Zerine eyed the tears in space. Just a glance was enough to give her a headache. She turned her focus to the still forming monsters instead. The glowing masses of energy were slowly taking shape. She would have gladly attacked while they were still manifesting, but she knew better. If someone were to attack a forming monster, an energy backlash would occur due to the raw state the energy was in. Depending on the amount of energy, it could kill a person, so Zerine was fine with preparing for the fight.
From what she could see, there were at least forty closing tears in space. All had monsters spawning, but they were rather small, from what she could see. The only problem was, each tear in space had between one to three balls of energy turning into a monster.
That…is a lot of enemies, she thought.
Varino and Kimi were hurriedly creating magical array traps to help with numbers. They really didn’t want to get swarmed by whatever was spawning. As the monsters got closer to manifesting, Zerine began to second guess her weapons choice. But she thought better of it and griped her scythes a bit harder.
Varino chimed to her.
“Good job, you two. I can roughly sense where those traps are, so I should be good. But try to not get overwhelmed. Call out if you need help,” Zerine said, getting into a fighting stance.
She got several affirmative sounds from Varino and a quiet click from Kimi, which her instincts told her the spider was just going to go with the flow. Zerine grinned. Her heartbeat picked up as the first monster manifest.
Let’s fucking go, she thought.
When she saw the first monster, everything came to a sudden and complete halt.
***
“Do you think we should go help?” Lucy wondered.
They watched what could easily be a hundred monsters spawning around Zerine’s group.
“Maybe, but we will have to wait and see,” Alana said, leaning forward in her chair.
“Oh, these have mental magic, too. They could be trouble,” Lucy said, seeing the first monster appear.
“Hmm, I agree, but it’s a test. So, let’s see how they do, but have a teleportation crystal ready,” Alana said.
***
Oh, gods, monsters can be sooo fluffy and adorable!? That’s seriously not fair, Zerine thought.
The first monster was a little larger than a Frost Bunny. It had a round body with purple and green fur that covered its entire form. Two enormous eyes looked around. An antenna with a ruby gemstone on top was protruding out from the monster’s head. It drooped and shifted around as the monster moved. That was when Zerine noticed the monster had no arms, but large purple feet similar to a bunny. The entire appearance together made a rather adorable monster. She could absolutely see herself petting it or even hugging, squeezing the tiny fluff ball in a blissful embrace.
The first monster had moved closer to her, making adorable sounds somewhere between a cat’s purr and dog’s happy whimper. She reached towards the fluffy fur ball. She hadn’t even noticed that she had placed one of her scythes on the ground.
Varino’s shattering glass scream made Zerine snap out of it. A cold chill went down her spine.
That little fuck-, she thought, moving back, but it was too late.
The adorable sounds turned to a clanking and grinding, almost like an elven automaton she had seen. The cute demeanor rapidly turned aggressive as it leapt towards Zerine. As it jumped, Zerine discovered that under the sheer adorable appearance, the small monster had a rather large mouth for its size and full of razor-sharp lamprey-like teeth. To further break the illusion of adorableness, the gemstone turned out to be, yet another mouth filled with lamprey-like teeth, but these spun in a circle and were where the disturbing grinding sound emanated from.
Zerine didn’t even think. Her foot lashed out. She winced as her foot made contact. The monster made a whimpering sound as her kick sent the monster flying away.
“You little shits use mental magic,” she snarled. She picked up her other scythe. “I won’t hold back even if your fur is so fluffy and adorable.” She shook her head. “Fuckers!” she muttered, shoving the mental magic out of her head once again.
Their damn magic kept trying to influence her. If she had a crest, she could more easily fight against attacks like this, but in her current state, it still took time for her to regain full control of her mind. But she wouldn’t let them affect her. She gritted her teeth, watching as nearly a hundred of those tiny, adorable demons manifested. Each one had their own uniquely colored fur, making a glorious rainbow of fluffiness. A colorful pillow perfect for her to just rest on.
Zerine focused and shoved their influence entirely out of her mind.
Varino chimed at her.
“I’m…fine. I can sense it now,” she called.
A relieved whistle came from Varino.
Clanking and grinding sounds, produced by the monsters, filled the forest, breaking the previous silence that had fallen during their manifestation. It soon became a loud cacophony as they all focus on their group.
Zerine felt many eyes land upon her.
~No holding back. Any slip up and they will swarm me, she thought. Her heartbeat became louder as her focus sharpened. Mess with my mind and you won’t live to regret it.
