Day 92: Lassie Town (Outskirts)
The noon sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays piercing through the dense forest canopy and illuminating patches of the ground below. Jason led the group alongside Alisa, his eyes scanning the terrain for threats while hers scan for proper killzones. If one were to explain killzones to a lay person, they'd be High ground, narrow spaces, anything that forces Hazard Beasts into a disadvantage. Like setting the stage for a fight one is guaranteed to win.
The group continued their search, weaving through the forest in silence. Alisa’s sharp gaze swept over every rock formation, every rise and fall of the terrain, calculating the possibilities. After a few minutes, she came to an abrupt stop atop a small ridge. “Here,” Alisa said, pointing to the area below.
The group gathered around her, peering down at the spot she had chosen. Chanty gives it a scrutinizing look before turning to Alisa with a smile. "Good, good! This will do. You have a good eye, little miss."
The ridge sloped downward into a shallow depression surrounded by large boulders and thick trees. The narrow entrances to the depression would force any creature to approach in single file, while the surrounding rocks provided excellent cover for ranged attacks.
Alisa blushes at the praise before turning to her party to explain. “The terrain works in our favor. The bottleneck entrances will keep the beasts from swarming us, and we’ll have plenty of places to hide.”
Rooney nodded, his expression relaxed. “Looks solid. Now for the gross part: Bait.”
Jason steps forward. "Leave that part to me." He descends into the depression and soon found a clear spot in the center where he materialized, then dumped a Goblin Corpse he'd been holding on to since Arkensaw. The carcass landed with a wet thud, its exposed flesh glistening in the sunlight. Next he materialized a bucket which contained a grisly mix of bloody offals with an odor so strong the others could smell it from where they were standing.
Terry grimaced, his nose wrinkling. "Woo! He's got the good stuff."
Everyone giggled and chuckled while holding their noses. Then Karen chimes in. "That's great. The stronger the smell, the further the scent would carry, and the faster the Hazard Beasts will come. We're going to be really busy soon."
“That should do it,” he said, stepping back and cradling Kiki who fainted from the intense odor. He looked up at the others, who were still watching from the ridge. “Alright folks, go find your hiding spots, and remember to follow the plan once the beasts show up, Kay?”
The group dispersed without a word, each person choosing a position that suited their skills. Jason sat perched atop a boulder, his bow resting lightly in his hands, the tension in the string relaxed but ready. Chanty found a perch in a tree, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. The Party of Four spread out around the depression, their movements careful and deliberate.
Alisa and Karen took positions behind separate rocks, their spears and javelins ready. Rooney crouched near a narrow entrance, while Terry chose a spot with ample cover but a clear line of sight to the bait.
The forest grew eerily quiet as they waited, the only sounds being the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird. Kiki woke up. The stench of the bait began to permeate the air, thick and cloying, carried by the gentle breeze. Time stretched on, the tension building with each passing minute. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set the group on edge, their anticipation sharpening like a blade.
The sound of rustling leaves drew everyone's attention, and moments later, a Terror Bird stepped cautiously into the killzone.
The creature was massive, easily eight feet tall, with sharp talons and a wickedly hooked beak. Its feathers were a mix of gray and brown, blending seamlessly with the forest undergrowth. Jason’s eyes widened as he watched it approach the bait, its predatory gaze scanning the area.
'A Terror Bird,' Jason thought to himself, a smile forming. 'I remember watching a video about these things back in the day. I can never get tired of seeing Extinct creatures in the flesh. Hope I get to see a Tazmanian Tiger and Dodo someday.'
He raised his bow and drawing back the string, he took aim, the Terror Bird’s massive frame in his sight. Jason exhaled slowly, his focus sharpening as the creature pecked at the offals. The arrow flew true, piercing the bird’s side with a sickening thud. The creature screeched in pain, flapping its puny wings in a futile attempt to balance itself. Jason lowered his bow, choosing not to fire another shot. Instead, he leaned back slightly, curious to see how the Party of Four would handle the situation.
The wounded Terror Bird let out a guttural cry, its talons digging into the ground as it tried to escape. It stumbled toward the edge of the killzone, but before it could get far, a javelin whistled through the air. The weapon struck the bird square in the head, its sharp tip penetrating through bone and brain. The Terror Bird collapsed instantly, its body twitching once before going still.
Rooney stepped out from behind a tree, fist bumping the air as he strides toward the downed beast. He pulled the javelin free with a grunt, wiping the blood off on the grass before turning to the group. With a cheeky grin, he gave them all a thumbs-up.
