Michael
The thing comes at us from a different angle, almost faster than my eyes can follow moving on multiple legs between the trees at speeds that contradict its large size. I turn left as I feel another moving in from the left, their oily aura irritating my sinuses the most immediate way to tell that another is coming.
For whatever reason, my spear is on the ground too heavy for me to wield and too uncomfortable in my hands. I pull my short sword from my waist but its balance is also off, and as it gets heavier in my hand it’s also getting unwieldy so I drop it as well looking around for our assailants.
Saya is unarmed but there is an orange silent flame billowing around her like a candle in the wind. No one has a weapon in hand but as the first pseudo-spider creature launches itself within our mists Kuyoki is there with her katana in hand like a dancer of death. Her silent attack flows like water to reach her target seeming to have glided through air, echoes ring in the forest as sparks fly off the thing from the impact with her katana.
[Krrrrr]
The thing screeches and retreats before running around our position to the sides guarded by Shea and Nikita with her exploding concoctions. The second one comes in from the side at speed, its large head at least three metres high and its body surrounded by a dark carapace and fine hairs. It collides solidly cracking its carapace on the previously invisible trap barrier which forms cracks from the impact.
[KA-TRA TRA] Yellow-orange lightening whips into the disoriented creature arching up from Zhen with concussive force. The scent of ozone fills the air but the creature scuttles about more barriers locking it in.
[KA-TRA TRA]
[Krrrrrrrr] It screeches an unholy sound ramming headfirst against the increasingly cracking barrier in a crazed frenzy.
I’m not sure what to do as I’ve become accustomed to having a weapon in my hand and so far only the katana wielders seem to have no trouble keeping their weapons in hand. Looking at the truck-sized arachnid thing, running towards it unarmed is the last thing on my mind.
I retreat letting those with magic handle the thing. The other one is running around in circles confused by illusions Mirabilis seems to be weaving around it as she runs at its flank whilst Shea splashes it with acidic blood floating out of a gourd on her waist.
Yea, they seem to have this under control.
*
A human runs in at speed, displacing the rain particles and using them as a second skin as he charges. Every rindrop he crashes into absorbed into the second skin being conjured by the human's magic. He bares his teeth as he growls launching forward in barehanded violence.
[BUSplat!]
He crashes into Archer with a raised left knee and elbow. Clothed in nothing but aura a bit of water ability and bad attitude he collides into Archer’s Indomitable Wall to a spray of steam from the pressure on the water, seemingly a wasted attack as he surely injured himself. I have to admit I am pleasantly surprised though, its been mostly easy picking until now.
A right hook comes through the invisible wall and crashes into Archer’s ear hard enough that I feel the vibration at my feet before I even hear the sound. The sound wave itself is distorted but whatever that ability was.
Archer grunts, his head snapping to the left, he stumbles missing a step, but as a veteran of the Miamo he is blocking a foot that had managed get into another crack in his Wall before taking a counter retreat only to find that he has met his match in speed.
The human stays close preventing the chance for the Wall to be reaffirmed, which keeps Archer on a perpetual back foot unless he is willing to take another hit. Which he is and does as he takes a knee in the gut that has the same explosive power as the punch, a chakra skill? It seems these humans are more developed than we initially gave them credit for to have unlocked the secrets of chakra.
Archer spouts more acid drenching them both but the human doesn’t even attempt to dodge but dilutes the acid on his sizzling water layer while delivering two quick devastating punches and another knee to the midsection before having to dodge a subsequent knee from Archer.
The exchange is furious before a slight pause where they seem to assess each other anew, so it’s that kind of hunt? The human is back again with vigour, still baring it’s teeth in an insane grin as it attacks from seemingly all angles, its skin steams and it’s clothes slough off from the acid but still it doesn’t relent. Blow after ceaseless blow after blow colliding directly into Archer’s body with only a few swatted away.
‘What the fuck is going on here? Archer has a domain, something none of the creatures we’ve so far encountered here are able to manifest and we’ve been collecting them for the pens by the char loads. Archer’s domain is especially affective against these tribes of humans because it prevents the use of anything metal within its confines. Very affective indeed in this area we’ve been hunting but it seems there are some proficient counters that don’t rely on weapons the natives have.
‘’Lets retreat,’’ I signal to Archer, feeling the other humans flanking from the woods.
‘’Conlaed won’t be pleased,’’ he sends back between grunts as he takes and gives more hits.
‘’If you die to a human I’ll be laughing at your stupidity. Also, one of the caratids just died so I’m out of here,’’ I retreat without waiting for him.
