"I've had my eye on you this entire time, and I must say it was quite a distressing display". Although the Earth-Child's protective energy layer was difficult to break through for the raccoon, it still should've hung in there. Maybe fighting for it's life could've grinded it's abilities, pushing it to the next level. Instead of that, the raccoon cherished it's own life more.
Hearing that the hovering lizard had been observing him all this time shook the raccoon even further. It didn't know what it was about itself which could catch the interest of this big player, but if it had a choice, the raccoon would much rather deal with the Blast-Foot or Earth-Child. Even at the same time if it had to. Their abilities landed within the border of his estimations.
A ranking system was released by a strong faction of humans out in the constellations. This faction had strength and an ancient history. With the respect they commanded among spiritual beings, whatever analysis they made on the way of spirituality won't be lightly ignored. Like the light of the sun, their ranking system spread across the galaxy, being widely accepted.
They established the 3 foundational stages. Initiation into the way of spirituality began at the novice spirit level. Once they'd completed the six stages of a novice spirit, a practitioner will have reached the spirit scholar level. The raccoon, Blast-Foot and Earth-Child would be ranked as 6th stage spirit scholars. Touching the barrier which contained the adept level on the other side of it. On that level, a practitioner's energy could be materialized, imposing itself upon the physical world.
At the same time, the inhabitants of Xanti didn't use that ranking. They simply thought of them as level 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. By local rankings, the raccoon would be a level 2 spirit beast. One who was at the peak, about to evolve into an elite monster. A peak level two existence couldn't easily be dismissed. Unless you were already at the 3rd level, many of whom had their own subordinates.
The level 2 raccoon was currently trying it's best not to lose it's mind. Pent up emotions of all he went through tonight pressed down on him. All he wanted to do was meet back up with his family. He dearly wanted to take them somewhere safe. They had become his heaven away from the savagery of everyday life within these mountains. His death will surely cripple their chances of survival. Forcing his mate to make extra efforts to cover his absence was the last thing he wished to happen.
Shoulders slumped, the raccoon thought about what the silver lizard just said. The fact that the creature knew his every move was troubling, but it still pointed out it's inability to protect his family. Even now they were off somewhere alone. Fleeing one danger, with many more lurking in the other areas of the southern mountain. At this thought, new life was pumped back into him, his clawed fingers tightened on the roots.
With a tug and swing of it's body, the raccoon flipped back up onto the line. As it was bending it's foot. "Go ahead, run. See how far you could make it." Came a voice next to it's ear, making it's back shiver in startled fright. Looking around panickedly, it didn't see a sign of where the speaker came from. It stood frozen with it's tail sticking out erect. Quickly recalling the lizard's position, the raccoon's eyes shifted upwards. Straight into a pair of crimson ones, one of which suddenly winked at him when they made contact.
"I'm telling you now Mr.Raccoon, anything that comes into my gaze, I can see everything about it." Stated the lizard, boldly, pointing at it's eyes. "If I wanted to, I could make it so you wouldn't be able to take a single step. Obediently sit there and listen, I guarantee you want to hear want I have to say".
As a matter of fact, the raccoon was sure it didn't want to, but it didn't have a choice, considering the lizard could see it even before he made a move. He finally spoke back in the gnome language, carrying on in a faltering tone. "For such a great expert to take the time out to advise this puny one, I'm honored beyond words my lord."
The Optic Demon eyed the raccoon, it was immediately evident that the ignorant creature didn't know what kind of great fortune was right in front it.
Matters of it's life and death seemed to have totally escaped the raccoon's control. Taking it's recent track record into account supported this. That realization made it raise it's awareness. Leading to it being able to quickly react when it saw the silver lizard's eyes narrowing. The reins on it's life were currently held by the lizard, these big shots expected to see hopeful and fawning expressions on everyone's faces. There was normally nothing that you had which could interest such personages, if one of them did notice you, perhaps even took the time out to give you some tips, then that should be considered the greatest day of your life!
"Great magical lizard, I'm afraid a lowly one such as me is unworthy of even a breath of yours." It's wrist and hand turned eye catchingly on the way to it's midsection, bowing from the waist as it said this. The motions were done without a bit of stiffness, they flowed along fluidly then ended with a bow. Some time ago he'd learned this custom of greeting higher tiered warriors from his mother.
