Chapter III - Amarok
After Cifer became Pahn's adapted son, they went off to the dark forest but not before Cifer devouring the three elves that was killed in their encounter. This gave a surprise to Pahn but was quickly accepted and was even praise for having such a unique ability.
Cifer explained his ability to Pahn to strengten their trust with each other. Afterwards, they headed to the dark forest where Pahn resides. On the way, Pahn explained the circumstances of the forest. The elves that they encountered earlier was a part of a conclave of elves with their elven king and oracle at their head. The oracle was on friendly terms with Pahn, being once a peaceful God who cared about the forest and it's inhabitant. But the elven king's views is different. Once they have obtained the backing of a God, they became violent and branded Pahn as a fallen dark god and became the enemy of the whole elven conclave.
Pahn avoided a larger conflict as to his knowledge the the nation is just being use by their king to do his God's bidding. The Oracle fought with the elven king but one day, she became silent. Pahn thinks that the oracle was imprisoned and was being forced to use her ability for the elven king.
Cifer: That's an unbelievable story.. but if what you said is true, then how are things with you and the elven conclave currently?
Pahn: The dwellers.. of the dark forest were all not mindless beast... They... assist me on this struggle and for survival... The elves are... becoming stronger... They are... pushing the dark forest's bounderies and... enlarging their territory.. thus, strengthening their powers as well...
Cifer: What happens if the elves territory covers the whole of the dark forest?
Pahn: Most of... the inhabitant of the dark forest... are dependent.. with it's atmosphere as well as... the food for that grows within.... The dark forest also provides... cover and darkness for the nocturnal creatures within... Once... the dark forest ceased... their will be many creatures death... because of the balance of the normal and dark forest will be broken...
Cifer: Doesn't the elves know of it?
Pahn: They do... but they have closed their minds and heart.... Many had done so for power... of the promise of becoming stronger... because of the gods influence on them... and the elven kings' lies...
Cifer: Do you know who's god is backing them?
Pahn: I can... guess but I'm not too sure... Gods are pickle beings... They change their mind and are satisfied.... next, they would want more... So it might not be.... a god under the forest... or nature category but something else entirely...
Cifer: I get your point father. I want to help you as best as I can.
Pahn: Hohohoh.. Then that would be a great help indeed... but for now, your still a child..
Cifer: I understand but my growth speed is quite fast.. I give it maybe a few more days before I become what I was before or more..
Pahn: Oh!.. then.. that's quite something.. son.. I must ensure to.. spoil you.. a bit before... you grow up...
Cifer: Gee.. I didn't know you'll be a doting father. hahahah!
On the way back to the dark forest, Cifer noticed Pahn's companion that was with them. The beast that had taken care of the elves and there was a dark skin elf as well with them. He guest that it was a dark elf.
Once they arrived at Pahn's abode, Cifer was surprise at how serene the place is. Pahn's home was a large tree. The body of the tree was hollowed out and has multiple floors that surrounds it. According to Pahn, because of enchantments that was placed around it, it will not be found by outsiders unless someone within brought them in, they will be accepted by the barrier. This also prevent wild beast and monster that has bloodlust within them to get through.
Pahn showed Cifer to his room. At this point, Cifer was now a toddler, comparable to a 4 year old kid. He was quite astounded by his growth that not even a few hours ago, he was just an infant that only knows how to crawl.
While in his room, Cifer checked the skills he obtained from the 3 elves he devoured earlier.
Bow Mastery
Type: Passive
Level: Beginner (0%)
-Allows ease of use and handling of any type of bow or crossbow.
-Hit rate +10%, Damage +10%, Attack speed +10% when using a bow type weapon.
Knife Mastery
Type Passive
Level: Beginner (0%)
-Allows ease of use and handling of any type of knives.
-Hit rate +10%, Damage +10%, Attack speed +10% when using a knife weapon.
Tracking
Type: Passive
Level: Beginner (0%)
-Allows ability to hunt. Gives the skill to see hidden tracks of beast or monsters, showing the way to it's location. Can sense monsters within 5 meters from user.
Cifer: Hoh~ this can definitely be useful.. now to check on my skill how they gain experience...! What the! Why is my devour skill so high? Was it because those elves were high leveled? hmmm...
As Cifer looked at his devour skill, it indeed leveled up quickly. Cifer forgot that the blessing god gave him allows him to grow quickly to catch up with the gods he need to slay. Looking again with the skill, Cifer sighs with the unbelievable speed of his skill gain.
Devour
Type: Passive
Level: Novice (53%)
-Devourer's exclusive skill, due to the nature of the ancient titan that once devoured gods, it will allow you to assimilate an opponent's has been devoured.
-Beginner skill allows you to absorb 3 random skill from devoured opponent.
-If same monster were devoured and all skills has already been learned, a +3 random stat will be added to yours permanently.
-Skill will also automatically place a monster's/enemies item drop on your inventory once devoured.
Days have past since Cifer became Pahn's adopted son. Everyday, Cifer grows yet Pahn still views him as a child and son. Pahn was a dedicated father and Cifer grows more attached to him than ever. The joy and feelings he shared with his newfound father brought happiness within Cifer.
On the few days of his stay with Pahn, he was introduced to the various creature that was also living with the former God of the wild. Pahn called them kindred spirit, for they are also outcast or exiled from where they came from.
First one that was introduced to him was the dark elf Arislan. He was a quiet man but according to Pahn, he was the last of his clan. His family, including his wife and child as murdered and was wiped out by the orders of the elven king. The reason was Arislan's wife was one of the daughter of the elven king. When their child were born, the elven king was in a fit of rage and sent his elite to wipe out Arislan's clan and only he escaped. Pahn found him near his abode, mortally wounded and dying. With the lack of the will to live, Pahn had a hard time reviving the poor dark elf. Now, Arislan solely live for revenge as well as his duty to serve the fallen god.
