“Jazmel !” He heard through the door and as he went to open it, his system screen flashed up in front of him.
DING!
CITY WIDE ALERT!!
THE CITY OF SACRETARES IS UNDERGOING A MERGING OF GATES!
…
CITY WIDE ALERT!
THE MERGE WILL IN TURN CAUSE DRASTIC CHANGE TO THE LAYOUT OF THE CITY
…
CITY WIDE ALERT!
THE LAYOUT HAS CAUSED A BEAST TIDE!!
THE CITY WILL BE OVERRUN UNLESS THE SEEKERS INSIDE THE CITY DEFEND IT!
REWARDS WILL VARY FOR PERFORMANCE!
He wrenched his door open, and it almost came off the hinges. He and Sadé looked at it and he was shocked at his strength.
“Whoa.” He uttered.
“Did you see the system?” she said, and he nodded, and she turned and ran down the stairs and then towards the doorway of the inn, he sprinted to catch up with her and when he did, he was shocked by how many people were rushing about but he wasn’t surprised how effective this could be. He didn’t know what a beast tide was, but he had a fairly clever idea.
“What is a beast tide?” he asked and Sadé didn’t look happy but kept quiet for a moment.
“They are uncommon, they are dangerous and can cause great problems.” She started.
“It’s like a gate break but internally when gates evolve they meld into one. We happen to be inside one when it’s happening and that’s not where we want to be.” She told him and he could see how serious it was from her grim looks.
“Okay, we stay close together and do our best to survive. We probably cannot travel until this tide is over. So let’s hold on until we pass.” Jazmel said and Sadé smiled but he could tell she was worried.
“Here take this, you might need it.” he gave her the tier III bloody sabre; the weapon he had looted from the hobgoblin he had defeated in the mines below the outpost. She looked at it but nodded and added it to her belt.
DING!
CITY WIDE ALERT!
THE BEAST TIDE IS NEAR!!
SURVIVE!!
Jazmel nodded at the system’s announcement and rushing up the stairwell, he rushed up the stairs and found himself at the front of the wall at the gate. Looking at the gate he and Sadé had entered through, he could see a tide; a wave of beasts of all types and sizes rushing forward towards the city.
“They are coming!” someone shouted, and Jazmel looked either side of him and Sadé, there were seekers of all strengths standing up beside them and Jazmel could tell that there were a few strong members there also. He noticed that he could see more Mana from his eyes now. Not more as in substance, but he could see the intricacies of it. there were distinct details for everyone, as their Mana was individual to them all.
The tide was nearing, and Jazmel could see the Mana pulsing and flaring from the creatures. He could tell from the Mana that was wafting off of the oncoming beast tide; was that he was now able to pick out which were strong. The way their Mana condensed internally and pulsed off of them, made it look more mature. Stronger and Jazmel could tell which would be the most problematic.
“Stay near me, I will point out the easier targets. We need to get you stronger as soon as possible.” He muttered and she nodded, but he could see that her eyes were ready for the fight.
The first wave of the tide hit them, and Jazmel was almost enthralled by just dread for the sheer numbers of the beasts and monsters, but he wouldn’t be quelled. He waited until the first few reached the top of the wall. He forced his title, and his eyes enthralled them and froze them.
EYES OF THE DRAKE ACTIVATED!
BEASTS HAVE BEEN ENTHRALLED FOR 3 SECONDS
They were stricken and without a word from him the seekers rushed forward, throwing their skills into the beasts. Jazmel himself struck, he was preserving his skills for the stronger creatures that would come and he would be prepared. From his ring leapt his small pet; the night dragon and it blew fire down onto the creatures and some of them were turned to ash quickly. The system pinged but he brushed it aside; he couldn’t look away from what was currently happening.
“There are more coming over the wall!” a seeker shouted, and she was right, more beasts rushed over, and this time Jazmel had to stop them.
Cleave!
He carved through the heads, and he watched as they died and fell back down over the wall; back into the beast tide.
DING!
TIER II IRON TIGER KILLED
TIER II BLOODY MAW KILLED
TIER II GIANT VIPER VINE KILLED
TIER II RED GAPPER KILLED
+3 WIL
+3 VIT
+2 DEX
More beasts rushed forward, and Jazmel skipped over the notifications and pushed through. Beasts overlapped and flowed over the walls, but the seekers were doing their best to knock them back, killing them or wounding them enough to actually destroy them.
