CHAPTER 106
“Why aren’t you practising?”
Tom glared at Everlyn. “It’s not that easy. I’m keeping my mana full so I can.” Tom gestured at the slowly gathering groups of scavengers. “Help when it’s time.”
“But your mana’s full.”
He scowled at her. “It only just regenerated.”
She cracked a smile.
Tom threw his hands up in the air in frustration and turned back to focus on his true nemesis.
The pink rock that would be almost unblemished if Evie had not shot her arrow.
Another stone flew and struck the target. There was a minor explosion and his rock was reduced to dust while… he squinted… the pink boulder had chipped slightly. After he was freed from this post, he might go check out what type of rock it was. It had to be a high tier.
Tom kept going. The range was a challenge, and he had experimented extensively with the size of the rocks that he threw. A stone marginally larger than a tennis ball was the best selection for the distance and he had to aim about two metres above his target to prevent gravity from dropping it too sharply. His multiple hits had done noticeably less damage than Everlyn’s single arrow.
She smirked slightly when she noticed him looking sideways at her.
“Almost out of time.” Her bow appeared, and she drew and fired in a single motion. Another arrow flew toward the rock. It struck far lower than the previous one. The crack split further. “Damn. Thought that would split it in two.” She launched another. This one glowed with blue energy and it slammed into the crack between her original attempts.
The two halves rolled away from each other.
“Having fun?” Tom asked.
“Yes. It’s always fun showing the incredible forty-two percent saviour Tom up.”
“Hilarious.”
“No, just amusing.”
She gave him a hug and nodded back toward the giant lizards that Tom’s meteorites had ruined. Over thirty of the scavenger lizards, had swept down and landed to feast. “You go from the right inwards. I’ll come from the left.”
This time, he engaged his accuracy skill at a very low setting, which was the best he could do and still sustain the power necessary to cross the distance. His aim was noticeably better even before he threw. Tom was aware of the tiredness of his arm and how it would affect the shot. The need to arc slightly higher and shift his fingers so the rock would not tumble unsteadily when he released.
He used Touch Heal to fix the muscles and made the corrections his skill suggested and launched into his attack. Even with accuracy, only two out of three hit the lizards, but the scavenger’s nature benefited him. Apparently, when they fed they became more wild than usual. The monsters were territorial and would attack any of their brethren that got too close. One of them that got clipped by a rock, was spent spinning into another one, and instead of them all fleeing in panic the uninjured one tore into the one that had been knocked into it.
The battle was sharp and brutal. Neither lizard showed any intention of yielding. The helpless lizard his stone had struck had been bigger, but its movements were noticeably restricted. Purple blood frothed from the wound on the shoulder and its small opponent took full advantage of its speed. Multiple gashes were opened on its opponent’s body, and then it got onto the back in the hollow directly below the head. Hind legs caught the wings. Fore claws went into the ears and then it started tearing into the neck. Not bite and hold like a lion would to cause asphyxiate it. The winged lizard’s approach was far more visceral.
It bit, tore, and then spat.
That opened a small gap, and then its teeth plunged into the same area. Chomp, yank back and then toss away a chunk of flesh.
Again.
The initial wound had been small but a growing hole was created with each bite and the whole time the larger animal thrashed but there was nothing it could do.
Bite, spit.
Bite, spit.
Bite. Stop. Chew. Swallow.
The monster underneath it was dead.
Another stone hit. This time the victim did not land on one of its flock and instead tumbled head over tail, skidded and then lay crumpled and unmoving, resting against an exposed boulder that was little more than basketball sized.
He was expecting them to turn and flee at any moment, but more of them circled down to land. Their dying companions either unnoticed or an invitation that the meal was larger than they had been calculating. He was throwing one rock for every two cracks next to him, Everlyn was out pacing him. The only thing in his favour was that when he hit sometimes multiple enemies were eliminated, through more by the collective efforts of the scavenger swarm than himself. They were feral.
Even while he concentrated primarily on his own actions, he had enough battle awareness to recognise the simple fact that Everlyn was trouncing him. Every single one of her arrows slammed home, with most taking out two lizards in a single strike.
