Chapter 2 - Gale Wolves (2)
Ken:
It’s been a couple hours since we wandered off from the elevator but it didn’t seem like we’ve gotten anywhere. The trees all look familiar but somehow Armon could tell where we are going, well more of he knows that we’re getting further away from where the wolves attacked us. It’s very slight but I’ve also noticed that my senses are heightened, not to the point of when I fought those wolves but better than my usual self.
“Hey Armon, we aren’t going in a circle are we?” I asked in a concerned voice.
“No, we aren’t. But, I have no idea where we’re headed… It is strange though, it feels like I have a compass in my head, I can tell we’re walking in a Northeastern-ish direction from the elevator. Well, this info is useless since we don’t even know where civilization could be.”
“Could it be that we’ve somehow gotten traits of the character’s we’re cosplaying as? I mean Rai is Prince of the Thunder Dragon Tribe and has a great sense of direction. There are other strength he has but I’m not sure if it’s relevant to our current situation, aside from his fighting prowess.” Lily pointed out as she thought about his character’s background.
“Hmm, when we have the time we’ll test out that theory. For now, if we can just find a river, it might lead us to a civilization.”
“Yeah, especially since it’ll be getting dark soon…”
When we appeared in this world, it was about noon since the sun was right above us. It was hard to tell with all these trees almost blocking out the sky, but we did pass by a clearing a few hours back. By now, about 6 hours since we came here, the sky is dyed red and barely any light is making it through the foliage.
“Hey, speaking of which. Can you guys hear it? The sound of running water?” It was very slight but I could hear it off in the distance.
“Oh, yeah I can hear it too! It’s just to the east of here, let’s go. I need to refill my water bottle too, though not sure if these water are clean enough…”
“Huh? What? I can’t hear anything though… I wish I was cosplaying as someone with more useful skills… Renna is just an Archmage with no stamina or physical strength… even now, I’m barely keeping up with you two… huff.” Lily was regretting her cosplay choice.
Although Renna Miller was a powerful character in the story, along with Lux, Rai, and the other major characters, she is completely useless outside of combat. Well, she is pretty good at cooking though, but looking at our situation right now, that’s not likely going to happen. Besides we still have some food that we bought from the convention, it was Japanese bento style food, though it’s probably all mixed up after going through that earlier battle.
In any case, the river was actually a lot further away than it had seem. By the time we got there, the sky was already dark and in the forest a pitch black. Again it was thanks to Armon, apparently he has night vision now too, that we made it to the river side where it was brighter. The trees was more spread out so the light of the moon and stars made it possible to see by the river bank.
“Oh wow… look, there’s three moons.”
“Ohhh, such a beautiful night sky! I’d never seen anything like this before.”
“Of course, with all the light pollution we get from artificial lighting, the sky never gets to show its beauty…”
“Um, guys shouldn’t we be worrying about how we’re gonna spend the night? I’ve never gone camping so I’m completely new to this, actually neither of us has… but shouldn’t we get a fire started at least?” I pointed out to the two admiring a rare sight.
“It’s too late to go looking for twigs and such to start a fire, and I can let you guys go do it cuz you two can’t see anything once you’ve entered the forest again. Hmm, wait. Didn’t you use magic earlier to kill those wolves Lily?”
“Ah! Y-you’re right! Magic exists and I used it, but… how am I supposed to activate it myself? I was unconscious of how it even happened during the fight. Should I just try something from my novel? I mean it’s the best I can think of on how to do it.”
“It’s worth a shot. But Lily, isn’t Renna a Fire Elementalist with only overly powerful spells?” I pointed out to Lily as I recalled Renna from the novel.
“Umm, maybe I’m not restricted to just those now? I mean, I can try out a simple fire spell. Now then… Oh, okay I got one. Bring forth light and warmth, [Ignite]!”
Just then, a small flickering fire appeared at the tip of Lily’s index finger. We all just stared in shock at the fire that appeared out of nowhere. Despite witnessing magic already, to actually see one of us use it was a different feeling altogether.