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Cifer next met the fairy princess, Etheria. The next heir to be an empress fairy, however, before it happened, a ruthless sorceror came to their realm and enslaved most of their race. Etheria were able to escape with the help of few royal guard fairies her mother sent to escort her to espcape. Upon escaping, one by one, her guards and protectors fell and was captured until only she were left. She was lucky that she ended up next to Pahns place and because of the barrier, she was able to elude her pursuer. From then on, Etheria were living with Pahn.
Lastly, one of Pahns protector was introduced to him. Aroden Whitefang, a lycan, a werewolf. First time Cifer saw him, he was in awe. Looking at Aroden, with his white fur and strong, intimidating stature, anyone would be in awe when they first gaze at him. The white wolf was a noble soul. Also, last of his clan. He was a pure warrior willing to die in battle but still survived but for the rest of his clan were wiped out with the last battle with vampires further south. Aroden ended up in the dark forest when a teleportation spell was cast at him by his mate to escape. Now, Aroden guards Pahn as he knows that he will be unable to take revenge unless dying a senseless death if he ever came back to his home land.
Each of the individuals that was living with them were unique but everyone was under Pahn's protection and bidding their time and thought when they will take their revenge.
After a week had past, Cifer's appearance was already like what he would looked like when he was still living back on earth. He was now with his 18 year old body. He felt stronger than before and still growing. But the accelerated ageing had stop so he will now age normally. The past few days, he was not idling by. He already befriended the the dark elf, the wolf and the fairy princess. Each time he spent with them, he learned a thing or two.
Because of his interaction with them, he learned that not only devouring creatures will allow him to learn skills or become strong. Also with hard work and constant practice, he can learn skills and boost his stat further. So under the dark elf's tutelage, he learned "Presence Sensor". A skill that allows him to detect creatures or enemies in a ten meter radius. According to Arislan, as this skill becomes better, the range also becomes wider, allowing him to intercept an ambush before it begins or be prepared when enemies are coming when least expected. Cifer was able to integrate the skill with the rpg like feature that he gets. This also thought him that only those that are link or a herald can pull up the same windows as he did. Normal beings is unable to pull it up, unlike him.
He was also thought by Aroden. When one time, Cifer was practicing martial arts that he learned from previous life, Aroden became curious and asked questions about it. He was told that the form he was doing is similar to the people from the east on this world. Aroden mentioned that one of their ancestor had traveled the east and learn one of their basic technique. Aroden thought Cifer the technique called "Ki Strike". A very useful technique when fighting a larger opponent, or those that are fully armored, as it ignores the defense of the opponent.
Lastly, the curious fairy princess, Etheria, became jelous of the other two, as they were able to teach him a skill. So the Etheria volunteered to teach him a skill, widely used by fairies. Cifer was worried that the skill might be unlearnable as it might be an exclusive to it's race. But the fairy was intent to teach him a skill so reluctantly, Cifer followed and tried learning her skill. In the end, since Cifer's body was created by God, he not only have a fierce body for being a warrior, his body also gathers quite the amount of mana that he is also able to use magic, but since magic was non existent on where he came from, he had no idea how to, and he was thankful that the fairy was able to teach him the basic. Fairies are natural mana oriented creature, as their everyday life always touch mana within their being. The fairy princess thought him "Mana Manipulation", allowing him to touch the mana in the air, converting it to magic. Although, Cifer still does not know how to form magic, he has vague idea on how to, he promised the fairy to learn more about it in the future.
Cifer trained himself with the skills he learned since Pahn did not allow him to leave the barrier, as the elves were seen venturing within the dark forest, most likely intent on finishing their task given by the elven king to destroy Cifer. Even though he wasn't able to leave, he practiced near the border, as per Arislan's instruction. This would allow him to sense the creatures outside the barrier, training his Presence Sensor skill. Cifere oblige and while training the skill, he was also training his body, familiarizing it with controlled movements and basic martial arts. This allowed him to learn "Unarmed Combat Mastery", as he trained and hit trees around him. This raise the skill as well as the perception skill since there were many beast that wanders just outside of the barrier. As his body becomes stronger with the help of his newfound companions, he was at the same time, satisfied with having friends and a father with him.
However, their peaceful time did not last. The elven king, frustrated at not being able to find their target, prayed to his god to request for assistance. The god Amarok was the new patron god of the elves. Because of Amarok's influence, it made the elves succumb to their beastly instinct and aggresiveness. Elves usually are patient and does not come out to provoke a creature, but because the new god's influence, they became bolder, and even venturing to the dark forest without a care.
Amarok, hearing the plea for assistance, sent a vanguard celestial down to the elven king. Now that a celestial, an angel was assisting the elven king, they move to finish what they started. The true purpose of their mission that was given by Amarok was to finish off Pahn.
Amarok was also a God of beast and was jelous of Pahn because of his influence was lower than Pahn. For he was the cause of Pahn's banishment. He urge and fooled one of the elder gods and told them that Pahn was favoring the mortals more than them. This angered the elder gods, banishing Pahn from their fold forever. Now that Pahn was exiled, his power was now greater. Amarok wanted to see the source of his jelousy to disappear completely, so he volunteered to reside within the same world where Pahn was banished to, and commanded the elves to destroy the falled god for him. Now the elves are moving, emboldened more by the appearance of the celestial, they prepared to attack.
Now that an attack is imminent, Cifer's life will enter it's turning point and will give him a push to begin his journey.