and red with a black handle. The moment I touched it the next notifications appeared.
**You have subjugated the Vaustaris White Wolf Alpha**
**You have gained a leader under your banner**
**Ascension tasks completed**
**Ascension on hold**
My surroundings blurred. The Molves and the woods vanished. I found myself on a circular plate. Voices boomed around me. Titanous shapes looked over me.
"Another has risen".
"One of yours".
"Indeed. Child, you have been brought to us before your ascension to make a choice. Be wise". An eye appeared before me and I shivered. Then everything blurred together and I found myself back in the woods.
**Proceed with Ascension**
****
Frierwood Village was different. Harata couldn't put her hand on it but she could sense it. There was a change, a difference. Something caused by the Alkis. It was a sense of togetherness, of encouragement. Everyone acted together to bring about the instructions of the Alkis to light.
Harata couldn't see it but she sure heard a lot about it. The children never seemed less eager to fill her imagination with it. Some of it she took as an exaggeration, others she hoped was real.
The village was not even that different in two days. But the Alkis had done a lot to help them with the problem. Harata couldn't see it but she could sense the general good mood in the air.
The villagers had spent hours cutting logs, splitting them to size, and shaping out pieces for the part that the Alkis had pointed out. In two days they had made what the Alkis called a containment system. With it, he'd given them the power of the Alkis. To control the flooding water and direct its path.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Harata could feel the good moon of her village kin and it pleased her to no end. It was like her mother had said. When an Alkis walked the land there was peace and joy.
*
Sitting in the Village leader's home I let the villagers have their fun and celebration. The past two days had served as a reminder and confirmation that this was both a game world and far more realistic than any others. First was the fact that I finally learned the Arcane Conflagration.
Its understanding though was different.
The arcane conflagration was an Akash, which I realized was the word here for a spell. The Alash brought the spark of elements to life. But it was more than that. To mortal and adept wizards it was a mere lightning spell, one that created a spark or tendrils of electricity, to a more knowledgeable wizard though it was the beginning of the spell. The eye of the storm. The causal effect to reaction.
It was a catalyst and continuance.
Understanding the spell had been the key to getting the next page of his grimoire open. He could sense the book thicken even if by a mere page. Feel its weight increase by the tiniest fraction. It was the symbol of his improvement.
**The Second Spell: Divine Restoration**
---
**Akash Name:**3. **Divine Restoration**
A supreme healing spell that grants absolute control over biological and physical healing processes. Heals all physical wounds, cures any ailment, and restores bodies to their peak physical condition. Used to heal the sick, and restore the vitality of entire populations or ecosystems. Can be tailored to specific needs, such as regrowing limbs, curing diseases, or restoring lost physical capabilities.
Guidance**
To master destruction is to master life. Few have this chance and many desire to wield both and know balance. Once ?#?&#?#? my brother cried for life. That is the importance each has to the other. Only by fully understanding and harnessing Divine Restoration will you unlock the next page, continuing your path as an ?*#?&#.
May the Mother guide and empower you.
**Tora, the Primordial Magi**
"I really shouldn't be surprised." I frowned. Like with the first, there was another set of words. The steps in using the spell.
**Expression Magic: Channel feelings of compassion, empathy, and love to heal wounds and restore vitality. To heal is to desire and to desire is to express. Express to heal.
**Will Control Magic: Focus your willpower to direct healing energy towards the afflicted areas of the body.
**Direction or Flow Magic: Guide the flow of Akashic energy to accelerate the body's natural healing processes and remove toxins or impurities.
This one was more important for me. Healing was the magic of life, to restore limbs and to restore health. It grants a new life. The old lady had been nice but I wasn't just doing this for that reason. It was unclear what ascension was but it was also clear that to get it I needed to have these people worship me.
'A game where we Alpha players are Gods'. I could already see the ranks formed from the lore of Hildelith. Herself as Creator, her administrators as Primordials, and us the Alpha players as next-generation gods. 'Isn't it the same way most lores of the old times went'.
It was funny how I almost didn't see it.
Healing magic wasn't something I could just practice. I needed to express myself. To express I truly needed to feel. And what better way to feel than to face something I wanted to heal?