She focused on the ball and chain wrapped around her belt. Using her willpower, she got it to float next to her hip.
Ready when you all are, she thought.
The monsters had already been moving closer, clearly seeing if their mental magic worked. Once they found out it had no effect, they all charged. They bounded around like rabbits but used bursts of wind to propel themselves even faster or change direction midair. Their charge was like a multi-color wave.
Zerine whirled, her chin lashing out, commanded by her will. The ball slammed into a pink monster that leapt at her, sending blue blood flying. Her will made the ball swing around, then fly back behind her, crushing a monster that had leapt at her back. Scythe’s pierced, sliced, and smashed monsters. She never stopped moving. The ball and chain whirled around her, following her momentum and willpower, creating chaos around her.
Zerine was in a trance-like state. She gave into her instincts and training fully, letting them guide her. There wasn’t anything that was going to stop her now. She felt it. It was as if she could see what the monsters would do and how they would react to her attacks and movement. Even her sense of magic felt stronger. There was a distant melody playing…and there was something more to it. But Zerine didn’t notice because, in this moment, she felt more alive than she had ever before.
Her scythe hooked a monster, which she tossed in the air. A blue bolt of lightning incinerated it, thanks to Varino. The ball and chain smashed a monster back as she kicked another one away. Right after she kicked, the same foot slammed down on to the chain, making fly straight back at her. She twisted, feeling the air rush past her as the ball flew true. With a crunch, a jumping monster's face was caved in.
A scythe got stuck in one monster. She dropped it, then palmed a throwing knife. With a swift throw, the knife pinned a monster to a tree. That knife she had enhanced with her willpower, increasing its speed, which she did two more times. She then ripped the stuck scythe out of the monster as her other scythe sliced another in half. Zerine moved on, carving a path through the monster horde.
Zerine wasn’t the only one going all out. Varino chained lighting to clusters of enemies. Her wind sliced more in half as her water and wind propelled her around the battlefield. Thunder rumbled as repeated strikes of lightning exploded monsters into gory messes.
Kimi’s runes were flying around the forest, ensnaring monsters. Once caught, many monsters just exploded into bloody mist, while others were torn to pieces by threads of condensed mana. Kimi even had runes to help Varino and Zerine. For Varino, Kimi made it, so her spells cost less mana, while Zerine’s runes increased her speed.
***
“Holy fuc-” Lucy was saying when Alana cheered.
“Now that is how a fucking Trevel fights! Hot dam! I haven’t seen anyone fight like this. Not even those so-called prodigies around her age,” Alana said. Her eyes were locked on to the feed.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
They watch as the ball and chain made a circle around Zeirne, killing several monsters as it did. But even during that attack, Zeirne was moving her scythes glinting blue from the monster’s blood. Knives flew out from a gesture, plunging into several monsters who died.
“How!?” Lucy said, utterly confused as Zerine ducked a wind attack from behind before whirling. Her scythes reaping any monster nearby as the ball chain moved practically on its own.
“I don’t fucking know, but who cares how when it looks this awesome! She is better at embed willpower than you!” Alana said.
"I believe that the ball and chain are made from willpower conduits," Lucy said thoughtfully. “But I have to admit, I haven’t thought of using embed willpower like that,” Lucy said thoughtfully. She glanced towards her sister. “Also, you aren’t much better than me.”
“Fair, I didn’t expect to learn lessons from a teenager on advanced willpower control.”
“Same. But she will hit her limit sooner than later. I doubt she can keep up that much focus and willpower for much longer.”
Alana waved her comment off. In the feed, Varino created a miniature tornado that sent the monsters flying in every direction. Runes were flying in every direction from the Runic spider. Magical traps went off, lightning rained from the sky and amongst all the chaos, Zerine was an orchestra conductor, and the monsters, the musicians, playing to her tune. She moved perfectly, dancing amongst the monsters, her weapons leaving no chance of escape.
“Yeah, of course, but this is a style of fighting absolutely unique in our family. I’m too far down my own path to replicate this, but I sure as hell plan to take inspiration from it,” Alana and laughed as Varino jumped on to Zerine’s shoulder before leaping into the air.
Lightning roared down from the heavens, condensing in her tiny hands. Varino smashed her fist down into the ground. A ripple of electricity blasted outwards, killing monsters around Zerine and Varino, creating a rare open spot in the madness. They didn’t stop, however, but Varino went off casting more spells and Zerine was a blur carving through more of the monsters.
“That was definitely one of Ava’s moves. That little spirit has some spunk huh?” Alana said with a wide grin.
