"Move, you big piece of!"
I groaned as I shoved against the final, massive log. With a creak, it finally toppled over and rolled into the open area around the life-pod tree.
It was the last I needed for my plan. Dripping with sweat, I put my back against it and rolled the almost two-meter thick log further into the clearing. It was partially rotten, but with a solid core; at least that's what I hoped after poking it a bit.
Cleared of branches, some as thick as my waist, it reminded me of the pillars that held up a massive roof. But that wasn't what I was going to do with it. With a grin, I grabbed my ax. What I wanted to make would take too much time with the small knife, and minute details would be a waste.
Wood splinters shot around as I cracked and carved the wood into the form I wanted. The legs' details came first, a crouched shape, something I had learned from the small dog statue I had made. Then the head, ears flat against the head, and a muzzle drawn out in a snarl—long teeth, as thick and long as daggers, close together. Hollowing out the mouth was a chore, but I needed the thing to be able to bite.
As I crawled back out of the mouth, which my upper body fit into snugly, I stepped back and inspected my massive Wirg. It was far from beautiful, but it didn't have to be. I added a few minute additions, a saddle carved into its back with a container for the massive nut, the outlining of a long tail with a sharp blade on the tip, and sharp claws.
Looking at the park's exit, I wished I knew the time, but there was no real sun here. Time seemed to always be the end of the afternoon, bordering on the evening.
Time to test if it would work. I had no idea if there was a size limit to my Vengeful Mount spell and if a Wirg made a good mount, but it was a design I knew by heart. Putting my hands on the mount, I tried to draw in a spirit. Nothing happened, and after ten seconds, I began worrying, when I finally felt something. A massive, angry thing rolled forward like a wave, crashing over me and surging into the wooden mount. Two loud pings came from my status, but the wave drowned them out. As it swirled around me, images and memories came, something that had not happened before, and suddenly I was somewhere else, something else.
Panting and wounded, I stood below a massive mountain. Its many small shadowy ravines and gullies a comforting sight. The hunters' oddly hollow sound was disappearing into the distance, and as I lumbered forward, I searched for a spot to hide. Seeing a dark hole inside a landslide, I sniffed, but a wound across my nose prevented me from smelling anything but my blood. Looking carefully, there were no signs of predators or the horrible sharp-eyed, metal wielding hunters, so I moved inside. Something keened through the air behind me, slamming into my back and causing more of the intense, burning pain. Voices, high pitched and screeching came, and from impossible hiding places, inside crevices and behind boulders, the small green hunters came. Their odd metal weapons easily pierced my thick fur and the layer of fat below. The previous injuries combined with these new ones made me stumble. I tried to drag myself further into the crevice when something struck me in the head, and I slumped. Oh, father Leafbeard, bring me to your great realm so that I may hunt in peace, I lamented as the light left my eyes.
With a blink, I stepped back and looked at the massive Wooden Wirg in front of me. As I looked, the wooden exterior changed slightly, as etchings of fur appeared that slowly extruded out. Two deep red eyes gazed at me, and I saw more intelligence than I had ever seen from a Vengeful Spirit.
I swallowed and nodded as I quickly summoned my status to find out what the hell was going on.
> You have made a massive sized wood-sculpture of mediocre quality
> You have drawn an Ancient Vengeful Spirit inside of a massive vessel
> Only found in extraordinary places, these Spirits will augment the bodies they inhabit to fit them better
> An Elder Howling Leafbear is now inhabiting your wood carving
> Duration set to two days
Ok, I thought, looking at the quietly waiting mount. Under my gaze, its muzzle turned slightly more stubby, and its paws slightly shorter and thicker. It still resembled a Wirg more than any Bear I knew. One on steroids.
"Do you understand me?"
The massive head lowered slightly, and I felt confirmation from the powerful spirit. I could also detect less anger on the surface of its mind as if the spirit somehow managed to contain it. There was plenty bottled below the surface, though.
I examined it a while longer, wondering if it would be ok with me riding it. Then I sighed.
"I'm going to strengthen your body a bit."
The red eyes just looked straight at me.
I shrugged and carefully put my hands on one of its legs to cast Strengthen Wood. I had to cast it three times, and when I finished, the dark wooden fur was gleaming dully.
Putting the nut in the container I had made, I mounted the Leafbear, which didn't complain. It was much taller than Random, and I could already feel my hips creak from the strain of sitting on it. Still, gazing at the massive taloned paws, I couldn't stop myself from grinning.
"Let's go, Barry," I said, giving it the first name that came to mind. Eliandra would have something to say about it if she ever found out. She always said I was horrendous with names. I had always thought she secretly disliked Est, even though she never said anything about it.
The Vengeful Spirit didn't have any comment, and it shot forward, startling me with its speed and light footedness.
