Author Notes:
Hey guys, early morning chapter here :D (Atleast in the CEST area! Well, it's 9, but still early for me!)
Couldn't sleep tonight for some reason :o No idea what's going on, so yeah, wrote this chapter.
Btw, changed on the table in chapter 5, since I forgot some numbers to fix! D: Hopefully it works now xD
So, I hope you enjoy! :D
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Chapter 7: You Think that would Work Twice on Me?
Leaving the village the second time in my short life, I was as excited as the first time.
This time a left with a group of adventurers, acting as their guide and extra manpower. My job was mostly guiding them through the swamp, avoiding beast nests, and showing them to good hunting grounds. I wasn’t exactly a genius, but I had quickly adapted to moving in the swamp, and had learned a lot from maps and mothers explanations.
If it came down to a fight where everything was needed, I would participate. I couldn’t be called weak, but compared to battle-hardened adventurers, I was still only a kid with one lucky fight under my belt.
Getting closer to the forest, I once again noticed shadows encircling us. So, these really are the Flurnes’ hunting grounds.
Luckily, this time they didn’t attack immediately, probably due to our group being nearly as big as theirs. From what I could gather, there were 14, if not more of them.
Me: “Guys, remember when I told you about the Flurnes most probably hunting in this area? Well, 14 or more has us surrounded, if we’re lucky, they will attack now, or retreat without returning.”
Har’Que(Pronounced Haqua, a bit like aqua: “Ya sure? Ah can neither sens’ nor see any. An’ wha woul’ it be good if the’ attack’d us now?”
(AN: His name is pronounced Haqua, like aqua with an H in front. He’s the Demon adventurer. Orcs have roughly the same style of names as Lizardmen, except they a first name, then a last name, his full name being Har’Que(First name) Lo’Gar(Last name). Their human is typically more primal, gonna try and make them hillbilly style. TRY!)
Me: “I’m sure, this pattern and that I can only see shadows quickly moving about, it can only be Flurnes. And also, apparently I have better eyes than most others, spotting details others don’t.”
This mother and I had went to get tested the day after we had been ambushed by the Flurnes. Apparently, my parents hadn’t noticed them in the slightest, while I had clearly seen shadows of figures circling us. And the result was that I indeed had better eyes than other Lizardmen, even other races. Not to mention my attention to detail and other small things, which could all be wrapped up as good eyesight.
Right now, I was combining this with my ki, making me able to discern the shadows to some degree. Tracking their progress and counting them.
Me: “And to answer your other question, usually they hunt in groups between 8 and 16. We’re 7 people. They rarely attack groups where they only number twice as many, they prefer thrice or more. If they attack now, we’ll be able to, most likely, fight them off. But if they retreat, call reinforcement and attack with many times our number, we will stand no chance.”
Father had taught me this during the past week.
Other than learning about where the beasts lived, he also taught me their behavior, patterns, strengths and weaknesses.
I more or less knew everything about Flurnes, both from learning from father, but also my personal experience.
Even though they prefer hunting in small groups, they often help other groups if they come across a big group of strong prey.
And we fit that description perfectly.
Noticing one of them coming too close for comfort, entering my range, I quickly reacted.
Pumping all the ki I could into my brain and eyes, I was able to slow everything down around me, if only by a bit.
After doing so, I unsheathed my sword while pressing the button. This led the sword turning into its whip form as I unsheathed it. Due to this, I was able to attack from the get go.
Moving my entire body, I moved my arm in an arc above my head, leading to the long whip-sword lashing out its full length, striking the Flurne that had moved too close.
This was a technique I had come up with, not being able to transition properly in battle. This made me able to use whichever form of weapon I wanted to from the start of the battle. Of course, I was able to switch during the battle, but I would have to create enough distance to do it. Being as slow and clunky as it was with my skill.
What followed the attack was a howl in pain, coming two meters from where I stood. I had felt how the sharp edges of the sword pieces had cut into the side of the beast, not to mention how the wire had whipped it.
But to make it even more efficient, I pulled back the whip-sword as I once again pressed the button, leading it to retract to sword form. This led the blade pieces to slice through the back of the beast, making it, once again, howl in pain.