“W-what! Oh my god, I’m using magic!!! Holy crap!!” Lily was staring intently at the small flame above her index finger.
“Ohh, neato. I wonder… Eliminate the shadows, bring forth the light and vanquish this darkness, [Illumination Blade]!”
A brilliant light shone above my right palm as it slowly formed the shape of a blade. When I grasped my hand around it, there was another burst of light before a sword made completely of white light appeared. This was a magic sword that Lux likes to use in the novel before she got [Blade of Zero, Zenith].
“Ohhhh, my turn! My turn! Umm, [Decree of the Thunder Lord]!”
“Wait, you idiot-!!” Both me and Lily screamed at Armon as he said one of the strongest spells in the whole novel.
It was too late, a spell by a dragon doesn’t need any chanting as they were the inventors of magic themselves, if this world runs by rules similar to that of Lily’s novel. That being said, the Gods use what is known as Heaven’s Will. In any case, thunder clouds began forming in the sky as a storm of thunder starts to surround Armon.
“God dammit Armon! Don’t let the thunderbolt touch us!” Me and Lily couldn’t stop the spell now, so the only option was to jump under Armon since the thunderbolts are less likely to strike him, unless he desires them to do so.
Now, within a 20 meter radius, a heavy rain of thunderbolts continuously struck the ground. With a little bit of instructions, we told Armon to make it so that they don’t hit many trees either, less we start a forest fire. After half a minute passed by, all was quiet again and the blue streaks of lighting that painted the night sky earlier disappeared.
“What the fuck man! You almost killed us!” I shouted at Armon angrily.
“Good thing we told you to how to contain it in a smaller area and to not let it run rampant… Huff.”
“M-my bad guys… I got caught up in the moment…” Armon replied back apologetically with a sweat drenched face.
It had taken a lot of mental focus to make sure we weren’t hit, as well as the trees. The ground was luckily more resilient, but with such a powerful spell, there were still giant craters everywhere. Because of this we had to move further down the river to where the ground was level.
“Welp it’s confirmed… to a certain extent that this world runs similarly to the rules of my novel. But seriously Armon, you’re ban from using any more magic. Even in human form it’s still crazy powerful. This was why I decided to use a weak spell to test if magic was possible.” It was Lily’s turn to lecture Armon.
“Yes, yes. I know… I’m really sorry guys. I just got… huff. Yeah, I won’t use magic again… wait! C-can I at least use…”
“No. Not unless we really need it. Just be careful not to kill us while you’re doing it.”
“F-fine.”
“You’ll be fine with your sword, Thunder Eye, anyways. That being said, if we can use magic and this is a world similar to yours, Lily. Then does this mean we also have stats now too?”
“Ah, Ken’s right! Is it just saying the world [Status] and a screen will appear? Wait no, it was ‘Show Status’ while thinking about a transparent table with our stats on it right Lily?”
“It’s worth a shot, actually ‘Share Status’ so we can also look at them. Anyways who wants to go first?” Lily looked at both of us.
“ Umm, I’ll go first this time. Share Status!” I raised my hand as I nominated myself and chanted the key words.
Status Name Lux Whitefall Level 1 Class Magic Knight Age 17 Race Human Gender Female Blessing Heritage of the Ancient Light Dragon Lux Title Princess of the White Empire Health 100/100 Mana 100/100 Attack 10(+800) Defense 8(+500) Magic 10 Resist 8(+500) Speed 14(+200) Stat Points 50 Bonus [Blade of Zero, Zenith] [Whitefall Lineage Armor] [Royal Aura] [Heritage of Lux] [Dragon Blood] [Child of Light] [True Monarch] [Prodigy] [World Language] [World Traveler]
“Ohh, yep, yep. This is definitely the stats I gave her at level one. The plus 800 in attack and 200 in speed must be from [Zenith]. The 500 in defense and Resist from [Whitefall Lineage]. Not sure about that 50 extra stat points… maybe from [World Traveler]? Hmm [World Language] and [World Travel] aren’t something I gave her, meaning it was probably by the voice earlier or the world?” Lily gave a quick analysis of my stats while I stare disappointingly at the gender tag.