Jumping across anything in its way and smashing the paths too narrow, it exited the park in under a minute. As I steered it in the direction of the entrance, I scanned the trees, undergrowth, and destroyed buildings around me for any potential threats.
A few minutes later, a massive explosion rang my ears.
It came from the portal's direction, and as I rubbed my ears, I had Barry slow to a trot. His massive bulk made surprisingly little sound. Hanging low across his back while holding the grips in his neck, we snuck forward.
Sounds of roaring and battle came, combined with smaller explosions. It was coming from around the last corner towards the entrance area. Getting a bad feeling, I climbed down from Barry and snuck to the toppled wooden building that blocked my view.
Figures with red hair intermingled with grey figures as they dashed around a group in the middle of the square. Throwing fireballs and striking with fire tentacles, the Cinderage and Preyatar followers attacked a group of Stonites that stood in the middle of the square, back to back.
The stonites were striking with their swords in the air, white slashes of energy shooting outwards at the nimbly dodging Preyatar archers. Grey energy shields stuck to their arms were used to block the incoming attacks. Although they seemed remarkably evenly matched for two groups with such un-even numbers, a closer look showed the truth.
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A dozen massive Stonite bodies lay unmoving on the ground, while only two Flame headed and one Preyatar had died so far.
Bastian stood in the center of the ring of Stonites, his large stature towering over the others as he repeatedly cast spells. His massive fingers moved at an impressive speed and glowing grey runes hung in the air around him. Each time a fireball was flung to the group, one of the runes shot forward to intercept it. At the same time, two groups of runes hung to the side, growing slowly and pulsating.
"It's that ax-crafter!"
A high pitched shout came from the side, and I spun around. Richal exited the building I had left Ulderion in, Listrin following after, and they immediately ran my way.
Shouts came from the fight in the center, and three of the Preyatar hunters disengaged and came my way. Although all clad in grey and wielding swords and bows, they were all distinctly different, and each had a bearing as if they alone were the true Prime of their Deity.
Shit, this just keeps getting better and better.
I spun and ran around the corner, climbing back atop Barry.
"It looks like we are going to see what you can do a bit sooner than anticipated!" I growled, stuffing my bag atop the seed, hoping to keep it out of sight. Rising in the stirrups, I held my ax with my two left hands and nudged Barry forward. With one hand, I quickly made sure my throwing axes were ready before casting entangle. I primed it as Barry leaped around the corner with enough vigor to make me clench tighter with my thighs so I wouldn't be dislodged from the saddle.
A startled shout came from the Preyatar hunters that were only a meter from us. Two jumped out of the way, while the last one smoothly grabbed its bow, nocked an arrow, and shot it in a single fluid motion that would have made any elf I had ever read about proud. I bent down in a rush, but the arrow wasn't aimed at me. It struck Barry's head, a finger's breadth from one of his eyes. The Vengeful Spirit didn't even flinch as it jumped forward, rose on its hind legs, and grabbed the archer. I saw the scared and panicked look on the archer's face, and then he vanished. A loud scream cut through the battle clutter, followed by crunching as Barry bit down on the archer's upper body.
As the combatants turned to look at us, the archer's lower body dropped to the ground while his bowels hung from Barry's mouth. A stunned silence ensued as everyone seemed to wait for the others to act.
"Kill that crafting worm!" Listrin screamed, and immediately everyone lurched back into motion.
Two more Preyatar archers turned to us while the others continued shooting at the Stonites. My mind spinning in overdrive, a cool clarity came over me, and I rose in the stirrups, casting entangle at the densest group of Preyatar and Cinderage followers. Not waiting to see what happened, I grabbed three throwing axes, and with deadly accuracy, hurled them at the nearest two archers. Like blinking stars, they shot forward, glittering in the light.
The archer I threw two at managed to dodge one, only for the second to slam into his exposed side. He screamed, falling to the ground and trying to rip the ax out. The other archer drew and shot an arrow in one motion, but Barry was barrelling straight at him by that time. The arrow hit Barry in the chest, and I bent along his waist, holding on with two hands as I slashed my long-handled ax at the dodging archer. Luck or skill, the ax struck him between his neck and shoulder, cleaving it as blood spurted up and around.
Jerking the ax out, I looked up only to feel something slam into my chest. The green bar representing my health popped into view, draining until half-filled and orange. Looking down, I saw the arrow shudder, and I blinked, wondering why I didn't feel anything. As if a dam breached, the pain came, and I howled. Barry jumped sideways, almost dislodging me from the saddle, but I didn't complain when I heard arrows streak through the spot I had just occupied.
Looking around, I saw Richal and Listrin close by. The massive warrior was glowing like an ember, his hairs swirling around in fire as he jumped forward. Flames licked around his bare hands, and he seemed intent on fighting Barry.
Listrin's hands, in the meantime, were constantly moving as she started casting something. A red haze began glowing around her.