Having retracted the sword, I could see bits and pieces of flesh and pelt on it, not to mention the blood covering it. The blood smelled very appetizing, and it looked as if it tasted just a good.
Don’t get me wrong, I was no sadist, I had just developed a natural liking to fresh blood and raw meat.
No longer able to restrain myself, I licked some of it off the blade. It tasted just as good as I thought it would. Even better than the blood from the ones, I had killed a week ago. Meaning that the Flurne I had hit was clearly more experienced than those two were.
Looking back at the adventurers, 5 of them had shocked expressions. This being from the fact that I had attacked so quickly and accurately, or of my bestial behaviour, I don’t know. The only one with a different expression was the Demon, Har’Que. Instead, he had a face of approval.
Approval of both my skill, at calling the enemies out, and even attacking them when they were careless, taking the initiative. And approval of following my instincts, tasting the blood of my enemies, listening to the beast inside of me. You know what I mean.
Anyway, quickly turning back my attention to my surroundings, I noticed that all the Flurnes had frozen. It was either from the shock of being attacked, or of the, supposedly, weakest in the group could deal so much damage, in such a short time.
Oh, what damage, you ask.
Well, not enough with my first attack cutting open it back and breaking some of its ribs. When I retracted the blade, it cut through the spine and killed the beast in a matter of seconds.
Yes, I had killed it with a single attack.
That just goes to show how lethal this weapon will be, ones I master it.
After a moment, the Flurnes started moving again. But unlike my previous experience, they all retreated with all they had.
For me, this looked like they had no intention to attack us again in the near future. Meaning they won’t be getting another group to help them take us down.
Me: “Looks like we’re clear. From the way they ran, I don’t think they dare to come near us again. What do you guys think?”
Turning around, I noticed that the five of them still were shocked. The Orc, however, seemed to accept the fact that a one month old could handle a beast they couldn’t even detect.
Har’Que: “Guys, ya shoul’ rememb’r dat ‘e’s a Lizar’man. An’ a prodigy on top o’ dat.”
After hearing this, they all seemed to accept reality to some degree.
They had clearly underestimated me as some weak newborn who had no idea what he was doing. Humph, I’ll show them!
Anyway, what was important right now was the corpse and getting a move on.
Even if it felt like they had fled without any intent to return, it wouldn’t mean that they, or someone else, wouldn’t attack us again.
Me: “Let’s get this corpse packed up and be on our way. The blood has most likely started to attract other groups of predators, so I would suggest that we get a move on.”
Hearing this, the entire group came out of their trance. Instantly packing up the Flurne corpse and continuing to head west.
Around an hour later, we arrived at our destination.
We had passed the boundary between swamp and forest a while ago, and continued.
Our destination was a bit further in, being a small Kyurn nest.
We didn’t plan on hunting young, weak and isolated Kyurns, but those older, stronger and in small groups.
The trip was planned to last until tomorrow evening, where we would return.
We set up camp, not too far, nor too close to the nest. We wanted it to be in walking distance, but not so close that they would find us with ease.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
My dinner consisted of a piece of the Flurne I had killed earlier.
Normally, the one who singlehandedly killed a beast, would get the entire thing. But because we agreed to share everything hunted, even if no one else helped with it. I would get 15% of all the spoils, while they got the rest.
This was my pay as guide, but also as a hunter. It wasn’t exactly great, but I got the mana crystal I wanted, so I was happy with it.
It soon became dark outside, with the sun disappearing beneath the horizon, and the triple moons ascending.
This world had a sun and 3 moons, all with names and symbols for different things. To be more precise, they were named and symbolized 4 of the Gods who created this world.
The sun is named after Astlan, after the God of Justice, Freedom and Righteousness, and symbolized what he stood for.
The 1st moon is named Rinia, after the Goddess of Love, Beauty and Fertility, also symbolizing what she stands for.
The 2nd moon is named Synd, after the Goddess of Intelligence, Wisdom, Insight and Knowledge, symbolizing what she stands for.
And last, but not least, the 3rd moon is named Virian, after the Goddess of Death, Murder, Hatred and Darkness, symbolizing what she stands for, by hiding behind the two other moons.