Our specialty is infiltration and theft not killing, Arch has been feeling himself since we’ve been down here. I will admit to also taking a certain pleasure to being at the top of the food chain for a change that makes me not want to return back to the others but I know when its time to call it quites. We now know where the prides are getting their materials and we have a healthy supply of loot ourselves from the trip, I path my dimensional bag of holding absently as I disappear amongst the trees.
* * *
The leaves rustle with Kuyoki running through the underbrush at speed, Aurora and Andrew are flanking left with spears in one hand creating loud pops with every thrown handful of pop-pellets with the other driving their prey towards the northern flanking team comprising Gaia, Erabus and Edward with the nerving sounds. The wild boar shrieks buffeting the flanking team with a sonic blast that has them reeling from the disorienting effect but a moment later Gaia has his shield in front projecting his aura through the artifact and the boar is changing directing again running towards the rightmost open path.
The beast itself is extremely fast even with its large rhino-like size and over 300kg mass it moves with nimble ease through the underbrush with a full speed that surpasses even Sachihiros best sprint when it charges ahead in a straight path. More pops sound from ahead of it but this time from Michael’s Earth weapon that shoots metal slugs like arrowheads that slough off the boars’ thick hide not penetrating to his chagrin but startling it enough that it again changes direction from his and Esuas’ position towards the ambush point .
Kuyoki keeps driving it unerringly ahead with her bared wakizashi blade through which her killing intent is projected ensuring the mostly instinct driven magical beast doesn’t stop to think or make a stand to fight. Against the hunting party the beast would eventually fall even if it made a stand as the van Damages are used to hunting more aggressive and dangerous creatures in excursions into the Dawn Forest and delving in the Dawn Dungeon’s ether rich environ. But the beast is not without its own defences and the possibility of someone getting gored without access to Paradisum healing or Shea’s blood magic has the travelling party taking all precaution to try and prevent any injuries so as to save on limited alchemic supplies.
Even as it prepares it’s next debilitating shriek to buffet a Nikita standing in its path with a razor sharp dagger, a solid ready stance and sweat dripping down her brow its muscles freeze up as it triggers the trap wards its forward momentum causing it leave a furrow in its wake as it slides on the ground. Niki is sprinting ahead a moment later knowing from experience and Dewan’s redundant lecture that the stun effect can fade in a matter of heartbeats. Her strike is unwavering and lethal her sharp 20cm long blade striking perfectly into the soft tissue and wrenching out of the boar’s eye with barely even as twitch from the magic beast as the traps sparks pull its muscles tightly into rigour mortis.
Jumping back quickly Nikita retreats knowing full well that the beast isn’t yet dead and there is no hope of her dagger penetrating its hide, but Cicilia is there a moment later with a honed blade biting deep into the throat of the spasming creature. Its lifeblood geysers out in a spray with the first pounding heartbeat the second spurt of blood is less dramatic, then it leaks down its body steadily like a spring fountain producing water.
‘’Are you alright?’’ Cicilia asks Nikita who sighs and relaxes her tense shoulders when it becomes clear the beast isn’t getting up ever again.
‘’I’m fine,’’ Nikita says more tersely than she meant to and with a grunt, Cicilia turns away from her to hack again into the bleeding neck of their prey decapitating it cleanly.
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Nikita suddenly feels colder as she looks at her step-mother’s back, her hands starting to shake as the adrenaline washes through her and her staccato heart-beat slow back down to more normal levels. To face down the hulking beast charging straight at her is a piss inducing experience even knowing that the trap is charged and primed just 50m ahead, she leans against a tree taking a deep breath only to hear to others make their way to the carcass.
‘’Well done,’’ Kuyoki says to Nikita having seen her daughter’s decisive strike.
‘’Thanks,’’ Nikita says with her back straightening. Esuas grunts non-commitally at no one in particular and begins expert hacking into the chest of the large boar making a vertical line going down its torso with his axe.
It has been a hazy few days since the death of Rigdis, everyone is trying to act normal but nothing is the same. The days have melted together from the burning of the pyre, Divina not acquisition to whatever the Royal Sandersonians wanted, buying of supplies in the Sandie town and the continuation of our journey south towards the south easternly coast of the continent. It’s been an entire ten-day since that sad funeral dire was sung and there seems to be a dark cloud hanging over the entire travelling party since that unexpected death, everyone is tense.