“Okay I’m next up. Share Status!” After looking at my stats, Armon spoke up.
Status Name Rai DragonHeart Level 1 Form Human Age 117 Race Thunder Dragon Gender Male Blessing Protection of Ancestral Thunder Dragon Raijin Title Prince of the Thunder Dragon Tribe Health 500/500 Mana 600/600 Attack 50(+500) Defense 50(+500) Magic 55 Resist 50(+500) Speed 40(+200) Stat Points 0 Bonus [Thunder Eye] [Protection of Raijin] [Dragon Blood] [Thunder Monarch] [Nature’s Senses] [World Language] [World Traveler]
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“Aha, as expected of Dragon. Having stats five times as strong as mine. If I didn’t have my equipments, I’d be killed in an instant.”
“Yep, lucky for you Zenith is a higher class item. A total of 1000 bonus stats are Weapons of God, from 600 to 900 are Legendary, and 500 to 600 are Master, while 300 to 400 are Super Rare, 200 to 300 are Rare, and everything less than that are normal weapons. But that 500 to both Defense and Resist are from Raijin’s Protection. Hmm, now my turn. Share Status!”
Status Name Renna Miller Level 1 Class Elementalist Age 19 Race Human Gender Female Blessing Blessing of the God of Fire Ignius Title Embodiment of Ifrit Health 100/100 Mana 150/150 Attack 5 Defense 5(+300) Magic 20(+550) Resist 10(+600) Speed 10(+200) Stat Points 50 Bonus [Staff of Igneel, Ignis] [Legendary Archmage Robe, Zeon] [Child of Flames] [Embodiment of Ifrit] [Prodigy] [World Language] [World Traveler]
“Hmm, there’s the [World Language] and [World Traveler] again. But, wait how come I’m the only one without the extra 5o in stat points?”
“Maybe cuz you’re already op Armon? I mean you are a dragon, who has a much higher growth rate but they don’t usually get stat points to begin with. Well, actually [Prodigy] kinda balances things out a bit because level ups adds one to each stat, 10 to health, mana, and stat points. But with [Prodigy] the stat points are triple, so 30 every level.”
“Yeah, I guess that does make things more fair for us. Since all my stats go up by five per level and every 10 level I also get 10 stat points.” Armon finally replied after doing some calculations on the ground.
“Okay, now with all these figured out, can we finally go to sleep? I’m so mentally drained… nuhh.” Lily said with a yawn while stretching out her arms.
“Huff… Yeah I could use some sleep myself, but we need to do some preparing first right? Like in those light novels, we need to make a fire and have night watch rounds decided.” I quickly agreed to that.
“Well, I guess I’ll go gather some wood nearby for you to burn Lily. And I’ll also be the first night watch since I can see clearest right now. When the sky gets lighter, one of you can take over.” Saying so, Armon walked off into the dark forest.
“So, can you take second then Lily? I-” Before I could finish, Lily already replied.
“Yeah, it’s the least I can do. And sorry, if I hadn’t forced you to crossdress that wouldn’t have happened to you… but look on the bright side, at least now you can go into the girls dressing room without getting into trouble, hehehe.”
“I… what kind of person do you think I am? Hah… but well, it wasn’t like you knew this was going to happen anyways.”
With that decided, we waited until Armon came back with firewood. Lily lit them up with [Fireball] then me and her went to sleep. Armon was the only one up as we dozed off into dreamland.
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Armon:
Today has been quite an eventful day, things we’ve only seen and read from fantasy happened to us. We were attacked after being dropped off into a strange new world, and now we’re spending our first night here. I’m the first night watch since neither Lily or Ken can see danger approaching from within the forest.
“Speaking of Ken…” I unconsciously looked over to the sleeping Ken.
My heartbeat quickened as I looked at his now doll-like face. Without him speaking she looks just like any other girl, a beautiful face with rosy cheeks and glossy lips. Right now Ken looks just like Lux, silky shoulder length white hair complemented by her long eyelashes and silver white eyes. His figure even more slender than normal and now has an hourglass like form, with smooth porcelain skin.
