Tirsday, 2nd of Febrinna, 5662 AE, 468th Year of the 5th Era
The moon in the night sky was a bright and full one. If the stories from the legends of my previous world were to be believed, it was on nights like this where creatures of the night and darkness - werewolves included - would be at their strongest. But that’s just the thing with myths and legends. They remain myths and legends, at least back on Earth they did. Here though, it was a different story.
I was running with all my might towards the encampment while simultaneously staving off the attacks of some wolfbeasts that had been pursuing me across the woods from my initial ambush location. I didn’t catch sight of Ivan quite yet as when he gets serious about using his dark-attribute powers, he might as well be a damned shadow despite the fact he was a tanker and heavy warrior.
While moving left and right, I did my best to avoid the lounges and vicious attacks from the wolf beasts as I twisted and turned along the way, cutting upon a few beasts as I did that. I unleashed another savage torrent, perhaps looking like a whirlwind to an outside viewer, which quickly disposed of more than half a dozen more wolfbeasts.
*You have gained 400XP!*
*You have gained 400XP!*
…
*You have gained 400XP!*
It was only after a good few more minutes did I finally catch sight of the small hill where the expedition’s encampment lay. I finally stopped in my tracks as I looked back and saw that several wolf packs and werewolf parties had caught up to me. It was finally then that I used my wind powers to augment and strengthen my voice before I shouted loudly, “THE BASTARDS ARE HERE!!”
As I shouted that, I immediately turned around and braved myself to face the oncoming wave of monsters. It was just when the foremost wolfbeasts were only a few feet away from me did a wall of flames emerge seemingly on its own, splitting the monster wave in two, confusing them greatly. I gave a quick glance back towards the encampment when I saw Mother Margaret with her arms raised and palms forward as I saw her eyes glow a flaming orange and the mana around her became apparent, appearing like she herself was covered in a wild flaming aura. Many of the wolfbeasts and werewolves caught inside of the wall of flames were greatly burnt and heavily injured with some even having their lives ended then and there. This was the first time I saw the Reverend mother use an offensive ability outside of her usual healing and support-type spells.
Not long after, I saw Jenny standing next to mother Margaret as she too raised her staff and immediately summoned a hail of dozens of fireballs from the sky, burning the many monsters below. As if to top it all off, the first volley of missile fire led by Percy was let loose and immediately whittled down dozens more wolfbeasts and werewolves, even managing to kill some that were already damaged. No sooner than that did Ivan also appear from the shadows as he immediately engaged with the now damaged and worn down beast, swinging his berdiche left and right, summoning rows of ice spikes and stalagmites in his wake.
*You have gained 400XP!*
*You have gained 1040XP!*
*You have gained 400XP!*
…
*You have gained 1040XP!*
*You have leveled up!*
Noticing this initiative, I wasn’t just about ready to have myself shown up and be left out of the fun so without a second thought, I rushed in and engaged the beasts as well, flurrying all over the place as I let out slashes that summoned powerful gusts of wind, sharp enough to cut the bodies of the many already deeply wounded beasts and werewolves.
The carnage that ensued was unbelievably exhilarating to me as I had hacked and slashed away at my enemies with reckless abandon. Even in this state of euphoria, my body felt as if it gained senses of its own as I easily twisted and turned like dancing everytime any beast would try to land a strike or pounce at me as I countered them easily. I was beginning to feel the serenity of it all as the blood that was spurting and gashing out of the mutilated bodies and corpses of the beast were painting the field with a brilliant red colour, like a ink to a blank canvas from the paintbrush of a master artisan.
It didn’t take too much longer for me to notice that the wall of flames Mother Margaret had summoned subsided and the rest of the beast wave that had found itself trapped outside of it were rushing in once more to aid their fallen comrades. Unfortunately for them, Ivan and I were standing upon a field of bloodied corpses as we awaited for the beasts to approach once more so that I could once more restart the carnage.
“Forget those two monsters!! Run around them and flatten the encampment!” From afar I heard commands being shouted from the side of the wolf army and when I looked towards the direction of the commands, I could see a man in very elaborate red robes with intricate designs as if to poke fun at the style of the vestments worn by clergymen. Judging from the gaudy outfit, he seemed to be very high up in the hierarchy of the Malcanis cult and complimenting my assumption of his position, I could see several hooded figures in black cloaks standing around him menacingly. For a bunch of savage ingrate cultists, they at least had at least some sense of style to them.
