The gods of this world are flawed, jealous, pitiful mewling creatures not worthy of our regard, let alone our worship. They toy with mortal dreams and desires to suit their whims and machinations.
The Divines rage and war against each other in the ‘Great Game’, with us mortals as nothing more than their pieces, their pawns, to be moved about the board. The strongest among their servants they imbue with a portion of their divine power and enslave them to their ‘Holy’ cause.
They call such blessed beings their ‘Champions’. How do I know of this? The answer is simple, for I am one such Champion and I will break their game.
- A Record of Ash & Ruin by Gilgamesh of Uruk.
Something was applying a sharp pressure to my arm, moving it to the left and right, up, and down in forceful motions. I opened my eyes quickly, thinking that it was Kidu trying to wake me, only to find to my horror that a beast was savaging my arm. Screaming in shock rather than in pain, I saw that it resembled a six-legged furred creature that looked like a cross between an angry wolverine and a warthog.
Two forward-facing tusks continued to stab at my arm and sharp canines worried at my skin, as my Health steadily dropped. I punched the creature savagely between the eyes, striking reflexively with all my might. This just caused the beast to bite down harder, so I quickly drew upon a Power Strike, increasing the force behind my blow dramatically. It was a clean hit, forcing the creature to let go of my arm. It backed it off a few meters, its beady eyes still hungrily eyeing me as it looked me up and down.
My Health had dropped below eighty percent and I was bleeding profusely. A world of agony filled my arm. Screaming again, I closed my eyes in pain, holding my bleeding arm with my other hand. It was all the opening that the creature needed; it charged me again like an enraged bull who saw the matador’s cloak, almost leaping through the air with its animal speed. It slammed into me, reducing my Health even further. But its mouth, filled with jagged canines, was no longer seeking to bite me. It was then that I noticed a knife had sprouted from its neck causing blood to begin to pool around the wound.
Turning around to confirm who threw the blade, I saw Elwin give a faint incorrigible smile from deeper within the hollow. Weakly, he raised his hand in a thumbs-up before blowing a raspberry in my direction. A notice filled my vision as the creature finally died.
You have slain ??? 35 experience gained.
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
You have gained 1 Strength.
You have gained 1 Dexterity.
“Another bloody… What was that thing!? And thank you, thank you,” I said in equal parts incredulity and appreciation. Still flush with the shock of the encounter, the needs of the present forced me to quickly shove the unneeded emotion to the back of my mind. This encounter with a new monster was just another horror on a steadily growing list.
To dull the pain, I decided to cast Heal. As I cast the spell on myself, I checked over my Status and was pleased to see that the recent gains to my attributes had gone a little way to mitigate my recent losses from my Reaver class. Silently, the golden energies slowly filled my arm. Pain became a distant thing as the magic soothed it away like a warm balm that banished the sharp sting and caused torn muscles, ligaments, and tendons to knit themselves back together. I marveled at the wonder playing out before me, healing on a level far beyond anything in my own world.
“That thing will probably make good eating,” the Rogue added, intruding upon my thoughts. “But could you possibly be a dear and get me my knife back? I feel a little naked without it.”
Hands still shaking a little, I gave a mocking salute and went to retrieve the weapon that just saved my life. Ripping the dagger out of the creature’s neck, I took a moment to study the body. Beady eyes, now glazed in death, were set in a long bestial porcine face. But unlike a hog, it had small black whiskers, and its ears were short and triangular.
From its feral mouth, two pairs of yellowed ivory tusks protruded. Its hide was a thick mottled brown, with bristly fur that was growing cooler to the touch. Three pairs of small, yet muscular, legs were tipped with claws that looked useful for both tearing at flesh and climbing trees. From its nose to its short stumpy tail, it was roughly the size of a large alligator. I doubt I could have fended off such a beast in my old world.
Just as I had finished my observations, I asked Elwin, “What is this creature? This is the first time I’ve seen anything like it.”
“That’s a Tree-Laur, a juvenile male by the looks of it. Probably just left its nest a few months back. I best be about dressing the kill. Did you know that you scream like a girl?” Elwin jibed with an annoying sigh.
I fought back a sliver of annoyance, smiling weakly in return and giving a perfunctory chuckle, before growing serious, “Elwin! Thank heaven you are alive! Should you be up and about? What’s my name? What’s your name? How many fingers am I holding up?” I asked.
“I can remember my own name, remember your name too. The taste of my first hunt. My first lay with the village trollop too! Bah, she was a fine one. Safe to say, I’m further in your debt after getting brained by a Caru nut. Forgot that they grew around these parts. ‘When the wind blows, look up’ as the saying goes. Pah, my luck’s turned since I met you!” he laughed. His mirth was now infectious, and I joined him in it.