A scream echoed from outside and I frowned. 'I wasn't being literal'. Rushing outside I found quite the sight. A large cat, beautiful sleek fur shifting and rippling as it moved. It's muscles moving beneath that coat.
I caught a man and stopped him. "What is it".
"Nightshade panther my Lord. Dangerous beasts. They never move at day though". The male looked truly terrified. Everyone did.
I willed my staff to me. It was something else I learned. I could will it away and will it back to me. Probably an inventory feature. Taking steps forward the animal did frighten me but I pushed ahead with the memory of what I did to the wolves.
The panther seemed to finally notice me moving towards it and not away. It focused on me but kept an eye on the others. It went low, hackles raised, emerald eyes locked on me with a warning intent. Our eyes locked and I understood what my brother always tried to tell me about the chemistry between people.
It was like understanding and knowing something even without learning anything about it.
'Fear'. The panther was frightened. Terrified. The more I drew closer the more I realized something. It moved, it pranced about, changing directions, not letting me near it while also keeping watch on the other villagers, and yet it never had its back to the forest. Always keeping it to its left. You'd think it would make sure all its enemies were right in front of it.
'Unless we're not the only enemies'.
It would have been less unclear if it didn't for one moment take a sharp rather fearful look in that direction. It was something I didn't expect to see in an animal of its size and ferocity. Given I had rarely seen most animals. If this was an attitude it had then I was wrong but it did bring me to the conclusion.
My eyes left its eyes and moved over its body. Blood, cuts, rips, and tears. 'A fight'. Something chased it out and it fled here.
'No, if it fled why run here? There are a lot of places to run to in the forest. Right?'.
I crouched. "It's fine. Come closer. I need to heal you". I didn't know if I would be capable but I had to try. The panther wasn't having it. I was certain its refusal to come was due to the villagers holding forks and clubs to my right.
"No one will hurt you. Just come this way". I tried to show it how sincere I was and for a moment it believed it. The panther looked nothing more than a beaten cat that was terrified. Looking over its wounds made me eager to heal them as they ruined its pristine fur.
A cloud of gray poured from me and flowed through the ground. The panther if it saw it made no signs as it just eyed me warily while keeping away from the forks prodding it.
"Stop!". I ordered. The men stepped back not letting down their guards. 'I hope this works '. I watched as the mist swept over the panther and then its wounds glowed in a dazzling gold. The sealed shut one by one in an instant leaving the panther looking better. It stood more balanced now or crouched, whichever. Its eyes regained some vigor and its breathing less fatigued.
'So it was also running'.
In the corner of my mind, I could sense that another page had unlocked.
"Come here, boy". Noticing the male genitalia I called at him. "What could have scared you so...".
Barks and snarls answered my unfinished questions. It wasn't just barks, bays, grunts, chitters and more filled the village clearing as creatures of the woods flooded out in droves.
The panther moved and I turned to see if it was attacking only to be shocked when it scampered to hide behind me. I blinked. The villagers blinked and shared looks of confusion and surprise.
"Did I scare you boy?. I'm so sorry. I just wanted you to join the others in one big family. Already had a name for you too and you just had to run".
A voice, feminine. Confident and assured filled the air. All eyes turned to the forest and the sound of beating wings reached my hearing.
What flew out was something I didn't expect and yet knew the moment I saw it.
"Demon".
"Fox?".
We both frowned. The female. A player definitely, tilted her head. Looked behind me and sighed.
"I'm guessing you've claimed this nice patch then". She grunted. That confirmed my suspicion. In hindsight, I should have acted better, but my curiosity won out.
"Claim?".
The joyful look she gave me, sincere or not was downright creepy. It was probably due to what she was and looked like. Not trying to be racist or something and not that she wasn't fine as a demonic race. The concept of racism hopefully had not and would never reach here.
"That means you've not. Which means it's a free piece of cake?".
'I'm glad I'm not the only stupid one here'. I thought in relief. Whether she knew what she did or not didn't matter though as she waved her arms forward.
"Bring them to their knees and make them my pets". The crowd of animals that I was only now noticing how wrong they looked...'Are those the wolves I killed earlier?'...charged into the village.
"No!!".
I turned sharply eyes finding the most lethal animal in the crowd. It was some creature I didn't understand. It looked like a bear but whatever had happened to it had changed it so irrevocably. My left hand rose. My mind churned my body stilled.
