As soon as he stepped through he was in a forest. Forest was the word he could use but it somehow felt insufficient. Many words came to mind as he looked about him, but he was not articulate enough to describe what he could see well.
A serene peace enveloped the entire domain of Mirete the trees were perfection, strong trunks of indomitable youth, the green of their leaves were perfect; dark and healthy. The shrubs that grew around the roots were bountiful with berries and even from where he stood he could smell their ripeness.
“Where have you brought me?” he heard and to his left Elai appeared, she was carrying her staff and since the attack on the outpost; one of her rewards was a witch hat, she now wore. Apparently it helped reduce Mana waste and so she had grown used to using it when she wielded her spells.
“Where are we?” to his right, Sadé stepped into the forest too and took a moment to take in all that he had also studied.
“I was invited to Mirete, and I was allowed to bring two representatives.” He explained, Sadé nodded, and he knew she remembered his plot. while Elai simple grinned and thanked him immensely.
“Though I am surprised you picked me, I am grateful. Thank you so much.” She thanked him and he simply inclined his head, kindly.
DING!
YOU HAVE ENTERED THE DOMAIN OF MIRETE!
NOT ALL WHO COME ARE WELCOMED!
NOT ALL WHO ENTER DESERVE IT!!
…
YOU HAVE BEEN WELCOMED AND YOU EARNED IT
…
NOW PROVE YOUR METTLE!
The system silently screamed at him, and he watched the notices flit across his field of vision as the system seemed to begin warning him about oncoming doom.
Rumbling could be heard through the forest and Jazmel looked around but couldn’t perceive anything. His eyes saw Mana in everything and right now the forest was so full of Mana it was blocking his sight; acting as camouflage for whatever was approaching them.
“Get ready!” he said, and the girls drew close to him, and he stood ready, braced. He drew Daishinkan and waited on the balls of his feet; ready to pounce on whatever came for them.
“I hit them, Sadé you do your worst. Elai make sure you pick your strikes.” He said, he didn’t turn to look but he knew the girls would follow his words. Paldane burst from his ring, and he asked him to watch over Elai while they fought.
Will protect you all. Paldane said and Jazmel smiled. He was ready for whatever came through the forest at them or so he had thought.
It burst through and it was bigger than Jazmel had thought it might have been, it was a bear. Or it might have been once. It was bigger than any bear Jazmel had seen before. It was thick and its coat was brown like the bark of a tree; beneath its fur he could see the thick muscles that moved the body of this behemoth. But he wasn’t afraid, the bear wasn’t alone. There were smaller bears behind it not as big, but still bigger than the grizzlies Jazmel had seen back on earth.
DING!
TIER III GREAT GAURDIAN FOUND! A bear that has taken the responsibility of guarding the first gate of the domain.
The first gate? Jazmel thought but he didn’t sigh, just prepared for the fight.
DING!
TIER II URSA GUARDS FOUND! Warriors who patrol the domain and protect the gate!
The great guardian roared and rushed forward; he leapt forward to meet it.
Fall of the black raven!
He crashed his sword into the side of the guardian and to his surprise it knocked it off its feet and sent it sailing to the left. He looked at Daishinkan the sword was heavier than he thought. The weight behind his strike had been tremendous, but in his hands. He felt nothing, no difference at all.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
The guardian shook of the strike, and he nodded in admiration. This beast was strong. It roared and Jazmel felt his body tense and almost clench like a fist beneath the pressure of the bellow.
DING!
THE GREAT GUARDIAN HAS USED RAUCOUS ROAR!
YOU HAVE BEEN ENTHRALLED FOR 4 SECONDS!!
He found himself in awe, how had he been enthralled. Even with his body and race change, something had been able to pressure him grip him with its dominance. That agitated him and Jazmel struggled under the pressure for the entirety of the four seconds.
As soon as they were up, he leapt from the ground, the turf flying up with him and he broke the ground and leapt forward to crash into the great bear of the forest.
Fall of the black raven!
Lacerate
Lacerate!
He slung his skills about him, waving his blade through the air and battering the body with the strength of his sword and carved flesh with his skills.
