Chapter 4: A Dangerous Encounter
They managed to get out of the ruins and onto a dense forest, the once-bright sunlight dimmed by the thick canopy overhead. Rowan’s senses prickled with unease. The Manafall had changed the world into a place where the wilderness itself seemed alive, and it wasn’t uncommon for creatures—or worse, Mana-Scarred—to ambush travelers in places like this.
Elias walked beside Rowan, his small legs struggling to keep up but his face set with determination. Every now and then, he would glance nervously at the surrounding trees, as if expecting something to leap out at them.
“Stay close,” Rowan said, his voice steady. “And keep your eyes open.”
Elias nodded, clutching a small stick he had picked up earlier, more for comfort than for defense. Rowan’s hazel eyes scanned the path ahead, his senses attuned to the faint hum of mana that lingered in the air.
Rowan slowed his pace, his hand brushing against the two cards in his pockets: the Juvenile Bristleback and the Kobold Scout.
He glanced at Elias, who trudged silently beside him. The boy was holding up well, but Rowan knew his small frame made him vulnerable. They couldn’t afford to be taken by surprise.
“We’ll need some help,” Rowan said, stopping for a bit to summon the boar and the kobold. He summoned the Juvenile Bristleback first and the creature appeared in a burst of light, its quills rattling as it took shape.
Elias’s eyes widened and covered his mouth in slight fright as the Bristleback pawed at the ground, its beady eyes scanning the area. He still wasn’t used to the fact that a monster was helping them. “You’re calling it now?” Elias asked.
“For protection,” Rowan replied with a nod toward the Bristleback. He crouched beside the creature, resting a hand gently on its sturdy hide. “You’ll keep us safe, won’t you?”
The Bristleback let out a soft grunt, its quills rattling faintly in response. Rowan smiled. He wasn’t sure how much the creature understood, but it felt right to treat it with respect.
Next, Rowan summoned the Kobold Scout. The wiry creature appeared crouched low with its crude spear in hand, its sharp eyes darting around as it hissed softly.
“Kobold,” Rowan said, meeting its gaze. “I need you to scout ahead. Make sure the path is clear.”
The kobold nodded, its movements quick and deliberate as it darted into the underbrush. Rowan watched it go, appreciating the efficiency with which it moved.
Elias hesitated before speaking. “Do you trust them?”
“I trust them to do what they’re meant to do,” Rowan replied. He placed a reassuring hand on Elias’s shoulder. “Stick close to the Bristleback. It’ll look out for you.”
As they moved deeper into the forest, Rowan’s attention was drawn to a cluster of vines clinging to a nearby tree. The leaves shimmered faintly, their edges curling upward like tiny hands. He knelt down to inspect them, motioning for Elias to stay close.
The vines were Mana Ivy, a common plant that absorbed ambient mana from its environment. While not particularly potent, its leaves could be crushed to create a salve that soothed minor burns and rashes.
“These are useful,” Rowan muttered, carefully plucking a handful of leaves. He held them in his palm, concentrating on storing them in his Inventory. The leaves vanished without fanfare, and Rowan exhaled in relief. Good, he thought.
“What’s it for?” Elias asked, crouching beside him.
“Treating burns,” Rowan replied, rising to his feet. “Nothing fancy, but it could save you pain if you touch something you shouldn’t.”
Further along the path, Rowan spotted another curious plant. It was a Glowfruit Tree, its branches heavy with pale blue orbs that faintly glowed like fireflies. Glowfruit wasn’t as rare as other mana-touched plants, but its sweet flesh provided a steady energy boost when eaten.
Rowan plucked a few of the fruits, again, storing them in his Inventory. “We’ll eat these later,” he said. “Better than the dried stuff I have.”
After walking for another hour without incident, Rowan called for a brief rest.
“We’ll rest here,” Rowan said, gesturing for Elias to sit.