Another creature got pulverised by his rock. It was like a switch had been hit. The two scavengers closer to their felled companion lifted their heads and let off a warbling cry and then a moment later, fifteen of the beasts broke free and launched themselves to safety and up into the air.
Crack.
The arrow arced up toward the fleeing monsters and slammed into the biggest and largest. The force of the blow knocked it into a death spiral it never came out of.
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Everlyn lowered her bow, satisfied. “I counted twenty-five. How about you?”
“Probably thirty.”
“Probably?”
“It’s hard to tell in the chaos.”
“You can check.”
“I…”
“You should check the experience logs.” She repeated. “I’ll watch. I don’t think you’re counting was very good.”
Tom shut his eyes and dashed into the system room. The numbers were much as he had expected. “A little under twenty.” He told her.
Everlyn looked sideways. “A little under? How much are we talking?”
“Less than twenty. You won congratulations.”
She laughed. “You’re being evasive. Please tell me it was above five.”
“It was above five.”
“Ten?”
Tom said nothing.
“From the bodies, it was over ten. What were the numbers?”
“Nine outright and eight partial.”
Everlyn laughed. “I was credited with twenty-three clean and two partial.”
“Well done.”
She poked him. “Don’t sound so grumpy when you say that.”
Tom laughed, and she sat down and let him put an arm over her shoulder to draw him in.
“This is so much more fun than during DEUS’s tutorial.” Everlyn told him happily.
“You’re only claiming that because you just won. If you had lost–.”
“I would be as grumpy as you.”
They both laughed.
Tom looked at her. “You know our plan for tonight. I can’t do it. I burnt my fate on the reward loot.” He told her. “I know finding the murderer’s important, but I thought maximising my rewards was equally so.”
“I felt the same.”
“Yeah, I can see,” He admitted.
“Spying on me?”
Tom shrugged. “Not really.” He grinned at her. “But don’t think you can hide your fate use from me.”
“I sometimes forget how sensitive that weird fate sense ability of yours is. You’ll need to teach me it.”
“Sure, but it’s a long slog and probably not the best use of our resources now.”
“Agreed.”
Tom stroked his chin. “I still don’t understand these murders.”
“None of us do.”
“I’m sure it’s related to fate,” he ploughed on, ignoring Everlyn’s interruption. “The ritual is probably responsible, but what’s with the blood being consumed? Fate and blood are not related. If your purpose is fate, then consuming the blood is nonsensical. They’re opposing concepts.”
“Not opposing.”
“True, but magically different sources of energy,” Tom clarified.
“I agree,” Everlyn said quietly. “And there are other peculiarities. How their bodies are positioned for one.”
“Ritual requirement,” Tom suggested instantly.
“I would have guessed that it was a consequence of the extraction process, but it’s still weird. Especially with the section of converted soil and the symbol on their foreheads.”
“Ritual magic,” Tom repeated.
“It’s more.” Everlyn assured him.
“How can you be so sure?”
She had the grace to look embarrassed. “My gut feeling. Common sense. The expression on their faces doesn’t gel. Especially the ritual bit. To cast a ritual you create a magic formation, cast a conceptual spell, imbue it with energy and then ensure the required regents exist to facilitate the required outcome. The missing blood, the positioning of the body, that damn soil.” She stopped speaking her fingers tangled up as she tried to conceptualise something. She sighed. “None of those things remind me of regents. So it’s not a ritual, or at least in the classic sense. There’s more to it.”
“Demonic summoning?”
Everlyn laughed. “Yes, that.” She paused and gave him an impish smile. “If that’s even a thing.”
“I guess that summarises my concerns,” Tom said. “The murder scene by itself has too much happening, and that is before we even get to discuss how they’re getting their victims alone. There is something else at play.”
“Misdirection?”
Tom shrugged at that. “Tomorrow, if we throw fate at it and browse the shop and the tutorial library we might find something to tie it all together. Maybe it is demonic summoning, and we’ll find the book with the ritual we’re after.”
“Wishful thinking…”
“Probably.”