The damp conditions of the almost constant drizzling rains haven’t been helping spirits though it hasn’t prevented the travelling party from covering hundreds of kilometres; travelling even at night with impunity in the much tamer Sandersonian controlled lands. This is the first time they have needed to hunt what with the supplies from the town Maq and the edible fauna and small flora easily caught available on their chosen route. Anyways everyone was all for a hunt, a good roasted boar over a campfire has always brought them together and maybe it will help ease some of the tension.
*
Ten kilometres away Sachihiro, John, Selah, Sway, Tóma and Helen walk through another Sandersorian town scouting it out to determine how safe it would be to get drunk here whilst also stocking up on some supplies that will make the journey easier than it has been of late. The implacable Tóma haggles for every scrap of coin that’s spent on the few establishments that are willing to serve the outlandish Barbarians. Bleach is a mining town both of stone and precious metals with a few making a respectable living as lumberjacks so its populated by hard proud men, men who take exception to having uncivilised barbarian savages within their vicinity.
Eyes follow them around as they walk through the town, children pointing at the strange attire and open display of weapons before being pulled away between their mother’s skirts. The six travelling companions walk into an eating establishment after stocking up on some alchemic products, bread, arrows, rope, iron nails, climbing spikes and other enchanted trap making essentials. As soon as they walk in the atmosphere gets colder, not exactly unexpected but what does surprise the six companions is the steaming of their breaths and the frost forming on their equipment as the temperature plummets after their entry.
‘’I’ll have none of that here,’’ a gruff voice yells and almost immediately the effect is broken retreating Sachi and Helen quickly tracing it to a sour faced youthful looking man nursing a cup of something strong with his bloodshot eyes testament to his sleeplessness.
The new arrivals look around the entire establishment, Sachi seeing even around the corner and upstairs of the L shaped room with his spacial awareness with the others assessing everyone around them as a possible threat. It’s midday with a light drizzle creating slight mist that fog the windows, most of the town’s inhabitants are still out at work in the quarry or mine but the few lumberjacks that remain are here or at their homes worried and miserable since the disappearances that have been happening in the forest these past few ten-days.
‘’Sorry Bernard,’’ the gloomy drunkard along the wall says to the man behind the counter obsessively wiping the table.
‘’A tier one Awakened in this backwater of a village?’’ Helen sends to her companions even as they spread out so as to face any incoming threat with space enough to work if needs be.
‘’I want to find a chair not stand around all day,’’ Tóma says pushing past Sachi heading to a set of tables along the wall to a window seat. ‘’Bar-tender, send of your best ale and a loaf of bread,’’ she calls with a back-wave of her hand to the tingling of enchanted gem encrusted jewellery on her wrist. With that some of the intensity of their entry is broken as the inhabitants of the establishment go back to miserably nursing their drinks and talking amongst themselves.
Helen glares at the mage with her hand ready near her axe as the others find themselves two tables to push together so all six of them can be comfortably seated. The scraping of chairs eventually quietens down, the bartender is red faced having had a look at those sparkling jewels calls out ‘’Bantie serve these customers!’’ Having heard of stories of dwarven treasures and hords of gold since childhood and being a man of commerce he notices an opportunity that may have him making money.
He walks behind his best slave plastering a smile and a servile attitude he is sure all warriors crave. ‘’Anything you want, anything at all Bantie will make sure you are taken care of good Sirs’,’’ he says with a tilt of his head and a slight gesture at Bantie’s breasts then quickly retreats back behind the counter through a curtain closed door.
They watch the man walk away leaving the slightly trembling thin girl before their feet, she herself having heard stories in the inn a few years back of how savage barbarians are. Anyone more savage than a regular man must be most savage indeed she thinks to herself and by the looks of them this may be another painful night of terror for her. Especially with the way Mr. Anders came to greet them and present her to them memories of the time nobles rode by two summers ago and the young lord had given her to his men at arms after such a presentation by Mr Anders. She shivers uncontrollably as she starters, head held down unable to look at any in the eye or flirt with them even knowing the beating she might get Mrs. Anders.
‘’H-how mm-may I help you?’’ She gets out head still down.
[Spat].
A dense ward of spit falls at her feet startling her into a slight shriek that has her arm-hairs standing on end, then a feeling of disgust waifs towards her choking her breath making her lose her water. Shame, a feeling as a slave she had thought long lost to her rises from her making her face beet red even the disgust, judgement, pity wash over her and most of the room.
‘’Control your aura,’’ Sachi says with a gentle hand on his aunt’s arm bringing her back to herself stifling her instinctive reaction to slavery. Helen grunts pulling back her oppressive opinion for these people except on her face as the girl picks herself up and quickly runs away. The bar-tender manages to get his mouth closed and take a breath fear and confusion riddling his mind as he wonders what Bantie might have done to displease them so quickly, he sees to their order personally.
