Daggensford, a small village on the outskirts of the Tenal Forest, also known as the Sea of Trees for it was one of the largest forests within the country, providing a natural border between the Land of Steel and the Dwarf colonies.
Located right on the equator it enjoys a warm climate all year long, and with the abundance in vegetation and wildlife, it made for an ideal place to live, gathering refugees and optimistic youths to come flocking in drove. It's fertile land and mild seasons assured the fact that the land surrounding it provides for 30% of the world's grains and other food products.
The village was a calm and peaceful one where one could enjoy a slow life tending to the farm or the slightly more exciting one of a hunter of small game. Sleepy villages like these were a dime a dozen on the boarder of Tenal, however today the hands of fate decided to pay special attention to this otherwise unremarkable location. Or rather, within the depths of the surrounding forest, for while the outskirts were only occupied with small game, a vast quantity of mana was found deep within, giving birth or a wide variety of Mana Beasts. Mutated monsters born or acquired the blessings of magic, capable of performing terrible feats of arcane or physical might.
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"Shit, watch out!"
A large man shouted at his companion as he charged in to distract their enemy. A giant beast that towered over even his considerable stature of 7'2. He was a demi-human with a bit of giant in him, and although it was diluted through the generations he was still quite proud of his height. However, in front of the massive bulk of an Armored Bear, he was simply no match in terms of size or strength.
Adams Langston was the Captain of the Red Wind mercenary team, having years of experience and a reputation for his immense bravery and physical prowess that would even put a lion to shame. He could easily crush rocks with his bare hands, he ate monsters like the feared Ironclaw Tigers for breakfast, kids used his biceps as monkey bars! He was a manly man amongst men! A living legend within the county!
That still didn't stop him from becoming the monster's chew toy for the past 15 minutes defending his squad.
It might have the word "Bear" within its name, but it was by no means a common mundane creature. Steel-blue scales covered every inch of it in a rock-solid coating of its namesake, even while laying down it towered over him, each leg was more appropriate to be called moving pillars of flesh than any limb belonging to a living creature. No common blade could pierce its hide without prodigious strength, and no arrows could ever hope to come close to finding any gaps in its defenses, for there was simply none to be had. Even his famed herculean strength was barely able to faze the beast!
Its eyes had thick membranes as if to show its reptilian traits besides its scales. Its muscles were dense enough that even where its armor and tough hide were at the thinnest it would still be able to casually stop their Rogue's daggers. Even the inside of its mouth had skin thick enough to compare to any leather armor. The arrows it had swallowed earlier in the battle only managed to piss it off. Truly it was a bleak battle, yet none of them had given up. His archer had silently repositioned for a better vantage point, the Rogue slithered back into the dense shadow of the trees and undergrowth, and he could already hear the cleric preparing another blessing to fortify their defenses in her faint chanting.
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All he had to do was hold out. Even for another hour. Another minute. Another second. He'll hold out for however long it took until his friends manage to come up with a plan because while admittedly he wasn't all that smart, he sure as hell can stall this stupid beast.
He didn't know the meaning of giving up.
Tossing away his broken sword, the Captain of the Red Wind ducked beneath a swipe of the bear's claws and rolled over to the left, picking up the item he had been eying the entire time. Another tower shield.
"Come, beast. I bet your fur will make a fine carpet for our dining room after we sell your Core!"
An enraged roar answered him. Even if it lacked the wit to comprehend human speech, the creature understood the mockery in the Captain's voice. With the banter well and done with the two charged each other. One to crush the annoying insects who dared to intrude upon its territory, the other putting his life on the line for some coin.
Just another average Tuesday for the life of a mercenary if he was, to be honest.
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"Man, that sure was a scare, I can't believe we didn't notice the thing until it was right upon us!" A bark of laughter full of a hint of exhaust rang out as a blonde man slide down a tree next to the fallen monster. His cloak filled with broken twigs and leaves, although which was from the excursion and which was originally apart of his green outfit was unknown. His piercing blue eyes stared at the creature in slight awe beneath his hook nose.
"I can't believe you didn't notice it until I almost lost my friggin head! Scouting ahead for shit like this is your job, dumbass. What kind of ranger can't even detect such a bigass bear?!" The said ranger jumped in surprise as the voice popped out from behind him.
Well, that and the feeling of cold steel on his neck from her decidedly sharp dagger.
"Woah, my bad, I'm sorry, ok? How about you put that down and I'll treat ya to dinner as an apology, alright?"
Adam laughed loudly as he watched the familiar drama play out in front of him. It's a comforting sight especially after such a hard battle. He rinses his mouth with some water before spitting it along with a broken tooth into some bush and rummages through his bag. After a moment or two, he quickly retrieves his prize.
An apple.
With a large grin, he happily bites down on it while sipping on a healing potion as if an energy drink. The sweetness of the fruit helps washes away the taste of iron and blood in his mouth along with the unpleasant tang of the potion. Useful as they may be, the taste has always been absolutely horrid. He walks up to the fallen bear and kicks it harshly on its nozzle. Call him petty all you want, but the feeling was far far too enjoyable for him to care.
Screw respecting the dead, or animal abuse activist, the thing tried to kill him and was being an asshole.
"Alright boys, enough bickering, let's pack up and get outta here. First-round will be on me tonight." Adam started making good on his promise as he carefully skinned the beast after removing its heart, crystalized into a fist-sized orb of energy, and left the remains behind for the animals.
He tossed his half-eaten apple behind him along with the mostly empty potion bottle carelessly and lugging everything on his back. All without knowing that the apple he so kindly "planted" today next to the corpse of a Mid-level Mana beast and remnants of potion would grow splendidly thanks to his contributions and would one day shake the world.
All because he wanted an afternoon snack and couldn't be bothered to not litter.