As the cultist had ordered, many of the wolfbeasts and werewolves that were charging at me made certain turns as they looked like they were purposefully circumnavigating mine and Ivan’s position. Seeing this, I could see that some of the fastest among these werewolves and wolfbeasts were already rushing towards our fortified position on the small hill and when I saw the werewolves actually beginning to scale the hill’s steep rockside cliffs, alarms in my brain were being set off. Though Jenny, Percy, and the rest of the ranged units of the expedition were doing their damnedest to unleash upon the climbers all manners of missiles, crossbow bolts, arrows, and arquebuses shots, being supported as well by Mother Margaret’s strengthening prayers, dozens more of the werewolves were still climbing in earnest. The four-legged wolfbeasts on the ground went around the hill to assault the gate entrance and palisade of the encampment guarded by the knights.
I spat to the ground at the current situation as I was split as to whether or not to help the camp’s rear where our ranged units and militia were most vulnerable or to try and charge at the head cultist who I could see from his stats that he was somewhere around level 30, but the guards surrounding him would prove to be quite the obstacle to overcome.
Just as I was weighing my prospects in my head, I was awoken by Ivan’s shout, “CARL! We have to get back to the camp! Those militiamen can’t protect themselves!” As he said that, He rushed towards the encampment at breakneck speed looking to aid our force’s backlines. Seeing this, it was apparent to me which choice it was that I needed to take before with powerful gusts of wind, I had set off for the encampment to lend my aid towards my allies.
As I had a clear sight on the werewolves that were scaling the cliffs, I had decided to call upon Ivan, screaming, “Ivan, boost me up!”. Hearing my shout, the man nodded as I rushed at him before climbing on his axe and being propelled by a single powerful swing as I was leaping in the air above the heads of the monsters. Immediately I had used my mana to unleash some torrents from my hands and feet which acted like a propeller as I began to nosedive on one of the werewolves from the air as my body acted like a heatseeking missile.
When I made impact with the first werewolf who was already far ahead in climbing almost to the top of the hill, the momentum had splattered the beastman as I once again unleashed a hail of flurries and wind to act as a cushion for myself to bounce off of, most of the wind gales being unleashed towards the other werewolves climbing below, turning several of them into mincemeat while injuring plenty of others.
*You have gained 1040XP!*
*You have gained 1040XP!*
…
*You have gained 1040XP!*
I had safely landed at the top of the hill next to Percy who had only looked at me with a slightly stupefied expression before his focus was caught once more by the action below as he continued firing out arrow after arrow which after being released from his bow acted like thunderbolts of yellow energy decimating and wounding many werewolves.
*You have gained 1040XP!*
*You have gained 1040XP!*
Not long after that, from below, I could see Ivan in an attack stance after slaying a couple more werewolves, before he unleashed a massive swing which had caused a giant but crude trail of ice spikes to appear and impale a couple more werewolves to the side of the cliff before he quickly climbed the ice spikes as it acted like a pseudo-staircase to get to the top of the hill. Seeing this, many wolfbeasts looked to pursue Ivan as they followed him up, but unfortunately for them, Jenny had noticed and so when Ivan had made his way safely up to our side, she casted a spell and a pillar of flames were sent down towards the ice spikes, melting them and causing the wolfbeasts to fall before a volley of missile fire ended their lives.
Seeing this, I could see the head cultist seething from afar as he still had a few dozen wolfbeasts and werewolves beside him outside of his personal guard that was still standing stoically beside him. He was yet to send the final wave of his forces to storm our position, but regardless I had turned my attention towards the palisade gates at the front of the encampment that was being guarded by the knights, Sir Churchward, Harry, and Sir Hunt as they should still be besieged by an onslaught of the wolf savages.
Because of the difference in quality of the men holding down the fort from the front, being knights and elite warriors, they were faring much better against the wolves than I had expected. Sir Churchward and his knights were maintaining what looked to be an impenetrable shieldwall against an onslaught of savage beasts and werewolves supported by Harry to the side as each swing from his broadsword claimed the lives of several of the wolfbeasts whereas a few feet from the front of the Shieldwall, I saw Hunt was drawing most of the aggro from the wolves towards himself.