*
Ikigai and Sirimiri casually sit in a tree two kilometres outside the town mindful of their immediate surroundings but otherwise unconcerned until they receive a sending from those that went into town. They say nothing to each other in comfortable silence enjoying each other’s company with Iki curiously trying to figure how a man of that size could get up so high on branches so thin that they sag under the weight of a squirrel that ran past. She has seen an interacted with a few elves growing up in Paradisum and the Den the is no way she couldn’t have, but this is the first time in her life she’s ever been alone with she realises and its starting to dawn on her how strange and sometimes animal-like these people are.
For one they smell different, as an Warrior Awakened all her natural senses are enhanced and though she may not have hyperosmia or other olfactory based abilities but most elves she’s smell like dirt or grass or leaves of some kind. And they aren’t like the fae either, the fae are uncanny and weird in a way that isn’t like any other people she’s ever come across. Closer to forces of nature as they are to people sometimes, having this strange way of looking at regular people like they are studying them and trying to mimic their behaviour whenever she notices whenever she joints Hannah catching up with her otherworldly friends.
‘’Something is coming,’’ Sirimiri suddenly says crouching and blending with the tree such that even Iki has a hard time spotting him.
She looks in the direction he was facing seeing the town and some of the people and livestalk walking around, seeing where the trees have been felled in a huge swath, seeing children playing in the open grass fields instead of watching sheep. She uses spirit sense, the only none physical sense that she so far mastered but still she gets nothing out of the ordinary. She looks behind her further back into the forest just in case but even from up in the tree it’s difficult to see deeply into the forest cause the other trees are tall as well.
‘’What is it?’’ She finally asks, her throwing dagger already in hand as she leans into the stem of the tree behind the many leaves.
‘’I don’t know...,’’ the elf says hesitantly listening to the wind, the rustling of leaves, the scent of fear reaching him from the beyond the town. ‘’Have you notice how much denser the ether around this forest is?’’ he finally manages to ask.
Ikigai perks up having thought herself paranoid the first time she thought the same. The air here is better, they have been roaming around these woods for over a day instead of moving on quickly as they have been through most of this trip. No one outright says it but all feel it, how rested they feel here even whilst needed less rest. How rich the edible plants and savoury the few foxes, squirrels, birds they’ve eaten. It isn’t as rich as dungeon ether and because the increased density of the substance was gradual the richness isn’t as stark as it is in the Dawn Dungeon but yes, Ikigai has noticed the greater access to ether.
‘’I have,’’ she says now taking a deep breath and holding it whilst wishing she could get her body to somehow faster convert the godly substance into more useful mana pushing her closer to her next Awakening.
‘’There is a disturbance in that ether now, something is sucking it up and its heading directly for the town,’’ the quiet elf says hesitantly.
Ikigai tries to find his eye to no avail, she thinks a moment but decides its always better to be safe than sorry. ‘’Something is coming,’’ she sends to those in town then nods to Sirimiri and they both wait.
*
Khayana leads his Pride in a hunt for the first time in his life. As the main provider of the pride and the reason for the great bounty it has been enjoying these past few months he now have 13 mates two of whom already with child and his persona power has grown with all the cultivation resources that he has now been able to afford with his new found wealth. Though many were jealous and a few even tried to kill him with the protection of the pride mothers he has been able to keep safe whilst consolidating his power even against the ministrations of the Pride’s Leo.
The portal couldn’t be kept a secret he enjoyed with a chosen few forever though and now he and his most trusted lead an expedition through the woods of this rich soft land to one of the town where humans like to congregate. With just him and his chosen few they had always avoided big settlements preferring to prey on small groups in the woods or the roads a few dozen kilometres from the portal. Now though with 200 other bantu with him he leads his pride to one of the towns close to the portal but not the closest one.
Already they have collected nearly 400kgs of meat in humans and animals to take back to the portal, a respectable amount considering the value the value the valley human bandits are willing to trade for it. But as they move silently through the trees he can feel the aura of hungry anticipation on the pride hunters as they for the first time lay eyes on these hapless humans scattered throughout the town in their thousands.
‘’Each of you grab two or three, do not get greedy or they may leave and we will have to go further from the portal than is safe to find another source of human livestock.’’ Pride mother Nomaphelo’ethu says to everyone then looks at Khayana and nods for him to lead the hunt. He grins then with a roar that silences all indigenous life in the vicinity he rushes forward claws extended as he sees the first of his victims. As a wave the rest of the pride runs in behind him breaking into homes and killing all within their path.