A particularly strong creature pushed forward, and he watched as its strong hand grabbed and broke the wall where it reached. It pulled itself up and Jazmel watched as a particularly giant creature landed on the wall. It was strong, the Mana was greater than he had seen, and it condensed into a core that was literally beating like a heart in its chest.
He sliced and slashed at it, it used its thick arms and forearms to block him, but he wasn’t going to be stopped.
Cleave!
Jazmel cleaved through an arm, and it fell below it, it screamed, and Jazmel watched as it bled profusely. It swung out at him but before he could strike it again, another seeker struck it with Mana attacks and Jazmel cursed as they took his kill.
TIER III GIANT ARMJACK KILLED
EXP ACCRUED
Jazmel drew both swords and began to kill as many beasts as he could, and he turned to see Sadé doing her best to create experience for herself. She was using all her Mana tails and her thunder crown too; Jazmel watched her as she threw thunder fire and fox fire her favoured skills. She was prolific with them, and she was bounding around with newfound agility. Her fox was with her too, biting, and spewing flames wherever it could.
“Paldane lets not fall behind!” he shouted, and his tiny dragon yelped a mini roar and he almost cooed at it in the middle of the tide.
CITY WIDE ALERT!!
TIER III BEASTS APPROACHING!
NEW QUEST!
DEFEAT/SLAY ALL TIER III BEASTS THEY MUST NOT SET ROOTS IN THE CITY!
REWARDS WILL BE ADJUSTED!
Jazmel flicked the system notice off his vision and waited to see what would come forward. He was still fighting but he was using his eyes to pick the stronger beasts and kill or wound them enough to allow others to fight them. he realised he was growing strong and at the point where he was on the wall, he was one of the stronger members, he had gained more muscle, and his sword strikes were stronger and greater now.
Fall of the black raven!
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
He slammed Nozarashi into the ground and an eruption of Mana burst forth and peppered some beasts that were already dying.
TIER II WOODLAND HOUND KILLED
TIER II STONE BADGER KILLED
TIER II MANA MONKEY KILLED
TIER II LILY IMP KILLED
TIER II SWAMP BOG BUG KILLED
EXP ACCRUED!
+2 END
+2 WIL
+2 AGL
+2 DEX
His body was brimming with power, and he was carving through the beasts with no real hindrance before him. this was the first of the tier III beasts to make it up on the wall was bigger than the last and it shot a wave of Mana from its maw and knocked some of the weaker seekers off the wall, some even fell into the beast tide’s climb up the wall and Jazmel knew they were due to die. He threw himself at it, it was a large toad looking creature; its wide maw was shooting bullets of compact Mana at the seekers and either knocking them flat or literally shooting through them. he dodged one and then another and then leaping with both swords raised.
Fall of the black raven!
He smashed Mana into it, and it crushed into the floor of the wall, forming a small crater. It wasn’t dead yet and he was almost about to kill it, but another tier III creature rushed him, slashing at him with claws that sent Mana at him; much like how Bannerman used his skills. He blocked, guarding with both swords but he wasn’t going to end up overwhelmed.
Cleave!
Cleave!
Sword storm!
He threw three skill attacks and the beast literally burst apart, it had been another swamp bog bug, a bulbous thing with a budding bulb on its back which was spewing spores of some kind, with a swipe of his sword he sent it backwards but not before cutting it in half. It split in two and bled deep before Paldane flew over it and burned its bulb and turning the spores into ash.
DING!
COMPANION HAS LEVELLED UP!
EXP ACCRUED!
…
TIER III BOG BUG KILLED!
EXP ACCRUED!
He turned just as the toad beast shot a charged Mana orb at him. he couldn’t defend and so he cut through it, that split second he used his new skill.
Sunder
The attack was strong, much stronger than cleave! It cut through the congested orb and blew back on the toad bursting it and three beasts behind it too.
DING!
TIER III AQUA TOAD KILLED!
EXP ACCRUED!
…
LEVEL UP!
Jazmel had finally gained a level. He was happy but the beast tide had just begun, he could tell now that more beasts were tier III as more and more seekers were being killed or they were being pushed back to say the least. Sadé was performing well, and she landed beside him, her crown had disappeared, and she was wielding three tails; rather than her usual five. She must be conserving her Mana; she was also wielding her short sword and sabre. She was fine, covered in blood but it wasn’t her own.