“Yeah he even has boobs now, not too big, not too small, just my type… ah! What the fuck am I saying! Could this be influence from the story, they are lovers in there… Gah, shut up Armon, shut up! Ah, oops, gotta keep my voice down. Huff…” I got on my feet and walked over to the river to wash my face.
The water was reflecting a beautiful view of the night sky and my new face. It was much rounder than my previous face, childish even, though the eyes are sharp and quite charming. My dark brown hair is now a deep blue hue and my eyes a brilliant gold. I also became shorter, though it could still be considered tall because this new body is roughly 6 feet tall. It is indeed more slender than my previous burly body, but I can feel how much stronger it is.
“If I had a body like this before, I would’ve gotten so much girls hahaha… I wonder if we’ll ever find a way back. Let’s not dwell on this thought for too long.”
When I got back I saw quite an interesting scene, Lily was cuddling onto Ken. Her large breast emphasised by the way she was holding onto Ken.
“Guh, I didn’t see anything…” I looked away and decided to focus my attention to the forest entrance.
Still my mind was on how drastic our changes are, well Lily already closely resembles Renna though. They both have sharp eyes, which contradicts her actual nature, and long wavy hair that reaches her waist. Both also have an ample bosom and excellent figure. The differences are mainly color wise, like Renna’s copper red hair compared to Lily’s black, and the crimson to brown iris. Lily already has a body that most girls would be jealous of, but Renna’s is even more idealized and quite erotic in the novel.
“Ahem! Uhm! Ah, clear your mind me… pfff… We never had that thought alright? Alright. Now no more distractions… god I just realized how perverted Rai can be at times.”
SNAP.
“Ahhh fuck…” I recognise those glowing green eyes from the depth of the forest.
“Guys, wake up! They’re here!! The backup for those wolves earlier are here!!!”
“Ah! W-what! Oh, oh crap!” Lily instantly got up at my shout.
“Unn… five more minutes.” Ken on the other hand, lazily replied.
“Come on Ken! The wolves found us!” I had to shake Ken before he woke up because he can sometimes be a heavy sleeper.
“Awww, it wasn’t a dream after all… ah! Oh sorry, was still half asleep.” Finally everyone was up and holding onto their weapons.
“They actually came…”
“Well, we beat them once, we can beat them again… Let’s go at this like a typical game. Me and Ken will be the vanguard and you’ll back us up Lily.” I replied back to the sleepy Lily in a tense tone.
“Yeah, you’re right. We got this.”
“Eliminate the shadows, bring forth the light and vanquish this darkness, [Illumination Blade]!” Following me, Ken ran into the pack of wolves, their size much smaller than the previous ones but there were a lot more of them.
“Ah, please wait! D-don’t hurt my friends!” An unfamiliar voice screamed out from behind the wolves.
It was only after I saw a little girl jump out in front of the wolf I was about to slash that I stopped. She was trembling but I can see determination in her eyes. Similarly Ken has stopped and canceled his magic.
“What is a little girl like you doing in the forest at such a time? And with a pack of wolves following you.”
“I, well you see- ah! P-princess…” The little girl froze up and fear could be seen on her face when she saw Ken.
“What’s wrong?”
“Y-you’re with the Princess!? P-princess Lucy… I-I sorry mother… everyone… I’m, I’m sorry…” Her legs gave out on her as she began mumbling to herself.
“Princess Lucy? Who’s that?”
“I have no idea?” Ken replied back just as confused as I was.
“Oi, umm little girl who’s Princess Lucy?” I tried to talk to her in the nicest voice I could make.
“B-but isn’t she… isn’t she Princess Lucy? The white hair and silver eyes… only the royal family as those traits!” I wasn’t sure if it was fear or my nice voice worked, but the girl said that Ken was Princess Lucy.
“Wait what? But I’m not this Princess Lucy or whatever, I’m Ke- I mean I’m Lux.” Ken replied back with his character name instead of his actual, probably a smart move.