They found a small clearing surrounded by moss-covered rocks, the air still and quiet except for the occasional chirp of birds overhead. The Bristleback stood watch near the edge of the clearing, its quills bristling whenever a branch moved too suddenly. The Kobold Scout returned, its hissing breath indicating that the path ahead was clear—for now.
Elias collapsed onto one of the larger rocks, his stick clattering to the ground beside him. Rowan handed him a Glowfruit, watching as the boy bit into it cautiously. His eyes widened as the sweet juice hit his tongue.
“It’s good!” Elias said, his voice muffled by another bite.
Rowan allowed himself a small smile as he bit into his own fruit. The soft, pulpy flesh melted on his tongue, leaving behind a faint tingling sensation that energized him. Despite the sweetness, he kept his focus sharp, his dagger within reach.
“Why don’t we stay here?” Elias asked between bites.
“Because the longer we stay in one place, the easier it is for something—or someone—to find us,” Rowan replied. He scanned the trees as he spoke, his eyes lingering on every shadow. “And out here, it’s better to keep moving.”
Elias nodded, though his expression showed lingering disappointment. They ate the rest of their meal in relative silence, the peace of the clearing offering a brief reprieve from the tension of their journey.
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As Elias stretched out on the mossy ground, his eyes growing heavy with fatigue, Rowan leaned back against one of the rocks and allowed himself a moment of quiet contemplation. He tried to get a feel for his System Interface ability, and he summoned it with a thought.
A translucent screen appeared before him. Both his abilities seemed to synergize well and instead of just using his feeling, he is able to get an accurate description of what his summons can do. He took the Juvenile Bristleback’s card and concentrated on it. He focused on the card again, willing it to share its information. The card glowed faintly, and a new screen with text appeared in front of him, just like it did when he first obtained the card.
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Juvenile Bristleback
Rank: F
Type: Beast
Affinity: Earth (Dormant)
Skills:
1. Quill Shot:Fires a single sharp quill at a target with high velocity, dealing moderate physical damage. Effective at medium range.
2. Ferocious Charge:A rapid forward lunge that delivers a powerful impact, capable of knocking back lighter opponents and breaking through fragile defenses.
Attributes:
* Durability:The Juvenile Bristleback has a tough hide reinforced by dense spines, granting it moderate resistance to physical attacks.
* Mobility:Its compact frame allows for quick movements, enabling it to dodge attacks and reposition effectively in battle.
* Aggression:Known for its unrelenting attacks, the Bristleback becomes more ferocious when injured.
Behavior: The Juvenile Bristleback will act as a frontline combatant, prioritizing close-range targets and protecting its summoner when under threat.
Description:
The Juvenile Bristleback is a smaller, adolescent form of the Bristleback species. Despite its size, it is highly aggressive and mobile, making it a formidable foe. Its quills provide both offense and defense, allowing it to strike from a distance or shield itself from attacks on its backside. While its stamina is limited, it compensates with bursts of explosive speed and determination in combat.
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He looked at the information and thought that although the Juvenile Bristleback was only an F rank monster now, he might be able to learn about how to strengthen it using his abilities. What if the monster could evolve? Or reach up to Rank S? Or awaken its dormant Earth affinity? What sort of power would it possess then? But he was getting a bit ahead of himself. Right now it was best to focus on finding somewhere safe, where he could slowly build up his abilities.
He also took a quick look on the Kobold Scout’s card and didn’t see any difference. Holding both cards, Rowan considered whether the cards could also be stored in his Inventory.
Let’s see, he thought, focusing on the Inventory in his mind. With a mental command, he visualized the cards being stored into it. To his relief, it worked—the cards vanished from his hand.
Rowan allowed himself a small smile. The cards were far safer in his Inventory than being carried openly. If someone stole them—or worse, discovered what they could do—he’d lose his greatest advantage.
Satisfied, Rowan tested something new. He visualized organizing the items in his Inventory, separating the plants, food, loot and cards into distinct categories. The screen responded, reorganizing itself into neat, labeled sections. Rowan smiled faintly. Useful.