Watching the man fight on the frontlines on his lonesome, I could honestly say that if anyone deserved the title of ‘veteran adventurer’ it would be that man. As the Knights and Harry offered support by pushing against the wolfbeasts and werewolves, knocking them with powerful shield bashes, Hunt fought with a slim bastard sword which he held in one hand and a small buckler shield on his other. He fought with such a grace that one would think he were dancing were it not for the amount of carnage he was causing among the werewolves.
From what I saw, his elemental affinity was fire as each swing of his sword, flames followed suit, burning the severed limbs of the monsters he had cut to a crisp, effectively cauterizing the beasts with each slice. As I saw a beast trying to pounce him from behind, as if he had eyes on the back of his had, he had moved the buckler on his left arm to shield himself from the attack before in a split second, he had turned his body and countered the beast by slicing it in half as he brought his blade upward.
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I was half a mind to just let the man be as I already saw the corpses of half a dozen werewolves around him and a few dozen more wolfbeasts here and there as well, but as I saw there were still several more werewolves around the man and a dozen wolf beasts left and though he was trying his best to maintain his appearance, I could tell Hunt was regulating his breathing greatly as he was exhausting himself, I decided to help the man to at least end the battle quicker.
I ran up from a ramp before jumping and landing on Harry’s shoulder to boost myself which caused the man to flinch in surprise, but regardless I still leapt over him before I dove into the fray. I had made quick work of the beast grunts before I moved on to the werewolves. I could see that these beasts too were exhausted and that their will to fight was decreasing substantially as they saw me arrive and effortlessly destroyed many of the wolfbeasts. It was only after I had thrown Windwyrm at a werewolf with such a velocity that it pierced the monster completely and even landed in the stomach of its comrade behind it did the last couple of werewolves left decided to book it and run with their tails between their legs in different directions.
I gave Hunt a look before he nodded and I immediately leapt to pursue one of the retreating monsters while Hunt took care of the other. As I had passed the corpse which had Windwyrm stuck in its stomach, I pulled it out before immediately throwing it to the werewolf who at this point I noticed was smaller than the others. The blade had caught one of the legs of the werewolf as its velocity pinned it to the tree behind it. Soon enough, the werewolf had reverted back to its human form and what I saw caused me to freeze for a second as I saw the beast was nothing more than boy who was sobbing in pain as his feet was impaled upon a tree as he laid on his stomach, writhing in pain. He looked to be no older than twelve at most. This left a poor taste in my mouth.
As he saw me approaching him, he was shivering so bad that even when still sobbing, he only closed his eyes and grit his teeth as if waiting to accept the fate that was about to befall him. I steeled myself as I was prepared to bring down the killing blow, but just as my blade was about to fall on the child’s neck, I was startled as someone had grabbed my arm and stayed my hand. As I came to, I realised it was Hunt. At first I was confused as to what he was doing but it was only after I felt my hand and body shaking did I realise what had happened. I almost killed a child. War was cruel, I knew this to be true within my very flesh and soul, and the numerous wars I had waged during my time as emperor had most definitely orphaned not a few children or caused mothers to grieve for the deaths of their children. However, when it came down to having to actually murder a child personally, I don’t know how I was even able to consider it in the first place. But a little part of me was whispering that the child was dangerous, it was a monster that if left to grow up would wreak just as much havoc that could be avoided if he had just been slain there.
It was then that I saw Hunt let go of my arm and kneeled next to the boy before handing opening a small vial of what looked like a translucent potion before having the boy drink it. Soon after, the boy stopped shivering and whimpering as he closed his eyes for the last time. The heavy breathing had stopped and after that Hunt had pulled Windwyrm out from the boy’s leg that was pinned to the tree before handing the weapon back to me.
*You have gained 500XP!*
“This world can be exceedingly cruel Charles as I’m sure you already know without me telling you but you’re going to have to make harsh decisions in the future, but if I could just spare you from having to bear such heavy burdens at least even just for now… You have your future ahead of you and better to have an old sinner like me stain his already bloody hands.” Hunt said as he placed a hand on my shoulder. I only nodded with a stoic expression. As I saw the boys lifeless body once more, I shook my head off from any distractions.