Thunderfire!
The skill hit the guardian right in the face and it roared as a tooth flew from its mouth.
Star stream!
Stars made of Mana pelted the bear across the body and Jazmel marvelled at the smell of burning flesh. Elai and Sadé had made short work of Ursa guards and now they had come to support his fight with the guardian.
The bear guardian roared again Jazmel felt the same pressure from before, but his spirit had adapted he could not be quelled, his body wouldn’t allow it.
DING!
THE GREAT GUARDIAN HAS USED RAUCOUS ROAR!
…
YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ENTHRALLED!
+2 WIL
+1 END
He hid a small smile, but concern flooded his face when he saw that the others had been enthralled, the great guardian was bounding over to the side of Elai. He rushed forward and intercepted the guardian as it swiped. He took the strike; parrying with his sword and being sent flying. He crashed into a tree, any other he was sure he would’ve broken it with the force and might of his body. But the trees in Mirete were made of much sterner bark; he hit a tree and collapsed.
“Well I am going to feel that later.” He grunted to himself, trying to get up before the guardian ambled over to him. Paldane flew above and flames singed the fur of the great guardian.
DING!
WARNING!
FRACTURED SHOULDER (minor)
CRACKED SPINE! (minor)
HEALTH IS DOWN BY 24%
He groaned at the system notices and waved them away, he felt it before it could tell him. He rose up and thought it hurt, he could feel his body pushing itself back into place. The tyrant body was forcing his vitality to work harder and allow him to move.
Star stream!
Falling stars!
Star stream!
Stars of different shades and shapes; formed of Mana were cast repeatedly and hurled at the great guardian. They hit him like small bombs and exploded as soon as he neared them, knocking it into the others and blowing them up further.
Thunderfire!
Sadé appeared above the thick square head of the guardian. She cast her skill directly at the top of its head and slammed it down on its lower jaw; Jazmel winced as he saw a fleshy piece of gibbet fall from its mouth. He looked at it and saw that it was its tongue, the guardian was hurt, the attacks had torn its flesh and ruin its thick coat.
Lacerate!
Cleave!
…
Sunder!
Jazmel said and each skill did more damage than the last, until he used sunder, and the skill broke the great guardian, killing it, cutting through its head, and splitting it down to the neck. It slumped to the ground and thick hot blood pumped from its head.
“Everyone alright?” he asked, and everyone nodded back. Paldane had appeared and ate the tongue from the floor.
“That’s disgusting Paldane.” He said and the dragon simply continued chewing.
DING!
YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE GUARDIAN OF THE FIRST GATE!
YOU WILL BE REWARDED GREATLY!
…
+3 STR
+3 INT
+3 DEX
…
TIER III GREAT GUARDIAN BEAST CORE GAINED!
Jazmel took out the beast core and he could feel the strength of the beast they had just fought. But he flicked it up to Paldane who accepted it and crunched it down.
NEW SKILL LEARNED!
RAUCOUS ROAR LEARNED!
Jazmel had not known that you could learn skills from beast and monster cores, but it seemed companions could. He would ask Sadé about Kazumi as soon as they could.
“How are you ok?” he looked over to Elai who was looking at him with concern. “You took that hit dead on; I saw how far you was knocked. How did you survive that and get up so quickly?” she asked, and he shrugged.
“I am a tyrant.” She rolled her eyes, and he sighed as she passed him and accepted his answer. She moved towards the ursa guard she had killed and using her staff she dissected it with Mana, she cut the fur clean off, took the fangs, claws, and beast core. When she noticed Sadé and Jazmel watching her, she shrugged.
“No wasting the spoils.” She said and she moved to the great guardian and did the same, Sadé offered her own spoils, and she did it after. Offering her the loot, Sadé took the fur and claws but left the fangs to Elai. She fed the beast core to Kazumi, and she cracked it before wolfing it down.
“Let’s keep moving, we don’t know what else might happen.” He explained and the girls moved forward, he assumed the rear and Kazumi took point. They moved in the direction where the bears had come from and continued further into the domain of Mirete.