'Arcane Conflagration: Wizard's Fire'. It was the weakest and the most common form of the spell.
A jet of fire, like a dragon's breath but less widespread and more condensed but not so condensed it was a beam. The jet shot out of my left palm, all five of my fingers pointing at it targeting, guiding, and controlling it.
The touchdown was instant and the beast was gone, erased. Then turning I moved and the world slowed. I looked around and saw the demon still in midair. 'Does she not know how to use this? My good grace then'. I didn't bother delaying myself with what to do. I knew.
My Grimoire appeared in my hand and I opened it to find the next spell. If it was worth it I could learn it and hopefully fast enough. 'Just please be like healing magic'.
But if it wasn't. Physical then.
The Grimoire pages shifted to the new one and I stared. The grin then split my cheeks threatening to burst them. This felt like cheating but who was I to argue the game's mercies?
**The Third Spell: Omnipotent Hand**
---
**Akash Name:**Omnipotent Hand**
- A godly telekinetic ability that allows manipulation of objects, creatures, and even elements across vast distances. Generates an all-powerful force capable of lifting mountains, manipulating weather patterns, or controlling multiple objects and beings simultaneously. Facilitates construction, defense, offense, and intricate manipulations across entire realms. Can be used to reshape environments, redirect natural disasters, or engage in complex, multi-object tasks effortlessly.
Guidance**
Mother will never know I was lazy and so this Akash was born. Nevertheless, I hope you are not. You have used destruction and felt life, now you will know control. Only by fully understanding and harnessing the Omnipotent Hand will you unlock the next page, continuing your path as an ?*#?&#.
May the Mother guide and empower you.
**Tora, the Primordial Magi**
**Will Control Magic: Concentrate your willpower to mentally manipulate objects, pushing, pulling, or levitating them as desired.
**Imagination Magic: Visualize the movement of objects with your mind and project your intent onto the physical world.
**Direction or Flow Magic: Guide the flow of telekinetic energy to exert precise control over the targeted objects.
I should have been distraught since this meant I would have to focus but with the player not knowing how to use this time thingy it was a chance to see if I could use it. If it failed then back to clobbering heads. I looked up to find prey and froze.
The demon turned quite slowly, her eyes locking with mine. Then she moved a hand, then a leg, I watched her jerk and her wings flapped.
"Shit". Pointing my hand at her I used Wizard Fire. Her eyes widened and both wings came together in front of her in what I assumed was an instinctive act. The fire slammed into the wing shield and threw her back.
'No time to learn the spell'. Cursing my bad luck I rushed for the nearest creature. Raising my hand I smashed down, its head pulverized with less gore than usual
**Demonic Deer Slain**
**Akashic Essence + 1**
I stumbled back.
'I killed the wolves before. I got nothing. What's different now?'. Unsure and without time to think I rushed on to the next. Again I got an essence and it was a demonic creature. Hurrying around killing I was almost a quarter done when the demon yelled across the village.
"Stop or it dies!".
'What could she possibly be threatening me with? All the villagers are...' I paused. '... behind me.'. The Nightshade panther was right where it had been. Hiding behind a me that wasn't there again. 'Crap'.
"What do you want?" The fact that time didn't return to normal was something that a part of me was very curious about.
"This village". She answered as if it was obvious.
"You mentioned claiming which means you already have. Why are you here then?".
"Goes to show you know nothing". She scoffed. "You don't have to settle for less". She winked. I frowned.
'Not having to settle for less She'd only know that if she had reached the requirements'. I glared. 'She must have gotten the ascension permit. Didn't that mean she could have ascended but was still here'?
"Why not just ascend. Isn't this risky for you. So close and yet letting greed take over?".
"It's not greed. It's proper planning". I scoffed while pushing my mind to work harder.
"You say. All I see is someone who wanted more than a piece of cake". 'Come on!'. I mentally screamed. She shrugged.
"Oh. And just so you know. I'd have killed it anyway". She smirked and squeezed. I could see the panther's eye turn bloodshot.
"No!!. Don't ".
Blood splattered, red mist spreading as well as gore oozing through her fingers and pooling beneath the corpse. She made a retching sound and then looked up at me with a devilish smile. "Oopsy".