Thinking about all of this as I was sitting first guard, I remembered that I still haven’t checked on the updates since I killed that Flurne.
Oh, and the reason I was first guard was because all the others were exhausted after traveling through the swamp. Unlike me, they’re not used to it.
Show Status.
Gained TitleAfter word spread of your feats, you have become known by everyone in town as a prodigy or genius, giving you the title ‘Tribe Prodigy’.
Stat Points GainedFor sensing, attacking and killing a hidden enemy, you have gained stats. +5 DEX, +3 AGI
Gained TitlesFor sensing, attacking and killing a hidden enemy, you have gained the titles ‘Watchful Eye’ and ‘Lethal Initiator’. The title ‘The Watchful Eye’ has given you the skill ‘Detect Life’. The title ‘Lethal Initiator’ has gained you the skill ‘First Blood’.
Warning!Your titles ‘The Watchful Eye’ and ‘Lethal Initiator’ has combined.
Gained TitleFrom combining the titles ‘The Watchful Eye’ and ‘Lethal Initiator’ you have gained the title ‘The Lethal Eye’. The title ‘The Lethal Eye’ has given you the skills ‘Detect life’, ‘First Blood’ and ‘Detect Weakness’.
24x Level UpFor sensing, attacking and killing a hidden enemy, stronger than you, you have leveled up.
What is this? Three titles becoming one, and then giving me 3 skills in total? Even the one I didn’t know I had gotten. Looks like such messages won’t show up unless you look at your Status Window.
Not to mention the 24 levels I got from just that single kill, must have been stronger than the two I killed earlier, but not that strong.
Anyway, let’s check the Status Window.
Status WindowName:Li’???Race:LizardmanTitles:Little One, Survivor, Tribe Prodigy, The Lethal EyeLevel:61Class:???Age:0Gender:MaleBody and Mental Condition:Stamina Points:Current:4731Max:6700Stamina Regen:2,43/SMana Points:Current:2120Max:2120Mana Regen:1,21/SKi Points:Current:4351Max:5100Ki Regen2,07/SStats:Vitality:130 + 13Strength:130 + 13Dexterity:140 + 14Agility:143 + 14Wisdom:65 + 6Intelligence:65 + 6Insight:65 + 6Presence:125Magic Amplification:Casting time:-0,213%Mana cost:-0,213%Effectiveness:+0,213%Other:Racial Trait:Lizardmen get 2x Vit, STR, AGI, and DEX from leveling up.Blessing:Increases all stats by 10%.Blessing:Increases learning new languages by 1.000%.God Magic Skill:Identify: The ability see the information on any item, as long as it’s considered weaker than the caster.Title Skill:Survivor: When fighting against the odds, all stats increase by +3%. (Will still count as against the odds, even if the +3% makes your odds equal or greater than theirs.)Title Skill:Detect Life: You’re able to detect life around you depending on your level of mastery of the skill.Title Skill:First Blood: When you’re the ones who initiates the fight, drawing the first blood, you damage +200% more damage on the initiating hit.Title Skill:Detect Weakness: Using this skill you will be able to see your enemies weaknesses. When using this skill, enemy’s weaknesses will be highlighted by a red glow. The stronger the enemies are, the higher mastery you need in order to detect their weaknesses.
Those skills are going to be extremely useful later on. Hell, even now they’re going to be just as useful. I need to remember to use and master them.
After finishing looking through all my messages, I went to wake Har’Que up, he was on the next shift.
Making sure he’s awake and aware, I go back to me tent to catch some sleep.
As I lay and look forward to tomorrows fights, I drift off into sleep…
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Author Notes:
Hope you enjoyed chapter 7 :D Sorry if it didn't contain a lot of combat :l Next chapter! :D
Anyway, we have, what, 6 ratings on the story now, but not a single review :c What am I doing right, what am I doing wrong, pls write it if you decide to rate it!
And as always, comment if you want to, I enjoy reading them. (Yes, I read them all >:D) Might not respond to all of them, depends on my mood really, and my mood was weird the last 12 hours, no idea why :/
Laters!