“I just hit level 60.” She said with a big grin, Jazmel congratulated her in the midst of this city-wide quest she had finally reached ranker too.
DING!
CONGRATULATIONS ALL TIER III BEASTS HAVE BEEN KILLED!
REWARDS WILL BE OFFERED AT THE END OF THE BEAST TIDE!!
…
CITY WIDE ALERT
…
BEWARE!
That couldn’t be good.
WARNING!
FOUR NAMED TIER III BEASTS ARE APPROACHING, THEY CANNOT RALLY THE TIDE!
DEFEAT THE FOUR GENERALS AND THE BEAST TIDE WILL BE OVER!
Jazmel sighed, the weaker monsters were still doing their worst, but they were not as strong as the seekers and the numbers of congested seekers were enough to hold back the true brunt of the beasts. He looked over the wall to the rest of the tide and he saw the biggest creature of the beast tide. A wingless dragon; a drake.
“I need you to stay on the wall, I am going to go and fight that drake.” He told Sadé, she wanted to fight with him, but he wouldn’t worry about her not in a fight this serious.
“Solidify your rewards, clear the wall here and burn everything that comes over the wall.” He bid her, he didn’t wait for a response, he vaulted over the wall and using both his swords, he slashed down the backs of the climbing beasts and killed many.
DING!
MANY BEASTS KILLED!
TOO MANY TO COUNT!
EXP ACCRUED AND ADJUSTED GREATLY!
He smiled at that notice and fighting his way towards the drake as it lumbered forward, he wanted the core. He wanted the exp, but he was sure that the core would help Paldane immensely. The drake noticed him and before he could even attack it, the system flashed into his eyes.
DING!
A DRAKE HAS TRIED TO FRIGHTEN YOU BUT YOUR TITLE HAS THWARTED IT!
+5 PER
+3 WIL
The drake roared and its lumber became a rushing amble as it changed it target and made its way towards him, stepping on beasts much smaller and weaker than it. He sheathed Nozarashi and pulled it into his ring, holding Yoru no Tsubasa he waited; exhaling and inhaling to calm himself and quell his thoughts. He pushed thoughts away and released his Mana as much as he could, not wanting to be attacked by any other beasts, but they were steering clear of the drake.
DING!
TIER III LOWER DRAKE GRAUGNIR IS PURSUING YOU!
So it was called Graugnir, he thought of all the things he had learned, a tier III monster was effectively a high ranker and being named meant it was stronger still; it could be a master beast. But he wasn’t scared, he was a ranker tier now. He had his sword, and he had his skills, he would do his best.
The drake inhaled sharply and with his divine eyes; he saw the Mana building in its core. He vaulted out of the way and it spewed miasma burning the ground with poison acid where he had been standing.
Fall of the black raven!
He slashed through the air sending his skill at the side of the head of the drake, it careened to the side but shook it off. Jazmel realised that its scales were stronger than he had thought. But he was agile still, he landed on his feet and sprinted around the drake trying to get to its tail as it sidled round; trying to turn about and spit poison at him again but he wouldn’t let it.
Fall of the black raven!
He hit it in the same space again and it roared its annoyance. He sprinted again and this time he was under the tail, it whipped down trying to strike him with the thick muscly tail, but he had expected that, he leapt up and landing on the tail he ran the length of it trying to get up the back of the drake. He made it past its hind legs but not before it surprised him. it rolled onto its back; trying to dislodge him. he had to jump off its back to stop himself from being crushed but now its stomach and underbelly was uncovered.
Cleave!
Sunder!!
Cleave!
He struck the stomach with his best skills and pierced the stomach; he covered his eyes and mouth as stomach gases burst forth.
DING!
CLEAVE HAS EVOLVED TO TIER II!
…
Cleave!
He slashed down again, and the drake howled in anger. It spewed acid at him and though it missed him, some flecks landed on his arm and Jazmel wailed in pain, but he wasn’t done.
Sunder!
He stabbed his skill into the stomach and then flicked his blade up to the head of the; splitting it open from stomach to neck.
DING!
TIER III LOWER DRAKE GRAUGNIR HAS BEEN KILLED!