Jason smiled at that, impressed by the precision and timing of Rooney’s throw. "Not bad, these guys are better than they let on. If the rest of them are as skilled as Rooney, we're cleaning out this forest.”
The afternoon progressed with a steady rhythm. Hazard Beasts of all kinds wandered into the killzone, drawn by the scent of the bait. Velociraptors appeared in small packs, their sharp claws and cunning movements making them formidable foes. Spotted Wolves followed, their predatory instincts driving them to attack the bait with ferocity.
Jason was the first to act each time, his arrows striking true and crippling the beasts. The Party of Four would then swoop in, finishing the creatures off with impressive coordination and skill. Alisa controlled space with her spear, Karen stabs at weak points to slow down or disable, Rooney’s javelins landed with unerring precision, and Terry would deal killing blows by impaling vitals.
Chanty, meanwhile, had yet to lift a finger. She lounged on a tree branch, her arms behind her head and her eyes closed, a contented smile on her face. Jason glanced at her occasionally, amused by her apparent lack of concern. “Sometimes I wish I was as laid back as she is. She's living her best life up there. ”
Hours passed, and the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the forest floor. The group had successfully taken down a Short-Faced Bear, a Saber-Tooth Tiger, and several other Hazard Beasts. Despite the intensity of the battles, their teamwork made each victory look almost effortless.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
As the light began to fade, Jason called out softly from his perch. “One more kill, then we’ll set up camp. Alright, folks? ”
Nods, and a thumbs-up were the reply he got as their others moved quietly as they returned to their hiding spots. They waited in silence, the forest growing darker with each passing moment. Finally, the sound of something slithering reached their ears.
Jason’s eyes widened as the creature entered the killzone. It was a massive serpent, its black scales shimmering with an almost oily sheen in the fading light. Its eyes glowed faintly, and its forked tongue flicked out as it tasted the air. The snake’s size was staggering, its body as thick as a tree trunk and its length disappearing into the shadows.
The Party of Four froze, their earlier confidence giving way to hesitation. Alisa’s hands trembled slightly as she held her spear, her gaze locked on the serpent. Karen and Terry exchanged uneasy glances, while Rooney’s grip on his javelin tightened.
Jason began assessing the situation. He could see the doubt creeping into the younger adventurers’ faces, but he didn’t blame them. This beast was far more intimidating than anything they’d faced so far. It was no ordinary Hazard Beast: the way its tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and the calculating way its glowing yellow eyes scanned the surroundings.
From her own vantage point, Chanty stirred. She had been lazily watching the events of the day unfold, content to let Jason and the others handle everything thus far. But the appearance of this creature changed everything. Leaping down from her perch, she moved swiftly yet silently to Jason’s side.
“It’s a Wyrm,” she said in a low, urgent voice as she crouched beside him.
Jason’s eyebrows arched. “A Wyrm? Oh dear, it's the Ogre all over again, isn't it?”
Chanty nodded, her gaze fixed on the massive serpent. “Your concern is warranted. Some snakes, like giant anacondas or pythons, can evolve into Wyrms when they break through to the Second Stage of the Mortal Realm. This one’s no ordinary predator, Jason. It’s far more dangerous than anything else we’ve encountered today. An ogre would be pleasant meal to this thing.”
While she was explaining, Jason had sent his ki string into the Wyrm's mouth in hopes of killing it. Unfortunately, it evaporated as soon as it got in the body, making Jason almost cuss. 'This thing has too much ki! I can't kill it from the inside with my current levels.' he thought.
'Change of plans. I'll take out an eye or two to make things easier for us. Until then I'll grid this whole place and everyone in it.' As Jason went about manipulating his ki strings, he reached for the sword sheathed at his hip. The blade slid free with a quiet hiss, its surface gleaming faintly with the ki he instinctively infused into it.
“We’ll need to work together to bring it down,” Chanty continued, her voice calm but firm. “A Wyrm’s scales are nearly impenetrable, but its underbelly and mouth are vulnerable. Aim for those.”
Jason nodded, a plan already forming in his mind. “Got it. Don't be shocked if it recoils in pain out of nowhere. Attack it during that opening.” A small smirk tugging at Chanty's lips as he said that.
“Understood, pupil.” she said with a nod.
“Let’s move,” Jason said, his voice resolute.
The two of them descended from the tree and began circling the killzone, their movements swift and silent. The Wyrm remained focused on the bait, its massive body coiling and uncoiling as it investigated the bloody carcass. Jason and Chanty used the creature’s distraction to get into position.
Jason took the lead, stepping out into the open and raising his sword. He channeled ki into the blade, which began to glow faintly, then slashed through the air. A crescent-shaped wave of ki shot toward the Wyrm, slicing through the air with a faint hum. The attack struck the creature’s side, leaving a shallow mark that drew its attention immediately.