“Sir Hunt, I’m afraid this battle is still quite a ways from being over. A few dozen of the monsters still remain and the last I saw of it, the enemy commander was close by surrounded by what looked like elite troops.” I gave my report to Hunt
“Then we must regroup immediately, if we can just survive this night and recuperate, I suspect the enemy has already lost most of their manpower here thus we could stage a strike tomorrow and-...!”
“FALL BACK!!” I could hear Ivan’s shout coming from inside the encampment causing me and Hunt to immediately rush in along with the knights as we had feared for the worst.
At the edge of the encampment which was the cliffside facing towards the enemy, I could see Ivan already engaging in a battle with several of the black-cloaked figures and around them were the corpses of three of the militiamen. “Fuck..!” I muttered under my breath as I saw the first fatal casualties our side had suffered since the beginning of this expedition. Between Ivan and the rest of the forces who had retreated, a wall of fire had again been erected by Mother Margaret to repel the shadowy attackers from causing further havoc in the camp. However, this also caused Ivan to be separated from the rest of us as he was now surrounded by what looked to be five of the enemy’s most elite troops.
*You have gained 1700XP!*
Ivan had summoned a protective casing of Ice around him after he had fatally struck one of the cloaked guards, but despite that he was being gravely pushed to the backfoot. It was then that I felt my heart almost sank to my stomach as one of the cloaked guard’s swords was heading towards Ivan’s neck, but it was then that Jenny had aimed her staff to the direction and blasted one of the assailants while the other managed to dodge but not before sinking his dagger deep into the left side of Ivan’s chest, near his heart.
Not willing to waste anymore time as my friend was in danger, I braved through Mother Margarets flame wall which caused me searing pain as my health took a considerable hit from it. Truly a formidable defensive spell, but regardless of any pain or damage I had incurred onto myself, I had struck one of the guards and pinned him to the ground, as I was struggling with him, I could feel the blades from the two other guards stabbing into me from behind as they had left the weakened Ivan out of their focus.
“CHARLES, NO!!” I could hear Hunt shout as he told the reverend mother to put down her defensive walls “Marge, take that wall down NOW!”
I was beginning to lose consciousness and my HP was draining like crazy, but I had kept my wits about me regardless as I was banking on one thing as I held Windwyrm and properly stabbed the fucker below me in his neck as he died gargling on his own blood.
*You have gained 1700XP!*
*You have leveled up!*
In that instant, I could feel all of my power returning and my health recovered near instantly as if the pain I had felt before was nothing but a lie. Even luckier for me, at the same time, Ivan who looked like he too was on death’s doorstep had leveled up as well as he recovered and the red flush returned to his face. In an act of our fury as we had regained our strength, we immediately lashed out on the remaining guards. Even though their faces were covered by black masks, I could tell from the glare of their eyes that they were shocked and were in disbelief at how two people who were just seconds ago on the fast track to the hereafter were now fighting as fit as a fiddle.
Both Ivan and I fully capitalised on this as we unleashed our most powerful abilities and quickly blew off the last of these bastards off of the cliff as their corpses - or what bloody remained of them - dropped to the ground.
*You have gained 1700XP!*
*You have gained 1700XP!*
“Charles! Ivan! Are you two alright-...?!” Hunt had shouted once more to ascertain our wellbeing as he too was flabbergasted but Ivan only nodded at him as it was almost as if I didn’t hear the man as I saw the head cultist muttering some spell as a large ball of flames was gathering in the middle of his two outstretched arms. No way in hell was I going to allow such a thing to proceed. From the looks of it, there were little more than a couple dozen of the wolfbeasts and werewolves combined left including the cult leader. I had fully intended to end this battle right then and there.
Without much care, I had leapt off of the cliffside towards the cultist as I propelled myself with the winds I gathered at my feet and I launched at the elderly-looking cultist like a bullet shot from a gun. It took perhaps only a few seconds before I had dug my blades deep into the old man as his eyes were filled with shock as to him I had appeared as if out of nowhere. I had expended a great amount of my recovered mana and energy doing this, but I didn’t need much of that to deal with the rest of the grunts so long as I took care of the fucker who now had his back on the ground as I continued to bury my weapons into him.