“I still can’t believe their tiny group is tearing apart the monsters,” Lucy said.
In the feed, a monster got trapped in one of the Runic spider’s magical arrays. Threads wrapped around it tightening till the monster exploded into gore. Shinning runes flew, sending monsters flying or outright killing them.
“Yeah, the monsters will flee soon. The problem is, this isn’t the only large group of these little fuckers and there are more powerful monsters that are on the island now,” Alana said.
“Hmm, true, but with this performance, they will be fine. As long as they have time to recover. On another note, monsters are based on creatures in our world, so where do-”
“My dear Lucy, are you thinking of trying to tame the none monster version of those fluff balls?” Alana teased.
Lucy didn’t meet her sister’s gaze. “They are cute,” she said, embarrassed.
Alana laughed. “Go to the Dragon spine islands and you can find yourself some. They aren’t exactly easy to tame from what I remember.”
Lucy sighed, disappointed.
“It’s worth trying. Just look at Zerine. She is friends with a spirit and now a god damn spider,” Alana said, gesturing to the feed.
They saw that the monsters had started to flee. Zerine had taken her bow out and was killing any stragglers.
“Oh, that reminders me. You remember that Cal is a Dragon Rider?”
“Yeah, it’s one of the main reasons the others at odds with Ava still interact with her.”
Lucy winced. “Anyway, I meet his bonded partner recently. I found out that the dragon doesn’t really like anyone other than Cal and her,” Lucy said, pointing at the feed.
Zerine was holding the spider and Varino in her arms, giving them…a hug?
Alana snorted a laugh. “Yeah right. Dragons only like their bonded partners or other dragons. Although, they do get along with fairies.” Lucy only gave her sister a flat look. “Your serious!?”
“Yes.”
“Dragons wouldn’t make a crestless who is fated to die their chosen for the ear, right?”
“I don’t know. I think of it this way. Estel is a gifted child. Her fate is incredible and practically guaranteed Iridesium-rank. But that is her fate being read. Beyond that rank, no one knows. It has something to do with what it takes to ascend, but no one can tell who has the potential to ascend.”
“Are you saying that because Zerine’s fate is an awful mess of misery and death that she has that potential? Because that would require her to become a Fate Breaker and I don’t wish that upon my enemies.”
“All I am saying is that we don’t know. And fate can change. And as fate stands right now, everyone might as well be blind in that area.”
“Thank the gods,” Alana said.
“People rely on it too much, but it’s still useful and scary that something so major is coming that fate itself is shifting.”
Alana grinned, “Then we get to look forward to some great fights that might push to S-rank.”
Lucy sighed, “I guess that is one way of viewing it. I would still prefer us getting to that rank without some sort of disaster or war.”
“Yeah, and it’s not like we have a solid timeline. Oh, look, there is a backlash to what she did,” Alana said, pointing at the feed.
***
After they had driven off the monsters, Zerine spent the time before her adrenaline crash gathering her gear and the monsters' corpses that were mostly intact. She had just picked up her last knife when an excited Varino and Kimi flew on one of Varino’s clouds to her. Zerine opened her arms and hug the two.
“That was insane! But we did it!” she cheered.
Varino and Kimi made a similar happy squeak.
“You two were incredible! Kimi, those traps and runes were awesome! And Varino, that lightning fist move was probably the most badass thing I have seen you do!”
The two chatted to her about the fight. She kept their embracing going till she found a fallen tree trunk that had been tossed by one of Varino’s wind attacks. She sat down heavily. Everything felt sore, tired, and she knew she was going to have a hard time getting up. But she was relieved that they had done it. With the relief came the tremors she had gotten used to during her training as her body reacted to the adrenaline pump coming to a halt and the feeling of being safe after the chaos of the fight.
Varino and Kimi moved to sit on either side of her. Varino chimed brightly, but saw something when she looked up at Zerine. She pointed and trilled worriedly.
“What about my face?” Zerine wonder. She put finger to hr check, and it came away red. “Huh,” was the last thing she said before passing out.
Varino used a gust of wind to catch the slumping Zerine. She hurriedly checked her and sighed, patting Zerine’s cheek. There was nothing wrong, but she had just gone far past her limit with her willpower or energy. Varino wasn’t sure which. Either way, Zerine would wake in a bit. She whistled to Kimi, who waved their forelegs and clicked. She nodded, and the two went about protecting Zerine and cleaning up after their fight.
***
Where am I? Zerine thought.