The Wyrm let out a guttural hiss, its head snapping toward Jason. Its glowing eyes locked onto him, and it lunged forward with surprising speed for something so massive. Jason dashed to the side, evading the attack effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise.
At that moment, Chanty darts in from the side. Her fists glowed with concentrated ki as she closed the distance between herself and the Wyrm. When she was close enough, her right fist thrust out in a jab.
“Fatality Jab!” she shouted as her fist connected with the Wyrm’s side. A burst of concentrated ki erupted from her hand, sending a shockwave rippling across the creature’s body. Though the attack didn’t achieve its full potential, the Wyrm still recoiled in pain, hissing angrily as it reared back.
Jason was scratching his head for a moment. "Why yell out the attack? Is this an anime, or something?"
Chanty didn’t wait for retaliation. She darted back to a safe distance, regrouping with Jason as the two of them began peppering the Wyrm with light attacks. Their strikes were calculated and precise, aimed at keeping the creature on the defensive while they searched for an opening to exploit.
While they fought, Jason yelled out instructions to the Party of Four, telling them to create distractions with their spears and javelins. Rooney and Terry hurled their weapons at the Wyrm from different angles, forcing it to divide its attention, while Alisa and Karen focused on hit-and-run tactics, darting in to deliver quick strikes before retreating.
The Wyrm thrashed and roared, its massive body coiling and uncoiling as it tried to fend off its attackers. Despite its size and power, it struggled to keep up with the coordinated assault.
An opportunity presented itself when the Wyrm charged Jason and Chanty, its gaping maw wide open.
“Now!” Chanty shouted, pouring most of her ki into her right fist, her expression focused and determined.
Beside her, Jason takes an iaido stance. He channeled even more ki into his sword, the blade glowing brightly as he prepared to strike.
The Wyrm lunged, its jaws wide and ready to snap shut on them. But before it could reach them, Jason and Chanty unleashed their attacks simultaneously.
Jason’s horizontal slash struck first, cutting into the Wyrm’s maw and leaving a wound. Chanty’s ki-infused punch followed, firing a concentrated ki projectile which flies true, and strikes the back of the creature’s mouth, releasing a powerful concussive blast. The explosion sent chunks of flesh and blood flying, the force of the impact causing the Wyrm to rear back in agony.
The creature’s movements became erratic as it thrashed in pain, its underbelly briefly exposed.
“Underbelly! Now! ” Chanty shouted. Brief and precise.
Rooney, Terry, Alisa, and Karen didn’t hesitate. They rushed forward, their spears and javelins aimed at the vulnerable underside of the Wyrm. The coordinated assault was brutal, many strike found its mark and added to the creature’s mounting injuries.
Chanty managed to land two perfect Fatality Jabs, each one ignoring it's defenses, and dealing significant internal damage even if neither struck vital organs.
The Wyrm’s thrashing grew weaker, its movements sluggish as it struggled to defend itself. Rooney narrowly avoided being struck by its powerful tail, the appendage grazing his feet and sending him into an unintended series of backflips. He landed on the ground in a heap but quickly sprang back to his feet, unharmed and ready to rejoin the fight.
Karen plunged her spear into a small wound on the Wyrm's side, and it retaliated faster than expected, which didn't give her enough time to pull away. Jason acted fast and fired a stake of ki he had prepared since the start of the battle through his ki string. into one of its eyes which made it recoil, and allowed Karen to escape.
Alisa seized the opportunity to toss her spear into the Wyrm’s mouth, the weapon lodging itself in such a way that the creature couldn’t close its jaws. As the Wyrm struggled to dislodge the spear, Jason and Chanty capitalized on the opening, delivering a series of devastating attacks to its exposed mouth.
“Almost there!” Jason called out, his voice filled with determination. “One last push!” The group roared in agreement, as they intensified their attacks, with their combined efforts creating a opportunity for Chanty to end things. Leaping off the underside of a large branch, using multiple of her techniques to increase the power of said leap, she flips 180 degree midair before stomping on the Wyrm's head with tremendous force. This causes Alisa’s spear to pierce through the roof of its mouth, and into it's brain. The beast collapses, its massive body falling still.
The forest was silent for a moment, the only sound the labored breathing of the adventurers. Jason looked at the corpse of the Wyrm, blood and grey matter pouring down the length of Alisa’s spear.
Rooney was the first to break the silence, raising his spear high and letting out a triumphant roar. The others quickly followed, their shouts of victory echoing through the forest as they celebrated their hard-earned triumph.