Edited by: KenChi死
The team was standing right in front of the forest. They checked one last time if everything they needed was gathered and walked inside. The first 3 kilometers were completely calm, just as villagers said. They had some worries if they would recognize where the “real” forest would start, but they had completely no problems with that. Maybe because everything became much quieter, much darker as the trees started growing denser and taller blocking most of the sunlight… And a weird mist appeared out of nowhere.
* “Careful now, the mist is a magical creation. Someone or something really doesn’t want any visitors here… as if the forest would be inviting enough”
* “If it magical, maybe move your ass and dissipate it?”
* “As if it would be that easy… if it was done by a druid, my efforts will be futile.”
* “Why is that so?”
* “Druid is a nature mage, yes?”
* “Yes”
* “Elemental mages are stronger, as they get closer to source of their power, yes?”
* “Yes”
* “So how do you think, is there any better place for druid to cast spells than here? IN THE FUCKING CENTER OF All NATURE MAGIC?! It is simply impossible to get rid of…”
The quarrel between teammates was cut by the Kitsune, which after gathering power used pure aura expansion to cast a wind that blew the mist away.
* “Ha, impossible?” The lizardman mocked her harpy friend.
* “Shut up and look. We have a minute of two, then it will be back. Even if I would have such a monstrous mana deposits it is simply futile. Even she will fall numb within a hour if she will keep using it over and over again… not that I mind…”
It was just as the Harpy said, after they walked for bit more than 60 meters, the mist surrounded them once again. Something growled quietly in the dark, and soon after a lone wolf jumped from the bushes. It targeted someone, who it thought would be the weakest – the smallest one. The Kitsune. With effort comparable to snapping it was turned into meat pulp.
* “Something is strange with her” The harpy whispered.
* “Well, she is a one of a kind creature, what do you want?”
* “Not that you idiot!” She almost hissed “The way she uses magic. Normally you bend pure force, shift it, make a shape and use it. This is a proper way of casting a spell. But she doesn’t do that. She uses pure mana…”
* “Is it really THAT strange?”
* “Yes, mana itself is violent and unpredictable… but what… if she can’t cast spells?”
* “…go on…”
* “Usually as mages train in arcane arts, they are told to improve their mana pool and mana control in the same time. But her mana pool is… saying big is like saying that ocean is bigger than puddle. She has so much of it… that she can’t measure the right quantity of mana to cast a spell… so she uses it as a pure mana manifestation. But it’s rare… more than rare”
* “For us, is that good or bad?”
* “If she would fight someone of her level? Bad for her. For us? No difference. But never asked her to light a candle. If I am correct she will create a hurricane instead of a breeze and firestorm instead of igniting a candle…”
Another growl, this time much farther. The Kitsune once again used pure power to blow the mist away. And they saw it. A black varg. Rare and aggressive. Always jumping at pray and almost never letting go. But what was really strange was the fact, that it actually turned back and walked away.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
* “Have you ever heard about a Varg letting go?” There was no need to answer that question. Something strange was happening here.
What could they do? They started moving once again. An hour passed, then another, and yet another.
* “I could swear, that we went past this tree once or twi…”
* “Three… it’s three times now.”
* “No need to play the smart guy Raggo”
* “Hey! It wasn’t me!”
* “Than A…”
The lizardman denied with his head movement.
* “Who are you! Show yourself!”
* “I am not hiding in a first place… a tip for you… Looking low under your feet and you may overlook something high in the skies.”
Everyone like on command raised their heads. On the tree a man clad in a black robe was sitting like it was completely normal thing to do. One of sleeves was gone… or never there in the first place, showing of completely tattooed arm. From under his hood white hair could be seen, yet his very face was covered in a bandana.
Pov change
Okay. I know what you want to know. Why. The fuck. Was I sitting. On the fucking tree.
To find an answer for this question, we have to rewind our story a bit.
I finally got back to the hut and started preparing the two corpses to be a bit more appetizing form. Kaito ran somewhere to the forest to (as I could only guess) test his new capabilities. Just after separating meat from the bones, Aira jumped in and stole my spoils of victory to cook it…
It is pretty nice to have someone do part of your job… But because of it… I was left alone with Sebastian.
I washed my hands, took a deep breath, faced Sebastian and said.
* “So what now? Any particular training?”
* “What I was wondering is… if having such a wonderful tool is suitable for you.”
* “… I hoped you didn’t mean mocking me in any way?”