“What manner of monster-....” He started to speak as he saw me with eyes filled with both awe and fear but I didn’t give him the pleasure to be able to finish his sentence before I dragged my blades upwards in a cross slice as I severed his sorry head from his body. Just as I did that, I could feel the bloodrush once again come over me.
*You have gained 2400XP!*
Not wasting even a second after I had slain the head cultist, I quickly made my way to murder the rest of the beasts. As I hacked and slashed my way through the remaining few dozen monsters, I had engorged myself once more in a cacophony of whimpers, shrieks, and pained howls as I severed limb from limb, head from body, and sent a flurry of torrents around, wreaking chaos upon the field as body parts were sent flying around, covering more of the terrain with the red of blood and its metallic stench.
As every single one of the wolfbeasts had laid slain upon the field only about half a dozen werewolves were left and as usual they had chosen to flee from my grasp. The savage fools. As if they could even escape. Boosting my speed as I strode with the wind, I chased and hunted down the werewolves one by one as I stabbed each of them from the back, towards their necks, abdomens, and some even through their skulls.
This savage drive for blood I had felt continued on even after I had sliced apart the last of the fleeing enemies. Regardless of that, I was still breathing heavily as I looked around for more enemies to slay. It was only then did I hear someone call out to me which startled me.
“Carl! That was terrifyingly amazing but you should-...!! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!” Ivan had just approached me before I instinctively stuck out with my blades at him with the full force of my winds behind the strike. Luckily enough for Ivan, he managed to block in time despite being pushed back several feet as we were still clashing. It wasn’t until a few moments where Ivan once again shouted at me did I realise what was happening. “FUCKING CALM DOWN AND COME BACK TO US, IDIOT!!”
As I had dropped my weapons when Ivan shouted at me, he continuously shook my body to bring me back to my senses. Soon enough Hunt had appeared followed by a couple of knights and Sir Churchward in tow.
“What happened, Ivan? Is Charles alright?” Hunt said with the worry apparent in his voice as I’m sure he had seen the carnage I had caused earlier.
“I… I think I’m fine, I just lost my bearings a bit earlier. I should be fine now-...” I said before being cut off by Ivan.
“No! He still isn’t fully with us yet!” Ivan said before landing a painful and powerful slap across my left cheek which actually managed to do some damage to my hitpoints.
“WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR?!” I retorted in anger at the undeserved slap. I could swear Ivan had the biggest grin on his face.
“It’s alright folks! Rest assured the man is back with us!” Ivan said before he quickly booked it and hid behind Hunt before I could exact proper retribution to him.
“...Well, I’m glad you’re not hurt!” Hunt said as his arm around me before grinding his knuckles over the top of my head “You bloody whippersnapper! You made all of us worried!”
“Ahahahaha!! I’m fine, Hunt!”
“Alfred would surely kill me if anything were to happen to you…” Hunt said again before he finally let me go. It was only after a while did he look at me and proceeded to give me a slight bow. “Once more, our expeditionary forces are indebted to both you and Ivan. Though it is unfortunate that we had sustained some casualties, truth be told it would’ve been far worse for us had you two not been here and executed your plan, and for that I am grateful, truly.”
Sir Churchward followed suit as he gave me a knight’s salute. It was an endearing thing before I eventually returned their bows with respect. “It’s been a long night, and I think we should retire, rest, and recuperate our losses.”
“I couldn’t agree more, Charles.” Hunt said before he saw Ivan who was standing behind him and he grabbed him too before messing up Ivan’s hair like an older brother as we made our way back towards the encampment.
Just like that, some notifications appeared, ringing in my head.
*You have successfully defended the camp! You have gained 15000XP and 100 fame!*
*You have leveled up!*
*Your wind affinity has increased to level 4!*
*Due to your recent actions, your class has been changed to 'Warrior-Rogue', your sneak level has increased and you gain +5 to your agility!*
Would you look at all of that.... I wasn’t even going to pretend like I knew what a ‘warrior-rogue’ is but any bonus is appreciated especially with all kinds of trouble that I had yet to face. Regardless, rest and recuperation was needed and I was very famished as well. I wonder if we still had any meat in store to eat.