They drifted off in silence. Almost half an hour later, the meeting below broke up and Michael came up to see them. He took one glance at the creatures they had killed and then sighed. “I see you’ve made more work for me. We need to go process them. Do you want to get your spinning things up and defend the gatherers?”
“Nope.”
“Nope Tom? It won’t take long and increase your cut. Are you refusing because your spinning rocks is a once-a-day spell?”
“Nope.”
“Then why?”
“I was enjoying sitting here.” He squeezed Everlyn tighter to him and she happily scooted closer.
“This,” Michael waved at him. “It’s disgusting. You’re like teenagers.”
“You’re saying that because of our appearance.” Everlyn answered.
“Or he’s jealous.” Tom suggested.
“Yes, I can’t believe Everlyn stole you from me.” Michael said dryly.
Next to him Evie snorted in amusement. “All mine.” She hugged him possessively, giggling slightly as she did so.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll deal with my disappointment in my private time.” Michael said, rolling his eyes. “Why not spinning things?”
“They’re a mana hog and not great for close in fighting and it stops me from summoning an elemental till I recharge my crystal. Basically, they’re situational. For something like escort duty, my preference would be to keep my flexibility. A wisp with the correct elemental type can change a battle.”
“Fine, no spinning things. Can you still go guard them?”
“A wise man once told me to always negotiate my cut in advance.”
“That’s not how I talk. What sort of accent was that?”
Tom smirked. “Who said you were the wise man?”
Michael shrugged. “The agreed cut is seventy percent to the fighters who make the kill, thirty percent to the people who process the bodies. Then the crafters do value add and twenty percent of their profit goes back to fighters and gatherers, and the crafters get the rest.”
“And if I guard them?”
“Guards on the gathering missions get the same percentage share as the gatherers.”
“I’ll be happy to go.” Tom decided after a moment.
“And,” Everlyn interrupted. “I’ll keep guard from up here.” She beamed at Michael. Her bow had appeared in her hands. “I assume that gets me a cut as well.”
Michael did not look happy. “You two are pushing it.”
“But we are adorable when we do so.”
“You are adorable Everlyn, but your choice of partner.” Michael’s nose scrunched up.
“I cast clean multiple times a day,” Tom protested.
Michael chuckled. “Enough bullshit. Be ready to join the gathering group in five minutes.”
“Is there anything we need to be aware of from the meeting?” Everlyn asked.
Michael glanced around to make sure there were no spies listening in. “They’ll fall in line. We’ll bunker down here for two more event triggers.”
“Not three?” Tom asked.
Michael shook his head. “You guys weren’t the first to read that account, and word got back to Joline. If I even suggested four, she would have roasted me alive.”
“It’s what we wanted, anyway.” Everlyn said. “Good job.”
“It wasn’t that hard.” Michael answered seriously. “But it was a process we needed to go through. This is for you Tom. Sometimes you need to let people vent. It costs nothing but time and helps to avoid issues later.”
“When I get my master manipulator class, that advice will be helpful.”
“Screw you Tom. You could make more of an effort on the social shit rather than relying on others. It’s not pointless.”
“He’s trying.” Everlyn interrupted quietly, rushing to defend him. “It’s just that blowing apart monsters comes more naturally.”
Michael nodded stiffly. “It’s frustrating because he has a lot of social capital that he should use more effectively.”
“As I said he is trying.”
“Tom can speak for himself.”
“I can?” Tom asked rhetorically, trying to sound confused.
Michael suppressed a smile. Harrumphed and left to organise the gatherers.
They watched him go.
“I’m trying?”
Everlyn rested her head on his shoulder. “Yes, you are bubs. You might not like it, but I can see the effort you are making.”
Token at best, he thought, but it was nice to be defended.
“Sure.” He squeezed her. “You know I love spending time with you, but… I should check on my golem.” Via his bond with the elemental, he could sense it getting bored. Tom taking the time to invest in that relationship was important, and he had his new control core to insert.
She patted his leg and beamed at him. “Go and thanks for sharing the watch.”
Tom nodded and stepped off the edge of the wall. Remote Earth Manipulation went to work ahead of him. It created foot holes for break up the smooth sections as he easily descended.
“Show off,” Everlyn yelled behind him.