Raiken actually liked the moves himself, he wanted to ask the raccoon to do it again, but was afraid of damaging his lordly image. It also made him feel better about his plan. Old man Dragon-Eye would surely like the motions. A practiced eye would be able to see that the grace of a swordsman was largely embodied in them.
Now that he'd gotten a proper reception out the raccoon, the baby demon felt that it was time to dangle some juicy meat. Lowering his position till he was level with the raccoon, causing the wound up creature to flinch, he put on a reliable expression to lower it's guard a bit.
"You were acting like I wanted to eat you a moment ago. Surely you don't believe someone of my caliber would need to trick a small fry like you." He was still somewhat indignant at the raccoon behaving like he was some kind of trouble.
Locking it's body in place to stop it's trembling, the raccoon forced out a response. "G-g-gr- Great magical lizard, it is only right that beings of your stature be feared and respected by the masses."
Even in a bedraggled condition, the raccoon's reactions weren't slow. What came out it's mouth was very appropriate. Checking the silver lizard's expression, it sighed in relief when it saw the time bomb's expression ease up. From the sound of it's voice the raccoon guessed that the lizard was a baby version of it's species. A child was this powerful, then how strong would it be when it grew up?
"Very well, I suppose such things can't be helped after all. Your low battle power is to blame for this. Even that bird from earlier kicked your butt despite your awesome looking sword skills." Raiken admitted that the raccoon's sword skills definitely looked great, right on side of that he could also see they lacked the brimming essence of an unfettered spirit. Both the physical body as well as the spiritual one must move in concert. Meeting that condition made the destructive forces one could command increase drastically!
Hearing the lizard point out it's unsightly retreat before the Blast-Foot, the raccoon felt wronged. Unable to resist the need to explain itself, it momentarily forgot it's reservations. "I admit I have been slacking on my training lately. But anyone else in my shoes wouldn't have lasted a second." Although it was forced to run away, the raccoon was confident that another level 2 creature would've died had they been in it's place.
The Optic Demon wasn't convinced at all. "Lame excuses. But that can be left for later. You have a more pressing concern I'm aware of". Instead of wasting his breath on convincing selling points, he knew of a better way to make the raccoon leap into his palm. With a wave of his claw, a square of light appeared beside them, drawing the raccoon's wide eyes towards it.
"Take a good look at the object of your desire. With my help, you won't have to suffer so badly to obtain what you want the most". The Optic Demon's voice spoke in the raccoon's head irresistibly. An extremely attractive power was in the voice. The screen enlarged in it's view, showing a vivid motion picture that made the raccoon's eyes tremble once it got a good look.
An image of a raccoon with long eye lashes was shown on the screen. Four small cubs clung to it's back like glue. Staring sharply ahead, it stood with a sword held close to it's body. Through the clear screen which displayed the whole surroundings, the raccoon who watched saw what put it's fellow on it's guard.
A group of 7 possums cackled sinisterly as they appeared on the dirt path ahead of the raccoon carrying cubs. These possums didn't wear clothes like other monsters as a sign that they'd graduated from their wild, aimless natures. Like the Blast-Foot and Earth-Child, they only knew how to communicate with violence.
Bearing witness to the sight made the already unsteady raccoon's heart anxious. "Khenya"! A shout came from the bottom of it's very spirit, with trembling, desperate hands, it tried to reach into the screen out to it's beloved.
"Don't worry yourself. Watch what happens next." Looking on, Raiken thought that the grand display he was thinking of to make the raccoon worship him and lick his boots couldn't be appreciated in the current mood. There'll be other chances to make it realize his magnificence.
Changing the theme that would've occurred on the screen merely took a wave of his hand. Baring their sharp fangs, the possums brandished their claws, about to leap at the lone raccoon who would be distracted with protecting it's charges. They planned to make it the main dish, the little ones can be saved as a snack for later.
Just as they were about to release the tension in their muscles to leap at the prey, a crimson character written in light fell on one of them. Immediately upon contact it exploded into a wash of bloody light. Directed by an unseen hand, they moved to form an energy circulation pattern. It completed one circulation to activate the following effect, creating a spiral as it was being pressed into a red pellet.
Continuing to suck in the rest of the pattern made the pellet become more solid. Standing as witnesses to this horrifying scene playing out, the raccoon who watched, the one on the screen, and the possums felt a shiver in their very spirits. There wasn't even a corpse to show that a living being once stood in that exact place. To see someone inexplicably turn into light before their very eyes gave everyone watching a heavy feeling.