“Yeah, I’ve never heard of a Princess Lucy before, either.” Lily came over to me and whispered.
“R-really.” The wolves’ aggressive air finally seemed to lessen when we told her Ken wasn’t the Princess Lucy that she seems to fear.
“What’s her last name? Or well, surname here right?”
“S-she’s Princess Lucy Whitefall. The Princess of the White Empire.”
“Wait what!!? Did you just say Princess of the White Empire? Hey Ke-, I mean Lux. I didn’t write anything about a Lucy did I?”
“N-no I’m pretty sure you didn’t. Then, hey girl can you tell us what year this is?”
“Hiiii! I-I will! I-it’s the, the- the… the…” For some reason when Ken asked her a question, she got really scared and couldn’t speak properly.
“Um, the month isn’t really important right now, I just want to know the year if you can. And you don’t have to be so scared, I already said I’m Lux and not Lucy right? I won’t hurt you.” Ken put on a smile to try and calm the little girl down.
“Cute…” I murmured to myself.
“Ah, O-okay. It’s year 1150 of the Whitefall calendar. I-I don’t know anymore than this please don’t kill me!!”
“It’s alright, don’t worry. She won’t kill you, I don’t know what this Lucy did but please trust me when I say Lux isn’t anything like that.” I had to talk to her because it seems she’d probably faint if she has another conversation with Ken.
“It seems this world might be the same one you wrote about Lily. 1000 years later that is.” Behind me, Lily and Ken are discussing in a low voice.
“Yeah, maybe this Princess Whitefall’s family is the same one as Lux’s. What the heck happened to make people fear them so much when they were so beloved in my novel?”
“Yeah, this is probably going to make traveling hard for us if people keep mistaking me as this Lucy. Tch.”
“Ah, right let me introduce myself. I am Rai DragonHeart, a close friend of Lux, and that one with long copper hair is Renna. Could you answer a few question?”
“Y-yeah.”
“Okay, umm first off, why are you out here so late with just these wolves?”
“W-well all the men were taken away from my village to fight in the war against the Goldcrest Kingdom. Because of this there’s no one to do the hunting and since I have the class Monster Tamer, I had to do this job… but there was nothing around here for some reason.”
“And what are these wolves, I’ve never seen them before.”
“I don’t know… I just know they’re not originally from here. I-I do know they’re called Gale Wolves though.”
“Can they grow bigger than this?”
“N-no, it shouldn’t normally be possible… but with magic…”
“I see, then where are you heading to right now?”
“Umm, I was just about to head home but I’m late because I didn’t want to go home empty handed and stayed a bit too long…”
“I see, are you hungry?”
“Y… yeah.”
“Alright, we can get you some food to eat. Uhh, can you lead us to your village tomorrow too? Don’t worry we can help you hunt food in return.”
“I… uh, okay. Can you also feed my friends?” She stared at Ken for a bit before she looked back at the Gale Wolves.
“Yeah, I think we may have some. And what’s your name?”
“Uh, I’m Hana”
“Nice to meet you Hana.”
“Hey Rai, here.” Renna walked over with our bentos and gave one to the little girl.
“Looks like it wasn’t a waste to buy all these bentos… haha.” The remaining bentos were given to the eighth wolves.
Soon after the little girl ate, she fell asleep with her wolves surrounding her. Me and the others were sitting around the fire and having a conversation on what we just learned.
“So it seems those wolves earlier were altered by the voice earlier or something of that sort huh?” Lily asked me.
“It seems that way according to what the Little girl told me. But we need more information. We can ask someone with more knowledge when we get to the village, for now I think it's best if we go back to sleep too.”
“Alright, wake me up in a bit.”
“Night guys… it’s gonna be another hard day for me tomorrow… huff.” Ken gave out a heavy sigh before heading to sleep himself.
Again I was the only one left up after everyone went to sleep. At least we didn’t have to fight the wolves again today, I don’t think we could’ve pulled it off. I did go hunting that one time with my dad so hopefully we can keep our promise to Hana.