Not gonna happen! I thought as I grabbed two of my remaining axes and flung them at her. She had been watching me and dodged to the side. At that moment, Richal reached us, and he slammed into Barry. I could feel the massive wooden body shove to the side. Seeing more arrows pointed my way, I released the stirrups and let myself drop backward off Barry.
"Kill the fire-haired ones!" I screamed as I hit the ground. The arrow in my chest stung like crazy, and in a wave of anger, I ripped it out, roaring in agony.
Barry jumped and slammed into Richal, knocking him backward. The red-haired warrior flipped mid-air, slamming his fist into the side of Barry's head and leaving scorch marks.
Scrambling up, I grabbed the last two throwing axes and turned to Listrin, who stood eight meters from me. She was casting again, and I saw dozens of small balls of fire float around her arms. Ranged, I thought and immediately ran forward, intent on closing the distance. Within four steps, she saw me coming, and a nasty smile spread across her face as she raised her hands my way. Like a Gatling gun, the little balls of fire spurted my way, and I didn't even get a chance to dodge. I managed to raise my ax in reflex, and it blocked the balls aimed at my face, but the rest struck me like punches from a boxer. Flaming, burning punches that left blisters of burning pain.
My health bar began draining rapidly, forty, thirty. I jumped to the side, running and dodging. A few of the balls continued to hit me as the stream blasted across the ground and past me. Anything it hit burst out in flames. Then it stopped.
Breathing heavily, I turned to Listrin. The fireballs were gone, but she was casting rigorously, and I had the feeling she was summoning more.
Looking for the archers, I saw they had turned away from me, focused on the Stonites that had broken out and were now rushing them in a last bid for victory. To the side, Barry was fighting with Richal, who had dozens of long bleeding slashes across his chest and arms, but a wide grin on his face.
Running towards Listrin, I came to a sliding halt and half-heartedly threw one of my last two axes. She grinned at me, jumping to the side. It was exactly what I had expected, and as soon as I saw where she was doing, I threw the second ax, but this time with all my strength behind it. As soon as the ax left my fingers, I sprinted forward. Listrin's eyes widened, and she bent her body in an odd angle to try and dodge the second ax. The ax-blade sliced across her shoulder and arm, cutting through her paltry armor, and she cried in anger.
I reached her just as she crawled up and struck down with my ax held in all four hands. Listrin raised her hands, casting something when my ax-blade sliced through her fingers and down into her collarbone. Her angry scream stopped with a halting sputter, and blood sprayed from her mouth. Ripping the ax free, I cut her head off with a single motion.
Something struck my back, and I stumbled forward, across Listrin's body, to fall on the ground. Arrows wooshed around me as my health bar dropped below ten percent.
A surge of power filled me as my body heated up like an oven. I felt my muscles twitch and bulge, and I rolled to my feet, turning to the archers. Two of them were just releasing two arrows my way, and instinctively I slashed my ax through the air in front of my face. I felt no resistance, but two pings followed while the arrows ricocheted away.
Feeling the power in my legs, I let my upper body fall forward a little as I bent through my knees. Then I jumped forward, and like a cannonball, I shot towards the archers. They spread out, one going left, the other right. Turning with the right one, I reached him as he dropped his bow and grabbed two daggers. Without waiting, I began twirling my ax in an offensive pattern. It streaked through the air, and the nimble archer began dodging, panic written on his face. Using his daggers, he tried to direct my ax away, but the small metal daggers rang and were ripped from his hands. My ax sliced low towards his belly, and as he dodged back, I groaned and pushed out, forcefully interrupting the arc and turning it into a jab. The points of the butterfly ax slammed through his armor and into his belly, and he fell to the ground.
Another arrow struck my back, and suddenly my health bar was red, almost empty and blinking. Time seemed to slow to a crawl, and it felt as if everything was moving in slow motion. I turned around, my mind growing fuzzy, and saw the archer, nocking another arrow in slow motion. He was ten meters away, and I'd never reach him in time. The Stonites were too busy to help, and Barry too far. That left me with only a single option. With bulging muscles, I forced my body to move, and faster than anything around, I stepped forward, raised my ax, and hurled it at the remaining archer. As the ax twirled through the air, over and over again, I saw his eyes slowly widen as he pushed the bow slowly to the side in an attempt to dodge. Then the ax reached him, slamming into his chest. The archer was lifted off the ground and began flying back.
The speed began increasing again, and I knew I would be out soon.
"Barry, get me out of here!" I roared with my last energy. I pitched forward on my knees and tried to stop myself from slamming face forward in the ground. Something was thudding my way, but my vision was dimming.
Vaguely I felt something grip me, a dull pain flaring up from my second left arm. Then it was as if I was on a boat, the world rocking and spinning, air swirling around me. The sounds faded, and I did my best to keep myself conscious.
"Bring me to trees," I muttered.