While the possums were stuck staring at where their comrade had dissapeared, the crimson character flashed towards another one of them. In no time there was another victim getting turned into a wash of red light. The remaining 5 possums forgot about the ready meal in front of them. Their minds only had room for thoughts of escape, instead of forfeiting their lives to something they couldn't even see how to fight, these beasts would much rather live on.
Pushing their four limbs to make haste, they sped away, running for the treeline to the left of the dirt path.
"Hey! How could you guys just run away like that?! I need more of you to finish condensing my blood pellet! Get back here"! All of them together was barely enough for him to solidify the pellet, Raiken didn't plan on letting the other possums go after they delivered themselves to him on a platter.
With a flicker, the original character divided itself into 5 other copies. They chased the fleeing possums, no matter how pitifully they cried out, the characters warped them into bursts of light as well. The raccoon carrying the cubs heard it's heart thumping loudly in the silence that followed. Them being seized by the frightening thing they'd just witnessed made it hard to feel relief at their potential molesters demise.
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Whatever this was, it was more of threat, one that could take your life without you even knowing!
Turning away from the pellet that was in the middle of taking on solid form, Raiken took in this female raccoon's expression. He scoffed at it, "Another ingrate. Are all your kind this unappreciative of their rescuers? The ones who wanted to eat her are already gone".
Seeing the lizard's eyes narrow again, the raccoon watching it's mate on the screen with an expression which had eased alot, hurried to smooth things over. "Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Don't worry about her lizard lord, you know how stupid girls are. I want to thank you on behalf of my mate and cubs though. My legacy could've ended here. It was as if the heavens were tightening it's fist around me"!
Laughing nervously, nevertheless, it's words were said in earnest. Now that it had been around the lizard without being killed for close to half an hour, the raccoon couldn't help lowering it's guard some, lest it strain it's mind. Resisting won't do anything but annoy this big shot. Facing someone who could claim the life of their targets without having to be present, it was best to accept whatever task they had for you happily.
"My lord, if it wouldn't be a problem. I'd like to ask what kind of matter could be worth you stopping to preserve our puny lives?" After all it went through tonight, the raccoon's heart was wrung out, leaving it feeling numb.
"Your strength is too low to speak of it now. Just know I'll find you when I need you. In the meantime take this, it would be a shame if I wasted my time only to have you die somewhere." Energy swirled between Raiken's fingers, becoming a blue slip of light which felt warm to the touch. A flick of his fingers turned it into a ray that plunged straight into the raccoon's brow area.
Avoiding it wasn't possible if it happened to be an attack, the raccoon's brain couldn't even relay Raiken's move to it. All it saw was a flash of light fill it's eyes, as it reeled back, a vibration went off in it's forehead. Symbols which were made up of shapes connected together by a countless number of lines spread across it's confused mind. Each part of this mental construct was designed to impart knowledge to the recipient. When the raccoon's attention inevitably came to it, explanations on how to manipulate the spiritual body was registered.
Don't let the raccoon's identity of a beast make you get it confused, it had read spirit refinement walkthrough manuals before. Circumstances were different for it than it was for the humans. The raccoon already had experience interacting with energies, it won't take it that long to begin applying the things it learned.
While it was caught up in reviewing some lines at the beginning of the blue slip, going over them again and again, feeling it's heart surge, the lizard's voice intruded at that moment.
He shared as well as understood the raccoon's delight for advanced modes of energy application. His stomach started clawing at him again though, and just at the right time he sensed something coming.
"Alright now, off you go. I'll be taking care of that little trouble that almost drove you to the edge of death. Next time I see you, your skills should have improved considerably." Raiken was ready to send the raccoon off. He'll be able to find it again later when he was ready to collect it for that special purpose he had in mind.
The raccoon was unable to hide it's relief at being allowed to go free. Getting enslaved by the silver lizard was definitely not out of the question. It was still confused about how it managed to pique the creature's interest. The lizard even used it's great abilities to imprint a spiritual movement tactic in it's mind. This hinted at a future need for his service, so the raccoon was feeling slightly hopeful it could make it out of this in one piece.
That aside, the raccoon was ready to get on it's way. It was only a matter of time before the caterpillar monster stumbled onto this particular passage going through the overhang. In it's short encounters with it, the raccoon had become uncomfortably familiar with the beast's persistence.