…
EXP LARGELY ACCRUED!
…
LEVEL UP!
…
TIER III LOWER DRAKE BEAST CORE GAINED!
TIER III LOWER DRAKE HEART GAINED!
…
He drank a health potion and winced as he felt it battling against the acid in his arm and shoulder. He drank half of another and then poured the rest into his wounds. That would have to do for now. He sheathed Yoru no Tsubasa and ran back towards the city; the beasts weren’t even trying to stop him or attack him; the ranks had thinned but they were trying their best to get into the city and now they were drunk on bloodlust.
DING!
CITY WIDE ALERT!
THE FOUR BEAST TIDE GENERALS HAVE BEEN SLAIN!
…
THE CITY HAS BEEN SAVED!
…
PLEASE WAIT WHILE SCORE AND RANKS ARE COMPILED!
Jazmel sighed and smiled to himself, they had survived; he had made it into the city and as he ran up the stairs to the wall; he noticed just how many seekers were either wounded or were dying around him. many had fallen in this beast tide and while some were drinking potions and trying their best to recover; it would be a long time before they would be able to go into the labyrinth again. he reached the top of the stairs and saw Sadé bloodied and wounded but not dying. She has been reduced to one Mana tail but the fight in her eyes were strong and he had seen that her fox had evolved. The little pup was now a small fox, white with two red rails; it stood at her feet and licked its paw; cleaning its ears. Its white coat was bloody in some places, and he realised it had been fighting beside her.
DING!
THE BEAST TIDE HAS BEEN THWARTED!
CONGRATULATIONS!
…
ALL SEEKERS, RANKERS AND MASTERS WILL RECEIVE;
* 10 STAT POINTS
* 5 PLATINUM COINS
* 1 TIER II ITEM
Jazmel looked at these prompts and nodded, but then he referred to his own system screen and looked at what he would receive.
DING!
YOU WERE THE FIRST TO KILL A TIER III BEAST!
CONGRATULATIONS
+5 STR
YOU KILLED MORE THAN ONE TIER III BEAST!
+5 VIT
YOU KILLED MORE THAN TWO TIER III BEASTS!
TIER III BREASTPLATE OF THE LOWER DRAKE!
That would be a fantastic addition, he had been thinking about armour.
YOU SLEW ONE OF THE FOUR BEAST TIDE GENERALS!
LEVEL UP!
EXP ACCRUED!
TIER III FLOWER OF THE MOON LOTUS!
He had gained a great deal, and he was happy with what he had gained. He looked at the rewards again and pulling the lower drake core from his ring; he let it roll into the middle of his palm.
“Paldane. Here you go.” He said and his little dragon landed on his palm and taking the core up into its mouth it swallowed it hole and he watched as it went down the length of its throat.
COMPANION HAS CONSUMED A TIER III BEAST CORE!
…
LEVEL UP!
LEVEL UP!
Paldane curled up in his hand and he let him enter his ring as he tried to digest the core.
“Look.” Sadé said and he followed at what she was pointing. Floating in the sky above the city was a leaderboard and Jazmel could see names.
CITY WIDE LEADERBOARD!
1. MASTER TIER I RICHARD (SLEW 2 OF THE BEAST TIDE GENERALS)
2. RANKER TIER III SELENE (HELD THE WEST WALL ON HER OWN)
3. RANKER TIER III THERESA (HEALED AND BUFFED ALL THE SEEKERS ON THE EASTERN WALL)
4. RANKER TIER II ORLOV (SLEW 1 OF THE 4 BEAST TIDE GENERALS)
5. RANKER TIER I JAZMEL (SLEW 1 OF THE 4 BEAST TIDE GENERALS AND 3 OTHER TIER III)
The board was showing everyone’s contributions Sadé came in at fifteenth killing just over one hundred of the beast tide.
DING!
CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING THE LEADERBOARD!
TITLE ACHIEVED!
* FRIEND OF THE CITY (DISCOUNTS WITHIN THE CITY)
Jazmel couldn’t complain at that, but he was tired now and he needed to rest, he needed to send word to the outpost and also watch over Sadé as she underwent her tier tribulation.
“let’s return to the inn.” He bid and she nodded, he offered his arm, and she took it; stabling herself as they made their way down from the wall.