She was standing in a room made out of the night sky. Several stars drifted by her face before floating away, almost like they followed an unseen current. The place felt oddly familiar.
“My, my, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. Although… I guess to you it has been a while,” a disembodied voice said, making Zerine jump.
“So, I have been here before?” Zerine wondered, looking around.
A pair of emerald eyes and mouth appeared in front of her. The eyes shone brightly as the mouth turned into a large, rather creepy smile.
“Oh, yes. It’s fine if you don’t remember. You were eight after all, and it was a rather unique encounter,” the voice said, sounding a little hurt.
“I’m sorry, but all I vaguely remember is this place. Can you tell me about it?”
“You're in my realm. A place where mortals don’t often visit, I should add.”
“So, you're a god?” Zerine said, raising an eyebrow.
“There is a complicated answer and you're not ready for it. Soo, I will just put it under the spoiler category,” the voice said, amused.
“Of course, it’s complicated,” Zerine muttered. “And spoilers?”
“Can’t ruin the surprise…if you make that far. But that is as much as I will say on that matter.”
Zerine frowned for a moment before asking. “Then can you tell me what happened? I'm assuming you saw, or at least know, what I just went through, right?”
“A good guess and correct. I will share, but not in great detail. But you certainly tapped into some power, huh?” The emerald eyes and mouth moved around Zerine still with that somewhat creepy smile, like it knew everything about her or there was some sort of inside joke. “Your body wasn’t quite ready for what you did, and neither was your soul. You should take care to not push yourself like that often. But it is a good sign, but still be careful. The reason and how you sent a soul projection to this place…I will not say.”
Zerine sighed, “I knew I was pushing it with the willpower, but I felt so…alive. In that moment…” Zerine reached a handout, brushing several stars. “I felt whole and…I think I heard a melody.” She shrugged. “Or I am just imagining all of it and this.”
“A melody you say…” the disembodied face turned away from her for a moment. “Well, aren’t you an odd one? Fascinating, truly fascinating. But your time is up, or sort of, well, you’ll go back to your body shortly.”
Zerine looked confused till she noticed everything around her was turning fuzzy.
I guess she won’t comment on why it’s fascinating or what I did to cause that, Zerine thought.
“I will repeat what the Goddess of knowledge said to you. Break that for which many believe is unbreakable and forge your own path. I think she said something wise about paths to power too, but just keep at it and you’ll do just fine.” The voice was fading and the…god was speaking faster. The formal tone and air of mystery had been replaced with an abrupt shift to very causal. Zerine thought she saw the eyes rapidly flickering between crimson red and emerald, but she wasn’t certain. “Oh, I remembered! Willpower, drive, and dedication is what will drive you forward, or something like that. You got those in abundance and a little Trevel crazy too. So, keep at it kiddo, and good luck. Oh! And don’t push yourself like this too often, ya hear!?”
Zerine eye’s snapped open. She tried to sit up quickly, but found her body was heavy, sore, and slow to move. After some effort, she sat up. She glanced around, finding Varino and Kimi busy putting out fires and cleaning monster bit and pieces, throwing them into a large fire. She looked up at the sky and was relieved to discover she hadn’t been out for too long. A spike of alarm shot through her when she realized that it was midday though. They had started fighting in the morning. That meant…
Goood gods, that fight was a long one. I pushed way past my limits with that brawl, she thought.
Varino whistled to her.
“I’m tired, but moving…slowly,” she called back.
Zerine rummaged around in the spatial storage bracelet till she pulled out their dwindling food supply and began making something for her and Kimi. Yes, the spider liked eating the food Zerine made, but would be fine eating rare food as needed. She had asked Kimi while making breakfast and the spider discovered it liked Zerine’s cooking, even if it was rather bland due to her lack of supplies.
After they ate and Varino spent some time absorbing energy from a natural treasure, their group headed out, albeit much slower than before. All three needed to recover from the fight. They chatted about the things the two had bene up to while Zeirne was passed out. They all agreed they had been lucky that nothing mid D-rank had joined the fray or after, because it would have turned out badly for them. But that sobering reminder didn’t stop them from talking excitedly about the fight from their different perspectives. It helped them keep moving.
They heard a stream before they found it. A crystal-clear stream flowed along, creating a soothing burbling sound. All three ran towards the water. Varino jumped in with a cheer while Kimi and Zerine scooped up water to drink. The fresh water was the burst of energy Zerine needed. With a little more rest, the group decided to follow the stream, hoping to find a good place to set up camp.