"Well, I'll not continue to linger as you said, lord lizard. Once again I thank you, and look forward to the day we'll meet again." With a beaming smile on it's face, the raccoon charged up it's movement method, preparing to speed away.
Casting a look at the raccoon, Raiken shook his serpentine head, then he pointed one of his slender, clawed fingers at it. "At your speed, you'll take forever to reach the object of your desire. I'll lend a poor creature like yourself, who's in need, a hand."
An ominous sensation rose inside the raccoon's heart as it stared at the finger. Smile still frozen on it's face, it saw a crimson light blink at the tip of it. Not even a second later, the raccoon was covered in waves of crimson energy. Before the look on it's face could change to panic, a feeling of weightlessness surrounded it's body. With a blast of wind that shook the whole area, the raccoon flew into the sky. A faint screech was heard as the crimson light carrying the raccoon curved out of sight.
Sending a glance up at the direction the raccoon dissapeared, Raiken got a good laugh picturing the expression on it's face as it flew through the mountain at tearing speeds. As he was still getting his laughs off, a rumble shook the passage, making the net of roots swing from side to side.
Letting such a great refinement material like the raccoon get away would really pain the Earth-Child. Giving up never occurred to the beast, it planned to keep chasing until it picked a signal up again. The front half of it's chubby body appeared between the packed earthen walls of the overhang. With the lane of yellow light carrying it around, it's movements were quite smooth. On its side, a scab was already growing on the gash the raccoon sliced open on it.
When it caught up this time, the Earth-Child decided it would just swallow the raccoon without engaging in a drawn out battle. Similar to how it noticed the Earth-Child's persistence, the Earth-Child in turn recognized the raccoon's slipperiness. In it's simple mind, the Earth-Child had the idea to quickly close in, putting a rap to this whole thing. It didn't want to run around on the surface for too long, the enclosed shelter of the underground was where it belonged and felt most at home.
Moonlight fell through the net of roots that made an open ceiling above. A pair of crimson eyes watched the juicy caterpillar looking monster stretched out on the lane of light as it moved through the passage beneath them. Instead of looking scared and hiding away upon seeing such a terrifying monster, the pair of eyes actually had a happy glow in them. The owner of the pair of eyes moved into a spot of moonlight, lighting up it's scaled silvery form, making it hard to miss.
One of the spots of light suddenly brightening up would naturally catch the Earth-Child's eye. It looked and saw a silver worm with legs across from it, the creature was awfully tiny with it's twig like body. That silver light on it's body looked nice, but such a puny specimen wouldn't even fill up the gaps between it's teeth, so after marveling at the sight of the worm for a bit, the Earth-Child turned away to continue on with it's objective.
There wasn't even a stir in it's appetite for the creature, the raccoon was who it had it's sight set on. This was an important matter involving a vital stage in it's development. The things it could glean from behind the wall to the next level made it's heart ache with longing. It didn't have the time to stop and indulge in the sight of a pretty silver worm with legs, the sight only diverted it's attention for a moment.
None of the Earth-Child's measly thoughts would amount to anything unfortunately. From how everything was looking up to the point where Raiken poked his claw into it's business, it was more than likely the raccoon would've met it's end here. Where it's fate was to become fuel for the Earth-child's evolution, by then it would be at the end of the foundation stage, after a number of year's comprehending it's innate element, another chance to break into an even more terrifying level will be presented.
The heavens were quite unfair here, the bright prospects of a creature that could've reached a level where legends were told of it for generations to come would be brought to a halt.
Raiken's hungry mind was already picturing the Earth-child's juicy meat roasting over a blazing fire. His slender finger pointed at a spot 2.04 meters away from the creature's head, along it's spine. On the outside nothing visible happened. But if one were to look inside the beast's body, they would see the area around it's heart shimmering. The Earth-child's body jerked once, then fell over on it's side with a big crash.
Death came so swiftly the beast didn't even feel any pain. It's heart exploded into red specks of light, they shot outside of it's body and solidified themselves again, floating above Raiken's hand. A light flickered brightly in his eyes, the energy in his surroundings began to surge, it circulated around the heart, gradually crystallizing it. Blue streams of energy resembling fog swirled around the heart, they were guided into it at a turn of Raiken's finger.
In the darkness with a surging blue fog surrounding him, holding a beating heart, this was one hell of a sight. It's a good thing no one was around to witness the horror. If someone had been there, they probably would suffer from nightmares of their hearts bursting into lights, exiting out of their chests like a swarm of fireflies.