“Rowan?” Elias’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
“What is it?” Rowan asked, looking over at the boy.
Elias hesitated. “Are we going to be okay?”
Rowan leaned forward, his expression softening. “As long as we’re careful, yes. You just stick with me, and I’ll handle the rest.”
Elias nodded, his trust in Rowan evident. “Okay.”
The low drone of wings reached Rowan’s ears as they resumed their trek. At first, it was faint, but it grew louder with every step. Rowan stopped abruptly, his body going rigid. Elias froze beside him, clutching his stick tightly.
“What is it?” Elias whispered, his voice barely audible.
“Sounds like bees,” Rowan said, his voice tense. “Big ones.”
The creatures appeared then, emerging from a cluster of bright yellow flowers nearby. They were monstrous bees the size of a cat, with translucent, golden wings that shimmered in the sunlight. Their segmented bodies were a striking amber hue, with black bands along their abdomens. Their stingers were long and razor-sharp, glinting dangerously as they hovered, their multifaceted eyes reflecting every movement in the clearing.
“Get behind me,” Rowan ordered, pulling Elias back. His mind raced as the bees began circling, their droning wings creating a suffocating sound.
“Stay sharp,” Rowan said, glancing between the Kobold Scout and the Juvenile Bristleback.
The first bee darted forward, its speed nearly impossible to track. The Kobold Scout reacted instantly, thrusting its spear upward to intercept. The point grazed the bee’s wing, sending it into a brief spiral, but the creature recovered mid-air and retaliated. Its stinger shot forward like a spear, narrowly missing the kobold’s shoulder as it leapt back with a hiss.
“Focus on the wings!” Rowan shouted, stepping into the fray. He drew his dagger, watching as the second bee joined the attack, its movements swift and erratic.
The kobold lunged again, its spear making a glancing strike at the first bee’s thorax. The creature let out an enraged screech, its wings beating furiously as it drove its stinger into the kobold’s side. The kobold yelped in pain but managed to get an accurate strike with its spear, bisecting the bee’s thorax from the abdomen, both halves dropping onto the ground and twitching. It wasn’t long till it totally stopped moving.
The second bee buzzed overhead, circling with predatory intent. Rowan moved toward it, his dagger raised, but its erratic flight made it nearly impossible to predict. It dove suddenly, forcing Rowan to roll to the side to avoid the deadly stinger. He lashed out with his blade as he came up, scoring a shallow cut along its abdomen.
The third bee descended next, its multifaceted eyes locking onto the Juvenile Bristleback. The creature fired a volley of quills, several of them managing to graze the bee’s wings. The attack slowed the bee, but it continued its charge, ramming into the Bristleback but failing to knock it off balance. The Bristleback retaliated by shooting quills into the bee’s abdomen, sending it spiraling to the ground.
The second bee swooped low again, this time targeting the kobold. The scout, already injured, wasn’t able to move its spear fast enough. The bee’s stinger managed to find its mark, driving into the kobold’s thigh. The scout screeched in agony, its movements slowing as it staggered back.
“Enough!” Rowan growled. He lunged forward, his dagger aimed at the bee’s thorax. His blade struck true, and the creature spasmed violently before falling limp at his feet.
Rowan turned to the Kobold Scout, whose ragged breaths and unsteady posture told him all he needed to know. “You’ve done enough,” he said, his voice softer now. He recalled the kobold into its card, the creature disappearing in a flash of light. Rowan clenched his hand around the card, his frustration tempered by relief that the scout was still alive—albeit barely. Who knows if the card would disappear totally if the kobold had been killed.
The third bee, now grounded and struggling to fly, became an easy target for the Bristleback. The creature merely squashed its head with its hoofed feet. As the last bee died, Rowan took a deep breath as he surveyed the battlefield. The faint shimmer of mana began to rise from the bees’ corpses, coalescing into two glowing cards.