* “I didn’t. You are a magician, and for close combat part you could rely on claws and fangs – it could be brought just to bare hand combat. But now… spears, maces, hammers, swords, daggers, bows, crossbows… the bloody kyoketsu-shoge… Having to big arsenal may be a disadvantage. To really master this weapon is to mastery every possible combat art. Not really suitable for a magician. Not even a pure enchanting monk type. This is why, you will focus only on a max of 3 weapon kinds. Bows, that for sure and two of your chose. Pick wise. We will train them in you free time… but for now… drop everything aside and try to hit me.”
* “with just a hands?”
* “And claws and fangs. Just no magic nor weapons. And I mean completely no magic. not boosting your stamina nor power-uping punches.”
And what more to tell? I rushed at him swinging my fists. I decided against shapeshifitng. In the end Sebastian didn’t even have a properly formed hands.
And soon I was taught humility. My STR was low, and so was my hand to hand combat. In battle up until now I used to focused on fast swings of paws armored with claws, hoping to bleed enemies.
Without those, my strikes were… maybe not completely useless… but also not much better than mosquito stings. Sebastian’s wings again and again deflected those not the mightiest punches.
* “Comparing our bodies structure there is no possibility for your strikes to have any effects, if you would not use your whole body weight to…”
The lecture was going on like that. And it lasted for over an hour. But as for the outcome I was able to level hand to hand combat from level 3 up to 5…
The training itself could last for at least an hour longer, but a voice, this lovely voice sounded in the air. Ah, was it the song of sirens? Or maybe a song of themost skilled singer? Yet, in the end, only a massage within it was the thing that really counted.
* “DINNER IS READY!” Aira screamed
* “You are free to…” Sebastian wanted to say, yet he stopped as he noticed that I was no longer there.
The meal was fine, really, really fine! But what I was waiting for was the notification that appeared a few-dozen minutes later.
DNA absorption process succeed[Envy] has been born[Lust] has been born
~Greetings master, hello brothers and sisters, it is truly an honor to meet with you aga…
A voice that sound as spoken by a kid acting more elegant then he truly could be, was quickly cut in the middle of sentence
~YA-HOO! SUP BITCHES! LONG TIME NO SEE! YOUR FAVOURITE, ADORABLE IDOL LUST IS HERE!
~…not her again…
~I just wanted to say that…
Voice once again, forcing itself to be as calm as it could, started speaking… but guess what?
~AWWW!~SO THIS IS OUR NEW HOST! HELLO HOST! I AM THE MOST USEFULL OF ALL SINS HERE!
~Whatever you wish to do… do never let Lust talk… with anyone…
~But as we are all here… maybe we shall make a fast conversation about things that really matter…
~TOTALLY! I will start! Lemme start! So… host… what’s your type?
~I don’t think it’s a really good time to..
~IT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MATTER OF ALL YOU IGNORANT FOOL… or… can’t it be… host… you like males? Well… I am fine with that… no one will judge you… it may be even a bit more thrilling too…
Wait, WHAT?! How the fuck did you reach such a conclusion without me saying a word?
~So?! Straight? Homo? Bi?... well… the last option leaves the biggest option pool… such a brilliant decision! To not close any door! Leaving all gate open… hue hue… anyone heard a hidden joke ins… mwhahskjdyuhd
~Lust will be unavailable… for some time…
… Thank you Greed… I had enough of her after… 30 seconds?
~So did we… but… don’t you have more important things to do…?
Umm, no? What could you possibly have in min… I am an idiot… a total idiot… how could I forget… now as I consumed what I consumed… it is time to …
I was standing on a small elevation. Changed my arms into wings gathering wind under it… and asking myself a question… how the fuck am I supposed to fly?
* “I… am not exactly sure if it’s a best place and time to learn how to fly…” Sebastian said his mind
* “Fear not, my friend! Soon I will join you in the sky! Birds are being taught how to fly by being kicked out from the nest!” I start running till the verge of the elevation “FOR THE MOTHERLAND! I BELIEEEEVEEE I CAAAAN FLYYYY… I BELIVE I CAN TH… WHAT THE FUCK… HOW DO I LAND?!”
Aaaan this would be more or less how I get on the tree
This is the end of the chappy… BUT DO NOT STOP READING YET.
As it was pointed previously, we will pick a few weapons for Zar to master. Guess what – spam ideas in comment section and later I will make a pool out of it.