It barely took a minute for the heart to totally crystallize, after it did, Raiken tossed it up in the air, holding his mouth open to catch it. Golden seals pulsed and beat inside the crystal heart, it was something you didn't get to see ordinarily. With an eager gulp, Raiken swallowed the heart whole when it came back down. It was broken down to a barely adequate level of energy, he had to administer a few of his own techniques to push the heart to a higher level refinement material.
He planned to use it as a foundation, adding more to it later, till it reaches a stage where he can condense a draconic orb. With a wave of his hand, the Earth-child's huge body floated up next to him. "He, he, he, it's time to have one of those grand feasts I read so much about. This big guy should have more than enough meat on it's body to fulfill my needs". Rubbing his hands together with a cackle, Raiken took off to collect his humans.
After he got back on the screen of air, where the humans were still attempting to uncover the mysteries of their blood sea, they took off in a flash. The screen of air flew lightly through the sky, not even a blur could be seen, until they stopped, appearing above the hole the Earth-Child dug to the surface.
The Optic Demon's expression didn't change when his eyes looked down at the scene playing out below him. He attached an optic relayer to the Blast-Foot when he noticed the potential lying dormant in it's blood. On his way over here he checked on it, and was greeted by the sight of the Blast-Foot diving into a small crowd of brown furred rats with sharp claws and fangs.
Pain filled squeaks rang out as the Blast-Foot's body became a static image. Flinging out kicks with sharp turns of it's body, a Dire-Rat was sent flying on contact with the rough sole of it's wide foot. It's head darted out as well, ripping chunks out of them and eating them on the spot. While it's mouth was still full, it's leg flew out, catching another rat on the points of it's talons.
Hopping up on it's other leg, it wrenched the rat's head to the side, making it's neck give a loud crack. After it swallowed the blood dripping meat it's head flickered forward in a blur, scraping the flesh off of a rat's chest with the tip of it's beak. A heart was held in it's mouth when it drew back, it burst like a water balloon with blood splashing around when the Blast-Foot's beak snapped close.
Blood flew around and splattered the ground. Chunks of shredded meat were slapping against the faces of rats as the Blast-Foot unleashed it's savagery. These Dire-Rats were normally very fierce when they had one of the great daughters leading them. Or when they had the Earth-child rampaging beside them. They tried to claw and bite the Blast-Foot but the bird's kicks crushed the life out of their bodies for the impudence.
For the Blast-Foot, running into these guys somewhat relieved it's frustration at having to eat the raccoon's dust. Some of these rats had reached the 6th refinement layer of the body, which was a peak level one existence. After a small pile of them built up, the Blast-Foot chirped in satisfaction. It kicked the other rats around it away with a series of kicks that crackled with energies.
The bird and it's pile of 6th layer bodies needed some space. Looking down, the Blast-Foot tweeted, glad it wouldn't have to dine on regular animals for it's dinner. Those other rodents should take this chance while it was satisfied with it's harvest to make their escape. They should feel lucky that the Blast-Foot didn't have the mood to continue the slaughter. It was ready to eat, after that it would turn in to refine the energy it'd absorbed.
As it ignored the living Dire-Rats and began to dig into one of the corpses in the pile beneath it's feet, the Blast-Foot sensed a disturbance in the air. Before it could see what hit it, a sharp pain flared up on the side of it's face. With an enraged cry, the Blast-Foot hopped up, looking around with murderous eyes. After a quick search it found what it was looking for, a Dire-Rat holding a bone staff.
Being present there holding a bone staff set it apart from it's brethren, who the Blast-Foot didn't even bother trying to tell apart. In the bird's mind, this peculiar characteristic of holding a staff was damning evidence that this particular rat was the culprit. Once it was done determining that, the Blast-Foot got ready to send the rodent to meet it's maker.
What the bird couldn't see, but Raiken could quite clearly, was the energy in it's surroundings reacting to the rat. Upon taking a closer look, his eyes began to shine seeing the broken blue crystal in it's claw. The piece of crystal contained pure magical energy, even being broken away from the larger piece it came from, there was hardly any negative effects on the energy.
Natural treasures like those were put to optimum use in the hands of existences such as Raiken. The things they could do, and the potential they could harness was unimaginable. None of the reigning clans of Emerald Sky country would be able to remain at ease if they realized the danger this young Optic Demon posed.